Russian oil tanker on fire in Mediterranean ‘after drone attack’

A Russian-flagged LNG tanker caught fire in the Mediterranean on Monday, according to reports.

The vessel, identified as the Arctic Metagaz, was said to be ablaze early on Monday near Malta or the Libyan coast. Images circulating on social media showed flames rising from the ship but there was no immediate word on crew casualties.

Russia’s transport ministry said on Wednesday that Ukrainian ⁠naval drones were responsible for an attack on ⁠a Russian ship ⁠carrying gas – Arctic Metagaz – which ⁠caught fire ​in ⁠the Mediterranean ‌a day earlier.

The ministry said the ‌attack was “an ‌act of international terrorism” and that ⁠all 30 crew members, who were Russian nationals, were safe. The Security Service of Ukraine ‌did not respond ​to a ‌request.

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia‘s military failed to achieve aims it set out last year and would have difficulty fulfilling advances ​that Moscow hoped to achieve.

Addressing journalists in Kyiv, the Ukrainian president said ‌Moscow‘s plans of seizing all of eastern Ukraine and areas further south remained unchanged.

As Trump turns on the UK, the King’s trip to Washington looks more fraught than ever

President Donald Trump slouches forward, hands clasped in front of him, as Sir Keir Starmer, seated next to him, pulls an envelope from his suit jacket. “It’s my pleasure to bring, from His Majesty the King, a letter,” he says. “An invitation for a second state visit. This is really special. This has never happened before. It’s unprecedented.”

To some, that scene from February last year might have looked like a masterstroke of pragmatic diplomacy by Sir Keir – a knowing wink from the Brits that he was playing his Trump card, appealing to the president’s ego. But as King Charles prepares for his visit to Washington this April, the first by a British sovereign in nearly two decades, it’s fair to say that the diplomatic landscape has shifted dramatically.

In fact, the timing for the King could not be more fraught. Yesterday, the president hit out at Sir Keir, criticising him for not immediately allowing the US to use British bases to attack Iran. One jibe in particular must have been particularly painful for the prime minister, with Trump casting aspersions on his statesmanship, telling the world: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”

In another interview, Trump claimed that Sir Keir “had not been helpful” and described the transatlantic discord as “very sad”. His barrage of criticisms directed at the prime minister have inevitably raised the question: is the “special relationship” between the US and the UK now irrevocably damaged?

Whether the pomp and ceremony of a royal visit will be able to paper over these cracks is another issue. Trump has always been very receptive to the pageantry that comes with hobnobbing with royalty – but the King is also grappling with a family crisis that may cast another awkward shadow over his interactions with the president.

Just last month, his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office – the result of an investigation into whether he abused his position as a UK trade envoy to pass confidential information to the late paedophile sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The event reignited the Epstein scandal just as Charles prepares to break bread with a president who was once a fixture of that same social circle.

The spectre of awkward questions from lawyers for Epstein’s survivors, members of Congress, and journalists now looms over the visit. The US Representative Robert Garcia, who in November called on Mountbatten-Windsor to testify before Congress, described Andrew’s arrest as an “enormous step forward” and has questioned why the US Department of Justice has not shown the same urgency.

“It’s time for the United States to end this White House cover-up,” he said. “President Trump and his Epstein administration are not above the law.”

A Palace statement that Charles III’s “thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse” may not satisfy those in Washington, who believe the King should now publicly urge his younger brother to assist US authorities. With the Clintons having agreed to submit their testimonies to the House Oversight Committee, the questions about why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor isn’t doing the same are likely to increase. Yet the mere suggestion that Charles publicly press Mountbatten-Windsor to testify places him in a perilous position, raising difficult questions about the boundaries between family, accountability, and protecting the Crown.

In Washington, there is little of the reflexive deference that surrounds the monarchy at home. American political reporters – and British correspondents in the US – operate at a greater remove; here, an unanswered question could prove a provocation that invites a louder, more public demand for the truth.

And this isn’t the only problem on the horizon for Charles. Not only will Charles be arriving as Trump doubts the Special Relationship under Sir Keir’s stewardship, for many, the visit will be nothing but a show of political appeasement of a controversial administration that is leaning more towards authoritarian instincts every day.

Steve Schmidt, a former Republican political strategist and founder of the anti-Trump political action committee The Lincoln Project, is among those leading a growing chorus demanding the King stay home. Otherwise, Schmidt says, the result will be “brutal” humiliation – something he promises to personally guarantee.

This year – America’s 250th birthday – was supposed to be a moment of national reflection and celebration of democracy. Instead, it has become a flashpoint. In the wake of questions around the legality of the war that Trump has launched on Iran, the ICE killings of innocent American citizens and growing tensions domestically and internationally, for Schmidt and many others, this is an administration that is betraying the very values the 250th anniversary of American independence is meant to celebrate.

And he sees the spectre of Jeffrey Epstein hanging over the royal visit, adding to this toxic picture. With emboldened victim advocacy groups and lawmakers now calling for the former prince to testify before a US truth commission, Schmidt says the juxtaposition is jarring: while one brother faces police questioning over his ties to a paedophile ring, the other is set to be feted at a White House where the host’s own past associations with Epstein are well known.

“Look at what has transpired since then,” Schmidt tells The Independent. “An American president has threatened to wage war on Nato, to take by force territory of the kingdom of Denmark, and has profoundly unsettled the world order. America is facing a profound crisis in the 250th year of its independence.

“History here matters,” he says. “The first British sovereign to step foot on American soil was Charles’s grandfather, George VI. And when he did so in 1938, there was no special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. It was a country filled with Irishmen who had no affection whatsoever for the British crown.

“Franklin Roosevelt curated every aspect of that visit, which included travelling up the Potomac River on the presidential yacht to Mount Vernon, where George VI entered the tomb of George Washington and paid his respects.”

“The greatest American invention, many of us believe, is the peaceful transfer of power, which continued uninterrupted from 1797 until 2020,” Schmidt says. “Donald Trump lost that election. His lies about it being stolen … have poured acid on the cornerstone of the country.”

Schmidt points to this history as a warning. Where Roosevelt used the monarchy to build an alliance against fascism, he argues that the current administration intends to use Charles as a propaganda tool.

“Trump, who was a close associate and friend of Epstein, is hanging banners of himself off the Justice Department,” Schmidt says, referring to the 40ft Make America Safe Again sign containing a dark-hued portrait of Trump, which was unfurled recently and which critics said was reminiscent of authoritarian “leader-cult” propaganda. “There are men shooting American citizens in the back. Now is not the time for a British sovereign to come and serve as a propaganda tool for this,” Schmidt says.

And not only could the King be loudly lobbied by Epstein’s victims, but Schmidt also warns that if the King proceeds, the response from his own group will also be brutal and humiliating. The Lincoln Project built its brand on scathing, high-production-value ads targeting Trump during the 2020 election cycle, drawing widespread media attention and even fury from Trump himself. “They should call it the Loser’s Project,” he once said. He is now promising the same treatment to the King should he proceed with his trip in April.

No longer with the Lincoln Project, Schmidt now helps run The Save America Movement, a nonprofit focused on “defending democracy and restoring common sense.” And he says: “If the King comes to America in April, he is coming in support of a man who is defiling American values by choice. And if he makes that decision, he will be greeted with an advertising campaign that will boggle the British imagination.”

Asked for specifics, Schmidt says: “You should imagine billboards in Times Square that have Charles and Camilla and Donald and Melania and Epstein and Ghislaine, right? Remember when Charles wanted to be a tampon for Camilla? It will be brutal. It will be humiliating,” he says, referring to the “Tampongate” scandal, in which a private, intimate 1989 phone call between then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, intercepted by an amateur radio enthusiast and leaked to the Daily Mirror, became a national embarrassment.

“We will also ask the question: what did the King know – and when did he know it – about his brother? We’ll play by the First Amendment; by American rules. The First Amendment is absolute, and it will be a public relations disaster that exceeds anything known by the Crown. Our goal is not to disrespect the British sovereign. Our goal is not to humiliate the King of England. But we will do so in defence of American liberty.”

While the American political media is often accused of being servile, Schmidt believes the truth will find its way through a “raging torrent” of British reporting. The stakes, he says, involve the very credibility of the Crown.

And lawmakers are ready to show their teeth, too. While Congress lacks the statutory power to compel a foreign citizen to testify, any formal subpoena would be triggered if Mountbatten-Windsor ever sets foot on US soil. And a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) could petition British courts to force a deposition on UK soil in any criminal investigation. If Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives (and/or Senate) in November, the current polite requests for interviews are likely to be replaced by a barrage of Oversight Committee subpoenas and televised hearings focused on the Epstein files.

Palace insiders will be strategising for all events in this hostile atmosphere, which is just as febrile in the UK. Charles also leaves for Washington at a time when grassroots campaigns are also loudly calling for a total boycott of US products and even a UK withdrawal from the 2026 World Cup.

This domestic pressure forces the King into an impossible choice if he goes through with his US visit: he must act as a diplomat tasked with protecting British business interests, yet risks being seen by many of his subjects – and many in the US – as an enabler of an administration they find repugnant.

To a younger generation accustomed to the advocacy of the California Sussexes, it might feel strange that the guest of the White House keeps his counsel bound by diplomatic royal neutrality and constitutional constraint.

Yet none of this will come as a surprise to a King who has spent a lifetime observing the high-wire act of royal diplomacy. While the current climate may be uniquely hostile, Charles has a track record of making deft moves in the shadows of political chaos. Last year, after Trump’s high-profile clash with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it was he who stepped into the breach, quietly inviting the Ukrainian leader to Sandringham a few days later. It was a masterclass in royal “soft power”, signalling British solidarity without a word of public rebuke to the White House.

Supporters argue that the King’s decisive moves to strip his brother of his remaining titles and privileges show a monarch willing to put the integrity of the institution above personal sentiment.

Charles is also banking on a side of America that Steve Schmidt’s billboards ignore: the vast, quiet contingent of American royalists; the same people who flew across the Atlantic for the Queen’s funeral and who still view the British sovereign as a rare symbol of stability. Perhaps for them, the pomp and circumstance of a royal visit is not a political endorsement but a welcome reprieve from the nightmare at home and abroad.

As the April date approaches, the question remains: will Charles be able to use that unique heritage to get Trump back onside and endear himself to a nation? Or will he find himself a pawn in a global crisis where the stakes are high and the endgame unknown? For the King’s advisers, who are currently strategising for every eventuality, the picture grows more complex by the day.

Andy Burnham breaks silence on Labour’s defeat in Gorton and Denton

Andy Burnham said the Gorton and Denton by-election “revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics” as he broke his silence about Labour’s defeat to the Green Party.

The mayor of Greater Manchester was blocked from standing as the Labour candidate in last week’s by-election by the party’s National Executive Committee, amid fears he could mount a leadership challenge to the prime minister.

However, he made numerous appearances on the campaign trail with the party’s candidate Angeliki Stogia, who finished in third place behind the Green Party’s Hannah Spencer and Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin.

At an event at the British Library in London on Wednesday, Mr Burnham said the result demonstrated that Westminster was not focused on the priorities of ordinary people.

Mr Burnham said: “From my point of view, I’m definitely not here to talk about my career plans, other than to say I wrote a book as you might know, with the mayor of the Liverpool City region Steve Rotheram about leaving Westminster and establishing devolution across England.

“It’s called Head North. All I can say today is that the sequel ‘Head South’ is currently on hold.”

He added: “What I want to say today is that the time has most definitely come for a serious conversation about our political system and its pervading culture, particularly so in the aftermath of the Gorton and Denton by-election.

“It revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics. I don’t think anybody can seriously dispute that statement.”

The defeat in Gorton and Denton was bruising for Labour. It sought to defend a majority of 13,000 votes from the 2024 general election, when Andrew Gwynne was elected, but finished more than 5,000 votes behind the victorious Ms Spencer.

The constituency was created in 2024 due to boundary changes but its previous iterations had long been held by Labour – Manchester Gorton since 1935, Denton and Reddish since its 1983 creation.

Several Gorton and Denton constituents told The Independent during the campaign that they would not vote for Labour, but they would’ve done so if Mr Burnham was the candidate.

Mr Burnham, who represented Greater Manchester seat Leigh as its MP from 2001 to 2017 and served in Gordon Brown’s government, was re-elected for a third term as the city region’s mayor in May 2024 with 63 per cent of the vote.

Lifelong Labour voters John Harrison, 71, and Sheila Harrison, 69, from Denton said Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t represent towns like theirs and they wouldn’t vote for Labour – unless Mr Burnham had been on the ballot.

“Labour isn’t really doing what you know they said that it was going to do in the manifesto,” John said, adding that he feels let down by the government.

“I would have voted for Andy Burnham,” John added.

He said Mr Burnham has more personality and is able to connect with northern voters. He believes the Greater Manchester mayor is on his side in a way that Sir Keir, who he describes as “aloof”, is not. Sheila would agree.

Retired midwife Andrea Anwyl, 77, was another lifelong Labour supporter in Denton disillusioned with the government. She said she would likely vote Green but says she “definitely” would have voted for Mr Burnham if he were the Labour candidate.

“I don’t like Starmer. I don’t like what he’s done,” she said.

Caterina Pandolfo, 65, said she could not forgive the treatment of Greater Manchester’s mayor by Labour’s NEC.

She said: “The way he [Starmer] treated Andy Burnham was disgusting.

“I don’t think he’s doing very well at all, Keir Starmer, sadly,” she adds. “He could have done so much.”

The mayor spoke on Wednesday at think tank Centre for Cities’ event “Manchesterism rising from devolution”, looking at his time in office and his ambitions for the region.

The Merseyside-born Mr Burnham described polling by More In Common which found a majority of people do not think the cost of living crisis will ever end as “code red for Westminster politics”.

He added: “This is getting extremely dangerous, and change in our political system and culture is desperately needed.”

Hundreds of cases of ritual child abuse go unreported

Hundreds, if not thousands, of ritualistic abuse cases against children have gone unreported in the last four decades – as experts described it as the “most shadowed form of abuse”.

An analysis of police data undertaken by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) revealed a “gap”, with just seven cases investigated in 2024 out of 4,450 instances of child abuse, marking just 0.2 per cent of all investigations.

However, when the NPCC assessed data from the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) it found that within a sample of 36,700 calls to their helpline between July 2016 and January 2025, 1,311 or 3.57 per cent mentioned organised and ritualistic abuse.

A similar survey of 100 UK psychologists found that 38 per cent had dealt with one or more cases of satanic or ritualised abuse, with a new report calling for urgent training across safeguarding practices to recognise such practices.

The term is usually applied to a group of perpetrators or individuals who use rituals as a form of prolonged and repeated torture with the aim of controlling, silencing and terrorising their victims.

In recent years, there has also been nine case reviews involving witchcraft, spirit possession and ritualistic abuse (WSPRA), with the children impacted ranging from between six weeks old to 14 years old.

This includes voodoo practices, informing victims that they have been “possessed” by evil spirits and must be subjected to “cleansing and purification”.

In early 2025, eight members of “monstrous” paedophile ring in Glasgow were jailed, with seven receiving life sentences, after they abused four children with Class A drugs, alcohol and subjected them to “rape nights”.

While charges of witchcraft were dropped from the case, the court heard that the group had attempted to murder a young girl in a microwave, had forced her to eat dog food, locked her in a cupboard with spiders and chased her while wearing devil masks.

In evidence played to the court, one of the children described the abuse: “Two witches holded my legs down, it felt uncomfortable, all the witches and wizards were watching.”

A new report by the NPCC and NAPAC found that in the last 40 years, there have been at least 14 cases in which people have been convicted of sexually abusing children, with their use of ritualistic practices acknowledged in court.

This stems back to 1982, with infamous cases including eight-year-old Victoria Climbie, who was tortured to death in 2005 after accusations of witchcraft were levelled against her by her great-aunt Marie-Thérèse Kouao and her partner Carl John Manning.

They claimed she was possessed by evil spirits and was exorcised by a pastor, with a post mortem examination discovering 128 injuries on her malnourished body.

The latest review, conducted by clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson, found that most survivors of organised ritualistic abuse report adult family members as primary perpetrators, meaning it often occurs in closed networks and within community settings.

Dr Hanson said: “We see children growing up in households where they are routinely neglected, abused and subjected to every day sexual abuse.”

Given that abuse of this nature can be intergenerational, and can see the perpetrators once being victims themselves, it creates “intense pressure” to remain silent and compliant.

NAPAC chief executive Gabrielle Shaw said that cases can often involve claims of the supernatural and the need to purify, with some children forced to carry out abuse on others.

She said: “What makes this so dreadful, but also so effective as a form of abuse, is that the victim survivors themselves are made to feel part of it.

“You’re part of this. You’re on the inside now.”

Perpetrators may also sometimes deliberately use outlandish tactics to lower the chances of their victims being believed and keeping them trapped, experts believe.

Conspiracy fictions such as QAnon, which has promoted narratives of extensive satanic ritual abuse, have similarly caused “widespread harm” and have fuelled a “discourse of disbelief” around such crimes.

Recommendations include targeted training to front line staff to differentiate between culturally legitimate practices and harmful abuse designed as belief, as well as each police force designating a Single Points of Contact and a clear pathway to share intelligence across forces.

Harry Maguire handed suspended sentence by Greek court over Mykonos incident

Harry Maguire will appeal against a 15-month suspended sentence following a fresh ruling by a Greek court relating to an incident in Mykonos in August 2020.

The Manchester United and England centre-back was found guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery, according to Sky Sports.

Maguire was involved in a brawl alongside family members while on holiday on the Greek island and spent two nights in a police cell following his arrest, but has always denied wrongdoing.

In 2020, he was initially found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery and handed a suspended sentence of 21 months – but a retrial was granted on appeal.

While Maguire’s suspended sentence has been reduced in length and severity, the defender is determined to clear his name and will appeal the latest verdict, having refused opportunities to settle.

The 32-year-old was not involved in the latest legal proceedings and is set to be involved in tonight’s match at Newcastle United.

In 2020, Maguire’s legal team immediately appealed against the guilty ruling – which according to Greek law meant the conviction was automatically nullified.

His retrial was postponed four times between 2023 and 2025 before it eventually took place in Syros on Wednesday.

As Maguire is appealing the fresh verdict, his conviction will once again be quashed. He is expected to appeal to Greece’s Supreme Court.

Why Gran Hotel Taoro is Tenerife’s must-book luxury stay for 2026

Tenerife’s iconic Gran Hotel Taoro holds a special place in Spanish history. As the first luxury hotel in Spain, opening its doors in 1890, it was a glamorous haven for high society, welcoming everyone from King Alfonso XIII and the Duke of Kent to author Agatha Christie.

Now, after a complete renovation, the landmark hotel has been reborn as an elegant 21st-century destination that’s ready to welcome you for the ultimate five-star break.

The hotel’s carefully preserved neo-classical architecture exudes old-world elegance, while colonial-inspired interiors in earthy tones and modern five-star comforts promise a stay that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Set on a lush hilltop in northern Tenerife and overlooking the historic town of Puerto de la Cruz, the hotel’s 199 rooms and suites make the most of its enviable location, featuring breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Teide – the highest point in Spain – the Atlantic Ocean, and the palm-dotted greenery of its terraces and surrounding botanical parks.

Prepare to embark on an unforgettable culinary journey throughout your stay, with exceptional restaurants celebrating local and international flavours.

At fusion restaurant OKA, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Ricardo Sanz, Japanese fine dining is given a mouthwatering Mediterranean twist.

Two-Michelin-starred chef Erlantz Gorostiza is the mastermind behind two more restaurants: Spanish gourmet bistro Amalur, with a menu inspired by the four elements; and fine dining restaurant Lava, whose exclusive setting includes a Chef’s Counter for six guests.

Breakfast at Atlantico Buffet is the perfect way to start the day as you savour delicious dishes alongside terrace views. For leisurely poolside lunches, La Carola is the place to be, serving Mediterranean flavours and crisp Canarian wines with a generous side of Tenerife sunshine.

Secure your holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with British Airways Holidays and enjoy a great-value holiday with quality and peace of mind. You’ll benefit from ATOL protection from the moment you book, a 24-hour helpline and a generous checked baggage allowance. Book your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments* – so all that’s left to focus on is enjoying your holiday in style.

If you upgrade to Club Europe, you’ll enjoy a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, and priority check-in and boarding. Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

Spend your days at the Gran Hotel Taoro relaxing by three heated pools, set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and providing a postcard-perfect setting for some downtime.

If you want to up the relaxation factor further, head to the serene sanctuary of the Sandara Wellness Center, which offers a range of exclusive treatments in partnership with luxury French brand Anne Semonin.

Guests who want to explore the history, culture and natural wonders of the local area – including Puerto de la Cruz, the oldest tourist destination in the Canaries – can take advantage of the hotel’s new X-Plora programme, offering a range of tailor-made experiences both within and beyond the hotel grounds through the dedicated concierge team.

More than a luxury retreat, Gran Hotel Taoro is a grand hotel reborn: a destination where heritage, culture and five-star service come together in one of Tenerife’s most treasured and authentic settings. Book with British Airways Holidays to experience this Spanish icon’s remarkable return in 2026.

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your Tenerife holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. **Subject to availability

• Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.*

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• Upgrade to Club Europe (Business Class) for a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, delicious food and drink options and dedicated check-in and priority boarding.

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Kaye Adams on being axed from BBC radio after ‘brutal’ investigation

Kaye Adams has said she wants to get her life “back on track” after being axed from her £155,000-per-year BBC radio job following a “brutal” five-month investigation into her behaviour.

The Loose Women star, 63, was dropped from BBC Scotland’s schedules after three claims of misconduct, including throwing a pen and berating an intern over their professional ability, were upheld. Adams was also alleged to have sworn at a colleague.

Adams, who was cleared of two further allegations, said she is trying to “process things”, stating on her podcast How to Be 60: “It’s difficult, isn’t it? You know what I mean. It’s been a brutal five months, there’s no doubt about it, and… you know it’s hard, isn’t it?”

She said she was “torn between not wanting to appear to ignore things”, but acknowledged that she doesn’t “see a lot of point in saying much at this time”.

“This is a time to process things, try and get life back on track, try and get my mental health back on track, try and get my eating back on track, my sleeping back on track, and just my life back on track.”

Adams said she wanted to take this approach for the sake of her husband, tennis coach Ian Campbell, and their two daughters, Charley and Bonnie.

She said she went to Edinburgh to spend time with her children the day after being dropped by the BBC.

“We just had a lovely day because I haven’t been as present for them as they’re used to, which has been a real sadness, and so you know it was just so lovely,” she said.

“We went for a walk with the dog and I just listened to them chattering away about all their stuff. That was really nice, just to be with them, and they’re such amazing girls, and they’re so supportive of me.”

Growing emotional over her struggles during the investigation, Adams continued: “You’re the Mum, you’re the adult – it’s your job to look after them.”

Adams will be replaced in her BBC role by Grant Stott and Connie McLaughlin. The BBC said it does not comment on any internal processes involving individuals.

Adams joined BBC Scotland in 2010. In October, the broadcaster said that her name had been “dragged through the mud” after she was taken off her programme.

Adams’s career began as a graduate trainee at Central Television, where she scored an interview with Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. She focused on political and news journalism in Scotland, following which she was hired as host of the discussion show Scottish Women from 1993 to 1999.

She left to present ITV show Loose Women, where she remained as the lead host until 2006. Over the last 20 years, Adams has also been a stand-in host on The Wright Show, This Morning and The One Show.

Farage unveils two Labour defectors as he makes push for London votes

Nigel Farage has unveiled two senior Labour figures from London’s political scene as the latest defectors to Reform, as he makes a push for votes in the capital ahead of local elections.

Mr Farage welcomed Sir Robin Wales, the controversial former Labour mayor of Newham, who was deselected in 2018, and the former council leader in Newham, Clive Furness, to Reform UK at a press conference in London.

Mr Farage admitted that his party’s “weakness” is a lack of “experience on the front line”.

Until now, the most prominent defectors have been right-wing Tories such as Robert Jenrick, Suella Braverman and Nadine Dorries.

Sir Robin said he was switching parties because Labour “has lost its moral compass” under Sir Keir Starmer.

He claimed that the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives, “have failed”, and denied that Reform is “racist”.

Sir Robin has been appointed to be Reform’s London director of local government, while Mr Furness will serve as his senior adviser and stand as Reform UK’s candidate for mayor of Newham.

But Sir Robin, a 71-year-old veteran of London politics, comes with question marks hanging over him. He was deselected by the Newham Labour Party for the 2018 mayoral election in the borough after the party was forced to rerun the selection following a threat of legal action over alleged irregularities in his original reselection.

In 2011, Sir Robin came under severe criticism for a £111m project to relocate council offices to a single building in Newham, which included £18.7m of design and refurbishment costs.

He was also attacked for investing £40m of taxpayers’ money in the Olympic stadium after the 2012 London Olympics.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Sir Robin said: “After decades fighting for working people in Newham, I’ve seen Labour abandon its roots. Under Sadiq Khan and the Labour leadership across London, the capital has seen soaring crime, failing services, and a party that prioritises the wealthy elite over the working class it was built to represent.

“May will be a referendum on Sadiq Khan and the Labour Party. Only Reform stands for working people and is presenting a real, credible alternative plan to Labour in London.”

Mr Furness added: “Labour has clearly and demonstrably failed London. It’s sad to see that even Newham, a borough that Sir Robin and I managed to lift out of deprivation, has gone completely backwards under a Labour mayor and a Labour council that is now completely out of touch with the communities it was meant to represent.

“That’s why I am joining Reform UK. In May, the choice is clear: more of the same high-crime, high-tax regime with Labour, or real change with Reform.”

A London Labour spokesperson said: “If Clive Furness and Robin Wales count as a ‘major London announcement’, Reform really are scraping the barrel.

“Neither [of the] men have been part of the Labour movement for some time. In Newham, Robin Wales was removed by local members following concerns about his record in office.

“Nigel Farage, Laila Cunningham and their allies spend their time talking London down and attacking the success of one of the most proudly multicultural cities in the world.”