Angela Rayner ‘to publish memoir’ amid speculation over leadership challenge

Angela Rayner is reportedly writing a memoir about her life and political career, in a move that will fuel growing speculation about a possible leadership challenge from the former deputy prime minister.

The book is expected to tell the story of her impoverished childhood, which saw her leave school at 16 after becoming pregnant, before detailing her engagement with the union movement and rise through the Labour Party.

It comes just days after Sir Keir Starmer said the “hugely talented” Ms Rayner will return to his cabinet amid growing speculation she could make a bid for the Labour leadership.

The former deputy prime minister has stayed relatively quiet since she was forced to resign after failing to pay stamp duty on her flat in September, since then intervening only on the Employment Rights Bill, a piece of legislation which she was an architect of.

But there have been reports that she could run on a joint ticket with Mr Streeting to challenge the prime minister, amid devastating approval ratings and growing concern over the direction of the Labour government.

Sources told The Guardian that Ms Rayner’s book – which is yet to be titled – will be published in the second half of 2026 by The Bodley Head, a division of Penguin Random House UK.

Alice Skinner, the editorial director at The Bodley Head said: “We are so delighted and proud to be publishing Angela Rayner.

“Her book will be unvarnished and upfront – you can expect her authenticity to shine through – and an empowering vision for a fairer, kinder society that will enable everyone to flourish. It will spark change, one reader at a time.”

Earlier this month, No 10 was forced to deny reports that Ms Rayner had been offered the job of education secretary in order to stave off a leadership bid, saying the claims were “highly speculative”.

Sources had told The Daily Mail she was resisting the offer in order to prepare her own bid for Downing Street.

And in a damning sign of the mood music in the Parliamentary Labour Party, there were also reports that Labour MPs are referring to Sir Keir as a “caretaker prime minister”.

It came after a source close to the former deputy prime minister said she will “not be played like a pawn” after reports of a deal for Ms Rayner and Mr Streeting to run for the Labour leadership.

The source said “there is no vacancy and there is no pact”, after The Telegraph reported that allies of Mr Streeting were pressing Ms Rayner to sign up to a “joint ticket” for the top job.

Allies of Ms Rayner have previously slammed “false” claims that she is eyeing up a Labour leadership bid, with the ex-deputy PM insisting she has “not gone away” when asked about a return to frontline politics.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted he has no intention of stepping aside before the next election.

He told The Observer in December: “When I took over the Labour Party, everyone said to me, ‘You’re not going to be able to change the party.’ We ignored that and carried on.

“Then they said to me, ‘You’re not going to be able to win an election.’ We got a landslide Labour victory. Now, 17 months into a five-year Labour term, they say ‘You’re not able to change the country.’

“Every time we’ve been in this position, we’ve defied them. And that’s what I intend to do.”

The Independent has contacted Penguin Random House for comment.

Ashes pundits criticise England’s tactics as Australia close in on win

England were criticised for playing into the hands of third Test hero Travis Head as Australia closed in on winning the Ashes.

Head struck a match-winning hundred in the first Test at Perth after volunteering his services as an emergency stand-in, and another vital ton on day three at the Adelaide Oval put his side in sight of an unassailable 3-0 lead.

By stumps he had 142 not out in a score of 271 for four, leaving England 356 runs behind. Their eventual chase will surely dwarf the unforgettable 362 they made at Headingley in 2019, while their previous high of 332 on Australian soil is a distant memory.

Head was able to reap plenty of runs from his favourite cut shot behind square, and afterwards the former England bowler Graeme Swann questioned the tourists’ approach.

“He got an easy start,” Swann said, speaking on TNT Sports. “There was a huge gap behind square on the off side, and the ball kept going there. When you’ve got a player like Travis Head who is so good at playing it late off the back foot, you need to get him reaching, you need to encourage the drive.”

Former Australian batter and head coach Justin Langer agreed. “You do not bowl to his cut shot. It was either [England] not executing the plan, or the plans were poor.”

England will begin the fourth day needing six more wickets to halt Australia’s charge, before facing a towering total to chase down on an Adelaide pitch that is likely to suit the spin of Nathan Lyon as the Test match wears on.

Steven Finn suggested Australia might declare at lunch to give themselves time to collect 10 wickets, with a hint of rain forecast on Sunday, but that notion was dismissed by his fellow pundits.

“Why?” asked Langer. “Why would they declare? They’re 2-0 up in the Ashes. To be good blokes? No chance.”

Swann added: “They’ll make England bowl them out. You don’t look at the forecast and go, let’s give England a sniff at winning this game.”

Former Nascar driver and family among seven dead in US plane crash

A plane crash at a North Carolina airport has left seven people dead, including a former NASCAR driver and his family.

NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family were on board a Cessna C550 jet that crashed around 10:15 a.m. Thursday, while landing at the Statesville Regional Airport, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol told The Independent. Flight records indicate the plane was operated by a company Biffle owned, the Associated Press reports.

State police confirmed that “it is believed Mr Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family were occupants of the airplane”, but said a full list of occupants will be released upon confirmation by the medical examiner’s office.

Meanwhile, NASCAR released a statement indicating Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their children, Emma and Ryder, died in the crash. The association identified the other victims as Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and Jack Dutton.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life,” NASCAR’s statement reads.

The families of the victims have also released a statement.

“Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders). Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child,” the statement reads.

The statement continues: “Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them. Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him.

“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.”

Biffle, who was 55 and retired, was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. Last year, he also accepted NASCAR’s Myers Brothers Award, which recognized his efforts to provide aid in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The award-winning driver was affectionately nicknamed “The Biff.”

Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Representative, paid tribute to the Biffles in a social media post.

“I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,” Hudson wrote.

“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were,” he added.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein called the crash “heartbreaking.”

“Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one in this tragic crash,” he wrote on X.

The plane was scheduled to later fly from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas, according to the AP. It was then set to return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Statesville Regional Airport, which is located about 50 miles north of Charlotte, provides “corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams,” according to its website.

Photos from the scene showed the plane engulfed in flames near the airport’s runway. The plane took off from the airport before immediately turning back around and attempting to land, WCNC reports.

William Hamby, chief deputy for the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, told The Independent his agency sent a “Mobile Command Unit to the scene to help with the investigation” shortly after the crash.

“The investigation will be conducted by the North Carolina Highway Patrol and the FAA. Our agency was first on scene and reported back the initial information,” he said.

About 80 minutes after the crash, the airport’s weather station recorded light rain and visibility of less than three miles, though it’s unclear if these conditions were present during the crash, CNN reports.

The National Transportation Safety Board plans to provide further updates at press conference scheduled for Friday.

Emotional McIlroy ends ‘dream year’ with the award he wanted all along

Rory McIlroy ended the “year dreams are made of” by adding the Sports Personality of the Year award to his memorable triumphs at the Masters and Ryder Cup after being voted winner of the prestigious BBC prize for the first time.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman topped the public vote ahead of England rugby star Ellie Kildunne, who sparkled as the Red Roses won the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and newly crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris, who was third.

McIlroy is just the third golfer to be named Sports Personality of the Year and the first since Sir Nick Faldo in 1989. It comes after McIlroy became just the sixth man to complete golf’s career grand slam by winning the Masters in April, as well as leading Europe’s charge to an away Ryder Cup victory against a ferociously hostile United States crowd in September.

To add to McIlroy’s night, Europe’s Ryder Cup team also won the public vote for Team of the Year, ahead of the Red Roses and the Lionesses, who defended their European crown in Switzerland to become the first England football team to win a major tournament on foreign soil.

“First of all, I’d just like to congratulate all the other finalists here tonight,” McIlroy said as he accepted the award that previously eluded him in 2014 when he won back-to-back majors at the Open and PGA Championship but finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton.

“What you’ve all done this year and over the course of your careers, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes. It’s a pleasure just to be in this room along with so many dedicated people.

“2025 has been the year that my dreams came true from Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything else in between. It really has been the year that dreams are made of.

“Thank you to the public for voting me as your Sports Personality of the Year. Thank you to my family, my mum and dad. They sacrificed so much for me and I obviously wouldn’t be here without them. My wife, Erica. My daughter, Poppy. They are what holds me together, my rocks. They couldn’t be here tonight, they’re back in America but I can’t wait but to get back to see them tomorrow and celebrate this with them as well. So thank you for all your support, everything that you’ve done for me over the years.”

World darts champion Luke Littler and Lionesses stars Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton were also nominated for the main award and it was something of a surprise that neither England player made it into the top three of the public vote after their Euro 2025 victory. Beth Mead and Mary Earps had previously won the Sports Personality of the Year after a successful summer for the team.

There was some recognition for the Lionesses, though, with Sarina Wiegman named Coach of the Year for the second time ahead of Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and Andy Farrell, the head coach of the British & Irish Lions, while breakout England striker Michelle Agyemang, 19, beat Littler to the Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Sweden’s pole vault king Mondo Duplantis made it back-to-back World Sport Star of the Year awards.

But the night belonged to McIlroy, who became emotional earlier in the ceremony following a segment that paid tribute to Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, the fathers of two of the three girls killed in last year’s Southport stabbing attack. Mr Aguiar, the father of Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Mr Stancombe, the father of Elsie Dot Stancombe, were the recipients of the Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity after completing the London Marathon to honour the lives of their daughters.

McIlroy was asked by BBC presenter Clare Balding how being a father has changed his views on his achievements – he welled up as he thought about his young daughter Poppy, who was at Augusta as he won the Masters for the first time.

A visibly moved McIlroy paused and said: “I think as being a father of a little girl, seeing Alice’s and Elsie’s dad up there tonight, they are two absolute heroes.”

McIlroy finished his acceptance speech by revealing how much the Sports Personality of the Year award meant to him. The 36-year-old had previously called the event a “popularity contest” and revealed he forgot he had been nominated when he last made the shortlist in 2023. McIlroy also appeared to accept that he would never win the award if he did not do it this year – and made sure he was in Salford for the ceremony to boost his chances.

“I remember growing up, looking forward to this night, watching it on TV, seeing who’s going to win, it was always a big part of the run-up to Christmas,” McIlroy said. “So I’m just very honoured to get my hands on this trophy behind me and hopefully I can challenge to get it again next year! But thank you everyone. It truly is an honour.”

Hugh Grant and Richard Curtis back Red Cross’s family reunion campaign

Love Actually stars Hugh Grant and Richard Curtis have supported calls to reinstate a vital visa route that would allow refugees to reunite with their loved ones in the UK.

Refugee family reunion was axed by home secretary Shabana Mahmood as part of her sweeping changes to the immigration system that were announced in November.

The visa route, which allows refugees to apply for their immediate family members to come to safety, was paused to new applications under Yvette Cooper but Ms Mahmood went further in November – confirming that it will be only be available in “the most exceptional circumstances”.

Under her plans, refugees no longer have an automatic right to family reunion. Instead only those who successfully enter a work and study visa route will become eligible. Even then they are likely to face high income requirements and English language tests.

The British Red Cross have been campaigning to reverse the changes, and a new Christmas campaign has re-enacted the iconic opening scene of Love Actually to show the pain separated families experience.

Lending his voice to the campaign, actor Hugh Grant said: “Christmas is when most of us hope to be with the people we love. It’s heartbreaking that so many who’ve fled conflict and disaster remain separated from their families without knowing when they might see each other again.

“Every family deserves the chance to be together safely”.

Director and writer Richard Curtis said: “The desire to be with your loved ones and see your family safe is something everyone can relate to. For more than a century, the British Red Cross has been working to bring families back together.

“Proposed changes could effectively cut off a vital route to safety and increase the risk of people making dangerous journeys to reach family and sanctuary”.

At least 4,900 families – and 6,300 children – will be impacted by the suspension of the visa route between September 2025 and April 2026, according to analysis from Red Cross.

The charity, which has years of experience supporting refugee families to reunite in the UK, has previously warned that the crackdown may fuel more dangerous Channel crossings as women and children left languishing in war zones attempt to reunite with their loved ones in Britain.

One family supported by the charity, Omer, 33, and Hiba, 26, were able to reunite with their baby son in Heathrow Airport last year. Forced to flee conflict in Sudan, Omen and Hiba had to leave their son with Omer’s grandmother.

Omer said that, after the family were reunited, “for the next two or three days we didn’t leave our home, we just stayed inside with him and spent time with our child”.

He added: “Our home was filled with toys and we just played with him. It was an amazing day for us”.

One Ethiopian computer science student, Umer Heyi, told The Independent of his heartbreak at missing the deadline to apply to bring his wife and two-year-old son to the UK.

Umer received his refugee grant on 4 September and tried to start an application for his family, but the scheme closed at 3pm that day.

Speaking about his son, he says: “If I can’t save him, if I can’t protect him, then what have I got?

“We just want the opportunity to save our lives and not stay separated.”

Béatrice Butsana-Sita, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, said: “No one wants to leave their family behind, but sadly many are forced to due to conflict and other crises. Family reunion has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s refugee protection system – offering a vital, safe and managed route for refugees to reunite with the people they love.

“We want family reunion to continue to be accessed by people separated by conflict, violence and persecution”.

Pit-Smoked and Bourbon-Soaked: how to eat in Kentucky like a pro

What’s a drop of Bourbon or a foot tapping beat without the perfect dish to accompany them? There’s more to the Bluegrass State than whiskey and music alone. Though those things are important. Vital actually.

In Kentucky, the good times come served with a side of soul-enriching food, from fine dining, to time-honed traditions passed down through generations. A combination of Southern know-how, bountiful farmland and top-notch ingredients, plus modern culinary talent combine to make Kentucky a truly world-class culinary destination.

So get your fingers sticky with the sweet tang of BBQ, find the ultimate comfort food at a ma and pop shop on the roadside, or pull up a chair beneath a crisp linen tablecloth. It’s all here. Let us guide you to the top spots.

Louisville

Home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, and with deep roots in the world of whiskey making, Louisville is a place where tradition is respected. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t reinterpreted, reinvented, and well, shaken up.

Kentucky’s largest metropolis, which straddles the slow running waters of the Ohio River, was built on whiskey. But as the new food hub of the South, it’s writing a new, distinctly delicious chapter.

‘New Southern Cuisine’, that’s the term coined for this new spirit of reverent playfulness where chefs across the city are putting new unique twists on traditional Southern fare from Hot Browns to Benedictine.

At 610 Magnolia, in the heart of Old Louisville, for chef and owner Edward Lee that means seasonal, multi-course menus that combine surprising global flavours into locally-inspired, often Bourbon laced dishes. Think seared scallops with kimchi or a sweet pea risotto with rock shrimp and magnolia.

Jack Fry’s is an institution. Behind its shutter board and mullioned window exterior, live jazz accompanies Southern flavours prepared with classic French techniques since 1933. Where once bootlegging occurred in a backroom, today spicy fried oysters, Bourbon braised short ribs, and peach cheesecakes laden the tables.

Don’t Miss:

Walk the distilleries and tasting rooms of Whiskey Row. This is mandatory. The imposing cast iron and red brick facades of Main Street once fronted the offices and warehouses for the burgeoning Bourbon barons. Today, they’re a playground for whiskey enthusiasts with exclusive bottlings, tastings and more to explore.

Follow Whiskey Row – and the Urban Bourbon Trail – across multiple blocks, and you’ll find NuLu (New Louisville). The East Market District of downtown draws an artsy crowd hang out to its neighbourhood murals, street art, galleries, and innovative eateries from Biscuit Belly to Royal Hot Chicken.

Lexington and the Bluegrass region

Combine fine dining with authentic Bluegrass charm in Lexington and beyond, where a visit to the world famous Keeneland Rack Track isn’t all about the horses. Yes, Lexington is a race horse capital, but sometimes the food is the main event.

Arrive purposefully hungry, and get amongst the smell of turf, saddle leather and smoked meats as jockeys, trainers and spectators alike head to the Track Kitchen. A morning staple and one of the city’s best-kept secrets, its home-style food feels like a hug. But careful, pace yourself.

Trackside concession stalls, only open during the races, beckon with their many culinary delights. From Keeneland’s signature Bourbon Bread Pudding to Kentucky Beer Cheese and the refreshing Keeneland Breeze cocktail, the food and drink here are as much a part of the experience as the races themselves. Classic Southern comfort meets local flair.

Don’t Miss:

Head out to the countryside, where the morning mist sits low on the pastures of Thoroughbred farms. Culinary star, Chef Ouita Michel may have just pioneered farm-to-table dining over the past 15-plus years. With all that high-quality produce in abundance surrounding Lexington, it just made sense to make the most of it.

Visit all eight of Ouita’s famous restaurants – or just a few – on a culinary tour. Honeywood at Fritz Farm is all about the locally-grown specialities, from sweet potato beignets to duck-fat basted New York strip. Meanwhile, Smithtown Seafood is a quintessential taste of the south with wild-caught fried catfish, fresh-shucked oysters and blackened catfish.

Owensboro

Breathe in the sweet smell of smoke and molasses. When you catch the scent of a true pit master at work, you follow it.

In Owensboro, Kentucky’s undisputed BBQ capital, a passion for flavour and a dedication to time-honed techniques, means you’re in for a treat.

In this city located on the south side of a deep bend in the Ohio River, BBQ is more than just a dish, it’s a tradition. With a history dating back to the 1830s, the area has developed its own unique style of pit BBQ, where vinegar-based sauces are mopped over the meat during a lengthy smoking process. Think tangy, tender, and melt-in-the-mouth.

Sure you’ll find chicken, beef, et al. But with sheep historically more plentiful, the main event here is mutton. Burgoo who? Look out for local dish Burgoo, a stew similar to Irish or Mulligan stew, most often served with a generous wedge of cornbread. Well, this is Kentucky.

Don’t get us wrong. BBQ is a year-round way of life with secrets passed down generations. Head to the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, where smoked meat has been slung since the 1950s. Or Old Hickory BBQ, where the grills have been firing since 1918.

But once a year Owensboro becomes the global BBQ capital. At the International Bar-B-Q Festival, BBQ and Barrels, held every second weekend in May, 80,000 assemble for two days of BBQ heaven, while teams fiercely compete over secret recipes and sizzling coals.

Don’t Miss:

What goes better with a smoked slice, than the twang of strings? Owensboro is the Bluegrass world capital too. Stop by the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum – the only international museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history and culture of this soulful, uniquely American genre.

My Mental Health Act will consign outdated treatment to history

For too long, our mental health laws have been a relic of another era. The 1983 Mental Health Act is older than many of the clinicians now working under it.

For four decades, it has too readily stripped vulnerable people of their dignity, their voice, and their agency. Its application has been unequal, leading to demonstrable racial inequalities.

It has seen autistic people and those with learning disabilities detained inappropriately. And it has left families often shut out of the care of their loved ones.

But this changes as we embark on a watershed moment for mental health care in Britain – the Mental Health Act receiving royal assent to become law.

This is a personal milestone as the first piece of legislation passed by my department under this government. But much more importantly, it’s a promise kept to the thousands of vulnerable people who have been failed for decades by a system stuck in the past.

Take Steve Gilbert, who, along with members of his family, has experienced at first hand the trauma and loss of dignity that many patients feel as a result of being detained under the act.

Steve was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being sectioned in 2010, and has spent the past decade working tirelessly to implement mental health reforms, including by co-chairing the Mental Health Act Review that has paved the way for this announcement.

I am inspired by the way he has taken the pain of what he and his family experienced and turned it into a force for good, ensuring each and every voice is heard, especially those in the Black community who have been disproportionately detained.

Today, we are one step closer to consigning that unfair and outdated system to history.

History will judge us on how we treat the most vulnerable people in our society at their most vulnerable moment, and I’m proud that this government has overseen this fundamental shift in how we care for people who are seriously unwell.

This is what real change looks like.

Back in 2018, Simon Wessely’s landmark review of the Mental Health Act revealed the injustices faced by too many people under the act. Over the past 18 months, this government has worked tirelessly to bring these reforms over the line and make the changes we desperately needed to deliver.

The new Mental Health Act puts patients in the driving seat of their own care through statutory care and treatment plans (CTPs) and advance choice documents (ACDs), which will help pave the road to recovery and give patients and their loved ones more autonomy over their care.

It brings families and carers into the room where decisions are made. It ends the disgrace of seriously unwell people being locked in police cells when they need hospital treatment. It protects children and young people, ensuring that from now on their voices aren’t just heard but genuinely listened to, in terms of their specific care needs and vulnerabilities.

We’re bolstering legislative reform with action on the ground, recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers, rolling out mental health support teams in schools, expanding talking therapies and investing £473m in mental health infrastructure, for instance, to establish 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres and fund more hospital beds for people in crisis.

This is all part of a plan to shift care from hospitals into communities through our 10-year health plan, catching people before they reach crisis point.

Today belongs to everyone who refused to accept that the system couldn’t change. The campaigners. The clinicians. The patients and families who shared their painful experiences so others wouldn’t have to endure the same injustices.

Mental health is health. And today, we’ve taken a giant leap towards building an NHS that finally treats it that way.

Wes Streeting is secretary of state for health and social care

Festive traffic set to peak on Friday with 24.4m car trips expected

This Christmas could be the busiest on record for UK roads, with traffic expected to peak on Friday and millions of cars expected on the UK’s roads.

The AA, which produced the estimate, said a continuing upward trend since the lifting of Covid travel restrictions could see the busiest Christmas on record.

A survey of more than 10,000 AA members found 72 per cent said they planned to travel that day – equating to around 24.4 million cars hitting the road.

Most drivers said they will stay local, with nearly two-thirds of respondents saying they will embark on a car journey of up to 50 miles.

Only 5 per cent said they would drive for 51 to 100 miles, and 2 per cent plan to exceed 100 miles.

The poll also suggested that visiting family and friends is the main reason for car travel in the festive period, followed by shopping and work.

The AA said the results indicate there will likely be congestion around retail hotspots and motorway interchanges.

Some of the locations believed to be at high risk for jams include:

Shaun Jones from the AA advised drivers to plan ahead, check their route, and allow extra time.

“We know drivers will be heading out for all sorts of festive fun — from pantomimes and Christmas markets to family visits and scenic walks,” he said.

“But with so many sleighs on the tarmac, patience will be your best present this year. Pack essentials, keep your tank or EV charge topped up, and don’t let congestion steal your Christmas sparkle. If you’re leaving your car parked over the festive period, start it for a few minutes every couple of days to ensure it’s ready for January.”

He added that those travelling in Hampshire should think about alternative routes due to the M27 closure.

Meanwhile, mapping and location technology company TomTom issued a warning over “severe” traffic on Saturday, when many people will embark on last-minute shopping trips or getaways to loved ones.

Its analysis of the Saturday before Christmas Day last year found Edinburgh was the UK’s most congested city, with journeys taking an average of 50.1 per cent longer compared with free-flowing traffic. The Scottish capital had a sustained period of jams between noon and 4pm.

London was the second most congested city, with journeys of 10km (6.2 miles) taking more than 40 minutes in the early evening. Manchester was in third place, followed by Birmingham and Sheffield.

The RAC forecasts that a total of 37.5 million leisure trips by car are planned between Wednesday and Christmas Eve.

That is the most in the week before Christmas Day since the company began recording the data in 2013.

Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day for leisure trips over the festive period, with 4.2 million of those journeys.

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “With record numbers predicted to be taking to the roads this Christmas, journeys have the potential to be ‘Grinch-worthy’ without some careful planning.

“The week before Christmas is one of the few times of year when most of the UK hits the road simultaneously, with 2025 looking to be the busiest getaway period since our records began.”

Meanwhile, The Independent has calculated that Saturday 20 and Monday 22 December will be the busiest days on the railways before Christmas.

While individual lines are likely to vary – especially after Christmas when widespread Network Rail engineering work kicks in – passengers are more or less guaranteed an uncrowded trip on 24 and 31 December, as well as on New Year’s Day.

Trainline data from the past two years indicates the overall busiest hour for sheer number of passengers is 10 to 11am on the Saturday before Christmas. The three busiest routes are all to and from London Euston, serving Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Milton Keynes Central.

The optimum day to travel before Christmas in order to avoid crowding is Wednesday 24 December. Be warned, though, that services wind down early: the last London-Edinburgh train leaves at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve, while the final Newcastle–Birmingham departure is at 5.40pm.

No trains run in the UK on Christmas Day, and very few on Boxing Day.