Wolves’ sabotage mission continues but Liverpool’s woes go beyond one cruel moment

Increasingly, injury time is not Arne time. A night when Wolves could savour an action replay left Arne Slot lamenting the “same old story”. For the second time in four days, head coach Rob Edwards set off down the touchline in manic celebration. Wolves, as their fans had chorused, are bound for the Championship, but on the way they are bloodying the noses of those with ambitions of Champions League qualification. First Aston Villa and now Liverpool have fallen at Molineux.

For Slot, the sense of déjà vu was depressing. His side are record breakers in the wrong sense, the first team in Premier League history to lose five matches in a season due to 90th-minute goals. “The three times we lost in the last 22 games were all three in extra time,” Slot said after Wolves, like Bournemouth and Manchester City before them, struck at the death. Include the late equalisers Fulham and Leeds got and Liverpool have let nine points slip through their grasp in injury time. It may cost them Champions League football.

Liverpool could call their latest setback cruel, when the decider needed a deflection, when they had hit the woodwork twice. “That it happens in extra time might be a coincidence but it happens so many times,” said Slot. Once again, it calls into question Liverpool’s game management.

For him, there were further familiar themes, another occasion when Liverpool dominated possession, had more shots, had the better of the statistics beyond the scoreline. “We hardly give away a chance but they score two,” he rued.

Yet Virgil van Dijk did not plead misfortune. “I think it’s down to ourselves,” said the Liverpool captain. “It was slow, we were predictable, sloppy in possession and [guilty of] wrong decision-making.” It was an excoriating verdict but scarcely an exaggeration.

Defeat came late but Liverpool could trace it to their sluggish start. Even as they picked up the pace, even as Mohamed Salah ended a Premier League goal drought that had extended over four months, even though Wolves did not attempt a shot of any kind until their opening goal, Liverpool arguably did too little over the course of a match that was three-quarters forgettable fare, one quarter frenetic entertainment.

Wolves began frustrating Liverpool with their obduracy and ended doing it with their attacking. They began compact and organised, four central midfielders and three centre-backs forming a solid block. But Edwards rationalised the game would open up and made influential substitutions.

Two combined for the breakthrough with a second goal in as many games for the man who finished off Villa. Rodrigo Gomes had only been on the pitch for eight minutes when he struck. A fellow replacement, Tolu Arokodare, was too strong for Van Dijk, turning him and supplying on the on-rushing Gomes to dink a shot over Alisson.

After Salah levelled, as Liverpool committed men forward in the search for a winner, so did Wolves. After Alisson’s poor kick, Andre’s shot looped up off Joe Gomez and left the goalkeeper helpless. Wolves, the team with the four Gomeses, got the decisive touch from a Gomez. “We conceded a deflected shot, which was not even a chance,” said Slot.

Liverpool are nevertheless left to consider the prospect their struggles against their supposed inferiors will cost them a top-five finish. They have lost to Nottingham Forest and Wolves this season, drawn with Burnley and Leeds. Some 12 points have escaped their grasped in those games.

When it seemed they had salvaged something at Molineux, it was when Salah briefly turned back time. There are times, even when their powers are waning, when the greats can summon a little of their old selves. Hitherto ineffectual, Salah then darted into a gap and improvised a finish which he flicked with the outside of his left foot. Jose Sa got his left hand to it, but the ball nestled in the net. Salah’s 253rd Liverpool goal was his first in the Premier League since November.

Perhaps, though, it summed up the current Salah that it did not prevent defeat. Liverpool had struck the woodwork twice, in distinctly different fashion. A couple of minutes before Salah struck, Rio Ngumoha’s low shot was brilliantly turned on to the post by Sa. Just after half-time, a combination of Curtis Jones’s shoulder and Cody Gakpo’s boot turned the ball on the bar after Hugo Ekitike had flicked on Salah’s corner. After three goals from set-pieces against West Ham on Saturday, Liverpool ought to have had another.

But they mustered too little else. “What didn’t change in the last five, six seven games is that we struggle and find it very hard to score from open play chances that we do create,” admitted Slot. Nor did they create enough.

This was a game that was crying out for Ngumoha long before his introduction, though, at 64 minutes, it was the earliest he had come on in the Premier League. Gakpo, though, had been poor as a starter.

And Wolves finished with a flourish; on the night and perhaps over the season. After one win all season, they have two in a week. “We are showing we are not as bad as people thought,” said Edwards, whose touchline dash showed the emotional relief of victory and brought pain, though not the sort Slot was feeling. “It’s my groin this time,” the Wolves manager said. “I’m falling apart.”

On his new album, Harry Styles finally sounds like himself

Where has Harry Styles been? Not where you might expect. He popped up at the Vatican when they announced the new pope, rubbed shoulders with locals at bars in Rome, and was even filmed trying (emphasis on trying) to help a fan park their car. Since concluding his last world tour in 2023 he’s also pressed pause on a hit-and-miss acting career, lost a central figure in former bandmate Liam Payne, who died aged 31 in 2024, and revealed how a reset in Italy over summer gave him a newfound perspective on life: “I remember going to a café and sitting and having a coffee and thinking, ‘I don’t remember the last time I sat down and had a coffee – if I’ve ever sat down and just had a coffee,’” he recalled. Now he’s back: in the charts and on billboards. After a triumphant performance at the Brits, he returns with a new album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally… ready to be recrowned our pop king. “Let light come in once in a while,” he sings.

La dolce vita certainly has its place on this album, perhaps Styles’s most playful, bold and experimental to date. He sounds relaxed; there’s none of the self-consciousness that’s plagued him in the past, when he was trying to be the millennial answer to David Bowie. The former One Direction star is also the most vulnerable he’s ever been, exploring his feelings around relationships, adulthood, the loss of innocence. It opens with “Aperture”, the single he released in January. It’s the perfect scene-setter, a dizzying, euphoric dance track layered with lush harmonies and a pulsing synth beat that spins around like a strobe light. “Go forth, ask questions later,” he commands.

He follows his own advice. There’s a curiosity to this album that was perhaps lacking in its predecessor, 2022’s Harry’s House. Critics reviewed it positively (The Independent’s Mark Beaumont hailed its “funk shuffle and future soul panache”), and it also won the Grammy for Album of the Year. To me, though, it felt like Styles was trying too hard to be what others hoped he might become: the former boyband star turned great pop auteur, leaning into a lush, layered Laurel Canyon sound that washed blandly over the listener.

Not so here. “American Girls” opens with hushed piano and the soft skitter of the hi-hat, before a funk beat breaks onto the chorus: “Known you for ages/ That’s all I’ve heard/ My friends are all in love with American girls,” Styles croons. It’s Eighties Italo disco with a hint of French house, like a jolt of espresso to set you up for what follows. There’s the brilliant chaos of “Ready, Steady, Go!” with its dizzying outro, bloopy keys and Sons of Kemet co-founder Tom Skinner keeping Styles on a loose leash with his drum rhythms. “Dance No More” is fantastic, riffing on Rick James’s 1981 hit “Super Freak” as Styles squawks: “Gotta get your feet wet/ Respect/ Respect your motheeeeer!”

As with “Aperture” – and all of his solo albums, in fact – Styles favours songwriting in vignette form. No song exemplifies this so much as “Pop”, a sexy, explorative number with squelchy funk beats and lyrics that play out like blurry snapshots of the night before. “Am I in over my head?” Styles questions, his vocodered voice adding a hazy drunken quality. “This could go anywhere/ I do it again and again… It’s just me, on my knees, squeaky clean fantasy.” He worries he’s lost himself on “Are You Listening Yet?”, chastising the way he likes “the way she talks/ Never what she says”.

While not everything works – there are still some clunky turns of phrase here and there – Kiss All the Time offers more insight into Styles’s current psyche than ever. “Taste Back” finds him wrestling with a situationship, while “Paint By Numbers” seemingly addresses his guilt amid the fallout from his split with director Olivia Wilde, who was seen bringing her two children to his shows while they were dating. “Holding the weight of the American children whose hearts you break/ Was it a tragedy when you told her/ I’m not even 33,” Styles sings. You get the sense he’s spent some time wondering “what if” things had turned out differently. His voice is full of yearning on “The Waiting Game”, with a touch of Bowie in his deeper register over a lopsided, Radiohead-style minor chord on the guitar.

“Coming Up Roses” is wonderful, from the opening sound of the orchestra tuning up to the pluck of violins and glide of the cello, beautifully arranged by conductor Jules Buckley. Styles channels Chet Baker here on what is perhaps his best vocal performance, with gorgeous phrasing and careful annunciation. “Tell me your fears/ I’ve turned back the clocks, it’s that time of year/ If we stay the course we could get it right/ But I’m not devoid of an appetite,” he sings.

It’s almost a relief to have Styles back, given how women in pop have been doing so much of the work in recent years. And really he has no true male peer (artists such as Bad Bunny, Sam Fender and The Weeknd excel in their own lanes), as much as newcomers such as Benson Boone might try. No one can match his level of pizzazz. By stepping away for a minute, allowing any fears of getting left behind to cease, Styles has been able to return with newfound clarity and, more importantly, music that actually sounds like him. He let the light in, and it shows.

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

A Russian-flagged LNG tanker caught fire in the Mediterranean on Monday, maritime sources told Reuters.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.

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.

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s forces want the occupation of the east of Ukraine, specifically the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Zelensky said, but added that Kyiv “does not see that they have ‌the ⁠capability to accomplish the tasks” for the moment.

The assessment from Kyiv comes at a time when the planned trilateral peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, brokered by the US, are in peril due to the escalating conflict in the Gulf region.

Fifth of Reform members ‘want non-white Britons removed from UK’

A fifth of Reform members want non-white British citizens whose parents were born in the UK to be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave the country, a new poll has found.

More than half of the members of Nigel Farage’s party believe non-white British citizens who were born abroad should be forcibly removed or encouraged to leave, compared with 24 per cent if they were white, according to data from Hope Not Hate.

The charity released its 2026 report “State of Hate: It Could Happen Here” on Wednesday, which included the results of a survey of 629 Reform members, carried out by Survation on behalf of Hope Not Hate.

Nick Lowes, chief executive of the charity, said the findings show Reform members are generally “more pessimistic, angry and extreme than the British public”.

He added: “And whilst there is overwhelming support for leader Nigel Farage, the views of party members are so hardline on many political issues that it is not inconceivable to think that they could either push Reform UK further to the right or risk being quickly disillusioned if they feel the party is moderating its positions in the quest for power.”

It comes after Reform’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf last month outlined the party’s immigration policies during a speech in Dover.

Mr Yusuf said the UK is being “invaded” by migrants as he pitched Reform’s plans for a mass deportation programme.

If elected to government, the party says it would set up a unit it calls the “UK Deportation Command” to “track down, detain and deport” people in the country illegally, aiming to remove up to 288,000 people each year.

Reform has also said it will impose “visa freezes” on Pakistan, Afghanistan and Syria if the countries refuse to take back migrants with no legal right to stay in Britain.

The party has said it would expect to deport more than 600,000 people in its first term in government.

Hope Not Hate’s data found that almost half of the party’s members (46 per cent) do not like mixing with people of other ethnicities, religions and backgrounds in their local areas.

In contrast, 77 per cent of Britons overall say they like mixing with people of different backgrounds.

Two thirds of the party’s members also have a positive view of Rupert Lowe, the former Reform MP who is now leader of rival right-wing party Restore Britain.

Additionally, more than half (54 per cent) would prefer “having a strong and decisive leader who has the authority to override or ignore parliament”.

Reform led the latest voting intention poll from YouGov with 23 per cent and the party claims to have more than 270,000 members.

Mr Lowes described Reform’s policy offering as “probably the most extreme that we’ve had from a major political party”.

He believes the party has shifted further rightward since the 2024 general election, when it won more than four million votes.

Hope Not Hate’s data found that 66 per cent of Reform UK members think a civil war will happen in Britain.

Eight per cent of British people believe there will definitely be a civil war within the next five years, either between communities or against the state, with another 23 per cent, saying it is possible.

The Independent has approached Reform UK for comment.

Why Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 season is F1 legend’s final roll of the dice

For Lewis Hamilton, bouncing vigorously into this weekend’s season-opener in Melbourne once again, there is another record to add to the collection. At 41, Hamilton is about to embark on his 20th consecutive Formula 1 season. In overtaking Rubens Barrichello’s tally, the seven-time F1 world champion is now out on his own. Of course, currently tied for titles with Michael Schumacher, that is the one leaderboard which continues to define his existence and motivation in the sport.

Hamilton posted about his 20 not-out record, with typical effervescence, on Instagram this week. And one thing is for certain: if Ferrari can produce a car as inspiring as Hamilton’s invigorating wave of pre-season social media posts, maybe the Briton really can challenge for that elusive eighth championship. “I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream,” he said. “No holding back.”

The unparalleled ebullience is stirring. However, we’ve been here before.

A year ago, Hamilton was beaming in the Albert Park press conference room as he described his imminent Ferrari debut campaign as the “most exciting period of my life.” Then, in a manner only F1 can with hard numbers on the timesheet, reality set in. He qualified eighth on the grid, before finishing 10th as a podium slipped through his fingers in wet conditions. A week later, after the anomaly that was a sprint race win in China, he was disqualified from the Shanghai grand prix alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.

Henceforth, the tone was set for Hamilton’s worst-ever season. Winless; podiumless; hopeless. And not my words, his. “I feel terrible, terrible. It’s been the worst season ever,” he said, towards the end of a campaign where he would finish sixth in the standings, 267 points off world champion Lando Norris. “No matter how much I try, it keeps getting worse.”

Yet mercifully, for TV pen interviewers and written scribes alike, 2026 represents a clean slate for Ferrari and Hamilton. If there was no regulation shake-up in sight, it is not hyperbole to suggest Hamilton could have irretrievably thrown in the towel last year, such was the doldrums Britain’s greatest-ever racing driver found himself in.

But this year represents a new era. New engines, chassis, fuels and aerodynamics. As has been widely discussed, this season could, in essence, see a completely different sport with energy deployment as significant a factor as pure racing speed. Max Verstappen, amid pre-season testing, described it as “Formula E on steroids.”

If the top four teams – Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, in that order – are as close as testing suggested, the wiliest will win out. Enter Hamilton.

The ground-effect era, off the back of that controversial 2021 ending in Abu Dhabi, was not kind to Hamilton. Defeated three times out of four in teammate battles with Leclerc and George Russell, it was excruciating to see how out-of-tune Hamilton was with the machinery beneath him. Yet these new, lighter cars really do have the potential to favour Hamilton the most out of all 22 drivers on the grid.

“I think that his [Lewis’] style suits these cars a bit more,” said Williams driver Alex Albon. “He makes the corners really short. And he doesn’t focus on exits. I don’t think that’s the worst thing in these cars.” With so many different tools at play for the men in the cockpit – with ‘overtake mode’ replacing DRS, alongside ‘active aero’ and ‘boost mode’ – they look set to reward the drivers most adaptable and adept at providing hyper-specific technical feedback.

With two decades of experience behind him, this is perfect for Hamilton.

No doubt, there are still lingering concerns, not least whether Hamilton actually still has the pure pace of yesteryear, particularly up against Leclerc, one of the sport’s quickest drivers over one lap.

Hamilton’s race engineer situation is also farcical. Having rightly axed Riccardo Adami, the Brit is using an interim in ex-Kimi Raikkonen engineer Carlo Santi for the first few races of the year before Cedric Michel-Grosjean, formerly Oscar Piastri’s performance engineer at McLaren, is expected to be his man-in-ear when he concludes his notice period.

Frankly, given Hamilton’s tumultuous partnership with Adami was obvious from the get-go last year, Ferrari’s lack of forward planning in this regard is unimpressive. Hamilton has also lost close confidante Marc Hynes to Cadillac, but will continue to have personal trainer Angela Cullen alongside him.

But the reality is simple: it will not matter a jot if Ferrari’s car, the SF-26, is competitive from the outset this weekend in Australia. New phases of regulations typically start with the leading team dominating for years to come. See Mercedes in 2014 and Red Bull in 2022. This year, it’s fair to state that by race 11 at Silverstone in July, we’ll know where Hamilton’s ambitions lie if he is, or isn’t, able to compete for a race victory at his favourite circuit.

And what is so tantalising about these next few months are that they will, most likely, define Hamilton’s final years. Seemingly content off the track, dating one of the world’s most famous women in Kim Kardashian, Hamilton spoke with a smile at the end of testing a fortnight ago, especially after Ferrari’s rapid movement off the line in a practice race start. Typically, Ferrari look there or thereabouts, with Mercedes the early frontrunners.

The consensus in the paddock is that Hamilton could come alive if Ferrari give him a car capable of competing for a world championship. And then, a record-breaking eighth does not seem so fanciful. If they don’t, and Ferrari have not produced a world champion since Raikkonen in 2007, it could speed up the possibility of Hamilton actually waving goodbye to the sport he is so addicted to. We watch on from the sidelines with bated breath.

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.*

• All holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.

• ATOL protection from the moment you book your holiday package giving you financial reassurance.

• Quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

• 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.

• Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

PM’s post-Brexit reset with EU lacks ‘direction and drive’, MPs warn

Sir Keir Starmer’s ambition to reset UK-EU relations after Brexit is “suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive”, MPs have warned in a new report.

The government has been urged to end its “secrecy” over what it is seeking in order to save its “languishing” efforts to grow closer to the bloc.

The prime minister pledged to reset Britain’s relationship with Brussels when he took office, promising to rebuild ties with the EU that had been damaged by the previous Conservative government.

But MPs on the Commons foreign affairs select committee said the government failed to present a coherent roadmap at last year’s Lancaster House summit with the EU, and is at risk of making the same mistake ahead of this year’s follow-up event.

It said a lack of clear, strategic priorities from the UK side has given the impression that the EU has achieved more progress in the negotiations.

Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry said that although the reset marked a “major step change” in government policy, the efforts have lacked “direction”.

“Sadly, we found that despite progress in some areas, the government’s reset is languishing, suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive,” she said.

“It feels as though we are on a journey with no clear destination.

“In many areas, the government has failed to provide timelines, milestones, or priorities and it does not appear to have an ambitious, strategic vision for the UK’s new relationship with the EU.”

The new report released on Wednesday urged the government to set out its vision for the UK’s relationship with the EU in a white paper and set up a new Commons EU scrutiny committee.

Sir Keir clinched an initial landmark deal last year, which included agreements such as allowing British tourists to use fast-track e-gates at European airports, a 12-year extension of an agreement for EU trawlers to access UK waters, and an open-ended agreement to slash red tape on food and drink exports and imports.

In February, Britain and the EU announced they were aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for another joint summit later this year. They also want to secure a common sanitary and phytosanitary area – which would apply to the movement of plants and food – and agree on a way to link their emissions trading systems by that time.

However, talks aimed at the UK potentially joining the European Union’s new €150bn (£130bn) Security Action for Europe (Safe) rearmament fund broke down at the end of last year.

“The exorbitant price tag for the UK’s participation in the first round of the Safe programme is short-sighted, particularly given the threat from Putin’s Russia,” Dame Emily said.

But she also said the UK government must go beyond work to “identify the problem and vaguely call for more ‘alignment’”, and urged both sides to focus on the “bigger picture”, while criticising the EU for “changing the goalposts” when it comes to asking for the UK to make financial contributions to the bloc.

She said: “We need to work towards concrete, practical and deliverable solutions in tandem with our EU partners.

“Today’s report calls on government to end its secrecy over EU matters, and set out exactly what it plans to do in the next phase of negotiations in a white paper.

“Government should also be willing to subject its plans to proper parliamentary scrutiny and facilitate the establishment of a new EU scrutiny committee in the Commons.”

Government criticised as proposed social media ban for under-16s set to be axed

A proposed blanket ban on social media use for under-16s faces potential reversal next week despite being previously backed by the House of Lords.

The government is instead pushing for a more adaptable power, allowing for the blocking of children from “specified internet services” rather than a strict age limit for under-16s.

Should MPs approve this amendment within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, ministers would acquire new authority to impose social media curfews or restrict screen time for young people.

Crucially, while Lords sought a direct ban on user-to-user platforms, the revised proposal grants ministers discretion over the specific measures to be implemented.

John Nash, who steered the ban in law through the Upper House, described this as a “blank cheque”.

The government launched an online safety consultation on Monday, which explores several themes including whether social media platforms should come with a minimum age requirement, and whether platforms should switch off addictive features such as autoplay.

Lord Nash told the Press Association: “The government’s amendment confirms that they remain firmly on the fence on how best to protect children.

“In fact, it is patently clear that raising the age limit to 16 for harmful social media platforms is far from their preferred option.

“MPs must choose on Monday whether to act now and raise the age limit for harmful social media to 16, or vote for the government’s amendment, which is in effect a blank cheque, committing only to further delay while their consultation runs its course.

“That consultation is simply yet another opportunity for Big Tech to mobilise their lobbyists and water down any prospective measures before they reach the statute book.”

Lord Nash, a Conservative former minister, added that he has backed a letter-writing campaign by raisetheage.org.uk ahead of Monday’s Commons debate on the Bill.

He said his proposal, which peers backed in January by 261 votes to 150 – majority 111, was “the only legislative vehicle on the table that will force the government to raise the age limit for harmful social media platforms”.

He said MPs should back his proposal instead of the government’s “without hesitating”.

Launching the consultation earlier this week, technology secretary Liz Kendall said: “We know parents everywhere are grappling with how much screen time their children should have, when they should give them a phone, what they are seeing online, and the impact all of this is having.”

She urged children and parents to take part in the government’s consultation.

“Together, we will create a digital world that gives young people the childhood they deserve and prepares them for the future,” she said.