‘You killed my son’: Explosion victim’s mother sobs as drug dealer sentenced
A drug dealer who caused the death of a seven-year-old boy in an explosion has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Reece Galbraith and his friend Jason “Jay” Laws were using a Newcastle flat as a drugs lab when a blast ripped through the building in the early hours of October 16.
The explosion killed Laws and Archie York, who was asleep in the flat above.
Galbraith, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, admitted two counts of manslaughter as well as possessing and supplying cannabis, at a hearing in April.
He was sentenced on Wednesday at Newcastle Crown Court.
Archie’s mother, Katherine Errington, shouted “you killed my son” at Galbraith as she read her victim impact statement in court.
She sobbed as she told the defendant: “You brought gas canisters into a building where families lived. You ran a drugs operation under the floor where my children slept.
“You took risks for profit and didn’t care who got hurt. You killed my son.”
The blast, on Violet Close, Benwell, wrecked the street and made families homeless.
The court heard it destroyed six out of the 12 flats in the block and was followed by a “fierce fire” which caused so much damage the whole block has since had to be been demolished.
Police investigating the explosion discovered that the flat operated by Galbraith and Laws was used as a “drugs lab” to produce cannabis concentrates, known as “shatter” or “butane honey oil”, a highly dangerous process.
The product was then turned into cannabis edibles, also known as “gummies”.
Archie was asleep on the sofa with his father, Robbie York, when the blast ripped through the family home.
Ms Errington was pulled out of the rubble by Mr York, who also found Archie’s seven-week-old brother Finley, covered in dust but “astonishingly unharmed”, in the wreckage.
But Mr York could not find Archie, and they were told later that he had died.
Ms Errington said she was “furious” when she was told within a week of Archie’s death that shatter was being made in the flat below.
Prosecutor David Brooke KC said Laws had been using the flat for months and there was “little purpose” for it other than the production of cannabis.
The court heard Galbraith, Laws’ partner in the “enterprise”, was found walking away from the street immediately after the explosion and asking about his friend.
He suffered extensive burns and was in hospital for about a month, initially in an induced coma.
At the time of the explosion, Galbraith was already being investigated for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, after police stopped his car in April and found a cannabis bush, a set of scales and cannabis sweets.
Officers later found 250 cannabis sweets, moulds and 300g of a sweet mixture when they searched his house.
He was released pending further investigation.
Police also found evidence on his phone that he was dealing in cannabis and cannabis sweets “full-time” with Laws from at least as far back as November 2023.
Experts found that the explosion was caused by the ignition of liquid butane gas, which had been released and built up within the premises as part of the illegal shatter production.
More than 100 butane canisters were found in the flat, Mr Brooke said, as well as other pieces of “sophisticated and expensive” equipment.
The prosecutor said: “The process of making shatter is inherently dangerous because butane is highly flammable.
“It is a process that has to be done with the utmost care to avoid an explosion.”
The court heard the blast had had “an enormous impact locally” and that 10 households had to be permanently rehoused.
More than 100 people were displaced to temporary accommodation and 53 of the 80 residents will not return.
The financial impact of the blast is said to have been about £3.7 million.
Forest striker has been left in intensive care by the worst rule in football
Taiwo Awoniyi is in an induced coma because of an incident that should have never been allowed to play out.
The Nottingham Forest striker suffered a life-threatening abdominal injury when he collided with the post in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester. It was the 88th minute, with the score level, and he had gone hell for leather trying to latch onto Anthony Elanga’s ball across for a tap-in winner – understandable, given the fact a goal at that stage could have delivered Forest a seismic three points in their push for Champions League football.
It led to Awoniyi crashing abdomen-first into the woodwork at speed as the entire City Ground winced in unison. However, his efforts were in vain. In the build-up, Elanga was offside. Light years offside. But there was no flag from assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis, who allowed play to continue and for Awoniyi to put himself at enormous risk, for no reason.
This was not Massey-Ellis’s fault. She, along with every linesperson and referee in the Premier League, is simply following the guidance of Ifab, the governing body responsible for the laws of the game, and thus PGMOL. They’re instructed to rely on the safety net of VAR instead of making use of their officiating acumen to call the most obvious of decisions. Enter one of the worst rules in football: delaying the offside flag.
Ifab simply state the delaying of the flag is only “permissable in a very clear attacking situation when a player is about to score a goal or has a clear run into/towards the box”. PGMOL add to this in their Competition Guidance Handbook, directing assistant referees to delay their flag when there is a “clear opportunity to score” and a “tight judgement” for whether the player is onside or offside. Then, once a goal is scored or the chance is gone, the assistant will raise the flag to indicate the initial offence – and if the ball is in the net, VAR will review the offside call.
In theory, this is a good rule that allows VAR to be put to proper use. However, the ever-vague description of “tight judgement” has forced those running the line to interpret the directive themselves – and over time, it’s led to assistant referees keeping their flag down whenever any player is put through on goal, regardless of the gap between them and the last man. When you’ve got the technology as your get-out-of-jail-free card, why would you ever put the flag up and risk all the scrutiny?
In a job where one mistake can leave you with death threats in your inbox, you can’t blame refs for following an instruction that helps them avoid being at the centre of controversy. But in taking away the burden of game-changing decisions from the officials, the governing bodies have chipped away at their conviction and authority. If there are a couple of inches in the decision, fair enough, leave it to VAR. But what are assistant referee, at the top of their profession, being paid for if they aren’t encouraged by the rules to put their flag up for a five-yard offside?
Before VAR, this wasn’t an issue. If a player strayed a significant distance offside, the flag would go up 99 times out of 100 – and the one assistant referee whose flag stayed down would be subject to scrutiny, because that’s a colossal blunder and officials aren’t exempt from criticism. But my issue isn’t “when (lines)men were (lines)men”. It’s the unnecessary risk footballers face when play is wrongfully allowed to continue.
Football is a physical game. If a player is sprinting in behind with an opposition defender chasing and an imposing goalkeeper rushing out – both willing to do anything to prevent a goal – there is always a chance that a collision will happen. Whether that be man-to-man, ball-to-face, or going head-first over the advertising board, players are now in peril. If it then transpires that the attacker was significantly offside, the painstaking endeavours of all involved are made completely futile.
Frustrations have been voiced about the rule for years, but there is no bigger victim of its pitfalls than Awoniyi. The Nigeria international suffered the worst-case scenario of delaying the offside flag. He’s been placed in an induced coma to treat injuries sustained following a phase of play that should have stopped before he was even in the opposition half. It was so, so avoidable.
This is a freak accident, of course. If it happened in legal play, we would not be lighting pitchforks against football or goalposts. But the fact this one incident could – no, should – have been prevented by the officials makes it scandalous. It wasn’t a lone assistant referee who screwed up – she was following an internationally recognised directive, doing what every other official has done since VAR’s introduction.
A man is now in intensive care due to the needless risks permitted by the rulebook. After flirting with disaster for five years, now is the time for the directive to be rigorously reviewed.
PGMOL and Ifab have declined to comment.
Gary Lineker apologises after sharing Zionism post featuring rat image
Gary Lineker has apologised after sharing an Instagram video on Zionism with his 1.2 million followers that featured an emoji of a rat.
The Match of the Day presenter posted the story clip from the group Palestine Lobby, which, titled “Zionism explained in less than 2 min”, contained a circled illustration of the animal.
The use of the term rat in association with Jewish people has been widely recognised as antisemitic, with it being used as an insult to describe the race by Nazi Germany.
The former England football captain deleted the post from his profile as soon as he saw the image, Lineker’s agent said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lineker issued a statement in which he “apologised unreservedly” for the post.
He said: “On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.
“Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.”
Despite deleting the post, the 64-year-old, who is the BBC’s top earner, has drawn criticism from Jewish and campaign groups that combat antisemitism. There are also growing calls for Lineker to leave the corporation.
Lineker is stepping down from hosting Match of the Day at the end of the current football season, but will present FA Cup coverage and the 2026 World Cup for the BBC.
On X (Twitter), the Campaign Against Antisemitism shared a screengrab of Lineker’s post, and wrote: “Nothing to see here. Just Gary Lineker’s Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji.”
In another post, the group, with 67,000 followers, wrote: “Having looked the other way until now, at this point, it is clear that Gary Lineker’s continued association with the BBC is untenable. He must go.”
It added that a complaint will be submitted to the BBC.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the BBC should ask Lineker, who was paid £1.35m in 2023/24, to leave.
A spokesperson told Mail Online: “The BBC has allowed the situation with Gary Lineker to continue for far too long. He has caused great offence with this video – particularly with his egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists.”
The Independent has approached the BBC for comment.
This is not the first time Lineker has faced criticism over his views posted on social media.
In March 2023, he was suspended from the BBC after comparing the language used to launch a then-government asylum seeker policy to 1930s Germany, describing the scheme as “immeasurably cruel”.
Earlier this year, Lineker signed an open letter to the BBC, calling on it to reinstate a documentary called Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. The programme was pulled after it emerged that a boy featured in it was the son of a Hamas official.
In April, Lineker said he did not regret his comments on government policy in March 2023. He told the BBC’s Amol Rajan he had the right to be able to share his opinion on issues, including Gaza.
As a football player, Lineker played for Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. He scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for England, and was one of the stars of the 1986 World Cup in Argentina.
He has been Match of the Day host since 1999, the longest-serving anchor for the flagship show.
His company, Goalhanger Podcasts, founded in 2019, has released popular podcasts such as The Rest Is Politics, The Rest Is Entertainment, and The Rest Is Football, which he co-hosts with MOTD colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Mission: Impossible 8 is a massive Tom Cruise ego trip – I adored it
Trust in the Mission: Impossible series that, when it does cave fully into self-indulgence, it does so with the fatalistic pomp of Wagner’s Ring cycle. It’s hard to say, in an industry where money decides, whether The Final Reckoning will be the last time we see Tom Cruise’s IMF operative Ethan Hunt. But if this is our final farewell, we’ve at least gone out with demonstrable proof that he is, as Alec Baldwin’s character once described in 2015’s Rogue Nation, “the living manifestation of destiny”.
The Final Reckoning is inherently absurd. It also reaches such highs that it’s hard to really be that bothered. It’s the sort of lumbering titan that feels perfectly fitting, as reportedly the fourth most expensive film ever made. We kick off with the implication that Hunt, in his continuing efforts to defeat the all-powerful AI known as The Entity (the film was originally conceived as part two to 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One), is primed and ready to lead what Frank Herbert would call, in his novel Dune, the Butlerian Jihad, the eradication of all thinking machines.
Then, a factory line of familiar faces from the recent and distant past turn up to assure Hunt that he is, in fact, the centre of the universe, the only person who could prevent a third world war, then usher in world peace with a handshake and a few words about how nice it is when everyone works as a team. He is unequivocally, to return to Dune terms, his reality’s Kwisatz Haderach, with none of the novel’s scepticism towards saviours and messiahs.
If that all sounds like one massive ego trip for Cruise – well, yes. The Final Reckoning is primarily billed as “A Tom Cruise Production” over its official director, Christopher McQuarrie. But Mission: Impossible has built its entire home on the foundations of self-worship, and as one of Hollywood’s last holdouts when it comes to real, tangible spectacle. It has a commitment so pure that Cruise recently said of his work, “it’s not what I do, it’s who I am”. And it’s not entirely unearned. The Final Reckoning, when it comes to stunt work, truly has no peers.
Cruise-as-Hunt scrambles onto a biplane mid-air, piloting it with one leg sticking out of the cockpit, before lining it up and leaping onto a second biplane to chase The Entity’s right-hand man, Gabriel (Esai Morales). Cruise-as-Hunt explores and then escapes, in the most claustrophobic way possible, a wrecked submarine that has started rolling across the ocean floor like a pencil.
And for all of Cruise-as-Hunt’s godlike powers, the actor is especially willing here to slip and slide around the place like he’s been touched by the grace of Buster Keaton. Up in the stratosphere, his cheeks start flapping like the national flag; he’s often stripped down to his briefs, which would suggest a desire to show off his highly toned physique, but often renders him surprisingly vulnerable, hunched up in the foetal position at one point in what feels almost like an homage to the Star Child in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The Mission: Impossible series has, over time, grown increasingly sentimental as Hunt has consolidated his IMF family, chiefly his tech team Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg), and Schrödinger’s love interest Grace (Hayley Atwell), whose ambiguous romantic tension with Hunt seems to be a “have your cake and eat it” approach to pairing an action star with a much younger woman.
However, for all its Hunt-centric egotism, The Final Reckoning also expands that idea of family to shine a spotlight on an entire line-up of potential Cruise successors, from Pom Klementieff, as once-evil-now-good assassin Paris, with her full-throated approach to stunt work, to Katy O’Brian and Severance’s Tramell Tillman as two submarine crew members. She’s got the muscles and the lethal charisma; he’s got a smile so warm the film pauses for a second so we can bask in it. The Final Reckoning, final or not, presents us with a fascinating contradiction: Ethan Hunt is both a pure singular and a state of mind. He’s cinema as the madman dreamer’s paradise.
Dir: Christopher McQuarrie. Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett. Cert 12A, 170 minutes.
‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ is in cinemas from 21 May
McIlroy’s newfound strength puts PGA Championship rivals on notice
First came the vulnerability over many years. Then the outpouring of emotion at the Masters – Rory McIlroy allowing us to witness one of the most intimate moments in sports for decades.
Completing the grand slam and slipping on that green jacket banished the demons after so much heartache – that Augusta collapse; freezing at Royal Portrush before the Open had barely begun; stumbling over 18 holes on Sunday at St Andrews as Cam Smith snuck up on him; and then the torture of Pinehurst No. 2 last year.
Now, though, with five career majors elevating himself back above Brooks Koepka as the definitive player of a generation, if there was any doubt beforehand, McIlroy is certainly emboldened ahead of this week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
And that is a dangerous quality for his rivals, too. The talk this week has mostly swirled around the Northern Irishman and an audacious calendar slam bid, sending fans into a frenzy. However, Scottie Scheffler remains the world No. 1 after romping to victory by eight shots at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson two weeks ago.
There is an appetite from the fans for a generational rivalry, and if Scheffler’s unassuming demeanour somewhat precludes him from forming golf’s Ali vs Frazier or Federer vs Nadal, then Bryson DeChambeau might gleefully seize the spotlight, rejuvenated after this month’s LIV Golf Korea victory and determined to contend once more here.
DeChambeau was bullish after prevailing in the US Open against McIlroy at a raucous Pinehurst last year, mocking him for “doing it to himself”. However, McIlroy could barely taste revenge at Augusta earlier this year, with the American melting long before Amen Corner.
McIlroy teased DeChambeau for his indignant response to the lack of flowing conversation with his rival during that final round at the Masters. The response – what exactly did he expect?
McIlroy, whose Thursday tee time for round one is 1.15pm BST alongside Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, has been in scintillating form over the last year and might well be the best player in the world, at least since the turn of the year. But a tied-seventh finish at the Truist Championship last week, won by Ryder Cup teammate Sepp Straka, was perhaps more revealing than his sensational best.
“Even my bad golf is still competitive,” McIlroy said. “I’m in a good place, I didn’t play that well and still finished seventh, a couple of tweaks at a place I love in Quail Hollow, I’m in a good place.”
McIlroy has always been a compelling character, willing to divulge his candid views, even when it would better suit him to keep quiet. So it has been revealing how the Masters and, specifically, his work with sports psychologist Bob Rotella appear to have transformed him as a player and his outlook on the game.
“We didn’t want to pay attention to what anyone else was scoring, or shooting, or swinging or how far they were hitting it – we just wanted Rory to play his game,” Rotella told Radio 4’s Today show last month when discussing how McIlroy snapped a 10-year drought in the majors. “The point is, if you believe you’re going to win, just play your game and assume that if you do that anywhere near the way you’re capable of, then you will end up number one.”
More of that has rubbed off on McIlroy this week before a ball has been struck with genuine intent, and a playful question was posed to him in the preview press conference.
Asked about the four elements of the game (driving, approach, putting and around the green), McIlroy was asked to pick a player to trade one part with his own.
“I wouldn’t trade,” McIlroy rebuffed quickly with a shake of his hand. What if he was forced to? “I’m not,” he maintained.
A third attempt from the journalist at a fun discussion arrived, but no luck: “I’m focused on my game.”
A few uncomfortable chuckles from the media in attendance followed, but McIlroy remained steadfast on business this week. At a golf course stripped down by Justin Thomas to the goal of merely bombing one’s driver as far and as straight as possible, no wonder McIlroy fancies a second major in quick succession — the Northern Irishman is first in strokes gained off the tee on the PGA Tour this season and third in driving distance (318.6 yards).
With four career victories in this part of Charlotte, North Carolina, the stars might be aligning for a historic year, with a shot at redemption to come back at Royal Portrush too.
And with each part of his game sturdy and for the first time in his career, McIlroy can revel in this newfound mindset to not only contend once again, but now thrive when the pressure rises.
Celebration villa breaks: find your perfect luxury getaway
If you’re planning a milestone birthday, a big anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, a villa holiday is hard to beat. Imagine clinking glasses on a rooftop terrace at sunset or gathering loved ones around a candlelit garden table for a leisurely dinner under the night sky.
These special occasions deserve much more than booking out a busy hotel, and nothing beats having your own sun-drenched sanctuary where you have the space and privacy to celebrate in style. Whether you’re heading to Marrakech in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, to the rolling hills of Tuscany, or a tropical oasis further afield, Villas are the perfect home-away-from-home for celebrating something, or someone, special.
CV Villas’ luxurious ABOVE collection offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments – think breathtaking settings, total privacy, and the kind of comfort and space that makes everyone feel at home. All come with stunning interiors, sweeping views as far as the eye can see, and enviable locations in some of the world’s most sought-after spots. Each villa is hand-picked by dedicated CV Villa specialists, who are experts in helping people craft their dream getaway. Many come with their own infinity pools, breathtaking views and large alfresco dining areas, perfect for spending quality time together during life’s most important moments. Villas aren’t just places to stay, they’re a big part of the celebration itself.
From the moment you book your stay to your arrival back home, the CV Villas Concierge team is there to make everything as seamless and stress-free as possible. They are dedicated to looking after you and your party before and throughout your holiday so that you can focus on the things that really matter, like spending quality time together and celebrating without having to worry about the minor details. The team tailors each trip to exactly what you’re after, whether you’re looking to book a private boat day or need to organise a surprise celebration dinner, nothing is too much trouble. Many of the five-star villas even come with their own butlers and chefs so that you can be waited on hand and foot during your special getaway.
ABOVE villas are the epitome of luxury and come with designer interiors, infinity pools boasting panoramic ocean views, and terraces made for golden hour cocktails – properties with serious star quality. What’s more, they’re located all around the world, from the sun-soaked shores of Spain and Greece to the palm-fringed beaches of far-flung Sri Lanka and beyond.
Sampling delicious local food is a big part of a holiday, but catering for a large group can often mean juggling different requests and palates. Luckily for you, many of these luxury villas come with their very own in-villa chefs – perfect for when you’d rather toast the moment with a glass of fizz than spend time flapping around in the kitchen. Instead, let your chef whip up multi-course meals morning till night, using the freshest local produce, all based on your personal tastes and dietary requirements, before tucking into it alfresco under the undisturbed starry night sky.
The little luxuries make a big difference to a bucket-list trip: daily housekeeping to keep things spic and span, spa treatments for when you need a little R&R, wine tastings for the adults, yoga sessions with epic views, and even round-the-clock babysitting. All of this can be arranged to make your stay feel even more indulgent.
Maison Emilion, France
This rustic French villa is practically made for wine lovers, aptly located amidst the rolling vineyards of Bordeaux. This six-bedroom hilltop hangout boasts views of the working vineyards from every angle, including from the heated pool and surrounding sunbeds. Wander into the nearby village of Saint-Émilion, then enjoy the included wine-tasting experience before settling into the garden for dinner with nothing but the glow of flickering candlelight and the moonlit sky.
Oleander, Corfu
It doesn’t get much more luxurious than Oleander in Corfu, a five-bedroom villa overlooking Avlaki Bay and the picturesque town of Kassiopi. It’s located high above the Ionian Sea and is the ideal villa for memorable summer celebrations. Soak up the sunshine from the infinity pool while enjoying views of Albania’s craggy Ceraunian Mountains, or hang out on the wrap-around terraces and communal outside dining areas. During peak season at Oleander, chef service is also included, so you can enjoy meals with your loved ones without even having to leave the villa.
Spirit of Son Fuster, Mallorca
Spirit of Son Fuster in Mallorca is hard to beat for large groups and multigenerational stays. This five-star bolthole is set in a stunning natural landscape at the foot of the Alaro twin mountains, right near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Serra de Tramuntana, and is as secluded as it gets. This gorgeous 14th-century manor house sleeps twenty people across ten bedrooms and even has its own on-site spa and hammam where everyone can enjoy treatments in the dedicated treatment rooms. There’s even a private cinema room for movie nights and a well-stocked wine cellar filled with local vintage wines.
Masseria Giardini, Puglia
Masseria Giardini in Puglia is the height of luxury and the perfect home-away-from-home for families and large groups. It was built in 1750 and is surrounded by leafy olive groves and landscaped gardens curated by Chelsea Flower Show winners Urquhart & Hunt. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Canale Di Pirro Valley from this ten-bedroom farmhouse and spend days lazing around in the heated pool. This villa is an architectural masterpiece, with signature stone domed roofs and hand-carved stone baths in five of the ten bedrooms.
For more travel information and inspiration and to book your perfect villa getaway, visit CV Villas
Mark Carney says Canada not impressed by offer of second state visit to Trump
Canada was “not impressed” by the King’s invitation to Donald Trump for an unprecedented second state visit to the UK, the country’s prime minister has said.
Freshly elected leader Mark Carney said February’s invitation jarred with Canadians because it was delivered physically by Keir Starmer during an Oval Office press conference while Trump was challenging Canada’s sovereignty and suggesting America’s northern neighbour should become the 51st state of the US.
The former British colony is also a key member of the Commonwealth and regards King Charles as its head of state.
“I think, to be frank, they [Canadians] weren’t impressed by that gesture… given the circumstance,” Mr Carney told Sky News. “It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty.”
Mr Carney, a former Bank of England governor, ran his election campaign on standing up to Mr Trump’s tariff plans and threats to make Canada a state of the US. He has reiterated to Trump that Canada will “never ever” become part of the US.
A wave of anti-Trump sentiment in Canada in the wake of the US president’s comments about a takeover helped Mr Carney secure an unexpected victory. His party, the Liberals, won 168 seats out of 343 in Canada’s House of Commons.
Though he fell short of the 172 seats necessary for a majority, the low approval ratings of Mr Carney’s Liberal predecessor, Justin Trudeau, in the run-up to the April election, meant many people expected the party to perform badly in the vote.
After securing victory, Mr Carney invited King Charles, who is Canada’s head of state, to open its parliament later this month in a “clear message of sovereignty”.
That this is the first time the British monarch has opened the Canadian parliament in 50 years is “not coincidental”, says Mr Carney.
Sir Keir personally delivered an invitation from King Charles to Mr Trump at the White House in late February. It was seen as a bid to flatter Trump, who is known to love the British Royal Family.
But the invitation drew ire from political ranks in the UK, as well as in Canada. Both speakers of parliament, in the Commons and the Lords, have been asked to block Trump from addressing the houses during his visit.
Lord Foulkes, a minister in Sir Tony Blair’s former government who is calling for Trump to be barred from addressing the Lords, said “parliament should not welcome a leader who is anti-democratic and flouts the courts and the rule of law”.
Foulkes added: “He also fails to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which all parties in the UK parliament have done.”