East London town with a Ford legacy, now part of Barking and Dagenham
Labour leaders are racing to confirm Andy Burnham as next prime minister as leadership contest talks wane. With nominations opening mid-July, Burnham appears the clear frontrunner and could be PM within days if no challenger secures the 81 backers needed.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has moved its operations into a permanent space on Infirmary Street, transforming Fringe Central into a year‑round hub for artists, welfare support, rehearsal spaces and industry services. The project, funded by the UK Government and partners, is designed to support a thriving, inclusive fringe ecosystem alongside the city’s galleries and venues.
The Guardian reports that Ray Exworth’s six-decade body of sculpture has been hidden in seven sheds on a Cornish smallholding. A new book, Ray’s Sheds, documents the unseen works and raises questions about public access to art.
A set of recent missing-person stories from multiple outlets highlight ongoing investigations. New appeals are being issued to locate those who are unaccounted for, with families seeking answers and closure after prolonged absences.
A lifer in Belmarsh has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation after an incident with a guard in February. Cases have moved to Inner London Crown Court for trial, with further developments expected.