Hillsborough is back in the headlines as new inquiries and police/government findings spark fresh questions about justice and accountability for the 1989 disaster. Timeline: 96 Liverpool fans died; families pressing for truth and reforms.
A June 18 Makerfield by-election has become a de facto national leadership test. Labour has placed Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham in the contest to enter parliament and challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Polls show Labour leading by five to 12 points, but Nigel Farage's Reform UK and the splinter Restore Britain party are splitting the right‑wing vote and shifting the race.
Andy Burnham has ruled out financial compensation for Waspi women affected by the state pension age changes, but is open to other measures such as early concessionary travel. He is campaigning in Makerfield amid by-election pressure and faces scrutiny over past promises and Labour leadership ambitions.
Dalglish has confirmed he is undergoing cancer treatment. He has thanked medical staff for their care and discretion, and asked for privacy as he continues treatment. The news follows reports that he inadvertently posted about his health on social media.