Public figure snapshot
Rail investigations show that a driver’s red-signal breach led to a deadly Elstow crash. RAIB interim report points to AWS faults and human error; an inquest has opened as the rail network remains on edge after last month’s collision.
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as Labour leader at a special conference in London and will become prime minister on Monday after Keir Starmer formally resigns to the King. Burnham has secured overwhelming support from Labour MPs, pledged a "distinctively Labour" government, and promised to devolve power, tackle social care and focus on growth outside London.
A stage adaptation of Letter to Brezhnev at Royal Court, Liverpool, and a double-play from Manchester and Lancaster showcase intimate, strong performances. Ellie Clayton and Angela Simms anchor a lively, tender production with Mark Fisher’s direction and Rob Green’s musicality enriching a story that hovers between nostalgia and escape.