Andy Burnham proved categorically that he is a winner. A challenge to Sir Keir Starmer is now inevitable.

Just after 3 am, the Makerfield count in Wigan fell quiet. Labour had known their candidate was ahead, but there were still some stunned faces as he secured a whopping majority of 9,231 with a 54.8 per cent share of the vote. Burnham, not Starmer, is the electable and apparently unstoppable face of Labour.

Burnham lost no time in setting out his vision for leadership. This is a “final chance to change,” he warned his new colleagues in Westminster in his acceptance speech; it is a “turning point” for British politics.

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Number of job vacancies hits five-year low

There are fewer jobs available than there have been for five years, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as firms blame wage growth and economic uncertainty for their reluctance to hire staff.

How bad is the job market?

in May this year, the lowest number since April 2021.

In the three months to May, vacancies fell by…

This is also the sharpest drop in five years.

The drop was most significant across retail, hospitality and professional services, as well as small employers across industries.

With wage growth hovering at 3.4 per cent, employers are reluctant to hire new staff, hire new staff, who will become an ongoing cost.

The number of workers on payrolls fell by 53,000 during the same period, further suggesting companies are not looking to expand the workforce. The ONS said the key drivers are economic uncertainty and higher labour costs.

If Government is serious about tackling youth unemployment, it must bring down the cost of employing young people and ensure employment reforms support entry-level recruitment and progression. helen dickinson, chief executive of the british retail consortium

If Government is serious about tackling youth unemployment, it must bring down the cost of employing young people and ensure employment reforms support entry-level recruitment and progression.

Everything you need to know about forced adoption scandal

The Church of England has apologised to those affected by historical forced adoptions organised by the church after the Government confirmed it would be apologising yesterday.

What you need to know

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, said she was sorry for the “pain, trauma and stigma” experienced by mothers and children in homes affiliated with the Church. She said she had heard first-hand stories from survivors and that they should not be ashamed, because “the shame is ours”.

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An estimated 185,000 babies of unmarried mothers were adopted in England and Wales between 1949 and 1976. The Church of England believes up to tens of thousands of these adoptions took place in Church-affiliated homes, where mothers were forced into manual labour as punishment.

The apology does not mention compensation, but a wider redress scheme might mean survivors could be eligible for up to £660,000.

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@theipaper England’s World Cup campaign has just begun, but should fans be allowed to decorate streets with St George’s flags? Councils across the West Country are warning people not to attach flags to lampposts, railings and other public property, saying it can create safety issues and may even be a criminal offence. We visited what’s been called England’s most patriotic street to hear what local people think. Read more on this story at the link above ⬆️ #WorldCup #FifaWorldCup #England #Englandflag ♬ original sound – The i Paper – The i Paper

England’s World Cup campaign has just begun, but should fans be allowed to decorate streets with St George’s flags? Councils across the West Country are warning people not to attach flags to lampposts, railings and other public property, saying it can create safety issues and may even be a criminal offence. We visited what’s been called England’s most patriotic street to hear what local people think. Read more on this story at the link above ⬆️ #WorldCup #FifaWorldCup #England #Englandflag

Lidl toasts ‘milestone’ moment with launch of first Middle Ale bar

Supermarket chain Lidl has opened the doors to its first pub. The Middle Ale bar and off-licence is adjacent to the existing Lidl store in Dundonald, near Belfast.Here is everything you need to know about the new venture.

Why has Lidl opened a pub?

The venture represents Lidl’s novel way of ensuring compliance with Northern Ireland’s strict and complex licensing laws.The distribution of liquor licences are tightly controlled in the region and can only be obtained by purchasing them from businesses that are closing or no longer intend to sell........

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