It is a truth universally acknowledged that a national leader of a major nation will sooner or later have to deal with Donald Trump. It is unlikely to be one of the more enjoyable or productive aspects of the job, but it is part of the gig.
If you’re about to become prime minister of the UK, ostensibly one of America’s oldest and closest allies – sharing military bases, intelligence, close trade ties and more – handling the White House is something to think about from day one.
Makerfield MP Andy Burnham, for whom day one may be weeks away, is not inheriting a great hand in terms of dealing with Trump.
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A lonely and bruised Trump is a far more reckless one (Photo: Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images)
Politics
Trump’s loneliness will make him more reckless. I’ve seen him lash out up close
Donald Trump called the end of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership before Downing Street had said a word. His other allies are no longer playing along – but a cornered Trump is a more dangerous one.
How Trump started losing allies
When Starmer resigned on Monday, the verdict had already been handed down – not by his party, though it had turned on him, but by the US President, who delivered it from across an ocean a full day early.
Caption: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak during a family photograph during the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. A G7 summit is set to take place June 15 to 17 in the French town of Evian-les-Bains near Switzerland and it will be attended by country leaders as well as the EU’s foreign policy chief and ministers from Brazil, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: LUDOVIC MARIN
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Source: AFP
Caption: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer reacts as he makes a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after fewer than two years in office in a term characterised by policy U-turns and deep public unpopularity. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: HENRY NICHOLLS
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Copyright: AFP or licensors
“Keir Starmer will resign as prime minister,” Trump posted on Sunday, before a syllable had emerged from Downing Street. He blamed immigration and energy, demanded somebody open up the North Sea, and signed off with a breezy, “I wish him well”.
Instinct for celebration
This isn’t how one ally treats another, a nation with which it purports to have a special relationship.
When a partner government collapses, the customary American instinct should be a respectful word and quiet hope for continuity.
Trump’s instinct was to celebrate, again wading into the domestic politics of a friend in ways that will surely sour the relationship further.
WORLD
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None of this surprises me. When I served in Trump’s first term, I saw that he did not regard foreign leaders as counterparts in a shared project. In meetings behind closed doors, he sorted them into perceived “winners” and “losers”. Allies, in this worldview, are not partners to be kept but props to be used and discarded.
Miles Taylor
Caption: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak during a family photograph during the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. A G7 summit is set to take place June 15 to 17 in the French town of Evian-les-Bains near Switzerland and it will be attended by country leaders as well as the EU’s foreign policy chief and ministers from Brazil, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: LUDOVIC MARIN
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Source: AFP
Trump’s ire directed at western democracies
Caption: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he leaves the stage after a media conference at the end of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Photographer: Vadim Ghirda
Provider: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Source: AP
In particular, his ire was directed at western democracies. Trump seemed to sense their judgement.
They favoured the rule of law. He favoured the rule of one.
ADVERTISING
All the ads banned for misleading ‘recycled’ claims
A rail of clothes in a second hand vintage charity shop – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Ads for Calvin Klein, Adidas and Uniqlo have been banned for making misleading claims about the recycled content of their clothing.
False advertising
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found Calvin Klein, Adidas and Uniqlo used the word “recycled” to describe their fabric or product composition but did not provide any information explaining the claim.
Low angle view of smiling man shopping with male friend at clothes store – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
A young man trying on a smart jacket in a vintage clothes shop – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The watchdog said the ads gave the impression that the products were made entirely from recycled materials, but found that none of the three brands could provide evidence to support this. The ASA ruled that the ads were misleading and ordered that the three brands withdraw them.
What did Adidas say?
Adidas said it believed consumers would interpret its ad for “recycled running shoes” as meaning they contained materials derived from recycled sources.
They explained they did not operate a standalone recycled running shoe range, but said certain products across their collections might incorporate recycled materials.
Caption: FILE PHOTO: Logo of Adidas brand is displayed on the store in the center of Warsaw, Poland, January 4, 2024. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
Photographer: Kacper Pempel
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS
Rising production costs have dampened the deep discounts that retailers generally offer in January sales (Photo: Andrew Kelly/Reuters)
What did Calvin Klein say?
Caption: A rack of second hand jeans
Photographer: Tendo23
Provider: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto
Calvin Klein said it “would not be reasonable” for consumers to interpret its ad for “responsibly sourced collections – recycled, organic & more” as meaning that all products in the women’s tops range contained, in whole or part, recycled, organic or other “environmentally preferred” materials.
LIFESTYLE
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What did Uniqlo say?
Uniqlo said its ad for women’s fleece coats and jackets mentioning the term “recycled materials” was intended to mean that the polyester content was recycled.
Uniqlo’s owner has defended the decision to keep operating in Russia because clothing is a “necessity”. (Photo: Toru Hanai/File Photo/Reuters)
It said the claim did not suggest that every component of the garments, such as the metal zip or the labels, were recycled, but rather the claim referred to the textile materials that made up the fabric of the main body, lining and trim.
science
How sperm whales can have different ‘dialects’
A sperm whale pod socialise at the surface of the Indian Ocean in BBC’s ‘Asia’ (Photo: BBC Studios / Jeremy Gonsalves)
Scientists have discovered that sperm whales, much like humans, use different dialects depending on where they’re from.
The types of clicking sperm whales use to vocalise
Usual echolocation
The usual echolocation click type is used to help search for prey.
Creaks
A creak is a rapid series of high-frequency clicks used for homing in on prey.
Codas
The most distinctive vocalizations are codas, which are short, rhythmic sequences of clicks, used in communication.
OPINION
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What you need to know
Researchers at the University of St Andrews discovered that the rhythmic pattern of the codas that certain groups of sperm whales make, known as the dialect, can differ between different matriarchal groups.
They found two distinct dialects among Mediterranean sperm whales – a small, endangered population of a few thousand individuals.
Why do sperm whales have dialects?
Caption: Whale With Steve Backshall – Key Art – JPG
Photographer: Sky UK
Copyright: ? Sky UK LTD
Dr Luke Rendell of the University of St Andrews said dialects are used to form “social structures”.
One group of sperm whales will only associate with another if they share the same dialect and belong to the same “vocal clan”.
Scientists said that some of the orcas participate, while others observe (Photo: Getty)
Surely we can learn to be more direct when we need to – without resorting to barbaric talk.
(Photo: Namthip Muanthongthae/ Getty Images)
Scientists noted the similarities in how humans might be more comfortable talking with someone who sounds similar to themselves.
Why Bill Gates has named three women he had affairs with
Bill Gates has named three women he had affairs with and claimed the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had “brainstormed” ways to blackmail him about his infidelity.
Caption: BERLIN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 14: Bill Gates speaks at the pledge session of the 2024 World Health Summit on October 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. The session raised over USD 1 billion from a variety of international donors. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Photographer: Sean Gallup
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2024 Getty Images
Why is Gates speaking out?
Gates revealed information about his affairs while speaking to the US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as part of an investigation into Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee released transcripts of the testimony by Gates from closed-door depositions before the committee in mid-June.
The committee also released the testimony of former executive secretary of Epstein, Lesley Groff.
The names Gates gave
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Bill Gates speaks onstage for a special conversation during “What???s Next? The Future With Bill Gates”at The Paris Theater on September 26, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix)
Photographer: Roy Rochlin
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Gates named two Russian women: Mila Antonova, a bridge player, and Karima Nigmatulina, a nuclear physicist.
Gates also admitted to a third affair with Dr Alice Jacobs Nesselrodt, a medical entrepreneur.
Analysis
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A closer look at the detail
During the interview, Gates said Epstein discovered the two affairs he had with the Russian women and suggested that Epstein had “contemplated blackmailing me”.
The Microsoft founder said: “As you look at these emails, you know, it looks like Mr Epstein’s brainstorming was going in that direction.”
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Big Read
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Gates questioned about Andrew
Gates was also questioned about his connections to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who had a long-term association with Epstein.
Caption: (COMBO) This combination of files photographs created on February 1, 2026 shows Britain’s Prince Andrew (L), Duke of York arriving to attend a Requiem Mass, a Catholic funeral service, for the late Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral in London on September 16, 2025 ; and an undated handout photograph obtained on July 11, 2019 courtesy of the New York State Sex Offender Registry showing Jeffrey Epstein (R). A second Jeffrey Epstein accuser has alleged the late US sex offender sent her to Britain for a sexual encounter with former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the BBC reported. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt and Handout / various sources / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / New York State Sex Offender Registry” – HANDOUT – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Photographer: JORDAN PETTITT,HANDOUT
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Source: AFP
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 18: (L-R) Bill Gates talks to the Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during the Malaria Summit in Northumberland Avenue on April 18, 2018, in London, England. The Commonwealth Business Forum (CHOGM) will discuss practical ways to enhance trade, showcase investment opportunities and promote sustainable development. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photographer: WPA Pool
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Gates said he had met the former prince twice, but that the meetings weren’t arranged through Epstein. When questioned about another Epstein affiliate, Peter Mandelson, Gates said he had not met the former ambassador to the US.
What we know about Bedford train crash as driver ‘passed red signal’
A train driver who died in a crash near Bedford passed a red signal moments before the collision, investigators have said.
Here is everything we know about the incident so far.
Caption: The scene just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6 in Bedford South after two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains were involved in a collision around 5.15pm on Friday. One person has died, 28 people are still in hospital with nine in a critical condition after after two passenger trains collided near Bedford. Picture date: Saturday June 20, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
Photographer: Chris Radburn
Provider: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
Source: PA
NEWS
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What do we know so far?
The driver who died at the scene has been named as 60-year-old Shaun Burton. Burton died when the East Midlands Railway train he was driving hit the back of a stationary train run by the same operator.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said that Burton’s train proceeded past a red signal near the scene of the crash in Elstow, near Bedford, at 5.15pm on Friday.
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CRIME
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A closer look at the detail
Images from a CCTV camera on the train show a signal near the scene of the crash “was displaying a red aspect as the train approached and then passed it,” the RAIB said.
Caption: BEDFORD, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 20: Officials work at the site of two East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains which crashed into each other in Bedford, United K????ngdom on June 20, 2026. One person has died and several others were injured in a collision involving two passenger trains near Bedford. (Photo by Jacqueline Lawrie/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu
Caption: Undated family handout photo issued by the British Transport Police of train driver Shaun Burton, 60, who died when two trains collided near Bedford on Friday. The 60-year-old died when the East Midlands Railway (EMR) train he was driving crashed into the back of another on the same line shortly after 5pm on Friday. Issue date: Sunday June 21, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Family Handout
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Source: PA
Copyright: PA
Preliminary analysis shows the train was travelling at 76mph when its brakes were applied nine seconds before the crash. The stationary train involved in the crash had come to a halt “unexpectedly” after a fault with its automatic warning system equipment caused its brakes to apply.
What happens next?
The RAIB said its full investigation will consider “the actions of those involved and any factors that may have influenced them”.
The branch also said it will look at the “positioning, visibility and conspicuity” of the signal that Burton passed.
No timeline has been given for when the investigation will come to a close.
Big Read
4 min read
Martha’s Rule gives patients and their loved ones the right to a second medical opinion. Martha (pictured) died of sepsis in 2021 (Photo: Mills/Laity family photograph/PA Wire)
maternity
Martha’s Rule to be rolled out to maternity settings in England
Mothers and babies will be protected by Martha’s Rule in England after a review at an NHS trust found opportunities had been missed to prevent harm, the Government has said.
Here is everything you need to know.
What is Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule will give families formalised, 24/7 access to a second opinion.
The scheme was created after 13-year-old Martha Mills developed sepsis while under the care of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in south London in 2021.
A coroner ruled she would have survived if medics had picked up on the warning signs of her condition.
A separate review into maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust found leaders at the trust knew there were serious issues in its maternity department but failed to take action.
Some of the key findings of the review were that women and families were consistently not listened to which led to missed opportunities to prevent harm.
How will the rule be rolled out?
The Department of Health and Social Care said Martha’s Rule will be extended to all maternity settings in England, allowing parents to request a rapid review if a baby or mother’s condition is deteriorating and they are concerned staff aren’t responding.
Doctors are receiving a 3.5 per cent headline pay rise in their June pay packets which is backdated to April (Photo: Peter Byrne/PA)
Caption: A medical worker assists a premature Palestinian baby who lies in an incubator at the maternity ward of Shifa Hospital, which according to health officials is about to shut down as it runs out of fuel and power, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in Gaza City October 22, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Al-Masri
Photographer: STRINGER
Provider: REUTERS
Source: X80002
The scheme has been rolled out for patients at every acute hospital in England and has been piloted in 15 maternity and neonatal settings. Its further expansion is expected this year.
What else will change?
1The Department of Health said there will be new checks and measures on mortuaries to ensure the remains of children are treated with dignity and respect.
2Staff who deliberately withhold information about failures during reviews could face up to two years in prison.
3The Human Tissue Authority will require all mortuaries to review their internal records dating from 2015 to 2026 to ensure incidents have been reported.
Health Secretary’s remarks
No family should ever have to battle the system that is meant to care and protect them, that is why Martha’s Rule is so fundamental.
james murray, HEALTH SECRETARY
James Murray arrives at Downing Street for a cabinet meeting on 19 May (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
How a five minute walk could make you feel happier at work
Taking five-minute “movement snack” breaks every hour is the best way to boost wellbeing without losing efficiency, a study has found.
(Photo: Digital Vision/Getty).
What you need to know
Portrait of happy businesswoman holding laptop at office – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The study by Columbia University surveyed over 11,000 US employees after asking them to try walking breaks at work for two weeks.
A five-minute walk each hour led to the biggest improvement in the employees’ productivity, mood and alertness.
Only one in ten workers would be happy to work less and earn less, according to the think-tank. (Photo: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
(Photo: Layla Bird/Getty).
The researchers also found that taking walking breaks every 30 minutes was disruptive to the employees’ work.
The expert view
A walk break every hour for five minutes is enough to improve mood and lower fatigue. And people found this realistic and attainable…Even though it may seem counter-intuitive, movement breaks actually can boost work performance.
Lead researcher Keith Diaz told the bbc
44 per cent of working-age adults in the UK experienced conflict at work last year (Photo: Getty)
Who else supported the findings?
Emily McGrath, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, supported the findings, saying that “simple additions of movement can improve overall health”.
However, she cautioned, “the study relied on self-reported data and was short-term, so longer research is needed”.
WELLBEING
7 min read
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
‘Humid heat is harder heat,’ one expert says (Photo: Getty)
Weather
All the best ways to sleep in a heat wave
A brutal heatwave is descending on the UK this week as a “heat dome” continues to scorch Europe. Forecasters are warning of soaring temperatures and tropical nights.
Here are some top tips on how to stay chilled in your bed this week.
Top tips for better sleep
Draw the shades, curtains and blinds during the hottest part of the day.
Have a cool or lukewarm shower or bath just before going to bed.
Wet your face and arms with a towel, then stand in front of a fan.
Soak your feet in cold water for 10 minutes before going to bed.
Apply cool wet cloths, cold water or ice packs to the skin.
Remove winter bedding and opt for lightweight covers, perhaps just a sheet.
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
Drink plenty of water during the day to keep your body hydrated and cool.
When using a fan, have the bedroom door open to allow for airflow
Flip the pillow to the other side if you wake up hot.
What should you avoid?
1Do not exercise close to bedtime, as it will increase your internal temperature.
2Avoid hot, heavy or spicy food/meals, particularly near bedtime.
3Alcohol and caffeinated drinks increase dehydration and should be avoided.
4Do not sleep in your car with the air-conditioner running when the car is not moving, as there may be a build-up of carbon dioxide.
What is the latest forecast?
After slightly lower temperatures for the next couple of days, the heat is set to build over the weekend, with temperatures in the high 20s and reaching 30°C in some areas on Sunday.
Caption: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 22: People use umbrellas as hot weather continues in London, United Kingdom, on June 22, 2026. The UK Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning for parts of England and Wales ahead of an expected heatwave later this week. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu
Experts warn of infrastructure breakdown and excess deaths in the UK as the world heats up faster than predicted (Photo: Brook Mitchell/Getty)
Temperatures could peak in excess of 35°C in central and south-east England, and more widely around 32°C within the area covered by the warning, with Monday and Tuesday most likely to see the peak of the heat.
Trump posted about Sir Keir Starmer’s exit before it was even announced, dismissively saying he had “failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY”. A few weeks before, Trump had noted Starmer was “not Churchill” as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth complained about the UK’s lack of support for America’s war with Iran.
These will not be easily fixable by Burnham. Net migration has fallen by around 75 per cent since Starmer became prime minister, and it is unlikely to fall further – it could even be negative by next year. That has barely been noticed in the UK, where the migration debate is as polarised as ever, let alone by the US President or the US far-right as they try to use the issue to foment unrest in the UK.
Similarly, the MP for Makerfield is unlikely to want to commit the UK to supporting any further military action by Trump. In theory, there are no such actions to join in any case, given the shaky US-Iran ceasefire that is in place. Committing UK bases to unpopular wars tends to end badly for Labour prime ministers, and Burnham was around in the New Labour era to see how that worked out for former prime minister Tony Blair.
That leaves the matter of North Sea oil, and here at least Burnham might be able to throw Trump a bone. There is cross-party pressure amid a global energy price crisis for Labour to allow more oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, which is currently blocked by policies passed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Allowing that exploration would probably have little effect on UK energy prices: it takes years for fields to start delivering, any resulting gas would be sold on global markets at global prices and the North Sea may not have that much in reserve to give.
Even so, Burnham might see a political and diplomatic win in allowing some North Sea drilling – and if he shifts Miliband to the Treasury, as is rumoured, he could make this a requirement of the job. That might appease Trump for a time, assuming the US President notices.
Beyond that, though, the prospects look somewhat dismal for a Burnham reset. One of his biggest advantages over Starmer is that he is a much more charismatic politician – he is likeable, comes across well on camera and can work a room far better than the often wooden current Prime Minister.
But with Trump, things are different. Trump was one of the few people who seemed to find Starmer charismatic – when the two were in the same room, things typically went well. Trump would speak warmly of Starmer, stay more or less on message and sound like he was going to do what the UK wanted.
The problems came when Starmer left the room, and Trump – perhaps on the advice of his team – would return to form. The UK didn’t get a better trade deal than others with the US. The thorny issue of the Diego Garcia military base didn’t get sorted. Trump didn’t stay loyal to Starmer.
That rules out the prospect of better relations through charm: being able to work with Trump in person wasn’t the problem. Annoyingly for Burnham, his predecessor has burned through the tricks he might have used to win over Trump. Burnham can’t offer a state visit; Starmer already did that. A gift and letter from the King? He did that, too. There’s not much left to offer, unless Burnham thinks he can persuade the King to give Trump one of his palaces.
There are bigger headaches to come. One of the issues Trump cares a great deal about is “censorship” of conservatives and regulation of big tech – the White House has issued executive orders on this, US Vice President JD Vance gave a major speech on it in Europe and the embassy even intervened over it.
One of Starmer’s last policies was proposing a social media ban for teens, a policy Burnham has previously supported – and which the US embassy formally opposed. The former Manchester mayor supported a social media ban even before Starmer did, and so is now stuck with delivering it, even against a likely US backlash.
Burnham might not have wanted to put a confrontation with the US President near the top of his prime ministerial to-do list – but one might be headed his way all the same.