Plans to switch off Freeview in favour of online TV in 2034 look set to be delayed by Andy Burnham.
The Prime Minister promised to “have a proper look” at the proposals to scrap terrestrial television in favour of internet-based services, saying some of his Makerfield constituents “rely on Freeview”.
The BBC and other UK broadcasters are backing the end of terrestrial TV as access to internet-based services soars and providers pivot toward online delivery and apps like BBC iPlayer and Freely.
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(Photo: REUTERS)
weather
Summer 2026 confirmed as UK’s hottest ever
The Met Office has provisionally announced this summer was the UK’s warmest on record.
It follows months of recurring heatwaves and endless weeks without a drop of rain for some of the worst-hit areas.
The facts and figures
The mean temperatures spiked to 16.5°C, beating last year’s record-breaking average.
The highest temperature recorded this summer was 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in London on 13 August.
This means the UK’s five hottest summers on record are: 2026, 2025, 2018, 2006 and 2003.
It is drummed into us in this country that sunshine is scarce and so we ought to ‘make the most’ of it (Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA)
Explained
3 min read
Effects of climate change
The Met Office analysis found the scorching summer of 2026 is now 130 times more likely because of climate change.
Head of Climate Attribution at the weather agency, Dr Mark McCarthy, said “because of the effect of burning of fossil fuels, we should now expect this to be roughly a one in nine year event”.
In a natural climate, a summer like this would occur roughly once in every 1,000 years.
Big Read
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The heatwave in pictures
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND ??? AUGUST 14: An aerial view of a funfair is seen before opening on the parched Commonside West in Mitcham, London, on August 14, 2026 in London, England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a heat-health alert from Tuesday to Friday for nine regions in England, as parts of the country are forecast to see temperatures in excess of 36C during the fifth heatwave of the season. The National Drought Group has declared that two-thirds of England is now officially in drought, with water use restrictions impacting 27 million people. Last month was the driest July recorded in England and Wales since records began in 1836. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
Photographer: Brook Mitchell
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Brook Mitchell
Caption: A spectator fans themself as thy watch the play on the first day of the third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on June 25, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB
Photographer: DARREN STAPLES
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
Caption: WOODHEAD, UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 19: In this aerial view, very low water levels impact the Woodhead Reservoir in Derbyshire where the normally covered bed is revealed on August 19, 2026 in Woodhead, United Kingdom. The National Drought Group has declared that two-thirds of England are officially in drought, with water use restrictions impacting 27 million people. Last month was the driest July ever recorded in the country since records began in 1836. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Photographer: Christopher Furlong
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
us politics
US army secretary Driscoll quits amid Hegseth tension
Caption: (FILES) US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll testifies on budget requests during a Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 12, 2026. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation, the White House confirmed Monday, following reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: SAUL LOEB
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Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
US army secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after a year and a half in the top job.
He joins a growing list of high-ranking officials who have departed under the watch of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
What you need to know
The Army Secretary is reportedly resigning due to behind-the-scenes tension with Hegseth.
He had overseen the US operation in Venezuela, the ongoing war with Iran and talks between Russia and Ukraine.
In a statement to CBS News, a White House spokesperson said Driscoll “has been highly effective in advancing President [Donald] Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again”.
Who is Dan Driscoll?
The Iraq War veteran, 41, is a friend of US Vice President JD Vance. The pair met at Yale Law School and Driscoll was formerly one of Vance’s advisors.
Caption: (FILES) US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll testifies during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense budget hearing for the US Army on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation, the White House confirmed Monday, following reports of tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: SAUL LOEB
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
Caption: FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee/File Photo
Photographer: Eric Lee
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS
He was dubbed Trump’s “drone guy”, focusing on rolling out more unmanned systems and improve US war readiness.
General Randy George, ousted by Hegseth in April, is reportedly a close friend too.
Ongoing friction with Hegseth
Caption: FILE – U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll speaks at the America 250 celebration at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)
Photographer: Karl B. DeBlaker
Provider: AP Photo/Karl B. DeBlaker
Source: FR7226 AP
Copyright: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Driscoll is one of many senior figures who have now left the armed forces, with many having been fired by Hegseth.
According to CBS, one source said Driscoll had brought concerns to the Trump administration around Hegseth pushing out some army generals from the department.
Analysis
3 min read
Caption: In this frame grab from a video, passengers wearing life jackets wait atop a capsized passenger vessel to be rescued off the coast of Girne, in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (DHA via AP)
Photographer: DHA
Provider: DHA/DHA via AP
Source: DHA
news
Children among 20 missing after Cyprus ferry sinking
A specialist team equipped to search deep waters was due to arrive from Turkey on Tuesday as emergency crews pressed on with efforts to find 20 people missing after a ferry capsized off northern Cyprus.
What happened?
Caption: In this frame grab from video, rescued passengers wearing life jackets are evacuated by boat after a passenger vessel capsized off the coast of Girne, in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (DHA via AP)
Photographer: DHA
Provider: DHA/DHA via AP
Source: DHA
A ferry carrying 267 people capsized and sank off the coast of northern Cyprus on Sunday.
The Filo Jet left the town of Kyrenia and soon started to take on water.
Survivors reported the ferry moving erratically, with its last hard impact with the water’s surface breaking the bow of the vessel.
Everything we know so far
There are still 20 people unaccounted for, including an unknown number of children.
Passengers interviewed in local media claim they begged the captain to turn around, then were left scrambling for life jackets.
Captain Mustafa Oz, 66, and seven crew members have been arrested over the incident.
Caption: KYRENIA, TRNC – SEPTEMBER 1: TCG Isin takes part in ongoing search and rescue operations by sea and air for 18 people who went missing after a passenger vessel capsized off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on September 1, 2026. Search and rescue efforts continue without interruption to locate the missing people. (Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu
2 min read
Search efforts continue
Visiting Kyrenia on Monday, Tufan Erhürman, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not recognised by the UK, said the search would “continue with the same intensity, with no interruption, through the day and night”.
A mother, Ayten Bicer, felt her 12-year-old daughter slip from her hands and disappear as the ferry capsized. Her daughter and son, six, are among the missing.
Caption: KYRENIA, TRNC – AUGUST 31: President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Tufan Erhurman, delivers a statement regarding the passenger vessel that capsized off the coast of Kyrenia, in Kyrenia, TRNC, on August 31, 2026. (Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu
Caption: People react as they await news of their loved ones outside the port in Kyrenia, in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognised only by Turkey, on August 30, 2026, after a ferry capsized off the coast. A passenger ferry capsized and sank off Northern Cyprus on August 30, killing at least seven people and leaving 23 missing, officials said, as a rescue operation was under way. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: JEWEL SAMAD
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors
They argue that maintaining both terrestrial and online systems is increasingly costly and inefficient as audiences naturally move to internet streaming.
A Government Green Paper last month outlined plans to move to online-only TV as soon as 2034.
But critics of the policy argue that Freeview is important for the elderly, disabled people and those on low incomes.
Others warn that online-only TV could leave Britain more vulnerable to cyber attacks from countries like Russia.
Burnham said the issue could be looked at as part of the BBC Charter renewal process ahead of the current charter’s expiration on December 31 2027.
Asked by Conservative former Cabinet minister David Mundell about the proposal to switch off Freeview, Burnham said: “I’ll give him an honest answer: I am concerned about those plans, too.
“I know some of my constituents in Makerfield rely on Freeview. There is perhaps an opportunity to look at this as part of the BBC Charter renewal process.
“I can’t give him a final answer today, but I recognise it’s a genuine issue that he’s raised. I know it will be of concern to his constituents, and let me have a proper look at it.”
His comments came after Mundell said: “One measure which would not cost him anything, which would be popular in the north and across the whole of the UK, is if he ruled out what appeared in the previous prime minister’s green paper on the future of television, and that is that terrestrial free-to-view television could be switched off in 2034, meaning that everyone would have to pay to watch television.
“And that particularly affects the elderly, vulnerable, and those who live in rural areas.”
The government under Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, said there was a “strong case” for transitioning to streaming TV but stressed that “no decisions have been made”.