Andy Burnham, the outgoing Mayor of Greater Manchester, has signalled a harder line on immigration as he prepares to launch a bid to become prime minister. Following his victory in the Makerfield by-election, Burnham said the government must “go further” in tackling the Channel crisis, proposing expanded use of detention centres, an end to asylum hotels, and reforms to migrant housing across the country.
Burnham’s comments come after Sir Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister on Monday, accepting the verdict of Labour MPs that he was no longer the right leader for the next general election. Starmer’s resignation was preceded by a post from US President Donald Trump, who predicted the move a day early and blamed immigration and energy policy.
In a separate development, the Advertising Standards Authority has banned ads from Calvin Klein, Adidas, and Uniqlo for misleading claims about recycled content. The ASA found that the brands used the term “recycled” without evidence that products were made entirely from recycled materials, ruling the ads must be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, scientists at the University of St Andrews have discovered that sperm whales use distinct dialects depending on their matriarchal group. Two dialects were identified among Mediterranean sperm whales, with researchers noting similarities to human social structures where individuals prefer associating with those who sound similar.
