𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

As a proud northerner, I don’t need to be persuaded that too many of our national institutions have an unhealthy metropolitan London bias. So why am I appalled at Andy Burnham’s Number 10 North scheme? At best, it is a very expensive gimmick. The Civil Service is moving people from London to Manchester, so this doesn’t make government decision-making more “northern”.

At worst, it is completely inappropriate. In effect the Prime Minister is using taxpayers’ money to boost his own re-election prospects at the next election. It’s also being done whilst there is a by-election taking place for the Manchester mayoralty to replace Andy Burnham. This is an abuse of public money.

The Civil Service should not have allowed this disgrace to take place. Where will it end? If Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage become Prime Minister, are the civil service going to allow a Number 10 Essex to be set up? Number 10 is in London, close to Parliament, for good reason. Abusing public money to set up an expensive gimmick to boost your own re-election prospects as your flagship policy is not my idea of a good start for the new Prime Minister.

What happened to Ljubisa Karovic on Ryanair flight FR1879 sounded like a scene from a horror movie. Sucked out of the window after it shattered, his quick- thinking wife, Svetlana, clung on to his legs until she and other passengers could drag him back inside, stopping him falling thousands of feet to his death. Neither of them fancy stepping on a plane again and I can’t say I blame them. If Svetlana ever fancies a free holiday, she can certainly come and sit next to me on the plane!

Is there trouble in the ranks already?

New Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said he could quit if Andy Burnham fails to find the extra billions of pounds needed to rebuild Britain’s Armed Forces.

He said finding the money for Labour’s Defence Investment Plan was a ‘matter of principle’ and that he’d resign if the money isn’t found. Is there trouble in the ranks already, or is Streeting just playing Burnham at his own people-pleasing game.

Last Friday marked the 100th anniversary of greyhound racing in the UK. The first meeting took place at Belle Vue in Manchester and has proved one of the most popular spectator sports in the UK ever since, particularly in working class communities. The new Prime Minister loves stressing his pride in Manchester and always wants to claim to be a champion of the working class, so I trust we can expect his full-throated support for the wonderful sport of greyhound racing.

Who needs Hollywood when we’ve got Denise?

Actress, queen of daytime TV and fellow Cheshire resident, Denise Welsh, 68, just gets better with age. Ageless Denise is the ultimate showbiz survivor who’s about to star in the Channel 5 thriller, Forever Home, based on Graham Norton’s debut novel. She certainly thrilled last weekend at her son’s LA wedding looking every bit the Hollywood star.