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A total of 16 candidates will stand in the Batley and Spen by-election next month, it has been confirmed.

The full list of those nominated to contest the constituency has been published, in what is expected to be a straight two-way battle between Labour and the Conservatives.

Tracy Brabin, who first won the seat for Labour in 2016 after the murder of Jo Cox, quit as an MP after being elected to the new post of West Yorkshire metro mayor.

File photo dated 27/03/19 of Kim Leadbeater, ambassador for the Jo Cox Foundation, who has been awarded an MBE for services to Social Cohesion, to the community in Batley, West Yorkshire and to Combatting Loneliness during Covid-19, in the New Year's Honours List.
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Kim Leadbeater is standing for Labour in the contest

Ms Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater is Labour’s candidate in the by-election, a contest that is being seen as a test of Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the party in the wake of Labour’s defeat in Hartlepool last month.

Leeds councillor Ryan Stephenson is standing for the Conservatives, while the Liberal Democrats have picked Tom Gordon.

George Galloway, the former MP and long-time campaigner, is standing for the Workers Party.

Local engineer Corey Robinson will represent the Yorkshire Party, which came third in the West Yorkshire mayoral election.

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The others candidates are: Paul Bickerdike (Christian People’s Alliance); Mike Davies (Alliance For Green Socialism); Jayda Fransen (Independent); Therese Hirst (English Democrats); Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party); Susan Laird (Heritage Party); Oliver Purser (Social Democratic Party); Andrew Smith (Rejoin EU); Jack Thomson (UKIP); Jonathan Tilt (Freedom Alliance); Anne Marie Waters (The For Britain Movement).

Independent candidate Paul Halloran, who came third in the constituency at the 2019 general election, is not standing.

Another of those not standing is rugby league international Ross Peltier, who had his candidacy revoked by the Green Party.

It came after it was revealed he had made a number of “highly offensive” homophobic tweets when he was a teenager.

The 29-year-old, who is a a prop forward with Doncaster Dons and a Jamaica international, apologised for his “terrible” language and said “in no way” is he homophobic.

A Green Party spokesman said the party would not be putting another candidate forward.

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UK ticketholder bags £83m EuroMillions jackpot – as players urged to check tickets

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UK ticketholder bags £83m EuroMillions jackpot - as players urged to check tickets

A UK ticketholder has won the £83m EuroMillions jackpot – but is yet to come forward to claim the prize.

The winning player matched all five main numbers and both the lucky star numbers to win £83,474,081.80 in the draw on Friday 24 January.

The main winning numbers were 02, 11, 19, 30 and 49, while the lucky star numbers were 03 and 08.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, urged players to check their tickets.

He said: “What a fantastic night for a single UK ticket-holder who has scooped tonight’s £83m EuroMillions jackpot!

“This lucky winner represents the first UK EuroMillions jackpot win of 2025, what a way to start the year.”

Last month, a UK ticket-holder claimed £177m in the EuroMillions draw, making them wealthier than popstar Dua Lipa, who is worth an estimated £104m.

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The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, scooped the third-biggest National Lottery winner ever.

The biggest EuroMillions win by UK players was in 2022 when a single ticket-holder won £195m.

Two months before that, Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, won a then record-breaking £184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw in May 2022.

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Man jailed after XL bully attacked 12-year-old girl

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Man jailed after XL bully attacked 12-year-old girl

A man has been jailed after his XL bully attacked a 12-year-old girl.

Justin Allison, 38, from Ebbw Vale, was sentenced to three years in prison at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday.

The girl was seriously injured and needed hospital treatment, police said.

Allison had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a banned breed without a licence and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place. He also admitted a charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.

Officers were called to an address in Nantyglo, Blaenau Gwent, last October to reports a child had been attacked by a dog.

Gwent Police said the dog – later identified as an XL bully – was seized and humanely destroyed by a vet.

The breed was banned in England and Wales from 1 February last year, with the ban later extended to Scotland.

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Detective Chief Inspector Virginia Davies said the girl was “viciously attacked” after Allison “failed to keep his dog under control”.

She said the case “should serve as a reminder to all dog owners of the importance of having your dog under control at all times”.

“We take all reports of suspected irresponsible dog ownership seriously and we urge everyone to follow the legislation and guidance to prevent events like this happening in the future,” she added.

Allison was also banned from owning dogs for 10 years.

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Bishop of Liverpool retires amid misconduct allegations

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Bishop of Liverpool retires amid misconduct allegations

The Bishop of Liverpool has announced his retirement days after facing allegations of misconduct from two women, including another bishop.

One woman said the Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath kissed her without consent and groped her, while the second accused him of sexual harassment.

The bishop has vehemently denied the allegations – and in his retirement letter, published online on Thursday, he reiterated his denial.

The letter, shared by the Diocese of Liverpool, read: “Having sought the permission of His Majesty the King, I have today taken the decision to retire from active ministry in the Church of England.”

Addressing the accusations, he continued: “Since those allegations were made I have consistently maintained that I have not done anything wrong and continue to do so.

“I do not wish this story to become a distraction for this incredible diocese and its people whom it has been an honour and joy to serve,” the bishop says in his letter.

“This is not a resignation occasioned by fault or by any admission of liability.”

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The exact date for when the bishop’s role will formally end is yet to be decided, but he is stepping back from ministering and leading the diocese as of Thursday.

The letter continued: “I have taken this decision for my own well-being, my family and the best interests of the Diocese.

“I have informed the Archbishop of York of my decision and I understand he will put in place the necessary arrangements for episcopal oversight of the diocese for the remainder of my time here and during the vacancy.”

The Right Reverend Dr John Perumbalath
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Bishop Perumbalath has insisted his retirement is not an admission of guilt

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell – who has faced calls to resign over separate safeguarding failures – said: “I respect his decision and thank him for his ministry.”

“My thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those who have been affected by this situation,” he continued. “I am committed to ensuring stability during this time of transition and will be putting the necessary arrangements in place to provide episcopal oversight for the diocese.”

An acting bishop will be announced in the coming days.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, delivers his Christmas speech.
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The Archbishop of York (pictured) has welcomed the decision – which comes at a tumultuous time for the Church of England

The diocese – which on Wednesday pressured the bishop to step aside – said in a statement: “We acknowledge his decision in taking this step for the good of the Diocese of Liverpool.

“This is a deeply painful situation, and we hold all concerned in our prayers.”

The misconduct allegations were reported by Channel 4 earlier this week but the first dates back to 2023, the Church of England confirmed.

It said: “The complaint was looked into according to statutory safeguarding guidance… and an independent risk assessment undertaken.

“This process concluded that there were no ongoing safeguarding concerns, but a learning outcome was identified with which the bishop fully engaged.”

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A “further disclosure was made by another woman” shortly after, the Church said. This was “assessed not to be a safeguarding matter but a matter of alleged misconduct,” it added.

Bishop Perumbalath’s resignation comes at a tumultuous time for the Church of England, which has recently seen Justin Welby quit as Archbishop of Canterbury over the handling of another case.

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