‘We’re not going away’: PM delivers ‘straightforward’ message for Putin at G7 summit
Rishi Sunak has given a “straightforward” message for Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit: “We’re not going away.”
Speaking to Sky News in Hiroshima, the prime minister had ready answers for his policy and position on Ukraine.
Hours earlier, he had announced a ban on imports of Russian diamonds – and told me that he believes other G7 countries will follow suit this weekend.
“Russia needs to know that we and other countries are steadfast in our resolve to support Ukraine, not just in the here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but for the long term as well,” the PM said.
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Mr Sunak repeatedly refused to commit to reducing overall net migration below the 504,000 figure for the year to June 2022, saying: “What I can commit is that we want to bring those levels down.”
In 2019 the Conservative Party promised in its manifesto to bring overall net migration figures down from the then 226,000 in 2019.
But during this parliament, net migration has continued to rise to record levels – and is set to go even higher still.
Figures to be released next week are set to show numbers growing from 650,000 to just shy of one million, which will pile pressure on the prime minister.
Of course, Mr Sunak is loathed to commit to a figure because he doesn’t know if he can keep the pledge – his motto after all is to deliver on promises, and don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
But it is also an admission that, having failed to hit the last manifesto target of driving net migration down to below 226,000, he can’t even commit to driving it back past half a million, which will give Labour lots of political ammunition to fire at the prime minister going into a general election campaign.
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Rishi Sunak’s G7 plan
Mr Sunak kept rounding back to his plans to tackle illegal migration and stop small boat crossings in our interview – probably because he knows this is where key target voters will want to see progress from the PM – but he must know too that high levels of migration and breaking the 2019 manifesto pledge puts him in a tight spot with the public.
The PM said this week of his election prospects that he’s confident he can win the next general election, but you can’t help but wonder if he’s still reeling from the huge local election losses earlier this month that saw the Conservatives lose over 1,000 councillors.
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This after all is a man of great success – head boy at his boarding school, a self-made millionaire and successful businessman who went into politics and became PM.
But when I asked him how he feels when he loses, he looked a bit stumped and asked me what I meant.
When I asked him again how he felt when he didn’t win, he trotted out the same line he gave on the morning of the local elections – “it’s always disappointing to lose hard-working councillors”.
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‘How do you feel when you lose?’
In fact, the prime minister was quite robotic in our interview at times.
Eight times in our nine-minute exchange, Mr Sunak referred to his “five priorities”.
He went on to list those priorities on four separate occasions in our conversation when I pressed him on local elections and the cost of living crisis.
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On the world stage, this is a leader who is delivering, be it the new bilateral Hiroshima agreement with Japan to deepen economic, security and technological ties between London and Tokyo, or the new set of sanctions against Russia.
And Mr Sunak will be given a further boost on this front over the weekend as President Zelenskyy of Ukraine arrives in Japan to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his allies against Russian aggression.
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Japan to invest almost £18bn in UK
But back home, it seems that his message to voters on his five-point plan to “halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats” seems to be falling on deaf ears, however many times he chooses to say it.
No 10 is betting that if he manages to turn those promises into real action for voters, they may give the Conservatives another look.
But after seven months in power, the polls aren’t moving in his favour – and what’s clear is that there isn’t a Plan B.
Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.
The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.
Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.
Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.
“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.
“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”
As well as her TV and musical career, Linda helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society, Samaritans and others.
“Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy,” Mr McNamara said.
Five of the Nolans in 1983 (L-R): Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen. Pic: PA
Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday.
Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course.
Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.
Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.
Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.
At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.
Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.
L-R: Bernie, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen Nolan pictured in 1975, before youngest sister Coleen joined the group
Four siblings struck by cancer
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent a mastectomy two days before her 47th birthday.
After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.
The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.
The star, pictured last year, had battled cancer for several years. Pic: Shutterstock
They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.
But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.
The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.
Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.
Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’
TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”
“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”
Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.
The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.
A 20-year-old trainee gas engineer who won £7.5m says he was back working on blocked drains the day after claiming his cash.
James Clarkson, 20, from Carlisle, Cumbria, found out he’d hit the £7,533,329 National Lottery jackpot on 4 January – but said he has no plans to quit his job.
“I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won,” he said.
“It was a bit grim but that’s reality.
“I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young,” he added, admitting he knew it might sound “mad” to some.
“I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there.
“I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.”
Mr Clarkson celebrating with his family. Pic: PA
Mr Clarkson added he still planned to have “some nice holidays” in between working, and revealed one of his first purchases was an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde, along with a few designer items including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.
He said he also planned to splash out on a new car, possibly an Audi – but for now, he’s got his work van.
“If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand,” he said.
“The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.”
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As a huge Manchester City fan, he said he was also looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium, as well as taking care of his extended family – starting with paying off his parents’ mortgage.
The new multi-millionaire holds up bespoke Manchester City kit celebrating his win. Pic: PA
He said: “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, it’s what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed.
“We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn’t just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.”
Mr Clarkson played on the National Lottery app, choosing his winning numbers – 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35 – at random.
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