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Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman says her team are living “a fairytale” after they beat Australia to reach the Women’s World Cup final for the first time.

England conquered hosts Australia 3-1 in Sydney thanks to goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo.

The win means the Lionesses will face Spain on Sunday, with kick-off at 11am.

England's Ella Toone celebrates her goal
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England’s Ella Toone celebrates her goal

An emotional and almost speechless Wiegman said: “We achieved the final! It’s unbelievable, it feels like we won [the tournament] which we didn’t, we just won this game – in an incredible stadium, an away game, the way we played – it was a hard game, but we found a way to win again.

“People have been talking about ruthlessness all the time, in this team there is ruthlessness, up front or in defence. We really want to keep the ball out of the net and we want to win.

“We stick together, we stick to the plan, and it worked again.”

She added: “I just said to [assistant manager] Arjan, having the chance as a coach or a player to make it to two finals is really special. I never take anything for granted, but it’s like I’m living in a fairy tale or something.”

King sends message to Lionesses – reaction to England’s semi-final triumph

The tense semi-final showdown brought early chances at both ends, but England struck the first blow with a magnificent strike from Toone silencing the crowd and giving the Lionesses a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Thousands of fans across England took time off work to watch the game. There were jubilant scenes at fan parks – which erupted as Toone’s strike hit the back of the net.

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‘Come on England’: Fans react outside stadium

Toone’s goal was the first Australia had conceded in five hours and 54 minutes – after losing 3-2 to Nigeria in the group stages, the Matildas went on to keep three clean sheets.

Australia needed some magic to keep their World Cup hopes alive – and found it in their captain Sam Kerr, who picked up the ball on the half-way line and hit home from 25 yards out to level the match.

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Semi Final - Australia v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 16, 2023 Australia's Sam Kerr scores their first goal REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
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Chelsea forward Sam Kerr scored Australia’s equaliser

But England weren’t fazed and did what they had to do to book themselves a place in the global showpiece with a second goal – this time from Hemp, who fired the ball past Australia’s keeper Mackenzie Arnold, around 20 minutes from time.

Russo wrapped up proceedings with a goal in the 86th minute.

“(I’m) over the moon, incredible. I think a World Cup final – we’ve been saying we’ve been dreaming of the semis but now this is what it’s all about, a World Cup final with this group, I’m buzzing,” she told BBC One.

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Semi Final - Australia v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 16, 2023 England's Alessia Russo celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Carl Recine
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Alessia Russo celebrates the Lionesses’ third goal which sealed the win

Wiegman also paid tribute to the Matildas after the game, saying: “Australia have had an incredible tournament, they grew into the tournament. They had some setbacks, they had to win their last group-stage game and then they got better and better.

“Sam Kerr came back, we saw today why she is the star of the team, but they are really tough to play against as a team too.”

Australia's players after the match against the Lionesses
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Australia’s players looked close to tears after the match

Read more:
How victorious Lionesses celebrated semi-final win
Lionesses won’t want to leave Australia without biggest prize

“We all dreamed of being in the final,” said England’s Lucy Bronze, after the final whistle.

“It is the one thing I have ever wanted – to reach the final of the World Cup… I can’t believe it.”

England men’s captain Harry Kane told Sky Sports News: “Massive congratulations to the Lionesses. They deserve it. We are all behind them and hopefully they can do it in the final.

“We saw what happened when the Lionesses won the Euros and how much it brought the country together. I’ll be watching the final out here in Germany.”

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Semi Final - Australia v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 16, 2023 England's Lauren Hemp and teammates celebrate after the match as England progress to the final of the World Cup REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
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The Lionesses including England’s second goalscorer Lauren Hemp (centre) celebrate after the final whistle

King Charles said in a statement: “My wife and I join all our family in sending the mighty Lionesses our warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the World Cup, and in sharing our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.

“While your victory may have cost the magnificent Matildas their chance for the greatest prize in the game, both teams have been an inspiration on and off the pitch – and, for that, both nations are united in pride, admiration and respect.”

Former England striker Gary Lineker added his congratulations, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Well played Lionesses. Absolutely superb performance. A World Cup final. A World Cup final at football. It’s been a while. What a wonderful achievement.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added his thoughts on the game, posting: “What a performance Lionesses. Just one more game to go… Bring on Sunday.”

The Welsh Guards Band performed one of England’s footballing anthems Sweet Caroline during Wednesday’s Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace after the victory.

Australia will face Sweden in the third-place play-off in Brisbane on Saturday, with kick-off at 9am.

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Firm linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone breached £122m PPE contract, judge rules

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Firm linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone breached £122m PPE contract, judge rules

A company linked to Tory peer Baroness Michelle Mone breached a government contract of nearly £122m to supply surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the High Court has ruled.

The £121.9m sum, the price of the gowns, must now be repaid by the company, PPE Medpro.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) brought the case, saying it provided 25 million “faulty”, non-sterile gowns.

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On Wednesday, the High Court said the gowns did not comply with the requirement of having a validated process to demonstrate sterility, and it was not possible for the DHSC to have sold them and recoup the loss.

The company, a consortium led by Baroness Mone’s husband, businessman Doug Barrowman, was awarded the government contract after she recommended it to ministers.

As well as wanting to recover the costs of the deal, the government wanted to recoup the costs of transporting and storing the items, which it said amounted to an additional £8.6m, though the High Court denied the latter request, saying the loss was not proved at trial.

PPE Medpro’s counterclaim that the DHSC should have advised it on how to comply with the contract also failed.

Denied wrongdoing

Both Baroness Mone and Mr Barrowman denied wrongdoing, and neither gave evidence at the trial in June.

She had initially denied involvement in the company or the process through which it was handed the government contract.

However, it was later revealed that Baroness Mone was the “source of referral” for the firm getting a place on the so-called “VIP lane” for offers of personal protective equipment for the NHS.

Yesterday, Baroness Mone accused the government of making her and her husband a “poster couple for the PPE scandal”, in a lengthy online tirade.

The response

In response to the ruling, Baroness Mone said it was “shocking but all too predictable”.

Mr Barrowman said it was “a travesty of justice” and the judge gave the DHSC “an establishment win despite the mountain of evidence in court against such a judgment”.

“Her judgment bears little resemblance to what actually took place during the month-long trial, where PPE Medpro convincingly demonstrated that its gowns were sterile,” he said.

“This judgment is a whitewash of the facts and shows that justice was being seen to be done, where the outcome was always certain for the DHSC and the government. This case was simply too big for the government to lose.”

Ahead of the ruling on Tuesday, PPE Medpro said it intended to appoint an administrator.

The news has been welcomed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK.

“We want our money back. We are getting our money back. And it will go where it belongs – in our schools, NHS and communities,” Ms Reeves said.

“Profiting and corruption during the pandemic cost lives,” the families group said. “Those responsible must be held to account.”

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All GP surgeries in England must offer online booking from today

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All GP surgeries in England must offer online booking from today

All GP surgeries in England are required to offer online appointment bookings from today.

Practices must keep their websites and app services available from at least 8am to 6.30pm, Monday through Friday, for non-urgent appointments, medication queries and admin requests.

Many surgeries are already offering online bookings and consultations, but services are typically less effective in working-class areas.

The Department of Health and Social Care says there is a lack of consistency, as some surgeries that offer online services are choosing to switch the function off during busier periods.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has argued safeguards have not been put in place, nor have extra staff been brought in to manage what it anticipates will be a “barrage of online requests.”

The BMA has said GPs are considering a range of actions after voting to enter a dispute with the government over the plan.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged the BMA to embrace the plan, saying the union’s resistance is “a real disservice to so many GPs” who have already introduced the service.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting says booking a GP appointment should be as easy as booking a takeaway. Pic: PA
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting says booking a GP appointment should be as easy as booking a takeaway. Pic: PA

‘As easy as booking a takeaway’

The minister said the government will help practices that need assistance to implement the plan, “but we’ve got to modernise”.

Mr Streeting told the Labour Party conference: “Many GPs already offer this service because they’ve changed with the times.

“Why shouldn’t be booking a GP appointment be as easy as booking a delivery, a taxi, or a takeaway? And our policy comes alongside a billion pounds of extra funding for general practice and 2,000 extra GPs.

“Yet the BMA threatens to oppose it in 2025. Well, I’ll give you this warning; if we give in to the forces of conservatism, they will turn the NHS into a museum of 20th century healthcare.”

Read more from Sky News:
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Streeting says Labour ‘need Angela Rayner back’

The measure is part of the broader government pledge to transform the NHS.

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed plans to establish a nationwide “online hospital” by 2027, enabling patients to receive treatment and care from home.

The government said the initiative could provide up to 8.5 million additional NHS appointments within its first three years.

Available via the NHS app, it will allow patients to schedule in-person procedures at local hospitals, surgical hubs or diagnostic centres, reducing delays.

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Farage isn’t racist, says PM – as he’s challenged over Trump’s ‘Sharia law’ comment

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Farage isn't racist, says PM - as he's challenged over Trump's 'Sharia law' comment

Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not believe Nigel Farage or Reform voters are racist – and also refused to label Donald Trump’s claim that London wants “Sharia law” as such.

The prime minister told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby the president’s claim – made while criticising the capital’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, during a UN summit last week – was “nonsense”.

Asked if it was racist, considering Sir Sadiq is a Muslim, Sir Keir said: “I have been really clear that the idea that in London we’re introducing Sharia law is rubbish.”

He said the mayor – who has branded Mr Trump “racist, sexist, misogynistic” – was doing a “very good job”, but also pointed to his “very good relationship” with the president.

Sir Keir also insisted he does not think Mr Farage or Reform supporters are racist, after targeting the party in his Labour conference speech and claiming its leader “hates Britain”.

Earlier in the week, Sir Keir called Reform’s freshly announced immigration policies “racist” and “immoral”.

Asked if he thinks Mr Farage is a racist, he said: “No, nor do I think Reform voters are racist.

“They’re concerned about things like our borders, they’re frustrated about the pace of change.

“So I’m not for a moment suggesting that they are racist.”

He said he was “talking about a particular policy”, which would see Reform axe the right of migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain, ban anyone who is not a UK citizen from claiming benefits, and force those applying for UK citizenship to renounce other citizenship.

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How did the PM perform at conference?

Reform ‘taking country down road of toxic division’

Sir Keir also refused to say whether he thinks Mr Farage is dangerous, saying: “I think the fight at the next election is going to define us as a country for years to come.

“I think it’s a dangerous moment for the country.”

He said he would not “get into labelling the man”.

“I’m talking about the ideas and what he stands for and what I stand for,” he added.

“I think that taking our country down the road of toxic division where you don’t want to fix problems because if they’re fixed, you lose your reason to exist, I think that is dangerous for our country.”

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Starmer’s ‘anti-Reform party’ gamble

Farage: Starmer unfit to be PM

Mr Farage reacted to Sir Keir’s speech by accusing him of being “unfit to be the prime minister of our country”.

“I used to think the prime minister was a decent man, somebody that I could talk to and chat to,” he said.

“We might disagree on our worldview, but I thought he was a profoundly decent human being. I am completely shocked at his behaviour.

“I hope when he wakes up tomorrow morning he feels ashamed of what he has done. This is a desperate last throw of the dice for the prime minister who’s in deep trouble, a prime minister who can’t even command the support of half of his own party.

“But I’m sorry to say, I now believe he is unfit to be the prime minister of our country.”

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