
2023’s best, funniest and most WTF moments
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2 years agoon
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adminRemember when that composer at the coronation had to come out and say he wasn’t Meghan Markle in disguise?
Well, 2023 was full of hilarious, jaw-dropping and laugh-out-loud moments just like that.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourites.
Harry’s virginity

Prince Harry really did tell all in his tell-all memoir which was released in January.
While there were several note-worthy revelations (the Nazi costume apparently not being all his fault, “Willy” calling Meghan “rude” and the brothers getting into fisticuffs – resulting in Harry falling on to the dog bowl), the one that gave rise to countless memes and re-enactments using a snippet from the audiobook was the prince describing how he lost his virginity in a field to an “older lady”.
In case you missed it (unlikely), here’s that passage:
“I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my ass and held me back… one of my mistakes was letting it happen in a field, just behind a busy pub.
“No doubt someone had seen us.”
Good evening Daddy
Live TV is hard.
You can misspeak or lose your train of thought, or accidentally stick your middle finger up at millions of viewers dunking biscuits into their tea (more on that one later).
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Sometimes, you might even call a guest daddy, just like our very own Mark Austin did when he was talking to policing commentator Danny Shaw (you understand the mix-up) about alleged escaped terror suspect Daniel Khalife.
The King gets bored at his own party
2022 gave us the King and the leaky pen, but 2023 gave us the King complaining in his golden carriage about how bored he was at his coronation.
He was filmed waiting outside Westminster Abbey for the rest of his family who were running late.
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0:28
King looks grumpy after arriving early
This is what a lip reader thinks he was saying:
“We can never be on time… This is a negative… There’s always something… This is boring.”
Victoria Beckham is ‘working class’
How did Victoria Beckham – a woman who made a name for herself as a posh person – think she could get away with telling the world that she came from humble beginnings?
In the greatly anticipated Beckham documentary on Netflix, the Spice Girl began to talk about how she and husband David were such a good match because of their very similar “working class” backgrounds, when he swiftly reminded her that you’re not very “working class” if your dad took you to school in a Rolls-Royce.
She took it in good humour and even launched a T-shirt to celebrate the moment.

Taylor Swift puts Travis Kelce ‘on the map’
2023 saw Taylor Swift find romance with a superstar American football player – but nobody had really heard of him before Swift made him famous, right?
That’s what women on social media all over the US were teasing their boyfriends/husbands/dads/brothers with after the megastar was pictured at one of his games.

Taylor Swift celebrates with Brittany Mahomes at a Kansas City Chiefs game on 17 December
If you missed the trend, the videos followed pretty much exactly the same format:
Girl: Isn’t it so good that this Travis Kelce guy is gonna have such a good career now that Taylor Swift has put him on the map?
Guy: Put him on the map?
Girl: Yeah, like she’s totally made him famous.
Guy: You’re kidding right? You’re kidding.
Girl: No, he’s going to be so famous now, it’s great, right?
Guy: Travis Kelce is the best tight-end in literally the entire world. He’s one of the most famous football players in the NFL.

Travis Kelce is dating Taylor Swift
‘I’m not Meghan, I’m a composer’
Sir Karl Jenkins is a Welsh composer.
He is not Meghan Markle in disguise and he’s had that moustache since he was 18.

Sir Karl Jenkins and Meghan Markle
The 79-year-old musician, who was sitting next to Andrew Lloyd Webber in Westminster Abbey for the King’s coronation, sparked speculation on social media that he was the duchess undercover in a large white wig and glasses.
After having had enough of the rumours that suggested otherwise, he released a video statement.
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0:58
Sir Karl Jenkins: ‘I’m not Meghan’
“My name is Sir Karl Jenkins. I understand there’s been a lot of interest in me since I appeared at the coronation of King Charles III. I was there because I’d written some music for the service.
“I was quite surprised that some people thought I was Meghan Markle in disguise. Someone wrote I was there to steal the crown jewels.
“I look this way all the time. I’ve had this moustache since I was 18. So that’s me. Nothing sinister about it or surprising at all.”
Bad blood between Biden and Taylor?
Oh, President Biden.
You can rattle Trump supporters and gun enthusiasts all you want, but antagonising the Swifties is career suicide.
The American president has been known for the odd blunder here and there, but he really stuck his foot in it when he used the name Britney in an apparent reference to Taylor Swift’s most recent overseas tour.
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1:30
Biden confuses Taylor Swift with Britney Spears
Sex noises disrupt Euro 2024 draw
Moaning could be heard at one of the biggest football events of the year – and it wasn’t Gary Neville talking about Manchester United’s woes!
It was actually sexual noises being played during UEFA’s live draw, causing a stir on social media.
There were smirks in the audience as the sound of a woman moaning interrupted proceedings for several minutes.
Serial prankster Daniel Jarvis later owned up to playing out the sound – and he had previously taken credit for a similar incident during live BBC coverage of a game between Wolverhampton and Liverpool.
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BBC presenter flips the bird
Five, four, three, two, one… aaand viral phenomenon.
When BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri began her crude countdown to going on air, she had no idea she’d be giving the middle finger to the nation as well as to her studio colleagues.
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0:25
Maryam Moshiri says gesture was ‘private joke’
The joke was mostly well-received all round, and the footage that has since been released of her full sarcastic countdown from five has also been a hit on social media.
It was the Tories who faced the most backlash in the video’s aftermath, after their social media team posted a screenshot of the presenter holding up her finger on X with the words: “Labour when you ask for their plans to tackle illegal migration.”
Never mind the bullocks
A bullock went viral when it was pulled from a sinkhole with “a couple of straps and a telehandler”.
The most miraculous thing about the whole incident – which was a bit like watching a blown-up version of a rabbit getting pulled from a hat – was that the animal walked away unharmed, as if nothing had ever happened.
The video of the bullock’s ordeal has been viewed 62 million times on Sky News’ platforms.
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0:40
Bullock gets pulled out of a hole by its back legs
Right in the pie hole
The budget airline’s boss got a full face of dessert when a protester decided to throw two cream pies at him.
Michael O’Leary, to his credit, didn’t come across all pie and mighty (sorry) after the incident at a news conference, in which the female protester demanded he “stop the pollution of your planes”.
“It’s the first time environmentalists have given me cake,” he quipped.
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0:52
Moment Ryanair CEO is hit with a cake by climate activists
Sir Keir Starmer gets glitter bombed
Unfortunately for Sir Keir Starmer, it wasn’t his vibrant personality and energy that lit up the Labour conference in October, according to some critics.
It was instead the glitter that had been sprinkled over his head by a protester who made his way on to the stage during the Labour leader’s speech.
The demonstrator shouted “true democracy is citizen-led, politics needs an update” – prompting boos and looks of concern from members of the audience.
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1:33
The protester was carried out by security guards
Sir Keir managed to brush it off… figuratively. Literally speaking, large specks of glitter could still be seen on his white shirt and remained there for the duration of his keynote address.
‘X, formerly known as Twitter’
Yes; we’re as fed up of writing it as you are of reading it.
But we have to keep the line in for our one reader who may not know that the social media site was rebranded in July by its billionaire owner Elon Musk.
Perhaps next year, we’ll start referring to X (formerly Twitter!) as just X. Watch this space(X).
Musk and Zuckerberg almost had a fight
Elon Musk challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a cage fight – only for the Meta boss to unexpectedly agree to it.
The pair bickered back-and-fourth online for months, proving that you’re never too rich or famous to be an internet troll.

Both men said they were preparing for the fight. Pics: Instagram/Zuck and X/ElonMusk
The idea ultimately fizzled out, though, with the social media moguls failing to even agree on a date for the potential bout.
Meta boss Zuckerberg has since told us that it’s time to “move on” from the saga.
Never, Mark. Never.
Gwyneth Paltrow and the ski accident
“Who caused the crash? Is somebody lying? What did she just say to him?”
These were the kinds of questions we had in March as we watched actress Gwyneth Paltrow defend herself in – and ultimately win – a bizarre civil court case against a man who claimed she crashed into him while skiing.
It took jurors all of two hours to reflect on eight days of evidence and conclude that optometrist Terry Sanderson was “100%” at fault for the skiing accident in 2016.
But viewers watching the final court broadcast were still left with questions as the Seven star leaned into Mr Sanderson and said something to him that wasn’t picked up by microphones.
Mr Sanderson claimed that she simply wished the 76-year-old well, but we’ll never truly know.
Perhaps the creators of a new play based on the court case (yes, that’s really a thing) will give their own interpretation of the exchange.
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2:26
‘The ridiculousness of it just made it so captivating’
Altman’s out… wait, he’s back!
In a whirlwind few days for ChatGPT maker OpenAI, chief executive Sam Altman was ousted by his own board, only to be reinstated within a week.
Not being “consistently candid in his communications” was the charge laid at his feet by the board when the stunning decision was made mid-November.

Sam Altman at a summit in November
But his alleged comms shortcomings were swiftly forgiven by the AI firm after its president and other staff members threatened to follow Altman out.
It was enough to see Altman hastily return as chief executive – with a new board installed.
Education secretary complains ‘everyone else has sat on their arses’
The education secretary was caught complaining about not being thanked for doing a “f****** good job” over the unsafe concrete crisis.
After an interview with ITV News in Westminster, Gillian Keegan criticised others for being “sat on their arses” and claimed the government had gone “over and above” in addressing concerns relating to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
While her mic was still on, she said: “Does anyone ever say ‘You know you’ve done a f****** good job because everyone else has sat on their arses and done nothing’?
“No signs of that, no?”
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0:30
Education sec watches clip of herself swearing
Ms Keegan later apologised and admitted she was “frustrated with the interviewer” who was “making out it was all my fault”.
If we’re grateful for anything, it’s that the rant was caught on mic.
James Cleverly: ‘I said s***, not s***hole!’
Are you sensing a theme here?
When Commons microphones picked up some foul language during Prime Minister’s Questions in November, Home Secretary James Cleverly was forced to issue an apology.
It was him, he admitted, who could be heard using the S word following a question from Labour Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham regarding child poverty in the northern town.
Mr Cunningham accused Suella Braverman’s successor of describing Stockton-on-Tees as a “s***hole” in the remark, but Mr Cleverly was adamant that he “would never” insult the town.
Insult its MP, though? Well, that’s another story.
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1:58
Rude remark heard during PMQs
A source close to the home secretary admitted the minister had used “unparliamentary language” – though added it wasn’t directed at the town.
The source told Sky News: “James made a comment. He called Alex Cunningham a s*** MP. He apologises for unparliamentary language.”
Activists climb on to prime minister’s roof
Environmental activists decided to force Rishi Sunak into action by sitting on his roof with “no new oil” banners while he was on holiday with his family in California.
The Greenpeace five were later bailed by North Yorkshire Police after scaling the Yorkshire manor and draping it in a black-oil fabric.
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0:49
‘I’m on the roof of the prime minister’s house’
Number 10 stood by its policy in the wake of the controversy, saying drilling for more oil will boost energy security and reduce bills for consumers.
While the outing seemingly had little impact on the government’s policies, the protesters can say they spent an entire August morning on the prime minister’s house.
Cockroach steals the show at Met Gala
A cockroach became an overnight sensation when it attended the prestigious Met Gala in New York.
The insect initially evaded a photographer’s best efforts to kill it, but people on social media were forced to mourn after fate eventually caught up with the roach.
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0:23
A cockroach is spotted at the Met Gala.
The Pope’s wearing a puffer?
All of us – even the biggest advocates for technological advancement – have probably seen things in AI’s rapid rise this year that have raised concerns.
Now even the Pope himself has spoken out, saying there needs to be regulation to tackle the disinformation, discrimination and distortion that AI can contribute to.
What were these incredibly strong words brought on by?
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Quite possibly by an AI-generated image of the pontiff wearing a rather stylish, oversized coat.
Michael Owen’s apple throwing antics
A teenage World Cup star and a Ballon d’Or winner aged 22 – but how did England striker Michael Owen achieve such astounding heights?
Well, it all stemmed from throwing apple cores into bins.
Owen became an internet meme – and not for the first time – when he went on a podcast and explained how “everything was a challenge” to him growing up.

“You know I would eat an apple while watching the TV at night,” he said on Upfront With Simon Jordan.
“The bin would be by the TV, six metres away or whatever. I would just do it. I had the bravery to miss and for there to be a stain on the wallpaper and my mum to absolutely scream at me and send me upstairs.”
Luckily the striker’s pinpoint finishing translated to apple throwing as he told of his pride that his mother never got to shout at him for staining the walls – because he simply never missed. He said it earned him the respect that he craved from his father.
Never change, Michael.
2023, it’s been a blast. What will 2024 bring? If this year’s taught us anything, it’s that there’s no point in making predictions.
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UK
Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died aged 46
Published
6 hours agoon
September 14, 2025By
admin
Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died aged 46.
During his career between 1997 and 2012, the British fighter – nicknamed “The Hitman” – won titles in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions.
As it happened: Tributes paid to former boxing world champion
In July this year, he announced he was coming out of retirement for a December bout in Dubai, 13 years on from his last professional match.
The Manchester boxer had been set to fight Eisa Al Dah on 2 December.
In 2023, Sky broadcast a documentary exploring the boxer’s life in the ring, his fractured personal life and his continuing mental health battles.
Greater Manchester Police said on Sunday: “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6.45am today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man.
“There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”
Sky News sport correspondent Rob Harris called Hatton “one of the great personalities of British boxing,” crediting him with “galvanising the sport”.
He said: “As he would travel around the world, winning fights, he would bring that huge fan base with him… To have the career he had, with 45 victories and three defeats, was impressive…

Hatton in his last professional fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012. Pic: Reuters
“This will be devastating to many boxing fans and particularly his family, given it was just weeks before he was due to make his comeback… So many people will be reflecting on just what a contribution and what an icon he was to British boxing and just how he could seem so ordinary as well, while still achieving great sporting heights”.
During his 15-year professional career, Hatton held multiple world championships at light-welterweight and one at welterweight class.
In his prime, Hatton secured victories over the likes of Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo, before going on to suffer brutal knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007 and Manny Pacquiao in 2009.
Hatton last fought professionally in November 2012, suffering a knockout loss to Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko.
He once more returned to the ring for a non-scoring exhibition bout with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022.

Ricky Hatton’s WBC welterweight fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007. Pic: Reuters
Messages from those in the sports world poured in following news of his death, with boxers including Amir Khan, Tyson Fury, Chris Eubank Jr and Barry McGuigan, and footballers Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney all paying tribute.
As one of Manchester City’s most famous fans, the team announced there would be a minute’s appreciation ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.
City and England midfielder Phil Foden scored in the 3-0 victory and dedicated the win to Hatton.
“It was for him and his family. It was all for him and we are delighted with the result.”
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1:02
Manchester City, the football team Ricky Hatton supported throughout his life, held a minute’s applause for the late boxer ahead of their derby game against Manchester United.
Born Richard John Hatton in Stockport, Cheshire, in October 1978, he rose through amateur and domestic levels to become one of the most popular fighters in the first decade of the new century.
But he had suffered a series of well-publicised issues in his private life since his 2009 defeat against Pacquiao in their IBO light-welterweight title fight in Las Vegas.
Hatton said at the time he did not want to see those demons tarnish his legacy in the sport, and had another world title belt in his sights.
In 2010, he was admitted to rehab, struggling with drink and depression.
Hatton overcame a fallout with his family and a court case with his former trainer Billy Graham to become a successful trainer, coaching Zhanat Zhakiyanov to a world bantamweight title win in 2017.

Hatton with professional ice-skater Robin Johnstone on Dancing On Ice in 2024. Pic: PA
His down-to-earth attitude endeared him to fans around the world and, in 2024, he joined ITV reality show Dancing On Ice, but was the first celebrity to leave the competition.
His professional skating partner, Robin Johnstone, paid tribute on Instagram, saying she was “beyond sad” at the “devastating news,” adding, “You were a true friend.”
Everybody wanted a piece of Ricky Hatton

Arts and entertainment correspondent
There are few sporting stars who cross from the newspaper back pages to become front page news… but Ricky Hatton always was one of them.
Aside from his boxing brilliance, it was his personality and humour which made people pay attention.
In recent years, his happy-go-lucky character saw him cast on reality shows like Dancing on Ice.
But what’s more interesting is how and why the public came to have such great affection for him back in the day.
Putting it kindly, sports stars aren’t always known for their sparkling personalities.
It was Ricky’s lack of interest in the trappings of fame which accompanied his epic run of victories that made him all the more cool.
He was the working class hero who seemed unstoppable. It was a story that everyone wanted to follow.
Celebrities wanted to be seen alongside him. Piggy-backing off his popularity the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington and David Beckham were all pictured ringside at one time or another, drawn to his fan-friendly style and impressive winning streak.
At the same time as the Gallagher brothers were flying the flag for music from Manchester, Hatton was doing the same for boxing.
During his 2008 fight against Paulie Malignaggi, he infamously had Liam and Noel escort him to the ring.
In an interview he said he thought all three of them might be killed when Liam held up Hatton’s IBO belt inches from Malignaggi’s face and with a swagger said ‘what do you think about that you d*** head?’.
Stories like that are why his appeal extended beyond sport. He was an ordinary bloke who’d done extraordinary things. He never lost sight of who he was and fans loved him for it.
Speaking ahead of his final professional fight in 2012, Hatton, who was a father of three, told reporters: “I don’t want people telling my kids that I blew it. I want my kids to be able to say, ‘He was a world champion, he had his problems, but my did he bounce back’.
“I want people to be proud of me again. I want British sport, my kids and my fans and my friends to be proud of me.”
Hatton leaves behind his three children, daughters Millie and Fearne and son Campbell.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
UK
Mandelson appointment was ‘worth the risk’ despite ‘strong relationship’ with Epstein, says minister
Published
12 hours agoon
September 14, 2025By
admin
Appointing Lord Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US was “worth the risk”, a minister has told Sky News.
Peter Kyle said the government put the Labour peer forward for the Washington role, despite knowing he had a “strong relationship” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It is this relationship that led to Peter Mandelson being fired on Thursday by the prime minister.

Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein. File pic
But explaining the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary Mr Kyle said: “The risk of appointing [him] knowing what was already public was worth the risk.
“Now, of course, we’ve seen the emails which were not published at the time, were not public and not even known about. And that has changed this situation.”
Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, he rejected the suggestion that Lord Mandelson was appointed to Washington before security checks were completed.
More on Peter Mandelson
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He explained there was a two-stage vetting process for Lord Mandelson before he took on the ambassador role.
The first was done by the Cabinet Office, while the second was a “political process where there were political conversations done in Number 10 about all the other aspects of an appointment”, he said.
This is an apparent reference to Sir Keir Starmer asking follow-up questions based on the information provided by the vetting.
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21:50
‘We knew it was a strong relationship’
These are believed to have included why Lord Mandelson continued contact with Epstein after he was convicted and why he was reported to have stayed in one of the paedophile financier’s homes while he was in prison.
Mr Kyle said: “Both of these things turned up information that was already public, and a decision was made based on Peter’s singular talents in this area, that the risk of appointing knowing what was already public was worth the risk.”
Mr Kyle also pointed to some of the government’s achievements under Lord Mandelson, such as the UK becoming the first country to sign a trade deal with the US, and President Donald Trump’s state visit next week.
Mr Kyle also admitted that the government knew that Lord Mandelson and Epstein had “a strong relationship”.
“We knew that there were risks involved,” he concluded.
PM had only ‘extracts of emails’ ahead of defence of Mandelson at PMQs – as Tories accuse him of ‘lying’
Speaking to Sky News, Kyle also sought to clarify the timeline of what Sir Keir Starmer knew about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, and when he found this out.
It follows Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the prime minister of “lying to the whole country” about his knowledge of the then US ambassador’s relationship with the paedophile.
Allegations about Lord Mandelson began to emerge in the newspapers on Tuesday, while more serious allegations – that the Labour peer had suggested Epstein’s first conviction for sexual offences was wrongful and should be challenged – were sent to the Foreign Office on the same day by Bloomberg, which was seeking a response from the government.
But the following day, Sir Keir went into the House of Commons and publicly backed Britain’s man in Washington, giving him his full confidence. Only the next morning – on Thursday – did the PM then sack Lord Mandelson, a decision Downing Street has insisted was made based on “new information”.
Read more:
Witch-hunt vibe in Labour on who approved appointment
Senior Labour MP demands answers over Mandelson vetting
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7:53
Vetting ‘is very thorough’
Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr Kyle said: “Number 10 had what was publicly available on Tuesday, which was extracts of emails which were not in context, and they weren’t the full email.
“Immediately upon having being alerted to extracts of emails, the Foreign Office contacted Peter Mandelson and asked for his account of the emails and asked for them to be put into context and for his response. That response did not come before PMQs [on Wednesday].
“Then after PMQs, the full emails were released by Bloomberg in the evening.
“By the first thing the next morning when the prime minister had time to read the emails in full, having had them in full and reading them almost immediately of having them – Peter was withdrawn as ambassador.”
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4:48
Government deeming Mandelson to be ‘worth the risk’ is unlikely to calm Labour MPs
The Conservatives have claimed Sir Keir is lying about what he knew, with Laura Trott telling Sky News there are “grave questions about the prime minister’s judgement”.
The shadow education secretary called for “transparency”, and told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We need to understand what was known and when.”

Laura Trott says there are ‘grave questions about the prime minister’s judgement’
They believe that Sir Keir was in possession of the full emails on Tuesday, because the Foreign Office passed these to Number 10. This is despite the PM backing Mandelson the following day.
Ms Trott explained: “We are calling for transparency because, if what we have outlined is correct, then the prime minister did lie and that is an extremely, extremely serious thing to have happened.”
She added: “This was a prime minister who stood on the steps of Downing Street and said that he was going to restore political integrity and look where we are now. We’ve had two senior resignations in the space of the number of weeks.
“The prime minister’s authority is completely shot.”
But Ms Trott refused to be drawn on whether she thinks Sir Keir should resign, only stating that he is “a rudderless, a weak prime minister whose authority is shot at a time we can least afford it as a country”.
UK
‘Minority’ who attacked police at ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally ‘will pay a price’, minister says as up to 150,000 people march in London
Published
12 hours agoon
September 14, 2025By
admin
People who attacked and injured police officers at a march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson “should and will pay a price” for their violence, the business secretary has said.
Peter Kyle condemned the bad behaviour at the “Unite the Kingdom” event in London on Saturday, which saw up to 150,000 take part in the rally.
Appearing on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Kyle said the number of people who turned up showed that free speech is “alive and well” in the UK.
He said: “It doesn’t disturb me, because it’s actually proof that we live in a country where free speech, free association, is alive and well.
“The bit that disturbs me is that when a minority go to an extreme and end up perpetrating violence against the police – that is unacceptable and those people should and will pay a price for it.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed that anyone found to have taken part in criminal activity would “face the full force of the law” – as police said at least 25 people were arrested and 26 officers were injured – including four who were seriously hurt.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer posted on X: “People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values.
More on Metropolitan Police
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“But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin.
“Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”
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Protesters forming the rally gathered in the centre of the capital, holding Union and St George’s flags.
Mr Kyle said: “The flag was waved quite a lot and I do want to make the point that the flag belongs to all of us.
“That flag means a lot of different things to a lot of people, but it is about essential British and English values and principles.
“Those English values and principles include free speech, freedom of association and the like, and all of those things are demonstrated just by the fact that that protest went along and that demonstration went along completely freely, it shows that those values are actually alive and well.”

Activists fly flags and carry wooden crosses during the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march in London. Pic: Reuters
Protesters heard a series of speeches, including from Robinson, who called it the “biggest freedom of speech” in British history.
Police estimated that between 110,000 to 150,000 attended the event.
An anti-racism counter-protest, attended by about 5,000 campaigners, also took place, with the two groups clashing on Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, separated by lines of police.
The Metropolitan Police‘s Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said officers faced “significant aggression” from “Unite the Kingdom” attendees.
“The violence they faced was wholly unacceptable,” he said.
“Twenty-six officers were injured, including four seriously – among them broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury.”
People have been arrested for a range of offences, including affray, violent disorder, assaults, and criminal damage.
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5:38
Protesters clash with police
Police said the Robinson crowd was too big to fit into Whitehall and a confrontation happened when police tried to stop them from encircling counter-protesters and accessing the area from different routes.
A Met spokesman said: “When officers moved in to stop them, they faced unacceptable violence. They were assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown.”
Officers continued to face aggression in multiple locations, in particular at the north of Whitehall as they worked to create a safe exit route for those who had been taking part in the Stand Up To Racism protest.
Robinson supporters hurled projectiles at counter-demonstrators as both groups faced off on Whitehall, police said.
A row of police horses stood opposite a crowd waving Union flags, and at one point, a glass bottle seemed to strike one of the horses, causing both the animal and its rider to stumble backward.

‘Unite the Kingdom’ protesters in Trafalgar Square. Pic: Reuters

Protesters in Whitehall. Pic: Reuters

Activists take part in the March Against Fascism, organised by Stand Up To Racism. Pic: PA
Musk makes surprise appearance
Robinson live-streamed the rally on X, with its audience peaking at 2.9 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
Making a surprise appearance via video link, tech billionaire Elon Musk called for a “change of government” in the UK.
“You can’t – we don’t have another four years, or whenever the next election is, it’s too long,” Musk told the crowd. “Something’s got to be done. There’s got to be a dissolution of parliament and a new vote held.”
TV presenter Katie Hopkins also spoke after earlier appearing alongside Robinson, Lawrence Fox and Ant Middleton at the front of the march.

Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson at the rally. Pic: PA
‘Revolution has started – you can’t stop it’
With a voice which sounded hoarse from shouting, Robinson told crowds during his speech that “millions” had showed up for the rally.
“The dam has well and truly burst,” he said. “The cat is out of the bag and there is no putting it back in. The silent majority will be silent no longer.”
Addressing the prime minister and the Labour government, Robinson said: “The revolution has started – and you can’t stop it.”
Referring to a Court of Appeal decision to overturn an injunction blocking asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, Robinson claimed UK courts found the rights of undocumented migrants supersede those of the “local community”.
He said: “They told the world that Somalians, Afghanis, Pakistanis, all of them, their rights supersede yours – the British public, the people that built this nation.”
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