Rishi Sunak was barely two minutes into his general election announcement yesterday when a song began blaring near No 10.
Younger or less politically astute viewers may have assumed the tune was part of the prime minister’s efforts to inspire the nation, as he didn’t miss a beat in his speech when the music came in.
Its purpose, however, was very different.
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Things Can Only Get Better started blaring around two minutes into the PM’s speech
The song – Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream – was the official anthem of Sir Tony Blair‘s landslide victory for Labour in 1997.
The party adopted the track which had already had mainstream success in the year after its release in 1993. It re-entered the charts during Sir Tony’s campaign, which featured the lead singer Peter Cunnah performing the song live at several rallies.
The physicist Brian Cox was the band’s original keyboard player.
Of course, it wasn’t the Labour Party blasting the D:Ream song this time around.
It was in fact prominent anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray who sacrificed his two amplifiers in the soaking rain to get his message across to the nation.
‘I didn’t do it for Labour’
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“I thought about what would be the best trolling tune if he announced the election,” Mr Bray said.
“And of course, it had to be Things Can Only Get Better. Because everybody can relate to that and the 1997 election.
“I didn’t do it for Labour. I did it because it was the top trolling song for the Conservatives.”
Irrespective of Mr Bray’s distancing from Labour, the song is still synonymous with the party decades on from Sir Tony’s campaign.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer referenced the song himself in a conference speech last year, appearing to compare Labour’s previous reign with the current Conservative one when he said: “13 years of ‘things can only get better’ versus 13 years of ‘things have only got worse’.”
Wednesday wasn’t the first time a campaigner tried to interrupt one of the prime minister’s speeches – and it’s unlikely it will be the last.
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The speakers got soaked alongside Mr Sunak on Downing Street, “and they blew anyway,” said Mr Bray, who was draped in the blue and yellow colours of the EU.
But he vowed to buy more amplifiers and continue protesting during the election campaign ahead of 4 July.
A woman has suffered life-changing injuries after being stabbed by a member of the public at the accident and emergency department where she was working.
The victim – believed to be a nurse in her 50s – was attacked at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, where she is now being treated.
It is understood she was injured with a bladed article or a sharp instrument – and not by a knife.
Officers were called at 11.30pm on Saturday.
A 37-year-old man is in custody after being “swiftly arrested at the scene” on suspicion of attempted murder, Greater Manchester Police said.
Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and say there is no threat to the wider public.
Jim McMahon, the Labour MP for the area, described it as a “senseless attack”.
He posted on Facebook: “We are all shocked at the senseless attack on a nurse in the A&E department of the Royal Oldham Hospital.
“Our thoughts are with the nurse, family and friends as we wish a full recovery.”
Detective Sergeant Craig Roters said it was a “serious incident which has left a woman in a critical condition”.
The victim’s family and colleagues will be supported, he added.
The local community can expect to see an “increase in police presence” while enquiries are carried out, Mr Roters said.
“We know that news of this nature will come as a shock, and if you have any concerns or anything you would like to share, please speak to [officers].”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Timesthe properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.