Sir Keir Starmer has criticised a politician who accused his rival of mendacity about his navy report.

The Labour chief stated Conservative Johnny Mercer was “unhappy and determined” after he claimed Fred Thomas, a former Royal Marine standing for Labour within the constituency of Plymouth Moor View, was by no means “in fight missions” as was reported within the Guardian in 2023.

Mr Mercer, a former Military officer and veterans’ minister, stated Mr Thomas “needs to be held to account” after accusing him of “boasting” his navy service.

Mr Thomas stated he remained “unable to debate a lot of my service”.

Chatting with reporters in London, Sir Keir stated Mr Thomas was a veteran “who’s received a proud report of service”.

He stated the feedback confirmed the Conservatives had been “get together first by means of and thru and nation second” which was the “flawed approach spherical”.

“I feel that is unhappy desperation that the veterans minister is attacking one other veteran who’s received a proud report of service,” he stated.

“It is determined.”

Responding, Mr Mercer stated: “I’m responsible as charged for being a tragic man who’s reasonably quaint and thinks veterans who boast in newspapers about their report in fight to be able to get elected needs to be held to account, significantly if it seems to be unfaithful.

“It’s deeply offensive and disrespectful to those that do really shed blood for the nation.”

Mr Thomas stated he had proudly served his nation for seven years “together with abroad on operations”.

“I stay unable to debate a lot of my service, one thing which Johnny Mercer – as a former defence minister – is keenly conscious of,” he stated.

“I stay up for utilizing on daily basis till 4 July to take the message of Keir Starmer’s modified Labour Social gathering to the voters of Plymouth Moor View.”

Mr Mercer first made the accusations at a hustings in Plymouth on Wednesday.

He stated he didn’t dispute Mr Thomas’s service within the Royal Marines or that he “certainly performed one operational tour the place he discovered himself in difficult environments – quite the opposite I respect his service”.

However he stated serving in fight had “a particular that means and carries particular tasks”.

The Labour Social gathering on Friday informed the BBC Mr Thomas had been misreported within the Guardian article.

Mr Thomas cited his certificates of valediction which was signed by an unnamed commanding officer of the Particular Forces Assist Group.

The opposite candidates in Plymouth Moor View are Shaun Hooper for Reform UK, Sarah Martin for the Liberal Democrats and Georgia Nelson for the Inexperienced Social gathering.

Portugal’s Euro 2024 Group F win in opposition to Turkey in Dortmund on Saturday was halted 4 occasions by supporters working onto the pitch for selfies with Cristiano Ronaldo, with two extra doing the identical postmatch.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez spoke in grave phrases in regards to the incidents after the sport saying it shouldn’t be allowed to occur and urged different supporters to not observe go well with.

“It’s a concern, however at this time we have been fortunate as intention of the followers have been good,” he stated. “The followers recognise large stars and icons however there’s a very troublesome scenario if their intensions are improper and gamers are uncovered.

“It should not occur. There may be numerous safety, so it should not occur. Possibly there’s a message to that followers, that this isn’t the appropriate manner [to behave]. The message is that it may worsen for the long run and it isn’t good that the gamers are so uncovered on the pitch.”

Ronaldo, now enjoying his membership soccer in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, smiled and posed for an image with a younger boy who evaded safety to run onto the enjoying floor within the seventieth minute.

The kid, aged round 10 years outdated, was hugged by Ronaldo earlier than working away from safety stewards till he was unable to flee on the facet of the pitch.

When he was being led away, stewards and substitutes on the touchline patted the boy on the pinnacle, and the group contained in the stadium cheered as he waved whereas being led away.

A teenage boy then tried to repeat the stunt quarter-hour later, however Portugal captain Ronaldo threw his arms within the air and waved him away earlier than safety stopped the teen from reaching the previous Actual Madrid and Manchester United participant.

On each events, German referee Felix Zwayer was compelled to delay the sport till the kids have been faraway from the pitch.

Two extra supporters, this time grownup males, ran onto the pitch in stoppage time and headed towards Ronaldo with their telephones earlier than being stopped by safety.

Lastly, two extra supporters repeated the trick as soon as the ultimate whistle had been blown, not interrupting the sport however getting on the pitch nonetheless.

The incidents will set off an computerized disciplinary investigation by UEFA over safety contained in the stadium, which is prone to host Germany’s round-of-16 fixture and likewise a semifinal later within the event.

By any stretch, hustings are awkward affairs. Normally poorly attended, few ever change the minds of voters, as candidates keep on with tedious strains cleared by native get together HQs. However because the hustings in Plymouth on Thursday evening descended into anarchy, I sat again to take a second to take all of it in.

Regardless of shaking my hand warmly after we first met, congratulating me for my work, confessing he and his mates had all purchased my e-book going by means of Royal Marines Younger Officer Coaching and that it was a “privilege to satisfy” me, my now Labour opponent was being heckled and berated in a approach even I used to be turning into uncomfortable with.

“You’re a shame! You’re disgusting!” they shouted at him; it’s all on tape if you happen to care to pay attention. However as I regarded down the road previous one lady shouting I noticed an aged gentleman, sitting quietly, however getting visibly distressed.

I recognised it immediately. The non-public expertise that makes moments like this significantly uncomfortable. The scars of fight service – killing and buddies being killed, sacrificing their lives for the nation.

And I believed I’m used to this; I’m used to the circus of public life. However I noticed in him what I felt inside. The sheer rage of somebody unbelievably attempting to fake about their navy service, in entrance of lots of these for whom the shadows of fight in Kosovo, the Falklands, Northern Eire, Iraq and Afghanistan had been unimaginable to flee.

And the swap flicked. I regarded on the aged gentleman; it was a kind of moments whenever you resolve who you might be in it for. Like once I noticed Dennis Hutchings in courtroom in Belfast. Or Soldier A. Or Soldier C. Or any of the others I’ve stood up for.

What the Labour opponent had achieved was boast about serving on “fight missions” throughout his time in service in an interview with the Guardian. He has since promoted this text endlessly – it’s the foremost factor on his web site, together with one other piece which claims in an enormous heading that he’s a “Warfare Hero”. He may have resiled from the declare at any time – corrected it or just ignored it. However he didn’t. He promoted it; it’s what he wished everybody to suppose.

Given the time interval he served and the unit he was a part of this was merely not a believable declare. One of many benefits of getting a small-ish UK navy is that just about everybody is aware of somebody who is aware of another person. It was clearly not true.

‘It’s not one thing you boast about’

I wrote him a pleasant observe saying this was fairly a declare of somebody from his period, on the again of a few of his friends enduring the toughest combating in Afghanistan that the British Military had seen since Korea. I mentioned it was prone to come up, and will he assist me bat off awkward questions for him. He instructed me the Labour Celebration had instructed him he couldn’t discuss it.
Once more, I knew it was garbage.

He bought his comeuppance this week, and has now admitted the interview was “misreported” by the Guardian. Their fault not his. It was brutal to observe, and at occasions brutal to endure.

Most of us don’t discuss it for good motive. I as soon as crossed a street in fight and a Taliban fighter opened up on me and a pal from 80 metres away with a heavy machine gun. My pal was shot within the face and died immediately; I used to be unscathed. Nothing however luck performed the dealing hand.

I give it some thought commonly. Why him, not me? As I cradled his physique going from heat to chilly, I considered his mum, and his plans for his life that he had sacrificed for the nation that might now by no means occur. It’s not one thing you boast about; it’s one thing you strive not to consider. The guilt could be overwhelming at occasions; the imposter syndrome stays with you for all times and hits you want a Tyson Fury proper hook whenever you least anticipate it, like on my wedding ceremony day once I was in tears.

Because the melee died down on the hustings I went over to talk to the aged gentleman. He was on a ship which sank throughout the Falklands Warfare. I can’t bear in mind precisely what he mentioned – my blood was up, however it was one thing like “I simply can’t take this form of stuff anymore Johnny”.

I don’t do that stuff for the media commentariat. Neither do I do it for the crowds. I do it for the quiet veterans – these deserted by their nation in courtroom in Belfast, those that quietly cope with the results of their experiences or are compelled to observe their epic service (far higher than mine) cheapened by people who’re glad to permit an impression of them to construct what they know to be false, for private achieve. It’s deeply offensive, and deeply disrespectful to those that do truly lose their lives in fight.

I’ve all the time been in opposition to criminalising the “bloating” or Walter Mitty sorts. I’ve seen them as a tragic crowd who need assistance not punishing. This week has utterly modified my view. It’s fraud, or while I’m nonetheless round – tried fraud at finest. I’ll do all I can to pressure a future authorities to take action.

The mom of Jay Slater, who’s lacking in Tenerife, has stated she believes Spanish police have intensified their seek for the 19-year-old, six days after he disappeared.

On Saturday afternoon, search and rescue employees, police and firefighters have been combing by means of an unlimited space of the valley the place Slater was final seen, with canines introduced in to assist with the search.

Debbie Duncan instructed the Guardian she spent eight hours in a police station on Friday as police outlined their detailed plans to seek for the lacking apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire. “I believe it’s been stepped up,” she stated, which she described as “too proper”.

Duncan, who flew to the island on Tuesday, a day after Slater went lacking, stated she nonetheless believes “one thing untoward” might have occurred to her son, and that police had instructed her they have been “investigating all leads”.

On Saturday, police have been on the vacation house that Slater had visited earlier than he disappeared, standing guard outdoors whereas vacationers ate on the adjoining cafe.

Police have been additionally seen close to a home additional down the valley, near the palm tree the place Slater’s cellphone final “pinged”, and which is believed to be his final identified location.

In a while Saturday, Jay’s father Warren Slater, 58, visited the scene within the village of Masca the place his son went lacking.

He was joined by Jay’s brother Zak, 24, and instructed reporters he simply wished “the boy again”.

Warren is estranged from Jay’s mom, who didn’t really feel prepared to hitch them.

On Friday, rescuers stated they have been specializing in a 30 sq km space, concentrating on the paths of the valley surrounding the agricultural village of Masca, in addition to two ravines.

With Slater now lacking for nearly per week, rumours and conspiracy theories about his disappearance proceed to unfold on-line, with social media “sleuths” speculating on social media platforms, together with TikTok and Fb.

The administrator of an official Fb web page set as much as assist discover him, Rach Louise Harg, stated in a publish on the web page that any person had logged into Slater’s Instagram account who was not him.

Duncan additionally stated Spanish police have been involved that “noise” across the case might have a detrimental impression on the search.

“They’ve really stated that there’s an excessive amount of noise, that’s affecting it,” she stated. “They’ve obtained all of the plans, their areas. They have this map they have been displaying us, shaded completely different colors.”

Duncan renewed calls from the household for British police to fly to Tenerife to hitch the search. However final evening, in a press release, Lancashire constabulary stated that their supply of assist had been refused by Spanish counterparts.

“We’ve had an issue with the language barrier,” Duncan stated. “It’s tough with all of the Spanish police and British police, they must let the Spanish police do the investigation, however I would like any person to come back out right here.”

Lancashire police stated specialist officers from the drive have been persevering with to help the household.

“Whereas this case falls outdoors the jurisdiction of UK policing, now we have made a proposal of help to the Guardia Civil to see in the event that they want any extra assets,” a spokesperson stated.

“They’ve confirmed that at the moment they’re happy that they’ve the assets they want, however that supply stays open and they’re going to contact us ought to that place change.”

On Friday, search groups within the Rural De Teno nature park stated they’d not given up hope of discovering Slater alive. They stated the search centered on three distinct areas of 30 sq km in complete.

“We nonetheless have hope that he’s alive, up till the final second when the final hope is misplaced,” one rescuer stated. “The reality is that we really feel a bit pissed off as a result of we are able to’t discover him. It’s so large [here] that it’s very tough to go looking in such a steep space. However we’re doing all the pieces we are able to.

“We haven’t discovered something, now we have combed this whole path, we’ve been up and down however, till now, nothing.”

{The teenager} was final heard from on Monday morning when he phoned a good friend saying he was misplaced, wanted water, and that his cellphone battery was on 1%.

He had been with pals on the NRG music competition, however had gone again with two males he had met, who’re believed to be British, to their vacation cottage on the outskirts of the village of Masca, nearly 25 miles (40km) north of the vacation resort in Los Cristianos the place he was staying with pals.

A spokesperson for the music competition stated it had been capable of “give some sensible help” to Slater’s household.

“That such a devastating state of affairs has arisen has deeply affected us all,” they stated, including that they’d been “impressed by [the family’s] resilience and willpower”.

The final identified sighting of Slater was by Ofelia Medina Hernandez, whose brother owns the cottage the place the boys have been staying.

She stated Slater had requested her about bus occasions, then later noticed him strolling up a hill – in the wrong way to Los Cristianos.

“He walked alongside the street once I noticed him for the final time, up there … He was there alone,” she stated. “He was strolling usually, although quick, somewhat quick.”

To stroll again on foot would have taken about 11 hours.

On Friday night, search groups deployed canines and drones from the Cruz de Hilda viewpoint, close to the place Slater was final seen.

The Guardia Civil stated on Friday: “There’s a search on going and the police operation is concentrated on the realm of Masca (Tenerife). We can’t verify any extra data.”

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo ought to take into account himself fortunate to have come to no hurt after being confronted on the sphere by 4 supporters who wished selfies throughout a European Championship match on Saturday, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez mentioned.

The alarming string of safety breaches occurred within the second half of Portugal’s 3-0 win over Turkey in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.

Ronaldo was pleased to pose for a selfie with a younger fan who evaded stewards to get on the sphere within the 69th minute earlier than whipping out his cellphone.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo was clearly sad when two extra individuals tried to do the identical within the remaining minutes of the sport. Then one other individual — carrying a crimson Portugal jersey — acquired near the 39-year-old striker for {a photograph} moments after the ultimate whistle.

Two extra individuals then tried to confront Ronaldo as he walked off the sphere along with his teammates however have been held again by safety on these events.

“It’s a concern,” Martinez mentioned, “as a result of at present we have been fortunate that the intentions of the followers have been good.

“All of us love a fan that acknowledges the massive stars and the massive icons of their minds. All of us agree with that. However you’ll be able to perceive it was a really, very troublesome second — if these intentions are unsuitable, the gamers are uncovered and we must be cautious with that. I don’t suppose that ought to occur on a soccer pitch.”

Martinez mentioned it was necessary to ship a message to followers that this habits was not acceptable.

“It’s not the appropriate approach, you’re not going to get something out of it,” Martinez added. “And what you do might be the measures worsen for the longer term.

“It’s not good to get the gamers so uncovered when you may have individuals working on the pitch.”

Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo’s teammate and a scorer in opposition to Turkey, mentioned he was “probably not involved” concerning the supporters who acquired on the sphere.

“It’s only a bit annoying by way of having to cease the sport as a result of a fan enters the pitch,” Silva mentioned. “That’s the worth you pay for being so acknowledged on this planet of soccer.

“By way of feeling in peril, no. Not me personally.”

___

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Away from the on-the-ground search efforts, the administrator of a Fb web page set as much as assist discover Mr Slater stated any person who was not the 19-year-old had logged in to his Instagram account.

Individuals who had been “hacking” the social media accounts of his household had been “sick within the head”, Rachel Louise Harg stated.

She additionally stated a fundraising web page had been set as much as assist household and associates staying in Tenerife to seek for him. Donations on the web page have now exceeded £28,000.

Many members of the group in Oswaldtwistle have expressed concern about Mr Slater’s wellbeing.

The Reverend Matt Smith, from West Finish Methodist Church, stated a service held on Sunday was “an opportunity for the group to return collectively”.

In the course of the service, he stated that “as the sunshine of hope appears to dwindle… we consider his household and associates – and we pray that he might come house”.

Specialist officers are persevering with to help Mr Slater’s household, Lancashire Police stated on Saturday.

The pressure beforehand stated it had supplied to help Spanish police trying to find him, however had been instructed their counterparts in Tenerife felt that they had sufficient assets.

Mr Slater was on his first vacation with out household and had travelled to attend the pageant with two associates.

Lucy Regulation, thought to have been the final particular person to talk to him, stated he instructed her of their name that he had missed a bus and determined to stroll the 10-hour journey house however was misplaced, wanted water and his telephone was on 1% battery.

The Rural de Teno Park is a few 40-minute drive from the place Mr Slater and his associates had been staying.

A distant and wild nationwide park, it’s a world away from Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas, the celebration city vacation resorts of the island’s south coast.

Deep ravines and big daunting mountains make the nationwide park a troublesome place for the Spanish search groups to navigate.

Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese, has been topped the winner of this 12 months’s World’s Ugliest Canine competitors.

Held throughout the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Honest in Petaluma, California, this 12 months’s contest included 9 contenders – the bulk rescues who got here from shelters earlier than discovering their eternally households.

Wild Thang, from Coos Bay, Oregon, has competed 5 instances in earlier World’s Ugliest Canine competitions, however that is his first win.

Wild Thang’s distinctive seems are as a result of a case of canine distemper when he was a 10-week-old pet.

The illness prevented the expansion of his tooth, therefore the dangling tongue, and muscular dysfunction in one in all his legs.

The World’s Ugliest Canine competitors has been held for practically 50 years and “celebrates the imperfections that make all canines particular and distinctive”, based on its web site.

Wild Thang, and his proprietor Ann Lewis, will obtain $5,000 and on NBC’s The At this time Present.

A 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair named Rome got here in second place and receives a prize of $3,000. It was Rome’s first entry into the competition.

“I like that [the competition] represents canines which might be imperfect — imperfectly excellent,” Rome’s proprietor Michelle Grady mentioned.

Two steps earlier than she reached the end line, Sha’Carri Richardson began pounding her chest.

She knew she had it received. Anybody who does not see her because the sprinter to beat on the Paris Olympics ought to most likely assume once more.

Richardson notched the newest cease on her “I am Not Again, I am Higher” tour with a ten.71-second dash within the 100-meters at U.S. monitor trials on Saturday that makes her the quickest lady on the planet in 2024 and formally earned her a visit to France the place the ladies begin racing Aug. 2.

Richardson, who for the third time within the meet didn’t begin properly and needed to make up floor, additionally completed properly within the clear for the third straight race.

She was .09 seconds forward of coaching companion Melissa Jefferson, the 2022 U.S. champion. One other sprinter in coach Dennis Mitchell’s camp, Twanisha Terry, completed third and likewise earned a spot on the ladies’s 100-meter group.

“I really feel honored,” Richardson mentioned. “I really feel each chapter I have been by means of in my life ready me for this second.”

It has been fairly a journey for the 24-year-old Texan. Three years in the past, she received this race, too (in 10.86 seconds), solely to see the victory stripped due to a optimistic marijuana take a look at that laid naked every part from her personal struggles with despair to an anti-doping rulebook that hadn’t modified with the occasions.

Richardson has portrayed herself as a brand new, higher and extra in-tune individual than the one who lit up this similar Hayward Area again in 2021 — her orange hair flowing, wanting like this sport’s breakout star.

However she stayed dwelling for the Tokyo Olympics, began engaged on herself each on and off the monitor. It took practically two years, however she received the nationwide championship in 2023 and declared “I am not again, I am higher,” then backed that up a month later with the world title.

It is dangerous enterprise handy her the gold medal in Paris given the competitors she’ll be going through. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and two-time defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah have Olympic medals and all are slated to run at subsequent weekend’s Jamaican trials.

A latest harm to Thompson-Herah has combined up that math and Fraser-Pryce has been a hardly ever seen commodity in 2024.

It leaves Richardson because the early favourite, and given she bettered the season’s greatest time regardless of a mediocre begin and pounding her chest and pulling up earlier than the top of the race, it is arduous to argue with that.

Earlier on Saturday, reigning world champion Noah Lyles ran his 100 preliminary warmth in 9.92 seconds, the quickest time within the first spherical of males’s qualifying.

Lyles, like Richardson, handled despair within the COVID-fueled days of the Tokyo Olympics. He made it to the video games however took a bronze medal within the 200.

“It has been ‘a very long time’ for a very long time,” Lyles mentioned. “And I am simply so glad to be completely happy, glad to be out right here, glad to be racing and feeling like myself.”

After a number of unsuccessful makes an attempt, a pet known as Wild Thang was lastly topped the ‘world’s ugliest canine’.

The loll-tongued Pekingese, who’s eight years previous and from Coos in Oregon, received the gong at this 12 months’s contest held in California on Friday.

The vast majority of opponents on the 2024 occasion, in Sonoma-Marin Truthful in Petaluma, have been rescue canines.

Wild Thang was identified with canine distemper – which prevented the expansion of his tooth and precipitated muscular dysfunction in his leg – as a pet.

His proprietor Ann Lewis, will obtain $5,000 (virtually £4,000) and the pair will seem on NBC’s The Right this moment Present.

The World’s Ugliest Canine contest has been working for 50 years in keeping with its web site, and “speaks to the significance of advocating for the adoration of all animals and the advantages of adopting”.

Rome, a 14-year-old pug, took second place on the rostrum, simply forward of Daisy Mae, a white-coated mixed-breed in third.

Chinese language crested mixes, pug combined breeds and a Brussels-griffon/pub mig named Freddie Mercury have been among the many different contestants.

A panel of judges selected the winner, with members of the general public allowed to vote on-line for the folks’s alternative award, which went to 14-year-old pug Rome.

The judges included Gadi Schwartz, NBC Information correspondent; Linda Witong Abrahm, a human rights activist; and Fiona Ma,  California’s state treasurer.

The occasion’s web site reads: “The annual World’s Ugliest Canine Contest shouldn’t be about making enjoyable of “ugly” canines, however having enjoyable with some fantastic characters and exhibiting the world that these canines are actually stunning!”

4 followers, together with a baby, ran onto the pitch at a Euro 2024 match with a purpose of their very own on Saturday – scoring a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The second half of Portugal’s match towards Turkey confronted interruptions as a number of individuals managed to evade stewards and get onto the pitch on the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, Germany.

Ronaldo was pleased to pose for an image with the primary younger pitch invader, who obtained onto the sphere within the 69th minute and whipped out his telephone for a snap.

The teenager was then chased off the pitch and finally stopped by workers – however not earlier than he waved to the group.

Round quarter-hour later, an older spectator tried to do the identical however acquired a special response from the previous Manchester United star.

Ronaldo threw his arms within the air and turned his again on the fan, who tried to place his arm round him.

Extra Euro 2024 information:
Serbia threaten to tug out
Three England issues Southgate should resolve
Scotland maintain possibilities alive

A 3rd discipline invader emerged throughout damage time and ran previous Ronaldo as he defended a nook.

The safety breaches continued after the whistle, as two extra followers tried to get near the ahead.

The primary was tackled to the bottom as he tried to method whereas holding a telephone, and the second was stopped as he tried to confront Ronaldo because the groups left the sphere.

Portugal coach labels pitch invasions ‘a priority’

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez labelled the interruptions a “concern” in a post-match interview, including: “In the present day we had been fortunate that the intentions of the followers had been good.”

He continued: “All of us love a fan that recognises the massive stars and the massive icons of their minds.

“All of us agree with that. However you’ll be able to perceive it was a really, very troublesome second – if these intentions are flawed, the gamers are uncovered and we should be cautious with that.

“I do not suppose that ought to occur on a soccer pitch.”

Portugal received 3-0 and secured their spot within the knockout stage of the Euros with one group match nonetheless to play.

They are going to face Georgia on Wednesday on the Veltins-Area in Gelsenkirchen – the place England beat Serbia of their first match of the competitors.

Ronaldo spent a lot of his soccer profession at Manchester United and Actual Madrid however signed for Saudi Arabian facet Al Nassr as a free agent in late 2022.

Whereas his wage has not been publicly confirmed, it is rumoured he’s being paid upwards of £160m a yr – making him the highest-paid footballer in historical past.