Since late March, there have been a series of arson attacks at Jewish sites in the capital, as well as a stabbing incident in Golders Green, north London, that is being treated as an act of terrorism. The Met Police has revealed details of further incidents over the weekend - including a 35-year-old man arrested on Saturday on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage after rocks were thrown at a Jewish community ambulance while it was transporting a patient in Edgware. It was one of several arrests over the weekend in connection with racially and religiously aggravated offences, the force said. On Friday, a 57‑year‑old man was arrested following reports he threatened a Jewish man using racially offensive language, while further arrests were made on Saturday for racially aggravated harassment, criminal damage and public order offences in Brent and Croydon. Authorities said that all those arrested have been released on bail pending further investigation. It comes as the government is reportedly planning to introduce new legislation which would see people convicted of antisemitic attacks orchestrated from Tehran face up to 14 years in prison. Legislation to be included in the King's Speech next week will give the home secretary the power to designate proxy groups as a foreign intelligence service - even if those involved do not realise they are acting on behalf of Iranian proxies, The Times reported. The Met Police has announced a team of "initially 100 extra officers" will be introduced to help safeguard the Jewish community following a spate of antisemitic attacks in London in recent months. Police said the team will aim to provide a "more visible, intelligence‑led and coordinated presence" and "provide a blueprint for how policing responds when tensions rise". It will be "primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community", which authorities say has faced "some of the highest levels of hate crime". However, a Met spokesperson insisted "hate crime in all its forms... remains a core policing priority". Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who previously claimed 300 extra officers were needed across London after warning of a growing "pandemic" of antisemitism in the UK, said the new team marks an "important step in strengthening our response to the sustained threats Jewish communities are facing". The Met chief added: "We are working with government and the mayor to ensure the approach we are building can be sustained over time, not just for Jewish communities, but as a model that can support other communities across London when facing elevated risk. "A settled, long‑term model built around local teams will be far more effective than repeated emergency responses, reducing risk and delivering lasting reassurance." Read more from Sky News:Kate to go on first overseas royal trip since cancer treatmentArsenal reach Champions League final The move comes after the government announced last week it would be providing £25m in one‑off funding to support protective policing, with £18m ringfenced specifically for the Met. In the past four weeks, police in London have arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes, while eight individuals have been charged. This is in addition to 28 arrests linked to arson attacks and other serious offences investigated alongside Counter Terrorism Police. Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British national born in Somalia, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder following the double stabbing in Golders Green, as well as a third count of attempted murder in relation to a separate incident on the same day. Prosecutions of hate crimes to be fast-tracked On Wednesday, prosecutors in England and Wales were told to fast-track prosecutions of hate crimes amid a "deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents". Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the move was "to ensure that charging decisions are made swiftly and efficiently, with prosecutors focusing on the core evidence required to determine whether the evidential test is met. "Where that threshold for prosecution is satisfied, then a prosecution decision should not be delayed - any supporting evidence can be obtained subsequently."

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and co-ordinating a smear campaign against her in a lawsuit filed a few months after the release of the 2024 romantic drama, which Baldoni also directed. A judge had dismissed most of the star's claims, including harassment, but allowed three to proceed to a trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. The trial, which was due to begin in New York later this month, will no longer go ahead following the settlement agreement. Lively 'deserved to be heard' In a joint statement published on Monday, lawyers for Baldoni and Lively said: "Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors - and all survivors - is a goal that we stand behind. "We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment." The lawyers also said they "acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard", but insisted It Ends With US remains "a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life". A public rift The rift between the two co-stars became public in December 2024, when Lively filed a complaint with the California civil rights department, followed by her lawsuit. However, there had been speculation in the months beforehand as the pair promoted the film separately following its release. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios production company countersued Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. His case was dismissed by a judge in June last year. The case sent shockwaves through Hollywood, revealing private texts among A-listers - including singer Taylor Swift - and raising questions about the power, influence and gender dynamics in the industry. Read more from Sky News:Follow: Met Gala 2026 liveBritney Spears pleads guilty to reckless driving It Ends With Us is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel, a story which begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into one of domestic violence and abuse. The film grossed more than $350m worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, despite receiving mixed reviews. Lively is known for the TV series Gossip Girl and other films including The Town and The Shallows. Baldoni starred in the TV comedy Jane The Virgin, directed the 2019 film Five Feet Apart, and is the author of Man Enough, a book challenging traditional notions of masculinity.

I spent the afternoon with the Tory leader during her last campaign visit outside London. We talked about the local election results and its challenges, her views on Nigel Farage and his £5m "gift", and the role of charm in politics. She was honest about the scale of the job ahead, blaming "multiparty politics" as the reason for likely losses on Thursday. But she urged people to measure her against last year's results rather than pointing out she'd gone backwards since the general election. I also wanted to interrogate her instincts on what she says is the number one priority for Britain - growth - and ask her about some of the stories about growth, blockages, and the role of local councils in saying no and raising taxes. I was surprised by the answers. Given the clarity of the national message on the need for growth, I was curious how she responded to findings of a Sky News investigation that seven of the top 10 councils with the highest number of "unreasonable decisions" on planning on appeal were Tory. Rather than promise to clear red tape and side with business, she instead defended the right of Tory councils to say no to infrastructure projects. Indeed, the Tory leader went further, adding that people outside London were justified in feeling resentful at developments in their area because the capital did not have to shoulder its fair share of development. I put to her that 181 cases of "unreasonable" planning decisions were made by the seven top Tory councils alone, and asked if the reality was that "Tory councils are NIMBY councils". She started by saying she had not seen the research, but would probably dispute it. But then she suggested she understood where blockers were coming from, saying: "Most people are now very resentful of a lot of infrastructure because they think that things are imposed on their communities while other people are getting away with not doing that. "You look at London. London building has fallen by about 80%, this is one of the things that's going wrong, and then lots of other areas are having to pick up the burden. So I do understand sometimes why some councillors feel that they're having to pick up an unfair share of the burden while Labour allows its councils to get away with it." Asked again if the Tories locally were blocking growth unreasonably, again Ms Badenoch sided against the builders, citing approvingly an example of blocking in her own constituency. "Every local council has its own unique issues. In my area, for instance, we have a problem with pylons that are being driven by Ed Miliband's net zero agenda. It's not actually going to help deliver cheaper, cleaner energy for the people who are there. I think we're right to oppose that. It all depends on the specifics." Then there is tax. She often asserts that Tory councils have a better track record on council tax than those led by other parties. But this year, some 30 of the 35 Tory-led councils have put up council tax near or at the maximum permitted without a referendum - a pattern broadly similar to those councils run by other parties. Again, her answer was to defend the councils, rather than acknowledge there might be a challenge with the party's low-tax rhetoric or need to work harder to bring down council tax. She said: "One of the things that we need to recognise is that many councils get their money from the government. You look at the rural payments grants. Labour has changed this to favour urban areas. That's one of reasons why Conservative councils, which are quite often in rural areas, are having to do things differently. "But you look at the services they provide. They're still delivering more compared to other councils… I'm not saying Conservative councils are perfect. I'm not saying they don't do anything wrong, but across the board, you can rely on them." Kemi Badenoch is the least unpopular party leader in some polls (-6 in one survey this week) and more popular than the Tory brand because she is seen as able to speak honestly about the situation. But in the heat of battle, this close to an election, the tug of politics on the ground remains curiously at odds with the national message. This close to an election, her priority turns out to be telling people what they want to hear. Let's see how that fares on Thursday. This interview is part of a series that Sky News will be conducting with party leaders ahead of the May elections.

Rahm, whose fines were believed to be around $3m (£2.21m), announced in March that he had withdrawn his appeal against sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour for playing on the rival LIV Golf league. A spokesperson for the DP World Tour said: "The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season. "This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the Majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season." LIV Golf: What next for Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau? 'I want to see Rory play Bryson' - Trump backs LIV players' PGA Tour returnWhen are the majors? Key dates in 2026Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract Ahead of this week's LIV Golf Virginia event, Rahm told reporters that there was "no longer a standoff" between himself and the DP World Tour. "We were able to reach an agreement," he said. "There were some concessions on both sides. I offered some, and they extended an olive branch. Obviously, we've reached an agreement. That will not be a stress anymore. "There were some things I believed in that I wanted them to agree with me, and I knew it was a matter of time. I also understand they have their bylaws and their way to go about things, and they have to follow certain procedures, and things are never as easy or as fast as you would think they would be, or at least I would have liked, but I was never worried." An 11-time winner on the DP World Tour, Rahm had previously shown no inclination that he would satisfy those penalties, even accusing the DP World Tour of "extorting" eight other LIV Golf players who had also been offered conditional releases. Players, including Justin Rose, had called on Rahm to pay his fines, as eight players, including Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin accepted the DP World Tour's offer to retain their membership status. It is understood that the conditions of Rahm's arrangement were the same as those previously accepted by the eight other players. Rahm has also played in multiple LIV Golf tournaments during the 2026 season, and the stipulations for the Spaniard's release included paying fines relating to those events. He will be eligible to earn Race to Dubai points at next week's PGA Championship and subsequent qualifying events this season, with Rahm having been ineligible to earn DP World Tour rankings points at The Masters in April, because he was still in breach of the tour's regulations, having not paid up his fines. Routes back to PGA Tour and DP World Tour Last week, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it would be cutting its funding to the breakaway golf league following the conclusion of the 2026 season. In a statement released on Thursday, the PIF said the "substantial investment required is no longer consistent" with the fund's investment strategy moving forward. It is understood that over the past year, LIV has burned through around $100m (£73.78m) each month in an attempt to sustain itself and an estimated $6bn (£4.43bn) since its inception in 2021. The news has cast doubt on the rebel league's future, with LIV announcing several major changes to its board of directors. Over the weekend, Sky Sports revealed that the league had hired restructuring experts at consulting firm AlixPartners to help advise on its business plan. On Monday, LIV also announced that it had "retained" Ducera Partners LLC as its investment banking advisor. But amid the uncertainty, Sky Sports understands that several LIV players have sounded out both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour over the possibility of being reinstated. "I would say, like everybody, I was surprised. It was obviously unexpected," Rahm said, recounting the news that the PIF was withdrawing its funding. "We did hear the news that there would be funding through for many years, so it was unexpected. "Then, as the future of the league goes, I think that's obviously a question for the business people. We want to be here. It's been a lot of fun. I want to keep competing. I want to keep sharing some time with them. "But only time will tell. Scott and his team have a lot of hard work to do, but obviously, they're experienced in the area, and that's why they've been chosen to take this role." Questions had revolved around how LIV Golf's 'Blue Chip' players, Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, would return to the PGA Tour, after they snubbed an offer to be reinstated on the US Tour via the Returning Member Programme. Brooks Koepka took the deal, which came with certain financial stipulations. It is believed that should the PGA Tour look to offer Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith a pathway back, it could come with heftier sanctions than those Koepka faced. Rahm joined LIV Golf in late 2023 on a reported $300m (£220m) contract and still has several years left on his contract with the rebel league. "I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that," he said. "So I don't see many ways out, and as of right now, I'm not really thinking about it since we still have a season to play and majors to compete for. So it's not something I want to think about just yet." He could return to the PGA Tour in a similar vein to Patrick Reed, who rejoined the DP World Tour at the beginning of the year, using his Lifetime Membership exemption, which he won after winning The Masters. The top-10 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings can win their PGA Tour cards for the following year, and Reed, who currently ranks top of the standings, is on track to win back a berth on the American Circuit. Theoretically, Rahm, Hatton and the other eight former DP World Tour players could follow Reed and win their tour cards this year. With Rahm able to earn Race to Dubai Ranking points from next week's PGA Championship, he could even win back his PGA Tour card to play in 2027. 'There will be some form of a road for a lot of these guys' Speaking to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, PGA Tour and DP World Tour player Billy Horschel said: "If you have a price and that person doesn't agree, and then they come back. That offer is not still on the table; that offer is going to change a bit. I would think going forward with those three players, if they do offer something, it's going to be a different offer. I think when it pertains to the other players, I don't think anyone else has PGA Tour Eligibility access. So I don't know what's going to happen. There will be some form of a road for a lot of these guys. "Some of these guys may not have a road. I don't see a road for Phil Mickelson back to the PGA Tour, even though he's a lifetime member of the PGA Tour and he's done a lot and there is a lot of stuff that he said he did. There were certain things behind the scenes that he said he did and certain things behind the scenes before LIV came out, and I don't think it's going to work out for him. And rightfully, I don't think he wants to even come back to the PGA Tour or even the Champions Tour. "It's going to be nice that when all this is all said and done, there is not this sort of bickering back-and-forth. I'm all for competition; it breeds a sense that you have to make changes to be better. You have to be innovative, you've got to do things to still be the top dog in professional golf. "Going forward, it is going to be nice to have the players who want to get back to playing PGA Tour golf, the guys that want to be back playing on the DP World Tour, under one big umbrella, is somewhat harmonious." How can Rahm qualify for 2027 Ryder Cup? Rahm's future at the Ryder Cup had been uncertain amid his dispute with the DP World Tour. It is a requirement for players hoping to feature on Team Europe's Ryder Cup side to be members of the DP World Tour and play in four events annually. But now Rahm is eligible to earn qualification for the biennial event, which heads to Adare Manor in 2027. "I was never worried about that," Rahm said on qualifying for the Ryder Cup. "There were some things I believed in that I wanted them to agree with me, and I knew it was a matter of time. "I also understand they have their bylaws and their way to go about things and they have to follow certain procedures, and things are never as easy or as fast as you would think they would be, or at least I would have liked, but I was never worried. "The Ryder Cup is still really, really far away, but I'm happy that hopefully I won't have to think about any worries or any predicaments come to Adare Manor then or hopefully ever. I want to support the DP World Tour. There are a lot of events I want to play." Both Team USA and Europe are yet to announce their qualification schedules for the tournament, but Europe is expected to begin at the end of August at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry, a course synonymous with the event. Over the following year, players can earn points by winning events on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, with Major Championships offering 5,000 points. PGA Tour Signature Events have 3,000 points available, while DP World Tour Rolex Series events offer 2,000 points. Rahm can qualify via points should he enjoy a good season on the DP World Tour, but he can also be picked as one of Luke Donald's six captain's picks. Rahm has played in four Ryder Cups, with his record sitting at 9-5-3 (W-L-T). He was selected as Donald's sixth captain's pick for the 2025 event at Bethpage. He and Hatton combined to win both their foursomes sessions. In the four-balls Rahm and Sepp Straka joined forces. They claimed victory against Scottie Scheffler and JJ Spaun on Friday, but suffered defeat by Xander Schauffele and Spaun on Saturday. Schauffele again claimed victory over Rahm in the Sunday singles. Watch the Ryder Cup live next September on Sky Sports Golf. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.

Kate will travel to Italy from next week on a solo working trip with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. It is a major milestone for the future queen and marks her first extended official foreign trip in almost three-and-a-half years. Her aides said she was "very much looking forward" to returning to international travel and the visit was an important moment in the expansion of the Centre for Early Childhood's work. Kate last carried out an official overseas visit in December 2022 when she went to Boston in the US with the Prince of Wales for his Earthshot Prize award ceremony. She also undertook two brief trips to Marseille, France, for the Rugby World Cup in the autumn of 2023, and went to the Crown Prince of Jordan's wedding in Amman in June 2023. However, these were not considered official foreign tours. In March 2024, she went public with her diagnosis of an unspecified form of cancer. The princess underwent chemotherapy, and announced she was in remission in January 2025. The princess will visit the city of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy for two days from 13 to 14 May to focus on early years child development. During her trip, Kate will learn more about the Reggio Emilia Approach, an educational philosophy which focuses on the idea that children have the potential for self-development. She will also highlight the importance of nurturing environments and loving relationships to a child's development. Read more from Sky News:Eugenie expecting third childPalace releases Charlotte portrait for 11th birthday A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week and seeing first-hand how the Reggio Emilia approach creates environments where nature and loving human relationships come together to support children's development." The Centre for Early Childhood was founded by Kate in 2021 to raise awareness of the importance of early years experiences and to commission research. The Prince of Wales is expected to travel to the US for the FIFA World Cup in July, around the same time as commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. It is not yet known whether the Princess of Wales will join him but her return to foreign tours will raise hopes a trip across the Atlantic is on the cards.

She did not attend the hearing Ventura County Superior Court on Monday and entered the plea via her lawyers. It means the star has escaped jail time, instead being sentenced to one day which the judge said was served when she was arrested. The 44-year-old pop star has also been sentenced to one year of probation, a drink driving class and a fine. Her summary probation is informal and means she won't be required to make regular meetings with a probation officer. Spears had been charged with a single misdemeanour count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug on Thursday. A representative for the singer said in April that Spears had voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation facility ⁠after the arrest. On 4 March, Spears was arrested after she was pulled over for driving her black BMW fast and erratically near her home, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said. Read more from Sky News:Peter Kay show bomb hoax suspect removed from courtSAG-AFTRA reaches tentative deal with studios in bid to avoid strikes At the time, the CHP said the singer was arrested and taken to a Ventura County jail after taking a series of field sobriety tests during which she seemed to be impaired. In a statement issued to Sky News' US partner NBC, a representative for Spears described the incident as "completely inexcusable". After the hearing her lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, told reporters: "I don't think anybody's happy about pleading guilty to anything, but under the circumstances, to get this behind her, I think everybody is pleased with the result. "We appreciate the district attorney recognizing the positive steps that Britney is taking to help herself." District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said after the hearing that Spears had taken "full responsibility" . Sky News has contacted Spears's representatives for comment.

The circumstances that saw both main parties take heavy seat losses in the May 2025 county council elections continue. Current polling shows a collapse in support for both Labour and the Conservatives, relative to 2021 and 2022 when most of the council seats up this time were last contested. Council by-elections too show Labour defeated in almost four out of every five seats, with the Conservatives doing little better, losing two in three vacancies. The main difference between last year and this is that Labour, more than the Conservatives, faces jeopardy. Labour in-fighting over recent months has tied these elections to Sir Keir Starmer's fate. If the party's losses in seats and councils controlled can be kept to a minimum, then he survives. But if the worst forecasts are realised, with seat losses edging towards 2,000 and Labour-run councils for half a century fall, then the reaction will be frantic. What will we know on Friday morning? Forty-six of the 136 English councils declare overnight. These account for more than 1,200 seats, a quarter of the total, sufficient to give a picture of the winners and losers. Labour defends over 500 of these seats, 43% of the total. If the seat tally by breakfast shows a net loss of 200 seats, that is better than expected. If we factor in another 100 losses, Labour has lost 60% of its seats - bad, but not yet a disaster. If, by sunrise, Sky News' tracker edges towards minus 350 seats and beyond, then expect increased speculation about the occupant of Downing Street. Sky News is collecting the results for every ward in every council. Our analysis considers the change in vote share since the previous election. We will show the direction of travel - is Labour losing more seats to the Greens than Reform? Are the Conservatives still losing to Reform? Critically, by monitoring the size of majorities in seats held and lost by each party, Sky News will project the expected numbers of gains and losses once all the council results are in. These are the numbers that are vital in how the different parties react to the results. As each council completes its count, Sky News will show how the latest result relates to the historical pattern - is this the worst result for a party? Is it the best for its opponents? Small margins could see councils change hands Thirty-four of the overnight councils are electing a fraction of their councillors, with 12 others choosing the whole council. Don't be surprised if most of the councils in the first category continue with the same party in overall control simply because there are not enough seats to tip the balance. Labour-controlled Halton is expected among the early declarers, as is Conservative-run Broxbourne. Neither council will change hands because the majorities cannot be overturned. In the same way, Labour will not lose control of Chorley, Salford and Wigan, while Eastleigh will remain in Lib Dem hands. Instead, watch for seat gains and losses in these areas as indicators of the electoral mood. But elsewhere, the margins are such that despite a fraction of seats being fought, a change of control may happen. Exeter may be the first council that Labour loses - just three defeats with no gains are all it takes. Other Labour-run councils and the net losses required are Hartlepool (4), Redditch (5), Reading (8), Southampton (6) and, with an outside chance, Tameside (10) where electors that voted in Labour's Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election defeat are voting again. There are eight metropolitan boroughs counting overnight, but only one, Newcastle upon Tyne, is electing the whole council. The main interest in boroughs, which tend to be dominated by Labour, will be the scale and direction of losses - are seats being lost to Reform, Greens, or perhaps Independents? What could happen in London? London voters are choosing all the seats in 32 boroughs, 10 of which declare overnight. Labour controls half (Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Merton, Wandsworth and Westminster). Wandsworth and Westminster were both captured from the Conservatives in 2022, but Labour's hold is precarious. Two defeats with no gains mean Labour loses Merton, where the threat comes from the Liberal Democrats. Labour currently dominates London and is defending 232 of the 548 seats declaring overnight. The party currently holds 80% of the seats in Ealing, one of its safest London boroughs. A net loss of 22 seats to a variety of challengers means a loss of overall control; defeat in one of its strongest councils suggests that Labour is heading towards one of its worst-ever results. The Conservatives are under threat too. In Bexley, where Reform may fancy its chances of gaining a London borough, and Kensington & Chelsea, party net losses cannot exceed seven and 10 seats respectively. Two boroughs with Liberal Democrat majorities report overnight - Richmond and Sutton. Richmond is secure, but in Sutton a net loss of one seat would be critical. Results here will show the Green Party threat to incumbent Liberal Democrats, and the damage done to a Conservative recovery from Reform. What the wins and losses will say about each party The bulk of the remaining English councils are reporting results from Friday lunchtime. Keep an eye on the tally of gains and losses and council control. If Labour's net losses pass 1,500 and 850 seats for the Conservatives, then both have had a bad result. How many of the more than 60 Labour councils have fallen? Because Reform is likely to take seats off both these parties, it should head the list of gainers. A net gain of 650 seats is okay, but close to a thousand is much better. Beyond that, it begins to threaten the record for the number of gains at a single local election. Green gains are expected but on a much smaller scale, but 400 more seats are good and over 500 are impressive. From Thursday overnight, Sky News will be assessing the strength of each party's support translated into a National Equivalent Vote (NEV). Early results will give a projection of a final figure. The NEV estimates the state of the parties as though a national election had taken place. The addition of Friday declarations will give a clearer picture. In 2025 the two main parties each received their lowest ever vote shares - Labour with 19% and Conservatives on 18%. Reform was first on 32%. Adding the Liberal Democrats and Greens into the mix will show how fragmented our party system has become. SNP support is down - but it might not matter Scotland and Wales declare on Friday afternoon. Nationalist parties have a good chance of topping the poll in both contests. Scotland uses a mix of 73 constituency seats decided by first past the post, and 56 regional list seats, allocated proportionally. Some polls suggest that the SNP is on course to win 65 or more seats and an overall majority. The party defends all but 10 of the constituency seats after boundary changes. Its aim is to target these while ensuring that it loses none of its own. Labour's only constituency, Dumbarton, is among the targets, as are three Conservative seats. SNP support is down from where it was last time, but that might not matter. With the Conservative vote likely impacted by Reform, the winner's vote share in these key constituency seats is likely to be lower than before. This could favour the SNP, and it might win outright without the benefit of any list seats. Even if it falls short of a majority, the performance of the pro-independence Scottish Greens is likely to bring seats from the regional lists. It is not until each of the constituencies has declared that we get to know how the list seats are divided. Parties that win many constituencies, like the SNP, will receive few, if any, of these seats. Labour could fall to third in Wales The total number of seats in the Welsh Senedd increases from 60 to 96. The voting system has changed too. Now, seats will be allocated proportionately in 16 constituencies, each created by merging the boundaries of two Westminster parliament constituencies. There are six seats for each constituency. It is difficult for a single party to win 49 seats and an overall majority. Wales has been a Labour stronghold for over a century, but the latest polling suggests the party's vote is about half what it was last time the Senedd was elected. It might fall into third place. The Conservatives too are on course for a setback. Plaid Cymru and Reform are likely to be the big gainers, but the race to be the largest party is close and could be determined by the last of the constituencies to declare. As results from England, Scotland and Wales are still being declared, the narrative about their meaning and interpretation will gather pace. The stakes are huge, affecting the Westminster government itself as well as the future governance of Scotland and Wales. The two main parties that have dominated national politics for so long may see another chapter written about their joint demise. Meanwhile, the winners will be clamouring for our attention, keen to show that their performance is the best.

Chelsea suffered a sixth Premier League defeat in a row for the first time since 1993 with the 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, a result which means it is now impossible for them to finish in the top five and qualify automatically for the Champions League. There is also the increasing likelihood that they will struggle to finish high enough to make either of the other two European competitions, after defeat to a Forest side showing eight changes saw them drop to ninth, with a visit to Anfield to play Liverpool up next. Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson discussed Chelsea's predicament and how they are going to struggle to come through it. He also considered who might be the next manager at the club, suggesting the top coaches in the world won't want to come to Chelsea anymore. Read on for the Magic Man's thoughts on Chelsea in full... Carragher: Chelsea look like a broken clubChelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest - Match report and reactionAs it happened | Teams | StatsLive Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlights'Brighton was bad, Forest defeat even worse' I was at Stamford Bridge. Wow. I thought the defeat to Brighton was bad, but it got even worse against Nottingham Forest. It was terrible. Chelsea finishing the season strongly and potentially winning the FA Cup seems a million miles away. I know it's a one-off game but Man City look far too strong for Chelsea. The game against Forest was a massive opportunity for Chelsea. They could have really closed in on sixth, which could still be a Champions League spot. But now, Brentford are above Chelsea and we've had 35 games this season. That is extraordinary for me. 'The project isn't working' Chelsea have gone with a project that if it doesn't work, you've had it. The players all have six-, seven- and eight-year deals. If that doesn't work, it becomes so hard to sell a player. It's going to be a real struggle to get anyone out the door. Also, they have brought all these players in on lesser money on longer-term deals, but in the end, they have to give them big money. None of it makes any sense. They have just given Moises Caicedo big money, Reece James had a new deal and Cole Palmer signed a new deal, but they were already on long-term deals. I just can't see how it works. You might be able to sell players that perform, but if it doesn't work out, wow. And this hasn't worked out for Chelsea. They are now stuck with this team for the next five years. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Chelsea news & transfers🔵Chelsea fixtures & scores | FREE Chelsea highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Chelsea games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺'I can't see a way out of this mess' I just don't know how Chelsea are in this mess and I honestly can't see a way out. Even if they get rid of players, how does that look for Financial Fair Play? Alejandro Garnacho hasn't pulled up any trees. they won't be getting their money back on him. Enzo Fernandez has appeared to court a move to Real Madrid. So, he seemingly wants to go, but I can't see how they get £100m for him unless he goes and wins the World Cup again. Where does the money come from? How can this work for Chelsea? You can't sit here and honestly say they will just sell a load of players and start again. If there are players they want to let go, they will probably have to pay them off to go. That will cost money. If they want new players in, that will cost money. They are stuck. 'Who would want the Chelsea job?' The next manager appointment is critical but it's going to be such hard work for whoever comes in. They are one of the youngest teams in the league and the players are outrun every week. They have just lost six league games on the trot and have 20 players in the squad all on six-, seven-, eight-year deals. They are probably not going to finish above Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth this season, maybe even Everton and Fulham with the way things are going. I really worry for Chelsea. Where are they going to be next season? I don't care how good the new manager is, the players are not performing. The bare minimum is to run around but they are outrun in every game. I could understand if the players were 30, 31 or 32, but they are not. These players are at the start of their careers. Who takes this job? It wasn't that long ago that Chelsea was the best job in the world for a manager. It's not now. I don't see the days of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel, that calibre of manager wanting the job anymore. A top manager only has to have a look at the issues I just stated to know it's a club that's not in a good place.