Is the Labour leadership contest about to get messy and plunge the party into chaos? Sam and Anne start the day expecting Wes Streeting to resign as health secretary to spark a contest, but a new intervention may have changed everyone's calculations. Angela Rayner has said that an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs is over, paving a way for a challenge. But will she join the contest and can Andy Burnham find a way to enter the fray? The duo analyse the developing situation and ask whether it will be straightforward or complex showdown with the PM.

Erik Fleming pleaded guilty in 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of the drug resulting in death or serious injury, after connecting Perry with drug dealer Jasveen Sangha. Prosecutors said Sangha was known as the "Ketamine Queen" because of her jet-setting lifestyle. She was jailed for 15 years last month. In legal documents, prosecutors said Fleming helped distribute 51 vials of ketamine to Perry in October 2023, including the dose that caused his death. Fleming, 56, told the judge, Sherilyn Peace Garnett, in a Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday: "It's truly a nightmare I can't wake up from. I'm haunted by the mistakes I made." Also ahead of sentencing, he submitted a letter to the court, describing how he too had struggled with addiction and saying he felt "overwhelmed with grief and shame" when he found out the actor had died. "I knew what I had done and understood how much pain his death would cause to the people who loved him," he wrote. "To Matt's family, I am very sorry for my inexcusable behaviour in this case. "I take full responsibility for my criminal acts. I hope my sentence provides some measure of justice and peace for everyone who loved Matt." Perry, 54, had struggled with substance addiction on and off for years before his death in the jacuzzi at his LA home on 28 October 2023 following an accidental drug overdose. A medical examiner's report found Perry died from the acute effects of surgical anaesthetic ketamine, with drowning as a secondary cause. In his letter, Fleming described becoming certified as a counsellor after speaking to addicts about his own recovery. He said he met the Friends star a few times and was aware of his issues, but that in October 2023 he was "in the midst of a relapse" himself and "desperate" for money. "I procured ketamine for Matthew Perry because I wanted the money and because I thought I was doing a favour for a friend," he wrote. "I never contemplated the worst possible outcome." Fleming gave up Sangha to investigators the same day they found him at his sister's house several months after Perry's death. Fleming's lawyer Robert Dugdale told the judge he "handed over the Ketamine Queen on a silver platter". "They didn't have a clue who she was before that day," Mr Dugdale said. His legal team argued for three months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Fleming, who has been free on bail for around two years, was ordered to surrender to serve his term within 45 days. Read more from Sky News:Lawyer's double murder convictions overturnedPassengers banned from leaving ship Fleming was the first of five defendants to plead guilty to charges related to Perry's death, in August 2024, before arrests were announced. He is the fourth of the five to be sentenced, after Sangha and doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez. Plasencia was jailed for two-and-a-half years for illegally supplying ketamine to Perry in the weeks before his death. Chavez was sentenced to eight months home confinement after admitting selling ketamine to Plasencia. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in assistant, is to be sentenced in May.

Is the Labour leadership contest about to get messy and plunge the party into chaos? Sam and Anne start the day expecting Wes Streeting to resign as health secretary to spark a contest, but a new intervention may have changed everyone's calculations. Angela Rayner has said that an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs is over, paving a way for a challenge. But will she join the contest and can Andy Burnham find a way to enter the fray? The duo analyse the developing situation and ask whether it will be straightforward or complex showdown with the PM.

But it is also possible that the commission decides Southampton are guilty of no offence, and that the charge is dismissed. There is a whole range of possible punishments in between those two extremes. The timing of the hearing is down to the commission, but Sky Sports News has been told that the commission is fully aware of the expediency needed at this stage of the season, with the Championship play-off final taking place on May 23, live on Sky Sports. Emotional Boro boss Hellberg hits out at 'disgraceful spying'Report & highlights: Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough - Agg 2-1 (AET)Got Sky? Watch the EFL play-offs on the Sky Sports appNot got Sky? Stream the EFL play-offs with no contract Sky Sports News has chosen to blur the face of the man in the picture. Southampton declined to comment when asked about the photo. If the commission decides to impose a sporting sanction, it might be that the punishment is held over to the start of next season. The key considerations for the commission are: is there enough evidence to establish wrongdoing? And is that wrongdoing worthy of a significant sporting sanction? In essence, does the punishment fit the crime? Would it be a fair outcome if Southampton were denied possible promotion to the Premier League, with all the kudos and financial gain that brings, based on this alleged wrongdoing? The commission has the independence and freedom to impose whatever sanction they deem appropriate, and that could be anything from a charge dismissed, a slap on the wrist, a monetary fine, a sporting sanction, or even a sporting sanction which costs Southampton their place in the play-offs. If the commission does not impose a sporting sanction, the timing of the play-offs is irrelevant. But we are in uncharted territory here. Yes, there is the precedent of what happened with Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United in 2019, whereby the club was fined £200,000, but the EFL rules have been changed as a result of that. Rule 3.4 has been in place for many years - whereby clubs have to always deal with each other "in good faith" - that was the charge levelled at Leeds, that they had not done so. But since 2019, rule 127 has been in place, which expressly prohibits any club from observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match. Southampton have been charged with breaching both rules 3.4 and 127. Southampton beat Boro 2-1 at St Mary's after extra-time on Tuesday to reach the Wembley showpiece, where Tonda Eckert's side are set to face Hull after their semi-final victory over Millwall. Sky Sports News has been told the EFL and the commission are aware that there are three teams with a vested interest in the resolution of this matter - Southampton, Middlesbrough and Hull, and that it is not just a matter of two of those teams being prepared to take part in the play-off final, but also the fans of the clubs, ticket sales, travel and other logistics need to be organised in good time too. That is why everyone wants a quick resolution to this, but the matter is in the hands of the independent commission and outside the EFL's control. Despite the ongoing investigation and the threat of being thrown out of the play-offs, Southampton are pressing ahead with plans for the play-off final. They have posted on X that information about tickets will be released on Wednesday afternoon, and tickets will go on sale on Thursday. What are Boro's plans after loss to Saints? Sky Sports News' Keith Downie: Middlesbrough players are due to report back to their training ground on Thursday as planned. The idea was always to give the players Wednesday off, and then return on Thursday for a debrief on the semi-final. Had they reached the final, they would have been given the weekend off before reconvening on Monday to begin preparations for the play-off final. In the event of Boro being eliminated, the players and staff would have been off on holiday from Friday. But that is up in the air at the moment as the independent commission looks into the charge against Southampton. Emotional Boro boss Hellberg hits out at 'disgraceful spying' Boro boss Kim Hellberg said the 'Spygate' saga that overshadowed the Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Southampton was "disgraceful" and "breaks my heart". The Swede said: "I worked 15 years as a coach, trying to get to the Premier League. That's my dream for 15 years," he said in his post-match press conference. "I know there are clubs with bigger resources or parachute payments that can spend more money. There are teams that have bigger squads than us, teams that have more money to spend. "What you have as a coach and a group is the tactical element of the game where we can beat the opponent and I think that's what everyone loves about the game. That's why I look at England and think it's the home of football, where I want to be, what I'm dreaming about. You're so proud of your football and I think that's absolutely amazing, that's why I wanted to be here. "When you have more money and all those things, you try to find a way to get an advantage, that's the way I try to go with my team. That's what you always try to do, because we can be better in that element. "Alex Neil said a very good thing after the [Millwall] game. He said 'I think I let people down as we haven't won'. In that way, he said he had let people down. That's often the feeling a coach goes home with because you think, what I could control was the tactical aspect of the game or helping my players more. "When you have done that and, for a week or two weeks up to this game, put every second away from your family to watch Southampton every game you can to try to gain the advantage that we can actually get, if we wouldn't have caught that man they sent up on a five-hour drive, you would sit there and say, well done, maybe, in the tactical aspect of the game and I would go home and feel like I had failed in that aspect I had to help my players with. "When that is taken away from you in that way, when someone decides: 'No, we're not going to watch every game. We'll send someone instead and film the session and see everything and hope we don't get caught'. I guess that was why they were switching clothes and all those things. "It breaks my heart in terms of all those things I believe in. That's the thing. "I don't care if there are other rules in different countries. This is England where football is the biggest thing. "That's my feelings about it. I think it's disgraceful. It makes me very sad." Asked if he believed Tonda Eckert knew of the alleged 'spying', Hellberg said, simply: "I cannot answer. No comment." Eckert walks out again Southampton boss Tonda Eckert, meanwhile, again walked out of his post-match press conference over 'Spygate' questions, having done so after Saturday's goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium. Eckert stormed out when the second question of Tuesday's post-match press conference was: "Are you a cheat?" The press officer who accompanied him swiftly shut it down and told the journalist in question to "show some respect".

GDP, a key economic measure of everything produced in the economy, expanded 0.3% in March, according to the data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Economists polled by Reuters news agency had predicted a contraction of 0.2%. There was also growth in the first three months of the year, with expansion of 0.6%, ONS data also showed on Thursday morning. It means the UK currently has the biggest GDP growth of all the G7 group of industrialised nations for the first quarter of 2026, though Japan has yet to release data. Figures show we have right plan, says Reeves The figures come with Sir Keir Starmer braced for a possible leadership challenge and could help the prime minister make the case that Britain is already on the right track as he battles to stay in No 10. Chancellor Rachel Reeves was quick to suggest that they showed that now was not the time for the change and that the government had "the right economic plan". "Now is not the time to put our economic stability at risk," she said. "To do so would leave families and business worse off. "Instead, this government is getting on with the job of building an economy that is stronger, more resilient, and prepared for the future." Why did the economy grow? The growth came as production and construction held up well in the face of higher energy costs stoked by oil and gas supply disruption caused by the Iran war. There had been fears that economic activity would be dampened by higher prices for people filling their cars or heating their homes with oil. The March figures follow an increase in February, when GDP rose by 0.4%. The latest growth is being attributed to a "broad-based" expansion in the services sector, the largest part of the UK economy, the ONS said. Performing particularly well were computer programming and advertising, the ONS's director of economic statistics, Liz McKeown said. The numbers are even better on a per-person basis, which removes the effect of population growth via immigration that can increase the headline GDP figure. So-called GDP per capita is up 0.9% compared with the same time a year ago. A note of caution The strength of the figures, however, could have been impacted by companies' reaction to the Iran war-related supply disruption. "GDP strength is exaggerated by front-running of potential supply disruptions and noise in some sectors," said economic research firm Pantheon Macroeconomics's chief UK economist, Rob Wood. "So we need to be cautious about judging the genuine trend." Economists still believe the war will slow growth. "The war in Iran is set to slow growth, lower typical household incomes by £550 this year and increase government borrowing by £16bn by the end of the decade. All of which presents a challenging backdrop to any government reset," said Simon Pittaway, a senior economist at the Resolution Foundation thinktank.

Noam Bettan performed his song Michelle during the first semi-final on Tuesday night. He was given a mixed reception at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, with some of the audience shouting and booing during the song's quieter moments. Footage given to Sky News shows two protesters - one with Free Palestine written on his chest - in the crowd close to the stage, with at least one demonstrator being dragged away.Eurovision fan Christian Lockyer told Sky News' Katie Spencer that he saw "two tubes of glue on the floor" and "a handprint on the barrier". After his song, the 28-year-old told the crowd: "Thank you so much." It comes after an interruption attempt during Israel's 2025 performance at Eurovision, when two protesters unsuccessfully tried to storm the stage and throw paint during Yuval Raphael's song. Bettan, wearing a black leather outfit, performed inside a large golden diamond, surrounded by female dancers in black and white bodysuits and white boots. Several protests have reportedly taken place in the Austrian capital this week over Israel's inclusion in the song contest following the war in Gaza, with Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia all boycotting the event. Israel's participation in last year's contest was followed by allegations that voting had been manipulated in Raphael's favour. The singer received the largest number of votes from the public at the 2025 event, held in Basel, Switzerland, in May, but ultimately finished as runner-up to Austria's entry after the jury votes were counted. Following the controversy, the European Broadcasting Union announced last November that it was changing its voting system, which includes clearer rules around the promotion of artists and their songs, the cap on audience voting being halved, the return of professional juries to semi-finals and enhanced security safeguards. How the contest is shaping up Portugal, Georgia, Montenegro, Estonia and San Marino were the five countries eliminated from the contest during the first semi-final, with Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland progressing to the final alongside Israel. UK entrant Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Battle, said that people can "express their opinions" at the song contest. Read more: UK's Eurovision act to feature 'mega synthesiser' Asked about the impact that protests against Israel's participation could have, Battle said: "People can be themselves, and they can also express their opinions, and they can do that this year because the canned audience is unedited, so we've just got to see what goes on… "The audience isn't controlled; the audience [participates] with the microphones. They're allowed to wave whatever flags within the sizing rules and the flammability rules and stuff, so we've just got to get on with it." Battle is due to represent the UK at the second semi-final on Thursday.

Parliament's powerful Intelligence and Security Committee is meeting on Thursday and is expected to announce the release of the files after the meeting. Politics latest: Streeting 'preparing to resign' But the committee is still locked in a last-minute battle with civil servants, diplomats and spooks over details they want kept secret from MPs and the public. The committee was given the job of vetting the files after MPs voted to exclude only material prejudicial to the national interest or damaging to international relations. Chaired by former Labour defence minister Lord Beamish, the committee also includes Tory attorney general Sir Jeremy Wright, Starmer ally Jessica Morden and a former First Sea Lord, Lord West. Files released earlier this year revealed damning communications between former Washington ambassador Peter Mandelson and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Publication of the files is another potential nightmare for the prime minister because they could reveal more embarrassing details over Mandelson's appointment. Files released previously provoked a furious political row as they revealed serious lapses in the vetting process, despite Sir Keir repeatedly telling MPs "due process" was followed. Last month, the prime minister controversially and brutally sacked the top Foreign Office mandarin, Sir Olly Robbins, for failing to tell him about the lapses. Read more:Concern for British couple jailed in IranEx-lawyer's murder convictions overturned Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the PM of a cover up and of misleading parliament, as she attempted to force an inquiry by the powerful privileges committee of MPs. The release of the latest - and probably final - Mandelson files could not have come at a worse time for the beleaguered PM as he faces a likely leadership challenge from Wes Streeting.

Formal discussions are expected to begin before United's final game at Brighton on May 24. United's bosses have not completely ruled out the possibility of someone else taking charge for next season, and they have reached out to other possible candidates, but the club hierarchy has decided Carrick is the man they want to talk to first. Have your say on Carrick potentially being given the Man Utd job permanently Merson: Liverpool will finish above Man Utd next seasonMan Utd news & transfers🔴 | Man Utd fixtures & scoresGot Sky? Watch Man Utd games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 The former Manchester United midfielder has been the frontrunner for the role for some time now, with his bosses impressed by his popularity with the playing squad, his handling of the media, his inherent understanding of the heritage and size of the football club - but also, crucially, the results he has achieved on the pitch. In his 15 games in charge, he has won 10 and drawn three, and he has also guaranteed Champions League football for next season, and a potential £100m boost to revenue as a result of that. So, Carrick has delivered all that was asked of him and more, and in those circumstances, it was always hard to see how United could give the job to someone else. Nevertheless, United have been determined to hold a rigorous recruitment process rather than a coronation, and whilst there has been constant dialogue between Carrick and his bosses, formal talks over the terms of any contract have yet to begin. But it is understood that this will happen within days, and it is thought there should not be any significant difficulty for the two sides reaching an agreement on the legal details. Nev analyses why Carrick is in 'pole position' for job Gary Neville speaking about Carrick's future after the 3-2 win over Liverpool: "He's put himself in pole position with what he's done. There are things that have emerged that will give Manchester United fans comfort that they are in safe hands. "Manchester United need some stability. They've not had that for the last few years, but he will bring that in the sense that everyone trusts him."Fans like him, the players obviously like him. The owners will trust him. Next year, he's got 55-60 games with the Champions League, and surely they won't go out in the first rounds of the cup competitions. Then it's all a different level of management and scrutiny. It's a lot more challenging. Does he have the experience? Does he have the body of work to rely upon?"Some people say: 'Why don't you give him a one-year contract and give him a further year to stabilise things further?' I don't think I can argue with that."But if a world-class manager became available who has won titles, Manchester United should probably pursue that route because the last five managers have not had that super club experience. Michael would be another who hasn't quite got that." Players have publicly backed Carrick for job A host of Manchester United players have publicly backed Carrick to be given the job permanently. Amad Diallo said earlier this month that everyone in the dressing room would be happy to see Carrick stay on as head coach next season. "Honestly, it's not the player who decides who is going to stay here next season, but what I can say [is] everyone is happy to have him as manager," the United winger told Sky Sports. "Everyone is with him. "He's that manager who has a good relationship with every player so we are really happy to have him as manager and, yeah, we will be happy if we have him next season as manager." The Ivory Coast international added: "Even when you are in tough moments, he's there to talk to you, he's there to help you. "The biggest change maybe is because the team is now more impactful. Like in the dressing room, we are really together. "Every mistake is not a problem, your mistake is my mistake, so we are a team that doesn't care if you do a mistake, you go again, so we go forward, we want to win as a team. "That's something that changed the team, and I think it's also because of Michael Carrick and his staff - don't forget also Trav [coach Travis Binnion] and the other staff. "They are really important for the team and they bring that kind of energy to the team, and that is very important." Kobbie Mainoo, who has been among those to flourish under Carrick, claimed players "want to die for" him following United's 3-2 victory against Liverpool. Matheus Cunha and departing Casemiro have also backed him for the job. 'Carrick has earned the chance to manage Man Utd' Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett: Michael Carrick has been the frontrunner for the job for some time. They have been hugely impressed with the job he had done but crucially, it's the results on the pitch that have convinced the Old Trafford hierarchy to open talks. He has done all that has been asked of him and more in his short time in the dugout at United. But I don't think Carrick getting the job was a given, he has earned the right with the job he has done. Manchester United have spoken to the representatives of other candidates and I expect those names to be Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Julien Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, but those candidates have somewhat fallen by the wayside. Tuchel signed a new deal with England, Ancelotti the same with Brazil and we expect Luis Enrique to stay at PSG, so United's options were narrowing at a time Carrick was firmly putting his hand up for thew job and showing he was the right man for the job. Those two things combined have led to where we are today. I expect talks to start within days, and we could get an announcement before the end of the season. It is inevitable that Carrick is Manchester United's next permanent manager. Is Carrick the best man for the job? Sky Sports' Will Bitibiri: Whichever way INEOS will go will be a big call. On one hand you have Carrick, a club legend who has been the catalyst behind Manchester United's revival since January. Not only have United won big games and fans been treated to huge moments under Carrick, there's been a nostalgic, sometimes Fergie-like feeling to it all. If United fans could choose who to be successful under, it would be Carrick. He's the 'Manchester United man' but United have tried that before in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Fans felt good for the most part under the Norwegian but no tangible success followed. The problem is whether he is the most likely to bring success back to Old Trafford. The likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique have been mooted while Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola will be available this summer. Is the emotion attached to Carrick blinding logic? United will enter the Champions League and their form would suggest the playing squad can challenge the top two. The permanent job at Old Trafford will come with more pressure, scrutiny and expectation. Carrick has done an admirable job so far, but there has to be a distinction between someone who knows which buttons to push in the short term and the best person to lead United back to sustained success. Carrick might be the most 'Manchester United man' for the job when fans want to feel nostalgic, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's the best for the job. Your views: Contrasting opinion on Carrick... Dale: How can you not give it to Carrick? The players are all behind the manager. Bringing someone else in would upset the dressing room. StefanL: Big mistake. Apart from the first two games, the football has been dreadful. Would put money on being in the bottom half by Christmas. Sam D: Good decision. Utd need to keep building on what Carrick has done, and getting someone else in may just ruin that. Back him in the summer window. Ryan: Carrick has done brilliantly, but there's no reason for him to get the job when there's better candidates out there. The Sunderland performance should have raised alarm bells. And by mid-January we will be looking for yet another interim manager because he will be sacked. Have your say on Carrick potentially being given the Man Utd job permanently Keith p: I love Carrick. He's done us all proud but is he really ready for the Champions League? Why not go all out for Luis Enrique? Ant: It may not be an exciting choice, but it is the right choice. Must pundits though Utd would finish no higher than 8th this season. To finish top-four, Carrick has done a fantastic job. JoshOpray: His man management is Fergie-like. The entire dressing room love him and will play for him no matter what. That's such a huge factor in football that can't be overlooked. Why not give him a chance! Bob L: I hope it isnot a repeat of what happened to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. One good season as interim boss, then struggle next season as permanent boss, eventually being sacked.