Ofcom had given Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube until the end of April to explain what actions they were taking on age checks, preventing online grooming and tackling harmful algorithms. The regulator said social media site TikTok and video clip website YouTube had not "committed to any significant changes in response to our specific demands", instead maintaining their feeds were "already safe for children". Ofcom said its evidence suggested their feeds "are still not safe enough". It said its research, published on Thursday, showed "personalised feeds are the primary route through which children encounter harmful content" online. Seven in 10 children aged 11 to 17 who took part in Ofcom's survey in November and December last year said they had experienced harmful content online, with just 15% telling an adult about what they had seen. More than half (51%) of children said they had been asked to prove their age to access content online, with facial scanning the most common method, followed by uploading a passport or ID, or taking a selfie for verification. Ofcom said it was "not currently convinced" existing commitments by Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok - which all have a minimum age of 13 in their terms of use - "ensure they will effectively prevent children under 13 from accessing their sites and apps". The watchdog said messaging service Snapchat, gaming platform Roblox, and Meta - which owns Instagram and Facebook - had all agreed to adopt more measures to protect children from online grooming. It said adult strangers will be prevented from contacting children on Snapchat by default, children will no longer be encouraged to expand their friendship groups to people they do not know, and the platform had agreed to "roll out highly effective age checks to all users over the summer". Roblox, which had previously faced criticism over its approach to safety, had committed to giving parents the ability to switch off direct chat services entirely for under-16s. Meta planned to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to detect sexualised conversations between adults and teens in Instagram direct messages, Ofcom added. The watchdog's investigation into Grok, X's AI chatbot, is ongoing - after a Reuters report earlier this year found the ‌tool could generate sexualised images. Pledge to 'force through' change Ofcom pledged to "force through" more changes and take enforcement action, which could include a fine, if it found platforms were not taking steps to prevent children from being exposed to harmful content. Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said: "More change is needed, and we remain deeply concerned that, despite overwhelming evidence of harm, companies are still failing to take the necessary action to keep underage children off their platforms and make their feeds safer. "We are determined to force through further changes, using the full extent of our powers and influence. We will also bring our evidence and experience to bear as the government considers responses to its national conversation on children's safety and social media." Ministers are consulting on whether to ban under-16s from social media and bring in an Australia-style policy. The consultation is due to close next week. Chris Sherwood, chief executive of children's charity the NSPCC, said: "For far too long, tech giants have dragged their heels by refusing to address the harmful and addictive content flooding children's feeds and putting them at risk. This is why we strongly support Ofcom challenging tech companies and demanding transparency on how they plan to improve their platforms to protect children." He welcomed Snapchat's action on age checks as "a crucial change if measures to prevent grooming are going to make a difference for children in practice". However, he said it was "deeply concerning that tech companies are still failing to recognise and address the harmful nature of their algorithms". "These systems are at the heart of children's online experiences. We must see these services go further and be held accountable for transformational change which puts children's safety and wellbeing at the centre of platform design," he added. Tech firms respond A spokesperson for TikTok said: "It's very disappointing that Ofcom has failed to acknowledge both our longstanding and newer safety features, from no direct messaging for under-16s, pre-set private teen accounts, to our recently enhanced age assurance technologies. We will continue to make ongoing investments in safety measures for our users." A YouTube spokesperson said the platform "provides industry-leading, age-appropriate, high-quality experiences for young viewers, working with child safety experts to deliver protections that support millions of families across the UK", adding that its "YouTube Kids, and Kid & Teen Accounts on YouTube, offer age-appropriate experiences with extra protections". A Meta spokesperson said it had been "investing in tools and policies to ensure teens have safe, positive online experiences" and was "rolling out new safety protections for teens", adding the company would "continue to engage with Ofcom on these important issues". Sky News has approached Snapchat and Roblox for comment.

MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee wrote to the organisations after two women alleged they had been raped and another made claims of sexual misconduct to BBC's Panorama programme. All three said the Channel 4 show, made by production company CPL, did not do enough to protect them. Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra said on Wednesday she was "deeply sorry" for the distress caused to Married At First Sight UK participants who alleged they were raped and sexually assaulted by their partners. Ms Dogra said a review into contributor welfare was now under way and there were "limitations" on what she could say until this was complete in late summer. Ms Dogra added: "That said, I have watched the programme and heard the women's accounts which are very troubling. "Their distress is clear, and for that I am, of course, deeply sorry. "Welfare across all our programmes is hugely important to us, and is a primary concern. The apology comes as a psychologist who previously worked on the programme has said more "transparency" is needed to protect contestants after women made allegations of rape and sexual assault. Psychologist Jo Hemmings said that despite protocols and welfare practices being "very tight", she felt there were gaps between what psychologists would recommend and what was broadcast. Speaking to the PA, Ms Hemmings said contestants should be allowed to see some footage or request that certain footage was not shown because welfare "should be at the heart of everything that the production team does". Channel 4 and CPL have been approached for comment. 'Urgent questions to answer' Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, has questioned whether "enough is being done" to "protect people taking part in reality television". She said: "The horrifying allegations about Married At First Sight raise serious concerns over whether enough is being done to protect people taking part in reality television. "Both Channel 4 and Ofcom, as the broadcasting regulator, have urgent questions to answer." The letter to Channel 4 also asks about its complaints process for contestants on the programme and the steps taken to ensure the allegations were fully investigated, along with the review announced by the broadcaster. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police urged potential victims of sexual assault on the reality TV show to get in touch. The broadcaster said it had removed all previous seasons of MAFS UK from its streaming platforms. The move follows an external review, commissioned by the broadcaster in April, into the welfare of participants on the programme. The government has said all the allegations must be investigated and that "there are consequences for criminality or wrongdoing". Read more from Sky News:Air conditioning will become 'unavoidable' in parts of EnglandUnemployment rate ticks up to 5% Shona Manderson - the third of the three women making allegations about their time on the Channel 4 show, and the only one who is named - said she "completely lost her light" while appearing in the series. The show sees single people matched by experts and then "marry", with couples meeting for the first time on their wedding day. The "marriages" on the show are not legally binding but the couples go on a "honeymoon" and move in together after their weddings. Ms Manderson's on-screen partner Bradley Skelly told the BBC's Panorama he categorically denies "any allegations of sexual misconduct, or that he was controlling". In a statement on Wednesday, Channel 4 chief content officer Ian Katz said the broadcaster "ensured that women involved were kept safe when any issues were raised to us" and were given "appropriate support". All three men deny the allegations.

The Starmer government has potentially made another blunder after it emerged that sanctions are being relaxed on Russian oil processed through third countries. As a political row unfolded, Sam and Anne discuss the fallout. Plus, Westminster is buzzing with rumours of a possible Labour coronation before the summer. If events move quickly, what might an Andy Burnham cabinet look like? Sam and Anne discuss the possible contenders for chancellor and whether Labour could end up with a new foreign secretary. And as speculation grows over what Mr Burnham's agenda as prime minister might be, two of Labour's most difficult dividing lines are back in focus: single-sex spaces and assisted dying.

As a result, Hull City will take on Middlesbrough in Saturday's play-off final, with the Wembley showpiece kicking off at 3.30pm. On Tuesday evening, Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs, with Middlesbrough reinstated, after a member of the Saints' backroom staff was caught watching Boro's training ahead of the first leg of their play-off semi-final. How Spygate incident unfolded | EFL & 'Spygate' latestSouthampton expelled from Championship play-offs According to the EFL, Southampton admitted "multiple breaches" relating to the unauthorised filming of their opponents' training ahead of games against Oxford and Ipswich, as well as the clash with Middlesbrough. In addition to their expulsion from Saturday's final, Southampton were handed a four-point deduction for next season. Reacting to their expulsion, Southampton called the ruling "manifestly disproportionate" to the offence. The Saints appealed the ruling, but it was dismissed on Wednesday night with no further opportunity of appeal. An EFL statement read: "A League Arbitration Panel has today dismissed Southampton Football Club's appeal against the Independent Disciplinary Commission's decision in respect of breaches of EFL Regulations. "As a result, the original sanction remains in force. Southampton's expulsion from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs stands, alongside the four-point deduction to be applied to the Club's 2026/27 Championship record and the reprimand in respect of all charges. "In accordance with EFL Regulations, the decision of the League Arbitration Panel is final. Following the conclusion of the proceedings, the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Hull City and Middlesbrough is confirmed as taking place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23 May, kicking off at 3.30pm." Southampton vow to respond with 'humility' after 'disappointing' appeal outcome Shortly after the announcement, Southampton released a statement saying it was an 'extremely disappointing outcome', while also acknowledging it was a painful moment for the club and they would be determined to 'put things right'. It read: "Southampton Football Club has this evening been informed that the EFL's League Arbitration Panel has upheld the sanctions imposed earlier this week. As a result, the club will not participate in Saturday's Championship Play-Off Final. "This is an extremely disappointing outcome for everybody connected with Southampton Football Club. We know how painful this moment will be for our supporters, players, staff, commercial partners and the wider community who have given so much backing to the team throughout the season and we apologise once again to everyone impacted by this. "While we fully acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and the scrutiny that has followed, the club has consistently believed the original sporting sanction was disproportionate, a view that has been widely shared by many in the football community over the last 24 hours. "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to our supporters for the support, patience and loyalty they have shown throughout an incredibly difficult period. We will share information as soon as possible in relation to ticket refunds for those who bought tickets to Wembley. "Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately. The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly. "While tonight is a painful moment, this football club will respond with humility, accountability and determination to put things right." Scienza: Fans deserved better after 'heartbreaking' few days Southampton forward Leo Scienza says fans deserve better, expressing his disappointment in the appeal verdict in a statement posted on Instagram. "It's difficult to find the right words for what we're all feeling right now."What has happened over the last few days is heartbreaking.. for the club, for every player in this dressing room, and above all for our supporters. A moment like this should never end the way it did."I feel sorry for every football fan, as well as the players and supporters of Hull and Boro, who were caught up in all of this chaos, too."We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, always believing we could bring this club back to where it belongs. For me, the dream of playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with everything I had. That's why this pain cuts so deep."The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this moment. You stood behind us all season with incredible passion, loyalty and belief. Even in the toughest moments, you carried us forward."Thank you for staying with us through everything. You definitely deserved better." Why can't Southampton appeal further? According to EFL rules that all clubs agree to, Southampton can no longer take the issue further and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)... RULE 104: CHALLENGING THE AWARD 104.1 Subject to the provisions of Sections 67 and 68 of the Arbitration Act, the award, shall be final and binding and there shall be no right of appeal or further arbitration and the parties exclude irrevocably any right to any other form of appeal, review or recourse in or by a court, judicial authority or other arbitral body, in so far as such waiver may validly be made. 'We now have clarity on final... but there could be further consequences down the road' Sky Sports News' chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol: "Southampton's lawyers did their best to argue their case in front of this new league arbitration panel, which was effectively an appeal panel. They would have said that the punishment is far too severe. "They would have cited incidents in the past where a team has been deducted six points for spying, or Leeds United were fined £200,000, but now we know that the appeal panel decided to stick with the initial decision that the disciplinary commission came up with yesterday, which is that the punishment is proportionate. "Now I know a lot of people in football, ex-players, managers, supporters are looking at this and saying, 'Wow, this is a big, big punishment for something that can be viewed as being not that big in the grand scheme of things.' "However, two panels now, the disciplinary commission and the appeal panel, have disagreed with what people have been saying and said, 'No, this is very, very serious. Southampton have to be expelled from the play-offs'. "We will get more clarity when the full written reasons are released, not just of the commission yesterday, but also of the appeal. "Everybody will be able to go through it. It will be available on the EFL website as well. You can read through it, see all the evidence, and make up your mind. "But finally, three days before the play-off final, we now have absolute clarity that it will be Hull City vs Middlesbrough, and not Southampton, at Wembley on Saturday. And Southampton, unfortunately, because of this spying scandal, which they have admitted to potentially going to cost them a place in the Premier League, and £200m, and there could be further consequences down the road. "The EFL don't have the power to charge or punish individuals, but the Football Association does, and they can use that power once the EFL process has ended." 'The nightmare continues for Southampton fans' Sky Sports News reporter Mark McAdam: "The nightmare continues for Southampton fans. They won't be at Wembley on Saturday and that their season is now over. You do feel for Southampton. You speak to other players and managers, other people connected to the game, and they say this is very, very strict. This is very unfair. And it doesn't quite feel like the punishment fits the crime. And exactly what Southampton's defence was in that appeal. "Southampton's season is now over and attention immediately turns to next season. Southampton are going to be in the Championship, starting on -4 points. So already the hard work needs to begin. They'll be planning preseason tours. They'll be doing all the things that need to be done to prepare themselves for a brand new campaign. So ultimately, the work will continue in the training ground. "What will happen for the players now, who are probably just desperate to get away, spend some time with their families, relax, recharge, rest, and just try and compute exactly what's happened? Because ultimately, the riches that come with getting promoted to the Premier League have disappeared. "That dream of playing at the top flight has now gone. So they will be hurting, and they will be frustrated, and they will be angry with what's happened. And they will then have to start their process to look forward and move on right now from this moment onwards." Spygate timeline: How did we get here? May 7: Middlesbrough make formal complaint to the EFL alleging a Southampton member of staff spied on their training session three days before their Championship play-off semi-final first leg. May 9: Boro boss Kim Hellberg accuses Southampton of cheating after the first leg ends in a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium. May 12: Southampton charged with a breach of EFL regulations in relation to the spying accusations. Southampton request additional time to conduct an internal review. The play-off semi-final second leg is played at St Mary's. Shea Charles' extra-time winner earns Southampton a 2-1 victory and a place in the Championship play-off final. Emotional Hellberg hits out at "disgraceful spying", before Saints boss Tonda Eckert storms out of his press conference after being asked: "Are you a cheat?" May 13: Photos allegedly showing the Southampton analyst near Middlesbrough's training ground released publicly. May 14: It is announced the independent hearing to determine Southampton's fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19. In a statement, the EFL say "the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture." May 15: Middlesbrough publicly call for Southampton's expulsion from the play-offs. In a statement, they said: "In these circumstances, the only appropriate response is a sporting sanction which would prevent Southampton FC from participating in the EFL Championship play-off final." May 18: Middlesbrough players return to training as the outcome of the independent disciplinary hearing nears. May 19: EFL announces Southampton expelled from play-off final after hearing. May 20: Southampton appeal hearing verdict but it's dismissed. May 21: FA launch investigation into Southampton

A prospectus for the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) says it is aimed at providing funding to put people on the moon and Mars as humans face existential threats that could wipe out civilisation. The filing stated: "We do not want humans to have the same fate as dinosaurs". Money latest: Beware 'third-party capture' if you're in an accident While the document did not state the exact amount SpaceX was looking to raise, such lofty ambitions do not come cheap. Some reports suggest that Musk is looking for $75bn (£55.8bn) - well above the $26bn secured by oil firm Saudi Aramco in 2019. He is asking for a leap of faith but his track record in turning Tesla from a loss-making electric car maker into the world's most valuable vehicle manufacturer will give many investors confidence. Also in Musk's favour is that SpaceX has successfully developed the world's first fully reusable rocket and largest satellite network in Starlink. The numbers divulged in the prospectus show, however, that the company still has a long way to go to achieve overall profitability amid significant AI-related and research and development spending despite growing revenue. SpaceX lost $2.6bn from operations last year on $18.7bn in revenue. Of SpaceX's three divisions, only Starlink was profitable in the first three months of the year. Over the same period, SpaceX spent $10.1bn, with Musk's social media and AI firm xAI accounting for the bulk of that investment. The Reuters news agency reported that a successful share sale, which could happen in June though it was yet to be priced, could value SpaceX at $1.75trn. SpaceX sees its potential future value at $28.5trn (£21.2trn). Under the plans Musk - already worth well over $830bn - would retain 85.1% of the combined voting power of the company and his rewards would be dependent on hitting a set of targets, including on market value and technologically-driven goals related to Mars colonisation. For example, SpaceX is yet to develop the solar-powered data centres needed for such a project. The prospectus said that stock grants for him would only vest if a market capitalisation of $7.5trn was achieved. The flotation is expected to go ahead during the second week of June following a series of presentations for potential investors. Market experts expected demand to be high. Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said Musk's ambitions were "firmly extra-terrestrial". "Plans for the SpaceX IPO... are set to catapult one of the world's most closely watched private companies onto public markets, potentially handing investors a rare opportunity to buy into Musk's sprawling vision for satellites, artificial intelligence and autonomous robotics. "The flotation, reportedly under the ticker SPCX, could become the biggest IPO Wall Street has ever seen and, if current valuations hold, may propel Musk into trillionaire territory." She added: "Investors interested in the IPO still need to tread carefully, with the risk that gravity could pull valuations back down to earth. SpaceX's financials underline both the scale of the opportunity and the risks attached."

The mixed martial arts event, billed as UFC Freedom 250, is also to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence on 4 July. Here's everything you need to know about the first-ever set of fights at the White House. Who's on the card? Two title bouts top the White House fight card: • Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje - UFC Lightweight Title (unification) • Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane - Interim UFC Heavyweight Title Georgian-Spanish fighter Ilia Topuria is undefeated going into his latest showdown, with seven KO wins and eight submissions on his impressive resume. The 29-year-old is the only UFC fighter to have won titles in two divisions without suffering a loss, having vacated a featherweight championship to go up to lightweight in 2025, where he beat Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt. In his way of another historic victory is interim champion Justin Gaethje. The veteran US fighter, 37, has an impressive record of 27 wins - 20 by KO - and five losses. He's a two-time Interim UFC Lightweight Champion, having won the title in May 2020 and January 2026. The other main event sees Brazilian powerhouse Alex Pereira attempting to be the first fighter in UFC history to win a title in three weight classes. He will face Ciryl Gane, a former interim champion and three-time heavyweight title challenger with interim gold on the line. Those fights will be preceded by five non-title battles: • Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi - Bantamweight • Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler - Lightweight • Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus - Middleweight • Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia - Featherweight Are tickets available? The famous UFC octagon cage will be erected on the South Lawn of the White House, and there will be around 4,000 people there to see it, according to UFC president Dana White. In a press conference earlier in May, he said Mr Trump would receive 1,000 tickets to hand out; Mr White and TKO Group CEO Ari Emanuel would have 200 each and the remaining tickets would be distributed across branches of the military. But the UFC has committed to issuing 85,000 free tickets to watch the event on eight large screens in Ellipse Park, which is across the street from the White House. Those hoping to watch on the big screens can request tickets on the event's official page until Saturday 23 May at 4.59am UK time. Why the White House? Donald Trump first outlined his plans for a White House UFC event on Independence Day last year, telling a celebrating crowd in Iowa: "So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honour of America 250. And I even think we're going to have a UFC fight. ″Think of this on the grounds of the White House," he said, adding that it would be a "full fight" with 20,000 to 25,000 people watching live. Mr Trump has long been a fan of the sport, and was the first sitting president to attend a UFC show, watching a 2019 fight that was stopped because of a cut over the loser's eye that left blood pouring down the fighter's face. Read more:Pending tax claims against Trump to be droppedEverything you need to know about the World Cup 2026 After his election victory, he attended a fight with House Speaker Mike Johnson and a large political entourage in New York, and he also went to further UFC bouts in Newark and Miami last year. On why he enjoys the sport, he told podcaster Logan Paul as he campaigned for his second term: "I have respect for fighters, you know, when you can take 200 shots to the face and then look forward to the second round." Mr Trump is also a close friend of Dana White's. When is it - and how can I watch it? The preliminary fights will take place from 9pm Sunday 14 June BST, with the main card scheduled to start at 1am BST on Monday morning. The main events will be available to watch on TNT Sports with a subscription, while the earlier fights can be seen with a UFC Fight Pass.

Meanwhile the Greens took fewer seats than Reform did from Labour, but may have been responsible for taking more of their votes. The fragmentation of British politics away from the dominant two-party system continued as thousands of council seats changed hands across England. Voter engagement increased, with indications that more people turned out to vote than the last time these seats were elected. Where Reform's gains came from One of the biggest questions now in British politics is where Reform UK are gaining their support, and at whose expense. By sheer volume, Reform took more seats from Labour. They gained 798 seats from Labour compared with 471 seats from the Conservatives. Many of these elections took place in areas that have traditionally supported Labour, and they were defending half of all the seats up for election. Another quarter were being defended by the Tories. Together, Labour and the Conservatives lost three in five of their seats, while Reform UK, as well as the Greens and the Liberal Democrats, made sweeping gains. Labour had the most at stake, and suffered the heaviest losses. They ended the election with 1,498 fewer seats than they started with, losing 60% of their seats. The Conservatives made net losses of 563 seats, a loss rate of 49% of their seats. Reform hit the Tories harder While Reform took most seats from Labour, the Conservatives came out worse when we look at the percentage of seats lost. More than two-thirds of the seats that they lost went to Reform, mostly in shire counties such as Norfolk, where the Conservatives defended 60 seats and lost 36 of them to Reform. A further one in five of the seats they lost went to the Lib Dems, with these losses particularly heavy in the South East. Meanwhile just over half of Labour’s losses were to Nigel Farage’s party, with the biggest losses in the North East, followed by 29% to the Greens, who gained most in London and the East. The big winners were Reform who made net gains of 1,453 seats, followed by the Greens who made 440 net gains. The Lib Dems made gains for an eighth consecutive year, finishing with 152 additional seats. The Lib Dems won more than 10% of the seats the Conservatives were defending. The Greens won most of their seats from Labour, at nearly a fifth of those that Labour were defending. Labour lost seats to Reform - but votes to the Greens? Although Labour lost more seats directly to Reform UK than to the Greens, it does not necessarily mean former Labour voters switched primarily to Reform. In a closed ballot system, it is impossible to know exactly how individual voters changed their support. There are interesting patterns in vote share changes, however, that provide some clues. Labour had the biggest decline in vote share of any party regardless of who ended up winning the seat, including a 21 point drop in the seats they held. This indicates a broad collapse in support across the country and means the seats that Labour held on to were won with small majorities and low vote shares. It’s similar to what happened to the Conservatives at the last general election, and it looks as though the problems that plagued the Tories when they were in government have now come for Labour. Meanwhile the Greens’ vote share increased most in areas where either they or Labour won the seat. This suggests they performed best with former Labour voters and that while Labour lost seats to Reform, they also lost votes to the Greens. The Tories’ biggest drop was in wards where Reform won, in those areas they were down more than 15 percentage points on average. Vote changes by region Reform made the biggest gains in vote share, rising by an average of 22 percentage points from a starting point of zero in most wards. Their gains were strongest in traditionally Conservative and Brexit voting areas - particularly in the North East, where Reform’s vote share rose by more than 35 points on average. The Greens increased their vote share by 9 points overall, with some of their biggest vote share increases concentrated in urban areas. Their vote share increased most in London, by 11 points. But perhaps more surprisingly their biggest increase was in the East Midlands. After their recent victory in the Gorton & Denton by-election, they may have been hoping for bigger gains in the North West - their vote share rose by just 7.6 points on average there. All other party vote shares were down on average. Labour’s vote share dropped by 19.4 points, and the Conservatives were down by 9.2 points. These drops were proportional, meaning Labour’s vote share fell the most in wards where it was previously highest. Again, a trend we saw in the Conservative vote share before they were kicked out of government. More competition means closer races Having a greater number of competitive parties in a first-past-the-post voting system means the winner can claim victory on a smaller percentage of the vote. Overall, the average winning vote share was just over 40% which is little change from last year but a significant drop from historic trends. In 2022, the average winning vote share was 53%. Some places saw councillors elected with remarkably low vote shares. For instance, Labour held the Hatfield East ward in Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire, with just 24.8% of the vote. Motivated voters boosted turnout Complete turnout figures for all councils will take a few months to collect, but we do have a snapshot from 1,247 wards so far that gives a sense of how many people voted in this set of elections. Now that the political parties have more distinct offers, it appears that people are more motivated to vote. In recent years, fewer than a third of eligible voters have participated at local elections. Analysis of available data so far indicates that voter turnout was up by more than eight percentage points on average. While Labour and Reform came out on top in wards with the lowest turnout, turnout increased the most in wards where Reform won. This could either be because people felt like they had something to vote for in a Reform candidate, or because the party motivated their opposition just as much (if not more) than their supporters. On the other hand, turnout increased less in seats that stuck to the status quo and re-elected Labour candidates. This may have contributed to Labour holding some of these seats. The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

Following three runners-up finishes, the Gunners sealed top spot after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth. Arsenal have topped the table for much of the season, but their title bid looked to have hit shaky ground in April. A 2-1 defeat at Man City seemed to hand the title advantage to Pep Guardiola's side but the Gunners rallied and have held off City to win the league for the first time since the Invincibles in the 2003/04 season. The title ends a six-year period without a trophy and is Arteta's second major honour as manager at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal news & transfers🔴⚪ | Arsenal fixtures & scoresFREE Arsenal Premier League highlights ▶️Got Sky? Watch Arsenal games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔 Midfielder Declan Rice posted a picture on Instagram with his team-mates with the caption "I told you all.. it's done." Captain Martin Odegaard was pictured on Eberechi Eze's Instagram with the Arsenal bottle that a Manchester City fan made viral at Stamford Bridge in a dig that the Gunners were 'bottling' the title. Former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who led the team to their last title, in 2004, featured in a celebratory post from the Gunners on their X account. He said: "You did it. Champions go on when others stop. This is your time. Now, go on and enjoy every moment." Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, a two-time title-winner, said he was thrilled to see his former club finally get over the line after several near misses in recent seasons. "Brilliant! It's fully deserved, said Sky Sports' Smith, who was co-commentator for City's draw on Tuesday. "Arsenal have had the best defence - they haven't had the best attack - but as an overall unit Mikel Arteta has done incredibly well." There could be more silverware on the horizon for Arsenal as they bid to win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. "You have to have nervy moments when you haven't won it for that long and Arsenal did have them," Smith added. "But hopefully now they can play with freedom. "It almost feels that the Champions League final is a free hit now." The Gunners face defending champions PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday May 30. In pictures: Arsenal players celebrate... When will Arsenal get the trophy? Arsenal will be presented with the Premier League trophy after their final game of the season at Crystal Palace on Sunday. When were Arsenal last crowned Premier League champions? It has been a long wait for the red side of north London. Arsenal last won the Premier League title back in the 2003/04 season when Arsene Wenger's side went through the whole league season unbeaten. It was the third title of the Wenger era but a special one as the Gunners secured 26 wins and 12 draws on their way to becoming the Invincibles. How social media reacted... Your View - What fans make of Arsenal's title win 'Perhaps now, the shackles may be off' Whatever people may say, Arsenal just needed to get it done. They tried going toe-to-toe with City and Liverpool, playing more expansive football. It failed them. They just needed to get a title one way or another. Perhaps now, the shackles may be off. [SG91] 'Arsenal can dominate for years to come' Credit to Arteta sometimes in projects there are delays, and you have to be patient. Arsenal have won the league, they can take advantage of this moment and dominate for years to come, especially since Pep is leaving. [SunaStats] 'Team of corners and Gabriel goals' Team of corners and Gabriel goals. Utterly disappointed and sad it didn't go to the last day. [UTV] 'Arteta deserves so much credit' It's probably the worst footballing team to win the title in the last 10 years or so, but Arteta deserves so much credit. They stuck it out and are Premier League champions and in the final of the Champions League, The rolling about and time wasting needs to stop though. [Itsourturn] 'Dull, boring, anti-football' Dull, boring, anti-football. Terrible advert for the Premier League. [Andrew] Arsenal's remaining fixturesSunday May 24: Crystal Palace (A) - Premier League, kick-off 4pm (live on Sky Sports)Saturday May 30: PSG (Puskas Arena, Budapest) - Champions League final, kick-off 5pm