Fire crews are currently on Torquay harbourside after a £6million superyacht went up in flames. According to a spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, three fire engines are on the scene after the 85ft motorboat went up in smoke.
Devon Live reporter Colleen Smith is on the scene. Colleen said: "Princess 85ft worth £6million. Witnesses say there were explosions. Ropes burnt through and it drifted into pier. Firemen took trolleys and pumps along pontoons but water not reaching.
"Some people are trapped on the other end of the pier and can’t get back. Firemen are running along the pier. Still huge flames."
A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "85ft motorboat on fire. Fire crews called at 11.57am. Three fire engines on the scene. Liaising with the harbourmaster."
Thick black smoke (Image: GLB)
Smoke has been seen all across South Devon and as far as Newton Abbot and Shaldon. One eyewitness described the blaze "like a fire ball. It is currently unknown if anyone has been injured in the fire.
Keep up to date with all of the latest on this incident here.
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The Sue Gray report has caused panic and heated discussion in Westminster and around the UK when it was released on Wednesday (May 25). One of the most salient conclusions arrived at by the report was that senior leadership in Number 10 should take responsibility for the dropping of standards, which "fell well short" of what was expected.
The top civil servant, Simon Case, was named in Sue Gray's report as being involved in the incriminating gatherings at Number 10. Originally, he was due to investigate Partygate - however he had to step down.
Mr Case has strong links to Cambridge, having studied History at Trinity College, Cambridge, as an undergraduate. He also rowed, and was President of Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club.
Many have anticipated the outcome of the report from the senior civil servant for several months after its release was delayed during a Met Police investigation into parties in Downing Street. While Miss Gray, who joined the civil service straight out of school, is enormously respected in Whitehall, she was actually the second choice to investigate Partygate, after Mr Case, reports The Mirror.
Just a week after Mr Case was initially earmarked to write the report, it was revealed he had been present at a private gathering in his own office that breached coronavirus restrictions. Mr Case was not fined in the Met Police's investigation into gatherings at 10 Downing Street - but the findings of the Gray Report put much of the responsibility for the partying culture in Whitehall at the door of senior leaders.
In her conclusion, Miss Gray writes: "The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture."
Despite this scathing observation, Simon Case is not expected to resign from his role as Head of the Civil Service. The dad-of-three and Cambridge graduate has held several high-ranking positions in Whitehall throughout his career, including Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the Prime Minister serving both David Cameron and Theresa May.
After first joining the civil service in 2006, the Bristolian worked in the Ministry of Defence before moving to the Northern Ireland Office and the Cabinet Office. He also worked as Head of the Olympic Secretariat which oversaw the delivery of the London 2012 Olympics. After Brexit, Case was tasked with solving the Irish border issue in negotiations in his role as Director General for Northern Ireland and Ireland.
In 2018 he even did a stint working as PPS to Prince William - being appointed shortly after Harry and Meghan's wedding. Case, who is married to the chief finance officer for Expedia and Hotels.com Elizabeth Kistruck, was also asked to give evidence in the Greensill inquiry. The inquiry investigated lobbying activities in government on behalf of finance company Greensill Capital - run by businessman Lex Greensill. One major focus of the inquiry was Case's former boss and ex-Prime Minister David Cameron.
Dozens of towns and villages across Cornwall have organised street parties and celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Cornwall Council has received 80 applications to close roads so that people can venture outside to celebrate Her Majesty’s milestone.
Whilst many celebrations for the occasion will not require road closures, those people wanting to hold traditional street parties have had to seek permission. And with the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend stretching from Thursday June 2 to Sunday June 5 they all take place at different times over that period.
Cornwall Council said that it has processed 80 applications for events including street parties, carnivals, parades and Big Lunches. Normally applications have to be received 12 weeks before the event, but to help organisers the council extended that.
The council said: “There will be many celebrations that don’t require any road closures or council involvement and we hope everyone has a great time.”
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So here is the final list of all 80 events which are taking place across Cornwall during the Platinum Jubilee weekend which require a road closure.
Camborne Queen's Jubilee Beacon Lighting Ceremony, Chapel Street, Camborne - Thursday June 2, 8pm to 10.30pm
Goldsithney Queen's Jubilee Party, Goldsithney - Thursday June 2, 1pm to Sunday June 5, 8pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Upton Towans - Friday June 3, 10am to 10pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Carthew Way,St Ives - Friday June 3, 12pm to 11.30pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Nancegollan - Saturday June 4, 10am to 5pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Alma Place, Redruth - Saturday June 4, 9am to 4pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Breage - Saturday June 4, 11am to 6pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Heartlands Pool - Saturday June 4, midnight to midnight
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Illogan - Saturday June 4, 12pm to 11pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Richards Lane, Illogan - Saturday June 4, 12pm to 3pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Brea, Camborne - Sunday June 5, 12pm to 6pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Perranuthnoe - Sunday June 5, 1pm to 7pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Claremont Road, Redruth - Sunday June 5, 2pm to 9pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Tredavoe - Sunday June 5, 10am to 7pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Heamoor - Sunday June 5, 10am to 6pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Lelant Meadows, Lelant - Sunday June 5, 1pm to 8pm
Queen's Jubilee Big Lunch, Wharf Rd, St Ives - Sunday June 5, 8.30am to 11pm
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Godolphin Cross - Sunday June 5, 2pm to 7.30pm
Cornwall’s Platinum Jubilee Parade, Truro - Thursday June 2, 12.30pm to 1pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebration, Truro
Mithian Village Jubilee Celebrations, Mithian - Friday June 3, 10am to 7pm
The Big Jubilee Lunch, St Agnes - Saturday June 4, 11.30am to 5.30pm
The Big Lunch, Portscatho, Portscatho - Saturday June 4 9am to Sunday June 5 9pm
Platinum Jubilee, Mawnan Smith - Saturday June 4, 4pm to 7pm
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Carnival, Penryn - Saturday June 4, 7pm to 9pm
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Bosvean Gardens, Truro - Saturday June 4, 10am to 4pm
Platinum Jubilee, Gregor Road, Truro - Saturday June 4, 12pm to 11pm
Veryan’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Event Century Lane, Veryan - Saturday June 4, 10am to 11.59pm
Queen's Jubilee Tea Party, Cathedral View, Truro - Saturday June 4, 3.30pm to 6pm
Queen's Jubilee Tea Party, Lychgate Drive Truro - Saturday June 4, 3pm to 5.30pm
St Mawes Queen’s Jubilee Party, Lower Castle Rd, St Mawes - Sunday June 5, 9.30am to 7pm
Queen's Jubilee Party, Harrison Terrace/Adelaide Terrace, Truro - Sunday June 5, 12pm to 6pm
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, St Erme - Sunday June 5, 10am to 11.30pm
Carneton Close Jubilee Street Party, Carneton Close, Crantock - Sunday June 5, 11am to 3pm
The Big Lunch, Northfield Drive, Truro - Sunday June 5, 12.30pm to 4.30pm
Queen's Jubilee Lunch, Ladock - Sunday June 5, 10am to 5pm
Platinum Jubilee Big Tea for Grade Ruan Parish, Grade Ruan - Sunday June 5, 12pm to 7pm
Queen's Jubilee Village Party, Ruan Lanihorne - Sunday June 5, 12.30pm to 9pm
Queen’s Jubilee Party, Carneton Close, Crantock - Sunday June 5, 11am to 3pm
Queen’s Jubilee Beacon Lighting, Newquay - Thursday June 2, 8pm to 10.30pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Meadow Place, Bodmin - Thursday June 2, 1pm to 9pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Allen Park, St Kew Highway - Friday June 3, 10.30am to 3pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Gwel-an-Mor, St Austell - Friday June 3, 12pm to 4pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Menefreda Way, St Minver - Sunday June 5, 9am to 4.30pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Dennis Road, Padstow - Sunday June 5, 6am to 6pm
Queen’s Jubilee - Tea Party, Water Lane, Golant - Sunday June 5, 3pm to 6pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Fairfield Place, Newquay - Sunday June 5, 12pm to 6pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Morleigh Close, St Austell - Sunday June 5, 1pm to 3pm
Bonython Road Jubilee Street Party, Newquay - Sunday June 5, 11am to 10.30pm
St Columb Major 50s’ Jubilee Street Party, St Columb Major - Thursday June 2, 9am to 4pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party Sharaman Close, St Austell - Friday June 3, 10am to 6pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Lavorrick Orchards, Mevagissey - Friday June 3, 4.30pm to 10pm
Newquay Lions Platinum Jubilee Parade, Newquay - Saturday June 4, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Glentowan Road, Pentewan - Sunday June 5, 11am to 6pm
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Festival, Wadebridge - Sunday June 5, 8am to 8pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Lerryn - Sunday June 5, 10am to 4pm
Queen’s Jubilee Walking Parade, Lerryn - Saturday June 4, 2pm to 2.30pm
Polgooth Jubilee Street Party, Fore Street, Polgooth - Saturday June 4, 5pm to 9pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons, Saltash - Thursday June 2, 6.30pm to 11.50pm
The Caradon Inn, Queen's Jubilee, Liskeard
Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Meadway, St Stephens - Friday June 3, 3pm to 7pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Homer Park, Saltash - Friday June 3, 2pm to 7pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Bude - Friday June 3, 3pm to 8pm
West Looe Jubilee Street Party, Church St, West Looe - Saturday June 4, 8am to 4pm
Liskeard Carnival, Liskeard - Saturday June 4, 4pm to 6pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Calstock Road, Gunnislake - Saturday June 4, 9am to 11pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Potters Lane, Boscastle - Saturday June 4, 12pm to Sunday June 5, 12pm
Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Kingswood Estate, Merrymeet - Friday June 3, 9am to Sunday June 5, 7pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Chilsworthy - Sunday June 5, 2pm to 6pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Polyphant - Sunday June 5, 12pm to 5pm
Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations - Launceston - Sunday June 5, 10am to 5pm
Jubilee Big Lunch - Kingsand - Sunday June 5, 10am to 3.30pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Wellington Street, Torpoint - Sunday June 5, 1pm to 6pm
Queen’s Big Lunch - Victoria Street, Torpoint - Sunday June 5, 10am to 8pm
Queen's Platinum - St Ive, Liskeard - Sunday June 5, 10am to 5pm
Jubilee Big Lunch - Saltash - Sunday June 5, 10.30am to 5pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Gwelmeneth Park. St Cleer - Sunday June 5, 2pm to 5pm
Queen’s Jubilee Street Party - Victoria Road, Bude - Sunday June 5, 10am to 6pm
Queen’s Jubilee Tea Party, Broadmead, Callington - Sunday June 5, 3pm to 5pm
Queen’s Big Lunch, Cot Hill, Stratton - Sunday June 5, 10am to 5pm
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Rishi Sunak has opened the door to more spending to ease the cost-of-living crisis further but promised he would not pass debt on to the country’s children.
The chancellor defended himself as a “fiscal conservative” as Tories were split over his £21 billion package announced yesterday, which is partly funded by borrowing and partly by a windfall tax.
But he said it was right to act when families were facing “acute distress”.
Sunak revealed yesterday that every household would receive £400 to help reduce the cost of their gas and electricity bills. He called on wealthy individuals who do not need the grant to give it away. “I’m sure you will join me in giving that money to charity,” he said on ITV’s Good Morning
Boris Johnson's chief of staff has brushed off the suggestion that a new package of cost of living help is timed to deflect attention from Sue Gray's partygate report.
Mr Barclay said the prime minister was appalled by the contents of the 37-page report into behaviour at Number 10 during lockdowns - and had been personally apologising after the findings showed security workers and cleaners were poorly treated.
His comments came hours before an expected announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak of hundreds of pounds more in help for households struggling with rising bills partly paid for by a multi-billion pound windfall tax on energy companies.
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Until now, the government has been resisting Labour's call for a windfall tax, claiming that it will deter investment - though over the last couple of weeks the language from Mr Sunak and other senior ministers has softened, suggesting that the option was on the table.
Asked about the timing of the announcement the day after the Sue Gray report, Mr Barclay told Sky News's Kay Burley: "No, it's because we've had the Ofgem guidance.
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"On the Sue Gray report - we don't control the timing of that... indeed the timing of that is shaped by the Met Police investigation.
"What we've always said is... we wanted to see from the Ofgem guidance what the full impact would be in the autumn on families so that we can get the design of that package right so it's absolutely logical.
"We've had that guidance this week from Ofgem, that is why the chancellor's coming forward today."
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Partygate: PM refuses to resign
The timing was also governed by the fact that parliament was about to go into recess, Mr Barclay said.
He claimed that Labour's proposal for a windfall tax "would have deterred investment" though did not set out specifically how Conservative plans might differ.
Mr Barclay said the government recognised the "huge pressure coming for families" to add to the squeeze already being felt.
"We need to be in a position to have targeted support to those families... in terms of paying for that... we need to do that in a way that doesn't deter investment."
Ofgem's chief executive Jonathan Brearley told MPs earlier this week that he was writing to the chancellor to set out the expectation that an increase in the energy cap this October would see typical energy bills rise from £1,971 to about £2,800.
That 42% increase would add to the 54% increase in April.
But the exact scale of the autumn hike will not formally be announced by the energy regulator until August.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had on Wednesday mocked Mr Johnson over the timing of the expected package of help, saying: "What is it about the Sue Gray report that first attracted him to a U-turn this week?"
On the partygate report - which set out details including staff fighting and being sick after late night drunken parties - Mr Barclay said: "The prime minister was appalled to read that... Like him, I was shocked."
He said the PM "wouldn't have seen" emails and messages detailed in Sue Gray's report such as one from a special adviser asking staff not to be "walking around waving bottles of wine" at a time when a press conference was finishing.
Explaining why the prime minister felt it right to attend leaving dos for Number 10 staff at a time when others could not say goodbye to dying loved ones, he said: "Because they were already in the building.
"They were already working in tight-knit groups. They were already there."
Asked whether Mr Johnson tells lies, Mr Barclay said: "No he doesn't."
Labour's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News she hoped that a windfall tax would be announced today.
"Several times over the last few months the prime minister has taken action when he's been in real trouble in order to distract from the trouble in government," she said.
"We would very much welcome some action on the cost of living. For months now the chancellor has been telling us it's not possible to have a windfall tax on companies that made record profits."
A shooter, identified by US law enforcement agencies as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was killed by responding police officers.
He had reportedly posted images of semi-automatic rifles on the social media platform Instagram before carrying out the attack.
Murray branded the incident "f****** madness" in a response to a tweet from TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan, who delivered a plea to his 7.9 million followers for action on US gun laws.
Andy Murray has hit out at the "madness" of the latest US mass shooting (Image: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Morgan had written on Twitter: "14 schoolchildren and a teacher at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas have been shot dead by an 18-year-old gunman. Absolutely horrendous.
"I don’t know what else to say about these endless US gun massacres - it’s for Americans to resolve but where is the will?"
Murray responded: "F****** madness", accompanied by an angry emoji.
The tennis champion was nine years old and a pupil at Dunblane Primary when youth club leader Thomas Hamilton walked into the school with four legally-owned handguns on March 13 1996.
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Hamilton - who had been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards young boys - killed 16 children and a teacher, and injured 15 others before turning the gun on himself.
It remains the deadliest mass shooting incident in the UK and led to an immediate and drastic overhaul of British gun laws that saw most private handgun ownership banned.
Murray has not spoken at length about his memory of the massacre - but has revealed in the past he knew Hamilton as a child.
He opened up about the incident in 2019 for an Amazon Prime documentary Andy Murray: Resurfacing, that followed his recovery from a serious hip injury.
A total of 21 people have been killed in Uvalde, Texas (Image: REUTERS/Marco Bello)
But the tennis star could not speak about the incident face-to-face, instead leaving a voice note for director Olivia Cappuccini.
He said: "You asked me a while ago why tennis was important to me. Obviously I had the thing that happened at Dunblane. When I was around nine.
"I am sure for all the kids there it would be difficult for different reasons.
"The fact we knew the guy, we went to his kids club, he had been in our car, we had driven and dropped him off at train stations and things.
"Within 12 months of that happening, our parents got divorced.
"My feeling towards tennis is that it’s an escape for me in some ways. Because all of these things are stuff that I have bottled up.
"I don’t know because we don’t talk about these things. They are not things that are discussed."
The Robb Elementary shooting came just days after another massacre at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, that was reportedly racially motivated.
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Alleged perpetrator Payton Gendron, 18, is in police custody. US media reported that he disseminated a racist manifesto across message boards prior to committing the mass slaying, which he streamed via the gaming platform Twitch.
Both incidents have sparked renewed calls for tighter gun controls across the US, which infamously enshrines citizens' "right to bear arms" in its written constitution.
The school shooting has also been compared to the Sandy Hook and Parkland tragedies in 2012 and 2018, which saw a combined 43 people shot dead.
The Associated Press reports that US President Joe Biden has called for new restrictions on firearms - but faces opposition from pro-gun representatives in the country's two legislatures.
US President Joe Biden has appealed to lawmakers to clamp down on guns (Image: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In an emotional address to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, Mr Biden pleaded for action to curb gun violence after years of failure - and blamed firearms manufacturers and their supporters for blocking legislation in Washington.
He said: "When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? Why are we willing to live with this carnage? Why do we keep letting this happen?
"These kinds of mass shootings rarely happen anywhere else in the world - why?
"The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong.
"I'd hoped when I became president I would not have to do this, again."
Biden, who has lost two of his children - son Beau, who died of a brain tumour, and daughter Naomi, who died in a car crash at the age of one - made an emotive appeal to pro-gun legislators.
He added: "To lose a child is like having a piece of your soul ripped away.
"There's a hollowness in your chest. You feel like you're being sucked into it and never going to be able to get out.
"It's time we turned this pain into action."
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