Two children who attended a primary school dealing with an infection outbreak have died.
The youngsters - reported to be aged five and six - were pupils at Millstead Primary School in Liverpool.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had been working with Liverpool City Council following a number of cases of giardia linked to the school.
However, the UKHSA said the deaths of the two children were "unlikely to be due to giardia".
Giardia is a parasite which can grow in the intestines of infected humans or animals and cause giardiasis, with the most common symptom being diarrhoea.
Emma Savage, a consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said the agency was "aware of the sad deaths of two children who attend Millstead Primary School and our thoughts are with the family, friends and school community".
"The deaths are unlikely to be due to giardia," she added.
"Giardia usually causes a self-limiting gastrointestinal illness which can spread easily in households and school settings."
The Liverpool Echo reported the school has been closed for a week in a bid to tackle the infection outbreak.
Ms Savage said: "Investigations are ongoing, and we have provided information and advice to the school and parents. Public health measures have been put in place to help prevent further cases."
In a statement to Sky News, Millstead headteacher Michelle Beard said: "The entire Millstead School community is devastated to have learned of the sad recent passing of two of our younger children.
"We have sent our sincerest condolences to both of their families.
"Both children filled their classes with joy during their time with us, and they will forever be in our hearts.
"We are working closely with our families, staff and pupils to support them as we come to terms with this terribly sad news."
The UK should be spending 3 per cent of GDP or more on defence, a former head of MI6 has said as Sir Keir Starmer faced pressure over his plans for the armed forces.
Sir Richard Dearlove said neither of the main political parties during the general election campaign had “described to the voters the seriousness of the situation that we face at the moment” amid rising global instability.
He told Times Radio: “In my view, actually our defence expenditure should be around 3 per cent, maybe even a bit higher. The Poles are already spending 3.9 per cent and gonna go even higher. There is an urgency. This is a major problem.
“It’s more important, and you know, people won’t accept this from me, it’s more important than the National Health Service, I’m sorry.”
Sir Richard made the comments as Sir Keir attended a Nato summit in Washington DC today in his first international trip as Prime Minister.
Labour has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP but has not set a deadline. Sir Keir has refused to guarantee hitting the number in his first term in office.
Police have been searching through the night for 26-year-old Kyle Clifford from the Enfield area. It is believed he could be in Hertfordshire or north London.
“Given the serious nature of the incident, I would ask anyone who knows where he is to contact police immediately. If you believe you see him, please do not approach him and dial 999 straight away. He may still be in possession of a weapon,” said Detective Superintendent Rob Hall.
He added: “This is an incredibly difficult incident for the victims’ family and we would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with what has happened.”
A man who lives close to the murder scene in Bushey said the incident was “tragic”.
Riaz, who is in his 50s and declined to give a second name, said: “At 6 o’clock, my wife called me while I was at work, saying ‘there are so many police cars down the road which I’ve never seen before’, and she was distressed.
“I didn’t know [what had happened] at that point, then at that very moment my nephew phoned me saying something tragic had happened and was I okay? I came early evening and I saw the cars and realised something tragic had happened.”
“It’s a serene, quiet road, but there was over a dozen cars here. It’s quite disturbing, but any tragedy like this has a bearing on how you feel.”
He added: “This has been an awful situation and I can’t even imagine what the family must be going through.”
Local officials express ‘deep shock and sadness’ after three women killed
Local councillors have expressed their “deep shock and sadness” at the suspected triple murder in Bushey on Tuesday.
Louise Nicolas, Alan Matthews and Paul Richards said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news that three women have lost their lives in a violent incident which took place in the heart of our local community.
“As North Bushey councillors, we extend our thoughts and condolences to their families and all those affected. We would encourage anyone who has information relevant to the inquiry to contact police.”
Police are appealing for anyone who was in the vicinity of Ashlyn Close between midday and 7pm on Tuesday and who may have witnessed anything related to their investigation to come forward.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall said: “Our inquiries will continue over the coming days to ascertain the full circumstances of what happened.
“But I would also like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who was in the area around Ashlyn Close from around lunchtime on Tuesday until 7pm, and believes they may have seen anything that could assist the investigation, to contact us.”
Public warned not to approach suspect who may be in possession of a weapon
Members of the public have been urged not to approach 26-year-old Kyle Clifford, with police warning he may still be in possession of a weapon.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall said: “Whilst we are still in the early stages of this investigation, we are actively seeking Kyle Clifford who we believe could be in the areas of Hertfordshire or North London.
“Given the serious nature of the incident, I would ask anyone who knows where he is to contact police immediately. If you believe you see him, please do not approach him and dial 999 straight away. He may still be in possession of a weapon.”
Breaking: Police launch urgent manhunt after three women killed
Detectives are hunting for a man in connection with the deaths of three women.
Officers were called to Ashlyn Close, Bushey, Hertfordshire, just before 7pm on Tuesday and found three seriously injured women. They all died at the scene.
Hertfordshire Police has been searching overnight for Kyle Clifford, 26, from the Enfield area, who is believed to be in Hertfordshire or north London.
Our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin has the breaking report:
We’ll be using this blog to provide you with the latest updates as police hunt a man wanted in connection with a triple murder in Bushey on Tuesday night.
Sir Keir Starmer has praised the new Parliament as the most diverse in terms of race and gender "this country has ever seen" in his first speech to the Commons as prime minister.
He vowed to "put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving" and replace it with "the politics of service".
Other party leaders also gave speeches ahead of the swearing in of MPs.
Rishi Sunak repeated his apology to Conservative MPs who were not re-elected last week and pledged to take up the role of opposition "professionally, effectively, and humbly".
Labour's landslide victory saw the party take 412 seats, with the Conservatives falling to 121 - their lowest number in history.
Out of the 650 people elected last Thursday, 335 have never been an MP before.
The large number of new Labour MPs meant the government side of the Commons was crammed full, with at least 60 Labour MPs left standing.
Sir Keir was greeted by a standing ovation from the Labour benches as he arrived in the Commons, and briefly spoke to his predecessor Mr Sunak before the pair took their seats.
For the first time in parliamentary history, the proportion of women elected is more than 40%.
Meanwhile, the proportion of MPs from ethnic-minority backgrounds is now a record 14%.
Sir Keir told the Commons he was "proud" of the part Labour had played in improving the diversity of Parliament, adding that the new intake also had the largest cohort of LGBT+ MPs of any parliament in the world.
In his speech, he also paid tribute to Diane Abbott, the new Mother of the House - a title given to the longest continuously serving female MP.
The PM said Ms Abbott had "done so much in her career over so many years to fight for a Parliament that truly represents modern Britain".
At the beginning of the campaign the veteran left-winger, who was the first female black MP when she was elected in 1987, faced uncertainty over whether she would be re-selected as Labour's candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
She was suspended from Labour last year over comments about racism and claimed she had been blocked from standing for the party.
However, she was readmitted at the end of May and Sir Keir later said she was free to go forward as Labour's candidate.
Mr Sunak, who has promised to stay on as Conservative leader until arrangements for choosing his successor are in place, also paid tribute to Ms Abbott as "a trailblazer" and "inspiration for so many young women of colour".
The Commons was packed for its first session since the general election
In his own speech, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, whose party is now the third largest in the Commons with 72 MPs, vowed to hold the government to account, focusing on issues including health, social care, sewage and the cost of living.
In a reference to the number of SNP MPs falling from 48 to nine, the party's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: "There's probably a few more new members from Scottish constituencies than I would like to have seen, but I do look forward to working constructively with you to deliver in the best interests of the people that we are all so fortunate to represent."
Along with other parties, he paid tribute to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who was re-elected unopposed to the position of Speaker, who presides over Commons debates and upholds parliamentary rules.
The pair previously clashed over Sir Lindsay's decision not to allow a vote on an SNP call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
Sir Lindsay continued in his role despite pressure to stand down over the issue, with a motion of no confidence attracting more than 80 signatures.
Mr Flynn told the Speaker: "I think it's safe to say that me and you didn't always see eye to eye during the course of the last parliament but in politics and in life, I think it's important to let bygones be bygones and to focus on the future."
Sir Lindsay said he would continue to be "fair, impartial and independent" in the role.
After his re-election was approved by MPs, he was dragged to the Speaker's chair by Labour MP Cat Smith and Tory Sir David Davis.
The dragging of the Speaker is a traditional part of the process in which the successful candidate pretends to be reluctant to take up the role and is physically escorted by MPs.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage used his speech to take a swipe at Sir Lindsay's predecessor as speaker John Bercow.
To groans from some, he said Sir Lindsay was "in marked contrast to the little man that was there before you and besmirched the office so dreadfully in doing his best to overturn the biggest democratic result in the history of the country" - a reference to some of the controversial decisions Mr Bercow made on Brexit votes in Parliament.
Mr Farage, who was elected to Parliament on his eighth attempt, hailed his party as "the new kids on the block", after Reform won five seats.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Savile Roberts, Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay, SDLP Westminster leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood and TUV leader Jim Allistair also gave speeches.
MPs are now beginning the process of being sworn in, where they make an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Crown.
Keir Starmer will call on Nato countries to increase defence spending in response to rising global threats as he launches a major review setting out UK plans to spend tens of billions of pounds extra on the military.
The prime minister will use Nato’s 75th-anniversary summit in Washington, his first international trip since winning power, to underline Britain’s “cast-iron” commitment to the defence alliance.
He will say that further increases in spending from allies will help Nato tackle the nature of today’s threats including Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, continued instability in the Middle East and the rise of authoritarian states.
A strategic defence review will be launched next week but is likely to take up to a year to complete, meaning growing pressure on Starmer to confirm a timetable for the UK to boost defence spending to its target of 2.5% of GDP.
The Labour peer and former first sea lord Alan West said on Tuesday: “I think we ought to say when we are going to get to 2.5%. ‘When the situation allows’ is not really good enough – Putin will not wait for our situation to be good enough before he attacks.”
The prime minister, who is accompanied on the US trip by his wife, Victoria, is to meet Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday for their first bilateral talks, where he will seek to underline the strength and stability of the transatlantic relationship despite the change in government.
His first meeting with the US president would normally be a highlight but, with questions raging about Biden’s health and age and the American election just four months away, some careful choreography may be needed. The Bidens will then host the Starmers and other world leaders and their partners at a glitzy White House dinner.
Starmer will use the Nato summit to emphasise the UK’s “unshakeable” commitment to Ukraine at a time when Moscow has escalated its attacks, hitting a children’s hospital in Kyiv this week, and with the US election in November bringing uncertainty.
The possible return of Donald Trump, whose continued backing for Nato and Ukraine remains unclear, could cast a shadow over the summit. Downing Street said it was not aware of any planned meetings between the UK contingent and Trump or other Republicans during the visit.
Starmer is expected to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, on the sidelines of the summit after the two met at the D-day commemorations in France during the general election campaign.
Starmer will be accompanied by David Lammy, the foreign secretary, and John Healey, the defence secretary. He will aim to use the summit to build relationships with European leaders as he tries to seal an EU-UK security pact, and he will also be joined by Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for European relations.
The UK currently spends 2.32% of GDP on defence, the equivalent of £64.6bn a year, which would have to steadily increase to £87.1bn a year to reach the 2.5% target.
A record 23 Nato countries are expected to hit the alliance minimum target of 2% this year, up from 11 in 2023, meaning that European Nato allies as a whole will collectively spend 2% of their combined GDP – worth £300bn – on defence for the first time.
Before the trip, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Now more than ever he thinks it’s important that we come together with our like-minded partners across the world in a show of strength and collaboration, because everything he will try to achieve in government from now on depends on the security of our nation.
“We obviously want to see other countries continue to take steps to increase defence spending as well in order to ensure that we’re sending a strong signal to Putin that we will do whatever it takes to support Ukraine in their defence. The first duty of any government is to keep the nation safe and protect our citizens, and the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine.”
Healey has already done detailed preparatory work on the strategic defence review, which will determine the UK’s future defence posture and deepen defence partnerships including within Nato and Aukus.
It will consider the shape of the armed forces and their readiness to fight, capabilities needed to tackle growing threats, reforms to secure faster procurement and better value for money, as well as the roadmap to hitting the 2.5% target.
In April, Rishi Sunak said Britain would spend 2.5% of national output on defence by the end of the decade. Sunak also committed to giving at least £3bn a year to Ukraine “for as long as required”, a key request from Zelenskiy to provide more certainty in the face of Russian aggression.
Labour has long promised to hit the 2.5% figure but, coming under pressure during the election campaign to commit to a date, Starmer would only say “as soon as resources allow”.
Starmer has said his government would commit to a multi-year funding settlement for Ukraine, and urged Nato allies to do the same.
In a statement before the summit, Starmer said: “There is no more important duty for me as prime minister than keeping the people of our country safe. At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves. That’s why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britain’s defences for the future.
“Working with our most important partners around the world, our strategic defence review will make sure the UK is sending a clear message to those who seek to undermine peace and democracy – you will not succeed.”
Lammy said: “Ukraine’s security is our security, so our priority for Washington must be to show that Nato support for Ukraine remains iron-clad, and our support will be sustained. Putin thinks he can outwait the west, but he is mistaken.”
Emergency services were first called to the waterside at Waterloo, in Merseyside, at around 7pm to reports of the teenager going missing. They searched into the next day but called off the operation on Monday morning.
Police now say a body was found over a week after he vanished, although formal identification has not yet taken place.
Merseyside Police told The Independent: “We can confirm that a body has been found by the Coastguard off New Brighton, last night, Monday 8 July.
“Although the body has not yet been formally identified, officers remain in contact with the family of Daniel Halliday, 14, who went missing at Crosby beach on Sunday, 30 June.”
Daniel Halliday went missing while playing with his brother and friends in the River Mersey at Crosby Beach (Peter Byrne PA) (PA Archive)
The teenager’s family is being supported by specially trained Merseyside Police officers.
In a statement in the days after his disappearance, his family said: “A family statement said: “Our worst fear is that this tragic accident has taken our lovely boy from us.
“Daniel was jumping waves with his big brother, who tried to save him, but the current was too strong.
“Daniel is a loving son, brother, cousin, nephew and grandson. The family are all devastated, and we hope that we will be allowed our privacy at this time. Thank you.”
Merseyside-based charity An Hour For Others added: “Daniel was a big part of our children’s groups for the last two years and we shared so many amazing memories together.
“Daniel was a unique little soul and always loved having a laugh with staff and kids. He got involved in everything and got so much from our little community, he absolutely loved going to Wales last year and we’ll always remember our special two days.
“We are all numb at the minute trying to make sense of what’s happened. We are in contact with Daniel’s family and will be supporting them throughout, out of respect for Daniel’s family we ask that they have privacy at this time as they deal with what’s happened.”
