Sean Whelan

The Makerfield constituency is in the heart of rugby league territory. Effectively, it's the suburbs of southern Wigan.

In the end it wasn't close. Andy Burnham, the now former mayor of Greater Manchester, was returned to Westminster with a resounding victory - his 24,937 votes were more than all the other candidates combined - 55%.

To complete his mission and become the "Top Gun" of the Labour Party, Andy Burnham will need all the help, tricks and special effects he can muster, writes Sean Whelan.

"Brexit means Brexit," said then British prime minister Theresa May.

So at last, the so-called 'king of the north' has spoken, setting out a big picture political offering for a Burnham administration and, as had been

Pubs are a big thing in the news here. The UK government has decreed that the boozers can stay open until 5am tomorrow morning, so England fans can watch their team play Mexico in the World Cup (kick-off 1am).

Nigel Farage's latest wheeze to avoid scrutiny is to pose as the anti-establishment candidate in a by-election he himself is initiating.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee are in Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, for a summit meeting of the

Broken-hearted family members, a wide circle of friends and the community at large in the Enniscorthy area said farewell recently to a young local woman, described as “the bravest of the brave” and an inspiration to all who knew her.

Of all the crazy weeks in the political life of Nigel Farage, surely this has been his most disturbing.