News
Scottish Labour leader takes major risk with new strategy
A key test of Anas Sarwar’s leadership of Scottish Labour has arisen with the demand for Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.
Anas Sarwar has made a significant move by becoming the first prominent Labour figure to demand the prime minister's resignation.
This decision stems from his growing frustration and discontent.
The prime minister's approach to the controversy surrounding Lord Mandelson has been a major point of contention for Sarwar.
On Thursday, Sarwar stated that Lord Mandelson should not have been a candidate for the position of UK ambassador to the United States.
Although Sarwar stopped short of calling for an immediate change in leadership, his criticism of the situation was substantial, suggesting that the prime minister's role could be at risk despite the possibility of him remaining in office.
Over the weekend, Sarwar's stance became more resolute.
He has reached a point where he can no longer support a prime minister he no longer has confidence in.
Sarwar's frustration stems from the fact that the prime minister's acknowledged mistake in appointing Mandelson, given his established connections to Jeffrey Epstein, is not a solitary error.
A significant number of Scottish Labour members are concerned that the missteps and reversals characteristic of Starmer's leadership are undermining their campaign for the Holyrood elections.
As recently as 18 months ago, Sarwar was viewed as a potential candidate for the position of first minister, posing a credible challenge to the SNP's John Swinney.
Current trends in opinion polls and internal canvassing efforts suggest that Scottish Labour is significantly behind the SNP, prompting concerns about the party's prospects.
Sarwar recognized that inaction would likely yield no improvement in his situation, leading him to consider alternative strategies.
In a bold move, Sarwar has chosen to take a stance on the leadership of Starmer, hoping to shift the political landscape in his favor.
The decision has created fissures within Scottish Labour, with some MSPs, including Jackie Baillie and Monica Lennon, expressing support for Sarwar, while MPs such as Douglas Alexander and Ian Murray have come out in support of the party leader.
If Starmer maintains the support of the party and remains in his position, the disagreement between him and Sarwar could potentially have a lasting impact on Labour's campaign in the Scottish Parliament.
A potential first minister Anas Sarwar may face challenges in maintaining a working relationship with prime minister Keir Starmer, given Starmer's previous calls for his resignation.
The involvement of UK ministers in Scotland's debate could actually amplify the role of Downing Street, rather than diminishing it, particularly if they engage in campaigning efforts.
A similar situation arose when Douglas Ross, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, urged Boris Johnson to resign due to his involvement in Covid-related parties.
It remains a possibility that Keir Starmer's tenure could be cut short, depending on various factors.
Anas Sarwar may not be the only high-ranking party member to push for the prime minister's departure, and it is possible that such pressure could eventually become unsustainable.
An upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton is expected to pose a challenge. A disappointing outcome for Labour in this contest could potentially create an opportunity for a leadership change.
In the event that the prime minister steps down, some Labour members and voters may acknowledge Sarwar's role in voicing his concerns, potentially earning him credit.
The SNP would likely require a new campaign message, as their previous call to vote for them to oust Starmer would no longer be applicable if he were to leave his position.
It can be argued that the SNP's approach is questionable, given that the primary objective of a Holyrood election is to elect a Scottish government, rather than influence Westminster politics.
Even if Starmer were to depart in the near future, it is unlikely to diminish the impact of Westminster politics on discussions about key issues in Scotland, including the NHS, education, and housing.
A key issue in UK politics is the potential succession of Starmer, with speculation surrounding whether his replacement would be appointed through a competitive process or a straightforward transition.
In Scotland, Sarwar is likely to face queries about his preferred candidate to take the helm, and whether he supports the policies of specific individuals who may be in the running.
Regardless of the outcome, Sarwar has indicated that he intends to maintain his independence, rather than simply acting as a representative of the UK Labour party in Scotland.
Nevertheless, publicly disagreeing with the UK party leader poses a risk to the Labour brand, which is shared by both Sarwar and the leader.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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