Inside Labour’s Brexit civil war

Pick your England World Cup starting XI | The secrets to a crowd-free bank holiday

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Saturday, 23 May 2026 Issue No. 447

Good morning. It may have seemed that the Brexit debate was finally over, but the drama of the past week suggests otherwise. Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have opened Pandora’s box with their conflicting signals on Britain’s future relationship with the EU. The reopening of the Brexit culture wars is particularly divisive in areas that backed Labor in recent elections but voted Leave in 2016. Ben Riley-Smith, our Chief Political Commentator, travelled to Walsall to see how the issue risks alienating voters in the party’s traditional heartlands. Elsewhere, our travel team let you in on the secrets to a crowd-free bank holiday at the nation's favourite destinations. You can read the full story below. Chris Evans, Editor P.S. Did you know, you’re eligible for our email-exclusive offer? Try All Access today for just 25p per month. If you’re already a subscriber, make sure you’re logged in to read today’s stories.   In today’s edition Pick your England World Cup starting XI — The Iran-backed militiaman accused of anti-Semitic terror attacks in London — Plus, the secrets to a crowd-free bank holiday in the UK’s tourism hotspots

Try 4 months for 25p per month Save on an All Access Subscription with your email-exclusive offer Subscribe now   ‘There’ll be civil war’: Inside Labour’s toxic Brexit gamble Ben Riley-Smith Chief Political Commentator   The B-word is back, for Labour at least. This past week, the debate about whether it is time for Britain to rejoin the European Union has been splashed across the front pages. It was triggered by Wes Streeting’s first speech after resigning as health secretary when he said he hoped to see Britain back in the bloc “one day”. His intervention had a heavy political edge as Streeting knows his hopes of becoming prime minister rest on winning over the pro-EU Labour members. With a surging Green Party and a leadership contest looming, Labour figures are increasingly happy to share their Remainer sentiments in public. But Streeting’s move has opened Pandora’s box. A trip to Walsall, where the party lost all but one of its councillors, showed deep political peril in the approach. This corner of the West Midlands has seen Nigel Farage’s Reform surge. Simran Cheema, that last remaining Labour councillor in Walsall, told The Telegraph that promises to rejoin would backfire and anger voters who were already disillusioned with her party. “There’ll literally be a civil war in this country,” Cheema said at the prospect, with no sign that she was joking. “Really. I think people will go absolutely crazy.” Read the essay in full here ➤   Opinion Camilla Tominey Andy Burnham owes the women of Britain an apology His latest U-turn on transgenderism is laughable given he was backing the gender extremists when it really mattered Continue reading ➤     Stephen Daisley Wanted: Green Party candidate. Only crackpots need apply Continue reading ➤     William Sitwell Woke authors who boycott book festivals should hang their heads in shame Continue reading ➤     To make sure you don’t miss our newsletters when they land in your inbox, click here. In other news Labour’s £300 tax on your summer staycation Police ‘down to last roll of dice’ in Andrew investigation Reform candidate backed sexually explicit tweet sent to Vorderman Rayner warned about electoral fraud in April ... and did not act Amber health alerts issued for bank holiday heatwave A four-year-old girl cools off at Droitwich Spa Splash Park weekend reads Our experts pick their England teams for World Cup opener – and so can you Thomas Tuchel has been detained by US customs at the World Cup this summer, writes Josh Burrows, Head of Sport Publishing. You have been appointed England manager in his place. Who do you start up front with Harry Kane? Can Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham dovetail in midfield? Use our player-by-player guide, pick the XI you would start and see how it measures up against our writers’ selections. Pick your England XI ➤ Read our player-by-player guide ➤ Sign up to our Total Football newsletter for daily analysis during the tournament ➤   Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi was brought to the US last week and charged with plotting at least 20 terrorist attacks The Iran-backed militiaman accused of anti-Semitic terror attacks in London Within Iran’s overseas terror network, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi was considered “minor royalty”. A Kataib Hezbollah commander who proudly shared photographs of himself with the late Quds Force commander Qassim Soleimani, the 32-year-old is now accused of orchestrating a chilling wave of anti-Semitic violence across the West, from firebombing Hatzola ambulances to stabbings in broad daylight in Golders Green. Continue reading ➤   Dame Joan Collins: ‘I don’t eat junk, I get eight hours of sleep, I exercise. It’s very simple’ Dame Joan Collins: I have never thought about my mental health Dame Joan Collins turns 93 today – not that I was supposed to ask about her age when we sat down at the champagne reception for a new Harley Street clinic this week, writes Amy Packer. The Hollywood actress has lost none of the sparkle or razor-sharp wit that have helped sustain her career across eight decades. I soon discovered that this no-nonsense approach extends to how she stays sprightly, too. Continue reading ➤   Andy Mee's drinking worsened during the pandemic, which prompted his wife to issue an ultimatum ‘I used to drink three bottles of wine a day, but was convinced I wasn’t an alcoholic’ I never believed I was an alcoholic, writes Andy Mee. I was a professional who drank £30 bottles of wine, not cheap spirits on a park bench. However, my habit escalated into a vicious cycle of stashing empties in my car boot and tilting bottles on the rack so they looked full. It was only when my wife left with our children that the truth hit me. Continue reading ➤   Your Saturday The secrets to a crowd-free bank holiday in Britain’s tourism hotspots Keen to avoid the hordes heading to the nation’s most popular destinations for the bank holiday? We asked our travel experts how to have a peaceful break this weekend. They shared their favourite ways to dodge tourist traffic and find quieter corners of the country, from the coastal charm of Cornwall to the rugged fells of Cumbria. Continue reading ➤ Here are some more useful articles for you this bank holiday weekend: Fashion | If your heatwave wardrobe is looking a little dated, these items are ideal for a refresh. Gardening | Our experts suggest the best ways to water and protect your plants during hot, dry weather. Sleep | If the heatwave has left you tossing and turning, try these expert-approved tips to stay cool and get the rest you need.   Food for thought Have you got plans for this weekend? Whether you’re staying in or going out, we’ve got you covered. Every week, Diana Henry, The Telegraph’s award-winning cookery writer, brings you three dishes for a perfect weekend meal. Meanwhile, William Sitwell shares his view from the culinary world – and a recommendation or two. If you’re staying in... Poached apricots with star anise and vanilla Diana Henry The Telegraph’s award-winning cookery writer   I can’t quite believe we’re here. It’s practically summer! There are ingredients that really mark the change of season for me. Asparagus is one, and strawberries too, but what really says summer to me is apricots. Apricots were in independent greengrocers a few weeks ago, but now you can get them in some supermarkets too. What is wonderful about apricots? That even when they’re nothing more than “okay” when raw, heat makes them luscious and honeyed, with a flavour that teeters between tart and sweet. Every year I make, in this order, apricot and frangipane tart, apricot and almond upside-down cake (if you receive my Recipes newsletter you’ll see it in the weekly meal planner today), and some kind of poached or baked apricots. As it’s a lazy weekend – I don’t know who will be around to eat; I just have things on standby or that I can eat myself – I’m going for poached apricot, with star anise and vanilla. Fennel, courgette and pickled red onion salad with feta There are months of tomato and green salads ahead. I eat tomatoes every day until it gets to September, even October, until they are too woolly in texture or too bland in flavour, then I start roasting them. The best tomatoes don’t even need a properly made dressing – a little white balsamic vinegar, seasoning and a favourite extra-virgin olive oil does the job – but it’s easy to fall into a rut with salads. When the produce is great you can rely solely on its quality – a good thing – but this can stop you considering anything unusual, anything with layers of flavour, such as this fennel, courgette and feta salad. It’s almost thirst-quenching. Piadina, Italian flatbread The salad is good just on its own but works well with lamb chops – sprinkle them with chilli flakes, season and griddle them – or chicken kebabs. Kebabs are one of those things that can be a bit ordinary, especially if you overcook them or you haven’t marinated them with care. These Persian ones are anything but. The yogurt and the grated onion flavour them all the way through. As well as the salad, I’ll make warm flatbread to go with them. You might prefer to buy them, but try these (pictured above if you have the inclination). They’re Italian, don’t need yeast, and are quite flat – they’re used to make wraps in Italy. Finally, before you go… if you’re planning a productive bank holiday weekend, read Silvana Franco’s guide to reorganising and reviving your spice rack. If you’d rather sit back and sip something nice, make it a rosé tipped by Victoria Moore. Find me here every Saturday and in the new Recipes newsletter, which you can sign up to here. If you’re eating out and fancy taking your dog along with you, don’t get on the wrong side of William Sitwell, our Restaurant Critic... ‘In our hospitality setting, the rule is no dogs in the dining room’ William Sitwell Restaurant Critic   This week, a story emerged of a woman who brought her dachshund in a pram to a London pizza restaurant and set it on the floor on an absorbent puppy pad. It focused my mind on hospitality “petiquette”. I love dogs but, as I write this week, we confine them to the bar of my restaurant, the White Hart. Were I to find any owners letting their hounds do their business indoors, rather than by a nearby lamppost, they would of course be swiftly invited to sling their hooks. For tips on how best to bring a dog into a restaurant I defer to Liz Wyse, etiquette adviser to Debrett’s, who says: “You might think your dog is a miraculous near-human [but] don’t let it sit on your lap and put its paws on the table, and under no circumstances should you let it lick your plate.” She made no mention of puppy pads but it’s safe to assume that would be considered even less de rigueur than plate licking. Read William’s column here ➤   Your say Dreaming of brussel sprouts Every weekday, Orlando Bird, our loyal reader correspondent, shares an off-piste topic that has brought out the best of your opinions and stories. Orlando writes... Thanks for all your replies to this week’s newsletters. Many of you responded to Wednesday’s edition, on wartime memories and correspondence, with stories of your own. I’m only sorry there isn't space to include more of them.   Amy Gray writes: “My father has the letters my grandfather wrote home to his mother from Burma in the Second World War. They are such a vivid depiction of the campaign. This was after he was evacuated from the jungle: ‘Eventually we made an American hospital where the food was wonderful after nine weeks of concentrated rations. What I longed for most was vegetables and fruits of which of course we had none. I dreamt of Brussels sprouts and got tinned peas but I couldn’t eat a thing, couldn’t sleep, felt as weak as a chicken and was very glad after two days they flew me in an ambulance plane back to India, to a proper hospital. I still couldn’t eat or sleep and India is very hot after Burma. They gave me fruit juice and chicken’.”   Fay Goodwin adds: “I was six months old when war was declared. We lived in Kentish Town, north London, and I was evacuated to Luton with my two half-sisters. My dad fetched us back after a few months, as he reckoned that we were lodged in a house of ill repute. We eventually moved to Edgware, as our house was damaged by a bomb. Apparently it wobbled like a jelly.”   Now for something completely different, befitting the bank holiday: G&T. Yesterday I confessed that I couldn’t see its appeal, and readers have risen to its defence. One advises: “Keep slices of lemon or lime in the freezer. I hate my gin and tonic diluted by large quantities of ice (or tonic). One part gin (Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray) to two parts tonic, plus just one ice cube.”   Patrick Hodgson recalls how he developed his habit: “My parents used to keep gin in the fridge when I was a four year old in East Africa. Unfortunately, they also stored drinking water in Gordon’s bottles there, so when I got curious and bit on a chilli from the garden, I rushed for the water, only to take a deep swig of gin. I have been addicted ever since.” That’s all from me for this week, folks. I’ll be back on Monday to bring you our best talking points. In the meantime, you can contact me here.   Andrew Baker’s Saturday quiz Come together for the latest installment of my Saturday quiz. 1. The bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed and killed by police in Louisiana on this date in 1934. What were their surnames? 2. After which king of France is the state of Louisiana named? 3. The great jazz musician Louis Armstrong mainly played which instrument? 4. Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon; Buzz Aldrin the second. Who was the third? 5. Astronaut Buzz Lightyear features in which film franchise? You can find the answers at the end of the newsletter.   Puzzles Find as many words as you can in today’s Panagram, including the nine-letter solution. Visit Telegraph Puzzles to play a range of head-scratching games, including The 1% Club, Cogs, and Quick, Mini or Cryptic Crosswords.   Yesterday’s Panagram was CAFETERIA. Come back tomorrow for the solution to today’s puzzle.   Thank you for reading. Have a fulfilling day and I hope to see you tomorrow. Chris Evans, Editor P.S. Please send me your thoughts on this newsletter. You can email me here. Quiz answers: Parker and Barrow Louis XIV, the “Sun King” Trumpet Pete Conrad Toy Story   Try 4 months for 25p per month Save on an All Access Subscription with your email-exclusive offer Subscribe now

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