When will the heatwave end?

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures peaking at 38.1°C at Kew Gardens in London as the record-breaking summer continues.

This has been the UK’s hottest summer on record, and yesterday ranked as the UK’s fifth hottest day since records began in 1914.

The relentless heat has been coupled with a prolonged dry spell, leading to drought in many areas of the country, particularly severe in the south.

Record-breaking heat

• The 37 days from 30 June to 5 August counted as the UK’s second-longest heatwave.
• This year, the UK has had at least one heatwave every month since May.
• The whole of Wales and more than 70 per cent of England is now in drought.
• Some parts of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex have not had rain for 63 days.

Drought in pictures

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  Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said temperatures will see “a gradual return to average over the next few days”.
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  Conditions will feel less humid by Saturday, though it will still feel warm.
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  As for some desperately needed rain, the Met Office said some parts may see thunderstorms later today and into Saturday.
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  But the next meaningful rain for the driest areas in the south “could be towards the end of next week”.

What you need to know as Farage wins Clacton by-election

The Reform UK leader claimed an “overwhelming” victory – but refused to attend the count for safety reasons.

A party spokesperson said there had been a “credible threat” made against him.

How did Farage do?

Farage won 22,239 votes in the by-election, securing a majority of 63 per cent.

What about Binface?

The satirical candidate Count Binface received 9,455 votes (27 per cent).

Who was he facing?

There were a record-breaking 34 candidates on the ballot on Thursday, though none from the main parties.

In a brief statement posted on X, the Reform leader said: “The result in Clacton speaks for itself.”

By contrast, the Liberal Democrats said Farage had come away from the election “looking daft”, as most people “who fight against a bin” would.

Finance probe re-opens

• Part of Farage’s reasoning behind his abrupt resignation last month was the probe into his financial affairs.
• He was being investigated by the parliamentary standards committee over the alleged “failure to register an interest”.
• It concerns a £5m “gift” from a crypto-billionaire in 2024, which Farage did not declare.
• As he has been re-elected, the probe has reopened.

This is a hollow victory for Farage. His biggest test is about to begin

Farage has defeated a bin but questions still remain over his and Reform’s finances.

How university tuition fees may hit £11,000 a year by 2030

Record numbers of students are set to go to university this year – but they face debts as high as £100,000 when they graduate.

What you need to know

• Students starting four-year courses this autumn are to see their fees rise by more than £800 in their final year.
• Tuition fees will reach £9,790 this autumn and £10,050 next year.
• Keir Starmer’s government said fees would increase with inflation.
• With these costs, added to the maximum maintenance loan for a student living without their parents in London, the total adds up to nearly £100,000.

Mounting concerns around cost

Lewis Wilson, vice president at the National Union of Students, said the costs of attending university were “astronomical” and students were left with “mortgage-sized” debts.

“It’s a graduate tax for life, but it’s completely unfair,” he said.

Last month, Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the issue of student loans was “very much at the top of my in-tray” and described interest charges on Plan 2 loans as “egregious”.

Iain Mansfield, head of education at the Policy Exchange think-tank, said: “Given the increasing concern about the quality of universities, there is a real question about whether or not they’ll choose to go ahead with it. It feels like a fifty-fifty decision.”

Wildfires tear through West Midlands – the latest

This morning, residents in Stourbridge woke up to the burnt-out shells of neighbouring houses after a night of terrifying wildfires swept through the West Midlands yesterday.

What happened?

• A huge blaze near Stourbridge Golf Course set six homes on fire yesterday, with 100 firefighters battling the flames.
• The ambulance service said two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.
• West Midlands chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said “the devastation is extensive”.

Yesterday, fire crews also fought off a fire in Stoke-on-Trent where four homes were destroyed.

There were further fires in Warwickshire, Druids Heath and Kings Norton in Birmingham, Salford Priors and Pershore in Worcestershire. A woman was also seriously injured in another blaze in Castle Vale, Birmingham.

There are now 11 major incidents declared across the UK, many in the West Midlands.

Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, told the BBC: “It’s been a particularly difficult, busy period for the fire and rescue service, where we’ve been under significant pressure.”

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Awful to see homes and communities hit by fires across the country tonight as the heatwave continues. My thoughts are with everyone affected.”