JK Rowling claims the BBC is ‘spitting in women’s faces’ by naming Barbra Banda as Women’s Footballer of the Year despite failing to meet gender eligibility rules. Zambia and Orlando Pride striker Banda won the title as she received the most votes from BBC Sport website readers after being included on a five-player shortlist. But Banda’s place in the running for the annual prize was criticised by women’s rights groups because she was previously left out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 by team bosses over allegedly having high testosterone levels.

Luton is reeling from the news that Vauxhall is set to sever its long-held link with the town – after parent company Stellantis announced plans to shut the car maker’s factory after 120 years. Stellantis, which also controls the Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen brands, has blamed government EV sales targets for the decision to shutter the factory, which first opened in 1905 and has been making vans for almost a century. The Luton factory had been set for a retooling to make the electric version of the Vivaro van before the plug was pulled on Tuesday afternoon – to the shock of workers, some of whom have worked at the plant for decades.

A female fire brigade worker has sued for harassment after her male boss made a remark about his wife having a Mulberry handbag just like hers. Tayba Amber accused Martin McCarthy of being a ‘𝑠e𝑥ual predator’ after his comment during a meeting about her return to work from sick leave, an employment tribunal heard. After noticing the high-end fashion accessory, he asked her if she would later be going to the Mulberry shop – where bags can cost more than £1,500 – and said he had spent a ‘considerable amount of money’ on handbags for his wife.

A British man faces 25 years in a Dubai prison after he accepted money ‘to go shopping’ from an alleged drug dealer. Self-proclaimed millionaire Waseem Khan, 22, spent over two months locked in a ‘hell hole’ cell with 200 inmates at the notorious Al Barsha jail before he was released on bail following his arrest. The crypto investor – who has been forced to shell out £30,000 on legal fees – was detained on September 4 when police raided his luxury apartment.

Labour’s plunge in popularity since the election has been laid bare in an analysis of council contests. Keir Starmer’s candidates have won just 53 of the 150 seats up for grabs on local authorities since July 4 – having previously held 75. Meanwhile, the Tories have boosted their tally by 21 to 44, and Reform have gained  five.

Sir Keir Starmer today refused to say that taxes will not rise again despite Rachel Reeves making the pledge to business. In bad-tempered clashes at PMQs, the premier insisted he was ‘not going to write the next five years of Budgets right here at this despatch box’. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch swiped that the burden would inevitably rise again under Labour – and also goaded Sir Keir over millions of Brits signing a petition demanding a fresh general election.