Central Bylines

According to newly published, independent research by Frontier Economics (21 June 2026) the Midlands could benefit from a massive £1,386mn increase in GDP if the UK joins the EU. To put that in perspective it could build two new Midlands community hospitals (2 x £400mn), four new primary schools (4 x £10mn), four new secondary schools (4 x £35mn), 2,000 care home places (2,000 x £80,000), 200 new GP surgeries (200 x £1mn) every year and still have millions in change.

In part one of my interview with Matt Daniel-Baker we discussed his beginnings and how he went from a star of the silver screen to becoming a world-renowned mind reader and real life jedi. In part two continuing on our conversation we delve deeper into the mind of the mind reader. You’ve performed all over the world and for some really high profile people. Do you have a favourite venue or type of audience to perform for? I’ve been lucky to perform all over the world.

Matt Daniel-Baker is many things. A former junior league and semi-pro footballer playing for Watford FC and Saffron Walden respectively, an actor and star of the silver screen, having played a Naboo foot soldier in Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace, a member of the Magic Circle and a world-renowned mind reader, it’s safe to say that Matt was born to entertain and he does it with a flair and mystery unmatched by anyone else in his field.

I’ve been called many things over the years: Son. Husband. Father. Police officer. And a fair few other titles – some official, some considerably less flattering. But without question, the finest label ever pinned to my slightly frayed lapel is this: Grandad. If you’re fortunate enough to have children, and then lucky enough for one of those children to produce a child of their own, brace yourself. Grandchildren are kryptonite. Not the sort that weakens you. The sort that melts you.

All I ever wanted was for my ponytail to swing when I walked. For curly hair influencer Penny (@pennyfroreal), the pressure to straighten her hair was overwhelming. In a predominantly white swimming environment, she often felt out of place because of her natural hair. “[After quitting swimming] at 13, the first thing I did was go and get my hair relaxed.

Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions can apply for one of 15 workshops helping to test the Timms Review’s emerging recommendations. Registration closes at 5pm on Friday, 21 August. And, because this is the benefits system, there is one particularly important warning if you are offered payment for taking part.

The recent British Grand Prix saw concerns raised by campaigners in Towcester. DHL, a British GP sponsor, has applied to build a massive warehouse near the historic town which could change its character, they claim. The group, No DHL at Towcester, said the proposed one million square foot centre is ‘within ½ mile of the historic Roman market town of Towcester. It will run 24/7, with warehouses up to 24.5m high…’. They warn it ‘could generate between 750 and 1000 vehicle movements per day.’.

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Policing is messy. It depends on humanity. It is fallible. And anyone who’s ever worn the uniform knows that the fault line running through every shift, every decision, every “why did they do that?” moment is the same: the human beings doing the job. I should know, I was once one of them. Unlike other jobs, operational policing isn’t a seminar or a podcast debate. It’s sudden, volatile, confusing, and sometimes terrifying.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's decision to resign his Clacton seat and force a by-election, amid scrutiny over his personal finances, has produced one of the odder spectacles in recent British politics. With every other major party declining to stand and despite a record 34 candidates running, his most prominent challenger is Count Binface, the silver-caped "intergalactic space warrior" with a bin for a helmet.