Political frenemies

Nigel Farage accepted Robert Jenrick into Reform UK in spite of having previously called him a ‘fraud’ (for boasting about securing hotels for migrants when in government and then campaigning against them in opposition). Some more political make-ups:

— David Cameron called Nick Clegg his ‘favourite joke’ before forming a coalition with him in 2010.

— Donald Trump chose J.D. Vance as his running-mate in 2024 in spite of Vance having called him ‘America’s Hitler’ and a ‘really bad person’.

— George H.W. Bush served as Ronald Reagan’s vice-president between 1981 and 1989 in spite of having previously accused him of ‘voodoo economics’.

Track records

A Spanish high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming train, killing at least 39 people. Which countries have the safest, and most dangerous, rail networks in Europe? Deaths per billion train kilometres:

DEADLIEST

Greece 94

Bulgaria 76

Latvia 62

Estonia 50

Lithuania 41

SAFEST

Ireland 0

Finland 0

UK 2.1

Netherlands 4.2

Sweden 5.1

Denmark 5.1

Source: International Railway Safety Council

Royal court

Prince Harry turned up for the first week of his privacy trial against the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Some other British royals who have appeared in court:

— Charles I was tried in Westminster Hall before his execution in 1649.

— The future Edward VII gave evidence in two cases while he was Prince of Wales. In 1870, he appeared as a witness to deny that he had been the lover of Lady Harriet Mordaunt, whose husband was divorcing her on the grounds on infidelity. In 1891, he appeared against as a witness in a slander trial brought by Sir William Gordon-Cumming, who had been accused of cheating at the baccarat table.

— In 2002, the Princess Royal pleaded guilty under the Dangerous Dogs Act to failing to prevent her bull terrier Dotty biting two children.