A total of 973 migrants in 17 small boats crossed the English Channel to the UK on Saturday – the same day four people died – making it the busiest day of the year so far.

Greater Manchester Police said officers responded to reports of a man was on the aircraft, due to depart for Milan.

Taoiseach Simon Harris was speaking after a report that Russian intelligence recruited an Irish politician as an agent.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said the Government was ‘updating the rules’ to reflect post-election public expectations.