Rev Sam Norton, vicar of St Paul’s Church in Park End and All Saints Church in Viney Hill, Gloucestershire, has been announced as the Brexit Party candidate.

He wrote on twitter: “Surprised, humbled, excited, nervous…. but eager to serve the whole of the Forest of Dean and determined to change politics for good”

The vicar wrote a blog in 2014 about why he voted for UKIP as a Christian, in which he wrote: “When priests are ordained we are charged to ‘let the good shepherd be the pattern of our calling’ – in other words, we are to try to walk the walk that Jesus walked.

“As he was someone who was executed by the state for being politically inconvenient, I have some idea of how he would react to being put into a corner and told not to startle the establishment.”

As it currently stands, he would stand against the Conservative leadership candidate Mark Harper, who pulled out of the race early on.

If elected, he would resign from his church.

Surprised, humbled, excited, nervous…. but eager to serve the whole of the Forest of Dean and determined to change politics for good #itsallabouttrust #BrexitParty pic.twitter.com/GiC08TTHsX

— Sam Charles Norton (@Elizaphanian) August 3, 2019

Bishop of Tewkesbury, Rt Rev Robert Springett, said his politics will not intertwine with his gospel teaching: “While we encourage all people to be engaged in the political process,…

Benjamin Field (above right), 28, was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court of the murder of Peter Farquhar (above left), 69, in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire.

His co-accused, magician Martyn Smith, 32, was found not guilty.

The pair were both cleared of a charge of conspiracy to murder Mr Farquhar’s close neighbour Ann Moore-Martin and Field was also acquitted of her attempted murder.

Field killed Mr Farquhar by making his deaths look like an accident or suicide.

Field, a Baptist minister’s son, admitted fraudulently being in relationships with Mr Farquhar and his neighbour Miss Moore-Martin as part of a plot to get them to change their wills but denied any involvement in their deaths.

Prosecutors told Oxford Crown Court Field and Smith targeted Miss Moore-Martin a few months after murdering Mr Farquhar but they were acquitted of charges relating to her death after 77 hours of deliberations.

Field spiked Mr Farquhar’s food and drink with neat alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs as part of the gaslighting, while Field wrote messages on Miss Moore-Martin’s mirrors purporting to be from God.

Mr Farquhar, who was torn about his sexuality because of his religion, died in October 2015, while Miss Moore-Martin died in May 2017 from natural causes.

Field had undergone a “betrothal” ceremony with gay Mr Farquhar while also having a string of girlfriends and was in a…

Community organising charity Citizens UK said that, despite Premier League clubs making a combined £4.2 billion last year, most matchday staff are struggling to keep their heads above water financially on wages that do not cover the cost of living.

An estimated 42% of all workers in sports clubs and facilities currently earn below the voluntary Real Living Wage, said the charity.

It reported that only four Premier League clubs – Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea and West Ham – are currently accredited with the Living Wage Foundation, meaning they are committed to paying all staff and any third-party contract workers the voluntary rate of £9 an hour and £10.55 in London, higher than the statutory figure of £8.21.

Other clubs outside the Premier League, such as Championship side Luton, also pay the voluntary rate.

Matthew Bolton, director of Citizens UK, said: “Premier League clubs have had years to fix this, yet we are once again starting a new football season with employees at 16 clubs left on the breadline. It’s not right when clubs are splashing out record fees on players.

“Today we’re urging Premier League clubs dragging their feet to join Liverpool, West Ham, Everton and Chelsea, do the right thing, step up and pay the Real Living Wage for all workers.”

A cleaner who works at Manchester United’s Old Trafford, and wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I currently get…

Thousands are gathered in Peterborough for the annual ‘United’ event.

With thundery storms expected overnight most of Friday – a message sent to delegates has suggested safety reasons are behind the move.

The festival was due to finish on Saturday evening, with those camping expected to leave on Sunday morning.

It will now come to a close on Friday morning.

In their message on Thursday, organisers said: “In light of the severe weather forecast for the next two days, we have taken the difficult decision to close New Wine United from Midday on Friday.

“The decision has been made with advice from the local authorities, the showground and the production crew with the safety of all on site and on your homeward journeys as our first priority.”

It’s the first year the event has taken place in Peterborough after moving from Shepton Mallet in Somerset where it had previously dealt with flooding.

Ironically the weather in Shepton has been much better over the past two weeks.

The early close comes as a number of secular festivals announced they would be cancelled due to the bad weather.

The organisers of Houghton – a dance music event in Norfolk this weekend – have posted on Facebook to say they’re “utterly devastated”.

They say conditions on site have “dramatically worsened” and are “set to deteriorate further”.

Earlier this week Boardmasters in Cornwall was cancelled just hours…

The Derby County signing will have some of his reported £90,000 weekly wage paid by online casino 32Red and will also wear the number 32 jersey for the Championship side.

Dr Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, said Rooney should make decisions in the interests of his fans, not his bank balance.

“Players need to start using their considerable power to reject gambling’s influence on football,” the Church’s gambling spokesman told the Daily Mail.

The former England captain and his new club have faced a barrage of criticism since the £7.8 million deal was announced on Tuesday, with condemnation coming from former international players and MPs.

Dr Smith, who is a peer and member of the parliamentary select committee inquiry into gambling-related harm, added: “Coleen Rooney is reportedly angry with Wayne’s decision to wear a football shirt adorned front and back with gambling ads, and so am I.

“Football needs to wake-up to the fact their shirt sponsorship deals will have a negative impact on the welfare of many of their fans, particularly children.”

In February, the Church of England’s governing body called for tighter regulation around gambling advertising.

At the time, Dr Smith said: “More children gamble each week than drink, smoke or take drugs. This generational scandal sees young people immersed in social media and tech platforms where the gambling industry…