Evening briefing Monday 27th July

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0:34This is Times Radio's evening briefing on Monday the 27th of July. Grieving families say they don't accept an apology of wrongdoing from a fraudulent funeral director. A court's heard Robert Bush breach the trust of victims' relatives on an almost industrial scale after admitting 67 offences, including preventing burials. The 48-year-old, whose premises were raided in Hull in 2024, is facing a five-day sentencing hearing. More than 300 ,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as wildfires continue to burn across France and Spain. The huge blaze in the Gérondes region of France is now just nine miles from the outskirts of Bordeaux, where thousands of firefighters are battling to contain it.

1:21French ministers say the fire has a life of its own and have described the conditions as unprecedented. Times reporter David Chazan, who's near Bordeaux, says officials are warning the situation is likely to deteriorate. Tomorrow we're expecting the heat wave to return. Temperatures could climb as high as 40 degrees Celsius. The vegetation is likely to dry out. Fires that have subsided could just sort of rekindle. Labour has drawn level with Reform UK in the latest YouGov poll following Andy Burnham's takeover as party leader and prime minister. The survey for The Times and Sky News marks the first time since April last year that Labour has not trailed Nigel Farage's party.

2:06Meanwhile, in his second week at Number 10, Andy Burnham has set out plans for the social care service. The new Prime Minister says he wants to work with other parties to get the welfare bill down. It was only a week ago today that I stood outside Downing Street and said I wanted to build a different way of doing politics, more problem-solving, less point-scoring. and credit to the leaders of the two main parties, Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey, both of whom have reached out over the weekend. Hundreds of Lloyds, Barclays and Halifax customers are struggling to make payments. Lloyds says it's investigating and if you've already made a payment, check it's gone through before trying again.

2:51The King's most senior aide, Sir Clive Alderton, is to step down next year after two decades serving Charles and Camilla. Buckingham Palace says the principal private secretary will retire when he turns 60, having played a key role in the transition to the king's reign. The king and queen have thanked him for his tireless support as the search begins for his successor. Royal editor at the Times, Kate Mansy, says he'll be difficult to replace. He was somebody who helped put those speeches together. He's the person who collects that red box every day of government papers that's then sent for the king's attention.

3:27He's the man who welcomes the new prime minister at the door of Buckingham Palace when he goes in for that first audience. And he's crucial. He's there at every single stage. And the wildlife presenter and comedian Bill Oddy has died at the age of 85. His agent paid tribute to the intelligence and wit of Britain's best-loved birder. There's more on these stories throughout the day on Times Radio.

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