Hull's City of Culture big reveal and decision time for Labour - here's who will be making the headlines in the next seven days

As Hull unveils the big events to celebrate being the UK's City of Culture in 2017, Chris Bond looks ahead at who is likely to be in the news over the next seven days.
People take part in the Sea of Hull by artist Spencer Tunick in Hull. (PA).People take part in the Sea of Hull by artist Spencer Tunick in Hull. (PA).
People take part in the Sea of Hull by artist Spencer Tunick in Hull. (PA).

Party time

You know we’ve had summer’s last hurrah when party conference season starts and delegates begin descending on our seaside towns - Ukip were in Bournemouth at the weekend and now it’s the turn of the Liberal Democrats along the coast in Brighton.

It’s been a difficult 12 months for the Lib Dems following last year’s disastrous general election which left the party with just eight MPs. Since then, leader Tim Farron has steadied the ship but his next, and biggest, challenge is making the party a political force once more.

Will Jeremy Corbyn, picture here at a rally in Sheffield, win the Labour leadership contest?Will Jeremy Corbyn, picture here at a rally in Sheffield, win the Labour leadership contest?
Will Jeremy Corbyn, picture here at a rally in Sheffield, win the Labour leadership contest?

Magnificent remake?

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The growing list of Hollywood remakes includes its fair share of turkeys. This summer saw the release of Ben-Hur, a remake of the famous 1959 film, starring Charlton Heston. The original bagged 11 Oscars but the reboot has been widely panned with Rolling Stone labeling the film “A Remake Disaster of Biblical Proportions.” Ouch.

Those behind the Magnificent Seven remake will be hoping for better reviews. The new film boasts Denzel Washington among its cast but still has some way to go to rival the 1960 classic starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen.

Culture Capital

Will Jeremy Corbyn, picture here at a rally in Sheffield, win the Labour leadership contest?Will Jeremy Corbyn, picture here at a rally in Sheffield, win the Labour leadership contest?
Will Jeremy Corbyn, picture here at a rally in Sheffield, win the Labour leadership contest?

These are heady days for Hull. Not only does it boast Yorkshire’s only football team in the Premier League, but Hull FC are in with a decent shout of finishing top of rugby’s Super League.

There’s also the small matter of the countdown to Hull becoming the UK’s City of Culture next year. It’s already been announced that the Turner Prize will be hosted at the Ferens Art Gallery, while earlier this summer Spencer Tunick’s attracted 3,200 people to take part in the largest nude installation ever made in the UK. On Thursday, comes the much-anticipated announcement about the rest of the big events planned in the city during 2017. Expect the unexpected.

New leader

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It’s not been a good summer for the Labour Party. First off we had the Brexit vote, despite attempts by Labour grandees Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to rally support for the Remain campaign. Then came the revolt against Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership by many of his own MPs sparking a battle for control of the party.

On Saturday, a leadership battle that has dragged on throughout the summer will finally draw to a close. Corbyn is likely to see off the challenge of Owen Smith leaving the Labour Party no more united than it was before. Which begs the question, what was the point of having the contest in the first place?

Championship decider

All eyes will be on Lord’s where Yorkshire need to beat top of the table Middlesex to have any chance of winning the County Championship - for the third year in a row. With Somerset, who host relegated Nottinghamshire in their final game, still in the hunt we’re set for a thrilling, if nerve-jangling, end to the season.

Victims honoured

The 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster are being awarded the Freedom of Liverpool. The honour will be awarded posthumously to the fans who lost their lives along with several key campaigners, including former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and Professor Phil Scraton, a member of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, in what will no doubt be am emotional occasion.