It’s the last day of Parliament before MPs head off on their summer recess. It’s also my first anniversary as ITV News Meridian’s political correspondent. What a year. I feel my ability to multitask has improved. And my coffee intake. Here’s to Year 2! ☕️

This has been one of the most read articles on the ITV News website since it was published yesterday – and several people have got in touch to say they've had similar experiences at other schools in the South East

All the big stories across the South on ITV1 & ITVX at 6pm. Do joins us if you can!

A new phenomenon is sweeping Westminster that simply can’t be ignored any more

Have you ever roasted a marshmallow with your brain? 🧠 One snippet of Kevin Ashford’s new series on Artificial Intelligence caught my eye - and got Sangeeta Bhabra and me talking about the future of AI 🤖

First time for everything!

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tells me she understands some local people’s opposition to plans for an elected mayor for “Hampshire and the Solent”. She met small business owners in Ryde on the Isle of Wight this morning with Joe Robertson MP and PCC Donna Jones. ITV News Meridian

On this day last year, I got a first responder alert on my phone asking me to go to a critical call. It came through as a 3-year old cardiac arrest. I was there in minutes. The call was wrong. It wasn't a 3-year old cardiac arrest. It was a 2-year old. Drowning.

Fair to say there was plenty of opposition to plans for a new elected mayor for "Hampshire and the Solent" amongst the people I spoke to in #Ryde on the Isle of Wight. 62% of the public disagreed with the idea in a consultation. Election is planned for May 2026. ITV News Meridian

Public opposition to the introduction of new elected mayors in the South of England is "understandable", according to the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. itv.com/news/meridian/…

Do people in the South want new elected mayors? 🗳️ ❌ 62% of public disagree in Hampshire & Isle of Wight ❌ 66% of public disagree in Sussex Figures come from official public consultations and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tells me she understands people's opposition.

The seagull mascots are a nice touch!

NEW: Kent County Council has announced it would prefer to be replaced by one single unitary authority covering the whole of the county – including Medway – when the government reorganises councils. Medway Council would prefer Kent getting four councils (see map). ITV News Meridian

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey was in Eastleigh today, with local MP Liz Jarvis, calling on the government to make it easier for families to access the Marcus Rashford-inspired holiday activities and food programme for children. ITV News Meridian

For the past few months I've been investigating allegations of traumatic births at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. 4 mums have bravely told me their stories. 1 feared her baby wouldn't survive, another claims failings contributed to the death of a child ITV News Meridian