The Observer Daily: Unite’s white elephant

The best of The Observer, from across our newsroom View in browser Unite's white elephant The best of The Observer, from across our newsroom Xavier Greenwood and Brad Gray • Wednesday 23 July 2025 Hello, It was with no sense of irony that Len McCluskey, then boss of Unite, hailed the opening of a Birmingham hotel complex as a "tribute to the values" of one of the UK's biggest trade unions. This was in April 2021, eighteen months before Tortoise, which now owns The Observer, published an investigation into the construction of the project. Tortoise found that the development was initially estimated to cost £7 million, but had come in at £112 million. Unite, now under new leadership, has this week published an interim report into how costs spiralled. It is an extraordinary account that casts a spotlight on the relationship between McCluskey and the owners of the Liverpool-based company that was contracted to build the hotel. The report, which alleges that the company provided McCluskey with a private jet for the Champions League final in Madrid, has been unpicked in detail in today's Observer. Click here to read more → "The enemy of nonsense" – George Orwell Also in The Observer Goodbye Ozzy To pass weeks after the mother of all farewell gigs, where the biggest names in heavy rock joined him on stage, was fitting for Ozzy Osbourne, a man who never appeared finished with his career. Columnist Barbara Ellen was there at Birmingham's Villa Park to say goodbye. She writes: "This masterful final act … rock royalty happy to serve as support acts – wouldn't have happened for just anyone." His death yesterday at the age of 76 was rock'n'roll to the bitter end. Click here to read more → Lionesses face final march by Jessy Parker Humphreys    After yet another final-gasp comeback, England's Lionesses have qualified for a third successive major tournament final. It wasn't easy going and, for most of the match, the team's performance was poor. But as Jessy Parker Humphreys – who was in Switzerland to watch the spectacle unfurl – puts it: Italy "could not reckon with England and the never-say-die attitude which they appear to be pushing to an extraordinary limit." In the final, England will face either world champions Spain or 2022 finalists Germany. Whatever you've got planned for Sunday evening, clear it.      Click here to read more → A miracle of unanimity by Martin Gorick       "Peace has broken out at the Church of England's General Synod," writes the bishop of Dudley Martin Gorick, "and on an issue of human sexuality." An agreement has been reached to reform the outdated position that demanded gay and lesbian clergy members remain celibate, even if living with a committed same-sex partner. However last week, Church leaders with diverse opinions spoke in favour of the motion to move on. Gorick says: "It really did feel as though the Holy Spirit was moving through the chamber." Click here to read more → How to tell your teenage daughter you're getting Botox by Emma Forrest Adolescence is never straightforward, but being a teenage girl in 2025 is especially challenging. In her beauty therapy column for the Observer Magazine, Emma Forrest faces down the question of whether or not to keep a "beauty secret", like getting botox, from her 13-year-old. Does keeping your child in the dark about such procedures promote unreal beauty standards, or does it counter them? Forrest writes: "In beauty as in life, nothing is as simple as it seems … both ageing naturally and intervention contain sadness and happiness. Neither leads to a better life, it's just that one is free."      Click here to read more → Listen Daily Sensemaker The crypto gamblers betting $200 million on Zelensky's clothes How the Ukrainian president's outfit at a NATO summit dinner became an eye-watering test case for betting's new frontier Click here to listen → Thanks for reading. We'll be back tomorrow.   Xavier Greenwood Senior editor, newsletters The Observer Brad Gray Production editor, newsletters The Observer   My Account To manage your newsletters, track tickets and more, go to the 'My account' page on the Observer website: Manage my newsletters Follow Follow The Observer on social media on your preferred platform:   The Observer     The Observer Food Monthly The Observer Magazine The Observer New Review   Listen Listen for free in the Tortoise app or wherever you get your podcasts: Want to change how you receive these emails? Update email preferences Copyright © 2025 Tortoise Media. All rights reserved. Did this email get caught in your spam filter? Add editor@newsroom.observer.co.uk to your address book to never miss an email again. No longer want to receive this newsletter? Unsubscribe here.