Political news

• Stormont deal was in place last week says Sinn Féin

  15-02-2018 21:16 via bbc.co.uk
  The party says the draft agreement included an Irish language act, but the DUP says there was no deal.
  
  Read more

• Labour's Sarah Champion Claims Sitting MPs Could 'In Some Way' Be Linked To Child Abuse

  15-02-2018 21:00
  Labour MP Sarah Champion has alleged sitting MPs could “in some way or another” be involved with child abuse. Speaking to the House magazine, Champion argued abuse is “always about power” and it did “not take a conspiracy theorist” to realise how sitting MPs could abuse their power.The MP went on to claim that ex-Prime Minister David Cameron understood the need to take on child sexual abuse because he is a father, but the issue has dropped off Theresa May
  
  Read more

• Oxfam Scandal: Children's Watchdog Urges Toughest Criminal Checks On Charity Shop Supervisors

  15-02-2018 20:12
  The Children’s Commissioner has said everyone supervising children in Britain’s charity shops should undergo a full criminal record check, after HuffPost UK established thousands of volunteers are failing to do so.None of the major charity retailers HuffPost UK contacted said they conducted Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on all their shop volunteers, after Oxfam told HuffPost it was reviewing whether it could perform the formal reviews on all its 23,000 unpaid helpers.It
  
  Read more

• Roland Van Hauwermeiren, Former Oxfam Chief At Centre Of Alleged Prostitute Scandal, Breaks Silence

  15-02-2018 20:04
  The former Oxfam chief accused of hiring prostitutes in Haiti has dismissed the allegations as “lies and exaggerations” and said a “lot of people... will be blushing with shame when they hear my version of the facts”.Roland van Hauwermeiren also insists he himself dismissed staff for paying for sex and “was nicknamed ‘the terminator’ as I acted so severely in this case”.But he has admitted certain details that have come to light were accu
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Collapse of Northern Ireland deal adds to May’s woes

  15-02-2018 20:00 via ft.com
  DUP’s role in stand-off reignites Tory concerns over Westminster pact
  
  Read more

• Donald Trump's Florida Shooting Speech Didn't Mention Guns

  15-02-2018 19:23
  Donald Trump has paid tribute to the 17 victims of yet another mass shooting in the US without mentioning guns and framing the murder of civilians with automatic, military-grade weapons as a mental health issue.Speaking at the White House, the President described the scene of Wednesday’s massacre as one of “violence, hatred and great evil”.Trump then called for healing and peace and said his administration would work to improve school safety and address mental illness.He said:
  
  Read more

• Labour gets 16,000 emails in five days urging it to consult on Brexit

  15-02-2018 19:15 via theguardian.com
  Shadow cabinet and trade unions to discuss after complaints that none of party’s policy commissions focus on EuropeMore than 16,000 people have emailed Labour over the past five days, urging the party to consult members on Brexit after MPs said the topic was being ignored by its most senior policy body.The emails from party members will be examined by the party’s national policy forum (NPF), which meets this weekend in Leeds, and whose members include the shadow cabinet and trade uni
  
  Read more

• Brexit Briefing: Talking About Their Generation

  15-02-2018 18:31
  You can sign up for this briefing by clicking here, and you’ll receive it straight to your inbox every Thursday afternoon.If you like what you read, make sure you subscribe to our Commons People podcast here for even more analysis about what goes on in Westminster. 1) ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’, Boris Tells Remainers As this Brexit Briefing revealed last week (way ahead of everyone else I have absolutely no shame in flagging up), Boris Johnson&
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Ukip edged towards bankruptcy by judge's decision on legal costs

  15-02-2018 18:28 via theguardian.com
  Judge rules party must contribute to £660,000 legal bill of MEP who lost defamation action brought by three Labour MPsUkip has been edged closer to financial ruin after a judge ruled the party must contribute towards a £660,000 legal bill following a defamation action brought against one of its MEPs by three Labour MPs.Last year, Jane Collins was successfully sued by Sarah Champion, Sir Kevin Barron and John Healey, whom she had accused in 2014 of ignoring child sex abuse in Rotherha
  
  Read more

• Loyle Carner Cancels Radio 1 Live Lounge Appearance Over Song Choice Row

  15-02-2018 18:27
  Brit Award nominee Loyle Carner has spoken out about his decision to pull out of a planned appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge.Loyle is up for Best British Breakthrough Act at this year’s Brits, and along with his fellow nominees, had been booked to perform live on Radio 1 in the lead-up to the ceremony next week.However, on Thursday morning (15 February), Loyle tweeted that he had cancelled his appearance on the Radio 1 show, as producers had refused all three of his suggestions
  
  Read more

• What Is It Like To Have A Hysterectomy In Your 20s Or 30s?

  15-02-2018 18:22
  “I never had a single doubt about having children,” wrote Lena Dunham, about her decision to undergo a hysterectomy at the age of 31. The actor, who has endometriosis, explained that she did not make the decision lightly. “With pain like this, I will never be able to be anyone’s mother. Even if I could get pregnant, there’s nothing I can offer.”Doctors found that in addition to endometriosis, where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found
  
  Read more

• Why We Must Read Outside Of Our Comfort Zone

  15-02-2018 18:04
  Lately I have been reminiscing about how I used to sit with friends in coffee shops and talk about culture and current affairs, moving through disagreements without dramatic exits or the imperative to agree. In recent years, I have noticed a cultural shift in how we react to disagreement in online discussions. Social media, once the space to share family photos and catch up with friends several countries away, has become this arena of dogmatism where differing viewpoints are unwelcome, even host
  
  Read more

• Labour hits back at defence secretary over Corbyn spy claims

  15-02-2018 18:02 via theguardian.com
  Gavin Williamson told to ‘focus on his job’ and accused of giving credence to ‘false and ridiculous smears’ in Sun storyLabour has criticised the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, for seizing on controversial claims that Jeremy Corbyn had unwittingly met a Czech spy posing as a diplomat in the 1980s.After the Sun’s front-page report on Thursday, Williamson, who was attending a Nato meeting in Brussels to discuss international cyber security, said it showed Corbyn
  
  Read more

• Stem Cells Are Able To Vaccinate Mice Against Multiple Cancers

  15-02-2018 18:01
  Scientists from Stanford University School of Medicine have been able to use a specific type of stem cell to immunise mice against certain breast, lung and skin cancers.Called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells they are a powerful tool in helping us to repair the body. Effectively they are a blank canvas, allowing us to create any type of cell which can then be used to repair damage caused by disease or trauma.The scientists were able to take the iPS cells and then genetically make the
  
  Read more

• Boris' Use Of The Betrayal Myth Will Divide Further

  15-02-2018 18:01
  “I detect a hardening of the mood, a deepening of the anger. I fear that some people are becoming ever more determined to stop Brexit, to reverse the referendum vote of June 23 2016, and to frustrate the will of the people. I believe that would be a disastrous mistake that would lead to permanent and ineradicable feelings of betrayal. We cannot and will not let it happen.” (Boris Johnson, 14 February 2018)Politicians have a responsibility to be ever vigilant about the way that langua
  
  Read more

• Can anyone halt Australia’s march towards a republic?

  15-02-2018 17:56 via ft.com
  British perceptions of the Commonwealth country are hopelessly outdated
  
  Read more

• Train And Bus Fares Have Skyrocketed In Last Four Decades, Figures Show

  15-02-2018 17:54
  Train and bus fares have skyrocketed in the last four decades, official figures show.Analysis obtained from the Department for Transport by Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas revealed that between 1980 and 2016, the cost of bus and coach travel rose by 64% and rail travel by 63%, despite a small drop in 2016.The Brighton MP said the findings “fly in the face” of the government’s promise to cut carbon emissions and create a greener transport system.Environment secretary Michae
  
  Read more

• HMRC wins tax case against BBC presenter

  15-02-2018 17:48 via theguardian.com
  Ruling at Royal Courts of Justice for former Look North host Christa Ackroyd could have impact on more BBC presentersA number of BBC presenters could be facing bills for thousands of pounds in backdated tax after HMRC won a key tribunal ruling against Christa Ackroyd, the former presenter of the corporation’s regional Look North programme.Ackroyd worked at the BBC on what is known as a personal service company contract, meaning she was self-employed and using a limited company instead of b
  
  Read more

• Five New York Fashion Week Street Style Trends That Are Easy To Adopt

  15-02-2018 17:43
  We’ve spotted five stand-out styling trends across both women’s and men’s street style this New York Fashion Week, all of which are easy to work into your own looks, without buying anything new.1. Dress Or Trousers? Both PleaseInstead of deciding whether today is a dress or a trouser day, believe in the “and and” philosophy and pair them both together. This solves any issues with being cold and gives a feminine twist to a masculine look (and vice versa). 2018 i
  
  Read more

• We Need To Tear Down Barriers Preventing Us From Building Community And Relationships

  15-02-2018 17:28
  Britain stands at a crossroads. If we do not take action now to bridge the divides in our communities, we run the risk that they will grow into gulfs. Whether it is rich and poor, Muslim and Christian, old and young, or black and white – we are too often living parallel rather than interconnected lives.But it is possible to do something. Remember the London 2012 Olympic Games? That Olympic ideal showed a way that Britain could be more than the sum of its parts, a country where we embrace o
  
  Read more

• Making The Case For Better Care – And Making It Happen

  15-02-2018 17:24
  With a government green paper on reforming care due this summer, expectations are mixed.Some see this as the best and only opportunity to fix the beleaguered care system. The latest care report from the National Audit Office warns of a Cinderella service in danger of collapse.Others fear at a time of Brexit and continuing austerity that the green paper will just offer more tinkering and sticking plaster with no meaningful long-term reform let alone extra funding.So what should campaigners do to
  
  Read more

• Government Says 'Blaah' About Carillion In Website Blunder

  15-02-2018 17:24
  The Insolvency Service has said sorry to jobless Carillion staff after posting an online ‘update’ that said ‘Blaah’ and nothing else.The post on the Government agency’s website was made in error but has been called “blasé” by the GMB union.Around 11,800 workers are still waiting to learn their fate after the construction giant went bust and more than 1,000 have already been made redundant. Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said: 
  
  Read more

• Unclear Brexit vision from a divided cabinet

  15-02-2018 16:33 via ft.com
  Boris Johnson's speech on the split reveals little, argues Janan Ganesh
  
  Read more

• Scientists Have Discovered Almost 100 New Exoplanets

  15-02-2018 16:20
  An international team of scientists have announced the discovery of 95 new planets outside of our own solar system.To date we’ve discovered some 3,600 exoplanets and almost all of that has been down to the Kepler space telescope.Having collected an almost unimaginable amount of data, researchers have spent the last few years trawling through it trying to identify possible new planets and above all else, trying to identify planets that could support life.“We started out analyzing 275
  
  Read more

• Oxfam Admits It Rehired Worker Dismissed Over Haiti Sexual Misconduct

  15-02-2018 16:15
  Oxfam has said that a man it dismissed over sexual misconduct allegations in Haiti in 2011 was subsequently hired by the charity as a consultant in Ethiopia later that year, a decision which it says was “a serious error and should never have happened”.It comes after it was revealed Oxfam workers had used prostitutes in Haiti after the devastating earthquake there, some of whom may have been underage. The charity denies claims it tried to cover up the scandal.This week Penny Lawrence,
  
  Read more

• Donald Trump Targets 'Neighbours And Classmates' Over Florida Shooting

  15-02-2018 15:03
  Donald Trump has suggested the “neighbours and classmates” of a teenager who allegedly shot dead 17 people in a Florida school yesterday should have done more to prevent the massacre.The President tweeted there were “so many signs” 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz was “mentally disturbed” and even appears to suggest a link between being expelled from school and committing mass murder.So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from sch
  
  Read more

• Grenfell Tower Fire Activists Enlist 3 Giant Billboards To Ask A Very Pertinent Question

  15-02-2018 15:00
  Londoners were today confronted with a series of billboards demanding answers about the Grenfell Tower Fire.Activists from Justice4Grenfell transported the boards, which spell out “71 Dead And Still No Arrests, How Come?” through the capital towards the ruined high-rise to highlight the lack of progress being made in the wake of the tragedy.Marking eight months since the tragic event, the stunt recreated a scene from the film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which won numer
  
  Read more

• Chrome Now Comes With Ad Blocking By Default

  15-02-2018 14:44
  Google Chrome will now block intrusive adverts by default.In a new update to the browser will now silently block ads that Google feels are detrimental to the user experience. To be clear, that’s not all adverts, rather just the ones that Google doesn’t like.The search giant is part of a group of online companies called the Coalition for Better Ads which have jointly agreed on the types of ads that should be allowed on the internet and those that shouldn’t.As such Chrome is
  
  Read more

• An answer is needed on Ireland

  15-02-2018 14:37 via ft.com
  UK seems increasingly uncertain over how to avoid the re-emergence of a hard border
  
  Read more

• Homeless Man Who Died Outside Parliament Was Former Portuguese Model

  15-02-2018 14:34
  A homeless man who died in a tube entrance just yards from the entrance to Parliament was a Portuguese national and former model, according to a charity.The man in his 40s, who has not yet been officially named, was a regular at an emergency shelter run by central London homelessness charity The Connection.Staff there said they had been helping him try to find a job and he had submitted an application form last week - hoping to become a waiter.A spokesperson for the charity said they were &ldquo
  
  Read more

• Man Who Died Outside Parliament Was Former Portuguese Model

  15-02-2018 14:31
  A homeless man who died in a tube entrance just yards from the entrance to Parliament was a Portuguese national and former model, according to a charity.The man in his 40s, who has not yet been officially named, was a regular at an emergency shelter run by central London homelessness charity The Connection.Staff there said they had been helping him try to find a job and he had submitted an application form last week - hoping to become a waiter.A spokesperson for the charity said they were &ldquo
  
  Read more

• Marie Kondo Netflix Show: 6 Women Share The Things They Learned From Decluttering

  15-02-2018 14:27
  After my own Mari-moment at the beginning of 2018, I asked five other women what they learned from Marie Kondo and more broadly, from decluttering their lives. Adopting the KonMari method doesn’t have to be all or nothing.For me, it started in January when a friend suggested I read Marie Kondo’s book at the start of 2018 to help get my life in order. But investing in a whole novel felt like an awful lot of commitment just for a tidy wardrobe.So (as with many aspects of my life)
  
  Read more

• As Someone Who Has Had A Hysterectomy This Is Why I Support Lena Dunham's Decision

  15-02-2018 14:11
  First of all, I recognise that hysterectomy for endometriosis is not a cure. If the endometriosis is elsewhere other than the uterus, excision is currently the best option rather than hysterectomy. If hysterectomy is undertaken it is important that all endometriosis is removed/excised from all areas to avoid it flaring up (even after hysterectomy).However, I woke today to a steam of confusion over Lena Dunham’s decision to have a hysterectomy. There is huge fear and concern over the spread
  
  Read more

• Matthew Parris Complains BBC Radio 4's Today Programme Women's Suffrage Coverage Was 'All About Women'

  15-02-2018 13:57
  A former Tory MP and newspaper columnist has complained that BBC Radio 4′s Today programme on the centenary that women won the right to vote “seemed all about women”.Matthew Parris said that men “almost feel assailed as a sex” because an increasing amount of air time is being given to women’s issues.Parris was debating Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson on Thursday morning when he said many of Today’s listeners have “rather modern” attitudes
  
  Read more

• 17 From '17: Vicky Ford: 'I've Been In A Classroom When A Bomb Has Gone Off'

  15-02-2018 13:42
   The 2017 General Election saw 92 MPs elected to the Commons for the very first time. In a series of exclusive interviews, HuffPost UK is speaking to new MPs from the Conservatives, Labour, SNP and Lib Dems. This week, it’s Vicky Ford.Vicky Ford may be new to Parliament, but she’s not new to parliaments. The now Chelmsford MP spent eight years as a Member of the European Parliament, where she became an expert on the Single Market.Ford campaigned for Remain in the EU Referen
  
  Read more

• Panic attacks have huge effects - Tory AM David Melding

  15-02-2018 13:12 via bbc.co.uk
  But Conservative David Melding calls the stability felt after getting through them "beyond measure".
  
  Read more

• A Hummus Festival Is Coming To The UK And You're All Invited

  15-02-2018 12:55
  A hummus festival is coming to Manchester, at which chickpea lovers will be invited to gather in a celebration of the legendary dip.The festival will include an array of tasting tables where visitors can sample different homemade hummus recipes, then purchase a pot of their favourite for just £1.The vegan-friendly event (none of the pots contain animal by-products) is being hosted by the University of Manchester’s Lebanese Society and is open to both students and members of
  
  Read more

• Breast Cancer Survivors Showcase Their Surgical Scars At New York Fashion Week Lingerie Show

  15-02-2018 12:36
  The unmissable New York Fashion Week event this season was the #Cancerland show celebrating breast cancer survivors and their scars.This was the second year the US charity #Cancerland has run the show in collaboration with Pennsylvanian lingerie designer AnaOno. Women from varying backgrounds and ages walked the catwalk reflecting that breast cancer can affect anyone. “We at #Cancerland believe that this year’s show will send a clear message to our worldwide audience, that those
  
  Read more

• Tinder Is Planning Feature For Women That Stops Men From Messaging First

  15-02-2018 12:31
  Tinder has become the latest big player to try and do something to change negative perceptions around dating apps by adopting a feature that will prevent men from messaging first.It is no secret that the world of dating apps can be a hostile environment, with unsolicited messages, dick pics and aggressive pick-up lines accepted by many as par for the course in the search for love.The tool, which would give women users more power, is working on the same premise as rival app Bumble, that a female-
  
  Read more

• Shopping With Kids: Parents Share 7 Top Tips To Make It Easier

  15-02-2018 12:25
  It’s often hard to avoid taking your kids with you when you go shopping, whether it be the weekly food shop or a weekend dash to find a birthday present.One pregnant mum shared her own shopping conundrum on Mumsnet, explaining that her two-year-old son can be hard work when they head to the high street. He runs away, refuses to move and tugs at his toddler reins.When in shops, he tries to pick everything up and messes around when she’s trying to pay at a counter. In short, it’s
  
  Read more

• Snapchat Update Petition Reaches Over A Million Signatures

  15-02-2018 12:22
  A petition to roll back on Snapchat’s new design has now managed to secure over a million signatures.According to the creator of the Change.org petition Nic Rumsey, the update’s “many ‘new features’ are useless or defeat the original purpose Snapchat has had for the past years.’As of writing the petition currently has 1,010,131 signatures.The new update features a major redesign that splits interactions between friends from those by brands, celebrities and inf
  
  Read more

• Theresa May Struggles To Deal With World Leaders, Former MI6 Boss Warns

  15-02-2018 12:18
  Theresa May is not a “natural” at dealing with world leaders and Brexit risks leaving the United Kingdom “adrift”, the former head of Mi6 has warned.Sir John Sawers, who led the Secret Intelligence Service from 2009 until 2014, said the country had to work out whether to align itself with Europe or with the United States.“I think the country’s become less confident. And less outward-looking itself. And now of course we are saddled with the Brexit negotiation,&
  
  Read more

• UK museums hit by ‘stratospheric’ art prices and funding cuts

  15-02-2018 12:01 via ft.com
  Report highlights struggle to carry out ‘core purpose’ of developing their collections
  
  Read more

• Museums hit by ‘stratospheric’ art prices and funding cuts

  15-02-2018 12:01 via ft.com
  Report highlights struggle to carry out ‘core purpose’ of developing their collections
  
  Read more

• Changing Places Campaigners Call On Government To Make Toilets Accessible For All Disabled People

  15-02-2018 12:01
  Campaigners are calling on the Government to make toilets that are accessible to all disabled people a compulsory part of building and planning regulations, as the majority of disabled bathrooms currently are not suitable for all.The accessible facilities, called Changing Places toilets, include equipment such as a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, a hoist system, a large waste bin for disposable pads, wide tear off paper roll to cover the bench and a non-slip floor.The toilets
  
  Read more

• 'Trauma' Series 2 Is A Possibility, Says Actor Adrian Lester

  15-02-2018 11:58
  Adrian Lester has teased the possibility of a second series of ITV thriller ‘Trauma’. The three-parter reached its nail-biting conclusion on Wednesday (14 February) night, and while it looked as though the story was all wrapped up, it seems there could still be more to explore.Speaking to Digital Spy, Adrian claimed writer Mike Bartlett - the man who also created ‘Doctor Foster’ - could be persuaded to write another series if the audience pushed for it. “T
  
  Read more

• Strictly Come Dancing’s Giovanni Pernice And TOWIE’s Jessica Wright Confirm Romance

  15-02-2018 11:58
  ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional Giovanni Pernice has confirmed his relationship with ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ cast member Jessica Wright, in a super sweet Valentine’s Day post.The couple were first said to be dating back in December 2017, but Giovanni’s post marks the first time they’ve addressed the rumours.Sharing a picture of himself with Jessica, he added the caption: “Buon San Valentino @jesswright77.”Jessica also shared a Valentine&
  
  Read more

• Angel Of The North: Antony Gormley’s Steel Giant Turns 20

  15-02-2018 11:55
  The Angel of the North, a 200-tonne steel figure created by Sir Antony Gormley, celebrates its 20th anniversary today.Taking two days to erect, the monolithic statue beside the A1 in Gateshead has become one of Britain’s most recognised pieces of public art.But while the structure towering above the former colliery pithead baths faced strong opposition before spreading its wings in 1998, two decades on it is being celebrated.Lucy Gray tweeted: “My grandparents lived in the street rig
  
  Read more

• When My Boyfriend Faced Deportation I Had To Prove He Loved His Ex-Wife

  15-02-2018 11:51
  I’m standing in the conference room of an immigration law firm reading the asylum cases that are framed on the wall, and keeping one eye on my boyfriend, who’s pacing. Six months ago I didn’t even know this man, and now I am clutching his deportation notice with both hands.Two lawyers come in and the whole story unfolds. I’m taking notes furiously.One of the lawyers asks, “Did you love her?”And without hesitation he says, “I loved her very much.”Sh
  
  Read more

• Two Thirds Of Brits Put Off Trip To Doctor's Over Fear Of Bad News

  15-02-2018 11:34
  Two-thirds of Brits would put off going to the doctor because they are scared of receiving bad news, according to research.A study of 2,400 adults revealed 61% would consider delaying a GP appointment for fear of being told they have a serious illness. And over half would hold off seeking medical attention due to worries about how a diagnosis could affect their family.Mark McGovern, 47 from Devon, ignored worrying health symptoms for years, with devastating consequences. He experienced a mini st
  
  Read more

Follow @political_UKnws on Twitter!