General news

• Theresa May writes to EU citizens in UK to reassure them over post-Brexit status

  18-10-2017 23:30
  Theresa May will say: ‘When we started this process, some accused us of treating EU nationals as bargaining chips.Theresa May will issue a direct appeal to EU citizens living in the UK to stay in the country after Brexit, saying there was no intention of using them “as bargaining chips” in negotiations and promising them an easy route to settlement.
  
  Read more

• Feast your eyes on Nugzilla, Europe’s biggest chicken nugget

  18-10-2017 22:21
  Surely this is too big even for a super fan like Usain Bolt?
  
  Read more

• Theresa May plans to let people change gender without medical checks

  18-10-2017 22:07
  Theresa May delivers a speech at the Pink News awards held at One Great George Street, London.Theresa May has pledged to press ahead with plans to let people officially change gender without medical checks, as she said “being trans is not an illness and it should not be treated as such”.The prime minister said she was committed to improving trans rights as she spoke at the Pink News awards dinner in central London.
  
  Read more

• FA 'sorry' but face 'blackmail' claim over ex-manager Mark Sampson race row

  18-10-2017 21:44
  The Football Association apologised to two England women's players over remarks by their ex-manager - just minutes before top bosses faced accusations of blackmail-like behaviour over a race row.In a statement from FA chief executive Martin Glenn, it was revealed both Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence were subject to comments "discriminatory on grounds of race" by now-sacked manager Mark Sampson.The public apology came ahead of a bruising encounter for Mr Glenn and his fellow members of the FA hierar
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Piccadilly Circus lights facial detection system 'incredibly intrusive'

  18-10-2017 21:43
  Facial detection technology in the new Piccadilly Circus lights is "incredibly intrusive", according to privacy campaigners.The revamped screen in central London will be turned on later in October in a space where 100 million people pass each month.Privacy campaigners say signs should be put up in Piccadilly Circus to inform the public they are being monitored.
  
  Read more

• This wrestler gave a doll of herself to her baby daughter and it’s the cutest thing ever

  18-10-2017 21:38
  Birdie Danielson has a rather famous mother.
  
  Read more

• Couple Charged With Slavery Offences After Allegedly Luring Polish Friend To Britain To Work 'For Pittance'

  18-10-2017 21:35
  A Birmingham couple have been charged with Modern Slavery Act offences after allegedly luring a childhood friend from Poland to work “for a pittance” in Britain.
  
  Read more

• UK lawmakers vent anger at May's fragile government over welfare reform

  18-10-2017 21:25
  Lawmakers from Britain's ruling Conservative Party vented their anger on Wednesday against Prime Minister Theresa May's pursuit of welfare reforms, reinforcing doubts about her authority over a party divided by Brexit.Several members of May's party spoke out against the government during a symbolic debate in parliament by demanding changes or even an outright halt to the implementation of a new welfare payment system which has been dogged by design problems.May leads a minority government, propp
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• FA handling of race case 'bordered on blackmail'

  18-10-2017 21:25
  FA handling of face case 'bordered on blackmail'
  
  Read more

• Corbyn and May trade blows on Universal Credit

  18-10-2017 21:25
  Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May traded blows in Prime Minister's Questions over the introduction of Universal Credit.
  
  Read more

• Chancellor asks for scrutiny of UK bank links to South Africa corruption inquiry

  18-10-2017 20:53
  Peter Hain has written to Philip Hammond, saying banks should review transactions involving individuals and companies linked to the Guptas and Zuma, pictured.The chancellor has asked UK enforcement agencies to look into whether British banking groups HSBC and Standard Chartered are linked to South Africa’s corruption inquiry into alleged ties between the wealthy Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma.
  
  Read more

• EU leaders aim to let Theresa May down gently over trade talks

  18-10-2017 20:31
  Theresa May will emphasise the concessions made in her Florence speech at a key summit dinner.European Union leaders at a crunch summit dinner are set to rebuff Theresa May’s appeal for trade talks while they seek to publicly talk up her efforts in the Brexit negotiations because they fear that the prime minister’s domestic weakness will leave her unable to make vital concessions on Britain’s divorce bill.
  
  Read more

• Mark Sampson: FA sorry over race remarks to Eniola Aluko & Drew Spence

  18-10-2017 20:30 via bbc.co.uk
  The FA apologises to two players for remarks by sacked England's women manager Mark Sampson which were "discriminatory on the grounds of race".
  
  Read more

• Universal Credit Vote: Symbolic Victory For Labour As Tory MPs Abstain En Masse

  18-10-2017 20:21
  Theresa May has suffered fresh embarrassed over the expansion of the Government’s flagship benefit reform after Labour secured a symbolic victory in Parliament to underline the deep unease over the policy.
  
  Read more

• The NHS must surely share Richard Branson’s pain | Letters

  18-10-2017 20:09
  A wonderful community walk-in health centre in Wirral was closed at short notice and without consultation, says Kevin Donovan.Richard Branson reveals how an incredibly kind man was conned out of $2m which could have gone to the people of the British Virgin Islands (Report, 18 October).Here in Wirral we share Branson’s pain.
  
  Read more

• Press regulator Impress is no instrument of the state | Letters

  18-10-2017 20:08
  The independence of the press regulator Impress has been recognised by the independent panel set up after the Leveson report.Jane Martinson’s reference to the “government-recognised” Impress (Press regulation – Jarndyce and Jarndyce?, 16 October) is incorrect.Impress was formally recognised as an independent, effective regulator of news publishers by the Press Recognition Panel (PRP), a body which is itself independent of government.
  
  Read more

• If only spycops were just paranoid fantasy | Letter

  18-10-2017 20:08
  It is highly unlikely that spying on protest groups and politicians has ceased.In arguing that the era of political police spying is over, Paul Mason does a disservice to the desperately needed public debate around spying on political and protest groups.For this reason, it is more important now than ever that the undercover policing inquiry does its work properly in an open and transparent fashion, providing those much-needed answers.
  
  Read more

• May and EU's dinner 'friendly and constructive'

  18-10-2017 19:55
  The Prime Minister and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have agreed that Britain and the EU should 'accelerate' their Brexit efforts.
  
  Read more

• Foodbanks and rent arrears fears raised by angry MPs over Universal Credit

  18-10-2017 19:51
  A foodbank will need 15 more tonnes of donations in the lead up to Christmas and tenants are running £500 into rent arrears because of Universal Credit, angry MPs have said.Despite Tory MPs being expected to abstain on the eventual vote, impassioned opposition backbenchers fought to reveal their constituents' struggles.Labour's Frank Field, who chairs the work and pensions select committee, tackled the Government over the expected impact on his local foodbank in Birkenhead.
  
  Read more

• 'Multiple Tory rebellions' likely over EU Withdrawal Bill

  18-10-2017 19:49
  The debate and votes over hundreds of amendments to the crucial EU Withdrawal Bill look to have been delayed until next month, perhaps as late as the middle of November.The legislation, formerly known as the Great Repeal Bill, has been the subject of hundreds of amendments from MPs concerned about the constitutional and economic implications of the Government's current approach to Brexit.In what one organiser called "cross-party working on an unprecedented scale", a dozen amendments already have
  
  Read more

• Phones 4u​ founder's former adviser wanted control, high court hears

  18-10-2017 19:45
  John Caudwell arrives at the high court in London.A French financial expert wanted control of the company which managed Phones 4u founder John Caudwell’s wealth and was “confrontational and uncooperative”, the high court has heard.Nathalie Dauriac, a former Coutts banker, claims she was wrongly dismissed in 2014 from Signia Wealth, the financial management company she co-founded with Caudwell, and should have received at least £12m for her stake in the business.
  
  Read more

• Labour: Theresa May's Brexit strategy 'in paralysis' amid legislation delays

  18-10-2017 19:21
  Labour has claimed Theresa May’s Brexit strategy is "in paralysis" after it emerged that the legislation on leaving the EU is facing further delays in Parliament.The Commons committee stage of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill has already been postponed once, after opponents of Brexit tabled 300 amendments and 54 new clauses.
  
  Read more

• EU parliament chief snipes at UK over Brexit

  18-10-2017 19:19
  The head of the European Parliament derided British plans to leave the EU on Wednesday, saying they had not thought it through and faced problems for their trade, including vital food imports.The comments by Antonio Tajani, whose institution must sign off on any divorce deal before Britain leaves in March 2019, followed remarks on Tuesday when the Italian dismissed British Prime Minister Theresa May's offer of some 20 billion euros (17.87 billion pounds) on departure was "peanuts" and about a th
  
  Read more

• EU's Tusk expects no breakthrough on Brexit at summit

  18-10-2017 19:08
  The chairman of European Union leaders Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he did not expect any breakthrough in talks on the terms of Britain's exit from the EU at a summit on Thursday.British Prime Minister Theresa May is to address European leaders on her Brexit strategy at dinner on Thursday in Brussels."I don't expect any kind of breakthrough tomorrow," Tusk told a news conference.
  
  Read more

• Ineffective drug dogs could cost hundreds of thousands a year, Greens say

  18-10-2017 19:00
  Sniffer dogs at music festivals could be costing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year but fewer than 2% of people searched are charged with drug-dealing offences.Data compiled by the New South Wales Greens suggest festivalgoers and taxpayers could be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for drug dogs to patrol at music festivals, despite criticism that the system has a low success rate and doesn’t discourage people from using drugs.Using a combination of police cost recovery d
  
  Read more

• Vaginal mesh public inquiry turned down by Government

  18-10-2017 18:59
  The Government has refused to hold a public inquiry into the use of vaginal mesh implants which medical experts have described as a health scandal worse than Thalidomide.Labour MPs joined the calls of thousands of mesh-injured women to suspend mesh procedures, which are used to treat urinary incontinence and prolapse, and review the evidence on their safety.
  
  Read more

• Girl Orphaned By Grenfell Inferno Could Get 'Insulting' £300k Compensation

  18-10-2017 18:53
  A six-year-old girl who lost her parents and siblings in the Grenfell Tower fire could get as little as £300,000, lawyers have said.
  
  Read more

• Theresa May to scrap universal credit helpline charges

  18-10-2017 18:46 via bbc.co.uk
  But the prime minister rejects Jeremy Corbyn's calls to pause the new benefit's roll-out.
  
  Read more

• Landlords Confess Most Of Them Won't Rent To Universal Credit Claimants, Survey Finds

  18-10-2017 18:46
  The vast majority of landlords are unwilling to have Universal Credit claimants as tenants, a shock survey has found.
  
  Read more

• FA chief's request 'bordering on blackmail'

  18-10-2017 18:46 via bbc.co.uk
  Footballer Eni Aluko tells a parliamentary inquiry that a request from the FA's chief executive was "bordering on blackmail".
  
  Read more

• Emile Cilliers trial: Parachute 'sabotage' possible in five minutes

  18-10-2017 18:46 via bbc.co.uk
  Army sergeant Emile Cilliers denies attempting to kill his wife by tampering with her parachute.
  
  Read more

• In David Gauke's world, universal credit is working well

  18-10-2017 18:43
  David Gauke gives evidence to the work and pensions committee.Anticipating tough questioning from MPs, the work and pensions secretary, David Gauke, got his concession in early: even before the first question was asked, he had announced that from next month the universal credit helpline would be free and claimants would no longer be faced with the prospect of 55p-a-minute call charges.Gauke was clear: while he was prepared to look at the evidence and make changes where necessary, his decision la
  
  Read more

• Mark Sampson: FA apologises over remarks to Eniola Aluko & Drew Spence

  18-10-2017 18:42 via bbc.co.uk
  The FA apologises to two players for remarks by sacked England's women manager Mark Sampson which were "discriminatory on the grounds of race".
  
  Read more

• New Ukip leader Henry Bolton reveals frontbench lineup

  18-10-2017 18:31
  Henry Bolton will be looking to unify a party riven by grievances and splits.Ukip’s new leader, Henry Bolton, has unveiled a front bench lineup which retains two of the candidates he defeated last month to take the job, as he seeks to unify a party riven by grievances and splits.Bolton has also named as one of his deputies Mike Hookem, the MEP involved in the scuffle last year with a colleague, Steven Woolfe, which saw the latter end up in hospital.
  
  Read more

• Bodyform advert replaces blue liquid with red 'blood'

  18-10-2017 18:27 via bbc.co.uk
  Bodyform has ditched the blue liquid, saying it wants to confront the taboos about periods.
  
  Read more

• Militants kidnap four British missionaries - Nigerian police

  18-10-2017 18:25 via bbc.co.uk
  A couple and two others were reportedly taken by suspected militants last week, police say.
  
  Read more

• Women 'deserve apology' over vaginal mesh implants

  18-10-2017 18:12 via bbc.co.uk
  Hundreds of women say the vaginal implants left them in pain and unable to walk, work or have sex.
  
  Read more

• May to meet Bill Clinton to discuss Northern Ireland crisis

  18-10-2017 18:10
  British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Thursday morning to discuss the political crisis in Northern Ireland, May's spokesman said.During his time as president, Clinton played a central role in brokering peace in the British province, where a power-sharing administration collapsed in January and opposing sides have since been unable to break the political deadlock.Clinton travelled to Belfast this week to meet political parties and try to break the impa
  
  Read more

• Corbyn and May trade blows over Universal Credit

  18-10-2017 18:10
  Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May traded blows in Prime Minister's Questions over the introduction of Universal Credit.
  
  Read more

• British lawmaker misses parliamentary debate to monitor Messi

  18-10-2017 18:05
  While his parliamentary colleagues debate a new welfare payment system in Westminster, British member of parliament Douglas Ross will be in Barcelona's dazzling Nou Camp stadium, focussing on whether Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have strayed offside.Ross, who was elected for the governing Conservatives in June's parliamentary election, faced criticism on Wednesday when it emerged he would miss the debate and vote to be an assistant referee in Barca's Champions League clash with Olympiakos.
  
  Read more

• Supply teachers: ‘I spend £1,000 a year on materials for my pupils’

  18-10-2017 17:53
  With the schools budget in England slashed by £2.8bn since 2015 – an average of £53,000 and £178,000 for each primary and secondary school respectively – this is increasingly the reality for teachers.New research from the National Education Union (the newly merged National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers) and TES has revealed that 94% of teachers are having to pay for school essentials such as books, while 73% are regularly paying for
  
  Read more

• Germany upbeat on Brexit negotiations, official says

  18-10-2017 17:50
  Germany believes a lot has already been achieved in Brexit negotiations and Berlin is upbeat about the prospects of making further progress in the talks, a German government official said on Wednesday.EU leaders will discuss Brexit at a summit on Thursday and Friday, when they will deliver a verdict on progress made in the talks so far.EU negotiators want "sufficient progress" to justify opening trade negotiations with Britain.
  
  Read more

• 'Last Christmas' video girlfriend remembers star

  18-10-2017 17:50
  Debbie Killingback appeared in the video in 1984 for 'Last Christmas' by Wham!
  
  Read more

• Odds slashed on Last Christmas being Xmas number one year after George Michael's death

  18-10-2017 17:48
  The odds on Last Christmas by Wham! becoming Christmas number one have been slashed.Bookmakers Betway have cut their odds from 11/4 to 4/6 in recent days, the same odds Paddy Power is offering for a George Michael song making Christmas number one.The singer died on Christmas Day 2016.
  
  Read more

• Where's the helpline for Theresa May? Jeremy Corbyn has her number | John Crace

  18-10-2017 17:46
  If prime minister’s questions was a war zone, it would have been declared a humanitarian disaster by now.Theresa May arrived in the chamber already looking shell-shocked and left an abject wreck.The prime minister knows she is hopelessly out of her depth and would like nothing more than to be put out of her misery, but is forced to endure the suffering because the Tories have no one better to replace her.
  
  Read more

• No charges to be brought against cheesemaker over girl's E coli death

  18-10-2017 17:44
  No criminal charges are to be brought against the Scottish cheesemaker implicated in an E coli outbreak that killed a three-year-old girl.The family-run firm Errington Cheese expressed relief after the Crown Office confirmed that, based on the available evidence, no prosecutions would be brought as a result of the death in September 2016.Cairns added that it would be inappropriate to comment further while the decision on whether to hold a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) was under consideration and
  
  Read more

• Global Stocks, dollar, yields up as monetary policy in focus

  18-10-2017 17:40
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street hit new records on strong earnings and the dollar extended a winning streak on Wednesday, boosted by rising Treasury yields as investors focused on monetary policy.
  
  Read more

• Four Britons Kidnapped By Gunmen In Nigeria, State Police Report

  18-10-2017 17:32
  Four Britons have been kidnapped in Nigeria, state police have confirmed.
  
  Read more

• Divorce numbers for opposite-sex couples highest since 2009

  18-10-2017 17:28 via bbc.co.uk
  The number rose 5.8% in 2016 among opposite-sex couples - the biggest year-on-year jump since 1985.
  
  Read more

• Four Britons kidnapped in Nigeria's Delta state - police

  18-10-2017 17:10
  Four Britons have been kidnapped in Nigeria's southern Delta state, a police official said on Wednesday.The police are attempting to rescue the four people, who were taken by unidentified gunmen on Oct. 13, said Andrew Aniamaka, a spokesman for Delta state police.Kidnapping for ransom is a common problem in parts of Nigeria.
  
  Read more

Follow @GeneralnewsUK on Twitter!