Political news

• Nicola Sturgeon tweet shows her working on independence letter

  30-03-2017 22:11 via theguardian.com
  
  First minister sends out image of her drafting request to Theresa May for new Scotland referendum, in echo of PM’s article 50 photo
  Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted a photograph of herself working on an official letter asking Theresa May for powers to hold a fresh independence referendum for Scotland.The photograph, in an unusually informal pose and setting, showing the first minister with her legs curled under her on a sofa at her official residence in Edinburgh, was sent out from Bute House o
  
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• Top tech firms avoid encryption issue in government talks

  30-03-2017 21:18 via theguardian.com
  
  Executives commit to removing extremist material but do not address Amber Rudd’s concerns after Westminster attack
  Leading tech firms have promised to work closely with the government to remove extremist material from the internet and social media following a meeting with the home secretary, Amber Rudd.However, while senior executives from Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft pledged to “to tackle this vital issue”, a joint statement from the companies after the meeting made
  
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• Devolution the unanswered question in great repeal bill

  30-03-2017 21:11
  Scotland not mentioned in UK government’s plans for bill to transfer EU into UK law
  
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• Brexit: Group of MPs hits back at BBC bias claims

  30-03-2017 20:31 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Letter to BBC director general urges corporation "not to succumb to pressure to skew" coverage.
  
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• Doctor who lied about Ebola nurse temperature suspended for one month

  30-03-2017 20:25 via theguardian.com
  
  Tribunal finds Hannah Ryan made ‘grave mistake’ when she lied to investigators about Pauline Cafferkey’s temperatureA volunteer doctor who lied to medical investigators about the dangerously high temperature of the nurse Pauline Cafferkey before she tested positive for Ebola has been suspended for one month.An independent medical practitioners’ tribunal found Dr Hannah Ryan acted dishonestly and made a “grave mistake” when she decided to lie to investigators a
  
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• 'Great repeal bill' will create sweeping powers to change laws for Brexit

  30-03-2017 20:24 via theguardian.com
  
  David Davis tells critics bill transposing EU legislation into UK law will allow for technical but not substantive changes
  Government plans to create temporary powers to let ministers amend thousands of laws in the wake of Brexit have been condemned as a “sweeping” executive power grab, despite David Davis insisting any such changes would be technical.
  Introducing a white paper setting out plans to transfer thousands of EU regulations into UK legislation, the Brexit secretary said an
  
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• Ken Livingstone 'brought Labour into disrepute' with Hitler Zionism remarks

  30-03-2017 19:48 via theguardian.com
  
  Labour party expulsion hearing is told that former London mayor suggested Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism, assertions Livingstone has repeatedKen Livingstone’s party expulsion hearing has been told that the former Labour mayor of London brought the party into disrepute by suggesting Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism, assertions Livingstone repeated at length to reporters outside the meeting on Thursday morning.Before the hearing by Labour’s highest disciplinary body, Livingstone
  
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• David Cameron Campaigned For Remain In Brexit Referendum Though He 'Didn't Like' EU Flag Or Parliament

  30-03-2017 19:47
  
  David Cameron has said he “didn’t like” the EU’s flag or parliament and defended holding the Brexit referendum that ultimately cost him his job. 
  The former prime minister has been accused of pledging and holding the poll in the expectation a victory for Remain would silence Eurosceptics within his own party.
  Cameron, who quit as prime minister the day after the poll, and as an MP weeks later, has spoken out, saying the issue needed addressing as it had been “p
  
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• Brexit: UK sets out plans to replace all EU laws

  30-03-2017 19:37 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Great Repeal Bill will return sovereignty to the UK, says Brexit Secretary David Davis.
  
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• Pupils from wealthy homes tend to earn more

  30-03-2017 19:28
  
  UK education secretary says background, not talent, influences earning ability
  
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• IPSA to stop publishing MPs' travel details amid 'attack' fears

  30-03-2017 19:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The MPs' expenses body changes policy after MPs raise safety fears.
  
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• ECJ rulings to carry weight after Brexit

  30-03-2017 18:53
  Much maligned court will still have sway over UK law
  
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• Ministers and business oppose cull of EU rules

  30-03-2017 18:38
  May says that cutting regulation would make it harder to strike a good trade deal
  
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• Ministers and business line up against cull of EU rules

  30-03-2017 18:38
  May says cutting regulation would make trade deal more difficult
  
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• Brexit Briefing: Never Mind Brussels, Here's The Brexit Pistols

  30-03-2017 18:14
  
   
  All you need to know from the world of Brexit this week.
  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) Theresa May Might Still Be Working For The Remain CampaignUnless you’ve been living under a rock - or furiously studying Nazi history books like
  
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• Corbyn and Starmer have made Labour 'impotent' on Brexit, says Mandelson – Politics live

  30-03-2017 18:03 via theguardian.com
  
  Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including publication of the white paper on the ‘great repeal bill’ and David Davis’s statement to the CommonsDavid Davis’s morning interviews – SummaryLunchtime summaryAfternoon summary 5.03pm BSTWe were pivotal to the first industrial revolution as the gateway to the New World.Let’s ensure we are pivotal to the fourth industrial revolution - by being the digital gateway to the new eco
  
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• UK's former most senior EU diplomat takes Brexit role for lobbying firm

  30-03-2017 17:33 via theguardian.com
  
  Jonathan Hill, close ally of David Cameron, follows string of political insiders and ex-ministers now working as Brexit advisersThe man who was the UK’s most senior European diplomat until last year has taken a job as a Brexit adviser for a Brussels lobbyist.Jonathan Hill, Britain’s former EU commissioner, was in charge of financial services across the bloc until resigning following the vote to leave. It was announced on Wednesday that Lord Hill had been recruited as a senior adviser
  
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• BBC apologises after Today presenter plugs Brut aftershave on air

  30-03-2017 17:31 via theguardian.com
  
  Garry Richardson told Radio 4 listeners that the cricketer Jimmy Anderson was ‘speaking to us in conjunction with Brut’The BBC has apologised after one of its longest-serving presenters appeared to promote Brut aftershave on Radio 4’s Today programme.In a broadcast that prompted a flurry of complaints on social media, the sports presenter Garry Richardson, a 35-year veteran of the programme, ended an interview with the England cricketer Jimmy Anderson on Thursday with a line mo
  
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• David Davis: the UK secretary of state for badly needing a lie-down | John Crace

  30-03-2017 17:12 via theguardian.com
  
  Six months ago the Brexit secretary was fit, active and young for his age – now he looks done in, as in completely knackeredHanging on the wall of a disused office in the Department for Exiting the European Union there must be a picture of a David Davis who is getting visibly younger by the day. The real Brexit secretary is on the opposite trajectory. Six months ago he was fit, active and young for his age; now he looks done in. Not done in as in a bit tired. Done in as in completely knack
  
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• Dozens of alleged hacking victims join action against Sun publisher

  30-03-2017 17:05 via theguardian.com
  
  New claims bring number of people taking action against News UK over allegations their phones were hacked to around 50Actor David Tennant and former racing driver Eddie Irvine are among dozens of alleged victims of phone hacking joining legal action against Sun publisher News UK.Nearly 20 people including former footballer Jonathan Woodgate and entertainer Les Dennis were already suing News Group Newspapers over allegations they were hacked by journalists at the now closed News of the World and
  
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• 'Distrust' in PIP system, says review

  30-03-2017 16:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An independent review of the government's disability benefit programme calls for more transparency.
  
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• Untalented rich still earn more, says Greening

  30-03-2017 16:50 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Social mobility remains an elusive ambition, says the education secretary.
  
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• Nadine Dorries Calls James O'Brien A 'Public School F**k Wit' For Attending Same School As Her Daughters

  30-03-2017 16:28
  
  An MP has branded broadcaster James O’Brien a “public school fuck wit”, despite the fact he attended the same school as her daughters. 
  The LBC host, who occasionally presents BBC Newsnight and regularly argues with Leave voters who phone in to his show, apparently blocked the pro-Brexit Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire, on Twitter. Dories, who is perhaps best known for going on I’m A Celebrity while sitting as an MP, was unhappy about being blocked,
  
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• Record number of EU citizens quit working in NHS last year

  30-03-2017 15:25 via theguardian.com
  
  Surge in number of doctors and nurses from other EU states leaving renews fears that Brexit could exacerbate staffing crisisA record number of EU nationals left the NHS last year, renewing fears that Brexit could exacerbate a staffing crisis. Related: EU nurses no longer want to work in Britain. Brexit is poisoning the NHS | Suzanne MooreContinue reading...
  
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• Article 50: A love letter to a jilted Europe

  30-03-2017 15:11
  Friends do not threaten; but screw us on trade and you’ll all be eating borscht
  
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• If Theresa May wants to avoid a schools crisis she's going to have to start listening

  30-03-2017 15:05
  
  The prime minister must stop ignoring the warnings being given by schools
  
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• Sats for seven-year-olds set to be scrapped

  30-03-2017 15:04 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The death knell is sounded for Sats for seven-year-olds in England's schools.
  
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• Theresa May held private dinner for Daily Mail editor at No 10

  30-03-2017 14:52 via theguardian.com
  
  Paul Dacre was only media figure to get hospitality from PM in her first six months, government revealsTheresa May hosted a private dinner for the Daily Mail editor, Paul Dacre, at 10 Downing Street last year, the government has disclosed.Dacre was the only media figure to receive hospitality from the new prime minister in the first six months she was in post. Continue reading...
  
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• Ken Livingstone Arrives At Labour Suspension Hearing, Rants About Hitler 'Collaborating' With Jews

  30-03-2017 14:47
  
  More history as according to Ken Livingstone pic.twitter.com/d4EYVOy7pn— Sean Clare (@Sean__Clare) March 30, 2017
  Ken Livingstone arrived at his Labour suspension hearing on Thursday sparked by his comments about Hitler - then immediately talked about the Nazi leader to assembled reporters. 
  The former London Mayor showed up for the first day of a two-day inquest into his Labour membership, after sparking outrage in April last year for saying Hitler supported Zionism.
  He faces expuls
  
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• Theresa May’s ill-judged threats to the EU

  30-03-2017 14:40
  UK prime minister appears to be playing politics over matters of life and death
  
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• Campaigns seek 'to sell US politician data'

  30-03-2017 14:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Privacy campaigners plan to buy, then sell, US politicians' internet browsing histories.
  
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• Insurer Lloyd's of London confirms new Brussels subsidiary

  30-03-2017 13:27 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The 329-year-old insurance market is opening the subsidiary as a result of the Brexit vote.
  
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• Article 50 letter: how press reacted on both sides of the Channel

  30-03-2017 13:11 via theguardian.com
  
  From Le Monde to El País, EU papers predict difficult talks ahead, especially if Britain resorts to security ‘blackmail’European newspapers greeted the formal start of Britain’s exit from the EU with a mixture of pain, puzzlement and predictions that the coming two years of negotiations could get nasty – especially if the UK resorts to “blackmail” over security cooperation. Related: Using security as Brexit bargaining chip is reckless and lacks credibil
  
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• Three quick wins for Brexit talks

  30-03-2017 12:38
  Negotiations will be difficult, but some useful things can be agreed fast
  
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• UK games industry: 40% of companies considering relocating after Brexit

  30-03-2017 12:09 via theguardian.com
  
  Industry trade body Ukie found 57% of games companies employ workers from the EU, and many are assessing their future in UKTwo fifths of games companies based in the UK are considering relocating out of the country in the wake of Brexit, a survey has found.The primary concern across the industry is over a loss in international talent from EU countries creating a skills shortage which 40% say could make them move some or all of their operations. Ukie, the industry trade body that carried out the
  
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• Sean Spicer Boasts About How Much Donald Trump 'Empowers' Women

  30-03-2017 11:56
  
  Donald Trump’s chief spokesman has insisted that the US President championed women’s rights as a “priority” during his election campaign - and managed to keep a completely straight face while doing it.
  White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer used a briefing on Wednesday to boast of Trump’s record on promoting gender equality. 
  Despite saying he liked to “grab” women “by the pussy”, and encouraging his millions of Twitter followers to che
  
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• David Davis Denies Theresa May Is Threatening To Withdraw Security Cooperation With EU

  30-03-2017 11:20
  
  Brexit secretary David Davis has said Theresa May’s Article 50 letter was “not a threat” to stop cooperating on security issues with the European Union if Brussels does not agree a deal with the United Kingdom in two years.
  The prime minister has been attacked for behaving in an “irresponsible and dangerous” way by suggesting Britain will use fighting terrorism as a bargaining chip in the exit talks.
  In her letter formally triggering the Brexit process yesterday, Ma
  
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• UK denies threatening EU over security co-operation

  30-03-2017 11:14
  Brexit secretary denies using intelligence-sharing and policing as ‘bargaining chip’
  
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• David Davis: UK not threatening EU over security

  30-03-2017 11:14
  Brexit secretary denies using intelligence-sharing and policing as ‘bargaining chip’
  
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• Crackdown on contactless card security flaw welcomed by MPs

  30-03-2017 11:13 via theguardian.com
  
  City watchdog to tackle weakness that allows fraudsters to make ‘tap and go’ payments months after cards are cancelledThe City regulator has set out measures to tackle fraudulent payments on contactless cards which have been reported lost or stolen.In a letter to the Treasury select committee, published on Thursday, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said consumer losses on contactless payments were relatively small but in some circumstances cards could be used by a fraudster seve
  
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• James Brokenshire needs to get tough if he wants to save Northern Ireland power-sharing

  30-03-2017 11:00
  
  The government must see off Stormont troublemakers
  
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• In full: May's Brexit statement

  30-03-2017 10:56 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Prime Minister described the invoking of Article 50 as a "historic moment from which there can be no turning back."
  
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• The Waugh Zone March 30, 2017

  30-03-2017 10:11
  
  The five things you need to know on Thursday, March 30…1) TERROR FIRMER
  It’s nine long months since David Dimbleby told a waking nation “The British people have spoken - and we’re out!” Of course, we are still in and will be in the EU until midnight March 29, 2019 (when “Big Ben bongs”, as one No.10 source put it). But yesterday Theresa May finally started the formal process of Brexit and tried, in her Commons statement at least, to strike a note of up
  
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• May: EU security will be part of Brexit talks

  30-03-2017 10:09
  Brexit secretary denies UK is threatening EU over intelligence-sharing and policing
  
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• UK lays out plans to repeal and replace EU laws

  30-03-2017 10:02
  EU law will be transferred to Britain and past rulings of the ECJ remain binding
  
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• Brexit minister to lay out plan to repeal EU laws

  30-03-2017 10:02
  Davis plays down scale of task despite volume to be transferred into UK legislation
  
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• Brexit minister to lay out plan to repatriate EU laws

  30-03-2017 10:02
  Davis plays down difficulty despite breadth of regulations needing new legislation
  
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• 'Lego bricks and boiled eggs': the three Brexiteers explain everything – video

  30-03-2017 08:51 via theguardian.com
  
  Cabinet ministers David Davis, Liam Fox and Boris Johnson have been nicknamed ‘the three Brexiteers’ for their cavalier approach to the finer details of leaving the EU. The withdrawal process is ‘simple’ and at the same time ‘more complex than a game of chess’, they say, but definitely not as straightforward as a hard or soft boiled egg Continue reading...
  
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• David Cameron: I was right to hold Brexit referendum

  30-03-2017 07:44 via theguardian.com
  
  Former prime minister says issue of EU membership ‘had been poisoning British politics for years’ but says cooperation on security should continueAnalysis: Using security as Brexit bargaining chip is recklessAs Britain formally fired the starting gun on its exit from the European Union, David Cameron has defended his decision to call the referendum that ended in the vote to leave. Related: Brexit: EU condemns May’s ‘blackmail’ over security cooperationContinue readi
  
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• Steve Bell's If … Theresa May wants the British to get behind her

  30-03-2017 07:20 via theguardian.com
  
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