Political news

• Catalonia Claims Right To Independence As Referendum Sparks Police Violence

  01-10-2017 23:30
  
  The leader of Catalonia has declared the region has won the right to become an independent state as Spain was plunged into a constitutional crisis amid global condemnation of a police crackdown that turned to violence.
  The region’s leader Carles Puigdemont effectively declaring separation came as Catalan authorities said 90% of the 2.2m people who voted in the banned referendum were in favour of leaving Spain.It followed more than 800 people being injured, some seriously, as baton-wielding
  
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• Theresa May's Policy Chief: Young Are Working 'Like Slaves' And It Has To Change

  01-10-2017 23:24
  
  The head of Downing Street’s policy unit made a passionate case for empowering young people as he admitted they were working “like slaves” under the current regime.
  Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, George Freeman MP said the economic chasm between generations was “the biggest domestic policy issue” that the country faced in 2017.
  Freeman, who recently organised the “Tory Glastonbury” to search for new  i
  
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• Catalonia: UK Government Faces Blowback After Ducking Condemnation Of Police Violence

  01-10-2017 22:35
  
  The UK Government has backed away from condemning the violent scenes that have marked Catalonia’s unofficial independence vote, a position that has contrasted starkly to the fierce criticism from other British political leaders.
  Hundreds of people have been injured, some seriously, as baton-wielding riot police moved to shut down the vote, which was declared illegal by Spain’s central government.
  Police burst into polling stations across Catalonia on Sunday, confiscating ballot boxes
  
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• Catalonia: UK Government Avoids Condemnation Of Police Violence, In Contrast To Most In British Politics

  01-10-2017 22:35
  
  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has branded the police crackdown against Catalonia’s unofficial independence vote as “shocking” as the UK Government backed away from condemning the violent scenes that have shocked the world.
  Hundreds of people have been injured, some seriously, as baton-wielding riot police moved to shut down the vote, which was declared illegal by Spain’s central government.
  Police burst into polling stations across Catalonia on Sunday, confiscating ballot b
  
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• Theresa May Concedes Jeremy Corbyn 'Changed The Political Consensus' In Britain

  01-10-2017 22:29
  
  Theresa May has conceded Jeremy Corbyn has “changed” the political consensus in the country.
  The prime minister was speaking at a reception for women Tory activists and MPs at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Sunday evening. 
  “We’ve not got a job to do as a party,” she said. “Yes, learn the lesson from general election, but actually we’ve got a job to do to ensure that people understand the importance of some of the those issues t
  
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• Liam Fox accuses US of protectionism over Bombardier

  01-10-2017 21:37
  Trade secretary says UK caught in crossfire of row with Canada
  
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• Boris Johnson Faces Cabinet Backlash As 'Horrified' MPs Rally Round Theresa May

  01-10-2017 20:31
  
  Boris Johnson is facing a backlash among fellow Cabinet ministers and MPs amid claims that he tried to destabilise Theresa May at the start of the Tory party conference.
  As a string of ministers suggested that the Johnson should show more loyalty, and one openly ridiculed him, he was accused of misreading the mood of backbench MPs who want nothing to derail the Government or the Brexit process.
  Irritation surfaced after the Foreign Secretary set out fresh ‘red lines’ over Brexit and
  
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• Jeremy Hunt Headed To 'Drink Tank' Sponsored By Boeing As 4,500 Belfast Jobs Hang In Balance

  01-10-2017 20:18
  
  Jeremy Hunt faced a torrent of criticism after it emerged he will be at a Boeing-sponsored “drink tank” while more than 4,000 UK jobs at rival firm Bombardier “hang by a thread”. 
  Theresa May has hinted that the UK Government could boycott Boeing after a trade dispute over aggressive tariffs broke out - a dispute which could ultimately see 4,500 workers at Bombardier’s Belfast factory made jobless. 
  But the potential disaster seemed to be no bar to Health
  
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• Boris Johnson snatches conference attention from Tory unity

  01-10-2017 20:15
  Senior party figures launch veiled attacks on foreign secretary after latest intervention
  
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• Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis Points To 'Fake Photos' To Downplay Catalonia Violence

  01-10-2017 19:56
  
  Spain’s foreign minister has moved to downplay the violence that has marred Catalonia’s unofficial independence vote, claiming the full extent of the crackdown is unclear since there are “fake photos” circulating on social media.
  Alfonso Dastis appeared on Sky News as hundreds of people were injured in Catalonia as violent policing drew worldwide condemnation.The Spanish Government’s heavy-handed attempt to stop the banned referendum going ahead included
  
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• Conservative Members Vent At 'Blithering Idiots' Who Ran Tory Election Campaign

  01-10-2017 19:53
  
  Conservative members gathered in Manchester for the party’s annual conference have complained about being “kicked in the teeth” by party bosses.
  Theresa May would have hoped this year’s meeting of party grassroots would be a celebration of an election landslide.
  However her disastrous election result which saw the Conservative Party lose its Commons majority sees her position as prime minister under threat.
  At a event on the fringes of the conference organised by Conserv
  
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• Ofcom warns legal action by operators threatens 5G services

  01-10-2017 19:33
  Sharon White critical of challenges brought by BT and Three over spectrum auction
  
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• Theresa May’s tuition fee freeze meets chilly reception

  01-10-2017 18:54
  Experts say holding fees and raising repayment threshold will do little to help graduates
  
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• UK’s digital economy will be built on fair foundations

  01-10-2017 18:50
  Telecoms regulator aims to use new rules to boost investment and benefit consumers
  
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• Catalonia Firefighters Form Human Chain To Protect Voters From Police Amid Referendum Violence

  01-10-2017 18:34
  
  Firefighters formed a human chain to protect Catalan voters from police as their violent efforts to prevent the independence referendum drew worldwide condemnation.
  The world has been stunned by the Spanish Government’s heavyhanded attempt to stop the banned referendum going ahead, with police firing rubber bullets to disperse crowds, dragging peaceful protestors from the ground and smashing glass to access polling booths and seize ballot boxes.
  A court declared the vote unlawful and polic
  
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• Thousands Of Protesters Descend On Conservative Conference

  01-10-2017 18:09
  
   
  Around 30,000 anti-austerity and pro-EU campaigners descended on Manchester today in protest at the Tory Government.
  The protestors marched through the streets of the Northern city as the Conservative’s annual conference kicked off in the Manchester Central Complex.
  There was a huge police presence amid concerns the protests could turn nasty after a “Hang The Tories” banner was attached to a bridge in Salford – complete with hanging effigies.
  Labour MPs took to Tw
  
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• Donald Trump Attacks 'Politically Motivated Ingrates' As Puerto Ricans Warn Of Catastrophe

  01-10-2017 17:33
  
  Donald Trump has lashed out at “politically motivated ingrates” amid fierce criticism of his Government’s efforts to rebuild Puerto Rico after being battered by a hurricane.A day earlier, the US President had attacked people on the American territory who “want everything done for them”.
  The comment was directed at the mayor of Puerto Rico’s largest city San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, who warned the country was facing “something close to a genocide&rdq
  
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• Justine Greening: Tories Must Set Aside Negative Politics To Win Back Young Voters

  01-10-2017 17:28
  
  Conservatives must ditch negative party politics if they want to win back young voters, according to education secretary Justine Greening.
  The cabinet minister used her conference speech in Manchester to tell delegates she believed the Tories could win back swathes of the under-25 electorate from Labour.
  She said while many young people had voted for Jeremy Corbyn and his anti-austerity message in the general election, policies like freezing student fees and increasing the number of degree appr
  
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• David Gauke Tells Tory MPs Universal Credit Rollout Not 'Risky Or Reckless'

  01-10-2017 17:21
  
  David Gauke has defended the introduction of government’s Universal Credit benefit shake-up, despite backbench Conservative demands that it be paused.
  Speaking at a fringe event hosted by HuffPost UK at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on Sunday afternoon, the work and pensions secretary said hinted the rollout of the programme would continue at the current rate.
  “Nobody is talking about a reckless or risky approach,” he said.
  “I wasn’t involved in th
  
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• David Gauke Reveals He Wants To Be Chancellor Of The Exchequer

  01-10-2017 17:12
  
  David Gauke has revealed he would like to be chancellor of the exchequer one day.
  The work and pensions secretary, who spent seven years as a Treasury minister before being promoted to the cabinet by Theresa May, admitted his ambition during a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference hosted by HuffPost UK.
  “Maybe one day actually to be honest, maybe one day I would like to do that,” he said if he would like to be chancellor.
  “I work very closely with Philip [Hammond],&
  
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• New 'Housing Court' Could Settle Disputes In Wake Of Grenfell Failures - Sajid Javid

  01-10-2017 17:07
  
  Sajid Javid branded the fact millions cannot get on the housing market a “national outrage” as he announced a raft of new measures to protect tenants.
  The Government will consult on a new ‘Housing Court’ while all landlords will have to sign up to a new arbitration scheme, the Communities Secretary revealed as he slammed the “horrific tragedy” of Grenfell Tower.
  Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Javid also set out new measures to enc
  
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• UK accounting watchdog doubles total fines

  01-10-2017 15:28
  Financial Reporting Council under pressure to be tougher on misconduct
  
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• Accounting watchdog doubles fines in misconduct clampdown

  01-10-2017 15:28
  Financial Reporting Council under pressure to be tougher on wrongdoing
  
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• Second time a charm for Trump’s reflation trade?

  01-10-2017 13:41
  Focus also turns to sterling and UK politics and whether oil will break $60 barrier
  
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• Theresa May Cannot Say 'I Will Sack Boris Johnson' On BBC Andrew Marr Show

  01-10-2017 12:23
  
  Theresa May has refused to accept she should sack Boris Johnson after the Foreign Secretary publicly undermined her on Brexit for a second time. 
  During an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the Prime Minister laughed when she was asked if Johnson was “unsackable” and insisted her cabinet was “united in its mission”. 
  It comes after Johnson gave an interview to The Sun in which he set out four red lines lines on the Brexit negotiations, including th
  
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• Boris Johnson Is Unsackable, Theresa May Concedes On BBC Andrew Marr Show

  01-10-2017 12:23
  
  Theresa May has refused to accept she should sack Boris Johnson after the Foreign Secretary publicly undermined her on Brexit for a second time. 
  During an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the Prime Minister laughed when she was asked if Johnson was “unsackable” and insisted her cabinet was “united in its mission”. 
  It comes after Johnson gave an interview to The Sun in which he set out four red lines lines on the Brexit negotiations, including th
  
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• Andrew Marr Burns Theresa May On 'Run On The Pound' Since She Became Prime Minister

  01-10-2017 11:52
  
  Theresa May has been told the pound is “going down and down and down” on her watch, after she said a Labour Government would cause a “run” on the currency. 
  The Prime Minister was giving an interview to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show and was hitting out at Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell for “war-gaming” a run on the pound should Jeremy Corbyn become Prime Minister.
  But it was pointed out to May that the pound has plunged since the Brexi
  
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• Tory Voters Back Radical Policies Like A Universal Basic Income - HuffPost UK Poll

  01-10-2017 11:46
  
  The scale of the challenge facing Theresa May’s Conservatives has been laid bare, with scores of voters strongly backing radical policies in a new poll for HuffPost UK.
  The Prime Minister will use the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week to freeze student fees and pump more money into the Help To Buy scheme in a bid to claw back young voters who threw their weight behind Jeremy Corbyn at the General Election.
  But a BMG poll, commissioned by HuffPost UK, adds to growing evi
  
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• Momentum's Jon Lansman: I Know Labour Has A Problem With Anti-Semitism

  01-10-2017 11:33
  
  .@PeoplesMomentum founder @jonlansman admits there is a problem with anti-semitism in @UKLabour #marr pic.twitter.com/KRuX3ETY6J— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) October 1, 2017
  Momentum founder Jon Lansman today admitted there is a problem with anti-semitism within the Labour Party and that it “must be dealt with”.
  The ardent Corbyn supporter, who is Jewish, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show the issue was on the rise across society as a whole.
  “It would be extremel
  
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• Lauren Stocks: ‘My family say I’ll be PM one day, and I’m just: No!’

  01-10-2017 11:00
  The Manchester schoolgirl on becoming the talk of the Labour party conference after giving an impassioned speech about education that went viralLauren Stocks, a 16-year-old schoolgirl from Greater Manchester, went viral last week with a passionate speech to the Labour party conference, claiming new GCSE exams are putting teenagers under intolerable stress. She won a standing ovation from delegates as she warned of classrooms full of “spaced-out, stressed-out, depressed kids in a battlefiel
  
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• Theresa May Must Stand Down Now, Most Voters Say - But Tories See It Differently

  01-10-2017 09:57
  
  Three out of five voters (59%) want Theresa May to step down immediately – but the vast majority of Tory backers want her in post for Brexit, a poll for HuffPost UK shows.
  The Prime Minister is readying herself for the Conservative Party conference in Manchester as speculation mounts over how long she has left in the top job, and support for her premiership is thin on the ground.
  The poll of almost 2,000 voters, conducted by BMG, has laid bare how strongly people are against her rema
  
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• Who's that girl?

  01-10-2017 07:20 via bbc.co.uk
  Lauren Stocks, 16, on public speaking, trolls and her political ambitions for the future.
  
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• May’s policy plans put focus on younger voters

  01-10-2017 01:56
  Proposals on university fees, homebuyer aid announced as Tory convention begins
  
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• May pledges £10bn for homebuyers and tuition fee freeze

  01-10-2017 01:56
  Under fire prime minister launches Tory conference with plans to lure younger voters
  
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• Ruth Davidson: UK is too 'London-centric'

  01-10-2017 01:20 via bbc.co.uk
  The Scottish Conservative leader is to call for more government jobs to be relocated north.
  
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• Brexit clowns hit the road for Manchester – cartoon

  01-10-2017 01:05
  Chris Riddell on the forthcoming Conservative party conference Continue reading...
  
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• Is capitalism at a crossroads?

  01-10-2017 01:04
  From Labour’s tumultuous assault on our economic failings to the PM’s defence of capitalism, there are signs that the entire system is up for discussion. We report on how the debate is shaping party politics, and analysts from across the spectrum consider where this debate will leadBack in the days when Ed Miliband was being criticised for dragging the Labour party too far to the left, political junkies seeking a guide to the new times would often be pointed in the direction of a tom
  
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• Sajid Javid: ‘We shouldn’t have banged on about Brexit’

  01-10-2017 00:00
  Communities secretary says party should have focused more on education, housing and the NHS in the election, and explains why he fears Jeremy Corbyn could become PMWe are only a few seconds into our interview with communities secretary Sajid Javid when his irritation at the way the Tories ran their general election campaign earlier this year becomes apparent. Rather than strengthening her mandate, Theresa May’s decision to go to the country backfired appallingly, stripping the Conservative
  
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