Political news

• Gerry Adams to retire as Sinn Féin leader

  18-11-2017 23:48
  After 34 years, Irish Republican leader prepares to move on
  
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• Gerry Adams to stand down as Sinn Féin leader next year

  18-11-2017 23:20 via bbc.co.uk
  Gerry Adams tells delegates it will be his last ard fhéis (party conference) as Sinn Féin leader.
  
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• Gerry Adams steps down as Sinn Féin president

  18-11-2017 23:10
  Republican, 69, who was instrumental in IRA ceasefire, also says he will not seek re-election to the Irish parliamentGerry Adams has announced he is stepping down as president of Sinn Féin after 34 years in charge of the party that was once closely linked to the IRA.Adams also confirmed that he will not seek re-election to the Irish parliament, the Dáil, in the next general election. Continue reading...
  
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• Gerry Adams Announces He Is Standing Down As Sinn Fein President

  18-11-2017 23:03
  Gerry Adams will be standing down as Sinn Fein president next year after more than three decades at the helm of the party.Adams announced his intention to stand down on Saturday, telling the Sinn Fein ard fhéis (party conference) in Dublin: “Leadership means knowing when it is time for change.”The 69-year-old republican veteran also said that he will not stand for election to the Irish parliament at the next election.Adams, who has been party president since 1983, said a speci
  
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• Britain First deputy arrested over speech made at Belfast rally

  18-11-2017 22:56
  Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of the far right group, was arrested in London in relation to her speech in AugustThe deputy leader of far-right group Britain First has been arrested in London over a speech made at a rally in Belfast this summer.Jayda Fransen, 31, from Penge, south-east London, was arrested in Bromley by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detectives on Saturday.Continue reading...
  
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• MPs defend fees of up to £1,000 an hour to appear on ‘Kremlin propaganda’ channel

  18-11-2017 22:00
  Commons register of interests shows satirical show has employed at least 10 Tory and Labour politiciansMPs who have accepted up to £1,000 an hour to appear on television shows broadcast on RT, formerly Russia Today, have defended their links to the station, classed by the US government last week as a Kremlin propaganda vehicle.Analysis of the Commons register of interests for the last two years show at least 10 have been paid handsomely for appearing on the channel, which is now coming und
  
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• Airlander 10 Crashes In Cardington Airfield, Bedfordshire, After Coming Loose From Its Moorings

  18-11-2017 21:59
  A woman had to be taken to hospital on Saturday after the world’s largest aircraft, Airlander 10, came loose from its moorings.The aircraft is the length of a football pitch and is part plane, part airship.It collapsed in Cardington Airfield in Bedfordshire after its hull ripped and deflated at around 9.30am on Saturday.This is the latest accident to befall the aircraft, which carried out its first flight in May since crashing in August last year.Manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) said
  
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• Gaia Pope: Body Found In Search For Missing Teenager On Land Near Swanage, Dorset Police Say

  18-11-2017 21:37
  A body has been found in the search for missing teenager Gaia Pope, police said on Saturday.Dorset Police said they are “confident” the body is that of the 19-year-old, who has not been seen for 11 days.The body was found near Swanage at about 3pm on Saturday by specialist search teams near the coastal path and the field where items of Gaia’s clothing were located on Thursday.Hundreds of volunteers have been helping in the search effort in a bid to find the teenager.Detect
  
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• Voters still trust Tories with the economy over Labour, poll shows

  18-11-2017 19:28
  Opinium/Observer poll finds younger voters favour Labour on the economy, but, overall, the Conservatives lead on the issueTheresa May and Philip Hammond remain a more trusted team on the economy than their Labour counterparts, according to the latest Opinium/Observer poll.
  Despite a mixed view on the state of the economy, the prime minister and her chancellor are still out in front, with 36% of respondents trusting them the most, while 28% have more trust in Jeremy Corbyn and the shadow chancell
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn Says Kezia Dugdale Should Not Be Suspended From The Labour Party For Going on 'I'm A Celeb'

  18-11-2017 19:10
  Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that Kezia Dugdale should not be suspended from the party for going on reality TV show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!Dudgale’s successor as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Richard Leonard, suggested earlier today that suspension was something the party’s MSPs should “consider”.But Corbyn told the Press Association on Saturday: “It’s her choice to go on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
  
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• Universal credit: Households to miss out on benefits over festive season

  18-11-2017 18:16 via bbc.co.uk
  People who work and are paid weekly may miss out in December because of the way it is calculated.
  
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• Gaia Pope's Father, Richard Sutherland, Thanks Volunteers For Searching For Missing Teenager

  18-11-2017 18:09
  The father of missing teenager Gaia Pope has thanked hundreds of people for trying to find his daughter, who has not been seen for 11 days.Richard Sutherland joined volunteers who were searching the areas around Swanage on Saturday afternoon.Clothes belonging to Gaia, 19, were found on Thursday on open land south of the Dorset town near cliffs.Speaking to members of the public who had gathered at Durlston Country Park, her father said: “I just want to say a massive thank you for coming out
  
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• Ex-Labour leader Dugdale joins I'm A Celebrity

  18-11-2017 17:04 via bbc.co.uk
  New leader of Scottish Labour says Kezia Dugdale may be suspended over I'm A Celebrity.
  
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• Hammond’s budget big five: cuts, pay, housing, roads and students

  18-11-2017 17:00
  Does the chancellor upset some by loosening the purse strings, or imperil a government with no majority by wielding the axe? Whatever he decides, some topics will have to be addressedPhilip Hammond will face his toughest test as chancellor on Wednesday when he stands up to deliver his third and most important budget statement. By comparison, the 2016 autumn statement and this year’s spring budget were exercises in treading water. Conservative MPs expect him to set the agenda for the rest o
  
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• Aylesbury Crash: Helicopter Pilot Named Among Victims Of Mid-Air Collision

  18-11-2017 16:45
  One of the four people killed in a collision between a helicopter and a small plane has been named.Captain Mike Green was flying the two-seater helicopter which collided with a Cessna 152, a light two-seater aircraft.Green was, according to Sky News, a senior instructor with more than 30 years of flying experience.He was a member of the Helicopter Services team based at Wycombe Air Field in Buckinghamshire.Captain Mike Green has been named as one of the four victims of a crash involving a plane
  
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• Donald Trump Puts Elephant Trophy Decision 'On Hold' Following Backlash

  18-11-2017 16:12
  Donald Trump has backtracked on his decision to allow big game hunters to import elephant trophies into the US following a torrent of criticism this week.In the early hours of Saturday morning (GMT), the US President sent a tweet stating that he had put his decision to lift the ban “on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts”.Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts. Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary
  
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• Richard Leonard wins Scottish Labour leadership in decisive victory

  18-11-2017 15:59
  Pro-Corbyn candidate beats centrist rival Anas Sarwar as party stunned by Kezia Dugdale’s appearance on I’m a Celebrity
  Jeremy Corbyn has strengthened his grip on the Labour party after Scottish members elected a leftwing trade unionist, Richard Leonard, as their seventh leader in the past decade.Announced as the winner in front of cheering supporters in Glasgow, Leonard won a decisive victory over his rival Anas Sarwar, a former Scottish deputy leader, after a fractious contest betw
  
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• Kings Cross Fire Memories Still 'Fresh' 30 Years On

  18-11-2017 15:48
  Memories of the King’s Cross fire are still “fresh” for families, as commemorations mark 30 years since the deadly blaze.Thirty-one people died when an escalator fire, thought to have been caused by a dropped match, ripped through part of the London Underground station on 18 November 1987.On Saturday, victims’ families, survivors and members of the emergency services who attended the incident gathered for a minute’s silence in memory of those who died.Leading the sh
  
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• Budget 2017: Tax on takeaway boxes to be considered

  18-11-2017 15:04 via bbc.co.uk
  The chancellor is expected to announce plans to examine the idea in Wednesday's Budget.
  
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• 'I'm A Celebrity' 2017 Line-Up To Feature Former Scottish Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale As Late Addition?

  18-11-2017 13:10
  Former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale looks set to be a late addition to the ‘I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!’ line-up. The Sun has reported the politician will enter the jungle a few days into the new series, which kicks off on Sunday (19 November). They have claimed she will head to Australia this week, amid a tumultuous period for her party. Her stand-in replacement Alex Rowley was forced to quit this week, with Richard Leonard since announce
  
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• Richard Leonard wins Scottish Labour leadership contest

  18-11-2017 13:06
  Victory for trade unionist brings leadership more closely into line with Jeremy Corbyn
  
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• The EU Are Not Putting Politics Before Prosperity - They Are Putting Other Priorities Ahead Of Brexit

  18-11-2017 13:04
  David Davis surely produced one of the most memorable one-liners of the Brexit saga when he told an audience in Berlin on 16 November:"Putting politics above prosperity was never a smart move".Commentators pounced on the delicious irony that this pearl of wisdom came from the representative of a country engaged on doing serious damage to its prosperity in pursuit of a tangled web of political objectives.
  For me, it also laid bare a fundamental misunderstanding at the heart of Britain's negotiati
  
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• Corbyn ally Richard Leonard Elected As Scottish Labour Leader

  18-11-2017 12:42
  Staunch Jeremy Corbyn supporter Richard Leonard has been named Scottish Labour leader after defeating his rival Anas Sarwar.Leonard won with 56.7% of the vote and a clear majority amongst members and affiliated supporters in an election which will cement Corbyn’s powerbase in the party across the UK.He told the crowd at his election in Scotland today that the party north of the border “will become a movement for socialism” under his leadership, adding “we need a change to
  
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• 'Children In Need' 2017: All The Highlights From The Telethon As They Raise Record-Breaking £50m

  18-11-2017 12:41
  Friday (17 November) night proved to be a record-breaking one for Children In Need, as the charity raised over £50 million during their annual telethon.It marked the highest-ever amount that has been raised on the night, and the money will now go to help disadvantaged children and young people here in the UK.But if you missed the evening of entertainment, here’s the 10 stand-out moments that made the 2017 appeal one to remember.The big Peter Kay announcement‘Car Share’ fa
  
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• Why Philip Hammond is likely to be cautious in the autumn Budget

  18-11-2017 12:00
  Boldness has backfired in the past three statements by chancellors
  
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• Zimbabweans Celebrate In The Streets While Anticipating Fall Of Robert Mugabe

  18-11-2017 11:57
  Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Zimbabwe’s capital on Saturday to celebrate the anticipated fall of Robert Mugabe.There was singing, dancing and even hugging of soldiers in an extraordinary outpouring of elation as pressure mounted on the country’s 93-year-old president to resign.Mugabe, the only ruler Zimbabwe has known since independence from Britain in 1980, has been holed up in his lavish ‘Blue Roof’ compound, from where he has watched support from
  
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• Ryan Seacrest Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations From Former Stylist

  18-11-2017 11:23
  ‘American Idol’ host Ryan Seacrest has denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him. The presenter, who also hosts US chat show ‘Live With Kelly And Ryan’, is alleged to have behaved sexually inappropriately to a stylist while working at E! News nearly a decade ago. While the accuser is yet to make a public statement, Ryan has released his own rebuffing her claims. He said (via The Hollywood Reporter): “Recently, someone that worked as
  
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• The Brexit mutineers and how the City of London will survive

  18-11-2017 11:14
  EU legislation was back in the House of Commons this week and not all Conservative MPs were willing to back the government
  
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• Peter Kay Finally Announces New 'Car Share' Episodes, Following Fan Petition

  18-11-2017 10:47
  Peter Kay has bowed to pressure to give fans more of his hit sitcom ’Car Share’. The comedian has announced there will be two more specials of the hit BBC show, having previously said the final episode of series two would be the last. Fans were left bereft when characters John and Kayleigh seemingly walked out of each other’s lives for good, having spent the majority of the show’s run willing them to get together romantically. There was even an online petit
  
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• Gaia Pope's Mother Says She Is 'Holding On To Hope' As Search Continues For Teenager

  18-11-2017 10:26
  The mother of missing teenager Gaia Pope has said she is “holding on to hope” after clothing believed to belong to her daughter was found on open land outside Swanage.The case is now being treated as a murder inquiry.The Press Association reported that, writing in the Find Gaia Facebook group, Natasha Pope said: “I believe in this community and I believe miracles can happen.“I am holding on to hope, along with Gaia’s sisters and the whole family who are my strength.
  
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• Lena Dunham Issues Statement Defending 'Girls' Writer After He's Accused Of Rape

  18-11-2017 10:07
  Lena Dunham has issued a joint statement with ‘Girls’ showrunner Jenni Konner defending one of the show’s male writers and executive producers from rape allegations.Murray Miller, who worked on 52 episodes of Lena’s comedy drama, has been accused of sexual assaulting ‘Passengers’ actress Aurora Perrineau.According to a police report (via The Wrap), Aurora claimed Miller raped her after a night out in Los Angeles in 2012, when she was 17.She said in the report:
  
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• Takeaway Box To Be Considered In Budget To Help Tackle Issue Of Plastic Waste

  18-11-2017 09:06
  Plastic packaging, polystyrene takeaway boxes and other single-use plastics could be taxed to tackle waste, the Government has indicated.Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce a call for evidence in the Budget on taxing and charging single-use plastics to help prevent pollution in the world’s oceans and to protect the environment.The move forms part of the Government’s 25-year environment strategy and comes after the introduction of the plastic carrier bag charge and a ban
  
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• Budget 2017: Takeaway Box Tax To Be Considered To Help Tackle Issue Of Plastic Waste

  18-11-2017 09:06
  Plastic packaging, polystyrene takeaway boxes and other single-use plastics could be taxed to tackle waste, the Government has indicated.Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce a call for evidence in the Budget on taxing and charging single-use plastics to help prevent pollution in the world’s oceans and to protect the environment.The move forms part of the Government’s 25-year environment strategy and comes after the introduction of the plastic carrier bag charge and a ban
  
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• Budget 2017: What To Expect On Housing, Universal Credit And More

  18-11-2017 09:01
  Chancellor Philip Hammond will walk a political tightrope on Wednesday as he delivers his second Budget since taking over at the Treasury in 2016.With a disappointing election result still fresh in the collective Conservative mind, there is pressure from many in the party to end austerity and turn on the spending taps to try to win over public support.Tory MPs have been pitching their ideas directly to the Chancellor since September after he asked for tweet-sized proposals for the Budget, and La
  
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• Tokio Myers Talks Defying 'Britain's Got Talent' Sceptics And How London's Tough Year Affected His New Album

  18-11-2017 08:09
  It’s fair to say that Tokio Myers is not the type of act you’d usually expect to see auditioning for a Simon Cowell talent show, let alone winning the whole thing.But this summer, the multi-talented musician wound up winning over the viewing public in this year’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, thanks to his emotive and imaginative final performance, and was later crowned champion.Since winning the show, Tokio has signed to Simon’s famous (or infamous, depe
  
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• UK plastics crackdown to extend to coffee cups

  18-11-2017 01:02
  Consumers could face new taxes for ‘single-use’ packaging
  
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• UK considers tax on single-use plastics to tackle ocean pollution

  18-11-2017 01:01
  Chancellor to announce call for evidence on possible measures to cut use of plastics such as takeaway cartons and packagingThe chancellor, Philip Hammond, will announce in next week’s budget a “call for evidence” on how taxes or other charges on single-use plastics such as takeaway cartons and packaging could reduce the impact of discarded waste on marine and bird life, the Treasury has said. The commitment was welcomed by environmental and wildlife groups, though they stressed
  
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• Budget 2017: Chancellor Philip Hammond 'to target housing and NHS'

  18-11-2017 00:35 via bbc.co.uk
  Philip Hammond will use the Budget to "attack problems" that lost the Tories votes, a former minister tells Newsnight.
  
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