Political news

• There’s a line between exposing a crime and shabby behaviour

  02-12-2017 23:02
  Loss of faith in the media means information that should be in the public domain often goes unreportedAlmost every detective, like almost every journalist, likes inside gossip. It is part of the attraction of both jobs: that ringside seat that allows police officers or reporters to inform friends and colleagues what the “real” story is, who’s lying, from what cloth the emperor’s new clothes are actually cut. No wonder the former detective, Neil Lewis, in the current heate
  
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• Met chief under pressure amid row over porn on Damian Green’s computer

  02-12-2017 23:01
  As sources in Scotland Yard join the attack on ministers, Cressida Dick is urged to enforce a duty of confidentiality on retired officersOn her first day as commissioner of the Metropolitan police in April, Cressida Dick attended the funeral of PC Keith Palmer, who had been stabbed to death in a terror attack near the Palace of Westminster. Her initial public duty as the first woman to lead the Met was to read WH Auden’s poem Funeral Blues before her fallen colleague was laid to rest. The
  
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• Woman Arrested On Suspicion Of Neglect After Toddler Walks Into Shop Unaccompanied

  02-12-2017 22:23
  A woman has been arrested on suspicion of neglecting a child after a toddler spent the evening being looked after at a police station.Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called at about 4.20pm after the boy, possibly aged two or three years old, walked into a shop on Belle Green Lane in Higher Ince in Wigan, on his own.Police said they had identified a parent and the boy, who had not been reported missing, was safe and doing well.The force said a woman was arrested on suspicion of
  
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• Watford CLP did not ensure best list of candidates was available | Letters

  02-12-2017 22:00
  Letter released by Momentum and signed by 30 members to protest at the omission of its candidate Mike Hedges from the original shortlist, drawn up by the elected selection committee in Watford after interviewsLabour faces subversion by Momentum and far left, says Roy HattersleyWe are writing to you as members of Watford constituency Labour party in order to register a formal complaint about the outcome of Watford’s selection committee shortlisting meeting. No nominations were able to be ma
  
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• This is Labour’s greatest crisis. Time to fight back | Roy Hattersley

  02-12-2017 22:00
  The party risks making itself unelectable if the far left is allowed to take controlThe Labour party faces the greatest crisis in its history. Momentum – a party within the party which is dedicated to moving Labour to the far left of the political spectrum – is on the point of winning control of Labour’s policy, programme and constitution. Momentum members and supporters – 844 of the 1,135 delegates – dominated this year’s annual conference and it seems likely
  
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• Momentum should let us choose our own candidates | Letters

  02-12-2017 22:00
  Letter sent by members of the Watford selection committee to the NEC. They sent the letter after they were told that the Momentum-backed candidate Mike Hedges, who had not been included in their shortlist of parliamentary candidates, would be on it after all. They concludes he was not up to the standard of the othersLabour faces subversion by Momentum and far left, says Roy HattersleyWe are writing in utmost protest concerning the actions of some members of the national executive committee to ov
  
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• Labour faces subversion by Momentum and far left, says Roy Hattersley

  02-12-2017 22:00
  Veteran grandee’s warning comes as row splits party over dropping and reinstatement of leftwing candidate for Watford byelectionLabour is facing the biggest crisis in its history as the leftwing pressure group Momentum tries to purge it of moderate MPs and councillors in a systematic takeover of the party, former deputy leader Roy Hattersley has warned.His dramatic intervention comes as details can be revealed of a vicious power struggle between moderates and leftwing forces in Momentum an
  
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• Strictly Come Dancing Musicals Week

  02-12-2017 21:48
  Gemma Atkinson and Aljaz Škorjanec scored 29 points for their Quickstep to the title track from ‘Hello Dolly!’. Score breakdown: 6 (Craig), 7 (Darcey), 8 (Shirley), 8 (Bruno).
  The judges couldn’t agree on whether Gemma’s posture and acting deserved praise. “The character lost impact,” Bruno told her.
  Mollie King and AJ Pritchard scored 31 points for their Rumba to ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ from ‘Grease’. Score br
  
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• Strictly Come Dancing Musicals Week - HuffPost Verdict

  02-12-2017 21:35
  K E Y   P O I N T SGemma Atkinson and Aljaz Škorjanec scored 29 points for their Quickstep to the title track from ‘Hello Dolly!’. Score breakdown: 6 (Craig), 7 (Darcey), 8 (Shirley), 8 (Bruno).The judges couldn’t agree on whether Gemma’s posture and acting deserved praise. “The character lost impact,” Bruno told her.Mollie King and AJ Pritchard scored 31 points for their Rumba to ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You’ from &ls
  
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• Five Injured After Car Hits Pedestrians On Stockwell Road Following ‘Altercation’

  02-12-2017 21:17
  Five pedestrians were taken to hospital after a car crashed into a group of people on Saturday morning following an “altercation”, police said.Five men aged between 23 and 42 were injured when a car hit a number of pedestrians on Stockwell Road near the junction of Sidney Road, in south-west London, just before 3am, the Metropolitan Police said.None of the injured are in a critical condition.Officers believe the collision occurred shortly after an “altercation” between th
  
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• Damian Green porn row: Police in 'dangerous territory'

  02-12-2017 19:40 via bbc.co.uk
  Former chief constable says ex-officers are in "dangerous territory" by disclosing porn allegations.
  
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• Ex-Police Officers Who Leaked Damian Green Pornography Allegations In 'Dangerous Territory', Sir Peter Fahy Says

  02-12-2017 19:32
  Two ex-police officers who leaked allegations that pornographic images had been found on Damian Green’s computer are in “dangerous territory”, a former police chief has said.Former Greater Manchester chief constable Sir Peter Fahy said the police should stay out of politics after the leak left Green’s political career hanging in the balance.Fahy’s warning comes after former attorney general Dominic Grieve said the leaks had “the smack of the police state&rdquo
  
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• Martin McGuinness biography divides Irish opinion – as he did in life

  02-12-2017 19:23
  Observer and Guardian correspondent Henry McDonald’s take on the late nationalist leader traces his rise from rebel to education ministerThe controversial life of the late Martin McGuinness could stand as an emblem of the extraordinary changes in the recent history of the island of Ireland. The path the politician from Derry took, from giving a funeral oration in praise of a republican who had once shot at Arlene Foster’s father, who was a Royal Ulster Constabulary reservist, to shar
  
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• What a moment to cut ourselves off from friends in Europe | Nick Cohen

  02-12-2017 19:15
  By putting their faith in Donald Trump, the Tories are blind to the truth about our alliance with AmericaTheresa May is reviled for her weakness. But, as so often, cliches deceive. No British prime minister has found the strength to condemn an American president as she condemned Donald Trump since the Anglo-American alliance began in the Second World War. Anthony Eden maintained a public silence as Eisenhower destroyed his premiership, and Britain’s imperial pretensions, when he stopped th
  
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• A messy Brexit will lead to a radical Labour government

  02-12-2017 19:00
  Corbyn elected with a whopping majority would be bad for the City and for industry
  
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• Donald Trump Denies Collusion Between His Campaign And Russia After Michael Flynn's Guilty Plea

  02-12-2017 17:35
  Donald Trump has denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Russia after ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn admitted lying to the FBI.Commenting on the matter for the first time since Flynn’s guilty plea on Friday, the US President told reporters as he departed the White House: “What has been shown is no collusion, no collusion.”Trump added on Saturday: “There’s been absolutely no collusion, so we’re very happy.”Flynn was the fi
  
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• Teenage Boy Dies After Being Found Unconscious On Side Of M67

  02-12-2017 15:33
  A teenage boy has died in hospital after being found unconscious on the hard shoulder of a motorway.The 14-year-old was discovered on the side of the M67 eastbound at junction 3, Hyde, Greater Manchester, during Friday afternoon rush hour, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.Officers found the boy in a critical condition and he was taken to hospital where he died early on Saturday following what police called “unsurvivable” injuries.
  
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• Samuel Berkley Named As Teenage Boy Who Died After Being Found Unconscious On Side Of M67

  02-12-2017 15:31
  A teenage boy who died in hospital after being found unconscious on the hard shoulder of a motorway has been named as Samuel Berkley.The 14-year-old was discovered on the side of the M67 eastbound at junction 3, Hyde, Greater Manchester, during Friday afternoon rush hour, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.His family said the budding footballer was “fun, outgoing and friendly”.Officers found the boy in a critical condition after being called at about 5.25pm to reports of an unconsc
  
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• 'Superman' Police Officer Holds Van As It Dangles Off Bridge With Driver Trapped Inside

  02-12-2017 15:06
  A police officer has been hailed a hero for holding on to a van as it dangled off a bridge with the driver trapped inside.PC Martin Willis was the first to arrive at the scene on the A1(M) in West Yorkshire and grabbed hold of one of its rear tyres to keep it still and calm the driver, stuck in the vehicle’s cab.He tweeted he could not describe his relief when West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue arrived to take control and pull it back on to the road.1st on the scene of this collision on the #A
  
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• Damian Green's Treatment Over Porn Allegations Compared To 'Police State' By MP Dominic Grieve

  02-12-2017 13:16
  Ex-police officers who leaked allegations that pornographic images had been found on the computer of Cabinet minister Damian Green were in “flagrant breach” of their own code of conduct, a former government law officer has said. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said the actions of the retired officers – which has left Mr Green’s political career hanging in the balance – had “the smack of the police state”, The Press Association reports.On Frid
  
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• Damian Green case: police criticised over pornography revelations

  02-12-2017 12:54
  Sir Peter Fahy, former head of Greater Manchester police, says such incidents should not happen in democratic countryPolice should stay out of politics, a former chief constable has said amid a growing backlash against officers who revealed that pornography was found on Damian Green’s Commons computer during an investigation nine years ago.Sir Peter Fahy, the former chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said the raid on Green’s office and the revelation that pornographic imag
  
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• Home Office Admits It Was Wrong To Reject Visa For British Man's Wife After HuffPost Blog

  02-12-2017 11:57
  A man whose wife was rejected from coming to Britain in error has called it “outrageous” that it took the publicity he drummed up, including by writing a HuffPost UK blog, to reverse the decision.The Home Office told Satbir Singh, 30, on Friday it was wrong to deny his Indian wife Gitanjali, 31, a visa, after Singh wrote a widely read blog about his pain and anger about their initial refusal three days earlier.“My wife is coming home because you gave me a platform to
  
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• Freddie Mercury Biopic Production On Hold As Director Bryan Singer Deal With ‘Personal Health Matter’

  02-12-2017 10:57
  Production on an upcoming biopic about Freddie Mercury has been put on hold, as director Bryan Singer takes some time off.The movie is set to tell the Queen frontman’s life story and filming had been taking place in the UK, prior to a Thanksgiving break.Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for Twentieth Century Fox confirmed that they have “temporarily halted production on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer”.A repr
  
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• ‘Coronation Street’ Spoilers: Catherine Tyldesley Leaves Weatherfield After Seven Years

  02-12-2017 10:20
  Catherine Tyldesley has announced that she’s leaving ‘Coronation Street’, after seven years on the soap.The actress, who plays Evas Price, will make her last on-screen appearance in 2018 and the news comes just days after it was revealed that Shayne Ward is also bowing out of ‘Corrie’. Explaining her decision to the Sun, Catherine said: ″’Coronation Street’ has been a dream job for me which is why this was such a difficult decision to leave.“
  
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• Nick Clegg meets Richard Thaler: ‘All it would take to stop Brexit is a couple of dozen brave Tories’

  02-12-2017 10:00
  The former deputy PM and the Nobel prize winner discuss the EU, business and Trump
  Richard Thaler was awarded the Nobel prize for economics in October, for work that has “built a bridge between the economic and psychological analyses of individual decision-making”. While traditional economics assumes that people are rational actors, Thaler explores the consequences of irrationality, bias and error, and proposes ways that governments, through mechanisms as simple as changing the phras
  
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• ‘I’m A Celebrity’ Fans Devastated As Shappi Khorsandi Leaves The Jungle First

  02-12-2017 09:47
  Comedian Shappi Khorsandi became the first star leave the ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ jungle on Friday (1 December) night, leavin many viewers devastated.While Shappi’s eviction came following a fan vote, a number of viewers expressed their surprise at the result when it was revealed live on air, with some suggesting Kezia Dugdale should have let instead:I’m sorry, I don’t want a jungle without Shappi. I’m shocked and feel personally at
  
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• Wearing Rainbow Laces May Be A Small Act But It's An Incredibly Brave One

  02-12-2017 09:12
  We have one ask for our Rainbow Laces campaign – wear laces. It seems like a small act, but if you’re lesbian, gay, bi or trans and you see someone wearing rainbow laces, it means the world. It shows that you’re someone who understands that sport isn’t yet somewhere LGBT people feel safe, but that you’re trying to change that.Wearing laces may be a small act, but it’s also a brave one. Anyone who laces up can expect abuse. Every year during Rainbow Laces we ex
  
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• Pledge To Get One Million Disabled People Into Work Needs Swift Action To Make This A Reality

  02-12-2017 09:05
  This is an important week for the more than one million disabled people across the UK who want to work but are currently unable to.That’s because the Government has just set out its plan on how it aims to support more disabled people to enter and stay in work.This is a welcome moment in parliament, and a reminder to the Westminster Village that while talk of Brexit and gloomy budgets is fashionable and headline-grabbing, announcements such as the Prime Minister’s this week
  
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• We Must Support Our Local Shops To Keep Our Streets Eclectic And Alive

  02-12-2017 08:40
  Supporting small independent businesses has always been important to me because it was how I was brought up - shopping at the local Hampshire butcher or the village shop. Now that I’m an adult with a business of my own I am acutely aware of how hard it can be to get something up and running. One of my best friends has a beautiful independent cafe in East London and the work that goes into keeping that going is incredible but ultimately rewarding for her.Small Business Saturday provides a p
  
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• To limit the harm done by Brexit, stay in the EU single market | Nicola Sturgeon

  02-12-2017 07:00
  Instead of appeasing the arch-Brexiteers, Theresa May should confront them to protect hundreds of thousands of jobs
  Next week the prime minister hopes to take a step forward in her government’s negotiations to leave the EU. Whether we voted leave or remain, all of us have an interest in ensuring progress is made. The talks come on the back of a scarcely believable transatlantic diplomatic row, with President Trump’s completely unacceptable retweets of the fascist, hate-fuelled Britai
  
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• Nicola Sturgeon tells May to ignore 'extreme Brexiters' during EU summit

  02-12-2017 07:00
  Scottish first minister calls on PM to agree unambiguously to a longer transitional period and to guarantee EU citizens’ rightsNicola Sturgeon has urged Theresa May to ignore her party’s “extreme Brexiters” and adopt a far more constructive tone with other EU leaders at next week’s summit.In an article for the Guardian, the first minister says May should agree unambiguously to a much longer transition period inside the single market and customs union, and give EU ci
  
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• Settling the Brexit bill and Corbyn vs. bankers

  02-12-2017 06:13
  Has the UK agreed a financial settlement with the EU? What does this mean for making progress with Brexit?
  
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• Don't use antivirus firms linked to Russia, cyber security chief tells Whitehall

  02-12-2017 05:45
  The Kremlin uses cyberspace for ‘espionage, disruption and influence’, says Ciaran Martin in letter to government departmentsGovernment departments have been warned against using antivirus software made by technology firms with links to Russia amid concerns over national security.
  Ciaran Martin, head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said Russia has the intent “to target UK central government and the UK’s critical national infrastructure” and there are &
  
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