Political news

• Guy Verhofstadt Shoots Down Nigel Farage's Blue Passport Joy In One Tweet

  23-12-2017 22:08
  The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator has rained all over the blue passport parade by pointing out the colour of the UK’s travel documentation was our own choice all along.The PM and many Brexiteers yesterday hailed the change was a victory for British sovereignty with Nigel Farage describing it as a step towards “becoming a proper country again”.In the 2016 referendum, we wanted our passports back. Now we've got them back! 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/9cS8TM
  
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• Thatcher aide dismisses blue passports as a ‘nostalgic’ Brexit stunt

  23-12-2017 21:00
  Theresa May’s victory over colour has no substance, according to former adviser Charles PowellMargaret Thatcher’s key foreign policy adviser has mocked commentators rejoicing over the decision to change the colour of the British passport, describing it as nostalgia driven by ageing Eurosceptics.Confirming it was Thatcher’s government who “chose” to ditch the blue passport in the 1980s – under no pressure from the European Union – Charles Powell said the
  
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• Gogglebox’s Leon Bernicoff Dies, Aged 83

  23-12-2017 19:39
  Leon Bernicoff, who found fame alongside his wife June on ‘Gogglebox’, has died at the age 83.The sad news was announced on the programme’s Twitter account, with Channel 4 later stating that Leon died in hospital after a short period of illness.“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and #Gogglebox legend Leon,” the tweet read. “We will all miss him so very dearly.“Our thoughts are with June and family at this incredibly
  
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• The Year's Most Difficult Donald Trump Quiz - Only Die-Hard News Junkies Will Get 100%

  23-12-2017 19:23
  This time last year we were all marvelling at how completely bonkers 2016 was.Not to be outdone 2017 has served up a plentiful amount of WTF with an added dash of “ohmygodthisisactuallyhappening” to spice things up a little.Of course much of the year’s news has been about one man - Donald Trump. But how much have you been paying attention?We all remember the major events but as always, the devil is in the details...
  
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• Ahmadi Muslims Group Brings Festive Cheer To Elderly And Isolated

  23-12-2017 16:54
  A minority Muslim group has launched a nationwide initiative this Christmas to bring some festive cheer to the elderly and isolated.Young Ahmadi Muslims from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) will be visiting care homes and hospices as well as providing a free taxi service to the elderly on Christmas Day.AMYA’s members hope to carry out more than 2,000 visits to spend some time with people who might otherwise be on their own, the organisation said.In #Yorkshire we have started
  
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• 11 Pro-Blue Passport Comments That Should Be Made Up But Aren't

  23-12-2017 15:27
  Yesterday, according to Nigel Farage, the UK took a step towards “becoming a proper country again”.No, we didn’t curb foodbank use, see a rise in the value of Sterling or negotiate a trade deal with the EU better than the one we already have - we got blue passports.All for a bargain £490 million.A return to British passports means we are becoming a proper country again. We are getting our individuality and national identity back. pic.twitter.com/AOZjmQhsyfDecember 22, 201
  
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• Aldi Stabbing: Man Appears In Court Charged With Murder Of Jodie Willsher

  23-12-2017 14:53
  A 44-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder after a “doting mother and a loving wife” was stabbed to death at the supermarket where she worked.Customers pinned down a man after 30-year-old Jodie Willsher was attacked at an Aldi in Skipton, North Yorkshire, on Thursday.Neville Hord appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Saturday where he was remanded in custody in a hearing lasting three minutes, the Press Association reported.According to North Yorkshire Police,
  
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• 'Pay-per-mile' scheme for HGVs considered

  23-12-2017 13:16 via bbc.co.uk
  The transport secretary says it would help ensure UK and international drivers pay for road upkeep.
  
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• All We Want For Christmas Is For Separated Families To Be Reunited

  23-12-2017 11:45
  Satbir Singh, Laura Clarke and Nichola Leon Pastrana are three campaigners with the #BringThemHome campaign, which aims to reunite families separated due to their immigration status.In this vlog, filmed as part of HuffPost UK’s 12 Days of Christmas series, Satbir, Laura and Nichola talk about the pain caused by their separation and how it feels to be reunited, their hopes for 2018, and their message to you this Christmas.For more information on #BringThemHome and the work of JCWI (Joint Co
  
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• Blue passports could send UK citizens to back of queue, EU officials say

  23-12-2017 11:00
  Theresa May’s decision to change passport colour as expression of ‘independence and sovereignty’ could mean travel delaysEuropean officials have warned that Britain’s new blue passports could spell travel delays and extra paperwork rather than the enhanced freedom promised by the government.Theresa May sought to end a difficult political year on a high note on Friday by confirming the return of navy travel documents after Brexit. She said that abandoning the EU-style burg
  
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• Simon Cowell’s Brother Reveals The Music Mogul’s Unconventional Approach To Christmas

  23-12-2017 10:54
  When you’re as rich as Simon Cowell, you can pretty much do what you want, when you want - and that goes for Christmas too.This year you won’t find the ‘X Factor’ boss getting up at the crack of dawn to open pressies and baste his turkey.Instead, the 58-year-old takes a rather more unconventional approach to the festive season, which he spends in Barbados with his son Eric and girlfriend Lauren Silverman.His brother Tony revealed: “Long before Eric came along, Simon
  
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• Meet the housemates with a 68 year age gap

  23-12-2017 10:43 via bbc.co.uk
  Florence, 95, and student Alexandra, 27, on how the homesharing scheme has helped them.
  
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• Philippines Tropical Storm: At Least 90 People Reported Dead After Storm Tembin Triggers Mudslides And Flooding

  23-12-2017 10:34
  At least 90 people have been reported dead and dozens more are missing in the Philippines after a tropical storm triggered major mudslides and flooding. According to officials, the casualties from Storm Tembin were all on the main southern island of Mindanao.“We’re are still trying to confirm reports of a farming village buried by a mudslide,” Ryan Cabus, an official in Tubod town, told Reuters. He said power and communication lines to the area had been cut, complicat
  
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• Big Ben's iconic bongs return

  23-12-2017 10:17 via bbc.co.uk
  The moment the Great Bell of the Elizabeth Tower's hourly chimes resumed for the festive period.
  
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• ‘Great British Bake Off’ Winner Sophie Faldo Admits People Might Have Placed Bets Knowing She Had Won

  23-12-2017 10:11
  This year’s ‘Great British Bake Off’ champ Sophie Faldo has admitted that friends and family of the finalists may have placed bets on her winning knowing who had won the competition ahead of the televised final.Guests are invited along to watch the winner being crowned champion of the Channel 4 baking competition, giving them insider knowledge on the winner weeks before everyone else.However, anyone doing so would have broken the clause in the Non Disclosure Agreement that ever
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn drove me to despair. How wrong I was | Abi Wilkinson

  23-12-2017 10:00
  While I was pleased that Corbyn was taking Labour back to the left, his first year as leader had me fearing the worstI didn’t start out as a proper Jeremy Corbyn supporter. During the 2015 Labour leadership contest, I was deeply frustrated at the options available. Though I’ve always sat on the left of the party (I first joined when I was at university, after a friend convinced me Ed Miliband represented a break with the New Labour era) I bought into the idea that under Jeremy Corbyn
  
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• London Zoo Fire: More Than 70 Firefighters Tackle Blaze At Cafe And Shop

  23-12-2017 09:11
  More than 70 firefighters are currently tackling a blaze that has broken out at a cafe and shop at London Zoo. Around half of the zoo’s adventure cafe and shop - which contains an animal petting area - is currently alight, the London Fire Brigade reported. It is not believed that any animals are involved in the fire at this stage. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters and officers are tackling a fire in a cafe and shop at London Zoo. More info to follow pic.twitter.com
  
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• Theresa May says 2017 hasn't been too bad for her. Is she delusional? | John Crace

  23-12-2017 09:00
  Plus the stresses of parenting, investment misadventures and something lost in translation in courtI’ve been sent an advance proof of The Secret Barrister, which the publishers hope will do next year for the legal profession what the several books written by doctors have done this year to expose the problems in the NHS. Its stories of how the law often fails those whom it is meant to protect – how do barristers feel when someone they believe to be innocent gets banged up for five yea
  
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• Madeleine McCann's Mother Kate Reveals She 'Still Buys Christmas Presents' For Missing Daughter

  23-12-2017 08:58
  Kate McCann has revealed she still buys Christmas presents for her missing daughter Madeleine – more than a decade after the youngster vanished in Portugal.Writing in the Daily Telegraph, McCann recalled the last Christmas she spent with her daughter, when Madeleine was just three years old.Her present that year was a toy kitchen, the Press Association reported, which had been wrapped with a bow and left downstairs for her to find on Christmas morning. “I remember seeing her fac
  
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• 'A Generation Will Become Illiterate': Teachers Of Syrian Refugee Children Appeal For Help

  23-12-2017 08:08
  Thousands of Syrian refugee children are dropping out of school to work and earn money, HuffPost UK has learnt. Child labour is affecting children as young as 12 and teachers at their makeshift Unicef schools describe pupils “on the verge of collapse” and despondent about the future. Unicef says around 28% of school-age Syrian refugee children in Jordan are not in education - which amounts to more than 90,000 youngsters - and aid workers fear scores are working to feed thei
  
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• Corbyn government is ‘nightmarish’ prospect says business chief

  23-12-2017 05:00 via ft.com
  Outgoing head of EEF manufacturers’ lobby breaks silence to attack Labour
  
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• Chill wind blows through Britain’s growing homeless camps

  23-12-2017 05:00 via ft.com
  Surge in housing costs and benefit changes condemn greater numbers to sleep rough
  
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