Political news

• No deal for EU citizens coming to UK during Brexit transition – PM

  31-01-2018 23:30 via theguardian.com
  Theresa May pours cold water on EU27’s free movement ‘status quo’ until 2020 planTheresa May has sparked a new clash with Brussels by saying that EU citizens who arrive during the post-Brexit transition period must not have the same rights as those who came before.The prime minister’s remarks set her on course for a major skirmish with officials in Brussels, who have offered a “status quo” transition period until December 2020, including free movement and citi
  
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• Theresa May Will Present China's President Xi Jinping With Box Set Of BBC's Blue Planet II

  31-01-2018 23:00
  Theresa May will give China’s President Xi Jinping a box set of the BBC’s Blue Planet II series, specially signed by Sir David Attenborough.Downing Street revealed the Prime Ministerial gift ahead of a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing on Thursday.The marine wildlife series was such a huge success in China that it pulled in 80 million viewers nationwide and was so popular it even slowed down the country’s internet on social media.A box set of the series, along with a b
  
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• Theresa May rejects Brussels stance on EU citizens’ rights

  31-01-2018 23:00 via ft.com
  Arrivals in UK during Brexit transition period will be treated differently
  
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• Michael Gove targets water companies over use of tax havens

  31-01-2018 23:00 via ft.com
  Minister offers regulator more powers to clamp down on ‘opaque financial structures’
  
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• May Warns EU Migrants Coming To UK After Brexit: Don't Expect Full Citizens’ Rights

  31-01-2018 23:00
  Theresa May has signalled that new EU migrants coming to the UK after Brexit should not expect to be granted full citizens’ rights.The Prime Minister said those who arrived after March 2019 would have to be treated differently from their predecessors “because they will be coming to a UK that they know will be outside the EU”.May has already stressed that three million European nationals currently living in the country will be guaranteed voting and residency rights once Britain
  
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• MPs Vote To Leave Houses Of Parliament For £3.5bn Refurbishment

  31-01-2018 22:44
  On Wednesday night they voted in support of a “full and timely decant” after deleting sections from a motion which would have allowed them to kick into the long grass the need for “comprehensive works” at the Unesco World Heritage Site.A body would also be established to provide up-to-date costings of the work and a “realistic” timetable for the repairs.The amendment was tabled by Public Accounts Committee chairwoman Meg Hillier and was viewed as a way of ensu
  
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• Late lord a-quitting has resignation turned down

  31-01-2018 22:22 via ft.com
  Lord Bates walks out after missing question — but government tells him to stay
  
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• Lord Bates's resignation over lateness rejected by PM

  31-01-2018 21:58 via bbc.co.uk
  Lord Bates told fellow peers he intended to resign after the "discourtesy" of arriving late to a session.
  
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• 'The Truth About Getting Fit': Five Exercise Lessons From The BBC Show

  31-01-2018 21:55
  1. You don’t need a personal trainer to test your current fitness levelAccording to Mosley, you can embark on your fitness journey for free by testing your base level of fitness in your living room.One way of doing this is by finding out how long it takes you to stand up and sit down from a chair 10 times, without using your hands. All you need is a hard chair and a way to time yourself to get a “quick but relatively accurate” idea of your current fitness level.As a l
  
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• Trust is broken at BBC over equal pay, Carrie Gracie tells MPs

  31-01-2018 21:43 via theguardian.com
  Former China editor effectively accuses corporation of lying and briefing against her
  Carrie Gracie has said in extraordinary evidence to MPs that the management of the BBC is incapable of resolving its gender pay crisis and needs external help.The corporation’s former China editor eviscerated its bosses during a two-hour hearing with the digital, culture, media and sport select committee. Continue reading...
  
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• MPs vote to move out for £4bn renovation of Parliament

  31-01-2018 21:35 via ft.com
  Step forward in saving of crumbling Victorian Palace of Westminster
  
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• Steve Bell on Trump's State of the Union address – cartoon

  31-01-2018 21:28 via theguardian.com
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• MPs set to leave Houses of Parliament for £3.5bn restoration

  31-01-2018 21:25 via theguardian.com
  MPs vote to back refurbishment which is expected to see Commons move to WhitehallA tale of decay: the Houses of Parliament are falling down
  Parliament is expected to relocate away from its historic site at the Palace of Westminster in the next decade after MPs decided that the risk of a major fire was so great that a total refurbishment costing at least £3.5bn was necessary.MPs voted by 236 to 220 to support an amendment that saw Conservative and Labour members come together to support a f
  
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• Lord Bates makes dramatic resignation in House of Lords

  31-01-2018 21:23 via theguardian.com
  Minister shocks peers by walking out of chamber after being late but No 10 refuses resignationA government minister has resigned from his job for being absent from the House of Lords when he should have been there to answer a question, then walked out of the chamber to the shock of his fellow peers.Michael Bates, a minister at the Department for International Development (DfID) since 2016, said he was “thoroughly ashamed at not being in my place” for the question, and walked out to l
  
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• BBC has ‘illegal pay culture’ says former China editor

  31-01-2018 21:17 via ft.com
  Carrie Gracie claims BBC bosses are trying to justify ‘the indefensible’
  
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• Bullying HQ: The NUS Orders Officers To Stay Away After Investigation Launched

  31-01-2018 20:45
  As Shakira Martin stood on the stage at last year’s National Union of Students conference in Brighton, the loudest cheers from delegates welcomed one of the newly-elected president’s most striking commitments: “Sticks and stones will break our bones, but we’ll kick the bullies out.”But now Martin and a number of other officers face an NUS investigation after widespread, but disputed, allegations of bullying. The union’s management has now taken the extrao
  
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• UK defence ministry slammed over potential £21bn procurement black hole

  31-01-2018 20:32 via ft.com
  Audit watchdog highlights failure to factor in billions in costs in 10-year budget
  
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• Palace of Westminster 'is a statement'

  31-01-2018 20:15 via bbc.co.uk
  Labour MP Stephen Pound says parliamentarians have "fought too hard" over the centuries to evacuate the Palace of Westminster just because building work needs to take place.
  
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• Wormwood Scrubs Prisoner Stabbed To Death, Scotland Yard Says

  31-01-2018 19:36
  A prisoner has been stabbed to death at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London, Scotland Yard said.Police were called at 3.19pm on Wednesday to reports a man had suffered stab injuries at the jail.He died at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said his next of kin had been informed but they were still waiting for formal identification.No arrests have been made and a post-mortem will take place “in due course”, the Met said.This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Check back
  
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• ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequel Won’t ‘Explicitly’ Address Dumbledore’s Sexuality, Says Director David Yates

  31-01-2018 19:29
  ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’ director David Yates has said the second film in the franchise will “not explicitly” address Albus Dumbledore’s sexuality. Back in 2007, author JK Rowling revealed that the Hogwarts headmaster was gay, telling fans that he ”fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was”.But while the upcoming film, ‘The Crimes Of Grindelwald’, will introd
  
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• 11 Reviews Of Donald Trump's SOTU Speech

  31-01-2018 19:24
  Donald Trump undertook a delicate balancing act Tuesday night as he urged lawmakers to work toward bipartisan compromises, but pushed a hard line on immigration.Trump, in his first State of the Union speech, gave no ground on the contentious issue of whether to shield young immigrants known as “Dreamers” from deportation.Aiming to keep conservative supporters happy as he looks to November congressional elections, Trump was visibly impressed with himself (see video above), but here&rs
  
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• Grim conditions revealed in over 2,000 rented homes in Salford

  31-01-2018 19:01 via ft.com
  City council finds ‘shocking’ and ‘unacceptable’ accommodation
  
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• Sparking Fears We Are Humanising Wildlife For Our Own Entertainment

  31-01-2018 18:53
  Coercing animals like Wikie the orca to perform human behaviours such as counting and speaking is unnatural and could drive a worrying trend to turn wildlife into tourist attractions, campaigners have warned.The 16-year-old killer whale’s communication skills were put to the test at her home at Marineland aquarium, in Antibes, where it was found she could mimic words such as “hello” and “Amy” and count “one, two, three”.Although some wildlife campai
  
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• How Wikie The Talking Orca Has Sparked Fears Of New Animal Tourist Attractions

  31-01-2018 18:53
  Coercing animals like Wikie the orca to perform human behaviours such as counting and speaking is unnatural and could drive a worrying trend to turn wildlife into tourist attractions, campaigners have warned.The 16-year-old killer whale’s communication skills were put to the test at her home at Marineland aquarium, in Antibes, where it was found she could mimic words such as “hello” and “Amy” and count “one, two, three”.Although some wildlife campai
  
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• ‘House Of Cards’ Season 6: Diane Lane And Greg Kinnear Join The Cast

  31-01-2018 18:50
  Diane Lane and Greg Kinnear have joined ‘House Of Cards’ for its final season, Netflix has confirmed.Production on the sixth series of the political drama began on Wednesday (31 January), after a shutdown which came following sexual misconduct allegations against Kevin Spacey.The Frank Underwood actor subsequently departed the programme and it was announced Claire Underwood, played by Robin Wright, will be the sole lead star for the drama’s final outing.Netflix is yet to reveal
  
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• Carrie Gracie Proves The BBC Pay Equality Fiasco Is About More Than Money - HuffPost Verdict

  31-01-2018 18:48
  K E Y   P O I N T SFormer BBC China editor Carrie Gracie, who publicly resigned over unequal pay at the corporation, gave evidence to Parliamentary culture committee Wednesday afternoon She revealed to MPs the BBC offered her tens of thousands of pounds of back pay but insisted her grievance has never been about moneyGracie instead she wanted “an acknowledgement that my work was of equal value to the men who I served alongside” The broadcaster accused the BBC of &
  
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• Carrie Gracie Proves The BBC Pay Equality Fiasco Is About More Than Money

  31-01-2018 18:48
  Former BBC China editor Carrie Gracie, who publicly resigned over unequal pay at the corporation, gave evidence to Parliamentary culture committee Wednesday afternoon 
  She revealed to MPs the BBC offered her tens of thousands of pounds of back pay but insisted her grievance has never been about money
  Gracie instead she wanted “an acknowledgement that my work was of equal value to the men who I served alongside” 
  The broadcaster accused the BBC of “belittling” th
  
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• Ministers agree to release secret Brexit impact paper

  31-01-2018 18:36 via ft.com
  Government denies U-turn on May position after Labour pushes for publication
  
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• Lorde Takes Out Full-Page Ad With An Open Letter To Fans Following Grammys Controversy

  31-01-2018 18:13
  Lorde has alluded to the controversy over the lack of female winners at this year’s Grammys, in a full-page advert taken out in the New Zealand Herald.The singer was the only woman nominated in the Album Of The Year category, for her sophomore effort ‘Melodrama’, and the only act from that category who did not perform during the show.She has now addressed the matter in a handwritten letter, featured in the New Zealand Herald.Lorde said: “I just wanted to say thank yo
  
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• Ministers agree to show MPs the leaked Brexit report

  31-01-2018 18:04 via bbc.co.uk
  The government will let MPs see a leaked study on the economic impact of various Brexit scenarios.
  
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• Theresa May Refuses To Say Whether Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson Told The Truth About His Conduct

  31-01-2018 18:00
  Theresa May has repeatedly refused to say whether embattled Cabinet minister Gavin Williamson has told the truth about his personal conduct before he became an MP.The Prime Minister ducked questions over the Defence Secretary’s departure from a fireplace company days after a meeting to discuss his relationship with a junior colleague.Williamson has also refused to answer detailed queries about his move from Elgin and Hall in 2004, but has claimed that he had a “flirtatious relationsh
  
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• 6 Times Asos Baffled Us With Denim Looks, As Told By Twitter

  31-01-2018 17:55
  From classic jackets to skinny jeans, a piece of denim will invariably be the go-to item in anyone’s wardrobe. And because staples can get a little repetitive, brands continue to push the envelop with form, cut and shape. See, for example, Y-Project’s detachable jeans.Asos is also feeling experimental – recently adding a new look to their extensive denim collection. The latest in a long line of fabulously silly creations for the online fashion retailer is a denim bust
  
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• Capita shares collapse after warning on profits

  31-01-2018 17:54 via bbc.co.uk
  Outsourcing giant Capita loses almost half its value after cutting forecasts and trying to raise £700m.
  
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• Dry January: 8 People On What They Learned From Quitting Booze For A Month

  31-01-2018 17:29
  As January comes to a close, people around the country will be raising a toast to themselves for completing a month without alcohol. According to a YouGov poll commissioned by Alcohol Concern, an impressive three million Brits planned to take part in Dry January this year.We spoke to eight of this year’s cohort about the highs and lows of teetotal life. Although some struggled to resist temptation entirely, each of them got back on the bandwagon after a blip, which is an achievement in its
  
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• Tory minister abruptly resigns ... for being late

  31-01-2018 17:22 via ft.com
  Lord Bates walked out of chamber in middle of debate after missing question
  
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• The New Staples: Here Are The Beauty Products You'll Be Living For In 2018

  31-01-2018 17:22
  For some, settling into the new year might mean finding even more efficient ways to do life.This also applies to grooming, especially if you’re one who’s partial to looking smart without exception - but not so keen on spending 45 minutes in front of a mirror.When Zadie Smith reportedly told her seven-year-old daughter that putting on loads of makeup is a waste of time, her comments got mixed reactions.Some felt that self-grooming is an integral part of our daily lives - and that taki
  
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• New Beauty Staples: The Products You'll Be Living For In 2018

  31-01-2018 17:22
  Settling into the new year might mean finding even more efficient ways to do life. And this also applies to grooming, especially if you’re keen on looking pulled together - but not so keen on spending 45 minutes in front of a mirror. Since ‘I woke up like this’ is not, however, a (real) thing, here are the staple products you need to make it look like you did. Easy Peasy SoapThis prebiotic cleansing bar from Gallinée claimed to be suitable for all skin types, -
  
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• These Are The High Street Denim Jackets You'll Need This Spring

  31-01-2018 17:16
  Perfect for transitional whether and throwing on with almost any ensemble, a denim jacket can be the making of an outfit with it’s effortless appeal.These jackets have elevated casual style to create looks that seem both care-free and put together and make handy on-the-go items. While some may see the beauty in a cheap and cheerful trend piece, others might opt for practicality and purchase a jacket that will last a decade.Either way, investing in a denim jacket will work out as
  
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• Tributes For British Skiers Killed In French Alps

  31-01-2018 17:08
  Oscar Cassagneau-Francis and Rajen Mahendra, both 26 and from Cambridge, were on holiday in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc and skiing off-piste when they fell on Sunday morning, local rescue services said.Mr Cassagneau-Francis’ older brother Oliver Phillipe, 28, was with them and managed to raise the alarm at around 11am.Mountain rescue services arrived within 10 minutes, but the two men were pronounced dead at the scene.Tinashe Padiwa, 26, who went to school with Mr Cassagneau-Francis, told The Chro
  
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• A 'Devastating' Synthetic Virus Could Be The Solution To Superbugs

  31-01-2018 17:08
  A man-made “virus” that obliterates bacteria upon impact could help us turn the tide in the ongoing battle against superbugs, say scientists.The microscopic molecule, looks like a normal virus but the way it behaves makes it unique. In a manner that can only be compared to a guided missile, the virus blasts through the cell wall of a germ.It is this almost brutal characteristic that separates it from traditional antibiotics and allows it to disrupt the most vulnerable part of a bacte
  
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• Tory Minister Lord Bates Dramatically Resigns From Government For Being Late

  31-01-2018 17:06
  International Development minister Lord Bates has dramatically resigned from the government - because he was late.The Conservative peer caused uproar and confusion in the Lords on Wednesday afternoon when he spoke up to announce he intended to quit.“I have always believed we should rise to the highest possible standards of courtesy and respect in responding on behalf the government to the legitimate questions of the legislature,” he told peers.“I am thoroughly ashamed of not be
  
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• First Aid Must Be Taught In School

  31-01-2018 17:05
  It’s hard to believe that 95% of UK adults recently admitted that they wouldn’t know how to give life-saving first aid to someone who was unresponsive and not breathing or who was bleeding heavily. But the stark findings serve only to confirm what we believe at St John Ambulance: that first aid should be taught to every child in school.Through the many wonderful stories I hear every year, I know that children make very capable lifesavers and I know what they learn at school stays wit
  
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• Carrie Gracie: BBC Has Belittled Contribution Of Female Journalists For Decades

  31-01-2018 17:03
  Carrie Gracie has accused the BBC of ‘belittling’ the work of its female journalists for decades and broke down in tears as she told of her anger about how women had been treated by the broadcaster.The former China editor, who quit her role earlier this month in protest at men getting paid more than women for doing the same job, said her decision to walk away was never about money and branded the organisation’s approach to her grievance “disgraceful and insulting&rdq
  
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• Minister Lord Bates 'quits' for being late to debate

  31-01-2018 17:00 via bbc.co.uk
  Lord Bates tells stunned peers he is quitting as an international development minister because he was late for a debate.
  
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• 'Has There Been A Coup In Whitehall?' Full Transcript Of Downing Street Dodging Who Ordered Leaked Brexit Analysis

  31-01-2018 16:53
  Downing Street has denied “rogue” civil servants produced the leaked Brexit analysis due to a Whitehall coup, but refused to reveal who did order the work.In a briefing with journalists, the Prime Minister’s Deputy Official Spokesman (PMDOS) was repeatedly asked who had commissioned the work which looked at the economic impact of leaving the EU in a range of scenarios – but not the ‘bespoke’ deal the Government is seeking.At a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday
  
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• UK Weather To Stay Wintry As Met Office Predicts -10C

  31-01-2018 16:18
  The winter gloom continues for the UK with temperatures predicted to plummet as low as -10C at the weekend.The cold spell is expected by forecasters, following snow and sleet earlier in the week.Motorists faced risky driving conditions as snow fell across some parts of Scotland on Wednesday, with the M74, M77 and M8 among the routes affected.The Met Office has issued yellow “be prepared” warnings of snow and ice for northern, western and southern Scotland and Northern Ireland, w
  
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• Anna Soubry Attacks 'Hard Brexiteer' Tory MPs Who Will 'Destroy' The Party

  31-01-2018 16:17
  Conservative MP Anna Soubry has launched an outspoken attack on “hard Brexiteers” on the Tory benches who she said would “not hesitate to destroy this party” in order to get what they wanted.In am impassioned speech in the Commons on Wednesday, Soubry told Theresa May to “get a grip” to avoid a “Brexit nightmare”.The Broxtowe MP, one of the most ardently pro-Remain Tory backbenchers, said she had come to the view that the public should be given a &
  
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• PMQs: Lidington and Thornberry on votes for 16-year-olds

  31-01-2018 16:07 via bbc.co.uk
  Emily Thornberry and David Lidington on allowing 16 and 17-year-olds the vote in all UK elections.
  
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• Speaker to 'boorish' male MPs: Cut it out

  31-01-2018 16:05 via bbc.co.uk
  The Speaker John Bercow said there was a "sad irony" in the behaviour of some male MPs.
  
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• May resists pressure to endorse China’s ‘new silk road’ project

  31-01-2018 15:51 via ft.com
  UK and France among nations declining to sign MOU supporting Belt and Road Initiative
  
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