Political news

• Tories’ Brexit unity fades as Heseltine slams May’s speech

  03-03-2018 22:40 via theguardian.com
  ‘Phrases, generalisations and platitudes’ won’t make a deal more likely, warns former deputy PMTory hopes of uniting the party behind Theresa May’s latest vision for Brexit faded as former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine dismissed her latest speech as just more “phrases, generalisations and platitudes” which had done nothing to make a deal more likely.While most Conservative MPs and peers gave the prime minister a period of grace after Friday’s a
  
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• End To Widespread Freezing Conditions But More Snow Expected In The North

  03-03-2018 21:49
  An end to widespread freezing conditions is in sight as a gradual thaw takes hold of the South, while the fall-out from Storm Emma continues to disrupt parts of the UK.Temperatures in most places are due to gradually return to normal by the beginning of next week, with highs of 9C expected in parts of the South West on Sunday.However, most of northern England and Scotland is still struggling to get above freezing, while high winds and freezing rain left thousands of homes without power.**19:15 U
  
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• John McDonnell: Spring Statement 'must help ailing councils'

  03-03-2018 21:11 via bbc.co.uk
  The shadow chancellor wants to see far more support for local authorities in the Spring Statement.
  
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• Leicestershire Explosion Sees Three Men Charged With Manslaughter And Arson

  03-03-2018 19:16
  Three men have been charged with manslaughter and arson over an explosion in Leicester, which left five people dead, Leicestershire Police confirmed on Saturday.The accused, named by police as, Aram Kurd, 33, Hawkar Hassan, 32 and Arkan Ali, 37, were arrested on Wednesday and now each face five counts of manslaughter and arson with intent to endanger life. Police said the men will remain in custody over the weekend and will appear before Leicester Magistrates on Monday.Two other m
  
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• Leicester Explosion Sees Three Men Charged With Manslaughter And Arson

  03-03-2018 19:16
  Three men have been charged with manslaughter and arson over an explosion in Leicester, which left five people dead, police confirmed on Saturday.The accused, named by Leicestershire Police as, Aram Kurd, 33, Hawkar Hassan, 32 and Arkan Ali, 37, were arrested on Wednesday and now each face five counts of manslaughter and arson with intent to endanger life. Police said the men will remain in custody over the weekend and will appear before Leicester Magistrates on Monday.Two other m
  
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• Labour’s #MeToo problems are far from over

  03-03-2018 19:11 via ft.com
  The party is my family; the hardest abuse to hear about involves those you trusted
  
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• White House On Lockdown As Secret Service Investigate 'Shots Fired' Reports

  03-03-2018 18:35
  The White House was put on lockdown on Saturday after a reports that a shot was fired on the North Lawn. The US Secret Service said on Twitter that its personnel were responding to reports a person had suffered a “self-inflicted gun shot wound”.BREAKING: Secret Service personnel are responding to reports of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound along the north fence line of @WhiteHouse.— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 3, 2018BREAKING:
  
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• Couple Freed from 12ft Snowdrift Surrounding Home In Southern Scotland

  03-03-2018 17:19
  An elderly couple and their two dogs have been dug out of their house in southern Scotland after becoming trapped by 12ft (3.6m) snow drifts around the property.Two police officers and a mountain rescue team managed to dig them out of the secluded farm house near West Linton after they called for help on Friday afternoon.The couple, aged 70 and 71, had run out of firewood for heating and were cut off from their coal shed by the time they were freed.They were found to be in good health and were t
  
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• Travellers On Stranded Trains Warned Against Trespassing On The Tracks

  03-03-2018 16:46
  Frustrated travellers tempted to self-evacuate from trains stranded by the severe weather conditions have been warned to stay put by the British Transport Police (BTP).Officers posted a warning on Twitter on Saturday urging passengers to stay on board where they were “far safer” after a number of occasions where people left trains that had ground to a halt in the icy conditions.On Friday evening passengers stuck on a train near Lewisham station, south London, jumped onto the tracks,
  
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• Eight Charged After Digger Raids On Supermarkets During Blizzard

  03-03-2018 16:29
  Eight men have been charged after two supermarkets were looted, apparently with a digger in blizzard conditions.Pictures from the scene showed a Lidl store in Jobstown, Tallaght, that had partially collapsed due to damage.The defendants, aged between 24 and 47 years, were due to appear in court on Saturday morning following the raids on two Dublin stores.A number of vehicles were also reported stolen.A ninth man, in his 30s, has been arrested for handling stolen property.The Press Association re
  
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• Grand Canyon Crash: Newlywed Groom's Parents Sue Over Tragedy

  03-03-2018 16:02
  The parents of a newlywed groom who was among the five who died after a helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon are suing the tour operator of the flight.The parents of Jonathan Udall, who died in hospital days before his wife Ellie Milward, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Friday against Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and manufacturer Airbus Helicopters.The honeymooning couple died in hospital after the February 10 crash that killed their friends Becky Dobson, her boyfriend Stuart Hill and his
  
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• Armando Iannucci On Why He's Finding It Hard To Maintain His Sense Of Humour

  03-03-2018 15:34
  “I’m the peacemaker and I’ll fuck over anyone who gets in my way.”Spoken by the future leader of the Soviet Union, played by Steve Buscemi and delivered in a thick Brooklyn accent, this line encapsulates the chaos, terror and comedy of Armando Iannucci’s latest offering, ‘The Death of Stalin’.The creator of Veep and The Thick Of It has broken with tradition to tackle one of the darkest periods in modern history - the passing of the Soviet Union’s s
  
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• Cut In Weekly Payments To Modern Slavery Victims Denounced By MP

  03-03-2018 15:33
  The Government has confirmed that weekly subsistence payments for victims of modern slavery are being cut by more than 40%.The move was denounced by senior backbench MP Frank Field, who said it would “benefit slave drivers and exploiters” by forcing destitute people back into their clutches.Coming just days after Theresa May hosted a summit of her Modern Slavery Taskforce at 10 Downing Street, the change will see financial support cut from £65 to £37.75 a week, but the pe
  
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• Meghan Markle Will Bring ‘Sassiness’ To Royal Family, Says Former Vogue Editor

  03-03-2018 14:58
  Meghan Markle will bring a touch of American “sassiness” to the look of the royal family, according to the former longtime editor of British Vogue.But Alexandra Shulman said the Queen remained “the most stylish person”, after receiving a CBE for services to fashion journalism at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday.Shulman, 60, told the Press Association: “Meghan’s got a great style, is very confident in her style, and she will bring a bit of
  
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• Jacob Rees-Mogg attacks 'absurd' EU plan for Irish border

  03-03-2018 14:44 via theguardian.com
  Tory MP says EU is risking ‘no deal’ Brexit and accuses Irish PM of ‘irresponsible, vote-chasing immaturity’Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused Ireland and the European Union of risking a “no deal” Brexit with their “absurd” suggestion that Northern Ireland should be in a common regulatory area with Brussels to avoid a hard border on the island. Related: May speech fails to provide Brexit border solutions, says Irish PMContinue reading...
  
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• ‘Suicide-By-Cop’ Hostage-Taker David Clarke Jailed For 12 Years Over Bowling Alley Standoff

  03-03-2018 14:32
  A man seized terrified hostages during a four-hour armed siege at a bowling alley in a “suicide by cop” bid, a court has heard.David Clarke went to the MFA Bowl complex in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where both he and and his ex-girlfriend worked, still struggling over the breakdown of their relationship.A judge sentenced the father-of-two to 12 years in jail, after hearing that the defendant had wanted to go out in what prosecutors called “a blaze of glory”.The “angry
  
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• ‘Broadchurch’ Actress Sarah Parish Breaks Leg After Attempting To Snowboard On Cheap Plastic Sledge

  03-03-2018 14:16
  Actress Sarah Parish is recovering in hospital after breaking her leg when she attempted to snowboard on a plastic sledge.The ‘Broadchurch’ star was taken to the Royal Hampshire Hospital in Winchester, where surgeons are due to insert a pin through her shin.The 49-year-old star shared a picture of her being treated by paramedics at the scene of the accident on Instagram.She told fans she had been given “enough morphine to knock the Navy out but still in pain”.She added: &
  
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• Loophole used to cut affordable housing in rural England – report

  03-03-2018 13:31 via theguardian.com
  Government urged to tighten planning laws that are currently being exploited by developersDevelopers are managing to dodge building tens of thousands of affordable homes in rural areas where they are most needed because of a legal loophole in planning laws, according to research by the homeless charity Shelter and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).The findings of a hard-hitting report by the two organisations will place added pressure on the housing, communities and local government s
  
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• Paramedic Assaulted While On Call Because Member Of The Public Didn't Like How They Parked

  03-03-2018 13:03
  A paramedic was assaulted while attending a call after a member of the public became irate about where their ambulance was parked.Tasha Starkey, who works for West Midlands Ambulance Service, was attending to a woman with chest pains in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham on Friday when she was verbally abused and her colleague was physically assaulted.Mission get to work complete! I am freeeeeezing! Finally got a cup of tea and ready to start my shift!#nhsworkerpic.twitter.com/3MhQGokadE— Ta
  
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• Council leaders across UK believe Brexit will hurt local economies

  03-03-2018 12:54 via theguardian.com
  More than 60% of council leaders and chief executives predict negative impact on their regions, survey findsCouncil leaders across the UK believe Brexit will damage their local economies, putting them under greater pressure to push up council taxes and cut yet more services. Related: Council tax rises to boost bills by £81 in EnglandContinue reading...
  
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• Activists Have Taken Over A Massive London Building To Save Homeless People's Lives

  03-03-2018 11:53
  A small group of activists has taken over a building in central London hoping to house, feed and support up to 200 homeless people who would otherwise be forced to sleep outside in freezing conditions this weekend.The handful of unpaid volunteers have dubbed the four-storey space the Sofia Solidarity Centre (SSC) and have appealed for donations of food, supplies and time.“There’s snow on the ground, it was -3C two nights ago. It’s windy, it’s cold and people have frozen t
  
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• Jacob Rees-Mogg Says EU Northern Ireland Plan Is 'Absurd'

  03-03-2018 11:23
  Jacob Rees-Mogg has branded the EU’s suggestion that Northern Ireland should remain in the customs union as “absurd” and insisted there is no time to “nitpick” Brexit.The backbencher-turned-Brexit poster boy blamed “irresponsible, vote-chasing immaturity” from Irish premier Leo Varadkar and “clear disregard” for the Good Friday Agreement from EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier for the row over the Irish border.Writing in the Belfast News Lett
  
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• 30 years of the Lib Dems in 3 minutes

  03-03-2018 10:49 via bbc.co.uk
  Thirty years ago, the Liberal Party and the Social Democrats merged to form what would become known as the Liberal Democrats.
  
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• Not time to nitpick on Brexit - Jacob Rees-Mogg

  03-03-2018 10:48 via bbc.co.uk
  The Tory MP warns fellow Brexiteers "everyone will have to give up something" after Theresa May's speech.
  
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• Jennifer Lawrence And Jodie Foster Set To Replace Casey Affleck On Presenting Duties At Oscars Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

  03-03-2018 10:23
  Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster will present the Best Actress award at tomorrow night’s Oscars after Casey Affleck pulled out of the ceremony.As is tradition, the actor, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in ‘Manchester By the Sea’, was due to present the award but is swerving this year’s bash after claims of sexual harassment were levelled against him.According to Variety, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has made a stand in the ‘year of th
  
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• When Wedding Proposals Don't Go To Plan: 'I Was Delighted But Worried I Was Going to Vomit On Him'

  03-03-2018 10:09
  The final morning of Mike and Alexia’s trip to the Alps – a surprise he’d organised for her birthday – dawned cold and crisp; the ideal moment for a romantic proposal. So as they stood on their chalet balcony in the early-morning air, the Matterhorn a picturesque backdrop, Mike decided this was the time to get down on one knee.If only he had kept a firmer grip on the ring – which, as he pulled it from his pocket, escaped his fingers and landed in a drain.&
  
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• Council tax should be fair and progressive. Ours is neither

  03-03-2018 10:08 via theguardian.com
  It is outrageous that a person in a £17m Westminster mansion pays less than a pensioner in a Nottingham bungalowThere is a Grade II-listed seven-bedroom home of “ambassadorial proportions” for sale in Westminster, just along from the old Conservative party headquarters, if you’ve got the odd £17m to spare. But there is one financial worry the buyer won’t have: council tax. The new owner will be presented with a council tax bill for 2017-18 of just £1,376
  
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• Heathrow expansion will never happen, says McDonnell

  03-03-2018 10:00 via ft.com
  Shadow chancellor says third runway will not pass Labour’s tests on suitability
  
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• Elton John Tells Overzealous Fan To ‘F*** Off’ Before Storming Off Stage During Las Vegas Residency Performance

  03-03-2018 09:33
  Elton John has vowed never to get up close and personal with fans ever again after things got too close for comfort during one of his gigs in Las Vegas.The singer ended up telling a fan to ‘f*** off’ before storming off stage during a performance in Sin City, where he currently has a residency.As part of the performance for his classic hit ‘Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)’, a series of fans were given the once in a lifetime opportunity to join the star on st
  
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• UK Weather: Ice Weather Warnings Are Latest Threat As Temperatures Begin To Rise

  03-03-2018 09:15
  Temperatures are at last beginning to rise after the UK has suffered days of icy blasts, strong winds and heavy snow - but don’t relax just yet.Conditions are set to remain perilous thanks to black ice and a high risk of coastal flooding, with the RAC warning people not drive unless necessary.Yellow weather warnings for ice were in force in many areas of the country, mainly in Wales, central and eastern England, until the middle of Saturday.The chief forecaster said: “A combination o
  
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• Can I cook like … Miriam González Durántez?

  03-03-2018 09:00 via theguardian.com
  A week of cooking Spanish meals from the blog of the top lawyer (and Nick Clegg’s wife) could lead to wheedling your way into her familyDuring the 2015 general election campaign, an interview with Miriam González Durántez, top European lawyer and Nick Clegg’s wife, revealed that for the past four years she had been quietly blogging the recipes that she and her two eldest sons had been cooking. The blog is a treasure trove of easy but delicious meals, largely, but not ex
  
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• Pamela Anderson Recalls The Scary Fan Story To End All Scary Fan Stories

  03-03-2018 08:59
  If you’ve ever dreamed of fame and fortune and a celebrity lifestyle, you might change your mind after hearing Pamela Anderson’s close encounter with one seriously obsessed fan.The former ‘Baywatch’ star revealed one particularly hairy moment with a female fan during an appearance on ‘Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’, airing tonight (3 March) on ITV.When Piers asked Pammie if she’d had any weird fan encounters over the years, the actress and campaigner
  
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• Listen: Theresa May's third Brexit speech and profiling John McDonnell

  03-03-2018 08:53 via ft.com
  The prime minister delivered her vision of the UK's future relationship with the EU, did it strike the right note?
  
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• Oscars 2018: Who Will Win? See Our Predictions And Cast Your Vote

  03-03-2018 07:32
  With the Oscars less than two days away, there’s only one thing left to do. If you’re an A-lister in attendance, then the last task on your list is prepping for the big night.But if, like us, you’ll be tuning in from the comfort of your own sofa, it’s officially time to make your predictions. After swotting up on the films and checking who’s already been triumphant at award season’s previous events, we’re ready to share our best educated guesse
  
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• Oscars 2018: 12 Things That Prove How Far The Film Industry Still Has To Go When It Comes To Diversity

  03-03-2018 07:32
  It’s no secret the film industry has often struggled when it comes to diversity and as has (rightly) been the case in recent years, awards season has once again been dominated by conversations about representation. The Golden Globes saw Sterling K. Brown become the first black man win to win the Best Actor - TV Drama prize and ‘Get Out’ has taken its rightful place on numerous Oscars shortlists. It hasn’t all been good though, with the Baftas and Golden Glo
  
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• Who do I blame? Eight reasons we ended up in this Brexit mess | Ian Jack

  03-03-2018 07:00 via theguardian.com
  From immigration and lost jobs to the playing fields of Eton, it’s useful to pin down exactly why the UK is leaving EuropeWho’s to blame? There’s no need to ask for what. The problem is where to start. In history lessons at my Scottish high school, the teacher would first divide the causes of a war or other catastrophe by numbers: 1 for long term and 2 for immediate; and then subdivide those broad categories by capital letters, A and B, and so forth; and further subdivide those
  
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• How Boris Johnson blew his chance of becoming prime minister

  03-03-2018 06:04 via ft.com
  The foreign secretary has failed to prove himself as a serious figure
  
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• Ladbrokes threatens cut to sponsorship

  03-03-2018 03:01 via bbc.co.uk
  The bookmaker says proposed limits on in-store gaming machines could mean it gives less to support events.
  
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