Political news

• Saudi crown prince visits UK with $100bn deals said to be on table

  05-03-2018 21:30 via ft.com
  Diplomats say Mohammed bin Salman’s trip will result in agreements in various areas
  
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• ‘Self-Defining’ Trans Women To Be Allowed On Labour’s All-Women Parliamentary Shortlists

  05-03-2018 21:07
  “Self-defining” trans women are to be given full rights by Labour, including guaranteed access to the party’s all-women shortlists for Parliamentary selections, HuffPost UK can reveal. In an historic move, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is set to approve a statement that would allow people to self-identify without the need for medical or other certification that they have changed their gender.The formal recognition of full transgender rights is expect
  
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• Irish prime minister dismisses Theresa May's border idea

  05-03-2018 20:41
  Leo Varadkar says US-Canada style border ‘not a solution we could possibly entertain’Ireland’s prime minister has dismissed as a non-starter Theresa May’s suggestion that the Canada-US border could be a model for the Irish border problem.Leo Varadkar told reporters on Monday evening that it was out of the question. “I visited the Canada/US border back in August and saw physical infrastructure with customs posts, people in uniforms with arms and dogs and that is defi
  
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• The five laws of Maybotics, rendered vaguely for Brexit | John Crace

  05-03-2018 20:35
  PM gets all binary to be both things to all people, but also neither of them. And Northern Ireland can smuggle livestockThe aim of the prime minister’s Mansion House speech had never been to provide clarity on the Brexit negotiations. It had been to buy herself some more time with sufficient vagueness to initiate a temporary ceasefire to prevent the Conservative party from tearing itself to pieces for a couple of weeks. Months possibly.Over the weekend, the initial indications had been tha
  
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• Incoming Grazia Editor Hattie Brett Calls Oscar Winners 'Fat'

  05-03-2018 20:05
  The incoming editor of Grazia has described this year’s Oscar winners as “so fat” just days after an edition of the magazine was published championing body positivity. Hattie Brett, who was appointed editor of the leading women’s magazine last month, wrote on Twitter while the ceremony was taking place: “Controversial opinion: why are all the Oscar winners so fat?” The tweet was subsequently deleted. When approached by HuffPost UK, Brett said sh
  
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• Britain has some leeway to spend and should use it

  05-03-2018 19:50 via ft.com
  There are good reasons to believe stronger tax receipts will persist
  
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• Brexit: Hammond says airlines won't be able to schedule flights for next year unless transition agreed before April - Politics live

  05-03-2018 19:40
  Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Theresa May’s statement to MPs about her Brexit speechLunchtime summarySummary of May and Hammond on Brexit 6.30pm GMT This afternoon Theresa May told @EmmaReynoldsMP that the US-Canada border could be a model for Ireland. As Ireland's Taoiseach pointed out months ago, that means flags, guns and checkpoints: https://t.co/tFsYHQaH6r via @bpoliticsThe implementation period is in our view very much in the int
  
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• Savings plans at UK defence ministry ‘cause daily confusion’

  05-03-2018 18:59 via ft.com
  Top civil servant admits four ‘efficiency programmes’ in 8 years are causing trouble
  
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• Theresa May Says UK Examining US-Canada Border As Solution To Northern Ireland Brexit Border Problem

  05-03-2018 18:23
  Theresa May has said the British government is examining the operation of the US-Canadian border as it seeks a solution to the Northern Ireland border problem.Speaking to the Commons on Monday, the prime minister repeated her position there would be “no hard border” on the island of Ireland after Brexit.“There are many examples of different arrangements for customs around the rest of the world, and indeed we are looking at those, including for example the border between the US
  
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• Tiffany Haddish Rewore Her Trusty White Dress To Co-Present An Award At The Oscars

  05-03-2018 18:16
  She stated she’d wear her $4000 dress as often as necessary to justify the cost. So when actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish was deciding what to wear for the Oscars to co-present an award with Maya Rudolph, she reached again for her trusty white evening gown.Haddish who has worn the Alexander McQueen number to several high profile events, including the Girls’ Trip premiere and to host Saturday Night Live, during which she said she’d keep repurposing her dress to get
  
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• Italian Elections: A Guide To The Five Star Movement - And Why It's Nothing Like Ukip

  05-03-2018 18:08
  Italy faces a prolonged period of political instability after voters delivered a hung parliament in the national elections on Sunday, spurning traditional parties and flocking to anti-establishment and far-right groups in record numbers.Matteo Renzi, the head of Italy’s Democratic Party and former prime minister, resigned on Monday following the results, saying he believed the party should not make any post-election pacts with “extremist parties”.On paper, the party projected t
  
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• Drag Race Is Exclusionary And Doing Harm To The LGBT+ Community

  05-03-2018 17:46
  “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag”.RuPaul famously published those words in his 1995 autobiography, Lettin It All Hang Out. But, in a recent interview with The Guardian, the Supermodel of the World seems to have completely forgotten that sentiment; or at least no longer fully believes in it.Before I launch into this article properly let me just start off by saying that I have been a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race since season one hit our screens in 2009. I am currentl
  
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• It Took Cancer, Chemo And Surgery Before I Realised I Was Sexy

  05-03-2018 17:39
  My body is incredible, sexy and wonderful and so is yours!Like many people, I was never a huge fan of what I saw when I looked in the mirror. I’d exercise daily, watch what I ate and still I wasn’t happy - despite the fact I was a healthy, and muscly, size 10 I always found ‘faults’ with my frame. The thought of leaving the house without makeup terrified me and my hair had to be styled ‘perfectly’ before I was happy to go on a night out...That is, until I was
  
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• Mail Online Cuts 26 'Intrusive' Pictures From Elaine Lordan Article After Backlash

  05-03-2018 17:30
  The Daily Mail’s website has amended an article after criticism over its use of “inhumane” pictures of former Eastenders actress Elaine Lordan.The Mail Online article included 58 separate images of Lordan, 51, which showed the star appearing to drink from a bottle of wine in the street.The actress, who played Lynne Hobbs in the BBC soap, has spoken in the past about her alcohol use and was previously found guilty of drink-driving.The charity Alcohol Concern told HuffPost U
  
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• DARPA's Human 'Stasis' Program Sounds Like Science Fiction But It Could Save Lives

  05-03-2018 17:29
  The idea of placing humans in stasis is one that has been explored in exhaustive detail through science fiction. Simply put it is the ability to quite literally press pause on our bodies and then wake up at an undefined time in the future.While many (mostly millionaires) have tried and failed to perfect the technology it’s something that the US Military is now taking very seriously.Its top secret research division known as DARPA has confirmed that it is now launching a Biostasis program wh
  
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• Ruth Langsford Demanded Equal Pay To Husband Eamonn Holmes

  05-03-2018 16:37
  Ruth Langsford has revealed how she demanded to be paid equally to husband Eamonn Holmes. The pair have fronted ITV’s ‘This Morning’ together on Fridays and school holidays since 2006, as well as hosting various Channel 5 shows together. Speaking to The Sun, Ruth said she has learned to negotiate the same wage any male co-presenter she works with, having knowledge of how much Eamonn takes home. “I insist now on being paid the same. I insist now that I do,&r
  
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• Outrage As Freddo Price Soars To 30p - An Increase Of 200% Since Year 2000

  05-03-2018 16:33
  Freddo prices have reached an all-time high, costing a jaw-dropping 30p.The frog-shaped chocolate bar, which weighs 18 grams, was sold in stores for 10p back in the Nineties. But it seems nothing is sacred, as Britain’s beloved chocolate bar has risen in price by 200% since the year 2000.According to Vouchercloud’s 2017 ‘Freddo index’, the chocolate bar was not expected to hit 30p until after 2020. But it seems that estimate was too good to be true as people hav
  
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• The Threat Of Right-Wing Terror Is As High As Ever

  05-03-2018 16:10
  “The right-wing threat was not previously organised,” declared Mark Rowley, outgoing assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police and head of counter-terror policing in the UK, during a speech on Monday night.“Every now and then there’s been an individual motivated by that rhetoric who has committed a terrorist act but we’ve not had an organised right-wing threat like we do now.”Rowley revealed that four extreme rightwing-inspired plots were foiled last y
  
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• Rachel Shenton Reveals Big Hopes For Oscar-Winning Short Film After Awards Success

  05-03-2018 15:59
  Former ‘Hollyoaks’ star Rachel Shenton is hoping to turn her Oscar-winning short film ‘The Silent Child’ into a feature-length drama, following its success at the Academy Awards. The actress/writer and her film-maker boyfriend, Chris Overton, triumphed at Sunday (4 March) night’s ceremony in the Best Live Action Short Film category, for their drama about a four-year-old deaf girl learning to communicate. Speaking on ITV’s ‘This Morning’,
  
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• Light Phone 2 Could Be The Perfect Replacement For Your Smartphone

  05-03-2018 15:55
  Smartphones are a wonderful tool, but too often they can become conduits that end up addicting us to the worst elements of technology: the infinite scroll.The Light Phone 2 however wants to offer a solution to our ‘always on’ mentality and social media addiction. Known as a ‘dumb’ phone, this gadget keeps things ultra-simple by offering just four key features: phone, messaging, music and navigation.The display is a beautiful monochrome E-ink display similar to those
  
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• The emerging mismatch of Brexit detail and UK rhetoric

  05-03-2018 15:48 via ft.com
  The EU’s draft withdrawal agreement indicates that the UK is not taking back control
  
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• May proposes planning overhaul to fix homes shortage

  05-03-2018 15:26 via ft.com
  Local authorities and developers say they are not to blame for slow rate of housebuilding
  
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• Taraji P. Henson Denies Shading Ryan Seacrest In Oscars Red Carpet Interview

  05-03-2018 15:15
  Taraji P. Henson has denied she was being shady to Ryan Seacrest during a seemingly uncomfortable exchange on the Oscars red carpet. The ‘Empire’ actress had fans speculating if she was alluding to allegations of sexual misconduct made against Ryan when he interviewed her on Sunday (4 March) night for E!. At one point, she smiled sweetly and grabbed his chin, after saying: “You know, the universe has a way of taking care of the good people. You know what I mean?&
  
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• Proportional Representation Is Doing Its Job In Germany

  05-03-2018 15:11
  After many months of tough negotiations, Germany has a new government. On Sunday morning the Social Democratic Party (SPD) announced their decision to continue governing with Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CSU). The result is the return to office of a coalition of parties that most Germans voted for.Yet this process has alarmed some British pundits - sometimes to the point of hysteria. In November, Andrew Neil announced “Germany tonight in its biggest political crisis sinc
  
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• What we have learnt about the UK Labour party’s John McDonnell

  05-03-2018 14:51 via ft.com
  The shadow chancellor has revealed much about his plans for office
  
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• No Water? Here's What To Do If You Have Problems With Your Pipes

  05-03-2018 14:51
  Tens of thousands of homes were left without water this weekend after pipes burst following last week’s freezing weather. Since then, water companies have been working around the clock to fix the problem.Some families have been left with no water at all, while others have been urged to cut back on water consumption due to low pressure. Households across London and the South East have been urged to use as little water as possible as demand is high.So what should you do next?If you
  
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• No Water? Here's What To Do If You Have A Problem With Burst Pipes

  05-03-2018 14:51
  Tens of thousands of homes were left without water this weekend after pipes burst following last week’s freezing weather. Since then, water companies have been working around the clock to fix the problem.Some families have been left with no water at all, while others have been urged to cut back on water consumption due to low pressure. Households across London and the South East have been urged to use as little water as possible as demand is high.So what should you do next?If you
  
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• Light at the end of the Brexit tunnel

  05-03-2018 14:45 via ft.com
  Theresa May’s speech was for her own troops, not the rest of Europe
  
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• Europe calling UK tech sector

  05-03-2018 14:32 via ft.com
  Start-ups, dependent on EU workers, are asking: should I stay or should I go?
  
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• Tom Daley And Dustin Lance Black Open Up About Decision To Choose Surrogacy

  05-03-2018 14:30
  Tom Daley and his husband Dustin Lance Black have opened up about their decision to have their first child through surrogacy.The Olympic diver, 23, and his partner said they had long debated how they’d build their family, but felt surrogacy suited them best due to the biological connection.“Both of us have lost our family members, parents at an early age,” said Dustin on Fearne Cotton’s ‘Happy Place’ podcast. “There was something for both of us where we
  
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• Two People In Salisbury In Critical Condition After Being 'Exposed' To Unknown Substance

  05-03-2018 14:01
  Two people feared to have been exposed to an “unknown substance” in Salisbury are fighting for their lives, Wiltshire Police have reported. A man and a woman were rushed from the city’s Maltings shopping centre to Salisbury District Hospital yesterday afternoon (Sunday) following calls to police over their welfare. The pair - who are currently in a “critical condition” - are being treated for suspected exposure to an unknown substance, officers said.&
  
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• Salisbury Hospital Closes A&E Department Following 'Major Incident'

  05-03-2018 14:01
  A Wiltshire hospital has been forced to close its accident and emergency department following a “major incident” involving a “small number of casualties”. Salisbury District Hospital warned patients not to come to A&E unless dealing with an “extremely urgent” situation.  The incident - the cause of which has not yet been confirmed - triggered a “multi-agency response”, the Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust said. Photos from out
  
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• Former Russian Double Agent Critically Ill After Suspected Exposure To Unknown Substance In Salisbury, Wiltshire

  05-03-2018 14:01
  A man fighting for his life in hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance in Salisbury, Wiltshire, is a spy who was convicted in Russia of passing state secrets to Britain. Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in Russian military intelligence, was one of two people rushed to hospital on Sunday after collapsing at a shopping centre, both the Press Association and Reuters has reported.The BBC also named Skripal as the man who was found along with a woman in her 30s, believed to be
  
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• Critically-Ill Man Exposed To Unknown Substance In Salisbury Is 'Ex-Russia Spy'

  05-03-2018 14:01
  A man fighting for his life in hospital after being exposed to an unknown substance in Salisbury, Wiltshire, is a spy who was convicted in Russia of passing state secrets to Britain. Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in Russian military intelligence, was one of two people rushed to hospital on Sunday after collapsing at a shopping centre, the Press Association understands. According to Wiltshire Police, a man in his sixties and a woman in her thirties were found unconscious on a be
  
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• US offers UK inferior open skies deal after Brexit

  05-03-2018 14:00 via ft.com
  Secret talks cut short after Washington proposes standard deal on transatlantic rights
  
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• UK-US Open Skies talks hit Brexit turbulence

  05-03-2018 14:00 via ft.com
  Negotiations cut short after Washington offers worse package than EU
  
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• Burst pipes: Why water privatisation failed

  05-03-2018 13:41
  
  If privatisation was supposed to improve efficiency, it went badly wrong.
  
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• Looks We Love: Janelle Monae Is A Lady In Crimson At The Vanity Fair Oscars Party

  05-03-2018 13:40
  We Love...Janelle Monae, giving us structured fierceness in a bold head-to-toe red ensemble at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party. The actress and singer tends to opt for suits with a twist on the red carpet and she did not disappoint in this striking two piece. Why It Works:From dresses to jackets, crimson dominated the catwalk during International Fashion Weeks. Valentino, a designer with a penchant for this colour, would’ve been proud to see how consistently it showed up in ‘s
  
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• Theresa May's Housing Announcement Gives No Guarantee Of More Homes - HuffPost Verdict

  05-03-2018 13:17
  The government must "step in" if homes are going to get built, Theresa May says, committing £44bn to supporting the housing markethttps://t.co/cZkc6NNLoRpic.twitter.com/NGkKDWpzP5— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 5, 2018 K E Y   P O I N T S Theresa May has told housing developers to ‘step up and do their bit’ to ensure more homes are built as she outlined changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.The prime minister said said property companies n
  
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• Susanna Reid Quizzes Stephanie Beacham After She Refers To Harvey Weinstein As A 'Poor Bloke' On 'Good Morning Britain'

  05-03-2018 13:17
  Stephanie Beacham raised eyebrows when she referred to Harvey Weinstein as a “poor bloke” during an appearance on ‘Good Morning Britain’. The former ‘Dynasty’ star was on the ITV breakfast show to discuss Sunday (4 March) night’s Oscars, when talk turned to equality in the film industry and the Time’s Up movement, which has helped raise awareness of sexual harassment. After Stephanie admitted she wasn’t sure about the “inclusi
  
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• How To Access Financial Support If You've Been Diagnosed With Cancer

  05-03-2018 13:05
  The majority of cancer patients (83%) are £570 worse off on average every month as a result of their diagnosis, Macmillan Cancer Support has revealed. This equates to more than £6,800 per year.Research from the charity found the cost of cancer comes from a combination of patients being too ill to work and additional outgoings, such as paying to travel to and from hospital for appointments.Cancer and its treatments can also leave patients feeling the cold more than usual and one in fi
  
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• Cancer Is Costing People Thousands, Here's How To Get Vital Financial Support

  05-03-2018 13:05
  The majority of cancer patients (83%) are £570 worse off on average every month as a result of their diagnosis, Macmillan Cancer Support has revealed. This equates to more than £6,800 per year.Research from the charity found the cost of cancer comes from a combination of patients being too ill to work and additional outgoings, such as paying to travel to and from hospital for appointments.Cancer and its treatments can also leave patients feeling the cold more than usual and one in fi
  
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• Europe’s strategic choices on Brexit

  05-03-2018 12:48 via ft.com
  The EU is a legal order, but it can be flexible when it wants to be
  
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• Why The Big Freeze Made Me Feel Warm And Cosy

  05-03-2018 12:47
  I rather like it when ‘received wisdom’ is challenged, young people don’t vote – well they do in referendum and when they care about something; school days are the best of your life – well, it depends on teachers, friends, your home life and all manner of things relating to hormones, self-esteem, body image and so the list goes on.... . The joy of challenging received wisdom is shown clearly with food, strawberries with balsamic vinegar works, peanut butter on a bur
  
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• Ditch 'Me Time' Baggage To Improve Public Health

  05-03-2018 12:41
  Have you ever wondered what ‘me time’ means? In my view it should be about individuals making space to do something just for them. Something that will make that person feel better. Happier. Relaxed. It’s a fairly universal definition.But what if I now said that my ‘me time’ is time on the track or in the gym. Training. That pushing myself to stay fit enough to compete in athletic events (despite the years ticking by!) is also what also helps relax me. Does the label
  
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• Flood Warnings Issued As Melting Snow Marks End Of Britain's Deep Freeze

  05-03-2018 12:33
  A total of 24 flood warnings have been put in force across England on Monday following the twin weather scourges of the so-called Beast from the East and Storm Emma.Amid a combination of high tides, melting snow and warming temperatures, the Environment Agency said there is a risk of flooding from surging water levels for rivers and coastal areas.Flood alerts – meaning flooding is possible and warning residents to be prepared – are predominantly in place in the South West, though ris
  
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• Why Students Should Think Carefully About Supporting the UCU Strike

  05-03-2018 12:30
  As the strikes continue for another week and the conversation remains stagnant, crossing the picket line at UCL is a somewhat daunting experience. For choosing to persevere with your already rather pricy studies, you are met with a sea of rhetorical questions, political judgements, and a stream of leaflets calling upon you to act. “Would you like to find out other ways to support your lecturers in their strike?” a fellow student asked me last week, during one of the more polite encou
  
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• Saturday Jobs For Kids: Are They A Waste Of Time?

  05-03-2018 12:30
  A Saturday job used to be a rite of passage for many children, but a new poll shows younger parents think working on the weekend is a “distraction”. The survey of 2,000 parents found that while a fifth of those aged 55-64 thought weekend jobs were a good thing, only three in 10 parents aged 25-34 agreed.The study by Oxford Home Schooling found overall, just over half of parents thought weekend jobs were a good idea. When asked if a Saturday job was “too distracting&rd
  
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• 'Mary Poppins Returns' Trailer Debuts During The Oscars With A First-Look At Emily Blunt As The Iconic Nanny

  05-03-2018 12:30
  ‘Mary Poppins’ fans have received a spoonful of what to expect from the upcoming sequel with its first trailer. A first-look of the new Disney film debuted during Sunday (4 March) night’s Oscars, with the clip later posted online. While the trailer doesn’t give much away in terms of spoilers, it does offer a sneak peek at Emily Blunt in the role as the iconic nanny, first played by Julie Andrews in the classic 1964 Disney film. The new film is set
  
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• Too Little, Too Late, Theresa?

  05-03-2018 12:29
  It was interesting to listen to Theresa May’s speech last week. Yes, it did contain plenty of the usual platitudes – deep and special, strong, cohesive, bespoke, take back control, imaginative, ambitious, etc. (see below) – yet there was something more here. The speech noted for the first time that compromise is needed on both sides of this deal. And by that I suspect she means both between the UK and the EU27, as well as the warring sides of the Conservative party.Full disclos
  
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