Political news

• Industry planning jobs cull to offset Brexit

  31-03-2018 22:00
  More than 20% of manufacturers plan cuts while more than 58% plan price increases to offset costs of leaving EUMore than a fifth of manufacturing firms are planning to lay off workers to cope with the costs of Brexit, according to a survey that suggests the sector is already losing business.More than one in 10 (11%) of manufacturers say that they have already lost contracts, according to Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply data shared with the Observer. Unions warned companies not to u
  
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• Spy poisoning: UK plays down Russia complaint at plane search

  31-03-2018 21:44 via bbc.co.uk
  The UK says the search of an Aeroflot plane at Heathrow was routine - illegal says Russia.
  
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• Declan Donnelly Wins Over 'Saturday Night Takeaway' Viewers With First Solo Show

  31-03-2018 21:22
  Declan Donnelly got the thumbs up from ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ viewers during his first ever solo show.This week, Dec was forced to step up and host the show by himself, after regular co-presenter Ant McPartlin returned to treatment, following his charge for drink-driving.During the show, which aired live on Saturday (31 March), Dec only briefly touched on Ant’s absence, making light of the situation a few times during the show.Fortunately, the show was met with a warm recept
  
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• Teachers' unions vote for strike action over government pay cap

  31-03-2018 20:39
  Branches of NEU and NASUWT teachers’ unions move towards industrial action to lift 1% capBritain’s two major teaching unions have started the clock ticking on industrial action for schools in England and Wales after votes at conferences in Birmingham and Brighton.Delegates at the National Education Union (NEU), the section of the newly merged union formerly known as the National Union of Teachers, backed a motion in Brighton to proceed to a ballot of members over possible strikes. Co
  
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• Christine Shawcroft Resigns From Labour's National Executive Committee

  31-03-2018 20:39
  Christine Shawcroft has resigned from Labour’s National Executive Committee following the latest anti-Semitism row to hit the party.In a statement, the Labour official, said: “It has been a privilege to serve on the Labour Party national executive committee for the last 19 years, and I was standing down in September in any event. I have, however, decided to resign with immediate effect.“It is clear that my continued membership of the NEC has become a distraction for the Party a
  
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• Declan Donnelly Makes Light Of Ant McPartlin's Absence During Solo 'Saturday Night Takeaway'

  31-03-2018 20:33
  Declan Donnelly kicked off this week’s ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ with a brief reference to the absence of his regular co-host Ant McPartlin.For the first time in their career, Declan - who makes up one half of presenting duo Ant and Dec - hosted Saturday’s (31 March) show without Ant, following the news that he has returned to treatment, after being charged with drink-driving earlier in the month.While last week’s ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ was cancelled,
  
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• In Hungary, the exploitation of a mythical enemy is poisoning politics | Nick Cohen

  31-03-2018 19:00
  Viktor Orbán’s almost certain re-election relies on an anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim manifestoYou may think Hungary is a faraway country. Small and landlocked, it has a baffling Finno-Ugric language few outsiders master. What do its corruptions and conspiracy theories have to do with us? When I was last in Budapest in August, I met Marta Pardavi. I worried about her and her friends in the Hungarian human rights movement, but I did not think I needed to transfer my fears back to Britai
  
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• Gender pay reporting is just the start of a drive to transparency

  31-03-2018 19:00 via ft.com
  If companies think this year’s publication was stressful, wait until we see the trends
  
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• British Soldier Killed In Syria Named As Sergeant Matt Tonroe

  31-03-2018 18:41
  A British solider killed in Syria has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Sergeant Matt Tonroe.The 33-year-old was killed in a bomb blast while on an anti-Islamic State operation in Syria.In a statement, the MoD said: “It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Sergeant Matt Tonroe from the 3st Battalion the Parachute Regiment was tragically killed in action whilst on duty in the Middle East on the 29th March 2018.“Sergeant Tonroe was born in Manches
  
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• Alex Salmond's LBC Show Ends - But He Continues To Host RT Slot Despite Criticism

  31-03-2018 18:09
  Alex Salmond’s political debate show on LBC has come to an end after just six months - but the former First Minister of Scotland continues to host a slot on RT despite criticism.Salmond held a weekly Sunday afternoon phone-in on LBC for the past six months, but his contract has not been renewed, though the broadcaster said it was discussing “other options” with him.An LBC spokesman said: “Alex Salmond has completed his contract as presenter of the Sunday afternoon show on
  
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• Stephen Hawking Applauded By Hundreds Lining The Streets For His Cambridge Funeral

  31-03-2018 15:46
  Hundreds of people have lined the streets of Cambridge ahead of Stephen Hawking’s funeral service and applauded as his coffin was carried to the church.Six porters from the physicist’s academic home for more than 50 years, Gonville and Caius, carried his coffin from the hearse into the University Church of St Mary the Great.The church bell rang 76 times, one for each year of his life, when the cortege arrived for the private ceremony, attended by around 500 people.  Hi
  
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• Easter Weather Forecast Predicts Rain And Even Snow Over The Weekend

  31-03-2018 15:41
  If you were hoping for some Easter sunshine this weekend, we’ve got some bad news for you.The Met Office has yellow weather warnings in place for England and Wales for heavy rain on Sunday, Monday and into the week, though some hill snow could also be possible.The warnings mean there is a chance of delays to travel, and even cancellations to bus and train services.As the rain pushes northwards through #Easter Monday we're likely to see some disruptive #snow 🌨️, especially ov
  
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• Encourage teenagers to get Saturday jobs, says minister

  31-03-2018 15:33
  Work and pensions secretary Esther McVey says part-time jobs can give under-16s ‘soft skills’ that will help them in later lifeTeenagers should be encouraged to have Saturday jobs to prepare them for their working lives, the work and pensions secretary has said.Esther McVey said she did not believe British youngsters were lazy but said there had been a fall of up to 60% in the number of children with weekend jobs. Continue reading...
  
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• US may tie social media to visa applications

  31-03-2018 14:55 via bbc.co.uk
  A state department proposal could require visa applicants to detail all their social media handles.
  
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• Esther McVey: Saturday jobs help teenagers prepare for work

  31-03-2018 14:40 via bbc.co.uk
  Young are not "lazy" says Esther McVey, but significantly fewer now have jobs outside school.
  
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• Foreign Office considers Russian consular access to Yulia Skripal

  31-03-2018 14:17
  Announcement regarding daughter of poisoned spy comes amid row over search of Russian aircraft by British authorities The Foreign Office has said it is considering Russia’s request for consular access to Yulia Skripal as a fresh row develops over why British authorities searched a Russian aircraft travelling from Moscow to London on Friday.Russia’s transport ministry said it would demand an official explanation from the UK government for why a Russian Aeroflot passenger plane was sea
  
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• Lord Sugar deletes Corbyn-Hitler tweet after McDonnell appeal

  31-03-2018 13:46
  Apprentice star had posted mocked-up image of Labour leader in car next to Nazi dictatorLord Sugar, the businessman and Apprentice host, has deleted a tweet that depicted Jeremy Corbyn sitting next to Adolf Hitler after criticism from senior Labour figures.The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, had called on Sugar to “delete and disown” the tweet. Continue reading...
  
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• Foreign Office 'Considering' Russian Embassy Demand To See Poisoning Victim Yulia Skripal

  31-03-2018 13:03
  The Foreign Office has said it is considering a request from Russia to see Yulia Skripal over the Salisbury poisoning.The Russian embassy tweeted to demand to see her in hospital, despite the fact the UK Government has accused the Russian state of being behind the nerve agent attack on her and her father, former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal.The embassy tweeted on Friday that it was “good news” Yulia Skripal’s condition was improving and added they “insist on our ri
  
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• Social Media Partly To Blame For Knife Crime Rise, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Says

  31-03-2018 11:45
  Britain’s most senior police officer has blamed social media for the soaring rate of knife crime in the UK, particularly among children.After 13 Londoners were killed in two weeks this month, Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said websites and mobile phone applications such as YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram were partially to blame for the bloodshed.Speaking to the Times, Dick said trivial disputes could escalate into violence “within minutes” when rivals set out to goad each othe
  
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• Peter Kay Adds Second Date Of 'Car Share' Charity Screening Due To Huge Demand

  31-03-2018 11:37
  Peter Kay has announced details of a second charity screening of ‘Car Share’ following huge demand. The comedian broke months of silence earlier this week to reveal he would be showing two new episodes of his hit BBC sitcom at an event in Blackpool next month. After tickets went on sale on Saturday (31 March) morning, they sold out in minutes leaving many fans disappointed. However, a second date has now been added for those who missed out, with the screenings taking p
  
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• Civil servants work in a toxic environment where precious little gets done

  31-03-2018 10:57
  Every criticism is a crisis, constant political reshuffles mean we have to start work on policies all over again - and fear is everywhere.
  There is no finer feeling as a civil servant working in policy than making changes that have a positive impact on people’s lives. But it’s safe to assume I’ll not be doing any of that in the foreseeable future. The job of the civil service is to support the government of the day. Part of that responsibility is to have difficult conversations
  
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• Lord Sugar Condemned For Hitler And Jeremy Corbyn Meme

  31-03-2018 10:41
  Lord Sugar has faced a backlash from politicians and fans alike after posting a meme of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with Hitler. Wading into the on-going anti-Semitism row, the businessman and  ‘Apprentice’ tycoon shared a doctored image of the two men together carrying the caption: “When you’re pictured at Nuremberg and claim you were going to a car rally.”Writing his own comment, Lord Sugar said: “Many a true word spoken in jest Corbyn.&r
  
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• Cheryl Furiously Puts End To Speculation About Her Relationship With Liam Payne

  31-03-2018 09:53
  Cheryl Tweedy has officially had enough of people speculating about the state of her relationship with Liam Payne. The singer furiously put an end to tabloid rumours about them after Liam was pictured on enjoying the company of one of his backing dancers while away in Japan. In an unusual move for Cheryl, who is notoriously private, she addressed the matter directly on Twitter with a lengthy post.“I usually don’t bother myself to respond to stupid articles,” she wrote
  
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• Labour Members Think Anti-Semitism Claims Are Being Exaggerated To Damage Jeremy Corbyn

  31-03-2018 09:12
  Around three quarters of Labour members believe the party’s problem with anti-Semitism is being exaggerated to damage Jeremy Corbyn, according to polling.Just 19% said it was a serious issue while 77% believe it is used to undermine the leader or stop criticism of Israel, a YouGov study for The Times found.It comes despite a tumultuous week that has seen fresh recriminations within the party as well as a protest outside Parliament led by Jewish leaders. A senior official forced to qui
  
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• Inside Parliament: The Chef Behind Every Westminster Politicians' Favourite Jerk Chicken Recipe

  31-03-2018 08:37
  Those who work in Parliament know that some days in the Westminster calendar are more special than others. It usually begins in the morning, with rumours swirling, social media speculation and journalists in the press gallery bickering over the reliability of their sources.Throughout the morning, the quiet whispers become a low buzz along committee corridors, even in the Commons chamber – before someone returns triumphant from Portcullis House, across the road, with the news everyone
  
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• Guernsey Could Legalise Assisted Dying – And This Woman Wishes She Lived There

  31-03-2018 08:25
  Rachel Wilkinson has the words “do not resuscitate” tattooed across her chest.Though she also keeps instructions for first responders in her handbag, in case her heart gives up “in the middle of the street”, she’s worried people might not see them in time.Because Wilkinson is very clear about what she wants to happen when she dies: ideally, she plans to take her own life.The 39-year-old, who suffers from an auto-immune disease, is a member of Dignitas, a Swiss
  
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• Three Delicious Recipes For An Alternative Vegan Easter Dinner

  31-03-2018 08:00
  The more traditional option for an Easter dinner may be a carnivorous roast dinner, but there are actually plenty of gorgeous dishes you can swap in that are meat and dairy-free.This year, the Vegan Society has recommended the below recipes for a tasty, sustainable meal. So, whether you’re vegan yourself or hosting one or two this Easter, give these alternative recipes a go. Mushroom and leek pie Serves: 4 Ingredients:1 tbsp olive oil
  2 medium leeks, trimmed and sl
  
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• Not The Royal Wedding: 'I Was Completely Blown Away By How Beautiful She Looked'

  31-03-2018 08:00
  Some brides are very sure about their wedding dress: they’ve thought about it in advance, mentally noting frocks for inspiration and building a checklist of the smallest details. But for others, the hunt for the perfect wedding outfit involves less of a targeted approach.Do you fancy a dress? What about white? Is a veil really the thing? Are you still going to look like you? And that’s before family and friends weigh in with their well intentioned advice, and everyone starts going on
  
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• GATEway Project: This Driverless Pod Could Be The Future Of Public Transport

  31-03-2018 08:00
  Hidden away behind the O2 in Greenwich, London is one of the most important research and development programmes into driverless vehicles.The GATEway project has been designed to not only come up with a possible solution to public transport but also to gauge how society feels about these vehicles in everyday life.Unlike driverless cars, these pods would act as a form of automated public transport, moving around the city centre providing mobility over short distances.Developed and built in the UK
  
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• Easter Crafts With Kids: How To Make Salt Dough Easter Eggs

  31-03-2018 08:00
  Getting crafty with your children can sometimes feel like an effort, but these Easter egg salt dough decorations are seriously simple to make. If you’ve had a festive crafternoon with your kids in the past you may even have made decorations like these for your Christmas tree. Kids of all ages can get involved when making salt dough, even toddlers. It’s just a case of mixing ingredients, rolling out the dough and choosing your shapes and decorations.Jo Murricane, 3
  
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• Met Police chief: Social media leads children to violence

  31-03-2018 07:22 via bbc.co.uk
  Britain's most senior police officer says social media "revs people up" and leads to stabbings and murders.
  
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• My Caribbean trip opened my eyes to the legacy of the British empire | Lenny Henry

  31-03-2018 07:00
  After Brexit, the Commonwealth could play a crucial trading role. But the historic associations with slavery still resonateBefore embarking on what became a journey of discovery, I knew just two things about the Commonwealth. One was that it was a collection of countries linked by commerce and trade. The other was that every few years there was the Commonwealth Games. Perhaps it was that initial lack of knowledge that made travelling to Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda, as I did recent
  
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• Listen: Corbyn's anti-Semitism woes and Sheffield's battle with trees

  31-03-2018 06:36 via ft.com
  It has been a difficult week for Jeremy Corbyn, who has struggled to stem criticisms of his stance on racial hatred.
  
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• Who spent what?

  31-03-2018 04:42 via bbc.co.uk
  The Electoral Commission has released details of campaign spending. But who spent the most - and who got their messages into the most people's social media feeds?
  
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• Shipping faces demands to cut CO2

  31-03-2018 02:01 via bbc.co.uk
  The industry could contribute almost a fifth of the global total of CO2 by 2050 but some nations resist targets.
  
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• Gender pay gap deadline: What to know

  31-03-2018 01:41 via bbc.co.uk
  Britain's biggest companies have less than a week to publish their gender pay gap figures.
  
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• Schools cutting posts amid 'funding catastrophe'

  31-03-2018 01:39 via bbc.co.uk
  Schools are still struggling with budget cuts, despite government reassurance, it is claimed.
  
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• Disturbing Sexual Harassment Of Teachers In UK Schools Revealed

  31-03-2018 01:00
  Sexual harassment of teachers is rife in UK schools, a disturbing new survey has revealed. One in five has been sexually harassed at school by a colleague, manager, parent or pupil, research published on Saturday by the teaching union NASUWT has shown.Alarming first-hand accounts also paints a picture of environment in which teachers feel humiliated, depressed and powerless even if they reported their harasser. One teacher told how her boss groped her in front of students while another
  
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