Political news

• Christopher Wylie: Why I broke the Facebook data story – and what should happen now

  07-04-2018 22:00
  The whistleblower at the centre of the Cambridge Analytica storm asks if Britain will now address the hard issues which it has raisedIn January, I told the British authorities that the app that was used to harvest data for Cambridge Analytica was likely to have pulled the profiles of British Facebook users. Last week Facebook confirmed it: it told the world that as many as 87 million profiles were collected. This included more than one million British records.A couple of days later, early on Sat
  
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• Opportunity knocks for a new party. But will anybody dare open the door? | Andrew Rawnsley

  07-04-2018 21:48
  What is so far lacking is a critical mass of MPs prepared to take the large risks involved in making it happenIt is easy to set up a political party. You just have to register with the Electoral Commission and raise some cash to fund the deposits of your candidates. Then you are at the races. In the first three months of this year, 34 novel political outfits were formed, among them the Aspire party, the Legacy party, Save Us Now, the For Britain Movement and the Psychedelic Future party. Related
  
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• Teenager Charged With Murder Of 18-Year-Old Israel Ogunsola Amid Spate Of Violence

  07-04-2018 20:56
  A 17-year-old youth has been charged with murder after a teenager was stabbed to death in east London.Israel Ogunsola, 18, was found fatally wounded in Link Street, Hackney, by officers on patrol at around 8pm on Wednesday and was pronounced dead 25 minutes later.His father Dele Ogunsola, who lives on the nearby Jack Dunning Estate, confirmed on Thursday afternoon that his son was the victim, although he is yet to be officially named by police.A 17-year-old appeared at Thames Magistrates’
  
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• Elected representatives will do the right thing on Brexit

  07-04-2018 19:00 via ft.com
  MPs and MEPs should follow their conscience about whether to vote for any exit deal
  
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• Russian embassy seeks meeting with Johnson over Skripal attack

  07-04-2018 17:50
  Foreign Office acknowledges request to discuss Salisbury poisoning case, but accuses Russian diplomats of diversionary tacticsThe Russian embassy has requested a meeting with Boris Johnson to discuss the attack on the former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, saying that its dealings with Britain over the issue had been “utterly unsatisfactory”.The Foreign Office confirmed that a request had been received, but a spokeswoman countered that it was Russia’s respo
  
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• Two Killed And 20 Injured After Van Drives Into People In German City Of Muenster

  07-04-2018 17:00
  German investigators were trying to work out why a man drove a camper van into a group of people sitting outside a restaurant in the western university city of Muenster on Saturday, killing two people before shooting himself dead.The vehicle ploughed into people seated at tables outside the Grosser Kiepenkerl eatery, a popular destination for tourists in the city’s old town.Forensic police combed the scene on Sunday after investigators named the victims as a 51-year-old woman from the Luen
  
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• Two Killed And 20 Injured After Van Drives Into People In German City Of Münster

  07-04-2018 17:00
  A German man drove a van into a group of people sitting outside a restaurant in the old city centre of Münster in Germany on Saturday, killing two of them before shooting himself dead.The vehicle plowed into people seated at tables outside the Grosser Kiepenkerl eatery, a popular destination for tourists in the university city.Six of those injured were seriously hurt, police said. The incident happened at 3.27pm local time.Herbert Reul, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, home to M
  
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• Three Killed And 20 Injured After Van Drives Into People In German City Of Münster

  07-04-2018 17:00
  Three people were killed and 20 injured when a van crashed into a crowd sitting outside a restairamt in the German city of Münster.The interior ministry confirmed the driver had shot himself after the incident, putting the total death toll at four.Six of those injured are seriously hurt, police said.Police initially said they were not looking for any other suspects but later said they are checking reports that other perpetrators may have fled from the van.A security source added: “The
  
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• Several Killed After Car Drives Into People In German City Of Münster

  07-04-2018 17:00
  Several people were killed when a vehicle drove into a crowd in the western German city of Münster on Saturday, police said.“There are several dead, probably including the suspect,” a police spokeswoman said.A security source added: “The scenario is such that an attack cannot be ruled out.”This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Check back for the fullest version. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter here, and on Facebook here.
  
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• Far Right British National Party Loses Its Last District Councillor

  07-04-2018 16:54
  The far right British National Party is to lose its last district councillor, which one campaigner said meant its demise is now “official”.The BNP, which advocates stopping all immigration and calls mosques “symbols of territorial conquest”, had 55 district councillors at its peak and won 943,000 votes in the 2009 European Parliament elections, 6% of all ballots cast.Its then leader Nick Griffin even appeared on BBC’s Question Time in the same year.But after years o
  
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• Far Right British National Party Is To Lose Its Last District Councillor

  07-04-2018 16:54
  Anti-racist campaigners are celebrating that the far right British National Party is to lose its last district councillor.The BNP, which advocates stopping all immigration and calls mosques “symbols of territorial conquest”, had 55 district councillors at its peak and won 943,000 votes in the 2009 European Parliament elections, 6% of all ballots cast.Its then leader Nick Griffin even appeared on BBC’s Question Time in the same year.But after years of decline, its last remaining
  
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• UK Weather: Spring Sunshine Brings Britain The Hottest Day Of The Year So Far

  07-04-2018 15:43
  Spring sunshine has brought Britain its hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures passing 19C.A warm wind from the south has sent the mercury rising, with parts of the country enjoying fine and bright weather.Friday’s 17.3C high – the hottest of the year so far – was surpassed in Gravesend, Kent, where temperatures reached 19.4C on Saturday afternoon, the Press Association reported. The Met Office said this makes it the warmest day since October 25 last year, when
  
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• Ministers told to expect backlash as millions lose out from universal credit

  07-04-2018 15:40
  Senior government adviser warns of effect of cuts to welfare budgetMinisters will face a backlash against reform to the benefits system when millions of claimants moving on to universal credit realise their income will be cut, the government’s most senior welfare adviser has warned.Paul Gray, chairman of the independent social security advisory committee, said that the decision to take a “substantial chunk” of funding out of the budget for universal credit risked undermining th
  
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• Russia Calls For Meeting With Boris Johnson Over Salisbury Attack

  07-04-2018 15:18
  Russian officials have requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to discuss the nerve agent attack on former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.The Foreign Office confirmed that it had received a request from the Russian Embassy for a meeting with Johnson, one of the most vocal Government critics of Vladimir Putin’s regime over the attempted assassination. An FCO spokeswoman said: “We have received a request. We will be responding in due course.&rd
  
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• Foreign Office Calls Russian Demand For Boris Johnson Meeting 'Diversionary Tactic'

  07-04-2018 15:18
  British officials has called a Russian request to meet Boris Johnson to discuss the Salisbury poisoning a “diversionary tactic”.The Foreign Office confirmed that it had received a request from the Russian Embassy for a meeting with Johnson, one of the most vocal Government critics of Vladimir Putin’s regime over the nerve agent attack on former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.A spokeswoman said: “It’s Russia’s response that has bee
  
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• Prince Charles Declared High Chief In Vanuatu

  07-04-2018 13:19
  Prince Charles might not have the god-like status of his father Prince Philip on Vanuatu, but he was given an honour all of his own on a visit to the nation.Donning a grass skirt and a white garland, the heir to the throne was made a high chief in a colourful ceremony on Saturday.In the tradition of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, Charles took part in a series of rituals as he was given the high chief name of Mal Menaringmanu, the Press Association reported.The prince also took a sip from a
  
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• Ant McPartlin Was ‘Twice Over Drink Drive Limit’ Following Car Crash Arrest, According To Police

  07-04-2018 12:55
  Ant McPartlin was allegedly twice over the legal limit when he was arrested for drink driving, according to police.The TV presenter’s breathalyser reading was 75mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35 mcg.The ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ star was detained by police after being involved in a collision with two other cars while driving his Mini in Richmond, South West London, on March 18.One of the cars was carrying a four-year-old girl who needed hospital t
  
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• Street Football Has The Power To Change Lives

  07-04-2018 12:34
  As the terrible events on the streets of London these past few weeks have shown, Britain’s urban youth is in crisis, riven by gangs, drugs, postcode wars and violence. With a further seven stabbings in London on Thursday alone, the Metropolitan Police has had to deal with 50 murders, the vast majority of whom were young men who were stabbed to death. Away from the capital, where the Mayor Sadiq Khan has had to deny that the police have lost control of the streets, knife crime in Birmi
  
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• Stephen Lawrence's Mother Tells Met Police To 'Be Honest' About State Of Murder Probe

  07-04-2018 12:32
  Doreen Lawrence has called on the Metropolitan Police to “be honest” about the likelihood that anyone else involved in her son’s murder will be brought to justice.Scotland Yard says the probe into Stephen Lawrence’s racially-motivated killing 25 years ago remains “in an active phase”, however his mother said she suspects detectives have run out of lines of inquiry.Speaking to the Daily Mail, Baroness Lawrence said she believes the Met is concerned about her pu
  
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• This Is Why Russia Has Over 20 Explanations For The Skripal Poisoning

  07-04-2018 11:49
  As the Salisbury spy poisoning case rumbles on, many questions remain unanswered: who ordered the attack, where was the nerve agent was produced, and why can’t Boris Johnson agree with chemical weapons experts at Porton Down? One thing that isn’t in question, however, is that it’s very likely Russia was behind the shocking nerve agent attack. But Russia, in denying culpability, has offered not one but more than 20 alternative explanations for what might have happened.
  
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• Peter Kay Hailed A ‘Comedy Genius’ By Fans At ‘Car Share’ Series Finale Charity Screening

  07-04-2018 11:31
  Most of us will have to wait until May before we find out what becomes of John and Kayleigh in the final two episodes of ‘Car Share’, but some lucky fans already know.The series finale of Peter Kay’s much-loved series was screened at a special charity screening in Blackpool on Friday night (6 April), and judging by the reactions on social media, the two episodes did not disappoint.Many fans took to Twitter to hail Peter a “comedy genius” following the event at the W
  
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• ‘Gogglebox’ Star Stephen Webb Slammed By Viewers For Tying Pet Dogs’ Ears Up With Hair Bands

  07-04-2018 10:41
  ‘Gogglebox’ fans were left unimpressed with one of its stars following Friday night’s (6 April) episode, labelling him “disgustingly cruel” for tying his dogs’ ears up.Show regular Stephen Webb was seen showing his mum Pat how he made his three pet poodles look like different singers by tying hair bobbles around their ears.The pair were then seen laughing as he showed off ‘Kylie Minogue’, ‘Whitney Houston’ and ‘Heather Small&rsquo
  
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• 'Multiple' People Killed In Junior Hockey Team Bus Crash

  07-04-2018 10:20
  A crash between a lorry and a bus carrying a junior hockey team in western Canada has left multiple people dead and others seriously injured, Canadian police say.The bus was carrying the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to the town of Nipawin for a play-off game. It collided with a transporter truck.“There have been multiple fatalities — our whole community is in shock,” said Kevin Garinger, president of the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior H
  
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• Huawei P20 Pro Review: A Baffling Mix Of Great Ideas And Terrible Ones - HuffPost Verdict

  07-04-2018 09:29
  K E Y   P O I N T SThe P20 Pro is the new flagship phone from Chinese manufacturer Huawei.It has a 6.1-inch Full-HD AMOLED display (yes, with a notch) that’s big, crisp and extremely bright even in direct sunlight.This a big phone, but it’s not totally unusable in one hand. I really like the design, it’s flashy without being crass.The P20 has not one, but three cameras on the back: a 40MP main sensor, 20MP black & white sensor and a 8MP sensor with 3X optical zoom
  
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• Donald Trump Deploys National Guard To Mexican Border

  07-04-2018 09:08
  Arizona and Texas have announced that they will send 400 National Guard members to the US-Mexico border following Donald Trump’s call for troops to fight drug trafficking and illegal immigration.The Texas National Guard said it had plans to place 250 troops there in the next 72 hours, while Arizona governor Doug Ducey said about 150 Guard members would deploy next week. Trump said he wants to use the military to secure the Mexican border until his infamous boundary wall is built, crit
  
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• Jermaine Goupall's Dad Calls YouTube 'Appalling' After Video From Gang Who Murdered His Son Remained Online

  07-04-2018 08:09
  A murder victim’s father has called it “appalling” that a YouTube video remained online for months after it helped fuel a gang rivalry that led to his 15-year-old son’s death.Jermaine Goupall was fatally stabbed near his home in Thornton Heath, south London, in August last year by members of a gang who had gone to the area to target a rival group.Police believe Goupall, who was stabbed in the thigh and bled to death on the evening of August 8, did not belong to eithe
  
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• Five Of The Best British Wines To Try This Summer

  07-04-2018 08:02
  English wine production is on the rise in Britain, with a record number of bottles of still and sparkling wine from UK vineyards reaching the market last year. HMRC figures revealed 3.86 million bottles of UK-made wine were released for sale last year, up from 2016’s 2.36 million bottles - an increase of 64%.English sparkling wine is made with the same traditional method as Champagne, meaning it is left to age in the bottle, usually for about three years. Janet Harrison, from Cracking
  
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• Listen: Russia's propaganda battle and knife crime in London

  07-04-2018 07:47 via ft.com
  The war of information over the events in Salisbury has become increasingly tense. Is the UK engaging a hopeless propaganda battle with Russia?
  
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• Britain sees the Commonwealth as its trading empire. It is sadly deluded | Ian Jack

  07-04-2018 07:00
  Nearly every Commonwealth country opposed Brexit. Leavers are wrong to hope old imperial patterns will replace EU tradeEarly April, 2018. In Brisbane a cheeky radio interviewer asks Prince Charles if he really does carry a personal lavatory seat on his travels, and the prince replies, “Oh, don’t believe all that crap.” Elsewhere in the Queensland capital, India win gold in the women’s weightlifting and lose to Cameroon in the men’s basketball. At Buckingham Palace,
  
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• Teenagers are dying from our failure to confront London violence

  07-04-2018 05:00 via ft.com
  We have abandoned boys to a surreal and terrifying landscape where gang life offers protection
  
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• HMRC under fire over wrongly issued fines for ‘late’ tax returns

  07-04-2018 05:00 via ft.com
  Authority accused of overzealous approach in pursuit of individuals
  
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• Some people think I’m really ‘Jonathan Pie’

  07-04-2018 01:31 via bbc.co.uk
  Tom Walker, who plays spoof reporter Jonathan Pie, says some people don't believe he is acting.
  
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