Political news

• UKIP's leader announces plans to quit on day he is confirmed

  14-04-2018 23:20 via bbc.co.uk
  Gerard Batten, who was confirmed as leader on Saturday after running unopposed, will quit in 12 months.
  
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• 'Britain's Got Talent' Returns With More Of The Same, But That's No Bad Thing - HuffPost Verdict

  14-04-2018 22:26
  K E Y   P O I N T S‘Britain’s Got Talent’ returned to ITV for its 12th series on Saturday (14 April)Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams were all back on the panelAnt McPartlin still featured in the show alongside co-host Declan DonnellyThe auditions were filmed prior to Ant’s arrest for drink-driving last monthEarlier this week, bosses confirmed Dec will present the live shows by himselfS N A P   V E R D I C TWith all the headl
  
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• Leave.EU, Arron Banks and new questions about referendum funding

  14-04-2018 22:00
  Revealed: Leave donor faces data investigation as first documentary evidence of Cambridge Analytica Brexit ‘work’ uncoveredThe Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating Leave.EU and its donor Arron Banks over possible breaches of the Data Protection Act.The ICO has issued “information notices” against both Leave.EU – the referendum campaign headed by Nigel Farage – and its director, Banks. The notices – requiring organisations to provide t
  
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• 'Britain's Got Talent': Magician Marc Spelmann Wins Ant And Dec's Golden Buzzer After Emotional Trick

  14-04-2018 21:58
  If you thought magic tricks could never be emotional, you probably had your mind changed during the return of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. Magician Marc Spelmann had the judges in tears with his heart-wrenching performance, as he auditioned during Saturday (14 April) night’s show. In fact, his act was so equally impressive and emotional, it had hosts Ant and Dec pressing their Golden Buzzer to send him straight through to the live shows.Marc’s trick didn’
  
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• Labour and Tories neck and neck as Corbyn's popularity wanes – poll

  14-04-2018 21:04
  Research shows both parties on 40% support, but Labour leader’s approval rating has sunkLabour has drawn level with the Tories, but Jeremy Corbyn’s personal approval rating has slumped, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.It suggests that the Conservatives have lost the two-point poll lead recorded by the company last month, with both parties on 40% support. However, the Labour leader’s net approval rating – the difference between those who approve and d
  
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• Russian Minister Blames West For Salisbury Poisoning After PM Links It To Syria Strike

  14-04-2018 20:45
  Russia’s Foreign Minister has reiterated his claims that the UK may be responsible for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.In the first full response from Moscow since last night’s co-ordinated airstrikes by the allied forces, minister Sergey Lavrov also hit back at the “incontrovertible facts” the UK, US and France used to justify the strikes in Syria, and said they were not shared with the Russian government.And he said that the Syrian gov
  
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• MPs must face the human cost of conflict in Syria

  14-04-2018 19:00 via ft.com
  The debate should focus on Assad’s victims rather than UK political rivalries
  
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• US Warns It Remains 'Locked And Loaded' As NATO Says Syria Strike Was 'Right Thing To Do'

  14-04-2018 18:46
  NATO has expressed its “full support” for the retaliation strike on Syria undertaken on Saturday as the US warned it remains “locked and loaded”.Nato Secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said he had been fully briefed by the US, Britain and France and had “no reason to doubt” the intelligence and  believed the strike was the “right thing to do”.Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, he said: “Before the strikes took place last night,
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn calls Syria airstrikes legally questionable

  14-04-2018 16:56
  PM should have sought parliamentary approval before taking military action, says Labour leader
  • Syria latest: live updatesJeremy Corbyn has described airstrikes on Syria as legally questionable and accused Theresa May of “trailing after Donald Trump” in an attack that could escalate the conflict.
  The Labour leader was responding to the news that the US, UK and France launched airstrikes in Syria early on Saturday morning. Corbyn, who has called for an independent UN-led investi
  
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• Woman Told To Speak 'English When In England' During Assault On Central Line Tube

  14-04-2018 16:51
  A woman was “pulled around by her hair” by two other women on the Tube and suffered injuries to her scalp and face after being told she should be talking “English when in England”.British Transport Police (BTP) on Saturday appealed for information about the “vicious and racially-motivated assault” on the Central Line that occurred around 3.45am on April 7.BTP said the 24-year-old victim was talking to friends in Spanish when two nearby women overheard and bega
  
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• Anti-Muslim campaigners denied entry to UK at border

  14-04-2018 16:20
  Martin Sellner and Abel Bodi stopped at Stansted en route to far-right event in LondonTwo prominent anti-Muslim campaigners have been denied entry into the UK ahead of a conference held by Britain’s newest and most active far-right group.Martin Sellner, from Austria, and the Hungarian Abel Bodi were due to attend the private Generation Identity conference in London on Saturday. They were detained at Stansted airport – the second time in a month that Sellner, the leader of Generation
  
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• Holly Willoughby Reveals She Has Not Spoken Out About Her Friend Ant McPartlin’s Arrest Because ‘It’s Not My Story To Tell’

  14-04-2018 15:04
  Holly Willoughby has revealed why she has chosen not to comment on her friend Ant McPartlin’s recent arrest on suspicion of drink driving.Holly says she decided not to speak openly about the troubled star “out of respect for him”, adding that she felt it was something that nobody should be discussing.She told The Guardian: “Everybody knows that Ant is a very good friend of mine and I’ve known him for a very long time.“To be honest, on that first day, nobody kn
  
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• Here's How To Stop Your Phone Constantly Autocorrecting Words

  14-04-2018 14:24
  The smartphone is arguably one of our greatest creations as a species, giving us everyday access to the kind of computing power that makes the Apollo spacecraft look like a wind-up train.Yet despite this incredible power they seem absolutely incapable of letting us write some words of appropriate exclamation as and when the situation calls for it. In other words, you can’t swear.This oversight has reached the point now where you almost assume that both Apple and Google know about this and
  
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• Scrapbooking With Kids: Why Taking Time To Get Creative Should Be A Family Activity

  14-04-2018 14:18
  We so often spend our days snapping adorable photos of our kids, but then those mementos end up languishing on our phones and desktops. How about using them to create a physical keepsake instead? Scrapbooking is a great way to treasure these times with your family and it’s also the perfect craft activity for kids to get involved with as it is relatively inexpensive, easy to pull off and brings out the artist in everyone.The best thing about scrapbooking is that nothing has to look perfect.
  
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• Jessie J Wins Chinese Singing Competition, Explains She Did It To ‘Break Down Boundaries’

  14-04-2018 12:57
  It’s fair to say that when it was reported that Jessie J was taking part in a Chinese singing show as a contestant rather than a judge, a fair few eyebrows were raised.But not only did the British singer take part - she’s also gone on to win it.The former ‘Voice’ judge has just been crowned the winner of ‘Singer’ - essentially the Chinese version of ‘X Factor’ - except all of the contestant are established singers.The 30-year-old was the first inte
  
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• Rugby Players Paddy Jackson And Stuart Olding Sacked After Rape Acquittal

  14-04-2018 12:08
  Ulster and Ireland rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, who were last month acquitted of raping the same woman, have been sacked.Employers Ulster Rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) confirmed Jackson and Olding’s departure on Saturday following an internal review into their conduct.While Jackson, 26, and Olding, 25 were found not guilty last month after a high-profile trial, other aspects of their behaviour have been heavily criticised, with major sponsors of Ulster R
  
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• May defends decision to join Syria strikes

  14-04-2018 11:24 via ft.com
  Opposition leaders criticise prime minister for acting without consulting parliament
  
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• May defends decision to join strikes

  14-04-2018 11:24 via ft.com
  Opposition leaders criticise prime minister for acting without consulting parliament
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn Condemns Syria Air Strikes That 'Won't Save Lives Or Bring About Peace'

  14-04-2018 10:03
  Jeremy Corbyn said the military action against Syria was “legally questionable” and makes real accountability for war crimes less likely.The Labour leader was speaking after four RAF jets joined French and American forces in attacking the Assad regime over the alleged chemical attack on civilians.Prime Minister Theresa May said there was “no practicable alternative to the use of force” to deter the use of chemical weapons and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the si
  
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• Pussycat Dolls’ Star Ashley Roberts Reveals Father’s Suicide In Heartbreaking Message To Fans

  14-04-2018 09:44
  Former Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts says she’s struggling to come to terms with the death of her father to suicide in a heartbreaking message to fans.The singer and dancer revealed Pat Roberts took his own life three weeks ago after “a long physical and mental health battle”.She shared the devastating news in an Instagram post, telling fans she’s “in a state of shock and confusion” since the 70-year-old’s death on 19 March. Sharing a childhood phot
  
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• Not The Royal Wedding: The Poignant Ways Family Can Make Your Big Day Truly Special

  14-04-2018 09:01
  Weddings aren’t just a chance to celebrate love between two people. For many couples, the day is also a way to recognise their love for all those around them.For those taking part in HuffPost UK’s ‘Not The Royal Wedding’ series, which follows couples getting married on 19 May, the same day as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the occasion is an opportunity to ensure their nearest and dearest are there every step of the way, from brothers as best men to nieces
  
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• Simon Cowell Says Fellow ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Star Ant McPartlin Has ‘Manned Up’ By Seeking Help Following Drink Drive Arrest

  14-04-2018 08:59
  Simon Cowell has spoken out for the first time about Ant McPartlin’s recent troubles, publicly backing the TV presenter.Ahead of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ returning to our screens tonight (14 April), the show’s boss says he’s “standing by” his friend following his arrest for drink driving last month.Simon told The Sun: “We’ve known each other a long time, and you stand by the people you work with over the years, for the obvious reasons.&ld
  
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• How A Spike In School Exclusions Could Be Fuelling Knife Crime In London

  14-04-2018 08:39
  An explosion in teachers excluding “difficult” children may be driving the wave of violent youth crime across London, a leading education charity has said.Kiran Gill, chief executive of The Difference, said her research had uncovered a 40% rise in school exclusions in the UK over three years. Four London boroughs are among the 20 local councils excluding the most children.Pupil referral units (PRUs) - often the next destination for excluded children - were also in the grip of a staff
  
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• 'Recognise What You're Doing Is Not Working': Rapper Darren 'Loki' McGarvey On How Glasgow Beat Knife Crime

  14-04-2018 08:30
  In 2005, the United Nations dubbed Scotland “the most violent country in the developed world”, as 200 gangs fought bloody wars for control of Glasgow.A knife crime epidemic was gripping Glasgow. Roughly 70 people were dying a year.Scots were three times more likely to be murdered than people in England and Wales. Exhausted A&E staff were treating stab wounds every few hours, 24 hours a day. Public trust in police had collapsed.Enter the Scottish Government’s dedic
  
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• Wedding Guest Outfits Under £100: What To Wear If You Don't Want To Wear A Dress

  14-04-2018 08:01
  Choosing a dress for when you attend a wedding can start to become boring. A wedding suit on the other hand feels revitalising. Whether that’s a two piece, a jumpsuit or, if the weather is right, a playsuit.We’ve scoured the high street and internet to find choices whether you’re looking for a transitional co-ord, something to withstand the Miami heat, or versatile pieces you can mix and match.Comment below to let us know the suit that ticks your boxes!Off Shoulder Senorit
  
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• Life As A Lonely Renter: 'I Can Be Surrounded By People And Still Feel Alone'

  14-04-2018 08:01
  “I’ve had a fair few evenings at home, alone, thinking about how lonely I am,” says 25-year-old Chris from South London. “I sometimes dread when people ask me about my time off, as more often than not I’ve struggled to get out or find anyone to hang out with.”Sadly, Chris’s situation isn’t unusual. In fact, young renters - defined as those aged 16-34 - have been identified by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as a group particularly at risk
  
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• Boko Haram Survivors Might Come Home, But Years Later Many Are Still Far From A Happy Ending

  14-04-2018 08:01
  “When I came back, my father couldn’t even look at me. This is someone who cared for me since I was a baby. For him to reject me... it shattered me.”Kulu* spent three years imprisoned by Boko Haram, the Islamist insurgents still operating in north-eastern Nigeria, known as one of the continent’s most brutal armed groups. Last year she was successfully rescued, and longed to be reunited with her family. But Kulu, like thousands of other young women,&nbs
  
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• Oh, Jeremy Thorpe! The charismatic Liberal leader who hid dark secrets

  14-04-2018 08:00
  A BBC drama recounts the old Etonian’s bizarre story at the heart of a corrupt British establishmentIt’s a long time since the second week of May in 1979 when Jeremy Thorpe arrived in his lawyer’s brown Rolls Royce for the start of the trial that was billed as “the greatest show on earth”.Few people under 40 know who Thorpe even was, let alone the scandal that enthralled the country for more than a month as it unfolded at the Old Bailey.Continue reading...
  
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• Mark Gettleson: the reluctant 'third whistleblower' on Vote Leave spending

  14-04-2018 08:00
  Former Vote Leave staffer submitted evidence to Electoral Commission after being persuaded by whistleblower Shahmir SanniMark Gettleson never intended to be “the third whistleblower”. In an assessment of evidence submitted to the Electoral Commission last month by two leading QCs and a barrister, he is known only as “J”.But a set of events has led him to come out in the open and reveal himself – though he is not doing any press or interviews – including the pu
  
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• Listen: Should the UK bomb Syria, and 20 years on from the Good Friday Agreement

  14-04-2018 07:32 via ft.com
  The latest chemical weapons attack in Syria has shocked the world. Can Theresa May join Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron in bombing the nation without asking parliament's permission?
  
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• Why conspiracy theories are everywhere

  14-04-2018 05:00 via ft.com
  It’s almost as if someone powerful wants us to believe they are true
  
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• Grenfell shadow loosens Tory grip on Kensington and Chelsea

  14-04-2018 05:00 via ft.com
  Tragedy has turned affluent borough into target for old and new opponents
  
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• UK, US And France Complete 'Precision Strikes' In Syria In Retaliation For Chemical Attack

  14-04-2018 03:31
  In alliance with the UK and France, Donald Trump announces “precision strikes” in Syria following the alleged chemical attack by Assad regime.Four RAF Tornados involved in operation as Theresa May acts without Parliament’s approval.Bombing raid aimed at chemical and military bases described as a “one-time shot” and completed in around an hour.Twice as many missiles used compared to US-only attack in Syria a year ago. No reports of allied losses.The United
  
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• Donald Trump Tweets 'Mission Accomplished' After Britain, US And France Launch 'Precision Strikes' In Syria

  14-04-2018 03:31
  Donald Trump thanks UK and France for “wisdom and power” of their militariesBritain joins America and France in “precision strikes” in Syria following the alleged chemical attack by Assad regime.Four RAF Tornados involved in operation as Theresa May acts without Parliament’s approval.Bombing raid aimed at chemical and military bases described as a “one-time shot” and completed in around an hour.Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson says strikes were “
  
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• Britain, US And France Launch 'Precision Strikes' In Syria In Response To ‘Despicable’ Chemical Attack

  14-04-2018 03:31
  In alliance with the UK and France, Donald Trump announces “precision strikes” in Syria following the alleged chemical attack by Assad regime.Four RAF Tornados involved in operation as Theresa May acts without Parliament’s approval.Bombing raid aimed at chemical and military bases described as a “one-time shot” and completed in around an hour.Twice as many missiles used compared to US-only attack in Syria a year ago. No reports of allied losses.The United
  
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• Some High Street Pestos Contain Unwanted Extras, Which Report Reveals

  14-04-2018 01:01
  While traditional pesto is made with four key ingredients - basil, pine nuts, parmesan and olive oil - it seems the UK high street has been adding in surprising extras.A new analysis of supermarket own-label pesto found some jars from supermarkets contain ingredients like bamboo fibres, glucose syrup (sugar) and cashew nuts.Nikki Stopford, Director of Research at Which?, said: “Pesto has become a staple food in the UK but our research shows that many shoppers may be getting more than
  
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• 'Britain's Got Talent' 2018: Five Acts To Look Out For As The New Series Kicks Off

  14-04-2018 01:01
  In the lead up to the new series of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, much of the conversation has related to presenter Ant McPartlin and his recent arrest for drink-driving, which has overshadowed what the show is really about - the contestants. But the acts will be firmly in the spotlight as the show returns to ITV on Saturday (14 April) night.While you might think Britain would have run out of talent after 11 years, having seen the series opener, we can confirm it definitely hasn
  
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