Political news

• Why British Politics Is Ripe For A New Centre-Ground Party

  22-04-2018 23:57
  A key feature of modern global politics has been its increasing polarisation. Debates over what now seem like mere tweaks to policy have given way to divisive rhetoric and sloganeering, the return of traditional political ideologies such as Marxism on the left and fascism on the right, and a more personal, more aggressive form of dialogue in Westminster, Washington and elsewhere.Political figures on the populist right, from Donald Trump to Nigel Farage, have deliberately taken aim at their oppos
  
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• Thanks To Macron, France And The US Is The New 'Special Relationship'

  22-04-2018 23:55
  All relationships face stresses and strains, no matter how long they’ve lasted and how important they are. That’s true in world affairs just as much as in other spheres of life: personalities clash, tensions mount, and once-firm bonds become stretched to breaking point.That, at any rate, is what is happening on the global stage right now. While the UK and the US enjoy their ‘special relationship’, the US is also being wooed by France; and this week the French President is
  
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• Councils sit on £375m earmarked for affordable housing

  22-04-2018 23:30
  Despite ‘severe’ need for lower cost homes in some areas, funding is not being releasedLocal councils in England are sitting on hundreds of millions of pounds of money designated for affordable housing.A total of £375m is available, £100m of which has not even been earmarked for a specific project. This is despite a survey last year for the Town and Country Planning Association showing that 98% of councils described their need for affordable homes as either “severe&
  
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• REVEALED: Councils Have Failed To Spend £375m Earmarked To Ease The Housing Crisis

  22-04-2018 23:28
  Councils across the UK are hoarding hundreds of millions of pounds set aside for affordable homes, HuffPost UK can reveal.Data obtained by this website shows more than £375million is sitting in councils’ bank accounts instead of being used to tackle the housing crisis.Two-thirds of that cash - £235million - is being held by just 14 councils.Labour-run Southwark has £52.6million in the bank, while Camden – also controlled by Labour – has £37.6million.Tory
  
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• Brexit: Cabinet Unrest After Report Theresa May Is To 'Accept Staying In Customs Union'

  22-04-2018 21:22
  Theresa May is facing unrest within the top ranks of the Conservative Party amid reports the Prime Minister will break her promise to take the UK out of the European Union’s customs union.A Sunday Times report suggested May is preparing to concede defeat on the trading arrangement after the House of Lords voted last week to stay in a customs union - and the prospect of MPs backing the same position in the Commons.The report suggested that despite the concession, not even leading Brexiteers
  
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• Ben Jennings on identity checks at elections – cartoon

  22-04-2018 19:58
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• Hero Firefighters Who Tackled The Grenfell Blaze Have Completed The London Marathon

  22-04-2018 19:55
  Two crews of firefighters who tackled the Grenfell Tower blaze have finished the London Marathon in what has been confirmed as the warmest race on record.The North Kensington red watch, which was the first crew on the scene at the fire last June, is raising funds for groups that support local people affected by the fire.They hope to raise £50,000 for children who survived or were impacted by the tragedy so they can access crucial services like counselling, alongside lighter relief in the f
  
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• Few Tories even grasp what Windrush says about them | Isabel Hardman

  22-04-2018 19:41
  Many Conservatives have yet to understand the flaws created by their ‘hostile environment’ for immigrationHow on earth did the government not see the Windrush row coming? That’s what everyone – including members of the government – have been asking since the rumbling story erupted a week ago, after six months of cases appearing in the press. Trying to work it out herself, Amelia Gentleman, the Guardian reporter who uncovered the scandal over six months, wrote rather
  
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• Windrush: Corbyn says PM ignored immigration policy warnings

  22-04-2018 18:41 via bbc.co.uk
  The Labour leader says Theresa May is responsible for the effects of a "hostile" migration policy.
  
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• Brexit: Morgan calls for 'rational debate' on UK's customs plans

  22-04-2018 18:35 via bbc.co.uk
  Nicky Morgan says MPs have a duty to examine the UK's customs plans and not engage in "sabre-rattling".
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn thanks Welsh first minister who quit after ‘darkest times’

  22-04-2018 18:18
  Labour leader heralds ‘tireless’ work of Carwyn Jones, who announced departure after pressure over the death of Carl Sargeant Jeremy Corbyn has brushed off the idea that the Welsh first minister is leaving office under a cloud after Carwyn Jones announced he was stepping down as the pressure over the death of Carl Sargeant intensified.Corbyn thanked Jones for his “tireless” work as leader of Labour in Wales and said he had been a strong voice for democracy, devolution and
  
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• Four British People Killed In Saudi Arabia Coach Crash

  22-04-2018 17:51
  Four British people have died in a serious coach crash in Saudi Arabia, according to reports.Twelve others were hurt when the coach was hit by a fuel tanker, which then caught fire and set the bus alight, near the town of Al Khalas on Saturday, the BBC said.Those killed were from Blackburn and Preston, in Lancashire, travelling from Mecca on an Umra pilgrimage, according to Blackburn-based Hashim Travel.Passengers on the bus were from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northamp
  
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• Windrush scandal: Facing the threat of deportation

  22-04-2018 17:12 via bbc.co.uk
  The scandal of the Windrush generation has brought into focus the government's wider approach to immigration status.
  
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• Killer Whales Spotted In The River Clyde

  22-04-2018 17:00
  Ferry passengers and locals were treated to a rare sighting of killer whales in the River Clyde at the weekend.Images and footage of the orcas appeared on social media after they were spotted between Dunoon and Gourock on Saturday.Lindsay Moss was on a Western Ferries service around 12.30pm when they made an appearance.Her footage shows three killer whales, including what appears to be a youngster, rising to the surface before disappearing again.Orcas are sociable animals and travel in groups of
  
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• Labour faces new challenge from old foes in Tower Hamlets vote

  22-04-2018 16:22
  Mayoral hopeful Rabina Khan aims to forge a new coalition in the ethnically diverse London boroughA team of half a dozen Labour leafleters wait outside an East End primary school on a warm afternoon just off Roman Road street market in the gentrifying suburb of Bow. The party’s message is that schools are facing spending cuts imposed by the central government; the target audience is the predominantly Bengali women picking up children, a group that party campaigners otherwise struggle to re
  
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• Carwyn Jones 'not done yet' says Jeremy Corbyn

  22-04-2018 16:12 via bbc.co.uk
  The UK Labour leader pays tribute to Wales' first minister, who has announced he is to step down.
  
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• Sunday Shows Round Up: Theresa May Could Be Guilty Of Creating 'Institutional Racism' Say Labour

  22-04-2018 15:39
  On such a lovely day, it’s understandable that you might not have wanted to sit through the Sunday politics shows, so HuffPost UK did it for you - and here are the key moments.Windrush GenerationLabour attempted to heap even more pressure on Theresa May and Amber Rudd over the Windrush generation debacle on Sunday.Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry called on Rudd to resign on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show (this week hosted by Nick Robinson), saying: “We think if you’r
  
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• Jeremy Hunt threatens social media with new child-protection laws

  22-04-2018 15:35 via bbc.co.uk
  The health secretary wants action from the sites on underage use, bullying and screen-time limits.
  
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• Labour to seek local support for £250bn 'regional renaissance'

  22-04-2018 15:19
  Party to court regional mayors and councils over transport and infrastructure spending plansLabour is to begin courting regional mayors and councils over its plans for £250bn of transport and infrastructure spending, promising to prioritise projects that boost productivity and help the rest of the country catch up with London. Speaking to the Guardian, Peter Dowd, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said the party would open a series of consultations with local leaders over the com
  
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• Windrush: Benjamin Zephaniah wants immediate action

  22-04-2018 13:22 via bbc.co.uk
  Poet Benjamin Zephaniah is not convinced by promises of compensation for those affected by the scandal.
  
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• Stabbings In Tooting Bec And Walthamstow Add To Spate Of London Knife Crime

  22-04-2018 13:22
  Three more people have been stabbed in London, two of them after a fight outside a Tube station.Two men were found with knife wounds on Upper Tooting Road, south London, near Tooting Bec Underground, at around 6pm on Saturday, Scotland Yard said.One man’s injuries are not life-threatening, while the condition of the other remains unknown, police added.Roads have been closed for almost an hour, couldn’t get out the top of mine. Apparently someone has been stabbed #tooting#tootingbec#s
  
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• Hunt tells social media groups to protect children

  22-04-2018 13:14 via ft.com
  Health secretary considers legislation to restrict access to online platforms
  
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• Anti-Semites Approach Me In The Street To Offer Support, Reveals 'Shocked' Emily Thornberry

  22-04-2018 12:33
  .@EmilyThornberry says she is "fed up" of hearing about anti-semitism in the Labour party and says "we will sort this out" #marrpic.twitter.com/Tu6EedMYsW— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) April 22, 2018Anti-Semites feel comfortable enough to approach Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary in the street to put forward their views, Emily Thornberry revealed today.The Islington South MP described how just last week a woman started an unacceptable conversation with her, believing it was supp
  
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• Jeremy Hunt Attacks Tech Giants For Not Making Enough Progress On Protecting Children's Mental Health

  22-04-2018 12:15
  Jeremy Hunt has accused social media platforms of failing to protect children from harm to their mental health and emotional wellbeing.The health secretary met with bosses of companies including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Apple in November, but on Sunday he expressed his disappointment that not enough progress had been made to better protect children.In a strongly-worded letter, Hunt said the tech giants were “collectively turning a blind eye to a whole generation of children being ex
  
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• 'Amber Rudd Should Quit' Labour Increases Pressure On Home Secretary

  22-04-2018 11:57
  Amber Rudd should quit as Home Secretary over the Windrush scandal, leading Labour figures demanded today.Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell called for Rudd to resign after Commonwealth migrants who had lived and worked in the UK for many years found themselves facing deportation.Former Tory immigration minister James Brokenshire said he was “horrified” by the scandal, and Justice Secretary David Gauke said he was ashamed – but both s
  
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• No-deal Brexit 'disastrous' for food firms

  22-04-2018 11:55 via bbc.co.uk
  Free trade with the EU post-Brexit is "crucial" for UK food and drink firms, says a committee of MPs.
  
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• Taylor Swift Stalker Arrested After Having A Shower And Taking A Nap In Singer’s New York Home

  22-04-2018 11:50
  A stalker who broke into Taylor Swift’s New York townhouse has been arrested, the NYPD have confirmed.According to reports, Roger Alvarado climbed up a ladder and smashed a window to gain entry into the property before taking a shower and having a nap.The Associated Press have confirmed police found the 22-year-old asleep in the ‘Shake It Off’ singer’s home on Friday (20 April).In a statement the NYPD says that they responded to a report of a burglary at approximately 12:
  
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• RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic On Your Smartphone Is A Requirement For Everyone

  22-04-2018 11:37
  Game of Phones: Every week I’ll pick a new game for iOS or Android that’s perfect for long journeys, the commute or just when you want to switch off from the outside world.RollerCoaster Tycoon is one of the best video games ever made and you can actually play it on your iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone.Released in 1999 for Windows PCs, this game was an integral part of my life growing up and even just seeing the game again is a nostalgic throwback to the days when video games
  
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• What Works For Me: 'No One Can Take Away That Time In The Pool From Me'

  22-04-2018 11:00
  In ‘What Works For Me’ - a series of articles considering how we can find balance in our lives - we talk to people about their self-care strategies. If you’d like to contribute your story, email us.“When I’m swimming and challenging myself, I imagine I’m at the end of the pool saying ‘keep going, keep swimming’,” Nathaniel Cole, 27, tells HuffPost UK. “It’s that inner voice in my head telling me to keep going, telli
  
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• We’ve Come A Long Way Since Stephen Lawrence's Death 25 Years Ago, But Recent Government Policies Have Stalled Progress

  22-04-2018 10:49
  I was seven years old when Stephen Lawrence was murdered by a gang of racist youths in 1993. As it did for so many, the tragedy opened my eyes to racism in the UK.The Lawrence family were infiltrated by undercover police, treated like suspects rather than victims.  It took 19 years to put just two of Stephen’s murderers behind bars. The senior police officers who bungled the investigation may only now be investigated for misconduct.Years of campaigning by Stephen’s parents, Dore
  
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• London Marathon Weather Forecast Predicts Race Could Be Hottest On Record

  22-04-2018 10:43
  More than 40,000 runners will take to the streets of the capital today to run what is set to be the hottest London Marathon on record.The mercury could soar as high as 23C on Sunday for the 38th edition of the race.Although the Met Office predicted rain in the afternoon, the morning, when runners will set off, is when temperatures are set to peak.Runners have been advised to drop their goal-times and organisers have added more ice, water and run-through shower stations along the 26.2-mile course
  
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• London Marathon Beats Record For Hottest Ever

  22-04-2018 10:43
  More than 40,000 runners took to the streets of the capital on Sunday to take part in the hottest London Marathon on record.The Met Office recorded temperatures of 23.2C on Sunday for the 38th edition of the race.Rain had initially been forecasted for the afternoon but the sun appeared to have no intention of going in.Runners were advised to drop their goal-times and organisers added more ice, water and run-through shower stations along the 26.2-mile course.Guidance was also issued to runners pl
  
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• Verne Troyer Dead: Mike Myers And Keith Lemon Lead Tributes To ‘Austin Powers’ Mini Me Star

  22-04-2018 10:40
  Stars from the entertainment world have been paying tribute to Verne Troyer, following his death at the age of 49.Reps for the actor confirmed he had died in a statement on his official Facebook page in the early hours of Sunday morning.Mike Myers, who starred alongside Verne in two of the ‘Austin Powers’ films, was one of the first to pay tribute to his Mini-Me sidekick.In a statement, he said: “Verne was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us w
  
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• Northern Ireland’s lost moment: how the peaceful protests of ’68 escalated into years of bloody conflict

  22-04-2018 10:30
  Fifty years ago civil rights activists took to the streets of Derry, Belfast and Armagh. Their bid to effect peaceful change is arguably one of the great ‘what if?’ moments in Irish history, now remembered in a new exhibtionWhen did the Troubles begin? Was it when the first stone was thrown or the first shot fired? Or did they begin earlier with a police baton blow? Or earlier still with a peaceful march demanding civil rights? As with almost anything to do with Northern Ireland&rsqu
  
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• Japan ambassador’s Brexit warning: there won’t be a deal better than the single market

  22-04-2018 10:05
  Koji Tsuruoka expected a quiet posting in a stable country. Then Brexit happened. He tells the Observer of his fears and hopes for manufacturing, trade and investmentKoji Tsuruoka is sipping green tea in Japan’s splendid embassy in Mayfair, recalling how his first two years as Japan’s ambassador to the UK have not gone quite according to plan. At least, they haven’t turned out how his predecessors assured him they would. One after another, ex-ambassadors advised him, before he
  
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• How An Obscure British Blogger Became Russia's Key Witness Against The White Helmets

  22-04-2018 09:42
  Vanessa Beeley is a British blogger who believes the attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was staged, al-Qaeda wasn’t behind the 9/11 attacks and that “Zionists rule France”.But her real passion is trying to convince the world that the White Helmets, the group that rescues people from the rubble of Syria’s civil war, is a terrorist-linked organisation that fakes its activities to illicit sympathy in the West for a regime change plot agains
  
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• Verne Troyer Dead: ‘Austin Powers’ Mini-Me Star Dies, Aged 49

  22-04-2018 09:33
  Verne Troyer, best known for playing Mini Me in the ‘Austin Powers’ movies, has died at the age of 49.The actor’s death was announced on his official Facebook page by his reps in the early hours of Sunday morning.The cause of death has not been revealed.It reads: “It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today.“Verne was an extremely caring individual. He wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh. Anybody in need,
  
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• Security services 'to get more power to stop attacks'

  22-04-2018 09:24 via bbc.co.uk
  Security services will get more powers to stop terror attacks, according to a leaked document.
  
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• What Is Earth Day... And Does It Actually Make A Difference?

  22-04-2018 09:20
  What is Earth Day? Earth Day is an annual event celebrated worldwide on 22 April to demonstrate support for environmental protection.Started in 1970, Earth Day was created as a global initiative to raise awareness for the safeguarding of the planet, whether it’s through conservation, battling climate change or protecting endangered species.What’s the theme? The theme this year is about ending plastic pollution. Plastics are one of a number of environmental issues facing the worl
  
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• Plastic-Free Living: Where And How To Shop If You Want To Cut Down

  22-04-2018 08:00
  Our planet is drowning in plastic: marine life is dying, the very water that we drink is polluted and unless we take action, it’s only going to get worse. The world’s annual consumption of plastic has increased from around five million tonnes in the 1950s to nearly 100 million tonnes today, according to WRAP, which then takes up to 500 years to decompose.At the start of the year Theresa May promised that by 2042 we will live in a country that creates zero ‘avoidable&r
  
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• Windrush or rush of wind? – cartoon

  22-04-2018 07:00
  Chris Riddell on Theresa May’s reaction to criticism of the treatment of immigrants from the Caribbean Continue reading...
  
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• Starting gun prepped in race to replace Mark Carney at Bank of England

  22-04-2018 06:35 via ft.com
  British chancellor is scouring economic forums to find the next central bank head
  
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• Starting gun prepped in race to replace Carney at BoE

  22-04-2018 06:35 via ft.com
  British chancellor is scouring economic forums to find next central bank head
  
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• Runners and riders in race to replace Carney as Bank of England chief

  22-04-2018 06:35 via ft.com
  British chancellor is scouring economic forums to find next central bank head
  
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• Cameron faces scrutiny on UK-China fund

  22-04-2018 05:00 via ft.com
  Former PM met Hammond before London and Beijing endorsed business venture
  
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• Labour to address lack of diversity in British film with new tax relief rules

  22-04-2018 01:05
  Changes to put ‘rocket booster’ under industry to improve inclusionLabour has drawn up plans that would force film production companies to ensure gender equality and diversity on set, following fresh evidence of the slow pace of change in the movie industry.Under a future Labour government, the party announcedon Sunday vital high-end tax relief, worth hundreds of millions a year, will be made dependent on a fairer, more inclusive mix of cast and crew on any film. Continue reading...
  
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• Risk Food And Drink Prices Will Increase If There Is A No Deal Brexit, MPs Warn

  22-04-2018 01:03
  A no deal Brexit risks an increase in food and drink prices for consumers and would cause “seismic” damage to the chocolate, cheese, beef, pork and drinks industries, MPs have warned.In a report published on Sunday, the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee said striking a free trade deal with the EU must be the government’s “biggest priority”.It comes following reports that the EU has suspended its internal talks about the future trade dea
  
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• Labour Challenges May To Hold Customs Union Vote This Week To Settle Issue 'Once And For All'

  22-04-2018 01:00
  Labour is challenging Theresa May to settle the UK’s future customs deal with the EU “once and for all” by holding a crunch vote on Wednesday.In a letter to the Prime Minister, seen by HuffPost UK, Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has offered to give up parliamentary time set aside for Labour to ensure a meaningful vote on a post-Brexit customs union with the EU.Parliamentary pressure is growing on the Tories to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU after Brexit.La
  
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