Political news

• Private secretary to Commons Speaker says he was bullied by John Bercow

  01-05-2018 23:49 via ft.com
  Staff member says he is breaching non-disclosure agreement to talk of treatment
  
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• John Bercow, Speaker Of The House Of Commons, Faces Fresh Accusation Of Bullying Staff

  01-05-2018 23:35
  John Bercow’s former private secretary has alleged he was bullied by the Speaker of the House of Commons and paid not to speak out about the intimidation he suffered.In an escalation of allegations of bullying against Parliamentary staff, Angus Sinclair has told BBC Two’s Newsnight that Bercow smashed a mobile phone on his desk, and that he was undermined in front of other staff and mimicked by the Speaker.Sinclair, who says he faced a barrage of obscene language from the Speake
  
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• 9 Out Of 10 People In The World Are Breathing Polluted Air

  01-05-2018 23:04
  A staggering 9 out of 10 people around the world are still breathing polluted air, according to new statistics from the World Health Organisation.The updated estimates suggest that around 7 million people every year are dying because of exposure to fine particles caused by burning non-clean fuels for cooking, public transport, industry and motor vehicles.These fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system and as a result can cause many diseases including stroke, hear
  
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• Voters' Minds Unchanged On Theresa May And Jeremy Corbyn Despite Windrush Scandal, Poll Reveals

  01-05-2018 23:01
  Voters’ minds are unchanged on Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn despite the Windrush scandal’s impact on government, a new poll suggests. The study, carried out by ComRes on behalf of the Daily Express, puts the two party leaders neck and neck, with 40% of public support each.The pollster says the results are almost unchanged from those collected before the Windrush story, which led to the eventual resignation of home secretary Amber Rudd, broke last month.The online study of more
  
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• Sugar, fat and junk nibbles on the Hugh and Jamie show | John Crace

  01-05-2018 21:37
  Exposed to ardour of TV chefs, the health committee dispenses with ceremony and sharp brains turn to juicy pulpThe proceedings are normally rather dour affairs but, for one afternoon only, the health and social care select committee was sprinkled with a little stardust as Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall came to give evidence on the UK’s obesity crisis. The two chefs strolled into the room, took off their jackets and sat down. Lights, camera, action. The Jamie and Hugh Show cou
  
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• May rebuffed Rudd’s pleas for NHS doctors’ visa exemptions

  01-05-2018 21:01 via ft.com
  Former home secretary had been urging Downing Street for months to relax rules
  
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• 'Dirty money': U-turn as Tories back plans to make tax havens transparent

  01-05-2018 20:51
  Government says it will support amendment to introduce public ownership registers in Britain’s overseas territoriesBritain’s overseas territories will be forced to adopt public registers of company ownership at the end of the decade after the government conceded it would have to support a backbench amendment designed to stem the global flow of “dirty money”.Sir Alan Duncan, a Foreign Office minister, told the Commons that ministers recognised “the majority view in t
  
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• Facebook Is Planning A Dating Service And It Definitely 'Isn't Just For Hook-Ups'

  01-05-2018 20:46
  Facebook is planning a dating service, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday, marking the first time the world’s largest social media network has actively tried to help people form romantic relationships.Zuckerberg told software developers at Facebook’s annual F8 conference that a dating service would be a natural fit for a company that specialises in connecting people online.“There are 200 million people on Facebook that list themselves as single, so clearly there&rs
  
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• Theresa May expected to back EU ‘customs partnership’

  01-05-2018 20:08 via ft.com
  System would see UK mirror EU regime at all entry points for goods
  
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• Four Sleeping Children ‘Murdered In Manchester Arson Attack’ After Feud, Court Told

  01-05-2018 19:32
  Four sleeping children were murdered after being trapped in their bedrooms when their home was torched in the early hours of the morning, a court has heard.Zak Bolland, 23, launched the attack after being involved in a feud with the victims’ 16-year-old brother Kyle Pearson, a jury at Manchester Crown Court was told on Tuesday. Demi Pearson, 15, her brother, Brandon, eight, and seven-year-old sister, Lacie,  all died in the blaze, which started around 5am on December 11.Thei
  
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• Caymans and Bermuda face new corporate transparency laws

  01-05-2018 19:27 via ft.com
  UK agrees to plans for public registers about company owners in overseas territories
  
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• UK lawmakers threaten Mark Zuckerberg with summons

  01-05-2018 19:19 via ft.com
  MPs call on Facebook boss to answer questions over privacy breach
  
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• Legatum founder accused by MP of ties to Russian intelligence

  01-05-2018 19:19 via ft.com
  Hard-Brexit lobbyist Christopher Chandler an ‘object of interest’ in French spy report
  
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• Senior Peer Sparks Racism Claims After Calling Irish PM Leo Varadkar A ‘Typical Indian’

  01-05-2018 19:11
  A senior member of the House of Lords has sparked accusations of racism after he called Irish premier Leo Varadkar a “typical Indian”.Former Ulster Unionist MP and ardent Brexiteer Lord Kilclooney came under fire over his tweet, which suggested that Varadkar had displayed “poor manners” during a visit to Northern Ireland on Monday.Varadkar, whose mother is from Ireland and his father an Indian doctor, was born and bred in Dublin.Typical Indian— Lord John Kilclooney
  
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• Peer Sparks Racism Claims After Calling Irish PM Leo Varadkar A ‘Typical Indian’

  01-05-2018 19:11
  A senior member of the House of Lords has sparked accusations of racism after he called Irish premier Leo Varadkar a “typical Indian”.Former Ulster Unionist MP and ardent Brexiteer Lord Kilclooney came under fire over his tweet, which suggested that Varadkar had displayed “poor manners” during a visit to Northern Ireland on Monday.Varadkar, whose mother is from Ireland and his father an Indian doctor, was born and bred in Dublin.DUP: Varadkar's visit to Northern Ireland s
  
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• Noel Conway’s Right-To-Die High Court Battle Renews Emotional Debate Over Assisted Dying

  01-05-2018 19:10
  Sarah Griffith’s mother battled dementia for 14 years before passing away in November. The 87-year-old told had told her daughter for more than a decade that, when the time came, she wanted to take her own life, rather than left the condition take over.But because assisted dying is currently illegal, there was very little Griffith could do when her mother became very sick. “I felt like I failed her when she died,” Griffith said outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesda
  
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• Belfast Trust Recalls 2,500 Patients Treated By One Neurologist

  01-05-2018 19:03
  More than 2,500 patients treated in Belfast and diagnosed with neurological conditions are being recalled for case reviews, the biggest ever patient recall in Northern Ireland’s history. All those affected, including a number of children, were treated by a single Consultant Neurologist, Dr Michael Watt.Concerns over misdiagnosis follow an independent review of patient notes by Belfast Trust and the Royal College of Physicians. It has not been ruled out that the investigation could lat
  
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• Brexit invades London’s local politics

  01-05-2018 19:02 via ft.com
  Thursday’s council elections are being pitched to anxious Europeans as a last chance
  
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• Ex-Tory MP And His Floating Dog Inexplicably 'Photoshopped In To Road Junction Protest'

  01-05-2018 18:14
  A row has broken out over an ex-Tory MP being photoshopped in to a picture of local people campaigning about a dangerous road junction in north London.David Burrowes, who represented Enfield Southgate until he lost his seat to Labour in 2017, was last month pictured protesting with local Conservatives ... or was he?The Enfield Independent reported the Enfield Southgate Conservative Group first sent the picture of the campaigners to illustrate its efforts to lobby for traffic islands at the
  
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• Pro-Brexit Think-Tank Founder Accused By Tory MP Of Links To Russian Intelligence

  01-05-2018 18:10
  A Tory MP has claimed the founder of pro-Brexit think-tank the Legatum Institute was under suspicion of having worked for Russian intelligence services.Speaking under the protection of parliamentary privilege on Tuesday, Bob Seely said he and four other MPs had seen documents linking billionaire Christopher Chandler with the Kremlin.The Legatum Institute has described the claims as “complete nonsense”Seely said he was making the accusation public in order to battle the “ma
  
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• Lawyers attack legal aid cuts that hit migrants

  01-05-2018 18:07 via ft.com
  Three immigration cases received funding in 2016, against 22,000 in 2012
  
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• Jamie Oliver Wants The Government To Extend Sugar Tax To Include Milk Drinks

  01-05-2018 18:01
  Jamie Oliver has told parliament he would like to extend the sugar tax to include milk drinks to combat childhood obesity.Oliver praised the impact of the current sugar tax, but suggested it could go further, while giving evidence alongside Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee.He stated that he didn’t think the government should “overuse the tax whip” without rigorous data to support it but, he added: “I think there is some logic
  
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• Uber Loses Brighton Licence After Council Find Taxi App Is Not 'Fit And Proper'

  01-05-2018 17:37
  Uber’s licence in Brighton will not be renewed the council announced on Tuesday, saying the ride-hailing app was not “fit and proper”.Brighton & Hove City Council cited concerns about a data breach and Uber’s use of drivers from outside the area in its decision, made after a hearing on April 23. “These formed the basis of the decision to not renew the licence,” the council said in a statement. Chair of the licensing panel, Councillor Jackie O&rsq
  
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• Do Massage Therapists Need A Rebrand?

  01-05-2018 17:33
  Massage therapy = the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalising those tissues. It generally consists of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body.What does a massage mean to you? Relief from an achy back? Recovery after an injury? A long-awaited pampering in a day spa?For many, a massage is a regular necessity or one-off treat to alleviate physical pains or emotional stress. F
  
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• The New 'Male Pill' Is A Reminder That Medicine Is Still A Feminist Issue

  01-05-2018 17:32
  It’s a conversation that most women will be familiar with. The tales of weight gain, of moods swings, of unexpected pregnancies. Periods that never start again. Periods that never stop. Birth control gone bad is a topic that ties inexorably in with discourse on sex—and the results are not always good.News broke last week that a male contraceptive compound has been successfully tested, giving hope that a so-called ‘male pill’ without side effects could soon be a reality. T
  
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• With Rudd Gone, Can Labour Shift The Terms Of The Immigration Debate?

  01-05-2018 17:30
  UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd resigned on Sunday, following more than a week of mounting pressure over the Windrush scandal. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of migrants to the UK have been effectively persecuted by the Home Office during (and before) her tenure. They have been asked to provide the impossible – detailed documentation proving their continued presence in the UK since their arrival in the 1970s.The Tories are desperate to portray Rudd’s departure as a consequence of an honest
  
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• No Boris, The Saudi Regime Cannot Be Trusted To Investigate Itself For War Crimes

  01-05-2018 17:28
  “Our hearts go out to the families of those killed.” These were the words of the International Development Minister, Harriet Baldwin, last Tuesday when she updated the House of Commons on the humanitarian situation in Yemen.She was commenting in the aftermath of a Saudi air strike last Monday morning, which had hit a wedding: killing at least 20 people including the bride. In the few seconds it has taken for the bombs to fall, a scene that was meant to be a celebration was turned int
  
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• When Is Eurovision 2018? Date, Odds, UK Entry, Plus Everything Else You Need To Know

  01-05-2018 17:11
  Get ready to break out that Union Jack bunting, as Eurovision is just around the corner. This year’s event marks the 63rd annual Song Contest, where countries from across the continent - and a select few others - battle it out at the campest event in the musical calendar.While it has arguably become rather political in recent years (something which we’re sure Brexit has done little to help), as a nation, we still can’t seem to get enough of it. So ahead of the big nig
  
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• No suspects identified yet in Skripal nerve agent attack

  01-05-2018 16:52 via ft.com
  MPs told security procedures for Russian dissidents in UK being reviewed
  
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• MPs Threaten Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg With Summons Over Data Misuse

  01-05-2018 16:46
  Politicians have issued Mark Zuckerberg with an ultimatum: appear before MPs to give evidence about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, or he’ll be issued with a summons next time he enters Britain.The order comes after the Facebook founder sent a lieutenant to give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in April, despite appearing in person to US Congress. Zuckerberg is also reportedly due to speak before the European Parliament in May.The frustrated culture committee ch
  
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• Theresa May Facing Parliamentary Ambush To Force Publication Of Windrush Documents

  01-05-2018 16:42
  Theresa May is facing a crunch Commons vote that could force the Government to publish all papers and emails on the Windrush scandal – including details of her own role in the affair.Labour announced it would stage the Parliamentary ambush on Wednesday to force the Home Office to hand over all internal correspondence linked to deportations, migration targets and their impact on Commonwealth citizens denied basic civic rights.The tactic is the same procedure used to get the Brexit departmen
  
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• Theresa May 'Refused' To Allow Extra Overseas Doctors Into The UK

  01-05-2018 16:33
  Theresa May’s “hostile environment” policy is “damaging” the NHS, Labour claimed this afternoon after reports the PM blocked calls to allow more overseas doctors into the UK.The Evening Standard has reported that Downing Street ignored pleas from three Cabinet Ministers to relax visa rules to fill vacancies in the health service and across the business community.The current visa rules place a cap on how many non-EU workers can come to the UK, and this ceiling has be
  
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• UK overseas territories to open up ownership registers

  01-05-2018 16:22 via ft.com
  Move considered major win for financial transparency
  
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• Has the House of Lords stopped Brexit?

  01-05-2018 16:16
  
  Last night’s amendment requires a resolution in the Commons and a motion in the Lords before the UK government can conclude the withdrawal agreement.
  
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• Royal Bank Of Scotland Branch Closures Result In 792 Job Losses

  01-05-2018 15:50
  Royal Bank of Scotland is to close 162 branches in England and Wales, resulting in 792 job losses.The bank, which is still 72% owned by the taxpayer, said the closures were due to the branches previously being earmarked for conversion to the failed brand Williams & Glyn.In a statement, RBS said: “Following a review of the branch network in England and Wales a decision has been taken to close 162 Royal Bank of Scotland branches.“As a result of this process, around 792 roles will b
  
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• British Overseas Territories Will Be Forced By UK To Introduce Public Ownership Registers

  01-05-2018 15:45
  Britain’s overseas territories will be forced to introduce public ownership registers after the government caved to backbench pressure on Tuesday.Ministers decided not to oppose the amendment to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill designed to crack down on corruption, tax avoidance and the financing of terrorism.Labour MP Margaret Hodge had led the charge and said the move would stop the mega-rich “hiding their toxic wealth” in British territory.“If they’ve
  
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• Drinking frequency increases with income

  01-05-2018 15:44 via ft.com
  About 70% of people in managerial and professional jobs have drunk alcohol in past week
  
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• Asthma Deaths In UK Soar, Here's 5 Things You Need To Know About Managing The Condition

  01-05-2018 15:42
  The UK has one of the worst asthma death rates in Europe, with the rate of people dying from an asthma attack increasing by more than one fifth in the last five years.Experts from Asthma UK, who conducted the latest data analysis, say the condition “is not taken seriously enough” in the UK, with previous research from the charity revealing that one in six people do not know or are unsure if asthma can be fatal. This is despite the fact 1,434 people died from an asthma attack in
  
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• As Asthma Deaths In UK Soar, Here Are 5 Things You Need To Know About Managing The Condition

  01-05-2018 15:42
  The UK has one of the worst asthma death rates in Europe, with the rate of people dying from an asthma attack increasing by more than one fifth in the last five years.Experts from Asthma UK, who conducted the latest data analysis, say the condition “is not taken seriously enough” in the UK, with previous research from the charity revealing that one in six people do not know or are unsure if asthma can be fatal. This is despite the fact 1,434 people died from an asthma attack in
  
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• Ukip leader plans to move party towards hard right

  01-05-2018 15:35
  Gerard Batten urges people to read Qur’an to ‘educate’ themselves about Islamic threatUkip’s new leader, Gerard Batten, has reiterated his intention to move the party towards the hard right by urging people to read the Qur’an so they can “educate” themselves about the threat posed by Islam.Batten, who took over in February after the removal of Henry Bolton, repeated his belief that Islam is inherently antisemitic and the Labour party is deliberately tole
  
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• This Juice Range Is Made From 'Ugly' Fruit And Veg And Will Cut Food Waste

  01-05-2018 15:20
  A new juice range has been created to make use of ‘ugly’ fruit and veg that would otherwise go to waste.Waste Not, which has been created by two of Tesco’s major produce suppliers, uses apples, beetroot, strawberries and watermelons that fail to meet produce specification. It is estimated that two fifths of ‘ugly’ fruit and veg is rejected by supermarkets in the UK for not meeting certain standards. The Waste Not range will be sold in 350 Tesco stores
  
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• McStrike: McDonald’s Workers Demand Jobs You Can Build a Life On

  01-05-2018 14:59
  The McDonald’s store on Oxford Road, Manchester, has a surprisingly graphically unsophisticated-looking banner slung over its entrance, not advertising its latest supersized, super-caloried option, but rather featuring the simple logo “I love Manchester”.A sign, perhaps, of how multinationals like McDonald’s are scrambling to make themselves look more part of their communities, rather than outsiders that bring low-wage, insecure employment in and take cash for national an
  
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• How 'Coronation Street' Has Been Quietly Setting The Scene For Its Male Suicide Storyline

  01-05-2018 14:59
  News that Shayne Ward’s character is set to take his own life in ‘Coronation Street’ may have come as a shock to most fans, but the soap’s writing team have been laying the groundwork for months. In a special hour-long episode that airs next week, Johnny Connor will be left reeling after finding Aidan’s body. In accordance with media guidelines, the suicide will not be shown on screen, nor will the body.Speaking at a press conference on Monday (30 April), ‘Cor
  
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• How Jacob Rees-Mogg Could Be Britain's Trump

  01-05-2018 14:58
  The Windrush debacle has resulted in the resignation of Amber Rudd and much whispering about the fate of Prime Minister Theresa May. Were she to stand down as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, a replacement would be required, pronto. While some in the party are apoplectic at the suggestion, others are tipping Jacob Rees-Mogg as the bookies’ choice. And if you’re thinking about flying pigs at this point, let’s remember that the same disbelief was expressed abo
  
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• 'Simpsons' Creator Matt Groening Says Apu Controversy Is 'People Pretending To Be Offended'

  01-05-2018 14:50
  ‘The Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening has dismissed the controversy surrounding long-standing character Apu.While, for years, there have been conversations around whether Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu promotes harmful stereotypes, the debate hit headlines again when the documentary ‘The Problem With Apu’ was released last year.However, in an interview to commemorate ‘The Simpsons’ becoming the longest scripted primetime show in US history, Matt admitted to feeling like
  
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• 7 Things Bereaved Parents Want You To Know About Grieving For A Child

  01-05-2018 14:45
  The death of a child is never an easy subject to broach. No matter how long you’ve known the parents it can be difficult to know how to talk to them about their grief.Fear of getting it wrong can mean some people avoid the conversation altogether and this silence can be isolating, according to Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds, whose son Josh died in a road accident in Vietnam, seven years ago. “We asked ourselves why in a world where death will always make front page news, real lif
  
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• The 'power pose'

  01-05-2018 14:34 via bbc.co.uk
  An image of new Home Secretary Sajid Javid has sparked a debate about how to project authority and power.
  
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• How Does WhatsApp Make Money?

  01-05-2018 14:08
  WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum has quit the company that he co-founded almost a decade ago.While Koum’s statement on the matter suggests it was perfectly amicable, there are reports that he left due to concerns around privacy within WhatsApp and any changes that its parent company Facebook might make in the future.According to the Washington Post, Koum was concerned about the way that Facebook would start using people’s data on WhatsApp to make money.Koum’s old business partne
  
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• Home Office told thousands of foreign students to leave UK in error

  01-05-2018 13:48 via ft.com
  Accusations of faking English tests came amid department’s ‘hostile environment’ policy
  
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• Matthew Wright Quits 'The Wright Stuff' After 18 Years On Channel 5

  01-05-2018 13:37
  Matthew Wright has announced he is stepping down as the host of ‘The Wright Stuff’.The TV presenter has hosted the daily topical Channel 5 show for 18 years, but says he now wants to pursue new opportunities.He told The Sun: “After almost 18 glorious years on Channel 5 and with the show flying high in the ratings, I feel it’s time to depart and try my hand at something new.”Channel 5 boss Ben Frow said Matthew would be “sorely missed”, adding: “We
  
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