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Trump writes blistering letter to House accusing leaders of 'war on democracy' Letter is a thinly veiled attempt to redirect back impeachment inquiry’s findings he abused power and obstructed CongressTrump impeachment – live newsDonald Trump has accused Democratic leaders in the House of declaring “open war on American democracy”, on the eve of a historic vote that is likely to make him only the third president in US history to be impeached.Trump issued the incendiary accusation in an intemperately-worded letter sent to the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, on Tuesday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Fallon Sherrock becomes first woman to beat a man at PDC world darts Sherrock defeats Ted Evetts 3-2 at Alexandra Palace‘I’ve proved women can beat the men,’ says 25-year-old Fallon Sherrock has made darts history, beating Ted Evetts 3-2 to become the first woman to beat a man at the PDC world championship. The 25-year-old hit six 180s and landed a 91.12 average on her way to her first-round win, sealed with a nerveless double 18 that sent Alexandra Palace into raptures.“I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say,” an emotional Sherrock said on stage afterwards. “I feel really happy because I have proven something for women’s darts, that women can play the men and beat them, so fingers crossed this is a move in the right direction. I...

Calls to reform bail terms after lawyer stabbed to death Ewan Ireland, 17, had been released under investigation over an affray offence when he attacked Peter DuncanThe case of a teenager jailed for life after stabbing a lawyer to death has raised fresh alarm about the practice of releasing violent suspects without strict bail conditions.Ewan Ireland was 17 when he attacked Peter Duncan in August. The sentencing judge said on Tuesday that it was the 52-year-old’s bad luck to accidentally bump into Ireland while trying to get home after work in Newcastle city centre. Continue reading... Go to Source

John Worboys jailed for life over attacks on four more victims Old Bailey told black-cab rapist remains as dangerous as everThe black-cab rapist John Worboys has been jailed for life at the Old Bailey with a minimum term of six years for attacking four more victims, as the court heard he remained as dangerous as ever.Worboys had “fantasised” about attacking women since 1986, the court was told. Continue reading... Go to Source

Windrush victim rejects 'insulting' offer of £22,000 payout Glenda Caesar, who was out of work for a decade, says Home Office is offering ‘crumbs’ The recipient of one of the first Windrush compensation offers has said she plans to turn it down, describing the government’s offer as insultingly low because it covers only a year’s loss of earnings even though she was out of work for a decade.Glenda Caesar, 58, came to Britain legally as a three-month-old child in 1961 from Dominica, and has lived in the UK ever since. She was sacked from her job as an administrator in a GP’s practice in 2009 and was subsequently denied unemployment benefits. Continue reading... Go to Source

'You ain't seen nothing yet': Johnson quotes Reagan as he tells cabinet to work 'flat out' for change - live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including the cabinet, the House of Commons and the parliamentary Labour party all meeting for the first time since the general election 11.43am GMTAt least two bookmakers have sent out press releases today about the odds they are offering on the next Labour leader, with Rebecca Long-Bailey the favourite, followed by Lisa Nandy and then Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary.Starmer’s opponents, as well as criticising his stance on Brexit, have been arguing that the next leader should be a woman, as well as an MP from outside London.I spent the last couple of months talking to folks on ...

Pakistan sentences Pervez Musharraf to death for high treason Former ruler, who no longer lives in country, was tried for imposing state of emergency in 2007A Pakistani court has sentenced the country’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to death on charges of high treason and subverting the constitution.Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup and later ruled as president, is not in Pakistan and was not available for comment on the sentence, handed down by an anti-terrorism court hearing the high treason case. Continue reading... Go to Source

Australia heatwave: records forecast to be broken as temperatures surge past 40C Oodnadatta and Port Augusta forecast to reach 48C and Sydney’s western suburbs to hit 45CDecember heat records are expected to tumble in Australia from Wednesday as a heatwave moves across South Australia to Victoria and New South Wales.Temperatures are forecast to peak in Victoria and South Australia on Friday, with Oodnadatta and Port Augusta to reach 48C, and peak in NSW on Saturday. Continue reading... Go to Source

India protests: students condemn 'barbaric' police Anger grows across country at new law which denies citizenship to Muslim migrantsStudents in Delhi have condemned their “barbaric” treatment at the hands of police who stormed a peaceful protest against the new citizenship bill over the weekend, injuring dozens.Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, students who were caught up in Sunday’s protest at Delhi’s predominately Muslim Jamia Millia Islamia University – which turned violent after police descended on the campus firing teargas and rubber bullets and beating demonstrators with batons – said it had turned into a “battlefield”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Purdue payments to Sackler family surged after OxyContin fine Family started taking far more money out of firm after it was fined for misleading marketing of drugThe wealthy owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma started taking far more money out of the company after it was fined for misleading marketing of the powerful prescription painkiller.Purdue made payments for the benefit of members of the Sackler family totalling $10.7bn (£8bn) from 2008 through to 2017, a court filing made by the company on Monday evening shows. Continue reading... Go to Source

Angela Rayner clears way for Rebecca Long-Bailey to run for Labour leader Shadow education secretary will focus instead on becoming deputy leaderThe shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, has cleared the way for her friend Rebecca Long-Bailey to run as the leftwing successor to Jeremy Corbyn, deciding instead to focus on becoming deputy leader.After Labour’s catastrophic performance in last week’s general election, Corbyn said he would remain in place until March, while a leadership contest takes place. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson will amend Brexit bill to outlaw extension Legal block on finalising deal after 2020 removes safety net below negotiations with EUBoris Johnson will attempt to mark his election promise to “get Brexit done” by writing into law that the UK will leave the EU in 2020 and will not extend the transition period.As MPs begin to be sworn in at Westminster on Tuesday, the prime minister’s team is working on amending the withdrawal agreement bill so that the transition, also known as the implementation period, must end on 31 December 2020 and there will be no request to the EU for a further extension. Continue reading... Go to Source

Corbyn to face angry Labour MPs on Tuesday evening Party leader is expected to be asked to apologise for last week’s historic lossJeremy Corbyn is likely to face calls to apologise for last week’s disastrous election results when he attends what is likely to be an angry parliamentary Labour party (PLP) meeting on Tuesday evening.Many Corbyn-sceptic MPs are incensed that the leader has not said sorry for the loss of 60 MPs across the north, Midlands, Scotland and Wales, although he has said he takes “full responsibility” and was “very sad”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Watch out, Whitehall. Dominic Cummings has some tough love in store for us | The civil servant After Boris Johnson’s win, civil servants know the axe is hovering over departments including the DExEU and DfIDThose who work for the government clearly are no better at predicting the future than any other group of ringside spectators at the UK’s political circus. Last Friday’s electoral earthquake was as remarkable to us as it was to you.But we’re professionals: sure, many on the civil service payroll will have voted for or against a Conservative majority. Some of us rather naughtily may even have taken part in election campaign activity. But back at our Whitehall offices we prepared for this blue tsunami no less than we prepared for the possibilities of Labour or ...

Boeing suspends production of 737 Max model involved in fatal crashes US air watchdog said last week it would not approve plane’s return to service before 2020Boeing is temporarily halting production of its grounded 737 Max after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said last week it would not approve the plane’s return to service before 2020.The decision came after the US planemaker’s board held a regular two-day meeting in Chicago, which started on Sunday. Continue reading... Go to Source

BBC 'played a part' in Labour's election defeat, says shadow cabinet minister - live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political events as they happenVilification of Corbyn in broadcast media ‘fuelled defeat’ – shadow ministerLabour leadership race begins as senior figures back Rebecca Long-BaileyBoris Johnson tells new Tory MPs they must repay public’s trust 10.34am GMTAndy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, has also given an interview to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire. In it, he partly toned down his criticism of the BBC. He said that he was not blaming it for Labour’s defeat. And he said that he treasured it. But he repeated his claim that some of its coverage was slanted against Labour. He said:I’m suggesting that we treasure ...

Johnson to tell new Tory MPs they have to change party for good PM intends to set plans for Brexit bill, carry out minor cabinet reshuffle and present Queen’s speech before ChristmasBoris Johnson will tell the next generation of more than 100 new Tory MPs that they have a responsibility to change the the party for good, as he sets out plans for a first vote on his Brexit bill before the festive season.With just a week until Christmas, the UK prime minister intends to accelerate plans for his Brexit bill, carry out a minor cabinet reshuffle and present a Queen’s speech next week, before shifting his focus to reshaping Whitehall in the new year. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour leadership race begins as senior figures back Rebecca Long-Bailey Jeremy Corbyn could remain in post to end of March as post-election infighting continuesLabour leadership contest: who are the runners and riders?The starting gun has been fired on the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, as the party became engulfed in a bitter row about whether its Brexit position or leadership were mainly to blame for last week’s election disaster.Labour confirmed on Sunday night that Corbyn had asked for a leadership process to elect his successor by the end of March, meaning he will carry on in post and opposing Boris Johnson across the dispatch box for more than three months. Continue reading... Go to Source

Isaac Levido: the Australian political strategist credited with Boris Johnson's victory Lynton Crosby protege behind Scott Morrison’s unexpected win chalks up another triumph with the UK Conservatives’ successful re-election campaignNational election campaigns – by definition a team effort – are somewhat unfairly often credited to the performance of a single person. But thanks to a sharp, focused campaign that produced a large majority for Boris Johnson after a period of unprecedented political instability there was just one name being sung out at Conservative headquarters on Thursday: Isaac Levido. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson threatens BBC with two-pronged attack No 10 boycotts Today programme and considers decriminalising non-payment of licence feeDowning Street is threatening the future of the BBC by insisting it is seriously considering decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee, while boycotting Radio 4’s Today programme over the broadcaster’s supposed anti-Tory bias.No 10 pulled ministers from Saturday’s edition of the Today programme and sources said it intended to “withdraw engagement” from the show in future. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour leadership contest: who are the runners and riders? Rebecca Long-Bailey, Angela Rayner, Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips are among potential candidates Follow the latest election news - live updatesContinue reading... Go to Source

What we learned about the media this election The campaign saw an unprecedented level of criticism of British journalism Boris Johnson threatens BBC with two-pronged attackWas it the media wot lost it? This general election has seen an unparalleled level of criticism of British journalism, a prime minister who showed it was possible to skip tough interviews without suffering at the ballot box, and an online campaign that pushed the limits of what was previously considered acceptable in UK politics.The aftermath has seen Jeremy Corbyn partly blame the still-powerful Sun and Daily Mail for his defeat, despite the plummeting print circulations of national newspapers. At the same time the Conservatives have turned their fire on the media and are threatening to decriminalise the licence fe...

From the NHS to Brexit: what can we expect from Johnson's government? Our specialists look into series of pre-election pledges, from health to education and media policyBoris Johnson made a raft of promises and comments indicating future policy during the election campaign. Our specialist reporters take a look at what we can now expect from the government on key policy areas. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hong Kong violence breaks out again in shopping centres Police make arrests and use pepper spray as flashmobs and vandalism break outHong Kong police used pepper spray and made arrests on Sunday as small groups of black-clad pro-democracy protesters targeted some of the city’s shopping centres, ending a rare lull in violence.Flashmob protests and vandalism broke out in several locations. Riot police responded with pepper spray in at least two shopping centres as members of the public heckled them. Continue reading... Go to Source

'I own this disaster': John McDonnell tries to shield Corbyn Shadow chancellor suggests his preferred choice as new Labour leader is Rebecca Long-BaileyJohn McDonnell has said he takes full responsibility for Labour’s disastrous election defeat, as he sought to divert blame away from Jeremy Corbyn and pave the way for Rebecca Long-Bailey to succeed him at the top.The shadow chancellor, who ran the campaign that saw Labour lose dozens of northern English seats to the Tories, apologised and claimed that he “owns this disaster”. Continue reading... Go to Source

McDonnell says he takes full responsibility for Labour's defeat – politics live Shadow chancellor says Brexit and the media also to blame for loss and Corbyn will stand down in ‘8-10 weeks’ 11.46am GMTJohn McDonnell says he was not ignoring Lisa Nandy as a potential candidate to succeed Corbyn when questioned about candidates this morning. Andrew Marr mentioned the Wigan MP’s name twice but McDonnell did not respond. Paul, You are over interpreting this. I was simply adding names to those mentioned by Andrew Marr, not ignoring Lisa.The important issue now is ensuring that the leadership election is conducted positively, without any rancour so that we can come through this united & we will. 11.34am GMTThe former Labour home secretary, Alan Johnson, has written a s...

Britain’s new political landscape: what the voting numbers tell us Politics professor Rob Ford crunched the numbers with a team of experts to produce the devastatingly accurate exit poll. Here, he details how the 10pm figures foretold a night of horror for LabourThe exit poll stunned us all again. In 2017 it raised the curtain on a night of humiliation for Theresa May and the Conservatives and triumph for Labour and Jeremy Corbyn. This time the roles were reversed. Boris Johnson succeeded where May failed, mobilising Leave voters’ frustration at Brexit deadlock to secure the largest Conservative majority since Margaret Thatcher’s third victory in 1987, and the largest share of the vote (44%) won by any party since Thatcher’s first win in 1979. Corbyn secured a &ldquo...

We will now find out what a triumphant Boris Johnson really wants and believes | Andrew Rawnsley To keep his promises, the Tories must pay a lot more heed to areas of Britain that have been strangers to the party for decadesPower always reveals. Robert Caro, the brilliant biographer of Lyndon Johnson, puts it extremely well: “When a man is climbing, trying to persuade others to give him power, concealment is necessary. But as a man obtains more power, camouflage becomes less necessary.”This insight came to mind when considering the prospects for our country now that another politician called Johnson has secured a great deal of power. His successful gamble on a snap election has just taken the Conservatives to their largest parliamentary majority since Margaret Thatcher was...

In Blair’s old seat, the regulars agree: ‘Corbyn doesn’t understand us here’ They come from pit families with strong military ties – and it was patriotism that made them switch their vote for the first timeIt came as no surprise that Boris Johnson hot-footed it to Sedgefield on Saturday . The prime minister probably never had much doubt that he could eclipse Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party in this election, but to rewrite the electoral history of this particular place was perhaps beyond his imagining. He needed to see it for himself.Sedgefield had not only returned solid Labour majorities since 1935, it was also the symbolic home of the politician who, by the time of the next election, will be the only Labour election winner in half a century. Johnson wore an ironic red tie f...

I take my share of responsibility for this defeat, says Jeremy Corbyn ‘I am proud that we won the arguments,’ says Labour leader in his account of party’s election failureJeremy Corbyn: We won the argument, but I regret we didn’t convert that into a majority for changeJeremy Corbyn has accepted his personal responsibility for Labour’s general election defeat as he gave his fullest explanation to date for the catastrophic losses that helped return Boris Johnson to Downing Street.Writing in the Observer, the Labour leader, who has announced he will step down when a successor is elected in the spring, describes the results as “desperately disappointing”. Continue reading... Go to Source