News- UK

'It's doing my head in': UK voters sick of Brexit – and the election Voters in Labour seat of Bury North and Tory seat of Chingford split over merits of pre-Christmas pollMPs break Brexit deadlock with vote for 12 December electionIn the foothills of the Pennines, the market town of Ramsbottom was busy with afternoon shoppers when news broke of a looming general election. Teacups clattered, eyes rolled and heads shook wearily in a town that voted 53% for leave in June 2016. Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit reduced to a petty squabble. Classic Dom | John Crace Johnson and Corbyn only cared about election timing – leaving this parliament to expire as it had lived. A laughing stockIt came down to a matter of days. Once Lindsay Hoyle, the deputy speaker, a man with both eyes on the top job had – as expected – chosen not to select amendments on EU citizens and votes for 16-year-olds, the only issue was about timing.The Tories wanted 12 December because that was the day they had first thought of and didn’t want to look like they were making any concessions. So tough. So brave. Classic Dom. Not wanting to be looking like the only leader too timid to vote for an election, Jeremy Corbyn muscled in on the Lib Dems and the SNP to insist that it took place on 9 December instead. Continue...

Brexit: Early election bill likely to clear Commons as amendments extending franchise not selected - live news Commons debating fresh attempt by government for December ballotGeneral election: Labour says it will back pre-Christmas pollJohnson fails in bid to limit debate as MPs start considering election billDoes government defeat on Creasy amendment mean bill might fall? 5.54pm GMTCat Smith, the shadow deputy leader of the Commons, opens the debate, moving amendment 2, the one that would change the date of the election from Thursday 12 December to Monday 9 December. She says Labour wants as many people as possible to participate in the election.Labour fears that students would be less likely to vote on 12 December, because some of them would have gone home at the end of term. 5....

Grenfell inquiry accused of focusing on junior firefighters Fire chief says inquiry should have centred on cladding and government policyFirefighters have accused the Grenfell Tower public inquiry of injustice by focusing on the shortcomings of rank and file officers while failing to scrutinise those in power, including the prime minister, Boris Johnson, who oversaw firefighting in London for eight years as mayor.Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said on Tuesday that it was “unfair and unjust” that firefighters were being publicly scrutinised in the long-awaited report being published this week, while political leaders were not. Continue reading... Go to Source

Lebanon's PM Saad Hariri resigns as protesters come under attack Hariri says he intends to make ‘positive shock’ to country gripped by mass protestsLebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, has announced his resignation, in a move set to spark further uncertainty in a country paralysed by political dysfunction and nationwide protests.Hariri’s announcement came several hours after hundreds of youths overran protest sites in downtown Beirut, ransacking tents and stalls set up by demonstrators who, for the past 13 days, have demanded an overhaul of the ruling class and an end to rampant corruption. Continue reading... Go to Source

Met treatment of disabled XR activists labelled 'degrading' Met’s own disability advisers lodge complaint over disabled protesters’ treatmentThe Metropolitan police’s advisers on disability have accused the force of “degrading and humiliating” treatment of disabled activists during the Extinction Rebellion protests in London this month.A formal complaint by the Met’s disability independent advisory group (DIAG) says members are “disappointed and angered” that the force failed to engage with them over the policing of the protests, and says it may have caused “irreparable damage” to relations with disabled people. Continue reading... Go to Source

Police seek Armagh brothers in relation to Essex lorry deaths Ronan and Christopher Hughes wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human traffickingDetectives have named two people they want to speak to in connection with the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex last week.Ronan Hughes, 40, and his brother Christopher, 34, both from Armagh, Northern Ireland, were wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking, Essex police said on Tuesday. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Labour says it will back pre-Christmas poll Jeremy Corbyn confirms party will vote for bill seeking December pollFollow the latest politics news - liveJeremy Corbyn has announced that Labour is ready to back a general election now that the EU has granted a three-month Brexit delay, making a pre-Christmas poll all but certain.With the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National party preparing to support a one-line bill tabled by Boris Johnson’s government later on Tuesday, triggering an early poll, Corbyn said his party would also support it. Continue reading... Go to Source

Grenfell inquiry finds fire brigade 'gravely' ill-prepared for blaze Long-awaited report into tragedy that killed 72 people says shortcomings cost livesThe London fire brigade’s readiness for the Grenfell Tower fire was “gravely inadequate” and fewer people would have died if it had been better prepared, a long-awaited public inquiry report into the disaster that killed 72 people has concluded.The report into the biggest single loss of life in London since the second world war also ruled that the building had been refurbished in breach of safety regulations and that contrary to the evidence so far of the cladding panel manufacturer, Arconic, “the principal reason why the flames spread so rapidly up the building” was its aluminium composite panels and the “melting and dripping of b...

Lorry deaths: driver was part of global ring of smugglers, court told Maurice Robinson, 25, appears in court charged with manslaughter of 39 peopleA lorry driver accused of the manslaughter of 39 people was part of a “global ring” of smugglers trafficking people into the UK, a court has heard. Maurice Robinson, 25, known as Mo, appeared in Chelmsford magistrates court by video link on Monday morning and was read the charges he faces – which include human trafficking – after dozens of suspected migrants were found dead in a refrigerated trailer in Grays, Essex, in the early hours of Wednesday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson abandons Brexit bill in new push for December election PM in bid to get Lib Dems and SNP to agree poll date before ChristmasLatest Brexit developments – liveBoris Johnson will abandon attempts to push his Brexit bill through this parliament in a bid to get the Liberal Democrats and the SNP to agree to an election before Christmas, although the parties are still in dispute over the potential date.The prime minister failed to get the two-thirds of MPs he needed to secure an election under existing laws, after opposition parties largely abstained. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK intelligence services step up monitoring after death of Isis leader Action covers about 3,000 people in UK and abroad in an effort to safeguard against possible revenge attacksBritish intelligence agencies are engaged in heightened monitoring of subjects of interest after the death of the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to safeguard against the possibility of revenge attacks in the UK.The response covers about 3,000 people in the UK and abroad who are believed by MI5 to have connections to Isis or who could be inspired by the group to launch terrorist attacks in Britain. Continue reading... Go to Source

Healthy diet means a healthy planet, study shows Healthier food choices almost always benefit environment as well, according to analysisEating healthy food is almost always also best for the environment, according to the most sophisticated analysis to date.The researchers said poor diets threaten society by seriously harming people and the planet, but the latest research can inform better choices. Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit: EU has agreed Brexit 'flextension' until 31 January 2020, Tusk announces – live news Commons to debate motion for 12 December election as EU agrees to delay BrexitFull story: EU agrees Brexit extension to 31 JanuaryGovernment likely to adopt Lib Dem election plan, says SwinsonPeople’s Vote senior figures forced outEU’s ‘flextension’ offer - Snap analysis 11.42am GMTThis is from the politics professor Philip Cowley on the issue of whether or not Boris Johnson gets the blame for the Brexit extension. (See 10.55am.)I keep seeing this sort of gag (and yes, OK, ho ho ho), but if, say, MF comes out and says that he doesn't blame Boris and that it is instead all the fault of those Remainer swine, it'll be the sort of elite cue that we know is so important in determining how voter...

Samira Ahmed takes on BBC in landmark equal pay case Presenter claims being paid one-sixth of Jeremy Vine’s pay amounts to unfair treatmentThe BBC presenter Samira Ahmed has launched a landmark equal pay case, claiming she was paid 85% less than her male equivalent.Ahmed was cheered when she arrived at the central London employment tribunal on Monday morning. She was accompanied by colleagues and supporters, including the BBC Breakfast show presenter Naga Munchetty and the broadcaster Aasmah Mir. Continue reading... Go to Source

Essex lorry deaths: driver remanded in custody Maurice Robinson, 25, appears in court charged with manslaughter of 39 peopleMaurice Robinson, a 25-year-old lorry driver, has been remanded in custody by magistrates in Chelmsford after being charged with the manslaughter of 39 people found dead in a refrigerated container in Essex.Robinson, who appeared on Monday via video link, was charged on Saturday with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering. Continue reading... Go to Source

Donald Trump booed and greeted with 'lock him up' chants at World Series President attended Sunday’s baseball game in Washington DCCrowd booed when Trump appeared on video screenDonald Trump once claimed he was courted by several major league baseball clubs in his youth but turned them down because they couldn’t offer him enough money. On Sunday, baseball got its revenge.The President attended Game 5 of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros at Nationals Park, a short journey from the White House. When Trump was shown on the video screens in the stadium he was loudly booed by fans. That, perhaps, was predictable: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and both Bushes were all booed while attending baseball games as President. What came shortly aft...

Post-term pregnancy research cancelled after six babies die Swedish researchers say proceeding with induction trial would have been unethicalSweden has cancelled a major study of women whose pregnancy continued beyond 40 weeks after six babies died.The research was halted a year ago after five stillbirths and one early death in the babies of women allowed to continue their pregnancies into week 43. Continue reading... Go to Source

Brexit: EU prepares to grant UK three-month extension Exclusive: UK will have option to leave earlier if deal is ratified, leaked draft showsThe EU is preparing to sign off on a Brexit extension to 31 January 2020 with an option for the UK to leave earlier if a deal is ratified, according to a leaked draft of the agreement seen by the Guardian.Despite objections raised by the French government, a paper to be agreed on Monday circulated among member states suggests the EU will accede to the UK’s request for a further delay. Continue reading... Go to Source

Gender pay gap at its widest for women in their 50s, study reveals Rest Less analysis shows the average salary of women over 50 is 28% lower than men’sThe gender pay gap is at its most extreme for women in their 50s, new research has revealed, with women’s average salaries at that age being 28% – or £12,509 – lower than men’s.Women’s salaries drop by 8% in their 50s while men’s drop by 4% the analysis, based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also revealed. The discrepancy falls very slightly over the next decade but continues at 27.6% to retirement age. Continue reading... Go to Source

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in US raid, Trump confirms Isis leader ‘died like a dog’ in special forces raid on his Syrian safehouse, says presidentIsis leader killed – rolling updates and reactionThe Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed in a raid by US special forces on his Syrian safehouse, Donald Trump announced on Sunday, ending a years-long manhunt for one of the world’s most wanted terrorists.Trump said the “impeccable” two-hour operation was conducted on Saturday night in the province of Idlib, one of the last areas of the country still outside Syrian regime control, and that US officials had confirmed Baghdadi, 48, was among those killed. Continue reading... Go to Source

Essex lorry deaths: Vietnamese families fear for missing loved ones Relatives in Nghe An province, where 35 of the 39 dead are believed to be from, await worst news of allThe last time that Le Minh Tuan spoke to his son Le Van Ha, it was in a brief phonecall. “I have made it to France,” Ha told his father on Monday, “and I am about to get in a car to England.”It had been a long journey for Ha since he left his small farming community of Yen Hoi, in Vietnam’s Nghe An province, in July, in search of better prospects. He had flown first to Ho Chi Minh City, then travelled to Malaysia, then Turkey, then Greece and finally to France. Continue reading... Go to Source

No 10 to explore other routes towards election after Lib Dem proposal Downing Street hints at bill-based path if MPs do not back election motion on MondayThe government could try to force a pre-Christmas election via a simple majority for a parliamentary bill, Downing Street has said, following a Liberal Democrat-devised plan to try to end the House of Commons impasse.While ministers have dismissed a Lib Dem-Scottish National party idea to bring about an election on 9 December by amending the Fixed-term Parliaments Act as a “gimmick”, a Downing Street source said Boris Johnson’s government could consider a similar bill-based route. Continue reading... Go to Source

Oktoberfest 'produces 10 times as much methane as the city of Boston' First analysis of the environmental impact of the Munich festival reveals emissions costFor the millions of people who descend on Munich for the annual booze-drenched bash, Oktoberfest is a celebration of beer, bands and bratwurst.But as the dust settles for another year on the world’s largest folk festival, and die Bierleichen return to the land of the living, environmental scientists have released the first analysis of methane emissions from the 16-day party. Continue reading... Go to Source

Police investigating 'Kill Gina Miller' crowdfunding page Website apologises to anti-Brexit activist over page trying to raise money for hitmanPolice are investigating a crowdfunding page that advocated killing the anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller.The page, which has been on the GoFundMe website since April, sought to raise £10,000 for a hitman to kill Miller, but did not raise any money before it was taken down. Continue reading... Go to Source

US reportedly carries out operation against Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi No details have been released but Donald Trump expected to make statement at 9am Washington timeThe US has carried out a raid in Syria targeting the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to multiple reports.A US official told Reuters an operation had taken place targeting the terrorist leader but did not say whether it had succeeded it capturing or killing him. Continue reading... Go to Source

Migrant deaths: Britain faces exclusion from elite EU policing unit Brexit warning over anti-trafficking body comes as lorry driver is charged with manslaughterThe UK faces being excluded from Europe’s anti-trafficking unit after Brexit, senior MPs and experts warned last night. The unit is coordinating international investigations into the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found in the back of a lorry in Essex last week.The warning came as on Saturday the driver of the truck, Maurice Robinson, was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people over the deaths in Grays. The 25-year-old will appear at Chelmsford magistrates court tomorrow, where he will also face 39 counts of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering. Continue readi...

Lib Dems offer Johnson route to December election Amendment to Fixed-Term Parliaments Act could prevent Brexit deal coming back to CommonsBoris Johnson has been offered a route to securing the pre-Christmas election that he has been seeking, through a plan that would only require the support of a simple majority of MPs.With most Labour MPs still against the idea of a snap election, the prime minister looks set to lose his bid to secure a December poll on Monday in a vote that requires the backing of two-thirds of MPs. Other parties are also opposing an election until the EU has granted a three-month Brexit delay, although the DUP hinted on Saturday it could back the move. Continue reading... Go to Source

England stride past All Blacks towards rugby’s greatest prize It’s four years since they took a hiding at their home World Cup. Now, after a glorious triumph in Yokohama, redemption beckonsOnly four years after they were humiliated at their own tournament, England strode with uncommon authority to next weekend’s Rugby World Cup final in Japan, dispatching the All Blacks, no less, as if they were no more than the next hurdle that needed clearing.When New Zealand became world champions for the third time in London in 2015, they were hailed without argument as the “most dominant team in the history of the world”, the very phrase one of their own camp had scrawled on a whiteboard in their team room two years earlier. In Yokohama, England, so far from their troubled homeland, harnessed...

Essex lorry deaths: driver charged with 39 counts of manslaughter Mo Robinson, 25, has also been charged with human trafficking and money launderingThe driver of the lorry that contained 39 dead migrants has been charged with manslaughter and human trafficking.Maurice Robinson, 25, from Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, faces 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering, Essex police said on Saturday. Continue reading... Go to Source