EU gives Nigel Farage 24 hours to explain Arron Banks funds

European parliament summons Brexit party leader over failure to declare expenses

Nigel Farage has been given 24 hours by the European parliament to explain in person his failure to declare lavish expenses funded by Arron Banks, an insurance tycoon under investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency.

The summons came just two hours before the Brexit party leader was spotted arriving at the US ambassador’s residence in London for a meeting with Donald Trump during the US president’s state visit to the UK.

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Thousands of people protest against Donald Trump’s state visit – video

Trafalgar Square in central London became the focal point for tens of thousands of anti-Trump protesters on Tuesday. The US president dismissed the demonstrations as 'fake news', saying they were very small, while claiming thousands had lined the streets to cheer him on Monday

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Trump urges May to ‘stick around’ to finalise ‘very, very substantial’ US-UK trade deal – live news

Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including the second day of President Trump’s state visit to Britain and his press conference with Theresa May

Judging by the interview that President Trump gave to the Sun and the Sunday Times before he came to the UK, his view of people tends to be shaped to a considerable extent by whether or not they have praised him. (“I think [Boris Johnson would be excellent. I like him. I have always liked him ... He has been very positive about me and our country.”)

On that basis, Trump’s meeting with Michael Gove later (see 10.55am and 12.07pm) is likely to go well. I have been rereading Gove’s write-up of his interview with Trump in January 2017 (paywall) and it’s not exactly a hatchet job. Here’s an extract.

Ever since a Virginia farmer called George Washington launched his bid for glory, the British have had a tendency to underestimate American presidents. Especially Republicans. When Abraham Lincoln was in the White House, our government sympathised with the Confederacy. When Ronald Reagan was commander-in-chief, the British foreign policy establishment derided him as a trigger-happy cowboy who was in danger of pitching us into a third world war.

But no Republican, indeed no president, has come to office facing anything like the level of scorn and condescension from British politicians and commentators as Mr Trump. When we talked last Friday, however, he had nothing but kind words and generous sentiments for a nation he believes will be his strongest ally ...

More from my colleague Damien Gayle on why people are protesting against Trump.

"Today I am a [chlorinated] chicken."@GlobalJusticeUK activist Jelly Cleaver, from Brixton, on why protesters against the #TrumpUKVisit don't want US trade deals after #Brexit pic.twitter.com/rAmx3lhRZr

"Trump is a beacon for neoliberalism and racist policies. He's not standing up for the interests of working people."@RMTunion activist John Reid, 65, right, on why he's protesting the #TrumpUKVisit #TrumpProtest #Trump pic.twitter.com/FqjnmWkpvf

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Trump in the UK: day one in three minutes – video highlights

President Trump has began his three-day state visit of the UK. Just before touching down the US president heralded his arrival with a Twitter tirade against Sadiq Khan, calling him a 'stone cold loser' after revealing he felt Khan had done a 'terrible job' as London mayor.

After landing at London Stansted airport this morning, Trump was met on the runway by the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, among other dignitaries. Later Trump travelled to Buckingham Palace, where he was greeted by Prince Charles before later being introduced to the Queen. In the afternoon the president attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Westminster Abbey before attending the Queen's state dinner in the evening. Here are video highlights of Trump's first day in the UK

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Loughinisland journalists told police investigation dropped

High court judge rebukes police and quashes warrants over unredacted document

Police in England and Northern Ireland have dropped a controversial investigation into journalists who made a documentary about a Troubles atrocity, following a public outcry and a stinging rebuke from judges.

The Durham constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced on Monday night that they were no longer investigating Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey over their work on No Stone Unturned, a film about the murder of six Catholics in Loughinisland, County Down, in 1994.

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41-gun salutes and a Twitter tirade: Donald Trump arrives in UK

US president attends Buckingham Palace banquet after starting state visit with angry tweets

  • Follow all the latest on Trump’s visit with our live blog

Donald Trump breezed into Britain by launching an attack on London’s mayor and berating so-called fake news before being honoured with a glittering banquet hosted by the Queen.

Buckingham Palace provided the sumptuous backdrop for the US president, who had long desired the endorsement of an official state visit, and took the opportunity to bring four of his five children with him.

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Swedish court rejects request to detain Julian Assange

Ruling prevents prosecutors from applying immediately for extradition warrant

An attempt to extradite Julian Assange to Sweden has suffered a setback after a court in Uppsala said he did not need to be detained.

The ruling by the district court prevents Swedish prosecutors from applying immediately for an extradition warrant for Assange to face an allegation of rape dating back to 2010. Assange denies the accusation.

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Sadiq Khan to Trump: you stand for the opposite of London’s values – video

The mayor of London has recorded a video message to the US president as Donald Trump spent his first day in the UK. Earlier on Monday, Trump tweeted that 'Kahn [sic] reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, [Bill] de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job'. Trump is only the third US president to have had a state visit to the UK

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British soldier taking part in Normandy D-day commemorations drowns

Darren Jones pulled from canal that was first site liberated by second world war allies in 1944

A British soldier taking part in commemorations of the 75th anniversary of D-day has drowned at a historic second world war battle site in Normandy.

L/Cpl Darren Jones, 30, of the Royal Engineers was declared dead after firefighters pulled him from a canal at Bénouville near Pegasus Bridge, the first site liberated by the allies on 6 June 1944.

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Donald Trump arrives at Buckingham Palace for Queen’s welcome – video

The US president, accompanied by the first lady, Melania Trump, arrived at Buckingham Palace on Monday. He was greeted by Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen. A protest against the visit is planned in central London on Tuesday, with the 'Trump baby' blimp made for his visit last year expected to put in an appearance

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Donald Trump arrives in UK for three-day state visit – video

The US president, accompanied by the first lady, Melania Trump, touches down at Stansted airport on Monday morning for a three-day official state visit. He was greeted by Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, and Jeremy Hunt, the UK foreign secretary. A protest against the visit is planned in central London on Tuesday, with the ‘Trump baby’ blimp made for his visit last year expected to put in an appearance

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UK factory growth hits three-year low amid Brexit and trade war worries – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as City investors fear the US-China trade war is intensifying

The UK factory sector was buffeted by ongoing Brexit uncertainty again in May, says Rob Dobson, dragging the PMI to a near three-year low.

He also fears that British manufacturing could continue to shrink in the comping months.

The trend in output weakened and, based on its relationship with official ONS data, is pointing to a renewed downturn of production.

“New order inflows declined from both domestic and overseas markets, as already high stock levels at manufacturers and their clients led to difficulties in sustaining output levels and getting agreement on new contracts.

Newsflash: Britain’s factory sector has suffered its worst contraction since the EU referendum almost three years ago.

Data firm Markit reports that new orders and employment both declined last month, hit by Brexit uncertainty and the knock-on impact of the US-China trade war.

New order inflows deteriorated from both domestic and overseas sources. New export business fell for the second month running and at the quickest pace in over four-and-a- half years. Manufacturers reported lower demand from Asia and Europe.

There was also mention of Brexit uncertainty, including clients diverting supply chains away from the UK, leading to lower demand from within the EU.

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Donald Trump attacks Sadiq Khan as he lands in UK for state visit

US president tweets calling London mayor ‘loser’ before touching down at Stansted

Donald Trump has arrived in the UK for a delayed state visit and set a combative tone by attacking the London mayor as his plane landed.

After Air Force One touched down at Stansted airport, the president and his wife, Melania, were greeted by the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, one of the contenders in the Conservative leadership race.

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Lewis chessmen piece bought for £5 in 1964 could sell for £1m

Missing walrus tusk warrior was purchased in Edinburgh and stored in a drawer

A small walrus tusk warrior figure bought for £5 in 1964 – which, for years, was stored in a household drawer – is a missing piece from one of the true wonders of the medieval world, it has been revealed.

The Lewis chessmen were found in 1831 in the Outer Hebrides and became beloved museum collections in London and Edinburgh. They have also become well known in popular culture from Noggin the Nog to Harry Potter.

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D-day remembered: a series of interviews on the 75th anniversary

The stories of those who were there on 6 June 1944 and others involved in this week’s commemorations

Thousands of people are preparing to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-day landings at commemoration events in the UK and France this week. Senior politicians and members of the royal family as well as hundreds of veterans will attend ceremonies to mark one of the main turning points of the second world war and the biggest amphibious invasion in military history.

More than 200 veterans have boarded a cruise ship, MV Boudicca, charted by the Royal British Legion, to attend the events, while others are descending en masse on Portsmouth and Normandy. Here we hear the stories of those who were there on 6 June 1944 and others involved in this week’s commemorations.

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