Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after incident at Tulse Hill station on Monday night
A man with a knife has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder by police who used a Taser at a south London train station.
Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) and the Metropolitan police were called to Tulse Hill station just after 6.30pm on Monday after reports of a man with a knife.
Continue reading...Prime minister urges MPs to give her plan a second look on eve of crunch vote on withdrawal agreement
Theresa May appears to be on course for a crushing defeat in the House of Commons as Britain’s bitterly divided MPs prepare to give their verdict on her Brexit deal in the “meaningful vote” on Tuesday.
With Downing Street all but resigned to losing by a significant margin, Guardian analysis pointed to a majority of more than 200 MPs against the prime minister.
Continue reading...If you live in Ireland, tell us about the assembly and its findings – did it help resolve a complex issue, might it help with Brexit?
In 2018, Ireland voted in a referendum to legalise abortion. Irish politics had been debating this divisive and emotive issue for decades, however the Irish citizens’ assembly, which deliberated on the matter prior to the referendum, was cited as a successful process in helping people understand the complex issues.
The citizens’ assembly was established in 2016 by parliament and its purpose was to deliberate on a number of issues, including the eighth amendment that outlawed abortion. The 99 citizen members of the assembly were selected to be electorally representative and included those in favour of the change, those against and those undecideds. Over the course of five weekends, between the end of 2016 and early 2017, the assembly listened to people on all sides of the abortion debate, including experts and those sharing their personal experiences.
Continue reading...PM speech comes after letter from Tusk and Juncker says EU will consider technological alternatives to backstop
In an article for the Guardian, Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, says that historical precedent dictates that, if Theresa May loses the Brexit vote tomorrow, she should call a general election.
Here is an extract.
In this week in 1910, the British electorate went to the polls. They did so because Herbert Asquith’s Liberal government had been unable to get Lloyd George’s famous People’s Budget through the House of Lords. Liberal posters defined the election as a choice between the peers and the people. They finally got their way after a second election that December.
So twice that year, and a number of other times, governments who could not get their flagship legislation through parliament, or who otherwise found their authority in the House of Commons exhausted, have been obliged to go to the country to seek a new mandate.
Conservative MPs have been told that Theresa May will address the party’s backbench 1922 committee at 7pm, after her statement to the Commons. And Jeremy Corbyn will be addressing the parliamentary Labour party meeting tonight too.
Continue reading...Men arrested after seven women made historical allegations of sexual abuse
Detectives in West Yorkshire have arrested 55 men as part of an investigation into historical allegations of child sexual abuse.
Police said the men were arrested after seven women made allegations that they were sexually abused as children in the Dewsbury and Batley areas between 2002 and 2009.
Continue reading...Some people are stockpiling food, medicine and even pet treats in anticipation of mass shortages after a no-deal Brexit. Are they overreacting, or should we be following their example?
Jo Elgarf doesn’t look like you would imagine a prepper to look. She’s not a swivel-eyed libertarian, camouflaged and armed to the eyeballs, crawling around the woods in Montana, skinning a squirrel for breakfast and fuelling up for the apocalypse. She lives with her husband and three young children in a sleepy suburb of south-west London.
Elgarf is happy to call herself a prepper, though; she is a member – and a moderator – of one of a growing number of prepper groups on social media. Hers – an anti-Brexit Facebook group called 48% Preppers – gets between 100 and 200 requests a day to join. Everyone wants to be ready for a no-deal Brexit.
Continue reading...Husband of British woman says she was asked to be Iranian agent, as hunger strike begins
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman held by Tehran, started a hunger strike after her interrogators tried to persuade her to become a spy, her husband has claimed.
Richard Ratcliffe revealed his wife was calm as she began an initial three-day hunger strike in protest at the Iranian prison authorities’ refusal to give her a clear written undertaking she would receive medical help for a lump on her breast, and other concerns.
Continue reading...Voting down plan would destroy faith in politics, PM to say at start of crucial week for leadership
Theresa May will make one final appeal to the Commons to pass her Brexit deal, amid speculation among many Conservative MPs that the expected defeat could spark a cross-party plan or moves to oust the prime minister.
May is to start her most crucial week as prime minister with a speech at a factory in Stoke-on-Trent, where more than two-thirds of people voted to leave the EU. Reiterating her recent pleas, May will tell MPs that voting down her proposals on Tuesday would destroy faith in politics, and could mean that Brexit does not happen.
Continue reading...Archbishop of Canterbury says he prays every day for Theresa May and other politicians
The archbishop of Canterbury has said a no-deal Brexit would hit the poorest and most vulnerable people in the UK.
Justin Welby also said he was praying for Theresa May and other politicians at the start of what is expected to be one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent parliamentary history.
Continue reading...In France and Britain, gilets jaunes have mutated into symbols of anger against anything from austerity to Islam
What is not in dispute is who came first. On the French side of the channel lie the original gilets jaunes (yellow vests), a grassroots, social media-based citizens’ movement with no formal structure, recognised leader or party or union backing, named after the hi-visibility jackets that French drivers are required by law to carry in their vehicles.
As French yellow vests kicked off their ninth straight weekend of protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies, a battle for ownership of what has become an symbol of anti-government agitation across Europe has broken out in Britain as leftwing anti-austerity activists donned yellow in a bid to wrestle it from the far-right.
Continue reading...Police have detained a 31-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving
A motorist has been arrested after a 11-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run collision.
The child was treated by paramedics at the scene of the incident in Beswick, Manchester, but died of his injuries in hospital.
Continue reading...MPs told to get ready for a no-confidence vote as Tories say PM’s Brexit deal has no hope
Labour MPs have been told to prepare for Jeremy Corbyn to table a dramatic and immediate vote of no confidence in Theresa May’s government as early as Tuesday evening in an attempt to force a general election if – as expected – she suffers a heavy defeat this week on her Brexit deal.
Messages have been sent to Labour MPs, even those who are unwell, to ensure their presence both for the “meaningful vote” on the prime minister’s Brexit blueprint on Tuesday and the following day. Labour whips have told MPs the no-confidence vote is likely to be tabled within hours of a government loss, with the actual vote taking place on Wednesday.
Continue reading...Pro-Brexit ‘yellow vest’ activist detained outside tube station over Westminster incidents
James Goddard, the “yellow vest” activist at the centre of controversy over the harassment of MPs and journalists outside parliament, has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of committing public order offences.
The pro-Brexit activist was arrested outside St James Park tube station in west London on Saturday in connection with incidents that happened in Westminster on Monday, the Metropolitan police said.
Continue reading...MPs accuse transport secretary of dangerous scaremongering in attempt to prop up PM’s deal
Chris Grayling’s claim that blocking Brexit could lead to a rise in far-right extremism is dangerous scaremongering and a desperate attempt to shore up the prime minister’s Brexit deal, campaigners and MPs have said.
The transport secretary told the Daily Mail that Britain would become a less tolerant and more nationalistic society if it failed to leave the EU. He said reversing the referendum result would result in the 17 million people who voted to leave feeling cheated and urged colleagues to support Theresa May’s deal.
Continue reading...Tabloid quoted actor Dwayne Johnson as saying millennials are ‘putting us backwards’
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has claimed the Daily Star fabricated a front-page story in which the film star appeared to criticise millennials as “snowflakes”.
The story, which appeared on Friday’s front page under the headline “The Rock Smacks Down Snowflakes” and was billed as an exclusive, was picked up by news outlets around the world.
Continue reading...Scientists called study’s findings upsetting and said toxic air must be cut
Air pollution is as bad for pregnant women as smoking in raising the risk of miscarriage, according to a scientific study. They said the finding was upsetting and that toxic air must be cut to protect the health of the next generation.
Air pollution is already known to harm foetuses by increasing the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Recent research has also found pollution particles in placentas.
Continue reading...Campaigners believe best moment to win over Corbyn will come after Commons vote
Backing for a second Brexit referendum in parliament is unlikely to be tested until after next week’s meaningful vote, as campaigners weigh up the best moment to try to win over the Labour leadership.
The Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston has scrapped plans to table a “doctors’ amendment” calling for the public to be allowed to exercise “informed consent” about Theresa May’s deal.
Continue reading...Photo of house also appears on TripAdvisor, while flyer said: ‘Book a table for sushi’
A man has denied running a Japanese restaurant from his home, despite neighbours’ complaints and a large illuminated sign hanging above his front door.
Norwich city council said it was investigating the address on Earlham Road in Norwich, which features a large sign reading “Orlando’s” above the door, a phone number and a web address.
Continue reading...Logo drawn up by water firms aims to ensure only wipes that degrade properly are flushed
The fight to eliminate “fatbergs” is to receive a major boost with the launch of a universal standard for wet wipes, clarifying which can be safely flushed down the toilet.
Manufacturers of wipes will be able to use a “fine to flush” symbol on their packaging – drawn up by the water industry – provided they pass stringent tests. The logo aims to reassure consumers that the products do not contain plastic and will break down in the sewer system instead of clogging up sewers and contributing to fatbergs.
Continue reading...Heavy snowfalls in Europe, Asia and the Middle East have left a world of white across thousands of kilometres
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