The Guardian reports from Pishill on Oxfordshire It is an idyllic, quintessentially English scene, but rake the surface and the embers of a fierce local row soon spark into life. On one side, people determined not to lose an 800-year-old pub; on the other, a magic amulet-toting, born-again Christian broadcasting "alt-right" views to the world from its environs. Yes, it's Russell Brand. The author of My Booky Wook and Booky Wook 2, Newsnight interviewee, former guest editor of the New Statesman and Guardian sports columnist, and recent adherent of whichever branch of Christianity requires you to prance about in your ...
Another win for BBC News in our Headline of the Day Award:The pictures, showing a pink and red glow, piqued the interest of hundreds of people, with many praising the "impressive" snaps, but all was not as it seemed. The "beautiful" glare - seen early in the morning on Wednesday - actually came from Suffolk Sweet Tomatoes' LED light units, which are used to encourage the growth of its stock.
"There is a strand of conservatism that is protectionist and isolationist but for any admirer of Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher to go along with these policies is extraordinary. Trump represents a repudiation of their values on free trade and internationalism."David Gauke explains why Conservatives should have no truck with Trump. Wera Hobhouse says it's time we had an open and honest conversation about legalising euthanasia. Despite the fact that governments have spent the last 40 years giving capitalism's loudest voices mostly what they want, such as lower top tax rates and weaker trades unions, in the last 10 years ...
The Independent reports that Keir Starmer is under pressure to re-examine the UK's relationship with the European Union, as a new group of MPs from across the political spectrum has formed to urge the prime minister to forge closer ties with the bloc. The paper says that the group, which aims to "discover areas of mutual co-operation and interest" and probe the UK-EU relationship, held its first meeting on Tuesday: The group will seek to "foster positive relationships with colleagues across Europe", as well as "encouraging an open and honest dialogue for politicians of all stripes", co-chair Dr Rosena Allin-Khan ...
Today is polling day (24th October) in the Whickham North and Swalwell by-election. Yesterday I was helping in Whickham to deliver the next leaflet but, alas, I am tied up today until this evening on meetings. The ward has an interesting history. Once a Labour stronghold, it went Lib Dem in 1992. Labour made it their top target in the region in 2011 and were just 21 votes behind. Since then
With the return of the schools this week following the October school holidays, Michael's ward surgeries start again today and take place every Thursday during school term time. They are as follows : Thursdays at 5.45pm prompt - West End Campus (come to reception area of St Joseph's RC and Victoria Park Primary Schools) Thursdays at 6.30pm prompt - Harris Academy reception area All welcome - no appointment necessary!
Today, 24th October, is United Nations Day, on which we commemorate the establishment of the UN and the "Civilised" world's second attempt to create a rules-based World Order, in October 1945. Here are some extracts from an article published in the Guardian earlier this week by Ahmed Najar, a London-based Palestinian playwright whose family are trapped in Gaza. "My parents, my sister and her family . . . haven't left their house in days, except for a few desperate, terrifying attempts to find water. [One]time. . .they waited in line for more than eight agonising hours, but the water ran ...
