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  • Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘huge sadness’ as Alex Salmond resigns

    Nicola Sturgeon with then-First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond in 2014 Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Nicola Sturgeon took over as Alex Salmond’s successor as Scottish first minister in 2014

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken of her “large unhappiness” following the resignation of former SNP leader Alex Salmond from the birthday party.

    Mr Salmond introduced he used to be quitting on Wednesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

    The ex-first minister mentioned he intended to use to rejoin the party as soon as he had an opportunity to transparent his name.

    Ms Sturgeon known as Mr Salmond her “family member and mentor for just about 30 years” and stated she understood his decision.

    However she mentioned: “The arduous fact remains that court cases had been gained through the Scottish govt that could now not be overlooked or swept beneath the carpet.”

    Symbol copyright PA Image caption Mr Salmond has hosted a display at the debatable RT station when you consider that remaining November

    He brought: “For my phase i’ve always idea it an excessively negative concept to suspend any celebration member at the basis of court cases and allegations. Innocent until proven to blame is relevant to our thought of justice.”

    Mr Salmond – who took the SNP toward its aim of independence than it had ever been – said he had been a member of the party for 45 years, 20 of them as leader.

    He stated: “i really love the SNP and the wider independence movement in Scotland. they’ve been the defining dedication of my life. However as of late i have written to the Nationwide Secretary of the party resigning my club.”

    ‘Upset’

    The present SNP leader Ms Sturgeon said she “felt an enormous sadness concerning the complete state of affairs”.

    In an announcement on Twitter, she said the decision was once Mr Salmond’s by myself, and he or she understood why he had selected to split “the current questions he is dealing with from the day to day business of the SNP and the continued campaign for independence”.

    “I DO KNOW birthday celebration contributors will be upset by means of this news, just as i am,” she delivered.

    “I also recognise there are many questions that can only be answered in the fullness of time. it is necessary now that any criminal approaches are allowed to take their direction.”

    Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Ms Sturgeon said Alex Salmond’s contribution to the independence motion “speaks for itself”

    The Day-To-Day Report newspaper broke the scoop of the sexual misconduct allegations remaining Thursday.

    The paper claims to have observed wording of 1 criticism which describes an incident alleged to have taken place at the first minister’s respectable residence in Edinburgh, Bute Space, within the first week of December 2013.

    The 2 women lodged proceedings in January this 12 months, simply weeks after the Scottish government followed a brand new lawsuits process in the light of wider concern approximately sexual harassment at Holyrood and Westminster.

    Salmond starts felony action against Scottish governmentSturgeon: Salmond complaints ‘couldn’t be overlooked’Salmond denies sexual misconduct claims

    Mr Salmond claims that the subsequent research into the allegations towards him by way of senior Scottish executive civil servants used to be “unfair and unjust”.

    He stated he were given no chance to “see and due to this fact to correctly challenge the case against me” and that he had “not been allowed to look the evidence”.

    Mr Salmond has additionally claimed that someone inside the Scottish executive has “flagrantly and time and again” breached the exclusive proceedings process by means of leaking details to the Day-To-Day Report.

    He is now in the hunt for a judicial evaluation of the new proceedings process. He launched a crowdfunding appeal to fund his criminal action.

    Alex Salmond

    Leader of Scottish Nationwide Celebration 1990-2000 and 2004-2014 First Minister of Scotland 2007 – 2014 Stood down after Scotland voted to stay in the United Kingdom within the September 2014 independence referendum

    The Scottish executive has insisted the proceedings process has been “solely personal all through” and has stated it’s going to defend its position vigorously within the courts.

    The proceedings against Mr Salmond were passed to Police Scotland which has mentioned it’s assessing the information.

    Mr Salmond returned to frontline politics while he was elected as the SNP MP for Gordon in 2015 and became the birthday celebration’s foreign affairs spokesman at Westminster earlier than losing the seat within the snap common election two years later.

    Since then he has faced heavy complaint for hosting the Alex Salmond Show on Russian broadcaster RT, which has been described as a propaganda channel for the Kremlin – a declare Mr Salmond has denied.

  • No takers for £25,000 portrait of Nigel Farage

    Portrait of Nigel Farage Image copyright David Griffiths

    A £25,000 portrait of Nigel Farage, on display as a part of the Royal Academy’s prestigious summer season exhibition, has didn’t draw in any buyers.

    The oil portray, signed through the artist David Griffiths, was one in all hundreds of works of art to be had on the market during the Academy’s 250th summer time show, which closed on Tuesday.

    The academy said the paintings could now return to the artist.

    Mr Griffiths has stated that he hoped it could “find a excellent house”.

    “These Items ebb and flow,” he mentioned. “Prices of artwork like the whole lot else, aren’t set in stone. he is a major determine, whatever you’re thinking that of him. He Is Mr Brexit, is not he?”

    The fee was steered by a mutual loved one of the artist, whose different topics have integrated Prince Charles and rugby superstar Shane Williams.

    Farage to head ‘on the road’ with Depart workforce Farage heads ‘down under’ on Brexit excursion

    A key figure within the 2016 referendum marketing campaign, Mr Farage has pledged to return to frontline British politics this fall to struggle for Brexit,

    The portrait of the MEP and former UKIP leader, in his trademark tan-coloured coat and striped tie, used to be not the one politically-themed paintings not to find a purchaser.

    A £350,000 paintings by way of the artist Banksy entitled Vote to love, featuring a center-formed balloon superimposed over a UKIP referendum poster, also remained unsold.

    But a painting of every other prominent Brexiteer, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, did fetch £450.

  • Peers question Raab on Brexit negotiations

    Reside Friends question Raab on Brexit negotiations

  • Morocco: Arrests made in Khadija rape and torture case

    Tattooed arm of victim Image copyright Abdul Wahid Al Saadi Symbol caption The younger woman stated her captors forcibly tattooed her and burnt her with cigarettes

    Police in Morocco have arrested 12 young males over allegations through a 17-12 months-antique lady that she was brutally raped and tortured over a two-month period.

    She defined in a TV interview ultimate week how she was kidnapped by means of a gang in June.

    “i can by no means forgive them – they’ve destroyed me,” she said.

    The case led to outrage in Morocco and led to a web-based marketing campaign to deliver the ones accountable to justice.

    A judge-led investigation is under manner within the city of Beni Mellal – those arrested are elderly between 18 and 27, an legit advised the AFP information company.

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  • Scallop war: French and British boats clash in Channel

    Image copyright EVN/France Télévision Image caption British boats are legally entitled to fish off the Normandy coast – however their French counterparts accuse them of “pillaging”

    A video published by French media appears to show a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne THREE, colliding with nearby vessels.

    The British could not fit the local armada. Numbering approximately five boats to 35 French vessels, they were in the end chased away.

    Why has all of it blown up now?

    Stress has rumbled for 15 years, however in the past 5 a deal has prevailed – higher British boats stayed out of the realm in alternate for extra fishing rights.

    British boats collected scallops year-round, but the French were restricted to between 1 October and 15 May.

    This yr, the fed-up French rejected that settlement.

    “For the Brits, it is an open bar – they fish when they need, where they would like, and as much as they would like,” Mr Rogoff complained.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Scallops are a popular shellfish on each side of the Channel

    “We Don’t want to stop them from fishing, however they could no less than wait until 1 October so that we will be able to proportion.

    “Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a first-rate useful resource and a extremely sensitive factor.”

    How have the Brits reacted?

    Mike Park, leader govt of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, described the clashing incident as “transparent piracy”.

    Talking in regards to the Scottish boat, he told BBC Scotland: “He’s fully entitled to be there. UK vessels can enter that French zone, it’s not illegal.

    “The Peterhead vessel is going approximately its business. The French vessels are most certainly attacking it.”

    Fears fishermen ‘will no longer survive’ Brexit no deal Fish thrown into Thames in Brexit deal protest World’s fishing fleets mapped from orbit

    Appeals for calm had been issued by means of Britain’s National Federation of Fishermen’s Enterprises, which mentioned some boats have been filmed manoeuvring dangerously.

    “we have raised the matter with the British executive and requested for cover for our vessels, which are fishing legitimately,” its leader government, Barrie Deas, mentioned.

    “The deeper issues at the back of the clashes have to be settled via talking around the desk, now not at the top seas the place other people might be harm.”

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  • Brexit: May defends ‘sensible’ plans for future EUROPEAN family members

    Media playback is unsupported to your tool

    Media captionMay: ‘Common sense’ to prepare for Brexit no deal

    Theresa Would Possibly has insisted her way to Brexit will ship a “good” deal for the uk and allow it to make essentially the most of opportunities around the world.

    Talking in South Africa, she instructed the BBC she was once sticking through her “good” plans as they both respected the 2016 referendum vote and protected jobs.

    While hopeful of an settlement in October, she said it used to be proper to organize for leaving with no deal.

    In Advance, she introduced £4bn of additional British make stronger for African economies.

    On the first day of a 3-day consult with to the continent, the top minister insisted industry offers with nations like South Africa could be a prize for “international Britain” after it leaves the eu subsequent yr.

    however the BBC’s political correspondent Ben Wright stated that as she heads to Nigeria and Kenya this week, she is aware of an excessively tough autumn of political bargaining awaits her again home.

    PM seeks new jobs partnership with Africa

    In an interview with the BBC, Mrs May performed down warnings by way of Chancellor Philip Hammond last week in regards to the dangers of a no-deal exit – which he stated will have a £80bn poor economic impact.

    She mentioned the feedback have been according to research first released in January that had been, at the time, a “work in development”.

    Mrs Would Possibly then pointed out feedback by means of the head of the world Business Organisation, who mentioned Brexit “may not be a stroll in the park, but would possibly not be finish of the sector both”.

    Media playback is unsupported on your device

    Media captionTheresa Might was all smiles as she joined faculty kids for a dance

    “we are operating for a fair deal, we have put forward our idea for a good deal,” she said. “i believe that deal is to the ease, not only of the united kingdom, but the ecu.

    “What the federal government is doing is setting up position the arrangements to be sure we can make a hit no matter what our long run courting is with the ecu and regardless of the end result of the negotiations.”

    Through the BBC’s Ben Wright in Cape The City

    With dogged choice Theresa Might danced together with a bunch of children in a soggy Cape The Town playground – her first stop on a three-day sprint round sub-Saharan Africa.

    It Is the primary No 10-led industry delegation to Africa for the reason that 2011. the school children symbolised, she mentioned later, the dynamism and creativity of the continent’s growing and youthful inhabitants.

    And it is jobs for those youth and tens of millions like them that the uk wants to lend a hand African economies create – the usage of UK firms, capital and executive lend a hand to speculate in African countries in the hope of keeping them politically solid later on.

    At a speech within the city on Tuesday, the prime minister pledged an extra £4bn in direct UNITED KINGDOM executive investment – which she expects to be matched by the personal sector.

    Mrs may additionally stated the uk could essentially shift the way in which it spends support money – to deal with lengthy-term economic and security demanding situations rather than brief-time period poverty aid.

    For the united kingdom in fact, Brexit is a spur to expand business beyond the ecu, that is by way of far our biggest market.

    A Few Tory MPs have said they can not fortify Mrs Would Possibly’s blueprint for the uk’s long term members of the family with the ecu, pronouncing it is a betrayal of the thousands and thousands who voted to depart the european in 2016.

    But Mrs May mentioned the proposals were good as they insisted that an end to ECU freedom of motion and the jurisdiction of the european Court was “non-negotiable”, at the same time as ensuring British manufacturers had unrestricted get admission to to an european extensive loose industry zone for goods.

    “It Is right as we look to our long term relationships that we protect jobs and livelihoods,” she added.

    As part of a renewed take care of Africa, Mrs Might has said she desires the united kingdom to grow to be the continent leading’s funding spouse throughout the G7, overtaking the US.

    She told the BBC that this used to be no longer unrealistic, given that the uk was already the biggest foreign investor in South Africa, the continent’s biggest economic system.

    “one in all the benefits of leaving the eu is that we will be able to have the opportunity to negotiate our personal business deals in the long run,” she mentioned.

    “we glance to an international Britain outdoor the european making the most of these trade offers across the rest of the world.”

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  • BHS used to be ‘crashed right into a cliff’, says senior Labour MP

    BHS Image copyright Getty Images

    Failed retailer BHS, used to be “crashed right into a cliff”, the chairman of the Trade Innovation And Skills Committee, Iain Wright, has told the BBC.

    Mr Wright stated leaders of Retail Acquisitions, which purchased BHS in 2015 for £1, had been “untried and untested”.

    He also implied that the previous owner, Sir Philip Inexperienced, “stripped” the corporate of cash.

    Sir Philip is due to resolution questions sooner than a joint hearing of two Commons committees at a date of his choice.

    Mr Wright’s Business Innovation And Skills Committee and the Work and Pensions Committee want to ask Sir Philip about the sale of BHS and the way it was once left with a deficit in its pension fund of £571m.

    “Is it proper that folks can purchase a company, strip it, in lots of respects, of money in phrases of dividends – with out real regard to pensions or to employees – after which sell it for a pound to untried and untested people who then crash it into a cliff?” said Mr Wright on BBC Radio 4’s Nowadays programme.

    Sir Philip has introduced to make an £80m voluntary contribution to the pension fund.

    Research: Edward Curwen, BBC Research & Research

    Much consideration within the wake of BHS falling into management has been on the pension deficit. So who is to blame?

    First the £571m deficit is essentially the most conservative estimate conceivable. it’s known as the buyout deficit and it’s based totally on the price insurance firms place on closing the space among what is owed and the cash a pension scheme has.

    The deficit that needed to be eliminated whilst BHS used to be nonetheless buying and selling was calculated using a different way and it was towards £350m.

    In 2012, BHS agreed to position £10m in yearly over the next 23 years to get the scheme back into the black.

    The plans have been agreed between the trustees of the pension scheme and the company, and the Pensions Regulator supervises the method to make sure any agreement is credible.

    Critics say this wasn’t enough cash and it might take some distance too long.

    Sir Philip Inexperienced: Battered reputation

    ‘What we’ll miss if BHS closes’

    BHS: What are the following steps?

    Pension scheme at heart of BHS woes

    When BHS was sold, there were questions over the dearth of retail revel in of Dominic Chappell and his crew at Retail Acquisitions, which was the bulk shareholder of BHS.

    Last week it emerged that Mr Chappell attempted to move £1.5m from BHS, to BHS Sweden, simply days before BHS went into administration.

    BHS Sweden had no connection to BHS, however used to be owned via a chum and fellow board member of Mr Chappell.

    The money used to be transferred back after protests from BHS leader government Darren Topp.

    Pensions cutback

    BHS filed for management on 25 April, putting 11,000 jobs at risk.

    It will proceed buying and selling whilst the administrators are seeking a purchaser for the business.

    The administration means participants of the pension scheme who’re yet to retire will likely be paid a much less generous pension.

    One Labour MP, John Mann – a member of the Treasury select committee – mentioned Sir Philip must pay off £400m of dividends that have been paid out of BHS or give up his knighthood.

    Mr Chappell has been asked to seem earlier than the parliamentary committees, in conjunction with Tina Inexperienced, Sir Philip’s spouse.

  • Jewish Labour MP ‘feels unwelcome’ after Corbyn comments

    Luciana Berger, Jeremy Corbyn Image copyright UK Parliament, PA

    A Jewish Labour MP says she feels “unwelcome” within the party after a video emerged showing Jeremy Corbyn accusing British Zionists of getting “no experience of English irony”.

    Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger described the Labour leader’s comments in a 2013 speech as “inexcusable”.

    The clip was once published on the Day By Day Mail web page as Mr Corbyn makes efforts to take on anti-Semitism in his party.

    A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn denied the feedback were offensive.

    The spokesperson said: “He was once relating to a group of professional-Israel activists misunderstanding – and then criticising – the Palestinian ambassador for a speech at a separate adventure concerning the career of the West Financial Institution.”

    What Is Zionism?

    Zionism refers to the motion to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, kind of corresponding to the historical land of Israel, and therefore beef up for the modern state of Israel.

    In the clip, Mr Corbyn says British Zionists “obviously have two issues. One is that they do not want to check historical past, and secondly, having lived in this u . s . a . for a very very long time, almost certainly all their lives, they do not keep in mind English irony either”.

    He added: “They needed two lessons, which shall we possibly lend a hand them with.”

    Writing on Twitter, Ms Berger, stated: “The video launched as of late of the leader of @UKLabour making inexcusable comments – defended by means of a celebration spokesman – makes me as a proud British Jew feel unwelcome in my own party.

    “I Have lived in Britain all my lifestyles and i do not want any lessons in history/irony.”

    Corbyn apologises over 2010 adventure Corbyn wreath row defined Labour ‘not connected’ to abusive posts

    Earlier this month, Mr Corbyn apologised over an event he hosted in 2010 the place a Holocaust survivor in comparison Israel to Nazism.

    After the times revealed main points of the event, the Labour leader said he had “once in a while gave the impression on systems with other folks whose perspectives I utterly reject” and was once sorry for the “considerations and anxiousness that this has caused”.

    He additionally been criticised for his presence at a ceremony in Tunisia in 2014, that’s stated to have honoured the perpetrators of the 1972 Munich terror assault, wherein ELEVEN contributors of the Israeli Olympic staff have been taken hostage and killed.

    Mr Corbyn mentioned he had attended to participate in a ceremony honouring innocent victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike.

    Media playback is unsupported for your tool

    Media captionCorbyn requested approximately Tunisia wreath-laying grievance

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  • Conservative anger at Philip Hammond’s ‘dodgy mission fear’

    Image caption How a no-deal Brexit may affect Britain, in step with the government’s recommendation

    The timing of the letter used to be criticised, coming so quickly after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab sought to play down the risk of a no-deal – describing the have an effect on as a “doable short-time period disruption”.

    Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg stated leaving on WTO phrases was now not “as absurdly frightening because the chancellor of the exchequer thinks it’s going to be.”

    “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly,” he mentioned.

    “The naysayers within the Treasury have persistently desired to paint a bleak image as a result of they’re frightened of taking duty for coping with the economy with out the crutch of the eu. it’s an indication in their weak spot.

    “What Mr Hammond is doing is a reminder of why no one believes the politicised forecasts of the Treasury.

    “The Treasury is desperate to prevent Brexit. The Whole Thing the Treasury does has to be read in this light.”

    Then Again, Mrs Morgan – a Remain campaigner – said the chancellor’s letter showed that a no-deal Brexit can be a “disastrous hit” to the financial system and residing standards.

    Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said: “A no-deal Brexit hasn’t ever been potential and could constitute an entire failure of the government’s negotiating strategy.”

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    The director-common of the arena Industry Group Roberto Azevedo, instructed Radio 4’s Nowadays programme that a no-deal Brexit was once neither going to be “the tip of the arena” nor “a stroll within the park”.

    He said there could be an impact – and showed that tariffs between the united kingdom and the european would must exist.

    “the ecu can not discriminate amongst the WTO contributors, so the united kingdom will have to be treated as the entire other individuals, and the opposite contributors pay tariffs,” he mentioned.

    He used to be also requested whether or not the united kingdom may unilaterally put off its trade price lists.

    “Technically, sure,” he responded. “But not just to the european, to everybody, so you can’t pick out and select to whom you decrease your price lists.

    “when you decide that a particular product, let’s assume glasses, that they go all the way down to zero, that’s completely right, any member of the WTO can do this. But that 0 applies to everyone else.”

    the whole interview can be broadcast on the Today programme at 07:50 BST on Friday.

    (more…)

  • Leave.EU’s Arron Banks denied Conservative club

    Arron Banks Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption Mr Banks is a co-founding father of the Leave.EU team

    An utility to sign up for the Conservative Party via Go Away.ECU co-founder and previous UKIP donor Arron Banks has been grew to become down, the Tories have mentioned.

    Mr Banks and the pro-Brexit team’s communications director, Andy Wigmore, each announced on social media that they had been joining the party.

    The pair mentioned they had received a affirmation electronic mail welcoming them.

    But a Conservative Birthday Celebration spokesperson later mentioned their “packages for club… have not been licensed”.

    Earlier this week Mr Banks known as on supporters of his professional-Brexit Go Away.ECU team to join the Conservative Birthday Party in order that they can vote within the party’s next management election.

    Brexit: Key dates and possible hurdles Farage to move ‘on the road’ with Leave group New Brexit vote marketing campaign will get £1m donation

    He posted a sequence of tweets approximately becoming a member of the Tories – together with one announcing he had made the move “to ensure he has a vote at the inevitable leadership contest. Let’s back a Brexiteer and make this us of a great once more!”

    Mr Wigmore tweeted a duplicate of a letter from Conservative Birthday Celebration chairman Brandon Lewis mentioning that their membership was “activated” and they could be capable of take part in candidate selection and long run leadership elections after 3 months.

    Who is Arron Banks?

    The FIFTY TWO-yr-antique is a multi-millionaire who co-founded the Depart.EUROPEAN marketing campaign.

    Having made his money in car insurance, he was certainly one of the most important donors to the united kingdom Independence Party and gave £9m to Go Away.EU which he has mentioned got here from his private wealth.

    In May Go Away.ECU was once fined £70,000 for breaches of election regulation in the 2016 EU referendum by way of, in line with the Electoral Commission, failing to file “no less than” £SEVENTY SEVEN,380 it spent.

    He has also been grilled by way of MPs approximately his influence on global politics with Mr Banks guffawing off the idea he was an “evil genius with a white cat”.