Top story: Labor says campaign must be fought on social justice and climate crisis
Good morning and welcome to this Monday briefing with Alison Rourke.
Jeremy Corbyn has told his fractious shadow cabinet “the debate is over” on Brexit, as he seeks to stamp his authority on the general election campaign and shift the focus to social justice and the climate emergency. He told the Guardian he has told his frontbenchersto fall into line after divisions over Brexitsparked a furious row over an election. “I just said,‘ look, this debate is now over. We’ve done it, the party has now made its decision, and that’s it; and that’s what we’re going to campaign on ’,” he said. Corbyn said he had made a unilateral decision to back Boris Johnson’s plan for the 12 December vote, despite the vocal objections of several colleagues, including Labor’s chief whip, Nick Brown. “I put it to them quite clearly: I said, our objections are now gone. We are now supporting a general election – and everybody gulped. I didn’t alert anybody in advance – it was my decision. On my own. I made that decision. And they gulped, and said ‘Yes Jeremy’. ”If elected, Labor plans to negotiate a new deal with Brussels – including a closer trading relationship – within three months, and put it to the public in a referendum within six.
Meanwhile the People’s Vote campaign willunleash its £ 1m election war chestthis week despite a continuing internal feud, in part about whether it should back more Labor candidates. Despite half of its staff still being on strike, the campaign says it has received £ 200, 00 0 in donations in the past two days. *****
Overnight, President Trumpwaded in to British politics, saying he hoped Boris Johnson and Brexit party leader Nigel Farage, would come together on a united political platform. But Farage said on Sundayhe would not runfor a seat in the general election and the PM hasrejected the suggestionfrom both that he should work with the Brexit party.
(Grace Millane- The man accused of killing the British backpacker in New Zealand nearly a year agohas re-entered his not-guilty pleaat the start of his trial. The name of the 27 – year-old New Zealand man has been suppressed by the court. The judge said members of the 12 – person jury had a duty to “put feelings of sympathy and prejudice to one side and approach their task coolly and dispassionately”. Millane, 21, disappeared from central Auckland on 1 December and her body was found inbushland in west Auckland a week later. The death shocked New Zealand and prompted an outpouring of public grief.
‘Time to move on’– The British-born CEO of McDonald’s, Steve Easterbrook,has left the companyafter violating company policy by engaging in a consensual relationship with an employee . The company said he had demonstrated poor judgement as managers are forbidden from having romantic relationships with direct or indirect employees. In an email to staff, Easterbrook acknowledged the relationship and said it was a mistake: “Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on.”
(Bowel cancer- The presence of certain bacteriamay increase risk of the disease, a new study has suggested. The research looked at the genetic and gut microbiome data of about 4, 00 0 people and whether there were genetic variants linked to the presence of certain types of bacteria. The results showed those whose genes increased the likelihood of having a type ofBacteroidalesbacteria had a 2 – 15% increased risk of the disease. The team said the findings backed up previous research suggesting bacteria are more common in those with bowel cancer.
‘Begging fines’– A landmark high court case will consider whether fines for begging, loitering and leaving bedding in doorwaysunfairly targets homeless people, after the fundraising campaign for legal costs reached its target. Lawyers for Sarah Ward, who lives in Poole, will challenge a public space protection order in the town center which prohibits obstructing doorways, sitting with a receptacle “for the purpose of begging” and other behavior associated with homelessness. People found to have violated the order are liable to a £ 100 spot fine, which can rise to £ 1, 00 0 if left unpaid, and receive a summary conviction. The case, to be heard in 2020, could have implications for a rising number of councils that have obtained the power to issue fines in England and Wales.
Better latte than never– The first compostable one-cup coffee pods from a major manufacturerwill go on sale this weekin a battle to stop the 20 bn pods used every year around the world from ending up in landfill. The Italian espresso giant Lavazza is aiming to replace its entire range of home use capsules with new eco-friendly ones – at the same retail price – by the end of the year. It’s thought that 95 m cups of coffee are drunk in the UK every day, but the single-serve pods typically end up in landfill where they can take take up to 500 years to break down.
Today in Focus podcast – David Attenborough: the making of a British icon
Patrick Barkham joins Anushka Asthana to chart the rise ofone of Britain’s best-loved personalities: the natural history broadcaster David Attenborough. Plus: Gaby Hinsliff on women and the myth of “likability”.
Today in Focus
David Attenborough: the making of a British icon
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Lunchtime read – Drugs, violence, rebellion: Flea’s troubled life before the Chili Peppers
At 13, the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist had a terrifying experience at Halloween. News spread across his neighborhood that there was a mad gunman on the loose. The children scattered to find safety but when Flea, real name Michael Peter Balzary, returned home, he realized the gunman was his stepfather. “He was the lunatic they were all talking about,” Flea recalled. “It was terrifying and shameful.” But it reflected a violent and sometimes terrifying childhood of drugs and petty crime, triggered in some part by the separation of his parents and his musician stepfather’s dangerous lifestyle.
InFlea’s memoir, Acid for the Children, he tells of smoking joints at 12, roaming the streets with no one watching; feeling abandoned by his father. Flea writes that he had “an undying sense that something was wrong with me, that everyone else is clued into a group consciousness from which I am excluded”. However dysfunctional his stepfather’s life, it exposed him to music: “When I saw him and his musician buddies set up in the living room to play bebop with such emotion and physicality, it changed my life forever,” he said. Ultimately, Flea said, he found everything about writing the book hard. “I went through so much to get it to be honest about what shaped me,” he said. “That’s what this is about: a yearning to know who I am.”
Sport
Lewis Hamilton said 2019 has beenhis best and toughest seasonafter he securedhis sixth world titleon Sunday with a second-place finish in the United States Grand Prix. Eddie Jones isplanning an England overhaulafter their Rugby World Cup final defeat by South Africa, declaring theend of an era for his current team. Francois Pienaar, South Africa’s 1995 World Cup-winning captain, has hailed the Springboks’ latest success asbigger than the one achieved by his team 24 years ago. The England center Emily Scarratt has been crowned thewomen’s world player of the year. Cenk Tosun saved a point for Everton with an injury-time header against Tottenham afterAndré Gomes was carried off with a serious leg injury.Leicester won 2-0 at Crystal Palaceto move into third, thanks to goals from Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy. World Cup Golden Boot winnerEllen White scored her first goal in a Manchester City shirt, while neighbors United cantered to a 3-0 win at Everton in the Women’s League Cup. Mario Balotelli has expressed his gratitude for the support he received in the wake of racist abuse whichsaw him set to walk off at Verona. And world No 1 Ashleigh Barty showed emphatically just how far she has come this year by outclassing Elina Svitolina to win the WTA Finals and its $ 4. (m) £ 3. 42 m) check,the biggest prize money in tennis history.
Business
Government spending is on course toreturn to levels last seen in the 1970 s, according to a report that found both Tory and Labor plans will significantly increase the share of GDP taken up by the state over the next parliament. The Resolution Foundation thinktank said spending spreesaimed at ending austerityand increasing public investment were central to the plans of both major parties and would drive spending above the average for the 20 years up to the 2008 financial crash of 37. 4% of GDP.
The pound is buying € 1. 158 and and $ 1. 294. *****
The papers
The general election leads on many front pages today, including theGuardian: “Obey me on Brexit, Corbyn warns cabinet dissenters”, theMirror: “Labor: We’ll save free TV licenses”, theExpress: “ Boris: I’ll cut taxes for every worker ”and theTelegraph:“ Farage ‘could ruin UK’s hope of Brexit’ ”.
Health news features on the front of theMail: “ Hospitals deluged by 5, 00 0 diabetics every day ”, thei: “NHS feels the strain as heart failure cases soar” and theSun, which has a story about a cocaine epidemic among over – 50 s: “Midline crisis”.
TheTimeshas an investigation: “Gangs use top school to traffic Asian girls ”and theFTreports:“ Saudi Aramco finally launches IPO with goal of raising $ 60 BN ”.
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