Francesca Gillett
Evening Standard
United Kingdom
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Tory MP Ben Bradley keeps reshuffle job after vasectomies remarks
A Tory MP who suggested unemployed people should have vasectomies will keep his new job, sources at Number 10 have said. Ben Bradley, 28, who is the MP for Mansfield, was promoted in Theresa May’s reshuffle to become the party’s vice chairman for youth. → Read More
UK banks defend stance on Bitcoins as investors claim they are being 'shunned'
Some of the UK’s big banks have defended their stance towards Bitcoin despite investors claiming the banking sector is “shunning the whole cryptocurrency” industry. People investing in Bitcoin today told how they are being pushed into making expensive foreign money transfers or even being refused bank accounts because of their involvement with cryptocurrencies, which operate solely in cyberspace. → Read More
Brexit news: Brits launch Netherlands court bid to keep EU citizenship rights in case that could impact one million ex-pats
A group of Brits who live in the Netherlands have gone to court in a bid to keep their EU citizenship after Brexit. Five UK nationals have launched a case in a Dutch court, claiming they feel “forgotten” and fear they may be forced to give up their rights when the UK quits the bloc in March 2019. The landmark case could have knock-on effects for the estimated one million British ex-pats… → Read More
NHS in 'dangerous downward spiral' after 33,000 nurses left profession last year
The NHS in England is in a “dangerous, downward spiral” after more than 33,000 nurses quit the profession last year, experts have warned. The leading trade union for nurses in the UK, the Royal College of Nursing, has urged ministers to act. More than 10 per cent of the nursing workforce left the NHS in each of the past three years. → Read More
Meteor over Detroit: Incredible dashcam footage shows giant fireball hurtling towards ground before sparking 2.0 magnitude earthquake
This is the incredible moment a giant meteorite flew through the sky over Michigan before crashing in flames, causing a minor earthquake. The impressive dash-cam footage, recorded from a vehicle travelling on a motorway near the US city Detroit, shows a dazzlingly bright object hurtling towards the ground. Other clips posted on social media also show the meteorite lighting up the night sky.… → Read More
London named 'most expensive city for renting in Europe for third year in a row'
Average rent in London is the most expensive in Europe for the third year on the trot, new analysis has revealed. Professionals pay out nearly four times more to rent in the capital than in any other major UK city – although Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow have all seen big rent increases due to high demand for homes to rent. The cost of living data comes from ECA International, which… → Read More
Staunch Remainer Ken Clarke's speech on Brexit 'sends Leave MP Desmond Swayne to sleep' in Commons
Staunch Remainer Ken Clarke’s speech on Brexit in the Commons appeared to send his Tory colleague off to sleep today. Brexit supporter Sir Desmond Swayne, the MP for New Forest West, was sat behind veteran Tory veteran Mr Clarke during his 10 minute speech on the EU Withdrawal Bill in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. The MP, who served as David Cameron’s parliamentary private secretary, looked… → Read More
Tom Hardy in plea for Londoners' help after four adorable puppies found dumped in a box and left to die
Actor Tom Hardy has urged Londoners to give great homes to rescue dogs after four puppies were found dumped in a box and left to die in a park. The Dark Knight Rises actor is a big supporter of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, which rescued the four dogs which were discovered in Victoria Park in Bow. They were found crying and shivering in a cardboard box on the pavement by a passer-by last… → Read More
Just Eat investigating after woman 'sent unwanted messages from delivery man after he dropped off her food'
'Good night baby, see you next time I get your meal,' one of the messages read. → Read More
Fashion brand ASOS praised for featuring disabled model Mama Cax in new advert
Online clothing brand ASOS has been praised for featuring a disabled model in its new advert. Haitian-American blogger and model Mama Cax, whose leg was amputated when she was a teenager, appeared in the website’s new activewear advert released earlier this week. Disability charity Scope welcomed the move, calling it “great” to see a highly-recognised fashion brand like ASOS featuring a disabled… → Read More
Camden Road crash: First picture of father-of-four cyclist left fighting for life after 'hit-and-run'
This is the first picture of a cyclist left fighting for his life in hospital after a suspected hit-and-run crash in north London. Father-of-four Abdul Hadi, 47, from Belsize Park, was cycling home from a shift at work when he was knocked unconscious opposite Camden Road Overground station late on Wednesday evening. → Read More
UK inflation rate falls slightly to 3 per cent
The UK's inflation rate fell to three per cent today from November's six-year high of 3.1, the Office for National Statistics said. According to the Consumer Prices Index latest figures, published on Tuesday, the UK’s soaring inflation has rolled back from a near six-year high, dipping for the first time since June. Prices are still rising faster than wages, which grew by 2.3 per cent in the… → Read More
Ben Stokes: England cricketer is charged with affray following fight outside Bristol nightclub
England cricketer Ben Stokes has been charged with affray following a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol. The Crown Prosecution Service said Stokes, 26, was charged along with two other men, Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26. All three are due to appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court at a later date. The CPS said in a statement: "The CPS was passed a file of evidence by Avon & Somerset Police… → Read More
London bus safety announcements: TfL to fix 'technical glitch' behind wrongly-timed 'please hold on' warnings
Transport for London has said it is working to fix a technical glitch which repeatedly subjected bus passengers to wrongly-timed safety announcements. Passengers travelling on the capital’s bus network have been left baffled by the non-stop alerts, which are supposed to warn people to “please hold on, the bus is about to move” when pulling off from bus stops. → Read More
RAF fighter jets scrambled 'to intercept Russian planes heading for UK', Ministry of Defence confirms
RAF fighter jets have taken off from Scotland to intercept Russian jets approaching UK airspace. The Ministry of Defence confirmed to the Standard that Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth were scrambled on Monday morning. The MoD added it is a “live operation” and will not comment further until the mission is complete. Voyager AAR from RAF Brize Norton is also supporting the Typhoons. A… → Read More
Virgin Trains U-turn over stocking Daily Mail as Richard Branson says: This was not a grand campaign at my behest
Sir Richard Branson has backed down over Virgin Trains' decision to stop selling the Daily Mail following a fierce backlash. The billionaire boss ordered the company on Monday to restock the newspaper again onboard as he added the company “must not ever be seen to be censoring what our customers read”. → Read More
Lloyd's of London seeking injunction to stop freerunners scaling iconic Grade 1-listed building
Lloyd's of London is seeking an injunction to stop people from scaling its Grade 1-listed building. The City insurance market is attempting to crack down on urban “free runners” who share videos of themselves climbing the 14-floor iconic tower, which was designed by architect Richard Rogers. According to the Financial Times, more than 20 people tried to ascend the outside of the building last… → Read More
Swedish contraceptive app Natural Cycles blamed for string of unwanted pregnancies
A contraceptive mobile phone app used by tens of thousands of British women has come under fire after reportedly sparking a string of unwanted pregnancies. Swedish birth control app Natural Cycles, which costs £40, tracks body temperature to accurately predict when in the month a woman is more likely to fall pregnant. → Read More
Deep South road trip: discover a magical corner of south-east USA
Two weeks is enough to comfortably journey 2,000 miles through the history, music and food of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama → Read More
Donald Trump arrives for first health check-up since becoming US president
Donald Trump has arrived for his first health check-up as president after speculation began mounting over his mental fitness for office. The US President was seen arriving at Walter Reed military hospital in Bethesda, just outside of Washington DC, on Friday afternoon US time for the annual medical examination. → Read More