Real World News

Jodi Denton: Police appeal to find missing 12-year-old girl 12 December 2016 From the section Tyne & Wear Image copyright Family handout Image caption Jodi is described as 5ft 5in tall, with long blonde hair and of slim build Police are trying to find a 12-year-old girl who has gone missing from her Gateshead home. Jodi Denton was reported missing from her home in Ryton on Monday morning. She is described as 5ft 5in tall, with…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Social care funding shortfall 'urgent' says Lib Dem Norman Lamb 12 December 2016 Last updated at 18:26 GMT Liberal Democrat Health spokesman, Norman Lamb, has called on the government to take urgent action over the crisis in social care funding. Spending has fallen by 9% in real terms over the past five years, with local government blaming cuts to their funding from central government. View the full article

Media playback is unsupported on your device Social care funding shortfall 'urgent' says Lib Dem Norman Lamb 12 December 2016 Last updated at 18:26 GMT Liberal Democrat Health spokesman, Norman Lamb, has called on the government to take urgent action over the crisis in social care funding. Spending has fallen by 9% in real terms over the past five years, with local government blaming cuts to their funding from central government. View the full article

Weatherman Ian McCaskill dies, aged 78 12 December 2016 From the section UK Image caption BBC weather forecaster Ian McCaskill Former BBC weather forecaster Ian McCaskill has died aged 78, his daughter has confirmed. He presented the weather on the BBC for 20 years until his retirement in 1998. He was recognised for his Scottish accent and known for his exuberance and ceaseless enthusiasm for anticyclones, warm fronts and isobars during his career. He became the most imitat…

Weatherman Ian McCaskill dies, aged 78 12 December 2016 From the section UK Image caption BBC weather forecaster Ian McCaskill Former BBC weather forecaster Ian McCaskill has died aged 78, his daughter has confirmed. He presented the weather on the BBC for 20 years until his retirement in 1998. He was recognised for his Scottish accent and known for his exuberance and ceaseless enthusiasm for anticyclones, warm fronts and isobars during his career. He became the most imitat…

Kent cocaine flight accused 'caught with trousers down' 12 December 2016 From the section Kent A pilot accused of smuggling more than £2.4m of cocaine into the UK was arrested while sitting on a toilet with his trousers down, a jury heard. Dutch pilot John Buwalda and another man are accused of bringing the drug into Kent by light aircraft. Both have denied conspiracy to import Class A drugs. Mr Buwalda, from Hilversum, was found in a bathroom, while his co-defendant was arrested outside a Holiday Inn, the Old Bailey was told. National Crime Agency (NCA) officer Jim McMorrow told the court the co…

Southern rail strike: Transport secretary criticises unions 12 December 2016 From the section England Rail unions have been accused by the transport secretary of "having little interest" in resolving the Southern dispute as a bid to stop further strikes failed. Writing to MPs Chris Grayling said officials were "hell-bent on fomenting" the row over driver-only trains. Members of the union Aslef will strike on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Southern's parent company Govia Thameslink (GTR) had tried to halt the action but lost an appeal court ruling. Earlier, the strike-hit rail operator warned pass…

Chancellor urges Brexit interim deal 12 December 2016 From the section Business Chancellor Philip Hammond has backed a transitional deal for Brexit saying it would be "helpful" to allow longer than two years for the UK's EU exit. Mr Hammond told the Treasury select committee that there was an "emerging view" that it would be "helpful" to allow longer for the UK's exit. Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie said it sounded like two years was the "bare minimum" needed. Both business and government would have to make changes, he said. "I would not…

Chancellor urges Brexit interim deal 12 December 2016 From the section Business Chancellor Philip Hammond has backed a transitional deal for Brexit saying it would be "helpful" to allow longer than two years for the UK's EU exit. Mr Hammond told the Treasury select committee that there was an "emerging view" that it would be "helpful" to allow longer for the UK's exit. Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie said it sounded like two years was the "bare minimum" needed. Both business and government would have to make changes, he said. "I would not…

Southern rail strike: Transport secretary criticises unions 12 December 2016 From the section England Image copyright EPA Image caption Commuters are being warned not to travel Rail unions have been accused by the transport secretary of "having little interest" in resolving the Southern dispute as a bid to stop further strikes failed. Writing to MPs Chris Grayling said officials were "hell-bent on fomenting" the row over driver-on…

Former Conservative minister Lord Prior dies 12 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Image caption Although never a close ally of Margaret Thatcher, he held key positions in her government Former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Prior has died at the age of 89. He served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Employment under Margaret Thatcher in the early 1980s, having previously served in office under Edward Heath. Although not a clos…

Former Conservative minister Lord Prior dies 12 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Image caption Although never a close ally of Margaret Thatcher, he held key positions in her government Former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Prior has died at the age of 89. He served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Employment under Margaret Thatcher in the early 1980s, having previously served in office under Edward Heath. Although not a clos…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Lucy Vincent: Prison meals need nutritional overhaul 12 December 2016 Last updated at 15:51 GMT Meals in prisons are often substandard and need a nutritional overhaul, says the writer and campaigner Lucy Vincent. In a personal film for the Daily Politics soapbox series, she called for better education for catering skills saying it would help rehabilitation and improve employment prospects. More: Follow @daily_politics on Twitter and like us on Facebook and watch a recent clip and watch full programmes on iPlayer View the full article

Media playback is unsupported on your device Lucy Vincent: Prison meals need nutritional overhaul 12 December 2016 Last updated at 15:51 GMT Meals in prisons are often substandard and need a nutritional overhaul, says the writer and campaigner Lucy Vincent. In a personal film for the Daily Politics soapbox series, she called for better education for catering skills saying it would help rehabilitation and improve employment prospects. More: Follow @daily_politics on Twitter and like us on Facebook and watch a recent clip and watch full programmes on iPlayer View the full article

Tokyo would be Alistair Brownlee's fourth Olympics, after he finished 12th in Beijing in 2008Double Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee is to take two years out from the sport to train for the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii. Brownlee, 28, won Olympic gold at London and Rio, and has not ruled out bidding for a third win at Tokyo 2020. "I'm going to pursue things away from Olympic triathlon; it's important I have a different focus," Brownlee said. "I've been to three Olympics and I can't say I won't definitely be at a fourth." Ironman triathlons consist of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle and a full marathon - almost four times further than an Olympic…