Theresa May tells Cabinet Brexit is a moment of opportunity

political correspondent(wp/es):
Theresa May returned to the political frontline today with an order to her Cabinet to see Brexit as “a moment of great opportunity”.
Opening a special brainstorming day at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat, she told ministers that leaving the EU should be seen as a chance to be “bold” and reshape both society and Britain’s role in the world.
Mrs May’s optimistic words contrasted with private tensions between ministers and anxieties among Tory MPs who fear the Government does not yet have a vision of an exit deal. Negotiations with 27 EU leaders start next year at the same time as fraught elections in Germany and France.

Theresa May returned to the political frontline today with an order to her Cabinet to see Brexit as “a moment of great opportunity”.
Opening a special brainstorming day at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat, she told ministers that leaving the EU should be seen as a chance to be “bold” and reshape both society and Britain’s role in the world.
Mrs May’s optimistic words contrasted with private tensions between ministers and anxieties among Tory MPs who fear the Government does not yet have a vision of an exit deal. Negotiations with 27 EU leaders start next year at the same time as fraught elections in Germany and France.

Today’s summit follows attempts to patch up turf wars between Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.
Mrs May chaired a formal Cabinet meeting this morning before a wide-ranging political Cabinet this afternoon, billed as a chance for ministers to pitch in new ideas for the “opportunities” created by Brexit.
The Prime Minister said: “This is a moment of great opportunity for our country: the chance to forge a bold, new positive role for ourselves in the world, and to reshape our economy and our society here at home. ” Mrs May repeated her mantra that “Brexit means Brexit”, adding: “That means there must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum.”

With her first major world summit — the G20 in China — starting this weekend, Mrs May used phone calls with two other leaders this morning to signal her intent to be a global player and remain in Nato. She told Finnish premier Juha Sipilä and Norway’s Erna Solberg that she wanted to think creatively about Britain’s exit terms, “rather than necessarily pursuing an existing model”.
On defence and security, she pledged the UK would be “an outward-facing and globally engaged nation”.

We will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us:THERESA MAY

political correspondent(wp):
I have just been to Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to form a new Government. And I accepted. In David Cameron, I follow in the footsteps of a great, modern Prime Minister. Under David's leadership, the Government stabilised the economy, reduced the budget deficit, and helped more people into work than ever before. But David's true legacy is not about the economy, but about social justice.

From the introduction of same-sex marriage to taking people on low wages out of income tax altogether, David Cameron has led a One Nation Government, and it is in that spirit that I also plan to lead. Because not everybody knows this, but the full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party. And that word unionist is very important to me. It means we believe in the Union, the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

But it means something else that is just as important. It means we believe in a union, not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all of our citizens. Every one of us, whoever we are, and wherever we're from. That means fighting against the burning injustice that if you're born poor, you will die on average nine years earlier than others.

If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white. If you’re a white, working-class boy, you are less likely than anybody else in Britain to go to university. If you’re at a state school, you’re less likely to reach the top professions than if you are educated privately. If you’re a woman, you will earn less than a man. If you suffer from mental health problems, there's not enough help to hand. If you're young, you will find it harder than ever before to own your own home.

But the mission to make Britain a country that works for everyone means more than fighting these injustices. If you're from an ordinary, working-class family, life is much harder than many people in Westminster realise. You have a job but you don't always have job security. You have your own home, but you worry about paying the mortgage. You can just about manage, but you worry about the cost of living and getting your kids into a good school.

If you're one of those families, if you're just managing, I want to address you directly. I know you're working around the clock, I know you're doing your best, and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle. The Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours. We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives. When we take the big calls, we'll think not of the powerful but you. When we pass new laws, we'll listen not to the mighty but to you. When it comes to taxes, we'll prioritise not the wealthy but you. When it comes to opportunity, we won't entrench the advantages of the fortunate few. We will do everything we can to help anybody, whatever your background, to go as far as your talents will take you.

We are living through an important moment in our country's history. Following the referendum, we face a time of great national change. And I know, because we're Great Britain, that we will rise to the challenge. As we leave the European Union, we will forge a bold, new, positive role for ourselves in the world. And we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few but for every one of us.

That will be the mission of the Government I lead, and together we will build a better Britain.

Heathrow-bound flight plummets in heavy turbulence

staff reporter(wp/es):
At least a dozen people including two crew members were injured when the United Airlines jet from Houston, Texas, dropped suddenly and spent at least two seconds in free fall.
The turbulence scare happened in the early hours, with many passengers asleep and their seatbelts unbuckled, according to a woman on board.
It "sent passengers flying" through the cabin and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing three hours later at Ireland’s Shannon airport.
Nikki Hartin Boriack, 38, said children were among those thrown six feet when the plane plummeted. Another passenger said he thought the plane fell 4,000 feet.
Ms Boriack, a dance and cheerleading coach from Texas, was flying to Cork via Heathrow to meet friends.


She said: “We were at least three hours into the flight, everybody had eaten and was asleep.
“It was very quiet. There seemed to be lots of children on the flight.
“Then out of the blue the plane just dropped and everybody who was unbuckled went flying.”
She said people flew headlong into the ceiling of the plane, suffering cuts to their heads. A few passengers had broken bones, she claimed.

Ms Boriack said: “Everybody hit their heads on the roof, the girl next to me was thrown from her seat.
“The flight attendant across from me, she slammed her head. She’ll need stitches.”
The plane plummeted twice, Ms Boriack said, and during the second fall many of the flight’s 207 passengers were screaming.
“Each drop lasted a couple of seconds. There was a loud bang. We assumed it was something in the galley.

“That was when everybody got really scared.
“The worst part was during the second drop – people were screaming. I had to keep my cool.
“It felt like a rollercoaster. The drops were that long.
“I was very scared, but other people were screaming.”
Ms Boriack, who was sat near the back of the plane and escaped with light bruising, said she later learnt the plane's altitude went down by around 200ft.
She added it was another three hours before the flight arrived in Shannon.
There was no warning and the pilot did not address passengers until about five minutes after the turbulence, she said.
“He just said it was very unexpected turbulence. He said normally they see the warning signs and go around it,” she said.

Another passenger, Nottingham student Leslie Chi posted on Facebook that she "really thought I might die" as the plane was rocked 30,000ft above the Atlantic.
On Twitter, another wrote: "My United Airlines flight from Houston to Heathrow has just plunged 4,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean"
A spokesman for United Airlines said: "United Airlines is providing care and support to customers and crew of flight UA880 which experienced severe and unexpected turbulence during a flight from Houston to London Heathrow today.
"The aircraft diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland where it was met by medical personnel.
"10 customers and two flight attendants were taken to a local hospital and all have since been discharged, except for one of our flight attendants."
A spokeman for University Hospital Limerick, where passengers were treated, said it was notified at about 5.30am about a possible 23 casualties. He said: "When the aircraft landed, initial assessment was carried out by the National Ambulance Service and airport first responders. A total of 12 people were transported to hospital, nine adults and three children.
"Two of the 12 were crew members."

swimmer dies after collapsing just a mile away from France

staff reporter(wp/es):
A man attempting to cross the English Channel has died just a mile short of reaching France, organisers have said.
The cross-channel swimmer, named in reports as Nick Thomas, 45, from Ellesmere in Shropshire, was pulled unconscious from the water as he neared the end of the 21-mile endurance feat.
A spokesman for the governing body, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, confirmed a man had died.
He said: "A swimmer was taken from the water less than a mile from the finish in France.
"There was an extremely experienced support team on board the support vessel. He was given CPR and taken to Calais where he was sadly pronounced dead.
"It is an extreme sport, we know the risks. He was doing what he loved doing. Our thoughts are with his family."

M20 bridge collapse: motorway fully reopens to traffic after debris from footbridge is cleared

staff reporter(es/wp/es): 

The M20 has completely reopened to traffic more than 24 hours after a footbridge collapsed onto the carriageway.
The incident sparked hours of traffic chaos on one of the busiest weekends of the year, with queues impacting on London traffic.
Traffic can now use both carriageways of the M20 in Kent, Highways England said, after a stretch between junctions one and four was cleared following yesterday's accident, which saw the structure stuck by a digger being transported on the back of a lorry.
A precautionary 50mph limit is in place in both directions past the bridge.
The motorway reopened several hours later than planned.
 A motorcyclist in his 50s was taken to hospital in Tunbridge Wells with suspected broken ribs following the incident, while the driver of the lorry was treated for shock at the scene.

Catherine Brookes, of Highways England, said: "Safety is our top priority. While we concentrated on reopening the road as soon as possible to help drivers, it was imperative this was done safely.
"The 50mph speed limit is being introduced while until work to remove the rest of the footbridge is complete.
"We urge drivers to respect the limit for their safety and that of other road users, and thank them for their patience as we carried out this essential work."

Teen facing jailed after knifing two men during water fight violence

crime reporter(wp/es):
A teenager who stabbed two men with a hunting knife during last month's violence at Hyde Park is facing jail after admitting a string of offences.
Joshua Clements, 18, of Foxglove Street, Acton, appeared at the Old Bailey today, after he was snared when a police officer recognised his face.
On the evening of July 19, Clements attacked two 19-year-old men with a hunting knife in two separate incidents, causing both victims serious injuries. 
Clements attacked one of his victims inside Hyde Park, stabbing him in the abdomen, then knifed his the second victim in the chest and both arms in an assault that happened close to the park’s perimeter, beside Cumberland Gate.

Both men sustained serious injuries but are recovering well, police say.
Following the attacks, an investigation was launched by detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.
Clements had attempted to disguise his identity by wearing a face mask covered in a camouflage pattern, but officers were able to trace his movements on CCTV.
Police circulated an image of Clements’ face without his mask on, and he was recognised by a police constable attached to a west London gangs unit.
Clements was arrested on 27 July and a weapon seized from his home was forensically linked to one of his crimes.
Today, the teenager admitted to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of carrying an offensive weapon, two counts of handling stolen goods and one count of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Thousands of people had gathered in Hyde Park to enjoy one of the hottest days of the year but unfortunately amongst them were individuals determined to commit serious crimes.
“Clements is a violent individual who targeted two innocent people, thinking he could evade justice.
"His victims sustained very serious injuries and I am pleased that the overwhelming evidence against him has persuaded him to plead guilty to these offences."
Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date.

Rank still in the hunt for deals after William Hill rebuffs takeover bid

Business correspondent(es/wp):
Rank “still has the confidence” to look at major deals despite its aborted £3.4 billion joint bid with 888 for rival William Hill, its boss said today.
“I’m still surprised that William Hill did not want to engage with us,” said Henry Birch, who would have become chief executive of the bigger group if the three-way deal had come off.
“I was extremely surprised that they did not understand the rationale of the deal. But we’ve got the confidence to look at deals like this and we will continue to look at deals, particularly the larger ones which involve digital,” he said.
But when asked if a straight two-way merger with 888, which is strong in digital gaming, was on the cards, Birch declined to comment. The bid for Hills came and went in just nine days this month. Birch (pictured) said the costs were relatively low: “The bankers were on a no-deal, no-fee basis.

“It was a short, sharp affair in terms of the number of people involved and it did not distract from getting on with our business. Just myself and a handful of people missed our summer holidays.”
He asserted that Rank can equally well go it alone. “We are halfway through a two-year programme of investing in a business which historically was underinvested,” he said. “We are in a strong financial position with market-leading brands and have a clear strategy for long-term growth.”
Rank today reported a 4% rise in headline annual pre-tax profits at £77.4 million on revenues up just 2% at £753 million.
Profits were dented by the first full year of so-called remote gaming duty, which taxes punters wherever the online operator is based to the tune of £4.8 million, and the national living wage, which added £1.4 million to Rank’s payroll.
Mecca Bingo online saw a sharp fall in profits as it bore the brunt of the new tax and suffered some “stability issues” after it switched to a new technology platform.
The casinos division Grosvenor had a disappointing final quarter of the year to end-June with customer numbers down and the win margin lower. Birch said: “The Euros and uncertainty over the referendum hit the number of customer visits but that was the case across the casino sector. In July and August customer numbers are back up again.”
Birch said the Brexit decision would have little direct impact on Rank because it is so predominantly a UK-facing business. However, it could be hit by lower economic growth and any fall in consumer confidence.
The dividend for the year is raised by 16% to 6.5p a share and they responded with a 7.5p rise to 229p, their highest for two months.

Family of man 'hunted down' and stabbed to death by mob urge witnesses to break silence

crime reporter(wp/es):
The family of a man “hunted down” and stabbed to death after an argument at a boxing match today urged witnesses to break their silence and help get justice for his young daughters.
Luther Edwards, 32, was set upon by a group of at least 15 men as he left York Hall in Bethnal Green. He was stabbed in the chest and left to die on a petrol station forecourt.
The attack took place in front of his sister Naresa Edwards and the mother of his 12-year-old daughter, who were both kicked and punched as they tried to shield him from the knife blows.
Ms Edwards, who held her brother in her arms as he fought for life, today spoke for the first time about the murder to beg for help to catch his killers, four weeks after the attack.
Police arrested and bailed three men in connection with the murder on July 29 but no one has been charged.

Ms Edwards told the Standard: “My brother was my world. He was a good, caring man who loved his two daughters with all his heart — now they will grow up without a father.
“We had the first birthday party for his youngest daughter on Saturday. It should have been happy but it was sad. We want justice for his daughters, for his family and for him.
“He was an innocent man out with his sister and the mother of his daughters when he was attacked.
“We believe people filmed the attack on him and filmed inside the boxing match and we’d ask people to go to the police with those images as they could be what helps to catch those responsible. We are frightened his killers are still walking the streets.”
 His family said today the murder followed an argument at the bar in the boxing venue between Mr Edwards and a stranger which they believed had been resolved.
Mr Edwards, who they said had nothing to do with gangs, had taken his sister and former partner to the venue in Old Ford Road to watch a friend box.
Some 45 minutes later, at about 10.35pm, he was attacked by a group of “ethnically diverse, heavy-set men” as he left the building after the final bout.
The family believe the group had also left the hall after watching the final fight. Despite paramedics’ efforts to save Mr Edwards, he was pronounced dead at around 11.40pm.

The former Lambeth College student, who lived in Clapham and grew up in Stockwell, worked as a HGV driver to provide for his daughters, Nylah, one, and Aaliyah, 12, who has cerebral palsy.
His family said: “A simple argument at a boxing match should not lead  to death, should not lead to a good man being hunted down by a mob, killed in the street and leaving his  family feeling broken. We are bereft, we are grief-stricken and we demand justice for Luther, for those whom  he left behind and for those who  loved him.”
A 31-year-old man was arrested six days after the attack, and two other men aged 23 and 26 were arrested in subsequent days. All have now been bailed until September.

Amazon announces 1,500 jobs by opening a major new warehouse in Essex

Business correspondent(wp/es):
Amazon has announced it will create 1,500 jobs by opening a major new warehouse in Essex.
Located in the dock area of Thurrock town Tilbury, the "fulfilment centre" will become the retailer’s 13th in the UK.
It will be fitted with robotic arms which carry products to and fro staff.
The announcement comes after a spike in online shopping, with UK shoppers spending 16.7 per cent more online this July compared to last year and 1.2 per cent more than this June.
 
Ian Geddes, UK head of retail at Deloitte, said: "The online market now accounts for 14.2 per cent of all retail sales, 1.6 percentage points more than 12 months ago.
"Not only does this indicate a step up in online spending, but retailers also appear to be on the right path when it comes to engaging with the online consumer."
Tilbury, due to open in 2017, will require operations managers, engineers, HR and IT workers and Amazon said it is currently scouting for the positions.
This year alone, the online giant will create 3,500 positions

Person struck by train at east London Tube stop

staff correspondent(es/wp):
A person has been struck by a train at Mile End station.
Emergency services including police, fire and ambulance crews were called shortly before 1pm to reports of someone on the tracks.
A British Transport Police spokesman confirmed a person was hit by a train but no further details were immediately available.
Pictures taken from the scene show a funeral van outside the station.

The station reopened just after 2pm.
Transport for London warned travellers of severe delays on the Central line following the reopening.

The delays have affected West Ham supporters travelling to Stratford for the club’s first home game at the Olympic Stadium against Bournemouth.
The club retweeted an update from the Central line Twitter feed and added: “Important info if you are travelling to the game via the @centralline

Eight new night bus routes to launch to coincide with 24-hour Underground start date

staff correspondent(es/wp):
Eight new night bus services are to be launched this weekend to help Night Tube passengers complete their journey home.
The services will primarily link with the northern end of the Victoria line and the eastern end of the Central line, both of which will run through the night on Friday and Saturday for the first time.
Areas to benefit include Walthamstow, Stratford, Leytonstone, Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Ilford. There will also be a 24-hour service on the E1 bus that links Greenford and Ealing.
The announcement comes as Transport for London confirmed it had abandoned plans to reduce the frequency of the 94 night bus, between Piccadilly Circus and Acton Green, and the N91 between Trafalgar Square and Cockfosters.

TfL has also put on hold a reduction in frequency to a further 15 services that it predicts will see fewer passengers as a result of the Night Tube.
Passenger numbers will now be monitored to see whether demand has dropped as a result of the all-night running of the Tube. TfL plans to extend Night Tube services by the end of the year onto the Northern, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines.

From Friday night, these routes will operate 24 hours a day from the first time:

• 34 (Barnet Church to Walthamstow Central)
• 123 (Ilford High Road to Wood Green)
• 145 (Leytonstone to Dagenham)
• 158 (Stratford to Chingford Mount)
• 296 (Ilford Broadway to Romford)
• E1 (Greenford Broadway to Ealing Broadway)
• W3 (Finsbury Park to Northumberland Park)
• W7 (Finsbury Park to Muswell Hill Broadway).

The new services will run every 30 minutes throughout Friday and Saturday nights, other than the W7, which will run every 20 minutes. A further seven new night bus services have already been introduced.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The routes will go hand-in-hand with the Night Tube to help Londoners get to and from their front door throughout the night. It’s another key step in helping everyone travel quickly and safely at night, and another boost to unlocking the full potential of our night time economy.

Team GB climb to second after five golds on day nine

sports  reporter(wp/es):
Max Whitlock won Britain's first ever gymnastics gold and later doubled that tally as he clinched podium top spot in both the floor and his favoured pommel horse apparatus.
It came as Jason Kenny beat fellow Briton Callum Smith in the men's sprint final to take his personal Olympics tally to five across three Games, while Justin Rose won golf gold and Andy Murray retained his crown with victory over Juan Martin del Porto in an epic tennis final.
Murray won 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5 to become the first tennis player ever to win two Olympic gold medals in singles.
And Great Britain's five-gold haul lifted them above China in the medals rankings as the Games entered day 10.