Labour nominates transport expert Christian Wolmar to stand against Zac Goldsmith

Political reporter(wp/es):

The Labour Party has nominated transport expert Christian Wolmar to stand in the Richmond Park by-election.

He will stand against Zac Goldsmith, who is running as an independent, and the Liberal Democrats' candidate Sarah Olney in the December 1 election..

Mr Wolmar, a writer and broadcaster specialising in rail, has vowed to fight the recent approval for a third runway at Heathrow.

He said: “Richmond Park has been badly let down by both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats. Successive MPs have failed to address the problems that exist here like availability of affordable housing and cuts to the local NHS.

“It’s a great honour to be selected to stand for Labour in the Richmond Park by-election which gives us an opportunity to expose the disastrous policies of this government and fight the third runway at Heathrow which I have long opposed.”

Mr Goldsmith, who previously held the seat, quit the Conservative Party in protest against the Government’s decision to give the green light to the third runway.  

Neither the Tories nor Ukip are fielding candidates to stand against Mr Goldsmith, and Nigel Faragehas thrown his backing behind the Brexit supporter.

Arctic blast set to bring first frost this winter as temperatures plummet

Staff reporter(wp/es):

London is to be hit by an arctic blast as northerly winds bring freezing temperatures and the first frost of the winter to the capital.

Those heading to firework displays on Guy Fawkes night were warned to wrap up warm as temperatures plunged in the south-east.

The Met Office said Londoners could expect the first frost of this winter overnight as bitter winds usher in a cold snap. 

Temperatures in London were expected to peak at about 10C today, although the chill from a strong northerly wind meant it would feel more like 3C. 

Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson told the Standard: “We’ve already seen temperatures struggling, with a strong northerly wind bringing with it a wind chill factor. It’s going to be cold overnight and there’ll be a strong wind.

“There’ll be a frost on the ground in the morning, and the cold weather will continue tomorrow.

“The wind will be stronger and even lower temperatures mean it will feel like 2-3C – so a really noticeable wind chill.”

Monday will remain cool before temperatures begin to pick up, Mr Wilson added.

Ministers 'planning for early election' as Theresa May told to calm backlash over court ruling

Political reporter(wp/es):

Conservative ministers are reportedly preparing for an early general eleciton after Theresa May's government faced a blow in its plans for Brexit. 

The Prime Minister may call an election in order to be given a mandate to pull Britain out of the EU, the Daily Telegraph reported. 

The newspaper said the prospect of a vote is being "openly discussed" by ministers after this week's developments.

It comes after Mrs May was rocked by the resignation of a pro-Brexit Conservative MP over "irreconcilable policy differences". Stephen Phillips announced he was quitting over the Government's failure to appreciate the need to consult Parliament over Brexit.

There have also been calls for Mrs May to take action to calm the backlash sparked by a controversial High Court decision that Parliament must vote for Article 50 – by which the process of withdrawing from the EU begins – to be invoked. 

Former ministers have warned the Prime Minister she must "make clear" that the independence of the judiciary is a fundamental element of British democracy after judges came under attack from pro-Brexit MPs.

But Bob Neill, the Conservative chairman of the justice select committee, said the attacks were "threatening the independence of our judiciary" and had "no place in a civilised land".

He told The Times: "Some of the things which have been said about the court's judgment by politicians have been utterly disgraceful.

"All ministers from the Prime Minister down must now make clear that the independence of the judiciary is fundamental to our democracy. You have to respect that even if you think they have got a decision wrong.

"Some members of Parliament do not appear to understand that this judgment had nothing do with subverting the will of the people."

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve described the attacks as "chilling and outrageous" and "smacking of the fascist state".

Anna Soubry, a former minister and prominent Remain campaigner, said some media reports were "inciting hatred".

"I think we have to call this out and say 'not in my name'," she told the Guardian.

"It needs somebody like Boris Johnson to step up and speak out. He's our Foreign Secretary and he knows what the reaction of the rest of the world is as they look at our great country and are horrified. What message are we sending out to the rest of the world? Probably that this nation is in grave danger of losing the plot - and I think we might have done".

eenager stabbed to death in Goodmayes 'was trying to break up fight'

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A “humble” teenager is believed to have been stabbed to death while trying to stop a fight from escalating, police said today. 

Ziggy Worrell-Owusu, 19, was knifed repeatedly while out with friends amid a crowd of up to 60 people in Goodmayes, east London.

He had been at the Basement Shisha Lounge to celebrate a friend’s 18th birthday, but was stabbed during an altercation and carried out of the venue by paramedics before being pronounced dead in hospital about an hour later.

He was the 10th teenager to be stabbed to death in London this year.

Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested over the incident and bailed until mid-December, Scotland Yard said.

Police today said that Mr Worrell-Owusu, from Hackney, may have been injured as he tried to break up an altercation. 

Detective Inspector Euan McKeeve said: "Ziggy was a popular young man and I would encourage anyone with information about this tragedy to come forward.

"One line of inquiry is that Ziggy stepped in to prevent a fight escalating between others.

"There were a large number of young people inside the Basement Shisha Lounge who would have witnessed this incident and the events that led up to it.

"Some of these people may be reluctant to tell police what happened, but I would urge them to come forward of their own accord and speak to us."

DI McKeeve also urged anyone at the party with phone footage or pictures to hand it to police, and appealed to parents of teenagers who were there to ask them to come forward.

A friend of Mr Worrell-Owusu told the Standard after the attack: “It was just a night out. He was a humble and calm guy, he never went out looking for trouble.

“Everyone is in so much pain because of how humble he was and also because he tried to help and solve a problem and in return suffered. He was an innocent guy that just tried to stop a fight. I’m not sure who the fight was between.”

Another added: “He was one of the funniest guys I ever met. I always loved seeing him. I’m so shocked this has even happened to him. I’m so heartbroken.”