Piccadilly Circus lights to be switched off for longest time since the Blitz

Pic:Piccadilly Circus is set to go dark while the tourist hotspot's famous advertising boards are replaced 
Staff reporter(wp/es):

Piccadilly Circus’s iconic billboards will be switched off for modernisation for the longest period of time since the Blitz.

The switch-off is part of a plan to remove the six illuminated advertising boards which overlook the tourist hotspot and replace them with one ultra-high definition curved screen.

Westminster Council granted permission to Land Securities, who own the site, to carry out the overhaul, the Telegraph reported.

Work on the boards, which currently advertise Coca Cola and Samsung, is set to be complete next autumn.

The regeneration will mark the first time the boards have gone dark for an extended period of time since the 1940s. 

They have almost been constantly illuminated since the Second World War except being turned off as a mark of respect during Winston Churchill and Princess Diana’s funerals.

Land Securities’ partner, Ocean Outdoor, hope to tempt new advertisers to join the big names currently featured on the boards.

Twitter and Facebook feeds will appear on the revamped version alongside live video feeds.

Tim Bleakley, chief executive of Ocean Outdoor, told the Telegraph the new technology at the site will “protect its heritage while keeping ahead of trends”.

Aedamar Howlett, Coca-Cola GB's marketing chief, added: "This new technology will allow us to be more agile and tailor our messages in real-time, as well as be more creative when it comes to the content and engaging consumers directly."

Mayor Sadiq Khan promises to spend £875m to clean up London's poisonous air

Pic: Sadiq Khan
Staff reporter(wp/es):

Sadiq Khan today promised to double spending on cleaning up London’s poisonous air to £875 million over the next five years.

The Mayor said that “bold action” was needed to combat pollution, and challenged the Government to prove they shared his ambition.

He has called on ministers to bring in a national diesel scrappage scheme and reform vehicle excise duty — making it less attractive to buy polluting cars — as well as giving London more powers to tackle poor air quality.

Mr Khan said: “With nearly 10,000 Londoners dying early every year due to air pollution, tackling poor air quality is a public health emergency that requires bold action.

“London’s air quality continues to breach legal levels, which is why I have taken this unprecedented action. The onus is now on the Government to prove that they share my ambition.”

The funding increase from £425 million for the period to 2021/22, ahead of the publication of the new Transport for London business plan tomorrow, was welcomed by campaigners.

Dr Samantha Walker from Asthma UK said: “It is clear that action is needed and we welcome the extra investment to help clean up the air we breathe.”

60 anti-Brexit MPs set to vote against start of EU withdrawal process

Political reporter(wp/es):

At least 60 anti-Brexit MPs were today expected to vote against moving Article 50 to begin the formal moves to leave the European Union.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, openeing the debate, was set to say there was “no consensus for hard Brexit”.

A handful of Labour MPs were set to join with nine Liberal Democrats and up to 53 SNP MPs in rejecting Theresa May’s demand that they “respect”  the June referendum result.

Most Labour MPs were not expected to defy the PM’s amendment, for fear of offending local voters who backed Leave in the referendum.  But hard-liners said they would not back Brexit unless the Prime Minister published a proper plan for the future relationship with Europe.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw said: “I will not vote today to invoke Article 50 by March when we still have no idea what sort of #Brexit the Government will pursue.”

Shadow early year ministers Tulip Siddiq added: “It’s been six months since the referendum. It’s ludicrous that it’s taken this long for Theresa May to acknowledge that Brexit is important enough that the British people need to know what her Government’s plans are for exiting the European Union.

“I have to be honest - it’s going to take a lot for the Government to convince me to vote against nearly 75 per cent of my constituents in Hampstead and Kilburn who voted to remain in the European Union.”

Brexit Secretary David Davis was expected to set down a challenge to the pro-EU MPs in his speech opening this afternoon’s debate, by saying they were disregarding the wishes of the country as expressed in the referendum.

The Prime Minister was not expected to return from her trip to the Middle East in time to vote. 

Mrs May defused a Tory revolt last night by promising to publish her negotiation aims before moving Article 50 next year. But No 10 sources made plain that she would not give out detailed negotiating points, but just broad aims, possibly in a ministerial statement.

Sir Keir warned Mrs May not to hide her plans behind a smokescreen. “There’s a level of detail she cannot possibly reveal,” he accepted. “What would be unacceptable is to say we will process with the process for two years without even telling you what the overall objectives are.”

Meanwhile, George Freeman, who heads Mrs May’s policy board, described Brexit as an “Arctic Convoy moment” for the UK.

Asked in an interview with website ConservativeHome whether he felt energised by the June 23 referendum result, he said: “Yes. This feels to me like an ‘Arctic Convoy’ moment for HMS Britain. All officers on deck. Action stations.”

Pressed on the fact that the Arctic Convoys were a “pretty desperate business,” he added: “But equally, in the end it was a lifeline, and a defining test for the country that we passed.”

Oxford student Matt Smith 'may have been killed by bodybuilding drugs and alcohol'

Pic:Matt Smith, pictured with girlfriend Ellie Bagshaw
Crime reporter(wp/es):

An Oxford student found dead by his girlfriend at the start of a university ski trip in the Alps could have been killed by a mixture of bodybuilding drugs and alcohol, French police suggested.

St John’s college student Matt Smith, 22, was found unconscious in his chalet room in the upmarket resort of Val Thorens on the annual Oxbridge Varsity ski trip.

The history student’s girlfriend Ellie Bagshaw found him in cardiac arrest in his apartment on Sunday morning.

Mr Smith’s father, Howard, said on Monday he feared his son had succumbed to a mixture of prescription drugs, which he was using to treat mental health issues and a sports injury, and alcohol.

Police said that Mr Smith had been drinking after arriving at Europe’s highest ski resort, measuring 7,500ft, on Saturday during the first day of an annual Varsity Ski week attended by 3,000 Oxford and Cambridge students.

State prosecutor for Alberville, Jean-Pascal Violet, said that a post-mortem examination had revealed "no evidence of an intervention by a third party" and no signs of violence, the Times reported.

He added: "We suspect a heart failure linked to a combination of consuming alcohol and medicines but we have no certainty about that. Witnesses told us that he took medicines.

"We are carrying out tests to find out whether these medicines could be linked to his sporting activities."

He said that investigators were looking into a theory that Mr Smith might have taken drugs to develop his muscles. But no witnesses confirmed Mr Smith took performance enhancers, according to the newspaper. 

Toxicology results could take at least two weeks.

Mr Smith was in his third year at the prestigious university and had recently completed a three-month internship as a junior press officer at Sotheby’s auction house in London. 

His father, a City financial consultant, said he was still trying to come to terms with his son’s sudden death.

He told the Standard: “The most important thing for us is that Matt was with his friends. His friends meant so much to him. He was with everybody skiing, close to the snow, doing what he loved.” 

The 49-year-old dismissed claims his son had struggled with cocaine and heroin addiction.

He told the Times: "I can deny reports that Matt was suffering from drug problems, but he had been taking antidepressants for successful treatment of mental health issues, and painkillers for sports injuries."

Mr Smith was a qualified snowboard instructor and also attended the ski trip last year. 

Mr Smith’s friends described him as a “smashing lad” who was full of “fun and adventure”. 

Eóin Barrett-Fulton wrote on Facebook: “Still don’t believe it, he was taken far too soon. We all thought he was invincible. I’ll always love you Matt and I hope you’re resting better now. You’ll forever be one of my oldest and greatest friends.”

Four arrested after young dad Keeno Harris shot dead

Crime reporter(wp/es):

Four people have been arrested after a young dad was shot dead during a mass brawl in south London.

Keeno Paul Delroy Harris, 28, was gunned down after a large fight broke out at Brigstock Function Room on London Road, Thornton Heath, on Sunday, November 27.

Mr Harris, who had a young daughter, appeared at a south Londonhospital with a gunshot wound a short while after the fight at 5am. He died two days later.

Three men and a woman have now been arrested by detectives investigating the killing, the Met Police said.

On Tuesday a 40-year-old man was arrested in Liverpool and a 39-year-old man was arrested in Wolverhampton on suspicion of Mr Harris’ murder.

Police also arrested a woman, 36, in Liverpool and a man, 44, in Wolverhampton on suspicion of assisting an offender.

They are all currently in custody and will be brought to police stations in London.

Detectives said the investigation into Keeno Harris’ murder continues.

A post-mortem examination into his death gave his cause of his death as a gun shot wound.

Officers want to speak with anyone who was at the Function Rooms or in the vicinity of Brigstock Road on Sunday morning, 27 November.

Man arrested over 'racist threats' to anti-Brexit campaigner

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A man has been arrested in connection with racist threats allegedly sent to anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller.

Ms Miller says she has received abuse online since taking the Government to court over its decision to initiate Brexit without the backing of Parliament.

After winning the initial battle at the High Court, Ms Miller revealed she had been instructed to avoid public spaces for her own safety and claimed she and her family had been hit with a torrent of abuse.

Police investigating the alleged threats have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of sending “racially aggravated malicious communications” to Ms Miller, 51.

Detectives investigating the claims also issued a 'cease and desist' notice to a second man, aged 38, from Fife in Scotland.

A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police said: “An investigation was launched by the Met’s Falcon Unit after police were made aware of threats made online against a 51-year-old woman from 3 November onward.

“The 55-year-old man was arrested on Monday, 5 December at an address in Swindon. 

“He was taken into custody at a Wiltshire police station, where he was later released on bail pending consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Following Ms Miller’s legal claim, the High Court ruled Theresa May would need the backing of Parliament to trigger Article 50 and begin the process of Britain leaving the European Union.

As the appeal began, Lord Neuberger - Britain's top judge - banned publication of the home addresses and names of any children of pro-European campaigners including Ms Miller because of the abuse they have received.