'EU withdrawal treaty almost ready to present to Theresa May's Cabinet tomorrow'

Pic:Jean-Claude Juncker and Theresa May ( AFP)
Political reporter(wp/es):

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the key elements of the Brexit withdrawal treaty are ready to present to Theresa May's Cabinet tomorrow, reports say.

The Financial Times reports that Mr Barnier told ministers from the EU's remaining 27 member states that "the parameters of a possible agreement are very largely defined" but still need political endorsement.

It comes after a turbulent week for the Prime Minister on Brexit. Jo Johnson resigned as transport minister on Friday over her EU withdrawal plans and today told the Evening Standard she was trying to conceal from voters the bitter price of leaving the EU, even under the terms that she aims to announce this week.

Over the weekend, hardline Brexiteers and the DUP threatened to vote down a deal in Parliament if they thought it threatened the union and could put a trade border down the Irish sea.

Agreeing a backstop, a contingency plan designed to keep an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland until the UK and EU settle their future relationship, has been a key obstacle in the way of a wider withdrawal deal being reached between the two sides. 

Wednesday is now seen as a hard deadline for any agreement to be put to an EU summit this month. Otherwise it faces a delay until next month, forcing billions to be spent on urgent no-deal preparations.

No agenda for tomorrow’s weekly Cabinet meeting was issued to senior ministers before the weekend, suggesting Mrs May was aiming for a breakthrough in time to present a plan for approval.

If talks succeed, a legal text running to 500 pages, setting out withdrawal terms, will be presented.

A separate text is expected to outline a political agreement on future trade and relations, with the final deal subject to more negotiations.

the worst National Rail stations for crime in central London

Staff reporter(wp/es):

The worst National Rail station for crime in central London is revealed today as London Victoria.

New figures for the capital's 22 Zone 1 train stations showed Victoria alone accounted for 18 per cent of crimes.

Between 2013 and 2017, 3,691 offences were recorded on the station’s concourse - almost four times that of London Bridge (929).

At Victoria, there were 1,097 instances of passengers having property stolen, while 717 people suffered violence.

Central London's other crime hotspots included St Pancras, with 3,601 crimes, and Waterloo - the UK's busiest station - with 2,784.

But British Transport Police said the chance of being a victim of crime on the railways was “incredibly rare”.

It said it conducted “high visibility patrols at all hours of the day to reassure passengers and deter crime”.

Euston station (2,621) and Liverpool Street station (2,203) also ranked highly.

Moorgate station had the lowest recorded number of crimes, with just four offences between 2013 and 2017.

The 10 worst National Rail stations for crime in central London  

Figures recorded at Zone 1 terminals between 2013 and 2017  

1. London Victoria: 3,691
2. St Pancras: 3,601
3. Waterloo: 2,784
4. Euston: 2,621
5. Liverpool Street: 2,203
6. King's Cross: 1,836
7. Paddington: 1,314
8. London Bridge: 929
9. Charing Cross: 583
10. Marylebone: 530

The figures, obtained by the Standard under the Freedom of Information Act, showed there were a total 20,886 offences recorded at the 22 stations during the five-year period. These did not include connected London Underground stations.

The stats come just days after a pregnant woman was punched in the stomach at Victoria station.

Other high profile incidents at the station included a commuter who spat and hurled coffee at a worker in February last year.

Asked why Victoria was the worst affected station, Ch Supt Martin Fry, from British Transport Police, said: “London Victoria is one of the UK’s busiest train stations with more than 80 million passengers using the station each year. The chances of being a victim of crime at Victoria station remains incredibly rare.

“However, we remain committed to tackling crime at Victoria as well as all other stations in London, and work closely with train operators and Network Rail to improve security. This includes conducting high visibility patrols at all hours of the day to reassure passengers and to deter crime.”

Asked why Victoria was the worst affected station, Ch Supt Martin Fry, from British Transport Police, said: “London Victoria is one of the UK’s busiest train stations with more than 80 million passengers using the station each year. The chances of being a victim of crime at Victoria station remains incredibly rare.

“However, we remain committed to tackling crime at Victoria as well as all other stations in London, and work closely with train operators and Network Rail to improve security. This includes conducting high visibility patrols at all hours of the day to reassure passengers and to deter crime.”

Lord Lester of Herne Hill facing suspension: Peer ‘who tried to bully woman into sex’

Pic:Lord Lester of Herne Hill quit the Lib Dems in February ( Reuters )
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A peer faces suspension from the House of Lords until 2022 for sexually harassing a woman and “offering her corrupt inducements to sleep with him”.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill, 82, was found to have breached the Lords code of conduct over a historical allegation of sexual harassment. 

Peers will vote on the recommendation, made by the Lords Privileges and Conduct Committee, on Thursday. 

If passed it will be the longest suspension from Parliament since the Second World War. 

Lord Lester was the Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson on human rights but quit the party after an inquiry was launched in February. The recommended suspension comes after a finding from the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards.

He was investigated by the Commissioner for sexually harassing the complainant, offering her “a corrupt inducement to become his mistress”. 

The peer is also said to have warned her of unspecified consequences if she did not accept his offer.