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.”

Call for 'safer' police weapons after James Fox shot dead in Enfield

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A coroner has suggested officers should carry weapons less likely to kill people following the fatal shooting of a mentally-ill man by police.

James Fox, 43, was hit five times after two Metropolitan Policeofficers opened fire as he opened the door of his flat in Enfield on August 30 last year.

Jurors at an inquest, held in September, found Mr Fox's death was lawful, adding the officers believed they needed to use force to defend themselves.

North London Coroner’s Court heard the two officers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, shot Mr Fox as he raised a weapon towards them.

At a further hearing today, coroner Andrew Walker raised the issue of the spread and number of shots fired as he received submissions from legal representatives for the Fox family and Met Police. 

Barrister Matthew Butt, for the police force, said it would be an "unfair premise" to assume firearms officers were "poor shots", telling the court some of the circumstances of Mr Fox's death were "impossible to train for".

However, the coroner queried whether another sort of weapon could be made available that would be less likely to result in small, yet deadly, wounds.

He said: "The difficulty here is, should there be consideration at these close ranges of another sort of firearm that does not cause small, penetrating injuries but (rather) uses a larger projectile to knock a person to the ground?

"I can't imagine that in this day and age, it would not be possible to produce a large-calibre, reliable, short-range weapon that was capable of incapacitating a person."

Mr Butt said there was no such device at present that came close to meeting the required standard but acknowledged "everyone wants to avoid a situation like this".

Barrister Owen Greenhall, for the family, told the court that officers needed more specific training to prepare them to deal with "unexpected confrontation".

He added the late man's family also had concerns about the "practical availability" of heavy or two-handed shields used by officers. 

The coroner indicated he would compile a preventing future deaths report, including finalised recommendations, to be disseminated to parties at a later date.

Speaking after the initial hearing, Commander Matt Twist, in charge of armed policing, said on behalf of the Met: “The officers had seconds to act when Mr Fox opened his front door and pointed what looked like a gun at them. 

“No police officer wants to take someone's life. We ask our armed officers, and indeed expect them, to make split second decisions, in some of the most complex, fast moving and dangerous situations, to protect the public, their colleagues and themselves.

"All of our firearms officers are experienced police officers who volunteer for the additional responsibility and immense scrutiny that comes with carrying a gun.”

Eurostar to run direct London to Amsterdam

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Eurostar is pressing ahead with plans for direct services between London and Amsterdam despite a drop in passenger numbers.

The operators of the cross-Channel high-speed rail service suffered a 10 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger numbers during the third quarter but said plans for the new route were “progressing well.”

The new service would provide a rival to airlines transporting 3 million people a year from London to Holland.

Chief Executive Nicolas Petrovic said Eurostar was making a “major investment” in its fleet, service and stations to equip the business for expansion.

“The launch of our Amsterdam route at the end of next year marks a key milestone and represents a significant growth opportunity for the future,” he told the Financial Times.

Conservative MP and Brexit supporter resigns over 'policy differences' with Government

Political reporter(wp/es):

Brexit Leave campaigner Stephen Phillips has resigned from the Conservative party due to "irreconcilable differences” with Theresa May.

The MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham has left with immediate effect after announcing he had “very significant policy differences” with the current Government.

Mr Phillips, who has repeatedly called for Theresa May to reveal her Brexit plan to Parliament before beginning the formal process of leaving the European Union, said he was "unable to properly represent" his constituents.

It comes after the High Court ruled that the Prime Minister must get parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50 to begin the formal process of leaving the EU.

In a statement, Mr Phillips said: "It has been a great honour to serve the people of Sleaford and North Hykeham for the last six years, but it has become clear to me over the last few months that my growing and very significant policy differences with the current Government mean that I am unable properly to represent the people who elected me.

"This decision has been a difficult one and I hope that everyone will respect the fact that I have tried to act in the best interests of all of my constituents."

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Stephen Phillips has been a valuable member of Parliament since 2010 and we are sorry that he has chosen to step down. 

“We thank him for his hard work and we wish him every success in the future."

His resignation will trigger a by-election in his seat, where he had a majority of more than 24,000 at last year's general election.