Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 13 Sep 2020

1. Major and Blair slam Boris's ‘dangerous’ Brexit bill

Tony Blair and Sir John Major have urged MPs to reject Boris Johnson's “shameful” bid to override parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. The two former prime ministers accused the government of “embarrassing” the UK by planning a bill that would go against the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU. Writing in The Sunday Times, the pair said the move would be “irresponsible” and “dangerous”.

2. Roger Stone tells Trump to impose martial law if he loses poll

Roger Stone says Donald Trump should seize total power and jail prominent figures including Bill and Hillary Clinton and Mark Zuckerberg if he loses to Joe Biden in November. The long-time Republican strategist, whose 40-month prison sentence for lying to Congress and witness tampering in the Russia investigation was commuted by the US president, said Trump should consider invoking the Insurrection Act if he loses at the polls.

3. Coronavirus is spreading through care homes again

A leaked document shows Covid-19 is beginning to spread through care homes again. A Department of Health report marked “official sensitive” stated that the recorded pace of the coronavirus in care homes had quadrupled since the start of the month, now standing at an estimated 1,100 new cases every day. Jon Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said another failure on care homes would be “unforgivable”.

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4. Outcry as women still face the ‘anguish’ of lone births

Thousands of women are being forced to face the “unimaginable anguish” of having to give birth alone due to Covid-19 rules, reports the Mail on Sunday. Campaigners, joined by more than 60 MPs, are demanding that NHS Trusts lift their ban on partners at the bedside during births. Last month, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, urged NHS chiefs to allow partners to attend scans and birth.

5. Russia producing nuclear missile to circle globe for years

Moscow is developing a nuclear-powered missile that can fly around the globe for years on end ready to strike at any moment, claims the UK’s chief of defence intelligence. Lieutenant General Jim Hockenhull said Russia was “pushing the boundaries of science, and international treaties” in developing novel weapons. He said the Russian military has “traded mass for tempo”.

6. Sheriff deputies fighting for lives after being shot in Compton

Two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies are fighting for their lives after being shot in the city of Compton on Saturday night. “One male deputy and one female deputy were ambushed as they sat in their patrol vehicle,” read a tweet from the department's official Twitter account. The local US Rep, Adam Schiff, said he was praying for the two deputies.

7. Tributes paid to design maestro Sir Terence Conran

Sir Terence Conran, the designer who revolutionised retail and decor, has died at the age of 88. He started his career in the late 1940s and became a household name as one of the key designers of the 1960s. He is best known as the founder of Habitat and later helped found the Design Museum. Designer and architect George Clarke said: “He was one of my all time design heroes.”

8. Tory council under fire for funding hunters during pandemic

A Conservative council has given £50,000 from the public purse to support hunters through the coronavirus crisis. Shropshire County Council leader Peter Nutting said the cash was part of a £91million government package for the county’s small businesses but MPs and campaigners have described the move as a “disgraceful” use of public funds. Shadow Environment Secretary Luke Pollard said the news is “outrageous”.

9. Black Lives Matter tells Dame Cressida Dick to stand down

Black Lives Matter activists say the Metropolitan police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick should step down because she has “failed to acknowledge” racism within the force. “She does not acknowledge that there is a problem,” said Neomi Bennett BEM at a protest yesterday. Another activist, Ryan Colaço, tweeted: “[Dick] needs to go & the police need to be held accountable!”

10. Thousands to join a worldwide Great North Run

Almost 17,000 people are expected to take part in a virtual Great North Run across 57 countries and six continents today. More than 60,000 runners were due to take part in the half-marathon that was cancelled because of coronavirus. Founder Brendan Foster said: “This year has been testing for everyone so we had to re-imagine the event and take it out to the people.”