Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 24 Jun 2012

1. TORY DONOR LINKED TO TAX SCHEME

David Cameron is facing fresh embarrassment as a key Tory donor is linked to the Jimmy Carr tax avoidance scheme that the Prime Minister condemned this week. The Observer reports that George Robinson was a director of the company behind the scheme which Cameron described as “morally wrong”.

Backlash over PM's 'mistake' as Jimmy Carr tax story spirals

2. ARGENTINA MAY DISRUPT OLYMPICS

The Foreign Office has received intelligence that Argentine athletes may use the Olympic Games as the platform for a ‘black-power’ style protest over the Falkland Islands, reports The Sunday Times. Extremist left groups in Argentina are planning to send activists to demonstrate at the Games.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

3. DETECTIVES ACCUSED OF PHONE HACKING

Scotland Yard officers conspired with private detectives to hack the phones of Government minister Lord Malloch-Brown, a civil servant and Britain’s most senior policewoman, a whistleblower claims in The Mail On Sunday. Scotland Yard refuses to reveal whether the claims are being investigated.

4. EGPYT AWAITS ELECTION RESULT

Both candidates are claiming victory as Egypt awaits the result of the presidential run-off election between Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. Police fear fresh violence in the wake of the result.

5. ARCHBISHOP SLAMS BIG SOCIETY ‘WAFFLE’

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ policy is “waffle” that is "designed to conceal a deeply damaging withdrawal of the state from its responsibilities to the most vulnerable". In a forthcoming book he also writes that the outcome of the Iraq war "seems to beggar the imagination".

6. STARKEY CALLED A ‘RACIST’ DURING FESTIVAL

Dr David Starkey was accused of being a “racist”, a “troll” and a “bigot” yesterday as a row erupted over what it means to be British. Starkey was attacked by writer and activist Laurie Penny at the Sunday Times Festival of Education as he discussed the Rochdale grooming case.

7. MITCH WINEHOUSE ATTACKS FIELDER- CIVIL

Amy Winehouse’s father Mitch describes her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil as “the biggest low-life scumbag that God ever put breath into”. In his forthcoming book, Winehouse writes that he is unable to enjoy his late daughter’s album Back To Black, due to its connection with Fielder-Civil.

8. PM PLANS TO AXE BENEFITS FOR YOUNG

Hundreds of thousands of young people could lose housing benefit under welfare reforms to be announced by the Prime Minister. Most of the £1.8bn in housing benefits paid to under 25s would be cancelled. Dole payments for individuals not trying hard enough to get work would also be stopped.

9. FLOOD AGENCY DEFENDS RESPONSE

The Environment Agency has defended its response to flooding in northern England as the clean-up process gets under way. Up to 500 properties were flooded in the north, leading to complaints from residents. An Agency spokesman said: "It's difficult to stop flooding completely".

10. GERRARD: ‘HURT WILL MOTIVATE US’

England captain Steven Gerrard says he will use memories of disappointments at previous international tournaments as motivation in tonight’s Euro 2012 quarter-final against Italy. He says “the hurt and the pain” of past results will inspire England in the crunch tie in Kiev.

Explore More