Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 23 Dec 2012

1. MITCHELL: POLICE 'POLITICALLY MOTIVATED'

Andrew Mitchell has accused police of wrecking his career with a smear campaign motivated by a political agenda. Writing in the Sunday Times, he asks: “If this can happen to a senior government minister, then what chance would a youth in Brixton or Handsworth have?” He reveals he lost a stone in weight due to stress over the incident.

2. CORNWALL 'CAN'T COPE' WITH MORE RAIN

The heavy rain expected in the days head could cause further flood chaos in the south-west of England, warn experts. There are over 200 flood warnings in place in England and Wales, with one severe warning in Cornwall. The Environment Agency says: "There is nowhere in Cornwall that can really cope with the rain that's coming."

3. CAMERON DEFIED OBAMA ON WITHDRAWAL

David Cameron's announcement that nearly half the British troops will withdraw from Afghanistan next year was made against the wishes of Barack Obama. The US president wanted Nato countries to make a united statement next month and fears Cameron's announcement last week could cause a rush of other countries to withdraw.

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4. HOSPITAL APOLOGISES FOR APPALLING ABUSES

An NHS hospital has apologised to 38 families after shocking examples of malpractice were revealed. A mass legal action against Alexandra Hospital in Redditch uncovered instances of nurses taunting hungry patients, an elderly lady dying after being unwashed for 11 weeks, and a pensioner left screaming in agony when his ribs were broken during a failed attempt to lift him.

5. LOUIS SMITH WINS STRICTLY

The Olympic silver medallist Louis Smith has been crowned champion of this year's Strictly Come Dancing. The gymnast overcame a painful back injury to land the title. "I can finally say I won something in the year 2012," he said. Host Sir Bruce Forsyth has rejected suggestions he will retire. "It is the buzz of working that keeps me going," he said.

6. THATCHER 'AWAITING CANCER TEST RESULT'

Baroness Thatcher is facing a cancer scare, reports The Sun. The paper claims that the growth removed from the former prime minister's bladder is a tumour which is now being tested to see if it is cancerous. The 87-year-old is still in hospital after Thursday's surgery and may remain there on Christmas Day.

7. PAYDAY FIRM TO QUIT UK OVER TAX?

Controversial payday loan company Wonga is considering quitting the UK to reduce its tax bill, reports the Sunday Times. The company made £62.4m profit last year providing high-interest loans. Meanwhile, Cheque Centre, a separate payday lender, has been accused of hounding a man for repayments as he recovered in hospital after attempting suicide over his debts.

8. KGB 'BUGGED THE ROYAL FAMILY'

The KGB has admitted it bugged the British royal family, reports the Sunday Express. Soviet agents bugged the telephone of Princess Margaret and hid a listening device in her bedroom when she visited Copenhagen in 1964. They kept a dossier on her relationship with Robin Douglas-Home and also kept a file on Prince Philip.

9. CANCER PATIENTS MISLED BY 'CURE'

Cancer victims are being conned into paying £18,000 for an unproven 'cure', reports the Sunday Times. A clinic in Winchester offered an undercover reporter “light bed and sonar treatment”, claiming it is more effective than chemotherapy. Experts condemned the clinic for offering false hope to desperate patients. "It is a rip-off," said a health professor at Exeter University.

10. MANCHESTER CITY AND ARSENAL WIN

A last-minute winner from Gareth Barry earned Manchester City victory against Reading, closing the gap between them and Manchester United to just three points. Mikel Arteta's penalty handed Arsenal their third Premier League win on the spin, moving them to third place in the table. Manchester United face Swansea on Sunday.