Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 11 May 2014

1. DAVID CAMERON: REFERENDUM OR I QUIT

David Cameron says he will resign as prime minister if he cannot deliver an in-out referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU after the general election. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he declares his “passionate” and “optimistic” belief in Britain, and argues that “real” patriots should vote Tory rather than be swayed to Ukip.

Cameron: I’ll quit if I cannot deliver EU referendum

2. LLOYDS LENT MILLIONS TO CRIME BOSS

Lloyds lent one of Britain’s biggest gangsters up to £4m, says the Sunday Times. David Hunt obtained the secured loan last year when Barclays bank called in a £4.2m loan after staff read media reports over Hunt’s activities. Lloyds is 40% owned by taxpayers and is required to vet prospective borrowers. A secret report revealed some police officers believe Hunt is “too big” to take down.

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3. FEW VOTERS CAN NAME THEIR MEPS

Only 11% of British voters say they would be confident of naming one of their MEPs, according to a survey in The Observer. The survey shows that people are nearly five times more likely to be able to name their local MP than any of their MEPs. It also reveals that just 8% of voters have ever made contact with an MEP, with 79% saying they have never considered doing so.

Can you name your MEP?

4. COALITION AT WAR OVER EDUCATION

The coalition is at war over education as the Liberal Democrats say Michael Gove has diverted £400m to plug a huge financial black hole in his free schools programme. The Lib Dems have confirmed an embarrassing leak which said that Gove has secretly taken the money from the Basic Need fund which guarantees school places for children.

5. LONDON HAS MOST BILLIONAIRES IN WORLD

More than 100 billionaires now live in the UK, according to the 2014 Sunday Times Rich List. There are now 104 billionaires based in the UK with a combined wealth of more than £301bn. This means the UK has more billionaires per head of population than any other country, while London has more billionaires than any other city in the world.

6. AUSTRIA WINS EUROVISION CONTEST

Austria has won the Eurovision Song Contest. Conchita Wurst was crowned the winner of the 59th annual final, held this year in Copenhagen. The drag act, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, won with the song Rise Like a Phoenix. The Netherlands finished second, with Sweden in third. The UK's Molly Smitten-Downes came 17th, with her song Children of the Universe.

Eurovision 2014: the five most eye-catching acts

7. PM WANTS A FEMALE BBC BOSS

David Cameron wants the BBC to appoint a female boss for the first time, says the Sunday Times. Government sources say the prime minister is keen for the corporation to appoint a woman to clean up its “failed” governing body. A senior Whitehall official said: “There has never been a woman running the BBC before. The prime minister would like to see that.”

Lord Patten quits BBC and gives headache to all concerned

8. COCAINE FOUND IN UK DRINKING WATER

Cocaine use has soared so high that the drug now contaminates Britain’s drinking water, according to scientific tests. Traces of metabolised cocaine have been found at four sites sampled by the Drinking Water Inspectorate in the UK. It reached the country’s water reserves through the urine of the UK’s 700,000 cocaine users.

9. BBC DJ QUITS AFTER ‘N WORD’ MISTAKE

The BBC has forced a veteran DJ to resign after he played an old version of The Sun Has Got His Hat On, which features the word ‘n***er’. David Lowe has worked for 32 years for the BBC. He said he was unaware that the 1932 version of the song included the word. The BBC is accused of hypocrisy because Jeremy Clarkson was allowed to keep his job after appearing to mumble the same word.

Jeremy Clarkson: I didn't mean to use N-word - video

10. MAN CITY ON THE BRINK OF TITLE GLORY

Manchester City are clear favourites to win the Premier League title this afternoon, as the campaign draws to a close. Only Liverpool can prevent them from becoming champions, but only if they beat Newcastle and City lose their home tie against West Ham. At the other end of the table, Norwich will be relegated even if they beat in-form Arsenal.

Pellegrini goads Mourinho as Man City ease towards title