Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 23 Nov 2014

1. CABLE SLAMS OSBORNE TAX ‘FANTASY’

George Osborne’s plan for £7bn of tax cuts is a “total fantasy” warns Vince Cable. The business secretary told The Observer treasury officials believe the chancellor’s pledges are not affordable. “When you look at the numbers, tax cuts on any significant scale are simply not deliverable unless you make horrific cuts to key public services such as the police and defence,” he said.

2. WILL PRIVATE SCHOOLS CRASH LIKE BANKS?

Private schools have become the preserve of oligarchs, according to the headmaster of King’s College School. Fees are now so high, says Andrew Halls, that many private schools have become little more than “finishing schools for the children of oligarchs”. He adds that wealthy overseas families have pushed fees so high that some private schools are at risk of a banking-style crash

3. GORDON BROWN SET ‘TO QUIT AS MP’

Gordon Brown is set to announce he will quit as an MP at the next general election, claims the Mail On Sunday. The former prime minister is said to be eager to bow out on a high after he was widely praised for his role in the Scottish referendum campaign. Sources say he will write to constituency party members within days and make a formal announcement before Xmas.

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4. NEW INTERNET POWERS FOR POLICE

Theresa May is to outline a new law that forces communications companies to hand police details of who is using a computer or mobile phone. A previous attempt to hand the security services more power to monitor internet use was dropped after Liberal Democrats described it as a “snoopers’ charter”. The latest announcement will expose coalition divisions once again.

5. INQUIRY INTO POLICE AMBULANCE ROLE

Police officers are being forced to act as ambulance drivers and apply first aid, says the Sunday Telegraph. Senior police chiefs have begun a national inquiry into the practice. The inquiry, led by a chief constable, follows the death of a 56-year-old Joseph McIntosh, who was taken to hospital in a police van after suffering a stroke at home.

6. CAMERON LAUNCHES FARAGE COUNTER

David Cameron will launch a counterattack on Nigel Farage this week with a fresh crackdown on immigration and the start of a six-month bid to depict the Ukip leader as a threat to the economic recovery. The prime minister is expected to call for a ban on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits such as tax credits when they first move to the UK.

7. ALLEN SLAMS ‘SMUG’ BAND AID

Lily Allen says she declined an inviation to appear on the new Band Aid 30 record because she thinks the project is "a bit smug". Speaking of the controversial single, she tells the Mail On Sunday: "It's like the success club and I'm not really in that club. I don't think I'm above it all - I'm way below it. But there's something a bit smug about it."

8. HITLER PAINTING GOES FOR £130,000

A watercolour painting by Adolf Hitler exceeded expectations by fetching 130,000 euros (£103,000) at auction in the German city of Nuremberg on Saturday. Auctioneers said they expected it to sell for just £40,000. The painting is one of about 2,000 works that Hitler painted between about 1905 and 1920 as a young artist.

9. HAMILTON READY FOR F1 SHOWDOWN

Lewis Hamilton says today’s Formula 1 title showdown with Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi will be "the biggest day of my life". However, Rosberg, who beat Hamilton to pole position, tells the BBC: "Lewis has everything to lose and I have everything to gain". Hamilton, 29, is 17 points clear of the German and will win his second drivers' title if he finishes first or second.

10. FOOTBALL: WENGER’S WOE WORSENS

Arsenal fans are turning up the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger after their side lost 2-1 to Manchester United. The defeat leaves them with just 17 points from 12 games – their lowest total for 32 years. Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over West Brom. Manchester City beat Swansea 2-1.