Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 1 Mar 2015

1. MILIBAND ON COURSE FOR MAJORITY

Ed Miliband’s Labour is set for an absolute majority at the general election, according to a poll in The Observer. The survey puts Labour on 35% – two points up on last week, while the Conservatives have slipped by one point to 34%. Ukip are on 14% while the Liberal Democrats and the Greens are tied on 6%. However, David Cameron leads Miliband on approval ratings.

2. ‘JIHADI JOHN’ CONSIDERED SUICIDE

Mohammed Emwazi, the man identified as extremist ‘Jihadi John’, said he felt like a "dead man walking" after being contacted by UK security services, reveals the Mail On Sunday. Emwazi made the claims in 2010 in email exchanges with a journalist from the newspaper. He added that he was considering suicide, writing: “I’ll take as many pills as I can so that I will sleep for ever.”

3. TORIES PREPARE ‘SAVE DAVE’ CAMPAIGN

Senior Tories have launched a ‘Save Dave’ campaign designed to prevent David Cameron being ousted as leader if the party does not win the general election. Following a dinner held by George with Conservative whips on Monday night, two senior MPs revealed party chiefs will argue that Cameron has won a “moral victory” if he secures more votes than Ed Miliband — even if he has fewer seats.

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4. BRITS ARE ‘UPTIGHT ABOUT SEX’

British people are dirty, uptight sexually, and drink too much, according to a new book published in Spain. In his book Sons and Daughters of Great Britain, Alberto Letona says British people would rather complete a crossword than have sex. He also claims that the English are “jealous” that the Scots, Welsh and Irish have their own parliaments.

5. CABINET WAR OVER HATE PREACHERS

The coalition war is divided over hate preachers, says The Sunday Times. Downing Street’s plan to force universities to ban “extremist” speakers from their campuses is being blocked by Vince Cable, the business secretary. The Liberal Democrat is arguing that only those speakers who directly incite violence should be banned.

6. DE NIRO TO RESTORE DIANA RESORT

Robert de Niro hopes to restore a luxury beach resort which was favoured by Princess Diana. The Hollywood legend will redevelop K-Club, on the Caribbean island of Barbuda, if residents give him the go-ahead at a meeting on Monday. De Niro has teamed up with casino billionaire James Packer to propose a $250m (£162m) leisure resort on the defunct site.

7. UK GIRLS SPOTTED IN ISTANBUL

The three UK schoolgirls believed to be travelling to Syria to join ISIS have appeared on CCTV footage of a bus station in Turkey. Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16, flew from London to Istanbul on 17 February. The camera footage shows them waiting at Bayrampasa bus station later that day.

8. SRI LANKA THRASH ENGLAND

England suffered a third humiliating defeat in four World Cup games as Sri Lanka won by nine wickets in Wellington. Lahiru Thirimanne hit an unbeaten 139 and Kumar Sangakkara 117 not out to seal victory with 16 balls to spare. “If we go on playing so poorly, somebody's head will have to roll - it's a results business,” said England legend Geoffrey Boycott.

9. NICK ROBINSON TREATED FOR TUMOUR

The BBC’s Nick Robinson is being treated for a tumour but hopes to be back at work in time to cover the general election campaign, his agent has revealed. The 51-year-old political editor, who has anchored the corporation's Whitehall coverage since 2005, needs an operation to remove a bronchial carcinoid tumour from his lung.

10. JOSE: ‘TOTTENHAM WANTED ME’

Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho says he turned down an approach to join Tottenham in 2007. Speaking ahead of today’s Capital One final between the two sides, the manager says that he was approached after leaving the Blues for the first time in September 2007. Asked if he considered joining Spurs, he said: "No, because I love Chelsea supporters too much."