Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 1 Mar 2015
- 1. MILIBAND ON COURSE FOR MAJORITY
- 2. ‘JIHADI JOHN’ CONSIDERED SUICIDE
- 3. TORIES PREPARE ‘SAVE DAVE’ CAMPAIGN
- 4. BRITS ARE ‘UPTIGHT ABOUT SEX’
- 5. CABINET WAR OVER HATE PREACHERS
- 6. DE NIRO TO RESTORE DIANA RESORT
- 7. UK GIRLS SPOTTED IN ISTANBUL
- 8. SRI LANKA THRASH ENGLAND
- 9. NICK ROBINSON TREATED FOR TUMOUR
- 10. JOSE: ‘TOTTENHAM WANTED ME’
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
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.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
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."
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
10 things you need to know today: September 21, 2023
Daily Briefing Biden extends temporary protections to 470,000 Venezuelans, Republicans grill Garland on Biden and Trump investigations, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
Woman reunited with egg she signed in 1951
It Wasn't All Bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ten Things You Need to Know Today: 21 September 2023
The Week’s daily digest of the news agenda, published at 8am
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 20, 2023
Daily Briefing Zelenskyy, Biden urge UN members to oppose Russian aggression, hardline Republicans block spending bill as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 19, 2023
Daily Briefing Iran, US swap prisoners in a complex deal, Canada accuses India of role in Sikh leader's assassination, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 18, 2023
Daily Briefing Protesters call for ending fossil fuel ahead of UN meetings, Trump doesn't 'even think' about going to jail, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 15, 2023
Daily Briefing A grand jury indicts Hunter Biden on gun charges, House defense spending bill stalls as shutdown looms, and more
By Harold Maass Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 14, 2023
Daily Briefing Mitt Romney says he won't run for a second Senate term, Pennsylvania police capture an escaped murderer, and more
By Harold Maass Published