Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 24 May 2015

1. SENIOR TORY ‘MAY QUIT OVER RIGHTS ACT’

A member of the government has threatened to resign over David Cameron’s plan to scrap European human rights laws, says the Sunday Telegraph. The anonymous Tory figure said of the plan to abolish the act: “I will probably oppose it. The idea that my constituents should have fewer protections available as a last resort is not something that I can accept.”

2. IRELAND VOTES ‘YES’ IN GAY POLL

Ireland has voted to legalise same-sex marriage. In a landmark referendum that saw more than 62% of voters support the campaign to amend the country's constitution, some 1.2m people backed the "yes" campaign. A senior Catholic cleric in Ireland, Diarmuid Martin, has called for the Church to take a "reality check" following the vote.

3. NEW THOMAS COOK BOSS ROW

The Thomas Cook boss accused of seeking millions in 'blood money' over the deaths of two British children in a Corfu hotel will receive a £10,507,730 personal bonus from the company next month, claims the Mail On Sunday. The pay-off to Harriet Green has heightened outrage over the travel agent’s handling of the case.

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4. IS IDS OPPOSING ‘SALAMI’ BENEFIT CUTS?

Iain Duncan Smith is fighting a rear guard action against plans to slash key benefit schemes, claim his aides. The work and pensions secretary is “pushing back” against attempts to “salami slice” through the welfare budget, say the sources. He reportedly fears that the prime minister may rush into deeply unpopular cuts.

5. ROW AS CLEVELAND COP CLEARED

There have been violent protests in Cleveland after a police officer was found not guilty over the deaths of an unarmed black man and a woman during a high-speed car chase in 2012. Michael Brelo climbed on to a car bonnet and fired repeatedly through the windscreen at unarmed black occupants. He was cleared of voluntary manslaughter at the court in Cleveland.

6. GARFUNKEL: SIMON IS ‘A MONSTER’

Art Garfunkel has described Paul Simon as a “monster”. In a grumpy interview with the Sunday Telegraph, he spoke of how he felt sorry for Simon at school, due to his lack of height. He offered him friendship in compensation. “And that compensation gesture has created a monster,” said Garfunkel. The two artists split up 45 years ago.

7. ARE WOMEN LOSING ABILITY TO GIVE BIRTH?

Are mothers at risk of losing their ability to give birth? According to a new book by a leading obstetrician, women are in danger of becoming unable to give birth naturally or to breastfeed their babies in the future. Michel Odent, who pioneered the use of birthing pools, argues that childbirth has become so medicalised, that women are at risk of losing their ability to give birth unaided.

8. SWEDEN WINS EUROVISION CONTEST

Sweden has won the Eurovision Song Contest, but the UK could only come 24th out of 27 contenders. Swedish singer Mans Zelmerlow, a bookmaker’s favourite throughout the build-up, triumphed in Vienna, beating Russia's Polina Gagarina. Italy were third, followed by Belgium. Australia finished fifth in the country's first ever Eurovision appearance.

9. DID OSBORNE FRENCH KISS CROSBY?

George Osborne has stopped short of keeping his pledge to “French kiss” Tory campaign chief Lynton Crosby if the Tories won a majority at the general election. The chancellor made the bizarre promise during the campaign. However, Osborne instead planted a kiss on Crosby’s cheek when they met in Downing Street on the morning after their triumph.

10. HULL OR TOON FOR THE DROP?

Either Hull City or Newcastle United will be relegated today as the Premier League season comes to a close. City will face Manchester United, whose boss, according to the Star, is promising “hell for Hull”. Newcastle United, meanwhile will host West Ham. Hull City must win and hope that Newcastle fail against the Hammers.