Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 3 Apr 2016
- 1. Premier League football stars in doping scandal
- 2. Young voters hold key as Leave camp edges into lead
- 3. Government urges public sector to buy British steel
- 4. Pollution alert as smog combines with heatwave
- 5. Sadiq Khan says Goldsmith could deter ethnic minorities
- 6. Experts say middle-classes 'resentful' of inheritance tax record
- 7. Is Scotland Yard about to end Maddie investigation?
- 8. Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale comes out
- 9. Brussels Airport to re-open after twin terror attacks
- 10. Arsenal cling on as Leicester prepare for Southampton
1. Premier League football stars in doping scandal
A London doctor has been secretly filmed describing how he prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs to 150 leading sportsmen, including Premier League footballers. The Sunday Times claims that Dr Mark Bonar charges sports stars thousands of pounds for illicit drug programmes. The government has ordered an inquiry into the allegations.
2. Young voters hold key as Leave camp edges into lead
A new opinion poll has put the Leave side in the lead and hinted that young voters could hold the key to the result in the June referendum. The survey, in The Observer, puts the Brexit campaign on 43%, four points ahead of Remain, on 39%. However, some 18% of voters said they were undecided, the majority of who said they were leaning towards Remain.
3. Government urges public sector to buy British steel
Public sector bodies are to be urged to buy British steel for construction projects in a bid to save the industry. Councils and NHS trusts will be asked by the government to ponder the economic impact of buying from abroad. The development comes after Tata Steel announced it was selling its loss-making UK plants, putting thousands of jobs at risk.
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4. Pollution alert as smog combines with heatwave
Areas of Britain are the subject of a major pollution alert as an “agricultural smog” of toxic farm chemicals from Europe coincides with a spring heatwave. Pollution levels high enough to raise the risk of asthma episodes, heart attacks and strokes in vulnerable people could hit Kent and Sussex as winds bring pollution from farms across northern and central Europe.
5. Sadiq Khan says Goldsmith could deter ethnic minorities
Young people from ethnic minority backgrounds could be put off running for public office by the “nasty” campaign run by Zac Goldsmith, Sadiq Khan told The Observer. The Labour London mayoral candidate’s camp believes Goldsmith’s team has tried to focus voters’ minds on his faith, in an attempt to divide religious and ethnic groups and persuade non-Muslims to vote for Goldsmith.
6. Experts say middle-classes 'resentful' of inheritance tax record
The Sunday Telegraph says middle-class families are “resentful” after the government has claimed a record £4.6bn inheritance tax bill. Analysts have condemned inheritance tax as a “devious” levy on middle-class savers. They predict that the latest record boost to government's coffers will foster resentment among the public.
7. Is Scotland Yard about to end Maddie investigation?
Detectives have just six months left to find Madeleine McCann before Scotland Yard pulls the plug on the investigation, claims the Sunday Express. The government has set a budget for 2016 of just under £95,000, which will pay for only six months of investigations by the four-strong team working on the case. Scotland Yard is then expected to shelve Operation Grange.
8. Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale comes out
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has confirmed she has a female partner – becoming the fourth Scottish party leader to come out. Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, is also gay, while Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, is bisexual. Scottish secretary of state David Mundell came out as gay earlier this year.
9. Brussels Airport to re-open after twin terror attacks
Brussels Airport is set to re-open today after the Islamic State attacks last month. Tightened security measures will be in place for the departure of three flights on Sunday. Authorities hope to increase plane traffic gradually in the coming days. Two explosions killed 16 people at the airport last month, a little over an hour before another blast ripped through Maelbeek Metro station.
10. Arsenal cling on as Leicester prepare for Southampton
Arsenal just about kept themselves in the title race by beating Watford before rivals Spurs floundered at Anfield. The Gunners enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 victory over the Hornets. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino believes the league title is still within reach after his side drew 1-1 with Liverpool. However, the Foxes can go seven points clear, should they beat Southampton today.
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