Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 28 Aug 2016

1. Former Tory minister calls for new tax to save NHS

A former Tory health minister has made a dramatic call for a new health and care tax amid demands by MPs of all parties for Theresa May to save the NHS from collapse. Dr Dan Poulter, who works both as an MP and as a part-time NHS doctor, said his experience inside hospitals had convinced him that radical, long-term funding solutions for the sector are "urgently required".

2. M20 footbridge collapses on busy travel day

A footbridge collapsed on the M20 motorway in Kent after it was hit by a lorry on one of the busiest travel days of the year. A motorcyclist was hurt but his injuries are not life-threatening. The motorway is closed between junctions 1 and 4 after the bridge fell on to the London-bound carriageway. The motorway is the main route to the Channel Tunnel.

3. Theresa May orders Brexit blueprint from ministers

The prime minister has ordered every Cabinet minister to produce a personal blueprint for Brexit amid concerns that civil servants are trying to postpone Britain’s departure from the EU. Theresa May will demand action plans from each colleague about how their department can make Brexit work at a meeting at Chequers. A source said many civil servants are "institutionally wedded to the status quo".

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4. Trump's doctor admits he exaggerated in letter

Donald Trump's doctor says he spent just five minutes on the letter endorsing the Republican’s health, while Trump's car waited outside. Dr Harold Bornstein said "in the rush I think some of those words didn't come out exactly the way they were meant". The letter said Trump would be the "healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". The doctor now admits he may have overstated the case.

5. Volunteers slam Owen Smith's homelessness pledge

Owen Smith’s pledge to end homelessness within five years has been branded "outlandish" and "insulting" by volunteers who serve meals on the streets. The Labour leadership candidate made the promise as part of his campaign to oust Jeremy Corbyn. Emdad Rahman who runs the One Third pop up soup kitchen in Stratford, said: "To think that we can eradicate something like this is just insulting.”

6. Property better than pension, says Bank of England man

Property is a better bet for retirement than a pension, says the Bank of England’s chief economist, even though his pension will pay him nearly £84,000 a year when he retires. Andy Haldane tells The Sunday Times he does not consider himself wealthy, despite a basic salary of more than £180,000, owning two homes and are gold-plated pension that will increase in value if he continues at the Bank.

7. Curb skyscraper construction, say Londoners

Londoners want limits placed on the number of new high-rise buildings in the capital, amid concerns that a tidal wave of skyscrapers is transforming the skyline. In an Ipsos Mori poll, six out of 10 support a limit on the height of new skyscrapers, with the same proportion backing restrictions on the number of buildings with more than 50 floors.

8. Heavy snoring linked to traffic in new study

Scientists have discovered a link between snoring and traffic. Heavy snoring at night and intense sleepiness during the day are strongly linked to traffic pollution, according to a study of 12,000 people. Researchers found 25% of men snored heavily at least three nights a week, with those exposed to traffic pollution being at the highest risk. A similar proportion of women suffered from daytime sleepiness.

9. Mo Farah's brother fears he will be killed in Somalia

Mo Farah’s brother Ahmed is facing deportation to Somalia, where he fears he will be killed. Ahmed, now 27, was just two when he came to Britain with his eight-year-old brother. He said: "I can't go back to where Mo and I were born – it is too dangerous. I am afraid for my life. I have no roots in Somalia. People would kill me, because I'm different."

10. Strip Branson of his knighthood, says McDonnell

Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell has called for Sir Richard Branson to be stripped of his knighthood. McDonnell claimed the billionaire wanted to "undermine our democracy" after Virgin trains released footage challenging Jeremy Corbyn's claims about overcrowding on one of its services. Calling for an overhaul of the honours system, McDonnell said former BHS boss Sir Philip Green should also lose his knighthood.