Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 1 Apr 2018

1. London's murder rate has leapfrogged New York's

The murder rate in London overtook New York for the first time in modern history last month as stabbings surged. During February, 15 people were murdered in the capital, compared to 14 in New York. The cities have almost exactly the same population. The Metropolitan police commissioner Cressida Dick has recently blamed social media for escalating disputes into violence.

2. Industry is planning jobs cull to offset Brexit costs

There is bad news for industrial workers this morning as a survey in The Observer finds that a fifth of manufacturing firms are planning to lay off staff to deal with the costs of Brexit. Unions have warned companies not to use Brexit as "an excuse to lay people off". A group of cross-party MPs and peers are hoping to convince the government to reconsider its plan to leave the customs union.

3. Electoral watchdog board members 'impartial on Brexit'

Almost half of the electoral watchdog’s board have made public statements criticising the pro-Brexit campaign or backing calls for the referendum result to be overturned, claims the Sunday Telegraph. Brexiteers have long accused the organisation of bias. Its code of conduct insists that commissioners must “act at all times” to “uphold its impartiality”.

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4. Labour says abusive Facebook posts not connected to party

Labour has distanced itself from a series of pro-Jeremy Corbyn Facebook groups that feature anti-semitic, racist and abusive comments. The Sunday Times claims to have uncovered more than 2,000 messages, including posts praising Adolf Hitler and threatening to kill Theresa May. However, a Labour spokesman said the groups are not connected to the party in any way and that no-one in Jeremy Corbyn’s office has seen, posted or endorsed abusive messages.

5. Special needs children hit by government funding cuts

A teachers’ leader has warned that a shortage of funding means growing numbers of children with special needs are being left without suitable school places. Kevin Courtney, the leader of National Education Union, said official statistics showed 4,050 special needs pupils were without a place in 2017 in England, after local councils were "starved" of funds for them. "Local authorities are being placed in an impossible position," he added.

6. Redmayne delivers address at Stephen Hawking funeral

Well-wishers lined the streets of Cambridge yesterday for the funeral of physicist Stephen Hawking. His coffin, carried by pallbearers from the University of Cambridge, was topped with white 'Universe' lilies and white 'Polar Star' roses. Eddie Redmayne, who played Hawking in 2014 biopic movie the Theory of Everything, delivered an address at the service.

7. Israel threatens more attacks as Netanyahu praises soldiers

Israel has threatened to attack "terror organisations" inside Gaza after its security forces killed 16 Palestinians during demonstrations at the border. Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets for the funerals of those killed, with some shouting "revenge" and firing bullets into the air. The Palestinian ambassador to the UN described the killings as "heinous massacre", but Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu praised the troops, writing "well done to our soldiers".

8. Michael Barnier 'delaying deal for political theatre'

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator is trying to delay the final Brexit deal so that he can be in the "limelight" when candidates are picked for the next president of the European Commission, claims the leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists group. Syed Kamall, a Conservative MEP, said Michel Barnier had "no interest in finishing negotiations early" because he wanted to be part of "political theatre".

9. Gove used data firm in 'secret' early bid for leadership

Michael Gove used Vote Leave data firm in a "secret bid" to become Prime Minister while publicly backing Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership, claims the Mail on Sunday this morning. According to a whistleblower, Gove had started work on his leadership campaign in June 2016 before he decided to "knife" Johnson and bid for the leadership himself.

10. Anthony Joshua wins 'intriguing' WBO fight

Anthony Joshua added the WBO belt to his collection of titles with a win over Joseph Parker. Joshua was unanimously declared the winner after being forced to go the distance for the first time. The BBC said the Brit "used his left hand to telling effect throughout an intriguing affair". Joshua said: "My strategy was to stick behind the jab."