Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 9 Sep 2018

1. 'Civil war' as May's aides create Boris 'sex dossier'

The Conservative Party has been "plunged into a bitter civil war", says The Sunday Times, after it was revealed that Theresa May’s aides have knocked together a dossier with "lurid allegations" about Boris Johnson’s sex life, including "quips from him about cocaine". It was reportedly drawn up by Nick Hargrave, who served as deputy head of May’s policy unit at Downing Street.

2. Mike Pence denies authoring New York Times essay

Vice-president Mike Pence has denied discussing a plan to remove Donald Trump from power. Pence said the anonymous New York Times essay was "just an obvious attempt to distract attention from this booming economy and [the president’s] record of success". He added: "It’s a disgrace. I think the author … and frankly the New York Times should be ashamed."

3. Top trade unions plan new Brexit poll by 2-1

Britain’s three biggest trade unions now support a new referendum on Brexit by a margin of more than two to one, according to a "bombshell poll" in The Observer. The survey also finds that a clear majority of members of the three unions now back remaining in the EU. Union delegates are gathering in Manchester for the annual TUC conference.

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4. Turkey warns Russia not to attack Syria’s Idlib

Turkey has warned that a Russian-led attack on Syria’s Idlib province would turn the densely-packed area of the country into a "lake of blood" and force a massive exodus of refugees. Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, vowed that Ankara would not participate in "furthering the interests of Bashar al-Assad". Vladimir Putin has rejected Erdoğan’s calls for a ceasefire in Idlib.

5. Taxman admits he allows rich to escape prosecution

HM Revenue & Customs has admitted that it allows the most powerful members of society to escape prosecution for financial crimes. Speaking at a conference, a senior government official admitted that the taxman bowed to celebrities’ concerns and settled debts privately to avoid the embarrassment of a public trial. "This policy provides absolutely no deterrent to tax cheats," said Prem Sikka, professor of accounting at Sheffield University.

6. Warning as near misses in UK skies rise by 60%

The number of near-misses in UK skies has risen by 60% in five years. Air proximity reports rose by 58% from 172 in 2013 to 272 last year. Private pilots are to be urged to fit new safety devices in the wake of the news. However, the Civil Aviation Authority said the UK safety record was "one of the best" in the world.

7. Sandi Toksvig 'paid fraction' of Fry's QI fee

The new host of QI Sandi Toksvig has revealed that she is paid 40% of the amount the panel show's former host Stephen Fry used to earn. Toksvig made the revelation at the Women's Equality Party conference. "I temper this with the fact that I love the show and I'm the first woman to host such a show," she said.

8. Minister calls for prisoners to be allowed telephones

Prisoners should be given telephones in their cells, the Justice Secretary has said. David Gauke told the Sunday Telegraph that allowing inmates to make calls within the privacy of their cell would be a "real game changer" in improving behaviour and helping with rehabilitation. The phones would be limited to pre-approved numbers, with prisoners still required to pay for their own calls.

9. North Korea holds parade without missile launchers

North Korea has held a huge military parade as part of its celebrations of the 70th anniversary of its founding. Unlike at previous parades, nuclear missile launchers did not feature in the latest celebration in Pyongyang, the first since negotiations with the USA over denuclearisation began. A third summit between Kim Jong Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in has been confirmed for later this month.

10. UK delays exit of British troops from Germany

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson has delayed the exit of hundreds of British troops from Germany because of aggression from Russian, reports The Sunday Times. Williamson has abandoned plans to withdraw all forces from Germany by 2020, and will retain bases on the central European plain. He also plans to issue a warning to Vladimir Putin at the Conservative Party conference this month.