Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 3 Feb 2019

1. Queen 'to be evacuated' if there are no-deal riots

The Queen will be evacuated from London if a no-deal Brexit triggers riots, under emergency proposals being drawn up by Whitehall. Along with the Duke of Edinburgh, she would be moved out of London to a secret location. A Cabinet Office source said the “evacuation plans have been in existence since the Cold War”, and have now been “repurposed in the event of civil disorder following a no-deal Brexit”.

2. Nissan set to announce UK cancellation

Nissan is expected to announce that it is cancelling a planned investment at its plant in Sunderland. The news marks a turnaround from 2016, when the car maker said it would build the new model of its X-Trail SUV in the UK after receiving “assurances” from the government over Brexit. With less than eight weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU, some global companies are appearing reluctant to make further investment.

3. Coldest night of the winter in England

England has shivered its way through the coldest night of the winter so far. A low of -11.7C (10.9F) was recorded at Chillingham Barns in Northumberland in the early hours of Sunday morning. Meanwhile, in Scotland a low of -12.6C (9.3F) was noted at Braemar in the Highlands. The coldest recording in Wales was at Swyddffynnon in Dyfed, where -6.5C (20.3F) was reached.

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4. Cabinet secretary and Corbyn call for 2019 election

The Cabinet secretary has ordered civil servants to plan for a June general election to “cement” Theresa May’s position. Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has called for a snap general election so people who have experienced “the brunt of nine years of austerity” can be allowed a new vote. An opinion poll in The Observer puts the Conservatives on 41% to Labour’s 34%.

5. Trump appoints his former doctor as chief medical adviser

Donald Trump has appointed his former doctor to be his assistant and chief medical adviser. The US President’s decision comes after he decided to re-nominate Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson for a second star due to inaction by the previous Congress. The navy doctor withdrew amid allegations of professional misconduct, which the Pentagon continues to investigate. He denies any wrongdoing.

6. Millennials are 'scarred' by the 2008 banking crisis

Pay for workers in their 30s is still 7% below the level before the 2008 banking crash, research has suggested. The Resolution Foundation think tank said the economic crisis had a lasting “scarring” effect on the earnings of millennials. The study also found those who stayed in the same job in 2018 had real wage growth of 0.5%, whereas those who found a different employer saw an average increase of 4.5%.

7. Venezuelan general defects from Maduro's administration

A Venezuelan air force general has defected from President Nicolas Maduro's administration. General Francisco Yanez called on people to join protests against the socialist leader's rule, and claimed 90% of the country's armed forces are against Maduro. However, the BBC reports that thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas in support of Maduro.

8. Theresa May 'determined' to deliver Brexit on time

Theresa May says she is “determined” to deliver Brexit on time. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph ahead of talks on the Irish backstop, the Prime Minister said she would return to negotiations in Brussels with a “fresh mandate, new ideas and a renewed determination”. MPs have backed calls for an “alternative arrangement” for the Northern Ireland border.

9. 'Crisis' is looming for the fostering sector

Foster care is facing a “looming crisis” because of lack of government funding and support, say experts. The Fostering Network has accused the government of neglecting the sector, leaving carers feeling demoralised and overworked, and young people not getting the support they need. The charity accuses politicians of “inertia” as recruitment falters.

10. Rebel Labour MPs 'ready to quit for new centrist movement'

A group of Labour MPs is preparing to quit the party and form a breakaway centrist movement, reports The Observer. Amid growing discontent with Jeremy Corbyn’s stance on Brexit, at least six MPs have been drawing up plans to resign the whip and leave the party soon. There are also discussions about a “far larger group” splitting if Corbyn fails to do everything possible to oppose Brexit.