Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 19 Feb 2019

1. More MPs expected to join Labour breakaway group

Political pundits are predicting that more MPs – possibly including centrist Conservatives – will join the seven who left the Labour Party en bloc yesterday. The splinter group was smaller than pundits had expected, but Labour deputy Tom Watson last night warned Jeremy Corbyn that more will follow unless the party leader seeks the centre ground.

2. Honda to close Swindon plant in 2022

Honda has confirmed that its Swindon car plant is to close in 2022, with the loss of 3,500 jobs. The Unite union said the closure would be a “shattering body blow” to UK manufacturing and blamed the “chaotic Brexit uncertainty created by the rigid approach” of Theresa May.

3. States sue Trump over emergency declaration

A coalition of 16 US states is suing President Donald Trump’s administration over his decision to declare a national emergency in an attempt to circumvent Congress after being refused $5.7bn (£4.4bn) funding for his US-Mexico border wall. The coalition, led by California, accused Trump of “unilaterally robbing taxpayer funds” for political “theatre”.

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4. Penny tax on new clothes proposed

A cross-party group of MPs is calling for clothing brands and retailers to pay a 1p tax on every new garment they sell, with the income used to fund a £35m recycling scheme. The Environmental Audit Committee says so-called fast fashion is a major contributor to the greenhouse gasses driving climate change and to the pollution of water.

5. LBC host punched by ‘racist coward’

A radio presenter in London was attacked last night by a man who abused him racially and then punched him. Maajid Nawaz, an anti-extremism campaigner, said he was standing outside the Soho Theatre alone when the unknown assailant approached him. The man took nothing and “ran away like a coward”, Nawaz added.

6. Australia: British and French tourists missing

Police and emergency services in Australia are continuing to search for two missing tourists after their rental car and personal items were found at a beach in New South Wales on Monday morning. Englishman Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux from France are believed to have gone swimming or surfing at Shelly Beach, near Port Macquarie, on Sunday. Police told local press that conditions in the sea had been “terrible”.

7. Trump ‘to start trade war with Germany’

Donald Trump is set to start a trade war with Germany, The Times warns. The newspaper says the US president is expected to raise import taxes on European cars from 2.5% to 25% within the next three months and warns that “a tit-for-tat trade conflict could tip Germany into recession”. The report comes days after Trump declared: “I like punitive tariffs.”

8. HSBC growth reduced as China slows

HSBC has announced that its profits grew more slowly than forecast last year, following a slowdown in the Chinese economy. The bank, which is Europe’s largest, made pre-tax profits of $19.9bn (£15.4bn) in 2018 - a 16% increase but below the $21.3bn (£16.5bn) predicted by banking analysts.

9. Half of radio songs ‘must be in Italian’

Far-right Italian political party the League has tabled a motion to force broadcasters to ensure at least half of all the songs they play are produced in Italy, or feature Italian talent. League leader Matteo Salvini - deputy PM in the coalition government - expressed anger last week when a TV talent show was won by an Italian with an Egyptian father, Alessandro Mahmoud.

10. Briefing: can the Brexit Party succeed?

Nigel Farage has claimed that 100,000 people have already “signed up” to his newly created Brexit Party.

The party was officially registered with the Electoral Commission just over a week ago and claims to have the support of two Tory MPs.

Does the Brexit Party have a future?