Summary

  • Nicola Sturgeon announces consultation on independence referendum

  • Court challenge to government's Brexit plans begins

  • MPs moved to tears during debate on baby loss

  • Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says Brexit doom-mongers are wrong

  • Tesco and Unilever in price battle after post-referendum fall in pound

  1. Johnson discusses Syriapublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    White HelmetsImage source, AP
    Image caption,

    Syrian Civil Defense group, known as the White Helmets, search through the rubble in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, Syria on Wednesday

    Mr Johnson discusses the UK's role in Syria, pointing out the government is committed to providing aid and funding the White Helmets rescue group. 

    He acknowledges there are no simple solutions but says the UK will be at the forefront of humanitarian and diplomatic efforts. 

  2. Johnson: We can be open after Brexitpublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Boris Johnson

    The foreign secretary sees no contradiction between "taking back control of our laws" from the EU and being open to skills and trade from around the world. 

    "We are leaving the EU, not leaving Europe," he insists. 

  3. Johnson says Britain remains open to the worldpublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

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  4. German court rejects EU-Canada trade deal casepublished at 09:28 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Breaking News

    A German court has rejected a legal challenge to a controversial EU-Canada free trade agreement.

    Deutsche Welle reports, external that the CETA trade deal will now be able to progress.

    The free trade deal has met with opposition from opponents who fear it will undermine workers' rights and environmental standards.

    This follows similar controversy surrounding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade deal between the EU and the US.

    French President Francois Hollande cast doubt over the ability of negotiators to finalise TTIP before US President Barack Obama leaves office. 

    More to follow...

  5. Johnson pledges greater engagement with the Gulfpublished at 09:25 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    Conservative chair Crispin Blunt kicks off by asking for an opening statement from the foreign secretary. 

    Boris Johnson begins with an anecdote about a sheikh who asked him: "What happened to you guys?" 

    "That neglect" of our relationship with the Gulf is to be addressed, he continues. 

  6. Boris Johnson is quizzed by MPspublished at 09:22 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    Select Committee
    Parliament

    The Foreign Affairs Committee is taking evidence from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, one of its occasional sessions with the foreign secretary on recent foreign policy developments.

    The last session was held in July with the former foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, and focused on the implications of Brexit. 

  7. Today in the Commonspublished at 09:22 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs gather in the House of Commons at 9:30am to put questions to environment ministers.

    This is followed by questions to the Church Commissioners, and the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.

    After 10:30am, Leader of the House David Lidington will announce forthcoming Commons business before MPs take part in two backbench debates; on baby loss and on an inquiry into hormone pregnancy tests.

    Finally, Labour MP Tulip Siddiq will lead an adjournment debate on the costs of independent living for disabled people.

  8. Home buyers 'back after Brexit jitters'published at 09:17 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Woman reading property advertsImage source, PA

    Demand among home buyers has seen a modest recovery following "post-referendum jitters", according to surveyors.

    Buyer demand rose for the first time in seven months in September, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said.

    It had dived in June and July during the height of the referendum battle and immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote.

    The lack of properties coming onto the market means that prices have risen.

    Read more...

  9. Brexit legal challenger: 'I have a strong case'published at 09:13 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Investment manager Gina Miller discusses her legal case with the Today Programme's Nick Robinson.

    Ms Miller is seeking a judicial review into the government's plans to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without parliamentary approval.

    Ms Miller said: "Parliament and Parliament alone can grant and take away rights;

    "The government cannot use this ancient secretive royal prerogative to do so."

  10. Tesco price row 'is start of negotiation'published at 09:11 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    A former Tesco employee who used to handle their suppliers has said the dispute between Tesco and Unilever is part of the usual process, but Brexit means the scale of the event is bigger.

    Bruno Monteyne, now an analyst at investment research firm Sanford Bernstein, told the Today programme that "Unilever and Tesco are trying to be the two gorillas on behalf of the industry". But prices would rise in stores.

  11. Southern rail strike enters third daypublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Southern rail workers continue their strike action after the collapse of talks aimed at resolving the dispute over conductors.

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  12. Unilever: 'This is just quite normal'published at 08:57 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

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  13. John Mann questions Marmite price risepublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

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  14. Tesco and Unilever shares fallpublished at 08:48 British Summer Time 13 October 2016
    Breaking

    It's not just shoppers who are worried about the price dispute between Tesco and supplier Unilever. 

    Shares in both companies are down by about 2% in early trading in London.

    Other supermarkets have also taken a hit - with Sainsbury's down 1.7% and Morrisons 1.2% lower - reflecting investor nerves about cost pressures from the fall in the pound.

    They're not the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100, though. 

    The UK share index is down nearly 50 points to below 7,000 points in early trading, with miners among the worst hit. 

  15. Unilever's price increasespublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Unilever brandsImage source, Getty Images/Reuters

    What a time to be reporting your results. Unilever released its latest trading figures this morning - showing underlying sales growth of 4.2% - in the middle of a very public dispute with Tesco over passing on higher costs from the fall in sterling.

    And on that topic, analysts said that Unilever's sales growth was in part helped by its ability to defend price increases. 

    Unilever, which makes many well-known brands like PG Tips, Pot Noodles and Surf washing powder, said prices were up 2.8% worldwide in the last nine months.

  16. 'This is quite normal' - Unilever CFOpublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Unilever chief financial officer Graeme PitkethlyImage source, Unilever

    Unilever chief financial officer Graeme Pitkethly is talking to analysts about the firm's strong sales results. We'll let you know if he has any updates on the price dispute with Tesco.

    Mr Pitkethly, who used to run Unilever's UK business so knows the issues well, spoke earlier to Reuters. He told them that price increases are a normal part of doing business, but he declined to comment specifically on the row with Tesco.    

    "This is just devaluation-led cost increase, this is just quite normal," he said.

  17. Unilever and Tesco at loggerheadspublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Unilever's demand for a 10% rise in the wholesale price of many well-known brands has seen the UK's biggest retailer dig in its heels.

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  18. Scottish economy 'growing slowly'published at 08:45 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    A survey of nearly 400 firms suggests the Scottish economy has been growing since the Brexit vote - but only at a slow pace.

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  19. Email leak shows Clinton aides infightingpublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Hacked emails of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman lift the lid on the catty exchanges and office politics of her inner circle.

    Read More
  20. Sturgeon to open SNP conference with 'hard Brexit' pledgepublished at 08:40 British Summer Time 13 October 2016

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, PA

    Nicola Sturgeon is to open the SNP conference by pledging to lead the fight against a "hard Brexit".

    The first minister is to issue a warning that the right wing of the Tory party is seeking to "hijack" the EU referendum result.

    She will also confirm that SNP MPs will oppose Brexit legislation when it comes before the House of Commons in 2017.

    About 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the party's three-day conference, external at the SECC in Glasgow.

    Read more...