Labour has chosen refuse driver and former postman Jim Clarke as its candidate in the forthcoming Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election.

GMB member Mr Clarke was born in the Lincolnshire seat, which is one of the most strongly pro-Brexit of any in Britain.

The by-election was sparked by the resignation of Tory incumbent Stephen Phillips over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government.

Following his selection, Mr Clarke said:

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has died aged 82. In a career that spanned nearly 50 years, Cohen's music affected and touched many people across the world.

Former Chancellor Alistair Darling is one such person. When the banks crashed in 2008, it was a Leonard Cohen concert that provided him with his escape. He told the Today programme what it meant to him at the time.

The House of Commons Library has published a research briefing on possible outcomes of the Article 50 negotiations for Brexit. 

It focuses on the uncertainty surrounding many aspects of Brexit, including Article 50 itself, saying: "Article 50 has never been used before. Its meaning and how it will be used are not entirely clear."

Read more: House of Commons Library, external

Boris Johnson, who claimed earlier this year that Donald Trump was "clearly out of his mind", has told Europeans to stop their "collective whinge-o-rama" about the tycoon's victory in the US presidential election. 

The foreign secretary, who has also said Mr Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the US showed his "stupefying ignorance", said it is time to "snap out" of the "doom and gloom" surrounding his election.

Mr Johnson yesterday spoke to vice president-elect Mike Pence and told reporters in Serbia that "people should focus on the opportunities... and not the problems". 

Mr Johnson may have more to say on the subject later as he is due to meet Czech officials in Prague. 

It is that time of the year again when some of the UK's finest young minds gather in Parliament to discuss issues that matter to them, including health, transport, skils and the voting age. The annual session of the Youth Parliament - to be chaired as always by Speaker John Bercow - gets under way at 11.00 GMT. 

Image source, Reuters

More on that phone call between US vice president-elect Mike Pence and Boris Johnson on Thursday night....

Sources close to the UK foreign secretary said the two men had spoken at about 2100 GMT for ten minutes about building a strong UK/US relationship.

The BBC understands it was Mr Pence's first call to an overseas politician.

On Thursday Mr Johnson said critics of Mr Trump's victory should end the "collective whinge-o-rama" and be positive about the possibilities.

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Image source, Conservative Party

The Conservatives have chosen a consultant paediatrician to stand as their candidate in the Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election.

Dr Caroline Johnson, who first qualified as a doctor in 2001, previously stood in Scunthorpe for the Conservatives at the 2010 general election increasing the number of votes for the party by more than 4,000. 

The 38-year-old lives in Sudbrook and is married to Nik, a farmer, and they are the parents of two girls and one boy. 

Commenting on her selection, she said:

Financial Times

Image source, Reuters

The London Chamber of Commerce has said the capital's economy "would collapse" without migrant workers, and has called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to consider implementing a London-only work permit. 

The Financial Times reports that the system would be based on giving foreign workers "London-specific national insurance numbers that would prevent them from working elsewhere". 

Regional work permits are already a feature in parts of Canada and Australia. Mr Khan said he would consider the proposals.

Read more: London-only work visa plan laid out for Brexit Britain, external

Image source, PA

The BBC understands Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spoke to vice president-elect Mike Pence by phone last night, at about 2100 GMT, for 10 minutes. 

It is believed this was Mr Pence's first call to an overseas politician.

Both stressed the importance of building a strong UK-US relationship, and the strength and history of the alliance.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

The Lib Dem leader says there must be a second referendum on any Brexit deal.

Tim Farron told the Today programme the Brexit process must not end up in a "stitch-up" with "a deal being imposed on the British people that absolutely nobody voted for". 

Brexit Minister David Jones has accused those seeking to vote against Article 50 of trying to reverse the referendum decision taken on 23 June.

He said:

Image source, Reuters

On Thursday, US President-elect Donald Trump invited Theresa May to visit Washington in a phone call in which both stressed the importance of UK/US relations.

Downing St said Mr Trump had spoken of his close connections with the UK while Mrs May congratulated him on his win.

Mr Trump, whose mother was Scottish, said the UK was a "very, very special place for me and for our country".

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has urged Mr Trump's critics to stop the "whinge-o-rama" and be "positive about the possibilities".

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Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent

Image source, AFP

Liberal Democrat, Labour and SDLP MPs have told the BBC they are prepared to vote against triggering Article 50.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said his party would oppose it, unless they were promised a second referendum on the UK's Brexit deal with EU leaders.

Several Labour MPs are also willing to vote against it, despite the Labour Party pledging not to do so.

The government says it will stick to its timetable and begin the process of leaving the EU by the end of March.

With the support of Conservative MPs and the support or abstention of most Labour MPs, the bill is well placed to pass through the Commons.

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