Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, as Theresa May tries to reach agreement on the UK-EU Brexit deal 1.36pm GMT Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has ruled out becoming prime minister. Although seen as someone with long-term ambitions to lead Labour, he told ITV Read more
Royal Bank of Scotland’s chairman says central bankers should hang an ‘abandon hope’ warning over bitcoinSir Howard Davies: Authorities should warn about bitcoin risksDavies: We need that Dante’s Inferno warningUS banks worried about bitcoin futuresBitcoin has surged again……but $64m stolen in ‘sophisticated’ hackSterling below $1.34 as EU crisis rumbles on Read more
Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon David Edgar’s lively adaptation for the RSC foregrounds the tale’s reforming message and features Phil Davis as a grotesquely good ScroogeThe great thing about Dickens’s fable, which has spawned 250 film and stage versions in the last 70 years alone, is that it is infinitely adaptable. Read more
'It's not a serious grown up policy response for a senior government minister', warns Ken Macdonald, a former Director of Public Prosecutions Via: Gavin Williamson labelled 'juvenile' for saying all British Isis fighters should be hunted and killed
More than one third of recipients confess saying 'this is really useful' despite opening gifts they know they will never use Via: Christmas: Most Brits lie to family and friends about whether they like their presents, study finds
'In view of the gravity of your crimes, you can expect a lengthy sentence,' teen is told Via: Charlie John Pearce: 17-year-old rapist who tried to murder victim with paving slab in Leicester park can be named
Seven killed and 51 injured when cars derailed swinging around a sharp bend on 9 November 2016 Via: Croydon tram crash: Driver may have drifted into 'microsleep' before accident, investigation finds
The Transport Secretary has shown the most likely path through the current impasse with Ireland Via: UK and EU do not need the same laws to avoid hard Northern Irish border, says Chris Grayling
A furious father, from New South Wales has written an impassioned letter to his daughter’s school slamming the gender-based activities it offered its Year 6 students. Via: NSW dad slams daughter's school for 'gendered' activities
Without doubt it is the introduction of phonics as the preferred method of teaching young children how to read that has seen reading standards improve, writes STEPHEN GLOVER. Via: Hallelujah! Reading standards are up