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Live Reporting

Aiden James, Victoria King, Pippa Simm, Alex Hunt, Gavin Stamp and Tom Moseley

All times stated are UK

  1. Thursday news round-up

    Here's the main political stories of the day:

  2. New hitch for UK nuclear plant deal

    Plans to build the first new UK nuclear plant in 20 years have suffered an unexpected delay after the government delayed a final decision until the early autumn.

    French firm EDF, which is financing most of the £18bn Hinkley Point project in Somerset, approved the funding at a board meeting.

    Contracts were to be signed on Friday.

    But Business Secretary Greg Clark has said the government will "consider carefully" before backing it.

    According to reports, EDF's chief executive Vincent de Rivaz has cancelled a trip to the UK on Friday following Mr Clark's comments.

    Read more...

  3. May: We value Poles' contribution to UK

    Video content

    Video caption: Theresa May: We value Poles' contribution to UK

    UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she "wants and expects" to be able to protect the rights of Polish citizens in the UK - as long as the rights of British expats in other EU countries are guaranteed.

    Speaking alongside Polish PM Beata Szydlo in Warsaw, she said she valued the contribution made by Polish citizens living and working in the UK.

  4. Theresa May and Beata Szydlo

    The UK prime minister says she values the contribution made by Polish citizens to the UK and "fully expects" to be able to protect their rights - as long as British expats' rights are protected in EU states.

    Read more
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  5. Thursday news round-up

    Here's an evening round-up of the day's main stories:

  6. Poland likely to take tough stance on freedom of movement

    BBC News Channel

    Tom Burridge

    Theresa May has left Bratislava and headed to Warsaw as part of what the BBC's Tom Burridge calls her "charm offensive across Europe", following the UK's vote to leave the EU.

    He says Poland is "lukewarm" towards the EU. There is not the level of Euroscepticism found in the UK but there is a view that more powers should return from Brussels to member states.

    However, Tom adds, it's likely that Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło will "take a pretty tough stance... In terms of defending freedom of movement".

  7. IMF 'overly optimistic' about success of EU bailouts

    Andrew Walker

    World Service economics correspondent

    Greek police

    The International Monetary Fund was "overly optimistic" about economic growth in Eurozone countries that received bailouts.

    That is one of the criticisms in a report from the IMF's Independent Evaluation Office (IEO).

    It says the handling of the crisis raises issues of transparency and accountability.

    The IEO acknowledged, however, that the crisis posed "extraordinary challenges" to policy makers.

    Read more

  8. Watch: Colchester MP sings Les Miserables

    BBC Essex

    Video content

    Video caption: Colchester MP performs song from Les Miserables

    Following reports that Conservative MP for Colchester, Will Quince, is crowdfunding an appearance on Britain's Got Talent for charity, here he is singing on BBC Essex back in January.

    Mr Quince sang a rendition of Bring Him Home from Les Miserables after hosting a debate on the future of local theatre.

    Mr Quince, who has performed on stage before, said regional theatre is the "grassroots of our world class theatre scene".

  9. Is Colchester MP Will Quince set to have a Susan Boyle moment?

    Essex Chronicle

    Essex Chronicle

    Will Quince
    Image caption: Will Quince

    The Essex Chronicle reports that one of the county's MPs might be set for a musical side career.

    "Will Quince, MP for Colchester, could have a Susan Boyle moment if a fundraising page up reaches £1,000," the paper says.

    "The MP, who has sung on BBC Essex before, told one Twitter user, Scott Everest, that he would audition for ITV talent contest Britain's Got Talent, if £1,000 was raised for charity.

    "He will now has to put his money where his mouth is, as Mr Everest set up the Crowdfunding page and has already raised £575.

    "Mr Everest said: 'I recently learned about Will Quince's love for singing and in an act of foolishness challenged him to a wager of £250 on Twitter for him to appear on X Factor.

    "'He replied, make it a £1,000 and will go on Britain's Got Talent.'"

    The money will go to local charities, the paper says.

  10. High Court judge: Not for court to re-write Labour election rules

    A paragraph from today's High Court judgement, rejecting a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn's automatic inclusion on the Labour leadership ballot, could be hinting that the party should clarify its rules to avoid such confusion. 

    High Court judgement
  11. Swinney pledges Named Person scheme will go ahead

    The World at One

    BBC Radio 4

    Video content

    Video caption: Scotland's Education Secretary John Swinney says the Named Person scheme will go ahead

    Scotland's Education Secretary John Swinney says the Named Person scheme will go ahead with the Supreme Court's criticisms addressed.

    Judges at the UK's highest court on Thursday ruled against the Scottish government's proposals to appoint a named person, such as a teacher or health visitor, to look after the welfare of every child.

    Mr Swinney told presenter Martha Kearney the judgement recognised a "legitimacy to the policy in principle".

  12. Turkey should be suspended from Nato, say Lib Dems

    The Liberal Democrats have called for Turkey to be suspended from Nato, as a crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues following the failed coup on 15 July. The Lib Dems are also calling for the scrapping of an EU deal which enables refugees to be deported to Turkey.

    The party's foreign affairs spokesperson, Tom Brake, said: “Erdogan’s ongoing purge of newspapers, academics, teachers and judges has nothing to do with Turkey’s security and everything to do with blocking any opposition to his increasingly authoritarian rule.

    "Today’s news that dozens more media outlets have been shut should send shivers down the spine of any person who believes in a free and open society.

    “The preamble to NATO’s founding treaty refers to it being 'founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law', all of which are under threat in Turkey currently.

    Quote Message: If the UK and our Nato allies want to protect these core principles, it is time to make it clear to Erdogan that his actions will have lasting international consequences, and I am calling on Nato to urgently consider suspension of Turkey’s membership."
  13. Watch: Theresa May on Slovakian workers' rights in UK

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    Video caption: Theresa May on Slovakian workers' rights in UK