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As it happenedended

As it happened: Donald Trump to visit Britain 'later this year'

All the latest updates from Davos, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Thursday 25 January 2018 10:00 GMT
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Theresa May 'appalled' over Presidents Club revelations

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Donald Trump's visit to the UK is back on the table for "later this year" after a meeting at Davos where he told Theresa May, "We love your country".

The US President sought to dispel a "false rumour" about strains on the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States in his first meeting with Ms May since the pair clashed over Mr Trump's decision to share anti-Muslim tweets from far-right group Britain First.

The Prime Minister used her keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to urge investors to pull funds from tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter if they fail to take down extremist content.

Also at Davos, Philip Hammond risked starting a row with Eurosceptic Conservatives by suggesting he hoped that change to Britain's trade relations with the EU after Brexit would be "very modest".

The Chancellor also admitted that MPs would not know "the full details" of Britain's future trade deal with the EU when they vote on Brexit later this year.

His comments came ahead of a speech by Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg - the new chairman of the European Research Group of backbench Tories - who was due to urge ministers not to be "timid and cowering" in their approach to EU withdrawal.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was due to host a Westminster rally demanding an emergency budget to help the NHS cope with the ongoing winter crisis.

See below for updates, as they happened.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott has branded the latest crime figures "truly shocking", after ONS data revealed recorded crime is up 14%, with knife crime up by 21% and gun crime by 20%.

She said: "These figures are truly shocking and should put an end to Government complacency on crime.

"The Tories are failing in a basic duty to protect the public. They have now cut over 21,000 police officers since 2010, leaving forces across the country under-staffed and over-stretched.  

"Police numbers are now at their lowest in 30 years. You can't fight crime on the cheap."

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 10:24

The number of people sleeping rough in England has hit a record-high – after a 73 per cent increase over the last three years.

Official government data shows that on any given night in autumn last year, 4,751 people were recorded sleeping on the streets, a figure that has more than doubled since 2010.

Campaigners have described the rise as a “catastrophe” following continual rises since 2010, urging that evidence shows how the problem can be fixed and calling on the Government to take" swift action" to tackle the problem.

Story here:

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 10:33

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has reportedly told a private breakfast in Davos that the Brexit vote has cost the UK more than £200 million a week in lost growth.

According to the Times, Mr Carney said that the country had lost some £10bn a year in GDP since the referendum in 2016.

Labour MP Wes Streeting, a supporter of the Open Britain campaign, said Brexit was already costing the country hundreds of millions of pounds a week.

He said:"The lies of Brexit charlatans like Boris Johnson are being exposed by the day. As the costs of Brexit mount up, everyone has the right to keep an open mind about whether it's the right path for the country."

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 10:38

Philip Hammond has said MPs will not know the full details of the final Brexit deal when they are asked to approve it.

Speaking to Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum, the Chancellor said: '"Probably not the full details but we would expect the high level shape of the future relationship to be emerging by that time."

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 10:50

Phillip Hammond was accused of having “let the cat out of the bag” by saying MPs won't know the details of the Brexit vote until they vote, which contradict David Davis’ insistence that the negotiations will conclude before departure day.

“He wants MPs to vote with their eyes closed on the final deal - and to ignore the serious damage Brexit will do,” said Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party. 

Story here:

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 11:06

Theresa May has said she was "frankly appalled" when she head about the claims of sexual harassment at the Presidents Club dinner.

Speaking to Bloomberg at Davos, she said: "I thought that that sort of attitude of the objectification of women was something that was in the past, that we had managed to overcome.

"Sadly what that event showed is there is still a lot more work us to do."

She said "women are not objects to be used by men" and should be treated as equals in business, politics and wider life.

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 11:15

Britain should be offered a bespoke trade deal with the EU after Brexit rather than an ‘off-the-shelf’ agreement copying that of another country, Ireland’s prime minister Leo Varadkar has suggested.​

More here:

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 11:24

Piers Morgan will interview Donald Trump in his first international interview since becoming president of the United States.

The Good Morning Britain presenter will speak to Mr Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today.

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 11:28

The department charged with securing trade after Brexit is not fit for the role and has been forced to delay projects as it struggles with a skills shortage, a damning report warns today.

Liam Fox’s running of the Department for International Trade (DIT) is criticised for failing to even properly set out the “capabilities and level of capacity” it will need to deliver for British business. ​

Story here:

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 11:40

Michael Gove has given his support to Tory colleague Nadhim Zahawi, who has come under fire for attending the an all-male charity fundraiser where hostesses were allegedly sexually harassed.

The PM has said she was "frankly appalled" at findings by FT undercover reporters, who attended the Presidents Club dinner where women were allegedly groped and sexually harassed by some guests. 

A spokesman for the Prime Minister told a Westminster briefing: "Any woman who feels she was sexually harassed in the workplace should report it to the police."

Lizzy Buchan25 January 2018 11:53

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