Welcome to the New Statesman local election liveblog. Press refresh for updates. 12:32: Labour’s Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, has called for a “post-mortem” by Labour’s national executive committee on the areas “we’ve had a problem” in order “to really understand what happened” in yesterday’s local elections. “There was a lot of talk of Labour taking Wandsworth … you would have expected certainly here in London to make some reasonably sizable gains, and we didn’t,” Umunna said on Sky News just now. Asked by Adam Boulton why that was, Umunna said “I’m not totally sure, but in Barnet we know that the issue of anti-Semitism in the Labour party has definitely played a role.” He says that Labour “needs to think about its values … what’s clear is the party cannot just park this issue.” 12:21: More good news for the Liberal Democrats: Liberal Democrat … [Read more...] about ConsumerBusinessSpotlightConsumerBusinessSpotlightConsumerBusinessSpotlightConsumerBusinessSpotlightConsumerBusinessSpotlight Q&A: Would Brexit really move “the Jungle” to Dover? The New Statesman 2018 local elections liveblog
The new radicals
Is Radical Heights the NEW Fortnite? Players flock to rival battle royale game during downtime
FORTNITE had some major downtime on Thursday, which was good news for its latest rival: Radical Heights. This new Fortnite alternative is getting some major attention from gamers globally, but what is it – and is it any good? What is Radical Heights? Just like Fortnite, Radical Heights is a battle royale game. That means it's a multiplayer game where loads of players are dropped into an area, and then forced to fight to the death. Players have to collect loot (like weapons and upgrades), which they'll use to better their chances of surviving until the very end. Radical Heights was created by Boss Key, the studio behind last year's LawBreakers shooter game. The game is set in a 1980s-inspired universe, where clothes are bright, sneakers are large – and everything is radical. Is Radical Heights good? Radical Heights is definitely getting some attention, but it's not all good. The big problem is that even though it's already available to play, the game isn't actually finished. … [Read more...] about Is Radical Heights the NEW Fortnite? Players flock to rival battle royale game during downtime
This is what the new Ford Focus will look like
An all-new Ford Focus is coming in June and it is going to be very different. The long-serving Volkswagen Golf might evolve but the Ford designers tend to favour a more radical departure with each new incarnation as far as the Focus is concerned. However, despite the overhaul the Ford engineers have pledged it will drive as well as ever. So, what’s different The Ford Focus will be bigger on the inside and better connected. It’s lighter and will be more fuel efficient. It is going to be safer - not only for accident protection but helping you avoid one thanks to onboard technology. What are the options Currently Ford has been showing off four ‘versions’ at its unveiling and they’re all different. Titanium (mid spec trim), Vignale (characterised by leather and chrome) Active (added drive height and a bit rugged) and ST Line (sporty). The look The new Focus is characterised by a long bonnet, its sleekness being accentuated by the pillars being further back. … [Read more...] about This is what the new Ford Focus will look like
I have a suggested name for the new centrist party – The Entitlement Party In Democracy (TEPID)
As the excitement about its arrival nears physically dangerous levels of intensity, time for a reader’s competition. What should the new “third party” be called? If you can think up a cool name for an approaching centrist entity poised to redeem British politics from the decline into partisanship, you’re way ahead of the masterminds behind it. Whoever they might be. At this embryonic stage, mystery shrouds almost every aspect of the venture. All we know from a Sunday newspaper exclusive, is that a) a businessman called Simon Franks, who made his fortune renting out DVDs, has raised £50m to launch it; b) the company he set up in this cause is catchily titled Project One Movement for the UK; c) Corbynphobic Labour types and a few Brexit-disgruntled Tories may be involved; and d) the machinations have been going on for a year. For now, all else is as opaque as Franks, who despite his commercial success and massive political significance has somehow evaded a … [Read more...] about I have a suggested name for the new centrist party – The Entitlement Party In Democracy (TEPID)
What is the People Against Sugar Tax group and what have they said about the new tax on fizzy drinks?
PEOPLE Against Sugar Tax campaigns against what it says are government “food nannies”. Here is all you need to know about the group who opposed to radical new measures introduced to fight obesity. What is the People Against Sugar Tax group? The national campaign group is opposed to the sugar tax that has been imposed on Britain from April 6. They say they are on the side of ordinary people in standing up for people's food and soft drink choices. Brook Whelan first it up in August 2015 after deciding the debate about sugar in the media was becoming increasingly unbalanced and irrational. They are a grassroots campaign and not funded by industry. What have they said about the new tax on fizzy drinks? They are opposed to the sugar tax because they believe it's an unfair tax burden on lower-income households. At a time when UK wage growth is effectively zero, they argue it is wrong for the Government to impose another regressive tax. It is also viewed by them as an unwelcome … [Read more...] about What is the People Against Sugar Tax group and what have they said about the new tax on fizzy drinks?