Overnight news digest - More than 20 ex-footballers report abuse, prisoner suicide hits epidemic levels and May to host summit ahead of Article 50

Catch up with all the latest overnight national news with our morning roundup
Football coach Barry Bennell whose abuse of young men in his care has prompted Crewe Alexandria to launch a review of how the allegations were handledFootball coach Barry Bennell whose abuse of young men in his care has prompted Crewe Alexandria to launch a review of how the allegations were handled
Football coach Barry Bennell whose abuse of young men in his care has prompted Crewe Alexandria to launch a review of how the allegations were handled

MORE THAN 20 EX-PLAYERS REPORT ABUSE AS FOOTBALL SCANDAL SPREADS

As many as seven professional football clubs are now embroiled in the growing child sex abuse scandal, with more than 20 ex-players alleging they were victims, the head of the players' union has said.

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Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor spoke out as the Football Association (FA) stepped up its response to the growing crisis engulfing the sport.

English football's governing body appointed senior lawyer Kate Gallafent QC to assist with its review into historical child sex abuse allegations starting in the 1970s, which have been revealed in recent days.

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THERESA MAY HOSTS SUMMIT WITH POLISH PM TO FORGE ALLIANCES AHEAD OF ARTICLE 50

Theresa May will host a summit meeting with Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo as she attempts to build alliances ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

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Ms Szydlo said she would be a constructive partner in the negotiations but warned there would need to be compromise in the talks between the UK and European Union.

Senior ministers from both countries will take part in discussions on security co-operation and strengthening business and cultural links between the UK and Poland.

HARD BREXIT TRADE DEALS COULD TAKE 25 YEARS, MINISTERS ARE WARNED

Ministers will be challenged to rule out a hard Brexit deal by senior MPs from three different parties as a new report highlighted the UK's links to the single market.

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Aiming to strike new sector-by-sector trade deals with the European Union after Brexit could take almost 25 years and would risk some parts of the British economy losing out, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) report warned.

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will join Tory ex-minister Anna Soubry and Labour MP Chuka Umunna to present the findings of the research as part of their campaign for the UK to stay in the single market.

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TOURISTS IN CUBA FIND ISLAND DOMINATED BY MOURNING FOR FIDEL CASTRO

Tourists who went to Havana for salsa music and mojitos ended up wandering through a city turned silent by nine days of national mourning for Fidel Castro.

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As Cuba prepares a massive commemoration for the leader of its socialist revolution, tens of thousands of high-season travellers have found themselves accidental witnesses to history - and smack in the middle of a sombre city that is far from its usual exuberant self.

Tens of thousands of Cubans were expected to return to the streets on Monday after 9am local time when simultaneous 21-gun salutes will sound in the capital and in the eastern city of Santiago, where Castro launched his revolution in 1953.

DONALD TRUMP CLAIMS MILLIONS VOTED ILLEGALLY AS HE ATTACKS RECOUNT PUSH

Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that "millions" voted illegally in the presidential election and said it was rigged even as he prepares to enter the White House.

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The president-elect scoffed at his rival Hillary Clinton's near two million lead in the popular vote, as he attacked efforts to force recounts in three key battleground states.

The billionaire tycoon and his lieutenants called the recount push the work of "crybabies" and, in Mr Trump's estimation, "sad".

UKIP TO ANNOUNCE NEW LEADER AS PARTY MOVES ON FROM NIGEL FARAGE ERA

Ukip will attempt to move on from the Nigel Farage era and draw a line under the farcical events of recent months when its new leader is announced today.

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Former deputy leader Paul Nuttall is the bookmakers' favourite for the role, with ex-deputy chairman Suzanne Evans and former soldier John Rees-Evans also standing.

The contest was triggered when Diane James gave up the leadership last month, just 18 days after being elected to replace Mr Farage.

GPS WARN 'UNMANAGEABLE' WORKLOADS PUTTING PATIENTS AT RISK

GPs say patient safety is at risk due to "unmanageable" workloads.

A survey of 5,025 family doctors for the British Medical Association (BMA) found 57% felt their workload was unmanageable, with a further 27% saying it was excessive.

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This prevented GPs from delivering high quality and safe care to patients at times, the survey found.

PRISONER DIES BY SUICIDE EVERY THREE DAYS AS TOLL HITS 'EPIDEMIC' LEVELS

A prisoner takes their own life every three days as the number of suicides in jails reaches "epidemic proportions", campaigners have warned.

The Howard League for Penal Reform said it has been notified of 102 people dying by suicide behind bars this year.

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RAIL REFORMS WILL ENSURE PASSENGERS GET CHEAPEST DEALS, GOVERNMENT SAYS

Rail operators are to come under renewed pressure from the Government to ensure passengers are getting the cheapest deals on their journeys.

Station ticket machines face being overhauled to show customers the best value fares, as the Department for Transport prepare to launch a crackdown on confusing pricing regimes.

It is understood reforms are to be outlined aiming to improve transparency on fare costs and will examine how tickets are sold by staff and through self-service machines.