• Rebels, rebels
81 Conservative MPs defied a three-line whip to vote in favour of a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. Some other big rebellions.
| Number of rebels | Majority | |
|---|---|---|
| 37 (Lab) | National Service Bill 1947 | Government win by 188 |
| 72 (Con) | Shops Bill 1986 (Sunday trading) | Government lose by 14 |
| 41 (Con) | E.C. (amendment) Bill 1993 | Government win by 180 |
| 49 (Lab) | Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2005 (90-day detention amendment) | Government lose by 33 |
• Who rioted in August?
Of those charged:
— 35% of adult offenders were on out-of-work benefits (national figure: 12%)
— 42% of juvenile offenders qualified for free school meals (compared with 16% of school population nationally)
— 13% were gang members
— 76% had a previous conviction
— 46% were black
— 42% were white
— 7% were Asian
Source: Home Office
• Old money
The Intergenerational Foundation suggested retired people move out of large homes to make room for families. How much housing wealth do elderly people have?
| 65–74 | Age | 75+ |
| 85 | % who own home | 69 |
| 11 | % with mortgage | 10 |
| £162,000 | Av. home equity | £196,000 |
| £232,000 | Av. home value | £269,000 |
Source: Aviva
• How many warheads?
The US broke up its last B53 ‘bunkerbuster’ nuclear bomb under an agreement between Presidents Obama and Medvedev. How many nuclear warheads are left in the world?
| Russia | 11,400 |
| US | 8,600 |
| France | up to 300 |
| China | 240 |
| UK | 225 |
| Israel | 75 to 200 |
| India | 100 |
| Pakistan | 70 to 90 |
Source: Arms Control Association
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