Parties of the left, including Sinn Féin, will be the largest single group in the next European Parliament, taking power from centre right parties that include Fine Gael, according to the latest poll.

The intense rivalry between Facebook and Google went public as characters behind the Silicon Valley drama evoked chatter of smear campaigns, secrecy and even Richard Nixon.

Former Greenpeace chief Lord Melchett who once led the group’s campaign against genetically modified crops is to work for a public relations firm which numbers GM company Monsanto among its clients.