PM Faces Tory Rebellion Over Gay Marriage

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Reporter

David Cameron could be facing the biggest Conservative rebellion of his premiership over plans to introduce gay marriage.

Some 118 Tory MPs - more than a third of the party's representatives- have indicated to their constituents that they are uneasy about the highly controversial move, according to The Daily Mail.

The reported figure is a sign of how divided the Conservative Party is over gay marriage, despite both the Prime Minister and Chancellor George Osborne being personally committed to legislating for it.

Ministers have promised to introduce a Bill before 2015, although it has been claimed this week that Mr Cameron actually wants to fast-track legislation and bring it before Parliament early next year.

The Government has indicated that there will be a free vote, meaning that MPs will be able to vote against the Prime Minister's position without facing disciplinary action.

However it is far from clear if all 118 MPs would vote against the legislation.

Sky News have spoken to several MPs quoted in the article who have ruled out voting against the Government.

Openly gay MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, said he hasn't decided whether to abstain or vote in favour but says he doesn't understand why it's being brought forward now.

Other MPs have expressed concerns over whether enough safeguards are in place to protect religious institutions but refuse to indicate whether they oppose the principle of gay marriage.

The Chancellor however believes a large Tory vote against gay marriage will not help the party appeal to centre ground voters.

Mr Osborne warned last week that ditching the policy would be toxic electorally.

He said that polls indicate a "clear majority" in favour of the change, particularly among the young and women.

A significant vote in opposition to the Government's proposals from within Conservative ranks would certainly be an embarrassment for the Prime Minister and a further blow to his credibility.

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Tax Backlash Prospect For Independent Shops

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business & Economics correspondent

Independent businesses could benefit from public uproar over low rates of corporation tax paid by global giants Starbucks, Amazon and Google, according to retail experts.

The backlash has been prompted by the revelation that Starbucks has paid just £8.6m UK corporation tax in the past 13 years, on sales of £3.1bn, when most businesses will pay a corporation tax rate of 24% this year.

In 2011, Google paid £6m tax against sales of £395m, while Amazon paid no tax at all in the UK - despite sales here reaching £3.3bn.

Matthew Stych, research director at analysts Planet Retail, believes British retailers can make the most of the furore by highlighting their own contributions and good practices.

"It's a golden opportunity that comes along once in a decade or so, to really capitalise on the negative publicity that some global retailers are receiving at the moment," he says.

"I think it's a huge opportunity that independent retailers in the community must seize now".

Google and Amazon are also accused of paying low taxes on big profits

Independent booksellers in Hertfordshire are doing just that. With support from the Booksellers Association they have launched an advertisement campaign to publicise the fact they pay their taxes.

"People need to think about where they are spending their money and we are hoping that this campaign will bring that to their attention," said Sheryl Shurville, co-owner of Chorleywood Bookshop.

But other analysts are not convinced such consumer campaigns will have any long-term benefit.

"We're unlikely to see any massive dip in the sales of these companies under scrutiny," says Douglas McNeill, chief analyst at Charles Stanley.

"Whilst ethical issues can temporarily make people pause for thought, consumers make their choices on the basis of eternal basics of price, quality and convenience."

Mr Stych says large brands may yet find a way to turn around the negative publicity.

"As far as Amazon and Starbucks are concerned, I think there's an opportunity to strike a more conciliatory note," according to Mr Stych. 

"This is for them also an ideal opportunity to regain or re-forge that bond with local consumers".

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Chief Whip Requests Meeting With Nadine Dorries

Nadine Dorries has been asked to attend a meeting with the Chief Whip following her appearance on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

The MP for Mid Bedfordshire was suspended from the Conservative Party earlier this month after agreeing to take part in the ITV show over concerns she would not be able to carry out her constituency duties while in Australia.

Sir George Young, whose job it is as Chief Whip to administer party discipline, has put in a request for her to attend a meeting now that she had been evicted from the jungle.

The Prime Minister supported the decision to suspend her and said then: "When she gets back from the jungle, she can explain what she's been up to and why."

Ms Dorries, who is understood to have received a £40,000 payment for her appearance, has been a source of annoyance to the Tory leadership for some months.

She publicly upbraided David Cameron and the Chancellor, George Osborne, for being "arrogant, out of touch posh boys" who didn't know the price of bread.

The controversial MP, who has been nicknamed "Mad Nad", was the first contestant to be voted off the show but was in the jungle for 12 days.

If her suspension were to continue until nearer the next general election, due in 2015, she would be unable to defend her leafy suburban seat, where she had a healthy majority of 15,152 at the last election.

More follows...

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Britain Braced For More Heavy Flooding

Britain is bracing itself for more flooding and travel disruption over the weekend as forecasters predict further heavy downpours.

A deep area of low pressure is set to move in over the weekend, bringing more heavy rain to areas already badly hit by Thursday's downpours.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "England and Wales could see 15 to 25mm quite widely, with up to 50mm possible in some spots."

The Environment Agency has issued more than 50 flood warnings and over 150 less serious flood alerts.

South and west Wales and the West Country will be worst affected. Strong winds and possible severe gales are expected on Saturday night and Sunday morning,

"There's still some uncertainty about where the strongest winds will be, but it looks like southern counties of England will bear the brunt, with exposed parts seeing gusts up to 70mph," said Robinson.

The risk of flooding is increased as many areas are alreadt saturated by the persistent rainfall earlier in the week.

Driving conditions have been treacherous

The AA's head of special operations, Darron Burness, said: "With more heavy rain forecast across the Midlands, Wales and the South West, road conditions in the affected areas are likely to only get worse as the ground is so saturated.

"Even if you think you know your local roads, don't be complacent, as flash-flooding continues to be a real risk and is catching people out."

Meanwhile, Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday.

The majority of the UK was battered by storms on Thursday leaving hundreds of drivers stranded and thousands of homes without power. More than 100 people had to be evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

An elderly man died after becoming trapped in his 4x4 in floods in Chew Stoke in Somerset.

Three other people had a lucky escape after their car was swept down a swollen river in Warwickshire. The vehicle was carried more than 500 metres before a farmer managed to pull it to the water's edge.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Two elderly females and one male were treated for shock and hypothermia by ambulance crews."

In Torquay, Devon, several homes were evacuated after a landslide. Part of a cliff face was hit by a landslip after netting was washed away.

A monkey at a sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall had to be resuscitated after falling ill due to the bad weather. The illness to one-year-old Pepper was the latest setback for Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary affter it suffered serious flood damage on Thursday.

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Butlins Balcony Plunge Kills Man

A 23-year-old man has died after falling from a hotel balcony at the Butlins holiday resort in Bognor Regis.

Police and ambulance crews arrived at the West Sussex complex in the early hours of Saturday morning after receiving reports of the fall.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The man has been identified as Timothy Hall, of Ringwood, Hampshire.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The death is being treated as unexplained but it is not being considered as suspicious."

A post-mortem will now take place.

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Steel Giant Tata Cuts 900 Jobs Across UK

Indian-owned Tata Steel has confirmed that it will close 12 plants in Britain.

The move will result in 900 job losses, the company confirmed, including 580 in South Wales, 155 in Yorkshire, 120 in the West Midlands and 30 on Teesside.

Sites to close include Tafarnaubach and Cross Keys in South Wales, and it will also reduce shifts at Rotherham and Hartlepool in response to lower demand for products.

The chief executive of the company's European operations, Karl Kohler, said the move was part of a strategy to become an "all-weather steel producer", able to withstand the difficult economic conditions.

Demand for steel in Europe had fallen by 25% since 2007 and was forecast to slump by another 10% this year, Tata said.

Mr Kohler added: "The job losses are regrettable and I know this will be a difficult and unsettling time for the employees and their families affected.

"We will be working with our trade unions and government at a national and local level to ensure we provide them with as much assistance and support as possible."

The company employs 19,000 in the UK and said it remained committed to investing in the business to help create long-term stability.

It confirmed plans to re-start one of two blast furnaces at Port Talbot in the first quarter of next year as part of a £250m investment programme.

Michael Leahy, general secretary of the Community trade union, said it was "sad news" for those affected by the job losses.

"We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the company to ensure our principle of no compulsory redundancies is upheld, although we are pleased to see the company has already committed to offering a package of training and support for those affected by these changes," he said.

"Sadly, these potential job losses are symptomatic of the continuing failure of the Government's economic policy and yet another reason why we are calling on the British Government to take urgent action to stimulate economic growth ana help revive the manufacturing sector."

A Welsh Government spokesman added: "This is very disappointing news, and a massive blow to those who will be losing their jobs.

"Tata's decision reflects the serious and ongoing challenges faced by manufacturing industries during these very difficult economic times.

"In addition to these challenges, it is clear that high energy costs and uncertainty over UK Government energy policy are having a significant impact on business investment decisions.

"As a Government, we have warned for some time of the need for these costs to be reduced."

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'Black Friday' Discount Day Reaches UK

Some of the UK's biggest retailers are cashing in on a US tradition which sees millions of frenzied shoppers make the most of discounted prices.

Amazon, Asda and Apple are among the companies that have launched so-called Black Friday sales in Britain - despite many consumers being unaware of the custom.

In the US, thousands of stores discount their prices the day after Thanksgiving, and many open for longer hours.

Last year a record number of people visited stores over the Black Friday weekend, spending a total of $52bn (£32.6bn) - an average of around $400 (£250) each, according to the National Retail Federation.

And this year, some eager shoppers have been caught on camera phones battling to get to the best bargains first, after queuing for hours. 

Many retailers opened their stores at midnight, and this year the trend to open at 8pm on Thursday started to spread.

Some US stores were frantic

While the shift was denounced by some store employees and traditionalists as pulling people away from families on Thanksgiving, many shoppers welcomed the chance to shop before midnight.

"I think it's better earlier. People are crazier later at midnight," hotel worker Renee Ruhl, 52, said as she shopped at a Target store in Orlando, Florida.

Online retailer Amazon was one of the first companies to bring the trend to the UK.

It launched a week-long Black Friday sale on Monday, which it claims "offers millions of pounds of savings on hundreds of Christmas gifts".

Tech giant Apple and Asda, owned by Walmart, are also hoping to make the most of the Christmas shopping rush by offering one-day discounts of their own.

Hotel Chocolat emailed customers to say that as it offered US customers 20% off it would do the same for UK buyers.

"There are more retailers launching sales this year than ever before - and many British consumers are becoming aware of the tradition for the first time," Retail Week's Gemma Goldfingle told Sky News.

"In the US it an absolute phenomenon, with people queuing up all night to snap up the best deals.

Amazon launched its sale on Monday

In Orlando at least one family camped outside a Best Buy shop for a full week, sleeping in two tents.

"It has not reached that level here and whether it ever will is another matter," Ms Goldfingle said.

She said that Americans have Thanksgiving to kick-start the event – whereas in the UK it is just a normal day. Boxing Day, when UK sales traditionally begin, is a normal work day for Americans.

"A lot of British retailers would prefer not to have it," Ms Goldfingle said.

"They want to be selling items at full price ahead of Christmas, especially given the tough economic conditions."

While a limited number of UK chains have labelled their sales as Black Friday, many other have needed to show weekend price drops to lure customers.

Furniture chain dfs has taken to advertising in newspapers about its discounts while Topshop offered online weekend deals.

Black Friday, which is thought to refer to the first day of the year that retailers go "into the black", comes just ahead of Cyber Monday - which the marketing industry claims is the busiest day in the online shopping calendar.

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Pensioner Mugged: Teens In Court Over Death

Two teenage boys charged with murdering a partially-sighted pensioner who died following a mugging have been remanded in custody.

The teenagers, aged 14 and 15, from Southall, were arrested on Wednesday and appeared at Uxbridge Youth Court on Friday morning.

The pair, who are too young to be named, have been accused of murdering 85-year-old Paula Castle in Greenford, west London.

They have also been charged with two counts of robbery related to a separate incident.

Mrs Castle, who was registered blind and lived alone, fell to the ground after she was allegedly robbed in an alleyway off Oldfield Lane South at 1.50pm on Monday. She died in hospital the following day.

A post-mortem found she died of head injuries.

A card attached to a bunch of flowers at the alley's entrance read: "RIP. What a senseless waste of a good life xxx."

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Starbucks Website Swamped By Tax Critics

By Pete Norman, Sky News Online

Starbucks' attempt to explain its controversial corporate tax arrangements has been met with hundreds of complaints on its UK website.

The Seattle-based company received more than 350 comments on blog postings written by three of its top officials, with many promising to boycott its stores.

Blog poster MrGlynWilliams called its tax position "sheer scumbaggery", while illi41 said: "Just pay your taxes and you will be loved. Pay no taxes, receive no love, simple."

People also took issue with chief executive Howard Schultz's claim that over the last three years it had "paid more than £160m in various taxes, including National Insurance (NI) contributions, VAT and business rates".

Top US multinationals have been slammed over their tax arrangments

Angry bloggers left messages saying that neither NI nor VAT were taxes, with VAT only being collected from customers on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs.

The comments are easily viewable from the firm's UK homepage and could only be posted by people with active Starbucks accounts.

Registered user stuyvpc replied to Mr Schultz and said: "I appreciate that you allow me to comment on your statement.

"For the last 3 years a group of IT homeworkers have met twice weekly in Starbucks for a coffee and catch up.

"However as a group we have decided to move to Costa in future who at least pay some corporation tax on their profits in the same way we IT contractors do."

Some of the comments left on the website for the chief financial officer

Rival chain Costa, owned by Whitbread, told Sky News that it would not comment on sales information outside of its normal trading announcements.

However Whitbread CEO Andy Harrison previously said: "Every consumer has the right to choose Costa over Starbucks and that is what I would recommend."

The issue of foreign multinationals paying what is seen by critics as a disproportionate level of corporation tax has become an increasingly important issue for politicians, with Business Secretary Vince Cable saying the Chancellor is expected to address the issue in his Autumn Statement on December 5.

On Thursday night Sainsbury's boss Justin King told Sky's Jeff Randall: "I think as consumers we can make this change much quicker than the Government.

Starbucks CFO Troy Alstead told politicians his UK company has struggled

"Customers have to be demanding of where they spend their money - the vote you make with your wallet is the most powerful vote you have at your disposal."

If you send a clear message as a consumer to any company you think doesn't pay its dues, you can bet your bottom dollar they will make a change very quickly."

The angry backlash has been prompted by the revelation that Starbucks paid £8.6m UK corporation tax in the past 13 years, on sales of £3.1bn.

Chief financial officer Troy Alstead has been grilled by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee, alongside bosses from Amazon and Google, but said his firm had only once made a UK profit in 15 years.

"I assure you we are not making money," he told the committee.

"It's very unfortunate. We're not at all pleased about our financial performance here. It's fundamentally true everything we are saying and everything we have said historically."

Starbucks UK employs around 8,500 people and wants to open 300 more stores

His comments came despite operating more than 700 UK stores and employing nearly 8,500 people, along with plans to employ another 6,000 staff and open 300 outlets.

Grassroots activists from UK Uncut have announced a day of action for December 8, with plans to turn Starbucks stores into women's refuges and children's creches - claiming tax the company avoids would offset slashed Government budgets for these social services.

Although most comments left on Starbucks' website are negative, some supporters defended the firm and highlighted laws which allowed legal tax minimisation.

Poster flat-white said: "There are far too many reactionary comments on here that are failing to see the bigger picture. You have a problem with lax UK/Tax laws? Complain to your MP, not your barista.

"By boycotting Starbucks you are simply putting 8,500 jobs at risk."

A Starbucks spokesperson told Sky News it may address the VAT and NI details in a new blog and added: "We are trying to be as open and transparent as possible with the blogs.

"We've left them open to for comments - we welcome the open debate and hope we are being as clear as possible."

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Pigeon's Message Has Code-Breakers Stumped

A secret Second World War message found attached to the leg of a dead pigeon has left code-breakers flummoxed.

The code, hand-written on a sheet of paper headed Pigeon Service, was found in a small red canister attached to the bird's leg bone.

Experts from UK intelligence agency GCHQ were alerted to the message by David Martin, who found the pigeon's skeleton up the chimney at his home in Bletchingley, Surrey, whilst he was renovating.

But GCHQ have said the message, which has 27 five-letter code groups, is impossible to crack without its code book.

Investigators were also left stumped by missing details, such as the date of the message and the identities of the sender, Sjt W Stot, and the recipient X02.

A GCHQ spokesman said: "Although it is disappointing that we cannot yet read the message brought back by a brave carrier pigeon, it is a tribute to the skills of the wartime code-makers that, despite working under severe pressure, they devised a code that was indecipherable both then and now."

During the war specialist code books would contain the keys to groups of four or five letters, which had a meaning relevant to a specific operation.

Some 250,000 pigeons were seconded during the Second World War.

They were used by all arms of the services as well as the Special Operations Executive and carried a wide variety of messages, flying the gauntlet of enemy hawk patrols and soldiers taking pot shots at them to bring vital information back to Britain from mainland Europe.

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CCTV Attack: Man Held Over Teenager Assault

A man has been arrested after a 16-year-old girl was punched in the head in an apparently random attack caught on CCTV.

The shocking footage shows a man jogging up behind the 16-year-old and hitting her around the head.

The girl was left lying on the ground in Plaistow, east London, as her attacker casually jogged off.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man, aged 34, was arrested yesterday evening in connection with the assault of a 16-year-old female in High Street, Plaistow.

"He remains in custody at an east London police station."

The teenager is now recovering after the attack which happened outside the Black Lion pub at around 12.30pm on November 13.

The girl, who needed work on her teeth following the assault, is said to be "bearing up really well".

Anyone with information can contact Newham Violent Crime Unit on 020 8217 5890 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Tottenham Hotspur Fans Attacked In Rome

A group of English football fans have been injured in a late-night clash in Rome ahead of a Europa League match.

One fan was in serious condition after being stabbed, and at least four other Britons, one American and one Bangladeshi were hurt when masked assailants attacked a pub in the Italian capital, according to police.

The Britons were in the country to support Tottenham Hotspur, who are due to play Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night.

They were set upon by knife-wielding "Ultras" - fanatical fans - as they were enjoying a drink at The Drunken Ship pub, according to reports.

Nine Britons and an American were hurt in the fight

The cobblestones outside the bar were blood-stained, chairs and bits of wood were strewn across the floor and windows were broken.

Police named the critically injured as Ashley Mills, and said the American had also been stabbed.

Some of the other hurt Britons were identified as Dave Lesley, Stephen Tierney and Christopher Allen.

Earlier reports said nine fans had been hurt, and a statement by a club spokesman said: "We understand from local police that nine of our supporters suffered injuries last night following an incident in the city centre. Three of these supporters were taken to hospital for further treatment."

Police said around 50 Italians were involved in the assault, and that some had been arrested.

Tottenham Hotspur are due to play Lazio

A spokesman for the mayor's office said the attack had been "obviously organised".

The aggressors, who were believed to be Lazio fans, had their faces covered by motorcycle helmets or scarves when they launched their assault shortly after 1am.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica described the clashes as "urban warfare" and reported that up to 100 "Ultras" armed with knives, baseball bats and belts had taken part in the attack.

Witness Giuseppe Tamborra said: "I saw four people lying on the ground, one with his forehead cut open from here to here, probably with a stool taken from the bar.

"The Italians were very organised, with helmet, bats, even balaclavas," he said.

The Drunken Ship, a popular drinking spot for tourists and foreign students, is located in the Campo de Fiori - one of the most visited squares in the Italian capital's historic centre.

There was no response from the pub on Thursday morning.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed they are investigating the clash.

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Flood Alert As Heavy Rain Sweeps The Country

Britain is braced for another day of deluges and flooding as heavy rain sweeps across the country.

Homes were flooded and roads left underwater on Wednesday as downpours caused widespread disruption, and forecasters have warned more misery is on its way.

Vehicles were abandoned and news reports said entire villages had been cut off as floodwater surged through lanes and streets and into homes.

The South West and Wales were bearing the brunt of the weather as a low pressure system moves eastwards across the country, bringing gusts of up to 70mph and extremely heavy rain.

The Met Office warned that some areas could see up to 60mm (5ins) of rain falling on already saturated ground, leading to further risk of rivers flooding.

Strong winds could yet worsen conditions, particularly surface water flooding, as leaves and debris block drains and channels.

Flood waters surrounding a cottage close to the village of North Curry

Commuters were faced with widespread delays and some cancellations, including at London Paddington where some trains to south west stations were scrapped. Minor delays were reported on cross-Channel ferry crossings from the Port of Dover in Kent.

The Environment Agency says more than 75 flood warnings – when flooding is expected -- are in place, most of them in the South West and the Midlands, and a further 153 less serious flood alerts have also been issued.

Agency teams are on the ground across the country clearing watercourses of debris and monitoring river levels, and will be out in force over the coming days. A wall of gravel bags on the flood "frontline" has been erected in Comrie, in the Scottish highlands.

Pete Fox, the Environment Agency's head of flood risk strategy, said: "There is already significant travel disruption due to the wet weather and we would urge people to remain vigilant as further flooding is possible across the South West."

Cars make their way through floods in the village of Norton near Worcester

The heaviest rain, torrential at times, is expected over Wales and western England by early evening.

Sky News weather presenter Sarah Pennock said driving conditions would be difficult across western Britain, with plenty of surface water and possibly some broken branches on the roads.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has criticised a decision to allow a ship carrying hundreds of sheep to set sail across the English Channel in such bad weather conditions.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said the crossing amounted to torture and added: "It is barbaric that animals are at sea on open decks in these appalling weather conditions. This ship is designed to work in rivers, not in the open sea."

Gravel bags in Comrie Perthshire

Friday should be bright and breezy, with sunny spells and scattered showers in the west, before further rain pushes into central southern Britain on Saturday.

There could be snow across the Scottish hills overnight.

The weather caused major problems on the roads yesterday, with the AA attending more than 8,000 breakdowns - 37% more than normal - and 500 floodwater-related callouts by 4pm.

Dozens of schools were closed, including 12 in Devon and 17 in Somerset, two of the worst-hit counties, and businesses including pubs and restaurants forced to turn away customers following the floods.

Emergency services in Somerset were also called to a flooded property to help rescue a woman who had gone into labour and needed to get to hospital.

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BBC Appoints Tony Hall As New Director-General

The BBC has appointed its new director-general as it seeks to rebuild after a tumultuous few weeks dogged by scandal.

Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead and currently the chief executive of the Royal Opera House, will take over the £450,000 post next year.

Lord Hall replaces George Entwistle, who was forced to resign after just 54 days in the job in the wake of the Jimmy Savile and Lord McAlpine scandals.

The new BBC chief, who is expected to start in early March, is a former trainee at the corporation where he worked for 28 years.

He was head of news and current affairs from 1996 to 2001 but left after he was beaten to the top job by Greg Dyke.

BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said his background in news "will prove invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild both its reputation in this area and the trust of audiences".

He added: "Tony Hall has been an insider and is a currently an outsider. As an ex-BBC man, he understands how the Corporation's culture and behaviour make it, at its best, the greatest broadcaster in the world.

"And from his vantage point outside the BBC, he understands the sometimes justified criticisms of the Corporation - that it can be inward looking and on occasions too institutional."

Lord Patten issued a letter to all BBC staff saying that it was a significant day for the broadcaster and marked a new chapter.

He made clear there were still "very serious questions" to answer about the dropped Newsnight investigation into the Savile abuse claims and BBC culture at the time the star worked there.

But he continued: "It is also marks the beginning of a new phase for the BBC. And the key challenge will be re-establishing our reputation with the public. I hope you will all support Tony Hall as he goes about the important work of doing just that."

Lord Hall said: "This organisation is an incredibly important part of what makes the United Kingdom what it is. And of course it matters not just to people in this country - but to tens of millions around the world too.

"It's been a difficult few weeks - but together we'll get through it."

The peer did not apply for the director-general position when Mark Thompson quit but he was the only candidate approached by the Trust following Mr Entwistle's resignation earlier this month.

Lord Hall, who became a cross bencher in the House of Lords in 2010, has been successful at the helm of the Royal Opera House and praised for initiatives such as the relay of performances to screens across the UK.

He sits on a number of boards but will be stepping down from those roles before taking up his position at the corporation.

Tim Davie will stay on as acting director-general until he arrives in the spring.

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby welcomed the appointment, calling him a "good public face" for the corporation.

"I feel like I'm serving in the Royal Navy when the message came in: 'Winston is back'," he said.

"I think most people will be thrilled at this choice and will also get the leadership that is needed from somebody who is a creative man and a good administrator - and a calm man in a time of crisis."

The actor, Stephen Fry, also approved the decision, writing on Twitter: "I think Tony Hall is a really good DG choice, TBH. He's not a 'process' man, he's behind the best of BBC's digital moves in the past."

The announcement followed the revelation that Mr Entwistle refused to leave his post without a £450,000 pay off - twice as much as he was entitled under his contract.

BBC trustee Anthony Fry told the Public Accounts Committee that the Trust had to choose between accepting his terms or facing a lengthy legal battle that could have increased the payout by £80,000.

He also revealed that Mr Entwistle received a pension pot of £833,000 - worth up to £40,000-a-year, private medical cover, up to £35,000 for legal fees connected to his resignation and his evidence to the Savile inquiries and £10,000 for public relations.

MPs were incensed to learn that he will continue to have his private medical bills paid for over the next year.

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Lord McAlpine Reaches Settlement With ITV

Lord McAlpine has reached a £125,000 settlement with ITV and Phillip Schofield over a This Morning show in which a list of alleged paedophiles was shown to the Prime Minister.

During the show, presenter Schofield handed a piece of paper to David Cameron saying it was a list of senior Tories who were being linked on the internet to a paedophile ring.

Schofield briefly showed the names to viewers as he handed over the list and asked the Prime Minister if he would investigate them.

In a statement, the broadcaster said: "ITV and Phillip Schofield have now reached agreement with Lord McAlpine to settle his libel claim, made in relation to the This Morning programme broadcast on November 8, 2012.

"ITV and Phillip Schofield apologise unreservedly to Lord McAlpine, have agreed the terms of a statement to be made in open court, and have agreed to pay him damages of £125,000 and his legal costs."

Earlier this week lawyers for Lord McAlpine had said that he was seeking a larger payout from ITV than the £185,000 settlement he agreed with the BBC.

Speaking to The Times newspaper, his spokesman said: "This was also done in broad daylight in a premeditated way in front of the Prime Minister. It was that programme that prompted Lord McAlpine to come out with his statement."

Lawyers had made clear ahead of the BBC settlement last week that they were mindful of the effect on the licence payer and had "tempered" their demands accordingly.

Lord McAlpine said the damage "can't be repaired"

But Lord McAlpine's solicitor Andrew Reid told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "It is a pragmatic settlement.

"I think we accepted the legal argument that the Newsnight programme had effectively set the pot boiling at that point and the Schofield stunt added fuel to the fire that was already there, and we had to take that into account.

"It was listening to sensible legal argument."

Action is also being considered against a "very long list" of Twitter users who wrongly named the former Tory politician, thought to include comedian Alan Davies and the Commons Speaker's wife Sally Bercow.

Lord McAlpine has asked those who linked him to child abuse allegations to apologise formally and pay a "sensible and modest amount", which he plans to donate to BBC Children in Need.

The politician was mistakenly implicated by Newsnight's November 2 broadcast in a paedophile ring that targeted children at the care home in Wrexham.

It did not name him, but Lord McAlpine was later identified on social media.

The peer said the damage of the Newsnight report "can't be repaired" and he now has to live with the legacy of suspicion.

Newsnight carried a full, on-air apology for the broadcast a week later.

An official report by the BBC's Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie into the botched investigation concluded that Newsnight staff had failed to complete "basic journalistic checks".

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Teenage Girl's Attacker Caught On CCTV

Video of a 16-year-old girl being knocked unconscious in an unprovoked street attack has been released by police.

CCTV footage shows the assailant approach the victim from behind before punching her so hard she falls over, hitting the pavement face-first.

Police are appealing for information after the teenager was followed from her home by her attacker, who struck without warning outside the Black Lion pub in Plaistow High Street, east London.

Police say the attacker was "a black man of muscular build"

Scotland Yard described the suspect as black and muscular, wearing a black baseball jacket and jeans, with a shaven head and aged between 25 and 30.

A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: "At about 12.30pm on November 13, a male suspect followed a 16-year-old girl from her home address for approximately 500 metres.

"When he was near the Black Lion public house, he ran up behind her and threw a punch to her head.

"This was an unprovoked attack. The victim fell to ground and was unconscious."

After the assault, the suspect turned around and jogged back towards Green Gate Street.

The girl was taken to hospital and released with cuts and bruises later that day.

:: Anyone with information should contact Newham Violent Crime Unit on 020 8217 5890 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Archbishop: Church 'Lost Credibility' Over Vote

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said the Church of England has a "lot of explaining" to do after the General Synod narrowly voted against legislation introducing the first women bishops.

The draft legislation was carried in the Houses of bishops and clergy but failed to gain the necessary two-thirds majority among lay members.

Dr Rowan Williams said the Church of England had "undoubtedly" lost a "measure of credibility" in the wider society following the defeat.

"We have, to put it very bluntly, a lot of explaining to do," he told the General Synod.

"Whatever the motivation for voting yesterday (Tuesday), whatever the theological principle on which people acted and spoke, the fact remains that a great deal of this discussion is not intelligible to our wider society.

"Worse than that, it seems as if we are wilfully blind to some of the trends and priorities of that wider society. We have some explaining to do, we have as a result of yesterday undoubtedly lost a measure of credibility in our society."

Dr Williams' comments came as an emergency meeting of the Church of England bishops was held following the defeat - by just six votes.

The vote was billed as the biggest in the 20 years since the General Synod backed the introduction of women priests in 1992, and came after 42 out of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England backed the legislation.

If the measure had received final approval, it would have gone to the Houses of Parliament before Royal Assent with the first women bishops on course to be appointed as early as 2014.

Rowan Williams was deeply disappointed by the vote

The result was a blow to Dr Williams and his successor, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, who staked their authority on a 'yes' vote.

Dr Williams, who leaves his post at the end of this year after a decade in office, expressed his "deep personal sadness" at the result.

He said he wished Bishop Welby "every blessing" in resolving the issue.

Around a third of all Church of England clergy are women - they also make up just under a half of all those training for ordination.

Women and the Church (Watch), the campaigning group, said the result was a "devastating blow".

The Rev Rachel Weir, Watch chairman, said: "This is a tragic day for the Church of England after so many years of debate and after all our attempts at compromise.

"Despite this disappointing setback, Watch will continue to campaign for the full acceptance of women's gifts of leadership in the Church's life."

But the Rev Prebendary Rod Thomas, chairman of the conservative evangelical grouping Reform, which recommended a no vote, said: "My overall conclusion is that it is very good news for the Church of England.

"We have avoided what could have been a disastrous mistake for our unity and witness."

The defeat came in spite of a series of appeals from senior bishops for the General Synod to support the legislation.

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Warnings As Flooding Brings Travel Disruption

Dozens of schools have closed, some roads are deemed impassable and stranded drivers have abandoned their cars after flooding in southwest England.

Following heavy rain, the Environment Agency has issued around 50 flood warnings for the region, where flooding is expected, as well as a similar number of less serious flood alerts, where flooding is possible.

There were also about a dozen flood warnings and 30 alerts in the Midlands.

At least 12 schools in Devon were closed and 17 were shut in Somerset, two of the worst-hit counties.

A statement from North Curry C of E Primary School, east of Taunton in Somerset, said: "The village and roads leading in are flooded and only a couple of staff members can get in.

"Also, parents cannot get the children through the floods. It is treacherous and the rain shows no sign of easing."

Devon and Cornwall Police said there had been a number of reports of standing water on roads, creating a risk of drivers aquaplaning and potentially losing control of their vehicles.

Heavy downpours have already hit parts of central, southern and southwest England, and southeast Wales, this week, while strong winds have battered parts of the country.

It is feared that this could increase the risk of surface water flooding as wind-blown leaves and debris could block drains, the Environment Agency warned.

There are warnings of more heavy downpours on the way

The highest rainfall overnight was on Dartmoor, Devon, with 33mm in 12 hours.

Sky News weather presenter Sarah Pennock said: "The heaviest bursts of rain will be across the West Country and western parts of the Midlands. Here we could see the risk of localised flooding with up to two inches of rainfall in a few hours."

Forecasters have said there was likely to be a temporary reprieve later in the day but warned that further downpours are likely as the week progresses.

There is a weather warning for Thursday for southwestern England and southeast Wales, with a band of rain coming through of 20-50mm and up to 60mm in the worst-hit areas, and winds with gusts of up to 50-60mph.

A weather warning for heavy rain and strong and gusty winds is in place for western Scotland on Thursday, with warnings of possible flooding.

Forecasters said a mixture of sunshine and showers are predicted for Friday, with heavy rain from the south from later on Saturday into Sunday.

Bob Wilderspin, Met Office chief forecaster, said: "The current unsettled spell of weather is set to continue with further spells of heavy rain expected across the country over the next few days.

"A particularly squally day is expected on Thursday as strong to gale force winds combine with heavy rain moving in from the west.

"With winds gusting up to 60 to 70mph in places and 20 to 50mm of rain falling in a short period of time, we urge everyone to keep up to date with forecasts and warnings and be prepared for what the weather will bring."

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Week-Old Baby Boy Bitten To Death By Dog

A one-week-old boy who died after being bitten by a family dog in Shropshire has been named as Harry Harper.

Harry died in hospital on Tuesday morning after paramedics were called out to a house in Woodside Road in Ketley, near Telford.

The infant had reportedly been with his mother at his grandparents' house. 

In a statement, the family said: "We are absolutely devastated by Harry's death and have no words to describe the loss we have suffered.

"At the present time, we have no wish to speak publicly about yesterday's events and would ask that we are left in peace to grieve and begin to deal with our loss." 

The house on Woodside Road where the attack happened

Initial indications suggested Harry, who was just eight days old, died after being bitten by the dog - the family-owned Jack Russell.

Police emphasised that Harry was not mauled by the animal, which has now been put down.

West Mercia Police are continuing to investigate the precise circumstances of the newborn's death as they await the result of a post-mortem examination.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson said: "Our investigation is ongoing but it appears that the baby died as a result of a dog bite.

"The dog in question was a family pet - a Jack Russell - and this animal has been put down.

"A post-mortem will be taking place to establish the exact cause of this baby's death but at this stage it does appear to be a tragic accident.

Woodside Road, Ketley

"With an investigation ongoing, there is no further comment I can make on this matter apart from to say that all our thoughts are with the family of the baby at this extremely sad time."

The emergency services were called to the house just before 8am and Harry was taken to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

Efforts to save the baby were made by the ambulance crew at the scene and on the way to the hospital.

Residents in the local area were reluctant to speak to the media about the tragedy, which is reported to have happened at the home of his mother's parents.

One neighbour, who declined to give her name, said: "It's very, very sad.

"Losing a baby must be heart-breaking however it happens and they need to be left to grieve."

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London Murder Hunt: Mugged Pensioner Named

Detectives investigating the murder of a pensioner mugged in west London have named her as 85-year-old Paula Castle.

Mrs Castle, who lived alone in Westbridge Gardens, Greenford, died after being robbed in an alleyway on Monday at around 1.50pm.

The widow, who was registered blind, was initially taken to Ealing Hospital with a head injury.

She was later transferred to St Mary's Hospital but her condition deteriorated and she died in the early hours of Tuesday.

A post-mortem is due to take place.

A police statement said two male suspects were believed to have approached the victim from behind and stolen her handbag.

In the process, Mrs Castle was assaulted and she fell to the ground.

The suspects, who were dressed in dark clothing, then ran off with the handbag - the bag has since been recovered.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor, of the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the sequence of events which will have occurred in a potentially busy area of Greenford in daylight.

"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the victim or the suspects at the time."

Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room on 0208 7214868, or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Child Sex Gang Suspects Held In Police Raids

Police have arrested eight suspected members of a child sex gang during a series of dawn raids on several homes in Buckinghamshire.

The men, aged between 21 and 28, were held on suspicion of committing sexual offences against a girl.

Thames Valley Police said the girl, who is under 18, reported being abused between 2007 and 2012, but investigators believe other victims may have fallen prey to the same group and urged them to come forward.

"We believe that it is likely that there are more victims who have not yet spoken to the police and would like to encourage anyone who is a victim to come forward," said Detective Chief Inspector Vince Grey.

"Our number one priority is to protect the victims, both their identities and well-being in such cases."

The abuse of the girl began in 2007 when she was 12 years old, reports said.

Mr Grey praised the girl for speaking to the police, saying she had been "extremely brave and courageous".

"Obviously we can't imagine what she and other victims have gone through," Mr Grey said.

"She's come forward and she's indicated what offending has happened to her, who's been involved in that, and over what time period."

He added that the girl did not go into "great details in terms of other persons, but we believe in terms of what she told us that there will be other victims".

The arrests were part of an investigation lasting several months and some 100 police officers raided 10 homes in High Wycombe in the operation.

Police believe girls may have been groomed - when abusers make friends with potential victims - by members of the gang.

Mr Grey said grooming, which is a specific offence, can then turn "into an abusive relationship of some sort, which can lead to much more damaging exploitation and sexual offences taking place".

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Brooks And Coulson To Face New Charges

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

Former Tory spin doctor Andy Coulson and ex-News International chief Rebekah Brooks face new criminal charges over bungs to public officials in return for stories used in the News Of The World and The Sun.

Coulson, who was editor of the NOTW at the time, and the paper's former royal correspondent Clive Goodman are charged with conspiring to pay for information about the royal family, including an internal phone directory known as the Green Book.

Brooks, who edited The Sun, and the paper's chief reporter John Kay are charged with conspiracy to pay Ministry of Defence employee Bettina Jordan Barber £100,000 for information that led to a series of stories in the newspaper.

Ms Barber faces the same charge.

Kay attended a north London police station on Tuesday morning and was charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. He was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 29.

Solicitor Henri Brandman, who is representing Kay, said: "Neither my client nor I will be making any comment in respect of the matter at the present time."

Coulson pledged to fight the allegations that he is facing and said: "I am extremely disappointed by this latest CPS decision. I deny the allegations made against me and will fight the charges in court."

The charges follow Scotland Yard investigation Operation Elveden, which began in July last year and is likely to continue for many months.

So far, 52 people have been arrested, including 21 journalists from The Sun, armed forces staff and a prison official.

Before today, the only charge brought was against Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn, accused of leaking information to the NOTW, which was closed by owner Rupert Murdoch 16 months ago in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.

DCI Casburn has denied the charge.

Two arrested suspects, an ex-police officer and a former journalist, were told recently that they would not face prosecution.

The five charged today are expected to appear in court in the next few weeks. The formal charge against them is conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, which could mean jail if convicted.

Coulson, Brooks and others have already been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, over allegations they tried to cover up evidence of phone hacking.

In a news conference during a visit to Northern Ireland, Prime Minister David Cameron was queried on his judgment in both hiring Coulson and becoming a close friend to Brooks.

He said: "I've made it clear on many occasions about this issue and I've also said very clearly we should allow the police and prosecuting authorities to follow the evidence wherever it leads, and I think that is very, very important.

"But I think that, particularly as we get to a situation with pending court cases, that probably we should leave it at that."

Pushed further, and asked if it was embarrassing for him, Mr Cameron said: "I think, as I said, with impending court cases we should probably leave it at that."

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Energy Bills: Shake Up Could Push Up Cost

Families could end up paying more after a shake-up in energy prices because cheaper deals will be axed, experts have warned.

New Government plans are expected to force companies to offer just four tariffs per fuel and make them automatically shift customers onto the cheapest.

The tariffs would have to include a standard variable rate and a fixed price for a fixed term, then firms would be able to decide on another two.

Suppliers would be forced to offer one price for each of the options, although they could still offer discounts for dual fuel bills or those paying by direct debit.

The move is aimed to address long-standing concerns about soaring gas and electricity prices and fears the current array of tariffs means many people pay too much.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey

A consultation has now been launched and will run until January, with the Government aiming to have all customers on the cheapest deal by summer 2014 at the latest.

Details of the proposal come weeks after Prime Minister David Cameron sparked confusion by vowing in the Commons that firms would be forced to charge customers the lowest price.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "For too long, people have been stuck on the wrong type of energy tariff, paying more than they need to.

"Our new proposals will make things much clearer and easier to understand so that bill payers can get the best deal and feel the benefits in their pockets."

The Prime Minister added via Twitter: "My promise to ensure energy customers get the lowest tariff is being delivered, despite Labour saying it couldn't be done."

It has been suggested the changes could save families hundreds of pounds a year, but industry figures say some may have to pay more.

They warn a simplification would lead to some of the cheapest offers currently available being axed, because firms will be far more limited.

Energy UK chief executive Angela Knight, representing the energy companies, admitted the shake-up would create a simpler system where people could switch provider more easily.

But she also told Sky News: "Some of the choices will reduce because you can't have a variety of choice, including tariffs that offer you a particularly low rate for a particular time."

Guy Newey, head of energy and environment at centre-right thinktank Policy Exchange, added: "Cutting the number of tariffs and forcing energy companies to put households on the 'best' rate could end cheap deals.

"This risks punishing families who do the right thing and shop around. There is a danger this move could see fewer people switching, reduce competition and therefore push up bills in the long term."

Corin Taylor, an adviser at the Institute of Directors, claimed the reforms "miss the point" because firms would just increase their lowest tariff to compensate.

He argued: "Instead, the Government should be promoting competition and making it easier for new companies to enter the energy market."

Mr Davey, speaking to Sky News, admitted he could not "guarantee" lower energy prices because they were dictated by the world gas market.

But he added: "What I can do is the very best for consumers by making sure we have simpler bills, more competition and help people save energy."

The coalition's plans follow a spate of price hikes among the UK's "big six" power firms, who control 99% of the domestic energy supply.

In October, SSE prices rose by 9%, then British Gas and Npower went up by 6% and around 9% respectively this month.

In December, Scottish Power will hike its bills by 7% and EDF by 10.8%. Meanwhile, German-owned E.ON has denied reports it is planning a 11% increase.

The firms all blame rising wholesale prices, which they say are out of their control.

One firm, Co-operative Energy, has bucked the trend by unveiling plans to slash its electricity charges by 2% from December 21.

Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint said: "The cheapest deal in an uncompetitive market will still not be a good deal.

"Unless David Cameron stands up to vested interests in the energy market and creates a tough new watchdog with powers to force energy companies to pass on price cuts, his warm words will be cold comfort to people worried about paying their fuel bill this winter."

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UBS Rogue Trader Adoboli Jailed Over Fraud

A rogue trader who lost £1.4bn in bad deals that nearly brought down Swiss bank UBS has been jailed for seven years for fraud.

At one point during his run of losses, rising star City trader Kweku Adoboli stood to run up losses of £7.5bn for the bank.

The 32-year-old had admitted to the losses, but denied any wrongdoing.

Jurors convicted him of two counts of fraud by abuse of position linked to the £1.4bn loss, but cleared him of four counts of false accounting between October 2008 and September last year.

Judge Mr Justice Keith, sentencing, told Adoboli: "There is a strong streak of the gambler in you. You were arrogant to think the bank's rules for traders did not apply to you."

Adoboli maintained during the two-month trial that senior managers had been fully aware of his activities and had encouraged him to take risks to make profits for UBS.

He wept as he gave evidence for the first time last month, saying everything he had done was aimed at benefiting the bank, where he viewed his colleagues as "family".

Adoboli also said the multi-billion-dollar deals happened at a time when he was suffering from burnout and had "lost control" of his trading.

But prosecutors painted a different picture, saying Adoboli had exceeded his trading limits, failed to hedge trades and faked records to cover his tracks in a bid to boost his status and ego.

They said he saw himself as having a "magic touch" as a trader.

Prosecution lawyer Sasha Wass told jurors that he was "a gamble or two away from destroying Switzerland's largest bank for his own gain".

"Mr Adoboli's motive for this behaviour was to increase his bonus, his status within the bank, his job prospects and, of course, his ego," she said.

The Ghanaian-born Adoboli joined UBS as a graduate trainee in 2003 and, at the time of the fraud, was a senior trader on the Exchange Traded Funds desk at UBS' investment banking arm in London.

He was arrested in September 2011.

The Crown Prosecution Service said, behind all the technical jargon heard during the trial, the case ultimately rested on whether Adoboli had acted dishonestly.

"He did so, by breaking the rules, covering up and lying," said Andrew Penhale, deputy head of fraud at CPS.

"At the heart of any complex fraud is a simple notion of dishonesty which is something that we can all understand."

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SAS Sniper's Case Review 'Inappropriate'

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has said it would be "inappropriate" for him to review the decision to prosecute an SAS sergeant for illegal possession of a weapon.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond wrote to Mr Grieve asking him to examine if proper consideration had been given to whether a prosecution of Sgt Danny Nightingale was in the public interest before the case was brought to court martial.

Sgt Nightingale is serving an 18-month sentence in military detention after pleading guilty to having a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

The father of two, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers medical problems which affect his memory and says he did not remember having the weapon, which was a gift from Iraqi soldiers he had been training.

A spokesman for the Attorney General's office said: "It would be inappropriate for the Attorney General to review either the decision to prosecute or comment on the appropriateness of the sentence.

"That is a matter for the Court Martial Appeal Court, in due course."

MPs will be able to raise concerns about the case with Solicitor General Oliver Heald later today after Canterbury MP Julian Brazier secured a debate in the House of Commons.

SAS veterans have been outraged by the case, and four special forces veterans, including the former commanding officer of the SAS, have written an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, claiming Sgt Nightingale was "the victim of a monstrous miscarriage of justice".

Sgt Nightingale pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol which had been packed up and returned to him by colleagues after he had to leave Iraq in a hurry to help organise the funeral of two friends killed in action.

He also admitted possessing ammunition.

Sgt Nightingale's father Humphrey has told Sky News his son was bullied into pleading guilty at the court martial.

Humphrey Nightingale said: "We knew Danny was not guilty but the judge made it quite clear that if he did not plead guilty he would be sent to a civilian jail for a minimum of five years.

"Our hands were tied and we had no other option - Danny has a lovely wife and a young family. We expected a lenient sentence - maybe suspended - but instead he was sentenced to 18 months."

Lawyers for Sgt Nightingale plan to lodge an appeal against his conviction and sentence later this week, as well as applying for bail.

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James McClean: Death Threats Over Poppy Snub

Premier League star James McClean has received death threats after refusing to wear an embroidered poppy on his shirt during a top-flight match.

The Irish winger did not wear a jersey with a poppy emblem during Sunderland's match against Everton on November 10.

The poppy commemorates Remembrance Day, and honours those who sacrificed their lives in wars.

Sunderland's Danny Rose pictured with a poppy emblem on his shirt

The footballer has since been targeted on social networking site Twitter, including by one user who posted pictures of bullets and wrote: "He deserves to be shot dead + body dragged past the cenotaph!!"

McClean was booed by fans during his side's 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday, but manager Martin O'Neill said it was the player's "free choice" not to wear the poppy.

"James will deal with it. I think it's probably to do with the issue of last week," he said.

"It's a free choice in this world. James has lived with a lot of things. He's getting death threats as well so that doesn't help."

The footballer was subjected to abuse on Twitter earlier this year after switching national teams from Northern Ireland to Ireland.

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Houseboat Fire: 'Human Bones' Found In Oxford

Bones thought to be human have been found on a houseboat that was devastated by a fire.

Police launched an investigation after the boat was set on fire while moored on the canal in Wolvercote in Oxford at around 11pm on Friday.

Detectives believe the boat could have been torched some nine hours earlier but are yet to establish the cause.

The severity of the fire has so far hampered investigations.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Bird of Thames Valley Police, leading the investigation, said: "We have been working closely with the fire service to establish the full circumstances surrounding how the fire happened and now believe that the boat could have been alight at around 2am on Friday morning.

The boat caught fire on a canal in Wolvercote

"The boat has been badly burnt by the fire and so it has been difficult for us to carry out our investigation.

"We have, however, found some bones on the boat which we believe to be human and are working hard to identify these further.

"I urge anyone who might have seen what happened or has information to help us with our inquiries and has not yet spoken to a police officer to come forward."

:: Anyone with information should contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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McAlpine Wants Larger Settlement From ITV

Lawyers for Lord McAlpine have revealed he is seeking a larger payout from ITV than the £185,000 settlement he agreed with the BBC.

ITV is thought to have until this afternoon to respond to demands from the former Tory politician's legal team to pay damages over false claims linking him to child sex abuse.

It found itself brought into the row when This Morning host Phillip Schofield ambushed David Cameron live on air with a list of alleged paedophiles.

Schofield briefly showed the names to viewers as he handed over the list and asked the Prime Minister if he would investigate them.

He took the step after fevered speculation online following a BBC Newsnight report claiming a senior Tory from the Thatcher era had been involved in a notorious child sex abuse case.

It did not name the politician, but Lord McAlpine was identified on social media.

Lord McAlpine has said his reputation will never recover

The peer put out a statement protesting his innocence 24 hours after This Morning's stunt and later that day his alleged victim confirmed he had accused the wrong man.

The BBC has already paid out £185,000 plus costs after admitting its programme was broadcast without the "basic journalistic checks" being done.

But ITV has yet to settle and is set to be hit harder because it is a commercial broadcaster and also because of the manner of its coverage.

"This was also done in broad daylight in a premeditated way in front of the Prime Minister. It was that programme that prompted Lord McAlpine to come out with his statement," his spokesman told The Times.

Lawyers had made clear ahead of the BBC settlement last week that they were mindful of the effect on the licence payer and had "tempered" their demands accordingly.

An ITV spokesman said: "We have received correspondence from Lord McAlpine's representatives and we will be responding in due course."

The broadcaster has already taken disciplinary action, with Schofield and members of the production team believed to have received written warnings.

Lord McAlpine's lawyers are also preparing action against a large number of Twitter users who identified the peer in connection with the false sex abuse claims.

They could include Sally Bercow, the wife of the Commons Speaker, journalist George Monbiot and actor and comedian Alan Davies.

Both ITV and the BBC are being investigated by media watchdog Ofcom for their handling of the allegations.

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Teen Paralysed In Car Crash Gets £23m Payout

A teenager who was paralysed in a car crash that killed her mother is to receive record compensation worth £23m.

Cheltenham Ladies College pupil Agnes Collier, now 17, was left with no use of her legs and little function in her arms after the March 2009 accident on the A436 in Gloucestershire.

Damages were awarded against the insurers of motorist Anthony Norton, who caused the accident when he pulled out of a side road, causing the car Ms Collier was travelling in to be hit by an oncoming lorry.

Composed of a £7.25m lump sum plus annual payments of £270,000, the sum is believed to be the highest ever for personal injury, topping the previous record of £12.2m.

The youngster's 48-year-old mother Karen Hood, a teacher, died in the crash.

Norton, of Andoversford, Gloucestershire, was sentenced to six months jail suspended for a year for causing death by driving without due care and attention.

Agnes's father, investment banker Dominic Collier, and stepmother Jannene, were at London's High Court for Monday's hearing.

Agnes' counsel, William Norris QC, told Mr Justice MacDuff that she was a "truly remarkable young lady" and a very bright girl who had done astonishingly well in returning to school and taking her AS-levels.

But he said the need to use a scribe and overwhelming burden of tiredness had affected her exam results to some extent.

She's unlikely to achieve the university place she had hoped for, but she already had one offer and was set on a career, he added.

"Her determination is extraordinary, but she has been blessed with a family who are thoroughly supportive, and her stepmother has been a tower of strength," Mr Norris said.

After the hearing, the family's solicitor, Paul Paxton, of Stewarts Law, said the award would be paid out over her lifetime.

He added: "While it is a lot of money, Agnes's needs are great and she needs those for the rest of her life.

"The family want to be able to move on with their lives now this chapter has closed."

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Cavendish Collides With Car During Training

Mark Cavendish said he is "relatively ok" after his cycle hit the back of a car that braked suddenly in Italy.

The 27-year-old from the Isle of Man wrote on Twitter: "Went & hit the back of a car that slammed on today in training. Wasn't ideal. Apart from a bruised arm, I'm relatively ok. If anyone cares."

The collision happened less than two weeks after Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton were knocked off their bikes.

Mr Cavendish, the 2011 world road race cycling champion, left Team Sky for Omega Pharma-Lotto last month.

More follows...

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Benefits Cap 'Immoral And Socially Divisive'

Plans for a £500-a-week cap on household benefits have been criticised in a savage attack by the former coalition minister for children and families.

Sarah Teather accused ministers of seeking to "gain popularity at the expense of children's lives" by pushing through a measure they knew was popular but ineffective.

The Lib Dem faced calls for her sacking as children's minister in February after she missed a key vote on the reforms which she had publicly questioned.

She eventually departed from the Government ranks in September's reshuffle.

Speaking to The Observer, she said: "I think deliberately to stoke up envy and division between people in order to gain popularity at the expense of children's lives is immoral.

"It has no good intent."

She went on: "There are all sorts of things you have to do when times are tight that have negative consequences but you do them for good purposes.

"But to do something for negative purposes that also has negative consequences - that is immoral."

She added: "I don't think it was even remotely conceived as a financial cost-cutting device. I think it was conceived as a political device to demonstrate whose side you are on."

She said she was "terrified" about the prospects for many families who would be forced to move to cheaper areas where they would find it harder to find work.

"My fear is that a lot of people will effectively just disappear from the area in which they were living. I think some very horrible things are going to happen," she said, questioning how well child protection and education services would keep track of youngsters.

But a spokesman for Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith accused Ms Teather of hugely-misinformed scaremongering.

"The criticisms Sarah Teather is levelling against the Government's welfare reforms are hugely misinformed and therefore result in needless scaremongering," he told the newspaper.

"It's not fair or right that benefits claimants receive higher incomes than hard-working families who are striving to get on in life.

"Our reforms bring fairness back to the system while ensuring we support the most vulnerable."

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Prisoner Voting Ban: MPs To Debate Again

MPs are to be given another say on whether to give prisoners the vote, as the deadline for Britain to comply with a European ruling on the controversial issue looms.

The UK's current blanket ban on prisoners voting has been judged as unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and officials in Strasbourg have given the Government until Friday to comply with the ruling.

Last February, the Commons called by an overwhelming margin of 234 to 22 for the blanket ban to be maintained, while David Cameron has flatly ruled out the option of handing criminals back their democratic rights.

MPs will this week be given another chance to vote on the issue when the Government introduces a draft bill.

The bill, to be published on Thursday, will give MPs three options, according to The Daily Telegraph.

They will be votes for prisoners who have been imprisoned for four years or less, votes for prisoners who have been imprisoned for six months or less, or no votes for prisoners at all.

There is a risk that this week's Commons vote could set up another clash with the ECHR, which could fine the Government if it does not comply with its ruling.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has warned against defying the Strasbourg court, saying its ruling imposes an international legal obligation on the UK.

But the Prime Minister made it clear he would not be letting prisoners get the vote.

David Cameron told the Commons last month: "I do not want prisoners to have the vote, and they should not get the vote - I am very clear about that.

"If it helps to have another vote in Parliament on another resolution to make it absolutely clear and help put the legal position beyond doubt, I am happy to do that.

"But no one should be in any doubt: prisoners are not getting the vote under this Government."

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has said Parliament has the right in law to tell the ECHR that it does not accept its ruling.

But he added there would be "consequences" for the UK's position in Europe if MPs do chose to defy the judgement.

In 2005, the ECHR said it was up to individual countries to decide which prisoners should be denied the right to vote from jail, but that a total ban was illegal.

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British Airways 'Twitter Account Hacked'

British Airways has launched an investigation after its Twitter account was apparently hacked and an offensive message retweeted.

The official BA Twitter account seemingly retweeted an offensive and racist message on Saturday afternoon.

After the offensive retweet was deleted, staff at the airline then tweeted an apology.

It said: "Apologies for the last RT. We are sorry for any offence caused and are investigating how this may have happened."

Within minutes, hundreds of Twitters users resent the retweet and later more than 160 followers had retweeted the apology.

The BA account has more than 210,000 followers.

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Energy Bill: The Plan To Keep UK's Lights On

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Crucial plans to ensure the UK's lights stay on for the next 20 years are due to be published shortly by the Government.

The energy and climate secretary, Ed Davey, has to balance the need to create new generating capacity with commitments to a low carbon future and more electricity from renewable sources.

Many power stations are coming to the end of their life and the Government estimates it will cost £110bn to replace and improve electricity infrastructure over the next decade.

Researcher Malcolm Grimston, from Imperial College and Chatham House, said it is essential that the Energy Bill is a success.

Researcher Malcolm Grimston said it is essential the bill is a success

"We've hardly built any new power stations for over 10 years now and a lot of our existing ones are coming to the end of their lives.

"We used to have a lot of our own gas reserves, they've pretty much gone so were now dependent on imports."

Electricity use is increasing, with suggestions that demand could double by 2050.

Advances in generating technology are increasing capacity, but planning concerns have the potential to derail industry targets.

At Ovenden Moor in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wind Power wants to replace 23 wind turbines generating 9.2MW of power with nine turbines generating up to 23MW.

But the size of the new turbines has led to campaigners in nearby Haworth, home to the Bronte Museum, complaining that the environment will be blighted - while denying charges of nimbyism.

"This is everyone's back yard, this is heritage landscape," said Chris Gwent, the heritage and conservation officer for the Bronte Society.

"We don't want them dominating this unique landscape."

The UK is signed up to providing 15% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and to reducing to zero the amount of carbon pumped into the atmosphere from electricity generation.

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Safety Concerns As King's Cross Fire Is Marked

Transport trade unionists marking the 25th anniversary of a tube station fire have demanded the scrapping of proposed staffing cuts.

Dozens of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) gathered outside King's Cross station in London to remember the 31 people who died there after a fire on an escalator on the evening of November 18, 1987.

Thought to have been caused by a dropped match, a subsequent public inquiry into the tragedy led to tighter safety standards on London Underground.

But the RMT claims that Mayor of London Boris Johnson's "threat" to cut station and platform staffing levels and introduce driverless trains would make the tube network unsafe again.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow laid a wreath at the foot of a plaque inside the station dedicated to the victims' memory.

He said: "We are here today first of all to show our sympathy and our condolences to the people who lost their lives 25 years ago.

The tragedy led to tighter safety standards

"I worked for London Underground 25 years ago, I remember that night still vividly.

"It could have been me travelling home, my family, my friends, it could have been you, it could have been anyone that particular night."

Mr Crow said the recommendations made after the fire had made the Underground safer, as witnessed during terrorist attacks and emergencies on the Tube since.

"What we are seeing now is a number of people who want to reduce costs if they can," he said.

 "We can't allow for the accountants of Transport for London or the Government to try and reduce the staffing and make it unsafe for London Underground workers and the people that use the Tube."

More than 100 people were taken to hospital after the King's Cross fire.

Among those killed was fireman Colin Townsley who was posthumously awarded a certificate of commendation for his bravery, as were five other firemen who survived.

Smoking was immediately banned on all parts of the Tube after the fire and wooden escalators were replaced.

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Benefits Cap 'Immoral And Socially Divisive'

Plans for a £500-a-week cap on household benefits have been criticised in a savage attack by the former coalition minister for children and families.

Sarah Teather accused ministers of seeking to "gain popularity at the expense of children's lives" by pushing through a measure they knew was popular but ineffective.

The Lib Dem faced calls for her sacking as children's minister in February after she missed a key vote on the reforms which she had publicly questioned.

She eventually departed from the Government ranks in September's reshuffle.

Speaking to The Observer, she said: "I think deliberately to stoke up envy and division between people in order to gain popularity at the expense of children's lives is immoral.

"It has no good intent."

She went on: "There are all sorts of things you have to do when times are tight that have negative consequences but you do them for good purposes.

"But to do something for negative purposes that also has negative consequences - that is immoral."

She added: "I don't think it was even remotely conceived as a financial cost-cutting device. I think it was conceived as a political device to demonstrate whose side you are on."

She said she was "terrified" about the prospects for many families who would be forced to move to cheaper areas where they would find it harder to find work.

"My fear is that a lot of people will effectively just disappear from the area in which they were living. I think some very horrible things are going to happen," she said, questioning how well child protection and education services would keep track of youngsters.

But a spokesman for Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith accused Ms Teather of hugely-misinformed scaremongering.

"The criticisms Sarah Teather is levelling against the Government's welfare reforms are hugely misinformed and therefore result in needless scaremongering," he told the newspaper.

"It's not fair or right that benefits claimants receive higher incomes than hard-working families who are striving to get on in life.

"Our reforms bring fairness back to the system while ensuring we support the most vulnerable."

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Prisoner Voting Ban: MPs To Debate Again

MPs are to be given another say on whether to give prisoners the vote, as the deadline for Britain to comply with a European ruling on the controversial issue looms.

The UK's current blanket ban on prisoners voting has been judged as unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and officials in Strasbourg have given the Government until Friday to comply with the ruling.

Last February, the Commons called by an overwhelming margin of 234 to 22 for the blanket ban to be maintained, while David Cameron has flatly ruled out the option of handing criminals back their democratic rights.

MPs will this week be given another chance to vote on the issue when the Government introduces a draft bill.

The bill, to be published on Thursday, will give MPs three options, according to The Daily Telegraph.

They will be votes for prisoners who have been imprisoned for four years or less, votes for prisoners who have been imprisoned for six months or less, or no votes for prisoners at all.

There is a risk that this week's Commons vote could set up another clash with the ECHR, which could fine the Government if it does not comply with its ruling.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has warned against defying the Strasbourg court, saying its ruling imposes an international legal obligation on the UK.

But the Prime Minister made it clear he would not be letting prisoners get the vote.

David Cameron told the Commons last month: "I do not want prisoners to have the vote, and they should not get the vote - I am very clear about that.

"If it helps to have another vote in Parliament on another resolution to make it absolutely clear and help put the legal position beyond doubt, I am happy to do that.

"But no one should be in any doubt: prisoners are not getting the vote under this Government."

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has said Parliament has the right in law to tell the ECHR that it does not accept its ruling.

But he added there would be "consequences" for the UK's position in Europe if MPs do chose to defy the judgement.

In 2005, the ECHR said it was up to individual countries to decide which prisoners should be denied the right to vote from jail, but that a total ban was illegal.

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Jaguar Land Rover Launches China Expansion

By Mark Stone, China Correspondent

Jaguar Land Rover is to manufacture cars outside the United Kingdom for the first time.

The company has entered into a joint venture with one of China's largest car makers Chery.

The two firms began work to build a factory near Shanghai today.

"For the first time one of the most famous names in the British automotive industry, Jaguar Land Rover, is poised to begin manufacturing in a market outside the United Kingdom," the company's CEO Dr Ralf Speth said at the stone-laying ceremony.

"It seems only fitting that this new venture will take place here, in the People's Republic of China, the world's fastest-growing market for premium vehicles."

Kay Francis, the company's director of global corporate communications, told Sky News: "This is our first ever manufacture plant outside the UK.

"The facility here in China will include research and development, engine plants and production lines. Start to finish, the cars will be made in China," Ms Francis added.

Executives at Jaguar Land Rover have been in complicated negotiations with their counterparts at Chery for months.

Chery is a state-owned company and Chinese government approval was required before any deal could be signed.

The joint venture project was approved by China's National Development and Reform Commission last month.

The first bricks of the new factory were laid at a ceremony in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, to the northwest of Shanghai.

Yin Tongyao, the president of Chery Automobile, and Dr Speth were both there.

"Soon, on this very site, will be a fully-fledged manufacturing plant, to create employment, stimulate the supply chain and develop game-changing environmental technologies for China. A total of 10.9bn renmimbi (£1bn) will be invested in this joint venture," Dr Speth said.

"In our shared vision with Chery, this partnership will offer Chinese customers the latest generation models from Jaguar and Land Rover, as well as vehicles designed specifically for Chinese customers," he said.

The company hopes that the first cars will roll off the production line in 2014.

It is understood the first vehicle to be built at the factory will be the Land Rover Freelander.

The company would not confirm that suggestion.

"We intend to build Jaguar and Land Rover branded products here... It's likely that a Land Rover badged vehicle will be the first to come out of the plant when it opens in 2014," Ms Francis said.

Volkswagen already manufactures VWs, Audis, Skodas and Seats in China

China has become Jaguar Land Rover's largest market and experts say it has not even begun to reach its potential.

Sales of the company's cars reached 53,000 there in the first nine months of this year - that's up 80 per cent from the year before.

The reason behind the boost is China's demand for luxury goods.

Jaguar Land Rover has sold 20,000 Range Rover Evoques this year alone.

The firm hopes to boost last year's record £1.5bn profits when the new Chinese factory begins work.

Building cars in China rather than importing them from the UK allows the company to avoid massive import duties.

Chinese-made vehicles can be sold for less and the hope is that more will be bought.

The company insists the expansion to China is in addition to their business in the UK and that no UK jobs will be lost as a result.

"Everything we do in China is in addition to our UK operation. We are not shifting production and it doesn't impact the head count and state of play of the plants in Britain," Ms Francis said.

Jaguar Land Rover does have a factory in Pune, India, but that acts simply as an assembly plant, constructing flat-packed cars which are manufactured in the UK.

Compared with other European car makers, Jaguar Land Rover is very late in expanding production to China.

Volkswagen began its first joint venture in China in 1984. Volkswagen Group China now manufactures VWs, Audis, Skodas and Seats in China with year-on-year record sales.

Ageing Volkswagens are a common sight in Beijing; a sign of just how long the company has been operating here.

Audi is now the favoured brand for the political elite in China. Black Audi A6 cars, manufactured in China, are seen all over Beijing.

Jaguar Land Rover says that as well as building cars identical to those built in the UK, it plans to build a new vehicle designed specifically for the Chinese market. 

"We may also build a brand of car that is a blend of the two: a car that is new and designed and developed entirely in China," Ms Francis said.

"Having Chinese research and development means we can tailor cars for Chinese tastes."

British brands are very popular in China. Combine that with the fact that China has an increasingly wealthy urban population and there are significant opportunities which could help strengthen the UK economy.

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British Airways 'Twitter Account Hacked'

British Airways has launched an investigation after its Twitter account was apparently hacked and an offensive message retweeted.

The official BA Twitter account seemingly retweeted an offensive and racist message on Saturday afternoon.

After the offensive retweet was deleted, staff at the airline then tweeted an apology.

It said: "Apologies for the last RT. We are sorry for any offence caused and are investigating how this may have happened."

Within minutes, hundreds of Twitters users resent the retweet and later more than 160 followers had retweeted the apology.

The BA account has more than 210,000 followers.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Energy Bill: The Plan To Keep UK's Lights On

By Gerard Tubb, Sky News Correspondent

Crucial plans to ensure the UK's lights stay on for the next 20 years are due to be published shortly by the Government.

The energy and climate secretary, Ed Davey, has to balance the need to create new generating capacity with commitments to a low carbon future and more electricity from renewable sources.

Many power stations are coming to the end of their life and the Government estimates it will cost £110bn to replace and improve electricity infrastructure over the next decade.

Researcher Malcolm Grimston, from Imperial College and Chatham House, said it is essential that the Energy Bill is a success.

Researcher Malcolm Grimston said it is essential the bill is a success

"We've hardly built any new power stations for over 10 years now and a lot of our existing ones are coming to the end of their lives.

"We used to have a lot of our own gas reserves, they've pretty much gone so were now dependent on imports."

Electricity use is increasing, with suggestions that demand could double by 2050.

Advances in generating technology are increasing capacity, but planning concerns have the potential to derail industry targets.

At Ovenden Moor in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wind Power wants to replace 23 wind turbines generating 9.2MW of power with nine turbines generating up to 23MW.

But the size of the new turbines has led to campaigners in nearby Haworth, home to the Bronte Museum, complaining that the environment will be blighted - while denying charges of nimbyism.

"This is everyone's back yard, this is heritage landscape," said Chris Gwent, the heritage and conservation officer for the Bronte Society.

"We don't want them dominating this unique landscape."

The UK is signed up to providing 15% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and to reducing to zero the amount of carbon pumped into the atmosphere from electricity generation.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More