Recruitment Drive For 11,000 New Army Reserves

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

One of the largest military recruitment events of its kind will be held in London today to help the Ministry of Defence increase the number of Reserve forces.

Hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen from London-based Reserve regiments will take part in the day at Horse Guards Parade. It will include a parachute jump from a Lynx helicopter by four Reservists.

As part of plans for 'Future Force 2020', the government is hoping to increase the number of the Army Reserve from its current size of 19,000 to 30,000.

The Air Force Auxiliary is to expand to 1,800 personnel and the Navy's Maritime Reserve to 3,100. These recruits will offset large redundancies for regular servicemen and women in all three services. The Army will shrink to 82,000 soldiers from 110,000.

It is a plan that has been widely criticised from a number of corners, and there is considerable doubt over the ability of the military to hit the recruitment targets.

A gunner from the Royal Artillery prepares to fire his light artillery gun

The most up-to-date figures will be released next month, but it's generally thought that only a few hundred new recruits have signed up this year, well short of the numbers needed.

As part of the plans, the name of the Territorial Army is changing to Reserve Force in keeping with the new image.

£1.8bn has been committed over 10 years to supplement training and equipment for Reserve soldiers in order that will receive the same level of kit as their regular counterparts.

The number of overseas training exercises will increase to 22 per year from seven last year. But this, and any operational deployments, would put increased strain on small businesses.

To compensate for that, the Ministry of Defence is offering a financial package to any companies losing staff to Reservist duty. This would allow them to recruit temporary replacement workers.

A gunner from the Royal Artillery carries a high explosive shell

Speaking ahead of the recruitment event, the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond defended the controversial plans for the Reserve force.

"We are completely revitalising our Reserve Forces, growing their trained strength with fresh incentives, better pay and more opportunities for working and training alongside Regulars," he said.

"This exhibition highlights just how many fantastic opportunities there are for anyone looking for a rewarding, challenging and exciting second career."

Reservists will be expected to operate alongside their regular colleagues and perform the same role regardless of their part-time nature.

In an interview last month, Andrew Cameron, the Chief Executive of Combat Stress, warned that reservists are twice as likely to suffer mental health problems and predicted a growth in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases if the Reserve Force was expanded.

The Ministry of Defence references other countries, such as the United States, which has a large and successful Reserve element to its military.

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Fat-Fighting Strategy To Slim Down Nation

By David Bowden, Senior Correspondent

A dozen of the biggest food manufacturers and retailers have pledged to cut the amount of saturated fat in their products.

The Department of Health says the move will cut enough fat to fill one-and-a-half swimming pools from our diets and save thousands of people from heart disease.

Supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are among those who have signed up to the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal to help improve the nation's health.

Sainsbury's director of corporate affairs, Alex Cole, says what is good for our waistline is also good for the company's bottom-line.

"There's absolutely a business case for doing this. We know our customers want products that are healthier. If we can provide them with those options, an easy way for them to make a healthy choice, we do sell more."

With one in four adults obese and one in three children obese or overweight by primary school leaving age, Britain is regularly mocked as a nation of fatties.

But the Government is clear this is not diet by diktat, and health minister Jane Ellison insists this is not about the 'nanny state'.

"We're not trying to tell people, from Whitehall, exactly what they should be eating or manufacturing, this is about us working together with industry to actually try and give people more options to lead a healthier life," she said.

Sainsbury's 'traffic light' system has proved effective

According to NHS Choices, the maximum recommended daily amount of saturated fat for a man is 30g and for a woman it is 20g, yet most Britons eat 20% more than that.

A survey done by Sainsbury's to coincide with the latest phase of the Public Health Responsibility Deal says that most people are confused by which are good fats and which aren't and that one in five believes all fats are bad.

The trouble is saturated fat is the kind of fat found in some of our tastiest treats - pies, cakes, biscuits, sausages, bacon, cheese and chocolate.

But even chocolate firms are getting in on the low-fat act.

Nestle has signed up to cut down on saturates and come up with a new formula for the wafer inside KitKats, though the chocolate itself is unchanged.

But the unfortunate truth is that most of us not only eat too much, we eat too much of the wrong things and unless we start to change our eating habits we're still going to stay fat and probably die before our time.

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Miller Redpath: Body Found In Back Garden

Police searching for a missing teenager have found a body in his overgrown back garden.

Public schoolboy Miller Redpath, 18, went missing from his family home in Wenhaston in Suffolk in August.

Suffolk Police said an officer went to the house on Thursday as part of their inquiries and found the body during a search of the garden.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out, however the cause of death remains unknown, police said in a statement.

"At this stage the death is still being treated as unexplained," the statement said.

"Officers have not yet been able to identify the deceased and further tests are required, however early indications suggest that it is the body of 18-year-old Miller Redpath.

"Further searches are taking place at the property and specialist trained officers continue to support Miller's mother at this difficult time."

The discovery comes after Mr Redpath's mother made an emotional appeal for information about her son's disappearance.

"I think he went out purposefully to do something, in order to return shortly, and something went horribly wrong," Anastasia Miller said earlier this month.

"Everything was on track for him as he was doing well at school, he was thinking of London University, had lots of friends and I just don't understand what happened," she added.

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'Hurricane': UK Will Take Full Force Of Storm

A storm which could reach hurricane strengths of 80mph or more will definitely hit Britain on Monday, weather experts have warned.

There were hopes the huge storm brewing over the Atlantic Ocean would miss the UK, and sweep instead through the English Channel.

But meteorologists are now certain it will strike the south west of England and could leave a trail of destruction as it gusts north-east across the country, causing structural damage, and bringing down trees and power lines.

Roads may also be hit by flash flooding, bringing rush hour traffic on Monday morning to a halt, and homes could be flooded.

Severe weather alerts are in place for England and Wales, with an amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for the southern half of England and Wales.

There is a lesser yellow warning, meaning "be aware", for the rest of Wales and England up to the border with Scotland.

Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "The storm is coming through at the worst possible time; from around midnight to midday on Monday - which takes in the rush hour when people are trying to get to work.

An amber warning is in place across the southern half of England and Wales

"Winds gusting at 80mph are quite capable of bringing down trees and power lines and causing structural damage.

"Trees are still full in leaf at this time of year and the ground is quite damp so there is more chance they can be ripped from the ground, and branches ripped from trees.

"There's also the possibility of flooding with torrential downpours and leaves blocking drains. South Wales and southern England are most at risk.

"There is likely to be flash flooding on roads and the AA will be out in force."

She said Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But the storm will develop on Saturday and intensify on Sunday fairly close to the coast before it strikes with full force.

The storm will intensify on Sunday and hit the UK on Monday morning

A strong jet stream and warm air close to the UK are contributing to its development and strength.

Winds could top 80mph as they hit seaside towns and villages before slowly losing power as they gust across the UK and out to the North Sea.

Some have compared its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in south Wales in 1989.

It will strike two weeks later than the Great Storm of 1987, which left a trail of destruction on October 15 and 16.

Veteran weatherman Michael Fish famously failed to predict its severity before it flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Winds could top 80mph as the storm hits seaside towns and villages

This time he warned people to "batten down the hatches" and keep checking the forecasts as the powerful storm approaches.

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "The timing couldn't really be worse, potentially causing significant travel disruption on Monday morning, which is one of the busiest times on the roads.

"If it's bad where you are, keep tuned to the weather and traffic reports - in case of road or bridge closures - and heed any local police advice about whether it's safe to travel.

"At a minimum, take a fully-charged mobile phone and warm, weatherproof clothing."

He said the AA's specialist flood rescue team, driving modified Land Rovers, have been working all week and are on stand-by.

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to avoid calling 999 during the storm unless there is a real emergency.

A spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is reminding Londoners to dial 101 when contacting police when it's not an emergency with expected increases in demand brought about by high winds in the next few days."

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Weather: Storm Alerts As UK Set For 'Hurricane'

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Twitter Mistake: Police Sorry For Immigrant Tweet

Police have apologised after they were branded "racist" for sending a tweet saying "Officers 1 Immigrants 0".

The offending message was sent out by an officer at Guildford Police via the Surrey force's official Twitter account during an operation against illegal immigrants.

It was accompanied by the hashtag 'We Will Catch Up With You' and followed the arrests of eight people at a mobile carwash in Sainsbury's in Burpham.

The post said: "re the last tweet. the PCSO was 13331 Mullard and the help of colleagues from the town team. Officers 1 Imigrants 0!!"

After the posting, on Thursday night, scores of people replied to the Guildford Beat police site, accusing them of racism.

One user called @TOCSmusic said "this is one of the single worst tweets ever sent".

Tanya Dale wrote: "DISGUSTING, racism alive and kicking and on display, no more police just government minions."

Another person, Bijou Banton, tweeted: "you are a disgrace and should be ashamed of yourselves. I hope this is some kind of joke."

Dozens of others also accused Surrey officers of racism and stupidity.

The tweet was later deleted as Guildford Police posted apologies to each tweeter with messages like: "The language used in that tweet was inappropriate and has been removed. Apologies for any offence caused."

A Surrey Police spokesman told Sky News the officer "has been given some words of advice" and no disciplinary action will be taken.

In a statement, the force said: "Following a UK Border Agency led operation, supported by Surrey Police, in Guildford, the @GuildfordBeat Twitter account gave an update about the incident to members of the public.

"The language used in a subsequent tweet was inappropriate, it was quickly removed and an apology issued."

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Grangemouth's Future Saved In Last-Minute Deal

Grangemouth petrochemicals plant has been saved following a last-minute deal.

The 800 workers who were due to lose their jobs at the Falkirk plant - Scotland's largest industrial site and its only refinery - were told the news at 11am on Friday.

It came after the Unite union confirmed it would now "embrace" a survival plan in an effort to reverse a decision by Swiss-based owner Ineos to close the business.

Calum MacLean, chairman of Ineos' petrochemicals division, told a news conference a "great cheer" went up from workers as he told them their jobs were safe.

But he said "very limited redundancies" would have to be made.

Asked by one reporter if he had held a gun to Scotland's head, he replied: "I don't think that's the case."

He pointed out that Ineos had invested £1bn in the business and would invest another £300m to secure its future for at least the next 15 years.

Another £300m will be invested at the site, Ineos says

He said it was "only right" that by making such a "huge investment" the company had to make sure it had a "long-term sustainable base".

The agreement was to see see fuel production resume at the company's oil refinery on Friday after a shutdown of more than a week.

The closure would have been a major setback for the Scottish National Party, which is leading the campaign for Scotland's independence from the UK.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This news is a tremendous fillip for the workforce and the whole Grangemouth community, following what could have been a potential disaster."

Later, in an interview with Sky News, Mr Calum MacLean declined to say how many redundancies would be made. He said the £300m would be spent on building a new gas terminal at the site.

Asked what he thought of union tactics during the negotiations, he said it would have "saved a lot of traumatic effects" if union officials had begun the talks a week ago with the same attitude they had had over the past two days.

The closure would have been a huge blow for Alex Salmond

Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos Group, said: "This is a victory for common sense. Unite advised employees to reject change and vote for closure. Thank goodness people finally came to their senses. Grangemouth now has a great future."

Ineos said Unite had made a "dramatic U-turn" and had agreed to a three-year pay freeze, no strikes for three years, and moving to a "modern" pension scheme.

Earlier, Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey said shop stewards had decided to accept the company's survival plan "warts and all" in the wake of the closure decision.

Unite's Scottish secretary, Pat Rafferty, said: "Grangemouth is the powerhouse of the Scottish economy - it now has a fighting chance of upholding this crucial role into the future.

"Obviously today's news is tinged with sadness - decent men and women are being asked to make sacrifices to hold on to their jobs, but the clear wish of our members is that we work with the company to implement its proposals."

Ineos caused shockwaves on Wednesday when it announced it could not continue to operate its loss-making petrochemicals division, leaving hundreds of staff at risk and many more contractors facing the axe.

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Weather: Storm Alerts As UK Set For 'Hurricane'

Severe weather alerts have been issued amid fears Britain could be hit by the most powerful storm in years.

A Met office image shows a forecast for the storm on Monday

A series of wind, rain and flood alerts are now in place as forecasters predict hurricane-speed gusts of more than 80mph.

But in order to be scientifically classed a hurricane, the winds need to be sustained.

The Met Office is warning people to "be prepared for the risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures".

Forecasts show how the storm might develop and move towards the UK

The storm is currently brewing over the Atlantic and its full force could hit UK land on Sunday night, into Monday.

Meteorologists are urging people to prepare for the storm, with some comparing its potential to the Great Storm of 1987 and record-breaking gales in South Wales in 1989.

Sky weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "Late October is notorious for strong storms, with a wind gust of 124mph recorded in the Vale of Glamorgan in 1989.

The Met Office website shows amber and yellow alerts for Monday

"Should this storm achieve its potential, it is likely to bring down trees and to cause damage to roads and buildings, possibly causing major transport disruption and power cuts."

Wheeler says the storm is due to develop over the Atlantic in the next 24 hours as a strong jet stream and warm air combine to create a deep low-pressure system.

Its trajectory is still unclear but there are fears it may wreak havoc in England and Wales if it hits land.

If it does make land, it is likely to batter Wales and the South West first before sweeping east and touching most of the country.

Exposed coasts in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent are most likely to feel the brunt of the winds.

There is a chance the storm could miss land completely, sweeping instead through the English Channel.

Met Office senior forecaster Helen Chivers said: "Winds of that strength are damaging winds - there will be a risk of damage to homes and trees and disruption to travel.

"This is not a storm you see every winter. The storm of 1987 is one, and the Burns day storm in January 1990 is another."

Atlantic storms of this type usually develop further west across the ocean, losing strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

But this one is unusual in that it is expected to appear much closer to land, potentially moving across the country while it is in its most powerful phase.

There are already fears the storm may compare to the Great Storm of 1987

The storm is expected to strike two weeks later than the Great Storm of 1987, which left a trail of destruction on October 15 and 16.

It flattened trees, knocked out power and left 22 people dead in England and France.

Forecasters at the time famously failed to predict the severity of the storm.

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Family Not Seeing 'Green Shoots' Of Recovery

By Emma Birchley, East Of England Correspondent

The green shoots of economic recovery might be growing stronger but the Horton family is not feeling the effects.

"It's been really, really tough. We are struggling to make ends meet," said Spencer, 39, from Felixstowe.

He has his own recording studio and band, Mohawk, but he makes much of his money from teaching guitar, bass and drums as well as vocal coaching.

The past year has been difficult as the luxury of music lessons has been dropped by those struggling to meet the cost. Pub closures mean fewer gigs.

But there are tentative signs that things may be on the up.

He said: "The lessons have started picking up in the last month or so. I've got five new students so that helps but I don't know how much of that is a sign that the economy is improving."

His wife, Morgan, is training to be a counsellor and volunteers her skills, but is also a self-employed massage therapist and has seen her business suffer.

She said: "I used to have a lot of clients who have a massage as a luxury or to treat chronic back pain but it got to the point that they had to make a choice because of money and the massage went.

"We have both chosen to be in professions that give back to the community and that keeps us going yet the Government does not value or recognise that."

The couple have two children, April, five, and Coby, two.

Keeping the house warm and the family well fed has meant putting up with increasing costs.

Mrs Horton said: "We don't buy luxuries very often and our food bill is still big. It's gone up by about a third in the last year or so.

"Energy is really expensive too. They say the national average is £1,400 a year and we pay close to double that in gas and electricity."

Keeping up with the bills meant they recently had to get a £10,000 loan.

She added: "It really frustrates me because I wanted to spend it on doing up the house but the overdraft kept creeping up so we had to pay that off."

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UK Economy: GDP Growth Accelerates To 0.8%

The Chancellor claims there is now "real momentum" in the UK's economic recovery after GDP growth of 0.8% was measured in the third quarter.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it marked the strongest period of growth in more than three years - with services, construction and manufacturing all expanding.

It was also the third successive period of improving output, in line with the expectations of economists, though some had forecast growth to have reached 1%.

The ONS said construction - a sector bolstered by Government initiatives such as Help to Buy - surged by 2.5%.

George Osborne said: "This shows that Britain's hard work is paying off & the country is on the path to prosperity."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Today's encouraging #GDP growth figures are another sign we are turning a corner."

Labour argued the growth was "long overdue".

Overall GDP was 1.5% ahead of the same period last year - a time when the economy was being boosted by the Olympics and Paralympics.

But the economy remains 2.5% off its pre-recession peak at the start of 2008.

During the third quarter, construction was boosted by new work on private housing and private commercial building as well as domestic home repair and maintenance but remained 12.5% off its 2008 high.

Housebuilders have been buoyed by the Government's Help to Buy scheme, which recently launched a new phase offering mortgage guarantees.

Production grew by 0.5%, though this remains 12.8% off its 2008 level, while within this manufacturing improved 0.9% in the third quarter.

The powerhouse services sector, which represents three-quarters of economic output, grew by 0.7% and is now 0.6% above its pre-crisis peak.

The largest contributions here came from business services and finance, followed by distribution, hotels and restaurants.

But the wider statistics highlighted one piece of bad news - in terms of UK growth.

The contribution from utilities - including gas and electricity - tumbled by 6.8% in the period, possibly a result of the warm summer compared to the same period last year which was largely a washout and cool.

The figure was seen as a potential factor behind the decision among energy suppliers to increase household bills - to make up for lower demand.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "Britain is booming again with the economy showing the most sustainable and robust-looking upturn since the financial crisis."

But Alan Clarke of Scotiabank said the figure was a "tad disappointing" - given survey data indicating growth nearer 1% - and "wasn't a home run".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "After three damaging years of flatlining, it's both welcome and long overdue that our economy is growing again.

"But for millions of people across the country still seeing prices rising faster than their wages this is no recovery at all."

Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said growth figures will "mean nothing to the vast majority of people in this country faced with mounting household bills and stagnant wages."

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Pavlo Lapshyn Jailed For Minimum Of 40 Years

A Ukrainian white supremicist who murdered a grandfather and bombed three Midland mosques has been sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in jail.

Student Pavlo Lapshyn has been told that he would not be eligible for release for four decades despite his guilty plea because of the 'abhorrence' of his crimes.

The Ukrainian began his racist campaign just five days after arriving in the UK in April this year when he stabbed to death 82-year-old grandfather Mohammed Saleem in Small Heath, Birmingham.

He then went on to launch three attacks on mosques in the Black Country, bringing terror to Muslim communities across the west Midlands.

Before sentencing him at the Old Bailey, judge Mr Justice Sweeney told Lapshyn he clearly held white supremicist views and racial hatred.

The judge said: "You were motivated to commit the offences by religious and racial hatred.

"You were clearly planning to plant and detonate more devices in the hope that you would ignite racial conflict and cause muslims to leave the area where you were living.

"Such views, hatred and motivation are abhorrent to all right thinking people and have no place whatsoever in our multi-faith and multi-cultural society."

Granddad Mohammed Saleem, who was murdered by racist Pavlo Lapshyn

Lapshyn had won a work placement contest and was employed at a software firm in Birmingham but he used the months after his arrival to orchestrate a hate campaign.

Lapshyn put together a home-made bomb that he hid in a child's lunchbox and left it outside Walsall's Aisha Mosque on June 21.

Seven days later he detonated a device close to Wolverhampton Central Mosque.

On July 12 he used a deadly nail bomb next to the Kanzul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton, near Wolverhampton.

Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "We found part-made devices in Lapshyn's room – plus chemicals and bomb-making equipment – so it is clear he planned to place further devices with the intention of killing or maiming innocent members of the public.

"All three of the devices he detonated were powerful but his final attack in Tipton was the first to feature shrapnel and nails.

"He placed this near the mosque's car-park with the intention of hitting worshippers as they arrived for prayers – thankfully the service had been put back an hour so the mosque was largely deserted when the bomb went off."

Lapshyn was caught after CCTV pictures of him were put in the media and recognised by a member of the public.

When he was interviewed by police Lapshyn said he was acting alone and was not part of any wider group.

During the sentencing, Lapshyn showed no emotion, even while the judge read out a harrowing victim impact statement from Mr Saleem's family.

The hearing was extended by half an hour after a suspicious package was discovered in the courtroom where Lapshyn was due to be sentenced.

More follows...

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River Deaths Of Two Girls Ruled Accidental

The deaths of two girls who were swept away by the River Wear in July were accidental, an inquest has heard.

Tonibeth Purvis, 15, tried to save her friend Chloe Fowler, 14, after she got into difficulty in the river at Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Both girls were swept away and their bodies were later found by emergency crews.

During the prolonged rescue attempt, the coroner in Sunderland was told various members of the public tried in vain to save the girls.

They included an off-duty police officer who dived into the water and two local fishermen, as well as some of the teenagers' friends.

There were also dozens of emergency service workers at the scene, including specialist dive teams, the fire brigade, a helicopter and 40 police officers.

Recording his verdict, Coroner Derek Winter said: "These events were traumatic and remain so. They touched the families and the whole community.

"Chloe jumped into the water and got into difficulty. Then Tonibeth in a valiant attempt to try and save her also got into difficulty.

The spot on the River Wear where the two girls got into difficulty

"Both were overwhelmed by the river and drowned despite the efforts of friends and the rescue services.

"I am so very sad about your loss."

Detective Inspector Mark Ord of Northumbria Police described the timeline of events and said both girls were found within 100 metres of where they were last seen.

He described how, having received the initial report just before 3pm, Tonibeth was not located until 8.49pm and then Chloe just before 10pm.

"The river was in full flow and was a hazardous environment. It was six metres deep in the middle," he said.

"We tried desperately to find the girls."

The hearing at Sunderland Civic Centre heard that since the incident the local authority has agreed to conduct weekly checks along the river, which rises and falls quickly with the tide.

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NHS Trusts: One In Four Labelled 'High Risk'

44 NHS Trusts At High Risk

Updated: 10:01am UK, Thursday 24 October 2013

There were 44 trusts in the two bands with the highest risk, with 24 trusts in the highest possible band 1.

Band 1:

Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Band 2:

Barts Health NHS Trust

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust

Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation TrustN

Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

Weston Area Health NHS Trust

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Hurricane-Speed Winds Threaten Britain

Parts of the UK face being battered by hurricane-speed winds which threaten to rip down trees, cause transport chaos, and cut power supplies, forecasters have warned.

The risk of a severe storm has been highlighted by the Met Office, which it said could see gusts of more than 80mph, especially on exposed coasts in the South.

A storm is classed as a hurricane when it has sustained winds of 74mph or higher.

Unsettled weather is expected to continue into the weekend with further spells of heavy rain and strong winds.

But moving into Sunday night and Monday morning, the Met Office warn there is a risk of a 'significant' storm developing.

Based on current predictions, some areas could see some of their strongest winds for a number of years it says.

A strong jet stream and warm air close to the UK, are both contributing to the development and strength of the storm.

Eddie Carroll, Chief Forecaster at the Met Office, said: "There is still a chance this storm may take a more southerly track and miss the UK, bringing impacts elsewhere in northern Europe, but people should be aware there is a risk of severe weather and significant disruption."

Chris England, meteorologist at the Sky News weather centre, said: "There's the potential for some exceptionally strong winds late Sunday through Monday morning, particularly over the southern half of the UK, with potentially damaging gusts of 80-90mph in exposed parts.

"But we are really talking about something that doesn't exist yet, so the forecast of the track, the timing, and the intensity are still open to change.

"It's really a warning of potential at the moment and something to keep an eye on."

Normally Atlantic storms of this type develop much further to the west of the UK and are waning in strength by the time they reach the UK and Ireland.

This storm is more unusual, developing much closer to the UK and potentially moving across the country while still in its most powerful phase.

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Madeleine McCann: Portugal Cops Reopen Case

Madeleine: Key Events Timeline

Updated: 3:44pm UK, Thursday 24 October 2013

Here is a timeline of the key events since Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

2007

:: May 3 - Kate and Gerry McCann leave their three children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.

Jane Tanner, one of the friends eating with the McCanns, later reports seeing a man carrying a child away earlier that night.

:: May 5 - Portuguese police reveal they believe Madeleine was abducted but is still alive and in Portugal, and say they have a sketch of a suspect.

:: May 14 - Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese man Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an "arguido", or official suspect.

:: May 25 - Detectives release a description of the man reported by Jane Tanner three weeks earlier after pressure from the McCanns, their legal team and the British Government.

:: May 30 - Mr and Mrs McCann meet the Pope in Rome in the first of a series of trips around Europe and beyond to highlight the search for their daughter.

:: August 6 - A Portuguese newspaper reports that British sniffer dogs have found traces of blood on a wall in the McCanns' holiday apartment.

:: August 11 - Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead.

:: September 7 - During further questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both "arguidos" in their daughter's disappearance.

:: September 9 - The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

:: October 2 - Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the inquiry, is removed from the case after criticising the British police in a Portuguese newspaper interview.

:: October 25 - The McCanns release a new artist's impression drawn by an FBI-trained expert showing the man described by Jane Tanner.

2008

:: March 19 - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers over allegations they were responsible for Madeleine's death.

:: April 7 - Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, fly to Britain to re-interview the seven friends on holiday with the McCanns when Madeleine vanished.

:: July 17 - Mr Murat receives £600,000 in libel damages from four newspaper groups over "seriously defamatory" articles connecting him with the child's disappearance.

:: July 21 - The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the "arguido" status of the McCanns and Mr Murat.

:: August 4 - Thousands of pages of evidence from the Portuguese police files in the exhaustive investigation into Madeleine's disappearance are made public.

2009

:: January 13 - Mr McCann returns to Portugal for the first time since coming back to the UK without his daughter.

:: March 24 - The McCanns launch a localised new appeal for information focused on the area in the Algarve where Madeleine disappeared.

:: April 4 - Mr McCann goes back to Portugal to help film a reconstruction of the events on the night his daughter vanished.

:: April 22 - The McCanns fly to the US to record an interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey to mark two years since Madeleine's disappearance.

:: June 14 - Dying paedophile Raymond Hewlett says he was in the Algarve when Madeleine disappeared and has an alibi - but has no plans to reveal it.

:: August 6 - Detectives say they are hunting a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian or New Zealand accent, reportedly seen in Barcelona three days after the little girl went missing.

2010

:: Feb 18 -  Kate and Gerry McCann say they are "pleased and relieved" at a judge's decision to uphold a ban on a book by former detective Goncalo Amaral.

:: Mar 3 -  A newly-released file from Portugese police on possible sightings is called "gold dust" and could lead to a breakthrough, says a spokesman for the McCanns.

:: May 1 - Kate McCann reveals she had thoughts about being "wiped out" in a motorway crash to end the pain of losing Madeleine - but vows never to give up.

:: November 10 - Madeleine's parents launch an online petition to help force a UK and Portuguese joint review of all evidence in the case.

:: November 15 -  The McCanns sign a deal to write a book about their daughter's disappearance.

2011

:: May 13 - The Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to help investigate the case.

:: November 23 - Kate and Gerry McCann appear at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

They tell how media pressure affected their family life and accuse newspaper editors of hampering the search for their missing daughter.

Kate McCann says she felt "violated" when her diary was published without her permission.

:: December 5 - Scotland Yard detectives spend time in Barcelona as part of their re-examination of the case.

2012

:: March 9 - Portuguese police in Oporto launch a review of the original investigation.

:: April 26 - Scotland Yard says Madeleine McCann may still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like as a nine-year-old.

:: July 6 - British detectives examine a claim that the little girl's body is buried near the apartment from where she vanished. It comes after a self-styled investigator sends police radar scans he claims show a burial site.

2013

:: Feb 11 - Gerry McCann calls for politicians to implement the conclusions of the Leveson Inquiry in full, backed by legislation.

:: Feb 13 - Police say the results of DNA tests on a girl in New Zealand who was mistaken for Madeleine reveal that she is not the missing British girl.

:: Feb 21 - Retired solicitor Tony Bennett who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death is given a suspended jail sentence.

:: May 2 - Madeleine McCann's parents tell Sky News a police review into their daughter's disappearance is making "excellent progress" as they mark the sixth anniversary since she went missing.

:: May 17 - Scotland Yard say they have identified a number of "people of interest" they want to speak to. It believes it has found enough evidence to reopen the case but the Portuguese authorities are still resistant. 

:: June 15 - The Home Office agrees to fund a full-scale investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

:: October 13 - UK detectives reviewing the case say key details in the timeline of her disappearance have "significantly changed".

:: October 14 - A fresh appeal is launched in a bid to find a suspect detectives say is of "vital importance", with two new separate e-fits - thought to be of the same man seen on the night Madeleine went missing - released by police.

:: October 17 - Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is leading the Scotland Yard team, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, and Mr and Mrs McCann meet officers in Lisbon to be briefed on the Portuguese case.

:: October 23 - Britain's most senior police officer Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe defends the way the Portuguese dealt with the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, saying it would have been "very difficult" to immediately know if they were dealing with a serious crime.

:: October 24 - Detectives in Portugal reopen the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance after an internal review uncovers new lines of inquiry and witnesses who were never questioned during the original Portuguese investigation.

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ScottishPower Hikes Energy Prices By Up To 9%

Energy giant ScottishPower has raised its prices by 8.5% for gas and 9% for electricity from December 6.

It is expected that the rises will add another £113 to the typical annual dual fuel bill.

The Spanish-owned company said more than one third of its 3.2 million residential customers them will not be affected by the price rises as they are on fixed or capped tariff deals.

Parent firm Iberdrola had warned in third-quarter results on Wednesday that it had "no option" but to increase tariffs in the UK after claiming ScottishPower had been hit by the Government's energy efficiency and environmental measures.

Neil Clitheroe, ScottishPower's chief executive of energy retail and generation, said: "The cost of purchasing and delivering energy to homes across Britain has risen significantly this year.

"With an increase in costs for delivering compulsory schemes to reduce carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency in homes, we unfortunately have no other option than to pass these on by increasing our prices for customers."

ScottishPower is the latest power supplier to announce price increases, following npower (up 11%), British Gas (up 9.2%) and SSE (up 8.2%).

The rises have generated anger from the public and politicians, as families' net earnings have stayed flat and inflation has stayed low.

Another 2.2 million households face higher energy bills

The hikes have increasingly become a political issue, with Labour saying they will freeze prices for a period if they get into power.

The Conservatives have said they expect prices to come down as they increase the amount of competition in the market and review taxes.

On Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury waded into the row describing the latest wave of rises as "inexplicable".

Much of the argument has been over how much of the rise is down to so-called green taxes.

These have been levied on fuel bills to help pay for more clean energy schemes with fewer CO2 emissions and more home insulation.

ScottishPower said it has seen a 16% increase in the cost of environmental and social schemes.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna told Sky News: "This simply strengthens the case for ... taking action to protect consumer and protect businesses who have been whacked with these energy price hikes for some time now.

Shadow energy and climate change secretary Caroline Flint added: "This latest price rise is a slap in the face for hard-pressed consumers.

"While David Cameron dithers people are being left out of pocket because of the Government's failure to stand up to the energy companies."

But Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said: "With 15 independent energy suppliers to choose from outside the Big Six, it's surprising that these companies think they can keep getting away with bill hikes of this magnitude.

"As more and more people shop around for the competitive deals on the market, some of which are offered by the independents, companies like Scottish Power can no longer put their bills up in this way with no consequences.

"The Government is looking at how to get people's energy bills as low as possible to help hard-pressed households.

"We've already increased competition, brought new players in to the market to offer consumers real choice, and the most vulnerable people are getting direct help with their bills this winter. We'll continue this work to make sure consumers are getting a good deal."

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Stuart Hall Re-Arrested: New Child Sex Claims

Disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall has been re-arrested and is being questioned by detectives over new, more serious, child sex allegations.

The former It's A Knockout presenter was taken to a police station from prison, where he is serving a 30-month jail term for sexually abusing 13 victims, one as young as nine, over a period of nearly 20 years.

The latest allegations relate to two alleged female victims, aged between 12 and 15 at the time, according to Lancashire police.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said the alleged offences took place in Manchester and Derbyshire between 1974 and 1980.

"One of these two women claims that he raped her over several years on a regular basis," said Brunt

A police spokeswoman said: "This morning an 83-year-old man from Wilmslow in Cheshire was produced from prison and arrested by detectives on suspicion of a number of sexual offences.

"The allegations are historic and relate to two alleged female victims aged between 12 and 15 at the time.

"They allegedly took place in the Manchester and Derbyshire area between 1974 and 1980. We are not prepared to discuss further details at this stage.

"The man will be interviewed at a Lancashire police station during the course of the day.

"We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously.

"We would encourage people with any information about sexual abuse or who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report their concerns confident in the knowledge it will be investigated appropriately and with sensitivity."

It comes after it was confirmed that Hall had been stripped of his OBE for broadcasting and charity in the wake of his conviction for sex offences against children.

Hall was initially given a 15-month prison term at Preston Crown Court, but the Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence was "inadequate" and it was doubled in July.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said his initial denials of his crimes were a "seriously aggravating" feature in the case.

In April, Hall, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, eventually admitted 14 counts of indecent assault against girls aged between nine and 17, and a reporting ban on his pleas was lifted the following month.

He had previously been strident in condemning the accusations, which he labelled "pernicious, callous, cruel and above all spurious".

Hall, whose full name is James Stuart Hall, said he had endured "a living nightmare" and, but for his "very loving family", may have considered taking his own life.

He was a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century, and his eccentric and erudite football match summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He also wrote a weekly sport column for the Radio Times magazine up until his arrest.

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Primark Death: Woman Falls From Liverpool Store

A woman has died after falling from a third-floor balcony at a Primark store in Liverpool.

Officers were called to the clothing store in Church Street by paramedics at 6pm on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old woman was found at the bottom of the escalators on the ground floor.

Moments earlier, she had been seen on the balcony next to the escalators on the third floor, police said.

A doctor, who was in the area at the time, treated the woman at the scene before paramedics arrived.

She was taken to the Royal University Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

A police spokesman said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that an investigation is under way after a woman was found with serious injuries inside a clothes store in Liverpool city centre on Tuesday evening."

A post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish a cause of death.

The police spokesman added: "Detectives are speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV to establish the full circumstances of the incident."

Anyone with any relevant information about the incident should call St Anne Street CID on 0151 777 4065 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

At the same store five years ago a three-year-old girl fell through a gap between the escalators.

She survived the fall, but suffered multiple injuries, including a broken arm and leg.

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Raped Girl 'Not Treated As Human' By Couple

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

A couple have been jailed for a total of 18 years for trafficking a deaf and mute girl into the UK, where she was repeatedly raped and subjected to forced labour.

Ilyas Ashar, 84, and his wife Tallat Ashar, 68, forced the vulnerable youngster to sleep in the cellar of their home in Greater Manchester, where she was beaten and slapped, and led a life of domestic servitude for almost a decade.

The girl was also used to steal more than £30,000 in benefits on her behalf.

She was even taught enough sign language by the family so she could agree to the benefit money being handed over.

Their victim had no family or friends in the UK and had never been to school in Pakistan or Britain.

Ilyas Ashar also routinely raped the girl from the moment he brought her into the UK from Pakistan, aged around 10, in June 2000.

Ashar was convicted of 13 specimen counts of rape by a jury last week, though the court heard the rapes happened "many, many times more".

He had also been convicted at an earlier trial of two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation, two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit and one of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit.

He was jailed for 13 years at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

His wife was jailed for five years for two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation, and four counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit.

Their daughter, Faaiza Ashar, 46, who was found guilty at an earlier trial of two counts of furnishing false information to obtain a benefit, and one count of permitting furnishing of false information to obtain a benefit, was given a 12 month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work.

Passing sentence Judge Peter Lakin said: "You Ilyas Ashar and you Tallat Ashar did not treat this girl as a human being.

"To you she was merely an object to be used, abused and cast aside at will.

"You took full advantage of her extreme vulnerability.

"You exploited her physically, you exploited her mentally and you exploited her economically.

"There was throughout a distasteful undercurrent of violence and intimidation.

"All that she had in her life was the love of her family and her own human dignity. You two took that away from her. You consigned her to a life of misery and degradation.

"Throughout these proceedings not one of you have shown any remorse.

"You are concerned with your own selfish, self-centred interests.

"You Ilyas and Tallat Ashar are deeply unpleasant, highly manipulative and dishonest people."

When police and local trading standards raided the Ashar family home in Cromwell Road, Eccles, in Salford, on June 8, 2009, officers were "shocked" to discover the girl asleep in the cold and dark cellar.

One officer likened her behaviour to that of an "animal" - not allowed to sit on the furniture - and an indication of her status in the house.

She was taken from the house and is now doing well with the help of social services, the court heard.

A proceeds of crime hearing will be held next year to recoup the benefits stolen by the Ashars.

They had fought the case at every turn, mounting a series of legal challenges and appealing but failing to overturn their convictions at the Court of Appeal.

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Prince George Christened At St James's Palace

Prince George's christening ceremony has taken place at St James's Palace following his arrival with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry gathered for the private ceremony of the future king and supreme governor of the Church of England.

Before entering the chapel, William told everyone: "He's all ready. So far so good."

Prince George was dressed in a Honiton lace christening gown, a replica of the one used by more than 60 members of the Royal Family since 1841.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George

Kate looked relaxed before the service began and wore a cream Alexander McQueen outfit and a matching hat by milliner Jane Taylor.

Other guests include Kate's family - parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa and James - along with his godparents and their partners.

The historic 45-minute service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury saw four generations of British monarchs photographed, by celebrity portrait photographer Jason Bell, together for the first time since 1899.

Harry and Pippa both gave readings and William and Kate chose two hymns, two lessons and two anthems for the service.

The Queen greets the Archbishop of Canterbury

The Lily font used by the Archbishop was brought to the Chapel Royal from the Tower of London where it is normally housed as part of the crown jewels.

While the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William were all christened at Buckingham Palace, the Duke and Duchess have chosen to break with tradition, holding the baptism in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace.

It is the chapel where Diana, Princess of Wales' coffin rested before her funeral in 1997.

Earlier, Kensington Palace revealed the names of Prince George's seven godparents.

Godparent Zara Tindall arrives with other guests

These include Zara Tindall, Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton is William and Kate's former private secretary, who continues to serve part-time as their principal private secretary and equerry.

Mr Baker is an old university friend who attended St Andrews with William and Kate, while Earl Grosvenor, whose first name is Hugh, is the son of the Duke of Westminster.

Ms Samuel was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales, and is the founder patron of Child Bereavement UK, which has William as its royal patron.

Mr van Cutsem is an old family friend of William and Harry, while Ms Jardine-Paterson is an interior designer and an old Malborough College friend of Kate, who also uses her maiden name d'Erlanger in her working life.

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Plebgate: MPs Told Public Were 'Misled'

Key Dates Of The Plebgate Scandal

Updated: 8:08am UK, Wednesday 23 October 2013

The row over Andrew Mitchell's argument with a police officer in Downing Street has resurfaced three months on. Here are the key developments.

:: September 4 - Andrew Mitchell is appointed Chief Whip in David Cameron's first Cabinet reshuffle.

:: September 19 - Mr Mitchell tries to cycle out of the Downing Street main gates but is stopped by a police officer who tells him he must use a side exit.

The officer on duty makes a log of the encounter, claiming that the Chief Whip swore and called police "plebs".

:: September 20 - Deputy Chief Whip John Randall is sent an email apparently from a constituent claiming he and his nephew witnessed the altercation.

It claims passers-by had been shocked and suggests some could have filmed it, as well as repeating the "plebs" allegation.

:: September 21 - The Sun runs a story on the row titled "Cabinet minister: police are plebs".

Mr Mitchell apologises for not "treating the police with the respect they deserve" but denies using the language reported.

David Cameron says he has apologised and allows him to keep his job but the Police Federation insist he has to go.

:: September 24 - Mr Mitchell says sorry on television as the row refuses to die away but his apology is dismissed as lacklustre and calls grow for him to quit.

Labour calls on Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to launch an investigation but the appeal is rejected.

:: September 25 - The Daily Telegraph publishes the full police log of the row, piling yet more pressure on the senior Tory.

:: October 4 - Mr Mitchell pulls out of the Tory party conference to avoid being a "distraction".

:: October 12 - The Chief Whip meets representatives of the Police Federation at his constituency office in Sutton Coldfield but officers remain dissatisfied.

:: October 17 - Labour leader Ed Miliband declares that Mr Mitchell is "toast" during Prime Minister's Questions and accuses the Tories of "double standards".

:: October 19 - Mr Mitchell meets David Cameron at Chequers and resigns but continues to deny using the word "plebs".

:: December 15 - Officers investigating the leak of the police log arrest a serving police officer with the diplomatic protection squad on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

:: December 18 - Allegations emerge that the officer was behind the email to Mr Randall in September but never actually witnessed the argument.

New CCTV footage which appears to conflict with the official police account is also revealed by Channel 4 News.

Mr Mitchell claims he is the victim of a "stitch-up" and demands a full inquiry. Number 10 calls the allegations "exceptionally serious".

Met Police Chief Bernard Hogan-Howe says nothing he has seen affects the original police account.

:: December 19 - Police widen their probe into the case to include the email allegations and the possibility of a police "conspiracy".

David Cameron calls for the claims that an officer tried to "blacken the name of a Cabinet minister" to be "seriously investigated".

Senior Tory figures brand the latest developments "appalling" and suggestions begin that Mr Mitchell could soon be back on the front bench.

A 23-year-old man is arrested at 8pm by Scotland Yard on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence in relation to the affair.

:: December 20 - The second arrested man is released on bail, to return in January.

2013

:: January 31 - A police officer from the Diplomatic Protection Group is held on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

:: February 1 - A female police officer tasked with protecting Government officials is arrested over alleged leaks linked to the Mitchell row.

:: June 15 - A 48-year-old diplomatic protection group officer is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and a woman, aged 49, is detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.

:: October 15 - The IPCC questions the "honesty and integrity" of three police officers who gave interviews after Andrew Mitchell's meeting with Police Federation representatives last October.

:: October 21 - The Police Federation release a statement in which the officers say they are sorry for their "poor judgement" in talking to the media but did not plan or intend to mislead anyone.

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Royal Gwent Hospital: Travellers Told To Move

Travellers camped out in a hospital car park in Newport, South Wales, have been given a deadline to move.

The group is threatened with legal action if it fails to leave the site by 4pm.

French travellers with around 14 caravans set up camp on a staff car park at Royal Gwent Hospital on Saturday, blocking spaces for NHS workers.

It has meant doctors, surgeons, and nursing staff having to find alternative parking.

Hospital bosses have also reassured workers that security will be available on the site between 6am and 10pm.

A statement from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs the hospital, said: "Following advice given by our legal advisers, the health board yesterday issued letters to the travellers requesting that they vacate the site by 4pm today.

"If this does not happen, as advised we will move to the next stage in the process which is to commence legal proceedings."

More than 3,400 staff work at the hospital, which has about 774 beds, and serves a population of more than 600,000.

The staff car park has 300 spaces, and the travellers have taken over 65 of them, according to the hospital.

The disruption has inevitably led to frustrations.

One hospital worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "I find it infuriating this situation can be allowed to continue until the families decide to move themselves on.

"There are doctors and other medical staff who work on emergency cases around the clock.

"They are being forced to park some distance away all because a group of French travellers fancied the spot to set up camp."

According to Sky News correspondent Isabel Webster, who is at the scene, the hospital says the situation is not affecting patient care, and that it is in negotiations with the travellers.

Webster said: "Everybody is hoping this won't be one of those protracted incidents, and they can reach a swift resolution."

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George Galloway Mulls London Mayor Bid

George Galloway has suggested he might quit the "tedium" of Parliament in 2015 and run as a candidate for the Mayor of London.

The outspoken Respect MP said he enjoys elections more than the work and would "relish" the chance to stand for City Hall.

Mr Galloway revealed he had discussed his ambitions with Ed Miliband at a meeting in January.

At the time, the Labour leader said the talks were devoted to an upcoming vote on boundary changes.

Mr Galloway, who was a Labour MP for 16 years before being expelled from the party in 2003, said he found Parliament "2% terrifying and 98% tedium".

"I'm interested in running for the mayor of London in 2016 but I haven't decided. I like elections more than I like serving," he told Total Politics magazine.

"I relish them in the way most politicians don't, and this is the only mass popular election that there is here.

"Seven million people have the right to vote in it; it's the next best thing to a presidential election that you're ever going to get in Britain.

"So, I relish running for the office, and the opportunity finally to be in power over substantial sets of important tasks in a city as great as London is obviously attractive."

George Galloway fancies a tilt at running City Hall

Mr Galloway was re-elected to Parliament as Respect's only MP in March last year after pulling off a shock victory in the Bradford West by-election.

He beat Labour by more than 10,000 votes after taking more than 55% of the vote share and dubbed his victory the "Bradford Spring".

It was his third attempt at a comeback in two years after he was kicked out of Labour for his opposition to the Iraq War.

He defeated Oona King in Bethnal and Bow in 2005 but failed to oust former Labour minister Jim Fitzpatrick in another east London seat in 2010.

He also stood unsuccessfully for the Scottish Parliament in 2011.

The current London Mayor Boris Johnson has admitted considering running for a third term but is widely expected to quit and pursue a return to Westminster.

Potential Tory candidates for the role in 2016 include Lord Coe and Karren Brady, while Dame Tessa Jowell and Diane Abbott are among possible Labour candidates.

Comedian Eddie Izzard is another possibility, although he has said he is seeking Labour's nomination for 2019 instead.

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Great British Bake Off Winner Tweet Denied

SPOILER ALERT: Great British Bake Off judge Sue Perkins has denied Raymond Blanc revealed the winner of Tuesday's final on Twitter - and told internet trolls to stay silent.

The TV chef was branded an "idiot" when he apparently let slip which one of the three finalists would take the BBC2 show's cooking crown.

"The Great British Bake Off. Not much skills, female tears and a winner so thin who makes me doubt of her love for great cooking, baking," he tweeted to his 85,000 followers.

He also suggested finalist Ruby Tandoh, 21, is too thin to enjoy food as fans prepared to tune in tonight to see the winner revealed.

Blanc was branded an 'idiot' for his apparent slip

The 63-year-old later apologised, blaming his actions on being a "grumpy Frenchman this morning".

Perkins, one of the show's four judges, then took a pot shot at the Michelin-starred chef and told fans to still tune in.

"Raymond has not seen the final, and his comments make me sad because I am a fan of his. I'd watch, ce soir, if I were you," she wrote on Twitter.

"PS. I do so hope the trolls are silent tonight, and instead, people commend the efforts of 3 lovely woman who happen to be great at baking."

Perkins said Blanc hadn't seen tonight's pre-recorded show

Former model Tandoh - who takes on Frances Quinn, 31, and Kimberley Wilson, 30, in tonight's final - also hit back, tweeting: "What has anyone's size got to do with it?

"I don't care if you're a patisserie king - don't be an idiot."

Viewers complained that Blanc has ruined the finale, with one writing: "You've ruined this for millions of viewers!" and another adding: "Thanks for spoiling #NotImpressed".

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Neil McArdle Jailed Over Wedding Bomb Hoax

A man who phoned in a bomb hoax on his wedding day because he had forgotten to book the register office has been jailed for 12 months.

Neil McArdle could not face telling his excited bride that the wedding could not take place, so decided on a drastic course of action.

The 36-year-old slipped out of his house, went to a phone box, disguised his voice and rang Liverpool Register Office, claiming: "This is not a hoax call.

"There's a bomb in St George's Hall and it will go off in 45 minutes."

Coming 11 days after the Boston Marathon bombing, the call sparked "terror" at the venue, which was quickly evacuated.

Bride Amy Williams was left standing outside in her wedding dress with the rest of the wedding party as emergency services raced to the venue.

However, McArdle's would-be in-laws were already suspicious, Liverpool Crown Court heard, and a row broke out with Miss Williams' sister telling a "flustered" McArdle: "You probably done the bomb scare yourself."

Police managed to trace the phone call and McArdle admitted to the hoax.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of communicating false information with intent.

Charles Lander, defending, told the court: "If it was not so serious, the facts of this case have all the markings of a comedy."

He said the defendant had failed to go through the forms given to him to make sure the wedding was legal and would go ahead as planned.

And only the night before the big day did he notice a "checklist" of what needed to be done before their "dream day".

The court heard that Miss Williams has stood by McArdle and the couple are still together.

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Energy Bills: Major Calls For 'Windfall Tax'

Sir John Major has called for energy firms' profits to be taxed to help people struggling to pay bills if there is a cold snap.

The former Prime Minister said he did not believe it was "acceptable at all" that three of the so-called Big Six energy companies had already hiked prices by around 10% when costs were "rising broadly 4%". 

He warned that "many people are going to have to chose between keeping warm and eating" if temperatures were to plummet this winter.

"That is not acceptable," Sir John said.

"So if we get this cold spell the government, I think, will have to intervene and if they do intervene, and it is costly, I for one would regard it as

perfectly acceptable for them then, subsequently, to levy and excess profits tax on the energy companies and claw that money back to the Exchequer, where their primary job is to get the economy working and people back to work."

Earlier, the Commons Energy Committee confirmed it would be summoning the bosses of British Gas, Scottish Power, E.ON, EDF Energy, nPower and SSE to give evidence on the hikes to bills.

Sir John also said at the Parliamentary Press Gallery lunch that Labour leader Ed Miliband's "heart was in the right place" when he suggested a cap on energy prices, but insisted the plan was unlikely to work.

Labour seized on Sir John's comments that "government should exist to protect people not institutions".

On Twitter, Mr Miliband said: "Sir John Major makes Labour's argument: David Cameron stands up for the energy companies not hard-pressed families."

More follows...

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Scotland: Two Boeing 747 Planes In Near Miss

Two jumbo jets with around 1,000 people on board were just 100ft from crashing over Scotland because pilots confused their flight instructions, it has emerged.

The two Boeing 747s were 30 miles north of Glasgow and preparing to cross the Atlantic when an air traffic controller spotted they were moving closer together.

The UK Airprox Board report shows the two planes heading towards each other

He immediately ordered the plane on the left to make a left turn and the one on the right to make a right turn to move them further apart.

But they did the opposite - bringing the two passenger jets closer together.

When the danger was first spotted the 747s were 10 miles apart, but within a minute they were three miles away and still closing in.

A crash was only averted when the two pilots on each aircraft saw each other and took evasive action, with one plane climbing and the other diving.

At one point, one plane was just 100ft above the other.

Details of the incident, which occurred on June 23 this year, were revealed in a report by the UK Airprox Board, which examines near misses in UK airspace.

Investigators are at a loss to explain how the crews of both aircraft either misheard or misinterpreted their orders.

The report said: "It was apparent that both crews had taken each others' instructions, and the board found it hard to determine why this had occurred; unfortunately no human factor report was available from either crew.

At one point the two jets were only 100ft apart in height

"The board was surprised that all four pilots had misheard or misinterpreted the avoiding action instructions despite at least one of the crews reading them back correctly.

"One airline pilot member wondered if there could have been call-sign confusion; this was discounted because they were not similar ... the transmissions were clear on the RT recording."

The board said the danger was needlessly increased because the planes had earlier been ordered by air traffic control to fly at the same height of 34,000ft.

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Tesco Vows To Cut Waste Food Mountain

Every family in the UK wastes an estimated £700 a year throwing away food, according to Tesco, which is launching a campaign to help curb the problem.

The supermarket's first ever food waste figures for its operations reveal that in the first six months of this year, 28,500 tons of food waste were generated in Tesco stores and distribution centres.

The research shows that 68% of salad to be sold in bags is thrown out, as are just under half of bakery items.

Around 40% of apples are chucked away, a quarter of grapes are wasted between the vine and the fruit bowl, and a fifth of all bananas are unused - with customers throwing one in 10 in the bin.

As a result of the findings, the retailer is to end multibuys on large bags of salad and is developing mix-and-match promotions for smaller bags to try to help customers reduce the amount they are wasting.

It is also removing "display until" dates from fresh fruit and vegetables, using smaller cases in stores and rearranging 600 in-store bakeries to reduce the amount of bread on display, with the aim of better stock control and less waste.

The supermarket tracked 25 best-selling products and combined information with data from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) to give an overall food waste "footprint" for each item.

Tesco says it is making changes to its processes as a result of the data

The last figures published by Wrap in 2011 estimate that 15 million tons of food waste is generated each year in the UK.

Tesco commercial director of group food Matt Simister said: "We've all got a responsibility to tackle food waste and there is no quick-fix single solution.

"Little changes can make a big difference, like storing fruit and vegetables in the right way.

"Families are wasting an estimated £700 a year and we want to help them keep that money in their pockets, rather than throwing it in the bin.

"We're playing our part too and making changes to our processes and in store. Ending multi-buy promotions on large packs of bagged salads is one way we can help, but this is just the start and we'll be reviewing what else we can do.

"We're working with our suppliers to try to cut waste at all stages of the journey from farm to fork."

Wrap director Richard Swannell said he welcomed Tesco's approach to tackling food waste across the whole supply chain.

"Food waste is a global issue, and collaborative action is essential if we are to successfully reduce food waste and reap the financial and environmental benefits of doing so," he added.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

MPs Attack Plans To Curb Their Expenses

Senior MPs have attacked plans by the expenses watchdog to curb what they are allowed to claim for food, travel and hotels.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has consulted on reforms that include scrapping the evening meal allowance and banning the use of taxis before 11pm.

But the Standards Committee claimed workers in other professions enjoy more generous allowances as they raised a raft of concerns about the proposals.

In a report, they highlighted proposals that would end the £15 that is claimable for dinner when the House sits beyond 7.30pm.

The committee said it had "no wish to return to the system in which Members were allowed to make blanket claims" but said payments for food are commonly given to workers on business away from home.

"If such expenses are not met by the employer, then the employee is able to claim tax relief on subsistence costs of travel between work places," the report said.

"The rules for MPs are already considerably less generous than this.

"We also note that when there is whipped business, Members must be within easy reach of the division lobbies.

The plans would stop MPs claiming for taxis before 11pm

"Once again, we consider there needs to be a stronger evidence base before it can be asserted that these are costs which other professionals would expect to meet for themselves, unless they had been dealt with through a salary supplement rather than expenses."

The report emerged amid rumours Ipsa's plans to give MPs an 11% pay rise will be signed off within weeks.

This is despite all three main party leaders condemning the idea of a hike at a time when the rest of the country is suffering austerity.

The organisation said the £4.6m extra salary costs would be offset by restrictions to pensions, "golden goodbyes", and expenses - meaning the overall burden on the taxpayer would only go up by £500,000 when the deal took effect after the 2015 general election.

Among the changes planned to allowances are a halt to claims for tea and biscuits and a ban on using taxis to get home before 11pm.

Hotels would only be allowable if they are booked after 1am and there would also be a crackdown on claims for running two homes, with some costs for TV licences and contents insurance no longer being met.

The Standards Committee said it was "surprised by the suggestion" that some of the costs identified are of a kind which workers in other professional jobs would expect to pay for themselves.

It said MPs routinely worked 60 or 70 hours a week but since the new system of allowances had been introduced in the wake of the expenses scandal, some had taken to sleeping in their offices.

"We do not consider that Ipsa has made a case for changing the boundary of the existing scheme of business costs and expenses," the report said.

It said it was "particularly concerned" about the possible impact of changes to taxi and hotel rules on MPs who live in Greater London.

"We find it hard to believe that employers in other sectors would expect their employees to wait until 1am before booking a hotel if it was necessary for them to work beyond the point at which it was possible or sensible to return home and to travel to work in time to start as normal in the morning," the MPs said.

"We are also concerned about the effects of such rules on Members' ability to perform their duties effectively.

"We note that many committees begin work at 8.55am, and Members are expected to attend regardless of the hour at which they ended their work the night before."

Jonathan Isaby, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "MPs do an important job and work very hard, but they should not expect taxpayers to be footing the bill for perks which few of the rest of us enjoy ourselves.

"The existing evening meal allowance is particularly difficult to justify when you bear in mind that the bars and restaurants inside Parliament are still subject to an annual taxpayer subsidy running to millions of pounds.

"And how can MPs regard themselves as being on business 'away from home' when most of them are getting a handsome allowance to pay for a second home in London?

"With money tight for families and government alike, politicians need to lead by example and ensure that they are cutting out wasteful or unnecessary spending."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Girls: Police Search For Newport Pair

Concerns are mounting for the welfare of two teenage girls who went missing from the same area on the same day.

Police are searching for Shannon Bladen, 14, and Jessica Brant, 13, who disappeared from the Alway area of Newport, South Wales, last Wednesday.

Gwent Police said there is no evidence to suggest the cases are linked, but the possibility has not been ruled out.

Shannon was last seen at 7.55am when she left home to catch a bus to school.

She is described as 5ft 1in and of slim build with dyed black shoulder-length hair.

She was wearing the Newport High School uniform of black trousers and black polo top with yellow shoulders, and a grey hooded jumper with a denim jacket over it.

She was carrying a red and white Betty Boo bag containing a blue hooded jumper.

Jessica went missing at around 3.30pm on the same day.

She is 5ft 3in and of medium build, with dyed black shoulder-length hair which, when she was last seen, was tied in a ponytail.

When she disappeared she was wearing leggings and a khaki green jacket with what has been described as a lumberjack pattern on the arms.

A police spokeswoman said: "We have no information to suggest they are linked in any way but it has not been ruled out as a possibility.

"Obviously they have been missing for some days now and concern is rising for their welfare."

Officers want anyone with any information about the whereabouts of either girl to call Gwent Police on 101.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mosque Blasts: Ukrainian Student Pleads Guilty

By Correspondent David Crabtree

A Ukrainian man has pleaded guilty to murdering a Muslim pensioner and plotting to carry out a string of explosions near mosques.

Pavlo Lapshyn, a postgraduate student from Dnipropetrovsk, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with the murder of 82-year-old grandfather Mohammed Saleem as he walked home from a mosque in Birmingham in April.

He also admitted causing an explosion on July 12 near the Kanzal Iman mosque in Tipton, and engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between April 24 and July 18 this year.

This included planting bombs near mosques in Walsall and Wolverhampton, researching locations to plant bombs and buying chemicals on the internet to make explosives.

The site of the murder and explosions

Lapshyn, who arrived in the country only five days before the killing, later told police: "I have a racial hatred, so I have a motivation, a racial motivation and racial hatred."

The 25-year-old will be sentenced on Friday.

The Ukrainian was in the UK on a sponsored work placement at a software firm in the Small Heath area of Birmingham when he was arrested on suspicion of Mr Saleem's murder nearby on July 20.

The father-of-seven was stabbed three times yards from his house on April 29, prompting an outpouring of grief from the community.

Nails found at the site of the Tipton blast (Pic: West Midlands Police)

While Lapshyn remained at large, he plotted the planting of devices near three mosques. With each attack the homemade bombs, with timing devices, became ever more powerful.

In the attack on the mosque in Tipton, Lapshyn loaded the device with nails. Luckily no one was injured.

The bomb exploded at 1pm, the time worshippers would normally be at Friday prayers. Because of Ramadan the prayers were put back to 2pm and police said this may have saved a lot of people from death or serious injury. 

No one was injured by any of the explosions.

Lapshyn has been described as a "lone actor" with no apparent affiliation to any extreme right wing groups.

The self-radicalised racist believed that a series of explosion would spread more panic and fear. 

In police interviews he said: "I would like to increase racial conflict….because they are not white and I am white."

Police trawled through thousands of hours of CCTV to track Lapshyn's movements.

When he was arrested, bomb-making equipment, including chemicals components from mobile phones were found at his flat.

Detective Superintendent Edwards said: "The words of the interviewing officers were calm, calculated and committed.

"He is a man with hatred of non-white people, coupled together with his skills in relation to creating bombs and actually being in the country for five days and to murder someone.

"From his premises he had other devices, other components of devices. He could have carried on with his campaign. If it wasn't for that intervention at the time he was arrested, this could have been much worse."

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Inmates Bullied Into Converting To Islam

By Mark White, Home Affairs Correspondent

Sky News has learned that increasing numbers of British inmates are being bullied into converting to Islam while in jail.

The Prison Officers Association says it is symptomatic of the growing power and influence of Muslim gangs in prison.

However, there are also concerns that some of those converts could be radicalised by more extremist elements in prison.

Sky News spoke to one young woman who said her brother was being bullied by members of a Muslim gang, who were trying to force him into converting to Islam.

The woman did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals against her brother, who is serving a sentence in excess of 10 years in a high security prison in England.

She said: "He just looks like a broken man ... he's tearful on visits. I'm just really scared for him."

She also claimed the bullying had taken a more violent turn: "He's been physically assaulted. He's had black eyes. 

"In the showers, he got threatened with a knife. He's not going to back down. He's not going to convert for anyone."

She added: "He just spends his time in hiding in his cell. He's got at least another five years to serve. I don't know how much longer he can hold out."

Official sources acknowledge forced conversions are a problem in the country's prisons.

How large the problem is remains unclear, as inmates are often afraid to report such intimidation for fear of reprisals.

Joe Chapman, a former prison officer who now acts as a prison law consultant, believes the problem is on the increase.

"I think it could be a huge problem. Previously I'd probably only worked in about a dozen or so prisons as an officer," Mr Chapman said.

"But this job takes me to 40 or 50 over the year, throughout the country. It's become obvious to me that it's a growing problem.

"About half a dozen of my clients have directly reported problems with being forced to convert ... those that weren't Muslim when they came in and those that were and have been forced to look at more radical ideas about their faith."

It is the potential route to extremism that will be of most concern to the authorities.

There is no automatic pathway but Jihadist groups do focus on the vulnerable - and new converts in the prison environment offer them a captive audience.

Former Home Secretary Lord Reid told Sky News: "When they arrive in prison, inmates often feel isolated, lacking in identity. 

"They don't have family groups and kinships around them. On top of that, very often there's a need for protection, a feeling that you've arrived in prison, you're on your own but there are people who appear like you, who give you a set of beliefs but also the protection of being in a gang. 

"It is a very, very fertile ground for recruitment and proselytization and radicalisation in prison."

There are currently around 11,200 Muslims in prison in England and Wales.

That figure is about 13% of the total prison population and is far higher than in the wider community, where Muslims make up less than 5% of the population.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Faith can have a very positive influence on prisoners and can play an important role in rehabilitation, but it must never be misused as a way of coercing vulnerable prisoners into criminal behaviour.

'We are never complacent about bullying in prisons and take a zero tolerance approach to tackling victimisation of any kind."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tornado Batters 100 Homes At Seaside Resort

A small tornado wreaked havoc across a seaside resort, bringing trees down on cars and lifting the roof covering off of houses and huts.

More than 100 homes in Hayling Island are said to have been damaged after the winds ripped through the coastal community around 7.30am on Sunday.

A Havant Council spokesman said the twister is believed to have caused damage to properties in Blackthorn Road and Ilex Walk.

Cheryl Hart, who lives in the area, told The Portsmouth News the tornado sounded like "a freight train hurtling along the road".

A roof is lifted off a beach hut on Hayling Island. Pic: Solent News

She said: "It woke me up. You could hear it coming. It sounded like a freight train coming up the road.

"You could actually see it. It's difficult to describe but it was like a big grey wall. I didn't see any rubbish or debris in it - just a big grey wall of wind.

"We have just got a bit of damage to our garden but other homes have been hit.

"One has a kayak that has been blown into the garden. No-one knows where it has come from."

A wall is brought down in a garden on Hayling Island. Pic: Solent News

No injuries were reported but several trees were blown down and tiles were ripped off the roofs of several houses.

Nearby, several outhouses and beach huts lost their roofs to the wind and some walls were blown over.

Several cars are also believed to have been damaged by fallen trees and broken fences.

One couple reported that their shed was destroyed and their caravan had been smashed into a tree.

The spokesman for Havant Council said: "Emergency services are at the scene and Havant Borough Council (HBC) is working with Hampshire County Council Highways to clean up the debris.

A tree is brought down on Hayling Island. Pic: Solent News

"HBC building control officers are assessing the damage to the affected properties and more will be known once inspections have been carried out."

Paul Knightley, forecast manager for Meteogroup, said: "The conditions were favourable for a tornado; there is an unstable atmosphere, it is fairly warm for this time of year and there is a lot of moisture in the air."

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