Scotland 'Should Determine Its Own Future'

By Niall Paterson, Scotland Correspondent

Alex Salmond has used his party conference speech to urge voters north of the border to "put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands".

As the nationalist party, committed to fulfilling an 80-year pledge to gain Scotland its independence from the United Kingdom, continues to reduce the gap in the polls ahead of September's referendum, he insisted the vote is not about him.

"This referendum is not about this party, or this First Minister, or even the wider Yes campaign," he told delegates in Aberdeen.

"It's about putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands.

"Our party is hugely popular, and we are currently five, 10 and 15 points ahead in polls for Westminster, Europe and Holyrood respectively.

"But a Yes vote in September is not a vote for me, or for an SNP government in 2016.

"It's a vote for a government in Scotland that the people of Scotland choose, pursuing policies the people of Scotland support."

The speech, much like the campaign, made much of the fact that Scots have voted in a way at significant variance with the overall result of recent general elections.

He said: "I tell you what (the government of an independent Scotland) won't be. It won't be a government led by a party with just a single MP in Scotland.

"A government dismantling our welfare state. Determined to privatise public services.

"In an independent Scotland we can give this guarantee: The era of unelected Tory governments handing out punishment to the poor and the disabled will be gone and gone for good."

Results vary, but the Yes campaign is still significantly behind the No vote in all major polls, although the margin has narrowed in recent months.

And despite the fact the Yes campaign has yet even to come close to a majority in said polls, the SNP leader in Westminster remains upbeat, with five months of campaigning to go.

"When people are able to contrast the Yes case with the No case and understand the momentum is going in the direction of the Yes case, I'm confident we will get a Yes result," Angus Robertson MP told Sky News.

"It might surprise some people in the bunkers of Whitehall and Westminster when it does, but when they wake up they will realise this is about Scotland governing itself like so many other places have decided to do over recent decades.

"We will have excellent relations with our friends on these islands.

Mr Salmond says a Yes vote is a vote for the future of Scotland

"But we will always have a government that we actually elect making better decisions for people who life here - regardless of where they are from."

Given their lead in the polls it's unsurprising that the Better Together camp remains positive, despite considerable media and public opinion branding their campaign negative.

Asked whether it was easier for people to enthuse about independence rather than maintaining the status quo, Lewis Macdonald, a Labour member of the Scottish Parliament, told Sky News: "It's important to say there's a lot to be enthusiastic about.

"The union has worked very, very well for many generations and it's delivered us many benefits. But this isn't about change versus the status quo. This is about devolution, the kind of change that people in Scotland have wanted for a long time.

"It's a referendum that will be decided by the judgement people make at the end of the day. I think many people have made up their minds, some still have to choose.

"My expectation is that those people who still have to make up their mind will come to the same conclusion as those who have already made up their mind.

"At the moment, and for as long as I can remember the split has basically been two to one for remaining in the UK. I expect that the undecideds will come down in much the same kind of split.

"But only time will tell."

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Osborne Jail Threat For Offshore Tax Evaders

Wealthy people who stash money in offshore accounts to evade paying tax could be sent to jail, the government has said.

Chancellor George Osborne said new proposals could mean that people who hide their cash overseas could face criminal charges even if they did not intend to evade tax.

Mr Osborne, who is consulting on the new powers, said there would be "no safe haven" for anyone who cheats the Exchequer.

It comes after concerns that some wealthy people are costing the government millions of pounds a year by keeping money away from the glare of UK authorities.

HM Revenue & Customs will have the power to prosecute people who do not declare their foreign income, regardless of whether they intend to avoid payment.

Previously, in order to earn a conviction with a jail sentence, prosecutors had to show that individuals intended to avoid paying tax on foreign income.

Mr Osborne, who has been at the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington, told the Financial Times: "We are changing the balance of the law so the burden of proof falls on those who are hiding their money offshore and we don't have to prove that they intended to do so."

He added: "It is totally unacceptable for people not to pay the tax that is due and the message will be clear now with this new criminal offence that if you're evading tax offshore, there is no safe haven."

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has been criticised for not prosecuting enough tax evaders.

Sky News' Ecomonics Editor Ed Conway said there has been much international discussion about what can be done to clamp down on people who hide money overseas.

David Cameron has previously announced a crackdown on so-called shell companies to help combat tax evasion and corruption.

The new criminal offence and sanctions are expected to come into effect next year, but many are expected to contribute to the consultation before that can happen.

The announcement was greeted by dismay from some, with critics suggesting the law could result in people being jailed when they were genuinely ignorant of the law.

Bill Dowdell, head of tax at Deloitte, told The Times: "It's horrifying. People should not be put in prison unless you can prove intent.

"I'm shocked to find that an offence which could lead to a prison sentence could be decided on a strict-liability basis."

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Most Voters Want Farage In Leaders' Debate

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

A new poll suggests most of the public believe Nigel Farage should take part in any televised leaders' debates ahead of next year's general election.

A Comres poll has found 51% of people think UKIP should be represented alongside David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg.

Even more - 53% - say the Prime Minister would look like a coward if he refused to take on Mr Farage.

It comes amid Conservative fears that the right-wing UKIP could top the polls in England in next month's European elections.

Mr Cameron said debates "sucked the life" out of the last campaign

The party is enjoying a popularity boost after Mr Farage easily won a television debate against Mr Clegg.

The party thinks its overall poll position - which at 15% is well ahead of the Lib Dems - means it ought to be included in any further debates.

And Mr Farage has warned that if the party is excluded he will provide "an alternative form of entertainment on the evening".

The poll was carried out for Grassroots Conservatives, a Tory pressure group that feels the liberal wing of the party has too much control over the leadership.

Mr Clegg, left, had challenged Mr Farage to a debate

James Joshua, executive director of the organisation, told Sky News that Mr Cameron would be most respected by party members if he took the UKIP threat on face to face.

But some senior Conservative strategists do not want their leader to take part in the clashes at all - because they believe three debates in quick succession before the 2010 election cost the party a majority.

Mr Cameron said the debates "sucked the life" out of the campaign.

Others argue that UKIP should not be included because they have not achieved any success in general elections with no seats, while other small parties excluded from the debates do have MPs in Parliament. 

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Schools 'Asking Parents To Pay For Textbooks'

Teachers are concerned poorer pupils are being put at a disadvantage by an increasing number of schools asking parents to pay for textbooks, computers and trips away.

More than two fifths (43%) of parents have contributed around £50 a year per pupil for things not linked to their child's school work, according to a poll by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

And 70% have donated up to £50 a year per pupil to help pay for items and trips that are related to the school curriculum.

In some cases, families have been asked for donations to help with the upkeep of school buildings.

Staff are worried children could be put at a disadvantage or made to feel left out if their parents are unable to afford the hand-outs.

The survey, which questioned around 500 people working in England's state schools, comes as ATL is due to debate the issue at its annual conference in Manchester next week.

Schools are increasingly turning to parents for help with pens and books

The resolution calls on the union to express concerns that schools increasingly need to ask parents for voluntary contributions and the effect it has, particularly on poorer families.

It says: "The burden of meeting this request falls disproportionately on poor families and increases the disadvantages for these children."

Jo Inglis, an ATL member from Wokingham who is proposing the motion, said just 7% of teachers felt that asking parents for donations had no impact on disadvantaged pupils.

Jo Fludder, a Reading teacher who is seconding the motion, said: "Parents who have difficulties putting their children into school uniform, providing them with transport to school and with food, find the added pressure of additional money demands from schools very stressful."

A Department for Education spokesman said there is "absolutely no obligation" for parents to donate.

"If a parent is unable or unwilling to pay, their child must be given an equal chance to take part in school life," he said.

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Little Girl's Wish List Before Going Blind

By Nick Lester, Sky News Online

A little girl who is going blind has drawn up a wish list of things she would like to see before losing her sight completely.

Six-year-old Molly Bent has been diagnosed with the degenerative eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), for which there is no treatment or cure.

Despite her condition getting progressively worse, her mum, Eve, 26, says she takes it "in her stride".

Seeing the penguins at the zoo was on Molly's wish list

Among the "bucket list" of things the youngster said she would like to do before her eyes get "too poorly" include trips to the zoo, aquarium, museums, and Legoland.

But top of her list is Disneyland.

Following her diagnosis in December, Mrs Bent said: "We were obviously quite upset about it.

"We sort of said 'right we can't dwell on this. Let's turn it around. Let's do everything we can do, while we can do it'."

The trips have been organised before Molly's eyes become "too poorly"

What started out as a charity run by her husband Chris, 27, and a group of friends, has grown into a fund-raising drive to fulfill Molly's wish list, which has so far reached £3,500.

Mrs Bent said: "It's beyond belief. We are so overwhelmed with all the kindness of people."

The family, who live in Manchester, are currently on a holiday in Blackpool provided by Trewan Sands Children's Trust, where Molly has been enjoying horse-riding and swimming.

Tests every three months have shown that Molly's sight is deteriorating.

Playing in puddles on long walks is also fun

Mrs Bent said: "She has very little peripheral vision. She knows it's getting worse."

But she added: "She's so resilient. She knows what's happening. She know's she's struggling and she just takes it in her stride."

RP is a genetic condition, which Molly's uncle also suffers from, and her sister Charlotte, five, and brother Samuel, two, are regularly tested for the disease.

To contribute to Making Molly's Memories go to www.gofundme.com/makingmollysmemories

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Sarah Payne's Mother Praises Rebekah Brooks

Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah was murdered in 2000, has praised ex-newspaper editor Rebekah Brooks and said the News Of The World had been a "force for good".

Mrs Payne gave her support to Brooks and retired managing director Stuart Kuttner as a witness at the phone hacking trial at the Old Bailey, saying the pair had provided personal support during the search for her daughter and the Sarah's Law campaign.

"It's easy to forget in these dark times the NOTW has often been a force for good and it has something to do with the people who worked on it," Mrs Payne said.

"I do not pretend they are perfect or always got things right."

Brooks was "always in the foreground" of the campaign, Mrs Payne said, going on to explain: "I did not sleep. I could call at two o'clock in the morning and she would pick up the phone."

Mrs Payne, called by Kuttner's legal team as a character witness, said he was a "gentleman".

"He is everything my parents taught me about being a gentleman and having manners. He is a good guy. He has always been there to listen," she added.

Sarah Payne's murder led to the creation of Sarah's Law to protect children

Mrs Payne, who wrote an article for the last edition of the NOTW, described being in the newsroom during the last week in 2011.

She said: "I spent some time in the newsroom and they were very, very down about stories going on in the media around the world. I felt they were almost mourning something."

She had a big picture of Sarah Payne brought in to remind them of "what they had achieved". Sarah's Law allows anyone to formally ask police if someone with access to a child has a record for child sex offences.

Brooks, 45 and Kuttner, 74, deny conspiring with others to hack phones between 2000 and 2009.

Kuttner's legal team also called former director of the Press Complaints Commission Guy Black as a character witness.

Lord Black told the court how Kuttner was a man he turned to for help during his time in the role between 1993 and 2003 and he "never did let me down".

After the Omagh bombing, he said Kuttner and the NOTW "led the way" for the media to leave the scene, allowing the community to "grieve and to heal" and he acted the same after the Dunblane tragedy.

He also helped "deliver real change" in the media in the wake of the Princess of Wales's death in 1997, Lord Black said.

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Anger As Paedophile Demands Victim Photos

A paedophile is allowed to have intimate photos of a young girl he abused because the police cannot erase them from his confiscated laptop before they return it to him.

The man was jailed for nine years in 2013 after admitting a number of sex offences including assaulting a child under the age of 13.

He has formally asked for a laptop and a mobile telephone to be handed back, according to human rights campaigner Liberty, which is representing the victim and her family.

Photos of the victim dressed in swimwear and leotards are on the computer, but Dorset Police say they cannot delete them because they are not legally classified as indecent or prohibited.

Consequently, the man, who is in his 50s and cannot be named for legal reasons, will still have access to a large number of personal photos of one girl when he is freed.

The victim's mother said: "I am appalled that the man who abused my child can ask the police to hand over our family photos for him to keep for the rest of his life.

"My daughters struggle every day with the devastating consequences of his abuse and this will only make them feel more humiliated and degraded. Why should we continue to be traumatised further?"

Liberty is arguing the return of the laptop and phone would breach articles three and eight of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect against inhuman treatment and invasion of privacy respectively.

In a letter to Dorset Police, the human rights group said the prospect of having the photos returned to the abuser would cause "a significant amount of distress".

The group warns it would be a "an enormous violation" of dignity and personal integrity if the pictures were handed back.

The abuse of the young girl had caused the victim to suffer "enormous psychological harm" and she eats very little, self-harms frequently and is at risk of suicide.

Rosie Brighouse, legal officer at Liberty, said: "Not until the Human Rights Act could victims assert their rights in the British Courts - and Liberty is more than ready to do that on behalf of this family."

In response, Dorset Police said its "present options" were limited as the legislation used to seize the phone and computer required officers to give the owner back his property.

"Furthermore, it would be unlawful for police officers to alter the computer and phone's memories by removing the disputed photographs before returning them," the force added.

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New Hunt For UK's 'Most Wanted' In Cyprus

The List Of Wanted Fugitives

Updated: 11:18am UK, Friday 11 April 2014

The list of suspects police want to question as part of Operation Zygos:

NEW APPEALS

:: Jeffrey Bloor

Bloor, 41, from Brighton, is wanted by Sussex Police for allegedly conspiring to provide horse racing tipping services which failed to deliver what they advertised and also for fraud connected to the breeding of racehorses.

Sussex police allege that, between 30/4/03 and 13/2/08, a betting brochure was produced and distributed to known gamblers whose details had been obtained from mailing lists.

The brochure guaranteed large financial returns if a subscriber paid a membership fee. There was also an offer of large returns for blood stocks which never existed.

The money made by Bloor and his associates allegedly amounted to millions of pounds.

Bloor is described as white, of heavy build, with blue eyes and ginger hair, about 5ft 6ins tall and has a surgical scar on left side of his abdomen.

:: Richard Ardolino

Ardolino, 38, a Briton from Leeds, is wanted by West Midlands police for allegedly conspiring with others to fraudulently obtain mortgages in order to purchase houses across the UK.

The money laundering charge relates to the concealment and transfer of criminal property.

He is described as slim, with short brown hair and has a scar on his right leg.

:: Osman Aydeniz

Aydeniz, 35, a Cypriot who last lived in London, is wanted by the National Crime Agency in connection with conspiracy to supply 17.83kg of diamorphine.

Three others have already been convicted in connection with this offence. He is also wanted for conspiracy to commit theft and transferring criminal property. 

He is described as white.

:: Ozgur Demir

Demir, 39, a Turk who last lived in London, is wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of conspiracy to supply 17.83kg of diamorphine. Three others have already been convicted in connection with this offence.

He is described as white.

:: Ersin Mustafa

Mustafa, 38, a Briton from London, is wanted by the City of London Police and the Financial Conduct Authority on suspicion of insider dealing with seven other individuals.

While employed at the London branch of investment bank JP Morgan Cazenove, he allegedly obtained information about future acquisitions and mergers, which were provided to others who then traded using this information.

Over a two-year period, the group made approximately £2.5m in criminal profits. In July 2008 Mustafa was arrested by the City of London Police and then released on bail. It is believed he fled the UK around December 2009.

He is described as being approximately 5ft 6ins tall, with dark hair of Mediterranean appearance and with a stocky/muscular build.

:: Christakis Philippou

Philippou, 70, was convicted of conspiring with co-defendants to acquire, or sometimes to set up from scratch, travel agency businesses which were used as vehicles for fraud. The travel agencies attracted customers by offering cut-price holidays.

The prices were so low that legitimate companies could not compete with them. In each case, the travel agency ceased to trade, leaving customers without a holiday. This scam defrauded an estimated 20,000 people.

The British citizen is described as 5ft 6ins tall, of proportionate build, with swept back receding dark/greying hair and with bushy eyebrows. He also goes by the name of Christakis Chrysostomou.

EXISTING APPEALS

:: Hasan Akarcay

Wanted by West Yorkshire Police in connection with the Supply of Class A drugs after an alleged associate was found transporting 12.5 kg of diamorphine with a street value of £600,000.

Akarcay is of Cypriot nationality, approximately 5ft 9ins tall, stocky build with a large stomach, balding with black hair at the sides and tanned skin.

He sometimes goes by the names of Hassan Etem or Ibrahim Etem.

:: Martin Evans

Between 1999 and 2001, Evans is believed to have run an organised crime group supplying Class A drugs, most notably cocaine, MDMA and Ecstasy in the UK.

It is thought he set up a system where drugs were imported to the UK and sold and the proceeds converted into foreign currency and sent to the Netherlands for drug purchases.

Evans is also wanted for questioning about fraudulent trading offences as director of an incorporated company, Ostrich Centre Limited, in 1995.

The firm received investments from the public of several hundred thousand pounds, which he is believed to have stolen.

Evans is 5ft 11in - 6ft tall, stocky build, with blue eyes and short brown and greying hair. He also has a welsh accent and a the word 'ME' tattooed on his right arm.

:: Timur Mehmet

Mehmet is wanted for his role in a conspiracy to cheat the public revenue by the operation of a Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud which cost the UK £25m.

He appeared in Court in June 2007 when he was warned he had to be at Court for his trial in October and that failure to attend could result in him being tried and sentenced in his absence.

He failed to attend the trial and subsequently he was found guilty in his absence and sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

:: Costas Sampson

Sampson is of Greek-Cypriot nationality and is accused of raping a girl he met at a Greek club.

The girl was taken unwell after accepting a drink from a stranger, when Sampson and a friend offered to take her home.

It was here that Sampson is alleged to have told a friend of the girl that he was a medical expert. He is accused of raping her while she was incapacitated.

He is also accused of stealing her mobile phone and flatmate's laptop and games console.

Sampson is 5ft 9in, of large build and with a Mediterranean complexion. He has brown eyes, black cropped or shaved hair and is right handed.

:: Mehmet Salih

Between December 2010 and November 2011, Salih is accused of being involved in a conspiracy to supply cocaine in the UK.

In May 2011 he allegedly visited Lincolnshire for the purposes of delivering cocaine and collecting payment.

The police apparently recovered large amounts of the drug and upon his arrest he was alleged to be in possession of £20,000.

Salih is 5ft 6in tall, of proportionate build with brown eyes and short dark brown hair. He also has a scar on his right eye.

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Former Nanny Praises 'Brave' Peaches Geldof

Peaches Geldof's childhood nanny has written a moving tribute to the mother of two, calling her a "brave, beautiful girl" who "almost made it".

Anita Debney was employed by the 25-year-old's parents Bob Geldof and Paula Yates when she was a toddler.

In a message posted on Instagram alongside a photo of Ms Geldof, Ms Debney said she had been the "greatest joy, the most tender part of my heart and soul".

The nanny became something of a surrogate mother following Yates' death in 2000 and Ms Geldof's nickname for her was "Nee Naw".

The pair were still in close contact right up until Ms Geldof's death.

Ms Geldof was found dead at her home in Wrotham

Police were called to the home she shared with her husband Tom Cohen and their two young sons in Wrotham, Kent, on Monday.

Her death is being treated as "non-suspicious but unexplained".

A post-mortem examination on Wednesday was inconclusive and toxicology tests are being carried out to establish a cause of death.

Ms Debney, who has photos of Ms Geldof's sons Astala, two, and 11-month-old Phaedra, on her Instagram page wrote: "I loved her through the good times and the bad. We struggled and survived the darkest of times.

"I never lost faith in her spirit and strength. Always held out my hand to help her when she struggled and fell.

"She overcame so much and my love and appreciation of her indomitable spirit never wavered.

"The joy we shared in her beautiful babies was so deep and meaningful and filled both of our hearts with love and devotion.

"She blossomed in motherhood and excelled at raising the sweetest, happiest babies in the world.

"She was passionate in her zeal to speak up for the needs of babies everywhere and lives have been changed because of that.

"What a wonderful legacy she has left to the world. My darling girl. You almost made it."

Ms Geldof's body was released to her family on Thursday and it is understood plans for a funeral are under way.

Her elder sister Fifi Honeyblossom Geldof also used Instagram to say goodbye, writing: "My beautiful baby sister ... Gone but never forgotten. I love you, Peaches x"

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Man Who Incinerated Wife's Body Jailed For Life

A bank worker who murdered his wife and burned her body just months after they tied the knot has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.

Jasvir Ginday attempted to dispose of 24-year-old Varkha Rani's remains by setting fire to them in a home incinerator on the patio of his back garden.

He carried out the crime to cover up his homosexuality which his bride had been threatening to expose to friends and family.

A jury of seven women and five men took around 17 hours to find him guilty of murder after a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Ginday initially told police that his Indian wife had packed her bags and walked out on him following a row at their home in Victory Lane, Walsall, West Midlands.

Jasvir Ginday and Varkha Rani on their wedding day

The 29-year-old claimed throughout his trial that he had accidentally killed Ms Rani while restraining her with a vacuum cleaner hose. 

But the jury believed the prosecution's case that the Royal Bank of Scotland employee had planned the killing of his wife, who had only been in the country for about a month.

In 2008, Ginday had confided in a friend that he was attracted to men but could not tell his family as his mother was very strict.

It later emerged that he was frequenting gay bars and having relationships with men around the time of his engagement to Ms Rani in 2012.

The following year, after his new wife arrived from India, the pair moved into a house with his parents.

The court heard that on the morning of the crime, on September 12, he was caught on camera filling a two litre bottle with petrol at a service station.

Later that day, while the rest of the family were out, Ginday claimed that his wife had attacked him and run off with £500.

The family told police who, the following day, carried out a full search of the house and garden where they found the incinerator which was still emitting smoke.

A police officer lifted the lid off the metal bin to discover the gruesome remains of a human skull.

Ginday's back garden and the incinerator in which Ms Rani's body was burnt

An unburned black plastic bin liner was found partially covering her body. A ring was also found in the incinerator which bore the inscription "V and G 2013" - Ms Rani's wedding band.

Her cousin Sunil Kumar said: "No words can truly express the sadness and hurt my family and I are experiencing at the loss of Varkha, she was loved dearly by all, she had a great passion for life and doted on her family.

"Varkha attained a masters degree and was driven to make her life a success, unfortunately she fell prey to Ginday who had ulterior motives which Varkha would not have appreciated."

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Sarbjit Johal said: "Ginday got married as a matter of convenience - he tricked a poor innocent girl into marriage but was living a lie.

"When she uncovered the truth he could not live with it and killed her quickly then tried to dispose of her body and her possessions by burning them.

"Had another day passed before police attended, Ginday may well have successfully removed all traces of Varkha.

"I hope that this verdict brings some comfort to Varkha's family who have travelled from India to see justice is brought for their daughter."

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Property Shortages Push Prices To Six-Year High

Property prices are at their highest level for six years, partly due to a shortage of homes for sale.

Surveyors sold an average of 23 homes during the three months to March - the highest number since February 2008, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

All areas except Wales, where the level was unchanged, saw a rise in interest from buyers.

Outside of London and the South East, prices saw the most noticeable growth in the South West and the East Midlands.

But while buying activity is rising in more regions, the expected "spring bounce", which sees more people put homes up for sale, has not happened, Rics said.

The mismatch between the lack of supply from sellers and rising demand from buyers is a "major concern" and is continuing to put an upward pressure on prices, the surveyors' body said.

More homes are needed in areas where people want to buy

Simon Rubinsohn, Rics chief economist, said: "Now that the housing market recovery is well and truly under way and mortgage finance is more readily available, buyers seem to be looking to test the market right across the country, not just in the usual hotspots of the South East.

"That said, it is a major concern that we are not seeing enough houses coming on to the market.

"For the market to operate effectively, we desperately need more homes in areas where people want to buy and want to live.

"Until this happens we're likely to see prices continue to increase and it is going to be ever harder for many first-time buyers to conceive of ever owning their own home."

Government support schemes such as Help to Buy have made mortgages more widely available, particularly for people with only smaller deposits saved who may have previously been struggling to get a deal.

But critics of the scheme argue the impact it is having in pushing up demand, without a corresponding increase in the supply of homes, is also pushing up house prices and encouraging people to stretch their borrowing.

Toughened mortgage lending rules are coming into force later this month with the aim of preventing overlending to borrowers who may end up having trouble paying back, particularly when interest rates rise.

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said: "Leading developers have pledged to build more as a direct result of this increased demand, and we've already delivered 420,000 new homes since 2010, including 170,000 new affordable homes."

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Peaches Geldof's Body Released To Family

Peaches Geldof's body has been released to her family allowing them to make arrangements for her funeral.

A coroner's spokesman made the disclosure as it emerged that toxicology test results could be released in two or three weeks.

The 25-year-old was found dead at her home in Wrotham, Kent, on Monday and police are treating it as a "non-suspicious, unexplained sudden death".

A post-mortem examination carried out at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford proved inconclusive, prompting further investigations to try to establish her cause of death.

A spokesman for North West Kent coroner Roger Hatch said: "We can confirm that the body has been released to the family for funeral arrangements to be made."

It is not known where the memorial will be held but a possible choice could be the church where Ms Geldof married her husband, Tom Cohen. 

Ms Geldof with her husband Tom Cohen

Her parents Bob Geldof and Paula Yates were also married at the St Mary Magdalene and St Lawrence Church in Kent, and Yates funeral was also held there.

Any inquest is not due to be held until after the toxicology test results are known.

Ms Geldof's body was found on Monday afternoon after officers were called "following a report of concern for the welfare of a woman".

In a touching tribute, her musician father, his partner Jeanne Marine, and Ms Geldof's sisters Fifi Trixibelle, Pixie and Tiger, said the family was "beyond pain", saying: "She was the wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us."

Fifi Geldof also posted a picture on Instagram of the two of them together when they were children, writing: "My beautiful baby sister ... Gone but never forgotten. I love you Peaches x."

Cohen, with whom she had two young sons, said his wife was adored by him and their two sons Astala, 23 months, and 11-month-old Phaedra, whom he would bring up "with their mother in their hearts every day".

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Blakelock: Man Cleared Of Murder Is Freed

The man cleared of murdering PC Keith Blakelock during the 1985 Tottenham riots has been released from a high-security prison.

Nicky Jacobs, 45, was driven from Belmarsh prison in southeast London in a silver car after his release was delayed for administrative reasons on Wednesday.

Mr Jacobs' lawyer Tony Meisels said his client was "relieved" to be free after a four-year ordeal.

But he demanded an investigation into why the prosecution ever went ahead after a jury at the Old Bailey took just hours to acquit him after a two-week trial.

He said: "Our thoughts are with PC Blakelock's widow and her children. Obviously, they have not seen justice and have been dragged through the process as much as Mr Jacobs has.

PC Blakelock's widow wept after the acquittal

"Questions need to be asked at the very highest levels of the Crown Prosecution Service and the police as to why this prosecution was ever brought."

PC Blakelock was attacked by an armed mob after his unit was deployed to protect firefighters tackling a late-night blaze on the Broadwater Farm estate in north London on October 6, 1985.

Mr Jacobs, who was 16 at the time of the riots, was the seventh person to be charged with the officer's murder but no one has been convicted of the killing.

He was kept in custody last night as the administrative offices at Belmarsh jail had closed by the time the verdict was handed down, supporters claimed.

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Nigel Evans Prosecution 'Was Great Tragedy'

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Friends of the former deputy speaker Nigel Evans have questioned the decision to prosecute the MP on charges of rape and sexual assault.

After a four-week trial at Preston Crown Court, the politician has been cleared on all charges.

Evans, 56, is regarded by many colleagues as one of the most popular MPs in Westminster. 

He was arrested after police turned up at his constituency home in Lancashire early one morning in May 2013.

A student who had stayed at Mr Evans' address several days earlier claimed he had been raped by the politician. 

From the outset the MP said the young man had consented to sex.

In relation to accusations of indecent or sexual assault from another six men, he insisted either that they did not happen or that he had misinterpreted signals from the alleged victims.

Lembit Opik said the situation was a 'great tragedy'

Despite the charges, friends said even before Mr Evans was cleared that they would stand by the MP.

Former MP Lembit Opik told Sky News: "I'm not a judge and I'm not a lawyer but I'm a human being and so is Nigel Evans and the great tragedy in this situation is, not withstanding the outcome of the case, he's been punished for two years.

"He's lost his job when he wasn't even found guilty of anything and we've really got to ask ourselves where is this country going if that's regarded as justice."

Mr Evans was a vice chairman of the Conservative Party and was promoted to the shadow cabinet after Iain Duncan Smith became party leader in 2001. 

He was one of three deputy speakers elected in a secret ballot of MPs in 2010. 

The politician is now openly gay, but he kept it a secret for most of his life, only coming out in 2010 after his mother died.

The prosecution in his trial had claimed that the MP "often when in drink, pressed his sexual attentions on younger men, on occasions using or trading on his position of influence."

Mr Evans had been arrested in his Ribble Valley constituency

Barrister Mark Heywood QC said that the defendant's behaviour had become more and more serious.

He told the court: "He not only abused those young men, in some instances very seriously so, but he abused the positions he held."

But the defence argued successfully that jurors could not rule out the possibility that some form of collusion had taken place between some of the complainants. 

The judge in the case, Mr Justice King, said in his summary that there was a "real possibility" that one of the alleged victims had put up some of the others to bolster his own account.

Many current and former MPs have come forward in support of Mr Evans.

His London flatmate, Conservative MP Brian Binley, told Sky News: "He is a congenial man and enjoys a drink, enjoys a glass of wine. He's also a tactile man as many of us are. And sometimes that can be misconstrued."

Novelist and former MP Edwina Currie has known Mr Evans for more than 30 years. 

Edwina Currie said she hoped Mr Evans could 'move on'

Asked if she thought he would still be able to pursue his dream of becoming speaker of the House, she replied:  "I don't think it's appropriate to start thinking you can go back to exactly where you were. 

"You obviously can't after all of the trauma and the emotional pain of being faced by people you thought were your friends. 

"Nigel will need to move on after all of this and I certainly hope he does."

Mr Evans has much support in his Ribble Valley constituency.

Christine Dilworth is a friend and landlady of the pub adjoining his cottage in Pendleton. She said:  "We were most shocked for one morning police just to appear on your doorstep and take him off not knowing what for or anything.

"Basically, by being such a kind, open person, which he is, I think has been his downfall.

"His door was always open in the village when he was at home - always. Anybody passing would call in it was always an open house."

When he resigned as deputy speaker following his arrest, the MP quoted Winston Churchill, saying: "When you are going through hell keep going." 

Finally, he can start to leave the hell of this case behind.

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Ex-Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans Found Not Guilty

Former deputy speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans has been found not guilty of all nine sex charges against him.

The 56-yearold had been accused of one count of rape, four count of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault and two counts of indecent assault.

Mr Evans, who is also MP for Ribble Valley, wept after the verdicts were handed down by the jury at the end of a five-week trial at Preston Crown Court.

The charges related to offences against seven men, said to have been carried out between 2003 and 2013. 

Friends of Mr Evans cheered as the last of the not guilty verdicts was read out by the foreman of the jury, which had deliberated for five hours and 45 minutes.

Among those who were present to support the MP was Coronation Street star Vicky Entwhistle, who was also seen in tears.

Speaking on the steps of the court after the verdict, Mr Evans said: "As many of you know, I've gone through 11 months of hell.

"I've not been alone. Many have walked with me, including my team at Clitheroe and Westminster ... Many people I don't even know have sent messages of support.

Nigel Evans leaves the court after being found not guilty

"In my darkest and loneliest times, there were only two or one set of foot steps in the sand, and ... they weren't mine.

"I've got work to do. It's the work that I have done for the last 22 years, so this isn't a time for celebration or euphoria."

While speaking, he referred to comments made by Coronation Street star Bill Roache who was cleared on sex offences at the same court a month ago.

Mr Roache, who was also prosecuted by authorities in Lancashire, said there were "no winners" in situations like his.

Mr Evans said: "That's absolutely right. There are no winners ... so no celebrations.

"All I can say is that after the last 11 months I've gone through, nothing will ever be the same again."

Mr Evans had consistently denied the charges and has insisted that the alleged rape of a 22-year-old university student had been consensual sex.

Friends of Mr Evans have told Sky News he does not want his old job back

Mr Evans was also accused of indecently assaulting two men in their 20s in 2003 when he approached them in public places while drunk.

A 23-year-old, meanwhile, said he was sexually assaulted while sleeping on Mr Evans' sofa at the MP's Lancashire home in July 2009.

Evans admitted he had made a pass and apologised to the young man after he was hauled into the Conservative whips' office but the jury was told the allegation "gathered a momentum of its own" after the man mentioned the incident to another MP.

The man was accused of embellishing his story when police became involved but two of his close friends bolstered his allegation by coming forward to say they too had been sexually assaulted.

But the failure of the prosecution to deliver a guilty verdict, raises questions over yet another sex offences trial that has ended in a not guilty verdict.

Mark Pritchard MP was one of those who responded quickly on Twitter to the verdict. He tweeted: "Nigel Evans cleared on all counts. Lancashire Police and Crown Prosecution Service have some serious questions to answer."

Mr Evans was a Conservative MP before he was elected in 2010 as one of three deputy speakers, a politically neutral role.

He stepped down as a deputy speaker last September after he was charged with the offences.

He has not returned to the Conservatives and represents his constituents as an independent.

Sources have told Sky News he does not want his job as deputy speaker back.

A source within government said: "Nigel Evans has never expected or wanted to get his job back as Deputy Speaker - he's with the rest of the party in believing that his replacement, Eleanor Laing is doing a good job."

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PC Blakelock Murder Accused Not Guilty

The man accused of stabbing PC Keith Blakelock during the 1985 Tottenham riots has been found not guilty of murder.

Nicky Jacobs, who was 16 at the time of the attack, had maintained his innocence throughout.

There were cheers from the public gallery as the verdicts were returned by a jury, who took just six hours to clear the 45-year-old with a majority of 10-2.

PC Blakelock, 40, was killed by an armed mob at the height of the riots at the Broadwater Farm estate 1985.

He was among a group of officers sent out without cover on the night of Sunday October 6, 1985 to protect firemen tackling fires.

Mr Jacobs stood up and punched the air as he was cleared, before breaking down in tears.

Those supporting him in the public gallery included Winston Silcott, whose conviction for the murder of PC Blakelock was quashed in 1991. Mr Silcott shouted "Yeah, yeah" and "Brother, brother" from the gallery.

Police have justified pursuing Mr Jacobs almost three decades after the riots in north London and pledged to continue to seek justice for PC Blakelock's death.

Estates were devastated during the riots

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said: "No matter how difficult an investigation it has been to carry out - given the many years that have passed, the lack of forensic evidence and CCTV, plus the main witnesses to Keith murder's being those taking part in the riot - it was important we exhausted every possible lead we could.

"Sadly, Keith's widow, family and friends still have not seen anyone brought to justice for his murder. The dignity, extraordinary patience and courage they have shown in their nearly 30-year quest for justice is humbling.

"We will not give up on bringing Keith's killers to justice.

"There are people who know exactly who took part in the attack on Keith and people who took part themselves. It is not too late for you to come forward. Almost 30 years on people's lives are very different, their allegiances broken or shifted. Help us now."

One of PC Blakelock's three sons held his head in his hands as the verdict was delivered, while his widow, Elizabeth, quickly left the court.

During his trial the court heard from three anonymous witnesses who claimed to have seen Mr Jacobs take part in the killing.

The defendant had also written a rap poem during his time in a juvenile detention centre in which he boasted about "chopping" at the officer.

Defending, Courtenay Griffiths QC said: "Bob Marley wrote I Shot The Sheriff but I have not heard of him being put on trial for murder."

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Maria Miller Resigns As Culture Secretary

Maria Miller has been warned accepting a £17,000 pay-off would be a "further insult" to the taxpayer and she should turn it down.

The former Culture Secretary is entitled to three months' pay on leaving her post under law, however, she can refuse the amount.

The sum is significantly more than the £5,800 she has been ordered to repay in wrongly-claimed expenses and the Labour MP John Mann has said that given her conduct the payment would be "inappropriate".

Mrs Miller resigned this morning after a week of mounting pressure following an investigation into the expenses claims she made for a second home.

Mr Mann, who made the initial complaint about her allowances claims, said: "It is a ridiculous and outdated practice to pay off ministers when they return to the backbenches.

"In light of Maria Miller's conduct, it would now be inappropriate for her to claim severance pay following her resignation. For her to accept a payoff would be a further insult to the taxpayer."

Mrs Miller has insisted she was not pushed from her role as Culture Secretary but had to go because the scandal over her expenses was becoming a "distraction".

Maria Miller's 32-second apology in the Commons was incendiary

In an interview after her resignation, a clearly upset Mrs Miller said she took "full responsibility" for her decision to step down.

She said: "This has been a really difficult 16 months. Because I was cleared of the central allegation made about me by a Labour Member of Parliament, I hoped that I could stay. But it has become clear to me in recent days that it has become an enormous distraction.

"It is not right that I am distracting from the incredible achievements of this Government."

She denied she thought there had been a "witch-hunt" against her because of her role overseeing the reforms on press freedom suggested in the Leveson report, as had been claimed by her aide on Tuesday.

Asked if she was sorry, she replied: "I have made it clear and apologised unreservedly to the House of Commons and made sure that it was clear to everybody that I took full responsibility for those findings.

"I want to make that the situation is clear to everybody and make sure that I can move on."

In her resignation letter to David Cameron, Mrs Miller, 48, told him she was "very grateful" for his personal support during the growing row over her expenses.

Mr Cameron repeatedly backed his Culture Secretary

Mr Cameron, who consistently offered public support for his minister, said he was saddened by her departure but hoped the Basingstoke MP could make a return "in due course".

Mrs Miller finally stepped down six days after she was forced to apologise in the House of Commons for her attitude to an inquiry into the allowance claimed on her second home.

The Prime Minister had been under pressure in recent days to sack her from Tory activists and MPs, and Mrs Miller's position had become untenable.

Following criticism over his handling of the case from both Tory and Labour MPs Mr Cameron robustly defended his actions at Prime Minister's Questions.

When Labour leader Ed Miliband asked him what he had learned from the situation, he said: "I hope that one lesson that won't be learned is that the right thing to do as soon as someone has to answer allegations is just to instantly remove them, rather than give them a chance to clear their name and get on with their job.

"If people clear themselves of a serious offence, you let them get on with their job, you let them try to do their job. That is actually the right thing to do.

The second home at the centre of the row

"Firing someone at the first sign of trouble ... that is not actually leadership, that is weakness."

Mrs Miller's camp had, on Tuesday night, attempted a fightback after days of newspaper headlines and the faltering support for her from within Government.

Her aide, Mary Macleod, appeared on Sky News to claim she was a victim of a witch-hunt because she was dealing with press reforms recommended in the Leveson report. She had sent a text to MPs attempting to garner support for Mrs Miller.

She also claimed that Mrs Miller was unpopular because she was responsible for steering through the legislation on gay marriage.

In her resignation letter Mrs Miller said: "Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking scandals, would always be controversial for the press.

"Working together with you, I believe we struck the right balance between protecting the freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, particularly for victims of press intrusion, to have a clear right of redress."

Mr Cameron has announced that Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove, is to become the new Culture Secretary.

Nicky Morgan will replace him as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Andrea Leadsom will become Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Mrs Miller's departure leaves three women in the Cabinet: Home Secretary Theresa May, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, and International Development Secretary Justine Greening. Baroness Warsi sits in the Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio as is Ms Morgan, in her role.

Conservatives in Mrs Miller's constituency voiced disappointment at her departure.

Stephen Marks, a Conservative councillor on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said: "She did Leveson on press complaints and I feel the press were going to get their own back on her. I am saddened that she had to resign, but that is the way it is."

Mrs Miller issued a much-derided 32-second apology on Thursday after Parliament's sleaze watchdog upbraided her for her attitude to an expenses inquiry into claims for a second home.

She was also ordered to pay back £5,800 of wrongly-claimed allowances on the house in Wimbledon, southwest London, which she sold for a £1.2m profit in February.

However, it emerged that the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards had found that Mrs Miller should have paid back £45,000 in expenses claimed on the home but this was overruled by the Standards Committee of 10 MPs and three independent members, who do not have a vote.

It led to calls for an end to a system where MPs are allowed to police their own expenses, with the head of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Sir Ian Kennedy, saying they should not "mark their own homework".

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First Public Play Date For Prince George

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

Prince George was described as "advanced for his age" who "owned the place" by parents at his first play date in Wellington.

The little chap looked interested in fellow guests

During the 30-minute gathering of under-ones, mothers and fathers in New Zealand, the animated infant managed to make one little girl cry and snatched a toy from another.

Kate chatted informally with other parents

In what is described as the third in line to the throne's first public engagement, eight-month-old teething George chewed on toys and crawled around with 10 other little boys and girls at Government House.

It was the Duchess' first public engagement with her son

The Duchess of Cambridge told one parent it was the largest gathering of children George had so far experienced.

Kate revealed her son is sleeping well

Father Grant Colling also said the confident Royal tot, who was on the third day of a New Zealand and Australia tour with his parents, had a real command of the room.

George played with babies around his age

"He was his own little man and took control moving into the middle of circle of toys," he said.

"He hunted out the biggest toys and propped himself up. He completely owned the place basically."

The gathering was held at Wellington's Government House

Sheila Lemie was struck by the little Royal's strength: "He was very strong and much more advanced than our little boy."

George was boisterous and lively during the play date

The long-awaited first public introduction of Prince George comes 31 years after a young Prince William was paraded in front of the press for the first time on the lawn of Government House in Auckland.

A fidgety William crawled unfazed towards the camped-out media, stopping only to chew on the antennae of the now famous Buzzy Bee wooden toy.

William, Kate and their son are touring New Zealand and Australia

Kensington Palace had been keen to ensure George's play date was as authentic as possible, with nothing staged for the Royal visitors.

After reducing the little girl to tears, it was clear they had achieved just that.

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Peaches Geldof Post-Mortem 'Inconclusive'

A post-mortem examination into the death of Peaches Geldof has proved inconclusive pending the results of toxicology tests.

The 25-year-old was found dead at her home in Wrotham, Kent, on Monday and police are treating the death as "non-suspicious" and "unexplained".

A statement said: "Officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death in order to compile a report for the coroner.

"The result of a toxicology report can take several weeks."

Peaches (L) and her sister Fifi Trixibelle. Pic: fifigeldof Instagram

Ms Geldof, who had two young sons with her second husband, musician Tom Cohen, was a prolific tweeter and the final message she sent on Sunday was a picture of herself as a child with her mother, with the message "me and my mum".

In a column for Mother & Baby magazine, she wrote how she was now "happier than ever" after becoming a mother.

Mr Cohen said he would bring up Astala, 23 months, and 11-month-old Phaedra, "with their mother in their hearts every day".

Ms Geldof's body was found on Monday afternoon after officers were called "following a report of concern for the welfare of a woman", a Kent Police spokesman said.

Her father Bob released a touching tribute in which he said the family was suffering "beyond pain".

Her elder sister Fifi Trixibelle Geldof posted a picture on Instagram on Tuesday of the two of them together when they were children and wrote: "My beautiful baby sister .... Gone but never forgotten. I love you Peaches x."

Ms Geldof was just 11 when her mother, TV presenter Paula Yates, died from an accidental heroin overdose in 2000, aged 41.

She often spoke about her struggle to cope with her parents' break up when she was seven and admitted to experimenting with drugs during her teenage years.

A decision on whether to hold an inquest will be made depending on the final results of the post-mortem examination.

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Nigel Evans Sex Assault Trial: Jury Retires

By Becky Johnson, North Of England Correspondent

The jury in the trial of Nigel Evans MP has retired to consider its verdicts.

Evans denies allegations of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, indecent assault and rape.

During the trial at Preston Crown Court, seven men have told the jury they were assaulted by the MP.

The judge, Mr Justice King, has spent more than a day reminding jurors of what they have heard during the trial which has lasted almost five weeks.

He told the jury they must not treat the evidence they heard from Evans differently to evidence they have heard from other witnesses.

He said: "You have to assess Mr Evans in the same way you assess any other witness. Don't in any way treat him differently because he's come from the dock.

"Equally, don't treat him differently because he's a Member of Parliament."

The prosecution alleges Evans used his "powerful" political position, as the MP for Ribble Valley and deputy speaker, to take advantage of young men.

All of the alleged assaults are said to have taken place when Evans had been drinking.

One man alleges Evans put his hand down his trousers in a bar in Soho.

Alleged assaults are said to have taken place on other men at the Tory conference in 2003, in the Strangers Bar at the House of Commons and in the kitchenette on the deputy speaker's corridor.

The MP denies that any of those events took place.

Evans accepts he "made a pass" at a young Westminster worker who was staying on the sofa at the MP's constituency home after a party, but denies it was sexual assault.

The judge reminded the jury the account given to them by a student who claims Evans raped him was "quite different" to Evans' account of what went on.

The 22-year-old man, who was staying at Evans' home in Pendleton in Lancashire, says he woke to find Evans on top of him.

Evans says the pair had consensual sex in his bedroom.

He faces one charge of rape, two of indecent assault and six of sexual assault, said to have taken place on various dates between 2002 and last year.

Evans stood down as deputy speaker of the House of Commons after he was charged in connection with the allegations. He remains the independent MP for Ribble Valley.

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Irish President On Historic Visit To Britain

Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have met the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle.

The Queen wore sky blue cashmere and green feather flowers in her hat

The couple travelled to Windsor with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall who earlier greeted the visitors at the Irish Embassy in London.

The two heads of state have already met informally but President Higgins' official welcome includes all the traditional pomp and circumstance.

He took part in a ceremonial carriage procession through the streets of Windsor  which were decked out in Union flags and Irish tricolours.

After the guests were honoured with two separate gun salutes, the Queen and president entered the castle in the Australian State Coach, before Mr Higgins and Prince Philip inspected troops.

Major Andrew Seddon, captain of the Queen's Company Grenadier Guards, invited Mr Higgins to inspect the guard of honour, speaking to him in Irish.

The Irish Guards was represented by the regimental band as the troops are currently on peacekeeping duties in Cyprus.

Mr Higgins presented a new ceremonial red coat to its regimental mascot, an Irish wolfhound called Domhnall of Shantamon.

Later today he is due to address members of both Houses of Parliament and attend a state banquet.

The guest list includes the British and Irish Prime Ministers and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland.

Watched over by Queen Victoria, the Irish tricolour and the Union flag

It will be the second time Her Majesty has shaken hands with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, a former IRA leader.

The historic visit comes three years after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland.

Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said: "It is becoming a model relationship between two neighbouring countries. We are very close, respectful neighbours and I think the relationship we are building and working on is one that, given our very complex history, many people throughout the world will be able to draw some inspiration from."

The Queen spoke in Irish and commemorated those who had fought for freedom during her ground-breaking tour.

President Higgins will reciprocate by honouring Britain's war dead at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.

The Queen and Prince Philip escort their visitors from Ireland

The head of state, a former arts and culture minister, will attend an Irish concert in the Royal Albert Hall.

Professor Deirdre Heenan, who serves on the president's Council of State, said: "It's about promoting good relations but it's also about saying to the world that we're actually more interested in our commonality, our common love of culture, politics and our common economic interests rather than the focus which would generally have been what divides us."

Michael D Higgins is Ireland's ninth president, having succeeded President Mary McAleese when she left office in November 2011.

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Dorset School Loses £1m In Phishing Scam

A Dorset school with academy status has fallen victim to an online scam, reportedly losing more than £1m.

St Aldhelm's Academy in Poole was contacted by people pretending to be bank workers and requesting details of the school's bank account.

Staff subsequently passed them on and the criminals withdrew the money, part of a multimillion-pound government loan for rebuilding. 

The Department for Education is demanding the money be paid back at the rate of £75,000 a month, the Bournemouth Daily Echo reported.

The fraud happened last summer but has just come to light. The theft is believed to be linked to organised crime in eastern Europe.

Headteacher Cheryl Heron said in a statement: "St Aldhelm's was subject to an external fraud in July last year.

"The academy acted swiftly, referred the matter immediately to the police and the case is still being investigated.

"The fraud has not impacted on the day-to-day running of the academy or our recent building work, which was completed on schedule.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further while police investigations are ongoing."

A Department for Education spokesperson: "St Aldhelm's has been the victim of a sophisticated serious fraud by a third party.

"The matter was immediately referred to the police and Action Fraud by the academy trust and to the EFA. The matter continues to be investigated by the police."

The school, one of the first to be given academy status from Education Secretary Michael Gove, has had its share of bad luck over the past 12 months, posting England's worst GCSE results for 2012.

Formerly called Rossmore Community College, it was relaunched as Poole's first academy in 2010.

It is sponsored by the Diocese of Salisbury which told Sky News in a statement: "The Diocese can confirm that an academy it sponsors, St Aldhelm's in Poole, was subject to a sophisticated fraud by a third party in July 2013.

"The Academy and both of its sponsors, the Diocese of Salisbury and Bournemouth University, have been working with the Department for Education to ensure that the education of children is unaffected.

"Both the Academy and its sponsors have been co-operating fully with the police investigation and cannot comment further while this continues."

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'Serious Questions For PM Over Maria Miller'

Ed Miliband has said the Prime Minister has "serious questions to answer" over Maria Miller as pressure from Tory MPs for her to be removed from her job intensifies.

In his first comments on the growing scandal, the Labour leader pointed out that "people in his own Government don't seem to be supporting her" and as a result he had to "answer those questions about her status in the Government".

Mr Miliband's remarks come after the prominent Tory MP, Zac Goldsmith, said he was "surprised that Mrs Miller had not stepped down" but agreed that it was a matter for Mr Cameron.

London Mayor Boris Johnson repeatedly sidestepped questions over whether the Culture Secretary should go.

Boris Johnson sidestepped questions over the Culture Secretary

Speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme he finally said: "I don't know the facts of the case in great detail but it seems to me she is being hounded quite a lot and I suppose my natural sympathies go out to people being in a hounded situation. How about that?"

The Employment Minister Esther McVey criticised Maria Miller's 32-second apology but said it was for the Prime Minister to decide on the Culture Secretary's future.

Ms McVey said: "I can honestly say it wouldn't be how I would have made an apology.

"But different people have different styles and do things in different ways."

Asked if Mrs Miller should keep her job, she told ITV's The Agenda: "David Cameron has the final say on this. He's standing by her."

Maria Miller apology: Gone in 32 seconds

The Tory MP Mark Field also said that Mrs Miller's apology had been "unacceptable".

One Tory MP told Sky's Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge: "It's what people want to talk about on the doorstep and in the pub, everyone has the same view except the Prime Minister."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "He's (Mr Cameron) got serious questions to answer about Maria Miller's failure to co-operate with the initial inquiry.

Independent Standards Authority chairman Sir Ian Kennedy

"He's got serious questions to answer about her failure to provide more than a perfunctory apology to the House of Commons.

"He's got serious questions now to answer about the fact that people in his own Government don't seem to be supporting her.

"So I think the ball is in his court - he's got to answer those questions about her status in the Government."

Parliament's sleaze watchdog ordered Mrs Miller to apologise and repay £5,800 following an expenses investigation six days ago.

The Culture Secretary, who on Tuesday morning attended the Cabinet meeting and refused to answer questions from the press, gave the briefest of statements in the House of Commons to voice her regret over her attitude to the inquiry into allowances claims she had made for a second home.

The Prime Minister has continued to offer Mrs Miller his "full confidence" and said she had "done the right thing" and urged the press to "leave it there".

A ComRes survey commissioned by Conservative Grassroots, an organisation founded by senior party activists, found that 75% of voters thought Mr Cameron should have sacked Mrs Miller.

An online petition calling for Mrs Miller to repay £45,000 or go has now amassed 145,000 names.

Mr Cameron is due to address the influential Conservative backbench 1922 committee on Wednesday, where he is likely to face a rough ride. He spoke yesterday with its chairman, Graham Brady.

Conservative Grassroots Chairman Robert Woollard, a former constituency party chairman, said: "Mr Cameron's support of the Culture Secretary is completely irrational.

"When David Cameron spoke about the need for the actions of those in Parliament to pass the smell test, it was exactly for such occasions as these.

"Well this whole issue stinks and as this poll finds, it is incredibly damaging to our party and the PM personally."

The Culture Secretary has agreed to pay back £5,800 wrongly claimed on a second home in Wimbledon, southwest London.

However, it emerged the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards had found she should repay £45,000 but been over-ruled by the Standards Committee, made up of 10 MPs and three independent members who have no vote.

It has sparked calls for further changes to a system that allows MPs to police their own expenses, including from the chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Sir Ian Kennedy.

Mrs Miller has also been forced to deny she will seek to dodge a capital gains tax bill on the £1.47m sale of her partly taxpayer-funded Wimbledon home.

A Number 10 source admitted some MPs had concerns over Mrs Miller, but added: "There are plenty of MPs who have got in touch to say they strongly back Maria as well."

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Lee Rigby Murderer Appeals Life Sentence

One of the men who murdered soldier Lee Rigby has launched an appeal against his whole-life prison term.

Michael Adebolajo was sentenced to die behind bars, while accomplice Michael Adebowale was jailed for life with a minimum term of 45 years.

The pair were sentenced by Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey for killing the 25-year-old father of one near Woolwich Barracks in  London on May 22 last year.

Explaining his decision to give Adebolajo a whole-life term, the judge said the 29-year-old had "no real prospect of rehabilitation".

At the time the sentences were passed, relatives of Fusilier Rigby said "justice has been served".

Lee Rigby was 25 years old when he was killed

Now Adebolajo is seeking to have the sentence cut.

Leading judges at the Court of Appeal recently ruled that murderers who commit the most "heinous" of crimes can be sent to prison for the rest of their lives.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas said the court had held that it was "entirely compatible" with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Sentencing in a number of high-profile criminal cases, including the terms to be handed out to Fusilier Rigby's murderers, was put on hold pending the ruling in February.

The ruling followed a successful appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) by murderers Jeremy Bamber, Douglas Vinter and Peter Moore.

Those currently serving whole-life terms in England and Wales include Moors Murderer Ian Brady, who tortured and murdered children along with accomplice Myra Hindley, and serial killer Rosemary West.

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IMF Sees UK Growth Remaining Fastest In G7

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor, In Washington DC

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast for Britain's economic growth more than any other major economy for the third time in a row, in a boost to the Chancellor's fortunes.

The Fund said it expected Britain's economy to expand by 2.9% this year – faster than any other G7 economy, and a significant upgrade from the 2.4% rate it predicted only three months ago.

The upgrade, which is likely to be seized on by the Chancellor as further evidence of British success, comes one year on from the IMF chief economist's warning that George Osborne was "playing with fire" with his austerity policies.

At that stage, Britain was facing the prospect of a possible triple-dip recession.

The IMF's chief economist has previously criticised UK austerity

Now, the Fund says that not only is growth strong in the UK, there is a significant chance of an "upside risk" - in other words even stronger growth than its central prediction.

However, the Fund added that the growth was being fuelled by the same imbalanced elements - consumer spending and credit - that contributed to the crisis.

"Growth has rebounded more strongly than anticipated in the United Kingdom on easier credit conditions and increased confidence," the report said.

"However, the recovery has been unbalanced, with business investment and exports still disappointing."

It pointed out that as a result, interest rates would be likely to rise sooner in the UK than in the US or Europe.

The Fund recommended that the Bank of England keep monetary policy "accommodative" - keeping rates low for the time being.

It added that "the Government's efforts to raise capital spending while staying within the medium-term fiscal envelope should help bolster recovery and long- term growth."

Labour's Ed Balls has accused the Government of complacency

The benign tone of the report, which forecast only slightly milder growth of 2.5% in 2015, is likely to be regarded within the Treasury as a victory over the Fund and Olivier Blanchard, who repeatedly urged the Chancellor to change course on austerity in recent years.

However, the Fund itself is likely to point towards the fact that the pace of Mr Osborne's spending cuts has been reduced in recent years - such that by some accounts he has already adopted a "plan B" on austerity.

A Treasury spokesperson responded: "The IMF forecast the UK to be the fastest growing major advanced economy this year.

"This is further evidence that the Government's long term economic plan is working, providing economic security for hardworking people.

"But the job is not done. Budget 2014 set out the next stage of the plan that is creating a more resilient economy through support to businesses, savers, and exporters.

"The biggest risk now to the recovery would be abandoning the plan that's delivering a brighter economic future."

Ed Balls, Labour's shadow chancellor, said: "These forecasts are welcome news after three damaging years when the economy flatlined and growth forecasts were repeatedly downgraded.

"Yet millions of working people, who are on average £1,600 a year worse off since 2010, are still not feeling any recovery at all.

"The IMF is right to warn about an unbalanced recovery and it is concerning that growth is expected to slow down next year.

"The Government should also heed the IMF's warnings about surging house prices by taking action to boost housing supply, as we have called for. 

"Instead of complacently trying to claim that everything is going well, we need a Government which understands that there is a deep-seated cost-of-living crisis and will act to tackle it."

The Fund said it expected the world economy to grow by 3.6% this year and 3.9% in 2015.

Among the countries facing a downgrade was Russia, whose growth prospects were cut by 0.6%, reflecting the economic impact of its involvement in Ukraine.

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Brit Killed On Costas: Friend Tells Of Shock

A friend of millionaire businessman Andrew Bush, who was found shot dead at his home on Spain's Costa del Sol, has said he is "trying to comprehend" his death.

Mr Bush, 48, originally from Bristol, was found lying in a pool of blood with two gunshot wounds to his head at around 3am on Saturday.

Police are looking for Mr Bush's ex-girlfriend, named as Mayka Kukucova, who is thought to have left the property in the businessman's Hummer.

Friend Paul Orchard, who had also been Mr Bush's personal trainer, said he was "devastated".

"It will take me a long time to come to terms with this," he said.

"I've been his personal trainer since last September but I knew him for longer than that.

"We struck a good rapport and I only spoke to him on Friday evening, we were going to meet next week.

Estepona is on the Costa del Sol

"When I was first told, I questioned whether it was true and I kept on saying it can't be. Now I feel just a little bit empty, almost like I'm trying to put pieces together.

"I'm trying to comprehend that it's happened.

"My thoughts go to him and his family. He'll be greatly missed."

Firefighters and police discovered Mr Bush's body after forcing their way into the beachside villa in Estepona where he lived.

The company director's girlfriend alerted police with an emergency call after the attack.

The pair are said to have been ambushed by Kukucova.

The house is a village between the resorts of Estepona and Marbella

She is thought to have been lying in wait for them inside the five-bedroom house.

Mr Bush and his current girlfriend, who is reported to be British, had just returned to their home from a trip abroad.

The suspected killer is still on the run after escaping from the scene in the dead man's Hummer vehicle.

A source close to the investigation said: "It is being treated as murder and police are hunting the dead man's ex on suspicion of committing this crime.

"They are probing the possibility she may have let herself into the property while the occupant was away and waited for several days for him to return."

The businessman's body has been taken to Malaga for a post-mortem examination.

Mr Bush owned a number of businesses in Bristol including a jewellery shop, according to reports.

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Hackers Put Child Abuse Images On Computers

Hacking attacks which lodge child abuse images and malware on a computer user's hard drive are on the rise, it has been warned.

In its annual report, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said there has been a significant increase in the number of legitimate websites being compromised.

First, the hackers infiltrate a site before planting the child abuse images and malware in folders on a hidden URL.

The folders are then inadvertently accessed by unsuspecting web surfers through a redirect link on a legitimate adult site.

When the link is clicked, the files are downloaded to the user's computer.

It is thought the abuse images are bundled with the malware to discourage people from trying to get their computers repaired.

A spokesman for the IWF said people "panic" and are "fearful of reprisals".

The report added: "The majority of the hacked websites are either UK-hosted or are those of UK small businesses."

As a result, the number of pages found to be hosting child sex abuse images in the UK increased to 92 in 2013, from 73 in 2012.

Overall, the charity identified 13,182 web pages containing child sex abuse images in 2013 worldwide, following reports to its hotline.

It said more than 80% of the images were of victims aged 10 and under.

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Max Clifford Trial: Pauline Quirke Evidence

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter, Southwark Crown Court

Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke has described publicist Max Clifford as an "honest and decent man" as the trial enters its closing stages.

Clifford, who turned 71 at the weekend, is accused of indecently assaulting a string of women in his car and his office, some after saying he could get them roles in the entertainment world.

However, Ms Quirke told Southwark Crown Court that the PR guru was nothing like the description that jurors have heard and she told how they worked together to raise funds for charity.

The actress who has also starred in Emmerdale and Broadchurch said that her friendship with him "grew from their connection" to the Rhys Daniels Trust which was set up in the 1990s to help a boy of the same name with Batten's Disease.

Ms Quirke said: "We went to each other's houses and we went out for dinner to restaurants. He came when I was on tour for two years with Birds of a Feather.

"The word integrity comes to mind when I think of Max - he's very down to Earth and normal considering the business that we are both involved in.

"He's a decent, decent man, honest and decent."

When asked by his defence barrister Richard Horwell QC if she had ever seen him "acting inappropriately with women" she replied: "We've been to balls with lots of women, people drinking and I've never seen him doing anything like that.

"I've never seen him behave in any way, shape or form like that."

Ms Quirke added that Clifford had helped raise money for the Trust by bringing stars to a celebrity screening of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and as a result they became "good friends".

As she left court, Clifford, who was dressed in a white open shirt and blue suit, winked and smiled at her.

Earlier, Sky Sports anchor Clare Thomlinson, who worked for Clifford in the early 1990s for six months said she had "no reason to doubt his integrity and honesty", adding that she had left his office on "amicable terms".

She said: "Max had an old school charm, he would open the door for you and ask how you would get home from a late function."

Ms Thomlinson, who was at the centre of sexual harassment claims from disgraced former commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray, told the court the experience had made her want to testify in the case.

She said: "I have been the victim of sexual harassment at work and I would not be giving evidence in front of a court if I had believed Max was capable of that sort of behaviour."

Clifford, of Hersham, Surrey, denies 11 counts of indecent assault against seven women between 1966 and 1984. His defence is expected to finish on Tuesday when the case continues.

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Asda Plans 12,000 New Jobs Over Five Years

By George! Why Asda Jobs Fit UK Recovery

Updated: 3:34pm UK, Monday 07 April 2014

By Poppy Trowbridge, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

It is not every day a company, albeit a major employer, confirms plans to create 12,000 jobs in the UK.

That's clearly a significant amount of badly needed new work.

But as unemployment across the UK is coming off uncomfortable highs hit during the recession, some economists and many politicians are concerned that the jobs being created are the wrong kind: temporary, badly paid, with little security.

Despite the UK's reputation for the wrong kind of snow, the wrong kind of rain etc these jobs, for the most part, are the right kind.

The 12,000 positions represent full-time roles. So, even if split by part-timers, the number of jobs simply multiplies.

The job creation has already begun in the North of England, the company having opened 14 new stores already in 2014, and will pick up pace significantly in the two years to 2018 as Asda makes its presence felt in London and the South East.

While the majority will be shop floor spots, Asda's plan to expand with superstores, supermarkets and 'click and collect' locations will require a variety of skilled back office staff, managers, accountants and logistics personnel.

Asda does not offer zero-hours contracts, which means employees can bank on a certain income stream, even if not top of the range.

So, the 12,000 promised spots look somewhat more secure, dispersed across the country, and come with the promise of accelerated creation.

That counts for quality these days.

And if Asda delivers on these promises, we should not turn our noses up at it.

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London Hotel Hammer Attack: Three Women Hurt

A manhunt is under way after a vicious hammer attack on three female tourists staying at a leading London hotel.

All three women, in their 30s, suffered serious head injuries and one is understood to be in a medically induced coma, fighting for her life.

The first victim is said to be in a critical condition, the second serious but stable and the third stable.

All three were on a family holiday from the United Arab Emirates and were sharing a room with three children at the Cumberland Hotel near Oxford Street in central London.

A lone male suspect entered the room and was disturbed by one of the women which resulted in the three adults being attacked by the intruder.

Police were called to the 1,000-room hotel at 1.50am on Sunday.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta said the family had been doing some shopping during the few days they had been in the capital.

It is unclear whether the women knew their attacker or whether it was a bungled robbery attempt.

A detailed forensic examination of the scene is taking place while police review both CCTV from within the hotel as well as the surrounding streets. Hotel staff and other guests are also being questioned.

No arrests have been made and Mr Mehta appealed for witnesses "who saw what happened or either saw somebody loitering around the hotel, outside or within, or who might have seen somebody leaving the hotel, perhaps hurriedly or covered in blood".

He said officers were keeping an open mind, but early indications were that "theft would appear to have been the motive".

Homicide and major crime officers are investigating the incident, the officer added.

A hotel spokesman said: "It's an ongoing investigation and we are helping police with their inquiries in order to get this sorted as soon as possible."

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Women May Get Right To Fight On Front Line

The British Army is "seriously considering" lifting its ban on women serving in combat roles in line with other countries such as the US, the Chief of the General Staff has said.

General Sir Peter Wall told The Sunday Times he wanted to show women that the army was "open to" women and an equal opportunities employer.

The Ministry of Defence, which under European Law must review the policy every eight years, said there would another review "before 2018".

The last statutory review in 2010 raised concerns that putting women and men together in small units for months at a time could undermine "team cohesion", but said women would be able to meet physical and psychological demands.

Women currently are allowed to serve on the frontline with the artillery and as medics, engineers, intelligence officers and fighters pilots but not in close combat roles.

UK Army women are currently not allowed to serve in close combat roles

Last year, the US lifted its own ban on women fighting on the frontline, joining other countries including Germany, Canada, France and Israel.

Sir Peter told the newspaper: "We've got to take a view on that fairly soon.

"We're in a minority of armies now in that respect. It's definitely something that we need to be considering seriously but we need to go about this with great care, especially with all the other changes going on."

He said: "We have always said that we will look at the evidence and base our decision on what impact it will have on operational capability.

"This isn't just about getting more females into the 30% of roles that are combat trades but getting more of them into the Army per se.

"Women need to see they have equal opportunities right throughout the organisation.

"Allowing them to be combat troops would make us look more normal to society but there will always be people who say the close battle is no place for female soldiers."

Women could soon be fighting alongside men

In 2011, the Government announced that women would be allowed to go to sea with their male counterparts on the Royal Navy's Submarine Service for the first time in its 110-year history.

An MoD spokesman said: "The vast majority of roles in the Armed Forces are open to women and hundreds are currently serving their country with distinction in Afghanistan.

"They are fundamental to the operational effectiveness of the UK's Armed Forces, bringing talent and skills across the board.

"A 2010 review into women serving in combat roles concluded there should be no change to the existing policy and another review will take place before 2018."

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Kate To Fulfil Ambition On Tour Down Under

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Duchess of Cambridge will realise a lifelong ambition when she arrives in New Zealand on Monday.

According to the New Zealand High Commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith, right at the top of Kate's 'bucket list' is a visit to the Southern Hemisphere realm.

"I met the Duchess of Cambridge at a garden party at Buckingham Palace when she was pregnant with Prince George," he said.

"I said to her that I'd love her to come to New Zealand and she said: 'Well, there's a little matter I have to deal with first of course but I have to say coming to New Zealand is top of my bucket list.' And now she's finally making the trip."

Not only has Kate never visited New Zealand and Australia but it will be a first for son Prince George, who will likely one day be King of the two nations.

The tour will largely mirror that of the Prince and Princess of Wales' visit Down Under in 1983, when a nine-month-old Prince William conducted his first public crawl about.

Prince George, who is now eight months old, will arrive in Wellington, New Zealand after travelling long-haul for more that 24 hours.

To minimise the disruption to their son, William and Kate have decided to operate a hub tour in both countries, allowing them to return most evenings to be with George in Wellington and Sydney.

Kate and William travel to New Zealand and Australia with Prince George

Excitement surrounding the royal party's arrival in Wellington for the start of the three-week tour is muted at best, although one local told Sky News: "We don't like to shout about it, and although the flags aren't out, we are quietly excited."

Two women who found it hard to conceal their excitement, however, are the owners of Wellington jewellery business Tory & Ko, who have been commissioned to design three pairs of earrings and one necklace for Kate for her stay in New Zealand.

"It's a complete honour and we are really blown away," Kirstin O'Brien told Sky News.

"She is the most perfect person to wear our jewellery because she is beautiful, sophisticated and she has that lovely accessibility about her," 

The Cambridge family will first visit the North Island, before heading to the South Island where they will spend a night away from Prince George.

All three, accompanied by their entourage including Prince George's newly appointed nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, will later travel to Sydney, Australia, for the second leg of their three week tour.

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