Missing British Boy Ashya Could Be In Spain

Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed there is positive information to suggest the family of Ashya King may now be in Spain.

The police force said it now has information which suggests the family has strong links to the Marbella area and that they may be travelling there.

The family's car was spotted on Friday, according to police, which has shifted the focus of the search to Spain.

Officers are now working with Spanish authorities in a continued effort to locate the missing five-year-old, who has a brain tumour.

Five-year-old Ashya needs treatment for a brain tumour

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said: "The need to find Ashya is now desperate. It is really important that we find him and ensure he receives medical attention at the earliest opportunity.

"We still don't know whether the King family has any spare batteries for the machine which administers food, the knowledge, or any way of recharging the battery. Without properly administered food Ashya's situation is very serious.

"We have information to suggest that the family may well be on the way to Spain and our search is concentrating on the Marbella area.

Ashya was taken from the hospital by his parents Brett and Naghemeh

"I do have to stress although that's what we're focusing our attention at this point in time, they could equally be anywhere and we would urge anybody on the continent to stay vigilant, keep your eyes open, and if they see the vehicle they're travelling, if you see the family or indeed if you see Ashya please contact police."

Mr Shead added officers would be contacting hospitals across Europe, looking for someone matching the little boy's description or symptoms to see if he has been admitted.

Ashya's family took him from Southampton General Hospital, where he was receiving treatment, at around 2pm on Thursday and travelled on a ferry to Cherbourg, France, two hours later.

Interpol has issued a yellow alert in 190 countries

The little boy is in a wheelchair and is being fed through a tube. He has undergone "extensive surgery" - with his last operation seven days ago.

Police were told by the hospital that the little boy was missing at 8.35pm that day - more than six hours after he was taken by his parents - Jehovah's Witnesses Brett King, 51, and Naghemeh King, 45.

The family, from Southsea, is travelling in a grey Hyundai I800 Style CRDI registration KP60 HWK.

Interpol has sent out a missing persons alert to its 190 member countries as concerns for the boy's welfare have grown.

Ashya is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, cannot communicate verbally and is immobile, a police spokesman said.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said Ashya was allowed to leave the ward under his parents' supervision and hospital staff raised the alarm when his absence "became a cause of concern".

Legal experts have said that it is "unlikely" that the Kings had committed an offence by taking Ashya out of hospital.

A post on Hampshire Constabulary's Facebook page said: "This is my mother's friend, she has run away in desperation because they cannot accept that there is nothing that can be done for their son and want to look for help abroad.

"Please don't judge, they are a very sweet loving family and I can only believe they are doing this because they want to help their son."

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Man Fatally Stabbed On London's Portobello Road

A murder investigation is under way after a man was stabbed to death on Portobello Road in the trendy Notting Hill area of west London.

Police were called by the ambulance service at 11.49pm on Friday night to one of the capital's most famous streets.

Officers found a man in his fifties suffering stab wounds. He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene at 12.45am on Saturday morning.

The Metropolitan Police believe they know the identity of the victim but are awaiting formal identification.

A post-mortem examination will be held in due course and next of kin have not yet been informed.

No-one has been arrested over the death, police said.

An incident room has been set up in Putney and anyone with information that may help officers should call 020 8785 8963.

Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Police On Alert Amid Nato Summit Protest

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky Reporter

Anti-war protesters are demonstrating in Newport, as South Wales prepares to host the Nato summit.

A march, attended by around 1,000 people, was taking place this afternoon and was expected to be peaceful, but police are expecting more demonstrations this week.

Anti-war protesters are gathering in calls for 'world peace and justice'

They include one on Thursday that may be "something a little more challenging" as protestors try to get to Celtic Manor Resort, which is the focus of the summit.

Adam Johannes, from the Stop the War Coalition, said: "Some 60 world leaders will be meeting. They'll be making their voices heard and it's really important that another voice is heard, the voice of millions of people around the world who want peace and justice, who reject the policies put forward by our leaders.

Adam Johannes: 'It's really important another voice is heard'

"We think these protests are really important, not only in terms of showing world leaders but also in shaping public debate."

Some 150 dignitaries, including 67 heads of state, are due to meet next Thursday and Friday at the Celtic Manor Resort near Newport, with dinners and events also planned in Cardiff.

The summit will focus on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the situation in Afghanistan, and security challenges across the Middle East and North Africa. Representatives from all 28 Nato countries are attending.

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Armitt, the police officer in charge, has described it as one of the largest security operations in British history, and "completely uncharted territory".

He told Sky News: "There is huge confidence in the UK's ability to deliver a quality security operation around major events, if you look at the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, that sort of thing.

"We know we can do it and people recognise that. All the visiting countries have concerns, which we have to give them assurance about. We work very closely to make sure we do that."

Some 9,500 police officers from across the UK have been drafted in to protect the world leaders and police any demonstrations. 

Nearly 11 miles of steel fencing has been erected around the Celtic Manor Resort, in Cardiff City centre and at Cardiff Bay, where seven Nato warships will be stationed.

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James Argent Apologises For Sparking Manhunt

The Only Way Is Essex star James Argent has said he "can't apologise enough" for the worry he caused after his family reported him missing and a police manhunt was launched.

There were concerns for the reality TV star's well-being earlier because he had not been seen since 3am on Friday at his home in Woodford Green, Essex.

Argent's father later said his son had been in touch to explain his "phone was broken and he's now on his way to Blackpool".

His agent Neil Dobias also confirmed the news: "I'm not sure of any of the details but he's called home and spoken to his mum. I just know that he's safe and well."

Argent with Towie's Tom Pearce at the National Television Awards in January

Argent tweeted afterwards: "Hi I'm so sorry to have worried everyone. I'm fine and safe but again can't apologise enough x."

He was meant to be flying out of Gatwick on Friday morning, but he did not make his flight and did not contact his family, friends or agent, who he was supposed to be meeting.

They said it was was "unusual" and very out of character.

His agent told Sky News earlier: "James was meant to meet me at the airport yesterday morning for a work trip to Majorca but he never turned up and now we are all very concerned."

Argent completing the London Marathon in 2012

The 26-year-old, who joined the Towie cast along with his best friend Mark Wright when the series first aired in 2010, is known to frequent the Brentwood area and nightclubs in Redbridge.

Argent, who has more than 1.4 million followers on Twitter, mentioned missing his ex-girlfriend and Towie co-star Lydia Bright in a tweet on Thursday.

He wrote: "I really miss my old pal @LydiaRoseBright will you hurry up and get back from Italy ASAP! #Needy x."

Their will they/won't they relationship was the focus of the Essex-based show's last series.

Argent with Lydia Bright

The response on Twitter to concerns about Argent's whereabouts was huge this morning.

Former Towie star Sam Faiers tweeted: "We're all worried come home @RealJamesArgent."

Fans also expressed their concerns on social media, with one tweeting: "I hope @RealJamesArgent is found unharmed and well!! Xx."

Another wrote: "Omg can't believe it, hope @RealJamesArgent is okay."

Later, Towie star Gemma Collins tweeted: "Arg is ok."

Argent collected Towie's Bafta Audience Award in 2011 and completed the London Marathon in just over six hours in aid of Cancer Research in 2012.

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PM 'Emotional And Nervous' About Referendum

The Prime Minister has admitted he is "emotional and nervous" about Scotland's independence referendum - but he remains confident the Union will persist.

In a revealing interview with the Scottish Daily Mail, David Cameron talked of his family roots in Aberdeenshire and his love of malt whisky.

He also describes a bracing swim he took with his close protection officers in the seas off Shetland.

The vote on September 18, which may see him become the last prime minister in the UK, has led him to claim "you can be both a very proud Scot and a very proud Brit".

The referendum is due to be held on September 18

But he also conceded: "I'm emotional and nervous

"But only nervous because it matters so much. I think the debate is going well. I think, the last few visits I've made, I've sensed that in the business community.

"The commentary has settled down, the argument is going better and I feel more confident.

"But it is a massive decision, so it''s right to be both emotional and nervous."

Debate: Better Together's Alistair Darling and First Minister Alex Salmond

A recent poll for the Mail showed the Better Together campaign's lead had been cut to six points.

In a campaign recently marred by rancour and ill-tempered protests, Mr Cameron talked of his sympathy for what he calls "the silent majority".

He said: "A lot of Scots are very proud of their joint identities.

"The thing that struck me in Shetland is that you can be a very proud Shetlander and you can be a very proud Scot and a very proud Brit.

A Yes result would see Mr Cameron become the last prime minister of the UK

"The silent majority are proud of these dual identities or even triple identities, and that perhaps makes them less vociferous about any one particular part. I also think there are so many bits of the UK that just work, and a lot of people recognise that."

Mr Cameron also spoke of his own Scottish ancestry.

"I've always been very conscious as a Cameron of having Scottish blood and Scottish heritage,' he said.

"But I never over-claim, because nothing's more annoying to Scots than having people come up from the South and say 'actually, I'm really Scottish after all'.

"But I am. If you look at the blood lines, there's a lot of Scottish blood in these veins."

Earlier this week, Mr Cameron made the business case for voting No at the CBI dinner in Glasgow.

The Prime Minister is expected to make another trip to Scotland before the referendum.

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Gold Diggers Flock To Beach For Treasure Hunt

An artist has caused a gold rush on a beach after apparently burying thousands of pounds worth of the precious metal there as part of an arts festival.

Michael Sailstorfer says he has hidden 30 bars of 24-carat gold, worth £10,000, under the sand of Outer Harbour beach in Folkestone, Kent.

People are being encouraged to search the beach after low tide - and can keep any gold that they find.

People have travelled from as far as London to take part, the curators say

The bars are around the size of a dog tag, and worth up to £500 each.

Rachel Kinchin, communications director at arts producers Situations UK, which is curating the project, said around 500 people had turned up so far, and described the response as "amazing".

She said: "There's so many stories of what people would do with it (a piece of gold).

There have been four reports of people finding gold so far

"One guy who's redundant said he would start up his own business. Others want to keep it as a piece of art."

Ms Kinchin said they had received reports of four treasure hunters striking it lucky, although no one has officially come forward to them.

One of those who went down on Thursday, the first day of searching, was Vicky Webb, who told Kent Online: "I heard about this on the radio and I thought we should go down and join in.

Each piece is around the size of a dog tag

"Some people are getting a bit frustrated at not finding anything but it's a lot of fun."

Ms Kinchin said there is no time frame for when the hunt will end, and added it was possible some of the gold might never be found.

The project by Berlin-based Mr Sailstorfer is called Folkestone Digs and is part of the town's triennial, which runs from August 30 to November 2.

People are being encouraged to sift through sand so as not to miss any gold

A common theme of his work is said to be the "disruption of the everyday".

Situations UK said the project "is a continuation of his aim to make art that comes less from the head and more from the stomach".

Some are using metal detectors to help them, others are relying on spades

Ms Kinchin said part of the work was about a "shared experience and sense of community".

Folkestone's triennial, which happens every three years, has previously included works by artists including Tracey Emin, Jeremy Deller and Martin Creed.

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Sidelined UKIP Candidate Won't 'Roll Over'

A UKIP candidate has said he will not "roll over" and accept losing the nomination in Clacton after Douglas Carswell's defection.

Roger Lord told Sky News Mr Carswell should "join the queue" and accused UKIP leader Nigel Farage of making a mistake in allowing him to stand in the seat.

He said: "If they think I'm going to roll over like a puppy, they've got the wrong guy.

"For somebody to come along, just as we're on the cusp of winning, knowing they might well lose their seat and join the unemployment line in May, to take all our hard work... and take all our glory.

"Come on, join the queue Douglas, get back there and put some effort in!

Mr Carswell visited his former consitutency with Nigel Farage on Friday

"He knew he was going to lose come next May if I stood against him. I can debate him in public and beat him down. Simple as that.

"He knew his boat was sinking. The water's up to his knees, he's jumped ship and he's looking after himself."

Mr Lord was the UKIP candidate for Clacton and was set to contest the seat against Mr Carswell, before his defection from the Conservative Party on Thursday.

He was selected to the role three weeks ago after joining UKIP in 1997, but said he could now listen to other offers.

He added: "Douglas Carswell has been a bit stupid on this. He's created a vacancy for a parliamentary candidate. If offers come in from elsewhere and a deal can be done..."

On Friday, UKIP donor Stuart Wheeler told Sky News two Tory MPs were "seriously considering" defecting to the party.

Mr Lord said on Thursday he had spoken to Mr Farage. He said: "It was a very civilised conversation... other people have rung me up like hysterical teenagers."

The Clacton seat has a Conservative majority of more than 12,000.

On Wednesday, Mr Farage was confirmed as the UKIP candidate to contest the seat of South Thanet in Kent.

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Hospital Food Shake-Up Announced By NHS Chiefs

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

The days of lumpy mash and watery gravy should become a thing of the past for hospital patients and staff as new mandatory food standards are introduced.

The rules will be legally binding and are aimed at putting an end to unhealthy and inedible meals on the NHS.

Under the changes, all patients will be checked for malnutrition, given an individual food plan and get help eating and drinking.

Canteen food must also be healthy, meet guidelines on salt, sugar and fat and be sustainably sourced.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said most people enjoyed the meals they currently received.

But he added: "Patients say the quality of food at their hospital is one of the most important things in their stay, on top of which we know that if you give people healthy, nutritious food it means they recover more quickly, they stay in hospital for a shorter amount of time and it costs the NHS less, so there are lots of reasons why this is very important."

The plans come from a report by the Hospital Food Standards Panel, which also recommended hospitals develop food and drink policies that encourage healthy eating, high-quality food production, sustainability and excellent nutritional care.

The changes will be included in NHS contracts

Hospitals will also be scored on the standard of their food, with results to be posted online.

It is a move being welcomed by 22-year-old Craig Benwell, who said the meals he received during a recent stay in hospital were often inedible or served in tiny portions.

The hospital says thin, plain food was appropriate for his condition because he was being treated for Crohn's Disease.

But Mr Benwell told Sky News: "I can understand why I was on the special diet because I can only eat certain foods.

"But the amount of food that was coming out and the look of it just wasn't very appetising at all.

"The main problem was portion size ... I had to really gain weight and the portions they were giving me just really weren't enough."

The new changes will be included in NHS contracts but will not be written into law, leading to criticism from campaigners that they could be easily ignored.

Alex Jackson, coordinator of the Campaign for Better Hospital Food, added: "We're also alarmed that the Government's food standards are weak and only reflect basic catering and care standards, which are already commonly implemented in the NHS, including that 'tap water is available' to patients.

"Good things in themselves, but nowhere near ambitious enough to have a transformative effect on patient meals."

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Two Tory MPs 'Seriously Considering' Defecting

Five Big Wins For UKIP As Carswell Defects

Updated: 2:50pm UK, Thursday 28 August 2014

By Faisal Islam, Political Editor

For days, Nigel Farage has been impishly promising a "big announcement" about "a new donor".

Impressive spin, maximising the bombshell announcement of a defection to UKIP (and I'd not be surprised if Douglas Carswell had handed over a tenner to make the claim true, technically).

The first win for UKIP, is obviously getting a Conservative MP to defect.

Second, in Carswell UKIP have gained a respected, independent, radical mind, an ex-Spectator parliamentarian of the year.

He is not a time-serving, bitter backbencher overlooked for promotion in the Coalition Government.

He is a man of interesting views - from direct democracy, to the system of money and debt, to immigration, and of course Europe.

He has a strong following within the Conservative grassroots.

Third, he will resign as an MP, triggering a by-election, at the worst possible time for the Conservatives.

Some political analysts felt the European and local elections in May were just a form of the typical mid-term protest vote, that UKIP was running out of steam.

This changes that completely.

Fourth, was the manner of Carswell's resignation. Calm praise of the prime minister, who he voted for as Conservative party leader.

But then he assailed Mr Cameron's entire strategy to heal the Conservative party's open wounds on Europe.

The policy of renegotiation of EU membership followed by a 2017 referendum was "not sincere", the leadership wanting to secure "just enough" to pretend change was happening.

The Conservative leadership was not "serious about real change". There will a few other Conservative MPs pondering that one.

Fifth, he also singled out the key moments that pushed him to the exit door.

There was Mr Cameron's recent talk to the 1922 committee when Carswell claims he said he would not consider the UK going for a trade-only "associate" status with the EU.

He also criticised the effective dropping of "open primaries", and the treatment of one MP chosen by them, Dr Sarah Wollaston.

And he expressed his regret over the failure to get tough MP recall powers.

More than anything, this could blow open the Conservatives decades-long internal fight over Europe.

At a time when David Cameron and George Osborne were finalising their conference offer to the electorate, a plan to turn the as yet voteless recovery into a vote-heavy one, this is the last thing the PM needed.

On the day the PM flies to Glasgow to try to help keep the Union together, he faces the old nightmare, of keeping his own party together.

Ed Miliband and Alex Salmond will be sharing in Nigel Farage's delight today.

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UK Terror Threat Level Raised To 'Severe'

Britain's terror threat level has been raised from substantial to severe, Home Secretary Theresa May has said.

This means an attack is deemed to be "highly likely", but there is no intelligence to suggest one is imminent.

Mrs May said the increase was because of the threat from militant groups in Iraq and Syria, where Islamic State fighters have seized large swathes of territory.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK was in the midst of a "generational struggle" against a "poisonous ideology" and said IS poses a "greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before".

He said the intelligence and security services believed at least 500 Britons have gone to fight in Syria and potentially Iraq.

Mr Cameron revealed new legislation would be introduced to make it easier to take passports away from people would would travel abroad to fight.

Islamic State militants have declared a state in parts of Iraq and Syria

Speaking before the PM's statement, Mrs May said: "The increase in the threat level is related to developments in Syria and Iraq where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the West.

"Some of those plots are likely to involve foreign fighters who have travelled there from the UK and Europe to take part in those conflicts."

David Cameron warned the UK was battling a 'poisonous ideology'

She went on to add: "We face a real and serious threat in the UK from international terrorism.

"I would urge the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police."

Police forces say they will increase their patrols in response to the raising of the terror threat, which is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).

The JTAC's decision comes amid growing concern about hundreds of aspiring British jihadis travelling to Iraq and Syria and the murder of American journalist James Foley.

Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant. Pic: File

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the UK's most senior police officer, said Scotland Yard is ready for an influx in case large numbers of homegrown extremists return at the same time.

National Policing Lead for Counter-Terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, said: "We need communities and families to bring to our attention anyone they perceive may be vulnerable, a danger or escalating towards terrorism.

"Anyone with information is urged to contact the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321."

There are five levels of threat: critical (an attack is expected imminently), severe (an attack is highly likely), substantial (an attack is a strong possibility), moderate (an attack is possible but not likely) and low (an attack is unlikely).

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Immigration: 'Significant' Rise In Last Year

The Government has suffered a setback in its bid to cut net migration to the tens of thousands after official figures showed arrivals to the UK have soared.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show a "significant increase" in net migration in the year to March, with 243,000 long-term migrants - up from 175,000 the previous year.

The ONS described the net figure of 243,000 - the difference between people arriving in the UK and leaving - as being "statistically significant".

Immigration from within the EU was behind the increase, with 214,000 of a total 560,000 immigrants coming from the European community.

There are now 1.7 million EU nationals employed in the UK - up 17% on the same period last year, the figures revealed. A total of 2.9 million non-UK nationals are currently in employment.

The statistics also showed the number of Romanians and Bulgarians arriving in the UK more than doubled to 28,000 in the year up until March, compared to 12,000 in the previous year.

Figures showed a net migration increase of 243,000 in the year until March

Restrictions to the labour market were lifted for Romanians and Bulgarians on January 1.

But the number of people leaving the UK - 316,000 - remained stable within the same period.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said the Government remained focused on reducing net migration to sustainable levels.

He told Sky News: "Where the Government has introduced visa reforms, changes to the immigration system to control those from outside the EU, we've seen significant changes - they're down about 25% under this Government to levels not seen since the late 1990s.

"Clearly these statistics show significant increases in migration from within the EU, across the EU, that's why the Government has introduced changes to the welfare system on reducing the pull factors, reducing the attractiveness of coming to this country for welfare, but also why we do think that further change around free movement is required.

"Our focus does remain - because it is about pressures on public services, it is about those issues on wages and at the lower end the impact that we do see on the lowest wages, the lowest earners, and those least advantaged in our society which is why the Government does remain focused on reducing net migration to sustainable levels."

Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May had announced a goal to cut net migration to below 100,000 by the next general election on May 7.

Mark Hilton, head of immigration policy at non-profit organisation London First, said: "With the general election fast approaching, the Government is running out of time to hits its 'tens of thousands' target.

"The danger is ministers will take the only real steps open to them and clamp down on skilled non-EU migrants - who bring much-needed skills into the country - and students, who are not only a £10bn market for us, but a key plank in Britain's global influence in terms of 'soft power'."

The figures also revealed that 136,000 EU citizens arrived for work in the UK in the year up until March 2014, with 60% having a definite job to go to when they arrived.

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New Abuse Watchdog Needed, Says Campaigner

A leading child abuse campaigner has called for the creation of an independent body to coordinate efforts to tackle what she believes is a widespread problem in the UK.

Christine Tuck issued the call after an investigation revealed 1,400 children in Rotherham had been sexually abused over a period of 16 years.

Ms Tuck, 42, the founder of Survivors of Abuse, told Sky News that sexual abuse of children occurs throughout British society.

"Abuse knows no bounds," she said. "It crosses cultures, genders, backgrounds and socio-economic groups.

"It is a societal problem and we need to deal with it accordingly and with a zero-tolerance policy."

Ms Tuck said the present system of child protection was bureaucratic and riddled with prejudice and fear, and badly in need of reform.

"People have been shocked by all the different abuse stories in the media but don't realise the extent of the problem.

"We speak about the different services in isolation. Let's put them altogether and look at the bigger picture."

Christine Tuck saiys whistleblowers also need more protection

Ms Tuck would like to see a national body formed to oversee the reporting of child abuse, prosecutions, and aftercare for victims and families.

To work, she said it would need to be "properly funded and have clear policies, procedures and governance".

She also called for greater protection for whistleblowers, to encourage more to come forward.

"As things stand people are unlikely to report any concerns they might have for fear of losing their jobs and their homes.

"That is not good enough and it is not in the best interest of victims. Abusers have to know they will be found out and brought to justice."

Even more important, Ms Tuck told Sky News, is that victims are heard and get the help and support they need.

"Children of any age do not want sexual contact," she said. "They just want to be loved and nurtured in the right way and be listened to."

:: The first ever conference in the UK for abuse survivors, Life After Abuse, is being held in central London on September 13.

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Rotherham: MP Calls For Criminal Investigation

Police Commissioner Shaun Wright should face a criminal investigation over the Rotherham child abuse scandal, a Labour MP has said.

John Mann told Sky News he is writing to Home Secretary Theresa May asking for police to investigate Mr Wright with a view to bringing a case of misconduct in public office against him and others responsible for childcare while hundreds of children were abused.

The Bassetlaw MP said an independent force, rather than Mr Wright's South Yorkshire Police, should take charge of the inquiry.

Speaking on Sky News Sunrise, he said: "I'm writing to the Home Secretary and to South Yorkshire Police asking for an investigation into misconduct into public office, which is a criminal offence, for wilful neglect of duty.

Shaun Wright is facing fresh calls to resign over the Rotherham scandal

"Having looked at the law, it seems to me that there is a case to be heard, potentially by him - also potentially by others involved in this scandal for wilfully failing to act."

Mr Wright has insisted he will stay in the £85,000 a year post, despite facing fresh calls to resign.

On Wednesday night he quit the Labour Party after he was threatened with being suspended from the party over his perceived failings in the key child protection role from 2005-2010.

Mr Wright was a Rotherham councillor, charged with heading up the local authority's child protection services at the height of the scandal, where an estimated 1,400 children are believed to have been groomed and abused by gangs of Asian men.

Sonia Sharp has apologised to victims of abuse in Rotherham

On Tuesday, a highly critical report highlighted widespread failings at both Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police for allowing that abuse to continue unchecked for more than 16 years.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - speaking on his LBC radio phone-in - became the latest senior politician to call for Mr Wright to go.

He said: "As Theresa May said, she can't tell the police and crime commissioner, who clearly should do the decent thing and stand aside, to do so.

"All we can do, which is what I'm doing now, which is what everybody's doing, across parties, is to say 'please, do the decent thing and stand aside because you have to take responsibility and then let's try ... to go after the perpetrators."

Meanwhile, a former director of Rotherham's children's services has said sorry to children abused in the town and said she wished more could have been done to help them.

Sonia Sharp, who was in the key role from 2005-2008, said it was known "that there were many children in the community at risk and feared that this was the tip of an iceberg".

Dr Sharp, now working for the Australian state of Victoria's department of education and early childhood development, said: "You can't be a director of children's services and not take responsibility for what happens to children. 

"I am sorry that these children and young people suffered terrible abuse and I wish we could have done more to prevent the abuse of children and young people in Rotherham."

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Teenager Convicted Of CCTV Knife Murder

A 17-year-old youth has been convicted of the murder of a young man with learning difficulties in a knife-point mugging caught on CCTV.

Dean Mayley was stabbed in the heart by Jamal Jones after he refused to hand over his mobile phone in Greenford, west London, on February 7.

The 24-year-old, who had a mental age of nine due to a brain disorder called Microcephaly, probably did not fully understand what the robbers wanted, the Old Bailey heard.

CCTV footage showed three hooded figures approach Mr Mayley and confront him, before one of them lashed out with a knife.

Dean Mayley, 24, died in hospital after he was stabbed in the heart

The victim then staggered and collapsed into the road as members of the public rushed to help. He died later in hospital.

The prosecution said Miguel Leiba, 17, from Hanwell, and Ryan Beresford, 19, blocked Mr Mayley's path and Michael Mensah, 18, drove them to and from the scene.

Beresford, of Acton, west London; Mensah, of Greenford, and Leiba denied murder, but were convicted of manslaughter.

They were also found guilty of the attempted robbery of Mr Mayley.

L-R: Jamal Jones, Michael Mensah, Miguel Leiba and Ryan Beresford

Donna Mayley, Dean's mother, wept as the verdicts were delivered and the defendants wailed in the dock.

Judge Martyn Zeidman QC said: "For somebody to lose their life in these circumstances is a disaster. There are no sufficient words to demonstrate the sadness.

"Yet another example of a kind and innocent person losing their life because of somebody else using a knife."

Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said all four youths had lied about what happened on the day of the murder.

He said: "These four were a team of knife-point robbers driving up and down the Ruislip Road looking for a victim or victims.

CCTV of Mr Mayley minutes before he was fatally stabbed in Greenford

"That is why Dean Mayley was targeted, not just by Jamal Jones but by all of them."

In his defence, Jones admitted he had tried to rob Mr Mayley, but denied he had meant to harm him.

He told the court: "He was getting fidgety. His hands were in his pockets. He was looking straight into my eyes.

"I asked him again 'just give me your phone'. He shrugged and said 'what are you going to do about it?'.

"And then I just literally panicked. I did not know what to do and I'm thinking 'is this guy going to hit me?' because of his body language.

"I thrust out first. I hit him first - I did not intend to hurt him. I just meant to do a slice and that's it."

He said he had been made to look after the knife earlier in the day by another boy who approached him in college.

The court heard that Mensah wrote a menacing letter to Jones to persuade him not to implicate him in the murder.

A search of Jones' bedroom revealed a kitchen knife stashed under his mattress and a meat cleaver on top of his wardrobe.

All four will be sentenced on October 2.

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Rotherham PC Accused Of Child Sex Offence

A South Yorkshire police officer based in Rotherham has been charged with causing a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

Pc Daniel Cookson, 27, appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Thursday accused of the offence, the force said in a statement.

Cookson, who was arrested in November, was charged on August 21 but South Yorkshire Police has has only just released the information.

The force said he was "previously based in Rotherham".

It said the charge relates to an alleged offence committed between March and November last year, and Cookson was suspended when he was arrested in November.

Cookson was bailed to appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 11, according to the magistrates' court.

South Yorkshire police say his arrest is not related to the wider investigation into grooming in the town.

More follows...

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Fivefold Increase In Terror-Related Travel

Scotland Yard says there has been a five-fold increase in UK nationals travelling to Syria or Iraq for terrorism purposes.

Police said 69 suspected extremists have been arrested so far this year who planned to travel to Syria or fund terrorism there.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Rowley, of the Metropolitan Police, appealed to family members of potential UK terrorists to come forward and said nearly half of would-be extremists identified as part of the Syria investigations were not previously classed as dangerous.

He said: "The biggest growth in Syrian-related investigations has occurred in London and the West Midlands.

"The growth of dangerous individuals poses challenges for policing, especially when nearly half of Syria travellers of concern were not known as terrorist risks previously.

"Hence, we appeal to the public to help identify for us aspiring terrorists - they may be about to travel abroad, have just returned or be showing signs of becoming radicalised."

Mr Rowley added that seizures of cash which people had been trying to take out of the country to fund Syria-related terror activity have also doubled.

Investigators are attempting to get hundreds of piece of terror-related content linked to Syria removed from websites including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Mr Rowley said police in the UK are trying to prevent hate crimes that could be influenced by events abroad, including anti-Semitic offences related to the Gaza conflict.

He added: "There is a lot at stake.

"In addition to the public assistance in identifying potential terrorists, we all need community and religious leaders to continue to speak out against warped narratives and we need everyone to ensure that public debate does not give oxygen to the terrorists by giving them the publicity they seek."

An estimated 500 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside extremists, half of whom are thought to be from London.

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Masked Gunmen Raid Boutique Hotel In Soho

Police are searching for two masked gunmen who raided a hotel in London's West End in the early hours.

They tied up a member of staff at the Dean Street Townhouse in Soho before making off with cash and mobile phones.

Police were called to the four-storey boutique hotel at 3.05am after the two men burst in and demanded money.

The hotel is a converted Georgian townhouse

No shots were fired and no one was injured, although staff were threatened and one man was treated for shock.

The two robbers were said to have eastern European accents and were wearing white hoodies.

Detective Superintendent Jess Ruddell, of the Metropolitan Police, said hotel staff had been left "very shaken" by the raid and urged witnesses to contact police.

She said: "This is a very serious incident and we are working around the clock to identify those responsible.

"It was a very frightening experience for staff, who were threatened with a long-barrelled weapon and were very shaken."

A Soho House spokesman said: "We can confirm that an incident took place in the lobby area of the Dean Street Townhouse in the early hours of this morning.

"Two male members of staff were on duty and no one was hurt in the incident. The matter is currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to call the Metropolitan Police on 101.

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Will Pooley 'Optimistic' Of Recovery From Ebola

The boss of the hospice where Britain's first ebola victim had worked before he caught the disease says his former colleague is "optimistic" he will be back working there soon.

Gabriel Madiye, of the Shepherd Hospice in Freetown, said Will Pooley had told him he believes he will recover in a little as two weeks.

The 29-year-old nurse is being treated in an isolation ward at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, after being flown back to the UK from West Africa on Saturday.

There has been no word from doctors at the hospital on his progress but Mr Madiye said Mr Pooley had been confident he would pull through.

Mr Madiye said: "Will told me that he has been seriously ill and tested for ebola and he told me I don't need to help him because he's already being helped by the British government.

"(He told me) that he will be treated in England and he is very optimistic that he will recover in a matter of two weeks and after that he will come back to me."

Mr Pooley is being treated at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead

Up to 90% of people who catch ebola die from the virus.

The World Health Organisation says that more than 2,500 people have died as a result of the latest outbreak in West Africa so far.

Mr Pooley, from Eyke, in Suffolk, worked at the hospice in Freetown before moving to the ebola centre in Kenema, Sierra Leone, where he was infected.

He was airlifted back to Britain by a specially equipped C-17 RAF jet, and is being treated by doctors clad in protective plastic clothing, gloves and masks.

Experts said his treatment could take weeks, if not longer, and there is no guarantee he will survive.

His family have said they were confident he could not be treated at any "better place".

Mr Pooley was brought into the hospital in an RAF ambulance

Days before he contracted the disease, he told The Guardian newspaper about the joy of seeing ebola victims make a full recovery.

He said: "It's great seeing them walk away after some of them have been in a terrible state. Seeing them on the wards and then seeing them recover and walk out the door is great."

Friends have paid tribute to his bravery after he left Freetown and went to Kenema because workers were falling ill.

Oliver Johnson, who worked with him in Sierra Leone, said he was an "extraordinary guy" who knew the risks but was prepared to take them for the patients.

Dr Robert Garry, an American colleague at the hospital, said: "He saw the need. He read about our nurses who were unfortunately dying there and took it on himself to come over and volunteer and learned how to be as safe as he could.

"But when you work hard like that ... you're going to make a mistake and unfortunately that seems to have happened in this case."

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Boris Johnson To Stand As MP In West London

Boris Johnson hopes to stand in the west London seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip at next year's General Election.

Mr Johnson announced earlier this month he would "in all probability… try to find somewhere to stand in 2015" - and on Tuesday he submitted his application 48 hours before the deadline.

The constituency is available because Conservative MP John Randall is standing down.

The local party will pick its candidate from up to 100 hopefuls on September 12.

David Cameron has welcomed Boris Johnson's candidacy

Mr Johnson said he hoped to "make his case" that he was the best person to represent the constituency.

"I'm sure there will be plenty of excellent candidates and I hope very much to make my case to the association," he told the Evening Standard.

Prime Minister David Cameron was among the first to welcome news of Mr Johnson's candidacy when it emerged on August 6.

He tweeted: "Great news that Boris plans to stand at next year's general election - I've always said I want my star players on the pitch."

Johnson was MP for Henley between 2001 and 2008

There has been speculation Mr Johnson will eventually challenge for the Tory leadership.

Sky's Political Correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "David Cameron has welcomed him and thinks he could help the Conservatives win the 2015 General Election, but he might be a little worried about what happens after that."

Uxbridge and South Ruislip had a Conservative majority of more than 11,000 at the last election.

Mr Johnson has said that if he is elected to the Commons next May he will still serve out his term as Mayor, which ends in 2016.

The constituency's Labour candidate, Chris Summers, has claimed the high-profile Tory could face a backlash there because of his proposals to close the nearby Heathrow Airport and replace it with a new one in the Thames Estuary.

Boris Johnson's views on Heathrow have upset some in west London

Back Heathrow's campaign co-ordinator Rob Gray said: "Boris Johnson's selfish plan to stand in the same borough as Heathrow is a slap in the face to tens of thousands of people in west London.

"These people rely on Britain's hub airport and the Mayor wants to close it which would result in more than 100,000 people losing their jobs, including many in Uxbridge and South Ruislip."

Mr Johnson was MP for Henley between 2001 and 2008 and served in the shadow cabinet.

News of his application comes on a day when Nigel Farage will battle with other UKIP members hoping to stand as an MP in the South Thanet constituency.

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'Horrific' Cases Of Child Abuse in Rotherham

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

More than 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, a report has concluded.

The abuse of children, some just 11 years old, has been described as "horrific".

The report also found it is "not confined to the past but continues to this day".

Roger Stone, the leader of Rotherham council, has stepped down following the publication of the report.

Council leader Roger Stone

"I believe it is only right that I, as leader, take responsibility on behalf of the council for the historic failings that are described so clearly in the report and it is my intention to do so," he said.

"For this reason, I have today agreed with my Labour group colleagues that I will be stepping down as leader with immediate effect."

Despite Mr Stone's resignation, chief executive Martin Kimber said no council officers will face disciplinary action as he did not have enough evidence against individuals.

"Officers in senior positions responsible for children's safeguarding services throughout the critical periods when services fell some way short of today's standards do not work for the council today," he said.

"To that extent, I have not been able to identify any issues of professional practice related to current serving officers of this council that would require me to consider use of disciplinary or capability procedures."

In the summary of her findings, independent reviewer Professor Alexis Jay said: "It is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that the victims suffered.

"They were raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted, beaten, and intimidated.

"There were examples of children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made witness to brutally violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone.

"Girls as young as 11 were raped by large numbers of male perpetrators."

Chief executive Martin Kimber: 'No sackings'

The report highlights a variety of historical and serious child protection failings and concludes the council and other agencies should have done more to protect those at risk.

In just over a third of cases victims were previously known to services in the town because of child protection and neglect.

The report says there was a series of failings including poor leadership from senior managers in child protection services and a perceived "lack of interest" in, and understanding of, grooming as a model of child abuse.

Victims were not heard or believed and there was a perception that a "macho and bullying" culture within the council prevented child sexual exploitation from being properly discussed. Professional jealousies between organisations also prevented effective action.

There was "denial" that such events could happen in Rotherham and issues of ethnicity were "played down" by senior managers. "Almost all" the perpetrators were described by victims as being of Pakinstani origin, but the authorities "wanted to play down ethnic dimensions... for fear of being thought racist."

Professor Jay presents her report

Prof Jay found a series of reports made available to both the council and police raising serious concerns were not apparently acted on, and there had been a series of missed opportunities to understand the scale of the problem since 2002.

The spotlight first fell on Rotherham in 2010 when five men, described by a judge as "sexual predators", were given lengthy jail terms after they were found guilty of grooming teenage girls for sex.

The prosecution was the first of a series of high-profile cases in the last four years that have revealed the exploitation of young girls in towns and cities including Rochdale, Derby and Oxford.

In response to Prof Jay's report, Rotherham Council's chief executive Martin Kimber, said: "(It) does not make comfortable reading in its account of the horrific experiences of some young people in the past, and I would like to reiterate our sincere apology to those who were let down when they needed help.

"I commissioned the independent review to understand fully what went wrong, why it went wrong and to ensure that the lessons learnt in Rotherham mean these mistakes can never happen again.

"The report confirms our services have improved significantly over the last five years and are stronger today than ever before. This is important because it allows me to reassure young people and families that should anyone raise concerns we will take them seriously and provide them with the support they need."

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Murder Probe After Stockport Teacher Dies

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Police have begun a murder inquiry after a teacher attacked at home several days ago died at the weekend.

The school where Rukshana Miah taught paid tribute to her on Monday as "a much loved and valued colleague and friend".

The 35-year-old primary school teacher was taken to hospital after police were called to her home in Stockport a week ago.

She remained critically ill in hospital and died on Saturday five days after the attack.

Her husband Abdul Kashem Miah (36) was initially charged with attempted murder and appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on September 10.

Mrs Miah's school, Broadoak Primary at Ashton-Under-Lyne, posted an online tribute saying: "It is with enormous sadness that staff and governors have to share that... our wonderful Year 6 teacher died after a short period in hospital."

She joined the school in 2007 and was described as an outstanding teacher who was devoted to the success of the children she taught.

The post continued: "Our thoughts are with Ruk's children and family at this terrible time. Broadoak will be a sadder place without her, we have lost one of our best.

"Rukshana's family have told us that they have been overwhelmed with the compassion, kind thoughts and support they have received.

"Over the coming days and weeks we will have a chance to reflect on Ruk's time with us."

The school has invited parents and families to share their memories of Mrs Miah at the start of the new term by signing a book of condolences which will be passed on to her family.

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Councils Want Law Changed To Curb Junk Mail

Councils want the law changed to prevent them having to sell voters' personal details to junk mail firms.

Privacy campaigners have recently criticised local authorities for aiding junk mail firms who send unwanted leaflets and letters.

Details from the electoral roll are routinely sold on to direct marketing firms, estate agents, fast food outlets and others.

Council critics have pointed out that councils can make thousands of pounds each year by selling on voter details for as little as £1.50 for 1,000 entries.

But councils are legally obliged to sell on data from the roll under the Representation of the People Act 2002.

Now the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents all councils, is calling for a change in the law to bring an end to the practice.

The LGA says many councils do not even make enough money from the process to cover their costs.

The LGA's Peter Fleming said: "Councils resent having to pass the electoral roll onto direct marketing companies.

"Junk mailers and cold callers are a pet hate for many of us. It demeans our democracy for the voters' details to be sold off as a tool to help direct marketing firms make money.

"In some cases people have not signed up to vote because they are concerned about their privacy being compromised."

He added: "Scrapping the open register would spare millions from being bombarded with junk mail and would remove a hurdle which stands in the way of our efforts to sign people up to vote."

Under the existing law, councils are required to compile two versions of the electoral register.

Details of everyone entitled to vote are included on the full version of the register, which is not for sale to businesses.

But a second open version of the register is also created containing the same names and addresses, except for those who have opted out.

This contains 28 million names, which junk mail firms can purchase in electronic form for as little as £1.50 per 1,000 entries.

A study by the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch last year found that 300 councils had sold on information to some 2,700 companies and individuals over the previous five years.

Daniel Nesbitt, research director at Big Brother Watch, said: "The sale of the edited electoral register has to stop and the LGA is absolutely right to say so."

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Working Organ Grown From Scratch In World First

Scientists in Britain have produced the first ever working organ grown from scratch in a living animal.

Reprogrammed cells created in a laboratory were used in a mouse to produce a thymus - the immune system's nerve centre located near the heart.

The organ was created using connective tissue cells from a mouse embyro.

The cells were converted into a different cell strain by changing a genetic switch in their DNA.

The resulting cells grew into the whole organ after being injected into the animal.

It has so far only been tested on mice, but researchers at Edinburgh University say that within a decade or so the treatment could be effective and safe enough for humans.

Each year, around one in 4,000 babies born in the UK have a malfunctioning or absent thymus.

Professor Clare Blackburn, who led the team of scientists, said: "The ability to grow replacement organs from cells in the lab is one of the 'holy grails' in regenerative medicine. But the size and complexity of lab-grown organs has so far been limited.

"By directly reprogramming cells we've managed to produce an artificial cell type that, when transplanted, can form a fully organised and functional organ."

She added: "This is an important first step towards the goal of generating a clinically useful artificial thymus in the lab."

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Heavy Bank Holiday Traffic Causing Delays

Heavy Bank Holiday traffic and wet weather is leading to delays on UK roads as people return from their weekend breaks.

But highways offcials report no major accidents on the network amid warnings to motorists to take extra care with heavy rain and strong winds causing difficult driving conditions.

On one of the busiest days of the year for travellers, a yellow weather alert was issued by the Met Office, with some parts of the UK facing more than an inch (30mm) of rainfall.

As a result, localised flooding was predicted, with a lot of surface water and spray on the roads and disruption to some outdoor events.

Heavy traffic led to long delays on the on the M25 anti-clockwise in Kent between junction 4 and the Dartford Crossing.

People taking this route were advised to allow plenty of extra time for their journey.

A Highways Agency spokeswoman said there had been no significant accidents or collisions, but added; "It's very busy out there."

She pointed out that roadworks had been lifted where possible to try to ease the low of traffic, while highways officers were keeping an eye out for any potential troublespots.

She said: "We are advising people to keep an eye on the traffic conditions and drive carefully if they are experiencing severe weather."

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Most of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic will see bands of heavy rain slowly spreading north-eastwards today.

"The rain will be heavy at times with some torrential bursts, especially across central and southern areas.

"High rainfall totals are likely in places, exceeding 15mm quite widely and some places could see more than 30mm.

"Localised flooding is likely and a lot of surface water could cause disruption to holiday travel and any outdoor activities such as the Notting Hill carnival.

"Winds will also be locally strong and gusty."

Scotland, where it is not a bank holiday, is set to enjoy the best of the weather, with a bright and dry forecast.

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UK Ebola Man's Family Praise 'Excellent Care'

The family of a British nurse airlifted from Africa to London to be treated for ebola has thanked the medical team looking after him.

Volunteer nurse William Pooley is in the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead after contracting the virus in Sierra Leone.

He is the first confirmed British ebola case. There is no cure and outbreaks have a fatality rate as high as 90%.

A statement from his family said: "We would like to express our thanks to all involved in bringing our son back to the UK.

Mr Pooley is brought to the Royal Free with a police escort

"We have been astounded by the speed and way which the various international and UK government agencies have worked together to get Will home.

"Will is receiving excellent care at the Royal Free Hospital and we could not ask for him to be in a better place.

"We ... ask everyone to remember those in other parts of the world suffering with ebola who do not have access to the same healthcare facilities as Will."

Mr Pooley, 29, was flown back to the UK on Sunday night for emergency treatment.

The victim is being treated at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London

He is being treated in Hampstead because it has the only isolation ward in the country.

His bed will be surrounded by a tent with its own controlled ventilation system and the only people allowed inside are specially-trained medical staff.

A Liberian doctor who was one of three Africans to receive the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp is among the latest to have died, the country's information minister said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday that protective equipment had been sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where two cases of ebola have been confirmed.

Liberia has been receiving shipments of USAid as it struggles to cope

Japan said it had developed an anti-influenza drug which may be able to treat the virus.

It is not known if favipiravir, which trades under the name Avigan, can treat the disease, but it was designed to treat new and re-emerging influenza viruses, which have similarities to ebola.

Mr Pooley was working at a hospice in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, but moved to a government hospital in Kenema when he found out workers at the hospital had died.

In an interview with a blogger for freetownfashpack.com published earlier this month, he is reported to have said: "It's the easiest situation in the world to make a difference."

Residents have been quarantined in several parts of Liberia

His friend Dr Oliver Johnson, who has been working in Freetown, said Mr Pooley was an "extraordinary guy" who knew the risks involved but was prepared to take them in order to help.

The Department of Health said he was not "seriously unwell", and health chiefs have insisted that the risk to the public from ebola is "very low".

There have so far been 2,615 confirmed cases and 1,427 deaths in the outbreak in Africa.

Ebola is contracted through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids and there is currently no cure or vaccine.

Symptoms of the virus appear as a sudden onset of fever, headache, sore throat, intense weakness and muscle pain.

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Bank Holiday Weather Alert Over Rain And Wind

A weather alert has been issued as heavy rain and wind threaten travel problems for millions of Britons returning home from a weekend break.

The Met Office has issued a sweeping yellow weather alert for Bank Holiday Monday, predicting significant surface water on roads and gusts of up to 40mph (64kph). 

Monday's weather warning relates to parts of Wales, as well as London, the South East, East and South West of England, although most of the UK will see some rain.

Temperatures will struggle to get above 17C (62.6F) - well below average for August.

Winds of up to 40mph are expected in some areas

Scotland, where it is not a bank holiday, will enjoy the best of the weather on Monday.

The Met Office said: "Heavy rain is expected to affect many southern areas of Britain at times during Bank Holiday Monday, with strong winds a possible additional factor close to southern coasts.

"The public should be aware that there may be some impacts to holiday traffic and other outdoor activities.

"A complex area of low pressure looks like bringing an unpleasant day's weather to much of the south on Monday.

The first frost of the summer is expected to arrive in the north on Sunday

"Rainfall amounts look like exceeding 20mm quite widely, while a few places might see around 40mm, so there will be a lot of surface water and spray on roads.

"The spray will probably be made worse by strong winds across some southern areas; gusts to around 40mph may occur at some coastal locations although this will depend on the exact track of the low pressure."

More than five million people in the UK are planning an overnight holiday trip this weekend, VisitEngland said.

Around one million people are expected to be drawn to Notting Hill Carnival, one of Europe's biggest street carnival events, on Sunday and Monday.

Despite a cold start, Sunday's weather was largely fine across the UK with spells of sunshine and predicted highs of 18C (64.4F).

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UK Close To Identifying James Foley's Killer

The British ambassador to the US says the UK is close to identifying the Islamic State (IS) militant who murdered an American journalist.

The extremist, believed to be British, beheaded James Foley in a video released last week.

Ambassador Peter Westmacott told CNN that "we are not far away" from identifying the masked killer and "we are putting a lot into it".

He added "sophisticated" technology, including voice recognition software, was being used by authorities to track him down.

The security services MI5 and MI6 have reportedly worked out the identity of the insurgent, dubbed "Jihadi John", who had an English accent. But no details have been disclosed.

The jihadist claimed the killing was in retaliation for US airstrikes on IS positions in northern Iraq. The Islamist militant group has taken over large parts of the country and also areas of Syria in recent months.

A hunt is taking place for Mr Foley's murderer

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the beheading was "an utter betrayal of everything the British people stand for".

Writing in the Sunday Times, he said it was horrifying that the perpetrator "could have been brought up in Britain".

He said the Government was investing "significant resources" to tackle "a barbaric ideology", warning if the IS militants are not stopped in Iraq and Syria "sooner or later they will seek to strike us on British soil".

Mr Hammond said the threat from Iraq and Syria would last a generation, echoing comments made by Home Secretary Theresa May as she announced plans to bring in new laws to tackle the threat of British jihadists.

But former shadow home secretary David Davis dismissed suggestions the new laws, dubbed asbos for terrorists, would prevent Britons fighting for IS, also known as ISIS and ISIL.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has warned of the extremist threat

Instead, he said, the jihadists should be stopped from returning to the UK and stripped of their citizenship.

Mr Davis said the Government's response to the crisis in Iraq had been "tentative, uncertain, almost limp".

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, also called for Britons fighting for IS in Iraq and Syria to lose their passports.

He wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "They should not have access to the privilege of travelling under a British passport... and they certainly should not be able to travel back with the barbaric and bloodthirsty skills they have gained."

The Home Office has insisted it would take the "strongest possible action" against people travelling to fight in Iraq and Syria.

A spokesman said: "The police, security services and Border Force are actively working to identify, detect and disrupt terrorist threats, including from British fighters attempting to return to the UK.

"They use a wide range of powers including those which allow them to detain and interview individuals at the UK border suspected of being involved in terrorism."

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Two Bikers Killed In Manx GP Qualifying Sessions

A motorcyclist has been killed during a qualifying session for the 2014 Manx Grand Prix - the second death in just four days.

Tim Moorhead crashed just before the Black Hut on the Mountain section of the Isle of Man course at around 8.05pm on Friday.

On Tuesday, experienced racer Stephen Mcllvenna, 39, died in another qualifying session in an incident at the Mountain Mile.

Mr Moorhead, 50, from Whitstable, Kent, was married and made his Manx Grand Prix debut in 2012, a statement from the Manx Motor Cycle Club said.

It said: "The Manx Motor Cycle Club wish to pass their deepest sympathy to Tim's family and friends.

Stephen Mcllvenna lost his life on Tuesday

"The coroner of inquests has been informed and an investigation into the circumstances of the accident is under way."

Mr Mcllvenna, from Randalstown, Northern Ireland, first competed in the grand prix in 2005 and won the Junior Manx Grand Prix in 2009.

He also competed in the TT Races a year later.

A statement said: "The Manx Motor Cycle Club wish to pass on their deepest sympathy to Stephen's family and friends."

There is also an investigation into his death.

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British Man With Ebola On Flight Back To UK

Nigeria Confirms First 'Secondary' Ebola Cases

Updated: 8:47am UK, Sunday 24 August 2014

Ebola fears in Nigeria have heightened after two more people tested positive, despite having no contact with the man who brought the virus into the country.

The infected people are the spouses of a man and woman who had contact with Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American who died in July after flying into Abuja and infecting 11 others.

It comes as blood tests confirmed an Irish engineer who died on Thursday did not have ebola.

Dessie Quinn, 43, had been working in Sierra Leone, one of the countries struggling with the current outbreak.

Nigerian officials now have more than 200 potential ebola cases under "surveillance" after the discovery of the secondary infections.

"They were quarantined two days ago," said Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu.

"But the other ones that were quarantined along with them have been released.

"Those on treatment (in isolation) currently are four - two primary contacts, two secondary contacts. Presently altogether we have 213 on surveillance."

Patrick Sawyer, 40, died from ebola after becoming sick during a flight to Nigeria from the Liberian capital, Monrovia.

Two doctors, two nurses, and a man who picked him up from Abuja airport also died.

The World Health Organisation said earlier this week it was hopeful over the situation in Nigeria because all the cases there had come from a single chain of transmission.

The country now has 14 confirmed cases, including five deaths.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have suffered the worst from the outbreak, accounting for most of the 1,350 fatalities.

Liberian capital Monrovia, in particular, has seen chaotic scenes in recent days as ebola cases increase.

The local crematorium is struggling to burn the infected bodies and is having to send some back to the hospital, according to the Red Cross.

Troops have also fired tear gas to enforce a quarantine zone and prevent looting in the city's huge West Point slum.

A teenage boy, Shakie Kamara, has died after being shot by security forces earlier this week, Information Minister Lewis Brown said on Friday.

Senegal has become the latest country to lock down its border with an ebola-affected neighbour, closing its land border with Guinea.

Decisions to bar widespread use of an experimental ebola drug have caused controversy.

Two Americans, Kent Brantly, 33, and Nancy Writebol, 60, recovered after taking ZMapp, but there are no plans to send it to the heart of the outbreak.

Specialists believe the pair, who were treated in Atlanta, now pose "no public health threat" and will probably be immune to the disease.

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Independent Scotland 'Would Have To Join Euro'

Alex Salmond's "only realistic plan B" for the currency of an independent Scotland is the euro, according to shadow chancellor Ed Balls.

Mr Balls reiterated his warning that the Scottish National Party's preference for keeping the pound in a formal currency union with the rest of the UK is "off the table".

The Labour MP, who was against UK entry to the euro when he worked for Gordon Brown, has previously ruled out a currency union if his party wins the next election.

The current Conservative chancellor, George Osborne, and Scottish Liberal Democrat Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander have also dismissed the prospect.

Keeping the pound without a currency union would accelerate "the movement of financial services out of Scotland", Mr Balls told the Observer newspaper.

Meanwhile, new currency would be "very expensive, very risky" and people would "pay a big price in terms of higher interest rates for mortgages", Mr Balls claimed.

Ed Balls ruled out a formal currency union in the newspaper interview

He said: "I fear that an independent Scotland would end up finding that joining the euro would be the least worst of all the bad options.

"It's not what I would choose for Scotland. And I am not surprised at all that Alex Salmond doesn't want to admit it now, but joining the euro would likely be his only realistic plan B."

Mr Balls added: "Given the size of the UK relative to Scotland, given that Scotland would be leaving the UK, the size of the Scottish financial sector and given the risk, therefore, to UK taxpayers, a sterling currency area would be off the table."

Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling will stage another debate on Monday

He urged Mr Salmond "to tell people what plan B is" at his next debate with Better Together leader Alistair Darling, which will be shown on Sky News on Monday.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond told The Observer: "An independent Scotland will keep the pound because it's our currency too, and pensions and public services will be more sustainable after a yes vote because Scotland's economy is stronger than the UK's."

A Better Together spokesman said: "Alex Salmond wants us to vote for independence on the basis of his blind faith and guesswork alone.

"We should say no thanks to taking on so much risk."

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