Miliband: Energy Bill Freeze 'Would Save £100m'

Freezing energy prices would save the taxpayer more than £100m in reduced fuel bills for public services such as hospitals and schools, says Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Labour has promised to freeze the price of bills until 2017 and "reset the broken energy market" if the party wins the 2015 general election.

The Opposition leader - speaking during a visit to Crouch End in north London - said £40 million would be cut from NHS costs, £28 million from schools and £21 million from defence if the move was implemented now.

The Tories have dismissed the price freeze idea as a "con", suggesting energy firms would simply push up prices in the run up to any freeze or immediately afterwards.

Controversial energy price rises have seen the average bill go up by an average of nine per cent and made the issue a hot political topic.

Mr Miliband said today: "If Labour win the next election, we will freeze energy prices until 2017.

"Labour's price freeze will save families an average £120 and an average small business user would benefit by over £5,000.

Mr Miliband revealed the price freeze pledge at his party's conference

He added: "It's not just Britain's families and businesses that would benefit from this price freeze, it's our vital public services too.

"New figures today show that if David Cameron put in place our freeze today, public services would save £100m.

"And that matters more than ever in an era when there's less money around."

He said savings to the NHS were the equivalent of 1,300 nurses' salaries and that school savings could pay for the salaries of over 700 teachers.

Labour's figures are drawn mainly from answers to a series of parliamentary questions by shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Chris Leslie.

Parliament earlier this week voted against Labour's proposal to freeze energy prices for 20 months but Labour is pushing ahead with the pledge as part of its strategy to win the next election.

The coalition government argues that a price freeze is not workable.

Instead it is putting in place an annual competition check by regulators, while the Conservatives will push for green levies on bills to be rolled back in the Chancellor's autumn statement in December.

Representatives from the 'Big Six' energy companies were also recently grilled by MPs, with E.ON boss Tony Cocker calling for a Competition Commission inquiry to reassure customers.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Snowden Leaks: Guardian Editor To Give Evidence

The editor of the Guardian is to give evidence to MPs over documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

A spokesman for the newspaper told Sky News that Alan Rusbridger had been "invited to give evidence to the home affairs select committee and looks forward to appearing next month".

It follows a series of articles published by the Guardian about the surveillance of phone and internet communications by the security services.

The revelations in the newspaper - and others around the world - were made in top-secret documents obtained by Mr Snowden, a former CIA computer analyst who has since fled to Russia.

Three of Britain's spy chiefs warned of the impact of the revelations

On Thursday, three of Britain's spy chiefs warned that terrorists would be "rubbing their hands with glee" at the level of information released.

Al Qaeda would be "lapping up" the revelations, they told an intelligence and security committee hearing.

It also emerged that dozens of Conservative MPs had written to Mr Rusbridger, asking him to consult the Government or security services before publishing any further stories based on Mr Snowden's files.

In their letter, the MPs said that publishing the leaked information in such detail "runs the risk of compromising the vital work of the institutions, processes and people who protect the safety of this country".

The Guardian has published a series of stories based on Mr Snowden's leaks

However, Mr Rusbridger said: "We continue to consult with both the security services and the Government on our reporting.

"We have in fact consulted with the White House, Downing Street (and) the intelligence services on both sides of the Atlantic ... on every story but one that we have published."

He added: "Snowden handed these documents to newspapers, who have responsibly edited them after prolonged and regular discussions with the relevant authorities.

"Were newspapers to be injuncted, criminalised or inhibited from reporting on such matters ... it is easy to predict what the next Edward Snowden or (fellow whistleblower) Chelsea Manning would do.

"They would, in all probability, bypass newspapers and publish the material directly on to the web, with far more serious consequences."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Killed In Double Shooting In Leeds

A man has been killed and another seriously injured after a double shooting inside a house in Leeds.

The pair were attacked at around 5.30pm on Friday in Wortley, in the west of the city.

They were both taken to hospital but one of the victims, 21, was pronounced dead a short time later.

A 31-year-old man is being treated for serious wounds to his lower body.

Detective Superintendent Simon Beldon, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "At this time our investigations are at a very early stage and forensic examinations are taking place at the scene.

"We believe that the shots were fired inside the property, however inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

"The nature of this incident suggests it was a targeted and isolated attack and a team of detectives are currently working hard to quickly identify those responsible for this serious crime.

"Neighbourhood policing team officers are also patrolling the local area, speaking to residents and responding to any concerns they may have."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact police on the non emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Andy Murray Fans Arrested After 'Gun Scare'

Police arrested four men suspected of brandishing a gun at tennis star Andy Murray - but later realised they were autograph hunters with a tennis racket.

The mix-up happened in north London on Wednesday at around 5pm when the Wimbledon champion was in a car with his agent.

Two men apparently got out of another car and knocked on the window of Murray's vehicle to ask him to sign the racket before he drove off, but a member of the public thought the racket was a gun and contacted police.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said they received a report of a man with a firearm in a Mercedes car in Swiss Cottage and the vehicle was stopped in Chelsea, west London.

The four men, aged between 21 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and taken into custody, but were later bailed until late January pending further inquiries.

The spokesman added: "A search of the car was conducted and no trace of a firearm was found."

Murray is currently recovering from back surgery he had in September.

In July, he became the first British man to win Wimbledon for 77 years, although he missed the latter part of the season after undergoing the surgery.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Funeral Appeal After WWII Veteran Dies Alone

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a funeral of a war veteran they never knew after it emerged he died with no close friends or relatives.

Harold Jellicoe Percival served as RAF ground crew and helped with the famous Dambusters raids during the Second World War.

He died last month aged 99 in a nursing home.

Mr Percival's funeral will be held at 11am on Armistice Day at a crematorium in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

The veteran never married, had no children and has no close family members able to go to the service.

A request for servicemen first went out in a local newspaper

But after publicity in local newspapers and social media, funeral directors say they are now hoping for a good turnout.

The RAF Association tweeted that its "Northern area will be in attendance" so Mr Percival "won't be alone".

Afghanistan veteran Rick Clement, who lost both legs in 2010, has been using Twitter and Facebook to urge people to turn up to pay their respects.

"Need a big favour from any military or ex serving members. This fallen soldier at 99 years old is having a funeral on Monday," he said.

"It says he has no family to attend in Lytham St Anne's. If your in the area can you give him the send off he deserves." 

He later thanked all those who had supported the appeal, saying: "Harold is going to get an amazing send off."

Comedian Jason Manford has also got behind the campaign.

Mr Percival lived in Penge, south London, before joining the RAF.

He was based in northwest England and became part of the ground crew which helped the Dambusters, the squadron which was initially formed to destroy dams in the Ruhr valley in Nazi Germany.

Mr Percival helped support the Dambusters' daring raid during World War Two

After working in Australia, he later retired to England and lived at a care home in Lytham St Annes.

Matron Janet Wareing said: "Harold was a lovely character, very strong-willed and independent.

"He was quite a private man, and he loved reading his Daily Telegraph every morning.

"We have already been contacted by military veterans who are intending to come, even though they have never met him.

"We've been told one group is looking to bring around 200 people to the service, which would be fantastic."

Mr Percival does have a nephew, David Worsell, but he is not able to attend so his son - Mr Percival's great nephew - will represent the family.

He was a distant relative of former British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval, the only PM to have ever been assassinated.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bristol PC Falls Through Roof Chasing Suspect

A police officer is in a critical condition after falling through a garage roof while chasing a suspect.

PC Christopher Hardaway suffered serious head injuries when he plunged through the roof of Bristol 2CV garage in Hampton Road, in the Redland area of the city, early this morning. 

The Avon and Somerset officer, who was in his 20s, was pursuing a man seen acting suspiciously on the roof of the building.

A police helicopter spotted the man on top of the garage and PC Hardaway climbed up to investigate when the roof gave way.

The officer was rushed to Frenchay Hospital and is currently undergoing emergency surgery.

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham called the PC's actions "brave and courageous".

The scene of the fall remains cordoned off and officers are carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

Police are still looking for the suspect who is thought to have dark hair and dark clothing.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact the Bristol CID on the police number 101.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murderer Nicola Edgington Loses Appeal Bid

A woman who murdered a stranger in the street and tried to kill another has lost her bid to appeal against her sentence and conviction.

Nicola Edgington had been given a minimum term of 37 years for the murder of Sally Hodkin and the attempted murder of Kerry Clark in October 2011.

But her lawyers argued that the original trial did not place enough importance on her mental health issues and said her sentence was excessive.

Court of Appeal judges today rejected those arguments and dismissed her application to appeal.

Edgington, who had killed her mother six years earlier, attacked the two women separately as they made their way to work in Bexleyheath, southeast London.

Edgington took a knife from a butcher's shop

She bought one knife from Asda and attacked Miss Clark, 22, who was waiting for a bus.

When Miss Clark grabbed the blade and kicked her away, Edgington ran to a butcher's shop and grabbed a larger knife.

She attacked Mrs Hodkin, 58, a law firm accounts clerk, with such force that she almost decapitated her.

Sally Hodkin was murdered on her way to work

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found a number of police blunders led to Edgington carrying out the attacks.

The 32-year-old made five 999 calls just hours before, asking to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act because she believed herself to be a danger.

But Metropolitan Police failed to carry out a police national computer check which would have alerted them to her previous conviction for her mother's manslaughter in 2005.

She also sought help at a local hospital from where she called 999, but after delays in admitting her she walked out.

Edgington had been diagnosed with schizophrenia following the killing of her mother but was released back into the community after three years.

The judge in her original trial, which finished in February 2013, called her behaviour "consistent and calculated".

He said: "You are manipulative and exceptionally dangerous. What you did could not have been more selfish.

"I disagree that the responsibility for these acts can be laid on others.

"You made your choice and these were terrible acts for which you must take responsibility."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alcohol Testing 'Should Take Place At Work'

By James Matthews, Sky News Correspondent

An organisation set up to tackle alcohol misuse has called for workplace testing to seek out problem drinkers.

The Alcohol Health Network wants employees to take a standardised test which identifies whether or not they are misusing alcohol.

The body's director and founder, Don Shenker, wrote in the British Medical Journal that if problems were identified, employers could provide advice to help prevent problem drinking at an early stage.

He stated that introducing such a measure could "prevent alcohol-related harm and sickness costs".

Mr Shenker wrote: "Offering staff confidential use of the 'alcohol use disorders identification test' and brief advice as a self-awareness initiative at work, whether through face to face interactions or leaflets, may well help prevent problems with alcohol at an earlier stage.

"In this way, staff who may be concerned about their drinking or whose level of drinking is not yet apparent to them, can assess the risks their drinking poses to their health and take appropriate action.

"Reducing hazardous drinking also reduces the risk of dependent drinking occurring."

He added: "Employers need also to be convinced of the business case for prevention rather than cure - that is, that it is ultimately more cost effective to prevent and reduce harmful drinking in the general working population, compared with the costs of managing dependent drinking among a minority of staff."

The NHS estimates that in the UK around 9% of men and 4% of women show signs of alcohol dependence.

In 2011, 167,764 prescriptions for drugs to treat alcohol dependency were prescribed.

In 2010, 6,669 deaths were directly related to alcohol.

The Government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of three to four units of alcohol for men (equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer) and two to three units of alcohol for women (equivalent to a 175ml glass of wine).

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Burka-Clad Fugitive Faces 20 Charges

A suspect who escaped surveillance by dressing in a burka was facing 20 charges for breaching different terrorism prevention orders, it has emerged.

Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, who is the subject of a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure (Tpim), disappeared from a London mosque last Friday by disguising himself as a woman.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear at the Old Bailey for proceedings concerning alleged breaches of the Tpim and an older control order.

Mohamed - who reportedly trained and fought for the al Qaeda-linked Somali group al Shabaab - is charged with six counts on one indictment, concerning breaches of his Tpim.

It is alleged he failed to report to Acton police station, as required by the order, on December 22 to 25 and December 27 to 28.

He faces a further 14 counts on the second indictment relating to breaches in 2011 of a control order, the predecessor to Tpims.

Among the charges, it is alleged he failed to report to a monitoring company, failed to report to Ipswich police station, met a person without agreement of the Home Office and used an unauthorised mobile phone.

Mohamed dressed in a burka to flee the London mosque

Mohamed is currently seeking damages from the Government in a human rights legal challenge involving allegations of torture.

The 27-year-old and another man, referred to as "CF", allege that the British authorities were complicit in their detention and torture in 2011 while they were in Somaliland.

Their claim is against the Foreign Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and the Attorney General, who all deny the allegations.

But James Eadie QC, appearing for the Government, said Mohamed it could be an abuse of process to allow him to continue the damages claim.

Mr Eadie said the case raised the question "whether it is abusive for someone in Mr Mohamed's position to invoke the courts' jurisdiction as a claimant whilst denying that jurisdiction by absconding".

Mohamed's solicitor Gareth Peirce told the court she had "no reason for the defendant's non-appearance".

Ms Peirce said Mohamed was forcibly removed from Somalia to this country with the "involvement of the security services here".

Outside court, Ms Peirce said: "We have the most serious concerns in relation to a young man who was hideously tortured in Somalia for two months, was forcibly and illegally deported to this country and where the question has been repeatedly raised of the complicity of the British authorities and the security services in that unlawful removal."

Mohamed is due to stand trial for the alleged breaches of the terrorism prevention orders on April 28 next year.

The hunt for Mohamed currently includes the Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism command, MI5 and the UK Border Force.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal Marine Guilty Of Murdering Afghan Fighter

A Royal Marine has been found guilty of murdering a wounded Afghan insurgent fighter.

Two other Marines who were involved in the same court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, and faced the same charge were acquitted.

The guilty serviceman, known only as Marine A, was found to have taken the life of the insurgent in Helmand Province more than two years ago.

The two others were known as Marines B and C. All will remain anonymous until the court martial or a judge decides otherwise.

All had denied murdering the unknown captured Afghan national on or about September 15, 2011, contrary to Section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

But a seven-strong board, consisting of officers and non-commissioned officers, convicted one of the defendants following a two-week trial.

Marine A shot the Afghan national in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol before quoting a phrase from Shakespeare as the man convulsed and died in front of him.

"There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil, you ****. It's nothing you wouldn't do to us," Marine A told the insurgent.

He then turned to comrades and said: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention."

The execution came to light as it was filmed by a camera mounted on the helmet of Marine B.

Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett ruled that the graphic video footage cannot be released, but agreed that the audio can be made public.

Marines B and C were alleged to have been "party to the killing" and "encouraged and assisted" Marine A in committing the murder but they were cleared.

The court martial heard on Thursday the insurgent had been shot at by an Apache attack helicopter with 139 30mm anti-tank rounds but was still alive - albeit seriously injured - when discovered by the patrol.

The footage, which was shown to the court, shows Marine A walking forward, bending down, and shooting the man at close range in the centre of his chest with a 9mm pistol.

Giving evidence to the court martial, Marine A insisted he believed the insurgent was dead at the time and he was simply shooting into a corpse in anger.

Also released were excerpts from a diary kept by Marine C, including one extract that relates to the moments of the shooting.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More