Metal Studs Treat The Homeless 'Like Animals'

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

Metal studs installed to stop homeless people from sleeping outside private flats in London have been described as "brutal" by a homelessness charity.

Residents at the block on Southwark Bridge Road said they appeared a few weeks ago after someone had been sleeping rough there.

In reaction, Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive of St Mungo's Broadway, said: "Each year our teams, in Southwark and elsewhere, help thousands of people off the streets.

"Part of their role is to prevent people adopting a street lifestyle which, on occasions, means adapting the physical environment to prevent people sleeping rough in a particular location on a regular basis. These 'studs' appear a rather brutal way of doing just that."

The studs are intended to prevent rough sleepers from using the doorway

Its not clear who ordered them and if they are solely to deter rough sleepers but their installation has sparked an angry reaction.

Emi Takehara lives in the block and told Sky News: "I feel really uncomfortable having these spikes in front of my home. It's like treating these homeless people like animals."

Andrew Horton spotted the studs on his way to work and posted pictures of them online.

It is split opinion on Twitter.

David Wells wrote: "These Anti homeless studs are like the spikes they use to keep pigeons off buildings. The destitute now considered vermin."

The anti-homeless devices appeared outside the flats a few weeks ago

Others, including Gavin Logan defended the installation, tweeting: "There will be a context behind those anti-homeless spikes. Possibly a last resort against someone who was aggressive and refused housing."

Homelessness charities say this is not a one-off, metal studs have been appearing across the country for the last decade as the number of people sleeping rough rises.

The management company has not been available for comment but Councillor Peter John, leader of Southwark Council, issued a statement confirming the council is not responsible.

He added: "The council can look into health and safety or planning concerns that are reported to us.

"With regards to people sleeping rough, the council has a dedicated officer who works closely with organisations like St Mungo's [a homelessness charity], who have a 'no second night out' policy to ensure rough sleepers are found shelter and support."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

GPs 'Should Offer On-The-Spot Smear Tests'

By Harret Hadfield, Sky News Reporter

Women should be offered on-the-spot smear tests during regular doctor's appointments, according to a new study.

All women in the UK aged between 25 and 65 are offered the test regularly every three years to screen for cervical cancer.

A smear test can also detect pre-cancerous cells, that could lead to cancer, making it a highly effective preventative measure.

The recommendation comes from the think tank Demos, working alongside charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.

Jo Salter from Demos told Sky News: "We think that doctors are really crucial to tackling this problem because they are the gatekeepers who invite women to be screened, but often they are a barrier because they can't get an appointment or because their GP is quite off-putting about it."

It has found 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. Of those, 900 will die from the disease.

Cervical cancer is the third most common gynaecological cancer in the UK.

Improved screening rates will cut those diagnosed cancer in half

Currently only 78% of eligible women take up the test - but with a 100% screening rate, the number of those diagnosed with the illness would be cut in half.

For GPs, who are already very short of time, it is another thing to have to fit into an appointment slot.

Dr David Lloyd, from The Ridgeway Surgery in Harrow, said: "In a 10-minute appointment we have to cover the problem that the patient came with in the first place ... then, if she hadn't had a recent smear, we'd have to have a discussion with the patient.

"Some women may not want to have a smear at that stage as it's a bit more than just having your blood pressure taken and then there's a little extra time on everything else."

Embarrassment, busy lives and finding the test painful are among the reasons given by women who avoid screening.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Monty Python Create England World Cup Song

The stars of Monty Python have created their own unofficial England World Cup anthem with an updated version of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Eric Idle has written a new verse to mark the world's biggest football tournament, which includes a consolation for England fans should their team crash out of the tournament early.

The new version - released ahead of 10 reunion shows at London's O2 Arena in July - went on sale on Sunday.

The song was originally written by Idle for the final scene of the Python film The Life Of Brian, released in 1979.

But it has been adopted at sporting events and featured in the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The new verse reads: "When you're in the World Cup, and all your hopes are up, and everybody wants their team to win.

"Then they go and let you down, and come slinking back to town, it's time for this daft song to begin."

The official England World Cup anthem, which was set to feature Take That singer Gary Barlow, has been dropped.

The Monty Python team are releasing a number of recordings, with their Monty Python Sings album due to be reissued on June 30.

Their final live show in July will be broadcast in 450 cinemas in the UK and another 1,500 worldwide.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Scots Vote: 'English Politicians Keep Out'

English politicians getting involved in the Scottish independence debate is more likely to make Scots vote in favour of leaving the Union, an exclusive YouGov poll for Sky News' Murnaghan Programme has found.

Our poll shows almost a third of people in the UK (31%) believe English politicians should stay out of the debate.

In Scotland alone, the figure is higher - 44%.

When asked if English politicians getting involved would make it more or less likely Scotland votes yes to independence, 43% said they thought it would make that prospect more likely.

But when asked whether English politicians should keep quiet on the issue, Foreign Secretary William Hague said all sides of the debate are entitled to express their opinion.

He told the Murnaghan Programmne: "This is for the Scottish people to decide, of course.

"We all have a stake in it though, it is about the whole future of the United Kingdom. It will effect us all."

He said it was important, therefore, that the British government is able to set out its view of the facts along with everyone else.

Monday marks 100 days until the referendum, which will ask people the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

The countdown will see both sides of the campaign step up their efforts to secure their preferred outcome.

Current polling shows that no camp has the advantage.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The eyes of the world are on Scotland and we should be proud of the example we are setting in terms of the profoundly democratic and peaceful nature of the debate on our future - not something that is always the case elsewhere."

He added that independence is the only guarantee of further powers for Scotland, after the Scottish Conservatives pledged to "take the stabilisers off" and grant full income tax powers if it votes against independence.

:: Sky News will be in Scotland on Monday for a day of special coverage on the referendum - on TV, online and mobile. This will include interviews with leading figures from both sides of the debate.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Extremism Row: 'Firm Discipline' In Tory Ranks

Gove: 'I Am Not At War With Theresa May'

Updated: 2:00pm UK, Thursday 05 June 2014

Michael Gove has said he is not at war with the Home Secretary over alleged Islamic fundamentalism in Birmingham schools.

The Education Secretary insisted that "Theresa May is doing a fantastic job" when questioned about the spat between the two over the way extremism is being handled by the Government.

His comments come after David Cameron said he wanted answers on the row between two of his most senior ministers demanding "the full facts laid before him".

As the row unfolded on Wednesday, Mrs May and Mr Gove made significant efforts to show a united front and issued three statements saying they were "working together".

Mr Cameron was forced to intervene after it was disclosed on Wednesday morning the Education Secretary thought that Mrs May was failing to properly tackle Islamic fundamentalism.

Mr Gove is said to believe extremism is the gateway to more violent behaviour and that the Home Office has refused to tackle it until it can be linked to terrorism.

Mrs May responded by making public a letter written to the Education Secretary in which she accused the department of failing to act over radical Islamists apparently targeting Birmingham schools despite warnings dating back to 2010.

On Thursday morning Mr Gove was asked if he was at war with Mrs May and replied: "Certainly not, Theresa May is doing a fantastic job. There's a lot going on."

When asked if she was too soft on Islamic fundamentalism he said: "No, absolutely not. She's doing a very fine job."

Justice Minister Chris Grayling admitted there were "tensions and debates" within Government over how to tackle Islamist extremism but denied a rift between the two.

Mr Grayling told Radio 4's Today programme: "They were very clear yesterday. They issued a statement to say that they are working very closely together on this."

He said the rows in the coalition were nothing compared to the Tony Blair/Gordon Brown days.

When asked if Mrs May and Mr Gove got on during his weekly radio call in session on LBC, Nick Clegg, who is also reported to have fallen out with Mr Gove on a number of education issues, said: "Ask them".

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt accused the ministers of being "asleep on the job" and said: "Instead of ministers rowing, we need leadership on how we confront the very serious and worrying reports about Birmingham schools."

Some 21 schools in Birmingham have been the subject of an Ofsted investigation after a letter, which is widely believed to be a hoax, referred to an alleged plot, known as the "Trojan Horse" plot, by hardline Muslims to seize control of governing boards in the city.

Earlier this week, Sky News disclosed one of the schools had been found to be "inadequate" after failing to protect pupils from extremism.

Inspectors found: "Students have a scant understanding of other religions, the focus is primarily on Islam."

Sky News also revealed senior leaders at three schools in Birmingham were so concerned about the influence of Muslim extremists in the 1990s they wrote a letter to education ministers, which was copied to then Prime Minister John Major.

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Scots Vote: 'English Politicians Keep Out'

English politicians getting involved in the Scottish independence debate is more likely to make Scots vote in favour of leaving the Union, an exclusive YouGov poll for Sky News' Murnaghan Programme has found.

Our poll shows almost a third of people in the UK (31%) believe English politicians should stay out of the debate.

In Scotland alone, the figure is higher - 44%.

When asked if English politicians getting involved would make it more or less likely Scotland votes yes to independence, 43% said they thought it would make that prospect more likely.

But when asked whether English politicians should keep quiet on the issue, Foreign Secretary William Hague said all sides of the debate are entitled to express their opinion.

He told the Murnaghan Programmne: "This is for the Scottish people to decide, of course.

"We all have a stake in it though, it is about the whole future of the United Kingdom. It will effect us all."

He said it was important, therefore, that the British government is able to set out its view of the facts along with everyone else.

Monday marks 100 days until the referendum, which will ask people the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

The countdown will see both sides of the campaign step up their efforts to secure their preferred outcome.

Current polling shows that no camp has the advantage.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The eyes of the world are on Scotland and we should be proud of the example we are setting in terms of the profoundly democratic and peaceful nature of the debate on our future - not something that is always the case elsewhere."

He added that independence is the only guarantee of further powers for Scotland, after the Scottish Conservatives pledged to "take the stabilisers off" and grant full income tax powers if it votes against independence.

:: Sky News will be in Scotland on Monday for a day of special coverage on the referendum - on TV, online and mobile. This will include interviews with leading figures from both sides of the debate.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Metal Studs Treat The Homeless 'Like Animals'

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Reporter

Metal studs installed to stop homeless people from sleeping outside private flats in London have been described as "brutal" by a homelessness charity.

Residents at the block on Southwark Bridge Road said they appeared a few weeks ago after someone had been sleeping rough there.

In reaction, Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive of St Mungo's Broadway, said: "Each year our teams, in Southwark and elsewhere, help thousands of people off the streets.

"Part of their role is to prevent people adopting a street lifestyle which, on occasions, means adapting the physical environment to prevent people sleeping rough in a particular location on a regular basis. These 'studs' appear a rather brutal way of doing just that."

The studs are intended to prevent rough sleepers from using the doorway

Its not clear who ordered them and if they are solely to deter rough sleepers but their installation has sparked an angry reaction.

Emi Takehara lives in the block and told Sky News: "I feel really uncomfortable having these spikes in front of my home. It's like treating these homeless people like animals."

Andrew Horton spotted the studs on his way to work and posted pictures of them online.

It is split opinion on Twitter.

David Wells wrote: "These Anti homeless studs are like the spikes they use to keep pigeons off buildings. The destitute now considered vermin."

The anti-homeless devices appeared outside the flats a few weeks ago

Others, including Gavin Logan defended the installation, tweeting: "There will be a context behind those anti-homeless spikes. Possibly a last resort against someone who was aggressive and refused housing."

Homelessness charities say this is not a one-off, metal studs have been appearing across the country for the last decade as the number of people sleeping rough rises.

The management company has not been available for comment but Councillor Peter John, leader of Southwark Council, issued a statement confirming the council is not responsible.

He added: "The council can look into health and safety or planning concerns that are reported to us.

"With regards to people sleeping rough, the council has a dedicated officer who works closely with organisations like St Mungo's [a homelessness charity], who have a 'no second night out' policy to ensure rough sleepers are found shelter and support."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

GPs 'Should Offer On-The-Spot Smear Tests'

By Harret Hadfield, Sky News Reporter

Women should be offered on-the-spot smear tests during regular doctor's appointments, according to a new study.

All women in the UK aged between 25 and 65 are offered the test regularly every three years to screen for cervical cancer.

A smear test can also detect pre-cancerous cells, that could lead to cancer, making it a highly effective preventative measure.

The recommendation comes from the think tank Demos, working alongside charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.

Jo Salter from Demos told Sky News: "We think that doctors are really crucial to tackling this problem because they are the gatekeepers who invite women to be screened, but often they are a barrier because they can't get an appointment or because their GP is quite off-putting about it."

It has found 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. Of those, 900 will die from the disease.

Cervical cancer is the third most common gynaecological cancer in the UK.

Improved screening rates will cut those diagnosed cancer in half

Currently only 78% of eligible women take up the test - but with a 100% screening rate, the number of those diagnosed with the illness would be cut in half.

For GPs, who are already very short of time, it is another thing to have to fit into an appointment slot.

Dr David Lloyd, from The Ridgeway Surgery in Harrow, said: "In a 10-minute appointment we have to cover the problem that the patient came with in the first place ... then, if she hadn't had a recent smear, we'd have to have a discussion with the patient.

"Some women may not want to have a smear at that stage as it's a bit more than just having your blood pressure taken and then there's a little extra time on everything else."

Embarrassment, busy lives and finding the test painful are among the reasons given by women who avoid screening.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Monty Python Create England World Cup Song

The stars of Monty Python have created their own unofficial England World Cup anthem with an updated version of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Eric Idle has written a new verse to mark the world's biggest football tournament, which includes a consolation for England fans should their team crash out of the tournament early.

The new version - released ahead of 10 reunion shows at London's O2 Arena in July - went on sale on Sunday.

The song was originally written by Idle for the final scene of the Python film The Life Of Brian, released in 1979.

But it has been adopted at sporting events and featured in the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The new verse reads: "When you're in the World Cup, and all your hopes are up, and everybody wants their team to win.

"Then they go and let you down, and come slinking back to town, it's time for this daft song to begin."

The official England World Cup anthem, which was set to feature Take That singer Gary Barlow, has been dropped.

The Monty Python team are releasing a number of recordings, with their Monty Python Sings album due to be reissued on June 30.

Their final live show in July will be broadcast in 450 cinemas in the UK and another 1,500 worldwide.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Person Missing After Yacht And Dredger Collide

The coastguard is searching for a missing person after a yacht and dredger collided one mile off Felixstowe.

One person on board was pulled to safety but another person is unaccounted for.

The Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team, two lifeboats from Harwich, two pilot boats, a dive boat, the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham and a number of other vessels are currently involved in the search.

More follows...

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More