PC Blakelock Murder Accused Not Guilty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Estates were devastated during the riots

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More follows...

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Maria Miller Resigns As Culture Secretary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr Cameron repeatedly backed his Culture Secretary

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

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

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

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

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

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

The second home at the centre of the row

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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First Public Play Date For Prince George

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

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

The little chap looked interested in fellow guests

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

Kate chatted informally with other parents

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

It was the Duchess' first public engagement with her son

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

Kate revealed her son is sleeping well

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

George played with babies around his age

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

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

The gathering was held at Wellington's Government House

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

George was boisterous and lively during the play date

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

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

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

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

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

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Peaches Geldof Post-Mortem 'Inconclusive'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Nigel Evans Sex Assault Trial: Jury Retires

By Becky Johnson, North Of England Correspondent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The MP denies that any of those events took place.

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

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

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

Evans says the pair had consensual sex in his bedroom.

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

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

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Irish President On Historic Visit To Britain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Queen and Prince Philip escort their visitors from Ireland

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

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

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

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Dorset School Loses £1m In Phishing Scam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'Serious Questions For PM Over Maria Miller'

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

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

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

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

Boris Johnson sidestepped questions over the Culture Secretary

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

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

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

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

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

Maria Miller apology: Gone in 32 seconds

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

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

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

Independent Standards Authority chairman Sir Ian Kennedy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Lee Rigby Murderer Appeals Life Sentence

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

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

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

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

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

Lee Rigby was 25 years old when he was killed

Now Adebolajo is seeking to have the sentence cut.

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

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

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

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

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

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IMF Sees UK Growth Remaining Fastest In G7

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor, In Washington DC

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

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

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

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

The IMF's chief economist has previously criticised UK austerity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labour's Ed Balls has accused the Government of complacency

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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