Plebgate: Mitchell's Scotland Yard Complaint

Ex-cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell has lodged a formal complaint against Scotland Yard over the apparent leaking of its report into the "Plebgate" affair.

The senior Tory MP has written to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) accusing the Metropolitan Police of a continued campaign to "destroy" his career.

Mr Mitchell took the action after newspaper reports suggested a police file passed to the Crown Prosecution Service contained no evidence that officers lied about his behaviour.

He strongly denies calling officers "plebs" during an altercation over their refusal to allow him to ride his bike through the Downing Street gates last year.

And the politician - who quit as chief whip amid the storm over the incident - claims he is the victim of a conspiracy by officers to "toxify" the Tories and blacken his name.

In a letter to IPCC deputy chairman Deborah Glass, he wrote: "We are deeply dismayed that the Metropolitan Police appear to have leaked part of their Report prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to certain members of the Press and spun it to the advantage of the Police officers involved.

"This was an Enquiry into a dishonest and illicit attempt to blacken my name and destroy my career. It would appear that this police enquiry continues precisely that process."

Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said the latest development showed it was wrong for Scotland Yard to lead the inquiry into its own officers and called for the whole investigation to be taken over by the IPCC.

Scotland Yard is trying to find out how the Sun and Daily Telegraph obtained information about the "Plebgate" row and if it came from police.

It is also looking at a police officer's claim to have witnessed the altercation and allegations by Mr Mitchell that police had lied in a log of the event.

Three officers from the Diplomatic Protection Group have so far been arrested as part of the investigation. All three remain suspended.

Some 30 detectives have taken statements from all 800 officers in the DPG, which is tasked with protecting government officials.

Papers related to the case were passed to prosecutors on Thursday, but the CPS said it was not "a full file of evidence" and that is expected more.

"We now await the conclusion of the police investigation before considering charges," it said in what was seen as a rebuke to the force.

A number of newspapers subsequently reported sources as saying the file did not contain any evidence to back Mr Mitchell's claim of a conspiracy by officers.

Mr Vaz said the committee had argued from the start that Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe was wrong to allow Scotland Yard to conduct the investigation.

Britain's most senior police officer promised a "ruthless" investigation into the alleged conspiracy "no matter where the truth takes us".

It is being supervised by the IPCC and the commissioner invited the Greater Manchester force to provide an external review.

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Glencoe Avalanche: Search For Missing Skier

A rescue operation has resumed on Sunday near Glencoe Ski Centre following an avalanche, but searchers say there is little chance a missing skier has survived.

One off-piste skier is feared buried in the avalanche and mountain rescue teams have so far been unable to find him.

Emergency services were alerted to the avalanche close to the Glencoe Ski Centre just after 1pm on Saturday.

Staff from the ski centre helped mountain rescue teams in the search in an off-piste skiing area in the Etive Glades, Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team said.

RAF Lossiemouth and Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team were also involved.

Glencoe Mountain Resort posted on its Facebook page: "(We) regret to say that an experienced off-piste skier skiing out of the ski area was caught in a major avalanche this afternoon."

The avalanche is the second serious incident at Glencoe this year

Off-piste skiing, also referred to as "back country" skiing, involves the use of unofficial slopes which are not patrolled or maintained.

A forecast on the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service website on Saturday placed Glencoe at "considerable risk" of an avalanche.

"The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes," it said.

"Triggering is possible, even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. In some cases medium-sized, in isolated cases large-sized, natural avalanches are possible."

Rescuers said the snow is up to 40 feet deep and has hampered search efforts and admitted it was unlikely the man could have survived.

John Grieve, leader of Glencoe Mountain Team, said the avalanche travelled around 1,000ft down the rocky face of the slope.

He said: "The avalanche has actually gone into a gully, and in some places the snow is about 40ft deep.

Some 30 people are involved in the search in an off-piste area of Glencoe

"It's not like a normal ski slope where it is mainly smooth and straight. There are a lot of rocks around and it is more dangerous."

Mark Fulton, 25, from Gourock, Inverclyde, who was skiing all day with his family on the slopes at the Glencoe Ski Centre, said he saw the rescue mission unfolding.

"I was up there from about 10am and at lunchtime we went in to get something to eat at the cafe and we saw an emergency helicopter hovering about," he said.

"It looked as though it was coming in to land near the bottom of the hill. When we were leaving later I saw police and mountain rescue vans all gathered as well.

"I didn't actually know there had been an avalanche until I was driving home and heard it on the radio.

"It's just not something you think about when you're going out skiing, you never think something like that will happen to you - it's like when you get on a plane, you don't think it's going to crash.

"I just hope the person is found safe and well."

Glencoe Ski area, also known as Glencoe Mountain or the White Corries ski centre, is the oldest ski area in Scotland.

In January, four people died while descending the 3,658ft Bidean Nam Bian near Glencoe. An avalanche struck without warning and swept them 1,000ft down the mountainside.

In the same month, 22-year-old Ben St Joseph, from Essex, died after falling 100 metres from Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis.

In February, three men survived falling 150 metres (450ft) in an avalanche in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the Cairngorm mountain range.

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Policewoman Sues Man Who Called 999

A man who dialled 999 fearing a burglary at his petrol station is being sued by the policewoman who answered the call because she fell on the premises.

The officer, Kelly Jones, tripped over a kerbstone when she went to the station in Thetford, Norfolk, owned by Steve Jones last August.

Her lawyers say she was hurt and argue that he failed to keep her safe while she was investigating the possible break-in.

Mr Jones says the move raises bigger questions about Britain's culture of compensation.

"I think it's the compensation culture gone a little too far, this is one step too far. Something needs to be done.

"I feel we need a minister of the common sense in this country," he told Sky News.

Mr Jones said he felt "astounded, worried, slightly anxious" upon receiving notification of the lawsuit last week.

"It's implying that I virtually should have done her job for her, it's implying I didn't keep her safe on my premises," Mr Jones said.

"We really need the police to be on our side right now," he added, citing what he says is an increased numbers of shoplifters or people who drive off without paying after filling up the tank.

The kerb at the Norfolk petrol station where the incident occurred

Ms Jones could not immediately be reached.

But Norfolk Police said in a statement that they had been "wholly unaware of this litigation which appears to be instigated privately by the individual officer".

The statement added: "We have a duty of care to any officer injured whilst on duty, to support their continued health and well-being and fitness to return to work. Officers can, in addition, receive further support from their staff association, as well as pursuing private treatment."

Mr Jones was called out late at night in August 25 after an alarm went off at the petrol station. Fearing a burglary, he called the police for backup.

"We were walking around to see if there had been any signs of entry in the premises and she tripped over the kerb," Mr Jones recalled.

"She got up and we carried on," he said, adding that the officer did not mention anything at the time and that she seemed to be "more embarrassed than hurt".

There was no burglary so Mr Jones said he didn't think about the incident until receiving the letter months later.

The lawsuit said the policewoman had suffered wrist and leg injuries.

Her lawyers say the area was not properly lit. Mr Jones counters that some lights were on and some more light was coming from a back street.

If successful, the claim could put people off calling emergency services. But Mr Jones said this was an isolated incident.

"On the whole the police do a great job."

The Police Federation said in a statement that "the Constables Central Committee is funding this particular case and the decision making for this lies with them."

It said most officers have public protection rather than any potential risk to themselves as their top priority.

It added: "On occasion private prosecutions and civil claims are made by police officers - and they must be treated each on their own merits.

"However, we share the public view that policing is a job that carries with it a reasonable amount of risk, at times much higher than that."

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Archbishop Warns Over Vain Optimism In Change

The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched an attack on society's belief that things can improve through change without God, in his first Easter message.

The Most Rev Justin Welby warned against 'vain human optimism' in change as it would lead to cynicism and only joyfulness through faith in God would lead to 'radical expectation in the future'.

Taking on the issues of the present he said that a sense that hero leaders could bring about improvement showed people had failed to learn the lessons of the Easter story.

The Archbishop told a congregation at Canterbury Cathedral: "I wonder how many people ... think that the future will be better than the past and all problems can be solved if we put our minds to it?

"It's a general sense, one in which most of our society works and it goes with the feeling that if that does not happen, then it ought to and if it doesn't happen, then someone must be doing something to stop it.

"Illusion is replaced by disappointment. And they are both equally wrong."

He said that the culture of the 'hero leader' was equally flawed.

The Most Rev Justin Welby arrives at Canterbury Cathedral

Mr Welby said: "A political party gets a new leader and three months later there is a comment about disappointment; an economy suffers the worst blow in generations with a debt crisis and economic downturn and the fact that not everything is perfect within five years is seen as total failure.

"Complexity and humanity are ignored. And we end up, at least in public perception, unreasonably disappointed with every institution, group and policy, from politicians to the NHS, from local government, education and the environment and the sense that there must be a conspiracy somewhere, if only we could spot it.

"Holy Week and Easter, show us the reality of God and human beings. It is a reality that equips us for action in the world - action that is based on hope and realism, not on cynicism and fear.

"The disciples pinned all their hopes on Jesus as their leader and on Israel's leaders recognising him as such.

"They made a double mistake. As human beings we tend to live in the present. Societies that cling to the present, or some golden age in the past, fall prey to fear. And groups that cling to power, sink into oppression.

The Queen receives flowers from well-wishers after a service at Windsor

"As well as fear, a false view of people, leads to hero leaders who always fail."

He said the solution was to: "Put not your trust in new leaders, better systems, new organisations or regulatory reorganisations. They may be good and well and necessary, but they will to some degree fail."

And that: "Assuming that any organisation is able to have such good systems that human failure will be eliminated is always naive. We have to know God as well as human beings or we are left with cynical despair."

Providing a possible sign of what his tenure as leader of the Anglican community will be like for the coming few years, he challenged media speculation that he could fix the Church's problems.

He said: "On Friday, a newspaper reported that only 40% of churchgoers ... are convinced that the new Archbishop of Canterbury can resolve the problems of the Church of England. Eat your heart out.

Princess Eugenie arrives for the Easter service at St George's Chapel

"I do hope that means that the other 60% thought the idea so barking mad that they didn't answer the question."

The Archbishop told a radio programme that it was not necessary for the Church to agree, but it was essential that it found "ways of disagreeing, perhaps very passionately but loving each other deeply at the same time."

He said by disagreeing "gracefully", the Church could be beacon for others.

Meanwhile, the Queen attended the traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle today with other members of the Royal Family.

She was joined by the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie for the Matins service at St George's Chapel, conducted by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Rev David Conner.

In Leicester, the day was especially memorable for a handful of people who were baptised outdoors as the UK was in the grip of one of the coldest Easters in living memory.

In all, seven men and women were fully submerged and baptised by the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, today in a special service at the city's cathedral.

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Belfast Pizza Delivery Shooting Victim Named

A pizza delivery man shot dead outside a Domino's takeaway in Belfast has been named as Kieran McManus, aged 26.

He is understood to have been hit twice during the attack at Kennedy Way in the west of the city on Saturday night.

DCI Karen Baxter from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "What we know is that at 11.20pm last night Kieran was with a number of friends when he was shot at short range by what we believe was a lone gunman.

"We are asking for anyone with information, who was in and around the pizza place last night to come forward.

Mr McManus was taken to hospital after the attack but died a short time later.

DCI Baxter added: "Kieran was known to police, however what I would say is that nothing justifies the brutal attack on Kieran and the death of a young man.

"Today we have, on Easter Sunday, a mother mourning the loss off her son and I think this is a very sad state of affairs."

Asked if the shooting could have been a sectarian attack, she said: "We haven't ruled out any motives at this stage, it is much too early."

Police have also appealed for information about a dark red Vauxhall Astra found near the scene.

Paul Maskey, Sinn Fein MP for West Belfast, condemned the perpetrators of the fatal shooting.

He said: "My thoughts are with the family of the young man murdered on Kennedy Way."

 Mr Maskey said: "Those who carried out this shooting should be ashamed of themselves.

"People are shocked that this is the Easter holiday period and people were in good form and someone last night was willing to go out and take the life of another individual."

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JT McNamara Paralysed After Cheltenham Fall

Irish jockey JT McNamara has been paralysed after suffering a neck injury in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival, doctors have confirmed.

The 37-year-old rider is said to be in a "very positive frame of mind" after having surgery at a Bristol hospital where he has been treated since the fall on March 15.

According to a McNamara family statement, he was also "greatly appreciative" of the "many messages" of support.

He fractured two vertebrae when his mount, Galaxy Rock, fell at the first fence in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup. The horse was unhurt.

McNamara, one of the leading amateurs on the circuit for a number of years, was airlifted to hospital after being treated by the on-course medics.

McNamara was airlifted to hospital after the fall

Apparently conscious after the fall, he was put in an induced coma before being transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

A statement issued jointly by Adrian McGoldrick, the Irish Turf Club's senior medical officer, and Lisa Hancock, head of the Injured Jockeys Fund, on behalf of the McNamara family read: "JT McNamara remains in the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.

"Whilst he suffered a serious neck injury resulting in paralysis, he has made progress in the last week and is in a very positive frame of mind."

The statement continued: "He is greatly appreciative of the many messages, cards and letters received and also wishes to thank the Frenchay Hospital who are looking after him so well."

He is expected to be transferred to the National Spinal Unit at Dublin's Mater Hospital to continue his rehabilitation.

McNamara has over 600 wins to his name including four victories at Cheltenham.

Galaxy Rock's owner JP McManus, with whom McNamara has a long association, was said to be in tears when he heard about the neck injury.

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Lord Carey Attacks David Cameron On Religion

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister David Cameron.

In an article for the Daily Mail, Lord Carey says many Christians doubt the PM's "sincerity" when he pledges to protect their religious freedoms and accuses ministers of "aiding and abetting" discrimination against believers.

He points to Government plans to legalise gay marriage as evidence of an "aggressive secularist and relativist approach" and argues that Mr Cameron has fed Christian "anxieties" more than "any other recent political leader".

Lord Carey also says a new poll suggesting that more than two-thirds of Christians feel they are now part of a "persecuted minority" shows the Government must do more to demonstrate its commitment to stand up for faith.

The ComRes poll commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage also found more than half of Christians who backed the Conservatives in 2010 say they will "definitely not" vote for the party in 2015.

Lord Carey expresses alarm about Labour MP Chris Bryant's campaign to turn the 700-year-old Parliamentary chapel of St Mary Undercroft into a multi-faith prayer room so that gay couples can get married there.

Lord Carey slammed Chris Bryant's campaign for gay marriages in Parliament

But he also directly calls into question the Prime Minister's actions, saying: "I like David Cameron and believe he is genuinely sincere in his desire to make Britain a generous nation where we care for one another and where people of faith may exercise their beliefs fully.

"But it was a bit rich to hear that the Prime Minister has told religious leaders that they should 'stand up and oppose aggressive secularisation' when it seems that his Government is aiding and abetting this aggression every step of the way.

"At his pre-Easter Downing Street reception for faith leaders, he said that he supported Christians' right to practise their faith. Yet many Christians doubt his sincerity.

"According to a new ComRes poll more than two thirds of Christians feel that they are part of a 'persecuted minority'. Their fears may be exaggerated because few in the UK are actually persecuted, but the Prime Minister has done more than any other recent political leader to feed these anxieties.

"He seems to have forgotten in spite of his oft-repeated support for the right of Christians to wear the cross, that lawyers acting for the coalition argued only months ago in the Strasbourg court that those sacked for wearing a cross against their employer's wishes should simply get another job."

The new poll suggests continuing resentment over legalising same-sex unions, even though there is special protection for the Church of England in the law, and Lord Carey's successor Justin Welby has softened the Church's stance on the issue.

Two thirds of those polled said they believed allowing same sex unions was an attempt to make the Conservative Party look trendy.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has vowed to protect religion

The poll comes after a series of controversial cases between Christians and employers over their rights to express their faith in the workplace.

Recent cases include Adrian Smith, a Trafford housing manager who says he was demoted and had his pay docked 40% after questioning the Government's plans for same sex marriage and Reverend Brian Ross who was sacked as the Chaplain of Strathclyde Police, apparently because his support for traditional marriage did not fit with the force's equality and diversity policies.

In another case, graphic designer Jamie Haxby is suing a hotel after claiming he was turned down for a job because he is a Christian.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles insists that unlike New Labour 'we do do God' and has agreed freedom of religion has been undermined.

He has vowed to change the law if necessary to stop people being taken to task for wearing a cross or a rosary, and says council should not try to ban prayers before meetings.

But the march of secularism means Britain will no longer be a Christian country within just 20 years, according to official research by the House of Commons library.

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NHS Drug Plea For Child With Blood Disorder

By Frazer Maude, Sky News Correspondent

The parents of a two-year-old girl with a rare blood disorder fear she faces a "lifetime of hospital visits and dialysis" unless the NHS funds an expensive new drug.

One day in every fortnight, Indie Smith is treated at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS), a condition shared by only 140 others in the UK.

It causes abnormalities in the immune system that can lead to the development of blood clots in the filters of the kidney. It is incurable and can lead to fatal kidney failure.

She is treated with a drug called eculizumab, which has been given the brand name Soliris by its developers, US based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and this allows her to live a relatively normal life.

Indie currently has her treatment provided by Alexion as part of a trial that ends in October.

Her problem is that the NHS will not continue to fund her treatment, at a cost of £250,000 a year, despite a Government advisory body recommending the drug be commissioned nationally.

The study by the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS), took two years, and concluded that: "Eculizumab would help save lives and improve the quality of life for children and adults with aHUS."

But the Department of Health has now referred consideration of the use of eculizumab to the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Indie would need plasma therapy without the drug

Those with the condition, and their families, now fear another long wait for NICE to complete their research, with no guarantee that they will agree with AGNSS about the drugs benefits.

Without the drug, Indie, who has three older brothers, would need plasma therapy for four or five hours a day, five or six days a week.

"It's not right," said Indie's father Gavin. "It shouldn't be about the money. This Government can find money. It can't be about the money, you've got to give her a future."

Indie's mother Clare said: "It's horrible. We shouldn't have to be doing this. We shouldn't be worrying that my daughter is going to be confined to a hospital bed because we can't afford to give her the drug that allows her to be a normal little girl.

"Without it, it'll mean a lifetime of hospital visits and dialysis."

The Department of Health told Sky News: "We understand this news will be disappointing for patients who suffer from atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome, but we need to make sure NHS resources are being used wisely.

"We have asked NICE to further explore eculizumab's suitability for national commissioning and provide guidance to the NHS."

The Smiths are already planning for the worst - and end of the trial treatment, with no NHS funding to continue it - by fundraising and campaigning.

They have a website and have already visited Downing Street to ask for the Prime Minister to intervene and overturn the Department of Health's decision.

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Post Office Staff On Strike Over Closures

Thousands of staff in the country's biggest post offices are striking in a row over jobs, pay and closures.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) in around 370 so-called Crown offices were mounting picket lines in protest at plans to close or franchise 70 branches.

The union said the walkout was "solidly" supported by thousands of its members, with picket lines set up outside post offices across the country.

The Post Office said scores of branches were open despite the strike.

The union organised the strike because it believes 800 jobs are at risk and also staff had not received a pay rise for two years.

The Post Office put forward the restructuring plan because Crown branches were losing £40m a year and accused the union of ignoring the "harsh realities" the company faces.

Dave Ward, the CWU's deputy general secretary, said: "Our post office members are standing up against destructive plans which would slash 20% of the Crown network and are simply asking for fair treatment and job security.

"The Post Office's plans are short-sighted and would rob the network of the most productive offices while simultaneously putting hundreds of jobs at risk and potentially damaging local economies.

"We'd like to see a better vision for a successful network which maintains services in the heart of communities alongside quality jobs."

The strike follows a ballot of workers in which 88% of those who voted demanded action.

Kevin Gilliland, network and sales director at the Post Office, said: "We regret any disruption to services the CWU's call for strike action may cause to customers. Crown branches are currently losing £40m per year and this is being subsidised by public money. This cannot continue.

"The Post Office is transforming its network to improve customer experience and in turn bring in new business. We are committed to the Post Office remaining a key part of UK high streets and our plans ensure this will happen."

He said the closures - which do not apply to smaller sub-Post Offices - affect less than 1% of the total network. At the same time as closing some branches, the Post Office was planning to improve the 300 other Crown offices.

The union said it was receiving strong public support for its campaign, with petitions circulating in areas affected by the proposals.

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Woman Charged With Neglect Of Two-Year-Old

A 41-year-old woman has been charged with neglect after a two-year-old girl was found on a stranger's doorstep.

The woman, from Carlisle, will appear at Carlisle Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

The little girl has been placed under the care of Social Services.

Police thanked the public for their assistance and said they would also like to thank the occupants of the property who alerted officers to the initial disturbance which led to the baby being discovered.

It emerged on Friday that police were contacted after the occupants of a house in Warwick Road, Carlisle, said a woman had rang their doorbell and then disappeared.

When officers arrived they found a pram with the girl inside.

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