Tories Pledge 1980s-Style Housing Revolution

A 1980s-style housing "revolution" doubling the number of first-time buyers by 2020 has been pledged by the Tories, if they are elected.

The plan would mean half a million people a year getting their feet on the housing ladder, George Osborne said.

Labour claims Britain's chronic housing shortage is being fuelled by coalition schemes such as Help to Buy and no action is being taken to boost supply.

Ed Miliband's party unveiled plans on Saturday to take the new ISA scheme for first-time buyers announced in the Budget and use it to finance wide-scale house building.

Speaking on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, Mr Osborne said: "We do need to build more homes. We need to make sure all those brownfields in our cities and towns are being used for that purpose."

Video: Archive: House Building In Crisis

And he pointed to government help being provided to assist people onto the housing ladder, including the new ISA where savings are topped up for a deposit.

Mr Osborne also revealed more than 50,000 people had registered for a scheme offering cut-price homes for first-time buyers.

And a future Tory government would extend the existing Help to Buy scheme in England, which helps those struggling to raise a deposit.

He said: "I am a great believer in a home owning nation, a home owning democracy where families can get on the housing ladder."

Mr Osborne has said as many as one million people would enjoy direct government help to purchase properties over the next parliament.

"I think we can deliver a revolution in home ownership," the Chancellor said.

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"In the next parliament I would like to see over a million more people helped into home ownership by a Conservative government.

Video: 28 Feb: Boost For First-Time Buyers

"I would like to see us double the number of first-time buyers up to half a million. That is the kind of level we saw in the 1980s.

"There is no reason why our country can't achieve that again."

Since 2010 there have been 1.2 million first-time purchases and Mr Osborne wants at least 2.4 million more over the next five years

Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said: "More warm words on housing from the Chancellor will be cold comfort to the record number of young people and families priced out of home ownership over the past five years.

"Under this Tory-led government we've seen the lowest levels of housebuilding in peacetime since the 1920s and home ownership has fallen to a 30-year low.

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"Labour's Better Plan will ensure Britain builds the homes working people need.

"Labour will get at least 200,000 homes built a year by 2020, backed by a comprehensive plan - the first in a generation - and a £5bn Future Homes Fund to support the building of homes for first-time buyers."

Video: Archive: London Homes Unaffordable

The Tory pledge came as a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times showed the party overtaking Labour to move into a one point lead by 34% to 33%.

But Opinium research for The Observer had the Conservatives down one point on 33%, level-pegging with Labour (unchanged), while UKIP was up one point on 14%.

Liberal Democrats were down one on 7%, Greens were unchanged on 7% and the Scottish National Party were up one on 4%.

In a dramatic development on Saturday, an inquiry was ordered into the leak of a UK Government account of a private meeting between SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.

The Daily Telegraph published the diplomatic memo which suggested she had indicated that she would prefer to see Conservatives remain in power after the 7 May General Election.

Ms Sturgeon complained of a "dirty tricks" attempt to halt the party's advance.

She said it was "100% untrue" that she had expressed such a preference - a denial backed by French diplomats at the meeting.

But the memo was seized on by Labour leader Ed Miliband as a "damning revelation" of the SNP leader's true views.

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Two Teenagers Arrested By Anti-Terror Police

A 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl have been arrested on suspicion of planning acts of terrorism.

The boy was held after officers from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit and Lancashire Constabulary executed a warrant at a home in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Thursday.

Police examined a number of electronic devices found on the premises.

They suspect the boy of "preparing for an act of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006".

The girl was arrested after police raided a house in Clee Avenue, Longsight, Manchester, the following night.

She is suspected of "engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism".

Both youngsters have been bailed until 28 May.

An eyewitness told the Manchester Evening News that Clee Avenue was "full of terrorist police" when the girl was arrested at around 8pm on Friday.

The ongoing investigation is not thought to be related to the Rochdale family detained in Turkey for allegedly trying to cross into Syria.

The five adults and four children were arrested on Wednesday and are due to be deported back to Britain later.

Police have searched three properties in Rochdale and two in Heywood as part of the inquiry.

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Police Get More Time To Question Syria Suspects

Police have been given more time to question six people arrested in Dover on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences.

The five men and one woman were detained around 8am on Friday in the port's departure area.

Officers now have until 8am next Friday to charge or release them, or apply to detain them further.

Police said four of the men arrested are from Birmingham and in their 20s.

A 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman of no fixed address were also held.

They are being questioned at a police station in the West Midlands area.

The force said the suspects were not a family group, were not accompanied by children and did not pose any immediate risk to public safety.

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CCTV Appeal As Woman, 93, Hurt In Hit-And-Run

Police are hunting for a driver who left a 93-year-old woman lying in the middle of the road after a hit-and-run crash.

They have issued a CCTV image of the silver Chrysler Voyager thought to have struck Isobel Rawes in Shirley, West Midlands.

The pensioner is still in hospital being treated for the serious injuries she suffered.

Police said she was hit as she crossed Stratford Road at around 11.50am on 24 March.

A spokeswoman said: "The driver failed to stop at the scene and left the victim lying in the carriageway before driving away in the direction of the M42.

Police believe this car hit the 93-year-old

"Following extensive CCTV inquiries, police have identified the car as a silver-coloured Chrysler Voyager.

"It is believed that the vehicle will have damage to the front passenger side."

Sergeant Adam Green, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "I would urge anyone that has seen a Chrysler Voyager with damage to the front passenger side to come forward.

"It may be that the driver has confided in a friend or family member or a neighbour has noticed recent damage.

"It is important that we speak to the driver in order to understand the reasons for the collision and the subsequent driving away from the scene to provide answers to the family of Mrs Rawes."

Anyone with information can contact the collision investigation unit on 101.

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Parents 'Unaware' Of Shared Leave Rules

By Adele Robinson, Sky News Correspondent

New rules allowing working couples to share parental leave after the birth or adoption of their child have come into force.

Mothers and fathers can split 50 weeks of parental leave between them, in any combination, and divide up the 39 weeks of statutory pay.

The rules, which come into place on Easter Sunday, mean parents can take time off together or share leave separately.

Around 285,000 working couples would be eligible but it is expected that only a few thousand will take it up initially.

At the Wise Hippo birthing class in Hertfordshire, Sky News spoke to parents to get their views on the new rules.

Video: Tackling Parental Depression

Graham and Keeley Clark are expecting their baby in four weeks time. For them, like most, it comes down to finances.

"I think for us it's probably not the most practical thing," Mrs Clark said.

"With Graham being the main breadwinner, it doesn't make sense for us to do that.

"But for women who are the main breadwinners it is a good option for them."

However many people are still confused about how shared leave will work.

A survey carried out by My Family Care and Workingmums reveals that one in four people were unaware of the changes.

Nearly one third (32%) said they did not understand the rules and 41% said they would not consider dividing their leave.

Georgia and Felicien Mathieu are expecting their child in 10 weeks.

Video: The Ethics Of Three 'Parent' Babies

Mrs Mathieu believes not enough information is being sent out about the leave options.

"I don't think many people will take it up because there's a lack of information about it.

"I think there needs to be more out there, more pamphlets in antenatal classes - about what people are entitled to - so it's more widely profiled."

Employment lawyer Merrill April said she believes some companies may change enhanced maternity pay as a result of the changes.

"We might see some of those packages gradually being reduced or withdrawn.

"I think that rather depends on the take-up - if in fact there's very low take-up by men then perhaps that won't happen, but I rather suspect it may.

"It probably depends a bit on the size of the employer, but larger employers are going to be affected by larger numbers of people taking this up."

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Man In Court Over Baby Girl's 'Murder'

An electrician has appeared in court, charged with murdering a five-month-old girl in Birmingham.

Tomas Driukas, from Perry Barr, was remanded in custody at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was arrested on Thursday following the death of the unnamed baby girl in Perry Barr.

Police were called to reports that a child was experiencing breathing difficulties at an address in Crantock Road shortly before 1am on Wednesday.

A 22-year-old woman arrested at the same time has been released on police bail.

A post-mortem examination revealed several injures to the girl.

West Midlands Police said further tests were being conducted to establish a cause of death.

Driukas will appear next at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday.

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Family Had Concerns Over 'Syria-Bound' Brit

There were reportedly concerns about the behaviour of a British man in the months before he was arrested for allegedly trying to cross illegally into Syria.

Waheed Ahmed, 21, was among nine members of the same family who were detained in Turkey on Wednesday and are set to be deported.

British police have been searching the home of his father Shakil Ahmed, who is a Labour councillor in Rochdale.

They have also searched four other properties - two in Heywood and two in Rochdale. Two of the searches are ongoing.

Mohammed Shafiq, who is a friend of Shakil Ahmed, said of Waheed: "There were concerns in the last six months to a year about a change in his behaviour.

Video: Britons Arrested In Turkey

"And a change in his attitude towards various different issues."

He also told Sky News: "That was causing concern for people in the community and his family."

Waheed Ahmed was with his aunt, two cousins and the wife of one of his cousins when they were stopped by authorities in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border. They had also taken four children with them.

The 21-year-old is due to be sent back to the UK along with Zareeda Bi, 47, Maboob Yasin, 22, Habib Yasin, 24, and Samia Bi, 22, and the youngsters aged one, three, eight and 11.

They are understood to have been kept in a police station in Turkey on Thursday night.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "It remains the case that we are not aware of any time scale for the potential return of the nine individuals."

Most of the group flew from Manchester on 27 March and Waheed Ahmed joined them three days later on a flight from Birmingham.

Shakil Ahmed, who represents the Kingsway ward on Rochdale Borough Council, said the group were on holiday but he had thought his son was on a work placement in Birmingham.

"My son is a good Muslim and his loyalties belong to Britain, so I don't understand what he's doing there.

"If I thought for a second that he was in danger of being radicalised, I would have reported him to the authorities.

"I just want to speak to my son and get him home as soon as possible so I can find out what's going on."

Video: Manchester Police Statement

Usman Nawaz, who went to the same school as Waheed Ahmed in Rochdale, said mosques and his school in Rochdale were not to blame for Waheed's actions.

The 25-year-old, a former member of the Young Muslims' Advisory Group and mentor to young Muslims through Rochdale's Youth Council, said: "For some it's an adventure but for some they think that they are doing something noble.

"The ideology which is peddled, this very hardcore understanding of the faith, one which is state sponsored by Saudi Arabia, that has to be challenged and it's quite difficult to challenge it in a coherent manner when the Saudi ideology has the backing of petrodollars."

A friend of Waheed Ahmed believes he could have travelled for humanitarian reasons.

Bassat Yussu said: "We used to talk about Palestine and Syria and what was going on around there and sometimes he used to collect charity money."

Neighbour Mohammed Sharif said he "never had suspicion about the family" and remembered Waheed as a "nice quiet young lad" who would "speak to you with respect".

Officers are trying to establish their reason for travelling to the Syrian border.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett said: "What is obviously concerning is why a family were seemingly attempting to take very young and vulnerable children into a war zone.

"Such a volatile and dangerous environment is no place for them whatsoever."

The Metropolitan Police believe around 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq since the conflict began, while around half are thought to have returned to the UK.

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Six Arrested In Dover In Syria Terror Probe

Six people are in police custody after being arrested in Dover on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences.

The five men and one woman were detained around 8am on Friday in the port's departure area.

West Midlands Police are searching a number of addresses in Birmingham and say it is part of an ongoing investigation.

Police said four of the men arrested are from Birmingham and in their 20s.

A 26-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman of no fixed address were also held.

They are being questioned at a police station in the West Midlands area.

The force tweeted: "The suspects, who are not a family group and were not accompanied by children, did not pose any immediate risk to public safety."

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Proton Beam Therapy Centres To Open In UK

The UK will get its first three proton beam therapy centres from next year in what experts say is a significant breakthrough for cancer treatment.

The first centre will be opened in Cardiff by local company Proton Partners International Ltd, with two others to follow in London and Northumberland by 2017.

The centres will be available for NHS patients from England, Scotland and Wales, as well as self-paying patients and those with private medical insurance.

Currently patients must head overseas for this type of treatment.

Life sciences entrepreneur Professor Sir Chris Evans says there are more than 150,000 people treated for cancer each year and that demand for treatment is growing.

Video: Ashya Finishes Proton Treatment

Health insurer Bupa has estimated that by 2021 the UK's ageing population is likely to see a 20% rise in the number of new cancers and a 62% rise in the cost of treatment - to £15.3bn.

Proton beam therapy is a targeted type of radiotherapy that can treat hard-to-reach cancers, such as spinal tumours, with a lower risk of damaging the surrounding tissue or causing side effects.

The announcement comes just weeks after the parents of brain cancer survivor Ashya King told how the five-year-old made a "miracle" recovery after receiving proton beam therapy in Prague in the Czech Republic.

Video: Sept: Inside The Proton Beam Centre

The treatment was not available for him on the NHS, although the health service later agreed to fund it.

Professor Gordon McVie, senior consultant at the European Institute of Oncology, who has been appointed chairman of Proton Partners International, says the development is "exciting and important".

He added: "As things stand, patients who can benefit from this treatment have to go abroad for treatment, often at great expense to the NHS.

Video: How Proton Beam Therapy Works

"The creation of these centres will go a long way to ensuring the very best of treatment is available in the UK."

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Sturgeon Calls For Inquiry Into Govt Memo Leak

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wants an inquiry into how a controversial memo about a meeting with the French ambassador was leaked.

A Daily Telegraph report claims a leaked UK government memorandum - likely from the Foreign Office - sets out an account of a meeting between Ms Sturgeon and the French ambassador to the UK Sylvie Bermann.

It claims she told the ambassador she would rather see David Cameron than Ed Miliband as PM after the election, a claim she strongly denies.

She has now asked for Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood to investigate how the memo was released.

She said: "The bigger question and one I am raising with the head of the civil service is who wrote this memo since the Foreign Office seem to be denying all knowledge of it.

Video: French Official: No Sturgeon Leak

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"How did it come to contain such an inaccuracy and how did it get into the hands of the Tory-supporting Daily Telegraph?"

The memo was written by a British civil servant after a conversation with France's consul general in Edinburgh, Pierre-Alain Coffinier, who was present.

But speaking to Sky News on Saturday, Mr Coffinier said that no preference for Prime Minister was discussed at the meeting in February.

:: Six Questions About The Nicola Sturgeon Memo

"At no stage did anyone comment on their preference regarding the elections."

The memo reportedly said: "Discussion appears to have focused mainly on the political situation, with the (First Minister) stating that she wouldn't want a formal coalition with Labour; that the SNP would almost certainly have a large number of seats ... that she'd rather see David Cameron remain as PM."

It added that Ms Sturgeon said the Labour leader was not "prime minister material".

Video: Sturgeon Denies Cameron Support

The final line of the memo, however, read: "I have to admit that I'm not sure that the FM's tongue would be quite so loose on that kind of thing in a meeting like that, so it might well be a case of something being lost in translation."

Mr Miliband said: "I think these are damning revelations.

"What it shows is that while in public the SNP are saying they don't want to see a Conservative government in private they're actually saying they do want a Conservative government.

"It shows that the answer at this General Election is that if you want the Conservatives out the only answer is to vote Labour for a Labour government."

Sky's political correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "The fact that Nicola Sturgeon has 'categorically' denied that she expressed a prime ministerial preference during a private conversation with the French ambassador will do little to stem the political fallout from this story.

"After all, the very suggestion of a conversation could be political gold-dust for Labour, whose national electoral hopes hinge on how well the SNP perform in Scotland."

Meanwhile, campaigning continues into Easter with Labour unveiling a plan to build 125,000 homes by creating a £5bn housebuilding fund.

The Tories, meanwhile, are unveiling a pledge to force pornography websites to use effective age-verification tools to keep out under-18s.

Video: Who Is Nicola Sturgeon?

Ms Sturgeon is due to join the annual Scrap Trident group march in Glasgow, only a short distance from the Faslane home of nuclear-armed submarines.

The latest Survation/Mirror poll puts Mr Miliband ahead of Mr Cameron, with 33% and 31% of the vote respectively.

UKIP polled at 18%, the Liberal Democrats 9%, the SNP 5% and Greens 3%.

These results are markedly different from a YouGov/The Sun poll which was published on Thursday night.

It suggested that the Conservative Party had hit a three-year high - with 37% of those questioned stating they would vote Tory if the General Election was tomorrow.

Labour was on 35%, the Lib Dems on 7%, UKIP on 12% and the Greens on 5%.

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