Tuesday, November 02, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Brown makes first Commons speech since resignation

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 06:02 PM PDT

Gordon Brown last night made his first Commons speech since leaving Downing Street.

Spending cuts leave Tories behind Labour in poll

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Labour has moved ahead of the Conservatives after the public spending cuts announced last month, according to a ComRes poll for The Independent.

Autumn 2010, a golden vintage

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

It almost appears too splendid to be true, with a sunburst of colours capped by burnished gold – but just in case you haven't been getting out much, this is what Britain's autumn foliage looks like, right now.

New restrictions follow bomb attempt

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

An emergency ban on freight from Yemen and Somalia was put into force last night – and new restrictions placed on passenger hand luggage – after the foiled cargo plane terror plot.

Huhne's plan 'charter for cowboy builders'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A plan to allow millions of people to insulate their homes using savings from future energy bills will today be endorsed by ministers – despite fears the scheme could become a "cowboy builders' charter".

Anglo-French deal rewrites military history

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Britain and France will today announce a landmark defence alliance ranging from military operations in land, sea and air to nuclear weapons.

French call for ban on Channel swimming

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Armed with little more than a bathing suit, nose plugs and a liberal application of Vaseline, hundreds of cross-Channel swimmers have sought out one of sport's toughest challenge since Captain Matthew Webb first performed the feat in 1875.

Workers are told to 'clock out' when nicotine calls

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A front has been opened in the continuing struggle between smokers and their employers, with growing numbers of local authorities forcing their staff to "clock out" every time they take a cigarette break.

Prisoners finally get the right to vote

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Prisoners are to get the right to vote as the Government prepares to abandon its protracted legal battle with the European Court of Human Rights over the issue, it emerged last night.

New names written into the cultural landscape

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

The answer to Shakespeare's "What's in a name?", it seems, is everything. From Rome's Pantheon to London's cash-strapped suite of galleries and theatres, arts institutions have been offered up as tributes to benefactors throughout history. And the question of whether patrons should leave their names above these establishments' doors, as well as on a juicy cheque, divides opinion as fiercely as ever.

Pimp my poppy: a charity symbol reinvented

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:00 PM PDT

If the exotic blooms sprouting from the lapels and busts of a growing number of celebrities are anything to go by, the plain paper poppy risks becoming an endangered species. Flowers crafted from crystals and with a price-tag to match are being picked off by style-conscious supporters of the Poppy Appeal after they were seen glinting under the studio lights during last weekend's X Factor shows.

Fire crews 'lacked supplies to help 7/7 wounded'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Firefighters spoke today of their frustration at shortages of first aid equipment that hampered their attempts to save lives after the 7/7 bombings.

On the run, teenagers atoning for their con

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 11:00 AM PDT

Police explained today why they took a novel approach to punishing three teenagers caught conning people out of sponsorship money by making them take part in a 10-mile charity run.

Yemen 'on edge of collapse' warns Alan Duncan

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 10:30 AM PDT

Yemen is on the brink of collapse and must be saved before it is "too late", International Development Minister Alan Duncan warned today.

Flight ban on freight from Somalia

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 10:11 AM PDT

Flights containing unaccompanied freight from Somalia will be suspended in the wake of the cargo plane terror plot, Home Secretary Theresa May said today.

Staines considers name change to shed comedy connection

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PDT

A town is considering a change of name in a bid to shake off links with the comedy character Ali G, local councillors said today.

Colleague 'knew Tommy Sheridan visited sex club'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 09:58 AM PDT

A long-standing friend and colleague of Tommy Sheridan knew the politician had visited a swingers' club two years before the publication of the allegations in the News of the World newspaper, a court heard today.

Fifth man questioned over farmer's murder

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 09:52 AM PDT

A fifth man was being questioned today over the murder of a farmer believed to have been killed in a botched robbery, police said.

Flu-hit Baroness Thatcher leaves hospital

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 09:44 AM PDT

Former prime minister Baroness Thatcher looked frail as she returned home from hospital today.

Probe after plane lands in river

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 09:38 AM PDT

An investigation was under way today after a light aircraft made an emergency landing and ended up upside-down in a river.

Builder in court after teenager shot dead

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 09:01 AM PDT

A builder today appeared in court charged with the murder of a teenager shot dead on an estate.

Sex change defendant on murder charge

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 08:25 AM PDT

A defendant undergoing sex change treatment appeared at the Old Bailey today accused of pushing a cross-dressing lawyer under a train.

Woman stabbed MP Stephen Timms 'in revenge for Iraq war vote'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 08:09 AM PDT

A woman stabbed an MP twice in the stomach during a constituency surgery in revenge for his vote for the war in Iraq, a court heard today.

Man's body found on grass verge

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 08:05 AM PDT

The death of a man whose body was found on a grass verge was being treated as suspicious, police said today.

Couple 'doomed not to be approved as foster carers'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 08:04 AM PDT

A Christian couple were "doomed not to be approved" as foster carers because of their traditional views on homosexuality, a court heard today.

CCTV shows man punching pregnant woman in face

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 07:58 AM PDT

Police released shocking CCTV today showing a man with a toddler punching a pregnant woman in the face at a train station.

Call for better regulation of cross-Channel swims

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 07:13 AM PDT

A ferry company called today for better regulation of cross-Channel swimmers because the endurance sport is growing so quickly.

Firefighters strike again in row over contracts

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 07:06 AM PDT

London's firefighters went on strike again today in a row over new contracts.

Clergyman 'looked at child porn in vicarage'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 06:55 AM PDT

A married clergyman repeatedly accessed pornographic images of children on his computer while working on church-related business at his vicarage, a jury heard today.

Football star Ivan Klasnic re-bailed in rape probe

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 06:51 AM PDT

Premier League footballer Ivan Klasnic was re-bailed today over an allegation that he raped a 17-year-old girl.

Woman jailed for three years over false rape claim

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 06:49 AM PDT

A woman who falsely claimed her ex-boyfriend raped her after giving her a Pringles sandwich laced with diazepam was jailed for three years today.

Man in court charged with Christmas Day rape

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 05:04 AM PDT

A man appeared in court today charged with raping a woman on Christmas Day more than 20 years ago.

Woman wins £1m on premium bonds

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:19 AM PDT

A woman living in the East Riding of Yorkshire has become a millionaire in November's Premium Bond draw.

Government urged to tackle 'passive drinking'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 02:56 AM PDT

The Government must tackle the damaging effects of "passive drinking" and give communities greater influence over licensing laws, campaigners said today.

Misbehaving revellers face 'booze Asbos'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 02:50 AM PDT

Hundreds more people responsible for alcohol-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour face being given "booze Asbos" from today.

Accidents at home cost the UK '£45bn a year'

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 02:19 AM PDT

Accidents in the home cost the UK £45.6 billion a year in hospital bills, time off work and benefits, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said today.

British woman tells of priest rape ordeal

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 02:16 AM PDT

A British woman spoke out about her rape ordeal at the hands of a priest, during a protest by clergy sex abuse victims near the Vatican.

Cameron appoints Lord Young as Enterprise Tsar

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 02:07 AM PDT

David Cameron has appointed Tory peer Lord Young as his Enterprise Tsar with a remit to slash red tape for small business.

Third Tube strike set to bring travel misery

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 01:18 AM PDT

Millions of commuters face travel disruption tomorrow as a third 24-hour strike on London Underground (LU) begins.

Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell faces inquiry over 'chocfinger'

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

A cabinet minister faces a parliamentary inquiry into his links with a cocoa magnate who donated £40,000 to his political office.

Sir Jock Stirrup reveals Labour vetoed cuts to forces

Posted: 31 Oct 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Proposals put forward by defence chiefs for "painful" cuts to the armed forces were vetoed by Labour ministers, it was claimed yesterday. Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup,former chief of the defence staff, said that plans to reduce fast jet aircraft, ships and Army equipment were all overruled.

posted by Greg Shaw at Tuesday, November 02, 2010