Friday, November 26, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

It's minus 7.8C as winter tightens grip on UK

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 11:21 PM PST

Snow was spreading across Britain today as a prolonged blast of wintry weather tightened its grip on the country.

The new battle lines of protest

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

There were growing calls last night for the police to abandon the controversial use of "kettling" as student bodies announced a fresh day of national protests set for next week.

Lawrence killer back in prison

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The killer of headmaster Philip Lawrence has been recalled to prison after he was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Prime Minister unveils 'happiness index'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

David Cameron launched his "happiness index" yesterday as he announced that the Government would measure people's quality of life as well as economic growth. From April, the Office for National Statistics will seek to establish the key areas that matter most to people's wellbeing – such as health, levels of education, inequalities in income and the environment.

Rail investment worth £8bn is not enough, train companies warn

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

An £8billion plan to relieve the overcrowding crisis on Britain's rail network was unveiled by the Government yesterday, but train companies immediately warned it may not be enough to meet ballooning demand.

Forget the cold – the world is warmer, says Met Office

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Despite a snowy November and last winter being the coldest for more than 30 years, evidence for a warming planet caused by human actions has grown even stronger in the last year, the Met Office said yesterday.

Miliband to give rank and file power on policy

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Labour will give its members the real power to decide its policy and will not dilute the influence of the trade unions in the party under reforms planned by Ed Miliband. In an interview with The Independent, Peter Hain, a close ally of Mr Miliband, said party members should be trusted to make "difficult choices" such as whether a future Labour Government would stick with university tuition fees or replace them with a graduate tax – Mr Miliband's preferred option. "The route back to power is for our members to feel empowered again," he said.

Howard Flight: a man with a record for right-wing soundbites

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Howard Flight cannot have spent much time in close proximity to anyone who is working-class. His upbringing, education, profession and political career have all generally kept him away from the sort of people he thinks are being encouraged by the welfare state to "breed" – which allows him to pass judgement with a confidence born of ignorance.

Osborne softens 'tough' stance on bank bonus rules

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

George Osborne, the Chancellor, wants backing from EU finance ministers before imposing new bank bonus rules, in what is being seen as a further attempt to downplay the Government's "tough on banks" stance in response to City pressure.

Great British brogues gallery: Words go in and out of style but what about how we pronounce them?

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

I'm sorry to sound like a marginal actor in 'Allo 'Allo! but zere is no easy way to say zis: at some time in the not too distant future, we English-speakers may no longer be pronouncing our "th".

Cameron hit by class war as new peer says benefits are 'incentive to breed'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

David Cameron's judgment was called into question last night after a new Conservative peer was forced to apologise over remarks that benefit cuts would encourage "breeding" among the poor.

The truth about kettling? It's just boring, even for the police

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

To some, "kettling" is an affront to civil liberties; to others, a protection against violent disorder. To those on Whitehall on Wednesday, it was just cold, boring and frustrating.

The British cheese that left the French feeling blue

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

The producers of Roquefort and Époisses de Bourgogne may view it as infernal rind but the world's best cheese comes from England. Cornish Blue, made in Liskeard by Philip and Carol Stansfield, nosed ahead of 2,600 entries from 26 countries to win this year's World Cheese Awards.

'Titans' join campaign to oppose voting reform

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Opponents of electoral reform suffered embarrassment last night after wrongly claiming that a senior Cabinet minister would play a prominent role in the drive for a "no" vote in next year's referendum.

Snowy Britain faces 10-day wintry blast

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:45 AM PST

Britain is tonight facing a 10-day wintry blast from the North Sea with temperatures plummeting as low as minus 6C, forecasters warned.

Coroner queries American Bulldogs as pets

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:31 AM PST

A coroner today questioned whether American Bulldogs should be kept by families with young children after an 18-month-old girl was mauled to death by her uncle's dog.

Minimum wage graduates 'will have to repay loans'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:25 AM PST

Graduates could be forced to pay off their student loans even if they are on the minimum wage, the shadow business secretary said today during a debate on plans to rise tuition fees.

Baby P doctor wins fresh chance over hearing

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:20 AM PST

A doctor accused of failing to spot that Baby P had a broken back days before his death today won a crucial High Court battle in her bid to avoid a disciplinary hearing.

Rampaging cow charges at police

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 09:04 AM PST

Police had to catch an unusual suspect on the run after a cow broke out of its field, charging through fences of three back gardens before it was finally cornered.

Cameron defends wellbeing measure

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 08:19 AM PST

Measuring the nation's "wellbeing" as well as its wealth will make it easier for the Government to help British people attain "the good life", David Cameron said today.

Peer issues 'unreserved' apology

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 08:18 AM PST

New Conservative peer Howard Flight apologised for attacking Government welfare cuts which he suggested would encourage the poor to have more children.

Tube replacement buses cost £11.6m

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 08:10 AM PST

A "staggering" £11.6 million has been spent on replacement buses because of engineering work on one of London Underground's lines, it was revealed today.

Prepare for more disorder says Met chief

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 08:02 AM PST

Police must prepare for more lawless demonstrations because the "game has changed", Britain's most senior officer said today.

Foiled airline bomber challenges release refusal

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 08:00 AM PST

A man jailed for 45 years for plotting to blow up an Israeli airliner today challenged the Government's refusal to accept the Parole Board's recommendation to release him.

Tributes as soldier repatriated

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 07:50 AM PST

The 100th British member of the armed forces to die this year after being deployed to Afghanistan was remembered as a "cracking lad" with an "invincible personality" as his body was returned to the UK.

Gunman facing life for shooting brothers

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 07:32 AM PST

A gunman is facing a life sentence for shooting two brothers in the head in front of their publican father.

Councils warn of 140,000 job losses

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 07:15 AM PST

Around 140,000 local authority jobs are expected to be axed in the next year because of spending cuts, council leaders warned today.

Brokers face insider dealing charges

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 06:51 AM PST

Five people linked to a specialist brokers have been charged with insider dealing, the Financial Services Authority said today.

Gang members in £53m heist lose appeal

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 06:35 AM PST

Two members of a gang jailed for their roles in stealing £53 million in Britain's biggest cash heist failed in bids to overturn their convictions today.

Training course paramedics 'not deployed to 7/7 response'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 06:28 AM PST

Ambulance bosses refused a request for paramedics on a training course to be sent to treat injured survivors of the 7/7 bombings, an inquest heard today.

Former BMA chief cleared of misconduct

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 06:14 AM PST

A top surgeon and former chairman of the British Medical Association was today cleared of misconduct by medical watchdogs.

Lottery hunt for 'secret millionaires'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 05:30 AM PST

The National Lottery has urged players to check their tickets in case they are one of four missing millionaire winners.

Bank boss plays down political bias fears

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 05:11 AM PST

The governor of the Bank of England was forced to defend his stance on the Government's spending cuts today after one of his senior colleagues raised concerns over impartiality.

Supreme court clears way to deport rapist

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 05:04 AM PST

A Somali national jailed for rape and indecency with a child faces deportation following a ruling of the Supreme Court.

Police chief faces gross misconduct hearing

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:46 AM PST

A chief constable is to face a hearing for gross misconduct in relation to a recruitment exercise conducted by his force, the police watchdog said today.

Spurned lover jailed for brutal stabbing

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:33 AM PST

A spurned lover who repeatedly stabbed a mother-of-two a month after he was bailed following a previous assault on her was jailed for eight years today.

Fees defeat 'would mean fewer students'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 03:47 AM PST

A vote against higher tuition fees would lead to massive reductions in student numbers, the leader of a group representing the UK's universities said today.

Missing solicitor found strangled in car

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 02:38 AM PST

A solicitor found dead in the boot of a car days after she was reported missing was strangled, police said today.

Net migration to UK rises as fewer Britons leave

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 01:59 AM PST

Net migration to the UK rose to 215,000 in the year to March as the number of Britons leaving to live abroad fell to a 10-year low, figures showed today.

Teenage girl held over 'Koran burning'

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 12:58 AM PST

A teenage girl was arrested on suspicion of inciting religious hatred after allegedly burning an English language version of the Koran, police said today.

Headmaster's killer recalled to prison

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 12:56 AM PST

The killer of headmaster Philip Lawrence has been recalled to prison after he was arrested on suspicion of robbery, a probation boss said today.

posted by Greg Shaw at Friday, November 26, 2010