Saturday, November 27, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Earliest white winter for two decades could go on for 10 days

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

With snow drifts, black ice and biting winds, Britain woke up to the earliest white winter in almost two decades yesterday, with forecasters predicting that the cold snap could last ten days.

Minor British Institutions: The wheelie bin

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Waste bins on wheels are a German invention, but the British have given them a typically idiosyncratic spin since they were introduced here some 30 years ago.

Miliband vows to move beyond New Labour

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Ed Miliband will try to silence his critics today by spelling out his strategy for Labour to reconnect with the voters with whom it lost touch during 13 years in power.

'Private' talks between MPs are broadcast over internet

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Private talks between MPs have been broadcast over the internet following an embarrassing blunder by House of Commons officials, it was disclosed last night. The mistake – involving backbenchers who often handle secret intelligence material – will raise questions over the security at Westminster.

Ofgem to investigate big rise in energy profits

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

A review has been launched into the prices charged by energy suppliers amid claims they are overcharging households.

Ecclestone mugged outside his HQ for £200,000 of jewellery

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Just weeks after he spoke out against London's street muggers, the billionaire Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and his Brazilian girlfriend Fabiana Flosi have been attacked outside his Knightsbridge headquarters.

Jewish? Gay? Join us, white extremists say

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

A white extremist organisation is forging links with Jewish, Sikh and gay communities to fuel prejudice and fear and hatred of the Muslim community, it was claimed today.

'Panorama' shadow hangs over England's 2018 World Cup bid

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

David Cameron has described as "frustrating" the BBC's decision to broadcast a controversial Panorama investigation into Fifa three days before football's governing body decides whether England will host the 2018 World Cup finals.

Peter Stringfellow tries to return winter fuel allowance

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Peter Stringfellow has written to the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith asking him to halt his "totally unnecessary" pensioner's winter fuel allowance.

Hope for Gamu over deportation

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu and her family are "hopeful" they will be allowed to remain in the UK after the Home Office decided to reconsider her case.

Parliament 'must move into the 21st century'

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Electronic voting and an end to late-night sittings in the Commons should be introduced to help "drag Parliament into the 21st century", Britain's first Green MP said yesterday.

Couple guilty of assaults on children at Jersey care home

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

A married couple has been convicted of a string of physical assaults at a children's home in the 1970s and 1980s.

Village People: Ed has a different view of the 'S word'

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

"Yes, I am a socialist, I'm not embarrassed about it," Ed Miliband declared yesterday on 5 Live.

1966? I remember it as though it were yesterday

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

It was, memory filtered through the roseate lens of patriotism tells us, our finest hour since, well, the finest hour of which Winston Churchill spoke. I refer to the afternoon of Saturday 30 July 1966, when I was a second-year student at Oxford and a dedicated supporter of an Arsenal team which, then as now, flattered to deceive – and when England won the World Cup by defeating West Germany.

£5bn of unpaid tax bills may be written off

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:00 PM PST

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may have to write off up to £5bn of unpaid income tax because of administrative chaos in the department, a tax specialist claimed last night.

Casino fraudsters walk free from court

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 08:40 AM PST

Two international gambling cheats walked free from court today after admitting possessing a series of fake IDs to use in casinos they were banned from.

Stringfellow wants to pay back winter fuel cash

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:58 AM PST

Peter Stringfellow has written to Work And Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith asking him to halt his "totally unnecessary" pensioner's winter fuel allowance.

Police smash paedophile ring

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:42 AM PST

Police have smashed a paedophile ring that repeatedly subjected two young girls to sickening sexual abuse for nearly three years, it can be reported today.

Former secretary jailed for £12m VAT fraud

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:31 AM PST

A former secretary who funded a luxury lifestyle on the proceeds of a £12 million VAT fraud has been jailed for 10 years, according to Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Snow brings parts of Britain to a standstill

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 06:49 AM PST

Wintry weather brought parts of the country to a standstill today as forecasters predicted "a lot more" snow next week and a bitterly cold weekend.

Government warned about possible Wikileaks release

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 06:46 AM PST

The Government has been briefed by US authorities about the expected release of sensitive diplomatic files on whistleblower website WikiLeaks, Downing Street confirmed today.

Couple guilty of children's home assaults

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 06:22 AM PST

A married couple were convicted today of a string of physical assaults against vulnerable youngsters at a children's home in the 1970s and 1980s.

Level crossing crash lorry driver jailed

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 06:14 AM PST

A driver who caused a train crash by ignoring a warning sign and driving a sewage tanker on to a level crossing was today jailed after a judge was told of a "culture of not following correct procedures".

Schizophrenic admits pushing man in front of train

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 05:57 AM PST

A railway station worker was pushed in front of a moving train by a schizophrenic who fled from hospital hours earlier, a court heard today.

'Wicked' man gets life for murdering baby

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:40 AM PST

A man was jailed for life today for murdering a "wholly defenceless and vulnerable" baby.

Gove deals blow to voting reform opposition

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 01:54 AM PST

The "no" campaign for the voting system referendum next year suffered embarrassment today when it was first forced to remove a Cabinet Minister from its list of supporters and then wrongly claimed he was opposed to the switch to the Alternative Vote.

Miliband was 'tempted' to join fees protest

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 01:36 AM PST

Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was "tempted" to join student protesters on the streets this week but was "doing something else".

F1 boss Ecclestone hurt in £200,000 mugging

Posted: 26 Nov 2010 12:39 AM PST

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone suffered a head injury when muggers attacked him and escaped with jewellery worth £200,000.

posted by Greg Shaw at Saturday, November 27, 2010