Saturday, December 04, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Woolas's exit paves way for BNP to stand in by-election

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Phil Woolas has given up his battle against becoming the first MP for almost a century to lose his seat for lying about an opponent.

Nudge or fudge? Public health fears as Lansley retreats from regulation

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Doctors and academics are increasingly concerned that the Coalition is rolling back measures to combat high consumption of junk food, alcohol and cigarettes, and will fail to overhaul Britain's record as one of the fattest, unhealthiest countries in Europe.

Minor British Institutions: the postcode

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The postcode is another triumph of pioneering British bureaucracy. Sir Rowland "Penny Post" Hill split London into ten compass-point districts in 1856; the current code took 15 years to arrive after its trial in Norwich in 1959.

The snow is clearing... now for the ice age

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Drivers and shoppers were told not to panic over feared shortages of fuel and food last night despite forecasters' predictions that arctic conditions would continue to grip the country for the whole of next week and beyond.

21 years for dentist after double murder

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A ruthless dentist who murdered his wife and ex-lover's policeman husband as they slept and then covered it up as a double suicide has been jailed for at least 21 years.

UK ticks towards a new time zone

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The campaign to give Britain extra daylight during winter evenings by putting the clocks forward an hour had a boost yesterday as it cleared its first parliamentary hurdle.

Village People: Davis makes a clean breast of it. But has he boobed?

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The cosmetics firm Rodial obviously cares about its reputation, having sent a solicitors letter to Dr Dalia Nield, of the London Clinic, for expressing doubts about its product "Boob Job", a cream costing £125 a bottle, which they say can raise a woman's bust size by half a cup.

Cable decides to vote for raising student tuition fees

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Vince Cable the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, disclosed last night that he would vote in favour of raising student tuition fees in next week's crucial Commons vote. Mr Cable, whose department has responsibility for universities, said: "Obviously I have a duty as a minister to vote for my own policy – and that is what will happen."

MP faces prison after admitting expenses fraud

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A former Labour MP faces several years in jail after becoming the first politician to be convicted of fiddling his parliamentary expenses.

Independent Appeal: Rescued from a life of crime by cooking

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Sitting in her chef's whites talking animatedly about her morning spent preparing 42 Christmas puddings for steaming, it is easy to see Emma Jackson's passion for her chosen career.

Coulson to appear in court at perjury trial

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

David Cameron's director of communications Andy Coulson is to appear at Glasgow High Court next week to give evidence in the perjury case of former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan.

Clinton apologises for embarrassment to UK

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Hillary Clinton apologised yesterday for the derogatory comments made by American diplomats about British political leaders and military forces in the leaked cables published by the WikiLeaks website.

Britain 'paranoid' about special relationship, US officials said

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

American officials ridiculed British politicians for being "paranoid" about the UK's much-vaunted special relationship with the United States, leaked diplomatic cables reveal.

No end in sight to big freeze

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 10:20 AM PST

Forecasters warned there is no end in sight for icy conditions as the death toll rose and transport networks struggled to cope with the freezing weather.

Ex-MP David Chaytor faces jail over false expenses claims

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 10:18 AM PST

A former Labour MP is facing jail after becoming the first politician to have a conviction for making false Parliamentary expenses claims.

And finally... bizarre real life stories

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 08:30 AM PST

Phil Woolas 'crushed' after losing legal battle

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 06:37 AM PST

Former Labour MP Phil Woolas's hopes of regaining his seat were dashed today after he failed in a High Court bid to overturn a decision stripping him of his Commons seat.

Two pensioners found dead in gardens

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 06:11 AM PST

A pensioner is feared to have collapsed in her garden and frozen to death, police said today.

Lockerbie bomber to sue over prison 'neglect'

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 05:28 AM PST

The family of the Lockerbie bomber is to sue over his "neglect" in a Scottish jail, Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has said.

Two held in park murder probe

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:39 AM PST

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead in a park.

Detective cleared of rape

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:05 AM PST

A trainee detective was cleared today of raping a woman at police accommodation after prosecutors offered no evidence.

Charity donations still suffering from recession

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 03:04 AM PST

Donations to charity increased last year but still remain well below their pre-recession levels, research showed today.

'Sad' day as Ark Royal returns home for the final time

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 02:37 AM PST

The commanding officer of HMS Ark Royal said it was a "sad" day today as the aircraft carrier returned to its home port for the final time.

Scotland rail network crippled by weather

Posted: 03 Dec 2010 01:59 AM PST

Scotland's rail network was crippled by snow and freezing temperatures today.

posted by Greg Shaw at Saturday, December 04, 2010