Thursday, December 09, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Clegg set for Pyrrhic victory in fees vote

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:42 PM PST

Nick Clegg was last night still battling to secure the support of a majority of the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs in today's critical Commons vote on plans to allow universities to charge up to £9,000 a year in tuition fees. Although the trebling of fees looks certain to be approved, the Liberal Democrat leader will work up to the last minute to limit the rebellion in his divided party.

Blair recalled to face further questions on build-up to Iraq war

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Tony Blair is to be recalled before the Iraq Inquiry to answer questions over whether he pressured his Attorney General to change his advice on the legality of the war.

Heat on Yemeni murder suspect through family business links

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Norwegian MPs have called on multinational companies to put pressure on a wealthy Yemeni businessman to hand over his son, who is wanted for the 2008 murder of a student in London.

Thousands gather for fees protest at Parliament

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Thousands of students across the country joined protests against the proposed tuition fee rises again yesterday as the build-up to today's final march on Westminster got under way.

Brothers accused of running rip-off festive theme park

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Visitors flocking to a winter wonderland theme park billed as having huskies, polar bears, and snow-covered log cabins were shocked to find little more than fairy lights and a broken ice-rink, a court heard.

Bailed-out banks put up cost of public works by over £1bn

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Banks partly owned by the Government were allowed to increase the amount they charged to finance new schools, hospitals and roads by over £1 billion during the height of the credit crunch.

Husband held over honeymoon murder to remain in custody

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

An abrupt turnaround in court yesterday led to the honeymoon widower Shrien Dewani being remanded in custody just minutes after he had been granted bail.

Secretive court opens doors to journalists

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

One of Britain's most secretive courts opened itself to public scrutiny yesterday after a High Court judge lifted reporting restrictions on work done by a hitherto-closed corner of the British justice system.

Football fans urged to stand up for the right to stand up

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Football supporters have called for their clubs to be allowed to reintroduce terracing to stadiums.

Coulson faces uncomfortable day in court

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

For nearly four years, ever since he resigned from the News of the World, Andy Coulson has distanced himself from the scandal over the red-top's illegal phone tapping during his editorship.

Oyster card trial for black cabs

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Black cabs in London are to be fitted with an Oyster card-style system, allowing passengers to pay simply by touching the reader with their credit cards.

Record numbers change their name

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A record number of people changed their name this year.

Brothers 'could have made £1m from Lapland theme park'

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 10:38 AM PST

Two brothers could have made more than £1 million by misleading thousands of customers into visiting a Lapland-style theme park, a court heard today.

Protocol stopped firefighters from entering blast station, inquest told

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 10:16 AM PST

A firefighter called to the 7/7 terror attacks told an inquest how "protocol" forced his team to stand by and watch as horrifically injured passengers emerged from one of the bombed trains.

Mastercard website 'crashed' in Wikileaks protest

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 10:12 AM PST

Hackers today claimed to have crashed the MasterCard website in revenge for the firm suspending services to whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.

Bail blow for honeymoon murder accused husband

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 10:07 AM PST

The British newlywed accused of paying to have his bride killed on their South African honeymoon is to be held in jail after an appeal was lodged against the granting of £250,000 bail.

Police cuts 'disastrous' for service to public

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 09:46 AM PST

Heavy cuts to police budgets over the next two years will have a disastrous effect on frontline services, the body representing rank-and-file officers said today.

Video: Fleeing arsonist runs into lamp post

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 08:27 AM PST

An arsonist has been sent to prison after being traced by officers following a bungled escape attempt which left him with head injuries after he ran into a lamp post during the getaway.

Ricky Hatton settles £1.4m wages claim

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 08:25 AM PST

Ex-boxer Ricky Hatton has settled a £1.4 million claim for unpaid wages from his former trainer.

David Cameron: Fees changes are fair

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 08:21 AM PST

On the eve of the crucial Commons vote on university funding, Prime Minister David Cameron today sought to win over doubters with a speech promising the Government's proposed fees package will be "sustainable, competitive and fair".

Bank raider detained under Mental Health Act

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 08:08 AM PST

A robber who raided a bank and then went to a pub, threw the cash in the air and said, "the drinks are on me" was today detained under the Mental Health Act.

Driver killed in crane plunge

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 08:07 AM PST

A driver died today after a 27-ton crane toppled into a freezing river.

Men held over VAT fraud bailed

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:29 AM PST

Twenty men arrested by investigators looking into a suspected £50 million excise duty and VAT fraud have been freed on bail.

Asbo millionairess 'was victim of horrific ordeal'

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 06:28 AM PST

A millionairess given an Asbo after tormenting her neighbours told a court today she was in fact the victim of a "horrific ordeal" which she was lucky to survive.

Get treatment or lose benefits, addicts warned

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:55 AM PST

Drugs addicts who refuse treatment will be stripped of their benefits if they fail to meet the normal requirements for support, the Home Office said today.

£20m union fund to fight spending cuts

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:53 AM PST

A leading union today set up a £20 million fund to fight "savage" Government cuts in public spending, including money for possible industrial action.

Transport Secretary: 'Public should access grit and salt'

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:43 AM PST

The public should have access to grit and salt supplies to help clear roads, the Transport Secretary suggested today as the worst December weather for 19 years continued.

Council job cuts hit 66,000

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 04:01 AM PST

The number of job losses announced or threatened by councils in Britain because of the Government's spending cuts has reached 66,000, research revealed today.

Parents free to photograph nativity plays

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:52 AM PST

Parents should be free to photograph their children in nativity plays and challenge schools or councils that try to stop them under data protection laws, the Information Commissioner has said.

Man held over collapsed currency firm bailed

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:37 AM PST

Two men arrested by detectives investigating the collapse of a failed currency company that went into administration owing around £20 million to customers have been released on bail, police said today.

Russia responds to MP assistant spying row

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:35 AM PST

Russia has accused "influential forces" in the UK of trying to sabotage relations between the two countries.

Video: Bercow shouts at Tory MP in bust up

Posted: 08 Dec 2010 01:32 AM PST

Speaker John Bercow loses his cool with a protesting Tory Chief Whip, Patrick McLoughlin, as he walks out of the Commons.

Policeman loses Taser in car roof blunder

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 11:01 PM PST

A firearms officer is under investigation after losing a Taser when he drove off with it still on the roof of a police vehicle.

Lenders urged to help military families

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 11:01 PM PST

Lenders are being urged by the Government to help armed forces personnel get mortgages after a review found a "significant percentage" found it hard to secure finance.

Tram crash driver to be sentenced

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 11:01 PM PST

The driver of tram which struck and killed a pensioner will be sentenced today.

Thousands set to protest against tuition fee rises

Posted: 07 Dec 2010 11:01 PM PST

Thousands of students and lecturers up and down the country are expected to take to the streets today to demonstrate against the Government's proposals to treble university tuition fees.

posted by Greg Shaw at Thursday, December 09, 2010