Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Coulson cornered by Sheridan – but cleared over phone-hacking

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Prime Minister's head of communications was yesterday forced to deny lying about his involvement in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal on the same day the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced there will be no further charges over the long-running allegations.

Home from Helmand: Why leaving the front line isn’t always easy

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Private Mark Dickinson steps off the coach to an explosion of cheers and welcome-home banners. As a mass of emotional families surges forward, he stands dazed by the television lights that slice through the autumn night.

Minor British Institutions: The office Christmas party

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The roots of the Office Xmas Party, you won't be surprised to learn, are pagan. It's a celebration of the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun (25 December, as it happened), of the old Yule, always observed most enthusiastically in these islands, and uninterrupted by the coming of Christianity.

Siege of Sidney Street: How the dramatic stand-off changed British police, politics and the media forever

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The old buildings that once stood along Houndsditch and the parallel cul-de-sac called Exchange Buildings in the City of London were pulled down after the war, so the paving stones that were once stained with the blood of London bobbies and the bullet holes in the brickwork have disappeared.

Robert Verkaik: The wall of silence erected by those in the know

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to bring phone-hacking charges against Andy Coulson may amount to no more than a brief respite for the former editor of the News of the World.

I'm sorry, says son of Pink Floyd star who scaled Cenotaph

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The son of Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour has apologised for climbing on to the Cenotaph during Thursday's tuition fees demonstration.

We're powerless to prevent more violence, police forced to admit

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Senior politicians last night privately admitted that police do not have the capacity to prevent future outbreaks of vandalism and violence in central London.

'Off with their heads!' shouted the crowd as Charles and Camilla met rage in Regent Street

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

It was a busy day for the Duchess of Cornwall. She had a public engagement at lunch time, and another in the evening. That was twice the number of entries in her published diary as in her husband's.

Police watchdog to investigate truncheon blow

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The independent police watchdog launched an investigation yesterday into the case of a 20-year-old student left unconscious with bleeding on the brain after being hit by a police truncheon during Thursday's protests.

Village People: Career paths for young 'thugs'

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

While David Cameron and other Conservatives are understandably outraged by the vandalism that accompanied Thursday's student protest, let us not run away with the idea that the anti-Tory left has a monopoly on hooliganism dressed up as political activity.

CCTV footage 'shows Dewani giving package to taxi driver'

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Significant new evidence has come to light against Shrien Dewani in the case of his wife's murder, the High Court in London was told yesterday.

Residents given right to run pubs

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Groups of residents will be able to save their pubs, shops, libraries and leisure centres from closure under plans to be set out next week to shift power to local communities.

Labourer jailed for fire deaths of teenage jockeys

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A labourer has been jailed for at least seven-and-a-half years after he set fire to a block of flats in a drunken revenge attack, killing two promising young jockeys.

Mob must be punished, says Cameron

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 09:50 AM PST

David Cameron today demanded that tuition fee thugs face the "full force of the law" amid calls for an independent inquiry into the mob attack on the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Police investigate truncheon attack

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 09:00 AM PST

The police watchdog launched an independent investigation today after a 20-year-old student was left unconscious with bleeding on the brain after being hit on the head with a police truncheon.

And finally... bizarre real life stories

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 08:30 AM PST

Underworld wholesaler jailed for dealing GBL

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 08:18 AM PST

An underworld pharmaceutical wholesaler became the first person to be jailed for dealing in the deadly party drug GBL today.

Rock star's son faces quiz over Cenotaph protest

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 07:28 AM PST

The son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour could be questioned by police after he admitted swinging from a Union Flag on the Cenotaph during the student protests.

Former boxing champion jailed

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 07:11 AM PST

Former British and European heavyweight boxing champion Matt Skelton was jailed today after a court heard he attempted to pervert the course of justice to avoid speeding fines.

Prospective MPs spent £25m fighting election

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 07:11 AM PST

Candidates spent more than £25 million trying to get elected to Parliament in the four months before this year's General Election.

Welsh politician guilty of drunken assault

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 06:34 AM PST

A drunken politician who claimed a head injury unknowingly caused him to assault paramedics sent to his aid was found guilty of all charges today.

Further charges ruled out in phone hacking case

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 06:16 AM PST

No further charges will be brought over the News of the World phone hacking scandal because witnesses refused to co-operate with police, the Director of Public Prosecutions said today.

Newlywed accused's family 'pleased' by bail

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:59 AM PST

The relatives of a British newlywed facing extradition to South Africa accused of his wife's murder are "very pleased" he was granted bail, their spokesman said today.

Police accused of brutality by student leader

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:54 AM PST

A student leader today accused police of brutality at last night's violent anti-fees protests as he insisted the ugly clashes were simply a result of protesters' anger.

Woman denies beating husband to death

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:32 AM PST

A woman suspected of bludgeoning her estranged husband to death denied his murder when she appeared in court today.

Price of petrol at pumps reaches a record high

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:14 AM PST

The price of petrol at the pumps has soared to a record high, the AA said today.

Independent investigation urged into Royal security breach

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:29 AM PST

The royal security breach raises questions about the Metropolitan Police which must be investigated by a full independent inquiry, an MP said today.

Nick Clegg urges Lib Dems to reunite after fees split

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:22 AM PST

Nick Clegg today appealed to the Liberal Democrats to move on from their divisions over tuition fees and re-unite to help the party deliver on its priorities in the coalition.

Lib Dems' landslide gain - and loss

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 02:04 AM PST

Liberal Democrats celebrated a landslide council by-election gain from Tories but crashed to disastrous defeat by Labour in a second contest.

Tube crews to walk out in 'victimisation row'

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:28 AM PST

Services on some Tube lines are set to be disrupted by a 24-hour walk-out by train crew at two Underground depots.

Thaw warms up shivering Britons

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 11:56 PM PST

The whole country was enjoying a thaw today with all parts above freezing for the first time since the cold spell struck last month.

posted by Greg Shaw at Saturday, December 11, 2010