Friday, December 17, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Britain braces for weeks of transport chaos

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Britain is gritting its teeth and its roads today in anticipation of the return of Arctic conditions, with heavy snow and ice storms likely to bring wide-scale disruption. With many parts of the country only just beginning to return to normal after weeks of sub-zero temperatures, the Met Office said up to 25cm of snow was expected to fall in parts of Scotland, North Wales, Northern Ireland and the West Country. Overnight temperatures were likely to plunge to -12C on high ground and to -5C in London over the weekend. Today, the mercury is unlikely to rise much above freezing point even in major cities.

Elderly at risk as money for heating help runs out

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Concerns are mounting that the icy conditions will have a devastating effect on those suffering from fuel poverty, especially the elderly, following yesterday's revelation that the Warm Front fund, which helps people with heating and insulation, would not take on any more cases until next April.With many of the big energy providers having already hiked up their prices, the immediate future looks bleak, with forecasters predicting that December temperatures will be as vicious as November, Europe's coldest on record.

In the media glare, Assange vows to fight 'smears'

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Julian Assange vowed last night to continue publishing highly sensitive US diplomatic cables after he was freed from prison by a judge.

Cameron comes out fighting on £19bn eurozone bailout plan

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

David Cameron claimed victory last night as he tried to prevent Britain facing a bill of up to £19bn to bail out debt-ridden countries in the eurozone.

One black applicant in 100 gets 'fast-track' Whitehall job

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Black applicants have less than a one in a 100 chance of being recruited to Britain's Civil Service fast track, figures published for the first time reveal.

House arrest on an estate so big his tag may not work

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

For Julian Assange, the contrast between the cell in Wandsworth prison and his new accommodation in a 300-year-old mansion will be epitomised by the rectangular box he must wear on his ankle to relay his whereabouts at all times.

Clegg to be sidelined from his pet project

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The campaign to reform Britain's voting system has been boosted by a new opinion poll showing that a majority of the public supports change.

Government rules prevent baby Cameron accepting gifts

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Somewhere in Downing Street is a pile of babygrows, nappies and toys worth hundreds of pounds.

Child poverty to soar in age of austerity

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Nearly a quarter of a million more children will be brought up in absolute poverty in four years.

Two convicted of homophobic killing

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Two people who hurled homophobic abuse at a gay civil servant before kicking and stamping on him have been convicted over their part in his death.

Clegg supports embattled Clarke '200 per cent' on prison reform

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Nick Clegg weighed in behind Ken Clarke yesterday, as the embattled Justice Secretary continues to tussle with Downing Street and other Tory Cabinet ministers over sentencing policy. The Deputy Prime Minister said he supported his Conservative Cabinet colleague "200 per cent" in his effort to cut prison numbers, praising him as "radical, brave and innovative".

Leaders attack call to legalise drugs

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Political leaders united in condemnation yesterday of a former drugs minister's call for all illicit substances, including heroin, to be legalised.

British troops to get 'combat codpiece'

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Defence technology based on armour worn by Genghis Khan's Mongol warriors in the 13th century will be used to protect British soldiers against bombs in Afghanistan.

Battle is on to save the house that Conan Doyle built

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The curious affair of the old, empty house has taken a new turn. No one lives in the old, empty house, you might wish to point out. But that is what is curious about it.

Cuts mean 600 police officers forced to retire

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 10:37 AM PST

More than 600 police officers are being made to retire over the next three years because their force needs to save £78 million.

Great to smell fresh air says freed Assange

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 09:29 AM PST

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange vowed to "continue his work and protest his innocence" after being released on bail tonight.

Judge to issue guidance on court Tweets

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 09:20 AM PST

The country's top judge will issue interim guidance on the use of micro-blogging site Twitter in courts after supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange were banned from posting updates today.

Police probe disabled protester's complaint

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 08:53 AM PST

The police watchdog will supervise an investigation into complaints that a student fees protester was hit with a police baton, dragged from his wheelchair and pulled across the street.

Teenage girl locked up for killing gay man

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 08:15 AM PST

A former public schoolgirl who hurled homophobic abuse at a gay civil servant before kicking and stamping on him during a deadly attack is tonight behind bars.

Champion budgie's owners agony over killing

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 08:07 AM PST

A budgerigar breeder launched a fresh appeal for information today after his champion bird was killed in a suspected sabotage attack by a rival.

Sea safety fear as coastguard stations slashed

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 07:50 AM PST

The Government today slashed the number of 24-hour coastguard stations from 18 to three sparking fears about safety around the UK's coast.

Oldham date 'will deprive students of vote'

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:58 AM PST

Labour leader Ed Miliband accused the Liberal Democrats today of depriving thousands of students of a vote in a key by-election by calling it during the Christmas holidays.

Vicar walks free after child porn conviction

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:47 AM PST

A Church of England clergyman who downloaded hundreds of pornographic images of children while working at his vicarage walked free from court today after being ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Tommy Sheridan brother-in-law rejects sex club claim

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 06:22 AM PST

A former friend of Tommy Sheridan and his brother-in-law was part of a "conspiracy" to make false allegations about a visit to a sex club in Manchester, a court heard today.

Retrial for driving death fireman

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:48 AM PST

A jury failed to reach a decision today in the trial of a fireman who drove through a red light on an emergency call, hitting a car and fatally injuring the driver.

David Cameron: Country's electricity supply clapped out

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:43 AM PST

David Cameron said today that the country's electricity supply is "clapped out" as the Government unveiled plans to encourage low-carbon energy.

New lines 'may be needed to beat train overcrowding'

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 05:24 AM PST

The creation of "entirely new rail lines" may be necessary to cope with train overcrowding on some routes over the next 20 years, Network Rail (NR) said today.

Extra cash to combat council house fraudsters

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:53 AM PST

Councils are to get an extra £19 million to oust fraudsters who unlawfully sublet council and housing association properties, the Government said today.

Hit-and-run Iraqi can stay in UK

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:27 AM PST

A failed asylum-seeker who left a 12-year-old girl dying under the wheels of his car while banned from driving will be allowed to remain in the UK, judges ruled today.

'Honour killing' sister charged with robbery

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:25 AM PST

The sister of suspected honour killing victim Shafilea Ahmed has been charged with a robbery at her home.

Plumber denies killing woman with faulty boiler

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 04:08 AM PST

A plumber appeared at the Old Bailey today accused of causing the death of a young dance teacher of carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas boiler.

Bad weather puts Christmas gifts delivery in doubt

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 03:38 AM PST

Millions of Christmas gifts are stacking up in warehouses and might not be delivered in time for the big day, a haulage expert said today.

Former minister's call over hard drugs 'irresponsible'

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 02:35 AM PST

A Labour ex-cabinet minister's call for hard drugs to be decriminalised was dismissed as "irresponsible" by the party leadership today.

Detention of immigrant children to end, says Clegg

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 01:58 AM PST

No child will be held in an immigration centre this Christmas and the "shameful" practice will end completely by May, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today.

New guidance planned over dropped rape claims

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 01:31 AM PST

Prosecutors are to be given new guidance on when to pursue women who withdraw rape claims, it was announced today.

posted by Greg Shaw at Friday, December 17, 2010