Monday, December 20, 2010

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed


Forecast: No let-up as cold snap continues across UK

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 05:53 PM PST

Icy weather kept a tight grip on the UK last night, while further snowfalls are forecast for today. Temperatures dipped to -20 degrees overnight in parts of the West Midlands and Welsh borders, while by 8pm last night the temperature in Benson in Oxfordshire had dipped to -16.3 degrees. Andrew Sibley, forecaster for the Met Office said: "Another band of snow will move through the south west today along the south coast, which may affect London.

Economy reels from onslaught of winter weather

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The economic impact of the freezing winter will deepen this week as Britain prepares for more travel gridlock, and millions of workers, travellers and shoppers were expected to stay at home in the run-up to Christmas rather than brave the icy conditions.

Roads, rail and airports – nowhere is spared ordeal by ice and snow

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Widespread transport disruption caused by some of the most severe winter weather for a century left many people's Christmas travel plans in tatters and large parts of the country paralysed yesterday.

'I was told by police that I could be arrested. It was terrifying'

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

When Nicky Wishart began a campaign to save his popular local youth club from closure, he might have been praised for showing the type of community-minded spirit that his local MP, David Cameron, has championed since he entered Downing Street. In fact, the 12-year-old's reward for attempting to rescue the centre – a small, brick hall in the leafy Oxfordshire village of Eynsham – was a visit from the police.

Welcome to the war zone: the field hospital for sozzled City staff

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The foul smell is ominous. Downstairs in a central London pub, a woman has passed out on the floor of the ladies toilets, lying on the cold tiles with her dress pulled above her waist and knickers at her feet.

Banks face warning over secrecy of lavish bonuses

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The leaders of Britain's high street banks will be told by ministers today to end the secrecy over the lavish pay, perks and bonuses paid to their high-fliers – or face action to force them to open their books.

Scramble to keep Queen on stamps

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Buckingham Palace is to hold urgent talks with ministers over its fears that the Queen's head could vanish from British stamps following the Government's sale of the Royal Mail.

Deputy Commons Speaker comes out

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

A Deputy Commons Speaker has come out as gay ahead of today's launch of a support group for homosexual MPs and parliamentary staff.

10-year-olds have shotgun licences

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Some 26 10-year-olds are among nearly 5,000 under 18s with permission to own guns, MPs disclosed last night as they called for a shake-up of the "complex and confusing" mess of firearms legislation. The Commons home affairs select committee demanded new rules on the ages at which guns can be owned and used.

Big freeze causes widespread travel disruption

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 11:00 AM PST

Widespread travel chaos caused by some of the severest winter weather for a century left Christmas commuter plans in tatters and swathes of the country paralysed today.

High-speed rail route to be announced

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 03:42 AM PST

The preferred route for the costly and controversial HS2 high-speed rail line from London to Birmingham is expected to be announced tomorrow by the Government.

Cable dismisses Tory hopes in by-election

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 02:57 AM PST

The Tories have no chance of winning next month's key Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable declared today.

Minister 'confident' on royal stamp

Posted: 19 Dec 2010 02:15 AM PST

A business minister said he was "extremely confident" the Queen's head would remain on postage stamps even if the Royal Mail was sold off to a foreign firm.

Joint accounts? Not for today's couple with savings to lose

Posted: 18 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

The pledge to share one's worldly goods might be in the wedding vows, but it is no longer a key part of marriage, according to new research. Fear of divorce and the rise of second marriages has led to more people keeping their money separate from their partner's, a study has found. The trend is worrying equality campaigners, who believe that the pay gap – which sees women in the UK paid 16.4 per cent less than men – is extending inequality within the home, too.

Stores will open until midnight in effort to beat profits white-out

Posted: 18 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

What would have been one of the most spectacularly white Christmases on record came a week too early yesterday. Heavy snowfalls across much of the country caused major problems for air travel, roads, railways, high streets, farms and, with a boom in burst pipes and rising fuel prices, even the home.