Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

Tough talk on bank bonuses comes to nought

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

It is 83 per cent-owned by the British taxpayer, has had more than £45bn of direct aid poured in, £280bn of risky loans insured and a further £8bn set aside in case things get really bad. But the Government insisted yesterday it would not intervene to stop Royal Bank of Scotland's chief executive, Stephen Hester, earning up to £9m for his work last year.

Meanwhile, Britain's highest-paid banker prepares to be grilled by MPs

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Britain's best-paid banker will be forced to justify his lavish income in a bruising encounter with MPs today.

Backlash begins as Labour pull ahead in poll

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Labour has opened up an eight-point lead in the latest ComRes survey for The Independent as the Conservatives start to feel a backlash over spending cuts and the rise in VAT.

Fisheries minister who doesn't know his fish

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The fisheries minister, Richard Benyon, has spent much of his time in the job locked in complex negotiations in Brussels over EU quotas – so much time, in fact, that he apparently has not been able to learn what the animals look like.

Cabinet set to approve reforms of control orders

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The cabinet will today approve the wholesale reform of control orders, including the end of house arrest and a lifting of the ban on computer and mobile phone use.

Judges get power to fast-track eviction of nasty neighbours

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Judges are to be given new powers to fast-track the eviction of tenants who harass their neighbours.

Pre-nup rules will force rich to disclose their wealth

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Rich husbands who want their wives to sign binding pre-nuptial agreements will have to disclose all the details of their wealth, under proposals for sweeping changes to marital law.

Picture of the Day: Red sky in the morning, pollution warning

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

This spectacular red sunrise observed yesterday morning over London has a scientific explanation. The same explanation also lends some support to the well-known piece of folklore saying that a red sky at night is a shepherd's delight, whereas a red sky in the morning is a sailor's warning.

Police under fire as trial collapses over 'agent provocateur' claims

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Scotland Yard has come under pressure to reveal the extent of its covert surveillance of peaceful protesters after the collapse of a case following the unmasking of an undercover police officer.

Paedophile warned he may never be freed

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 10:05 AM PST

The leader of an online paedophile ring which drew in four female accomplices was branded "warped, wicked, dangerous, devious and manipulative" by a judge today and warned he may never be released from prison.

Heinz workers to strike again over pay

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 09:44 AM PST

Workers at food giant Heinz are to stage a 24-hour strike tomorrow after rejecting a revised pay offer.

Water chief's payout 'should be put on hold'

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 09:41 AM PST

Northern Ireland Water chief Laurence MacKenzie's £96,000 farewell payout should be put on hold, it was claimed tonight.

Chinese panda pledge 'symbol of friendship'

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 09:11 AM PST

China said today it will gift Britain a pair of giant pandas as vice premier Li Keqiang marked the second day of his official visit to the UK with the signing of trade deals worth an estimated £2.6 billion.

BA cabin crew set to back new strikes

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 09:10 AM PST

British Airways cabin crew are expected to vote "strongly" in favour of fresh strikes in their long-running dispute with the airline, threatening another wave of industrial action, their union leader said today.

Tube strike on royal wedding day 'cynical'

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 09:05 AM PST

Suggestions of a Tube strike on the day of the royal wedding were condemned as "cynical" by Downing Street tonight.

Friend's computer discovery triggered investigation

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 07:59 AM PST

A disturbing and accidental discovery by an unsuspecting businessman triggered the investigation that would uncover the warped world of Colin Blanchard and his twisted female companions.

Anti-terror officer admits misconduct

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 07:32 AM PST

A former anti-terrorist officer, who squandered thousands of pounds of taxpayers' cash on sex toys, holidays and clothing, today admitted misconduct in a public office.

Colin McRae not a show off, crash inquiry told

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 06:33 AM PST

Friends of former world rally champion Colin McRae described him as a responsible pilot and not a show off, a fatal accident inquiry into the helicopter crash which killed McRae and three others heard today.

'Wide new inquiry' into youngest inmate death

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 06:04 AM PST

A second inquest into the youngest person to die in a British penal institution in modern times will be a "wide-ranging inquiry" in how young people in custody are restrained, a coroner said today.

Inquiry call over climate campaign undercover police officer

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 05:57 AM PST

Police were facing serious questions today after using an undercover officer to infiltrate climate campaign groups for up to 10 years at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Ed Miliband vows to back voting change

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 04:16 AM PST

Labour leader Ed Miliband today said he will be a "vocal" advocate of voting reform in the referendum scheduled for May 5.

Weather set to turn milder

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 03:57 AM PST

The latest blast of freezing temperatures and snow showers will give way to much milder weather this week, forecasters said.

Ed Miliband urges extension of bank bonus tax

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 03:20 AM PST

Labour leader Ed Miliband called on the Government today to extend the tax on bankers' bonuses which raised £3.5 billion last year.

Police warning over mobile phone theft

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 03:16 AM PST

Public transport users make easy prey for robbers when they are distracted by their mobile phones as they get off trains and buses, police warned today.

Ex-child protection chief warning over CEOP merger

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 01:20 AM PST

The former head of the the UK's child protection agency has attacked plans to remove its independence.

Mother to play Joanna Yeates in reconstruction

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 01:10 AM PST

The mother of Joanna Yeates has offered to take part in a TV reconstruction of her daughter's last-known movements in Bristol.

Nick Clegg warns of 'crucial year' for Britain

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 01:02 AM PST

This will be a "crucial year" for Britain as spending cuts begin to bite and the economy begins to recover, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today.

Call for interns to be paid training wage

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 12:30 AM PST

The Government was urged today to introduce a £2.50 an hour training wage for internships lasting for three months or longer.

Virgin witholds fees over Heathrow snow chaos

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 11:01 PM PST

Virgin Atlantic is to withhold some landing fees from Heathrow because of the chaos caused by the airport's shutdown last month.

posted by Greg Shaw at Tuesday, January 11, 2011