Friday, January 14, 2011

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

The Independent - UK RSS Feed

PM is protecting banker bonuses, claim Lib Dems

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The Liberal Democrats are making a final attempt to persuade David Cameron to rein in bankers' bonuses amid growing public anger over the imminent payout estimated at £7bn.

Manchester to sack 2,000 council staff

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Two thousand council workers will be made redundant in Manchester over the next year, bringing the total jobs cull caused by Coalition spending cuts to 114,000 across 145 councils.

Keeper of Campbell's 'news grid' leaves No 10

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Paul Brown, the quietly spoken civil servant who has compiled Downing Street's famous "news grid" for more than 12 years is to retire this year – a loss that insiders say will put a huge hole in the Government's publicity machine.

Clegg: peers are holding Government hostage

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Nick Clegg faces a fresh crisis after his plans for sweeping reform of the House of Lords were savaged in a heated private meeting yesterday with peers.

Labour win in Oldham deals blow to Coalition

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Labour secured an emphatic victory in a crucial first test of its popularity under the leadership of Ed Miliband last night by winning the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election.

Scourge of America's paedophile priests sets up shop in UK

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

For much of the past 25 years, Jeff Anderson has been the American Catholic Church's bête noire. Working out of a small office in St Paul, Minnesota, the 63-year-old US attorney has spearheaded more than 1,500 lawsuits against the Church, winning millions of dollars for his clients and forcing open the doors of one of the world's most secretive institutions.

Regency artist who lampooned politicians was on state payroll

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

The 18th-century artist Thomas Rowlandson, known for his savage mockeries of royalty and politics, was actually a paid-for propagandist, according to a new biography.

Inside stories: The art of infiltration

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:00 PM PST

Speaking from his secret sanctuary in America, PC Mark Kennedy begged a green activist for forgiveness after being exposed as an undercover police officer who had been busily reporting the plans of his environmental campaigner colleagues to Scotland Yard for seven years.

£100,000 jewellery stolen in raid on tycoon's home

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 09:22 AM PST

Jewellery worth more than £100,000 was stolen during a raid at the home of the elderly founder of Barratt Homes, police said today.

Man jailed for stabbing rapper Professor Green

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 09:20 AM PST

A man has been jailed for stabbing rapper Professor Green in the neck, police said today.

Two remanded on Buckingham Palace charge

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 09:08 AM PST

Two suspected anti-Government protesters were charged today with trespassing at Buckingham Palace.

Leader of animal rights attacks is jailed

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 07:48 AM PST

The leader of an animal rights group which attacked branches of Barclays Bank because of the company's then links to the animal testing lab Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) was jailed for 12 months today.

Cuts threaten 2,000 Manchester council jobs

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 07:34 AM PST

One of the country's biggest local authorities warned today of 2,000 redundancies, sparking threats of industrial action and taking the council jobs cull caused by the Government's spending cuts to almost 114,000.

Police seek demo petrol-bomb-thrower and release images of other demonstrators

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 07:27 AM PST

Police hunting those responsible for violence and criminal damage during student protests released images today of a man throwing a petrol bomb.

Government urged to scrap fuel duty rises

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 06:23 AM PST

The Government was today urged to scrap planned fuel duty rises amid fears that prices at the pumps could reach as high as 140p a litre by April.

Newlywed drowned in pond after fit

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 06:21 AM PST

A newlywed has been left "devastated" after her husband died six weeks after their dream wedding in the Caribbean.

National Grid pay talks break down

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 06:13 AM PST

Talks aimed at averting industrial action by workers at National Grid in a row over pay have broken down, bringing the prospect of industrial action closer, unions warned today.

Lib Dems ask PCC to investigate undercover stings

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 05:23 AM PST

The president of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, has written to the Press Complaints Commission asking it to investigate the undercover stings carried out by reporters from the Daily Telegraph at the surgeries of MPs.

Body of murdered honeymooner starts journey home

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 04:09 AM PST

The body of murdered honeymooner Michaela McAreavey was on its way back to Ireland today.

'Stop snitching' flyers posted on shooting estate

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 03:53 AM PST

Flyers encouraging people not to hand over information to police have been posted on an estate where a teenager was shot dead.

Man quizzed after Regent Street shop siege

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 03:47 AM PST

A man is being questioned by police after breaking into a shop in London's Regent Street and threatening to blow himself up.

Long wait for Russian accused of spying

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 03:44 AM PST

A former parliamentary researcher accused of spying for Russia will have to wait more than nine months to try to clear her name and remain in Britain, a judge ruled today.

Nurses angry at pay clampdown plan

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 02:31 AM PST

Government moves for a further clampdown on the pay of health workers received a fresh blow today when nurses' leaders rejected the idea and voiced "fury" at the controversial plans.

Three 'outdated' prisons to be closed

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 01:11 AM PST

Three prisons will be closed with the loss of almost 850 places, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today.

Compulsory retirement at 65 to be abolished

Posted: 13 Jan 2011 01:03 AM PST

The Government is to press ahead with plans to end compulsory retirement at 65 despite calls from business for the move to be delayed, it was announced today.

posted by Greg Shaw at Friday, January 14, 2011