Radical Preacher: Arrest 'Politically Motivated'

Radical preacher Anjem Choudary says his arrest was "politically motivated" after being released on bail on suspicion of being a member of a banned terrorist group.

He was one of 11 men held as part of a police investigation into alleged support of extremist group Al Muhajiroun.

The 47-year-old, who is to answer bail in January, tweeted: "I've been released from police custody.

"Just in time for Cameron to declare war on Islam & Muslims in Iraq & Syria."

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad

He was among nine men, aged between 22 and 51, held in London on suspicion of being members of a terror organisation and encouraging terrorism.

Two more were stopped and detained near junction 1 of the M6, just outside Rugby, Warwickshire.

One of the arrested men - 39-year-old Trevor Brookes - has been charged with two counts of breaching his notification requirement, while seven others have been bailed.

The pair held on M6 remained in custody.

A number of properties - 11 in east London, one in west London, one in northwest London, five in south London and one in Stoke-on-Trent - were searched as part of the investigation.

One of them was Yummy Yummy, a sweet shop in Whitechapel, East London, owned by Mr Choudary's brother Yadzani.

Mr Choudary said after his release: "My arrest certainly was politically motivated.

"The last time the government proscribed any organisation linked to me or previous groups I have been linked to was in June 2014.

"They have done nothing since then. They waited until the day before a major vote on a war against Muslims for a high-profile series of arrests."

Mr Choudary said he was questioned at Southwark police station about being a member of up to 10 banned groups including Islam4UK and Need4Khalifah.

He was reported to have said this week he had no sympathy for aid worker Alan Henning, who has been captured by the Islamic State in Syria.

He reportedly said: "In the Koran it is not allowed for you to feel sorry for non Muslims. I don't feel sorry for him."

Al Muhajiroun was set up by Mr Choudary and Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad, who was told he could not return to the UK after the 7/7 bombings.

The organisation was banned in the UK in 2010.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

First-Time Buyers To Get 20% Off Under Tories

Young first-time buyers will get a 20% discount on their new homes, under plans announced by the Conservatives.

David Cameron has set out plans to build tens of thousands of new homes on commercial "brownfield" land, reserved for first-time buyers, under 40.

As Tories begin gathering in Birmingham for their annual conference, the PM said a Conservative government would implement the plan if they were re-elected in 2015.

Homes built under the proposed Help to Buy: Starter Homes scheme would be exempt from a range of taxes, lowering their price by 20%, say Tories.

First-time buyers have been priced out of many areas, especially in London

In an interview with The Sun, Mr Cameron said the programme would deliver 100,000 starter homes over the lifetime of the next parliament.

"We want to help more young people achieve the dream of home ownership so today as part of our long-term economic plan I can pledge we will build 100,000 homes for young, first-time buyers," he said.

"We will make these starter homes 20% cheaper by exempting them from a raft of taxes and by using brownfield land.

"I don't want to see young people locked out of home ownership.

David Cameron says the new homes would be exempt from some taxes

"We've already started to tackle the problem with Help to Buy mortgages - and these new plans will help tens of thousands more people to buy their first home."

The Conservatives said the homes would be built on brownfield land already zoned for development but no longer needed for industrial or commercial use.

Such land is not normally made available for housebuilding and can be bought more cheaply than other land, and the savings will be passed on to the buyer.

Public sector land which is surplus to requirements will also be brought into the scheme.

At the same time, the Conservatives said that the properties would be exempt from most of the taxes imposed on new homes.

These taxes include the social housing requirement and the community infrastructure levy.

Some future regulations such as the zero carbon homes standard will also not apply to properties built under the scheme.

The announcement is intended to set the tone for the party's final annual conference before the country goes to the polls next May.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police Find 'Area Of Interest' In Alice Hunt

Detectives searching for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross have identified an "area of interest" in West London.

They cordoned off an area in Elthorne Park, near her home in Hanwell, and are examining "something of interest" found there, Scotland Yard said.

Earlier, police staged a reconstruction of Alice's last-known movements.

The 14-year-old was last seen on CCTV at 4.26pm on August 28 walking along the Grand Union Canal back towards her home.

Police have cordoned off an area in Elthorne Park

Scotland Yard hope the reconstruction, which began with her leaving her home at 1pm before walking along Brentford Lock, will help jog people's memories.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, leading the hunt, told Sky News police were anxious to know what happened to Alice after 4.26pm that day.

He said people may remember her distinctive "power walk" - very fast with swinging arms.

Around 600 officers from eight forces are involved in the investigation, making it the Metropolitan Police's biggest operation since the 7/7 bomb attacks in London in 2005.

Police have staged a reconstruction to try to jog people's memories

Earlier, Alice's parents Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross told Sky News of their anguish as they made a plea for her safe return.

Ms Hodgkiss, who is a teacher, said: "The longer Alice has been missing the more worried and concerned that we feel and obviously the greater the anguish that we feel.

It is the biggest search by the Met since the 7/7 bomb attacks in London

"We are looking forward to being back as a family again. The house feels very empty without her."

She added: "Alice is a very lively, funny girl. She's quirky. We are really looking forward to the sound of her voice, seeing her smile, just her presence."

Mr Gross, 60, said of his daughter, a keen musician: "Her singing was a really big part of the sounds in our house."

Alice's parents say the house feels empty without her

Alice had suffered from anorexia, but Mr Gross said: "There's nothing specific we can think of that would have made her want to run away."

Her father also highlighted the "extraordinary" level of support they had received from the public, which had been "uplifting".

Yellow ribbons are in evidence all over the area of west London where the family live, along with posters highlighting the teenager's disappearance.

The prime suspect is 41-year-old builder Arnis Zalkalns - a convicted murderer who served seven years in a Latvian jail for killing his wife.

Zalkalns is a suspect in the case and has not been seen since September 3

He was spotted on CCTV cycling along the same path as Alice on the day she vanished.

He has not been seen since September 3 and has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone.

Officers have been sent to his native Latvia to trace him.

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anyone who has information that leads detectives to find Alice.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

MPs Set To Approve UK Airstrikes In Iraq

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron is poised to win support from MPs for airstrikes in Iraq which senior ministers have warned could last up to three years.

Bombing raids involving RAF planes could begin within hours of a vote in the Commons which is expected to be overwhelmingly in favour of bombing raids.

Desperate to avoid a repeat of the Commons defeat over airstrikes against Syria last year, the PM is proposing a cautiously-worded motion intended to win support from all parties.

"This motion does not endorse UK airstrikes in Syria as part of this campaign, and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament," it states.

David Cameron says airstrikes will only target Iraq, not Syria

And it adds: "Her Majesty's Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations."

Mr Cameron goes into the debate with an opinion poll suggesting voters strongly back airstrikes in Iraq, but would also support attacks against Syria.

A YouGov survey for The Sun shows the largest support yet for RAF airstrikes in Iraq, with 57% now in favour and just 24% against.

But it also suggests voters support bombing raids against ISIL in Syria by 51% to 26%, even though Mr Cameron has already ruled this out for now.

The poll findings are a complete turnaround from 13 months ago, when voters opposed airstrikes on Syria's President Bashar al Assad by two-to-one.

The UK strikes would follow raids by US planes in Syria and Iraq

The Cabinet met for 90 minutes yesterday and "unanimously" backed airstrikes in Iraq.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon suggested that the campaign against IS could be a "long haul" of "two to three years".

He told Parliament's House magazine: "(US Secretary of State) John Kerry has estimated two to three years, that looks like a long haul to me.

"But we have to face up to this. This kind of extremism has been spreading, taking root in democracies."

After the Cabinet meeting, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Government was confident Parliament would approve the Government's motion.

Tory MP Bob Stewart says the UK must 'annihilate' the militants

He stressed that Britain's role would currently be limited to airstrikes in Iraq.

"There will be a ground operation. It's just that we will not be providing ground combat troops," Mr Hammond said.

"We are very clear about that. Not only because we don't think, frankly, public opinion would support such involvement.

"But also we don't think such an involvement would be helpful.

"If we were to put large numbers of Western troops into Iraq now that would simply feed Isil's narrative.

"If ground forces are needed they have to come from regional countries - primarily from Iraq itself."

Asked whether the action could be extended into Syria at a later stage, Mr Hammond replied: "We haven't ruled out anything for the future.

Chief of Defence Staff General Nick Houghton (L) and Phillip Hammond

"We will have to see how the struggle against Isil goes.

"But the important thing... is that if we were to decide at some point in the future that it would be right to conduct airstrikes in Syria then we would come back to the House of Commons, there would be another debate - all the issues around that would be fully discussed and a decision made at that time."

Although the Labour leader Ed Miliband has said his MPs will support the Government in the vote, some anti-war left-wing MPs are expected to force a vote and oppose military action.

On the eve of the debate, left-wing Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street opposing bombing raids.

But some Conservative MPs want the Government to go further and deploy raids on Syria and commit troops.

Bob Stewart, a member of the Commons Defence Committee and a former British commander in Bosnia, said IS had to be defeated in its birthplace in Syria.

"The truth is, as everyone knows, the only way to get rid of this menace is to beat it on the ground, drive them out, annihilate them or capture them," he said.

"We mustn't rule out the option of using our armed forces if our country is threatened enough that we need to do so."

Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth added: "If you don't attack their bases in Syria, then clearly you are not addressing it.

"One will be left with the taste in the mouth that we are leaving it to the Americans to do the dirty end of the job."

:: The Commons debate will begin at 10.30am with the vote expected at around 5pm. Watch on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

:: Live coverage will also available on sky.com/news and Sky News for iPad and on your mobile phone.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ofsted: We Must Tackle Disruptive Behaviour

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs Editor

Children lose up to an hour of learning each day in schools across England because of disruption, Ofsted's chief inspector has warned.

Evidence from nearly 3,000 inspections of state-funded schools, together with parent and teacher surveys, has found that behaviour like pupils making silly comments to get attention, swinging on chairs, passing notes around, quietly humming and using mobile phones was having a noticeable impact on children's ability to learn.

"While the days of chaos in the classroom are thankfully largely behind us, low-level disruption in class is preventing too many teachers from doing their jobs and depriving too many young people of the education they deserve," Sir Michael Wilshaw said.

"I see too many schools where headteachers are blurring the lines between friendliness and familiarity - and losing respect along the way.

"Every hour spent with a disruptive, attention-seeking pupil is an hour away from ensuring other pupils are getting a decent education.

Sir Michael Wilshaw is urging schools to clamp down on misbehaving pupils

"If we are going to continue to improve our education system to compete at the highest levels, we need to tackle the casual acceptance of this behaviour that persists in too many schools.

"It isn't rocket science: children need to know the rules and teachers need to know they will be supported in enforcing them.

"In the last year, schools serving almost 450,000 pupils have been judged less than good for behaviour. That is far too many."

At St Mary's Church of England High School in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, pupils said minor disruption did have an impact on their ability to learn.

"It's really frustrating when you're trying to concentrate on your own work," said Poppy Mclellan.

"But it normally does get sorted out."

Headteacher Stephanie Benbow said stamping out disruption required a concerted effort by staff.

"Low-level disruption is a real challenge for modern teachers," she said.

"It has to be said that the challenges have risen - young people are a bit more challenging and we have to be a bit more robust in our response.

"There can be no tolerance of inappropriate behaviour in a classroom. One has to be persistent, and consistent. Without that, you won't get the high level of success that these children demand."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Last Known Moments Of Missing Teen Re-Enacted

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Police are due to stage a reconstruction of the last known movements of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross, who disappeared four weeks ago in West London.

The 14-year-old vanished after walking along the Grand Union Canal towpath in Hanwell and detectives are hoping the reconstruction will help jog people's memory of the afternoon of August 28.

A 41-year-old builder called Arnis Zalkalns – a convicted murderer who served seven years in a Latvian jail for killing his wife – was spotted on CCTV cycling along the same path as Alice on the day she vanished.

Some 600 offiers from eight forces are involved in the search

He has not been seen since September 3 and has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone.

"Alice appears to have simply vanished off the face of the earth, it's a complete mystery," former Met Police officer Jacqui Hames told Sky News.

"By staging the reconstruction four weeks on from her disappearance, police hope it will jog someone's memory and they might come forward with the one piece of information that will lead them to Alice.

Sightings of Alice on August 28

"The area she was last seen in, Trumpers Way bridge over the Grand Union canal, is an area that's extremely busy.

"There are lots of people running, cycling and walking dogs and it's overlooked by business blocks and private residences, so it's very baffling how she just disappeared."

Police have followed up 729 lines of inquiry and have made more than a thousand calls in their search for Alice, who has anorexia. They have searched 30 properties, 25 square kilometres of open land and 5.5km of canals and rivers.

Around 600 officers from eight forces are involved in the investigation, making it the biggest search undertaken by the Met since the 7/7 attacks of 2005.

It is the biggest search undertaken since the 7/7 attacks of 2005

A 25-year-old man was arrested on September 6 on suspicion of murder, but was released on bail and no further action will be taken. Officers also arrested a 51-year-old man, but he too was released from the inquiry.

Detectives say they have identified three cyclists who were spotted on CCTV in the area on August 28, but are still trying to locate two others who were seen near Alice.

A Metropolitan Police cadet will walk along the canal dressed in the same type of clothing that Alice was wearing on the day of her disappearance, for the reconstruction.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dave Lee Travis: The Fall Of A Familiar Face

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent

Dave Lee Travis fought accusations that he was a sex pest for two years, and was acquitted of most of the charges against him at an earlier trial.

But a second jury has now decided that he is guilty of indecent assault.

At the height of his career, Travis was one of the most familiar faces in Britain. He presented Top of the Pops and the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

His real name is David Griffin, but his nickname was the "Hairy Cornflake". During his original trial he described himself as "a big hairy cuddly bear" who liked to hug friends and colleagues.

Travis admitted being tactile, but the women who testified against him claimed he went way beyond that, accusing him of groping them or worse.

Travis described himself as 'a big hairy cuddly bear'

When the DJ was arrested and questioned about allegations of indecent assault, the publicity prompted other women to come forward with stories of their encounters with him.

By the time he went on trial in February, he was facing 13 charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

After a month-long trial, he was acquitted of all but two offences, which the jury could not reach a verdict on.

Much to Travis's anger, the Crown Prosecution Service decided on a retrial and added a new accusation from another complainant.  This time, he was convicted of a single count of indecent assault.

As the legal process dragged on, the DJ became more frustrated - and in July, he made a statement outside court, which at the time could not be broadcast for legal reasons.

He said: "In my estimation, the CPS has overcompensated for its failings with Savile and in doing so has taken away the human rights and the dignity of individuals by having the police arrest people first, then go out looking for the evidence."

Travis claimed the CPS 'overcompensated' for failings on the Savile case

Five months before he was first arrested, the Sunday Times published a story by Camilla Long which highlighted his behaviour.

She had visited his home to interview him because he was about to meet the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The article's headline read: "Dave Lee Travis: Look out, Suu Kyi - he's a bit touchy".

Ms Long wrote: "I spent 90 minutes with the former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis and I don't think there is a part of my body that he didn't grope.

"He fondled my foot, inched his hands up my thighs, tried to make me sit on his lap and kissed me. He copped a feel of my hips when I foolishly asked for a tour of his studio, stroked my chin and my back and gave me a full body hug as I left."

Ms Long was asked by the police whether she wanted to press charges and give evidence at his trial, but declined.

She told Sky News: "He didn't worry about getting consent too much, he just did it."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dave Lee Travis Guilty Of Indecent Assault

Dave Lee Travis: The Fall Of A Familiar Face

Updated: 4:23pm UK, Tuesday 23 September 2014

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent

Dave Lee Travis fought accusations that he was a sex pest for two years, and was acquitted of most of the charges against him at an earlier trial.

But a second jury has now decided that he is guilty of indecent assault.

At the height of his career, Travis was one of the most familiar faces in Britain. He presented Top of the Pops and the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

His real name is David Griffin, but his nickname was the "Hairy Cornflake". During his original trial he described himself as "a big hairy cuddly bear" who liked to hug friends and colleagues.

Travis admitted being tactile, but the women who testified against him claimed he went way beyond that, accusing him of groping them or worse.

When the DJ was arrested and questioned about allegations of indecent assault, the publicity prompted other women to come forward with stories of their encounters with him.

By the time he went on trial in February, he was facing 13 charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

After a month-long trial, he was acquitted of all but two offences, which the jury could not reach a verdict on.

Much to Travis's anger, the Crown Prosecution Service decided on a retrial and added a new accusation from another complainant.  This time, he was convicted of a single count of indecent assault.

As the legal process dragged on, the DJ became more frustrated - and in July, he made a statement outside court, which at the time could not be broadcast for legal reasons.

He said: "In my estimation, the CPS has overcompensated for its failings with Savile and in doing so has taken away the human rights and the dignity of individuals by having the police arrest people first, then go out looking for the evidence."

Five months before he was first arrested, the Sunday Times published a story by Camilla Long which highlighted his behaviour.

She had visited his home to interview him because he was about to meet the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The article's headline read: "Dave Lee Travis: Look out, Suu Kyi - he's a bit touchy".

Ms Long wrote: "I spent 90 minutes with the former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis and I don't think there is a part of my body that he didn't grope.

"He fondled my foot, inched his hands up my thighs, tried to make me sit on his lap and kissed me. He copped a feel of my hips when I foolishly asked for a tour of his studio, stroked my chin and my back and gave me a full body hug as I left."

Ms Long was asked by the police whether she wanted to press charges and give evidence at his trial, but declined.

She told Sky News: "He didn't worry about getting consent too much, he just did it."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tesco Suspends Bosses Over £250m Profit Error

Tesco Profit Error: Could Something Be Amiss?

Updated: 5:42pm UK, Monday 22 September 2014

By Ian King, Business Presenter

Even from a lesser company, three profits warnings inside a year would be startling.

Coming from a blue-chip stalwart like Tesco, it is nothing short of astonishing.

In issuing a profits warning on top of a profits warning, Britain's biggest food retailer almost seems to be taking to an extreme the strategy so commonly seen in its stores, with three for the price of two.

So what exactly has Dave Lewis, the new chief executive, uncovered?

Well, in its own words, Tesco has identified an overstatement of its expected profit for the half year, principally due to the accelerated recognition of commercial income and delayed accrual of costs.

In other words, the reporting of costs incurred in the first half of the year appears to have been delayed so they are pushed into the second half, while profits enjoyed during the second half of the year appear to have been brought forward into the first half.

It is unclear what kind of activities generated these profits but commercial income, with regard to supermarkets, could mean rebates from third-party suppliers or payments from those suppliers to incentivise Tesco to give their goods better positions when they are displayed in its stores.

This latter practice is common place in the supermarket sector and, having worked previously at Unilever, Mr Lewis will be familiar with it.

The overall effect of these two actions will have been to pretty up Tesco's first-half numbers.

Cynics will suggest Mr Lewis has every reason to restate the numbers lower - after all, the period, the six months to August 23, was when his predecessor, Philip Clarke, was at the helm.

Some would say it is in Mr Lewis's interests to ensure that period is painted in as bad a light as possible in order to make any subsequent turnaround under him look better.

It's known as "kitchen sinking" in the City - where every possible bad bit of news, including the proverbial kitchen sink, is thrown into the accounts to make them look bad.

But the sheer size of this overstatement, £250m, would suggest this is a bit more serious.

So is Mr Lewis' response: the suspension of four of Tesco's UK executives, his recruitment of the top City lawyers Freshfields to investigate and his hiring of outside auditors from Deloitte - Tesco's regular auditor is PwC - to examine what has happened.

At this time, there is no suggestion that anything illegal has been happening. After all, all businesses occasionally recognise revenues early or take their time to recognise costs in the accounts.

Yet the sheer aggression of the accounting policy in this instance and Mr Lewis' response to discovering it rather suggests he thinks something may be amiss.

And, with plenty of American investors - who tend to be more litigious than their European counterparts - on Tesco's shareholder base,  he is doing the prudent thing in checking this out as thoroughly as possible.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rail Passengers Unhappy With Delay Information

Two thirds of rail passengers are dissatisfied with the way train companies deal with delays and cancellations, according to a customer survey.

Passengers complained Twitter provided better information than station staff and only 17% were aware of rail disruption before arriving at their station.

The survey by Passenger Focus revealed passengers wanted honest, reliable and up-to-the-minute information that painted a realistic picture of problems as they unfolded.

Passengers said they needed delay information as quickly as possible

Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Despite improvements, it is clear that many passengers are still dissatisfied with the way the rail industry deals with delays.

"Passengers need information as quickly as possible - ideally before leaving home. Only 17% knew about the disruption before arriving at the station.

"For instance, a fallen tree across a railway is just that, not an 'obstruction'. Passengers told the full reasons for the delay are likely to be less frustrated than those who are not.

"Passengers now receive information from a range of sources, so train companies must ensure that staff at stations and on trains are ahead of the information game."

Train operators said they had worked hard to make improvements

The survey findings were based on responses from 1,020 passengers who had experienced a delay in the previous seven days.

One customer said: "I'd have liked an announcement from a human, rather than numbers on a board."

Another said: "Just the facts - the live departure information is often just a joke. Why cannot Southeastern be honest and just say 'no trains' rather than raising hopes?"

Passenger Focus accepted the tone of announcements needed to signal the train company was "on the passengers' side" and could be as important as the content of the messages.

Michael Roberts, director general of the Rail Delivery Group which represents Network Rail and rail operators said rail companies had worked hard to make improvements.

A fallen tree should not be described as an 'obstrution' said the survey

"Passengers are at the heart of what we do and we know they want the industry to provide them with clear, accurate and timely information so they can make informed journey choices," he said.

"That is why we have worked hard to make improvements and are already committed to implementing many of the report's key recommendations.

"The industry will shortly produce a revised plan that includes more prominent service information on websites, earlier notification of any changes to the following day's timetable and measures to boost awareness of how to claim compensation for delayed journeys."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

22 Dogs Killed In Mystery Kennel Blaze

An investigation is under way after 22 dogs died in their cages in a fire in east Yorkshire.

Firefighters said the blaze "totally destroyed" a wooden kennel at a dog breeder's home in Graingers Road, Hornsea.

The owners, who are thought to breed Staffordshire bull terriers, returned to their home on Saturday night to find it alight with the dogs inside.

One family member had to be restrained by firefighters as he tried to save the animals, The Times reported.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, said a spokeswoman for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

One neighbour told the Hull Daily Mail: "It is terrible. I could see smoke and flames from my house and saw four fire engines rushing to the scene."

Another resident said: "There has been a lot of people walking down the road and looking at the damage caused by the fire.

"It is a wooden home so when it caught fire it burned down in minutes."

It comes a week after 53 dogs died in a fire at Manchester Dogs Home.

People donated more than £1.2m to the home after the suspected arson attack.

A 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze has been released on bail.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Balls To Freeze Child Benefit To Balance Books

Real-terms cuts in child benefit will form part of Labour's plan to balance the country's books, shadow chancellor Ed Balls will say at the party's conference.

Mr Balls will present a 1% cap on rises for the first two years of a Labour government as one of the "tough decisions" necessary to deal with the deficit if the party takes power next year.

In a speech in Manchester today, Mr Balls will pledge to "change the way our economy works" and to "not flinch from the tough decisions we must make".

He will say: "Three years of lost growth at the start of this parliament means we will have to deal with a deficit of £75bn  - not the balanced budget George Osborne promised by 2015. And that will make the task of governing hugely difficult.

"People know we are the party of jobs, living standards and fairness for working people. But they also need to know that we will balance the books and make the sums add up and that we won't duck the difficult decisions we will face if they return us to government.

"Working people have had to balance their own books. And they are clear that the Government needs to balance its books too."

Mr Balls will say a cap in child benefit rises will save £400m

Under austerity measures introduced by the coalition, child benefit was frozen from 2010 to this year.

It rose by 1% in April and is due to rise by the same amount in 2015/16, but Mr Balls will commit to extending below-inflation hikes for at least one more year.

He will tell delegates: "We will not spend money we cannot afford. So for the first two years of the next parliament we will cap the rise in child benefit at 1%.

"It will save £400m in the next parliament. And all the savings will go towards reducing the deficit."

Other elements of the Labour party's plans for the economy include cutting pay for ministers by 5%, reintroducing the 50p top rate of income tax for those earning more than £150,000, and ending the winter fuel allowance for the richest 5% of pensioners.

A 5% cut in ministerial salaries is also on the cards

The party also has plans to raise the minimum wage to £8 an hour, and introduce a jobs guarantee for young people and the long-term unemployed funded by a tax on bank bonuses and limiting pensions tax relief for the highest earners. 

Treasury Exchequer Secretary Priti Patel poured scorn on Mr Balls' plan for the economy, claiming Labour would put the deficit up, not down.

"These savings on ministerial pay only cut a miniscule fraction of the deficit - less than 1% of 1&. And it comes just days after the Institute for Fiscal Studies said Labour's economic policy means £28bn extra borrowing," he said.

"For all his bluster, Ed Balls still refuses to admit that Labour spent too much and he's opposed every decision we've taken to cut the deficit. All a Labour government would offer is more inefficient spending, more taxes and more debt than our children could ever hope to repay.'

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman's Road-Rage Attack Caught On CCTV

CCTV footage of a woman's vicious road-rage attack has been released by police, who are appealing for witnesses.

The victim of the assault is seen walking along Wellington Road in Birmingham's Perry Barr when her attacker grabs her around the neck and hurls her into a table outside a grocery store.

She is then pulled to her feet before being thrown to the ground once again, as bystanders look on.

Police say the victim had earlier asked the other woman to move the VW Tournan she was in as it was blocking her vehicle, only for her attacker to verbally abuse her in response.

Following the assault, officers say the woman spotted the victim making a note of her vehicle registration and attacked her again.

The woman being sought by police is described as white, in her early 20s, with long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and wearing a black vest top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

The 44-year-old victim suffered a head injury and bruising following the assault, which took place at around 1pm on July 30.

PC Geraldine Sprigg, from West Midlands Police, said: "This was an unprovoked and violent attack on a woman who had asked the driver to move her car, which was blocking the road.

"The assault took place in the middle of the day and we are asking for anyone who saw the incident or who recognises the woman driver to contact us. The woman assaulted suffered pain and discomfort following the attack and may have lost consciousness for a short time."

Anyone with information is asked to call police at Birmingham West and Central on 101 or Crimestoppers, confidentially, on 0800 555111.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Briton's Body Found After Mexico Hurricane

The body of a British woman who went missing while travelling on a yacht off the coast of Mexico has been found.

The Foreign Office confirmed one Briton had died after a search operation was launched earlier this week for couple Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood in the aftermath of Hurricane Odile.

The pair, from London and Wolverhampton, were reported missing on Friday after their yacht overturned in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

Paul Whitehouse is still missing

The couple are thought to have been living in La Paz, Mexico, for a year.

Mr Whitehouse, who is believed to be a scuba instructor, is reportedly still missing.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national, reported missing along with another British national earlier this week off the coast of Mexico.

The hurricane affected power and water supplies

"The Embassy is working with the local authorities and consular staff are providing assistance to both families at this very difficult time."

Hurricane Odile left a trail of destruction when it hit the Baja California Peninsula last Sunday.

Three other people have been confirmed dead following the storm - two Korean citizens and a German man who reportedly died from a heart attack.

More follows...

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More