Immigrant senticed
Britain is to be actively promoted by the Government as a destination for
migrants who will fill skills shortages in the economy, the Home Office said
yesterday (Richard Ford writes).
Entrepreneurs and trade-related businesses will be encouraged to head for
Britain, while the existing Indian and Chinese communities are to be helped
to expand trade with the two countries. A Home Office paper said that
promoting Britain would be necessary in a world in which there would be
increasing competition for migrants and tourists.
Home smoking ban
Smokers in Liverpool are to be asked not to light up in their own homes to
protect council staff. Health and safety officers at Liverpool City Council
have drawn up plans to urge residents not to smoke at least half an hour
before or during home visits to limit their staff’s exposure to secondhand
smoke.
Detective admits intelligence leak
A former Special Branch detective who became a leading Scotland Yard expert on
Islamic extremism has admitted passing secret information to a newspaper
(Stewart Tendler writes).
Thomas Lund-Lack, who worked in counter-terrorism command, was told by a judge
at the Old Bailey that he could go to jail after he pleaded guilty to
leaking an intelligence report on terrorism to The Sunday Times.
The leaked report was understood to have formed the basis for an article
published in April and was a quarterly review of the international terror
threat to Britain. The review cautioned that al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq,
backed by supporters in Iran, were planning large-scale attacks on Britain
and the West, according to the newspaper.
Edward Henry, for the defence, said that Lund-Lack was “bewildered and full of
regret”. Lund-Lack, 59, from Stowmarket, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to
misconduct in a public place. Sentencing will take place next month.
Poverty report
More than one million children live in “severe poverty” with household incomes
of less than £134 a week, says a new report from Save the Children. The
charity suggests seasonable payments to help families suffering from severe
poverty cope with expensive times of the year, such as the winter.
‘Confusion’ in arts
The Government is failing to support the creative industries, such as film,
music and the performing arts, because it does not understand how they work,
a report by Demos, a think-tank, suggests. It said that “predetermined
formulae and templates” had caused “confusion and irritation” and that
support must be devolved.
Monet makes £18m
A Claude Monet painting from his series of views of the Thames sold for £17.9
million at Christie’s in London. Waterloo Bridge (1904), painted from his
room in the Savoy Hotel, captures the bridge in the morning sun. A second
Monet painting, Les arceaux de roses, Giverny (1913), sold for £8.9 million.
Cleared judge could face more questions
The senior judge cleared last week of exposing himself on a train will be back
at work tomorrow sitting in the Court of Appeal – amid reports that two
other women have alleged that he flashed at them (Frances Gibb writes).
Lord Justice Richards, 56, may face further police questioning after two more
women came forward with claims that he exposed himself to them on the same
route. It is understood that one alleged victim is from New Zealand. The
other is thought to be a British woman working in the City.
A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “It is not unusual,
particularly with high-profile cases, that people come forward.”
Frostbite ‘cure’
A drug normally given after a heart attack or stroke could help to treat
frostbite, a study has indicated. Doctors at the University of Utah report
in Archives of Surgery that people with frostbite had a far greater chance
of avoiding amputation if treated with tissue plasminogen activator, an
anticlotting agent.
Madeleine theft
A woman who made a bogus collection for the fund to help find Madeleine McCann
has pleaded guilty to theft. Debbie Clifton, 33, of Cannock, Staffordshire,
admitted taking £2.70 from an elderly women in a door-to-door collection.
She was remanded in custody to reappear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on
July 9.
Ticket for samaritan
A man who saw a man mugging a woman outside a court leapt out of his car to
give chase, and was rewarded with a parking ticket. The man, believed to be
a barrister, was driving past Maidstone Crown Court in Kent when he heard
screaming. He lost track of the thief, then on his return found a £60
penalty ticket.
Benn puts pressure on private equity
Hilary Benn stoked up pressure in Labour’s ranks for action to curb the
private equity sector yesterday as campaigning to be the party’s deputy
leader reached its final lap (Greg Hurst writes).
Amid speculation that Land Rover and Jaguar may be sold by Ford to private
equity firms, Mr Benn said that private equity groups must show social
responsibility: “Some people are doing very well for themselves, I think we
should ask them what they are giving back to society.”
He was careful to say that private equity played an important role in the
economy and he did not join the call for its tax concessions to end. But his
speech will be seen as new evidence of the party turning in on itself as
candidates appeal to left-wing members.
Eligible members of trade unions have until Thursday to vote for Labour’s next
deputy leader. The deadline for party members and MPs is Friday.
Council merger hitch
Ruth Kelly’s plan to merge more than 50 smaller councils into unitary
authorities faced its first big setback yesterday after a High Court ruling
(Jill Sherman writes).
Ms Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is
facing a High Court challenge by three councils threatened with the axe:
Congleton, Shrewsbury and Atcham, and Harrogate. All three claim that she
does not have the power to consult on her plans before the local government
Bill becomes law. Yesterday Mr Justice King ruled that the councils had an
“arguable” case.
NAO chief cleared
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office was last night cleared of
wrongdoing after spending £336,000 on globetrotting trips (Jill Sherman
writes).
Sir John came under attack last month when it emerged that he had made at
least 43 journeys abroad at the taxpayer’s expense over three years. His
wife accompanied him on 22 trips, at a cost to the public purse of £76,000.
An investigation by the Public Accounts Commission found “no evidence of
impropriety” and that Sir John had acted “in accordance with the existing
rules”.
Right to roam coast
Gordon Brown is being urged to open up public access to beaches, clifftops and
coastline as his first gift to the nation when he becomes Prime Minister
(Valerie Elliott writes). The plea from the Ramblers’ Association coincides
with a Government consultation begun today.
David Miliband, the Environment Secretary,will walk along the coastal path at
the White Cliffs of Dover to promote the campaign. Compensation to
landowners is not addressed in the document, though any important wildlife
habitats will remain protected.
Children to decide bullies’ punishment
Pupils will soon be able to sentence their peers to a week’s hard labour under
government plans to allow children to devise suitable punishments for school
bullies (Alexandra Frean writes).
The involvement of pupils would ensure that sanctions were fair, the
Department for Education and Skills said. “For cases of low-level bullying,
you could imagine that the school council could decide that a week’s worth
of litter collection would be a suitable way of administering natural
justice. Using peers in this way to deal with bullies can be very
effective,” a spokesman for the department said.
It was unlikely that pupils would be involved in deciding punishments for the
most severe offences. Guidance on bullying, to be published in September,
will suggest “safe rooms” for victims of bullying and that schools identify
“hot spots” where it is prevalent.
Victims named
The five Britons who died in a plane crash in Malawi on Saturday have been
named. Daniel Turnberg, 37, the son of Lord Turnberg of Cheadle; Nigel
Clout, 53, a company director; Dawn Rollins, 44, and her husband Colin
Smith, 45; and David Murrell, 45, were taking a sightseeing trip as part of
a cycling holiday.
Faulty asthma gene
A gene defect linked to eczema also appears to worsen asthma, scientists from
the University of Dundee have found. Normal genes produce the protein
filaggrin, found in the skin. “Leaky skin” allows foreign substances to
enter, prompting an immune response that leads to allergic reactions in the
lungs.
Tax evasion hearing
Britain’s biggest tax evader faces being stripped of his £100 million fortune.
Ian Leaf, 52, from Denham, Berkshire, who is serving a jail sentence for
fraud, is accused of hiding money made from real and fictional companies. He
claims he now has only £200,000. The hearing, at Southwark Crown Court,
continues.
Racists jailed
Three men were jailed at Carlisle Crown Court for joining a racist mob that
terrorised a Portuguese family in Carlisle after England’s World Cup defeat
by Portugal last July. Mark Lowther, 21, and Jonathan Waugh, 30, were jailed
for a year while Grant Stewart, 26, was jailed for 15 months.
Spaghetti junction
A Dutch driver who steered with his knees while he ate spaghetti from a
saucepan was jailed for eight weeks by Prestatyn magistrates for dangerous
driving in his lefthand-drive lorry in North Wales. Martin Veens, 30, was
banned for a year and must take an extended test before driving an HGV
again.
Re: Home smoking ban
If Liverpool City Council are able to stop residents from smoking in their own homes to protect Council workers, sooner or later smokers won't be able to get any work done in their homes at all. Companies and other public services will not wish to inflict tobacco smoke on staff and therefore these services will be denied on health grounds.
Karen de Silva, Purton Stoke, Wiltshire