Foot-and-mouth in sheep suspected
Initial blood tests on sheep suggest a new case of foot-and-mouth disease, the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said last night.
The affected livestock are from a farm within the protection zone in Surrey.
All animals on the farm are to be slaughtered, and further tests are to be
carried out.
The suspected case comes just as the latest outbreak appeared to have been
contained. Farmers outside the stricken area were permitted to start taking
their animals for slaughter again over the weekend after Defra relaxed
transport restrictions.
Until last night, no further instances of the disease had been reported since
slaughtered cattle were found to be infected at two farms near Egham last
week.
Scientists are still trying to identify which strain of the virus is behind
the suspected new outbreak, although experts have indicated that it is
likely to be the same as that found in animals that were culled last month
at the village of Normandy, near Guildford.
MoD apologises
The Ministry of Defence has apologised for the absence of Des Browne, the
Defence Secretary, at a service marking the Battle of Britain. Gerald
Howarth, the Shadow Defence Minister, and the Rev Ian Paisley were among
those at the event to honour the 1,441 pilots killed or injured in 1940.
Partner stabbed while he slept
A mother of two who went to bed with a knife and a pair of scissors and killed
her abusive partner the next morning, was convicted of manslaughter.
Samantha West, 35, was originally charged with murder. She was jailed for
four years at Bristol Crown Court for killing Simon Bendle.
Call to increase autism funding
Funding for the treatment of autism is “totally inadequate”, researchers say.
New Philanthropy Capital, which advises charitable donors, says the
Government spends £3.70 per head each year on people with autism, compared
with £1,000 per head on cancer patients.
Death fall from church tower
Rebecca Wigley, 57, who had been the treasurer of St Giles’ Church, in
Whittington, Staffordshire, for 15 years, died after falling from its tower.
Staffordshire police were not treating the death as suspicious. The Rev John
Martin said: “Becky was much-loved.”
Smashed piano replaced by gift
A small music festival whose piano was dropped by removals men has been
offered an £85,000 replacement. The piano makers Bosendorf took pity on the
Two Moors Festival in Devon after seeing images of their concert grand
smashing to the ground.
Father’s tip-off leads to life term
Stephen Browning, 31, was jailed for life at Bradford Crown Court for the
murder of Susan Grundy, in Bridlington, in January. Browning attacked Mrs
Grundy, 56, and stole her handbag close to her home. His father contacted
police after recognising CCTV images of his son.
Churches fight cluster bombs
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United
Reformed Church say British forces must not use “inhumane” cluster bombs.
They want David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to support an international
ban on such weapons.
Motorist sounds off over repairs
A disgruntled motorist has set up a website, Hoottheroadworks.com, giving
finishing dates of road repairs in every English region. He urges drivers to
sound their horns at workers who have missed deadlines, to “teach”
contractors an “annoying lesson”.
Party faithful to get Harman rallying call
Harriet Harman has won a power struggle to secure a prime speaking slot at the
Labour conference next week amid efforts to shorten ministers’ platform
speeches (Greg Hurst writes).
Ms Harman resisted attempts to axe the rallying speech that closes the
conference, insisting that she fill the slot as party chairman and deputy
leader. Some doubted her suitability for the tub-thumping oratory to send
delegates home with fire in their bellies, upon which John Prescott prided
himself during his 12 years as deputy leader. Rather than snubbing her by
asking someone else to close the Bournemouth conference, organisers
considered changing the format. “They could have done something a bit
different, but she absolutely insisted on filling Prescott’s shoes,” a party
source said.
Ms Harman’s victory means that she will be one of the few politicians able to
give full-length speeches. Most ministers have strict instructions to speak
for no more than seven minutes, often while opening or closing debates or
during question-and-answer sessions.
Tory equal pay plans
Companies found guilty of paying women less than men for similar jobs will be
forced to conduct “pay audits” of their workforce under plans unveiled by
the Tories. David Cameron said that his party was prepared to go farther on
the policy issue than the Government, which rejected the idea last year.
32-county party
Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister, said that Fianna Fail, the republican
party founded by Eamon de Valera, intends to organise in Northern Ireland
for the first time. His announcement came amid renewed talk of a merger
between Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists and the Ulster Unionist Party.
Education pays
British education is a more lucrative export than the declining car industry,
according to figures. Foreign students learning in Britain helped to boost
the value of the education sector to £28 billion in 2003-04. That figure
beats exports of food and drink (£9.4 billion), and the automotive industry
(£20 billion).
Pigs free of disease
Pigs tested for foot-and-mouth in the Surrey surveillance zone have so far
been found free of the disease. The pigs were from Stroude Farm, Virginia
Water, where cattle were confirmed with the disease on Friday. Infected pigs
breathe out large quantities of the virus, which can be carried on the wind.
Sex Pistols are back
The surviving members of the Sex Pistols, the pioneering punk band, are to
reunite for a tour to mark the 30th anniversary of their sole studio album,
Never Mind the Bollocks. The singer and guitarist Johnny Rotten will rejoin
Steve Jones, guitarist, Paul Cook, drummer, and Glen Matlock, bassist.
