Top Tories fear vote on EU membership
Gordon Brown could trump calls for a referendum on the EU treaty by offering a
vote on Britain’s membership of the European Union, senior Tories fear
(Francis Elliott writes).
David Cameron warned the Prime Minister last night that voters would see
through a move that would force the Tories to join Labour to campaign to
keep Britain in the EU. A vote on Britain’s membership, a Lib Dem policy,
would split the Tories.
Speaking in Berlin, Mr Cameron said: “Labour has to understand the people were
offered a vote on the constitution. If they offer a different vote, people
will think even less of them than they do now.” The Tory leader’s visit to
Germany was in part intended to disprove Mr Brown’s claim that he is without
friends in Europe.
Prisoner’s damages
The Prison Service is facing a multi-million-pound payout to a former prisoner
who was left severely brain damaged in 1997 after falling from an upper bunk
bed during an epileptic fit. At the High Court, Mr Justice Mackay ruled that
staff at Brixton Prison had been negligent towards Ryan St George, 39.
BA bans surfboards
British Airways is refusing to reverse its decision to ban surfboards as
check-in baggage from all their flights from next month despite a claim from
the British Surfing Association that it will affect members of British
surfing teams. The ban even covers short Mini Mal surfboards weighing just
4kg (8½lb).
Travel expenses call
MPs must release a breakdown of their travel expenses by mode of transport
after an appeal against a ruling under the Freedom of Information Act was
withdrawn by the House of Commons. MPs will also have to release information
about expenses that were claimed for their spouses.
‘Too few’ new homes
The Government’s plan for 3 million new homes by 2020 will not solve the
housing crisis, its advisers said. Instead of 240,000 homes a year, houses
should be built at a rate of at least 270,000 by 2016, bringing the total to
3.25 million homes by 2020, the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
said.
Boy dies on Snowdon
An 11-year-old boy died after falling 100ft (30m) while walking with members
of his family on Snowdon. The youngster, from the Liverpool area, suffered
serious head injuries when he slipped and tumbled down the exposed Crib Goch
ridge. He was pronounced dead at Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor.
Web catches BBC
In the latest group of employees to be caught out by Facebook, it has been
revealed that of those affiliated to the BBC with profiles on the social
networking site, 1,340 class themselves as having “liberal” views compared
with 120 with a “conservative” attitude, according to research by conservativehome.com.
Prince Philip ‘has heart condition’
The Duke of Edinburgh, 86, has had a secret heart condition for 15 years and
is at risk of having a heart attack at any time, it was claimed yesterday.
The London Evening Standard, reported that he took medication for the
condition. Royal sources said that there was no indication he was suffering
from ill-health. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Bird protection scheme at risk
Police and wildlife groups fear that a “remarkably effective” bird
registration scheme which prevents rare species being stolen from the wild
and passed off as bred in captivity could be scrapped by ministers to cut
costs (Lewis Smith writes). Eagles dare, page 39
Escort agency chief cleared
Steven Drew, 51, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and four others who together
banked more than £2 million in 2005 from their Silk and Lace escort agency
business have been cleared at Southwark Crown Court on charges of conspiring
to control prostitution.
Six months for terror manual
A teenage Muslim has been sentenced to six months’ youth detention for having
an explosives manual. Abdul Patel, 18, of Clapton, East London, was found
guilty at the Old Bailey last month of having the guide to explosive
devices, likely to be useful for terrorism.
Tenor conscious after surgery
The popular tenor Russell Watson was in a stable condition after having a
brain tumour removed at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Cheshire. The
singer was able to eat a little and speak to his two daughters. It was his
second tumour. The first was removed by surgery in London last year.
Death crash driver jailed
A drunk driver who killed a man who was walking home in the middle of the road
has been jailed for three years at Cardiff Crown Court. David Sivell, 21, of
Elan Valley, Rhayader, Mid-Wales, was more than double the drink-drive limit
when he hit Stuart Jarvis, 35.
ENO’s Carmen to go online
English National Opera’s new production of Bizet’s Carmen is to be streamed
online, the first time a UK opera house has shown a full production on the
net. It will be video streamed on the BBC Radio 3 website on November 3 at
6.30pm and be available for seven days.
Divorce for Lloyd Webber
The cellist Julian Lloyd Webber has divorced for the third time. The
56-year-old brother of Andrew Lloyd Webber was granted a decree nisi at the
High Court in London after his third wife, Kheira, had admitted unreasonable
behaviour.
Funding inadequate for Services’ housing
The Ministry of Defence has admitted that one third of accommodation for
unmarried members of the Armed Forces will still be of the poorest quality
in six years’ time, despite a pledge of £5 billion to improve housing
conditions for servicemen and women (Michael Evans writes).
Figures reveal the sum will not be enough to upgrade all the single-living
accommodation by 2013. within the timescale announced by the MoD.
The quality of Armed Forces’ housing has become one of the biggest issues
facing the Government, with Commons select committees and senior military
commanders berating the MoD for the sub-standard accommodation, and for an
“alarming lack of recognition at senior levels” that there was a serious
problem.
Downloads in top 75
Music sold as downloads on USB memory sticks will count towards the rundown of
the top 75 bestselling albums, compiled by the Official UK Charts Company,
from next week. The move comes after record companies decided to release hit
albums on the flash drives, selling for as little as £5, to boost sales.
Boxer must face court
Amir Khan, the boxer, was warned that he will be arrested if he does not
attend court next week after he failed to appear before a district judge in
Rochdale, Greater Manchester, for a pretrial review. He is accused of
driving at 140mph on the M62 near Rochdale last New Year’s Eve.
Former soldier jailed
A former soldier has been jailed for three years after he urinated on a dying
woman. Anthony Anderson, 27, appeared before Teesside Crown Court charged
with outraging public decency over his treatment of Christine Lakinski, 50,
when she collapsed with pancreatic failure in Hartlepool last July.
Another role for Alfie
The brother of the singer Lily Allen who was immortalised in her hit single
Alfie is to star in a revival of the play Equus. Alfie Allen, 21, will take
the lead role played earlier this year by Daniel Radcliffe, the Harry Potter
actor, as a disturbed youngster who blinds horses. He has previously starred
in the film Atonement.
