Even More Third-World Britain?
UK 'not a nation of Alf Garnetts'
Warren Mitchell starred as Alf Garnett
|
The British people have a "profound sense of fairness" and are not a
nation of Alf Garnetts, immigration minister Liam Byrne has said.
But he said people also
expected new arrivals to
learn English, pay taxes and obey the law.
Mr Byrne made the comments in a speech on British
values, which he said would form the heart of immigration reforms.
Alf Garnett - a parody of a bigoted, ranting Little
Englander - featured in BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part.
The series was hugely popular in the 1960s and early
1970s, with Garnett played by actor Warren Mitchell.
The government has said
it wants to strengthen Britain's
sense of identity and spark a national debate about what it means to be
British.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7130284.stm>
Paediatrician defends his actions
Dr Southall has had a controversial career
|
Controversial
paediatrician Dr David Southall has defended himself,
saying the first priority of anyone in child protection had to be the
child.
Dr Southall was found
guilty of serious professional
misconduct and struck off the medical register this week.
The General Medical Council ruled he abused his role by
accusing a mother of drugging and murdering her son.
In his first interview since the case, he told the BBC
child protection was hard and did mean parents suffered.
But he said it was important for paediatricians and
social workers to put the child first in such cases.
I do not like to see
parents suffer, but we have to put that child's interest first
Dr David Southall
The GMC said Dr Southall had a "deep-seated attitudinal
problem".
It is the second time in three years Dr Southall has
been found guilty of serious professional misconduct.
In 2004 Dr Southall was suspended from child protection
work over his role in the case of Sally Clark, wrongly jailed over the
death of her two sons.
Dr Southall accused Mrs Clark's husband Steve of
murdering the two boys on the basis of a television interview.
He denied he had acted in that case based solely on the
TV interview.
And he also said he had
sympathy for parents, but that
experts had to put children first.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7130302.stm>
Councils told to translate less
Some street signs in central London have been
translated into Polish
|
Councils should be
able to translate fewer documents and signs into
foreign languages in future, according to new government guidelines.
Having materials
converted into other tongues
discourages some people in the UK from learning English, Communities
Secretary Hazel Blears is due to say.
And "relatively obscure" information is translated too
often, she will add.
Last year, a BBC investigation suggested local
authorities could be spending £100m annually on the process.
The BBC's Home Editor, Mark Easton, said he had been
told by the Department of Health 12 months ago that an "obligation to
translate is clearly laid out in the Race Relations Act".
But now the Department of Communities has insisted that
"there is no legal reason for all materials to be translated", our
correspondent said.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7131768.stm>
Supermarkets admit milk price fix
Sainsbury's said it was pleased to reach a
settlement.
|
Sainsbury's and Asda
have admitted fixing the price of milk and
cheese following an inquiry by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
The supermarkets, along
with a number of dairy firms,
have agreed to pay fines totalling at least £116m.
Cases against Tesco and Morrisons will continue after no
deal was struck.
The OFT said that its
evidence found that while dairy
product prices went up after the collusion, the price received by
farmers did not increase.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7132108.stm>
Panama 'dream' ends in media glare
By Andy
Gallacher
BBC News, Panama City
|
For the last three
days I have been camped outside
the small apartment in Panama City that Anne Darwin bought just six
weeks ago, and I have not been alone.
Mrs Darwin is said to have bought a city
apartment six weeks ago
|
News crews from Panama
have also been there as the story
of John Darwin, the man who was declared dead five years ago, grips the
world.
It is what people call a 'water cooler moment', one of
those stories that gets people talking, no matter where you are from or
what language you speak.
Neighbour's tale
Mrs Darwin has been keeping a very low profile here, she
has not been seen in her small apartment and there are now reports that
she may be heading back to the UK.
She has always made it clear that she would go back to
Britain at the first opportunity, a trip that now will have a far
bigger impact given newspaper reports over a photograph apparently
showing her and her husband John, here in the city last year.
According to the reports she has now admitted the
picture is genuine and is quoted as saying her life is now a nightmare.
It could be a nightmare that will only get worse in the
following days.
John Darwin is now being held by police in the North
East of England and the couple's sons have released a statement voicing
their disappointment and shock at the revelations that their father has
been alive all these years.
A neighbour in the small residential block in the heart
of Panama City, has also told the BBC that John Darwin moved here last
year.
She went on to say that the couple were looking for a
farm to buy, a dream that may now never unfold.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7131985.stm>
The trauma faced by stroke carers
By Jane
Elliott
Health reporter, BBC News
|
Carers can experience acute stress
|
When Anne Fenton's
partner, Anthony Dodd, had a
stroke she felt her world had caved in.
While he was ill, Anne
found herself unable to eat or
sleep properly.
Now scientists say Anne's
experiences are not unusual
and that carers like her can be badly affected by a loved one's stroke
and some even develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7118658.stm>
Police call emergency pay summit
Police say they are getting a pay award lower
than inflation
|
Hundreds of police
officers are holding an emergency meeting to
discuss what action they can take in their pay row.
Home Secretary Jacqui
Smith is facing mounting
pressure
over her decision not to backdate a 2.5% pay rise for police in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Some 78 MPs have signed a motion tabled by the home
affairs select committee chair, Keith Vaz, urging a rethink.
Police cannot strike, but leaders are attending a Police
Federation crisis summit to discuss their next move.
Senior Police Federation
members have sought legal
advice over possible industrial action.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7139771.stm>
Final four in £50m lottery race
Four
environmental groups are competing for £50 million of lottery
money,
the largest single amount ever awarded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Following a public
vote which closed
on 10 December, an announcement is due on who has won - the Eden
Project, sustainable transport charity Sustrans, the Sherwood Forest
Living Legends or the Black Country Urban Park. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7058438.stm>
Bright poor children 'slip back'
Social mobility has stabilised but not improved,
research suggests
|
Clever children from
poor families face being overtaken by less
bright children from affluent homes, research suggests.
The findings are part
of a study for the Sutton Trust
which says UK social mobility has not improved since 1970.
It says rich children are catching up with poorer peers
in developmental tests between ages three and five and will overtake
them by the age of seven.
The government says it is too early to say what will
happen to the young people the charity's report focuses on.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7141169.stm>
Army 'losing battalion' to drugs
The Ministry of Defence has a "zero tolerance"
towards drugs
|
The Army is
dismissing the equivalent of almost a battalion of
soldiers every year for taking drugs, a report says.
The Royal United
Services Institute said the number
of
positive tests for illegal drugs, like ecstasy and heroin, rose from
517 in 2003 to 769 last year.
Positive tests for cocaine use rose four-fold during the
same period. A dishonourable discharge is likely after a positive test
for illegal drug use.
The MoD said drug abuse
was less common among forces
personnel than civilians.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7142413.stm>
Crime victim pay-outs 'too slow'
The CICA has a backlog of 81,000 compensation
claims
|
Victims of violent
crimes are being compensated too slowly, the
National Audit Office has said.
Its report said the
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Authority took an average of 515 days to resolve cases in 2006/7 - up
from 364 days in 1998/9.
The public accounts committee chairman, Tory MP Edward
Leigh, said the service was "slowly grinding to a halt".
The CICA said it was aware of the failings and had made
"major changes" in 2006 to "improve performance".
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7143202.stm>
Flood funding 'too inconsistent'
|
Tewkesbury after the Rivers Severn and
Avon burst their banks
|
Financial aid
for parts of the country
struck by flooding this
summer was inconsistent and hastily put together, a public spending
watchdog has said.
The Audit
Commission said the support came
quickly, but it was poorly targeted and not good value for money.
The proportion of the £250m cost of the
floods met by local authorities ranged from 3% to 73%, the watchdog
said.
The government welcomed the praise for its
rapid response but disagreed with the wider analysis of the report.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7143711.stm>
|
Flatulent cow puts wind up locals
A smoke machine ensures the cow emits its gas at
set times
|
A mechanical cow
that breaks wind on the hour has become Edinburgh's
latest tourist attraction.
The bovine backside has
been attached to the side of
the Rowan Tree pub in the city's historic Old Town.
It lifts its tail and shoots out a cloud of white smoke
at passers-by throughout the day.
Pub landlord Norrie Rowan, a former Scotland
international rugby star, said the cow was becoming as popular with
tourists as nearby Greyfriars Bobby.
It was installed on the side of the pub earlier this
year, but the mechanics that allow it to break wind at 1100 GMT, noon
and 1300 GMT are a new addition.
A dry ice machine ensures the flatulent beast is regular
and helps locals keep track of time in a similar way to the city's
famous One O'clock Gun.
Mr Rowan said the cow was a bit of fun that had already
become a popular landmark in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh.
He added: "The cow is already famous around Edinburgh
and I get hundreds of tourists coming by and taking pictures of it."
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7145026.stm>
Drama as inquest sees Diana letters
By Peter Hunt
Royal correspondent, BBC News
|
Countess Raine Spencer lifted her veil to give
evidence.
|
"Diana was deeply
and blissfully in love with Dodi".
This could have
been a headline in a gossip magazine. In fact it was uttered in a court
of law.
The speaker was Raine,
Countess of Spencer, who was
dressed in black from head to toe. She lifted her veil before entering
the witness box.
She had been transformed, during Diana's life, from
wicked stepmother to close confidante.
The daughter of Barbara Cartland and employee of
Mohammed Al Fayed said she felt it was highly likely Diana and Dodi
would have become engaged and then got married.
When asked whether the princess would have allowed
herself to become pregnant outside wedlock, her reply could have been
inspired by one of her mother's novels.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/71454>
German market fills Birmingham coffers
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News, Birmingham
|
Illuminated Santas spin on top of one of the
cosy gluehwein stalls
|
Germany is the
leading "brand" in Christmas markets,
with UK tour operators increasingly offering cheap flight and package
deals to the home of gluehwein and bratwurst for British shoppers.
Both those staples
feature hugely at any seasonal market
in Germany.
But for UK consumers who prefer to savour the taste and
experience a little bit closer to home, a number of UK cities are
getting in on the act.
One of the longest-established is the Frankfurt
Christmas market in Birmingham, which began in 2001 with 22 stalls and
has since expanded to more than 90.
The city's organisers claim it is the largest authentic
German market outside Germany or Austria, bringing major benefits to
the city coffers and industry every year.
And having been at a Christmas market in Germany
recently, I can vouch that Birmingham has everything and more -
authentic sausages, beer, breads, stews, chestnuts, sweets, chocolates,
pretzels, tin toys, ceramic gifts, jewellery and a host of other
products.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7140044.stm>
Banks 'prey on customers in debt'
Some people are agreeing to make payments they
cannot afford
|
Banks are being
accused of pressurising customers who have financial
problems to take out expensive loans to try to ease their debts, the
BBC has learned.
Some banks are
repeatedly telephoning customers to
try
to get them to take out costly loans, against the advice of debt
charities.
Citizens Advice said it had received many complaints
about the increasingly aggressive tactics being used.
Banks say interest rate charges are up to them.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7145579.stm>
Navigating the Diploma conundrum
Ministers wanted to make Diplomas more appealing
to universities
|
They are "the
biggest development in examinations
anywhere in the world".
More than that, as the first major qualification and
curriculum reform ever designed to be "led by employers", they are
unique.
This description of the new Diplomas, due to start in
England in just nine months' time, came from Ken Boston, the
government's chief qualifications and curriculum advisor.
He was, appropriately, addressing the National
Educational Business Partnership (NEBP) Network conference, the body
that acts as a dating agency between employers and schools.
And, judging by the latest progress report on the
Diplomas from the National Audit Office (NAO), the importance of that
message still needs a lot of reinforcing with employers.
Because in its report on preparation for the Diplomas,
the NAO concluded this week that the low level of involvement of
employers is one of the biggest threats to the success of the new
qualifications.
Employers have been
given the keys to the secret garden of curriculum reform. But will they
use them?
Specifically it warns
that "engaging employers is the
least developed aspect of most partnerships".
All these local partnerships of schools, colleges and
education authorities are supposed to involve employers in developing
their plans for education for 14 to 19-year-olds.
Yet the NAO says 45% of them have not yet done so.
Why does it matter? Well, in purely practical terms, it
matters because work placements with businesses are essential to the
Diplomas.
The NAO says two-thirds of the partnerships had
encountered difficulties arranging the required 10 days of work
experience.
But more fundamentally, the Diplomas are supposed to be
"employer-led qualifications".
Work-related learning is meant to be at the heart of the
new curriculum and the Diplomas are meant to bridge academic and
practical learning.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7144538.stm>
Man's flood death was accidental
A coroner has
highlighted "gaps" in
provision for emergency
underwater rescues at an inquest into the death of a man who died in
the summer floods.
Michael Barnett's thigh
became wedged in a temporary
grille on a storm drain as the floods rose in Hull on 25 June.
Returning a verdict of accidental death, the inquest
jury said Mr Barnett, 28, had acted "selflessly" by offering to clear
the drain.
Coroner Geoffrey Saul said 999 crews had no underwater
rescue capacity.
 |
 Neither the fire
service, the police nor the ambulance service have an underwater rescue
capability 
|
In returning his verdict, the jury foreman said Mr
Barnett died when "in a selfless act to help others and without thought
for his own safety, he became trapped in a flooded drain".
After the verdict, Mr Saul said he would be writing to
the appropriate national authorities to report the "gap" in emergency
services provision for underwater rescue.
"It has become clear that
neither the fire service, the
police nor the ambulance service have an underwater rescue capability,"
he said.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/humber/7144248.stm>
Man who tried to save baby dies
Flowers and soft toys have been left at the scene
|
A 27-year-old man
who tried to save a toddler who died in a house
fire in Leeds has also died from his wounds.
Fifteen-month-old Kyra
Moran died in St James's
Hospital
after the fire at a house on Dufton Approach, Seacroft, in the early
hours of Thursday.
The fire is believed by police to have been an arson
attack. They have questioned a 22-year-old woman on suspicion of
murder.
Kyra's mother left
hospital earlier on Friday.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/7145257.stm>
ID sites 'aid underage drinkers'
|
|
By Chris Page
BBC Radio Five Live Report
BBC researcher Elaine Hewitt was able to
order a fake "driving permit"
|
Underage drinkers are making use of
websites which churn out
false
driving documents and proof-of-age cards for as little as £10
each, the
BBC has found.
A simple search
reveals a huge number of
websites selling "100% convincing" fake IDs "guaranteed to fool
anyone".
The sites carry
legal disclaimers stating the
cards are "novelty" products, not copies of official IDs.
But youth workers
told Radio Five Live Report
they believe the cards are being marketed to underage drinkers.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7144972.stm>
|
'Why were my babies too early?'
By Jane
Elliott
Health reporter, BBC News
|
Violet was born 10 weeks premature
|
Victoria Shiells has
two healthy little girls - but
she knows it could so easily have been a different story.
For Chloe, now six, was
born nine weeks prematurely and
her little sister Violet was born 10 weeks early.
Experts are currently studying why women like Victoria
give birth so early.
Around 43,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK
every year, which is a major cause of infant death.
Health implications
Studies have shown that
nearly half of extremely
premature babies who survive develop a disability or learning
difficulty.
Another third develop mild impairments, such as the need
to wear glasses by the time they reach six years old - double the
average rate.
At present doctors have
no idea why one in three
premature babies are born early - and the problem is becoming more
pressing as more and more babies are being born before the full 39-week
term.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7119330.stm>
'No cover-up' on lost driver data
|
Mr Ladyman had left office before the
investigation had finished.
|
The minister
who knew that millions of drivers' records had gone
missing in the US said he assumed his successor would hear about a
probe into the loss.
Stephen Ladyman was
transport minister in May
when the
details, including names, addresses and phone numbers on a computer
hard drive disappeared.
Asked why the
public was only told on Monday,
he said: "I assumed the new minister would've been told about it.
"It doesn't look
like a cover up to me - it
looks like one of those things."
Mr Ladyman spoke
out to defend his role a day
after
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly appeared before the Commons to reveal
that the details of three million candidates for the driving theory
test had gone missing. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7149271.stm>
|
Holiday firm collapse hits 40,000
|
Travelscope Holidays was established 15 years ago
|
As many as 40,000
holidaymakers have
been hit by the collapse of a
travel company, with many Christmas and New Year trips cancelled.
About 10,000 people
were due to travel over the
festive
period, and 30,000 next year, with Gloucester-based Travelscope
Holidays.
All will have the full cost of their holidays refunded,
administrators said.
More than 200 people are likely to lose their jobs and
the firm's boss said he "deeply regretted" what had happened.
Managing director Richard Ford said he had held off
putting the business into administration until he had paid all the
staff their December wages.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7157085.stm>
Queen launches YouTube channel
Old and new clips can be viewed on the site
|
The Queen has
launched her own channel on the video-sharing website
YouTube.
The Royal Channel will
feature her Christmas Day
message, and has recent and historical footage of the monarch and other
members of the Royal Family.
The launch marks the 50th anniversary of the Queen's
first televised festive address in 1957.
The palace said it hoped
the site would make the
81-year-old monarch's annual speech "more accessible to younger people
and those in other countries".
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7157947.stm>
UK arms sales to 'respectable' Iraq
In light of the
subsequent history of Iraq, it seems
almost unthinkable that 30 years ago Britain sold millions of pounds of
military equipment to the country's Baathist government.
Saddam Hussein (left) took power from Gen
al-Bakr (centre) in 1979
|
Foreign Office papers,
just released by the National
Archives in London, show that defence sales to Iraq in 1976 amounted to
an estimated £70m.
At this time, Saddam Hussein was the de facto leader of
Iraq - taking on a more prominent role than the ageing president, Gen
Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr - before formally taking power in 1979.
The documents show that, in 1976 and 1977, a variety of
equipment was sold to Iraq, including 20 Cymbeline mortar-locating
radar - at a cost of £11m - combat support boats, and £7.4m
of weapons
effects simulators.
Big contracts for Dennis fire fighting-vehicles and fuel
tankers were also secured.
And incredibly, Iraq paid Britain £500,000 to
train Iraqi pilots.
The papers also suggest
that, in 1977, six Iraqi
soldiers were trained at Sandhurst, where Princes William and Harry
subsequently underwent their military training.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7156645.stm>
TUC head targets 'soar-away rich'
Brendan Barber predicted "resentment" in the
public sector
|
A union leader has
called for greater equality in society, saying
the "soar-away super-rich" are becoming cut off from the rest.
Low pay for public
sector workers could also cause
"simmering resentment", TUC general secretary Brendan Barber warned in
his New Year message.
He urged more help for workers "at the bottom", faster
progress on ending child poverty and fairer workplaces.
Mr Barber said tax loopholes should be closed so the
rich pay a "fair share".
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7162375.stm>
Cosmetic surgery deals criticised
Demand for cosmetic surgery procedures is soaring
|
Cosmetic surgery
clinics are rushing people into major procedures by
offering limited time money-off deals, according to consumer magazine
Which?
Which? says it has
found eight clinics that it claims
are breaking industry rules by "pressure advertising".
One is offering a £500 discount on breast
enlargement if the operation is carried out by the end of December.
Industry guidelines state that cosmetic surgery clinics
"must not offer discounts linked to a deadline date".
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7162450.stm>
Jail threat proposed over visas
Relatives could take responsibility for
visitors, a report says
|
Relatives of
foreigners who outstay their visas could face
imprisonment, under plans put to the Conservatives.
Shadow immigration
minister Damian Green said a named
sponsor could take "legal responsibility" for making sure visitors
return home.
He said this would speed up the system, allowing people
from outside the EU to go to events like weddings more easily,
The government is looking at plans to make relatives pay
a bond of £1,000 to ensure visitors do not outstay visas.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7162781.stm>
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Managing
Director