October 15, 2011, 7:36 pm
![Consumer confidence lifted by rates]()
Consumer confidence is on the up thanks to expectations that interest rates will remain low for at least six months, according to a survey.
The Bank of England's base rate of interest has been at just 0.5% for the past two-and-a-half years.
The proportion of homeowners fearing an increase in their mortgage rate has decreased from 49, which has helped boost confidence, up by 0.8 in January.
Liberum Capital, which carried out the survey, said that it was the third increase in confidence it had registered since the start of the year.
The slightly rosier outlook has allowed consumers to continue going to the pub, eating out and betting, it said.
Simon Irwin, Liberum Capital retail research analyst, said: "With all the gloom and misery of the debt crisis, it's great to see that British people have not given up on enjoying themselves and are still enjoying the small niceties of life such as their local."
The research also found that most Britons do not want the country to stump up money for a hypothetical Eurozone bailout.
Just 11% said they would support UK participation in a rescue fund for the troubled monetary union, with 62% saying they would not support such an action.
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![EU summit crucial to solving crisis]()
Eurozone leaders must take "impressive" action next weekend to get a grip on the crisis wracking the global economy, George Osborne said.
The Chancellor insisted the EU summit in Brussels would be a crucial moment in finding a "solution" to the problems.
He also indicated that Britain would be open to providing more money to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - but not if it was only used to prop up the struggling single currency area.
The comments came after finance ministers from the powerful G20 countries held talks in Paris.
The eurozone has set up a European financial stability facility (EFSF) worth 440 billion euro (£384bn).
But many economists believe a fund of around two trillion euro (£1.75 trillion) will be needed fully to reassure anxious investors that banks would survive defaults by heavily indebted countries such as Greece and Italy. Final decisions are not likely to be taken until the main G20 meeting in Cannes next month.
However, there are hopes that the EU summit on October 23 will make significant progress on expanding the EFSF, as well as hammering out plans for a major write-down of Greek debt and a re-capitalisation of weaker banks.
Mr Osborne said: "We have heard from eurozone colleagues the action they are working on, but I think they will have left Paris under no misunderstanding that there is a huge amount of pressure on them to deliver a solution to the crisis," he told journalists in Paris. "It remains the epicentre of the world's current economic problems. And the European Council is clearly the moment when people are expecting something quite impressive."
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he had heard "encouraging things from our European colleagues in Paris about a new comprehensive plan to deal with the crisis on the continent".
A statement issued at the end of the G20 meeting said ministers were "committed that the IMF must have adequate resources".
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Funds plea from poison spy widow]()
The widow of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko has launched an appeal for donations to help her expose her husband's murderers at the inquest into his death.
Marina Litvinenko said her legal costs for the inquest, which is set to consider claims that the Russian state was behind the former KGB spy's assassination, were likely to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Mr Litvinenko, 43, fell ill shortly after drinking tea during a meeting at a West End hotel with former KGB contacts and died of radioactive polonium-210 poisoning in London's University College Hospital on November 23 2006.
St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid indicated on Thursday that the dissident's inquest should be wide-ranging and announced he was asking the Metropolitan Police and intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 to carry out further inquiries.
Mrs Litvinenko appealed to the public in Britain, Russia and around the world for assistance in funding her legal battle to discover what really happened to her husband.
She said in a statement: "I am prepared to do whatever it takes to find the truth about the unprecedented act of nuclear terrorism that killed Sasha (Alexander) Litvinenko and endangered the lives of thousands of my fellow Londoners.
"To judge from inquests of similar complexity, such as those into the deaths of Princess Diana and the victims of the 7/7 bombings, these hearings may last weeks, if not months. At the very least, my legal costs are likely to run into six figures.
"In these proceedings the evidence collected by the Metropolitan Police will be weighed against the story presented by Sasha's accused murderer and his sponsors, with the unlimited resources of the Russian state at their disposal. I am sure that my legal team is the best in the world, but the reality is that compared to my adversaries I am severely constrained. This I why I am appealing to the public for help."
The UK's relations with Russia soured after the murder of Mr Litvinenko, who had accused Russian security services of carrying out terror attacks to help bring Vladimir Putin to power.
British prosecutors have named fellow ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoy as the main suspect in the dissident's killing, but the Russian authorities have repeatedly refused to send him to face trial in the UK. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev insisted during Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to Moscow last month that Mr Lugovoy - now a Russian MP - would never be extradited to Britain.
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Soldier shot dead in Afghanistan]()
A British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.
The soldier, from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was shot dead in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand province.
Next of kin have been informed.
Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with great sadness that I announce that a soldier from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed during operations with Afghan Police partners to extend security in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand.
"Whilst protecting a checkpoint, his team came under insurgent small arms fire, during which he received a fatal gunshot wound.
"The thoughts and prayers of all those serving in Helmand are with his family at this very difficult time."
The death takes to 383 the number of British forces personnel or MoD civilians killed while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.
The last British serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan was Royal Marine David Fairbrother, 24, of Blackburn, Lancashire, who was shot dead after his patrol was ambushed in southern Afghanistan.
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Miliband call for energy bill cuts]()
Energy firms should use soaring profits to cut "crippling" bills for consumers, Ed Miliband insisted.
The Labour leader highlighted figures this week that suggested power companies were currently making the equivalent of £125 per customer per year - up from just £15 in June.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Mr Miliband warned that rising electric and gas prices were going to cause a "huge winter squeeze on the finances of families and the elderly".
He hit out at Prime Minister David Cameron for merely convening a Downing Street summit on Monday to discuss the issue.
"Ministers in suits around a table in a warm room will do nothing to persuade people that Mr Cameron and this Tory-led government understands the realities of families struggling to pay the bills," the Opposition leader wrote.
"All the big six energy firms have seen their profits rise sharply this year. On Friday, Ofgem said the profit margin for energy companies has risen to £125 per customer per year - up from £15 in June.
"There is nothing to stop those power companies giving up those profits. Instead of an improved bottom line they could use this extra money to stop crippling price rises."
Mr Miliband pointed to the decision by SSE to sell its energy on the open market, rather than merely to its own supplier arms.
He said that was part of the "fundamental reshaping of the energy market" he demanded in his party conference speech last month.
"At present 80% of people pay too much for their energy," Mr Miliband said. "If the few big, dominant firms were forced to sell the power they generate to any retailer, companies such as supermarkets could come into the market."
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Stock exchange occupation blocked]()
Anti-capitalist protests that started with the Occupy Wall Street movement on Saturday spread to London and other cities.
Thousands of people descended on the area around the London Stock Exchange in a bid to replicate the huge demonstrations which have been taking place in New York.
A spokesman for the protesters said: "We are doing this to challenge the bankers and the financial institutions which recklessly gambled our economy. This occupation and 20 other occupations all around the UK have been directly inspired by what's happening all across America and especially Wall Street."
Activists had planned to take over Paternoster Square, where the Stock Exchange is located, but police cordoned off the area. Instead, protesters returned to their previous position in front of St Paul's Cathedral.
As night fell, they announced their intention to set up a campsite in St Paul's Churchyard, putting up tents and portaloos on one side of the square. However, Scotland Yard made it clear police would not allow the campsite in front of the cathedral, saying such a move would be "illegal and disrespectful".
The force said they had made efforts to ensure the protest was largely peaceful. Three arrests were made - two for assault on police and one for a public order offence.
Well-known activists including Julian Assange and Peter Tatchell were among the protesters. Mr Assange, creator of the Wikileaks website, addressed the crowds on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral.
Protests also took place on the streets of Edinburgh and Dublin, which passed off peacefully. More than 100 demonstrators turned out to protest in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, while hundreds also took to the streets of Dublin.
Anna Jones, a supporter of Occupy London Stock Exchange said: "So far, we have already seen a disproportionate amount of force by the police against protesters who are occupying the area outside St Paul's... The only crime that the police can pin on people is one of having a conversation about real democracy and the unfair and unequal economic system that favours the rich and powerful."
In Italy, however, police fired tear gas and water cannons as protesters turned the demonstration against corporate greed into a riot, smashing shop and bank windows, torching cars and hurling bottles.
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Fans heartbroken as Wales crash out]()
Welsh rugby fans have been left drowning their sorrows after their team narrowly missed out on reaching the world cup final in a thrilling match against France.
The principality was buzzing with the excitement ahead of the crunch contest in Auckland.
Around 65,000 fans packed out the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch the match on giant TV screens - more than the number of supporters witnessing the game first hand in New Zealand.
The Welsh team faced an uphill battle after their captain Sam Warburton was controversially sent off after 18 minutes.
And hopes of Wales reaching their first Rugby World Cup final were agonisingly dashed, losing by just one point in a 9-8 defeat.
Despite the heartbreak, Wales's First Minister Carwyn Jones said the country's team had done the nation proud.
He said: "The team's achievement has been magnificent. It's a marathon effort to get to the last four and the whole nation is proud of them.
"The rugby squad are great ambassadors for our country on and off the field."
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Corrie favourite Betty Driver dies]()
Coronation Street favourite Betty Driver has died at the age of 91.
An ITV spokesman said she "died peacefully in hospital" in the early hours of Saturday.
She had played the role of Rovers Return barmaid Betty Williams (Turpin) in the soap for 42 years.
The actress had been in hospital for six weeks. She had also been unwell earlier in the year and was treated for a chest infection in 2010.
The ITV spokesman said: "She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her."
Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan in Coronation Street, said: "I have lost a very dear friend and the Street has lost a very great character, a professional to her fingertips - she will be greatly missed."
Julie Goodyear, a former barmaid Bet Lynch in the soap, said: "It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years. We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true icon and legend and a very dear friend."
Goodyear said Driver was "the very foundation of the Rovers Return", and added: "She will be missed and remembered by millions."
Driver had originally auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden in 1964 after a 36-year-career in radio, television and the stage. She was then persuaded to come out of retirement in 1969 to audition for the role of Betty instead.
Her character became known for her famous hotpot - but Driver herself never tasted the dish as she did not eat meat.
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October 15, 2011, 8:05 pm
![Widen Fox probe, Labour demands]()
Labour has called for the probe into Liam Fox's links with friend and lobbyist Adam Werritty to be broadened despite his resignation as Defence Secretary.
The Opposition insisted the public still needed to know who profited from their close relationship and whether national security had been compromised.
The demand came as Philip Hammond and Justine Greening completed their first full day in charge of the Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport respectively.
Mr Hammond said he was "sad" about Dr Fox's departure, but "honoured" to have been given the job.
Dr Fox's decision to step down came amid reports that Mr Werritty's jet-set lifestyle following him around the world was funded by a company bankrolled by wealthy Tory backers.
The prominent venture capitalist Jon Moulton claimed he had been approached by the Defence Secretary following last year's general election to provide funds for Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty.
Questions have also been raised over a potential conflict of interest with Mr Moulton's £60 million purchase of British defence firm Gardner UK in February 2010.
Eight months after acquiring the company, which makes components for aircraft including RAF fighter jets and troop transporters, he reportedly gave £35,000 to Pargav.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell is still due to complete his probe into Dr Fox's links with Mr Werritty - who appeared to be effectively acting as an aide even though he had no official role at the MoD or with the Tory party. He is expected to be highly critical of the arrangement when the results are published.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: "Liam treated Adam Werritty as a good friend. Adam Werritty seems to have treated Liam Fox like some sort of franchise to make money from. So we need to know as part of the inquiry just where's the money? Why has Liam resigned? Let's continue to carry out the investigation and if need be, broaden the investigation further."
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October 16, 2011, 12:10 am
![US: We're out of Iraq by January]()
The US is abandoning plans to keep troops in Iraq past an end-of-year withdrawal deadline.
The decision to pull out fully by January will effectively end more than eight years of US involvement in the Iraq war, despite concerns about its security forces and the potential for instability.
The decision ends months of hand-wringing by US officials over whether to stick to a December 31 withdrawal deadline that was set in 2008 or negotiate a new security agreement to ensure that gains made and more than 4,400 American military lives lost since March 2003 do not go to waste.
In recent months, Washington has been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand American troops remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces. A Pentagon spokesman said no final decision had been reached about the US training relationship with the Iraqi government, but a senior Obama administration official in Washington confirmed that all American troops would leave Iraq except for around 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the US embassy.
A senior US military official confirmed the departure and said the withdrawal could allow future, but limited US military training missions in Iraq if requested. Both officials spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Throughout the discussions, Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give US troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the Americans have refused to stay without it.
Iraq's leadership has been split on whether it wanted American forces to stay. Some argued the further training and US help was vital, particularly to protect Iraq's airspace and gather security intelligence. But others have deeply opposed any American troop presence, including Shiite militiamen who have threatened attacks on any American forces who remain.
Prime minister Nouri Maliki has told US military officials that he does not have the votes in parliament to provide immunity to the American trainers, the US military official said.
A White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor, said discussions with Iraq about the security relationship between the two countries next year were continuing.
Pentagon press secretary George Little said the US remained "committed to keeping our agreement with the Iraqi government to remove all of our troops by the end of this year. At the same time we're building a comprehensive partnership with Iraq under the Strategic Framework Agreement including a robust security relationship, and discussions with the Iraqis about the nature of that relationship are ongoing."
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October 16, 2011, 12:20 am
![Protesters vow to continue demo]()
Anti-capitalist protesters in London are continuing their demonstration after the movement that began with Occupy Wall Street spread worldwide.
Thousands descended on the area around the London Stock Exchange on Saturday in a bid to replicate the huge demonstrations taking place in New York.
As night fell protesters had pitched tents at the foot of the steps of St Paul's Cathedral after police cordoned off Paternoster Square, where the Stock Exchange is located.
Scotland Yard had said it would be "illegal and disrespectful" to camp in front of the cathedral, but a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police later said: "We are not going to move anyone at this time."
The force said it had made efforts to ensure the protest was largely peaceful. Five arrests were made throughout the day - three for assault on police and two for public order offences.
A spokesman for the protesters said the demonstration was to "challenge the bankers and the financial institutions which recklessly gambled our economy. This occupation and 20 other occupations all around the UK have been directly inspired by what's happening all across America and especially Wall Street."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the protest had been "largely calm and orderly", but urged protesters to leave the area around the cathedral. However, Occupy London Stock Exchange supporter Anna Jones claimed "a disproportionate amount of force" was used by police against protesters outside St Paul's. She said: "We have seen people, kettled, grabbed and thrown off the steps forcefully by the police. This was entirely unnecessary. None came here to have a fight with the police."
Earlier, police began removing protesters from the cathedral steps, leading to physical confrontations, and officers expressed concerns about the cathedral's pillars being damaged by people sitting on its steps. A Met spokesman said a "containment" was carried out in the churchyard to "prevent a breach of the peace".
Well-known activists including Julian Assange and Peter Tatchell were among the protesters in London. Mr Assange, creator of the WikiLeaks website, addressed the crowds on the steps of St Paul's.
Protests also took place on the streets of Edinburgh and Dublin, which passed off peacefully. More than 100 demonstrators turned out to protest in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, while hundreds also took to the streets of Dublin.
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October 16, 2011, 12:20 am
![Army 'must rely on private firms']()
Defence cuts mean British military commanders will have to rely on private security firms to carry out future operations, a retired general has said.
Major General Graham Binns said the UK's Ministry of Defence appeared more "reticent" about using armed contractors to support missions than other countries and other Whitehall departments.
He called on the Government to introduce a system for selecting and vetting a number of approved private security companies, which would be required to train regularly with troops.
Maj Gen Binns, who commanded coalition forces in southern Iraq from mid-2007 to early 2008, is chief executive of British private security company Aegis Defence Services.
Writing in a book of essays published by the Army about how it should adapt for the future, he suggested that private security contractors (PSCs) would become an integral part of the forces deployed on operations.
"Given the current economic climate and future force structures, it is likely that commanders of future military operations of whatever type will encounter PSCs," he said.
"Given the current size and structure of UK forces, it is inevitable that any future expeditionary deployment will require contractor support in many areas. PSCs may well come to feature as part of the force structure as there are many combat-support functions that can be fulfilled by PSCs, thus releasing troops for other duties."
The former general's comments come as the MoD is implementing a programme which could see 11,000 redundancies across the Royal Navy, Army and RAF by April 2015 in an effort to tackle the deficit and bring the defence budget under control.
Maj Gen Binns said British security firms had provided services for the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan ranging from gathering local intelligence to guarding senior officers.
But the retired general also warned that private security firms not working directly with the military could be "more problematic", noting that they could include "rogue" companies hiding behind the veil of a legitimate contractor or "thinly disguised local militias".
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October 16, 2011, 12:20 am
![Royal accolade for Wootton Bassett]()
The role of the town of Wootton Bassett in commemorating the members of the armed forces who have died while on service abroad is to be recognised with the awarding of the "Royal" accolade.
The Princess Royal is to deliver the Letters Patent on behalf of the Queen making the Wiltshire town Royal Wootton Bassett.
The former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox had been due to attend but following his resignation, the armed forces' delegation will be headed by Sir Peter Wall, the chief of the general staff.
The decision to award the town with the royal prefix was the Queen's following a petition from Prime Minister David Cameron.
The town became famous as thousands of people began to turn out to pay their respects to the fallen service men and women who died in Iraq and Afghanistan who had been repatriated at nearby RAF Lyneham, starting in April 2007.
Wootton Bassett's role ceased at the end of August when the base for repatriations moved to RAF Brize Norton with the town of Carterton taking over as the place for grieving families and members of the public to pay their respects.
Princess Anne will be received by the Lord Lieutenant, John Bush, before the town's mayor, Cllr Paul Heaphy, will show her around an exhibition in the local library of appreciation gifts received by the town.
Anne will then be driven down the High Street to the stage for the parade and the presentation of the Letters Patent. The town crier, Owen Collier, who has had a new uniform created for the event, will announce her arrival.
The commemoration will then include parades by representatives from the armed forces, accompanied by the Wootton Bassett Band.
Johnathan Bourne, clerk to Wootton Bassett Town Council, said: "I hope that many people will come to share this significant event for the town. A lot of hard work has gone into making this a really special day for the people of Wootton Bassett and I hope everyone enjoys it."
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October 16, 2011, 12:20 am
![Britons want immigration reduced]()
Most Britons want to see immigration reduced, but think the Government should focus on cutting the number of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers instead of foreign students and skilled workers, a survey has showed.
Half of those who want to see immigration reduced said most or even all of the cuts should come from among illegal immigrants, research by Oxford University's Migration Observatory found.
And of the three in 10 people who do not want to see immigration cut, three fifths still want to cut the number of migrants in the UK illegally, with two-fifths feeling strongly about this.
David Cameron appealed for the public to "shop" illegal immigrants last Monday as he pledged to reclaim Britain's borders, urging Britons to help tackle the issue by reporting suspicious individuals.
The Government has pledged to cut net migration from the current 242,000 to the "tens of thousands" last seen in the 1990s, with crackdowns on forced and sham marriages, bogus students and an annual cap on immigrants coming from outside the EU.
But the Migration Observatory report showed foreign students, which make up almost two fifths of all immigrants to the UK, appear to be of little concern to Britons with just a third wanting cuts to come from this area.
Meanwhile, more than half want to see a fall in the number of asylum seekers coming to the UK, despite the fact they make up the smallest proportion of immigrants, just 4% in 2009. And while almost two-thirds backed reducing immigration among low-skilled workers, which come mostly from the EU, only a third wanted to see fewer skilled migrants.
But international conventions and EU membership constrain the Government from reducing the numbers of asylum seekers or EU migrants in the UK, the report said.
Dr Scott Blinder, its lead author, said the survey exposed the difficulties the Government faces in meeting public demand. He said: "Blunt questions about whether the British public supports or opposes immigration in general do not capture the complexities of many people's real views, and are not nearly fine-grained enough to give policy-makers a real understanding of what a majority of the public wants."
But Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "We have made sweeping changes to get a grip on immigration in this country, closing down routes that were subject to abuse and taking action against those with no right to be here. This is clearly in line with what the public want us to be doing. There is much more to be done and we will stick to our course."
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October 16, 2011, 12:20 am
![Fox 'misled backers over donations']()
Liam Fox is facing more pressure over his involvement in soliciting donations for a company that funded close friend Adam Werrity.
Prominent Tory backers were said to have complained that the former defence secretary "misled" them about how the money would be used.
Labour MP John Mann also insisted police and the Electoral Commission should look at whether Dr Fox and Mr Werrity had behaved in a criminal fashion.
The latest wave of developments came despite Dr Fox finally falling on his sword on Friday night after a turbulent week for the coalition.
David Cameron shifted Philip Hammond to take charge at the Ministry of Defence, while Justine Greening replaced him at Transport. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the reshuffle was so hastily conducted that Mr Cameron contacted his ministers from a train platform surrounded by morris dancers.
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton is understood to have approached Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to express unhappiness about Dr Fox's actions. Mr Moulton said the Cabinet minister asked him to donate to Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty. He was apparently told the firm helped provide "security and analysis", and was unaware it was funding Mr Werritty's travel to meet Dr Fox on official trips.
The millionaire has also complained to the Conservative Party about the way he was treated.
There were reports that those giving money to Pargav had been promised anonymity, which could potentially be against tough rules on declaring donations.
Bassetlaw MP Mr Mann said he had written to police asking for a fraud investigation to be launched. "I referred the matter to the police to investigate whether there is a potential fraud," he told the Telegraph. "Mr Werritty gave out business cards saying he was an adviser to Dr Fox. If that is not the case and he was getting money - for whatever purpose - by misrepresenting his relationship with the defence secretary, that cannot be right."
Dr Fox's actions should also be scrutinised be the force, he added. The Yard said it had not yet received any request to investigate.
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October 16, 2011, 9:53 am
![Free parenting lessons trialled]()
Some 50,000 families are to be given free parenting lessons as part of the coalition's drive to make society more responsible.
The classes are being piloted for mothers and fathers with children aged under five in Middlesbrough, High Peak in Derbyshire, and Camden.
They will be offered £100 vouchers to pay for the sessions, and organisations will bid for contracts to provide them.
Issues covered are likely to include communication, managing conflict, discipline, and creating routine and boundaries.
Children's minister Sarah Teather said the trials would start next summer and run for two years. The scheme will cost £5 million for the vouchers plus set-up costs.
"The overwhelming evidence from all the experts is that a child's development in the first five years of their life is the single biggest factor influencing their future life chances, health and educational attainment," she said.
"Armed with all this evidence, it is the Government's moral and social duty to make sure we support all parents at this critical time.
"Parents have one of the toughest and most important jobs - but unlike so many other areas of our lives, they don't get a training manual or a how-to guide.
"I want to get rid of the stigma attached to asking for help. Parenting classes aren't just for struggling families with complex problems.
"All parents should know it's okay to ask for extra support and guidance when they need it - just as most do when they attend ante-natal classes before their child is born."
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October 16, 2011, 9:53 am
![Temperatures set to drop across UK]()
Cold winds, frost and even some snow are to hit Britain this week, signalling the end of the October heatwave.
The mercury peaked at an unseasonably high 18.3C in Gravesend, Kent, on Saturday but temperatures are set to drop in the coming days.
Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, said: "A cold front will start across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday, giving some heavy outbursts of rain which will turn to snow over the mountains in Scotland.
"The rain will spread further south into northern England and Wales by the end of the day."
Winds of up to 65mph are expected across north-western England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the odd rumble of thunder is possible.
"We will definitely feel a chill in the air," Mr Ratcliffe said. "The winds originate in the Arctic, but they get modified a lot as they arrive here."
Although the south of the country will enjoy highs of up to 17C on Sunday and into Monday, , it will feel much cooler across the UK on Tuesday, with highs of 14C in the south and 10C in Scotland.
On Wednesday night, temperatures will plunge to around 1C and could be as low as -1C in northern parts of the country.
Mr Ratcliffe said: "It's going to be pretty cold everywhere across the UK on Wednesday night, with widespread ground frost expected in the whole of the UK and perhaps air frost in places too."
However, by the end of the week conditions should be milder as a result of weather systems moving in from the Atlantic.
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October 16, 2011, 10:07 am
![Church services as demo continues]()
Church services at St Paul's Cathedral have taken place as normal despite a makeshift camp set up by anti-capitalist protesters in London's financial district.
Thousands of people descended on the area around the London Stock Exchange on Saturday as the movement that began in New York with Occupy Wall Street spread worldwide.
Protesters then pitched their tents at the foot of the steps of St Paul's for the night after police cordoned off Paternoster Square, where the stock exchange itself is located.
Clergymen told protesters on Sunday morning that they had no problem with their presence as services took place.
Ben Doran, 21, a music student from the Midlands, said: "The reverend came out and asked the police to leave the steps of the cathedral and said he didn't mind protesters being here, that he supported the democratic right to protest.
"He said there was no issue and that people were treating the site respectfully and he was happy for it to carry on.
"He was asked if the services would still be carrying on and he said yes, they would carry on as if there was no problem happening."
One protester, a pensioner from London who gave her name as Ruth, said: "The vicar said he had no problem with us being here, he could see we weren't here against the church, we were here against the stock exchange."
Worshippers at the cathedral also expressed their support for the protesters.
John Maguire and his wife Gail, from Haslemere, Surrey, attended the service to celebrate their twelfth wedding anniversary. He said: "I think the protesters have got a valid point to make and obviously they want to make it in the most visible sense, so I'm pleased for them."
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October 16, 2011, 10:07 am
![Pressure on Fox over Werritty funds]()
Liam Fox is facing more pressure over his role in soliciting donations used to fund close friend Adam Werritty.
Police and the Electoral Commission are being asked to investigate whether the former defence secretary and Mr Werritty broke the law.
And Foreign Secretary William Hague has signalled that the coalition will be looking at wider problems with the lobbying system in the wake of the scandal that engulfed Dr Fox.
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton is understood to have approached Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to complain at being "misled" by Dr Fox, who resigned on Friday
Mr Moulton said the Cabinet minister asked him to donate to Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty. He was apparently told the firm helped provide "security and analysis", and was unaware it was funding Mr Werritty's travel to meet Dr Fox on official trips.
The millionaire has also complained to the Conservative Party about the way he was treated. There were reports that those giving money to Pargav had been promised anonymity, which could potentially be against tough rules on declaring donations.
Labour MP John Mann has written to police asking for a fraud investigation to be launched. He told the Telegraph: "Mr Werritty gave out business cards saying he was an adviser to Dr Fox. If that is not the case and he was getting money - for whatever purpose - by misrepresenting his relationship with the defence secretary, that cannot be right."
A City of London Police spokesman said: "City of London Police can confirm it has received an allegation of fraud. Officers from the force's economic crime directorate will consider the matter and establish whether or not it is appropriate to launch an investigation."
An Electoral Commission spokesman confirmed it is considering a complaint that Dr Fox had breached legislation on donations.
Meanwhile, Mr Hague dismissed as "fanciful" the idea that Mr Werritty could have been running a shadow foreign policy outside the control of government. "One adviser or non-adviser, whatever he may have been, is not able to run a totally different policy from the rest of government," Mr Hague told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
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October 16, 2011, 10:07 am
![Africa drought aid appeal hits £72m]()
British aid agencies have raised £72 million for drought victims in East Africa, the highest total ever for a food crisis.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched an appeal in July after Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and the Republic of South Sudan suffered one of the worst droughts in 60 years.
One hundred days since the appeal's launch, the total raised is the third largest in the charity's 45-year history.
More money has only been raised by the tsunami earthquake appeal of December 2004 (£390 million) and Haiti earthquake of January 2010 (£107 million), the charity said.
It is also the largest total for any African appeal, and the highest for one where conflict was a principle cause of a disaster.
The disaster left more than 12 million people in need of food, water and emergency healthcare.
The DEC, which comprises 14 British aid agencies, said it has helped nine million people receive aid in East Africa - but it said there are still "significant shortfalls" in the delivery of aid.
There is a shortage of funds, particularly from sources outside the UK, and problems of insecurity and limited access in the worst affected areas of Somalia.
Some affected areas of Kenya and Ethiopia are seeing the first signs of improvement, the charity said. Increasing amounts of aid are getting through, harvests are being reaped in many areas and rains are making more pasture available for surviving livestock.
But the charity warned that many people in these areas still need emergency support in the short term, as well as longer term aid in the coming years to rebuild their livelihoods.
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Consumer confidence is on the up thanks to expectations that interest rates will remain low for at least six months, according to a survey.
The Bank of England's base rate of interest has been at just 0.5% for the past two-and-a-half years.
The proportion of homeowners fearing an increase in their mortgage rate has decreased from 49, which has helped boost confidence, up by 0.8 in January.
Liberum Capital, which carried out the survey, said that it was the third increase in confidence it had registered since the start of the year.
The slightly rosier outlook has allowed consumers to continue going to the pub, eating out and betting, it said.
Simon Irwin, Liberum Capital retail research analyst, said: "With all the gloom and misery of the debt crisis, it's great to see that British people have not given up on enjoying themselves and are still enjoying the small niceties of life such as their local."
The research also found that most Britons do not want the country to stump up money for a hypothetical Eurozone bailout.
Just 11% said they would support UK participation in a rescue fund for the troubled monetary union, with 62% saying they would not support such an action.
Eurozone leaders must take "impressive" action next weekend to get a grip on the crisis wracking the global economy, George Osborne said.
The Chancellor insisted the EU summit in Brussels would be a crucial moment in finding a "solution" to the problems.
He also indicated that Britain would be open to providing more money to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - but not if it was only used to prop up the struggling single currency area.
The comments came after finance ministers from the powerful G20 countries held talks in Paris.
The eurozone has set up a European financial stability facility (EFSF) worth 440 billion euro (£384bn).
But many economists believe a fund of around two trillion euro (£1.75 trillion) will be needed fully to reassure anxious investors that banks would survive defaults by heavily indebted countries such as Greece and Italy. Final decisions are not likely to be taken until the main G20 meeting in Cannes next month.
However, there are hopes that the EU summit on October 23 will make significant progress on expanding the EFSF, as well as hammering out plans for a major write-down of Greek debt and a re-capitalisation of weaker banks.
Mr Osborne said: "We have heard from eurozone colleagues the action they are working on, but I think they will have left Paris under no misunderstanding that there is a huge amount of pressure on them to deliver a solution to the crisis," he told journalists in Paris. "It remains the epicentre of the world's current economic problems. And the European Council is clearly the moment when people are expecting something quite impressive."
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he had heard "encouraging things from our European colleagues in Paris about a new comprehensive plan to deal with the crisis on the continent".
A statement issued at the end of the G20 meeting said ministers were "committed that the IMF must have adequate resources".
The widow of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko has launched an appeal for donations to help her expose her husband's murderers at the inquest into his death.
Marina Litvinenko said her legal costs for the inquest, which is set to consider claims that the Russian state was behind the former KGB spy's assassination, were likely to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Mr Litvinenko, 43, fell ill shortly after drinking tea during a meeting at a West End hotel with former KGB contacts and died of radioactive polonium-210 poisoning in London's University College Hospital on November 23 2006.
St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid indicated on Thursday that the dissident's inquest should be wide-ranging and announced he was asking the Metropolitan Police and intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6 to carry out further inquiries.
Mrs Litvinenko appealed to the public in Britain, Russia and around the world for assistance in funding her legal battle to discover what really happened to her husband.
She said in a statement: "I am prepared to do whatever it takes to find the truth about the unprecedented act of nuclear terrorism that killed Sasha (Alexander) Litvinenko and endangered the lives of thousands of my fellow Londoners.
"To judge from inquests of similar complexity, such as those into the deaths of Princess Diana and the victims of the 7/7 bombings, these hearings may last weeks, if not months. At the very least, my legal costs are likely to run into six figures.
"In these proceedings the evidence collected by the Metropolitan Police will be weighed against the story presented by Sasha's accused murderer and his sponsors, with the unlimited resources of the Russian state at their disposal. I am sure that my legal team is the best in the world, but the reality is that compared to my adversaries I am severely constrained. This I why I am appealing to the public for help."
The UK's relations with Russia soured after the murder of Mr Litvinenko, who had accused Russian security services of carrying out terror attacks to help bring Vladimir Putin to power.
British prosecutors have named fellow ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoy as the main suspect in the dissident's killing, but the Russian authorities have repeatedly refused to send him to face trial in the UK. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev insisted during Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to Moscow last month that Mr Lugovoy - now a Russian MP - would never be extradited to Britain.
A British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.
The soldier, from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, was shot dead in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand province.
Next of kin have been informed.
Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with great sadness that I announce that a soldier from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed during operations with Afghan Police partners to extend security in the Nahr-e Saraj region of Helmand.
"Whilst protecting a checkpoint, his team came under insurgent small arms fire, during which he received a fatal gunshot wound.
"The thoughts and prayers of all those serving in Helmand are with his family at this very difficult time."
The death takes to 383 the number of British forces personnel or MoD civilians killed while serving in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.
The last British serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan was Royal Marine David Fairbrother, 24, of Blackburn, Lancashire, who was shot dead after his patrol was ambushed in southern Afghanistan.
Energy firms should use soaring profits to cut "crippling" bills for consumers, Ed Miliband insisted.
The Labour leader highlighted figures this week that suggested power companies were currently making the equivalent of £125 per customer per year - up from just £15 in June.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Mr Miliband warned that rising electric and gas prices were going to cause a "huge winter squeeze on the finances of families and the elderly".
He hit out at Prime Minister David Cameron for merely convening a Downing Street summit on Monday to discuss the issue.
"Ministers in suits around a table in a warm room will do nothing to persuade people that Mr Cameron and this Tory-led government understands the realities of families struggling to pay the bills," the Opposition leader wrote.
"All the big six energy firms have seen their profits rise sharply this year. On Friday, Ofgem said the profit margin for energy companies has risen to £125 per customer per year - up from £15 in June.
"There is nothing to stop those power companies giving up those profits. Instead of an improved bottom line they could use this extra money to stop crippling price rises."
Mr Miliband pointed to the decision by SSE to sell its energy on the open market, rather than merely to its own supplier arms.
He said that was part of the "fundamental reshaping of the energy market" he demanded in his party conference speech last month.
"At present 80% of people pay too much for their energy," Mr Miliband said. "If the few big, dominant firms were forced to sell the power they generate to any retailer, companies such as supermarkets could come into the market."
Anti-capitalist protests that started with the Occupy Wall Street movement on Saturday spread to London and other cities.
Thousands of people descended on the area around the London Stock Exchange in a bid to replicate the huge demonstrations which have been taking place in New York.
A spokesman for the protesters said: "We are doing this to challenge the bankers and the financial institutions which recklessly gambled our economy. This occupation and 20 other occupations all around the UK have been directly inspired by what's happening all across America and especially Wall Street."
Activists had planned to take over Paternoster Square, where the Stock Exchange is located, but police cordoned off the area. Instead, protesters returned to their previous position in front of St Paul's Cathedral.
As night fell, they announced their intention to set up a campsite in St Paul's Churchyard, putting up tents and portaloos on one side of the square. However, Scotland Yard made it clear police would not allow the campsite in front of the cathedral, saying such a move would be "illegal and disrespectful".
The force said they had made efforts to ensure the protest was largely peaceful. Three arrests were made - two for assault on police and one for a public order offence.
Well-known activists including Julian Assange and Peter Tatchell were among the protesters. Mr Assange, creator of the Wikileaks website, addressed the crowds on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral.
Protests also took place on the streets of Edinburgh and Dublin, which passed off peacefully. More than 100 demonstrators turned out to protest in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, while hundreds also took to the streets of Dublin.
Anna Jones, a supporter of Occupy London Stock Exchange said: "So far, we have already seen a disproportionate amount of force by the police against protesters who are occupying the area outside St Paul's... The only crime that the police can pin on people is one of having a conversation about real democracy and the unfair and unequal economic system that favours the rich and powerful."
In Italy, however, police fired tear gas and water cannons as protesters turned the demonstration against corporate greed into a riot, smashing shop and bank windows, torching cars and hurling bottles.
Welsh rugby fans have been left drowning their sorrows after their team narrowly missed out on reaching the world cup final in a thrilling match against France.
The principality was buzzing with the excitement ahead of the crunch contest in Auckland.
Around 65,000 fans packed out the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch the match on giant TV screens - more than the number of supporters witnessing the game first hand in New Zealand.
The Welsh team faced an uphill battle after their captain Sam Warburton was controversially sent off after 18 minutes.
And hopes of Wales reaching their first Rugby World Cup final were agonisingly dashed, losing by just one point in a 9-8 defeat.
Despite the heartbreak, Wales's First Minister Carwyn Jones said the country's team had done the nation proud.
He said: "The team's achievement has been magnificent. It's a marathon effort to get to the last four and the whole nation is proud of them.
"The rugby squad are great ambassadors for our country on and off the field."
Coronation Street favourite Betty Driver has died at the age of 91.
An ITV spokesman said she "died peacefully in hospital" in the early hours of Saturday.
She had played the role of Rovers Return barmaid Betty Williams (Turpin) in the soap for 42 years.
The actress had been in hospital for six weeks. She had also been unwell earlier in the year and was treated for a chest infection in 2010.
The ITV spokesman said: "She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her."
Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan in Coronation Street, said: "I have lost a very dear friend and the Street has lost a very great character, a professional to her fingertips - she will be greatly missed."
Julie Goodyear, a former barmaid Bet Lynch in the soap, said: "It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years. We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true icon and legend and a very dear friend."
Goodyear said Driver was "the very foundation of the Rovers Return", and added: "She will be missed and remembered by millions."
Driver had originally auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden in 1964 after a 36-year-career in radio, television and the stage. She was then persuaded to come out of retirement in 1969 to audition for the role of Betty instead.
Her character became known for her famous hotpot - but Driver herself never tasted the dish as she did not eat meat.
Labour has called for the probe into Liam Fox's links with friend and lobbyist Adam Werritty to be broadened despite his resignation as Defence Secretary.
The Opposition insisted the public still needed to know who profited from their close relationship and whether national security had been compromised.
The demand came as Philip Hammond and Justine Greening completed their first full day in charge of the Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport respectively.
Mr Hammond said he was "sad" about Dr Fox's departure, but "honoured" to have been given the job.
Dr Fox's decision to step down came amid reports that Mr Werritty's jet-set lifestyle following him around the world was funded by a company bankrolled by wealthy Tory backers.
The prominent venture capitalist Jon Moulton claimed he had been approached by the Defence Secretary following last year's general election to provide funds for Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty.
Questions have also been raised over a potential conflict of interest with Mr Moulton's £60 million purchase of British defence firm Gardner UK in February 2010.
Eight months after acquiring the company, which makes components for aircraft including RAF fighter jets and troop transporters, he reportedly gave £35,000 to Pargav.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell is still due to complete his probe into Dr Fox's links with Mr Werritty - who appeared to be effectively acting as an aide even though he had no official role at the MoD or with the Tory party. He is expected to be highly critical of the arrangement when the results are published.
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: "Liam treated Adam Werritty as a good friend. Adam Werritty seems to have treated Liam Fox like some sort of franchise to make money from. So we need to know as part of the inquiry just where's the money? Why has Liam resigned? Let's continue to carry out the investigation and if need be, broaden the investigation further."
The US is abandoning plans to keep troops in Iraq past an end-of-year withdrawal deadline.
The decision to pull out fully by January will effectively end more than eight years of US involvement in the Iraq war, despite concerns about its security forces and the potential for instability.
The decision ends months of hand-wringing by US officials over whether to stick to a December 31 withdrawal deadline that was set in 2008 or negotiate a new security agreement to ensure that gains made and more than 4,400 American military lives lost since March 2003 do not go to waste.
In recent months, Washington has been discussing with Iraqi leaders the possibility of several thousand American troops remaining to continue training Iraqi security forces. A Pentagon spokesman said no final decision had been reached about the US training relationship with the Iraqi government, but a senior Obama administration official in Washington confirmed that all American troops would leave Iraq except for around 160 active-duty soldiers attached to the US embassy.
A senior US military official confirmed the departure and said the withdrawal could allow future, but limited US military training missions in Iraq if requested. Both officials spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Throughout the discussions, Iraqi leaders have adamantly refused to give US troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, and the Americans have refused to stay without it.
Iraq's leadership has been split on whether it wanted American forces to stay. Some argued the further training and US help was vital, particularly to protect Iraq's airspace and gather security intelligence. But others have deeply opposed any American troop presence, including Shiite militiamen who have threatened attacks on any American forces who remain.
Prime minister Nouri Maliki has told US military officials that he does not have the votes in parliament to provide immunity to the American trainers, the US military official said.
A White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor, said discussions with Iraq about the security relationship between the two countries next year were continuing.
Pentagon press secretary George Little said the US remained "committed to keeping our agreement with the Iraqi government to remove all of our troops by the end of this year. At the same time we're building a comprehensive partnership with Iraq under the Strategic Framework Agreement including a robust security relationship, and discussions with the Iraqis about the nature of that relationship are ongoing."
Anti-capitalist protesters in London are continuing their demonstration after the movement that began with Occupy Wall Street spread worldwide.
Thousands descended on the area around the London Stock Exchange on Saturday in a bid to replicate the huge demonstrations taking place in New York.
As night fell protesters had pitched tents at the foot of the steps of St Paul's Cathedral after police cordoned off Paternoster Square, where the Stock Exchange is located.
Scotland Yard had said it would be "illegal and disrespectful" to camp in front of the cathedral, but a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police later said: "We are not going to move anyone at this time."
The force said it had made efforts to ensure the protest was largely peaceful. Five arrests were made throughout the day - three for assault on police and two for public order offences.
A spokesman for the protesters said the demonstration was to "challenge the bankers and the financial institutions which recklessly gambled our economy. This occupation and 20 other occupations all around the UK have been directly inspired by what's happening all across America and especially Wall Street."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the protest had been "largely calm and orderly", but urged protesters to leave the area around the cathedral. However, Occupy London Stock Exchange supporter Anna Jones claimed "a disproportionate amount of force" was used by police against protesters outside St Paul's. She said: "We have seen people, kettled, grabbed and thrown off the steps forcefully by the police. This was entirely unnecessary. None came here to have a fight with the police."
Earlier, police began removing protesters from the cathedral steps, leading to physical confrontations, and officers expressed concerns about the cathedral's pillars being damaged by people sitting on its steps. A Met spokesman said a "containment" was carried out in the churchyard to "prevent a breach of the peace".
Well-known activists including Julian Assange and Peter Tatchell were among the protesters in London. Mr Assange, creator of the WikiLeaks website, addressed the crowds on the steps of St Paul's.
Protests also took place on the streets of Edinburgh and Dublin, which passed off peacefully. More than 100 demonstrators turned out to protest in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, while hundreds also took to the streets of Dublin.
Defence cuts mean British military commanders will have to rely on private security firms to carry out future operations, a retired general has said.
Major General Graham Binns said the UK's Ministry of Defence appeared more "reticent" about using armed contractors to support missions than other countries and other Whitehall departments.
He called on the Government to introduce a system for selecting and vetting a number of approved private security companies, which would be required to train regularly with troops.
Maj Gen Binns, who commanded coalition forces in southern Iraq from mid-2007 to early 2008, is chief executive of British private security company Aegis Defence Services.
Writing in a book of essays published by the Army about how it should adapt for the future, he suggested that private security contractors (PSCs) would become an integral part of the forces deployed on operations.
"Given the current economic climate and future force structures, it is likely that commanders of future military operations of whatever type will encounter PSCs," he said.
"Given the current size and structure of UK forces, it is inevitable that any future expeditionary deployment will require contractor support in many areas. PSCs may well come to feature as part of the force structure as there are many combat-support functions that can be fulfilled by PSCs, thus releasing troops for other duties."
The former general's comments come as the MoD is implementing a programme which could see 11,000 redundancies across the Royal Navy, Army and RAF by April 2015 in an effort to tackle the deficit and bring the defence budget under control.
Maj Gen Binns said British security firms had provided services for the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan ranging from gathering local intelligence to guarding senior officers.
But the retired general also warned that private security firms not working directly with the military could be "more problematic", noting that they could include "rogue" companies hiding behind the veil of a legitimate contractor or "thinly disguised local militias".
The role of the town of Wootton Bassett in commemorating the members of the armed forces who have died while on service abroad is to be recognised with the awarding of the "Royal" accolade.
The Princess Royal is to deliver the Letters Patent on behalf of the Queen making the Wiltshire town Royal Wootton Bassett.
The former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox had been due to attend but following his resignation, the armed forces' delegation will be headed by Sir Peter Wall, the chief of the general staff.
The decision to award the town with the royal prefix was the Queen's following a petition from Prime Minister David Cameron.
The town became famous as thousands of people began to turn out to pay their respects to the fallen service men and women who died in Iraq and Afghanistan who had been repatriated at nearby RAF Lyneham, starting in April 2007.
Wootton Bassett's role ceased at the end of August when the base for repatriations moved to RAF Brize Norton with the town of Carterton taking over as the place for grieving families and members of the public to pay their respects.
Princess Anne will be received by the Lord Lieutenant, John Bush, before the town's mayor, Cllr Paul Heaphy, will show her around an exhibition in the local library of appreciation gifts received by the town.
Anne will then be driven down the High Street to the stage for the parade and the presentation of the Letters Patent. The town crier, Owen Collier, who has had a new uniform created for the event, will announce her arrival.
The commemoration will then include parades by representatives from the armed forces, accompanied by the Wootton Bassett Band.
Johnathan Bourne, clerk to Wootton Bassett Town Council, said: "I hope that many people will come to share this significant event for the town. A lot of hard work has gone into making this a really special day for the people of Wootton Bassett and I hope everyone enjoys it."
Most Britons want to see immigration reduced, but think the Government should focus on cutting the number of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers instead of foreign students and skilled workers, a survey has showed.
Half of those who want to see immigration reduced said most or even all of the cuts should come from among illegal immigrants, research by Oxford University's Migration Observatory found.
And of the three in 10 people who do not want to see immigration cut, three fifths still want to cut the number of migrants in the UK illegally, with two-fifths feeling strongly about this.
David Cameron appealed for the public to "shop" illegal immigrants last Monday as he pledged to reclaim Britain's borders, urging Britons to help tackle the issue by reporting suspicious individuals.
The Government has pledged to cut net migration from the current 242,000 to the "tens of thousands" last seen in the 1990s, with crackdowns on forced and sham marriages, bogus students and an annual cap on immigrants coming from outside the EU.
But the Migration Observatory report showed foreign students, which make up almost two fifths of all immigrants to the UK, appear to be of little concern to Britons with just a third wanting cuts to come from this area.
Meanwhile, more than half want to see a fall in the number of asylum seekers coming to the UK, despite the fact they make up the smallest proportion of immigrants, just 4% in 2009. And while almost two-thirds backed reducing immigration among low-skilled workers, which come mostly from the EU, only a third wanted to see fewer skilled migrants.
But international conventions and EU membership constrain the Government from reducing the numbers of asylum seekers or EU migrants in the UK, the report said.
Dr Scott Blinder, its lead author, said the survey exposed the difficulties the Government faces in meeting public demand. He said: "Blunt questions about whether the British public supports or opposes immigration in general do not capture the complexities of many people's real views, and are not nearly fine-grained enough to give policy-makers a real understanding of what a majority of the public wants."
But Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "We have made sweeping changes to get a grip on immigration in this country, closing down routes that were subject to abuse and taking action against those with no right to be here. This is clearly in line with what the public want us to be doing. There is much more to be done and we will stick to our course."
Liam Fox is facing more pressure over his involvement in soliciting donations for a company that funded close friend Adam Werrity.
Prominent Tory backers were said to have complained that the former defence secretary "misled" them about how the money would be used.
Labour MP John Mann also insisted police and the Electoral Commission should look at whether Dr Fox and Mr Werrity had behaved in a criminal fashion.
The latest wave of developments came despite Dr Fox finally falling on his sword on Friday night after a turbulent week for the coalition.
David Cameron shifted Philip Hammond to take charge at the Ministry of Defence, while Justine Greening replaced him at Transport. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the reshuffle was so hastily conducted that Mr Cameron contacted his ministers from a train platform surrounded by morris dancers.
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton is understood to have approached Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to express unhappiness about Dr Fox's actions. Mr Moulton said the Cabinet minister asked him to donate to Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty. He was apparently told the firm helped provide "security and analysis", and was unaware it was funding Mr Werritty's travel to meet Dr Fox on official trips.
The millionaire has also complained to the Conservative Party about the way he was treated.
There were reports that those giving money to Pargav had been promised anonymity, which could potentially be against tough rules on declaring donations.
Bassetlaw MP Mr Mann said he had written to police asking for a fraud investigation to be launched. "I referred the matter to the police to investigate whether there is a potential fraud," he told the Telegraph. "Mr Werritty gave out business cards saying he was an adviser to Dr Fox. If that is not the case and he was getting money - for whatever purpose - by misrepresenting his relationship with the defence secretary, that cannot be right."
Dr Fox's actions should also be scrutinised be the force, he added. The Yard said it had not yet received any request to investigate.
Some 50,000 families are to be given free parenting lessons as part of the coalition's drive to make society more responsible.
The classes are being piloted for mothers and fathers with children aged under five in Middlesbrough, High Peak in Derbyshire, and Camden.
They will be offered £100 vouchers to pay for the sessions, and organisations will bid for contracts to provide them.
Issues covered are likely to include communication, managing conflict, discipline, and creating routine and boundaries.
Children's minister Sarah Teather said the trials would start next summer and run for two years. The scheme will cost £5 million for the vouchers plus set-up costs.
"The overwhelming evidence from all the experts is that a child's development in the first five years of their life is the single biggest factor influencing their future life chances, health and educational attainment," she said.
"Armed with all this evidence, it is the Government's moral and social duty to make sure we support all parents at this critical time.
"Parents have one of the toughest and most important jobs - but unlike so many other areas of our lives, they don't get a training manual or a how-to guide.
"I want to get rid of the stigma attached to asking for help. Parenting classes aren't just for struggling families with complex problems.
"All parents should know it's okay to ask for extra support and guidance when they need it - just as most do when they attend ante-natal classes before their child is born."
Cold winds, frost and even some snow are to hit Britain this week, signalling the end of the October heatwave.
The mercury peaked at an unseasonably high 18.3C in Gravesend, Kent, on Saturday but temperatures are set to drop in the coming days.
Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, said: "A cold front will start across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday, giving some heavy outbursts of rain which will turn to snow over the mountains in Scotland.
"The rain will spread further south into northern England and Wales by the end of the day."
Winds of up to 65mph are expected across north-western England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the odd rumble of thunder is possible.
"We will definitely feel a chill in the air," Mr Ratcliffe said. "The winds originate in the Arctic, but they get modified a lot as they arrive here."
Although the south of the country will enjoy highs of up to 17C on Sunday and into Monday, , it will feel much cooler across the UK on Tuesday, with highs of 14C in the south and 10C in Scotland.
On Wednesday night, temperatures will plunge to around 1C and could be as low as -1C in northern parts of the country.
Mr Ratcliffe said: "It's going to be pretty cold everywhere across the UK on Wednesday night, with widespread ground frost expected in the whole of the UK and perhaps air frost in places too."
However, by the end of the week conditions should be milder as a result of weather systems moving in from the Atlantic.
Church services at St Paul's Cathedral have taken place as normal despite a makeshift camp set up by anti-capitalist protesters in London's financial district.
Thousands of people descended on the area around the London Stock Exchange on Saturday as the movement that began in New York with Occupy Wall Street spread worldwide.
Protesters then pitched their tents at the foot of the steps of St Paul's for the night after police cordoned off Paternoster Square, where the stock exchange itself is located.
Clergymen told protesters on Sunday morning that they had no problem with their presence as services took place.
Ben Doran, 21, a music student from the Midlands, said: "The reverend came out and asked the police to leave the steps of the cathedral and said he didn't mind protesters being here, that he supported the democratic right to protest.
"He said there was no issue and that people were treating the site respectfully and he was happy for it to carry on.
"He was asked if the services would still be carrying on and he said yes, they would carry on as if there was no problem happening."
One protester, a pensioner from London who gave her name as Ruth, said: "The vicar said he had no problem with us being here, he could see we weren't here against the church, we were here against the stock exchange."
Worshippers at the cathedral also expressed their support for the protesters.
John Maguire and his wife Gail, from Haslemere, Surrey, attended the service to celebrate their twelfth wedding anniversary. He said: "I think the protesters have got a valid point to make and obviously they want to make it in the most visible sense, so I'm pleased for them."
Liam Fox is facing more pressure over his role in soliciting donations used to fund close friend Adam Werritty.
Police and the Electoral Commission are being asked to investigate whether the former defence secretary and Mr Werritty broke the law.
And Foreign Secretary William Hague has signalled that the coalition will be looking at wider problems with the lobbying system in the wake of the scandal that engulfed Dr Fox.
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton is understood to have approached Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to complain at being "misled" by Dr Fox, who resigned on Friday
Mr Moulton said the Cabinet minister asked him to donate to Pargav, a not-for-profit company set up by Mr Werritty. He was apparently told the firm helped provide "security and analysis", and was unaware it was funding Mr Werritty's travel to meet Dr Fox on official trips.
The millionaire has also complained to the Conservative Party about the way he was treated. There were reports that those giving money to Pargav had been promised anonymity, which could potentially be against tough rules on declaring donations.
Labour MP John Mann has written to police asking for a fraud investigation to be launched. He told the Telegraph: "Mr Werritty gave out business cards saying he was an adviser to Dr Fox. If that is not the case and he was getting money - for whatever purpose - by misrepresenting his relationship with the defence secretary, that cannot be right."
A City of London Police spokesman said: "City of London Police can confirm it has received an allegation of fraud. Officers from the force's economic crime directorate will consider the matter and establish whether or not it is appropriate to launch an investigation."
An Electoral Commission spokesman confirmed it is considering a complaint that Dr Fox had breached legislation on donations.
Meanwhile, Mr Hague dismissed as "fanciful" the idea that Mr Werritty could have been running a shadow foreign policy outside the control of government. "One adviser or non-adviser, whatever he may have been, is not able to run a totally different policy from the rest of government," Mr Hague told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
British aid agencies have raised £72 million for drought victims in East Africa, the highest total ever for a food crisis.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched an appeal in July after Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and the Republic of South Sudan suffered one of the worst droughts in 60 years.
One hundred days since the appeal's launch, the total raised is the third largest in the charity's 45-year history.
More money has only been raised by the tsunami earthquake appeal of December 2004 (£390 million) and Haiti earthquake of January 2010 (£107 million), the charity said.
It is also the largest total for any African appeal, and the highest for one where conflict was a principle cause of a disaster.
The disaster left more than 12 million people in need of food, water and emergency healthcare.
The DEC, which comprises 14 British aid agencies, said it has helped nine million people receive aid in East Africa - but it said there are still "significant shortfalls" in the delivery of aid.
There is a shortage of funds, particularly from sources outside the UK, and problems of insecurity and limited access in the worst affected areas of Somalia.
Some affected areas of Kenya and Ethiopia are seeing the first signs of improvement, the charity said. Increasing amounts of aid are getting through, harvests are being reaped in many areas and rains are making more pasture available for surviving livestock.
But the charity warned that many people in these areas still need emergency support in the short term, as well as longer term aid in the coming years to rebuild their livelihoods.
