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Post Office Bank plan rejected

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Image The Government has unveiled plans to invest in Post Offices, cut queues and increase opening times - but angered unions, business and pensioner groups by deciding against setting up a state-backed Post Office Bank. A coalition representing workers, businesses and pensioners has been campaigning for years for a Post Office Bank, but ministers said it would be too time-consuming and expensive, arguing that now was "not the right time". The Government promised an "exciting new era" for the Post Office when it pressed ahead with controversial plans to privatise parts of the Royal Mail, and said it was keen for banking to be extended into the post branch network. Postal affairs minister Ed Davey announced an agreement between Post Office Ltd and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) which will give RBS and NatWest customers access to their current and business accounts through the Post Office. This will mean that almost 80% of current accounts will be accessible at post offices, said Mr Davey. "We're determined to turn the Post Office network around and end the years of decline," he said. "The Post Office is a tremendous national asset. It will not be for sale and there will be no programme of closures. To underline our commitment we have announced £1.34 billion of funding over the next four years. The money will put the Post Office on a stable financial footing. It will help modernise the network and make it even more appealing to customers." The Communication Workers Union accused the Government of "misleading" the public through "propaganda", pointing out that the current funding announcement was £360 million less than Labour's funding package, that further closures were not being ruled out, and that ministers were reneging on a Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment to establish a Post Bank. General secretary Billy Hayes said on Tuesday: "What we're seeing today is a lesson in presentation and spin. Today's plans and funding will not solve the problems faced by the Post Office, in fact this Government is adding to the uncertainty the network faces and giving the taxpayer a bad deal in the process. "Funding is welcome, but it's £360 million less than what the last Labour government gave the network. Saying no programme of closures is very different from saying no closures, and the rhetoric of Post Offices being the shop front for Government services is already being exposed as benefit payments look set to move to the private company PayPoint. Today's statement is light on any detail other than the decision to spike Post Bank. This would have brought lucrative business to the Post Office and access to finance in all communities for small businesses and the financially excluded." A spokesman for the National Pensioners Convention, which is part of the coalition pressing for a Post Office Bank, said: "This is an extremely short-sighted decision which will put the future of the Post Office network in jeopardy. It will deprive millions of old people of a secure banking system they would have confidence in." John Walker, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Small businesses have had enough of the difficulties they encounter when applying for loans and overdrafts, so any support to change is welcome news, but we are disappointed this is not through a Post Bank, a publicly owned bank run through the post office network around the country. This would provide a real solution for those small firms having problems accessing finance and would help keep the network alive."

BA fined over cargo price fixing

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Image The European Commission has imposed a 104 million euro (£90 million) fine on British Airways for its part in cargo route price fixing involving a number of airlines. The EC fine follows penalties inflicted on BA in America, Canada and Australia for the offence which involved fuel surcharges on international airfreight. Air France and Dutch carrier KLM were among other airlines also fined by the EC. Air France was fined the most - 183 million euro (£159 million) - and in total the airlines involved were fined nearly 800 million euro (£700 million). The Commission said BA and the other carriers co-ordinated their action on fuel surcharges over a period of six years. "It is deplorable that so many major airlines co-ordinated their pricing to the detriment of European businesses and European consumers," said European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia. "With this decision the Commission is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate cartel behaviour." The cartel operated from December 1999 to February 2006, said a Commission statement. "The cartel arrangements consisted of numerous contacts between airlines, at both bilateral and multilateral level, covering flights from, to and within the EEA (European Economic Area). "Airlines providing airfreight services primarily offer the transport of cargo to freight forwarders, who arrange the carriage of these goods including associated services and formalities on behalf of shippers."

Clegg defends welfare reform plans

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Image Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has defended the coalition's controversial welfare reforms, insisting they will bring 300,000 households back into work. Mr Clegg highlighted the potential advantages of the plans despite concerns among many Liberal Democrats. His intervention, in an article for The Guardian, came as MPs debated housing benefit curbs that Labour claims will hit the poorest. Mr Clegg said the creation of the universal credit to replace all other means-tested handouts would help ensure people were always better off if they were employed. Those who currently declined part-time work for fear of losing out financially would in future be able to take it, the Lib Dem leader insisted. "Our reforms will effectively remove the artificial disincentives created by existing rules about the numbers of hours people have to work," he wrote. "It must always be worth working, even for a few hours a week. Taken together, our welfare reforms should reduce the number of workless households by 300,000 within three years of implementation."

Cervical jab 'cuts screening need'

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Image Girls who have the cervical cancer jab may only need screening twice in their lifetime, an expert has said. Cervical cancer should become a "rare disease" thanks to the introduction of the vaccine, said Professor Peter Sasieni from Queen Mary, University of London. Girls who have the jab when they are 12 or 13 would only need testing for the disease when they are 30 and 45, he said. The vaccine protects against key strains of the sexually-transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes most cases of cervical cancer. Prof Sasieni suggests the current smear test programme, which sees women invited for screening every three to five years, could be replaced with HPV testing. The HPV test picks up 13 strains of the disease, which account for virtually all cervical cancer cases. It typically takes over 10 years for a cancer to develop after HPV infection. Research shows that cancer caused by HPV types not prevented by the current vaccines take even longer. "If you don't have one of these 13 types of HPV then your chance of getting cervical cancer in the next 10 years is really incredibly low," Prof Sasieni said. "You would capture virtually everybody with HPV testing. Vaccinated women would only need to be screened when they are 30 and 45." Prof Sasieni said around 100,000 women should continue to be screened more regularly to ensure the vaccine continues to work for a lifetime.

Hague pledges Latin America links

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Image Long-standing differences with Argentina over the Falklands must not be an "obstacle" to revitalising Britain's relationship with Latin America, Foreign Secretary William Hague said. In a keynote speech in London, Mr Hague said that the coalition Government was determined to end Britain's "neglect" of a region which offered major opportunities for trade and investment. He pointed out that while at the start of the First World War Britain had accounted for 50% of the foreign investment in Latin America and 20-25% of its overseas trade, now barely 1% of international exports to the region came from the UK. Mr Hague said that while there would be no change in the UK's position on the Falklands, ministers would do all they could to deepen Britain's links with the region while helping UK firms access markets there. "We will halt the decline in Britain's diplomatic presence in Latin America. Britain's retreat from the region is over, and it is now time for an advance to begin," he said. "For history teaches us that Britain has a track record of underestimating Latin America and neglecting its opportunities. It is this neglect that the current British Government is determined to address. "It is our intention not to let differences come in the way of closer co-operation. There will be no change to Britain's long-standing position on the Falkland Islands. But this should not be an obstacle to the positive relations we seek." Mr Hague said that coalition ministers had already made a number of visits to countries in the region while Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg would be leading a ministerial and trade delegation there next year. He voiced Britain's support for Brazil to be given a permanent seat on a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council. At the same time, he promised that the Government would not "gloss over" problems of poverty, inequality and serious violence which marked parts of the region and said that Britain was committed to working with the Colombian government to improve human rights in that country.

PM's speech risks wrath of Chinese

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Image David Cameron is to risk the wrath of his hosts in China by setting out a forthright case for parliamentary democracy, a free press and the rule of law while suggesting Beijing should go down the route of "greater political opening". The Prime Minister's comments, in a keynote speech to Beijing students at the end of his two-day visit, amount to the toughest argument for democracy made by a British leader on Chinese soil in recent times. Mr Cameron has said he will not "lecture and hector" China over political freedoms and human rights, and aides said his speech is intended in a spirit of frank dialogue rather than criticism. The PM himself will acknowledge that British society is "not perfect" and insist that he is not trying to place the UK in a position of "moral superiority" over China. But he will say that institutions like Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons and an official Opposition, with a constitutional duty to hold the new Government publicly to account, promote better governance by forcing leaders to listen to criticism and adapt their policies in response. The constraints of a judiciary able to strike down unlawful official actions "make our Government better and our country stronger", he will say. And a free media allows those who hold different views from the Government to take part in public debate. "We believe that the better informed the British public is about the issues affecting our society... the easier it is, ultimately, for the British Government to come to sensible decisions and to develop robust policies that command the confidence of our people, " he will say. Speaking to students at Beida University, Mr Cameron is expected to acknowledge that leading a country of 1.3 billion people raises difficulties of a different order from those of a nation of 60 million. He will add: "I make these observations not because I believe that we have some moral superiority. "Our own society is not perfect. There is still injustice which we must work hard to tackle. We are far from immune from poverty and the ills that afflict every nation on Earth." But he will say: "In arguing for a strong relationship between our countries, I want a relationship in which we can be open with each other... The rise in economic freedom in China in recent years has been hugely beneficial to China and to the world. I hope that in time this will lead to a greater political opening... because I am convinced that the best guarantor of prosperity and stability is for economic and political progress to go in step together."

Thousands protest over fees rise

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Image Thousands of students and university staff are taking to the streets to protest against plans to increase tuition fees and cut university funding. Under the Government's proposals, which represent the most radical shake-up of student funding for decades, the fee cap will be raised to £6,000, with universities able to charge up to £9,000 - triple the current cap - in "exceptional circumstances". But unions have warned the controversial move will mean the end of affordable university education. The national demonstration, organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU) will see protesters march through central London before holding a rally in Westminster. NUS president Aaron Porter said: "We are taking to the streets in unprecedented numbers to tell politicians that enough is enough. We will not tolerate the previous generation passing on its debts to the next, nor will we pick up the bill to access a college and university education that was funded for them. "This Government is abdicating its responsibility to fund the education and skills provision we desperately need just as every other country is investing in its future. We cannot and will not accept that miserable vision for our future. "We will fight back against attempts to dismantle the funded education system we desperately need for economic recovery, social mobility and cultural enrichment. The Government's short-sighted and self-defeating cuts to colleges and universities must be resisted and that resistance begins now." UCU general-secretary Sally Hunt said: "The past few weeks have really brought home just how angry staff, students and the general public are with the Government's plans for education. They can see past the spin and they don't accept the need for such punitive measures. Slashing taxes for big businesses whilst telling the public we're all in this together exposes the Government's true agenda. "We are taking to the streets to deliver a clear message to politicians that we want a fair and progressive system of education funding. There is nothing fair or progressive about tripling the cost of a degree and axing college grants that are often the difference between students being able to study or not." The proposed changes to university funding are politically explosive as many Liberal Democrat MPs, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, publicly pledged during the General Election campaign not to allow fees to go up.

Ex-Navy chiefs condemn defence cuts

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Image A group of former Royal Navy chiefs have urged the Government to reverse its decision to scrap the aircraft carrier Ark Royal and the fleet of Harrier jets. In a letter to the Times, the commanders said the recently-announced defence cuts would leave the oil-rich Falkland Islands open to a fresh Argentinian attack "from which British prestige... might never recover". The signatories, who include former Navy boss Lord West, also said Prime Minister David Cameron was badly advised before agreeing to the measures. "I am not convinced he had a full and proper briefing about the implications," Lord West told the newspaper. Describing the Harrier decision as "strategically and financially perverse", the group claimed keeping Tornado jets would cost seven times as much in maintenance during the next decade. The other signatories are former Admiral of the Fleet Sir Julian Oswald, Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham, Vice-Admiral John McAnally and Major-General Julian Thompson. They said: "In respect of the newly valuable Falklands and their oilfields, because of these and other cuts for the next 10 years at least, Argentina is practically invited to attempt to inflict on us a national humiliation on the scale of the loss of Singapore. One from which British prestige, let alone the administration in power at the time, might never recover." The coalition Government announced a series of defence cuts as part of last month's Strategic Defence and Security Review which also included reducing the number of Army troops by around 7,000 and scrapping the planned Nimrod MRA4 maritime reconnaissance aircraft - despite spending £3 billion on its development. The admirals concluded: "We believe that these decisions should be rescinded in the over-riding national interest, before it is too late." But Defence Secretary Liam Fox defended the changes, telling the newspaper: "It is simply not the case that decommissioning the Harrier would impact upon our ability to defend territories in the South Atlantic. We maintain a wide range of assets, not least a well-defended airfield to ensure the defence of the Falkland Islands."

Big Society? We have no clue: Tory

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Image Even coalition ministers have little idea what David Cameron's Big Society idea means, a member of the Government has admitted. Tory Tim Loughton said charities frequently used the "buzz phrase" when lobbying politicians, but the majority of people struggle to understand the concept. Delivering a speech to volunteering organisation CSV, the children's minister said: "The trouble is that most people don't know what the Big Society really means, least of all the unfortunate ministers who have to articulate it. "What actually is the Big Society, let alone is it good or not? Exactly how big is it now or is it going to be? Is it in fact Ann Widdecombe? "Is it a very British thing? Or is it another American import?" Mr Cameron made great play of the Big Society during the general election campaign, describing it as his "great passion" that would enhance "people power". His vision is for volunteers, charities and communities to take responsibility for reforming society themselves, rather than leaving it to central government. However, the idea has come under fire for being too abstract and vague. Giving the Edith Kahn Memorial Lecture in the House of Lords, Mr Loughton said: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a voluntary organisation in possession of a good idea and in want of a meeting with a minister will use the buzz phrase 'Big Society' before breakfast, lunch and dinner - to open with a cacophonous car crash of mixed misquotes." Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham told the Daily Telegraph: "Tim Loughton should at least get credit for saying what the rest of the country has been thinking."

Unhappy pupils 'act recklessly'

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Image Young teenagers who do not like school are more likely to become involved in under-age sex and drinking, research suggests. Happiness at school and home are key indicators of whether a child is likely to indulge in "risky" behaviour, according to a study led by researchers at Liverpool John Moores University's Centre for Public Health. The study questioned 3,641 children aged 11 to 14 living in north-west England about sex and alcohol use, as well as asking about their general well-being, including how happy they are with the way they look, how well they get on with their parents, whether they like school and how their teachers treat them. The findings show that children who said they do not feel school is a nice place to be are two-and-a-half times more likely to be involved in any sexual activity, and 86% more likely to be having sex. The study adds that the latter figure is not statistically significant. Pupils who said they dislike school are also more likely to drink alcohol. The study, published in the journal Substance Abuse, Treatment, Prevention and Policy, shows that the odds of ever drinking alcohol are two-fold higher in children who said they do not like school. Children who said they do not have a happy home life, or said they are unable to talk to parents about their problems had the highest odds of ever drinking. The study concluded: "Clearly, children involved with risky health behaviours are most in need of guidance and support through school programmes, but they appear to be the very children who poorly engage and are thus less receptive to learning new skills." The findings also show a strong link between alcohol and sexual activity. Children drinking once a week or more had 12-fold higher odds of any sexual activity, and 10-fold higher odds of having sex, it said. Lead researcher Professor Mark Bellis said: "Our study identifies that the children who drink and are sexually active are also more likely to be unhappy with their school and home lives."

Injured troops 'underestimated'

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Image The number of troops seriously injured in battle is underestimated by more than half of the population, according to new research. St Dunstan's, a charity which cares for former servicemen and women, said that 59% of those surveyed guessed that fewer than 500 soldiers had been seriously wounded in conflict in the last 10 years. The number of soldiers seriously wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan now stands at 670 but only 12% correctly estimated that, a spokesman for St Dunstan's said. Chief executive Robert Leader said: "With a majority of the UK public underestimating the number of injured troops returning from current conflict, the need to support our service personnel has never been greater. "We owe our armed services an enormous debt of gratitude and Remembrancetide will bring this to the forefront of people's minds. "As demand for the services we provide to our injured servicemen and women at St Dunstan's continues to increase, we must do all that we can to recognise the bravery of individuals who are living with the consequences of conflict - whether sight loss or other sensory or physical disabilities." The three most difficult war injuries to overcome were judged to be sight loss, brain damage and the loss of limbs, with 94% of those questioned saying they believed regaining independence after being blinded would be almost impossible. The charity canvassed the opinions of 2,012 people for the survey.

Jobless refusing work lose benefits

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Image Tough new welfare rules will strip unemployed claimants of their benefits for up to three years if they refuse the opportunity to work. Unemployed people who turn down offers of work, refuse to apply for appropriate jobs or fail to turn up for mandatory community work will lose their £65-a-week Job Seekers Allowance, said Prime Minister David Cameron. The measure, included in the Welfare Reform White Paper being published on Thursday by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, is intended to be in place before 2013 in an effort to cut the bill for JSA, which is claimed by 1.5 million people. The allowance will be removed for three months on a first offence, six months the second time and three years on the third breach of the new rules. JobCentre advisers are expected to have the power to strip errant jobseekers of JSA and there will be no right of appeal, said officials. Mr Cameron said the changes would create "clear responsibilities and clear incentives for those on benefit to take steps towards getting back to work wherever it's feasible for them to do so". Job advisers already have the power to remove JSA for up to 26 weeks from people who fail to take up offers of employment, but the sanction is very rarely applied. Government sources said it would be the presumption that the benefit will be forfeited in cases of breach in all but exceptional cases, where compelling reasons are provided for failing to take up work. Those losing income from JSA will be able to apply for a hardship allowance, worth 60-70% of the benefit (around £39-£44 a week), but this is not expected to be available in many cases. Mr Cameron, attending the G20 summit in Seoul, said: "We're doing more than any other Government to help people get back to work. That's our part of the deal. Now those on benefit need to do their bit. The message is clear. If you can work, then a life of benefits will no longer be an option." The White Paper will also include provisions to simplify the complex system of out-of-work benefits into a single Universal Credit, which Mr Cameron said would ensure that work pays for everyone.

Child care body 'unfit for purpose'

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Image The body responsible for looking after the interests of vulnerable children in the family courts was exposed as "not fit for purpose" in the wake of a large rise in cases following the Baby P tragedy, MPs have said. Children suffered as the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) "failed to get to grips with fundamental weaknesses in its culture, management and performance" following a 34% increase in its caseload, leading to "chaos across the family justice system". "These problems have been to the detriment of children", the report by the Commons' Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found. Margaret Hodge, the committee's chairwoman, said: "Cafcass was ill-prepared for the very large increase in care cases in 2009-10 which followed the Baby Peter tragedy and caused chaos in the family justice system. "This lack of readiness was a direct result of the organisation's continued failure to get to grips with the fundamental weaknesses in its culture, management and performance. It is still dealing with a legacy of low morale, unacceptably high levels of sickness absence and under-performance by some staff." Baby P, now named as Peter Connelly, was 17 months old when he died in Tottenham, north London, at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, her violent partner Steven Barker and his brother, Jason Owen, in August 2007. He suffered more than 50 injuries despite receiving 60 visits from social workers, doctors and police over an eight-month period. The case prompted a 34% rise in cases for Cafcass in 2009/10, the MPs found, and the body was only able to respond to the demand through the use of measures "which allowed it to do less work or to delay work on cases". "Cafcass, as an organisation, is not fit for purpose", the committee said. While the specific impact of the Baby Peter tragedy was "hard to predict", the possibility of a sustained increase in cases "was a scenario that Cafcass should have planned for". But "Cafcass did not see the crisis coming, nor did it have a contingency plan in the event of a significant increase in demand", the committee said. Cafcass has also taken "too long to secure essential changes, and much of the responsibility lies with top management".

Millions to mark Armistice Day

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Image Millions of people are to fall silent to mark the anniversary of the day peace returned to Europe at the end of the First World War. The agreement between Germany and the Allies after four years of fighting took effect at the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918. As the nation stops to remember those who have lost their lives in battle, the Archbishop of Canterbury, defence ministers, representatives of military associations, veterans and school children will attend a service at the Cenotaph in central London to commemorate Armistice Day. Brother Nigel Cave, the Western Front Association's padre, will lead the ceremony, which will see wreaths laid at the monument in Whitehall. A bugler from the Scots Guards will herald the start of the silence at exactly 11am by playing the Last Post and mark the completion of the two minutes with the Reveille. Those laying wreaths will include Lieutenant General Sir Robin Ross, of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), representatives of the Western Front Association, pupils from five schools, the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, the Royal Star and Garter Homes and serving officers from the Army, Navy and RAF. Parade marshal Les Carter, of the Western Front Association, said he believes it is "very important" to honour the sacrifice made by the 1914-18 generation. "The people who died there, especially in the early part of the war, went to war with a totally different attitude," he said. "They were all volunteers - it was a civilian army. We owe them a tremendous amount and we will remember them." Meanwhile, the Royal British Legion is hosting Silence in the Square in London's Trafalgar Square to give people the chance to take part in the two-minute silence to remember troops past and present, and share in music, readings and entertainment. Other commemoration events include the Duke of Edinburgh visiting the Field of Remembrance and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey and a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, while the Field of Remembrance at Wootton Bassett is officially opened.

Police caught out by demo violence

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Image An urgent investigation is under way into how police were caught out when violent protesters turned a demonstration against higher university tuition fees into an ugly battle. Fourteen people were injured, including seven police officers, when dozens of activists stormed the tower block housing the Conservative Party headquarters in Millbank, Westminster. Tens of thousands of pounds of damage was caused as protesters smashed windows, damaged furniture and daubed walls with graffiti, sparking a four-hour stand-off. Thirty-five people were arrested for offences including criminal damage and aggravated trespass and many more were photographed and identified as police prepared to scour footage for evidence of crimes. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the unexpected clashes were an "embarrassment to London and to us", and pledged to examine what went wrong. London Mayor Boris Johnson said he was appalled that a small minority "shamefully abused" their right to protest, and warned that those involved will "face the full force of the law". The violence was sparked as a peaceful march involving thousands of students mobilised from across Britain by looming fee rises passed the landmark building on the River Thames. A small group of police and security staff were forced to retreat as a mass of people surged forward, led by a smaller group, many of whom were masked, who stormed the building and smashed windows. An angry stand-off ensued as a handful of police officers attempted to stop more people entering the building as up to 50 protesters ran amok inside, smashing windows and hurling missiles from the seventh-floor rooftop. The inquiry is likely to focus on police preparation for the march, including the decision to categorise it as low risk and to draft in only around 225 officers to marshal more than 50,000 people. The tactics of public order commanders once violence erupted will also come under the spotlight after officers were ordered not to intervene as protesters attacked the building.

Report on Ukip leader's plane crash

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Image The struggle of a pilot to control a light aircraft that crashed on General Election day this year, severely injuring Ukip leader Nigel Farage, has been related in an air accident report. The PZL-104 Wilga 35A light aircraft came down in Northamptonshire after an attempt to tow a Ukip advertising banner led to the tow line becoming wrapped around the tailplane, the report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said. This caused the aircraft's nose to drop and although the pilot Justin Adams, 45, "maintained some control of the aircraft", he could not prevent it crashing at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield on the morning of May 6, the report said. Mr Farage, who was standing - ultimately unsuccessfully - against the Commons Speaker John Bercow in the constituency of Buckingham, suffered broken ribs, bruised lungs and facial injuries. He was treated at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and said afterwards: "I must be the luckiest man alive." Mr Adams was also seriously injured and was trapped in the wreckage of the aircraft by a foot until freed by firefighters, the report said. The AAIB said the aircraft had taken off from Hinton-in-the Hedges to tow the banner, with Mr Farage in the passenger seat "intending to receive text messages from colleagues on the ground giving locations where the banner could be shown to maximum effect". The report said there were four unsuccessful attempts to connect the banner with the grapple hook attached to the aircraft. A fifth attempt got the banner in the air but Mr Adams found that the control column was being pulled forward "with a force that required both hands to resist". Attempting to land back at Hinton-in-the Hedges, Mr Adams found the control column was pulled forward "with a force he could not resist". He managed to get the nose level but this did not prevent the aircraft "hitting the ground with a high rate of descent". The engine was separated from its mounts and the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest upside down. Mr Farage, who was not Ukip leader at the time but has since been re-elected as head of the party, later described the incident as "the scariest moment of my life". He added that as the plane came down he had thought: "I hope this is over quickly."

Watchdog 'disappointed' with Clegg

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Image An elections watchdog is set on a collision course with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg after he dismissed calls for a law change to ensure last-minute voters are not turned away. The Electoral Commission said it was "disappointed" the Government had ignored its call for legislation to prevent a repeat of angry scenes during May's general election. It also aired fears that town hall budget cuts could affect the smooth running of the referendum on changing the voting system due for May 5 next year. At least 1,200 people were still queuing in 16 constituencies when polls officially closed at 10pm, meaning they could not cast their ballot. The Commission fears the same could happen when the whole country goes to the polls again in May 2011 to decide whether to move to the Alternative Vote system for future general elections. But ministers refused to meet its call to introduce a legal right to vote for anyone who arrives before 10pm as part of the Bill paving the way for the poll - which has been approved by MPs. On Wednesday Mr Clegg told the Commons that legislation was not the answer: "The problem was a lack of resources, the problem was poor organisation by the returning officer. That's what we need to address - not always simply reach for the statute book," he said. Now the watchdog is waiting to see whether peers will seek to make the change when it passes to the upper House but warns that time is running out. It wants all measures in place for the referendum - which is controversially being held alongside local and devolved elections - at least six months in advance. In an update on the chances of a smooth-running referendum, Commission chair Jenny Watson said that while "enough progress" had been made, it remained a "major challenge".

Wind and rain as storms lash UK

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Image Heavy rain and winds are forecast to again lash Britain as new storms sweep across the country. A deep depression came in from the Atlantic overnight, bringing gales and wet weather in its wake. Wind speeds could reach up to 80mph in the north of England and up to 70mph in the south. The stormy weather will be centred over Scotland, but areas north of the border will escape the worst of the winds because it is "in the eye of the storm", forecasters say. Gareth Harvey, a forecaster with the MeteoGroup, said: "An area of low pressure will hit the UK bringing strong wind and heavy rain as the Atlantic depression moves over the country. "The winds will pick up in the western parts of the UK and start to fringe the far west of Scotland. "In certain areas, the winds will be stronger with Northern England the worst affected. "It will turn brighter from the West after the rain, with showers which could be quite heavy, especially in the North West where there could be rumbles of thunder." The winds will batter the UK throughout Thursday before moving out to the North Sea. Some snow is forecast to fall in the Scottish Highlands, but will be swept away by rain throughout the day.

Gazza faces jail for drink-driving

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Image Paul Gascoigne is likely to be jailed after he admitted driving while more than four times the legal limit. The 43-year-old former England player will be sentenced at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, where last month he admitted drink-driving. After hearing the midfielder was found to have 142mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the limit is 35mg - District Judge Stephen Earl warned Gascoigne all options "up to and including a custodial sentence" were open. A sentence of 12 weeks could be appropriate, the judge said at the last hearing, before adjourning the case for probation service reports. The former Newcastle United, Spurs, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton player was caught driving an MG car erratically by police in Jesmond, Newcastle, on October 8 at 2.45pm. A separate drink-drive charge, which Gascoigne denies, will be heard at a later date at Northallerton Magistrates' Court.

Universities 'to charge high fees'

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Image All universities will charge tuition fees of £9,000 to avoid being labelled as a "low quality" institution, research suggests. Under Government proposals for student funding published earlier this month, universities will be able to charge £6,000 per year in fees from 2012, and up to £9,000 a year in "exceptional circumstances." But a study by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) concludes that £9,000 will become the norm within a few years. It says: "Those institutions that are over-subscribed will charge £9000 without hesitation. Those that have struggled to recruit students will initially be more cautious, but, within a few years, we believe that almost all universities will charge the maximum £9000 fee. "No doubt, as now, some further education colleges will charge less than the maximum, and so may a small number of higher education institutions, but our expectation is that the great majority of students will be charged the maximum fee within a few years." The study says that £3,000 top-up fees introduced in 2006 did not introduce a market into higher education. There are good reasons for institutions to charge the maximum, the study said. "Charging lower fees risks being identified as a low quality or low prestige institution." In addition, higher fees will mean universities are able to access further public funding, and if demand from students is low, then institutions can simply use the extra revenue for bursaries and scholarships, it says. Under the Government's plans, universities that want to charge over £6,000 will have to show clear plans of how they intend to ensure poorer students are not priced out. The HEPI report says this is unlikely to deter universities from charging maximum fees, saying they will do whatever they have to to satisfy the requirements, which will be approved by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). It says: "No university has yet failed to satisfy OFFA, and there is no reason to expect any to do so in future. There is, therefore, every reason to expect most universities to increase their fees towards £9000 - not immediately, but over time."
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