Radical Preacher: Arrest 'Politically Motivated'

Radical preacher Anjem Choudary says his arrest was "politically motivated" after being released on bail on suspicion of being a member of a banned terrorist group.

He was one of 11 men held as part of a police investigation into alleged support of extremist group Al Muhajiroun.

The 47-year-old, who is to answer bail in January, tweeted: "I've been released from police custody.

"Just in time for Cameron to declare war on Islam & Muslims in Iraq & Syria."

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad

He was among nine men, aged between 22 and 51, held in London on suspicion of being members of a terror organisation and encouraging terrorism.

Two more were stopped and detained near junction 1 of the M6, just outside Rugby, Warwickshire.

One of the arrested men - 39-year-old Trevor Brookes - has been charged with two counts of breaching his notification requirement, while seven others have been bailed.

The pair held on M6 remained in custody.

A number of properties - 11 in east London, one in west London, one in northwest London, five in south London and one in Stoke-on-Trent - were searched as part of the investigation.

One of them was Yummy Yummy, a sweet shop in Whitechapel, East London, owned by Mr Choudary's brother Yadzani.

Mr Choudary said after his release: "My arrest certainly was politically motivated.

"The last time the government proscribed any organisation linked to me or previous groups I have been linked to was in June 2014.

"They have done nothing since then. They waited until the day before a major vote on a war against Muslims for a high-profile series of arrests."

Mr Choudary said he was questioned at Southwark police station about being a member of up to 10 banned groups including Islam4UK and Need4Khalifah.

He was reported to have said this week he had no sympathy for aid worker Alan Henning, who has been captured by the Islamic State in Syria.

He reportedly said: "In the Koran it is not allowed for you to feel sorry for non Muslims. I don't feel sorry for him."

Al Muhajiroun was set up by Mr Choudary and Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad, who was told he could not return to the UK after the 7/7 bombings.

The organisation was banned in the UK in 2010.

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First-Time Buyers To Get 20% Off Under Tories

Young first-time buyers will get a 20% discount on their new homes, under plans announced by the Conservatives.

David Cameron has set out plans to build tens of thousands of new homes on commercial "brownfield" land, reserved for first-time buyers, under 40.

As Tories begin gathering in Birmingham for their annual conference, the PM said a Conservative government would implement the plan if they were re-elected in 2015.

Homes built under the proposed Help to Buy: Starter Homes scheme would be exempt from a range of taxes, lowering their price by 20%, say Tories.

First-time buyers have been priced out of many areas, especially in London

In an interview with The Sun, Mr Cameron said the programme would deliver 100,000 starter homes over the lifetime of the next parliament.

"We want to help more young people achieve the dream of home ownership so today as part of our long-term economic plan I can pledge we will build 100,000 homes for young, first-time buyers," he said.

"We will make these starter homes 20% cheaper by exempting them from a raft of taxes and by using brownfield land.

"I don't want to see young people locked out of home ownership.

David Cameron says the new homes would be exempt from some taxes

"We've already started to tackle the problem with Help to Buy mortgages - and these new plans will help tens of thousands more people to buy their first home."

The Conservatives said the homes would be built on brownfield land already zoned for development but no longer needed for industrial or commercial use.

Such land is not normally made available for housebuilding and can be bought more cheaply than other land, and the savings will be passed on to the buyer.

Public sector land which is surplus to requirements will also be brought into the scheme.

At the same time, the Conservatives said that the properties would be exempt from most of the taxes imposed on new homes.

These taxes include the social housing requirement and the community infrastructure levy.

Some future regulations such as the zero carbon homes standard will also not apply to properties built under the scheme.

The announcement is intended to set the tone for the party's final annual conference before the country goes to the polls next May.

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Police Find 'Area Of Interest' In Alice Hunt

Detectives searching for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross have identified an "area of interest" in west London.

They cordoned off an area in Elthorne Park, near her home in Hanwell, and are examining "something of interest" found there, Scotland Yard said.

Meanwhile, police have staged a reconstruction of Alice's last-known movements.

The 14-year-old was last seen on CCTV at 4.26pm on 28 August walking along the Grand Union Canal back towards her home.

Police have cordoned off an area in Elthorne Park

Scotland Yard hope the reconstruction, which began with her leaving her home at 1pm before walking along Brentford Lock, will help jog people's memories.

Detective Superintendent Carl Mehta, leading the hunt, told Sky News police were anxious to know what happened to Alice after 4.26pm that day.

He said people may remember her distinctive "power walk" - very fast with swinging arms.

Around 600 officers from eight forces are involved in the investigation, making it the Metropolitan Police's biggest operation since the 7/7 bomb attacks in London in 2005.

Police have staged a reconstruction to try to jog people's memories

Alice's parents Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross told Sky News of their anguish as they made a plea for her safe return.

Ms Hodgkiss, who is a teacher, said: "The longer Alice has been missing the more worried and concerned that we feel and obviously the greater the anguish that we feel.

It is the biggest search by the Met since the 7/7 bomb attacks in London

"We are looking forward to being back as a family again. The house feels very empty without her."

She added: "Alice is a very lively, funny girl. She's quirky. We are really looking forward to the sound of her voice, seeing her smile, just her presence."

Mr Gross, 60, said of his daughter, a keen musician: "Her singing was a really big part of the sounds in our house."

Alice's parents say the house feels empty without her

Alice had suffered from anorexia, but Mr Gross said: "There's nothing specific we can think of that would have made her want to run away."

Her father also highlighted the "extraordinary" level of support they had received from the public, which had been "uplifting".

Yellow ribbons are in evidence all over the area of west London where the family live, along with posters highlighting the teenager's disappearance.

The prime suspect is 41-year-old builder Arnis Zalkalns - a convicted murderer who served seven years in a Latvian jail for killing his wife.

Zalkalns is a suspect in the case and has not been seen since September 3

He was spotted on CCTV cycling along the same path as Alice on the day she vanished.

He has not been seen since September 3 and has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone.

Officers have been sent to his native Latvia to trace him.

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anyone who has information that leads detectives to find Alice.

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MPs Set To Approve UK Airstrikes In Iraq

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

David Cameron is poised to win support from MPs for airstrikes in Iraq which senior ministers have warned could last up to three years.

Bombing raids involving RAF planes could begin within hours of a vote in the Commons which is expected to be overwhelmingly in favour of bombing raids.

Desperate to avoid a repeat of the Commons defeat over airstrikes against Syria last year, the PM is proposing a cautiously-worded motion intended to win support from all parties.

"This motion does not endorse UK airstrikes in Syria as part of this campaign, and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament," it states.

David Cameron says airstrikes will only target Iraq, not Syria

And it adds: "Her Majesty's Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations."

Mr Cameron goes into the debate with an opinion poll suggesting voters strongly back airstrikes in Iraq, but would also support attacks against Syria.

A YouGov survey for The Sun shows the largest support yet for RAF airstrikes in Iraq, with 57% now in favour and just 24% against.

But it also suggests voters support bombing raids against ISIL in Syria by 51% to 26%, even though Mr Cameron has already ruled this out for now.

The poll findings are a complete turnaround from 13 months ago, when voters opposed airstrikes on Syria's President Bashar al Assad by two-to-one.

The UK strikes would follow raids by US planes in Syria and Iraq

The Cabinet met for 90 minutes yesterday and "unanimously" backed airstrikes in Iraq.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon suggested that the campaign against IS could be a "long haul" of "two to three years".

He told Parliament's House magazine: "(US Secretary of State) John Kerry has estimated two to three years, that looks like a long haul to me.

"But we have to face up to this. This kind of extremism has been spreading, taking root in democracies."

After the Cabinet meeting, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Government was confident Parliament would approve the Government's motion.

Tory MP Bob Stewart says the UK must 'annihilate' the militants

He stressed that Britain's role would currently be limited to airstrikes in Iraq.

"There will be a ground operation. It's just that we will not be providing ground combat troops," Mr Hammond said.

"We are very clear about that. Not only because we don't think, frankly, public opinion would support such involvement.

"But also we don't think such an involvement would be helpful.

"If we were to put large numbers of Western troops into Iraq now that would simply feed Isil's narrative.

"If ground forces are needed they have to come from regional countries - primarily from Iraq itself."

Asked whether the action could be extended into Syria at a later stage, Mr Hammond replied: "We haven't ruled out anything for the future.

Chief of Defence Staff General Nick Houghton (L) and Phillip Hammond

"We will have to see how the struggle against Isil goes.

"But the important thing... is that if we were to decide at some point in the future that it would be right to conduct airstrikes in Syria then we would come back to the House of Commons, there would be another debate - all the issues around that would be fully discussed and a decision made at that time."

Although the Labour leader Ed Miliband has said his MPs will support the Government in the vote, some anti-war left-wing MPs are expected to force a vote and oppose military action.

On the eve of the debate, left-wing Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street opposing bombing raids.

But some Conservative MPs want the Government to go further and deploy raids on Syria and commit troops.

Bob Stewart, a member of the Commons Defence Committee and a former British commander in Bosnia, said IS had to be defeated in its birthplace in Syria.

"The truth is, as everyone knows, the only way to get rid of this menace is to beat it on the ground, drive them out, annihilate them or capture them," he said.

"We mustn't rule out the option of using our armed forces if our country is threatened enough that we need to do so."

Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth added: "If you don't attack their bases in Syria, then clearly you are not addressing it.

"One will be left with the taste in the mouth that we are leaving it to the Americans to do the dirty end of the job."

:: The Commons debate will begin at 10.30am with the vote expected at around 5pm. Watch on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

:: Live coverage will also available on sky.com/news and Sky News for iPad and on your mobile phone.

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Ofsted: We Must Tackle Disruptive Behaviour

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs Editor

Children lose up to an hour of learning each day in schools across England because of disruption, Ofsted's chief inspector has warned.

Evidence from nearly 3,000 inspections of state-funded schools, together with parent and teacher surveys, has found that behaviour like pupils making silly comments to get attention, swinging on chairs, passing notes around, quietly humming and using mobile phones was having a noticeable impact on children's ability to learn.

"While the days of chaos in the classroom are thankfully largely behind us, low-level disruption in class is preventing too many teachers from doing their jobs and depriving too many young people of the education they deserve," Sir Michael Wilshaw said.

"I see too many schools where headteachers are blurring the lines between friendliness and familiarity - and losing respect along the way.

"Every hour spent with a disruptive, attention-seeking pupil is an hour away from ensuring other pupils are getting a decent education.

Sir Michael Wilshaw is urging schools to clamp down on misbehaving pupils

"If we are going to continue to improve our education system to compete at the highest levels, we need to tackle the casual acceptance of this behaviour that persists in too many schools.

"It isn't rocket science: children need to know the rules and teachers need to know they will be supported in enforcing them.

"In the last year, schools serving almost 450,000 pupils have been judged less than good for behaviour. That is far too many."

At St Mary's Church of England High School in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, pupils said minor disruption did have an impact on their ability to learn.

"It's really frustrating when you're trying to concentrate on your own work," said Poppy Mclellan.

"But it normally does get sorted out."

Headteacher Stephanie Benbow said stamping out disruption required a concerted effort by staff.

"Low-level disruption is a real challenge for modern teachers," she said.

"It has to be said that the challenges have risen - young people are a bit more challenging and we have to be a bit more robust in our response.

"There can be no tolerance of inappropriate behaviour in a classroom. One has to be persistent, and consistent. Without that, you won't get the high level of success that these children demand."

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Last Known Moments Of Missing Teen Re-Enacted

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Police are due to stage a reconstruction of the last known movements of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross, who disappeared four weeks ago in West London.

The 14-year-old vanished after walking along the Grand Union Canal towpath in Hanwell and detectives are hoping the reconstruction will help jog people's memory of the afternoon of August 28.

A 41-year-old builder called Arnis Zalkalns – a convicted murderer who served seven years in a Latvian jail for killing his wife – was spotted on CCTV cycling along the same path as Alice on the day she vanished.

Some 600 offiers from eight forces are involved in the search

He has not been seen since September 3 and has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone.

"Alice appears to have simply vanished off the face of the earth, it's a complete mystery," former Met Police officer Jacqui Hames told Sky News.

"By staging the reconstruction four weeks on from her disappearance, police hope it will jog someone's memory and they might come forward with the one piece of information that will lead them to Alice.

Sightings of Alice on August 28

"The area she was last seen in, Trumpers Way bridge over the Grand Union canal, is an area that's extremely busy.

"There are lots of people running, cycling and walking dogs and it's overlooked by business blocks and private residences, so it's very baffling how she just disappeared."

Police have followed up 729 lines of inquiry and have made more than a thousand calls in their search for Alice, who has anorexia. They have searched 30 properties, 25 square kilometres of open land and 5.5km of canals and rivers.

Around 600 officers from eight forces are involved in the investigation, making it the biggest search undertaken by the Met since the 7/7 attacks of 2005.

It is the biggest search undertaken since the 7/7 attacks of 2005

A 25-year-old man was arrested on September 6 on suspicion of murder, but was released on bail and no further action will be taken. Officers also arrested a 51-year-old man, but he too was released from the inquiry.

Detectives say they have identified three cyclists who were spotted on CCTV in the area on August 28, but are still trying to locate two others who were seen near Alice.

A Metropolitan Police cadet will walk along the canal dressed in the same type of clothing that Alice was wearing on the day of her disappearance, for the reconstruction.

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Dave Lee Travis: The Fall Of A Familiar Face

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent

Dave Lee Travis fought accusations that he was a sex pest for two years, and was acquitted of most of the charges against him at an earlier trial.

But a second jury has now decided that he is guilty of indecent assault.

At the height of his career, Travis was one of the most familiar faces in Britain. He presented Top of the Pops and the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

His real name is David Griffin, but his nickname was the "Hairy Cornflake". During his original trial he described himself as "a big hairy cuddly bear" who liked to hug friends and colleagues.

Travis admitted being tactile, but the women who testified against him claimed he went way beyond that, accusing him of groping them or worse.

Travis described himself as 'a big hairy cuddly bear'

When the DJ was arrested and questioned about allegations of indecent assault, the publicity prompted other women to come forward with stories of their encounters with him.

By the time he went on trial in February, he was facing 13 charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

After a month-long trial, he was acquitted of all but two offences, which the jury could not reach a verdict on.

Much to Travis's anger, the Crown Prosecution Service decided on a retrial and added a new accusation from another complainant.  This time, he was convicted of a single count of indecent assault.

As the legal process dragged on, the DJ became more frustrated - and in July, he made a statement outside court, which at the time could not be broadcast for legal reasons.

He said: "In my estimation, the CPS has overcompensated for its failings with Savile and in doing so has taken away the human rights and the dignity of individuals by having the police arrest people first, then go out looking for the evidence."

Travis claimed the CPS 'overcompensated' for failings on the Savile case

Five months before he was first arrested, the Sunday Times published a story by Camilla Long which highlighted his behaviour.

She had visited his home to interview him because he was about to meet the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The article's headline read: "Dave Lee Travis: Look out, Suu Kyi - he's a bit touchy".

Ms Long wrote: "I spent 90 minutes with the former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis and I don't think there is a part of my body that he didn't grope.

"He fondled my foot, inched his hands up my thighs, tried to make me sit on his lap and kissed me. He copped a feel of my hips when I foolishly asked for a tour of his studio, stroked my chin and my back and gave me a full body hug as I left."

Ms Long was asked by the police whether she wanted to press charges and give evidence at his trial, but declined.

She told Sky News: "He didn't worry about getting consent too much, he just did it."

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Dave Lee Travis Guilty Of Indecent Assault

Dave Lee Travis: The Fall Of A Familiar Face

Updated: 4:23pm UK, Tuesday 23 September 2014

By Ian Woods, Senior Correspondent

Dave Lee Travis fought accusations that he was a sex pest for two years, and was acquitted of most of the charges against him at an earlier trial.

But a second jury has now decided that he is guilty of indecent assault.

At the height of his career, Travis was one of the most familiar faces in Britain. He presented Top of the Pops and the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

His real name is David Griffin, but his nickname was the "Hairy Cornflake". During his original trial he described himself as "a big hairy cuddly bear" who liked to hug friends and colleagues.

Travis admitted being tactile, but the women who testified against him claimed he went way beyond that, accusing him of groping them or worse.

When the DJ was arrested and questioned about allegations of indecent assault, the publicity prompted other women to come forward with stories of their encounters with him.

By the time he went on trial in February, he was facing 13 charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault.

After a month-long trial, he was acquitted of all but two offences, which the jury could not reach a verdict on.

Much to Travis's anger, the Crown Prosecution Service decided on a retrial and added a new accusation from another complainant.  This time, he was convicted of a single count of indecent assault.

As the legal process dragged on, the DJ became more frustrated - and in July, he made a statement outside court, which at the time could not be broadcast for legal reasons.

He said: "In my estimation, the CPS has overcompensated for its failings with Savile and in doing so has taken away the human rights and the dignity of individuals by having the police arrest people first, then go out looking for the evidence."

Five months before he was first arrested, the Sunday Times published a story by Camilla Long which highlighted his behaviour.

She had visited his home to interview him because he was about to meet the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The article's headline read: "Dave Lee Travis: Look out, Suu Kyi - he's a bit touchy".

Ms Long wrote: "I spent 90 minutes with the former Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis and I don't think there is a part of my body that he didn't grope.

"He fondled my foot, inched his hands up my thighs, tried to make me sit on his lap and kissed me. He copped a feel of my hips when I foolishly asked for a tour of his studio, stroked my chin and my back and gave me a full body hug as I left."

Ms Long was asked by the police whether she wanted to press charges and give evidence at his trial, but declined.

She told Sky News: "He didn't worry about getting consent too much, he just did it."

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Rail Passengers Unhappy With Delay Information

Two thirds of rail passengers are dissatisfied with the way train companies deal with delays and cancellations, according to a customer survey.

Passengers complained Twitter provided better information than station staff and only 17% were aware of rail disruption before arriving at their station.

The survey by Passenger Focus revealed passengers wanted honest, reliable and up-to-the-minute information that painted a realistic picture of problems as they unfolded.

Passengers said they needed delay information as quickly as possible

Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Despite improvements, it is clear that many passengers are still dissatisfied with the way the rail industry deals with delays.

"Passengers need information as quickly as possible - ideally before leaving home. Only 17% knew about the disruption before arriving at the station.

"For instance, a fallen tree across a railway is just that, not an 'obstruction'. Passengers told the full reasons for the delay are likely to be less frustrated than those who are not.

"Passengers now receive information from a range of sources, so train companies must ensure that staff at stations and on trains are ahead of the information game."

Train operators said they had worked hard to make improvements

The survey findings were based on responses from 1,020 passengers who had experienced a delay in the previous seven days.

One customer said: "I'd have liked an announcement from a human, rather than numbers on a board."

Another said: "Just the facts - the live departure information is often just a joke. Why cannot Southeastern be honest and just say 'no trains' rather than raising hopes?"

Passenger Focus accepted the tone of announcements needed to signal the train company was "on the passengers' side" and could be as important as the content of the messages.

Michael Roberts, director general of the Rail Delivery Group which represents Network Rail and rail operators said rail companies had worked hard to make improvements.

A fallen tree should not be described as an 'obstrution' said the survey

"Passengers are at the heart of what we do and we know they want the industry to provide them with clear, accurate and timely information so they can make informed journey choices," he said.

"That is why we have worked hard to make improvements and are already committed to implementing many of the report's key recommendations.

"The industry will shortly produce a revised plan that includes more prominent service information on websites, earlier notification of any changes to the following day's timetable and measures to boost awareness of how to claim compensation for delayed journeys."

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Alice Search Continues As Forensics Test Knife

Police divers are continuing to search a river in the hunt for missing Alice Gross as forensic tests are carried out on a knife found in the water.

The search for the 14-year-old, who went missing in west London on August 28, is the biggest operation of its kind since the 7/7 bombings in 2005.

Attention is focusing on the River Brent and its banks near Ealing Hospital in west London where the knife was recovered.

Scotland Yard has issued a further appeal for information on her whereabouts and that of prime suspect Arnis Zalkalns.

A spokesman said: "The knife will be taken away for analysis but it is too early to say if it's connected. We are focusing on the same area as we were yesterday."

The force has come under fire for taking four days to ask Latvian authorities for help in finding Zalkalns, who served seven years in prison after he was convicted of killing his wife Rudite Zalkalns.

He went missing six days after Alice was last seen walking alongside the Grand Union Canal in west London on August 28.

Arnis Zalkalns is being hunted by police

Zalkalns has not accessed his bank account or used his mobile phone since September 3, nor has he returned home to his partner and young child.

His passport was left at his house and police in Latvia have confirmed he has not entered the country by plane.

They have however acknowledged it is possible he could have got in undetected if he travelled by car or coach.

Zalkalns was seen on CCTV footage cycling along a path by the Grand Union Canal 15 minutes after the last sighting of Alice.

Detectives believe he is likely to have seen Alice as they were both going north along the canal towpath.

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anyone who has information that leads detectives to find Alice.

Zalkalns is white, 5ft 10ins and stocky, with dark brown hair that he normally wears tied in a pony tail.

Police have said that he "potentially poses a risk to the public" and have asked anyone who sees him not to approach him and to dial 999.

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Police Hunt For More Body Parts After Leg Found

Police have launched an investigation after a dog walker found a human leg near Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Lancashire police are using sniffer dogs to search the area after the adult limb was found on land behind Healey Conservative Club in Whitworth on Sunday.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called at shortly before 2.45pm to a report that a member of the public had found a human leg on land behind Healey Conservative Club at Whitworth.

"Police are now searching the area to see if there are any further body parts and inquiries are ongoing to try to establish to whom the leg belongs."

It is not clear how long the leg has been there or whether it belonged to a man or a woman.

The Conservative Club declined to comment.

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PM Holds English Votes For English Law Talks

Alex Salmond Quits After Scotland Votes No

Updated: 12:56pm UK, Saturday 20 September 2014

Alex Salmond is standing down as Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader after his dream of an independent country was shattered.

In Thursday's referendum, 55% of voters chose to stay part of the United Kingdom while 45% were in favour of going it alone, with a record turnout of 84.5%.

Mr Salmond said he was "immensely proud" of the Yes campaign but believed party, parliament and country would "benefit from new leadership" to take the devolution process forward.

He added: "My time as leader is nearly over but for Scotland... the dream shall never die."

With the votes from all 32 council areas in, the result was a victory for the No camp by 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989.

The outcome has left a country divided, with Yes majorities in four areas including Dundee and the nation's largest city Glasgow.

Mr Salmond announced his resignation as David Cameron promised new powers for Scotland.

The First Minister, 59, said now was the "opportunity to hold Westminster's feet to the fire on the 'vow' they have made to devolve further meaningful power to Scotland".

He said he had spoken on the telephone to the Prime Minister who had "reiterated his intention to proceed as he outlined".

"But he would not commit to a second reading vote by March 27 on a new Scotland Bill", which the SNP leader said was a clear promise set out by Gordon Brown in the campaign.

The PM said such a vote would be "meaningless", according to Mr Salmond, who added: "I suspect he can't guarantee the support of his party."

Mr Salmond said some people will be "incandescent" if they see "slippage" from a timetable clearly set out just a few days ago.

He said it had been the "privilege of my life to serve as First Minister" and will quit at the SNP's annual conference in Perth in November.

Mr Salmond, who has been SNP leader for 20 years and seven years as First Minister, added: "We lost the referendum vote but Scotland can still carry the political initiative. Scotland can still emerge as the real winner."

SNP Deputy Leader Nicola Sturgeon said she could think of "no greater privilege" than to take the top job but insisted the decision was "not for today".

She said: "Alex Salmond's achievements as SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister are second to none. He led the SNP into government and has given our country a renewed self confidence."

The Prime Minister spoke of Mr Salmond's "huge talent and passion", while Alistair Darling, head of the No campaign, and Labour leader Ed Miliband said he was a "formidable" politician.

Mr Cameron said the new powers he, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband had promised Scotland in the dying days of campaigning would be "honoured in full".

And he said work would start on a "full and fair settlement for all of the UK" in what appeared to be a shift towards a more federalist UK and that plans would be drawn up by the Leader of the House of Commons, William Hague.

Labour dismissed Mr Cameron's plans as "knee-jerk" and Mr Miliband set out his own proposal for a Constitutional Convention and political reform of Westminster as he arrived for the Labour Party conference in Manchester.

:: Watch live: Scottish referendum coverage now on Sky News Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.

:: Live coverage is also available on sky.com/news and Sky News for iPad and on your mobile phone.

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Boy, 2, Seriously Hurt In Hotel Balcony Fall

A two-year-old boy has suffered head injuries after plunging from a balcony on the first floor of a hotel in Liverpool.

The toddler, who is in serious condition in hospital, fell from the mezzanine floor to the lobby of the Hilton Hotel in the centre of the city at about 4pm on Saturday.

Hotel staff gave first aid to the child before emergency services arrived.

A spokesperson for the hotel chain said: "We can confirm that an incident occurred this afternoon at Hilton Liverpool whereby a child was injured on the hotel premises.

"Team members from the hotel were on hand and immediately administered first aid before an ambulance arrived.

"The safety and security of our guests is of paramount importance and we are liaising closely with the child's parents, police and local hospital.

"Our primary concern is the child's wellbeing and we continue to offer our support during this difficult time."

Merseyside police has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the fall.

A force spokesman said: "Emergency services were called at about 4pm to the Hilton Hotel on Thomas Steers Way to a report a two-year-old boy had fallen from the mezzanine floor of the hotel into the lobby.

"Police and paramedics attended at the scene and the child was taken to hospital for treatment.

"The child sustained head injuries as a result of the fall and he remains in a serious condition in hospital at this time."

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Briton's Body Found After Mexico Hurricane

The body of a British woman who went missing while travelling on a yacht off the coast of Mexico has been found.

The Foreign Office confirmed one Briton had died after a search operation was launched earlier this week for couple Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood in the aftermath of Hurricane Odile.

The pair, from London and Wolverhampton, were reported missing on Friday after their yacht overturned in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

Paul Whitehouse is still missing. Pic: Facebook

The couple are thought to have been living in La Paz, Mexico, for a year.

Mr Whitehouse, who is believed to be a scuba instructor, is reportedly still missing.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national, reported missing along with another British national earlier this week off the coast of Mexico.

The hurricane affected power and water supplies

"The Embassy is working with the local authorities and consular staff are providing assistance to both families at this very difficult time."

Hurricane Odile left a trail of destruction when it hit the Baja California Peninsula last Sunday.

Three other people have been confirmed dead following the storm - two Korean citizens and a German man who reportedly died from a heart attack.

More follows...

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