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Hundreds Of British Troops To Be Sent To Iraq

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 13 Desember 2014 | 12.25

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondence

Hundreds of British soldiers are to be sent to Iraq to help the fight against Islamic State, Sky News understands.

The soldiers - expected to number a few hundred - will go to the region "within weeks" senior military sources have said.

The National Security Council is expected to rubber-stamp the mission when it meets on Tuesday.

Although small groups of British troops have conducted similar missions over the past few months, this will be much greater in size and on a more permanent basis.

A team of military advisors recently went to the country to scope out options.

It's believed the mission will be largely split between the capital Baghdad and Irbil in the Kurdish controlled north.

It hasn't been confirmed which regiments the troops will be drawn from.

The UK government has repeatedly insisted that any such training mission would not constitute 'boots-on-the-ground' although British Special Forces are operating in the region.

In October a dozen soldiers from The Yorkshire Regiment were dispatched to Irbil to train the Kurds to use heavy machine guns.

An advisory team has also been embedded in the Iraqi military HQ, working alongside the Americans.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman wouldn't confirm the specifics of the latest mission but did say: "The Defence Secretary announced the intention to provide further training to the Iraqi military in early November.

"No decisions on troop numbers, units or locations have been made, so this is purely speculation at this stage."

The British contribution will fit into a wider mission involving a number of nations.

Earlier this week, the most senior US Commander Lt Gen James Terry revealed that the coalition training mission would involve around 1,500 soldiers.

US special operations troops have already set up a training base at the Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar Province.

Germany recently pledged around 100 soldiers to help train the Peshmerga in northern Iraq. That mission, if approved, will begin early next year.

NATO has also said it would explore options if the Iraqi government came forward with an official request.

The Alliance said that any training mission wouldn't necessarily be based in Iraq. Neighbouring Jordan has been used for similar projects.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Probe Under Way Into Air Traffic 'Glitch'

An investigation is under way into why Britain's air traffic control system malfunctioned for the second time in two years, causing transport chaos for thousands of people.

The focus of the probe will be hardware and software connected to the flight data system, which is believed to control the flight plans of the planes.

Air traffic control service NATS said: "Following a technical fault with the flight data system used by air traffic controllers at Swanwick, NATS can confirm that the system has been restored to full operational capability and a thorough investigation is continuing, to identify the root cause.

"Although operational restrictions applied during the failure have been lifted, it will take time for flight operations across the UK to fully recover."

More than 300 flights were cancelled or delayed after a computer failure at NATS headquarters in Swanwick, Hampshire, on Friday afternoon.

The cancellations came just over a year after hundreds of flights were affected when problems arose with a telephone system at NATS in early December 2013.

The chaos that hit UK airports began to clear last night, but there were expected to be knock-on effects on Saturday.

There were reports passengers on some flights were unable to collect their luggage and were told that it would be sent on to them by courier.

Others on their way to London were reported to have been redirected to European airports.

Seventy flights were cancelled at Heathrow, which last night said it was getting back to normal.

Gatwick said some cancellations were expected and passengers were advised to contact their airline for the latest flight information.

Other airports where travellers suffered delays on Friday included Manchester, Birmingham, Stansted and Luton, but airports as far north as Aberdeen and Edinburgh were affected.

All airports advised all travellers to reconfirm their flights.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the disruption was unacceptable.

He said: "Disruption on this scale is simply unacceptable and I have asked NATS for a full explanation of this evening's incident. I also want to know what steps will be taken to prevent this happening again."

Experts said part of the problem was that the system is operating at full capacity and anything that goes wrong has a huge impact.

Professor Martyn Thomas, visiting professor of Software Engineering at the University of Oxford, said: "Some of NATS' computer systems are very old - the National Airspace System that performs flight data processing is software that dates from the 1960s.

"Interfacing new systems to this old software can create difficulties."

Air traffic control safety expert Philip Butterworth-Hayes said: "Swanwick ... has an incredibly complicated, customised software system, where you have to upgrade things all the time. A small upgrade can cause all sorts of problems.

"The issue we have in the UK, especially in the south eastern UK, is there's very little spare capacity, because the system is running at such high rates, it only needs a small little glitch to create a large problem."


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Sought Changes To Senate CIA Torture Report

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 12 Desember 2014 | 12.25

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Britain has been dragged deeper into a row over US torture allegations after the Government admitted it did ask for changes in a Senate report on the CIA's behaviour.

In an abrupt U-turn by No 10, officials admitted changes had been asked for, 24 hours after denying Britain had asked for passages to be removed.

At Thursday's No 10 briefing, David Cameron's Deputy Spokeswoman confirmed British intelligence agencies discussed redactions with their US counterparts.

"My understanding is no redactions were sought to remove any suggestion that there was UK involvement in any alleged torture or rendition," she said.

And then she admitted: "There was a conversation with the agencies and their US counterparts on the executive summary.

"Any redactions sought there were done on national security grounds in a way we would have done with any other report."

And yet on Wednesday, the day the CIA report was published, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman, when asked what redactions had been sought, repeatedly said: "None whatsoever, to my knowledge."

The admission comes after the head of the CIA John Brennan described the techniques used to extract information as "abhorrent".

The Senate report had detailed the US intelligence agency's "brutal" treatment of al Qaeda suspects in a network of secret prisons around the world.

On Wednesday night, former President George W Bush's Vice President Dick Cheney robustly defended the programme, which included forms of torture such as "waterboarding".

Andrew Tyrie, the Conservative MP who founded the All Party Group on Extraordinary Rendition, said a judge-led inquiry is now essential as public trust in the security services is at risk of being corroded.

"The Senate's report, and the further reports of redactions, greatly strengthen the case for a full and detailed inquiry into allegations of British facilitation of kidnap and torture, led by a judge," he said.

"The ISC has been handed back this task. Given the difficulties they faced in 2007, that is a huge challenge.

"Until that work is completed, until the scope and limits of our involvement are known, allegations – whether true or not - will continue to be made, corroding public confidence.

"We cannot know what, if any, of the material redacted might be of legitimate public concern. Until a full inquiry is completed, it will continue to be claimed that some of it is."


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Councils' Revenue From Parking Reaches £667m

Councils' Revenue From Parking Reaches £667m

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The amount of profit being raised by local councils from parking charges rose by more than 12% last year.

An RAC Foundation survey found that in 2013/14, councils in England made a combined "profit" of £667m from their on and off-street parking operations.

The previous year they made £594m from fines, permits and tickets.

Around £293m of the amount raised in 2013/14, or 44%, was generated by councils in London, the study found.

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "Parking profits seem to be a one-way street for councils, having risen annually for the last five years.

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  1. Gallery: All The Fun Of The Fare

    The scourge of the inner city motorist, the parking meter is more than 50 years old. These tireless guardians of British kerbs have been used since 1958, when they were introduced to the streets of Mayfair.

Arthur Longley of Wimbledon, tested the new parking meters at the New Malden Factory shortly before the scheme was introduced in London.

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The meter came to the UK more than two decades after its invention by US newspaper editor Carlton Magee in 1935. Three years later, this lady was celebrating with a nickel for an hour's parking at White Plains, New York.

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In August 1957, one Mr Bruce put money in a London parking meter near Marble Arch under the not-so-watchful gaze of an attendant named Mr Stapeley.

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This camel put up with the deserts of Africa and crazy European drivers - but what gave it the hump were the parking restrictions in Belgravia, central London. The camel was taking part in a publicity stunt to promote a Royal Gala Charity evening in 1976.

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Councils' Revenue From Parking Reaches £667m

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

The amount of profit being raised by local councils from parking charges rose by more than 12% last year.

An RAC Foundation survey found that in 2013/14, councils in England made a combined "profit" of £667m from their on and off-street parking operations.

The previous year they made £594m from fines, permits and tickets.

Around £293m of the amount raised in 2013/14, or 44%, was generated by councils in London, the study found.

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "Parking profits seem to be a one-way street for councils, having risen annually for the last five years.

1/16

  1. Gallery: All The Fun Of The Fare

    The scourge of the inner city motorist, the parking meter is more than 50 years old. These tireless guardians of British kerbs have been used since 1958, when they were introduced to the streets of Mayfair.

Arthur Longley of Wimbledon, tested the new parking meters at the New Malden Factory shortly before the scheme was introduced in London.

]]>

The meter came to the UK more than two decades after its invention by US newspaper editor Carlton Magee in 1935. Three years later, this lady was celebrating with a nickel for an hour's parking at White Plains, New York.

]]>

In August 1957, one Mr Bruce put money in a London parking meter near Marble Arch under the not-so-watchful gaze of an attendant named Mr Stapeley.

]]>

This camel put up with the deserts of Africa and crazy European drivers - but what gave it the hump were the parking restrictions in Belgravia, central London. The camel was taking part in a publicity stunt to promote a Royal Gala Charity evening in 1976.

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12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jihadi's Father Regrets Co-Operating With Police

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 11 Desember 2014 | 12.25

Jihadi's Father Regrets Co-Operating With Police

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By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

The father of a British jihadi jailed for nearly 13 years after travelling to Syria says parents with children who do the same will be "too scared to tell police".

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed's father spoke to Sky News exclusively on the condition that neither his name nor face were shown.

His son was sentenced alongside his friend, Yusuf Sarwar, at Woolwich Crown Court last week for terrorism offences.

Childhood friends Sarwar and Ahmed, both 22, were given 12 years eight months in prison each, plus another five years on licence.

Ahmed's father says his family co-operated with the police and helped persuade the pair to return home to Handsworth in Birmingham.

1/11

  1. Gallery: Terror Pair Left Trail On Computer

    Two British men who travelled to Syria to fight alongside rebels have pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. All photos from West Midlands Police.

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed and Yusuf Zubair Sarwar spent eight months in Syria last year after contacting Islamist extremists from the UK. This email was sent to Ahmed by a Danish extremist.

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Nahin and Sarwar leaving the Heathrow Premier Inn for the airport terminal.

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Jihadi's Father Regrets Co-Operating With Police

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

By Adele Robinson, Midlands Correspondent

The father of a British jihadi jailed for nearly 13 years after travelling to Syria says parents with children who do the same will be "too scared to tell police".

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed's father spoke to Sky News exclusively on the condition that neither his name nor face were shown.

His son was sentenced alongside his friend, Yusuf Sarwar, at Woolwich Crown Court last week for terrorism offences.

Childhood friends Sarwar and Ahmed, both 22, were given 12 years eight months in prison each, plus another five years on licence.

Ahmed's father says his family co-operated with the police and helped persuade the pair to return home to Handsworth in Birmingham.

1/11

  1. Gallery: Terror Pair Left Trail On Computer

    Two British men who travelled to Syria to fight alongside rebels have pleaded guilty to terrorism offences. All photos from West Midlands Police.

Mohammed Nahin Ahmed and Yusuf Zubair Sarwar spent eight months in Syria last year after contacting Islamist extremists from the UK. This email was sent to Ahmed by a Danish extremist.

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Nahin and Sarwar leaving the Heathrow Premier Inn for the airport terminal.

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12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Weather Bomb' Warnings For Northern Britain

High winds are expected to strike northern Britain today as stormy conditions continue from the so-called "weather bomb".

Yellow "be prepared" alerts are in place for Scotland's western coast, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney, Shetland and Northern Ireland.

Alerts also remain in place for England's East, South East, North East, North West, northern Wales and other areas.

Forecasters predict the strong winds and wild weather will ease in the late morning.

But southerly areas of the UK could be hit by stormy conditions rolling in from the Atlantic tonight.

A deep low pressure system known colloquially as a "weather bomb" caused extreme weather conditions for parts of Britain on Wednesday.

Waves of 52ft were recorded in coastal regions and thousands of homes left without power.

As well as disruption to energy supplies, the severe storm caused ferry and train cancellations and school closures in the North.

Wind speeds of 144mph were recorded on St Kilda, an uninhabited archipelago 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.

According to the Met Office, the highest recorded wind speed at low level sites was 81mph on Tiree.

Off the coast of Orkney, a rescue operation was launched to help a British-registered fishing vessel which issued a Mayday call after getting into difficulties.

The 33ft trawler, with 16 Spanish crew, had one of its bridge windows smashed and some equipment damaged in the stormy conditions.

The O'Genita was escorted to Westray in Orkney by the Stromness lifeboat.

Twenty vehicles also had to be freed after becoming stuck in icy conditions on Cairn O' Mount, a high mountain pass, in Aberdeenshire.

:: Send us your pictures and videos by emailing news@sky.com, texting 84501 or tweeting @SkyNews.

:: Full weather and travel updates at skynews.com, the Sky News for iPad app, mobile devices and your local commercial radio station.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Britain Braces For Severe 'Weather Bomb'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 10 Desember 2014 | 12.25

Forecasters have issued widespread weather warnings across Britain as the country braces for a so-called "weather bomb".

Major travel disruptions are expected as winds of up to 80mph strike some areas and huge waves hit northern coastal regions.

The Met Office has issued amber weather alerts for western Scotland, the Highlands, Northern Ireland, Orkney and Shetland and Strathclyde regions.

Yellow weather warnings have also been issued across England's South East, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, as well as in northern Wales and several other areas.

The rapid cyclogenesis - known colloquially as a "weather bomb" - is a deep low pressure system moving slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.

Steve Willington, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Very strong winds are likely to affect northern and central parts of the UK from early Wednesday and last through until early Thursday as a very deep low pressure system moves slowly eastwards between Scotland and Iceland.

"A period of severe gales is likely over northern and central Britain, as well as the potential for storm force winds over north-western coastal areas of Scotland."

Police have warned that travel conditions in the worst-hit areas of Scotland could be "hazardous".

Drivers are being told to expect disruption to both morning and evening rush hours.

The freezing winds will peak today, but more southerly areas of the UK are likely to be hit by a second storm due to roll in from the Atlantic on Thursday night.

Ferry services in Scotland have already been disrupted as the winds whipped up unusually high waves, with sea swells of up to 12m in parts.

The Forth, Kessock and Skye bridges have been closed to high-sided vehicles because of the rising wind speeds.

Several train services will also be cancelled as a safety precaution, Network Rail and ScotRail have announced.

:: Send us your pictures and videos by emailing news@sky.com, texting 84501 or tweeting @SkyNews.

:: Full weather and travel updates at skynews.com, Sky News for iPad app, mobile devices and your local commercial radio station.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

What Is The Weather Bomb Heading To UK?

It's not unusual to have big Atlantic storms barrelling towards Scotland at this time of year.

But this is a weather bomb, a rapidly intensifying depression - with the pressure plunging in the eye of the storm by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.

And it's leading to exceptionally high seas, with wave heights in excess of 50 feet or 16 metres.

That's more than twice the height of an average house.

The biggest waves will be in the deeper water.

But the islands and western and northern coasts of Scotland will be battered overnight and through Wednesday.

The atrocious weather is being fuelled by a strong trans-Atlantic jet stream.

The high altitude winds are racing along at 230mph.

They spawned this storm and now they're steering it headlong into the Scottish coast.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Missing Madeleine: Police To Question Suspects

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 09 Desember 2014 | 12.25

By Robert Nisbet, Europe Correspondent, in Portugal

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann will today begin interviewing 11 people considered witnesses and suspects in the seven-year mystery.

Police from the British-led investigation Operation Grange will be in attendance, but it is understood Portuguese officers from the Policia Judiciaria will lead the questioning.

Seven of the number are believed to be 'arguidos', which means they are treated as formal suspects but have not been charged with a crime.

In Portuguese law, police can declare a suspect to be an arguido in order to ensure they cannot travel abroad and can be used as a pre-cursor to charging a suspect with an offence.

However, the status also gives the suspect the right to refuse to answer questions and secure legal representation.

A further four people are being interviewed as witnesses to the disappearance of Madeleine who vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007 while her parents Gerry and Kate were dining with friends nearby.

It is believed that one of the men police will question as a witness is Robert Murat who was declared an arguido by Portuguese police in the initial investigation.

He was later cleared and won substantial libel payouts from several media organisations.

Mr Murat says he is happy to help the investigation and has nothing to hide.

It is believed the interviews will be attended by Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall who will officially take over control of Operation Grange on 22 December after the departure of DCI Andy Redwood.

Earlier this year, Scotland Yard detectives returned to Portugal to help interview several people over the case.

It followed on from searches of three areas of land near the Ocean Club, the hotel where the McCanns were staying.

Portuguese and British investigators excavated an area of scrubland to the west of the resort at the start of June but found no evidence related to the case.

Portuguese police closed their investigation in 2008, but the Metropolitan Police launched its own inquiry three years later.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

West Midlands Police Ordered Back To Base

Police in the West Midlands are investigating a potential security threat that led to its officers being called back to base.

A statement released by the West Midlands Police confirmed officers were given an "additional safety reminder" after information was received about officers' safety.

The safety advice included information about travelling to and from work in partial uniform.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Forsyth said the action came after police received "information relating to the safety of West Midlands Police officers and police staff".

"There is nothing at this time to suggest there is an increased risk to members of the public," he said.

"We have taken the opportunity to remind all employees of the need to be vigilant. Our priority remains serving our communities and protecting them from harm.

"Officers remain on patrol and our staff continue to respond to calls for service as usual."

West Midlands Police say they are continuing to respond to 999 calls.

Sky's Sean Dilley said the security threat was a "fast-moving situation" which related to a "credible security threat".

"We have spoken to police officers from the area who confirmed two facts," Dilley said.

"The fact that officers have been called back to return to base, and also that they've been asked to watch out for each other when they are actually out on patrol.

"This is due to - (according) to the sources we've spoken to - a credible security threat."


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

David Haines' Widow Brands IS Killers 'Cowards'

Written By Unknown on Senin, 08 Desember 2014 | 12.25

By Katie Stallard, in Sisak, Croatia

The widow of murdered aid worker David Haines has told Sky News the militants who killed her husband are cowards.

Speaking at their home in Sisak, Croatia, in her first television interview, Dragana Haines said:  "They consider themselves brave, but that's not bravery.

"It's a cowardly act to behead someone who has his hands tied behind his back, who is kneeling.

"You are a coward if you are going to behead someone who is helpless. You're not even a human being.

"You must be a monster to do something like that."

Mr Haines grew up in Scotland and served as an aircraft engineer in the RAF, but he found his calling in humanitarian work.

He met Dragana, his second wife, in post-war Yugoslavia.

He was working for a German reconstruction charity, and she was a translator for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

They married in 2010 and settled in Croatia, where their daughter, Athea, was born.

In March 2013, he was kidnapped while working for a French aid agency in Syria.

"Every day was a challenge," Mrs Haines said.

"Waking up in the morning and thinking OK should I be hopeful? Will it be a day when they will call me, or he will call me and say 'OK I'm free, I'm coming back'?

"Or will it be a day when they will call me and say something bad has happened?"

In June, Islamic State released a video showing Mr Haines, and warning he would be next to be killed.

"I saw him in the video," Mrs Haines said through tears.

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  1. Gallery: Profile: David Haines

    David Haines was born in Holderness, East Yorkshire in 1970. He was raised in Scotland, where his parents still live

He studied at Perth Academy. After school he worked for Royal Mail before becoming an RAF engineer

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12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drone And Plane In Near Miss Close To Heathrow

By Alex Rossi, Sky News Correspondent

Aviation experts are warning that it is only a matter of time before a drone causes a major accident with a passenger jet in the skies above Britain.

There has been a huge increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the last few years but you do not need a licence and there is only minimal regulation.

The warning from the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) comes after it was revealed in a report out on Monday that a drone almost collided with a passenger plane near Heathrow airport during the summer.

The general secretary of BALPA, Jim McAuslan, says it would be very easy for a near-miss to become a disaster.

He said: "Unless we put in place the regulation now and have enforcement procedures that are practical in operating efficiently then we are going to see an accident.

"It doesn't take much of a stretch of the imagination to imagine a 3kg weight going at speed ingested into a jet engine or hitting a widescreen."

The incident happened on 22 July near Heathrow - which is the UK's busiest.

The pilot who spotted the drone was flying an Airbus A320 at an altitude of 700ft. The plane can carry as many as 180 passengers.

The report is expected to class the incident as category A, meaning there was a serious risk of collision.

With the cost of drone technology falling, they are being used for everything from promotional videos to gathering pictures for the news.

And this Christmas thousands of drones are likely to be sold on the high street and online.

But experts including the managing director of Horizon Imaging, David Hogg, say a lack of training is a concern when so many amateur operators are now taking their drones up in the air.

He said: "In the early days of model flying which is mainly where this problem is arising, you would go to a model flying club, you'd be taught how to fly and you'd learn all the safety aspects that way.

"These days that is completely by-passed. You can buy one with no prior knowledge of how to operate them and that's when the problem arises."

With so many applications, drones will be part of the technological landscape for years to come but it means it may only be a matter of time before the Government introduces tighter regulations.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Osborne: Lib Dems Would Cause 'Economic Chaos'

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 07 Desember 2014 | 12.25

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

George Osborne has placed himself on a collision course with the Lib Dems - warning that they, as well as Labour, would trigger "economic chaos" in Britain.

The Chancellor has also accused Nick Clegg's party of wanting to place "hefty income rises" on families.

The intervention could tip the Coalition into open civil war after a week in which the Lib Dem leader failed to turn up to watch Mr Osborne deliver his Autumn Statement, and a senior colleague criticised the scale of cuts that were unveiled.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Osborne says: "The Liberal Democrats are now arguing with themselves, so it's hard to work out exactly what they think."

He said the party wants tax rises instead of cuts but can't find the money needed through a property tax alone.

"If you want higher taxes to do the heavy lifting, you'd also need to increase taxes like income tax or national insurance."

He admitted that, under his plans, there would be cuts for departments but also big reductions in the welfare bill.

Suggestions being put forward include pushing single parents to return to work a year earlier than at present, when their child turns two, and restricting child benefit to the first two children in the family.

"There's a clear choice: a competent plan to stay on course to prosperity with us; or a return to economic chaos with all the alternatives," he writes.

The article is likely to infuriate Mr Osborne's Treasury colleague, the Lib Dem chief secretary Danny Alexander, as well as the leader, Mr Clegg.


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Archbishop Welby Warns Hunger Stalks The UK

The Archbishop of Canterbury says he was left more shocked at the plight of poor families in the UK being forced to rely on food banks than the suffering in African refugee camps.

Hunger "stalks large parts of the country" while the scale of waste was "astonishing", said the Most Rev Justin Welby.

His made his comments ahead of the publication on Monday of a parliamentary report he has backed that sets out a series of proposals aimed at preventing people going hungry, and urges swift action by the Government and food industry.

In an article in The Mail on Sunday Archbishop Welby said, although less "serious", the situation of a family having to turn to food bank in the UK had shocked him more than terrible suffering in Africa because it was so unexpected.

He wrote: "In one corner of a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a large marquee.

"Inside were children, all ill. They had been separated from family, friends, those who looked after them.

"Perhaps, mostly having disabilities, they had been abandoned in the panic of the militia attack that drove them from their homes. Now they were hungry.

"It was deeply shocking but, tragically, expected.

"A few weeks later in England, I was talking to some people - a mum, dad and one child - in a food bank.

"They were ashamed to be there. The dad talked miserably.

"He said they had each been skipping a day's meals once a week in order to have more for the child, but then they needed new tyres for the car so they could get to work at night, and just could not make ends meet.

"So they had to come to a food bank. They were treated with respect, love even, by the volunteers from local churches. But they were hungry, and ashamed to be hungry.

" I found their plight more shocking. It was less serious, but it was here.

"And they weren't careless with what they had - they were just up against it. It shocked me that being up against it at the wrong time brought them to this stage. There are many like them. But we can do something about it."

The sharp increase in the number of food banks across the country in recent years has proved politically divisive.

Earlier this year, ministers were accused of "taking food from the mouths of children" after blocking millions of pounds of European funding agreed for British food banks.

Cash to help people suffering extreme poverty across the EU was backed in a vote at the European Parliament but the Government said food aid was better decided nationally rather than by Brussels.

Archbishop Welby has called for changes to allow food companies to pass on goods they could no longer sell.

Under the current system it costs retailers to give away surplus food to the the hungry.

He added: "At least some of the food being sent to the incinerator should be used as a force for good to help (the poor) out of the rut in which they find themselves.

"We need to make it easier for food companies to give edible surplus food to charities and still encourage them to send inedible food for energy production.

"The big names in the food business know they have a moral obligation to they communities they work in.

"We need to make sure that the financial incentives in their industry don't act against their moral instincts."


12.25 | 0 komentar | Read More
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