Clever Boys Losing Out Due To Wealth Divide

Clever boys from poorer backgrounds learning to read in England and Scotland are lagging around two and a half years behind their richer, bright male classmates.

A new study suggests that high-achieving boys from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to perform poorly on international tests than those in other nations.

The report, commissioned by the Sutton Trust, warns that action must be taken to ensure that schools are supporting bright students so they do not lose out on top university places and good jobs.

The study analysed the 2009 scores of 15-year-olds taking part in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) international PISA reading tests.

It found that bright English boys from the poorest families lagged 30 months behind their high-achieving male classmates from the richest backgrounds.

This gap was bigger in England than in every other developed nation apart from Scotland.

In countries such as Canada, Denmark, Germany and Finland, this gap was 15 months or less, the study found.

It added that among clever girls, the reading gap between those from the richest and poorest homes was two years and four months.

The researchers also looked at the gap in reading skills between children of all abilities.

The findings showed that in general, the poorest teenagers in England lagged two years and four months behind their richest classmates in reading.

This put England 23rd out of 32 countries who took part in the tests, ahead of countries including the USA and France, but behind others including Norway, Chile and Slovenia.

Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said the gap in boys' achievement was a "worrying issue".

"This matters for two important reasons," he said.

"First, it is clearly economically inefficient not to tap into talent wherever it exists.

"By not stretching our most able students from all backgrounds, we are not only failing them, we are reducing our ability to compete globally.

"Second, such under-achievement perpetuates those inequalities which make it so hard for bright children to move up in society."

The study, by Dr John Jerrim of the Institute of Education, comes weeks after Ofsted warned that tens of thousands of clever children were being let down by England's state secondary schools.

A culture of low expectations in many schools meant that bright pupils were not being stretched and were failing to gain top grades at GCSE, according to a report published by the inspectorate.

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Teachers' Unions Announce One-Day Strikes

Teachers will stage a one-day national walkout in the autumn in an ongoing row over pay, pensions and workload.

Every region in England and Wales will be affected by rolling regional strikes in the week beginning September 30 and the week beginning October 14, the NASUWT and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said.

This will be followed by a one-day, all-out national strike before the end of the autumn term.

The announcement comes just weeks after the two unions staged a regional walkout in the North West.

The government has condemned the action.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "The secretary of state needs to take seriously the very deep concerns and anger of teachers and school leaders."

She added: "The secretary of state has the opportunity to avoid further national strike action by demonstrating that he is willing to engage seriously on the issues that we have put to him."

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: "Strike action is always a last resort for teachers and they are very well aware of the difficulties that this causes for parents and pupils. Teachers, however, have been left with no option.

"If we do not take a stand now to defend the profession, then the consequences for teacher recruitment and education will be disastrous for all."

Under the Government's reforms, due to come into effect from this autumn, teachers' pay will be linked to performance in the classroom - with schools setting salaries, rather than following a national framework.

Changes have also been made to public sector pensions.

Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to both unions in March to say he was willing to meet them to discuss their dispute, but also insisting that the "direction of travel" on both of their key issues - pay and pensions - is "fixed".

A Department for Education spokesman said: "We are very disappointed that the NUT and NASUWT have announced they will be taking further strike action, which less than a quarter of teachers actually voted for.

"Industrial action will disrupt pupils' education, hugely inconvenience parents and damage the profession's reputation in the eyes of the public at a time when our reforms are driving up standards across the country.

"It is disappointing that the NUT and NASUWT are opposing measures to allow heads to pay good teachers more. We have met frequently with the NUT and NASUWT to discuss their concerns and will continue to do so."

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Litvinenko: No Inquiry Into Spy's Death

The Government has refused to set up a public inquiry into the death of poisoned Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in a blow to his widow's quest for the truth.

Coroner Sir Robert Owen told a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice that his request to the Justice Secretary for an inquiry, in place of an inquest, had been turned down.

Sir Robert previously ruled that vital secret evidence could not legally be considered as part of a normal inquest and asked the Government to hold an inquiry instead.

His call was backed by Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina, who was present at the hearing.

Mr Litvinenko, 43, was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 while drinking tea at the Millennium Hotel in London's Grosvenor Square in 2006.

Mrs Litvinenko believes her husband was poisoned on orders from the Kremlin

The family believe he was working for MI6 at the time and was killed on the orders of the Kremlin.

Ben Emmerson QC, representing Mrs Litvinenko, said there had been an "utter lack of professionalism" in the way the Government handled the request for an inquiry.

"The repeated catalogue of broken promises is a sign of something gone awry," he said.

Mr Emmerson said the family wants a judicial review into the decision not to hold an inquiry on the grounds of "irrationality".

Sir Robert had determined that he could not hear evidence linked to the alleged involvement of the Russian government in public after the Foreign Office said it wanted to keep some information secret.

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NHS Computers With Patient Data Sold On Ebay

An NHS trust has been fined £200,000 by the data watchdog after it sold an old computer which contained the personal details of more than 3,000 patients.

The sensitive information was left on the computer sold by a data destruction company employed by NHS Surrey.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) was tipped off after a member of the public bought the second-hand computer online.

Sky News understands that some of the PCs were sold on the internet auction site eBay.

The company had been employed by NHS Surrey since March 2010 to wipe and destroy its old computer equipment.

The company carried out the service for free, with an agreement that they could sell any salvageable materials after the hard drives had been securely destroyed.

The ICO said: "On 29 May 2012 NHS Surrey was contacted by a member of the public who had recently bought a second-hand computer online and found that it contained the details of patients' treated by NHS Surrey.

"The organisation collected the computer and found confidential sensitive personal data and HR records, including patient records relating to approximately 900 adults and 2000 children."

The watchdog added: "After being alerted to the problem, NHS Surrey managed to reclaim a further 39 computers sold by the trading arm of their new data destruction provider.

"Ten of these computers were found to have previously belonged to NHS Surrey; three of which still contained sensitive personal data."

The ICO's investigation found that NHS Surrey had no contract in place with their new provider, which clearly explained the provider's legal requirements under the Data Protection Act, and failed to observe and monitor the data destruction process.

NHS Surrey mislaid the records of the equipment passed for destruction between March 2010 and 10 February 2011, and was only able to confirm that 1,570 computers were processed between 10 February 2011 and 28 May 2012.

The data destruction company was unable to trace where the computers ended up, or confirm how many might still contain personal data.

Stephen Eckersley, ICO Head of Enforcement, said: "The facts of this breach are truly shocking. NHS Surrey chose to leave an approved provider and handed over thousands of patients' details to a company without checking that the information had been securely deleted.

"The result was that patients' information was effectively being sold online. This breach is one of the most serious the ICO has witnessed and the penalty reflects the disturbing circumstances of the case.

"We should not have to tell organisations to think twice before outsourcing vital services to companies who offer to work for free."

NHS Surrey was dissolved in March 2013 with some of their legal responsibilities passing to the NHS Commissioning Board.

The board will be required to pay the penalty by July 22 or serve a notice of appeal by July 19.

The full penalty is eventually paid into the Treasury's Consolidated Fund.

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Belfast Bonfires Piled High Ahead Of Parades

Huge bonfire towers will be set ablaze in Belfast at midnight as police brace themselves for possible violence surrounding the annual Orange Order parades.

The fire stacks, made with tyres and wooden pallets, are adorned with Union Flags and some are more than 100ft high.

They will be lit as Protestant loyalists begin July 12 celebrations to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne, which saw the Catholic King James defeated by King William of Orange in 1690.

It comes as unionist anger intensifies over a decision to ban an Orange Order parade past a sectarian flash point that has been the scene of serious rioting in recent years.

Orangemen will be allowed to march past the Ardoyne shops on the Crumlin Road in the morning, but the Parades Commission adjudication body has banned them from taking the same route back in the afternoon.

Residents have complained that the annual march causes them huge inconvenience.

Dissident republicans called off a major protest against the parade in the wake of the Commission's decision.

The Orange Order has branded the ruling "ludicrous" but urged supporters not to react with violence.

Matt Baggott, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has revealed he is drafting in an extra 630 police officers from forces across the UK to help keep the peace on the streets over the Twelfth.

He denied claims that the unprecedented move was an indication he was concerned about serious disorder in places such as Ardoyne but said the scale of this year's Twelfth event was unique.

A total of 550 parades are due to take place throughout Northern Ireland on Friday with 43 deemed to be contentious.

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Taser Death: Jordan Begley Dies In Manchester

A man who died after police shot him with a Taser has been named locally as Jordan Begley.

The 23-year-old suffered a "medical episode" and died after police fired at him with the stun gun in Manchester.

Police were responding to a disturbance in Beard Road, Gorton, at about 8.15pm where a man was armed with a knife.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: "Officers were dispatched immediately and arrived in eight minutes.

"On arrival, a Taser was discharged to detain a 23-year-old man.

"At this time it is unclear what happened but at some point afterwards the man suffered a medical episode.

"Paramedics performed first aid on the man at the scene before he was taken to hospital where he sadly died."

ACC Shewan said help has been provided for Mr Bagley's family.

"Specially trained family liaison officers are supporting his family during this very difficult time," he said.

A forensic tent was put up in the road

A friend of Mr Bagley's said: "I think he has some problem with his heart."

The friend, who did not want to be named, also said that eight armed response officers attended the family home.

"They turfed his mum outside and then went in and battered him," said the friend.

"There were about eight armed response officers went in.

"He didn't have a knife though. I know for a fact he would not have had a knife.

"There was no need to use a Taser on him."

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "There's a lot of bad boys around here but Jordan was one of the good guys."

Another neighbour, Kirstie Porter, said she saw Mr Begley being brought out of the house and put into an ambulance.

A police cordon surrounded 10 houses in the street

"Paramedics were working away on the CPR with the doors open," she said.

"Everybody was out in the street, all the neighbours.

"There was police everywhere, loads of vans turned up, there was police all over with guns all over.

"The ambulance was there for about five or 10 minutes and then it drove off.

"His mum and brother were sobbing in the street."

After Mr Begley's death, a police cordon surrounded 10 terraced houses at the end of Beard Road.

A forensic tent was put up in the road within the cordon which was guarded by uniformed officers, a police van and two patrol cars.

Mr Begley's death has been reported to the coroner and to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

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Herbie Hide Faces Arrest After Court No-Show

Former world champion boxer Herbie Hide is facing arrest after he failed to turn up in court on drug charges, saying he was suffering malaria in Nigeria.

The 41-year-old, who is accused of conspiring to supply cocaine, was supposed to be at Norwich Crown Court on Thursday morning.

With his client apparently thousands of miles away, his barrister Michael Clare had to tell the court: "His wife Helen telephoned my instructing solicitor to say he was suffering from malaria and was in a clinic in Nigeria.

"Last night a doctor who said he was treating Mr Hide in Nigeria called and said he would email a medical report this morning.

"No medical report has been forthcoming yet."

Hide, 41, was given permission to leave the country for seven days at an earlier hearing, the court heard.

However, his failure to appear in court means he is now in breach of his bail terms.

Herbie Hide with his WBO belt in 1995

Recorder Maureen Baker issued a warrant saying that Hide had been warned before that he would need a doctor's report if he had to miss court because of illness.

It means Hide faces being arrested, detained and brought before the court at the earliest opportunity.

Hide's co-defendant, Ben Sharman, 22, of Howe Lane, Poringland, Norfolk, admitted conspiracy to supply a class A drug, offering to supply a class A drug and offering to supply a class B drug.

Sharman, who was remanded in custody, denied supplying cocaine to Hide.

Hide, of Long Lane, Bawburgh, near Norwich, held the World Boxing Organisation version of the heavyweight title twice.

He was arrested earlier this year after being filmed by undercover reporters from The Sun.

The pair are expected to stand trial in October.

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Stuart Hall Sentence Sent To Court Of Appeal

The Attorney General has referred the sentence of disgraced BBC presenter Stuart Hall to the Court of Appeal for review after complaints it was too lenient.

The 83-year-old former It's A Knockout presenter was jailed for 15 months in June after admitting indecent assaults on 13 girls.

The attacks spanned three decades and involved children aged as young as nine.

More than 150 people came forward to demand that the Attorney General's Office consider Hall's sentence for referral.

An AGO spokeswoman said: "Having carefully reviewed this case, the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC MP, has decided to refer the sentence of Stuart Hall to the Court of Appeal for review.

"The case will in due course be heard by three Court of Appeal judges who will decide whether or not the sentence is unduly lenient and whether they should increase the sentence."

The length of the jail term was immediately criticised as "unduly lenient" by shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry, who urged Mr Grieve to look at the matter.

Hall was given an OBE in 2012

Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party, also added to calls for the sentence to be referred.

The Court of Appeal usually lists cases referred for being unduly lenient in about five to seven weeks.

Harrowing details of the sex abuse suffered by Hall's victims were described during his trial at Preston Crown Court.

The prosecution told how a 13-year-old victim was assaulted after they had played tennis, when he is said to have told her: "Sometimes thank you was not enough in words."

He told a 10-year-old girl to cuddle him "like she would one of her teddies" after he had given her steak and champagne, the court heard.

He preyed on a nine-year-old girl while she was in bed.

Another victim, who was 17 at the time, was attacked while dressed as a cheerleader for the filming of It's A Knockout.

Hall initially told police his victims were lying as part of a "vendetta" against people in the public eye.

When arrested last December over three claims of indecent assault, he described the allegations as "nonsense".

He told an officer one of the complainants was "a complete and utter liar".

Hall, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, went on to issue an impassioned on-camera denial of any wrongdoing, describing the allegations against him as "cruel".

More women came forward as a result of publicity and Hall later admitted 14 indecent assaults on 13 girls between 1967 and 1987.

Hall was a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century. Last year he was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours for his services to television and charity.

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Brit Drugs Suspect Arrested In Athens Sting

A British man wanted in connection with a multimillion pounds drugs seizure has been caught in a sting operation at a pub in Athens.

Kevin Hanley, 50, had just settled down to watch the British and Irish Lions' rugby triumph against Australia when Greek and British officers grabbed him.

Police have been targeting him since November when officers discovered more than £2m in cash and millions of pounds worth of drugs at a property in Fulham, London.

Officers from Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and Greek police arrested Hanley on suspicion of money laundering and conspiracy to supply cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine.

Greek police said Hanley had taken "extensive precautions" to avoid arrest, with "frequent changes of address, telephones and cars" - using dual-sim mobile phones and coded text messages.

Brendan Foreman, regional head of investigations at Soca, said: "These arrests were a direct result of our close co-operation with the Greek authorities.

"Operations like this remind the public that Soca and its partners will stop at nothing to take down those suspected of being involved in drug trafficking."

In the seizure, police found 44.1lb (20kg) of cocaine, 33.1lb (15kg) of cannabis and 33.1lb of amphetamine, as well as £2.1m in cash.

Five other suspects - four men and one woman - from London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Gloucestershire, have also been arrested in Britain in connection with the operation.

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NHS Reforms Cost £430m In Staff Pay-Offs

The NHS has spent hundreds of millions of pounds making staff redundant as part of the coalition's controversial health reforms.

Official figures reveal more than £435m, an average of £43,095 per person, went on redundancies with some staff receiving up to £580,000 each.

More than 10,000 full-time workers left because of the Health and Social Care Act, which came into force on April 1 this year.

But of those who left between May 2010 and September 2012, more than a fifth or 2,200 were later taken back by the NHS, sparking claims of a "jobs merry-go-round".

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Health chiefs have wasted a breath-taking amount of taxpayers' money on pay-offs when axing staff.

"The size of the pay-outs, particularly those handed to senior managers, appear to have been allowed to spiral out of control.

"Laying off staff at great expense to taxpayers only to hire them back is unacceptable. This is all too typical of the NHS jobs merry-go-round that needlessly costs taxpayers a fortune."

According to the National Audit Office (NAO), 44 "very senior managers" were made redundant between August 2012 and March 2013.

On average, they were handed pay-offs of £277,273. Individual payments ranged from £33,771 to £578,470.

The Department of Health tried to reduce the risk of staff being paid off by one NHS organisation only to be hired by another but had "limited levers" to stop it, the NAO said.

Redundancy payments can only be reclaimed if the employee rejoined the NHS within four weeks of leaving.

The NAO report said that "further changes" will be needed before the right number of staff with the right skills are in place across the system, including further redundancies.

It states that getting staff in place was the "biggest challenge" for the new organisations and all of them had sufficient employees to start operations on April 1.

The report also revealed that the reforms have already cost £1.1bn to implement and could rise to £1.7bn in total.

The NAO said the transition, which saw 170 organisations closed and more than 240 new bodes created, was "successfully implemented".

However, it noted that some parts of the system were "less ready than others" and that officials were clear "much remains to be done".

It also warned that some clinical commissioning groups, which are taking over from primary care trusts and will be run by doctors, lacked credible financial plans.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of council at the British Medical Association, described this as "extremely worrying" and claimed the radical changes had been a "costly distraction".

"All the evidence is pointing to a worsening financial situation for the NHS and the Government needs to urgently rethink its approach," he said.

NAO boss Amyas Morse hailed the "considerable achievement" already made by NHS staff but warned they face major challenges to finish the job while also making savings.

The DoH said the changes would result in a £5.5bn saving to the taxpayer in this parliament and £1.5bn each year from 2015, which would go back into patient care.

A spokesman insisted the NHS would now be able to work better and deliver higher quality care, with "doctors and nurses in the driving seat".

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Deadly West London Flat Fire 'Suspicious'

The Metropolitan Police have said they are treating a fire which led to the deaths of two people and tore through neighbouring flats in Heston, west London, as suspicious.

Some 58 firefighters and officers were called to the blaze, which broke out above a shop near the junction of Church Road and Heston Road, at around 1.40am.

Firefighters said three people jumped out of the burning building

Three people are believed to have jumped from the second floor of the burning building before fire crews arrived.

An injured woman found in the street was subsequently pronounced dead, while two men, aged 18 and 37, are being treated for multiple injuries at St Mary's Hospital in central London.

Firefighters found the body of another person during a search of the flat.

Local roads have been closed around the flats

The names of those killed in the fire, which was spotted by police officers during a routine patrol, have not yet been released.

Kudzanayi Taziwa, who was in the building at the time, told Sky News: "I heard a loud bang. When I opened the window, I saw some shattered windows on the ground and I thought there had been a car crash. That's when I realised there was a body on the floor."

The cause of the blaze is under investigation by police and fire officers.

London Fire Brigade sent eight fire engines to the scene

It is thought to have started inside one of the flats before spreading to neighbouring properties, damaging half of the roof of the building and parts of the second floor.

Around 50 people who were evacuated from their homes were taken to a nearby village hall.

The local council is attempting to find emergency accommodation for anyone unable to return.

The deadly fire happened overnight

Road closures are also in place while firefighters investigate the blaze.

Officials from Hounslow borough council are at the scene and police officers from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command have been contacted.

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Asylum Seekers Rescued On P&O Dover Ferry

A "critical incident" has been declared in Dover after 15 asylum seekers were found in a lorry on a cross-Channel ferry.

They were found on P&O's Spirit of France and two have been taken to hospital amid inquiries into whether they had come in contact with a hazardous substance.

The two people are not in a life-threatening condition, said police.

It is understood that the alert was raised when banging was heard from the sides of the lorry as the ferry docked at the port.

"Emergency services are at the scene and are dealing with the situation in close co-operation with port staff," said a police spokesman.

Two drivers were taken into custody but the port remained open and ferry services were not affected.

Six fire engines and some specialist equipment were sent to the Eastern Docks to help rescue the asylum seekers after an emergency call at 8.45am.

A P&O spokesman said the company was "helping the police with their investigations".

The 213-metre-long Spirit of France, along with its sister ship Spirit of Britain, is the largest ferry ever built for the Dover Strait and can carry 2,000 passengers.

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M&S Clothing Sales Continue To Unravel

Retailer Marks and Spencer has seen a continued decline in its troubled clothing department, according to its latest trading update.

It said like-for-like clothing sales declined by 1.6% during the 13 weeks to the end of June.

Clothing sales have been a particularly disappointing area for the retailer in recent years.

It overhauled key staff in the department in an attempt to reconnect with shoppers but has been unable to halt the section's decline for eight straight quarters.

Meanwhile, like-for-like food sales increased 1.8% in the quarter and total UK like-for-like sales were up 0.3%.

The food business contributes over half of M&S sales.

The retailer's annual general meeting is to be held at 11am today.

The performance will ratchet up the pressure on management to deliver a swift turnaround when new season ranges start hitting the shops on July 25.

In May, the company revealed a pre-tax annual profit of £665.2m for 2012/13, down 6% on a reported profit for 2011/12 of £705.9m.

At the time boss Marc Bolland said: "In a challenging market, M&S sales grew by 1.3%. Three of the four parts of the business made strong progress.

"We are working hard to get the general merchandise performance back on track."

The 129-year-old group serves 21 million customers a week from 766 UK stores.

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Dismembered Body Identified: Son Arrested

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Police have named a woman whose dismembered body was found in a shallow grave in Edinburgh as 66-year-old Phyllis Dunleavy from Dublin.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with her murder.

Sky News understands that the man arrested is James Dunleavy, the son of the dead woman.

He was arrested in Edinburgh on Monday evening and is due to appear in court later today.

The woman's remains were discovered last month by a cyclist on Corstorphine Hill, overlooking Edinburgh.

In an effort to establish who she was, detectives published the image of a facial reconstruction.

They also displayed pictures of rings that were found with the woman's body and published details of her dental work in dentist trade magazines.

Police identified the body as Phyllis Dunleavy several days ago but her name has only just been made public.

Sky sources say that Ms Dunleavy was identified after relatives in Ireland recognised her from the facial reconstruction put together by scientists at Dundee University.

They produced the facial likeness using the dead woman's skull.

Detectives highlighted the fact that she had undergone extensive dental treatment, pointing out that her teeth had veneers and implants.

The investigation team received more than 30 calls from members of the public as far afield as Israel after releasing the reconstruction image.

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Whole-Life Inmates Win Human Rights Victory

Locking up some of Britain's most notorious killers for life without any prospect of release is a breach of their human rights, European judges have ruled.

Murderer Jeremy Bamber is among those facing a review of their whole-life tariffs after winning an appeal in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights that the sentences were inhuman and degrading.

In a blow for the UK courts, the judges found that for a life sentence to remain compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights there had to be both a possibility of release and a possibility of review.

However, the panel of 17 judges said that did not mean Bamber and two other men - Douglas Vinter and Peter Moore - can look forward to being freed in the near future.

They said: "In finding a violation in this case … the court did not intend to give the applicants any prospect of imminent release."

Bamber arrives for a previous court hearing

The appeal was brought by Vinter, who stabbed his wife in February 2008, and means the cases of Bamber - who killed his parents, sister and two young children in August 1985 - and Moore, who killed four gay men in 1995, will also be considered.

Bamber, 51, has been behind bars for more than 25 years for shooting his wealthy adopted parents June and Neville, his sister Sheila Caffell and her twin sons Daniel and Nicholas at their farmhouse in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex.

A statement from Bamber described winning the appeal as "hollow" as he is in prison "for a crime I did not commit".

He added: "My whole life order has now been given a system of reviews, but there is no provision for someone who is wrongly convicted to prove that they are worthy of release, such hope is in reality, no hope at all."

In their ruling the judges said it was up to national authorities to decide when a review should take place, but existing laws point to a review happening no later than 25 years after a life sentence is handed down.

Current UK law says whole-life tariff prisoners will almost certainly never be released because their offences are deemed to be so serious.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Only the Justice Secretary can free them on compassionate grounds - if, for example, they are terminally ill.

The judges said the decision on whether to release prisoners jailed for their entire lives would depend on whether there were legitimate grounds for their continued detention.

Until 2003, whole-life tariff prisoners had a right to a review but this was removed in a change to the law.

Vinter's lawyer Simon Creighton, of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, said the ruling could not be used as a "get out of jail free" excuse.

He said: "They have not said that anyone must be released, what they have said is that it must be reviewed.

"It's now for the Government to respond."

The ruling comes shortly after Home Secretary Theresa May voiced her frustrations with the European courts in the House of Commons in the wake of the lengthy and costly fight to boot radical cleric Abu Qatada out of the country.

She said she wanted the Human Rights Act itself to be scrapped.

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Barry George Loses Dando Compensation Bid

Barry George has lost his bid for compensation for being wrongfully convicted of the murder of television presenter Jill Dando.

After the ruling, Mr George's sister Michelle Diskin said outside the Royal Courts of Justice that the Court of Appeal judge's decision was a "travesty of justice".

With her brother standing by her side, she told reporters: "He lost his home, his furniture, his clothing and all of his possessions, his place within his community and his church family.

"There never was any viable evidence against Barry. This whole case from April 2000 until today has been a smoke and mirrors exercise designed to placate a worried public, and give the impression that justice had been done.

Mr George was wrongfully convicted in 2001 of Ms Dando's murder

"Well neither the Dando family, nor our family, has seen any justice in the past 13 years."

Ms Diskin added: "We are extremely disappointed with today's decision and will need to go away and regroup to decide what to do next. We cannot let this go unchallenged.

"Serving eight years in prison for someone else's crime is not acceptable. Everything was taken from this man when the police started what we believe to be a malicious prosecution."

The Court of Appeal decision followed the dismissal of his claim by two High Court judges in January.

Mr George went to the High Court seeking a reconsideration of his case which could have opened the way for him to claim an award of up to £500,000 as a victim of "miscarriage of justice" for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment.

It was argued on his behalf that the decision to refuse compensation was "defective and contrary to natural justice".

But Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin ruled he had "failed the legal test" to receive an award.

Ms Dando was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, west London, in April 1999.

After his conviction in July 2001, Mr George was acquitted of killing the 37-year-old BBC presenter at a retrial in August 2008.

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Jillings Report Found 'Extensive' Child Abuse

A report written 17 years ago about children's homes in North Wales concluded abuse was "extensive", it has been revealed.

The Jillings Report, which focused on allegations of abuse within the North Wales council care system in the 70s and 80s, was compiled in 1996.

It was never published for fear of compensation claims, but has finally been released with large parts redacted in the wake of fresh investigations.

The report outlined the widespread abuse of children in care years before the tribunal chaired by High Court judge Sir Ronald Waterhouse revealed its findings.

It concluded: "Our investigations have led us to conclude that the abuse of children and young people in Clywd residential units has been extensive and has taken place over a substantial number of years."

Allegations about the abuse which centred on the Bryn Estyn children's home in Wrexham emerged in the early 1990s.

They led to the conviction of seven former care workers after an investigation by North Wales Police in 1991.

Mr Jillings, a former director of social services for Derbyshire, was appointed to lead a full investigation when the scope of the allegations became more widespread.

Further inquiries have been launched more recently.

Operation Pallial, which is looking into 140 allegations relating to 18 care homes between 1963 and 1992, began last November.

A separate review by Mrs Justice Macur is investigating the terms of the Waterhouse abuse inquiry.

The Jillings Report says council employees and even serving police officers from the time could have been named as potential perpetrators of assaults.

North Wales Police described the inquiry as its "largest investigation into child abuse" and said it resulted in 3,755 witness statements being taken with at least 24 victims identified.

The report continues: "It is clear that, in a significant number of cases, the lives of young people who have been through the care system in Clwyd have been severely disrupted and disturbed. At least 12 young people are dead.

"Of the many statements taken, it is unclear how many were forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration. It is also unclear how many other professionals, including police officers, were named in these statements as perpetrators of assaults."

The report, written in 1996, says it does know of "at least three employees" in the social services department who were interviewed as part of the probe but "to our knowledge, none of them were disciplined".

It contains what it calls "frank criticism" of individuals within the local authority but much of that information has now been redacted by the joint North Wales councils due to defamation fears.

The report noted that North Wales Police had only referred five cases to the Police Complaints Authority for supervision in 1994, compared to a national average of 68.19.

It said: "Our findings show that time and again the response to indications that children may have been abused has been too little and too late.

"Furthermore the needs and interests of children and young people have tended to be incidental, rather than a primary concern."

It found that the interests of children were invariably "sacrificed" in favour of safeguarding the professional position of the authorities.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: "While Jillings is concerned with what went on from 1974 to 1993, we have to ensure this kind of abuse does not cast its long shadow over children today. 

"We can only prevent it by giving children confidence to speak out, paying attention when they tell us they need protection and moving swiftly to justice - so 40 years down the line we do not find ourselves in this invidious situation again."

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Zara and Mike Tindall Expecting First Child

The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall is expecting a baby with her husband Mike Tindall.

"Both families are delighted with the news," confirmed the Queen's press secretary.

"Mr and Mrs Mike Tindall are very pleased to announce that Zara Tindall is expecting a baby in the New Year," said the official statement.

"The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, and members of both families are delighted with the news.

"This baby will be the first child for Mike and Zara and the third grandchild for The Princess Royal."

The birth will follow the keenly anticipated arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby, which is expected in the coming days.

However, because Zara Tindall does not hold a royal title, her baby will not be called his or her 'royal highness'.

Former England rugby international Tindall married Princess Anne's daughter in a private ceremony in July 2011.

Mike and Zara Tindall married in Edinburgh in July 2011

Zara, 32, is also an accomplished sportswoman and last year won an Olympic silver medal as part of the equestrian eventing team.

She competed this weekend at Barbury International Horse Trials, says Sky News' Royal Correspondent Paul Harrison.

The child will Princess Anne's third grandchild, as her son, Peter Phillips, has two daughters.

Zara Tindall, currently 14th in line to the throne, met her husband at the 2003 rugby World Cup in Australia.

The couple married in Edinburgh two years ago, in a ceremony attended by all the senior Royals.

But, just months later, the rugby player was fined and booted out of the 2011 World Cup squad over a team night out.

He apparently took part in a "dwarf tossing" competition with fellow players and was seen embracing an ex-girlfriend.

Tindall's fine was eventually reduced and his suspension set aside after an appeal found he did not intentionally mislead the team's management.

Zara and Mike Tindall currently live on Princess Anne's Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.

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Labour Unite Row: Tories Ask For Met Probe

The Tories have moved to pile more pressure on Labour by asking police to investigate the party's selection processes in another two constituencies.

Tory vice-chairman Bob Neill wrote to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe about allegations of potential fraud in Ilford North and Lewisham Deptford, both in Greater London.

Labour has already given evidence to police in Scotland relating to claims that the Unite union tried to fix the result of a candidate selection in Falkirk by packing the constituency with members, whose subscriptions it paid.

Mr Neill described Falkirk as "the tip of the iceberg", noting that a leaked Unite document suggested the union was getting involved in candidate choices for the 2015 general election in 41 seats across the country.

In his letter, he said: "I am concerned that this instance is just the tip of the iceberg, as Unite themselves admit they are targeting at least another 40 Labour Party parliamentary selections for similar treatment.

"Senior Labour Party sources have also confessed that the problems go wider than just Falkirk."

The Tory MP cited reports that in Ilford North Unite were offering their members free Labour Party membership in exchange for attending a meeting with general secretary Len McCluskey.

And he quoted allegations from a Labour London activist that the union was "bankrolling" a number of campaigns, including in Lewisham Deptford.

Ed Miliband was elected leader due to union support

Labour leader Ed Miliband is under intense pressure to take radical steps to curb trade union influence over his party.

He is expected to use a high-stakes speech tomorrow to announce reforms to the way the party is organised - including caps on spending in candidate selections and elections to senior party positions.

Mr Miliband, who won the leadership courtesy of union votes, has already scrapped a Blair-era scheme under which unions were able to pay the subs of new members which they recruited to the party.

The Labour leader said at the weekend that he wanted to "mend ... not end" the link with unions to give more influence to individual members.

But he was plunged into an increasingly bitter public war of words with Mr McCluskey, who warned Mr Miliband to "step back from the brink of a ruinous division" and stop "playing into the hands" of the Tories.

The Unite chief said he would not apologise for efforts to "reclaim Labour" from an "out of touch elite" but renewed his insistence that Unite was not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.

Former prime minister Tony Blair, who was involved in a series of clashes with unions during his time as Labour leader, declined to comment on the row on Monday.

"I think he (Mr Miliband) is going to make a speech on this and the last thing he needs is advice from me ... I am sure he will deal with it in the right way," he said.

Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman admitted on Sunday that the party was looking at "issues" relating to constituencies other than Falkirk.

But she insisted allegations that individuals were signed up without their knowledge were confined to the Scottish seat.

Ms Harman said reforms such as the spending cap would be "a significant change for the right reasons" by opening the way to less well-off candidates unable to secure union backing.

Other changes reported to be on the table include the use of "open primaries", where all voters in a constituency can choose a general election candidate from a party shortlist, not just Labour members.

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has called on Mr Miliband to drop opposition to more state funding for political parties to prevent unions having too much influence.

And ex-cabinet minister Lord Reid has said the party faces an "ideological battle" against "those who want to take Labour back to the 70s and 80s".

"I am in no doubt that the leader of Unite wants to impose an ideological direction on the Labour Party that would lead us into political oblivion," he said.

A Labour source called the Tories' letter "a silly political stunt".

"We have no evidence of possible criminal behaviour anywhere outside Falkirk. If Bob Neill has, he should produce it. If he has not, he should stop wasting police time," the source said.

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Bull Terrier 'Bites Head Off Harmless Pet'

Police have seized a Staffordshire bull terrier which allegedly bit the head off a family pet dog in a vicious attack.

Gemma Antell claimed her pet Pomeranian, Elvis, was decapitated outside the home of her mother-in-law in Warrington on Saturday after the larger dog entered the front garden, dragging its handler behind it.

Ms Antell says her family were left traumatised by the attack

After the attack on Elvis, a member of the public took a picture of the Staffordshire bull terrier and the woman holding its leash, whose arm was covered in blood. 

Gemma posted the picture onto Twitter in an attempt to identify the owner.

"The dog literally ripped his head off," Ms Antell said in a post on Facebook. "It ripped Elvis in half. It is my son's birthday and my kids are in tears and my whole family are traumatised.

"The worst part of this is the dog 'owners' witnessed the attack and just walked off saying it was not their fault.

"Two poor children witnessed the attack as well as my mother-in-law and passers-by. I have added (to Facebook) the two photos of the incident as well as photos of poor Elvis who is obviously a tiny harmless family pet.

"The next time this happens it might not be a family pet it could be a local child!!!"

After the owner was identified, police visited an address at midnight on Sunday where they seized a white Staffordshire bull terrier.

Cheshire police have confirmed they are investigating the incident and have asked for witnesses to call them on 101 or to ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Chief Inspector Darren Hebden, said: "This was a horrendous attack and was clearly very distressing for the owners to witness.

"I am aware of pictures that have been circulated on social media which will undoubtedly cause concern for the community but can I reassure people that we have now seized the offending dog so there is no risk to the general public.

"We will be speaking to the owners in due course and will do all we can to deal with the incident appropriately within the guidelines of the law. Extra patrols will be in the area to talk to concerned residents and address any issues in the area."

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Newlywed Brit Killed In Cancun Hit-And-Run

A newlywed has died in a suspected hit-and-run crash while he was on his honeymoon in Mexico.

Ray Cottam, 55, died in Cancun, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said.

Mr Cottam, of Middlestown, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was on holiday with his new wife Karen after they were married at a hotel near Pontefract last Saturday, according to reports.

He reportedly worked for Fox's Biscuits in Batley, but had previously run a fish and chip shop in nearby Ossett.

Janet Barnes, 56, of Ossett, who worked with him at the chip shop and attended his wedding reception, said she was struggling to come to terms with what had happened.

She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "He was a diamond - a one in a million. He would do anything for anyone.

"Him and Karen were made for each other. It is a total shock and we still can't believe it."

An FCO spokesman said: "We were made aware of the death of a British national in Cancun, Mexico, on June 30.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

Mrs Cottam is now back home in Middlestown being comforted by family.

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Michael Parkinson: Chat Show Host Has Cancer

Chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson has revealed he is being treated for prostate cancer but has no intention of stopping working.

The television star, 78, is currently undergoing radiotherapy but is expected to make a full recovery.

Sir Michael, who was diagnosed in May after a routine medical last October, said he was confident of fighting the disease.

He said: "It was a great shock, but I have been told to expect to make a full recovery."

He told The Sun On Sunday: "Of course mortality is on the mind. But I'm not afraid.

"My wife Mary has been a tremendous support and while she has been, of course, very upset, she can see how I have approached this.

"Once she realised I wouldn't let it affect me, Mary was fine.

"I don't feel ill. And I will keep working. I have no intention of stopping working."

The presenter, affectionately known as "Parky" to his legion of fans, has been having five sessions of radiotherapy a week.

He is also backing a campaign to help raise awareness of the disease.

Sir Michael said: "All that concerns me now is for men around the country to stop and take notice of any symptoms that might save their lives.

"I'm not a softy. If you show the symptoms of this dreadful disease, get help. Men need to get themselves checked. It will save lives."

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Saatchi To Divorce Nigella After Neck Row

Art collector Charles Saatchi has announced he has filed for divorce from Nigella Lawson - citing her refusal to defend his reputation after he was pictured with his hand around her neck at a restaurant.

In a statement, the 70-year-old told The Mail On Sunday: "I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced.

"I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way."

The couple were pictured on June 9 during an argument at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, central London.

Images showed Mr Saatchi with his hand around the 53-year-old celebrity chef's throat.

Ms Lawson, the daughter of former chancellor Lord Lawson, was reportedly seen weeping following the episode. She did not make a complaint to police.

Mr Saatchi voluntarily attended a central London police station and accepted a caution, saying he did not want the incident "hanging over all of us".

But he claimed his wife has refused to answer calls after apparently leaving the family home with her two children, Cosima, 19, and Bruno, 17, from her previous marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001.

Mr Saatchi, who made his name in advertising, said: "This is heartbreaking for both of us as our love was very deep, but in the last year we have become estranged and drifted apart.

"The row photographed at Scott's restaurant could equally have been Nigella grasping my neck to hold my attention - as indeed she has done in the past."

Mr Saatchi insisted his actions were not violent, saying that while he had his hands around Ms Lawson's neck, "there was no pressure applied to her".

He said the pictures gave a "wholly different and incorrect implication", adding: "I am sorry that we had a row. I am sorry she was upset. I am even more sorry that this is the end of our marriage."

Ms Lawson became a household name in 1998 with her first cookery book, How To Eat. She married Mr Saatchi in 2003.

Her spokesman said: "There is no comment from Nigella."

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Abu Qatada Denies Terrorism Charges In Jordan

Radical preacher Abu Qatada has pleaded not guilty to terror charges - just hours after his deportation from the UK to Jordan.

After landing at an isolated airstrip near the Jordanian capital Amman, Qatada was driven by police escort to the State Security Court, where the 53-year-old was charged by state prosecutors with conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts.

He was remanded in custody for 15 days at the maximum security Muwaqqar prison, which houses dozens of convicted terrorists.

It is understood Jordanian authorities allowed his family to greet him on his arrival in Amman.

Home Secretary Theresa May told Sky News that she was "very pleased" to have finally succeeded in deporting the cleric.

The military plane carrying Qatada arrives at Amman Airport in Jordan

"He is now where people wanted him to be - which is not in the UK, but back in Jordan," she said.

Accompanied by four police officers, Qatada left for Jordan in the early hours on a military plane from RAF Northolt in west London.

It marks the end of an eight-year legal battle to remove Qatada, described by the Government as a "truly dangerous individual" and a "key player" in al Qaeda-related terrorism.

Sky News correspondent Mark White said: "He has been a thorn in the side of five home secretaries who have tried to get rid of him. As far as the British Government and senior politicians are concerned, there will be quiet celebration that he has finally left the country."

Qatada's relatives wait for him outside the State Security Court in Amman

Qatada used his human rights to make a series of costly challenges to moves to deport him to his native country.

The case became a national embarrassment, with critics of European human rights legislation claiming it rendered UK politicians powerless to remove someone who they believed to be a clear threat to national security.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I am absolutely delighted. This is something this Government said it would get done and we have got it done.

"It is an issue, like for the rest of the country, has made my blood boil. That this man, who has no right to be in our country, who is a threat to our country, and that it took so long and was so difficult to deport him.

Qatada glances out of the military plane flying him to Jordan

"But we've done it, he's back in Jordan, that's excellent news."

The Home Office spent a total of £1.7m on legal fees from the many court proceedings.

Mrs May said the Jordanian national's departure marked "the conclusion of efforts to remove him since 2001 and I believe this will be welcomed by the British public".

She added: "I am glad that this government's determination to see him on a plane has been vindicated and that we have at last achieved what previous governments, Parliament and the British public have long called for.

Qatada was taken from Belmarsh to RAF Northolt under police escort

"This dangerous man has now been removed from our shores to face the courts in his own country.

"I am also clear that we need to make sense of our human rights laws and remove the many layers of appeals available to foreign nationals we want to deport. We are taking steps - including through the new Immigration Bill - to put this right."

It was a treaty signed between the UK and Jordan that finally secured Qatada's departure, giving him the assurances he needed to leave his taxpayer-funded home behind.

The agreement, announced by Mrs May earlier this year, aimed to allay fears that evidence extracted through torture will be used against the father-of-five at a retrial.

Qatada had became an object of hate to many

In a shock move, Qatada pledged in May to leave Britain with his family if and when the treaty was fully ratified, a process that to the relief of many concluded earlier this week.

It is understood he will be held in solitary confinement in prison, until the Jordanian authorities can put him on trial.

Jordanian information minister Mohammed Momani said the country "is keen on credibility and transparency" in handling Qatada.

He added the deportation of the Palestinian-born cleric "sends a message to all fugitives that they will face justice in Jordan".

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Abu Qatada should have made this decision to face justice in Jordan before, as this has dragged on far too long, but it is extremely welcome news that this saga is now at an end."

Theresa May believes Qatada's departure will be widely welcomed

Qatada originally fled the Middle East and arrived in the UK in 1993. He was granted asylum the following year.

His increasingly radical sermons caught the attention of the security services in Britain and in numerous other countries.

A Spanish judge described him as the "spiritual head of the mujaheddin in Britain".

A number of people arrested on terrorism offences, including British born "shoe-bomber" Richard Reid, admitted seeking religious advice from him.

His sermons were found in the Hamburg flat used by a number of the 9/11 hijackers.

In 2001, on the eve of tough new British anti-terror laws allowing for the detention without trial of foreign terror suspects, Qatada went on the run, before later being arrested and held in Belmarsh prison.

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