Boy Sought Over University Sex Attacks

Police have said a boy, who could be as young as 12, may be responsible for a string of sex attacks around a university campus.

Greater Manchester Police are linking the assaults which have taken place in the last month near The University of Manchester and have released an evofit image of the young offender which they said made the incidents "even more shocking".

The first two attacks took place within 15 minutes of each other on Saturday September 21.

A 27-year-old was approached from behind and grabbed in Lloyd Street North at 6.15pm before she screamed and the offender ran off.

The next incident followed in Oxford Road when a 21-year-old woman was approached by a boy who made lewd comments as she left John Rylands library.

She carried on walking on Moss Lane East and was sexually assaulted by her assailant who was described as a young Asian boy aged 12 who wore green jeans and glasses.

The third attack took place at the Manchester Science Park in Lloyd Street South at about 2.15pm on Saturday October 5.

A 32-year-old woman was approached by two young boys and sexually assaulted by one of them described as being Asian, 12 to 13 years old, of slim build, with a small frame who wore baggy trousers and carried a rucksack on his back.

She pushed the boy away but he approached her again and sexually assaulted her for a second time before running off towards Pencroft Way in company with the second child, also described as a young Asian boy.

Detective Constable Pam Collins from Longsight Police Station said: "After speaking to the women, we have managed to complete an evofit of the offender. As you can see from the image he looks fairly young which makes these assaults even more shocking.

"After each woman has told the offender to go away he has followed this up with violent threats so we are keen to find this individual as soon as possible.

"I would ask anyone who either recognises the image, witnessed any of the assaults or may have fallen victim to this person to call us."

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 4223 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Titanic Violin May Fetch World Record Price

The violin famously played by the Titanic's bandmaster as the liner sank beneath the waves is expected to fetch a world record price when it goes under the hammer today.

Wallace Hartley has become part of the doomed ship's legend after leading his fellow musicians in playing as the vessel went down, most famously the hymn Nearer My God To Thee.

Hartley and his seven fellow band members all died in the tragedy on April 14 1912, when the cruiser hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank, killing 1,500 people.

His violin, which had been a gift from his fiancee Maria Robinson, was apparently found in a case strapped to his body when it was recovered from the icy waters.

Its re-emergence in 2006, when it was reportedly discovered in an attic in Yorkshire, prompted heated debate over its authenticity.

An engraving from Wallace Hartley's fiance Maria Robinson on the violin

Titanic specialist auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Son say nearly seven years of research and tests have proved it to be the genuine article.

Now the violin - accompanied by a leather luggage case initialed WHH - is being put up for sale along with a host of items from the ship at an auction in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Andrew Aldridge, a valuer with the auctioneer, said worldwide interest in the instrument meant it was likely to break the world record fee for a single piece of memorabilia from the Titanic.

The violin has a reserve price of between £200,000 and £300,000, but is expected to fetch as much as £400,000.

Mr Aldridge said: "It symbolises love, with a young man strapping it to his body because it was an engagement present from his fiancee. It also epitomises bravery. He knew there would be no lifeboats.

"It symbolises everything that's good about people, not just Wallace Hartley and his band, but all the men, women and children who lost their lives."

A photograph showing bodies being buried at sea could fetch £5,000

The previous record sale saw a 32ft plan of the Titanic used in the 1912 inquiry into the sinking of the ship fetch £220,000 two years ago.

The violin has been on exhibition at Titanic museums in the US and Northern Ireland.

Mr Aldridge also took the violin to Mr Hartley's hometown of Dewsbury, Yorkshire, this week ahead of its sale.

"I hope it stays in the UK and goes on exhibition," he said. "There have buyers in the UK but also in the US and Asia so it could go anywhere."

Among the other items on sale is a photograph showing victims being buried at sea.

The black and white image of bodies in sacks piled three high on deck is expected to fetch up to £5,000.

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Oxfordshire: Fire At Immigration Detention Centre

Two men have been taken to hospital after a fire at an immigration detention centre in Oxfordshire, the Home Office says.

The cause of the blaze at the privately-run Campsfield House centre in Kidlington is not yet known.

A Home Office spokesman said around half the detainees were being moved to other centres because of damage to the building.

The spokesman added: "All the detainees have been accounted for and two male detainees are now in hospital.

"The cause of the fire is being investigated by police and the fire service." 

Campsfield can hold over 200 detainees

The blaze started at 9pm on Friday night in one of the three blocks that make up the centre and was brought under control by midnight.

Ten fire engines were sent to put it out.

Campsfield is a long-term centre where male detainees are kept pending the outcome of their immigration case and subsequent removal.

It is run by MITIE and has space for 216 beds.

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Felix Dexter: Real McCoy Star Dies From Cancer

Real McCoy star Felix Dexter has died at the age of 52 following a battle with multiple myeloma - a type of bone marrow cancer.

He came to prominence in the flagship black comedy and was once named Time Out comedian of the year.

Felix Dexter enjoyed a long career in stand-up comedy

He went on to work in BBC comedies The Fast Show, Absolutely Fabulous and most recently Citizen Khan.

Fellow comedians, colleagues and friends paid tribute to him on Twitter - calling him "one of our British kings of comedy".

Comedian David Baddiel wrote: "Felix Dexter? Doesn't seem possible. Very funny, very gentle man: his death is a real loss to comedy."

Comedian Bill Bailey said: "Very said news about my old friend Felix Dexter. A brilliant comedian, a superb comic actor, a lovely man I feel privileged to have known."

Dexter, who was born in St Kitts and moved to the UK when he was seven, studied law before entering the stand-up circuit.

Later he featured in Have I Got News You and Grumpy Old Men, as well as Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge.

As an actor, he had parts in Casualty and the Bill and appeared in the West End alongside Christian Slater.

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Immigration: Complaints Over 'Go Home' Texts

Immigration: For And Against

Updated: 8:59am UK, Friday 18 October 2013

As Sky News' immigration week continues, two Britons give their arguments about whether immigration is good or bad for the nation.

AGAINST:

:: Nigel Sykes, 51, sales manager, Yorkshire

Before any debate on immigration can take place, let us rid ourselves of one word: "racism".

Until this word is put in its correct place there will never be reasoned debate.

My views come as I watch my country slide deep down into the abyss of which it will never return.

Coming from an area and background that was "everyone votes Labour round here", you may be surprised to now hear the same people are beginning to turn their back on this old custom.

Here are some reasons which I hear people give every day in pubs, clubs, parks, workplace etc.

Our two main political parties have had to revise immigration policy. Why? Because another party has gained ground by listening to the views of its citizens. After all, these citizens are the ones who put them there - something which seems to evade 650 MPs.

These are the same people who are now subject to the strains of mass uncontrolled immigration introduced by the Labour Party intending to create a one-party state.

Without going too in depth, let's look at some facts.

We have a huge housing shortage even amongst our own populace but continue to allow migrants to pour in and take housing that should be available for our own people.

Our hospitals and schools are at breaking point for one reason only: immigration.

We cannot look after our own pensioners, many who have paid their dues all their life, but we can give benefits to immigrants who have paid nothing.

Many of our truly unhealthy or disabled have had benefits cut, yet we can somehow afford to give immigrants money to give to claimants back in their homeland.

No doubt people will say: "They will do work no Brit will do."

Please, show me the jobs and I guarantee I can have a Brit ready to start.

People are fed up of the complete disregard by immigrants for our own laws, our schools, our British heritage, customs and way of life.

FOR:

:: Angelo Iudice, chairman, Accademia Apulia UK

I am a naturalised British subject who has lived in London for over 30 years.

During this time I have seen what was once a depressing pub-centred society turning into the centre of the world.

In today's multicultural Britain, the most important, world-acclaimed architects, doctors, scientists and artists are leaving their mark, and they are not all English.

I would say to anyone who is anti-immigration that they should be proud of the fact that migrants from every corner of the world want to come here. Britain is the most civilised country in the whole world.

I was aged 18 when I first arrived on these shores searching for meritocracy within an open-minded society - a dimension I cherished from day one.

From day one I paid my taxes and upheld my social responsibilities.

Humanity and civilisation know no borders and modern Britain, in my view, is about tolerance and acceptance.

I believe the focus should not be on migration, but that politicians should be searching for solutions and strategies to fight world poverty in order to safeguard the future of our planet.

:: Immigration UK: A week of special coverage on Sky from October 14 to 18 - watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad

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Northern Irish Leave For Greener Pastures

Immigration: For And Against

Updated: 8:59am UK, Friday 18 October 2013

As Sky News' immigration week continues, two Britons give their arguments about whether immigration is good or bad for the nation.

AGAINST:

:: Nigel Sykes, 51, sales manager, Yorkshire

Before any debate on immigration can take place, let us rid ourselves of one word: "racism".

Until this word is put in its correct place there will never be reasoned debate.

My views come as I watch my country slide deep down into the abyss of which it will never return.

Coming from an area and background that was "everyone votes Labour round here", you may be surprised to now hear the same people are beginning to turn their back on this old custom.

Here are some reasons which I hear people give every day in pubs, clubs, parks, workplace etc.

Our two main political parties have had to revise immigration policy. Why? Because another party has gained ground by listening to the views of its citizens. After all, these citizens are the ones who put them there - something which seems to evade 650 MPs.

These are the same people who are now subject to the strains of mass uncontrolled immigration introduced by the Labour Party intending to create a one-party state.

Without going too in depth, let's look at some facts.

We have a huge housing shortage even amongst our own populace but continue to allow migrants to pour in and take housing that should be available for our own people.

Our hospitals and schools are at breaking point for one reason only: immigration.

We cannot look after our own pensioners, many who have paid their dues all their life, but we can give benefits to immigrants who have paid nothing.

Many of our truly unhealthy or disabled have had benefits cut, yet we can somehow afford to give immigrants money to give to claimants back in their homeland.

No doubt people will say: "They will do work no Brit will do."

Please, show me the jobs and I guarantee I can have a Brit ready to start.

People are fed up of the complete disregard by immigrants for our own laws, our schools, our British heritage, customs and way of life.

FOR:

:: Angelo Iudice, chairman, Accademia Apulia UK

I am a naturalised British subject who has lived in London for over 30 years.

During this time I have seen what was once a depressing pub-centred society turning into the centre of the world.

In today's multicultural Britain, the most important, world-acclaimed architects, doctors, scientists and artists are leaving their mark, and they are not all English.

I would say to anyone who is anti-immigration that they should be proud of the fact that migrants from every corner of the world want to come here. Britain is the most civilised country in the whole world.

I was aged 18 when I first arrived on these shores searching for meritocracy within an open-minded society - a dimension I cherished from day one.

From day one I paid my taxes and upheld my social responsibilities.

Humanity and civilisation know no borders and modern Britain, in my view, is about tolerance and acceptance.

I believe the focus should not be on migration, but that politicians should be searching for solutions and strategies to fight world poverty in order to safeguard the future of our planet.

:: Immigration UK: A week of special coverage on Sky from October 14 to 18 - watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad

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Toddler Dies In House Fire In South Yorkshire

A toddler has died following a house fire in South Yorkshire, police have said.

A neighbour alerted the emergency services to the blaze in Don Street, Conisbrough, near Doncaster.

The two-year-old girl was rescued from a bedroom window by firefighters but died later in hospital.

Shocked neighbour Zoe Backhouse

Police say no-one else was injured in the blaze.

Although the girl has not been named officially, flowers left at the scene were addressed to Libby. One note read: "Love you Libby", while another said: "Sleep tight Libby. Goodnight. God bless."

Neighbour Zoe Backhouse, whose daughter is the same age as the youngster and went to the same nursery, told Sky News: "It's awful to think the family has lost such a little angel.

"They really are a nice family. It's heart-breaking."

Sky's North of England Correspondent Becky Johnson also spoke to another neighbour who witnessed what happened.

Johnson said: "She was in floods of tears. She said it was just a dreadful scene.

"She saw the little girl, who neighbours have told me is called Libby, being brought from the house.

The upper floor of the house

"She said that there was a young teenager, who she understood to be the babysitter, running up and down the street calling out for help.

"She said that when Libby was taken to hospital in the ambulance, it was some 20 minutes later that her mum turned up having been told what happened, and of course was distraught."

A statement from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said two crews battled the fire, which broke out shortly before 8pm on Thursday.

"A team of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and located the fire in an upstairs bedroom," it said.

"A young child was rescued from the bedroom but sadly died."

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said.

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Family 'Disgusted' By Dog Death Sentence

The family of a 14-year-old girl savaged to death by four dogs say they are "disgusted" after the owner walked free from court with a suspended sentence.

Beverley Concannon was sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to the four dogs, which killed Jade Lomas-Anderson in March.

The teenager died after she was attacked by two bull mastiffs and two Staffordshire bull terriers in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

The dogs turned on her while she was visiting Concannon's daughter, and armed police were later forced to kill the animals.

Jade suffered "horrific" injuries "from head to toe", Wigan Magistrates' Court heard.

The judge said Concannon, 45, had subjected the animals to "prolonged neglect" and that she should have been aware of the dogs' aggressive behaviour.

Concannon hid from reporters as she left the court in Wigan

The court heard that the animals were cooped up together in the house and had become "hyper aggressive".

One of the dogs, an American bull mastiff, was kept in a small cage and was described as "stir crazy".

Jade's stepfather Michael told reporters that the family had been let down.

He said: "I'm devastated and disgusted in the justice system.

"Today was just about dangerous dogs. I think she should be held responsible for Jade.

"We have got a life sentence. It has absolutely ripped us apart."

Hundreds of lanterns were released at Jade's school after she died

Concannon had pleaded guilty to the cruelty charge and admitted subjecting the dogs to "an environment that was detrimental to their well-being".

Her 16-week jail sentence is suspended for 12 months and she has been disqualified from owning and keeping dogs indefinitely.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to bring a charge of manslaughter.

It also said it could not bring charges under the Dangerous Dogs Act because they were not banned breeds and were not out of control in a public place.

Two of the dogs were Staffordshire bull terriers (file picture)

Jade's family want the Government to tighten dangerous dogs laws.

The Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill is currently being examined by Parliament.

It aims to remove the immunity from prosecution of dog owners whose animal attacks someone on private property, such as their home.

The Bill is designed to protect people who visit houses as part of their job.

More follows...

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Teachers' Strike Closes Thousands Of Schools

Thousands of schools in England have been closed or are facing serious disruptions after teachers walked out in a row over pay, pensions and working conditions.

The industrial action - organised by the NASUWT and the National Union of Teachers - is being staged in the North East, Cumbria, the South West, South East and London.

In Brighton, more than 2,000 people including teachers from across the city and elsewhere in Sussex staged a noisy march.

Part of the city centre was brought to a temporary standstill as the convoy of placard-waving demonstrators wove their way through as police looked on.

Chants of "What do we want? Gove out. When do we want it? Now" and "No ifs, no buts, no education cuts" were shouted as the march progressed.

Community school teacher Rachel Henocq said: "I think it's unfair what the Government is doing to education. It's ruining children's lives at the moment.

"Someone has got to take a stand. No-one wants to go on strike. I love teaching and I love children.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: "No teacher has any wish to inconvenience parents or disrupt pupils' education, but this action is not the failure or due to the unreasonableness of teachers.

"It is the failure and unreasonableness of the Secretary of State (Michael Gove), who day-in, day-out is disrupting the education of children and young people through his attacks on the teaching profession."

However, David Cameron blamed unions for the strikes and said it was "disappointing" they had decided to go ahead.

"It is very inconvenient for parents, it is not good for pupils' education, and when we look at the things they are striking over, pensions and pay, they are things that have been decided independently by well-led reviews," he said.

"I was at my children's school today in London. One class was not there but the rest of the school was operating," he told BBC Sussex radio:

"So every praise to those teachers who have gone ahead and kept our schools open for our kids."

A Department for Education spokesman added: "All strikes will do is disrupt parents' lives, hold back children's education and damage the reputation of the profession."

The unions are opposed to Government plans to allow schools to set teachers' salaries, linked to performance in the classroom, and argue that pension changes will leave their members working longer, paying in more and receiving less when they retire.

They also accuse the coalition of attacking their working conditions, including introducing reforms that will allow schools to have longer school days and longer terms.

Research published earlier this month by the Varkey GEMS Foundation revealed that the British public think teachers should be paid around 15% more than their current salaries.

Almost three-quarters (74%) were in favour of performance-related pay for teachers, according to the study.

Regional strikes have already taken place in the North West on June 27, and in the East of England, the East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside on October 1.

Plans for a national one-day walkout before Christmas have also been announced by the two unions.

The latest action comes days after a major international report put England 22nd out of 24 western countries on literacy and numeracy.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found England was performing worse than nations including Estonia and Slovakia.

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NHS: Has Immigration Saved The Health Service?

By Gillian Joseph, Sky News Presenter

The majority perception of immigration, as suggested by a Sky News exclusive poll, is that immigrants have been detrimental to British society, that they have taken out far more than they have put in.

But is that the true picture? There are those who would suggest that in fact immigration has saved at least one British institution from ruin - the NHS.

In his immigration speech in March, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Our country has benefited immeasurably from immigration.

"If you go into any hospital you'll find people from Uganda, India and Pakistan who are caring for our sick and vulnerable."

Immigrant workers have been bolstering the NHS since its inception

That's the situation today and it has been the case since the 1940s.

Immigrant workers have been bolstering the NHS from its inception and seem set to continue to be its backbone.

The NHS is celebrating its 65th birthday this year. It was July 1948 that saw the birth of the Welfare State.

The idea was to provide health care free at the point of use for all. But resourcing the venture was problematic from the outset.

Nurses from the Commonwealth were invited to join the NHS

The main issue was the chronic lack of nurses and so initially, young women from the Commonwealth were invited to come to Britain after World War Two to assist with labour shortages.

The message was loud and clear - Britain Needs You.

The arrival of the ship the SS Empire Windrush in 1948 marked the beginning of post-war mass immigration.

Having made an 8,000-mile journey, the 492 passengers on board from various Caribbean Islands were keen to start work and a new life in what they called the "Mother Country".

SS Empire Windrush brought in workers from the Caribbean

Once they arrived though, many found the welcome to be far from warm.

Immigrant nurses tell of patients refusing to be touched by them unless they washed themselves first, so as to remove the dirt from their skins.

Having to explain that they were not dirty but it was in fact their skin colour was never something they envisaged having to do.

But despite the overt racism and sometimes difficult conditions, substantial numbers were still prepared to make the journey.

By 1955 there were official nursing recruitment programmes across 16 British colonies and former colonies.

Over the next two decades, the British colonies and former colonies provided a constant supply of cheap labour to meet staffing shortages in the NHS.

The number of women entering Britain to work in the Health Service grew steadily until the early 1970s.

Ten years after the Windrush docked in Essex, Shirla Philogene arrived in the UK from St Vincent to train to become a nurse.

Shirla Philogene was given an OBE in recognition of her services to nursing

She retired in 1989 after 31 years of service and is confident that her contribution and that of others like her has made the NHS what it is today.

Shirla, who has been honoured with an OBE to acknowledge her services to nursing, believes the Windrush nurses were dedicated with a particularly robust work ethic.

They were determined and prepared to face whatever challenges were thrown at them in order to care for their patients.

The hard work of nurses like Shirla was generally recognised and in the early 60s a second invitation was extended, when the then Conservative health minister Enoch Powell asked members of the Commonwealth to come to the UK to work in the health service.

Enoch Powell spoke of the burden of immigration

But that invitation was to eventually morph into a stark prediction about the negative consequences of immigration.

Mr Powell's infamous 1968 Rivers of Blood speech warned that the legislation proposed in the Race Relations Bill would provide immigrant communities with the impetus to rise up against their fellow citizens.

He wrote: "As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood."

Thirty years after the speech, Edward Heath said that Mr Powell's remarks on the economic burden of immigration had been "not without prescience".

In 1991, Margaret Thatcher said Mr Powell had "made a valid argument, if in sometimes regrettable terms".

But without immigration, would we have today's health service?

Dr Peter Carter, head of the Royal College of Nursing, is unequivocal in his analysis.

He believes that had nurses and other workers not been recruited from overseas, the NHS simply could not have functioned.

Looking to the future, he predicts that in three years' time there will be a deficit in the workforce in London and elsewhere, forcing hospitals to look overseas to fill the gap.

Today there are 85,000 immigrant nurses registered in the UK and recent General Medical Council figures suggest 37% of all NHS doctors qualified abroad.

If there is one institution where immigration has had a profound impact, it has to be the National Health Service.

With a worldwide shortage of health workers, its reliance on immigrants looks set to continue.

:: Immigration UK: A week of special coverage on Sky from October 14 to 18 - watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad

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English Not The First Language In 240 Schools

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

There are 240 schools in England where over 90% of students do not speak English as a first language, according to official figures analysed by Sky News.

In the last academic year, Department of Education census figures reveal five primary schools in England - of nearly 17,000 in total - had no native speakers, with 100% of their pupils speaking English as a second language.

Sky News has visited one of the five schools - the Sacred Heart Primary School in Tipton, West Midlands - which has since admitted three native speakers.

Staff at the primary school believe they have a winning formula for teaching children from a diverse community.

English is the second language for 95% of the school's 128 pupils - the vast majority of them with parents from Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Children are encouraged to speak in English in school

Sacred Heart Primary has recently won a regional award for its inclusive policy and standards of education.

Head teacher Melanie Gee told Sky News she takes a pragmatic approach: "Our school is really no different to any other. We have a curriculum and all the lessons are taught in English.

"We have got bilingual staff. Children in the very early days will probably communicate to the staff in nursery in their home language, but within a couple of weeks we find that they are communicating in English.

"The majority of our bilingual staff, if we use them, are actually to communicate more with the parents rather than with the children."

The school has children who speak Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, French, Polish and Tamil as well as English.

Helen Pflaumer, ethnic minority achievement leader at Sacred Heart, said they encourage the children to interact with staff in English the majority of the time.

"There may be an occasion where if they want to discuss something in more depth we can say use your home language if that's going to be easier for you.

"But obviously we tend to feed back in English largely because of the English speaking teachers. The children pick up English so quickly and they and the parents are very happy about that."

Occasionally, says Ms Gee, they need to bring in an interpreter which stretches the budget. But she maintains that it never compromises the running of the school.

 :: Immigration UK: A week of special coverage on Sky from October 14 to 18 - watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad

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Energy Bills: British Gas Ups Prices By 9.2%

British Gas has become the second major supplier of household energy to announce a rise in its prices - by an average 9.2%.

The company said its electricity and gas prices will rise by 10.4% and 8.4% respectively from November 23 - affecting 7.8 million households.

Regional variations mean some Scottish customers will see prices rise on average by as much as 11.2% while those in London will suffer a 10.6% increase and households in Yorkshire will have a 10.5% lift.

The move comes despite a pledge by British Gas earlier this year to use an annual earnings windfall from the cold weather last winter to keep a lid on tariffs.

Electricity prices are rising faster than those for gas

The average increase is higher in percentage terms than that confirmed by rival SSE last week which is raising its bills by 8.2% from November 15, although research from price comparison website uSwitch suggested it brought their average dual fuel tariffs together in terms of cost.

The Prime Minister David Cameron described the latest increase as "disappointing" and urged households to try to save money by switching suppliers.

E.ON, Scottish Power, EDF Energy and npower are the other so-called 'big six' providers yet to make announcements on their winter pricing.

British Gas said it was a hard decision for the company, which is owned by Centrica.

Its statement said: "We recognise that energy bills are a real worry for hard-pressed households, particularly at a time when the cost of living is rising faster than incomes.

"Today's announcement, which will add about £2 a week to the average dual fuel bill, reflects the increasing cost of: buying energy in global markets, delivering gas and electricity to the home, and the Government's social and environmental programmes, which are paid for through customers' bills."

It pledged that more than 500,000 of its elderly and most in-need customers would be protected by an automatic discount to offset the price increase throughout the winter - worth £60 per dual fuel household.

This was, British Gas said, in addition to the £135 that will be paid to many of these customers who qualify for the Government's Warm Home Discount scheme.

Ed Miliband used Labour's conference to announce his 'bill freeze' plan

Ian Peters, Managing Director of British Gas Residential Energy, added: "I know these are difficult times for many customers and totally understand the frustration that so many household costs keep on rising when incomes aren't keeping pace.

"We haven't taken this decision lightly, but what's pushing up energy prices at the moment are costs that are not all directly under our control, such as the global price of energy, charges that we have to pay for using the national grid that delivers energy to the home, and the cost of the Government's social and environmental programmes.

"Energy efficiency is the best way to keep bills down, and I encourage anyone who has not benefitted from them to go online and check if they are eligible."

The cost of energy bills sparked a political frenzy last month when the Labour leader Ed Miliband pledged to freeze prices for 20 months if his party won power at the 2015 general election.

Shares in both SSE and British Gas-owner Centrica fell sharply in the wake of the announcement, wiping a combined £2.7bn off the value of the firms.

Caroline Flint, Labour's Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said: "These latest price rises show clearer than ever why Labour's price freeze is needed.

"People are sick and tired of being left out of pocket because of David Cameron's failure to stand up to the energy companies.

"Britain's energy market isn't working for ordinary families and businesses. Labour's energy freeze will save money for 27 million households and 2.4 million businesses and our plans to reset the market will deliver fairer prices in the future."

In an interview with Sky News, Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "I think British Gas is going to lose a lot of customers over this.

"British Gas in their press release is trying to blame the Government for social and environmental costs but we've looked at their figures and it looks like they're being very inefficient in managing these Government programmes, " he said.

Ministers have been encouraging households to switch suppliers as the best way of keeping their bills as low as possible.

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Missing British Teacher Feared Dead In Qatar

A British teacher is feared dead after going missing in Qatar.

Lauren Patterson disappeared in the early hours on Saturday in the state's capital Doha.

Local media are reporting the primary school teacher was last seen outside the city's five-star La Cigale hotel.

The 24-year-old's mother and boyfriend both took to Facebook to describe her as "truly amazing" and "remarkable" amid unconfirmed reports that a body has been found.

Doha police said they could not confirm whether Ms Patterson had died, what had happened to her, or the progress of their investigation.

Ms Patterson, originally from Chislehurst in south-east London, was working at the Newton British School in Doha.

Reports suggested she had returned to Doha on Friday after attending her grandmother's funeral in Britain.

Her mother, Allison Patterson, who is reported to have flown to Doha, wrote on Facebook: "Thank you so much to everyone for all their wonderful words about Lauren.

The Qatari capital Doha is a popular destination for British expats

"She was a truly remarkable girl my rock always there for everyone. I know she's in heaven now in her Daddy's arms."

Her boyfriend, James Grima, from Malta, wrote: "You really were the most smart, kind, beautiful and amazing woman I've ever met.

"I keep going through our messages and your pictures, and it reminds me of how lucky I was just to even know you and be a part of your life.

"Although I don't know if I will ever come to terms with what happened, I have all our funny & beautiful memories that we shared together."

Friend Lorna Ann Campbell wrote: "I can't get my head around why someone so special has been taken from us.

"She meant the world to us and we will never forget how beautiful she was.

"You couldn't ask for a better friend. Her family meant everything to her and she was always talking about you all. Sending love and prayers to you all.xxxx"

Friends had desperately been appealing for help to find her on social media.

Up to 500 British expats are thought to be arriving in Doha every day as the city expands into a global hub, built on the back of Qatar's enormous oil and natural gas wealth.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of a British national, Lauren Patterson, reported missing in Qatar.

"We are providing the family with consular assistance."

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Immigration: Brit Workers 'Against The World'

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

Immigration is changing Britain. This is not merely a theory - it's statistical fact. Back in 2004, less than a decade ago, one in 11 of those living in Britain were born abroad. Today the proportion is one in eight - 12.4%.

And, just as is the case for economic growth and productivity, the immigration picture varies throughout the country. Some 42% of London's population was born outside the UK, compared to just 5% in the North of England.

Though more attention tends to be focused on the flows of immigration - in other words people entering and leaving the country, the gradually-changing make-up of the UK population represents a significant shift - both in social and economic terms.

On the one hand, there's the question of how much immigrants cost Britain's welfare state. A quarter of new-born babies in Britain last year had non-UK-born mothers - the highest proportion since records began in 1969.

But you can only really get a clear sense of the absolute impact by taking a step back and comparing the cost of immigration with the related income - the taxes these new members of the population pay.

Research from the OECD shows that immigrants actually bring in over £7bn more than they cost. That's the equivalent of a penny off the basic rate of income tax.

There are other economic arguments in favour: Free movement of labour is usually good news for businesses, since it allows them to attract workers from all over the world, not merely locals.

But there are clearly challenges as well. Immigration increases GDP (though not necessarily GDP per capita), but it also increases the demand for housing - a real problem in a country facing a chronic shortage of property. And more potential workers means more competition for British employees.

In pure statistical terms, immigrants work harder than their UK counterparts. Some 71% of foreign nationals are economically active, compared with 67% of UK nationals. They are better-qualified: 38% of non UK-born people in Britain have degrees, compared with 30% of UK nationals.

And contrary to popular opinion, they are not just plumbers. The biggest proportion of immigrants actually work in finance, followed by health, then retail, then manufacturing.

According to the OECD half of all immigrants hired in Britain are high-skilled - and the proportion is increasing.

This has had an undeniable impact on Britons' job prospects. Since the start of the crisis in 2008, seven British workers have lost their jobs for every one non-British worker to have lost theirs.

Some are likely to see this as an argument against immigration. However, the economic message is just as significant. Britons need to work harder if they want to compete. That's the inevitable consequence when you're competing against a whole world's worth of workers, rather than just one country.

:: Immigration UK: A week of special coverage on Sky from October 14 to 18 - watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad

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Armed Raiders Push Father-Of-Two Under Lorry

A father-of-two was killed after being pushed under a moving lorry as he defended his shop and wife from a gang of 10 armed raiders.

Scene of the incident in east London

Shammi Atwal confronted the gang, who were armed with metal bars and a sledgehammer, as they attempted to rob his cash and carry .

Scotland Yard said up to 10 men entered the Glen & Co Cash and Carry in Barking, Essex, on Monday morning but Mr Atwal fought them off.

As he chased them from the premises, he was pushed in front of a lorry.

Mr Atwal, who was in his 40s, and his wife, who are co-owners of the business, tried to stop them, causing the gang to flee.

Police say they know the identity of the victim

Detective Chief Inspector Neale Baldock, who is leading the Metropolitan Police murder probe, said: "This was a man trying to stop thieves robbing his business.

"He acted bravely in defence of his wife and managed to chase the robbers from his premises only for him to be pushed in front of a moving lorry.

"People in the community know who committed this appalling and cowardly crime and I would urge them to contact my officers."

Next of kin have been informed

His 37-year-old widow, who police have not identified, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The driver stopped at the scene in River Road and was not arrested.

The suspects are described as white men. It is not known how they got away.

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Sean Edwards: British Driver Dies In Crash

A "hugely promising" British racing driver has been killed in Australia after the car he was a passenger in smashed into a race track wall.

Sean Edwards was instructing a 20-year-old male driver in a Porsche at the time of the accident at Queensland Raceway in Willowbank, west of Brisbane.

The driver, from Brisbane, was pulled from the burning wreckage and is in intensive care with life-threatening injuries.

Edwards, 26, the son of Guy Edwards, the British former Formula 1 driver, was born in London but was living in Monaco. He was the 2013 Porsche supercup championship leader.

The Motor Sports Association (MSA) said: "The Motor Sports Association (MSA) is shocked and saddened by the loss of British racing driver Sean Edwards, who died in an accident on Tuesday in Australia.

Sean Edwards competes in a Porsche Supercup race in May

"Sean was a hugely promising young racer who came through the junior formulas in Britain, before making a career in international sports car racing.

"He is leading the 2013 Porsche Supercup championship and had won both the Nurburgring and Dubai 24 Hours this year.

"The MSA extends its deepest sympathies to Sean's family, friends and fans at this difficult time."

Edwards had coached drivers for the acclaimed Formula 1 movie Rush, in which he also played the part of his father.

One of the scenes saw him recreate the moment Guy Edwards pulled fellow driver Nicki Lauda from a burning race car.

Just two days ago, Sean Edwards wrote on his Twitter page: "Time to hit Queensland Raceway today, should be fun, hope there aren't too many kangaroos like at Bathurst!"

Reacting to the news of Edwards' death, former McLaren driver David Coulthard tweeted: "Shocking news about Sean Edwards passing, top man and super talented racer, condolences to his nearest and dearest."

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Boy, 10, Held Over Pensioner's Death In Leeds

A 10-year-old boy has been arrested over the death of a 79-year-old church volunteer who was found with a head injury, police have confirmed.

Officers were alerted by an ambulance crew called out to help the victim - named locally as Victor Hepworth - at 6.19pm on Sunday in Leeds.

The pensioner was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment but was pronounced dead a short time later.

It is understood the 79-year-old lived in the street in the Harehills area of the city where the incident happened. He is yet to be formally identified, police said.

Shocked neighbours described him as an "exceptional" man who had lived in the community for many years.

Abdul Hannan told Sky News: "He's been in this street for a considerable number of years. He's a personal friend and a family friend.

"He used to live in the street that my mum lives in. He would go out of his way to help the community.

""He would put the bins out, he would pick up litter from the streets, he would tell kids to put litter in the bins. He also volunteered in the local church on a regular basis.

"He was an exceptional helper in the community - we're shocked and disturbed by what's happened." 

It is thought the victim lived in Back Hill Top Avenue in Leeds

Liaqat Ali, manager of the Abubakar supermarket on nearby Roundhay Road, said the man was a regular customer and that he had seen him yesterday.

He said: "The old gentleman used to come to the shop all the time, God rest his soul. I've been here for 10 years and he'd been living in the area at least that long. I think he had a son.

"I saw the old man walking around yesterday afternoon, but I didn't speak to him. He was quite well-known in the area.

"Everyone's surprised that this has happened. I'm shocked they've arrested a little kid."

West Yorkshire Police are appealing for information about the man's death.

Any witnesses are asked to contact officers from the homicide and major inquiry team on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

More follows...

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Madeleine Appeal Angers Praia Da Luz Residents

Praia da Luz has achieved that unwanted badge of geographical infamy: a town identified with a shocking or awful event.

Like Hungerford, Soham and Columbine, this pretty tourist enclave on the Algarve achieved international prominence after the disappearance of Madeleine McCann on May 3, 2007.

Understandable then that many of the residents - especially British expats - are less than welcoming to the media which have returned to cover this fresh appeal.

One man who owns a flat in the building where the McCanns were staying was visibly angry at our presence, calling us "pathetic" as he walked away in disgust.

The management of The Ocean Club say there is a good reason for local people wishing the attention would fade - it's bad for business.

They refused a request by Sky News to film in the restaurant where the McCanns were staying, but admitted that bookings have still not recovered six years after her disappearance.

The apartment building where Madeleine disappeared

Graham Roberts retired here 18 years ago, where he plays the piano every Sunday at the Fortaleza da Luz restaurant.

"There's no doubt that the case has changed the town. People who live here can't understand why Madeleine McCann in particular gets all the publicity when hundreds of children go missing every year," he said.

"There was another appeal recently and posters were put up again all over town. They were ripped down in days. People don't want to be reminded of what happened here."

We met one woman who had made the trip to Luz because she had seen the town on news reports and wanted to visit.

Mary Pearson, a tourist from Cumbria, told Sky News she hopes the reconstruction will eventually help the family be reunited.

"It's just awful what they are going through, I really hope someone remembers something," she said.

"Even if some of the locals don't want the cameras back, if it brings some closure to the parents then it will be worth it."

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Madeleine McCann Suspect's E-Fit Released

Madeleine: Key Events Timeline

Updated: 9:48am UK, Monday 14 October 2013

Here is a timeline of the key events since Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

2007

:: May 3 - Kate and Gerry McCann leave their three children asleep in their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz while they dine with friends at a nearby tapas restaurant.

Jane Tanner, one of the friends eating with the McCanns, later reports seeing a man carrying a child away earlier that night.

:: May 5 - Portuguese police reveal they believe Madeleine was abducted but is still alive and in Portugal, and say they have a sketch of a suspect.

:: May 14 - Detectives take Anglo-Portuguese man Robert Murat in for questioning and make him an "arguido", or official suspect.

:: May 25 - Detectives release a description of the man reported by Jane Tanner three weeks earlier after pressure from the McCanns, their legal team and the British Government.

:: May 30 - Mr and Mrs McCann meet the Pope in Rome in the first of a series of trips around Europe and beyond to highlight the search for their daughter.

:: August 6 - A Portuguese newspaper reports that British sniffer dogs have found traces of blood on a wall in the McCanns' holiday apartment.

:: August 11 - Exactly 100 days after Madeleine disappeared, investigating officers publicly acknowledge for the first time that she could be dead.

:: September 7 - During further questioning of Mr and Mrs McCann, detectives make them both "arguidos" in their daughter's disappearance.

:: September 9 - The McCanns fly back to England with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

:: October 2 - Goncalo Amaral, the detective in charge of the inquiry, is removed from the case after criticising the British police in a Portuguese newspaper interview.

:: October 25 - The McCanns release a new artist's impression drawn by an FBI-trained expert showing the man described by Jane Tanner.

2008

:: March 19 - Mr and Mrs McCann accept £550,000 libel damages and front-page apologies from Express Newspapers over allegations they were responsible for Madeleine's death.

:: April 7 - Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, fly to Britain to re-interview the seven friends on holiday with the McCanns when Madeleine vanished.

:: July 17 - Mr Murat receives £600,000 in libel damages from four newspaper groups over "seriously defamatory" articles connecting him with the child's disappearance.

:: July 21 - The Portuguese authorities shelve their investigation and lift the "arguido" status of the McCanns and Mr Murat.

:: August 4 - Thousands of pages of evidence from the Portuguese police files in the exhaustive investigation into Madeleine's disappearance are made public.

2009

:: January 13 - Mr McCann returns to Portugal for the first time since coming back to the UK without his daughter.

:: March 24 - The McCanns launch a localised new appeal for information focused on the area in the Algarve where Madeleine disappeared.

:: April 4 - Mr McCann goes back to Portugal to help film a reconstruction of the events on the night his daughter vanished.

:: April 22 - The McCanns fly to the US to record an interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey to mark two years since Madeleine's disappearance.

:: June 14 - Dying paedophile Raymond Hewlett says he was in the Algarve when Madeleine disappeared and has an alibi - but has no plans to reveal it.

:: August 6 - Detectives say they are hunting a "Victoria Beckham lookalike" with an Australian or New Zealand accent, reportedly seen in Barcelona three days after the little girl went missing.

2010

:: Feb 18 -  Kate and Gerry McCann say they are "pleased and relieved" at a judge's decision to uphold a ban on a book by former detective Goncalo Amaral.

:: Mar 3 -  A newly-released file from Portugese police on possible sightings is called "gold dust" and could lead to a breakthrough, says a spokesman for the McCanns.

:: May 1 - Kate McCann reveals she had thoughts about being "wiped out" in a motorway crash to end the pain of losing Madeleine - but vows never to give up.

:: November 10 - Madeleine's parents launch an online petition to help force a UK and Portuguese joint review of all evidence in the case.

:: November 15 -  The McCanns sign a deal to write a book about their daughter's disappearance.

2011

:: May 13 - The Prime Minister David Cameron asks London's Metropolitan Police to help investigate the case.

:: November 23 - Kate and Gerry McCann appear at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

They tell how media pressure affected their family life and accuse newspaper editors of hampering the search for their missing daughter.

Kate McCann says she felt "violated" when her diary was published without her permission.

:: December 5 - Scotland Yard detectives spend time in Barcelona as part of their re-examination of the case.

2012

:: March 9 - Portuguese police in Oporto launch a review of the original investigation.

:: April 26 - Scotland Yard says Madeleine McCann may still be alive and release an artist's impression of what she may look like as a nine-year-old.

:: July 6 - British detectives examine a claim that the little girl's body is buried near the apartment from where she vanished. It comes after a self-styled investigator sends police radar scans he claims show a burial site.

2013

:: Feb 11 - Gerry McCann calls for politicians to implement the conclusions of the Leveson Inquiry in full, backed by legislation.

:: Feb 13 - Police say the results of DNA tests on a girl in New Zealand who was mistaken for Madeleine reveal that she is not the missing British girl.

:: Feb 21 - Retired solicitor Tony Bennett who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death is given a suspended jail sentence.

:: May 2 - Madeleine McCann's parents tell Sky News a police review into their daughter's disappearance is making "excellent progress" as they mark the sixth anniversary since she went missing.

:: May 17 - Scotland Yard say they have identified a number of "people of interest" they want to speak to. It believes it has found enough evidence to reopen the case but the Portuguese authorities are still resistant. 

:: June 15 - The Home Office agrees to fund a full-scale investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

:: October 13 - UK detectives reviewing the case say key details in the timeline of her disappearance have "significantly changed".

:: October 14 - A fresh appeal is launched in a bid to find a suspect detectives say is of "vital importance", with two new separate e-fits - thought to be of the same man seen on the night Madeleine went missing - released by police.

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Two Men Face Jail For 55 Child Sex Offences

One of two men convicted of committing a series of sex crimes against vulnerable teenage boys is HIV postitive, it has emerged.

Anthony Marsh and Lee Davis used social networks such as Facebook and Bebo, as well as specialist gay websites, to befriend boys before committing what police describe as "vile, horrendous offences".

They appeared in appeared in court last month where they pleaded guilty to a total of 55 offences committed throughout the country over a number of years.

A further 14 offences were denied and later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. They will be sentenced on December 2.

Marsh, 53,a salesman from Hatfield, Doncaster, who also used the names Tony Taylor and Tony Smith, pleaded guilty to 34 offences including possessing and distributing indecent images of children, and sexual activity with a child.

He was revealed to have the virus that causes Aids, but did not inform the boys he abused. His 20 victims identified so far by police are understood to have tested negative.

Lee Davis, 39, from Conisbrough, Doncaster, who also used the name James Parkin, had pleaded guilty to 20 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, and taking indecent photographs of a child.

Both men were also jointly charged with conspiracy to commit sexual activity with children, and both admitted this offence at the earlier court hearing in September.

The offences to which they pleaded guilty date back to 2005 and involved teenage boys from South Yorkshire, Humberside, the north east, north west and the midlands, aged between 13 and 17.

South Yorkshire Police say most of the abused boys met the men willingly and agreed to sex - but that while the pair did not lie about their age, they knew the boys were below the age of consent.

Police said Davis filmed teenagers at his home or in his van and officers believe some of the footage shot by Marsh has been distributed by him over the web.

Detective Inspector Delphine Waring, who led the investigation codenamed Operation Klan on behalf of South Yorkshire Police, said: "Both were family men, both leading double lives.

"As well as all the victims of these appalling crimes, the families of both of these men are victims as well.

"Their families have been completely betrayed by the horrendous activity that both of these men have been undergoing.

"Their crimes are absolutely despicable. They've preyed on vulnerable young boys who have every right, in this day and age, to be able to experiment and use the internet.

"And especially young boys who are perhaps confused about their sexuality, it should be perhaps a safe environment for them to be able to experiment and explore online.

"However, both of these men - obviously vastly older than all of the child victims - have gained their trust, have preyed on that vulnerability and groomed them entirely for the purpose of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

"And they've actually gone on to meet the young boys in whatever setting that may have been and committed vile, horrendous offences against them.

"They searched various websites trawling for impressionable, young, vulnerable boys and having engaged in conversation then made arrangements to meet them.

"I very much hope this case serves as a warning to anyone who believes they can abuse young children for their own sexual gratification.

"The young boys who were the victims of their crimes will continue to receive the support of specialist agencies in order that they can come to terms with what happened to them and to build successful and happy lives."

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Sir Richard Branson Bids Farewell To Britain

Sir Richard Branson, who has spent decades flying the Union flag for British business through his Virgin brand, has revealed he has quit Britain to live in a Caribbean tax haven.

The entrepreneur has reportedly sold his Oxfordshire estate and will spend his sixties living on Necker - the island he bought in the 1970s and recently rebuilt after a devastating fire.

According to The Sunday Times, the move means the entrepreneur will not be required to pay any tax on personal income made outside Britain, although he will still be taxed on UK earnings.

His companies, which include airlines, balloon flights and health clubs, also pay a significant amount of corporation tax, the newspaper said.

Sir Richard's Virgin Atlantic calls itself a 'major British success story'

A spokesman for Sir Richard said it made "no difference for tax purposes whether he is in the UK or the British Virgin Islands" because he spends most of his time starting not for profit ventures, the income from which is donated to charity.

The 63-year-old has raised millions of pounds for charity through speeches and other engagements, his spokesman said, adding that he has lived on Necker for the last seven years.

He will not be allowed to spend more than 183 days in the UK in any one year, in order to satisfy the taxman's definition of a "non-UK resident".

Sir Richard started the Virgin brand as a mail order record retailer in 1970 and founded the Virgin Atlantic airline 14 years later.

He is Britain's sixth wealthiest man with a £2.9bn fortune, according to Forbes magazine.

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Baby Kidney Donor Is Britain's Youngest

A five-week-old baby is a lifesaver after becoming Britain's youngest ever organ donor.

The infant's tiny kidneys were donated to 22-year-old Samira Kauser and transplanted during a seven-hour operation at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.

The organs were just 4cm long but will grow to up to three-quarters the size of a normal adult's.

Together with the liver, heart and lungs, a baby's kidneys are fully functioning after 37 weeks in the womb.

Ms Kauser, from Halifax, who was spending nine hours a night on dialysis after a genetic condition caused her kidneys to fail, told The Sunday Times she plans to get married next year.

"When I found out (the donor) was a child who had died, I felt so sad," she said.

"I thought about the parents and how much they wanted to donate and I knew I had to have the operation, even though I was scared."

The operation took place at Leeds' St James's University Hospital

She added: "Words cannot express the gratitude I feel to the parents of this baby.

"They have lost so much - much more than I can ever comprehend.

"Their only solace is that someone else has been able to carry on with their life. It's a massive gift."

The Sunday Times said the transplant had reignited the debate about whether organs from so-called "beating heart" babies, who are being kept alive on ventilators but are certified as brain dead, should be made available to patients on the donor waiting list.

It said a decision on the issue is expected within the next six months.

Transplant surgeon Niaz Ahmad, who led the team that carried out the transplant, told the newspaper: "There is such an acute shortage of organs that we're now prepared to do this.

"This case, I hope, shows that it can work."

Around 19.7 million people are on the NHS organ donor register.

More than 7,200 people are waiting for a transplant - 6,000 of whom need a new kidney.

Some 2,820 kidney transplants were carried out last year.

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Unemployed Migrants: '600,000 Living In UK'

More than 600,000 unemployed migrants from across the European Union are living in the UK, according to a survey seen by the Sunday Telegraph.

The 291-page report - commissioned by the Brussels commissioner for employment and social inclusion, Laszlo Andor - found there were 611,779 "non-active" EU migrants in the UK last year compared with 431,687 in 2006 - a 42% increase.

The total number of jobless migrants is greater than the population of Glasgow.

While between 2005 and 2006 the growth of non-active EU migrants in the UK stagnated, since 2006 it has been steadily rising, the report said.

The newspaper said that the number of people arriving without employment had increased by 73% in the three years to 2011.

It reported that the figures meant the annual cost to the National Health Service amounted to £1.5bn.

The details emerged as a poll indicated there was strong public support for an early referendum on withdrawing from the European Union.

The opinion poll for the Mail on Sunday found more than half of voters want a referendum on the UK's membership before the next election.

While nearly two-thirds support a vote in the Commons on the issue as early as next month, almost half said they would vote to quit the EU if a poll went ahead in 2014.

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum by 2017, but has dismissed the idea of holding it before the next general Election in 2015.

Boris Johnson has said he would like to see a longer waiting time between migrants arriving in the UK and being able to claim benefits.

Speaking to Sky's Dermot Murnaghan London's Mayor said: "We're aware of the issues that will arise on January 1, 2014 but the UK is still a country and a society that over a long period has benefited from talented people come to work here."

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Madeleine McCann Timeline Of Events 'Wrong'

British detectives working on the Madeleine McCann investigation have revealed that key details in the timeline of her disappearance were wrong.

The revised details will be documented in a new Crimewatch appeal on the case to be broadcast on Monday.

Speaking ahead of the BBC programme, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "The timeline we have now established has given new significance to sightings and movements of people in and around Praia da Luz at the time of Madeleine's disappearance.

"Our work to date has significantly changed the timeline and the accepted version of events that has been in the public domain to date.

"It has allowed us to work with Crimewatch to build the most detailed reconstruction as yet, and highlight very specific appeal points.

"I hope that when the public see our investigative strands drawn together within the overall context of that appeal, it will bring in new information that moves our investigation forward."

The timeline of Madeleine's disappearance has 'significantly changed'

The full reconstruction of the events six years ago when Madeleine went missing starts with a scene of Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry playing tennis.

Madeleine, dressed in pink shorts, T-shirt and hat, then runs across the court, holding a batch of tennis balls.

In another clip, the McCanns are asked how often they think of their daughter, who went missing when she was three years old on May 3, 2007 from a holiday apartment as her parents dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

Mr McCann says: "When it's a special occasion, when you should be your happiest and Madeleine's not there, that's when it really hits home. Obviously, Madeleine's birthday goes without saying."

Mrs McCann adds: "It's when you have big family occasions really. That's it isn't it? 'Family occasion' and you haven't got your complete family."

During the programme, DCI Redwood discusses how the police have approached the inquiry.

Gerry and Kate McCann tell Crimewatch their anguish is undiminished

He says: "Primarily what we sought to do from the beginning is try and draw everything back to zero if you like. Try and take everything back to the beginning and re-analyse and reassess everything, accepting nothing.

"The careful and critical analysis of the timeline has been absolutely key.

"Primarily, we're focused on the area between 8.30pm and 10pm. We know at 8.30pm that was the time Mr and Mrs McCann went down to the tapas area for their dinner and we know that around at 10pm that was when Mrs McCann found that Madeleine was missing."

A number of e-fits are also to be shown in the appeal in a bid to "identify the men and eliminate innocent sightings".

Scotland Yard detectives, who have interviewed 442 people as part of their review-turned-investigation, hope to track down as many people present in the Portuguese town at the time.

Since launching its own investigation, 41 people of interest have been identified by the Met Police, including 15 UK nationals.

Madeleine seen on the day before she went missing in May 2007

Detectives have issued 31 international letters of request to mostly European countries in relation to some of the persons of interest as well as accessing phone records.

A large but "manageable" list of phone numbers identified as being in Praia da Luz - though not necessarily used to make phone calls - has been drawn up by detectives with a "significant" number unattributed to any named person.

British detectives launched a fresh investigation in July this year - two years into a review of the case.

The Met Police now has a team of six Portuguese detectives based in Faro who are carrying out inquiries on its behalf.

The Portuguese investigation is officially closed but authorities there are backing the Scotland Yard inquiry and officers from both countries are working together in pursuing new leads.

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