Scotland's Gender Divide Over Independence

How Yes Vote Would Change Scotland

Updated: 4:05am UK, Wednesday 29 January 2014

By Niall Paterson, Sky News Correspondent

Anyone who tells you they know with certainty what will happen in the advent of a 'Yes' vote is at best being disingenuous, at worst lying through their teeth.

Plenty of questions simply cannot be answered until the voters decide to make Scotland an independent nation.

Of course, a degree of informed speculation is taking place across the UK - so with the above in mind, here's what Scotland might gain or lose after the referendum on Thursday, September 18:

:: SCOTLAND GAINS: A NATIONAL ANTHEM

Officially, Scotland doesn't have one. Then again, neither does England. God Save The Queen is the British anthem, although it was long ago purloined by those south of Gretna Green, and sung with lusty glee at Twickenham and Wembley. Flower Of Scotland, by beardy Scottish folk heroes The Corries, was adopted by the Scottish rugby team back when they won things and is a strong contender, although references to sending the English home again might be considered a bit thirteenth century. A new anthem might well be commissioned, but having watched Eurovision over the past few years, few would bet on it being any good.

:: SCOTLAND LOSES: THE BBC

Nope, this isn't just a chance for me to lay into Auntie. Again. Obviously the BBC would retain a presence north of the border and Eastenders isn't going anywhere (unfortunately) but Alex Salmond has proposed a Scottish Broadcasting Service, a joint venture with the Beeb. It would initially be set up using BBC Scotland's facilities and staff, although one wonders what they would think of that. The SNP says it would have an annual budget of £345m, which would mean doubling the amount spend on public service broadcasting in Scotland. River City (Google it, Englanders) will continue ... to annoy me.

:: SCOTLAND GAINS: A PASSPORT AND BORDERS

Well, there will certainly be a Scottish passport after a 'Yes' vote, and borders seem increasingly likely. Theresa May has said there would need to be improved checks as the SNP intends to pursue a more liberal immigration policy. Any government would be able to do that, in fact, so some form of control would appear a necessity. Goodbye to the "Welcome to England" sign, hello annoying spot checks and cavity searches.

:: SCOTLAND LOSES: MEMBERSHIP OF THE EU

For now at least. No one really expects an independent Scotland wouldn't ultimately gain EU membership, but it might be a rather time-consuming process given the other member states would have to agree - and there are a few with their own issues around self-determination (see Spain and Catalonia) that might wish to make it rather difficult.

:: SCOTLAND GAINS: ITS OWN ARMED FORCES

As with the BBC, Alex Salmond seems intent on a bit of a land grab (don't worry, people of Durham, not literally), and there has been the suggestion that forces based in Scotland could switch allegiances. Defence secretary Philip Hammond says that is "laughable". In any event, the plan is to have a Scottish Defence Force, with a standing army of as many as 12,500 troops, close working relations with Scandinavian countries and between 20 and 25 ships. No word yet on whether any of those will be called Dignity.

:: SCOTLAND LOSES: TRIDENT

A biggie, this. Growing up not terribly far from the nuclear submarine base at Faslane, I was blissfully unaware of the Russian warheads targeting the UK's deterrent. And, whether true or not, the view lingers that it whilst it makes strategic sense to put the subs as far away from Westminster as possible, it's rather unfair, particularly given a strong historic opposition in Scotland to nuclear weapons. The problem is the SNP have only latterly recognised that Nato membership is important to Scotland's international standing - and it is, of course, a nuclear alliance.

:: SCOTLAND (POSSIBLY) GAINS: NORTH SEA OIL

Bit tricky, this one. At stake, there's as much as 24 billion barrels of oil and gas worth £1.5 trillion waiting to be extracted - and HM Treasury's coffers aren't exactly overflowing at the moment. Geographically, Scotland could claim up to 90% of this and one could argue the UK's position on the Falklands strengthens the SNP case. But the Government in Westminster could also argue it should be recompensed for decades of infrastructure investment. Frankly, I don't know. Sorry. Told you this was going to be difficult.

:: SCOTLAND (POSSIBLY) LOSES: THE POUND

Undoubtedly there will be a currency used in Scotland called the pound. The question is, whether or not it continues to be backed by the Bank of England. It would essentially mean a currency union between an independent Scotland and the remainder of the UK - and whilst the First Minister thinks it's an absolutely smashing idea, funnily enough that's not a view shared by, for example, the Chancellor nor the Governor of the Bank of England. True, a separate currency would make trading between the nations that bit more difficult, and that's got to be a factor when the recovery is so fragile. But the Governor, Mark Carney, is fond of pointing to the Eurozone crisis. One thing's certain - those funny-coloured banknotes so loved by London taxi drivers aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Which is a good thing. No trip to London is complete without a wizened driver turning up his nose at your purple twenty quid note.

So, in short, we don't really know. And we will only get to know in the passage of time after a 'Yes' majority in the referendum.

Some will vote with their heart, some with their head.

Some won't vote at all - and with so many unanswerables, who can blame them?

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Major Blaze Hits Nottingham University Campus

Around 60 firefighters have brought a major blaze under control at Nottingham University.

The "significant incident" began at approximately 8.30pm on Friday at the GlaxoSmithKline building on the Jubilee Campus.

Witnesses said they have heard loud explosions from the building, which is under construction and unoccupied.

No one was injured and no other buildings were affected as fire crews fought to gain control of the fire while it tore through the timber-framed building, sending burning debris into the sky above.

Nottingham Fire and Rescue group manager Joanne Wooler-Ward said: "No other buildings have been affected, fortunately no people were involved in this fire and we've had 12 crews here, that's over 60 firefighters.

Smoke was seen billowing from the university campus. Pic: Sam Bradley

"Credit to those firefighters who pulled out all the stops to prevent this fire spreading.

"When we arrived, the fire was a significant size - it could be seen from quite a distance - and there was a smoke plume spreading towards the campus area so we sent out a message for people to keep doors and windows closed.

"The firefighters have worked hard to contain that fire and stop it from spreading to any other buildings."

The building is under construction and is unoccupied. Pic: Sarah Armes

In a statement, university registrar Dr Paul Greatrix said: "Thankfully, there have been no casualties as this is a building that was still under construction."

The carbon-neutral building, which was due to be opened early next year, cost £15.8m and would have had enough laboratory space for more than 100 researchers.

Some eyewitnesses on Twitter have claimed that the complex has been "completely destroyed".

Dr Greatrix added: "(Saturday) we are due to welcome prospective students and their families to Nottingham for our Open Day and we would like to stress that this is still going ahead as planned."

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'Great Depression' Warning For Scottish Voters

A leading bank's warning that a Yes vote could be a mistake akin to those that sparked the Great Depression has threatened to overshadow the biggest weekend of political campaigning in Scotland's history.

At least 2.6 million leaflets will be delivered to households in 48 hours as polls suggest Thursday's vote is on a knife-edge.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend a rally by the Orange Order in support of the Union in Edinburgh - and their cause has been backed by Deutsche Bank.

The financial institution claims the economic arguments against independence are "overwhelming".

Alex Salmond arrives in Dundee on the latest leg of his Yes campaign

Chief economist David Folkerts-Landau said a Yes vote could be a "mistake as large as Winston Churchill's decision in 1925 to return the pound to the Gold Standard or the failure of the Federal Reserve to provide sufficient liquidity to the US banking system, which we now know brought on the Great Depression in the US".

Mr Folkerts-Landau said he found it "incomprehensible" that Scots were even contemplating withdrawal from the UK, and pointed to the "recessions, higher taxes, lower public spending and higher interest rates" that had afflicted nations seen as potentially heading for the eurozone exit.

But Scotland's SNP Government accused him of failing to take into account the country's "strong fiscal position".

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is campaigning in Glasgow, said the Yes campaign's "momentum is still growing and will soon become unstoppable, as people reject the Downing Street-orchestrated campaign to talk Scotland down".

The Yes side was planning to have more than 35,000 volunteers on the streets of Scotland over the weekend, manning 473 registered street stalls.

Gordon Brown is applauded after his Glasgow speech supporting a No vote

On the other side, former prime minister Gordon Brown is trying to persuade the public to vote No in the country's east, while Better Together leader Alistair Darling claims 500,000 voters have yet to make up their minds.

The latest opinion poll by ICM in Saturday's Guardian put decided voters 51-49% in favour of No. 

Many of Britain's newspapers reported on comments by a former SNP deputy leader which appeared to threaten recriminations against businesses that backed a No vote.

Jim Sillars said there would be "a day of reckoning with BP and the banks" if Scotland votes Yes, adding that BP would "need to learn the meaning of nationalisation".

In a fiery interview with Sky News, Mr Sillars said he was simply using "robust" language to draw attention to the "orchestrated fear campaign coming from Downing Street".

Yes supporters have grafittied over a No campaign banner

First Minister Alex Salmond praised Mr Sillars's dedication to the campaign but said rather than a "day of reckoning", a Yes  vote would be followed by a "day of celebration".

He added: "The people are showing no signs whatsoever of being cowed. They are in no mood to be bullied by big Westminster Government putting pressure on big business to intimidate the people of Scotland."

Meanwhile, a poll among English voters for the Daily Mail found that while 70% want Scotland to stay in the Union, if they do go 53% believed Scotland should not be able to keep the pound, and 83% think Scotland should be forced to take its share of the multi-billion pound national debt.

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Manchester Dogs' Home Fire Fund Tops £1m

More than 110,000 people have donated £1m to an online appeal following the devastating blaze at Manchester Dogs' Home in which more than 50 animals died.

Police have released on bail a 15-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of arson after the outbreak of the fire which prompted a huge response from local people who came out to try to rescue the dogs and provide support.

A member of staff at the dogs home told Sky News it was "like something out of a horror film".

Colin Ballance, the liaison officer for Manchester Dogs' Home, in the Harpurhey area of Manchester - one of the country's largest kennels - said the scene was "horrendous" with flames up to 20 feet in the air when he arrived on Thursday night.

A woman saves a dog from the fire. Pic: @manchesterfire

Mr Ballance managed to rescue two dogs from the building complex before thick black smoke stopped him.

"You could hear them screaming but the thing was, you couldn't do anything," he said.

Mr Ballance said: "It was unbearable, it was like something out of a horror film. Something I don't want to remember if you know what I mean, but I will never forget it."

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jones, from Greater Manchester Police, said a youth from the local area was detained within an hour of the fire being reported just after 7pm.

Residents reported hearing "dogs yelping" as the fire spread through the buildings.

There were reports of people risking their lives by running into the burning building to save animals.

Mr Ballance says he will never forget what happened

Part of the roof of the single-storey kennels collapsed and 30 firefighters battled the flames, said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service station commander Paul Duggan.

Outrage and shock at the blaze resulted in several fundraising campaigns being launched, which raised hundreds of thousands of pounds within a few hours.

On its Twitter page, Manchester Dogs' Home said: "Words are not enough. Thank you everyone, you have touched our hearts and surrounded us with love and we are truly grateful.

"We are overwhelmed with the offers of help, support and money. Grateful and humbled."

Anna Stansfield, manager of the home's sister facility, Cheshire Dogs' Home, described the fire as "soul destroying".

Firefighters said 150 dogs were rescued. Pic: Manchester Fire

She said all the 150 dogs rescued by the fire service would be transferred to its site in Grappenhall, Warrington.

The blaze provoked an angry response on social media, but police warned people not to "take matters into their own hands".

A JustGiving site set up by the Manchester Evening News with the aim of raising £5,000 had secured £500,000 by 11.30am. It hit the £1m mark at about 7.15pm. 

The home has cared for more than one million dogs since it was established in 1893.

It is said to care for more than 7,000 stray and unwanted dogs each year.

Police were asking people with donations of bedding, food or bowls to take them to Central Park Police Station.

Reverend Mike McGurk from the nearby Christ Church said they had received donations of dog food and blankets throughout the night.

"People have come from York, Derby and even Stevenage to donate supplies. It's been incredible how strong the support is and how generous people have been," he told Sky News.

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Scotland Postal Voters 'Regretting Their Choice'

New Poll Gives 'No' Small Lead In Scotland Vote

Updated: 5:48am UK, Friday 12 September 2014

The Better Together campaign in Scotland is retaining a marginal lead, according to a new poll that puts No on 52% and Yes on 48%.

The YouGov poll of 1,300 people on the issue of Scottish independence for The Sun and The Times was taken over Tuesday to Thursday.

It covered a period when the leaders of the three main parties all visited Scotland and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown stepped up his involvement in the drive to keep the union.

Thursday was considered a good day for the No campaign as several independent heavyweights expressed their concerns if Scotland was to vote to become a separate country.

Asda and John Lewis said the increased costs of operating in an independent Scotland would inevitably be passed on to the consumer, leading to higher prices.

RBS, which has been based in Scotland since 1727 and employs 11,500 people there, also confirmed it would be moving its headquarters to London if Scotland voted for independence.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), meanwhile, said a vote for independence could have a negative effect on the markets in the short-term because of "uncertainty".

The Yes campaign, led by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, had been buoyed at the weekend with one YouGov poll putting it marginally ahead of former Chancellor Alistair Darling's Better Together.

There had been fears that a poor performance by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, who all travelled north of the border on Wednesday, could result in Yes gaining further ground.

It was also not known how Mr Brown's intervention, in support of the No campaign, would go down with the electorate.

The former premier spoke to Sky News on Sunday and made a speech on Monday setting out an alternative timetable to give the Scottish Parliament more control over finance, welfare and taxation, in the event of a No vote.

Asda CEO Andy Clarke said on Thursday: "If we were no longer to operate in one state with one market and - broadly - one set of rules, our business model would inevitably become more complex. We would have to reflect our cost to operate here.

"This is not an argument for or against independence, it is simply an honest recognition of the costs that change could bring."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Mr Salmond could not continue to ignore the warnings of retailers, oil companies and the financial services sector.

Mr Salmond attacked a Treasury leak that resulted in RBS's plans being announced in the press of Wednesday night, before the official announcement the following morning.

He wrote to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood demanding to know how the leak had occurred and calling on Mr Cameron to explain the Treasury's conduct.

A Treasury source responded on Thursday night, telling Sky News: "It's nonsense - desperate distraction tactics."

Sir Jeremy responded that the Treasury had simply been confirming what the situation was after reports had appeared elsewhere in the media and there was no breach of the Ministerial Code.

Scotland's Clydesdale Bank also confirmed it would be re-registering in England if voters opted for independence, and Standard Life, which employs 5,000 in Scotland, said it would move some operations south of the border.

A poll released on Thursday, by Survation, found 53% were expected to vote No, and 47% yes. This was unchanged from August 28.

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Dogs' Home Fire Was 'Like A Horror Film'

A staff member at the dogs' home where at least 40 animals were killed after a fire has told Sky News it was "like something out of a horror film".

Colin Ballance, the liaison officer for Manchester Dogs' Home, said the scene was "horrendous" with flames up to 20 feet in the air when he arrived on Thursday night.

Mr Ballance managed to rescue two dogs from the building complex before thick black smoke stopped him.

"You could hear them screaming but the thing was, you couldn't do anything," he said.

Over half a million pounds has been donated by members of the public following the suspected arson at one of the country's largest kennels, in the Harpurhey area of Manchester.

A woman saves a dog from the fire. Pic: @manchesterfire

Mr Ballance said: "It was unbearable, it was like something out of a horror film. Something I don't want to remember if you know what I mean, but I will never forget it."

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson following the blaze.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jones, from Greater Manchester Police, said the youth from the local area was detained within an hour of the fire being reported just after 7pm.

Mr Ballance says he will never forget what happened

Residents reported hearing "dogs yelping" as the fire spread through the buildings.

There were reports of people risking their lives by running into the burning building to save animals.

At least 43 dogs were confirmed by police to have died, with "numerous" other animals having to be treated for injuries, the Greater Manchester force said.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service station commander Paul Duggan confirmed part of the roof of the single-storey kennels collapsed and 30 firefighters battled the flames.

Outrage and shock at the blaze resulted in several fundraising campaigns being launched which have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the home.

The Manchester Evening News newspaper had aimed to raised £5,000 but this has now soared to over £560,000.

Part of the roof of the building collapsed

On its Twitter page, Manchester Dogs' Home said: "Words are not enough. Thank you everyone, you have touched our hearts and surrounded us with love and we are truly grateful.

"We are overwhelmed with the offers of help, support and money. Grateful and humbled."

Anna Stansfield, manager of the home's sister facility, Cheshire Dogs' Home, described the fire as "soul destroying".

She said: "I cannot describe what we have seen tonight. It's soul destroying."

She said all the 150 dogs rescued by the fire service would be transferred to its site in Grappenhall, Warrington.

TV presenter and singer Jodie Prenger, one of the home's patrons, tweeted: "All my thoughts are with you guys. It's broke my heart to hear such sad news."

The blaze provoked an angry response on social media, but police warned people not to "take matters into their own hands".

Firefighters said 150 dogs were rescued. Pic: Manchester Fire

Superintendent Marcus Noden said: "As a dog owner myself I understand that many people will feel angry and upset about what has happened, but I would ask that they let the police carry out their investigations and not take matters into their own hands."

The home has cared for more than one million dogs since it was established in 1893. It is said to care for more than 7,000 stray and unwanted dogs each year.

Police are asking for people with donations of bedding, food or bowls to take them to Central Park Police Station between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

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Farage Urges Queen To Oppose Scotland Split

What Happens If Scotland Leaves The Union?

Updated: 2:00pm UK, Tuesday 09 September 2014

Supporters of both sides of the Scotland referendum debate are mounting a final push for votes before the ballot on September 18. Sky News looks at what will happen if Scotland votes Yes to exit the UK:

:: 1.  When would Scotland become independent?

The Scottish Government has set a date 18 months from now, March 24, 2016, for Scotland's independence day.

:: 2. What would happen immediately after a Yes vote?

The first step on the morning after the result comes in would involve the forming of teams from both the Yes and No camps to take part in behind-the-scenes negotiations. SNP leader Alex Salmond has already indicated his deputy Nicola Sturgeon would lead the talks for the Scottish nationalists. It is not yet known who would spearhead the Westminster team.

:: 3. What amendments would there be to the constitution?

The negotiating teams would devise a new constitution for Scotland and dissolve the 1707 Act Of Union.

:: 4. What would happen to the Queen?

The Yes campaign has said Her Majesty would stay as monarch so it would not be surprising if Mr Salmond seeks an audience with the Queen in the days and weeks after the vote.

:: 5. Would Scotland take part in the May 2015 General Election?

Scottish voters would still be able to take part, but their representatives would only potentially serve a 10-month term in office.

:: 6. What currency would Scotland use?

That is still being thrashed out and yet to be decided. The three main Westminster parties - the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats - have ruled out a currency union, although Mr Salmond insists an independent Scotland would keep the pound.

:: 7. How much of the UK national debt would be transferred to Scotland?

This is not yet known, but it is likely to be worked out on a per capita share - based on population.

:: 8. What would happen to Scotland's standing in global affairs?

Scotland would have to negotiate its own entry into the European Union and Nato, and the population would have to decide whether they want to have the euro.

:: 9. What effect would independence have on Scotland's defence force?

The issue of defence is probably one of the most emotive - and uncertain. Scotland is likely to have its own independent defence force, in time, depending on practicalities and finances, for it has its North Sea oil and fishing industries to protect. Scottish nationalists are opposed to having the Trident nuclear deterrent and would want to see it removed from Faslane, on the west coast of Scotland, as soon as possible. However, Nato is fundamentally a nuclear alliance, and if Scotland struggles to become a member of Nato, it is likely to struggle to join the EU too, which would have a big impact on the Scottish economy. There is also the matter of service personnel - some of which will be currently serving in historic English regiments. Any division of troops north and south of the border would take years.

:: 10. What would independence mean in terms of travelling across the Scotland-England border?

An independent Scotland would control its own borders. The SNP would like to see an open border, but Home Secretary Theresa May has already warned she will not allow Scotland to be used as a back door for immigrants getting into England if Scotland adopts a looser immigration policy. So, we could see passport controls on the border between the two countries.

:: 11. Would Scottish citizens need new passports?

A lot depends on whether Scotland joins the EU. Scottish citizens would be entitled to a Scottish passport, but a UK passport would still be valid until it expires. British citizens who were habitual residents in Scotland would be automatically considered Scottish citizens.

:: 12. What would happen to benefits and taxes?

Benefits and taxes will become the responsibility of the new Scottish government. In its white paper on Scotland's independence it says the Scottish Parliament will ensure that the personal tax allowance and tax credits increase in line with inflation.

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Ex-Democratic Unionist Leader Ian Paisley Dies

The former Democratic Unionist Party leader Dr Ian Paisley has died, aged 88.

The family of the ex-First Minister of Northern Ireland have said they are 'heartbroken'.

In a statement announcing his death, his wife Eileen said: "My beloved husband, Ian, entered his eternal rest this morning.

"Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family we are heartbroken.

"We loved him and he adored us, and our earthly lives are forever changed.

"According to Ian's wishes his funeral will be private and attended only by the immediate family, as will be his burial.

"As a family we appreciate that there will be an expectation by those who admired him to express their gratitude for his life and their sorrow at his passing.

"To that end we will in due course publish details of a public memorial service which, will be scheduled later in the year.

"There will be no further comment or statements made by me or the family at this time."

More follows...

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Scotland: Bank Jobs And Higher Prices Warning

Alex Salmond has demanded the Government investigates a "Treasury leak" of RBS plans to move its HQ to London in the event of independence.

The Scottish First Minister said that divulging market sensitive information to the press ahead of an official announcement was "as serious a matter as you can possibly get".

Mr Salmond claimed a "Treasury source" had told journalists on Wednesday night that the bank, which employs a 11,500 people in Scotland, would be re-registering its base in London if there is a Yes vote next week.

He said the rules were quite clear and the details should not have been leaked ahead of the official announcement after the markets opened at 7am on Thursday morning.

RBS: lights out?

The move by the bank was widely regarded as a significant blow to Mr Salmond's Yes campaign.

In a statement, RBS, which has been based in Scotland since 1727, said it had made the decision because there were a "number of material uncertainties arising from the Scottish referendum vote which could have a bearing on the bank's credit ratings".

The state-backed bank will now press the Government to introduce legislation that would speed up the process for them to relocate their legal headquarters in the English capital.

John Prescott clutches his referendum campaign notes on Wednesday

The department store giant John Lewis also warned that shoppers in Scotland could expect higher prices if it votes for independence because retailers would no longer be willing to absorb the higher cost of trading there across the UK.

Clydesdale Bank has also confirmed it would be re-registering in England if voters opted for independence and Standard Life, which employs 5,000 in Scotland, said it would move some operations south of the border.

It moves the referendum battleground to matters of the "head" and the country's crucial financial services sector, which generates around £7-9bn each year and employs 100,000.

Mr Miliband spoke of matter of the 'heart' in Glasgow on Wednesday

The announcement follows David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg's last-minute campaign visit on Wednesday during which they took it in turns to appeal to matters of the "heart" in an attempt to bolster support for the No campaign.

Mr Salmond claimed the moves were part of a political campaign by the UK Government and said they would have no impact on jobs or the corporation tax Scotland might receive.

He said a letter to Scottish staff from the chief executive of RBS made clear the registering of an HQ in London was a "technical procedure" and would not mean job losses.

PM: Don't vote to kick the 'effing Tories'

His comments were backed by former RBS chairman Sir George Mathewson,who said: "This is a nonsense, this has already happened. RBS already has major head office operations in London. Talk of a move from Scotland is a figment."

RBS has not said there will be no job losses and, according to Sky's Political Editor Faisal Islam, typically such moves see several hundred redundancies.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Mr Salmond could not continue to ignore the warnings of retailers, oil companies and the financial services sector.

He said: "John Lewis has warned about prices and many other supermarkets are going to say the same. The oil companies have warned about cuts in investment, which will affect jobs in Scotland."

Mr Brown also said he would stand as a member of Scottish parliament if Mr Salmond did not "stop peddling lies" about the NHS.

On Thursday morning Sir Charlie Mayfield, the chairman of John Lewis, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "From a business perspective there will be economic consequences to a Yes vote, not just in uncertainty but some of the turmoil we are hearing about.

"And it is also the case that it does cost more money to trade in parts of Scotland and therefore those hard costs, in the event of a Yes vote, are more likely to be passed on."

While hundreds of businesses have also made public their support for independence the Lloyds RBS move will come as a significant boost to the No campaign.

A Survation survey poll found 53% of Scottish people were expected to vote no to independence, while 47% would vote yes - this was unchanged from August 28.

Speaking in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said he would be "heartbroken" if the Union were to split and said he cared more for his country than his party.

And he warned voters they should not use the referendum just to give the "effing Tories" a kick because once they made their decision there would be no way back.

He and Mr Clegg have returned to London but Mr Miliband remains in Scotland. UKIP leader Nigel Farage is expected to visit on Friday.

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Scotland: Yes Vote Gaining Ground On Islands

Higher Prices And Job Threats If Scots Quit UK

Updated: 12:32pm UK, Thursday 11 September 2014

Alex Salmond has demanded the Government investigates a "Treasury leak" of RBS plans to move its HQ to London in the event of independence.

The Scottish First Minister said that divulging market sensitive information to the press ahead of an official announcement was "as serious a matter as you can possibly get".

Mr Salmond claimed a "Treasury source" had told journalists on Wednesday night that the bank, which employs a 11,500 people in Scotland, would be re-registering its base in London if there is a Yes vote next week.

He said the rules were quite clear and the details should not have been leaked ahead of the official announcement after the markets opened at 7am on Thursday morning.

The move by the bank was widely regarded as a significant blow to Mr Salmond's Yes campaign.

In a statement, RBS, which has been based in Scotland since 1727, said it had made the decision because there were a "number of material uncertainties arising from the Scottish referendum vote which could have a bearing on the bank's credit ratings".

The state-backed bank will now press the Government to introduce legislation that would speed up the process for them to relocate their legal headquarters in the English capital.

The department store giant John Lewis also warned that shoppers in Scotland could expect higher prices if it votes for independence because retailers would no longer be willing to absorb the higher cost of trading there across the UK.

Clydesdale Bank has also confirmed it would be re-registering in England if voters opted for independence and Standard Life, which employs 5,000 in Scotland, said it would move some operations south of the border.

It moves the referendum battleground to matters of the "head" and the country's crucial financial services sector, which generates around £7-9bn each year and employs 100,000.

The announcement follows David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg's last-minute campaign visit on Wednesday during which they took it in turns to appeal to matters of the "heart" in an attempt to bolster support for the No campaign.

Mr Salmond claimed the moves were part of a political campaign by the UK Government and said they would have no impact on jobs or the corporation tax Scotland might receive.

He said a letter to Scottish staff from the chief executive of RBS made clear the registering of an HQ in London was a "technical procedure" and would not mean job losses.

His comments were backed by former RBS chairman Sir George Mathewson,who said: "This is a nonsense, this has already happened. RBS already has major head office operations in London. Talk of a move from Scotland is a figment."

RBS has not said there will be no job losses and, according to Sky's Political Editor Faisal Islam, typically such moves see several hundred redundancies.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Mr Salmond could not continue to ignore the warnings of retailers, oil companies and the financial services sector.

He said: "John Lewis has warned about prices and many other supermarkets are going to say the same. The oil companies have warned about cuts in investment, which will affect jobs in Scotland."

Mr Brown also said he would stand as a member of Scottish parliament if Mr Salmond did not "stop peddling lies" about the NHS.

On Thursday morning Sir Charlie Mayfield, the chairman of John Lewis, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "From a business perspective there will be economic consequences to a Yes vote, not just in uncertainty but some of the turmoil we are hearing about.

"And it is also the case that it does cost more money to trade in parts of Scotland and therefore those hard costs, in the event of a Yes vote, are more likely to be passed on."

While hundreds of businesses have also made public their support for independence the Lloyds RBS move will come as a significant boost to the No campaign.

A Survation survey poll found 53% of Scottish people were expected to vote no to independence, while 47% would vote yes - this was unchanged from August 28.

Speaking in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said he would be "heartbroken" if the Union were to split and said he cared more for his country than his party.

And he warned voters they should not use the referendum just to give the "effing Tories" a kick because once they made their decision there would be no way back.

He and Mr Clegg have returned to London but Mr Miliband remains in Scotland. UKIP leader Nigel Farage is expected to visit on Friday.

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Missing Alice: Police In Mobile Phone Appeal

By Enda Brady, Sky News Correspondent

Police searching for missing schoolgirl Alice Gross say her mobile phone may hold vital information that could help them piece together her movements on the day she vanished.

The 14-year-old, from Hanwell, west London, disappeared on August 28 after going for a walk along the Grand Union Canal.

Officers have recovered the black and purple rucksack she was carrying, but her distinctive white iPhone 4S was not inside.

Detectives have revealed that Alice used the phone to text her father that afternoon and it was also used to connect to the internet shortly after she was last seen on CCTV.

A CCTV picture of Alice on the day she disappeared

"We know that Alice's bag was first found the day after she was last seen by two builders, who put it back down in the same spot on the towpath," said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers, who is leading the investigation.

"What we do not know is if anyone saw or found Alice's bag between when she was last caught on CCTV and when the builders found it.

"In that bag was a pair of Vans trainers, which we think she was wearing when she left home, underwear, her lunch box and the rubbish from her lunch.

"We also know that Alice's iPhone was last used to send a text to her Dad on that Thursday."

A police diver searching the Grand Union Canal

Mr Chalmers said that finding the mobile device could "take us one step further to finding Alice".

He went on: "I need to know if anyone found Alice's bag before the builders and was anything taken from it, or if anyone has her iPhone.

"Did you find or see a white iPhone 4s with a cracked rear case that Alice had decorated with marker pen? If you did, do you still have it?

"I can assure you that if you did or you know someone that did, you are not in trouble."

Hundreds of police are working on the case

Mr Chalmers said that Alice, who was being treated for anorexia, was last seen on CCTV at around 4.30pm on August 28, but her iPhone was connected to the network until shortly after 5pm.

A team of 32 detectives and 170 police staff are now working on the search for the teenager. Around 400 calls have been received by officers from members of the public.

Mr Chalmers said: "There has been speculation that a family disagreement sparked Alice's disappearance. It didn't. Alice went out that day just like usual.

"Her family are distraught. Their daughter has now not been seen or heard from for 14 days. Please help us find Alice and bring her home to them."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8358 0100, Ealing Missing Persons Unit on 020 8246 1018 or the charity Missing People on 116000.

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Amazon To Create Thousands Of Jobs In London

Amazon has announced plans to open a new London office with the potential for more than 3,000 extra jobs.

The online retailer, which already employs 1,700 people in its existing UK offices, said its main corporate office would switch to a building in Shoreditch in 2017.

Amazon said its plans would increase its total office-based capacity to over 5,000 employees in London.

Christopher North, Amazon UK's managing director, said: "We have already invested well over £1bn and created more than 7,000 permanent jobs across the UK.

"To support our continued growth in the UK, we have secured this exceptional building giving us the capacity to hire thousands of new employees in London in the coming years, in addition to the thousands of permanent roles we will create across our UK fulfilment and customer service centres."

Pic: Brookfield Property Partners

Amazon said its decision meant all corporate employees would be located in London by the summer of 2015 across three offices within the capital.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, welcomed the news.

He said: "Our city is the perfect home for top tech talent and I am very pleased that Amazon have confirmed their intention to create thousands of new jobs at a major new base in east London.

"We are proving time and again that we have the right places and people to support this vibrant sector."

Amazon said it new Principal Place building would offer it 600,000 square feet over 15 storeys.

The site, the company added, would provide "half an acre of public piazza and events space" and 20,000 square feet of retail, including cafes and restaurants offering alfresco dining.

The developers, Brookfield Property Partners, said Principal Place was destined to become the 'go to' link between the City and the media-tech sector in Hackney and Shoreditch.

Its statement said: "We are delighted to have signed a lease agreement with such a prestigious anchor tenant and we can now turn our attentions to moving the development forward".

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Are Leaders Better Together In Scotland Vote?

The Yes campaign was quick to tweet the message to its 78,000 followers.

"Westminster's three wise men travel north bearing gifts," it said, adding that the gifts consisted of "Private NHS, Trident and governments we didn't vote for".

Meanwhile, "Better Together" which has only 36,000 followers, made no immediate reference on Twitter to the announcement that leaders of the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats would all be in Scotland on Wednesday in a joint campaign to save the union.

That's how balanced the decision was: The "Yes" campaign publicising the visit (albeit negatively) and the "No" campaign concentrating on other stuff.

"If I thought they were coming by bus - I'd send them the bus fare," said Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who described it as "an indication of the deep panic at the heart of the no campaign".

So are the three leaders "better together" or should the last push of the No campaign have been left to key figures in the Scottish Labour party, which had been the strategy until yesterday?

It feels like they had to do something. You see it on the sports field; a team on a downward turn subs a man or a tennis player attends to his laces to halt the momentum of an opponent's surge. 

Gordon Brown has appeared for the No campaign in Scotland

Polls suggest the Yes Campaign is on the charge so No is quickly changing tact. They rolled out Gordon Brown to announce the timetable for greater devolution. The choice of Mr Brown grabbed more attention than if Alistair Darling had done it. 

Then David Cameron and Ed Miliband met on Monday and decided they needed to put on a united front rather than play out their scheduled weekly sparring match in the Commons.

The Labour leader told Sky News: "I can't imagine being in Prime Minister's Questions in Westminster when where we should be, and where I'm going to be, is listening and talking to Scottish voters about the huge choice they face."

David Cameron was in agreement.

"I want them to know that the rest of the United Kingdom wants them to stay," he said.

Nick Clegg said: "I'm an English MP from an English constituency and I don't have a vote in the referendum but I care passionately about the outcome because this is a momentous decision which can have consequences which last generations."

They have agreed to risk the disdain of Scottish voters, who have in the past reacted badly to Westminster's flying visits.

It is a peculiar dynamic. Cameron and Miliband's fates are thrown together.

If the No campaign loses, there's a joint responsibility that would threaten both of their positions. Cameron called the referendum and negotiated its terms. He will be blamed for not agreeing to a "Devo-Max" option on the ballot paper.

The Labour party, however, is the key opposition voice in Scotland to the SNP - who they have been losing ground to.

What's more, without Scotland, Labour's seats in Westminster would diminish, making future general elections much harder for them to win.

When I asked Ed Miliband whether he or David Cameron should resign if Scotland votes for independence, he answered: "That doesn't arise. In any case, this is much bigger than any one individual. This is about the future of our country."

It is - but individuals could pay the price if they lose.

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Man Arrested Over Mum-Of-Five's Fatal Stabbing

A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a mother-of-five from the New Forest.

Police say the 36-year-old man is in custody, where he is being held on suspicion of Pennie Davis' murder. He was arrested in Southampton shortly before 8pm.

The 47-year-old was tending her two horses in a paddock off Hatchet Lane, near Beaulieu, when she was killed.

She suffered multiple stab wounds and her husband Pete later found her body in the field.

Mrs Davis, from Blackfield, worked in a supermarket and married just four months ago.

Police believe it is possible she may have been followed from her workplace to the field.

A 22-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of murder and a 37-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have both been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

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Pregnant Kate Too Sick To Make Harry's Games

The Duchess of Cambridge's acute morning sickness will prevent her attending the opening ceremony and start of the Invictus Games.

Kate, who is expecting her second child following the birth of Prince George, was also forced to cancel an engagement in Oxford earlier this week.

Kensington Palace said in a short statement: "The Duchess of Cambridge will not attend the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games this evening or the athletics event tomorrow.

"The Duchess's attendance on the forthcoming visit to Malta will be kept under review and a decision taken closer to the time."

Kate is suffering from another bout of the illness hyperemesis gravidarum, which she experienced during the early stages of her first pregnancy.

Prince Harry at a pre-games drivng challenge in Warwickshire

Her current pregnancy has not passed the 12-week stage and there is speculation her second child could be due in April next year.

Hyperemesis gravidarum, which affects 3.5 per 1,000 pregnancies, causes severe vomiting and can lead to dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine, called ketosis.

It is thought Kate became unwell sometime last week.

When her husband Prince William visited Oxford University on Monday without her to open the new China Centre, he said she had experienced a "tricky few days".

The royal couple have meanwhile been offered some advice from former England football captain David Beckham - get more sleep before the next baby arrives.

Kate at a WW1 memorial ceremony in Belgium on August 4

The father of four, who was a guest at their wedding, told ITV's Lorraine show: "Get some sleep because jumping from one child to two is a big step even though I thought jumping from two to three was bigger."

The Invictus Games, for injured servicemen and women, have been organised by Kate's brother-in-law Prince Harry.

She had been due to attend the opening ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London later, along with Harry and William.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will also be present at the event, which will feature an exclusive performance of the official anthem penned by Coldplay's Chris Martin and a flypast by the Red Arrows.

More than 400 competitors - both serving military personnel and veterans - from 13 nations will go head to head in nine adaptive sports over four days, starting on Thursday.

The Duchess is due to make her first official solo overseas visit from September 20-21, touring Malta to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence.

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PM: Referendum Not About Kicking 'Effing Tories'

What Happens If Scotland Leaves The Union?

Updated: 2:00pm UK, Tuesday 09 September 2014

Supporters of both sides of the Scotland referendum debate are mounting a final push for votes before the ballot on September 18. Sky News looks at what will happen if Scotland votes Yes to exit the UK:

:: 1.  When would Scotland become independent?

The Scottish Government has set a date 18 months from now, March 24, 2016, for Scotland's independence day.

:: 2. What would happen immediately after a Yes vote?

The first step on the morning after the result comes in would involve the forming of teams from both the Yes and No camps to take part in behind-the-scenes negotiations. SNP leader Alex Salmond has already indicated his deputy Nicola Sturgeon would lead the talks for the Scottish nationalists. It is not yet known who would spearhead the Westminster team.

:: 3. What amendments would there be to the constitution?

The negotiating teams would devise a new constitution for Scotland and dissolve the 1707 Act Of Union.

:: 4. What would happen to the Queen?

The Yes campaign has said Her Majesty would stay as monarch so it would not be surprising if Mr Salmond seeks an audience with the Queen in the days and weeks after the vote.

:: 5. Would Scotland take part in the May 2015 General Election?

Scottish voters would still be able to take part, but their representatives would only potentially serve a 10-month term in office.

:: 6. What currency would Scotland use?

That is still being thrashed out and yet to be decided. The three main Westminster parties - the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats - have ruled out a currency union, although Mr Salmond insists an independent Scotland would keep the pound.

:: 7. How much of the UK national debt would be transferred to Scotland?

This is not yet known, but it is likely to be worked out on a per capita share - based on population.

:: 8. What would happen to Scotland's standing in global affairs?

Scotland would have to negotiate its own entry into the European Union and Nato, and the population would have to decide whether they want to have the euro.

:: 9. What effect would independence have on Scotland's defence force?

The issue of defence is probably one of the most emotive - and uncertain. Scotland is likely to have its own independent defence force, in time, depending on practicalities and finances, for it has its North Sea oil and fishing industries to protect. Scottish nationalists are opposed to having the Trident nuclear deterrent and would want to see it removed from Faslane, on the west coast of Scotland, as soon as possible. However, Nato is fundamentally a nuclear alliance, and if Scotland struggles to become a member of Nato, it is likely to struggle to join the EU too, which would have a big impact on the Scottish economy. There is also the matter of service personnel - some of which will be currently serving in historic English regiments. Any division of troops north and south of the border would take years.

:: 10. What would independence mean in terms of travelling across the Scotland-England border?

An independent Scotland would control its own borders. The SNP would like to see an open border, but Home Secretary Theresa May has already warned she will not allow Scotland to be used as a back door for immigrants getting into England if Scotland adopts a looser immigration policy. So, we could see passport controls on the border between the two countries.

:: 11. Would Scottish citizens need new passports?

A lot depends on whether Scotland joins the EU. Scottish citizens would be entitled to a Scottish passport, but a UK passport would still be valid until it expires. British citizens who were habitual residents in Scotland would be automatically considered Scottish citizens.

:: 12. What would happen to benefits and taxes?

Benefits and taxes will become the responsibility of the new Scottish government. In its white paper on Scotland's independence it says the Scottish Parliament will ensure that the personal tax allowance and tax credits increase in line with inflation.

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If Gordon Is The Answer Things Must Be Bad

With the polls on a knife-edge, Better Together are deploying the big guns.

Ed Miliband has been dispatched to raise the Saltire over Liverpool, in a bid to make Scottish voters feel warm and cuddly about the rest of the UK.

It's the start of a relentless love-bombing by Westminster.

And six years after he claimed to have "saved the world", Gordon Brown has also been drafted in to save the Union.

This time around, the newspapers aren't mocking.

The first sentence in The Times seemed entirely straight-faced ("Gordon Brown was parachuted in to save the Union last night") and so did the Independent's headline ("Brown to the rescue? No camp sends for ex-PM to save union.")

More pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs

Some may feel that if Better Together's hopes are hinged on a man who never managed to win an election, things really must be bad.

In fact, the renaissance of Gordon Brown says less about the man himself and more about the alternatives.

David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg aren't seen as part of the solution in Scotland, but part of the problem.

When I spent a week north of the border recently, I was struck by how many people said they were voting Yes because they hated (and I don't think that's too strong a word) politicians in Westminster.

They argued that they were sick of being governed by parties they didn't vote for, and Westminster felt hundreds of miles away, ideologically as well as geographically.

Cameron and Clegg: the Westminster elite?

The Conservatives bear the brunt of this mistrust (I've lost count of the number of times Alex Salmond has said there are more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs) but it is not as simple as an anti-Tory sentiment.

The YouGov poll that put the Yes campaign ahead by a nose is enlightening. According to the survey, Ed Miliband and David Cameron are in a dead heat when it comes to how much they are trusted - a dismal 23%.

In other words, Ed Miliband (who owns a £2m house and went to the same North London primary school as Boris Johnson) isn't a great hit with the Scots either.

Suddenly, the idea of Gordon Brown saving the Union doesn't seem so far-fetched after all.

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Ashya Prepares For Proton Treatment On Tumour

Ashya King is undergoing his first tests at a clinic in the Czech Republic as doctors prepare him for specialist proton treatment.

The five-year-old was admitted to the Proton Therapy Centre in Prague on Tuesday morning, and will undergo both MRS and CT scans.

He will also be fitted for a special mask that will be used throughout his treatment.

If all goes according to plan, the youngster could start the proton therapy on Monday.

It will involve 30 visits and will be combined with chemotherapy, which will be carried out by specialist oncologists at Motol University Hospital.

Speaking of his relief, Ashya's father Brett King said: "I am pleased that we are finally here."

The boy's parents were arrested in Spain after they took him from Southampton General Hospital on August 28 without medical permission.

They were released when prosecutors withdrew a European arrest warrant.

Portsmouth City Council, which previously had responsibility for Ashya's welfare, launched family court action against his parents.

But Mr Justice Baker, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Friday, ruled Ashya could be taken to the Czech Republic.

And a further High Court ruling on Monday meant he was no longer a ward of court.

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Diamond Worth Up To £10m Boosts British Firm

A 232.08-carat white diamond, recovered from a mine that produced gems for the Crown Jewels, could fetch a value of up to $16m (£10m).

The estimate was made by analysts after Petra Diamonds, which bought the Cullinan mine in South Africa from De Beers, showed off the rough stone.

Petra's share price soared 7% on the FTSE 250 in the wake of the announcement, even though the company declined to put an estimate on the stone.

The find is not Petra's largest white diamond.

In 2009 it unearthed a flawless 507-carat diamond, also at the Cullinan mine. The diamond was known as the Cullinan Heritage and fetched $35.3m - a record price for the company.

The Cullinan mine is in South Africa

It was from the same mine in 1905 that the largest rough gem diamond was recovered, the 3,106 carat Cullinan Diamond which was cut into stones for the Crown Jewels housed at the Tower of London.

It was made into the First Star of Africa - mounted at the top of the Sovereign's Sceptre - and the Second Star of Africa, a 317-carat polished diamond which forms the centrepiece of the Imperial State Crown.

Petra said it expected the new white diamond, of "exceptional size and clarity", to be sold before the year's end.

Its investors are also awaiting the outcome of the sale of a rare 122.52-carat blue diamond recovered from Cullinan this year.

Analysts have pegged the stone's value at more than $35m (£21.7m).

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PM To Miss PMQs In 'Scotland Campaign Panic'

David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg will miss Prime Minister's Questions to travel to Scotland to campaign for the union.

The unprecedented move follows indications in polls that Scottish voters could vote to leave the UK in the September 18 referendum.

In a joint statement from Mr Cameron, his deputy and the Labour leader, they say: "There is a lot that divides us - but there's one thing on which we agree passionately: the United Kingdom is better together.

"That's why all of us are agreed the right place for us to be tomorrow is in Scotland, not at Prime Minister's Questions in Westminster.

"We want to be listening and talking to voters about the huge choice they face.

"Our message to the Scottish people will be simple: 'We want you to stay.'"

The surprise announcement follows a pledge made by the former prime minister, Gordon Brown, on Monday that if Scotland were to agree to stay in the union Holyrood would be given significantly greater powers.

His promise for a "home-rule bill" was backed by the leaders of Scotland's Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties on Tuesday morning.

They agreed work towards the transfer of the new powers from Westminster would begin the day after the referendum. Although they were unable to detail what these powers would be they agreed the Scottish parliament would get greater tax-raising powers.

The Better Together Campaign, headed by former Chancellor Alistair Darling, has been accused of panic measures.

Speaking just before the three released their statement, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the Better Together campaign was in a state of "total disintegration".

Sky's Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said the extraordinary move from the three leaders made it "absolutely clear" there was panic in Westminster and the Better Together No campaign and he added that it appeared responses were being "made up on-the-hoof".

More follows...

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Search For Alice Gross: Two Men Arrested

Two men have been arrested separately in connection with the suspected murder of missing teenager Alice Gross.

Officers have stressed the disappearance of the 14-year-old schoolgirl, who was last seen on August 28, remains a missing persons inquiry.

But a search area has been expanded as specialist police divers continue examining the Grand Union Canal near her home in Hanwell, west London, where she was last seen.

On Sunday, a 51-year-old man was arrested in Hanwell on suspicion of Alice's murder.

Divers and sniffer dogs have been searching the River Brent

That followed the arrest of a 25-year-old man from Ealing on Saturday for the same offence. Officers have said the two men are independent of each other.

Both men remain in custody at a west London police station, after police were given more time to question the 25-year-old.

Alice, who suffers from anorexia, went missing 12 days ago after failing to return home.

She was last seen by her family at 1pm on August 28, and was spotted on CCTV at 4.23pm on the same day walking along the Grand Union Canal.

Police want to speak to cyclists seen near Alice before she disappeared

Officers have released new pictures of five cyclists seen riding along the canal at the same time Alice went missing.

The images show three cyclists passing the Trumpers Way Canal Bridge in Hanwell, just before Alice walked past.

They are followed by two more cyclists who pass under the bridge.

Alice is white, 5ft 2ins tall, of very slim build and with shoulder length, light brown hair.

She was last seen wearing dark blue jeans and a dark green lacy cardigan and carrying a dark rucksack. The bag was recovered last week.

The teenager has not been seen since August 28

She could have been wearing denim blue Vans shoes and tartan-framed glasses.

Officers have urged anyone who befriended Alice at a song-writing workshop at the Camden Roundhouse to contact police.

Last week, Alice's mother Rosalind Hodgkiss said: "We'd like to say to Alice first of all that we miss her, that we love her and that she's not in any trouble, and we want to know that she's safe. We just want her to come home.

"We're also appealing to anybody who might have seen her or who may have made contact with her or who may know something about her whereabouts to contact police or Missing People, and to just get in touch because we're really concerned about her well-being."

Anyone with information can call police on 020 8358 0100, Ealing Missing Persons Unit on 020 8246 1018 or the charity Missing People on 116000.

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Rotherham Abuse: Chief Executive To Step Down

Martin Kimber is to step down as chief executive of Rotherham Council following a damning report detailing child abuse in the town.

Mr Kimber's decision to go follows the resignation of council leader Roger Stone over a report published last month which revealed more than 1,400 children had been abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

The abuse of youngsters, some just 11 years old, was described as "horrific" and "not confined to the past but continues to this day".

After the report was released Mr Kimber said no council employee would face disciplinary action because staff in senior positions during "critical periods" were now working elsewhere.

Mr Kimber insisted he would also not be leaving his post as he was "part of the solution" to improving children's services in Rotherham, not part of the problem.

Roger Stone resigned as leader of the council in August

But on Monday, he said: "The report does not make comfortable reading in its account of the horrific experiences of some young people in the past, and I would like to reiterate my sincere apology to those who were let down when they needed help.

"I believe that new leadership will enable the town to recover more quickly from the events of the last two weeks, and strongly signal a new beginning at this critical time in its recovery.

"The time is therefore now right for me to leave. I will be sorry to leave Rotherham but firmly believe that this will leave the council in a stronger position in the future. It is therefore the right thing to do in the interests of the people of the town."

The report revealed there was a series of failings including poor leadership from senior managers in child protection services and a perceived "lack of interest" in, and understanding of, grooming as a model of child abuse.

The report revealed poor leadership in Rotherham child protection services

Victims were not heard or believed and there was a perception that a "macho and bullying" culture within the council prevented child sexual exploitation from being properly discussed.

There was "denial" that such events could happen in Rotherham and issues of ethnicity were "played down" by senior managers.

Since the report's publication there have also been calls for South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner and a number of others to stand down.

PCC Shaun Wright will appear before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday, which

will also hear evidence from South Yorkshire's chief constable David Crompton, senior Rotherham Council official Joyce Thacker and NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless.

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Duchess Of Cambridge To Have Second Baby

The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with her second baby, Kensington Palace has announced.

Prince William and Kate said they were "very pleased to announce" that they are expecting their second child.

It comes a year and two months after she gave birth to Prince George at St Mary's Hospital in London.

The Duchess pictured during one of her most recent engagements in August

Sky's Royal Correspondent Paul Harris says he has been told by Kensington Palace that the Duchess is not yet 12 weeks into her pregnancy.

The palace said the Queen and members of both William and Kate's families are "delighted" with the news.

Kate is apparently suffering from severe morning sickness, as she did with her first pregnancy.

Doctors are understood to be treating her at Kensington Palace, where she has an apartment with Prince William.

The palace said she will not be joining her husband on a planned engagement in Oxford on Monday.

A statement from the palace said: "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child.

"The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news.

"As with her first pregnancy, The Duchess is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum."

When Kate suffered from the condition during her last pregnancy, she had to be admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

Kate attends a WWI event in Belgium in August with the country's Royals

Her admission to hospital at the time brought forward the announcement that she was pregnant.

Although she had not reached the 12-week mark - when it is most typical to make a pregnancy public - palace officials are understood to have realised they would be unable to conceal her condition.

The couple's second child will become fourth in line to the throne, moving Prince Harry to fifth in the line of succession.

Prime Minister David Cameron released a statement moments after the announcement saying: "Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

"I'm delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another baby."

Prince Harry was the last 'second heir' born to Charles and Diana in 1984

Labour leader Ed Miliband said on Twitter: "Fantastic to hear that Prince George will soon be a big brother! Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their happy news."

Scottish Nationalist Party leader Alex Salmond also tweeted his congratulations, referring to the royal couple by their Scottish titles.

He said: "Congratulations & best wishes to the Earl & Countess of Strathearn. Wonderful to hear they're expecting their second baby - very happy news!"

Kensington Palace said the attendance by the Duchess of at future engagements, including a forthcoming solo trip to Malta, would be decided on a "case by case" basis.

She had been due to appear on Monday night at the Invictus Games, which are supported by her brother-in-law Prince Harry.

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Family's Delight As Ashya Begins Treatment

Ashya King's family have told of their delight after he arrived in the Czech Republic for specialist proton treatment on his brain tumour.

The five-year-old and his parents Brett, 51, and Naghmeh, 45, travelled from Materno Infantil hospital in Malaga, where he was treated for nine days, to Malaga airport.

They then flew by air ambulance for the three-hour flight to Prague "with all the guarantees regarding the care this youngster needs," said a spokesman for Materno Infantil hospital.

On arrival in Prague, Mr King told Sky News: "We're just so happy to be here, it's taken us a month but Ashya can finally have his proton treatment."

Ashya's father Brett takes a taxi to Malaga airport

The Proton Therapy Centre, where he will receive the specialist treatment, gave the go-ahead for him to travel after reviewing documentation from the Spanish hospital.

Ashya was driven by ambulance to Prague's Motol University Hospital, five miles from the private clinic, and taken into intensive care.

He will be taken to the clinic for tests on Tuesday, and all being well, should begin his proton treatment on Monday, said Sky's David Bowden, in Prague.

Bowden spotted the little boy being carried on a stretcher from the airport and said he "seemed quite happy and alert".

Ashya and his brother Naveed

Earlier, Sky's Lisa Holland saw the family leave hospital in Malaga, and said: "He (Mr King) clearly looked very, very relieved.

"This is a man who told us in a press conference a few days ago how pained he was by this whole situation.

"How he heard his wife crying in a police cell while they spent three days in custody, and they overnighted in a Madrid prison cell awaiting extradition.

"So things have really turned round now for the King family after their separation from Ashya. They've got what they wanted."

Ashya's parents were arrested for removing him from hospital

Professor Jan Stary, head of children's oncology at Motol University Hospital, told a news conference that Ashya's proton treatment will take place almost daily for the next month.

"It should be benefit for such a small child with such a kind of tumour," he said.

It is unclear who will pay for the treatment, which is expected to cost between £40,000 and £60,000.

Mr and Mrs King were arrested in Spain after they took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital on August 28 without medical permission.

They were released when prosecutors withdrew a European arrest warrant.

Portsmouth City Council, which has responsibility for Ashya's welfare, launched family court action against his parents.

Mr Justice Baker, at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Friday, ruled Ashya could be taken to the Czech Republic.

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Girl, 11, 'Sexually Assaulted' At Picnic Site

Police have increased patrols near Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight after an 11-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted during a family visit to a picnic site.

The girl was at Fort Victoria on Saturday morning when she was approached by a man who assaulted her before walking away, Hampshire Police said.

Detective Sergeant John Stirling said: "This was a rare but very serious incident against a child, during the day in a busy picnic site.

"We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area or who recognises the man from the description."

The man was said to be white with pale skin, aged in his 50s, with grey hair and was clean shaven. He was around six feet tall, of average build and with a deep voice.

He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt with dark blue and light blue stripes and blue jeans.

The force said a man arrested on Saturday was released and no further action is to be taken against him.

It said patrols had been stepped up in the area over the weekend to reassure the local community.

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Madeleine: Book Sheds Light On Mystery Predator

Madeleine: Key Events Timeline

Updated: 8:10pm UK, Monday 30 June 2014

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

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

:: February 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.

:: February 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.

:: October 17 - Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is leading the Scotland Yard team, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, and Mr and Mrs McCann meet officers in Lisbon to be briefed on the Portuguese case.

:: October 23 - Britain's most senior police officer Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe defends the way the Portuguese dealt with the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, saying it would have been "very difficult" to immediately know if they were dealing with a serious crime.

:: October 24 - Detectives in Portugal reopen the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance after an internal review uncovers new lines of inquiry and witnesses who were never questioned during the original Portuguese investigation.

2014

:: January 3 - A family source says Kate and Gerry McCann have been denied permission to give evidence at a Portuguese libel trial over a book about the case by former local police chief Goncalo Amaral.

:: January 13 - British police investigate three burglars who were in the area when Madeleine disappeared, and whose phones were apparently "red hot" after she went missing. A letter is sent to Portuguese police asking for help to track them down.

:: January 29 - Scotland Yard officers, including the detective leading the case, fly to Portugal to meet police there and discuss the latest developments.

:: March 19 - Officers from Operation Grange launch a search for a man who sexually assaulted five British girls in the Algarve between 2004 and 2006.

:: April 23 - Detectives identify five new cases where a lone intruder abused young British girls in holiday apartments in the Algarve.

:: May 1 - Kate and Gerry McCann give an interview to Sky News where they are desperate to find out what happened to Madeleine, even if it is the "worst case scenario" as they back calls for a Child Rescue Alert service similar to the Amber Alert system in the US.

:: May 6 - Scotland Yard plans to dig for evidence in three locations in Praia da Luz are approved, with officers set to use ground penetrating radar.

:: May 8 - British Officers reportedly use a military helicopter to photograph potential excavation sites and hold a four-hour meeting with Portuguese colleagues to agree a timetable for new searches.

:: May 22 - Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley says the investigation will enter a "substantial phase of operational activity" in Portugal in the coming weeks. 

:: June 2 - Portuguese police seal off an area of scrubland to the west of Praia da Luz as they prepare to examine the potential excavation site.

:: June 11 - Police begin to search an area between Praia da Luz and the town of Lagos behind a water treatment plant. The search of the scrubland site was later wound down.

:: June 30 - The British team return to Portugal and plan to speak to a key witness and several suspects the following day.

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Phone Snatchers' Favourite Handsets Revealed

Apple's latest iPhones have topped the list of handsets most likely to be targeted by thieves.

The iPhone 5 was named the phone most likely to be stolen in a new Government consumer study.

In fact, Apple products filled the top four places of the Home Office's Mobile Phone Theft Ratio.

The Blackberry 9790 sneaked in at number five.

Samsung and HTC phones also won a spot in the Top 10.

The list, published by Home Secretary Theresa May, analysed theft data from August 2012 to January 2014.

According to a crime survey for England and Wales, some 742,000 phones were stolen in the 2012/2013 period.

The Metropolitan Police reported almost 100,000 mobile phone thefts in London alone during 2013. 

The paper found that 14 to 24-year-olds are most at risk of phone theft

Ms May said: "Crime has fallen by more than 10% under this government.

"However, the level of mobile phone theft remains a concern and people are increasingly carrying their lives in their pockets, with bank details, emails and other sensitive personal information easily accessible through mobile phones.

"This is why it is vital that government, police and industry work together to tackle this crime."

Mrs May said the Government was working closely with industry leaders to find a way to prevent mobile phones being reactivated overseas. 

That, in turn, could cut demand for stolen products.

She said "vital action" was also being taken to introduce near features to allow phones to be tracked and wiped when they are reported missing.

The paper found that 14 to 24-year-olds are most at risk of theft, with women being particularly vulnerable.

It includes a list of steps people can take to protect themselves from theft, warning that people are most likely to have phones taken directly from their person.

It also urges people not to leave their phones unattended, for example at a table in a bar.

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Missing Teenager Alice Gross: Man Arrested

Police are using divers to search for the body of missing 14-year-old Alice Gross after launching a murder inquiry.

A 25-year-old suspect was arrested in the Ealing area at around 5pm on Saturday and is currently in custody at a west London police station.

His arrest follows information detectives received earlier in the day.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "All lines of enquiry are still open at this time and this remains a missing person investigation at this stage."

Alice was spotted on CCTV before she vanished

Police divers were seen carrying out a search of a section of the Grand Union Canal in Brentford on Sunday morning.

Officers with sniffer dogs were also operating on the canal towpath, close to where she was last seen 10 days ago.

Alice, who suffers from anorexia, disappeared from her home in Hanwell, west London, on Thursday, August 28.

She left her home at around 1pm and was captured on CCTV an hour later on the canal towpath near Brentford Lock, walking towards the River Thames.

Newly released CCTV images of cyclists spotted in the area

She was later filmed again at 3.45pm along the towpath heading back to her home.

The footage showed her wearing dark blue jeans, a dark green lacy cardigan and denim blue Vans shoes. She may also have had tartan-framed glasses.

Earlier, the Met Police released new pictures of cyclists riding past the spot where Alice was last spotted, shortly before her disappearance.

The grainy footage show three cyclists riding along the towpath by the Trumpers Way Canal Bridge in Hanwell, moments before Alice walks past at 4.23pm.

They are followed by two more cyclists who pass under the bridge on the Grand Union Canal.

A social media campaign was launched after the 14-year-old went missing

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "I would urge everyone to take a good look at the pictures ... to see if it jogs any memories of the day Alice went missing."

A large social media campaign has been under way since the teenager went missing and hundreds of posters have been distributed around the area.

Alice's mother Rosalind Hodgkiss appealed to her daughter directly on the Facebook page Find Alice Gross, saying: "Alice if you can see this, please know sweetheart that all of us love you and miss you desperately.

"My love please get in touch and let someone know you are safe. Alice please come home. Mum."

Anyone with information can call police on 020 8358 0100, Ealing Missing Persons Unit on 020 8246 1018 or the charity Missing People on 116 000.

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