Firefighters Poised For Bonfire Period Strike

Firefighters in England will start a four-day strike on Friday evening, as a bitter row over pensions intensifies.

Opponents to the walkout, orchestrated by the Fire Brigades Union, have branded the industrial action as "regrettable and unnecessary" - with emergency services already under strain as weekend bonfires and firework displays commence.

Even though the Government has a contingency plan, with hundreds of contract workers expected to cross picket lines, the public has been warned to remain vigilant and stay safe.

Fire stations in London have warned that they may be unable to attend to minor fires, or help people trapped in lifts.

London firefighters accused the Government of "pension theft" last November

Although the Government has insisted that firefighters enjoy one of the best pension packages in the public sector, the claims have been rubbished by the FBU's general-secretary.

Matt Wreck said: "We have a Government of millionaires who are wrecking the pensions of firefighters, while the real scandal is that their own pensions are by far the most generous anywhere in the public sector.

"How can it be remotely fair that the Prime Minister, already a millionaire, enjoys a far greater subsidy from his employer in absolute and proportional terms than a firefighter who is earning less than £30,000 a year? It is sickening hypocrisy."

The FBU's industrial action is due to begin at 6pm on Friday, but a strike in Wales has been averted after its assembly made a "significant" change of direction by offering an improved proposal.

Penny Mordaunt, Fire Minister, insists the planned pension reforms are fair

Westminster has been pushing to reform firefighters' pensions amid fears that a £600m black hole in the scheme's finances will emerge by 2019 - with a Government spokesman warning that "taxpayers cannot be expected to meet all of these costs".

Fire Minister Penny Mordaunt said: "The Government recognises the role that firefighters play in keeping the public safe, and has worked hard to give them one of the most generous pensions in the public sector.

"A firefighter who earns £29,000 will still be able to retire after a full career aged 60 and get a £19,000-a-year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

"An equivalent private pension pot would be worth over £500,000 and require firefighters to contribute twice as much."

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Man Held After Body Parts Found On Island

A man has been arrested after a 33-year-old woman's body parts were found by ramblers on an island in Essex.

Angela Millington's remains were discovered in a salt marsh area on Foulness Island on 21 June.

Hikers initially found a collection of bones. Police were called and more body parts were found.

An aerial view of the police murder inquiry

Police have arrested a 51-year-old man, from Westcliff-on-Sea, on suspicion of murder.

He has been taken to Southend Police Station for questioning.

Ramblers found Angela Millington's remains on Foulness Island

Ms Millington was identified after forensic and DNA tests and, while it is not known how long the bones had been there, police believe she was murdered.

She was last seen alive when she visited a housing officer in Westcliff on 21 November last year.

She took money out of her bank account that day and her mobile phone has not been used since the end of that month.

Essex Police said Ms Millington had no fixed address and was known to mix with street drinkers and homeless people.

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Man Arrested Over Fireworks Warehouse Blaze

A man has been arrested over a blaze at a fireworks warehouse in Staffordshire where two people remain unaccounted for.

An investigation has been launched into what caused the explosion at the SP Plastics building at an industrial unit in Stafford at around 5.15pm on Thursday.

Two men were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, one in his 60s suffering from a back injury and another, in his 40s, with serious burns.

Two women, one in her 40s and the other in her 50s, were assessed for smoke inhalation but discharged at the scene, police said.

Police said a 53-year-old man had now been arrested as part of the investigation.

Video: Witness Tells Of Fireworks Blast

Police Superintendent Ian Coxhead said: "We have a great deal of sensitive and challenging work to complete in order to allow us to establish the cause of the explosion and the following fire."

A "significant volume of fireworks" was being stored on site, and the unit had been all but destroyed in the ensuing blaze, he added.

A search is due to get under way for the missing people, once the premises are considered safe.

Video: 'I Saw A Plume Of Black Smoke'

The blaze took three hours to bring under control - 50 firefighters, eight engines and four specialist appliances were on the scene at its height.

Thick plumes of smoke and bursts of fireworks could be seen exploding in all directions from the factory in a scene which an eyewitness described as "horrendous".

Resident Brian Little told Sky News: "It was horrendous. You would not be surprised if there was one or two injuries. The flames were sky-high."

Video: Stafford Fireworks Factory Ablaze

Video: Five Hurt In Fireworks Factory Fire

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UK Begins Paying Back First World War Debt

The Government has announced it will pay off part of the UK's First World War debt - the first such payment for 67 years.

The Treasury will repay £218m of the £2bn still owed from the 1914 to 1918 war, as part of a redemption of bonds stretching as far back as the 18th century.

The payment, to be made on 1 February next year, will be the first repayment of National War Bonds by a Chancellor since 1947.

The 4% consolidated loans were first issued by Chancellor Winston Churchill in 1927, partly to refinance National War Bonds from the Great War.

Britain has paid £1.26bn in interest on them since then, according to the Debt Management Office.

Chancellor George Osborne said he had decided to redeem some of them now because interest rates are lower than the 4% it is currently paying.

Leaders mark the centenary of the start of the First World War in August

He said he could save taxpayers money by refinancing the debts at a lower rate.

"We are only able to take this action today thanks to the difficult decisions that this Government has taken to get a grip on the public finances," he said.

Video: First World War Records Released

"The fact that we will no longer have to pay the high rate of interest on these gilts means that most important of all, today's decision represents great value for money for the taxpayer."

The Government first issued National War Bonds in 1917 to help finance the crippling cost of the First World War, which saw the deaths of more than 700,000 British soldiers.

They paid out an attractive rate of 5% interest, with huge publicity campaigns urging the public to make a patriotic investment.

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1. Gallery: Ghost Images Put WW1 Back In Focus

   Ahead of the centenary of the First World War, a series of digital composite images have been created by the picture agency Getty Images, comparing scenes from the time and how the locations look today. Here, Serbian soldiers march in the Lord Mayor's show in 1918 with the Royal Courts of Justice in the background

2. Wounded soldiers play football outside Blenheim Palace around 1916 in Woodstock, England, blended with a modern day photo of the area

3. Australian soldiers outside Egypt House in New Broad Street, London, where The Australian Bank is located, in June 1917, and how the street looks today

4. Injured Indian soldiers from the British Army at the Brighton Pavilion in 1915, which was converted into a military hospital, combined with an image of the building today

5. Wounded soldiers and cadets at the Albert Hall on Empire Day in May 1918, with a modern day shot of the London landmark seen behind them

6. German prisoners of war on their way to Southend Pier in 1914 accompanied by guards and watched by locals, combined with a picture of the seafront taken this month

7. A 'male' MKIV tank at the Lord Mayor's show in November 1917, blended with a modern day photo of the street outside the Bank of England

8. British soldiers inspecting a captured German plane in the Horseguards' Parade, the modern day skyline now includes the London Eye

The bonds are held by 11,200 registered holders, with 92% owning less than £10,000 each.

Some of the repayment relates to bonds dating back more than 300 years.

In 1853, the Government consolidated the capital stock of the South Sea Company, which collapsed in the South Sea Bubble financial crisis of 1720.

Video: First World War Anniversary Held

And in 1888, Chancellor George Goschen converted bonds first issued in 1752 to finance the Napoleonic and Crimean Wars, the Slavery Abolition Act (1835) and the Irish Distress Loan (1847).

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Father Of Murdered Schoolgirl Sarah Payne Dies

Tributes have been paid to Michael Payne, father of the murdered schoolgirl Sarah, after he died at the age of 45.

Mr Payne, who developed a drinking problem after his daughter was abducted and killed near her grandparents' home in West Sussex, was found dead at his home in Maidstone, Kent, on Monday.

His daughter, Charlotte, posted a picture of her father on Facebook alongside a message saying she was "heartbroken".

"No matter what happened and how many mistakes we all made. You will always be my daddy," she wrote.

She later added: "I'm sorry I couldn't save you dad. I hope you have finally found your peace and happiness."

Sarah Payne was eight when she was abducted and murdered

Her brother, Lee, wrote: "Dad, you had your demons and troubles but you had a good heart and was a decent man!

"I hope now you have found peace at last! RIP, you will be missed. We are all heartbroken."

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Police attended an address in Brishing Lane in Maidstone on the evening of 27 October and found the occupant, a 45 year-old man, had died at the property.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner."

Mr Payne split from his wife Sara in 2003 after 18 years together, blaming the difficulties of coping with the loss of their daughter in 2000.

Roy Whiting was convicted of Sarah's murder

Speaking at the time, Mrs Payne told the News of the World: "We know we're not the same people we once were - and everyone knows the awful reason why."

Mr Payne told the newspaper he felt guilty for being unable to protect his daughter and this had put strain on his marriage.

Mrs Payne became a child protection campaigner after her daughter's death.

Sarah's Law, which allows parents to check whether people with access to their children are sex offenders, was introduced in 2011.

That same year Mr Payne was jailed after pleading guilty to glassing his brother Stephen following a heavy drinking session during which both men drank around three litres of cider each and a bottle of vodka.

Sentencing him, Judge Jeremy Carey said he had the "deepest sympathy" for his loss, but the offence warranted a jail sentence.

Convicted paedophile Roy Whiting is serving a life sentence for the eight-year-old's murder.

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Tough Drug Laws Have No Impact On Use - Report

By Tadhg Enright, Sky News Correspondent

Severe criminal penalties on drug taking makes no difference to the level of substance use in a country, a Government report has indicated.

The first Home Office study of the issue based on international evidence has caused a split within the coalition, with Lib Dems supporting its proposed reforms and the Conservatives opposing them.

It found "no apparent correlation between the 'toughness' of a country's approach and the prevalence of adult drugs use".

"There is evidence from Portugal of improved health prospects for users, though these cannot be attributed to decriminalisation alone," the report said.

"There are indications that decriminalisation can reduce the burden on criminal justice systems."

Video: 'Tory MPs Don't Like Drug Evidence'

It also found worse health outcomes in the Czech Republic after possession was criminalised, and no evidence of lower use.

Danny Kushlick, founder of Transform Drug Policy Foundation, called the report a "historic moment" in drugs policy.

"For the first time in over 40 years the Home Office has admitted that enforcing tough drug laws doesn't necessarily reduce levels of drug use," he said.

Although it was completed several months ago, the report has been kept under wraps to be released alongside another study which recommends so-called legal highs be criminalised.

Video: Inside A UK Cannabis Factory

The Lib Dems have long supported a review of Britain's drugs policy and the party's minister in the Home Office, Norman Baker MP, told Sky News he backs its findings.

"We're very clear that what we need to do is move towards a health based approach - to stop criminalising people unfairly and to make sure that we don't lock people up, but rather deal with it as a health issue," he said.

But a Home Office spokesperson said: "This Government has absolutely no intention of decriminalising drugs.

"Our drugs strategy is working and there is a long-term downward trend in drug misuse in the UK."

Video: Mourning Mum In Legalise Drugs Call

But the Home Office is giving strong consideration to the report backing the criminalisation of so-called legal highs, which are sold online and in high street "head" shops.

Both coalition parties back a blanket ban on their sale, which has been welcomed by campaigners including Maryon Stewart, whose daughter, Hester, died in 2009 after taking a lethal cocktail of alcohol and the legal substance GBL.

She told Sky News: "In that time, there've been as many crime prevention ministers as there have years, and it's been a really difficult journey.

"I think everyone agrees that there needs to be change, what's happening right now isn't working."

Video: 2012: Brand Speaks Out Over Drugs

An opinion poll in The Sun suggests for the first time, most Britons believe the war on drugs can never be won.

A total of 71% of those surveyed said the war had failed, while 51% said it will always be doomed. The survey found 65% supported a review of drugs policy.

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Child Grooming 'Normal' In Parts Of Manchester

By Nick Martin, North of England Correspondent

Child sexual exploitation is a "real and ongoing problem" that has become "normal" in some parts of Greater Manchester, according to a new report.

It suggests that youngsters are exposed to an increasing amount of explicit music and pornography which it is claimed is fuelling the problem. 

The independent report by Ann Coffey, Labour MP for Stockport, was commissioned by Tony Lloyd, the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, in response to a number of high-profile child exploitation cases.

Home Secretary Theresa May described its findings as "shocking".

In 2012, nine Asian men were jailed for grooming girls with alcohol, drugs and gifts before forcing them to have sex with multiple men.

Video: 'I Was Scared And Terrified'

The case led to claims the authorities had ignored the problem for reasons of "political correctness".

Ms Coffey said: "My observations will make painful reading for those who hoped that Rochdale was an isolated case. This is a real and ongoing problem.

"I have been concerned about the number of people who have told me that in some neighbourhoods child sexual exploitation had become the new social norm.

"This social norm has perhaps been fuelled by the increased sexualisation of children and young people and an explosion of explicit music videos and the normalisation of quasi-pornographic images.

"Sexting, selfies, Instagram and the like have given rise to new social norms and changed expectations of sexual entitlement, and with it a confused understanding of what constitutes consent."

Video: 'We're Not Looked At To Be Objects'

Some schoolgirls told her they were regularly approached by older men in the street and urged to get into cars on their way home from school.

The problem will not be tackled unless there is a "sea change" in public attitudes away from a culture of blaming children and young people for bringing about their own sexual exploitation, the report claimed.

Nicola Pomfrey first became the victim of exploitation from the age of 14. She said the man she was with controlled every aspect of her life. 

She told Sky News: "It felt like we were friends at first, he kept buying me food and cigarettes. Then it turned into a relationship.

"But as time went on I felt like I was trapped, there was no-one I could turn to and I became isolated from friends and family.

Video: Dec 2013: MP Criticises Police

"I was vulnerable, I needed the attention and I got it from the wrong place.

"At the time I didn't feel like telling the police, or a social worker or a teacher would do any good. I suppose I didn't think they would believe that I was a victim."

Home Secretary Theresa May said a public consultation would be held on whether teachers, doctors and other officials should have a duty to report any suspicions - or face the law.

"This is yet another disturbing report which highlights unacceptable failings by authorities at a local level to ensure the protection of children," said Mrs May.

"The report's findings about the scale of child sexual exploitation and attitudes towards it are particularly alarming."

Video: Sep 2012: Handling Of Abuse Slammed

Hayley Harewood, chief executive of Oldham-based charity Keep Our Girls Safe, which helps around 200 young girls at risk of sexual exploitation, agreed with the report's findings.

"It is true that in some areas child sexual exploitation is normal. It is often the first experience many girls have in terms of a relationship," she said.

"On most occasions the girls don't realise what's happening to them until it is too late and they are trapped."

The 148-page report, titled Real Voices - Child Sexual Exploitation In Greater Manchester, recommends a radical new approach to tackling the problem led by young people, which recognises that the police, justice system and children's services alone cannot succeed in protecting children.

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Jean McConville Murder: Police Arrest Man

Detectives investigating the 1972 abduction and murder of mother-of-10 Jean McConville have arrested a 73-year-old man.

Detective Inspector Neil McGuiness said the man from the Dunmurray area had been taken to Antrim police station for questioning.

No one has ever been charged with the murder of the 37-year-old widow, who was dragged, screaming away from her children at their West Belfast home at gun point by up to 12 men and women.

Mrs McConville was abducted, interrogated and murdered by the IRA in 1972 after being falsely accused of passing information to the security forces.

She was shot in the back of the head and secretly buried in a shallow grave on a beach near Dundalk, County Louth, 50 miles from her home.

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1. Gallery: Northern Ireland's 'Disappeared'

   A list of Northern Ireland's "Disappeared", the 16 people abducted and killed by Republican paramilitaries during the Troubles. Here, Robert Nairac talks to some children

Her remains lay undiscovered until 2003 when they were found by a member of the public.

The abduction and killing of Mrs McConville is still one of the most notorious crimes from the time of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was questioned over the killing for four days by police in May.

Video: 'Disappeared' Victim's Son

He vehemently denied allegations made by former republican colleagues of involvement.

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'Devastating Impact' Of NHS Mistakes Revealed

NHS hospitals are making mistakes which cause patients to suffer needless harm or die prematurely, according to a damning report.

Dame Julie Mellor, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, has uncovered dozens of cases with several complaints regarding incorrect discharges and cancer being misdiagnosed.

Some of the worst cases included: 

:: A one-day-old baby suffered permanent brain damage after "serious mistakes" were made during a blood transfusion at Barts Health NHS Trust.

:: A man died following a liver biopsy that was performed without his consent. Further investigation revealed he was on the wrong medication, and that Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust had lost his clinical records.

:: Another patient who went to A&E complaining of prolonged constipation and vomiting was inappropriately discharged, even though he had suffered complete loss of blood supply to his small intestine. The mistake, at Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, was only discovered when he was re-admitted the following day for surgery.

:: Errors were also made with a woman who had been told she was suffering from stomach and bowel cancer. No tests were arranged, and a surgical consultant insisted she did not have the disease. Five weeks later, the same consultant at Wirral University Hospital NHS Trust broke the news that she did have cancer after all.

:: A man suffered a fatal heart attack and stroke while on holiday abroad. Before he travelled, he had visited Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to report chest pains, but staff failed to tell him that he was at risk of death if he flew. The Trust provides "specialist cardiac services" to patients in the North West.

Dame Julie Mellor said hospital re-admissions are costing the NHS

Dame Julie said: "We are increasingly concerned about patients being discharged unsafely from hospital.

"Unplanned admissions and re-admissions are a massive cost to the NHS."

She added that the investigations showed the "devastating impact" failures in the NHS could have on the lives of patients and their families.

The government body investigated 161 complaints between April and June - and is urging other Britons who have had poor service within the NHS to come forward.

Jamie Reed, shadow health minister, said: "This catalogue of poor care shows an NHS heading in the wrong direction.

"Hospitals are full to bursting - struggling to admit or discharge patients - and these reports make clear there isn't enough staff to cope."

But in a statement, the Department of Health said: "The NHS is the most transparent it has ever been, and we're focusing on confronting poor care like never before." 

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is the final step for complaints about unfair treatment or poor service for the NHS in England.

The service investigated 2,199 cases in 2013-2014, compared to 384 for the previous year.

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Tech And Staff Failures Behind Asylum Backlog

The failure of two major IT projects and "ill-judged" staffing decisions have led to the loss of more than 50,000 people who cannot be found in Britain, according to a report by MPs.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report reveals the Home Office is unable to track tens of thousands of people whose applications to remain in the UK have been rejected.

Some 175,000 people whose applications were unsuccessful have been placed in a "migration refusal pool" to await removal from Britain.

While some applicants may have left voluntarily, the department does not know how many remain because it lacks "a system to check departures from the UK".

In 2012, the department employed Capita to confirm the records and whereabouts of those refused permission to stay.

Video: We Need A 'Whole New System'

Capita was unable to find more than 50,000 people, with the department in some cases failing to retain even basic information such as addresses and postcodes.

The failure has been blamed in part upon a "botched" attempt by the now-defunct UK Border Agency to downgrade its caseworkers.

The report found the move led to 120 experienced caseworkers leaving the agency, adding that new staff with the "right skills" will be needed to clear the backlog.

Failures in large-scale IT projects have exacerbated the problem, leaving the department to operate with out-dated technology.

The Home Office has cancelled both the Immigration Case Work (ICW) IT programme and the ill-fated e-Borders system, which cost almost £1bn.

The report says: ""The Department had expected large-scale IT projects... to transform its processes and allow it to produce better information and substantial financial savings."

But the failure of the programmes left the department without a "comprehensive, system-wide IT strategy" to deal with asylum seekers.

"IT limitations mean the department cannot track people through the immigration system, or ensure people with no legal right to remain are removed from the UK," the report says.

Video: Asylum Seeker Has To Beg To Survive

"As a matter of priority, the department should identify the future IT capabilities it requires so it can develop a comprehensive, system-wide IT strategy that will deliver the required capabilities."

On Tuesday, the mayor of Calais said Britain's benefits system had become a magnet for asylum seekers making their way across the English Channel from France.

Skills Minister Nick Boles warned that Britain has lost control over immigration, and may not be able to stem movement from within the EU.

"We may never be able to control it entirely because it's a fundamental principle of the EU," Mr Boles told Total Politics.

"It will be very hard for the British people to accept that... we're going to be the net recipient of a very large amount of immigration every year," he added.

Labour's shadow immigration minister David Hanson said the Government's immigration policy is in "tatters".

He said: "The Skills Minister has admitted that the Government's grand promises have increased rather than decreased public concern.

"Yet they have still deterred the top skills and talent the economy needs. It is the worst of all worlds."

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Asylum: 29,000 Cases Unresolved Since 2007

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Failings in the UK's asylum system have led to an "extremely concerning" backlog of cases - with the Home Office accused of being in chaos over immigration.

Some 11,000 asylum seekers have been waiting since 2007 to be told whether they can stay in the country.

In total there are 29,000 cases waiting to be resolved, according to a damning report.

Margaret Hodge MP, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "To make matters worse, the department is also failing to meet its targets for dealing with newer claims, so it is now creating another backlog for itself.

"The number of claims awaiting an initial decision was up 70% to 16,273 in the first three months of 2014 compared to the same period last year.

Video: Asylum Process System In Chaos

"It is deeply worrying that the Home Office is not tracking those people whose applications have been rejected to ensure that they are removed from the UK."

The report said there are 175,000 people whose applications to stay in the UK have been rejected and are still awaiting removal.

The Government scrapped the UK Border Agency last year as part of major reforms. 

One asylum seeker has told Sky News she feels mentally "tortured" after being left in limbo.

Her case has been repeatedly delayed and nine months after applying for asylum the Ugandan woman still has not been given a proper interview about her request.

Fearing further delays to her claim, she asked only to be known as "Namusoke" and explained to Sky News: "I feel tortured here in the UK, I feel depressed, stressed and traumatised, so I really feel bad because I can't help nothing for myself.

"I'm a beggar, which I was not born to do."

The woman is fleeing persecution in her homeland due to the fact she is a lesbian - homosexuality is deemed illegal in Uganda.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said: "The immigration system we inherited was totally dysfunctional.

"Turning around years of mismanagement has taken time, but it is now well under way.

"We have reformed visa routes to make them more resistant to fraud and cancelled failing contracts; and we are addressing the backlogs we inherited."

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "This report lays bare how Theresa May and David Cameron are presiding over one failure after another in our immigration system."

The Refugee Council's head of advocacy, Lisa Doyle, said: "It's extremely concerning that so many people are still waiting for a decision on their asylum claim, years after first applying."

On Tuesday the mayor of Calais said Britain's benefits system had become a magnet for asylum seekers making their way across the English Channel from France - and that many are "prepared to die" to make the journey.

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Breeder Found Guilty Of Puppy Farm Murders

An elderly dog breeder has been found guilty of murdering his partner and her daughter at his puppy farm.

John Lowe, 82, blasted 66-year-old Christine Lee and her daughter Lucy Lee, 40, with a shotgun he normally used for killing rats at his property near Farnham, Surrey, last February.

He had told his trial at Guildford Crown Court that their deaths were "a terrible accident" after a struggle over the gun as he went to destroy some dogs.

But the jury of six men and six women convicted him of their murders after hearing that, following his arrest, he told the police he had "put down" the women because they had been "giving me s*** for weeks".

They also heard that Lucy made a "desperate" 999 call to police saying that Lowe had killed her mother before telling the operator that she was going back to confront him.

She was then shot twice, with Lowe reloading the .410 calibre double-barrelled weapon between shots.

Lowe, who listened to proceedings through a hearing loop, showed no emotion as the verdicts were given.

More follows...

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Blunkett: Fallon 'Right To Speak' Over Migrants

Michael Fallon was right to speak out about immigration, despite controversy over his choice of words, says former home secretary David Blunkett.

The Defence Secretary caused an outcry at the weekend when he told Sky News some towns were "under siege", as he dismissed German opposition to changing EU rules on free movement.

He also said "whole towns" could be "swamped by huge numbers of migrant workers".

David Blunkett caused controversy when he used the same term in 2002

He later backtracked on his comments, saying the "swamped" remark was a "bit careless" - but Mr Blunkett said he was right to "voice the concerns of ordinary voters".

"Just because immigration is deeply controversial, that cannot mean that we should avoid talking about it," he wrote in the Daily Mail.

Video: Reaction To Fallon Comments

Mr Fallon said in the interview on Sky's Murnaghan programme: "The Germans haven't seen our proposal yet, and we haven't seen our proposal yet.

"That is still being worked on at the moment to see what we can do to prevent whole towns and communities being swamped by huge numbers of migrant workers.

"In some areas, particularly on the east coast, yes, towns do feel under siege from large numbers of migrant workers and people claiming benefits. It is quite right that we look at that."

Mr Blunkett, who also created headlines when he used the word "swamped" to describe the impact of asylum seekers during his time in the cabinet, said the issued should not be shied away from.

"Yet for all such condemnation, I believe that both Michael Fallon and I were right to speak out on this issue and voice the concerns of ordinary voters," writes the Labour MP.

He adds that trying to turn immigration into a "taboo subject" will "play into UKIP's hands".

UKIP leader Nigel Farage reacted to Mr Fallon's comments by saying it was too late to acknowledge the problem and claimed the Conservatives were panicking.

Video: British Towns 'Swamped' By Migrants

Mr Blunkett rounded on the party's response, saying they were guilty of an "audacious piece of hypocrisy".

"Claiming they would never use the word 'swamped', they had the cheek to describe Michael Fallon's language - and, by extension, my own in 2002 - as 'inflammatory'," he said.

"The hypocrisy would be laughable if it were not so offensive.

"UKIP's entire political stance is inflammatory, since it is based on stoking up divisions. They are the masters of scare-mongering and scapegoating.

"The greatest antidote to the party's bluster is frank, rational discussion, where voters are treated with maturity," he added.

While Britons have proven to be "remarkably tolerant" about the impact of mass immigration and acknowledge the "vast majority" of migrants have a positive impact, "it is foolish to deny some of the problems associated with immigration", Mr Blunkett warned.

"What will not work is shouting down any politician who dares to engage with the British public's concerns. The issue is far too serious for such posturing," he concludes.

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UKIP Hits New Poll High After £1.7bn EU Bill

Support for UKIP has hit a new high according to a new survey carried out in the wake of the £1.7bn EU surcharge demand.

The ComRes poll, carried out for The Independent newspaper, showed support for the Labour Party has fallen by five points to 30% since last month - its lowest rating under leader Ed Miliband.

The Conservatives were up one percentage point, also putting them at 30%.

But UKIP has climbed four points to 19%, beating their highest previous rating - achieved in June - by 1%.

The poll revealed the Liberal Democrats were down one point on 9%, the Greens remain unchanged on 4% and support for other parties was also unchanged on 7%

Video: PM: EU Demand 'Not Acceptable'

ComRes interviewed 1,002 adults between 24 October and 26 October for the survey.

On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons the EU charge was "not acceptable".

He said: "It cannot just be nodded through by the EU bureaucracy - it is British taxpayers' money.

Video: EC Chief: £1.7bn UK Surcharge Fair

"We will be challenging this in every way possible. We want to check on the way the statistics were arrived at, the methodology that was used. We will crawl through this in exhaustive detail."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has insisted Brussels is only following procedures created by members states to balance the EU's books.

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Huge Supercomputer To Boost Weather Forecasts

A 140-ton supercomputer that can perform more than 16,000 trillion calculations per second is set to give the UK its most accurate weather forecasts ever.

The £97m machine will be fired up at the Met Office next year and will crunch data at a blistering rate using the memory equivalent to 120,000 top-end smartphones.

It will be 13 times more powerful than the current system, making it one of the world's fastest high performance computers (HPCs).

Met Office's chief executive Rob Varley said the machine would be a "step change", allowing hourly updates and highly detailed forecasts for areas as small as 300m.

Supercomputers can handle trillions of calculations per second

For example, it will allow airports to pinpoint the timing and extent of fog disruption far more effectively.

The Cray XC40 system will weigh the same as 11 double decker buses and is expected to be split between Met Office Headquarters in Exeter and a new purpose-built building at the city's Science Park.

Video: Sky News UK Weather Update

Some £2bn of benefits are expected, according to forecasters, because it will allow the public and businesses to better plan for extreme weather, such as this year's floods in the south of England.

"The new supercomputer, together with improved observations, science and modelling, will deliver better forecasts and advice to support UK business, the public and government, " said Mr Varley.

"It will help to make the UK more resilient to high impact weather and other environmental risks."

Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "The higher resolution will make it easier to map our orography and topography, but we still need the data coverage to match these improvements. It is an excellent step in the right  direction, though, towards the perfect forecast.

"There will be great research benefits especially regarding climate change and forecasting severe weather.

"It is exciting - all we need now is for it to make the weather we want."

The boss of supercomputer company Cray, Peter Ungaro, said he was "truly honoured" to get the contract - the biggest international deal in its history.

The first phase of the system will be operational in September 2015 and it will reach full capacity in 2017.

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Charity Warning Over Rise In UK Child Poverty

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs Editor

Child poverty in the UK increased significantly during the recession, according to a new report which criticises wealthy countries for failing to protect the most vulnerable from the effects of the economic downturn.

Data collected by UN organisation Unicef ranks the UK 25th out of 41 countries in taking measures to cushion the impact of the economy on children and families.

Chile, Poland and Slovakia all outperformed the UK, experiencing a reduction in child poverty.

"Here in the UK we have seen rates of severe material deprivation for children get worse," said David Bull, executive director of Unicef UK.

"There are only six countries in the 41 country study that have seen that material deprivation worsening at a greater rate than the UK."

For one single mother, the effect of the recession squeezing the family budget is a daily reality.

"The quality of our food intake has definitely gone down because of the financial struggles," said Alicia Gomes, 23, who lives on a council estate in south London with her three-year-old daughter Destiny.

"I think the Government should give more help to lone parents. We do eat normal cooked meals, but it's easier to live off frozen food because we get more offers."

"What I find quite upsetting is that we struggle so much and then there's people out there getting free meals in prison and clean bedding, and we are struggling so much to do that ourselves.

"The people doing wrong seem to get more support than the people doing the right things in life."

Ms Gomes says most of her income is taken up by food shopping, council tax, and pay as you go electricity which is often on the emergency setting.

Sally Plumb, Strategic Partnership Manager for two children's centres in the London borough of Lambeth, said some families were in an extreme situation.

"I do think that we should be shocked about the levels of poverty in the western world. It is almost like a third world country around here. A lot of children around here don't have beds, they are not eating properly," she said.

But the Government disputed the Unicef findings.

The Department for Work and Pensions said: "Unicef is drawing distorted comparisons with this data.

"UK official national statistics show that under this Government, around 300,000 fewer children are in poverty or growing up in workless families. Our reforms are improving the lives of some of the poorest families by promoting work and helping people to lift themselves out of poverty."

Unicef said that although its figures were not the most recent available, they provided a comparative context on the UK's performance up to 2013.

"Our report shows that particularly in the UK child poverty has worsened. It also shows that isn't inevitable," said Mr Bull.

"Other countries like Austria have had bonus payments and tax payments that have been very progressive in terms of impact they have had on poorest children."

"There's a lot that we should do to make the right choices."

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'HS3' Northern Rail Link To Cut Journey Times

The Government has welcomed plans to extend high speed rail travel to northern England, potentially cutting the journey time between Leeds and Manchester by up to half.

The project, dubbed High Speed 3 (HS3), would cover an east-west section of northern England - across the Pennines - and would be in addition to the north-of-Birmingham phase two of HS2 which will see a Y-shaped route going to Manchester and Leeds.

Train services running between Liverpool and Hull will also be upgraded under the new plans, while journeys between Leeds and Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield Meadowhall, York and Birmingham, and Nottingham to Birmingham could also be slashed by half or more.

HS2 Ltd chairman Sir David Higgins, who has put forward the plans in a report to ministers, said the northern connectivity would be "as important to the north of England as Crossrail is for London".

But Sir David told Sky News that the plans were in the early stages and there was no estimate as to how much the new link would cost. The budget for HS2 has been set at £50bn.   

He said: "We have not put a figure on the east-west link because it's got to be part of a much broader transport strategy."

He added: "It isn't anything like the budget of HS2 because the link is some 40 miles long, (and) the link would be a combination of existing track and some new tunnels to speed up the journey time from one hour to half an hour and to double capacity."

Phase one of HS2 involves a new high-speed line from Euston in London passing through the Chilterns to Birmingham, with an expected completion date of 2026.

Phase two was originally due to be completed in 2032/33, although Sir David is keen for this date to be brought forward.

Video: Early Days on HS3 Rail Link

The project is strongly supported by the Government but is bitterly opposed by some councils and residents along the phase one route.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he welcomed Sir David's new report which will "create a northern powerhouse and ensure that HS2 delivers the maximum economic benefits".

Chancellor George Osborne added that the plans were "another big step forward in delivering both the HS2 links from north to south and the HS3 link across the Pennines."

But Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin said the report "showed that the original plans for HS2 weren't thought through properly".

Video: Church Opposition To HS2 Route

He added: "Changing the mess that is phase two doesn't change the fact that phase one is still a complete mess, as is the entire concept of HS2."

Sir David's four main proposals in his report are:

::  Need to take forward both legs of the proposed HS2 Y-network - the alternatives will not bring the same capacity, connectivity and economic benefits.

:: Improve the rail services between east and west - sharply reducing journey times between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull will stimulate local economies.

Video: China's High Speed Rail Revolution

:: Northern cities should speak with one voice - local authorities from five key cities should join together to form a new body.

:: Set out a timetable to develop a new transport strategy to decide on an approach for improving rail and road connectivity across and within the region north of Birmingham.

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Three Dead In Sea Tragedy: Man's Rescue Bid

An off-duty lifeguard has told Sky News how he tried to save a man's life during a sea tragedy in Cornwall that left three surfers dead.

The victims, along with four children, had got into difficulty after they were reportedly caught up in a rip current off Mawgan Porth beach, Newquay, on Sunday.

Brendan Prince, who is a trained lifeguard nearby in Torbay, said he and a friend dragged the man out of the water.

He then performed CPR on him and until a rescue helicopter arrived around 15 minutes later.

The victims - believed to be a 52-year-old man from Leeds, a man aged 44 from St Austell and a 42-year-old woman also from St Austell - had been found unconscious in the sea.

The trio, who have not been named, were taken to Treliske hospital but were later pronounced dead.

The youngsters were all boys. Two are aged 18 while the others were 16 and 15. They were all found safe on shore but were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Two surfers recovered from the sea were given CPR at the scene

Sea rescue services said a risk assessment will be carried out to determine whether lifeguard cover should be extended at the beach.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said lifeguards man Mawgan Porth beach from March to September and confirmed there would have been none patrolling there on Sunday.

Video: Three Surfers Die In Cornwall

But it explained there would have been "clear signs" indicating the lack of lifeguard cover for beachgoers.

Mr Prince told Sky News: "It was obvious it wasn't a good surfer day. It was too messy, foamy.

"A lady came over and said 'could you lend a hand, there's something going on at the other end of the beach'.

"My friend and I responded fairly quickly. We saw that two people were in the water face down trying to be assisted and there were two others trying to get in.

"I grabbed one who was waist deep in water and others grabbed the lady who was behind. I started CPR on the man and a doctor came along and started CPR on the lady."

He added: "The two boys came in of their own accord and were clearly distressed by the situation."

He went on: "Beaches are changeable. At low tide on Sunday the conditions are a certain type. When the water starts to come in it acts as a bay and those conditions change.

"They were over the right hand side where if there's going to be a rip it's going to be dragging that way. 

"They were probably playing in a bit of up to the waist surf but in the conditions it can suddenly be 6ft as opposed to what you think is 3ft."

Gareth Horner, lifeboat operations manager, said: "Mawgan Porth is a dangerous beach. We don't know the exact circumstances or the ability of the people that were rescued today.

"My understanding is that they were in two groups and that one of the casualties actually entered the sea to assist other people who were in trouble."

Police said the woman and the man in his 40s were from Cornwall, while the third victim was from outside the force's area.

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'HS3' Northern Rail Link: Commuters Fear Cost

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

As bleary eyed passengers boarded the 06.57 train to Leeds at Manchester Piccadilly this morning, most had already heard about plans that could halve their commute between the two northern cities.

It's a popular commuter route and the trains are regular at peak times. In fact, there are no fewer than 12 trains between Manchester and Leeds that reach their destination before nine o'clock in the morning.

Despite that, the 06.57 was less than half full as it pulled away from Manchester on time to begin its scenic route across the Pennines, which currently takes 49 minutes.

On board, Ian Bennett, 45, and from Manchester, described himself as a reluctant commuter. Despite making the journey every day, he is dubious about plans for new investment, dubbed High Speed 3 (HS3), to cut the journey time to less than half an hour.

He told Sky News: "It's under an hour anyway and I think a faster train will cost more than we pay now.

Video: Rail Plans For Northern England

"I already pay nearly £3,000 a year. I wouldn't use it if it was more, definitely not."

Sitting next to him was Kendall Isaac, 44, from Leeds. He travels between Manchester and Leeds about three times a week and said: "I would definitely like faster trains. I'd even be willing to pay a bit more but it would depend how much."

On the seat behind them passenger Frank Taff agreed.

"I'd certainly use it, but it all revolves around how much it costs," he said.

Video: Rail Boost In North Of England

He added that he is happy with the current journey time between Manchester and Leeds, but he would prefer it if his journey on to York was quicker.

As the train pulled in to Leeds (on time at 07:46) passengers quipped that they would be retired by the time HS3 was ready anyway.

But the Government will hope the plan is attractive enough to northern commuters to win some votes in next year's general election.

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British Doctor 'Unlawfully Killed' In Syria

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

An inquest into the death of a British doctor in Syria has found he was unlawfully killed.

Dr Abbas Khan, from south-west London, was arrested in the conflict-hit country in November 2012 whilst volunteering in a hospital.

The married father-of-two had travelled to the rebel-held city of Aleppo to treat injured civilians.

His family campaigned for his release for months before he was found dead on 16 December 2013.

Syrian officials say he committed suicide by hanging himself in a jail cell after 13 months in custody but his family believe he was murdered.

Speaking outside court in London, Dr Khan's brother Afroze said: "We have always maintained he was an innocent man who travelled to Syria for no other reason than to help civilians in the Syrian conflict.

"We have always maintained he was mistreated, maltreated and tortured by the Syrian authorities, and maintained he was murdered by the Syrians.

"Today our position has been vindicated."

Dr Khan's mother Fatima had tried to locate her son

When he died, the 32-year-old orthopaedic surgeon was on the verge of being released from prison and being allowed home for Christmas.

During the inquest, the jury heard evidence from Dr Khan's mother Fatima who, the chief coroner Judge Peter Thornton said, had been "extraordinarily persistent" in trying to locate and free her son.

In evidence she explained how she travelled to the capital Damascus alone when she found out her son was being detained on terror charges.

She trawled embassies and prisons with a picture of her son who was working as a surgeon when he was arrested.

When she eventually tracked him down she described how he has a fingernail missing and that his feet were badly burnt.

Outside court, she said: "I regret I couldn't save my son. Everybody lied to me there (Syria). There was no justice system there.

Her lawyer Michael Mansfield said: "The jury uncovered the truth that it was never suicide."

During a two-week hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, the jury heard there was no evidence Dr Khan had gone to Syria to fight.

Judge Thornton said: "It is clear that he wanted to use his medical skills to help others, and that included helping others in conflict-torn Syria."

The coroner had previously said the main issues for the jury to consider were: did Dr Khan take his own life, or was he "forced in some way by his captors to take his own life against his will", or was he "unlawfully killed" by his captors?

More follows...

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Doctors Recruited In Battle To Keep Young Safe

By Lisa Dowd, Sky News Correspondent

Family doctors are being urged to look out for signs of radicalisation, child trafficking and cyber-bullying in their younger patients.

GPs are being sent a 'toolkit' of information by children's charity the NSPCC and the Royal College of General Practitioners to help them make informed and confident decisions about safeguarding youngsters.

"I would like to say we never see cases of abuse but we have seen cases in the surgery recently - some have involved cyber-bullying," said Dr Trish Wildbore, from the Hazelwood Surgery in Coleshill, north Warwickshire.

"What we've found over time is the way people insult or abuse others changes with technology.

"On a recent course of lectures I went on I was horrified to find there's a child trafficking hotspot just a couple of miles from the surgery. Obviously that's quite alarming."

Doctors are also being urged to be on the look out for child trafficking

Further north, in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, the scale of child sexual exploitation was missed or ignored by healthcare professionals and others.

A report found at least 1,400 youngsters had been abused over a 16-year period.

Video: 'Lawless Jungle' Of Online Abuse

While the search for victims and perpetrators has widened to other areas, so too has the definition of abuse to include forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

The long list of ailments GPs deal with is being extended to reflect other problems in a changing society.

RCGP chair Maureen Baker said: "Children and young people, today, are facing unprecedented pressures from all angles at a younger and younger age.

"The arrival of the internet and social media has opened up so many opportunities but has also brought many threats, including cyber-bullying, sexting, and revenge porn.

Video: 'I Had No Idea I Was In England'

"Because of the anonymity offered by the internet, many children and young people run a higher risk of being harmed or exploited.

"A consultation with a GP may be the only time that young people can be alone with a trusted adult and we have a number of roles to play in providing understanding, compassion and support."

But patients have mixed views.

"I think doctors generally are already quite busy and it's already hard to try and get appointments," said Brian Griffiths, from Coleshill.

Video: Brits 'At Forefront' Of IS Conflict

"And I'm not sure they're the right people to do this. Cyber-bullying? I'm not sure how a doctor's going to pick that up really."

But Helen Brownsword disagreed. She said: "I think it's a good thing.

"Doctors have got a heavy workload anyway but in the society we live and the things, particularly at a young age, children are into - the internet, that sort of thing - I think the more awareness we make in schools, the doctors, the better."

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Fourth Man From Portsmouth Dies In Syria

A 19-year-old has become the fourth man from the same British city to be killed after reportedly joining Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria.

Mehdi Hassan, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, travelled to the conflict-hit country with a group of four other men from the city in October last year.

A photo of his body emerged on Twitter on Friday.

Abdul Jalil, chairman of the Portsmouth Jami Mosque, told Sky News his family have confirmed his death.

Mehdi Hassan travelled to Syria with four other Portsmouth men

Sky's Ashish Joshi, in Portsmouth, said it is understood Hassan died in fighting in the Syrian town of Kobani, where Kurdish forces are battling IS militants.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of the death of a British national in Syria.

"The UK has advised for some time against all travel to Syria, where all UK consular services are suspended.

Muhammad Humidur Rahman also reportedly died while fighting with IS

"As we do not have any representation in Syria, it is extremely difficult to get any confirmation of deaths or injuries."

Hassan is reported to have attended an independent Catholic school and had a place reserved at Surrey University.

On Tuesday it emerged that Manunur Roshid, 24, from Portsmouth, died after reportedly joining up with IS.

Ifthekar Jaman, 23, and Muhammad Humidur Rahman, 25, were also killed, it is believed.

Rahman is believed to have worked in a Primark store in Portsmouth.

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Liam Gallagher's Band Beady Eye Splits Up

Former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher has announced the split of his band Beady Eye - the project he started after leaving the group he founded with his brother Noel.

The rock star posted the news on Twitter, but did not explain the reason.

Gallagher formed Beady Eye in 2009 with former Oasis members Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock.

He left his previous band after a series of fallouts with Noel, who then went on to have a successful solo career with his band High Flying Birds.

Gallagher tweeted: "Beady Eye are no longer. Thanks for all your support. LGx"

Video: Noel Gallagher in Kiev

Bell wrote on Twitter: "Thanks to all the Beady Eye fans. I had a blast. See you on the other side. Big Love Andy B X"

The split is likely to prompt speculation that Liam and Noel might be able to bury the hatchet and consider reforming.

Beady Eye released a debut album in 2011 called Different Gear, Still Speeding, which reached number three on the UK album chart.

A second release, BE, made number two in 2013.

One of the band's high points was playing at the London Olympics in 2012, in a celebration of British music.

But, despite the relatively high chart positions of the albums, most of the singles failed to make the Top 40 and the second album sold less than a third of the copies of its predecessor.

In February the band cancelled an appearance at the Coachella festival in California and later that month announced they had parted with manager Scott Rodger.

The band has posted no news on its website since February this year.

Several posters reacting to the news on Twitter said they hoped the news would mean Oasis would reunite.

The band were one of the most successful rock acts of the last 20 years, selling millions of albums and seen by millions of fans live.

Q magazine reported in its December issue that the brothers were talking to each other again after their estrangement, with Noel saying: "We're on good terms, as good as we can be."

But he has given no impression a reunion is likely, and has several live performances lined up in the coming six months.

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Lords Consider Drone Laws Over Privacy Fears

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

A House of Lords committee will hear from drone safety experts on Monday about whether legislation needs updating.

The committee is investigating the civil use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and is expected to report its findings in 2015.

The popularity of drones has surged as the technology has improved, leading to a consumer boom in cheaper, simpler models.

Among the questions the committee will seek answers to are the implications of drones for air traffic control, and whether drones will be affected by current data protection legislation.

Earlier this week, a report led by the former head of GCHQ and conducted by the University of Birmingham's Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security said that UAVs pose "significant safety, security and privacy concerns".

Video: Debate Over Paparazzi Tactics

It warned they could also be exploited by burglars, train robbers, poachers and the paparazzi.

But the report also said drones could bring "significant benefits". The commercial drone market is estimated to be worth £7.5bn over the next decade.

Jennifer Gibson, a legal expert on UAVs, told Sky News: "Parliament needs to step up. They need to make sure that outdated laws - which historically were used for things like CCTV cameras or manned aircraft - are updated to address this unmanned threat that is coming and can be used by the average person on the street, or by police forces.

Video: Dubai To Get Drone Deliveries

"There need to be codes of conduct, we need to have discussions about what privacy means in this new world where you can fly something up to someone's window.

"We need to have decisions around how to protect ourselves from the potential use of this in a threatening way."

This week also saw the first UAV conference held in London.

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