Greece Will Leave Austerity 'Humiliation' Behind

Protesters To Rally Against Fracking Proposals

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 28 Januari 2015 | 12.27

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

Demonstrators from around the UK are expected to gather in Lancashire today, ahead of a controversial decision on the future of fracking in the county.

It is the first time that Cuadrilla, an exploration company, has applied to develop new fracking sites since being blamed for creating earth tremors in Blackpool three years ago.

The firm suspended test drilling and abandoned its site near the seaside resort following the quakes in 2011.

The Preese Hall site remains the only place in the UK where modern fracking techniques have been used so far.

The new areas sit on the same massive reserve of shale gas which experts say could help revolutionise Britain's energy market.

But groups opposed to fracking say it would industrialise the countryside and pollute the environment.

Cuadrilla has applied to Lancashire County Council for permission to frack two sites in a rural area between Preston and Blackpool.

Officers at the authority have recommended that councillors vote against the proposals because of concerns over noise and road safety.

If the councillors accept the recommendations, it will be seen as a major blow to the efforts to kick-start Britain's shale gas industry.

Anti-fracking campaigner Tina Rothery said: "Like many people in the anti-fracking movement, we have completely put our own lives on hold for four years just to get this done – because how do you walk away from this?

"Every door I would look to walk out of would have my granddaughter's face on it. I can't walk away and go 'It's OK – they'll take care of it' because it's too big."

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of drilling a mile or more into the earth before water, chemicals and sand are injected under high pressure into rock, releasing the shale gas trapped inside.

In recent years, it has become one of the most divisive issues in the UK, leading to violent scenes between police and protesters at proposed sites in Manchester, Lancashire and Sussex.

Supporters such as Blackpool businessman Tony Raynor claim his interest in fracking was prompted by the local earth tremors several years ago.

"Like most people, I was ambivalent to shale gas, but the tremors made me want to find out more. Now I'm in favour," he said.

"There are fewer jobs here now than there were in 2004 and we all worry about the brain drain (from the area) and our children finding opportunities in this region. We need economic activity happening in Blackpool."

The anti-fracking movement has built up considerably over recent years. Its supporters say pollution in the US has shown the process is environmentally unsustainable.

However, supporters argue that it has considerably reduced America's dependence on imported energy supplies and helped to bolster the economy.

Cuadrilla has asked that the local authority allows more time to consider its proposals for minimising the environmental impact at fracking sites. If Lancashire councillors do reject Cuadrilla's plans, the company is expected to appeal.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

More Pregnant Smokers Quit If Paid, Study

Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to quit the habit if they are paid, according to new research.

Figures suggest 5,000 fetuses and babies die every year as a result of mums smoking during pregnancy.

And it is claimed it can cost the NHS annually up to £64m for problems in mothers and up to £23.5m for infants.

But a new study suggests financial incentives, in the form of shopping vouchers, can motivate pregnant women to quit the habit.

"This study provides substantial evidence of a very promising and potentially cost-effective new intervention to add to present health service support," the authors wrote.

"The findings can serve as the basis for future research to include other UK centres and other health care systems."

Researchers at the University of Glasgow and the University of Stirling used 612 pregnant smokers.

They were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Half were assigned to a group offered up to £400 of financial incentives if they took part in sessions aimed at helping them quit ior actually gave up.

The other half were just offered places on help groups and a face-to-face appointment with a smoking cessation adviser, four follow-up support calls and free nicotine replacement therapy for 10 weeks.

Women who were offered shopping vouchers were significantly more likely to quit smoking (23%) than those in the control group (9%).

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Campaigns Heat Up As Election Countdown Begins

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 27 Januari 2015 | 12.27

There are now just 100 days until the General Election, with Britain's two largest parties - Labour and the Conservatives - launching new policies in a bid to lure voters.

David Cameron has promised a renewed squeeze on benefits "within the first few days" of Government if the Tories are re-elected on May 7.

The Prime Minister plans to reduce the annual cap on welfare payments from £26,000 to £23,000 – with the £135m saved going towards funding for 3 million apprenticeships by the end of the decade.

Mr Cameron will be speaking on Sky News at 7.15am about his proposals to tighten the limit, which he believes will "give people the chance of a better future".

:: Sky looks at the 150 seats that could play a deciding role in May's General Election. Click here for the link to the In The Margins console.

Meanwhile, Labour is outlining its 10-year plan for the National Health Service, which includes a pledge to improve the care that terminally ill, frail and elderly people receive at home.

The announcement of 5,000 new "homecare workers" is part of a wider policy to invest an extra £2.5bn in the NHS, with a view to recruiting 20,000 more nurses and 8,000 additional GPs.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham will be appearing live on Sky News at 8.10am.

The fresh round of campaigning comes as Sky News forecasts another hung parliament following May's General Election, with the Green Party, UKIP and the SNP all vying to lure voters away from the traditional two-party system.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Will There Be Another Hung Parliament In May?

By Michael Thrasher, Sky's Election Analyst

With 100 days to go until the General Election, Sky News is forecasting another hung parliament - with Labour rather than the Conservatives as the largest party.

Typical: you wait years for a hung parliament and then two come along together.

This forecast will change because electoral opinion is changing. Gone are the days when parties could rely upon a solid core of support and concentrate instead on wooing the "floating" voters.

Over the past two years, former Tories have separated from the party, tempted by the promises of UKIP to curb immigration and abandon the European Union. It is 100 days and counting before separation turns into divorce.

Labour, which recovered rapidly from its 2010 defeat because of Liberal Democrat voters defecting, has squandered that inheritance. Deemed too left-wing or too right-wing according to which branch of the party has a public platform, it is being outmanoeuvred by the radical Greens in England and by the SNP in Scotland.

The electoral arithmetic is clear. Understanding what might happen on 7 May requires us to reset the parliamentary numbers to what they were after the last election.

The Conservatives, with 306 seats, fell 20 seats short of an overall majority, despite staging one of its best-ever election performances.

Labour finished with 258 seats, and required 68 gains for a victory.

:: Sky looks at the 150 seats that could play a deciding role in May's General Election. Click here for the link to the In The Margins console.

Election watchers normally talk about swing - the movement of voters from one party to another across consecutive elections. The line for next May is pretty well-rehearsed.

The Conservatives require a swing of 2% from Labour (or an 11-point lead in the popular vote) for an overall majority.

Meanwhile, Labour overtakes the Conservatives with a 2% swing in its favour, and then crosses the finishing line with a 5% swing (a three-point lead).

The national polls currently show that Conservative support has fallen by six points, while Labour has enjoyed a rise of three points. Assuming a national uniform swing, Labour would be just short of a majority.

But the 2015 election is so unlike previous elections that such forecasting conventions should be abandoned.

National polls are now too blunt to capture the undercurrents of electoral opinion. They fail to reflect the turbulence in Scotland following the referendum vote, differences across the English regions, and politics in individual constituencies.

Last September, 45% of voters in Scotland supported independence. The latest Scottish-only polls shows most of these will stick with the SNP for the Westminster election.

Meanwhile, the majority that voted to stay with the union have scattered among other parties.

All of this is good news for the SNP, which could win 53 seats, and disaster for Labour, projected to lose 36 seats.

There are differences in the English regions, too. The UKIP threat to the Conservatives is concentrated down the east coast, and into Essex and Kent particularly.

While Conservative hopes are pinned on banging the drum of economic recovery, its sound is muffled in the Midlands and the north, where 38 of its most marginal seats are situated.

Opposition parties would hope to tap into such scepticism, but these voters are unimpressed with Labour's leader and his party's message.

General elections are ultimately decided not by the national vote, but by results in 650 separate constituencies. The contrast here between UKIP and the Liberal Democrats reinforces this point.

Farage's party is generally more popular than Clegg's, but vote distribution is everything. UKIP may win Clacton and Rochester again, but the Liberal Democrats could have 10 times that number of seats despite polling fewer votes nationally.

A hung parliament is therefore the most likely outcome of this chaos, but the 100 days after the election look equally unpredictable.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Greece Lightning: Could Syriza Success Spread?

Written By Unknown on Senin, 26 Januari 2015 | 12.27

By Robert Nisbet, Europe Correspondent

As car horns blared in the capital's streets, few doubted this had been a seismic night in European politics.

Five years of swingeing cuts have shrunk Greece's economic output by a third and delivered a primary budget surplus, but the price has been too high for many of the electorate.

A third of people in Greece live below the poverty line, a quarter are out of work and pensioners have seen their income dwindle.

That generalised anger finally found its expression at the ballot box.

While previously Syriza's core supporters had been students and a loose coalition of Marxists, Maoists, Trotskyites and environmental campaigners, it acted as a lightning rod across society.

Many of the squeezed middle class wanted to punish the political parties they felt had sold Greece's future prosperity to protect the banking system.

Alexis Tsipras now has something of a dilemma though: he wants to keep Greece in the single currency but the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF won't want the country to renege on its promises.

There were strings attached to the €240bn which have kept the country afloat and the likes of Germany are unlikely to agree to allow Greece to restructure more of its debt.

But if Mr Tsipras softens on his vow to "finish the troika" in order to prevent a default and a so-called Grexit, he may anger his core support base.

The wider repercussions could be felt outside the country's borders.

There are a host of other anti-austerity parties in Europe waiting to challenge the consensus, most prominently Podemos in Spain where an election must be held this year.

If this election grows into a pan-European movement, the plumbing of the global economy could face some determined opposition.

Syriza's progress might well embolden those willing to take on established political parties, which could have far reaching consequences.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Greece Will Leave Austerity 'Humiliation' Behind

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The leader of the Syriza party has vowed to end the "humiliation and anguish" of Greek citizens after his party took victory in the country's election on an anti-austerity platform.

Alexis Tsipras told thousands of supporters in Athens that Greece will leave behind the "catastrophic austerity" measures imposed by European creditors.

The left-wing party - which was widely tipped to win the poll - looks likely to win 149 seats in the 300-seat parliament.

This indicates the party would be two seats short of an overall majority.

With 92% of the votes counted, Syriza was 8.5 points ahead of the conservative New Democracy party of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who has conceded defeat.

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Gallery: Alexis Tsipras Celebrates Victory For His Anti-Austerity Party

A young child supporting anti-austerity party Syriza takes part in celebrations after the first exit polls in Athens

Syriza supporters await the final result of the Greek election at the party tent

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Members of the conservative New Democracy party watch as exit polls shows a significant victory for Syriza

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Celebrations continue for supporters of Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras in Athens

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An anti-austerity voter is overcome with emotion as news of the results breaks

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"Greece leaves behinds catastrophic austerity, it leaves behind fear and authoritarianism, it leaves behind five years of humiliation and anguish," Mr Tsipras said in his victory speech.

The win raises the prospect of a stand-off with European creditors, with Mr Tsipras promising to renegotiate the repayment terms of Greece's debt.

Financial markets have reacted nervously to the result, fearing conflict with other Eurozone governments that could put strain the currency bloc.

Greece was forced to undertake deep budget cuts and fiscal reforms as a condition for a €240bn bailout in 2010 from the so-called "Troika" - the group of creditors made up of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank.

Many in Greece feel slashed public spending has hit the most vulnerable hardest, while leaving the tax evasion and corruption of the apparent elites untouched.

Mr Tsipras said he would cooperate with fellow Eurozone leaders for "a fair and mutually beneficial solution", but said the Greek people come first.

"Our priority from the very first day will be to deal with the big wounds left by the crisis," he said.

"Our foremost priority is that our country and our people regain their lost dignity."

He added: "The verdict of our people means the Troika is finished.

"The new Greek government will be ready to cooperate and negotiate for the first time with our peers a just, mutually beneficial and viable solution."

Germany's Bundesbank has warned Greece needs to reform to tackle its economic problems, while the euro fell nearly half a US cent.

Mr Samaras had insisted voters would be making a huge mistake to elect Syriza at a time when painful fiscal reforms may be about to pay off.

After conceding defeat, he told supporters: "My conscience is clear because I told the truth to the Greek people until the very end.

"I received a country that was almost destroyed and I was asked to hold a hot potato and I did that."

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Written By Unknown on Kamis, 22 Januari 2015 | 12.27

Prince Andrew Asked For Sex Claim Response

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Prince Andrew has been formally asked to respond to allegations by a woman who claims she was made to have under-age sex with him.

A letter addressed to the Prince at Buckingham Palace has been filed by lawyers acting on behalf of Virginia Roberts.

The document, filed on Wednesday in a Florida court, asks him to take part in a two-hour interview under oath.

Ms Roberts, who is referred to in court as Jane Doe No 3, claims when she was 17 she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew by his friend Jeffrey Epstein - a financier and now convicted sex offender.

The Duke, who is not a party to the proceedings, strenuously denies the claims.

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Gallery: Profile Of Prince Andrew

Born on 19 February 1960 at Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew is the second son and the third child of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh

The Prince served in the Royal Navy for 22 years as a helicopter pilot - he took part in the Falklands campaign

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He married Sarah Ferguson in 1986 in a wedding that captured the public's imagination

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But the couple separated in 1993 and divorced in 1996

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The Prince holds several posts in the British Army, Navy, Air Force and Commonwealth forces

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The letter, dated 14 January, said: "This letter is a formal request ... to interview you, under oath, regarding interactions that you had with Jane Doe No 3 beginning in approximately early 2001. Jane Doe No 3 was then 17 years old.

"The interview could be conducted at a time and place of your choosing, and with your co-operation, I believe the interview could be completed in two hours or less."

The Prince is expected to publicly deny the allegations when he hosts an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos later.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: "We would not comment on speculation about what the Duke might say."

It is the first time Ms Roberts has spelt out in her own words what she claims happened.

Sky's US Correspondent Dominic Waghorn, said: "She says at one point: 'I knew he was a member of the Royal family but I just called him Andy.'

"I think that's what's new about this - these are claims she is making in detail about Prince Andrew."

Buckingham Palace has issued a number of denials over the woman's claims.

An earlier statement insisted "any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors" was "categorically untrue".

And following the latest development a spokesman told Sky News they had nothing to add.

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Written By Unknown on Rabu, 21 Januari 2015 | 12.27

The Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war will not be published until after the General Election, it has emerged.

Its chairman, Sir John Chilcot, will explain the reasons for the further delay in an exchange of letters with Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday, according to Government sources.

The inquiry was set up by the Labour government six years ago and heard from its final witnesses in February 2011.

Mr Cameron is understood to have written to Sir John saying that he would have liked to have seen the report released before the election, but accepted that publication was a matter for the inquiry.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says the public will find the latest delay "incomprehensible".

In a letter to Sir John, Mr Clegg wrote: "Neither administrative processes nor a constant back and forth between the inquiry and witnesses criticised should frustrate an independent report so important to the country's future from being published as soon as possible .

"If the findings are not published with a sense of immediacy, there is a real danger the public will assume the report is being 'sexed down' by individuals rebutting criticisms put to them by the Inquiry, whether that is the case or not.

"The inquiry into Iraq will both resolve the issues of the past, and set the tone for future British foreign policy. We cannot wait any longer for these lessons to be learned."

The latest news of a delay comes as MPs prepare to stage a Commons debate next week on the matter.

Senior Tory backbencher David Davis, told the Guardian: "Frankly this is not good enough. It is more than five years since it started.

"We need to know why. This is not simply some formality. This is for the whole country to understand why we made a terrible mistake in Iraq. Simply putting it off is not good enough.

"Why has this taken so long? What is going on that is preventing this?"

Former Attorney General and Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said the public deserved reasons for the "extraordinary delay".

He told Sky News: "It's absolutely imperative we should have an explanation as to what is going on. I think a chronology setting out what's happened... is essential."

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker told Sky the delay was "not acceptable to the British people" and that the public should have had the findings before the election.

"These were major events in 2002/2003, when government in its normal way was abandoned... when we had Alastair Campbell writing dodgy dossiers - or at least editing them - and when we had weapons of mass destruction lauded around which didn't turn out to exist."

Publication has been delayed by disagreement over the release of confidential messages between Tony Blair and former US president George Bush.

The so-called "Maxwellisation" process, by which people who are criticised in the report are given the chance to respond, has also contributed to the hold-up.

Sir John finally accepted an agreement whereby he would publish the "gist" of the communications between Mr Blair and Mr Bush after Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood blocked the publication of the full exchanges.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt 'Unnatural Sex' File Given To Abuse Inquiry

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

A secret Government file has been unearthed that documents "unnatural" sexual behaviour taking place when the Westminster paedophile scandal was at its height.

It has been kept under lock and key for 35 years on grounds of national security - but will now be released to the child abuse inquiry established by the Government.

Security and intelligence expert Dr Chris Murphy stumbled across it last November while searching documents at the National Archives in Kew.

He was immediately alerted by the title: "PREM19/588 - SECURITY. Allegations against former public [word missing] of unnatural sexual proclivities; security aspects 1980 Oct 27 - 1981 Mar 20."

"I was looking through the 'PREM' Prime Minister file series for the 1980s," the University of Salford lecturer told Sky News.

"I think I did a double-take and then started wondering what the potential implications of the title, which is a little vague, could be."

It is highly likely then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher saw the documents, and was briefed on the security implications, but the identities of those within them remain secret.

Dr Murphy added: "The fact that this file is concerning the Prime Minister and these allegations are being taken to the Prime Minister I think would strike anybody of being potentially of some interest."

Sky News highlighted the existence of the file to the Cabinet Office earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the department said: "In this case, the file was kept closed and retained as it contained information from the security services and advice from the Law Officers.

"These classifications are reviewed periodically."

The department would not reveal whether David Cameron or Home Secretary Theresa May were aware of the contents, but promised it would be made accessible to the child sex abuse inquiry.

"We are clear that any files that are pertinent to the historical child sex abuse inquiry will be made available to the panel," the spokesperson added.

Mrs Thatcher's former press secretary, Sir Bernard Ingham, told Sky News he could not recall the file.

He did though confirm that both he and Mrs Thatcher were aware of allegations against a Government minister in the early 1980s.

Sir Bernard would not name the individual, but said: "I asked him about it and he denied it, so no, I didn't do anything else. What was the alternative?"

In July last year, the Prime Minister promised the survivors of sexual abuse that "no stone would be left unturned" in the pursuit of the truth.

Officials at the Cabinet Office have though previously attempted to block requests for information relating to Cyril Smith, the late Liberal politician who is now known to have abused youngsters.

Campaigning MP Simon Danczuk, who exposed the extent of Smith's offending, told Sky News the "sexual proclivities" file had to be released.

"I think it is right and proper that the Government now open up this document, let us know what is in there," he said.

"I think there is a culture within Government departments of not releasing information and that has caused some of the problems we now have in getting to the bottom of who was involved in this paedophile network and who was involved in covering it up."

The abuse inquiry was announced in July but currently has no chairman, after first Lady Butler-Sloss and then Fiona Woolf were appointed and then stepped down following concerns over their links to the political establishment.

It is still yet to appoint someone to lead it amid growing calls for action from survivors and campaign groups.

12.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

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