The Talking Point: Blog

Boris wins mayor of London battle: special report

Brown's bruising

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:03:38 GMT

Posted by Laura Snook, Editor, MSN UK News

Noon

"How long have you got?" That was the first volley fired at Gordon Brown in this morning's Prime Minister's Questions, a reference by the opposition to just how much longer our poor PM can survive in today's Labour-hostile political climate. It's the first PMQs since last week's disastrous performance by Labour in the local polls, so could prove colourful. Boris nods politely as Brown welcomes the new mayor of London to the house. His hair still looks very restrained...

Cameron's quick to reaffirm the capital's new mayor is a Conservative.

12:09pm

Here's an old foe: post office closures. The prime minister isn't listening to the electorate, says Cameron - a dig at Brown's pledge last week to be a prime minister who "listens and leads."

"Slick salesmanship with no substance" - that's Brown's indictment of the opposition. But did Brown appear on American Idol wearing more make-up than Barbara Streisand? David seems to think so, suggesting Brown spends his day waiting for Shakira to call. "Why don't you give up the PR and start being PM?" asks the Tory leader. Tou - and indeed - che.

Nick Clegg, poster boy for the moderate voice, has restored order - but not for long. The abolition of the 10p tax rate was a matter of principle: "Do you remember those?" he quips at Brown.

12:14pm

Time for the tough guy: the government will tackle violent crime head-on, says Brown. But what about terror suspects? Brown wants to be able to hold terror suspects for longer than 28 days, in the interests of "citizen safety."

12:20pm

The collapse of Britain's economy will be Priority Number One in the next few weeks, says Brown: from the housing market to financial institutions.

12:22pm

All in all, a disappointingly civilised PMQs, especially considering the events of the May 1 elections. Brown won't have enjoyed the fact that the Tories got most of the laughs, though. The predictable polity of division, with all the yah-booing you'd expect, but little in the way of genuinely scalp-tearing political pigtail-pulling. Next time...

Arise, Mayor Boris....

Sat, 03 May 2008 13:39:27 GMT

Posted at 2:30pm by Laura Snook, Editor, MSN UK News

For the first time in a stifling few decades, since the departure of Richard Nixon in fact, politics just got interesting: Boris Johnson (Bozzer to the tabloids) is officially the new mayor of London, one of the most strategically important capital cities in the world.

Fighting his way like a professional prop through the media scrum outside City Hall this afternoon, The Blond One swung through the same doors Ken Livingstone - ousted after eight years - had slunk through a few hours earlier, greeting reporters with a glum: "I've just come in to pack my desk and go." Ken, the biggest casualty of Labour's pulverising at the local polls, is all but history.

After signing the declaration of office, the man dismissed by the Labour party as nothing but a clown, a hapless buffoon, made his way to the podium - and promptly tripped on the stairs: "I hope you didn't catch that," he quipped, merrily. "A last-minute booby trap..." Gone was the central government sanitised Boris 2.0 - the slick-haired, well-mannered impostor wheeled out by his party's militant/anally retentive (delete as applicable) campaign managers. BoJo is back... but for how long?

Mayor Boris doesn't officially assume the post until midnight on Sunday and, as he observed to the packed room in his first speech as mayor-in-waiting, "until that time, I imagine there are shredding machines that will be quietly puffing and panting away in the building... and quite rightly, too. Heaven knows what we'll uncover in the next few days."

From pranks to policies: waving an arm in the direction of the Thames - or at least, what he initially thought was the direction of the Thames ("Where's the river? I can't find it!") - Boris reiterated the intentions laid out in his manifesto, "which I'm sure you've all committed to heart": to improve transport across the city, including buses and river taxis; to build at least 50,000 affordable homes; to protect Londoners' back gardens from opportunistic developers; and to "drive out minor crime and disorder as a way to drive out more serious crime" (another teenager died in the city last night as the result of a knife attack).

London's incoming mayor also paid tribute to the city's outgoing mayor, describing Ken as "a man of considerable talents" whose achievements Boris intends to build on. A key element of his leadership will, he says, be to create cross-community cohesion: "It is vital to unite London and serve every community impartially." The sharing of ideas is also pivotal, he insisted, adding that he was open to anyone's ideas: "We don't want any dog in the manger-ish behaviour... and if we do find any dogs in the manger, we will have them humanely euthanased," he quipped, to unanimous guffaws. Punchline: there's no room for "personal rancour... (pronounced correctly)." More applause.

The capital may have its fair share of issues, but dull moments aren't likely to be one of them. Whether you live in London or elsewhere, Watch This Space. Will Boris be good for the City? Join the debate here and on our message boards.

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Mapped: election results as they come in

Elections sketch

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:39:59 GMT

Posted by Laura Snook, Editor, MSN UK News

22:30pm: Has anyone else noticed Boris' freshly tamed haircut? Anyone who doubts Tory HQ's ability to keep BoJo on a short leash should check out his unprecedentedly disciplined hairstyle: if they can tame the mop, they can tame the man.

Before After

22pm: It's now just after ten and the Boris-Ken ding-dong still hasn't reached a conclusion. Could be as late as midnight, apparently. Coffee, anyone?

6:20pm: We're still waiting for the next mayor of London to be declared, but one bookmaker has already paid out on it being Boris on the back of Labour's appalling performance. Quote of the day goes to Paddy Power, a spokesman for which said: "After the kick in the ballots that Labour has had overnight, we expect Boris to put the final nail in their local elections coffin." <groan>

4pm: Here's how it's looking so far: the Tories have gained control of 12 councils; Labour has lost eight (but won Slough, in the south east, from no overall control - which means they still have a toe-hold on Conservative territory, despite losing Reading); the Lib Dems have gained one... and I just missed Plaid Cymru's result. Apologies, Wales - will make up for it later.

3:10pm: You can smell the fear in Downing Street from here, which happens to be several miles away: word in the corridors of power is that BoJo/Bozzer/Boris/that Old Etonian buffoon (delete as per your political preference) is on the cusp of ousting Ken. Being KO'd by a gaffe-prone fop, as entertaining as he is, won't go down well in Whitehall...

3pm: Nick "I've slept with no more than 30 women" Clegg, the fresh-faced Lib Dem leader, is bristling like a cactus at suggestions his party is gaining seats purely because of Labour's apparent downfall. "It's not because Labour is doing badly, it's because we're doing extremely well." So there.

2:20pm: Disaster! Reading, Labour's last-remaining stronghold in otherwise Conservative south-east, has fallen to no overall control - a major blow for the party, albeit an accurately predicted one. A less accurately predicted result may be that of the London mayoral elections: previously written off by the pundits as too close to call, it now seems Boris all but has it in the bag - or does he? We should find out at around 6pm.

1.30pm: posted by News Editor Laura Snook

Not since the Spitting Image puppet of former prime minister John Major has a politician's complexion been quite so ashen. Gordon Brown, who finally wrestled control from Tony Blair after a prolonged tug-of-love last year, is being pulverised at the polls in his first major electoral test. Nobody said Labour would have a good night, but even the most hardcore party pessimists couldn't have braced themselves for this. The prime minister didn't even "bother to stay up last night to watch the results," so sayeth the BBC. It's a wonder he found the will to crawl out from under the ministerial covers this morning: not since the 1960s has Labour taken such a snooker-ball-in-a-sock beating.

"It's been a bad night," Brown told the elite press corps on the steps of number 10 earlier today, lip noticeably twitching in a sort of half sneer, half facial spasm. No matter whose box you ticked yesterday, you couldn't help but feel for him: the first 10 or so months of his premiership have been flawed to the point of farce. "Has anyone seen my personal data discs? Northern Rock has done WHAT?! What do you mean I can't afford a mortgage - I'm a gazillionaire!"

With Labour councils falling into enemy hands right, left and centre, it's going to be a long day for the analysts. And let's not forget the London mayoral elections, the outcome of which - expected sometime this evening - could well push our beleaguered Brown over the edge. If Ken gets beaten by what Labour calls "an effete Old Etonian buffoon" (yes, Boris Johnson), expect tears and tantrums. There was a telling moment earlier when a journalist asked whether, in response to the disastrous events of last night, the prime minister would consider changing his policies (scrapping the 10p tax rate is being widely blamed for the voter backlash on Labour's traditional turf). Brown's reply: "My job is to listen and to lead." That'll be a no, then...

Stay tuned: I'll be bringing you live updates all day as the extent to which we, the people, have redrawn Britain's political map becomes clear. If there's anything in particular you'd like to know about what's happening and what it all means, feel free to leave a comment.

Elections 2008: total coverage from MSN UK News

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Britain's marine megafauna

You couldn't make it up

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:41:07 GMT

Fireman scam

A teenage Polish fireman accused of going on an arson spree to notch up enough overtime to buy his girlfriend a present is facing ten years in jail.

Pawol Leszek, 18, allegedly set fire to a barn in Studzianki and then went to the local fire station where he earned £2 an hour as a voluntary fire fighter.

Police say he then torched two other barns over the next week in a bid to get even more cash, but was caught out when a local saw him setting fire to another barn.

Leszek has been charged with arson and endangering public safety.

A police spokesman said: "He said he just wanted to get money to buy his girlfriend a birthday present."

Fancy meeting you here

A German man survived a 25ft plunge down a lift-shaft because a women, who had fallen down it a day before, broke his fall.

Jens Wilhelms, 27, was unhurt after landing on the 57-year-old woman and managed to free himself from the shaft at the apartment block in Frankfurt where he lived.

He called out rescue services who took the woman to hospital. Doctors said she is in a critical condition after sustaining injuries in her original fall - and then again when Wilhelms landed on her.

Police spokesman Manfred Vonhausen said: "The woman had been lying unconscious in the shaft for some time already.

"Although it made her injuries worse it also probably saved her life that he fell on her as it meant he knew she was there and managed to get help."

Rescue workers said that without Wilhelm's plunge the woman would have died from internal bleeding.

Masseuses told to padlock their pants

At least one parlour in the tourist town of Batu on Java island has required its masseuses to padlock their skirts or trousers to make it clear that the establishment does not tolerate prostitution, it was reported.

Others in the town started following suit after local officials suggested it was a good idea at a recent meeting with parlour owners.

Several masseuses have been seen with small padlocks in the zip of their pants or skirts in recent days.

Imam Suryono, the head of the town's public order authority, said: "The padlocking phenomena has been seen at various parlours and it is something we like."

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Week in pictures

Animals as weapons

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Britain's marine megafauna

Sunday newspaper round-up

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:51:01 GMT

Brian blasts 'disgusting' Kerry

Brian McFadden has finally lost patience with ex-wife Kerry Katona, calling her "disgusting" and "an embarrassment."
For nearly four years the Westlife singer kept quit over Kerry's antics for the sake of their daughters Molly and Lilly-Sue.

But he contacted the News of the World after the former Atomic Kitten star brought their children into the row surrounding the premature birth of her fourth child Max.

She claimed Molly and Lilly-Sue's late return from a visit to Brian and partner Delta Goodrem in Australia had triggered the anxiety which brought on her labour.

In an interview with the paper, Brian blasted: "Kerry is a disgusting human being.

"She manipulates people and plays the sympathy card for every stupid mistake she makes. Me and my family have been put through hell by her stupid games.

"She uses my two girls as a weapon in her childish games. She is an embarrassment to me, my family and my children."

One in five surgeries faces closure

One in five GP surgeries in England is set to close, threatening to end the era of a family doctor in every neighbourhood, a report in the Independent on Sunday reveals.

Government proposals to create a new generation of polyclinics will lead to the closure of 1,700 practices, the Tories claimed last night. In their place will be a series of "super-surgeries" housing up to 25 GPs and offering hospital-style outpatient appointments, minor surgery and pharmacies. While ministers hail this as a vision of 21st-century health care, opponents fear it is the death knell for traditional patient-doctor relationships.

Blues facing player mutiny

Chelsea face a player mutiny and the exit of star names if manager Avram Grant remains in charge after this season, the Mail on Sunday reports.

While Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is fully aware of the rebellious mood in his club, he is adamant that he will stick by Grant.

Key players such as Real Madrid target Michael Essien are likely to join Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard on the list of those heading for the exit this summer, while the discontent among those who stay will deepen.

Karen Matthews set police on lover, 67

Karen Matthews had a secret affair with an OAP - and told police that he was to blame for her daughter Shannon's disappearance, the Sunday Mirror reveals today.

In the hours after her little girl went missing, she asked detectives to search the home of her ex-lover, 67-year-old Eddie Clayton.

And his flat was the first they swooped on in their desperate 28-day hunt for the nine-year-old schoolgirl. He was grilled by detectives for five days and all his possessions were seized.

Chelsea want Gerrard - again

The Sunday Times reports that Chelsea will make a third attempt to sign Steven Gerrard from Liverpool if, as expected, Frank Lampard leaves at the end of the season.

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s former manager, was twice out of luck when he tried to buy the Liverpool captain. However, fortune may well smile on his successor, Avram Grant, whose title hopes were raised yesterday when leaders Manchester United could only draw 1-1 at Blackburn thanks to a late goal from Carlos Tevez. Chelsea are three points behind United, who visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Gerrard almost joined Chelsea in June 2004 for £20m, and again 12 months later, for £32m, after the Anfield captain reacted to the interest by submitting a transfer request. He changed his mind only after his family received death threats and a fan burned his replica shirt live on Sky TV.

Now Grant will try to make it third time lucky, if he survives in the job beyond the end of the season and, as seems likely, Lampard leaves to take on a fresh challenge.

Authorities lose patience with collapsing dollar

Top story on the Telegraph site today is news that Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU's 'Mr Euro', has given the clearest warning to date that the world authorities may take action to halt the collapse of the dollar and undercut commodity speculation by hedge funds.

Momentum traders have blithely ignored last week's accord by the G7 powers, which described "sharp fluctuations in major currencies" as a threat to economic and financial stability. The euro has surged to fresh records this week, touching $1.5982 against the dollar and £0.8098 against sterling yesterday.

"I don't have the impression that financial markets and other actors have correctly and entirely understood the message of the G7 meeting," he said.

More on MSN News

Week in pictures

Animals as weapons

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Wheely sorry

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:49:32 GMT

It has been brought to our attention that our Off to a Flyer photo-feature on the Singapore Flyer - the world's biggest observation wheel - contained a humdinger of a factual error.

It stated that in one rotation, lasting 30 minutes, passengers would travel 18 kilometres at a speed of 36 kilometres per hour. This is, as many of you kindly pointed out to us, utter codswallop. If it did travel at 36 kilometres per hour it would indeed be very difficult and extremely dangerous for passengers to get on and off.

The actual distance of one rotation is 471 metres and the speed is less than one kilometre per hour.

We'd like to apologise for this error and thank each and every one of you who took the time to let us know about the mistake.

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You couldn't make it up

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:16:58 GMT

Lunt residents tire of name game

The residents of an historic village called Lunt are being asked to change its name because vandals keep defacing their road signs.

However, the proposal is dividing villagers in the Merseyside community, who say they should not have to give up a name that has been around since the 13th century simply because of puerile graffiti.

Martyn Ball, a retired police officer, is urging residents to support the move because he is fed up with the graffiti which greets visitors to the village.

He said: "We are all painfully aware of the repeated times our village sign is defaced by mindless yobs who change the L to a C."

"Drive in every day and you see a very offensive word."

Dr Ball has suggested Launt as an alternative name, which he says would be pronounced the same. However, many in the village say the vandals should not be allowed to destroy their heritage.

Steward Dobson, a parish councillor, said: "This village is very, very old and people don't want the name changed."

David Roughley, whose family has farmed in Lunt since 1851, added: "At the end of the day we live in Lunt and we don't want to change because of a few yobs. It is the vandals who should change, not the village."

Thief slithers away with snake — in her pants

A Michigan woman tried to leave a pet store with a boa constrictor hidden inside her trousers to avoid paying for it.

Reports from the staff of the Preuss Animal House said that the woman had most probably grabbed the snake while the employee's back was turned, quickly stuffed it inside her pants and exited the store.

The store's surveillance cameras had reportedly recorded the woman grabbing the reptile.

The owner of the store admitted that the incident caused him great concern for the snake, and not the woman.

"I'm far less concerned for the person than the snake," Rick Preuss told the New York Post.

The incident was later resolved, however, when the woman returned to the store and gave the snake back.

"She brought it back right away and ran out the door before I could even get hold of any law enforcement," said Preuss.

The pet store decided not to press any charges on the woman.

Man late for own funeral

A Canadian family's grief turned to outrage after a deceased relative missed his own funeral because his coffin was bumped from a flight home to make room for luggage, according to reports.

Dennis Hamilton died suddenly last week while working in western Canada's oil-rich Alberta province.

His sister-in-law Judy Hamilton said the family was aghast when his remains did not arrive home on time for his funeral.

"You just don't bump a loved one in Montreal and keep him there for a whole night and say, 'They can wait,'" she said. "And let luggage go on? It's not acceptable."

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick explained that airline staff had tried to expedite the coffin to Newfoundland, but its flight from Edmonton was delayed and it then missed a connecting flight in Montreal.

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Sunday newspaper round-up

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:17:14 GMT

Posh and Katie act is wearing thin for Tom Cruise

Victoria Beckham's new best friends may be Hollywood's biggest stars – but Tom Cruise is concerned that the Spice Girl is rubbing off on his wife just a bit too much, the Mail on Sunday reports.

According to the paper, the actor is keen to put some distance between his actress wife Katie Holmes and Victoria.

"Katie sees Victoria as a role model," says the paper's source. "She copies Victoria's look and even cut her hair the same way.

But it concerns Tom that Katie has lost so much weight recently.

"She is very thin largely because she is following Victoria's strict 900-calories-a-day eating plan. She is copying Victoria's fad of eating seaweed shakes, frozen grapes and edamame beans. She is tiny."

Shannon Matthews' torment

Shannon Matthews is suffering nightmare hallucinations caused by her 24-day abduction, the Sunday Mirror reveals.

The girl is convinced she was taken on a day-trip to the seaside while she was being held.

She is now so disorientated that she believes people came to visit her while she was missing - although there is no actual evidence of it happening.

Shannon has claimed she was taken to play by the sea, went swimming and even visited a market while she was in captivity.

How Britain was real Jurassic Park

In the film, the scene of all the action was a small island off the coast of South America. But a new study has revealed that Britain was the real Jurassic Park, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

More than 100 species of dinosaur once roamed the land, one of the most diverse concentrations in the world.

Britain was a crucial crossroads for creatures moving between North America and Eurasia - the landmass that includes Europe and Asia - when they were joined.

Britain formed part of the last "land bridge" between the two continents before they finally split apart 65 million years ago and experts believe it was one of the few places where dinosaurs from both sides would have existed together.

GPs warned over failure to diagnose cancers

Patients are dying of cancer because GPs are failing to identify their symptoms, the government's top cancer expert has warned.

Professor Mike Richards said botched diagnoses were now 'a significant concern'.

In an interview with The Observer, Richards, national cancer director at the Department of Health, warned about the consequences of these mistakes.

'Ultimately it can mean that the cancer has progressed to a stage where it can't be cured,' he said. Failed diagnoses also meant that, when cancers were eventually spotted, particularly aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery, had to be used.

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The long Good Friday: 10 years of peace in Northern Ireland

Money talk

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:14:42 GMT

Posted by Steff Sanchez

It’s hard to ignore the economy. Even if you can’t feel the pinch in your wallet, chances are you get reminded of the impending crisis every time you pick up a paper or flip on the telly.

The word ‘recession’ is thrown around, bringing along its frightening friends ‘credit crunch’ and ‘market squeeze’. A recession, by definition, is reduced economic activity that lasts three-quarters of a year. But how does this impact the average Brit?

Time for a quick recap of some of the main points in the economic downturn:

• The Bank of England has just announced a 5% cut in interest rates. In a healthy economy, lenders would take this extra money and pass it onto consumers. However, because lenders are already struggling themselves, that isn’t going to happen. While the action of cutting interest rates might bolster consumer confidence, who – if anyone – will benefit?

• Mortgage lenders are withdrawing their products as a result of the credit crunch. It is becoming increasingly difficult for people to obtain a mortgage, let alone one with a good rate.

• The inflation rate is now 3%: a solid 1% over the target. While this might seem like a small amount, it will soon become visible in the price of things such as food, petrol and energy.

To make matters worse, banks such as Northern Rock and Bear Stearns have failed, relying on government money (provided by taxpayers) to bail them out. Are we shoring them up? Many feel the market can sustain itself and, in time, the economy will level out and return to normal. Others, however, are less optimistic.

One poignant metaphor is that of a forest: typically, some of the trees get sick and die. Here, nature corrects itself through small brush fires. The same is true with minor dips in the market. It is healthy to purge and doing so keeps the economy strong in the long run. However, the government has created an environment that prevents ANY fires, resulting in an excess of dead branches. Well, conditions are perfect—and sparks are flying. If it catches, we will have a full-blown forest fire on our hands. While we need a downturn in the market to return to healthy activity, have we gone beyond the point of no return?

What do you think of the state of the economy? Are you feeling the squeeze? Share your opinion here.

Also on MSN UK News:

Bleak Britain: social trends report 2008

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The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the government’s official advisory body on drugs policy, is set to recommend that cannabis remain a Class C substance, which it was downgraded to from Class B in January 2004.

What hope for dope?

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:00:05 GMT

Posted by Steff Sanchez

No matter what your stance, illegal drugs are part of the world we live in – and drug laws, especially those concerning cannabis, are always hotly contested.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, however, would like to see cannabis reclassified again as Class B —raising the maximum jail terms faced by those caught in possession from two years to five years – to ‘send a message about the dangers of the drug, particularly to teenagers.’ The penalty for supplying is the same for both classifications: 14 years.

For every person who promotes the benefits of marijuana use, there is another who warns of the health risks. New potent strands, such as skunk, are reported to cause psychotic breakdowns and may exacerbate schizophrenia. The government claims it is just trying to protect the nation. If this is true, then why not make all mind-altering substances illegal—including alcohol?

Public safety is important, whether it’s offering support to users or protecting non-users from drug-related crime. But it’s important to remember what motivated the original downgrade. Much of the penal system, not to mention valuable police resources, were (and indeed still are) spent targeting an activity that—let’s face it—most people have tried. Estimates from Steve Rolles of the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation suggested that two million Brits regularly use cannabis. In addition, a further four million are occasional users and about six million have tried it ‘at some point.’

Should the police really be spending so much time and money combating cannabis, or should they turn their attention to targeting harder drugs? Would harsher drug laws really do anything to decrease cannabis use? Is Brown right to push for harsher penalties, or should cannabis remain Class C? We hit the streets to find out what you think.

Share your views here.

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Summer 2008: hot... or not?

Coups that shook the world

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Zimbabwe: a questionable election

Do you mind the daily grind?

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:52:58 GMT

Posted by Laura Snook, MSN UK News Editor

Millions of Britons are in the wrong job, according to a new report claiming one in five of us are doing work that doesn’t make the best use of our skills.

On average, each of us will spend four years and ten months in “unsatisfactory” employment that fails to challenge or stimulate us – adding up to some 132 million wasted working years.

The Skills Commission, which polled more than 2,000 people, blamed lacklustre career advice and has called on the government to introduce measures to prevent the nation’s skills being “massively underused.”

But isn’t it human nature to abhor working for a living? Don’t we all wish that, instead of being chained to our desks (or whatever your workspace may be), we could go out and do something more interesting instead?

We hit the streets of London to ask you if you love what you do for a living, or has your job become a tedious bore – and were pleasantly surprised by your answers.

Job-related doom, gloom and despair were in short supply and the majority of you said you actually looked forward to going to work and derived genuine pleasure from your professional accomplishments (for the record, I love mine too. Mr Gates, please take note). Take that, misery-mongers! Watch what you had to say.

Tell us about your job and how it measures up to your aspirations here and on our message boards.

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Five killed in Kent plane crash: special report

The Diana inquest: a dramatic conclusion

Space exploration: to infinity... and beyond!

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MSN Video: Your say on T5

T5 - turmoil at the terminal

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:13:06 GMT

Posted by Steff Sanchez

There was nothing subtle about the opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Upon first arrival, one cannot help but be struck by the epic building. The multi-story terminal is impressively constructed out of steel and glass and light floods in through the enormous glass panes, pleasantly brightening the area. The vast size of the terminal, coupled with the large windows, has created a sense of open space with a twist of clean, modern chic.
The opening itself received mixed reviews. Many were full of positive admiration for the architecture and service of the British Airways employees but others had nothing “nice” to say. Scores of people in red shirts reading ‘Stop Airport Expansion’ came to voice their opposition. Protestors staged a peaceful sit-in and flashbulb protest—using their own bodies to spell out the words ‘STOP NOW’. Many of them believe that expanding the airport contributes to pollution and infringes on the people living in the local area.
As the day continued, the projected flawless opening quickly turned into another episode of “Heathrow Hell”. All of the money spent on a state-of-the-art underground baggage conveyer seems to have been for naught, as the system broke down causing seven flights to leave without any cargo. By the afternoon, all baggage check-ins were closed.
Things weren’t much better up in the air. Although the first flight of the day seemed a good omen, arriving a full eight minutes early, the chaos grew worse as the day progressed. At last count, 34 flights had been cancelled—mostly on domestic routes.
In a statement British Airways said: “We have had a few minor problems with our first day of operation in T5. This is not unexpected following one of the most complex and largest airport moves in history. These teething problems have included car parking provision, delays in staff security screening and staff familiarisation with the terminal. We have also had some luggage performance issues.”
It is understandable that there would be a few hiccups throughout the day. However, given the amount of money and discourse over the opening of the terminal—has the British public been let down?

Heathrow in turmoil - special report

Are we becoming an angry nation?

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:51:03 GMT

posted by Steff Sanchez

Anger is a basic human emotion. In more primitive, ancient times it was a survival asset, but what function does it serve in modern society?

There are many reasons to be angry. Everyday stresses can tint anyone’s mindset. Imagine: you wake up late for work. Transport is a mess and you are lost in a sea of people after squeezing your way in and being shoved about. On the street, it’s all rush-rush-rush above a cacophony of car honks and coach smog. The papers offer no more reason to be cheery: the war is still dragging on, the economy is about to bottom out and the sky is falling on our heads. Is it any wonder that Britons’ tempers are flaring?

The Mental Health Foundation has just released a new study, ‘Boiling Point,’ examining Britons’ unresolved anger. Unlike other emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, panic episodes and phobias, GPs are largely unprepared to treat anger issues.

“In a society where people can get help for… a range of other psychological and emotional problems, it seems extraordinary that we are left to fend for ourselves when it comes to an emotion as powerful as anger,” said Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. “We need to be able to recognise when anger is damaging our lives, ask for help and receive it.”

In addition to breaking down relationships, pent up anger adversely affects one’s health—increasing risks for heart disease, cancer, stroke, colds, flu, depression and substance abuse. Often, anger is left untreated until it leads to violent crimes, such as theft or even murder.

“It is the elephant in the room in mental health,” said McCulloch. “This is not about excusing bad behaviour, but about helping individuals and communities to take responsibility.”

The problem seems to be getting worse. A related YouGov survey, carried out on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, found that 12% of people polled had trouble controlling their own anger and one in four worried about how angry they feel. Moreover, a whopping 64% feel that people are generally getting angrier.

Is Britain becoming an angry nation? Do you have trouble keeping your temper? Should the government do more to help people who can’t control their anger? Share your views here and on our message boards. In the meantime, we hit the streets to find out what you think.

Quirky stories of the week

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:18:48 GMT

Posted by Paul

• A CAT missing for six years was reunited with its owner yesterday, thanks to a microchip tag which revealed the pet's name and address.

RSPCA vets were freeing six-year-old Beau from a plastic bag and treating him for a dislocated hip when they found the electronic tag.
Beau's owner, Nikki Baylis, from north-east London, said she could not believe the cat had been found.

She added: "The RSPCA officer asked if after six years I still wanted him. I'm sure they must come across people who say no, but that wasn't an option as far as I was concerned."

• A US woman on a boat off the Florida Keys died after a stingray leapt up and struck her in the face.

Judy Kay Zagorski was boating with her family in the Atlantic Ocean when the 75lb (34kg) spotted eagle ray hit her.

The force of the blow knocked the 57-year-old over and her head struck the deck of the vessel, in what officials called a "bizarre incident".

• RECRUITMENT website CareerBuilder has released its annual survey of the biggest gaffes made by candidates. They include:

- The man who, received a mobile phone call and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a "private call".
- The man who, during a telephone interview, flushed the toilet.
- The candidate who sniffed his armpits as he entered the interview room.

• THE shortlist for the Oddest Book Title of the Year has been announced. The six titles are:

- How Green Were the Nazis?
- An Ice Cream Company of Repute, with an Interesting and Varied Fleet of Ice Cream Vans
- The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America
- Tattooed Mountain Women and Spoon Boxes of Daghestan
- Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Seaweed Symposium
- Better Never To Have Been: The Harm of Coming Into Existence

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Sunday newspaper round-up

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:26:56 GMT

Posted by Paul

Shannon raid took a week

Investigators were told to search the flat where Shannon Matthews was found a week before police finally broke down the door and rescued her, according to today's Sunday Telegraph.

A neighbour of the man arrested in connection with her disappearance rang a helpline to suggest that officers investigate the top-floor flat.

But it was not until six days later that police knocked on the door of Michael Donovan's home in Lidgate Gardens, in the Batley Carr district of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. Moments later they found Shannon hidden in the base of a divan bed.

Last night Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, said she was "overwhelmed" to see Shannon again.

"I just couldn't stop crying, knowing she's back where she belongs and she's safe. I never gave up hope."

After her rescue on Friday, Shannon was immediately taken into the care of trained police officers, who now expect to spend the next few days gently trying to discover what happened after she went missing on February 19.

Shannon and mother reunited for only two minutes

Shannon and her mother reunited for just two minutes - and were not even allowed to touch, the Mail on Sunday reports.

It was the moment Karen Matthews hardly dared dream of for the last painful 24 days - her reunion with her nine-year-old daughter Shannon.

But as she reached out to hug her little girl, the reality that the family's nightmare is not yet over hit home as police protection officers explained that even touching Shannon could destroy vital forensic evidence.

With tears in her eyes, 32-year-old Karen could only whisper: "My baby, my baby, I love you" as she gazed at the daughter she had feared she might never see again.

A police source said Shannon will not be allowed to return home for some days.

"There is the forensic evidence we need to take first, then the slow interviewing process," they said. "Only when this is completed can we look at sending her home."

Shannon special report

Labour support hits 25-year low

The Sunday Times reveals that Labour has slumped to its lowest poll rating since 1983, when Michael Foot was leader, as voters delivered a withering verdict on last week’s budget.

Gordon Brown’s party slipped to 27% – 16 points behind the Conservatives – amid growing concern about the government’s economic competence, a YouGov survey for The Sunday Times shows today.

If the results of the poll were repeated in a general election, David Cameron would storm into Downing Street with a landslide majority of 120 and a string of high-profile cabinet ministers including Alistair Darling, the chancellor, would lose their Commons seats.

Men, women & the secrets of skin colour

The fair maiden of myth appears to have a basis in scientific reality, according to new research covered in today's Independent on Sunday.

Scientists looking into attractiveness in men and women suggest that men of all races are subconsciously attracted to fairer-skinned women, while women are more drawn to dark-complexioned men.

The researchers, whose study shows that across different races, lighter-skinned women are seen as the ideal, say the attraction is driven by preferences based on moral assumptions.

Men are subconsciously attracted to fairer skin because of its association with innocence, purity, modesty, virginity, vulnerability and goodness, according to researchers at the University of Toronto.

Women are attracted to men with darker complexions because these are associated with sex, virility, mystery, villainy and danger.

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