Mayors for Everyone!

Every town and city in England should have a powerful directly-elected mayor, a think tank has said.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said mayoral leaders had proved "highly capable" and helped to "reinvigorate" local politics.

But it added the present system was biased against their introduction - with just 12 areas adopting them since the option was introduced in 2002.

News

Through the American mindset, it is hard to imagine a town without a mayor. It seems to work here and it is a wonder that other places do not have this system. Again, that is an American viewpoint.

Grade this post.

Plotters Lose Appeal

Four men serving at least 40 years for the failed 21 July suicide bombs have lost a Court of Appeal bid to challenge their convictions.

Three judges rejected applications brought by Muktar Said Ibrahim, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed and Hussain Osman for leave to appeal.

Last July, the men were jailed for life for conspiracy to murder.

Linkage

Men such as these should never see the light of day again. It is good that they lost their appeal. Why should they ever be expected to do anything good and proper again?

Grade this post.

Strike to disrupt 7,500 schools

The teachers' strike is set to close or partially close about 7,500 schools in England and Wales.

Warnings to parents from 117 local authorities - two thirds of the total - so far show that 31% of schools are expected to face disruption.

The one-day pay strike is being staged on Thursday by members of the National Union of Teachers.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls, opposing the walk-out, says "the majority of teachers do not want to strike".

Schools have been alerting parents to anticipated closures and loss of lessons - with more than 5,000 schools already set to be disrupted in a survey of 117 local authorities.

Linkage

I understand that workers at times go on strike, thus labor unions. But teachers. How can the children be the future if they have no guidance?

Terror Suspect Surrenders

A terror fund-raiser has handed himself into police after jumping bail for 10 days during his trial.

Shah Jalal Hussain, 25, was found guilty of terrorist fund-raising on Thursday and will be sentenced alongside five other men shortly.

He surrendered at Kingston Crown Court a day after his conviction and was arrested by police.

News

It is good news that this man developed a conscience and turned himself in. It is one less criminal off the streets.

Grade this post.

80 MPH Killer Train

A man and a woman died when they were struck by an 80mph train on a railway line in west Essex.

The incident happened in the early hours at Harlow Mill on the Cambridge to London Liverpool Street line.

The driver of the 0618 BST train from Cambridge told police he sounded his horn and applied the emergency brakes but was unable to avoid striking them.

Quailman

How two people get stuck on the tracks of an 80 mph train, I do not know. It is unfortunate that this befell these two people. However, it seems to me that the two people must not have been in a completely sober state at the time of the incident.

Grade this post.

Arrests in Murder Case

Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.

They were held by Merseyside Police in a series of dawn raids in the Croxteth area of the city.

Two youths, aged 16 and 17, and two men, aged 24 and 25, were being held on suspicion of

murdering the 11-year-old schoolboy in August 2007.

Story

It's terrible what happened to the young boy. It is about time that some action was taken to bring those responsible to justice.

Grade this post.

Assessment Complete

Doctors attack 'supersize' drinks

Increasingly large pub measures are pushing customers towards unsafe levels of drinking, the Royal College of Physicians has warned.

RCP president Ian Gilmore accused the pub industry of acting irresponsibly and urged it to put its house in order.

The Publican magazine survey found 14% of pubs offered only 250ml wine glasses - equivalent to a third of a bottle.

Linkage

Super sized drinks are really not a good thing for a several reasons. First it would be interesting to see the increase in drunk driving accidents since the opening of these drinks. Secondly your liver would be shot after a while. This is a bad idea.

Doctor admits Glasgow bomb charge

The brother of a man who died attacking Glasgow Airport with a car bomb has admitted withholding information.

Sabeel Ahmed, 26, from Bangalore, India, pleaded guilty to the charge at a hearing at the Old Bailey in London.

The doctor was arrested in Liverpool and charged on Saturday 30 June, the day of the attack.

Prosecutors say Ahmed received texts and e-mails from his brother, Kafeel, who drove a car into the airport and later died from his injuries.

Link.

One down a lot more to go. The Brits got a bad guy woohoo.

Grade it.

Farmers plan for swinger club.

A north Devon farmer has caused a stir among villagers by diversifying into hosting a swingers' club.

Roger Stanbury said the premises in Horswell near Bishops Tawton were providing a "harmless" service.

But some villagers say the club, promising "sexy fun", is the wrong type of entertainment for a rural area.

Link.

The village that this farmer lives in obviously does not approve of this plan. Swinger clubs often are not a good idea.

Grade this post.

William Gets His Wings

Prince William and other graduates have been awarded their RAF pilot's wings - by the Prince of Wales.

Prince Charles, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, bestowed the awards at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, in his capacity as Air Chief Marshal.

Flying Officer Wales, training with the RAF since January, was one of 25 graduates to receive their wings.

linky

Prince William has earned his RAF Wings. It is a nice achievement for the Prince. Also, it was given to his by his father. That must have been a touching ceremony.

Grade this post.

Police Chief Fallen

The family of police chief Michael Todd have been joined by the home secretary and the UK's most senior police officers at his memorial service.

Hundreds of people are gathered at Manchester Cathedral for the service which is also being relayed on a big screen in the city's centre.

Mr Todd, 50, was found dead on Snowdon, north Wales, on 11 March.

News

Though the cause of his death is still a mystery it is none-the-less sad that he has passed. Only time will tell what really happened.

Grade this post.

Faulty Equipment?

Sending British soldiers on patrol or into battle with defective equipment could breach their human rights, High Court judge Mr Justice Collins ruled.

In a test case over Scottish soldier Pte Jason Smith's death in Iraq, he said human rights legislation could apply to troops on active service.

He also ruled the families of those killed in conflict should get legal aid and access to military documents.

Story

This could open a large can of worms for the MoD. If they have been sending soldiers to battle with bad equipment then they could be facing large lawsuits.

Grade this post