Thatcher's Ironclad Funeral Plans Revealed

Baroness Thatcher left instructions that the current prime minister should give a reading at her funeral, it has been reported.

Britain's first and only female PM will be given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday, which will be attended by the Queen.

It is the same status as that accorded to the Queen Mother and Diana, Princess of Wales, although some Tories want a full state ceremony.

Her friends and family indicated that Lady Thatcher said she did not want such treatment; she did not want to lie in state and thought a fly-past would be a waste of money.

But there were far more details left by Lady Thatcher on how she thought her memorial service should be carried out, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mark Thatcher greets his sister Carol as she arrives at their mother's home

They were said to include the choice of hymns - among them the patriotic I Vow to Thee, My Country - and readings from the Bible.

She specified that the prime minister at the time of her death should read a lesson from the Gospels.

Her choice of reading was John 14.1, which says: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.

"I go to prepare a place for you."

Another lesson will be read by Lady Thatcher's 19-year-old granddaughter Amanda, the Telegraph said.

The service will also include readings from the Book of Common Prayer, including the burial prayer that begins: "Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of misery. He cometh up and is cut down like a flower."

The service will be held at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday

There will be the traditional reading for meeting the body arriving at a church, which begins: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in me, yea, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Among the other hymns selected by Lady Thatcher are John Bunyan's To Be A Pilgrim and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

It has also been announced that MPs and peers will be able to pay their respects to Lady Thatcher in Parliament's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft on the eve of her funeral.

The chapel will be open on Tuesday evening so members and staff from both Houses can visit the former prime minister's coffin.

Around 100 people, mainly family members and MPs, will also be invited to a short service led by the Dean of Westminster welcoming Lady Thatcher's body.

A painting of Lady Thatcher in the Downing Street study

Downing Street said she requested her body rested overnight in the historic chapel, and the Queen had given her consent.

Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Lady Thatcher's daughter Carol arrived at her mother's home ahead of the funeral.

Miss Thatcher flew in from overseas and was driven to the Belgravia townhouse in central London, where she was greeted outside by her brother Sir Mark.

Earlier Sir Mark said his family has been overwhelmed by the messages of support, as well-wishers continued to leave floral tributes throughout the day outside the Chester Square property.

He said his mother would have been very proud to know the Queen would attend her funeral.

She will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, and other heads of state and foreign dignitaries from around the world are attending.

The Queen will attend Lady Thatcher's funeral

The Queen also went to Sir Winston Churchill's state ceremony in 1965.

The funeral plans were revealed as Downing Street released two collections of photographs on the Flickr website documenting Lady Thatcher's time in office and her lasting influence inside Number 10.

The photos show renovations she ordered during her time in power, while her third general election victory is featured with her giving a three-fingered salute outside Number 10.

Lady Thatcher died at The Ritz in central London on Monday morning after suffering a stroke. She had battled ill health for a number of years.

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Weather Turns As Spring Finally Starts

Spring is at last set to begin in earnest this weekend, with forecasters predicting temperatures of up to 20C (68F).

Sunday is expected to be the warmest day of the year so far after what has been a dismal and extended winter dogged by snow and freezing conditions.

Sunshine in the South East and East Anglia will deliver the highest temperatures, with weather in the North and West due to remain wet and cloudy.

But even there, temperatures will still be in double figures after months struggling to rise above freezing - with highs of 14C (57F).

Temperatures in most of England and Wales are not forecast to drop below 10C (50F) on Saturday night.

Supermarkets are bracing themselves for an increased demand for ice cream and barbecue meats, with Asda predicting a 50% surge in sales of sunglasses.

March was one of the coldest on record

Sky weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said SAturday would see some unsettled conditions that it would still feel warmer.

"Despite the rain and the strong winds, temperatures should be in double figures for most places today so feeling milder than recently," she said.

Looking ahead to Sunday, she added: "It is likely to stay dry and warm across parts of south-east England and East Anglia, ahead of the rain.

"Temperatures will be in double figures for most and across East Anglia and the London area we could see highs of 18-20C."

However, next week is set to bring an unsettled spell of spring weather, with bands of rain and showers moving across the UK.

The change in the weather is due to the jet stream, the narrow band of strong wind that moves weather systems around the globe, finally moving north.

It had been diverted south in recent weeks, making March one of the coldest on record and extending the winter for Britain.

Temperatures for last month were an average of 2.5C (36.5F), according to the Met Office, which makes it the coldest March since 1962.

It would also make it the fourth coldest March since records began in 1910.

Hundreds of farmers lost livestock in the snow, which hit just as spring lambs were being born across the country.

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Four Missing In House Fire In East London

Four people are missing and two men have been taken to hospital after a house fire in east London, emergency services have said.

Fire crews tackled the blaze in a semi-detached house set back from Romford Road in Forest Gate on Saturday morning.

Fire station manager Daniel Alie, who was at the scene, told Sky News: "The fire caused severe damage to the house and the roof was destroyed."

Firefighters said all rooms must be checked for the missing people

Firefighters rescued a man from the roof of the building by ladder and another man escaped from the front of the house before the fire brigade arrived.

Both men were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service suffering from smoke inhalation.

The building is believed to have been formally disused but may have housed squatters.

Mr Alie told Sky News: "We believe it is possible that the house was used as a squat but this is unconfirmed at this time.

Fire investigators continue to scour the site

"We are not sure how many people are in there and there will be a thorough search of every room."

Eight fire engines from Leytonstone, East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford, and Bow fire stations attended the call, which was received at 3.09am.

There were around 60 firefighters and officers at the scene, and equipment included an aerial ladder platform and fire rescue unit.

Mr Alie added: "Our fire investigation unit is now working to find out what caused the blaze."

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'Free' Web And App Games Investigated

So-called "free" web and app-based games for children are under investigation following concerns that users can run up substantial costs.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said it was investigating whether children were being unfairly pressured or encouraged to pay for content in free games, such as upgraded membership or virtual currency in forms including coins, gems or fruit.

The investigation will look into whether these games include "direct exhortations" to children to do something that will require making a purchase, or to persuade their parents or other adults to make a purchase for them.

It will also consider whether the full cost of some of these games is made clear when they are downloaded or accessed.

The OFT has written to companies who offer such games asking them for information on how they market to children.

It is also asking parents and consumer groups for information about potentially misleading or commercially aggressive practices.

OFT senior director for goods and consumer, Cavendish Elithorn, said: "We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs.

"The OFT is not seeking to ban in-game purchases, but the games industry must ensure it is complying with the relevant regulations so that children are protected.

"We are speaking to the industry and will take enforcement action if necessary."

Martin Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said it was "disappointing" that apps aimed at children have been allowed to charge "ridiculous amounts" for extra features.

He pointed to one game, My Little Pony, which he said charged users £69 for some in-app purchases.

Mr Lewis said: "When games such as My Little Pony, which are obviously targeted at young children, bait kids with £69 purchases of a 'mountain of gems', something is going wrong in the system.

"What's really disappointing is it's been allowed to get this far. Apple especially makes a play of only allowing approved apps in its store.

"So why does it allow games that can be targeted at young children to charge such ridiculous amounts for in-app purchases?

"As always, an OFT investigation, even if it does advise action, will take time. So the most important message meanwhile is to protect yourself."

MoneySavingExpert.com said case studies reported on its forum included a seven-year-old who racked up a £69.99 bill on the College Girl app, a parent who was unaware their five-year-old had spent £65 on in-app purchases and a child who spent £80 on the Tiny Pets app.

Last month, Apple agreed pay out around £66m ($100m) to settle a US lawsuit which claims children were improperly charged while playing iPad and iPhone games.

It was alleged that poor safeguards meant kids were easily able to buy extra features for the free games without their parents' knowledge or permission.

The tech giant agreed to give a £3.30 ($5) credit to an estimated 23 million people who were affected. However, if parents can show they were charged more than £20 ($30) then cash refunds will be offered.

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Leeds Hospital Victim's Mother Wants Answers

By Frazer Maude, North Of England Correspondent

The mother of a young girl who died following heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary has said she wants to know how and why her daughter died.

Siobhan Casey, from Rossington near Doncaster, has written to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust with a list of 27 issues that she wants them to address following the death of her four-year-old daughter Mylee.

Mylee had surgery to remove a build up of muscle on her heart that was restricting blood flow on March 15. Several hours after the four-hour operation, Mylee began to show stroke-like symptoms of stiffness down one side of her body.

Her mother said she wasn't informed straight away, and there was a gap of 13 hours between the symptoms being noticed and Mylee being given a CT scan.

The scan showed two areas of brain damage, prompting doctors to perform emergency surgery to remove blood clots. The next day an MRI scan showed more extensive brain damage, and on March 21, Mylee died.

"I want answers to why it happened," said Ms Casey. "Answers to why she wasn't treated more effectively and quicker than she was."

Four-year-old Mylee died on March 21

She also claims that staff on the unit were discourteous, unsympathetic and not fully trained in treating head injuries.

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust told Sky News it cannot discuss the clinical details of individual cases, but did issue a statement, saying: "We extend our deepest sympathy to Mylee's family and have been speaking to her mother about the family's concerns and have arranged a meeting with her next week to discuss these further. In such circumstances families understandably want to ask many questions and we will do everything possible to help."

Two weeks ago operations in the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary were suspended by NHS England when figures suggested the unit had an uncommonly high death rate.

That data was later found to be flawed, and surgery partially resumed earlier this week.

NHS England have apologised for any inconvenience the decision to suspend surgery may have caused, but not for making the decision.

Earlier this week, the deputy director of medical services for NHS England, Mike Bewick, said the unit had been investigated in detail during the 11-day period that surgery was suspended for.

Mylee's mother, Siobhan Casey, says she is still waiting for answers

He said that investigation had shown that "it was obvious that the unit is completely safe".

The unit is still under scrutiny by NHS England, which will now look into the hospital's handling of data, and into the way they deal with patient complaints. There will also be a review of patient case notes for the past three years.

Campaigners recently succeeded in their bid to have the High Court quash part of a review into children's cardiac surgeries in England that had initially earmarked the Leeds unit for closure. That would mean hundreds of patients would have to be treated in Newcastle, Birmingham or Liverpool.

The judge in the case ruled that the consultation process which led to the NHS deciding which units to close was legally flawed and unfair.

Some of the campaigners maintain that the suspension of surgery just 24 hours after the ruling was a political move deliberately aimed at undermining the credibility of the unit.

They are now calling for a full investigation into the NHS's decision.

Child surgery lawyer Laurence Vick told Sky News: "The families do need to know that their concerns are being addressed and so far their worries are that they haven't been and all the attention has been on the successful outcomes rather than the unsuccessful ones.

"They feel like they are the forgotten families in all of this."

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Shoppers 'Misled' By Copycat Packaging

Retailers are misleading shoppers into buying own-brand products which "borrow" elements from the packaging of well-known competitors, according to a watchdog.

A fifth of Which? members said they had accidentally bought a supermarket version of a favourite brand at least once with 60% of those saying the mistake left them feeling annoyed or misled.

The consumer group found more than 150 own-label products had mimicked the packaging of products such as McVitie's digestives, Kellogg's coco pops, Simple cleanser and wipes, Radox bath gel and Jacob's cream crackers.

Lurpak butter seemed to have "a recognisable own-label imitator" in most major supermarkets, Which? said.

Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Boots, Superdrug and Tesco were named for stocking such items.

Own-label products, which tend to be cheaper than brands, are becoming more popular among shoppers struggling with tightened finances and rising food prices, according to separate research from the group.

Its survey on own-brand packaging found 18% of members had deliberately bought an own-label product because it resembled the branded equivalent, with 60% of these shoppers doing so because it was cheaper and 59% wanting to see if it was as good.

But consumers looked upon own-brand products less favourably when they were confused by the packaging, with 38% of those who bought such a product by mistake saying it annoyed them and 30% reporting that they felt misled.

British Brands Group director John Noble said: "Our research shows that consumers are more likely to buy own-label products if they look like brands.

"Brands survive by being distinctive and standing out, and retailers are free-riding on brands' reputations.

"Currently in the UK there is little to stop a competitor packaging its product to look like a familiar brand, whether or not the product's performance is in any way similar.

"That can't be good if we want a market in which shoppers can make informed decisions at speed."

Boots said that colours could be synonymous with certain active ingredients and helped consumers find the right product, while Morrisons, Superdrug and Aldi all said retailers used the same colours as branded products to help customers find products quickly.

A Which? spokeswoman said: "Own-brand products can provide good value and several have topped our tests to become best buys.

"But retailers should make sure that people are under no illusions about what they are buying and not leave so many consumers feeling that they have been misled."

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Katharine Giles: Scientist Dies In Bike Crash

An expert in global warming killed while cycling to work has been described as a "talented scientist" who "had a bright future ahead of her".

Dr Katharine Giles, who worked at University College London (UCL), was involved in a collision with a lorry in central London on Monday.

Her death comes just three months after senior colleague, Professor Seymour Laxon, 49, died in a fall, hitting his head and suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Dr Giles, 35, had done pioneering work on climate change, carrying out important research relating to the Arctic and Antarctic.

The scientist had conducted experiments investigating sea ice thickness, and shown how winds affected the newly-exposed Arctic Ocean.

Head of UCL's earth sciences department, Professor Philip Meredith, told staff and students: "Coming so soon after the accidental death of Katharine's own closest colleague, we are all left with a sense of the outrageous unfairness with which some of our best colleagues have been taken from us.

"Katharine had a bright future ahead of her.

"She graduated with a first class degree in earth and space sciences from UCL, studied under Seymour for her PhD, and went on to forge her own career as a research fellow and most recently as a university lecturer."

Other people paid tribute on Twitter. Physiology lecturer Mark Hines ‏said: "Devastated 2 hear today about death of a friend in a cycling accident in London."

Mathias Disney said: "So sorry to hear about death of Katherine Giles UCL colleague & outstanding polar researcher. Just awful & so soon after Seymour Laxon."

Ally Skeats ‏said: "So sad to hear the news about Dr Katharine Giles. Such a young, intelligent life taken too soon."

David J Carr ‏added: "Katharine Giles was one of the most wonderful people I have ever & will ever know. The world is worse for her absence, better for her memory."

Dr Giles' family said: "Katharine was a talented scientist responsible for groundbreaking work on global warming. Her family are very grateful for all the support and appreciation shown to them over this tragic loss."

Scotland Yard said the collision took place at the junction of Palace Street and Victoria Street, near Victoria Station, at 8.25am on Monday.

Dr Giles, from west London, was pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver of the HGV lorry stopped at the scene. He was not arrested.

Any witnesses were asked to call the road death investigation unit at Catford, south east London on 020 8285 1574.

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Emo Teen Is First Sub-Culture Hate Crime Victim

Emo, Goth And Punk Explained

Updated: 1:15pm UK, Thursday 04 April 2013

A look at what defines goths, emos and punks as Greater Manchester Police becomes the first force in the country to officially recognise hate crimes against such sub-cultures.

GMP says it recognises alternative sub-culture as a broad term to define a strong sense of collective identity and a set of group-specific values and tastes. This typically centres on distinctive style, clothing, make up, body art and music preference. Those involved usually stand out to both fellow participants and to those outside the group.

According to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, cultures such as goths, emos, and punks are largely peaceful by definition, and are more interested in music, alternative fashion and niche media than intimidation.

:: EMO

Described as the "new goth" when it started to become a trend in the early 2000s, emo is a youth movement based around dark music, dark clothing and a sometimes darker view of the world. Emos are typically perceived to be angsty or depressed but this is not always the case, according to the Emo Rawr website, which says: "Emo is a meshing of the punk and goth cultures with a twist, gathering its music influences more from the punk side of things and the fashion style more from the gothic side of things."

Emo fashion is characterised by skinny jeans, tight t-shirts, studded belts, canvas sneakers, thick glasses and dark zip-hoodies. They wear less black than goths and often have a long fringe.

Emo music, described as "punk with emotion", has been made popular by bands such as My Chemical Romance, whose album The Black Parade topped the charts, Bullet for My Valentine and Jimmy Eat World.

:: GOTH

Many stereotypes exist of dark, depressed and even evil teenagers who are all about death, pretension and angst. They typically always wear black clothing, or white but never other colours, and have dyed black hair, black nails, white face make-up and black lipstick and eyeliner.

However, Goth.net says: "There is no specific thing that defines what you need to do or be to fit into the goth scene (except, of course, the implied black clothing).

"People in the goth scene all have different musical tastes, follow different religions, have different occupations, hobbies, and fashion sense."

The modern goth movement started in the early 1980s as part of the punk subculture.

:: PUNK

Punk evolved from the 1970s music phenomenon. The sub-culture is made up of those considered to have rejected things considered part of society's 'norms' and those thought to often hold anarchist political views.

The look is characterised by piercings, tattoos, Dr Marten boots and multi-coloured Mohawks.

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M&S Sees Clothing Sales Fall As Food Goes Up

Retailer Marks and Spencer has reported a drop of 3.8% in like-for-like clothing sales for the first three months of the year, as food sales rose 4%.

It was the seventh consecutive quarterly fall in underlying general merchandise sales, though the outcome was a touch ahead of expectations.

M&S, which has been the subject of takeover speculation, said sales of its non-food products, spanning clothing, footwear and homewares, at stores open over a year dropped in the 13 weeks to March 30.

As a result of the boost by food, total group sales in the period rose by 3.1%.

The 129-year-old retailer, which serves 21 million customers a week from over 700 domestic stores, had to again rely on its strong food division to support overall growth.

Chief executive Marc Bolland is under pressure to recover M&S's clothing performance after a poor 2012 culminated in a disappointing Christmas.

However, he has cautioned that a new general merchandise management team led by John Dixon, the former boss of food, will not make a major impact on sales until M&S launches its autumn/winter collections in July.

Total UK like-for-like sales rose 0.6%.

"The fourth quarter wasn't as bad as some had expected," James McGregor, director of the retail consultants, Retail Remedy, said.

"General Merchandise is clearly still struggling but these numbers will buy Marc Bolland a few more months. Judgement Day for Marc Bolland will come later this year."

"We are working hard on improving our performance in general merchandise and, despite difficult trading conditions, we made progress in our operational execution," Mr Bolland said.

"In January we said we expect the pressure on consumers' disposable incomes to continue throughout 2013. As a result we were cautious about the outlook for the year ahead and this view remains unchanged."

The M&S share price was up more than 3% in early Thursday trading.

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Fracking Earthquake Fears Dismissed By Study

Fracking: The Pros And Cons

Updated: 2:51pm UK, Thursday 13 December 2012

Opinion about fracking is bitterly divided amid fears of its environmental impact. Here are the key arguments.

What is fracking?

Hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - involves drilling into the ground. Drills go down and then sideways into areas of gas-bearing shale. Small charges are used to blow holes in the walls of the well before water and chemicals are pumped in at high-pressure to shatter the rock. This releases natural gas, formed from deposits of mud, silt and other matter that is stuck in pores within the rock layers, which is then pumped up to the surface.

The Pros

Energy security: Using Britain's own natural gas could provide a major proportion of Britain's energy needs and reduce the country's reliance on imports. Well operator Cuadrilla Resources estimates the Bowland Basin prospect site in Lancashire contains as much as 200 trillion cubic feet of gas. If even a fraction of that is extracted, Cuadrilla says it could make a significant contribution to Britain's energy supplies.

Availability: Britain has high resources of shale gas in areas including the Pennines. It could be an alternative to other fossil fuels and be worth billions of pounds.

Lower prices: There have been claims that the use of shale gas could result in lower energy costs, although the Government's own advisers have now cast doubt on the prospect.

Economic boost: Cuadrilla, the only company currently with a fracking licence, says it could create tens of thousands of jobs and generate significant tax revenue.

The Cons

Safety fears: Cuadrilla's testing in Lancashire caused small tremors in Blackpool in 2011 although there was no structural damage. Strict measures will now aim to minimise any risks.

Contamination: Environmentalists believe the process risks polluting water suppliers with chemicals. In the US, there have been reports of dangerous methane leaks, toxins from extraction plants escaping, sick animals and tap water turning grey. Cuadrilla denies the British water supply could be spoiled and insists fracturing fluid cannot escape from the rock.

Visual impact: There are concerns about drilling and hydraulic rigs, and general industrial development, in areas of natural beauty - although this also applies to many renewable projects.

Shift of focus: Proponents say shale gas could be a transitional fuel that helps to bridge the energy gap but campaigners insist attention should be on developing renewable energy. Environmental groups also claim fracking will affect efforts to slash carbon emissions.

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Unicef: Austerity Risks Children's Prospects

British children's prospects trail behind many of their European neighbours and current Government policies are making it worse, a UN organisation has warned.

Unicef's report on child well-being placed the UK 16th out of 29 developed countries, but it ranked much lower on key indicators including involvement in further education (29th), teenage pregnancy (27th) and youth unemployment (24th).

The children's rights organisation warned that a generation of British teenagers is being "sidelined" by the Government's austerity agenda and called for more state investment in young people.

Anita Tiessen, deputy executive director of Unicef UK, said: "There is no doubt that the situation for children and young people has deteriorated in the last three years, with the Government making policy choices that risk setting children back in their most crucial stages of development.

"With the UK ranking at the bottom, or near the bottom, of the league table on teenage pregnancy and young people not in education, employment or training, we know that many are facing a bleaker future.

"While children and young people will be the first to bear the brunt if we fail to safeguard their well-being, over time society as a whole will pay the price."

The UK has actually crept up the child well-being tables since Unicef's last report in 2007, which branded Britain the worst place in the developed world to be a child.

But the organisation warned that the improvement seen under the previous Labour administration risks being reversed by the Coalition cuts programme.

It cited research by the Family and Parenting Institute and Institute for Fiscal Studies predicting that 400,000 more children will be in poverty by 2015/16 due to austerity measures.

The new report draws on statistics from 2010 and shows a general improvement in children's experiences over the first decade of this century, compared with the previous scorecard, which looked at data from 2001/2.

But the brighter picture for younger children is not matched among teenagers, who remain more likely than their peers in other developed countries to drop out of education and get involved in underage drinking and teenage pregnancy.

The table was topped by the Netherlands, then Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Romania was ranked last.

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Horse Drug Found In Asda Corned Beef Products

Asda has recalled batches of its "Smart Price" corned beef after tests found low levels of veterinary medicine Bute in some of the products.

All batch codes of product affected - 340g tins of 'Smart Price' Corned Beef - have been recalled.

Customers who have bought the 340g tins, with any date code, have been urged not to eat the corned beef but to return it to the supermarket.

It comes just over a month after Asda withdrew the same product after tests found more than 1% equine DNA.

Further sampling and testing has revealed the presence of low levels of phenylbutazone - used in veterinary medicine as a pain-killer or anti-inflammatory.

Asda has recalled Smart Price Corned Beef

A statement from Asda said: "In March 2013 we withdrew tinned Smart Price Corned Beef (340g) after receiving a positive test for horse DNA above the 1% trace level set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

"Today, 9th April 2013, tests on further batches have shown a positive result for very low levels of horse medication called phenylbutazone, also known as bute, at four parts per billion.

"The FSA has reassured us that the quantities we've found pose a low risk to human health."

It added it was recalling tins of Chosen By You corned beef as a precaution because it was made in the same factory. The product had not tested positive for phenylbutazone.

The FSA said no other Asda products are thought to be affected and that customers who had bough the corned beef should contact the supermarket for a refund.

It added that while animals treated with bute should not enter the food chain, the risk of damage to the health of anyone who ate the meat was "very low".

Chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies previously said the levels of bute found in horse carcasses meant a person would have to eat up to 600 burgers, containing 100% horsemeat, every day to come close to consuming a human's daily dose of the drug.

A Defra spokesperson said: "Consumers have a right to expect that food is exactly what it says on the label.

"While bute presents very low risk to human health, the Food Standards Agency is investigating this specific horsemeat contamination case and will take action as necessary." 

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Margaret Thatcher: Critics Party In Brixton

Police were called to Brixton in South London after people celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher gathered in the streets.

Some revellers climbed onto the Ritzy cinema building and rearranged letters on its film listings board to spell out the words: "Margaret Thatchers (sic) dead LOL".

Britain's first and only female prime minister died on Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 87.

Other critics gathered in Windrush Square celebrated with cheers of "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, dead, dead, dead".

A banner celebrating Margaret Thatcher's death hangs from the Ritzy cinema

The area was the scene of fierce riots in 1981, two years into Lady Thatcher's first term in office.

Pictures of anti-Thatcher graffiti scrawled on walls in Brixton also appeared on Twitter, with one reading: "You snatched my milk! & our hope"

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said extra officers were brought in to control the crowds, who "caused low level disorder" and threw "a small number of missiles" at officers.

There were no reports of any arrests and the group dispersed in the early hours of the morning, acccording to police.

Some revellers sprayed champagne as they celebrated in Brixton

A spokesman for Ritzy said there was some damage to its building, adding that staff helped clear up the streets after the demonstration.

Meanwhile in Glasgow, up to 300 people gathered in George Square, 24 years after poll tax protests were held there.

Some anti-capitalist campaigners wore party hats and launched streamers into the air, while a bottle of champagne was sprayed.

Earlier, David Hopper, general secretary of Durham Miners' Association, said he was celebrating on his 70th birthday after learning of Baroness Thatcher's death.

"She was a heartless woman who tore the heart out of the mining communities of the North," he said.

George Galloway, the Respect MP for Bradford West, wrote on Twitter: "Thatcher described Nelson Mandela as a 'terrorist'. I was there. I saw her lips move. May she burn in the hellfires."

Parliament is being recalled on Wednesday for a special session to allow politicians to pay tribute to Lady Thatcher.

A full ceremonial funeral will take place at St Paul's Cathedral next week.

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Youth Crime Commissioner's Tweets Investigated

Police are investigating whether Britain's first youth crime commissioner broke the law by posting a string of offensive comments on Twitter.

Paris Brown, 17, apologised for the messages, which were posted before she took up the one-year post with Kent Police.

However, a spokesman said the force had received "a number of complaints" about her comments and is now investigating "whether any offences have been committed".

Miss Brown appeared to use homophobic, racist and violent language in her tweets, which included one saying she was pleased her brother had thumped someone.

In another, she wrote: "Im (sic) either really fun, friendly and inclusive when Im drunk or Im an anti social, racist, sexist, embarrassing a*******. often its the latter."

Other posts seemed to refer to immigrants as "illegals" and gay people as "fags".

In a statement, Miss Brown, who lives in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, said: "I deeply apologise for any offence caused by my use of inappropriate language and for any inference of inappropriate views.

"I am not homophobic, racist or violent and am against the taking of drugs. If I'm guilty of anything, it's showing off and wildly exaggerating on Twitter and I am very ashamed of myself."

Ann Barnes, who was elected as Kent Police and Crime Commissioner last year, said she did not condone the content of Miss Brown's tweets but added: "I suspect that many young people go through a phase during which they make silly, often offensive comments ... on Facebook and Twitter."

Miss Brown's tweets, which were posted when she was aged between 14 and 16, were condemned by MPs, including South Thanet's Laura Sandys, who wrote on Twitter: "Paris Brown should step down as youth crime tsar for Kent ... Gimmicks always backfire."

Damian Collins, the MP for Folkestone and Hythe, added: "I feel sorry for Paris Brown to be put in this position where there is such a high level of scrutiny about what she has said.

"She is going to be under constant pressure to explain what she meant and it's best that this young person should rebuild her life away from intense media scrutiny."

Miss Brown is not the first person to be investigated by police for messages posted on Twitter.

In October 2012, Matthew Wood was jailed for 12 weeks for posting "abhorrent" messages about the missing five-year-old April Jones.

Swansea student Liam Stacey was given a 56-day sentence last March for mocking Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed on the pitch during an FA Cup match.

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Margaret Thatcher: Calls For A State Funeral

Thatcher In Her Own Words

Updated: 3:57pm UK, Monday 08 April 2013

Margaret Thatcher was renowned for her no-nonsense turn of phrase. Here are some of her memorable quotes.

:: "I wasn't lucky. I deserved it" - on receiving a school prize, aged nine

:: "There is no alternative" - about economic policing giving rise to her nickname "Tina"

:: "I am not hard, I'm frightfully soft. But I will not be hounded" - an interview in 1972

:: "It will be years - and not in my time - before a woman will lead the party or become Prime Minister" - speech in 1974

:: "Let our children grow tall, and some taller than others if they have it in them to do so" - speech in the US in 1975

:: "I've got a woman's ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it" - in 1975

:: "I stand before you tonight in my green chiffon evening gown, my face softly made up, my fair hair gently waved. The Iron Lady of the Western World? Me? A cold war warrior? Well, yes - if that is how they wish to interpret my defence of values and freedoms fundamental to our way of life" - after the Kremlin dubbed her the Iron Lady in 1976

:: "Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country" - election campaign in 1979

:: "Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope" - on becoming PM in 1979

:: "If a woman like Eva Peron with no ideals can get that far, think how far I can go with all the ideals that I have" - an interview in 1980

:: "To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say, you turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning" - Tory Party conference in 1980

:: "A crime is a crime is a crime" - news conference in Saudi Arabia, rejecting any view that there could be political reasons for IRA terrorism in 1981

:: "We knew what we had to do and we went about it and did it. Great Britain is great again" - after the Falklands conflict in 1982

:: "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman" - speech in 1982

:: "The battle for women's rights has been largely won" - an interview in 1982

:: "I owe nothing to women's lib" - an interview in 1982

:: "Victorian values were the values when our country became great" - a TV interview in 1982

:: "I am painted as the greatest little dictator, which is ridiculous - you always take some consultations" - an interview in 1983

:: "This is a man I can do business with" - after her first meeting with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev

:: "This is a day I was not meant to see" - after the Brighton bomb that nearly killed her in 1984

:: "I think, historically, the term 'Thatcherism' will be seen as a compliment" - speech in 1985

:: "Why, Marks and Spencer of course. Doesn't everyone?" - when asked where she bought her underwear in 1986

:: "There is no such thing as Society. There are individual men and women, and there are families" -  an interview in 1987

:: "We are a grandmother" - on the birth of her grandson, Michael, in 1989

:: "I fight on. I fight to win" - after she was forced into a second ballot in the leadership battle in November 1990

:: "It's a funny old world" - After her decision to quit in November 1990, pointing out that she had never lost an election in her life yet had been forced to stand down

:: "The Mummy returns" - During the general election campaign in 2001 after passing a poster publicising the film of that name

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Grand National: Ryan Mania Set To Leave Hospital

Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania hopes to leave hospital after a precautionary MRI scan following his heavy fall at Hexham.

The 23-year-old rider was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after his mount Stagecoach Jasper came down early on the final circuit of the St John Lee Handicap Hurdle.

He received what appeared to be a kick between his shoulder blades in the fall, which came less than 24 hours after he rode to victory on Auroras Encore at Aintree.

Mania, who was treated at the track for 25 minutes before being attached to a spinal board and flown to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary, tweeted from his hospital bed on Sunday.

He wrote: "Thanks so much for all the messages. I'm grand. Staying in hospital to get another scan tomorrow then should be home. #highsandlows."

Mania was attended to on the track and then taken to hospital

The MRI scan will provide doctors with a detailed image of the inside of Mania's body, allowing them to see any injuries to his bones, joints or internal organs.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance confirmed the jockey received "severe/serious" back and neck injuries but said he was in a stable condition by the time he arrived at hospital.

James Armstrong, clerk of the course at Hexham, said he had been conscious and talking after the fall.

Mania's Grand National victory marked a dramatic turnaround in his career, which was temporarily halted when he spent six months out of racing and working in the hunt service after his former boss Howard Johnson lost his training licence.

He became the first Scottish-born winning rider of the world-famous steeplechase since 1896, when David Campbell won on The Soarer.

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Total UK Wealth Tops £7trn As Rich Get Richer

Total household wealth in the UK has soared past the £7trn mark for the first time but society is becoming more divided, according to new research.

Net wealth - the value of residential buildings and financial assets less outstanding debts - is estimated to have hit £7.05trn at the end of 2012.

But the increase has not been shared equally between the top and bottom rungs of society, with the top 10% accumulating wealth at a much greater rate.

Researchers for Lloyds TSB Private Banking said that despite the current tough state of the economy, there has been a £2.71trn increase over the past decade, equal to a gain of £86,000 per household since 2003.

Lloyds said a rise in financial assets has boosted the increase in household wealth over the last decade, contributing £1.7trn to the overall rise.

The value of household wealth has grown at a faster rate (62%) than either gross household disposable incomes (44%) or the consumer price index (29%), since 2002.

Financial assets include bank and building society deposits, government bonds, shares in listed companies, life assurance and pensions.

Meanwhile, housing wealth has increased by £1trn over the past decade as the value of property has risen by more than the increase in mortgage debt.

Lloyds economist Nitesh Patel said: "Most of this increase came during the 'boom' years prior to 2007 when the economy grew rapidly, with rising employment and incomes."

However not everyone has gained equally with the stratification of society strengthening, according to the research.

"While wealth has soared in the past decade, there is a large divide in where it has accumulated," Mr Patel said.

"The wealthiest 10% of households hold 22 times more wealth, on average, than those in the bottom half."

Lloyds used official figures as well as those from its own database to make its findings.

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Disability Benefits: New System Rolled Out

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky Reporter

Major changes to disability benefits, which critics say will leave many worse off, are beginning to be rolled out today.

New claimants in parts of northern England will now receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in place of the old Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The new system which includes face-to-face assessments and regular reviews will take at least two years to roll out across the rest of the country.

Steven Sumpter from Worcestershire, who suffers from ME and diabetes so finds walking painful, told Sky News he was worried about the future.

Previously, to get disability benefit he had to prove he was unable to walk 50m, but that will be changed to 20m.

He said he fears in the future he will lose half of the money he receives and the subsidised car he relies on.

"It means every single trip to the shops and the doctor will turn into maybe three hours of effort and that will leave me in bed, exhausted and in pain for days afterwards," he said.

The Government insists DLA was outdated and the changes mean those who really need support will now receive it.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has described the previous system as "ridiculous".

Iain Duncan Smith: Old system is "ridiculous"

"We've seen a rise in the run-up to PIP. And you know why? They know PIP has a health check. They want to get in early, get ahead of it. It's a case of 'get your claim in early'," he told the Daily Mail.

He added that rigorous new health checks for claimants were "common sense".

Some charities have already expressed concerns that it will mean 600,000 people miss out on support.

Chief Executive of Scope, Richard Hawkes admitted changes were needed but claimed the Government was motivated by cost cutting.

"The Government has already announced how much the Disability Living Allowance budget is going to be reduced, they've already announced how many people are going to lose DLA and they're introducing a test which is going to provide them with the results they want to reduce those costs. It's not right, it's not fair," he told Sky News.

PIP will initially be introduce for new claimants in northwest England, Cumbria, Cheshire, northeast England and Merseyside.

As the new scheme is being rolled out, welfare reform campaigners will present a petition calling for Mr Duncan Smith to live off £53 a week to his office.

Musician and part-time shop worker Dominic Aversano, who started the petition on campaigning website Change.org, said: "When I started this petition I never imagined the level of support it would get, and the amount of encouragement people would give me.

"It has sent a powerful message to this Government, showing the level of opposition to their vicious welfare cuts."

George Osborne has defended the changes

Mr Duncan Smith was challenged to live on £53 a week after a market trader on a radio show said that was all he had to live on despite working 50 to 70 hours a week.

Asked whether he could live on £53 a week, the former army officer who now earns around £1,600-a-week after tax replied: "If I had to I would."

As well as the Personal Independence Payments, other reforms including a below inflation 1% cap on working-age benefits and tax credit rises for three years, have already come into force.

Around 660,000 social housing tenants deemed to have a spare room will lose an average of £14-a-week in what critics have dubbed a "bedroom tax".

Trials of a £500-a-week cap on household benefits are also due to begin in four London boroughs.

Chancellor George Osborne insisted on Sunday that the public was behind his changes to the benefits system.

Mr Osborne also said he felt "angry" that too much money was being "spent in the wrong way in our welfare system".

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Boy, 3, Is Third To Die In Devon House Fire

A three-year-old boy has died of his injuries following a house fire which also killed two teenagers, police have said.

The child was being treated at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol following Friday's blaze in the Honiton area of Devon but was pronounced dead on Saturday afternoon.

Devon and Cornwall Police earlier confirmed the deaths of a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man.

A spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that police can now report that the three-year-old boy, who was taken to the specialist burns unit at Frenchay hospital, has today been pronounced deceased.

"Our thoughts are with the family at this time and the investigation to establish the cause of the fire is ongoing."

Officers were alerted to the fire in Lee Close shortly before 8am and a total of five people were taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital with the three-year-old later transferred to hospital in Bristol.

A six-year-old boy and a man in his 30s were also treated for smoke inhalation.

Seven members of one family and another person were in the property when the blaze broke out.

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Magic Mushroom Depression Trials Stalled

A trial that could lead to the use of magic mushroom treatments for depression has been stalled because of "absurd" regulations restricting the use of illegal drugs in research, it has been claimed.

Study leader Professor David Nutt, who was controversially sacked from his role as the Government's chief drug adviser in 2009, says "archaic" rules obstructing scientific progress should be abolished.

His team at Imperial College London has uncovered evidence that the hallucinogen psilocybin may combat severe depression which resists conventional treatment.

The problem is that psilocybin is the psychoactive ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms" and is banned as a Class A drug.

Although the Medical Research Council has awarded a £550,000 grant for the trial, Professor Nutt said it has not yet been able to proceed.

Speaking ahead of the British Neuroscience Association's Festival of Neuroscience in London, he said: "We're not allowed to go and pick the mushrooms anymore and finding a company to provide this illegal drug in a way that can be prepared for trial use as yet has proved impossible.

Professor Nutt was the Government's chief drug adviser

"We are between a rock and a hard place, and that's very unfortunate because if this is an effective treatment, as it may well be for some people, then they are obviously being denied that possibility."

Under the law, academic researchers are not allowed to manufacture their own Class A drugs and must obtain them from external sources.

Companies that could supply the drugs have to go through "regulatory hoops" to obtain the necessary Home Office licence, Professor Nutt said.

This can take up to a year and triple the cost, he maintained.

Other major hurdles were the EU guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice, which sets daunting standards for potential suppliers, and rules on storage.

Only four hospitals in the UK currently have a licence to hold psilocybin, making it difficult to roll the drug out as a prospective treatment.

Professor Nutt added: "We are the first people ever to have done a psilocybin study in the UK, but we are still hunting for a company that can manufacture the drug to GMP standards for the clinical trial, even though we've been trying for a year to find one.

"We live in a world of insanity in terms of regulating drugs at present. The whole field is so bogged down by these intransigent regulations, so that even if you have a good idea, you may never get it into the clinic."

Researchers discovered that when healthy volunteers are injected with the drug it shuts down a region of the brain known to be over-active in depression.

Professor Nutt was asked to step down from his role as chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2009 after claiming that alcohol and tobacco were more harmful than LSD, ecstasy and cannabis.

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Teen Crime Commissioner In Offensive Tweet Row

Britain's first youth police commissioner is under pressure to step down after it transpired she posted a host of offensive messages on Twitter.

Paris Brown, 17, who took up the post just days ago, wrote homophobic, violent and racist comments on her Twitter account and boasted about getting drunk.

She also condoned violence in a tweet in which she said she was pleased that her brother had thumped someone and "given his tiny little friend a black eye".

The messages were all posted before she took up the one-year post, which is funded with £15,000 of taxpayers' money, for Kent Police last week.

The disclosure of the tweets has prompted Keith Vaz, Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, to call for her to step down from the post.

In her tweets, the teenager, who turned 17 two days ago, refers to immigrants as "illegals" and gay people as "fags".

In one message she admits "Im (sic) either really fun, friendly and inclusive when Im drunk or Im an anti social, racist, sexist, embarrassing a*******. often its the latter."

Speaking on Sky News' Boulton & Co after her appointment on Friday, Miss Brown said: "Being a young person today you feel like you have got to sort of show that you are growing up, that you are a grown up, even when you are as young as maybe 13 or 14.

"You are growing up at a faster rate in today's time and people might feel I am being patronised or I am being intimidated and that's why the are acting like they are in certain situations."

Paris Brown with her 'boss', the Kent Police Commissioner, Ann Barnes

Another said: "Been drinking since half 1 and riding baby walkers down the hall at work oh my god I have the best job ever haha!!"

In another she wrote: "I really wanna make a batch of hash brownies."

Mr Vaz told the Mail on Sunday: "I am deeply shocked by these disclosures. This individual must be removed from their post immediately. Public money should never be given to anyone who refers to violence, sex, drunkenness and other anti-social behaviour in this offensive manner.

"The Government must now reconsider its point blank refusal to publish a national list of all the appointments made by Crime Commissioners - as requested by my committee.

"The public has a right to know who they are, how they were appointed and their full backgrounds. That is the best way to stop irresponsible and unsuitable people being taken on."

Miss Brown, whose appointment was to be a trail blazer for other Youth Commissioners across the country, reports directly to the newly elected Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Ann Barnes.

The police and crime commissioners' roles, which command salaries of up to £100,000, have themselves been controversial, largely because they put inexperienced commissioners in charge of the budget, policing and choosing the chief constable.

Mrs Barnes told the Mail on Sunday: "You cannot condone any offensive tweets and I certainly would not accept anything like that now that Paris had been appointed but I wanted somebody for this job who was a typical teenager.

"There is no way I would think of removing her from her post and I am sure Paris will learn from this mistake and be able to move forward to making a success of the role like I know she will."

Miss Brown, who lives with her parents in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, has a full-time apprenticeship role as an office junior at Kent's Swale Borough Council.

She said she had put off doing A-levels for a year while she undertakes the job as commissioner.

Miss Brown has removed her @vilulabelle account from Twitter following the revelations. She now tweets under an official account.

There was a significant backlash against Miss Brown on Twitter.

Alex Cahill wrote: "Well Paris Brown (@vilulabelle) is a shining example of young people ... "

Paul Davies wrote: "God help us and our police!!!"

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