Most Voters Want Farage In Leaders' Debate

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

A new poll suggests most of the public believe Nigel Farage should take part in any televised leaders' debates ahead of next year's general election.

A Comres poll has found 51% of people think UKIP should be represented alongside David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg.

Even more - 53% - say the Prime Minister would look like a coward if he refused to take on Mr Farage.

It comes amid Conservative fears that the right-wing UKIP could top the polls in England in next month's European elections.

Mr Cameron said debates "sucked the life" out of the last campaign

The party is enjoying a popularity boost after Mr Farage easily won a television debate against Mr Clegg.

The party thinks its overall poll position - which at 15% is well ahead of the Lib Dems - means it ought to be included in any further debates.

And Mr Farage has warned that if the party is excluded he will provide "an alternative form of entertainment on the evening".

The poll was carried out for Grassroots Conservatives, a Tory pressure group that feels the liberal wing of the party has too much control over the leadership.

Mr Clegg, left, had challenged Mr Farage to a debate

James Joshua, executive director of the organisation, told Sky News that Mr Cameron would be most respected by party members if he took the UKIP threat on face to face.

But some senior Conservative strategists do not want their leader to take part in the clashes at all - because they believe three debates in quick succession before the 2010 election cost the party a majority.

Mr Cameron said the debates "sucked the life" out of the campaign.

Others argue that UKIP should not be included because they have not achieved any success in general elections with no seats, while other small parties excluded from the debates do have MPs in Parliament. 

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Schools 'Asking Parents To Pay For Textbooks'

Teachers are concerned poorer pupils are being put at a disadvantage by an increasing number of schools asking parents to pay for textbooks, computers and trips away.

More than two fifths (43%) of parents have contributed around £50 a year per pupil for things not linked to their child's school work, according to a poll by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

And 70% have donated up to £50 a year per pupil to help pay for items and trips that are related to the school curriculum.

In some cases, families have been asked for donations to help with the upkeep of school buildings.

Staff are worried children could be put at a disadvantage or made to feel left out if their parents are unable to afford the hand-outs.

The survey, which questioned around 500 people working in England's state schools, comes as ATL is due to debate the issue at its annual conference in Manchester next week.

Schools are increasingly turning to parents for help with pens and books

The resolution calls on the union to express concerns that schools increasingly need to ask parents for voluntary contributions and the effect it has, particularly on poorer families.

It says: "The burden of meeting this request falls disproportionately on poor families and increases the disadvantages for these children."

Jo Inglis, an ATL member from Wokingham who is proposing the motion, said just 7% of teachers felt that asking parents for donations had no impact on disadvantaged pupils.

Jo Fludder, a Reading teacher who is seconding the motion, said: "Parents who have difficulties putting their children into school uniform, providing them with transport to school and with food, find the added pressure of additional money demands from schools very stressful."

A Department for Education spokesman said there is "absolutely no obligation" for parents to donate.

"If a parent is unable or unwilling to pay, their child must be given an equal chance to take part in school life," he said.

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Scotland 'Should Determine Its Own Future'

By Niall Paterson, Scotland Correspondent

"Put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands." That is the message Alex Salmond will deliver to delegates today at the SNP's Spring Conference.

As the nationalist party committed to fulfilling an 80-year pledge to gain Scotland its independence from the United Kingdom continues to reduce the gap in the polls ahead of September's referendum, he is expected to maintain that the vote is not about him.

"This referendum is not about this party, or this First Minister, or even the wider Yes campaign," he will say.

"It's about putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands.

"Our party is hugely popular, and we are currently five, 10 and 15 points ahead in polls for Westminster, Europe and Holyrood respectively.

"But a Yes vote in September is not a vote for me, or for an SNP government in 2016.

"It's a vote for a government in Scotland that the people of Scotland choose, pursuing policies the people of Scotland support."

The speech, much like the campaign, will make much of the fact that Scots have voted in a way at significant variance with the overall result of recent general elections.

He will say: "I tell you what (the government of an independent Scotland) won't be. It won't be a government led by a party with just a single MP in Scotland.

"A government dismantling our welfare state. Determined to privatise public services.

"In an independent Scotland we can give this guarantee: The era of unelected Tory governments handing out punishment to the poor and the disabled will be gone and gone for good."

Mr Salmond says a Yes vote is a vote for the future of Scotland

Results vary, but the Yes campaign is still significantly behind the No vote in all major polls, although the margin has narrowed in recent months.

And despite the fact the Yes campaign has yet even to come close to a majority in said polls, the SNP leader in Westminster remains upbeat, with five months of campaigning to go.

"When people are able to contrast the Yes case with the No case and understand the momentum is going in the direction of the Yes case, I'm confident we will get a Yes result," Angus Robertson MP told Sky News.

"It might surprise some people in the bunkers of Whitehall and Westminster when it does, but when they wake up they will realise this is about Scotland governing itself like so many other places have decided to do over recent decades.

"We will have excellent relations with our friends on these islands.

"But we will always have a government that we actually elect making better decisions for people who life here - regardless of where they are from."

Given their lead in the polls it's unsurprising that the Better Together camp remains positive, despite considerable media and public opinion branding their campaign negative.

Asked whether it was easier for people to enthuse about independence rather than maintaining the status quo, Lewis Macdonald, a Labour member of the Scottish Parliament, told Sky News: "It's important to say there's a lot to be enthusiastic about.

"The union has worked very, very well for many generations and it's delivered us many benefits. But this isn't about change versus the status quo. This is about devolution, the kind of change that people in Scotland have wanted for a long time.

"It's a referendum that will be decided by the judgement people make at the end of the day. I think many people have made up their minds, some still have to choose.

"My expectation is that those people who still have to make up their mind will come to the same conclusion as those who have already made up their mind.

"At the moment, and for as long as I can remember the split has basically been two to one for remaining in the UK. I expect that the undecideds will come down in much the same kind of split.

"But only time will tell."

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Half A Billion Pounds 'Wasted' On Anti-Flu Drugs

By Thomas Moore, Science and Health Correspondent

Flu drugs stockpiled by the government for use in a pandemic have little benefit, according to researchers who have carried out a comprehensive new analysis.

The Department of Health has spent £473m on the antiviral medicine Tamiflu - and another £136m on the similar drug Relenza - since 2006.

There are enough doses in storage to treat more than half the population.

But researchers from the independent Cochrane Collaboration and the British Medical Journal (BMJ), who have been given access to the full clinical trial data for the first time, conclude there is "no good evidence" that either drug reduces flu-related hospital admissions or the complications of the disease, such as pneumonia.

And they add that claims that they prevent people spreading the flu virus to others are "unproven".

Craig Heneghan, a doctor at the Cochrane Collaboration, said there was particular concern about Tamiflu because it increased nausea, vomiting, psychiatric events and kidney problems.

He told Sky News: "I am now clear this drug is not to be used in a pandemic situation."

The manufacturers have robustly defended their drugs, insisting that they are safe and effective.

The Department of Health has also underlined the importance of the antiviral stockpile.

The Cochrane Collaboration reviewed data from 20 clinical studies of Tamiflu and another 26 of Relenza.

They found they reduced the duration of flu symptoms by 16 hours, compared to dummy placebo pills.

Dr Fiona Godlee, Editor of the BMJ, urged the Department of Health to carefully consider the new evidence before refreshing the Tamiflu stock nearing its expiry date.

"If the government spends any more money on this drug they are not listening to the evidence," she said.

"I think it would be a strange decision to purchase more of this drug on the basis of the information we have available to us."

However, the Department of Health said the drug stockpile is a vital part of Britain's emergency response to a pandemic, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

A spokesperson said: "Tamiflu is licensed around the world for the treatment of seasonal flu and is a licensed product with a proven record of safety, quality and efficacy.

"We regularly review all published data and will consider the Cochrane review closely."

UK medical director of Roche, Dr Daniel Thurley, said the company "stands behind the wealth of data for Tamiflu".

He added the researchers' methods were "unclear and inappropriate, and their conclusions could potentially have serious public health implications....(antiviral drugs) are a vital treatment option for patients with influenza".

A spokesperson for GSK said: "We were committed to giving the Cochrane team access to the data they required from the outset and we are pleased to have been able to support their research.

"We continue to believe the data from Relenza's clinical trial programme support its effectiveness against flu and that when used appropriately, in the right patient, it can reduce duration of flu symptoms. Relenza remains an important option for health professionals who are responsible for deciding when these medicines should be used."

Other doctors have also come to the drugs' defence.

Professor Wendy Barclay, of Imperial College London, said reducing symptoms by a day was significant.

"In the community this gets people back to work and school, and having the drugs available also serves as a safety net to treat people who get sick enough to go to hospital."

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Co-op 'Power Struggle' As Myners Quits Board

The former City minister, Lord Myners, has quit the board of the troubled Co-operative Group amid opposition to his planned reforms of the business.

News of his resignation emerged just hours after Midcounties Co-operative, which operates Co-operative Energy as well as Co-op-branded food stores, voted against his early proposals.

Euan Sutherland resigned one month ago

His full report was not due to be completed until the end of the month but the work will continue despite his decision to step down as an independent director.

No reason for his decision was given though the deeper uncertainty over the group's future structure risks splitting the co-operative movement.

In interim findings released last month, after chief executive Euan Sutherland quit citing the group's structure as 'ungovernable', Lord Myners warned the group would collapse unless drastic steps were taken to overhaul a "massive failure" of governance.

His shake-up plans include a move to abolish its 21-member board, splitting it into two with a plc-style panel responsible for commercial decisions and representatives from its traditional membership sitting on a separate body.

It is reported that Midcounties is not the only regional board set to oppose the reforms though the board did accept his interim report's findings.

Lord Myners was appointed to the board in December and tasked with the independent review after a disastrous year for the Co-op in which its banking arm needed to be rescued by hedge funds following the discovery of a £1.5bn hole in its finances.

It has twice delayed the release of its banking division's results - now due on Friday - while the bank faces a series of investigations into what went wrong including scrutiny of the appointment of former bank chairman, Paul Flowers, despite his lack of knowledge of the sector.

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M&S Finally Arrests Fall In Clothing Sales

Marks & Spencer has confirmed it avoided an eleventh-consecutive quarter of declining clothing sales amid intense turnaround efforts.

In its results for the 13 weeks to 29 March, the retailer stripped its clothing sales away from General Merchandise for the first time to highlight a 0.6% increase on a like-for-like basis during the quarter.

Total clothing sales rose 1.3%.

Chief executive Marc Bolland, who recently confirmed an expansion of its operations abroad to help boost profitability, said: "We delivered another quarter of improvement in General Merchandise.

The firm's expansion plans include food growth in Paris

"We are encouraged by Womenswear, which is showing clear signs of improvement and performed ahead of Clothing."

The trading statement added: "Customers are responding well to our re-focus on quality and style.

"Sales of M&S Collection in Womenswear, which was re-launched last Autumn, were notably up on last year.

"Our new Spring/Summer collection has been well received, with customers noticing the improving style credentials."

But M&S warned the performance was achieved against a backdrop of continued high levels of discounting in its General Merchandise market.

Mr Bolland continued: "Our Food business had another great quarter, especially considering the later timing of Easter.

"This marks our 18th consecutive quarter of growth. We continued to outperform the market with record sales around key events including Valentine's Day and Mother's Day."

Total Group sales rose 1.9% in the quarter though, on a like-for-like basis, UK sales fell slightly by 0.2%.

Shares opened more than 2% higher today in the wake of the resilient sales performance, despite being offset by continued pressure on margins.

M&S annual results are due to be published on May 20, with City expectations ahead of today's update pencilling in a 6% fall in profits to £623m.

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Arts Subjects Made Tougher In Exams Revamp

GCSE and A-level arts subjects are to be made tougher in the latest stage of a major reform of the exams system.

Nine GCSE subjects and six A-levels will be reformed, with Education Secretary Michael Gove insisting he wants schools to "nurture creative talent in every child".

In September 2016 new GCSEs in art and design, music, drama, dance, citizenship, computer science, design and technology, PE and religious studies will be introduced.

Improved A-levels in music, drama, dance, design and technology, PE and religious studies will be introduced at the same time.

"I am passionate about great art, drama, dance, music and design, and I am determined to ensure every child enjoys access to the best in our culture," Mr Gove added.

"That is why I am delighted that new high-quality qualifications in creative and cultural subjects will be made available to all students."

Music Education Council chair Richard Hallam welcomed the latest announcement.

He said: "This inclusion sends a renewed message of the educational importance of music and other arts subjects."

The new GCSEs and A-levels are part of a major programme of exam reform that will be phased in from next year.

GCSE grades in England are to be replaced with a numbered system to allow examiners to distinguish between the brightest students.

The new scale will see an extra grade added into a revamped qualifications system from one to nine - with nine being the highest mark available.

In the reforms, students taking A-levels will no longer sit exams after one year, and will instead be tested at the end of their two-year course.

AS-levels will be separated from A-levels and become a separate qualification.

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HIV Fears Over Increase In Steroid Injections

By Thomas Moore, Sky News Health and Science Correspondent

The number of people who inject themselves with steroids to "bulk up" is rising so fast that drug services risk being left behind, health experts warn.

Conservative estimates by the Home Office suggest around 60,000 people aged between 16 and 59 in England and Wales have injected anabolic steroids in the last year.

And one health worker told Sky News he was seeing "at least" seven new users every week - on top of his existing workload.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says in new NHS guidance that drug services should set up clinics in gyms to reach mainly young men who are injecting steroids.

Prof Mike Kelly, Director for Public Health at Nice, said they are at significant risk of HIV and other blood-borne viruses from sharing needles, yet they do not use existing needle exchange schemes that were set up in the 1980s for other drug users.

"They do not think of themselves as drug addicts," he said.

"They are fit and healthy. They are doing it to improve their appearance.

"We have to make sure they understand that the risks of injecting those substances are the same as injecting heroin or crack or anything like that.

Nice has recommended that clinics are set up in gyms

"When people share needles they pass on blood to blood and the infection is passed on quickly."

According to Nice 1.5% of people who inject image or performance enhancing drugs have HIV.

David Rourke, harm reduction lead for the Arundel Street Project in Sheffield, said he saw at least seven new steroid injectors every week.

"They lead very normal lives - the majority are working, they have families," he said.

"So it's not looked at like heroin or crack where it can affect your entire life."

He said some parts of the country have no services at all that are aimed at steroid users.

"Those who inject steroids are potentially using them without the correct education or the correct equipment and this can lead to more people injecting unsafely, which can put not just their own life, but the lives of those around them, at risk," he added.

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Maria Miller Resigns As Culture Secretary

The Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, has resigned after a week of mounting pressure over her expenses investigation.

In a letter to David Cameron Mrs Miller told him she was "very grateful" for his personal support during the growing row over her expenses but feared it "has become a distraction from the vital work this Government is doing."

Mr Cameron said he was saddened by her departure but hoped the Basingstoke MP could make a return "in due course".

Mrs Miller finally stepped down six days after she was forced to apologise in the House of Commons for her attitude to an inquiry into the allowance claimed on her second home.

The Prime Minister, who had consistently backed his minister, had been under increasing pressure in recent days to sack her from Tory activists and MPs, and Mrs Miller's position had become untenable.

Maria Miller's 32-second apology in the Commons was incendiary

Mr Cameron was facing a difficult time at Prime Minister's Questions at lunchtime and had to tackle Tory back benchers at a meeting of the powerful Conservatives 1922 committee later.

Sky Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge said the decision to go had rested with Mrs Miller and she had telephoned the Prime Minister to inform him last night.

The announcement of her resignation sparked criticism that it had taken so long for her to step down and raised questions over Mr Cameron's leadership.

Labour MP John Mann, who made the original expenses complaint against Mrs Miller, said: "Why has it taken five days in what was a clear cut case she had to leave Government that she could be responsible for media freedom in this country after her behaviour?

"I mean where was the Prime Minister's leadership on this? He should have sacked her straight away when she refused to go."

Lord Tebbit told Sky News: "If the Prime Minister had taken my advice a week ago, if he had asked for it before I had to give it in public, the issue would have been done and dusted by now."

Mr Cameron repeatedly backed his Culture Secretary

But Education Secretary Michael Gove defended the Prime Minister, telling the Radio 4 Today programme: "I don't think his judgement has been flawed; hindsight is a wonderful thing.

"The Prime Minister's attitude throughout has been governed by the basic human decency that is his hallmark."

Mrs Miller's camp had on Tuesday night attempted a fight-back after days of newspaper headlines and the faltering support for her within Government.

Her aide Mary Macleod appeared on Sky News to claim she was a victim of a witch-hunt because she was dealing with press reforms recommended in the Leveson report. She had sent a text to MPs attempting to garner support for Mrs Miller.

She also claimed that Mrs Miller was unpopular because she was responsible for steering through the legislation on gay marriage.

The second home at the centre of the row

In her resignation letter Mrs Miller said: "Of course, implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson on the future of media regulation, following the phone hacking scandals, would always be controversial for the press.

"Working together with you, I believe we struck the right balance between protecting the freedom of the press and ensuring fairness, particularly for victims of press intrusion, to have a clear right of redress."

Her departure leaves four women in the Cabinet: Home Secretary Theresa May, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, and International Development Secretary Justine Greening. Baroness Warsi sits in the Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio.

Esther McVey, the Employment minister who, on Monday, criticised they brevity of Mrs Miller's apology, is being widely tipped to replace her at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 

Conservatives in Mrs Miller's constituency voice disappointment at her departure. Stephen Marks, a Conservative councillor on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said: "She did Leveson on press complaints and I feel the press were going to get their own back on her. I am saddened that she had to resign, but that is the way it is."

Mrs Miller issued a much-derided 32-second apology on Thursday after Parliament's sleaze watchdog upbraided her for her attitude to an expenses inquiry into her claims for a second home.

She was also ordered to pay back £5,800 of wrongly claimed allowances on the house in Wimbledon, southwest London, which she sold for a £1.2m profit in February.

However, it emerged that the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards had found that Mrs Miller should have paid back £45,000 in expenses claimed on the home but this was over-ruled by the Standards Committee of 10 MPs and three independent members, who do not have a vote.

It led to calls for an end to a system where MPs are allowed to police their own expenses, with the head of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Sir Ian Kennedy, saying they should not "mark their own homework".

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Max Clifford Trial: Pauline Quirke Evidence

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter, Southwark Crown Court

Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke has described publicist Max Clifford as an "honest and decent man" as the trial enters its closing stages.

Clifford, who turned 71 at the weekend, is accused of indecently assaulting a string of women in his car and his office, some after saying he could get them roles in the entertainment world.

However, Ms Quirke told Southwark Crown Court that the PR guru was nothing like the description that jurors have heard and she told how they worked together to raise funds for charity.

The actress who has also starred in Emmerdale and Broadchurch said that her friendship with him "grew from their connection" to the Rhys Daniels Trust which was set up in the 1990s to help a boy of the same name with Batten's Disease.

Ms Quirke said: "We went to each other's houses and we went out for dinner to restaurants. He came when I was on tour for two years with Birds of a Feather.

"The word integrity comes to mind when I think of Max - he's very down to Earth and normal considering the business that we are both involved in.

"He's a decent, decent man, honest and decent."

When asked by his defence barrister Richard Horwell QC if she had ever seen him "acting inappropriately with women" she replied: "We've been to balls with lots of women, people drinking and I've never seen him doing anything like that.

"I've never seen him behave in any way, shape or form like that."

Ms Quirke added that Clifford had helped raise money for the Trust by bringing stars to a celebrity screening of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and as a result they became "good friends".

As she left court, Clifford, who was dressed in a white open shirt and blue suit, winked and smiled at her.

Earlier, Sky Sports anchor Clare Thomlinson, who worked for Clifford in the early 1990s for six months said she had "no reason to doubt his integrity and honesty", adding that she had left his office on "amicable terms".

She said: "Max had an old school charm, he would open the door for you and ask how you would get home from a late function."

Ms Thomlinson, who was at the centre of sexual harassment claims from disgraced former commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray, told the court the experience had made her want to testify in the case.

She said: "I have been the victim of sexual harassment at work and I would not be giving evidence in front of a court if I had believed Max was capable of that sort of behaviour."

Clifford, of Hersham, Surrey, denies 11 counts of indecent assault against seven women between 1966 and 1984. His defence is expected to finish on Tuesday when the case continues.

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Irish President Makes Historic State Visit

Rocking In The Castle With Michael D

Updated: 4:47am UK, Tuesday 08 April 2014

By David Blevins, Ireland Correspondent

"When will my time come?" is the title of one of his poems. Almost a century after Ireland secured its independence from Britain, the poetic president's time has come to pay a historic state visit to the next door neighbours.

Michael D Higgins is more than a poet. The 72-year-old head of state, a native of Limerick, is a veteran champion of human rights, Irish arts and sport. He's affectionately known, the length and breadth of Ireland, as Michael D.

He was the first member of his family to attend university and lectured in politics in Galway and Illinois in the United States before running for office himself. He's arguably the most eclectic of the nine presidents in Ireland's history.

Don't be deceived by his grandfatherly appearance. The Irish President has fire in his bones. He's a recipient of the Sean MacBride International Peace Prize, has campaigned tirelessly for victims in Chile and Cambodia, and vigorously opposed the war in Iraq.

A former Labour government minister for arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht (Irish language), he helped to establish the country's first Irish language TV channel (TG4) and oversaw the removal of Section 31, which had censored Sinn Fein from Ireland's airwaves.

Anglo-Irish relations have changed beyond recognition since those days. Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, now Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, will attend a state banquet in Windsor Castle during the president's official visit and meet the Queen for a second time.

Long before his installation as Ireland's ninth president, Michael D Higgins had been elected President of Galway Football Club. The Hollywood actor Martin Sheen, who studied in Galway University, describes the Republic's current head of state as a "dear friend".

His fan base includes the former chart-topping Saw Doctors. The band once wrote a song in his honour, entitled 'Michael D Rocking in the Dail (Parliament) Bar'. The military bands around Windsor may not be familiar with that particular track.

President Higgins and his wife Sabine have four days of engagements in the UK, four days which, according to Ireland's Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, "will not just write another chapter in Anglo-Irish relations but take us well into the book".

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Shrien Dewani Extradited To South Africa

A British man suspected of arranging the murder of his new wife on honeymoon has arrived in South Africa to face trial.

Shrien Dewani was taken from Fromeside Hospital to Bristol Airport accompanied by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Extradition Unit.

Officers were met at the airport by representatives from the South African authorities who have escorted him on the flight to Cape Town.

Dewani was put on a flight from Bristol Airport bound for Cape Town

He arrived in Cape Town at about 8.15am UK time.

In a statement the country's justice department said: "Shrien Dewani has landed at Cape Town International Airport and was received by members of the SA Police Service.

"He arrived in the company of a medical doctor, nurse and members of Saps (South African Police Service) and Interpol."

Dewani is accused of being behind a plot to kill his new bride Anni, 28, who was shot dead after being kidnapped during a taxi ride through a township on Cape Town's outskirts.

Three men have been convicted already and are serving jail terms. Prosecutors allege Dewani ordered the killing of his wife, who was a Swedish national.

The extradition of Dewani, 34, from Bristol, brings to an end a three-year battle to bring him to court after her death in November 2010.

Dewani's lawyers argued he should not be forced from the UK to face trial until he had recovered from mental health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mrs Dewani's uncle Ashok Hindocha told a news conference on Monday he was relieved his family would now have an opportunity to get justice.

Hitman Xolile Mngeni is serving a life sentence for Anni Dewani's murder

He said: "(I am) relieved. Hopefully this case from now onwards will be about Anni.

"Until now, it hasn't really been about her. You cannot really blame anyone. It's the justice system and the way it is.

"Obviously, we were extremely surprised that it took so long."

Her brother Anish Hindocha added: "It's been very difficult. There is no life in our family any more, we struggle.

"With the help of the South African people, with the help of the British people, we are at least trying to cope.

"We need justice for Anni. That's the only thing in our minds, and we will hopefully get it soon."

Dewani is due to appear in court later where he will be formally charged.

It is understood if he is found fit to do so, Dewani could stand trial in September.

The three men who have already been convicted and jailed over Mrs Dewani's death include taxi driver Zola Tongo, who was given 18 years after admitting his role in the killing.

Xolile Mngeni, who prosecutors claim was the hitman, and another accomplice, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, who pleaded guilty to murder and received a 25-year prison sentence.

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Brit Killed On Costas: Friend Tells Of Shock

A friend of millionaire businessman Andrew Bush, who was found shot dead at his home on Spain's Costa del Sol, has said he is "trying to comprehend" his death.

Mr Bush, 48, originally from Bristol, was found lying in a pool of blood with two gunshot wounds to his head at around 3am on Saturday.

Friend Paul Orchard, who had also been Mr Bush's personal trainer, said he was "devastated".

"It will take me a long time to come to terms with this," he said.

"I've been his personal trainer since last September but I knew him for longer than that.

"We struck a good rapport and I only spoke to him on Friday evening, we were going to meet next week.

"When I was first told, I questioned whether it was true and I kept on saying it can't be. Now I feel just a little bit empty, almost like I'm trying to put pieces together.

Estepona is on the Costa del Sol

"I'm trying to comprehend that it's happened.

"My thoughts go to him and his family. He'll be greatly missed."

Firefighters and police discovered Mr Bush's body after forcing their way into the beachside villa in Estepona where he lived.

The company director's girlfriend alerted police with an emergency call after the attack.

The pair are said to have been ambushed by a woman, who police suspect may be Mr Bush's ex-girlfriend.

She is thought to have been lying in wait for them inside the five-bedroom house.

The house is a village between the resorts of Estepona and Marbella

Mr Bush and his current girlfriend, who is reported to be British, had just returned to their home from a trip abroad.

The suspected killer is still on the run after escaping from the scene in the dead man's Hummer vehicle.

A source close to the investigation said: "It is being treated as murder and police are hunting the dead man's ex on suspicion of committing this crime.

"They are probing the possibility she may have let herself into the property while the occupant was away and waited for several days for him to return."

The businessman's body has been taken to Malaga for a post-mortem examination.

Mr Bush owned a number of businesses in Bristol including a jewellery shop, according to reports.

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Energy Complaints Soar By Staggering 224%

Complaints about energy companies have trebled in the first quarter of this year, according to the energy sector's ombudsman who is calling for "increased transparency".

The record figures showing a 224% rise in the first three months of this year come after regulator Ofgem said it was referring the energy sector to the Competition and Markets Authority for a full-scale competition inquiry.

Between January and March, complaints trebled to 10,638, compared with 3,277 received during the same period last year.

More than 2,000 consumers complained about not receiving bills, 1,474 people made complaints about billing charges, and over 1,000 consumers criticised the quality of customer service.

The numbers suggest that 2014 will see more complaints overall, as there were 17,960 complaints made over a 12-month period last year.

Chief Energy Ombudsman Lewis Shand Smith said: "Consumer frustration and dissatisfaction is something that we hear about every day, and we welcome any attempts by Ofgem to make the energy market fairer.

"With energy complaints trebling in the first quarter of this year and problems relating to billing the greatest concern, increased transparency is something that should be addressed."

A competition inquiry will be held into the household energy supply market

A spokeswoman for Energy UK, the trade body that represents the industry, said most customers had no problems with their energy company, but accepted that sometimes things go wrong.

She added: "If a customer has any concerns relating to their bills, they should contact their provider as soon as they can, and if possible have an up-to-date meter reading to hand which will ensure their bill is as accurate as possible.

"Energy companies work very hard to resolve problems and most complaints are fixed within a few working days with no more than a phone call."

The spokeswoman said there were new rules in force which made matters "more open and clear for customers including: explaining bills so people understand what they are paying; making it easy to switch; ensuring customers are on the right deals; and simplifying tariffs".

But Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, the consumer watchdog, said the rise in complaints was "further proof that the energy market is broken".

He added it was "right" that the energy sector had been referred for a full-scale investigation.

A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said the figures were "worrying", and added: "We would advise consumers to shop around and switch to find a better deal, whether on cost or customer service."

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Miller: Pressure Mounts Amid Fresh Questions

Maria Miller redesignated her second house as her main home after parliamentary rule changes meant she would need to pay tax when it was sold, according to reports.

The Daily Telegraph claims documents show Mrs Miller stopped claiming expenses on her "second" home in south London after being asked to sign a declaration confirming that she would pay capital gains tax when it was sold.

But Mrs Miller's office has hit back, saying the newspaper's report is "factually and chronologically untrue" and she had not made the changes in order to avoid paying the tax on a sale.

The fresh questions emerged as Lord Tebbit became the most senior Conservative to call for the Culture Secretary to go after a weekend of mounting pressure.

The Tory grandee said her "arrogant" handling of the scandal had revived voter anger over MPs' expenses.

On Sunday the head of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Sir Ian Kennedy said it was wrong that MPs should police their own expenses and politicians should no longer be able to "mark their own homework".

Mrs Miller sold her south London home this year for a reported £1m profit

Sir Ian, who has fallen out with MPs over changes to the expenses system, has now been told by the House of Commons speaker he must reapply for his own job at the watchdog.

John Mann, the Labour MP whose complaint sparked the commissioner's investigation into Mrs Miller's claims, has asked the Speaker John Bercow to grant an urgent question on Monday on reform of the Standards Committee.

He said: "Public trust in Parliament and in the expenses system has now completely eroded, and we need a new, transparent regulatory system."

Mrs Miller issued a 32-second apology to the House of Commons on Thursday and agreed to repay £5,800 in expenses wrongly claimed for a second home in Wimbledon, southwest London.

Lord Tebbit has said Mrs Miller should go

However, it emerged the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Hudson, had originally ruled she should repay £45,000 because of mortgage changes, but was over-ruled by the Standards Committee, made up of 10 MPs and three independent members, who have no vote.

The scandal has led to increasing calls for both Mrs Miller's resignation and an end to the system that allows MPs to rule on their own expenses misdemeanours.

However, the Prime Minister continues to insist Mrs Miller, one of his few women cabinet members, has his "full confidence" and over the weekend both the Work and Pensions Secretary Ian Duncan Smith and Tory chairman Grant Shapps defended her.

Mr Shapps told Sky News' Murnaghan programme Mrs Miller should be "allowed to get on with her job" and added: "Maria Miller is a very, very hard-working minister."

Mrs Miller bought her Wimbledon property in 1996, before she became an MP, and sold it in February this year for a profit of  £1.2m.

Between 2005 and 2009, she told the House of Commons it was her second home, allowing her to claim public money to pay the mortgage on it.

Mrs Miller has been accused of 'arrogance' over the affair

The initial complaint against her was that she should not have been able to claim because her parents were living in the house. She was cleared because she was carer for her disabled parents and lived their with them.

However, there are now new questions over changes she made in 2009 when she stopped claiming expenses on the house, redesignating it as her main home with parliamentary authorities. 

Under new rules introduced after the expenses scandal that year MPs were told they could no longer escape tax on the sale of second homes. Capital gains tax of 28% is only payable on the sale of second homes.

Mrs Miller now faces questions about what she will tell HMRC about the status of the house between 2005 and 2009 when the new financial tax year begins because she sold the home.

But a spokesman for Mrs Miller denied that it had been a move to sidestep the tax ramifications and said she had stopped claiming on her second home in April 2009.

However, Mrs Miller told the parliamentary standards commissioner, she had stopped the claims because of the furore surrounding MPs' expenses. She said: "It was clear to me that MPs' expenses claims had become toxic . I therefore decided to cease making claims until a new more credible regime had been put in place."

The Daily Telegraph did not start to publish details of MPs' expenses claims until May 8, 2009.

He said: "It is well documented that Maria stopped claiming any accommodation allowance at all in 2009. The sale of the Wimbledon property in February, falls in a tax year that has not yet been assessed.

"She will, of course, deal with the matter in accordance with HMRC rules and pay any tax that is due."

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Food Waste 'Is Morally Repugnant', Say Lords

The scale of food waste, which sees 15 million tonnes of food dumped each year in the UK and at least 90 million tonnes across the EU, has been branded "morally repugnant" by a House of Lords committee.

The Lords EU Committee said supermarkets should abolish "buy one get one free" offers and not cancel orders of food from farmers after the produce has been grown, a practice which leads to edible food being ploughed back into the fields. 

They also suggested that more unused food sold by retailers should be donated to food banks, rather than sent for composting or landfill as is often the case at present.

In a report, the committee said EU efforts to reduce food waste were "fragmented and untargeted" and called for the new European Commission to publish a five-year strategy within six months of taking office later this year.

Committee chairwoman Baroness Scott said: "Food waste in the EU and the UK is clearly a huge issue. Not only is it morally repugnant, but it has serious economic and environmental implications.

The committee says taking action against food waste cannot be delayed

"The fact that 90 million tonnes of food is wasted across the EU each year shows the extent of the problem and explains why we are calling for urgent action.

"Globally, consumers in industrialised nations waste up to 222 million tons of food a year, which is equivalent to nearly the entire level of net food production of Sub-Saharan Africa.

"We cannot allow the complexity of the issues around defining and monitoring food waste to delay action any further.

"We are calling on the new European Commission, which will be appointed in November this year, to publish a five-year strategy for reducing food waste across the EU, and to do so within six months of taking office."

The report found that the carbon footprint of worldwide food waste is equivalent to twice the global greenhouse gas emissions of all road transportation in the US.

Lady Scott added: "We were shocked at the extent of food waste in the EU. Especially given the current economic challenges the EU faces, it is an absolutely shocking waste of resources.

"Some efforts are already being made, which is very positive, but much more can be done, and so we are calling on the EU, the Government, businesses and consumers to make sure it is."

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Women May Get Right To Fight On Front Line

The British Army is "seriously considering" lifting its ban on women serving in combat roles in line with other countries such as the US, the Chief of the General Staff has said.

General Sir Peter Wall told The Sunday Times he wanted to show women that the army was "open to" women and an equal opportunities employer.

The Ministry of Defence, which under European Law must review the policy every eight years, said there would another review "before 2018".

The last statutory review in 2010 raised concerns that putting women and men together in small units for months at a time could undermine "team cohesion", but said women would be able to meet physical and psychological demands.

Women currently are allowed to serve on the frontline with the artillery and as medics, engineers, intelligence officers and fighters pilots but not in close combat roles.

UK Army women are currently not allowed to serve in close combat roles

Last year, the US lifted its own ban on women fighting on the frontline, joining other countries including Germany, Canada, France and Israel.

Sir Peter told the newspaper: "We've got to take a view on that fairly soon.

"We're in a minority of armies now in that respect. It's definitely something that we need to be considering seriously but we need to go about this with great care, especially with all the other changes going on."

He said: "We have always said that we will look at the evidence and base our decision on what impact it will have on operational capability.

"This isn't just about getting more females into the 30% of roles that are combat trades but getting more of them into the Army per se.

"Women need to see they have equal opportunities right throughout the organisation.

"Allowing them to be combat troops would make us look more normal to society but there will always be people who say the close battle is no place for female soldiers."

Women could soon be fighting alongside men

In 2011, the Government announced that women would be allowed to go to sea with their male counterparts on the Royal Navy's Submarine Service for the first time in its 110-year history.

An MoD spokesman said: "The vast majority of roles in the Armed Forces are open to women and hundreds are currently serving their country with distinction in Afghanistan.

"They are fundamental to the operational effectiveness of the UK's Armed Forces, bringing talent and skills across the board.

"A 2010 review into women serving in combat roles concluded there should be no change to the existing policy and another review will take place before 2018."

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Kate To Fulfil Ambition On Tour Down Under

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Duchess of Cambridge will realise a lifelong ambition when she arrives in New Zealand on Monday.

According to the New Zealand High Commissioner to London, Sir Lockwood Smith, right at the top of Kate's 'bucket list' is a visit to the Southern Hemisphere realm.

"I met the Duchess of Cambridge at a garden party at Buckingham Palace when she was pregnant with Prince George," he said.

"I said to her that I'd love her to come to New Zealand and she said: 'Well, there's a little matter I have to deal with first of course but I have to say coming to New Zealand is top of my bucket list.' And now she's finally making the trip."

Not only has Kate never visited New Zealand and Australia but it will be a first for son Prince George, who will likely one day be King of the two nations.

The tour will largely mirror that of the Prince and Princess of Wales' visit Down Under in 1983, when a nine-month-old Prince William conducted his first public crawl about.

Prince George, who is now eight months old, will arrive in Wellington, New Zealand after travelling long-haul for more that 24 hours.

To minimise the disruption to their son, William and Kate have decided to operate a hub tour in both countries, allowing them to return most evenings to be with George in Wellington and Sydney.

Kate and William travel to New Zealand and Australia with Prince George

Excitement surrounding the royal party's arrival in Wellington for the start of the three-week tour is muted at best, although one local told Sky News: "We don't like to shout about it, and although the flags aren't out, we are quietly excited."

Two women who found it hard to conceal their excitement, however, are the owners of Wellington jewellery business Tory & Ko, who have been commissioned to design three pairs of earrings and one necklace for Kate for her stay in New Zealand.

"It's a complete honour and we are really blown away," Kirstin O'Brien told Sky News.

"She is the most perfect person to wear our jewellery because she is beautiful, sophisticated and she has that lovely accessibility about her," 

The Cambridge family will first visit the North Island, before heading to the South Island where they will spend a night away from Prince George.

All three, accompanied by their entourage including Prince George's newly appointed nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, will later travel to Sydney, Australia, for the second leg of their three week tour.

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