Hilary Mantel Hits Out Over Kate Controversy

By Richard Suchet, Arts and Entertainment Correspondent

Hilary Mantel has said the public outcry and media reaction to her comments about the Duchess of Cambridge last year are a sign that Britain is becoming a "narrow and intolerant" nation.

The author of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies was widely criticised for describing Kate as a "machine-made" princess with no personality - comments which she said had been taken out of context.

"What the fuss last year made me think was how narrow and how intolerant as a nation we have become because even if I had said about Kate the things I was alleged to have said, that was my perfect right.

"There was no occasion to jump on me and revile me.

"I would say it all over again and I stand by what I said."

Mantel was speaking to Sky News ahead of the opening night of Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies at The Aldwych theatre in London's West End.

Her books - which made her the first woman to win the Man Booker Prize twice - have been adapted for stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Together the novels are made up of almost 1,000 pages.

The dramatisation of Mantel's books are opening at the Aldwych theatre

"I don't see the need to be protective of every line, every scene, as long as the spirit is right and it is," she says.

"You could hurl many insults at me but precious is not one of them."

Director Jeremy Herrin's productions of Mike Poulton's dramatisations have been critically acclaimed.

The novels about Thomas Cromwell's life in the Tudor court have sold almost two million copies in the UK and over one million in the US.

"I think the court of Henry, Anne Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon and Thomas Cromwell in the mix of that is one of our national stories and one we'll always be connected to and we'll always want to see reinterpreted," says Herrin.

"Hilary has had the amazing insight to find Cromwell as a central character and to uncover him and explore what was going on for such an amazing man who, until she came along, no one really had a strong idea about."

Mantel's third instalment of the Cromwell series is highly anticipated but is yet to be written.

The two plays, which will run back-to-back at least once a week, have been in repertoire since December.

The West End cast includes Ben Miles as Cromwell, Nathaniel Parker as Henry VIII, Lydia Leonard as Anne Boleyn, Paul Jesson as Cardinal Wolsey and Lucy Briers as Catherine of Aragon.

Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies open at The Aldwych Theatre tonight and are scheduled to run until September 6.

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Coastal Town Battles Rising Erosion Threat

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

The coastal town of Hemsby is desperately seeking to shore up its erosion defences, three months after a tidal surge washed a number of houses into the sea.

Five patches of golden sand now break up the marram grass on the sand dunes in Hemsby where the houses once stood.

Angela and Tony Lewis's house, once set far back from the beach, now has a clear view of the horizon.

"You look at the sea view we never had and you think that view, lovely as it is, that is the view that is going to take our house away," said Mrs Lewis.

"We go to bed at night dreading there might be another storm and we dread what this winter is going to bring ... After this winter we don't know if we are going to have any houses left."

Even before the tidal surge of December 5, 2013, the quiet Norfolk resort had been fundraising for defences.

Some are questioning whether residents are fighting a losing battle

They had already put in place gabions - metal cages full of rocks - and vast bags of concrete at the base of the dunes. They think they helped, even though it is thought the dunes retreated 30 metres in places that night.

Many more defences have been added since, after fundraising reached £35,000.

But now the campaign group Save Hemsby Coastline is applying for much bigger sums of money from various grants, including lottery cash from the Coastal Communities Fund, in the hope of being able to afford a more sturdy and permanent solution.

Lorna Bevan-Thompson, landlady of the local pub and founder of the campaign, said: "We are trying to raise a good few million pounds to put in a preservation and protection scheme here.

"We want to make sure we can protect the remaining sand dunes we've got. This is our only barrier to the seas. If we don't protect them now, homes will be lost, businesses will be lost and we desperately need to protect what we have got left."

It is estimated that defences can cost as much as £10,000 per metre.

A notice erected by the people of Hemsby

Dr Alastair Grant, professor of ecology at the University of East Anglia, says the costs have to be weighed up.

"The sea is incredibly powerful. If you have enough resources you can build sea defences that will stay where they are but that is incredibly expensive and the decision needs to be made about the relative costs and benefits of defending a piece of coastline."

Tourism in the village, just north of Great Yarmouth, is said to make £80m a year.

But there is more than just business at stake and for the people whose lives revolve around Hemsby, giving into the sea is not an option.

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Migrants 'Buying Language Test Passes For £500'

The Home Office has launched an investigation into claims migrants who speak no English are able to buy certificates showing they have passed a supposedly "secure" language test.

Secret filming at an exam centre showed the certificates - which are required by anyone wanting to remain in the UK permanently or to apply for British citizenship - were being sold for £500.

Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said in a statement: "The Home Office takes any allegation of fraud extremely seriously and we have already begun a full investigation.

"We will take the strongest possible action against anyone who is found to have abused the rules - including the possibility of criminal prosecutions for fraud.

"This ESOL certificate is just one element of a wide range of evidence required by individuals applying for settlement and citizenship.

"Nobody can gain a UK visa on the strength of this qualification alone."

Following information from a whistleblower, the Daily Mail carried out the undercover investigation into the exam centre at Upton Park, east London, which is run by Learn Pass Succeed (LPS).

Uzwan Ghani, one of the directors of LPS, which has four branches in London, told the paper the problem was confined to the Upton Park branch and that it had suspended tests taken at the centre.

"I'm shocked that this has happened and am very concerned as to how it could have happened," he was quoted as saying.

"We are very thorough when it comes to checking IDs of candidates before they take the test, so I will have to investigate which of the centres the test was taken in and who the assessor was.

"I've been in the business for five years and I've never come across something like this and I would not allow it. It is wrong and ridiculous."

Ofqual, the examinations watchdog, was also said to be aware of the allegations and was seeking further information "as a matter of urgency".

A spokesman said the centre had been suspended by EMD Qualifications and "appropriate action" would be taken.

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3D Printer Used To Make Woman's Hip Joint

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

British surgeons have for the first time implanted a hip joint made on a 3D printer - and held it in place with the patient's own stem cells.

The titanium metal implant was custom-made for Meryl Richards, 71, using precise measurements taken from detailed body scans.

Surgeons have hailed the procedure as a "game-changer" for complex orthopaedic procedures.

Mrs Richards had six previous hip replacements which left her pelvis so weak that her leg had punched a hole through the bone.

It meant one leg was two inches shorter than the other and she was increasingly disabled by the pain.

Speaking to Sky News she said that without the technique she would soon have been in a wheelchair.

Mrs Richards was facing life in a wheelchair before the operation

"For years now I've walked with crutches or stick," she said.

"Hopefully this will give me movement and mobility again. It's absolutely fantastic."

Mrs Richards had the pioneering operation at Southampton General Hospital.

Surgeons sent CT body scans of her pelvis to the Belgian company Mobelife.

Using computer-aided design and a 3D printer they created a tailor-made socket for the new hip joint.

The shape was built in thin layers from titanium powder that was spot-welded together with a high-temperature laser beam.

Mr Douglas Dunlop, the consultant surgeon who carried out the operation, said: "The benefits to the patient through this pioneering procedure are numerous.

"The titanium used to make the hip is more durable and has been printed to match the patient's exact measurements - this should improve the fit."

He said the custom-made implant also speeds up the operation and is likely to reduce the risk of a serious joint infection.

To increase the chances of success scientists at Southampton University developed a way of using Mrs Richards' bone marrow stem cells as a "glue" to hold the implant securely in place.

Professor Richard Oreffo said cells are growing new bone around the implant, adding: "That will allow the structure to be much stronger and for Meryl we hope it will be the last time she comes back to the operating room."

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E.ON To Pay Customers £12m Over Mis-Selling

Energy Complaints Soar By Staggering 224%

Updated: 1:53am UK, Monday 07 April 2014

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 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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UKIP Official Accused Of Hypocrisy After Raid

Accusations of hypocrisy have been levelled at UKIP's small business spokesman after it emerged that seven people were arrested for immigration offences in a raid on his restaurant.

The eurosceptic party have made immigration a centrepiece of their election campaign and have stoked controversy with posters warning about the threat of foreign labour to UK jobs.

The Home Office confirmed that seven people were arrested "for a variety of immigration offences" and a civil penalty notice was served after the raid on the Zouk Teas Bar and Grill in Manchester on June 1 last year, according to The Times.

UKIP has warned about the threat of foreign labour to UK jobs

The restaurant was set up by UKIP European election candidate Amjad Bashir with his two sons Tayub and Mudassar, who have denied any wrongdoing.

Party leader Nigel Farage said they are appealing and he was not going to "prejudge" the case.

The Times said that three days after the raid, Mr Bashir resigned as a director of the company which owns the restaurant, and a sister branch in Bradford, but he remains a major shareholder and has continued to take a role in the running of the business.

Mr Bashir, 61, is second on UKIP's list of candidates for the Yorkshire and the Humber region in this month's European elections.

Tayub Bashir told The Times they were appealing against the civil penalty notice.

He said the restaurant conducted immigration checks on all employees and vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Farage said: "His son is the director and runs that business and they had an argument and a row with the immigration people which they are appealing. I'm not going to prejudge that."

Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber Edward McMillan-Scott told the newspaper: "Forget the obvious hypocrisy; employing illegal immigrants is exploitative and against the law."

The restaurant, which opened in 2009, featured in UKIP's latest party political broadcast.

In it Mr Bashir is seen overseeing the cooking and talking about the challenges of starting a business in the UK.

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Kate And William Hacked 190 Times By NOTW

The News Of The World's former royal editor has admitted hacking the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's phones nearly 200 times.

Clive Goodman told the Old Bailey he accessed the voicemail on Prince William's phone 35 times and Kate Middleton's on a total of 155 occasions.

It is the first time Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 for illegally accessing the voicemails on the mobiles of Royal aides, has admitted he hacked the Royal couple while working at the now-defunct tabloid.

But having returned to the witness box after weeks of ill health, he was accused of being more heavily involved in phone hacking with private detective Glenn Mulcaire in 2005 and 2006 than was previously heard.

Jurors were told Kate was even hacked on Christmas Day 2005.

The details emerged as Goodman was being cross examined by ex-NOTW editor Andy Coulson's lawyer Timothy Langdale QC.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire

He asked: "I'm going to suggest you had direct contact with Glenn Mulcaire significantly before the time you have told us - that you yourself had been hacking on a much wider scale than you have told this court about."

Goodman said he had not been asked a direct question.

The witness said he had been assured by the Crown Prosecution Service he would not be charged with any more hacking but no-one had asked him.

When presented with a list of hacking victims, he said: "I'm not on trial for hacking," adding: "There has been no intention to deceive you or anybody else in relation to phone hacking."

On his arrest in 2006, Mr Langdale said: "It's the one thing you must have been more worried about than anything else that it would become clear you yourself had been hacking members of the royal family."

Goodman replied: "I was terrified of the whole thing. I was mortified."

Mr Langdale said Kate Middleton, who was to become the Duchess of Cambridge, was first hacked on October 21, 2005.

Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson

Mr Langdale asked the witness why she had been targeted and if he had tasked Mulcaire to do it.

He replied: "She was a figure of increasing importance around the royal family. There were discussions about her and Prince William marrying, moving in, settling down. She started to receive semi royal status and things were moving on."

Mr Langdale said: "You are telling us Glenn Mulcaire hacked her without any instruction from you? Did you task him to do that?"

He replied: "I do not remember tasking him to do that. It's possible but I do not recall.

"I have been as open and honest about hacking as I can be but nobody has asked me any questions about this before."

While giving evidence about extra payments made to Mulcaire for hacking the Royal household, Goodman said: "Let's face it, at this time, Andy Coulson was no stranger to hacking."

He is on trial along with former NOTW editor Coulson, later Prime Minister David Cameron's media chief, of authorising illegal payments to public officials

Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, another former editor and later chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper arm, are also on trial accused of phone-hacking offences.

All seven defendants on trial deny the charges.

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Stephen Sutton Tributes Push Up Donations

Stephen Sutton's cancer fundraising campaign has raised £300k in less than 24 hours since the teenager's family announced his death.

Thousands of people inspired by the 19-year-old's story have pledged cash to his JustGiving page since he passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The total, which stood at just over £3.2m before Stephen's death, had rocketed to more than £3.5m by 8am on Thursday as tributes continued to pour in from politicians, celebrities and members of the public.

Many of the most recent donations to the JustGiving campaign for the Teenage Cancer Trust have been accompanied by simple messages of tribute or thanks.

Rebecca G wrote: "Inspirational Young Man. Rest in Peace :)."

Stephen's JustGiving total had passed £3.5m on Thursday morning

An anonymous donor said: "In memory of a truly courageous and inspirational young man - Stephen, you will never be forgotten xx."

Stephen's mother Jane Sutton announced that he had passed away on his Facebook page, saying: "My heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May.

"The ongoing support and outpouring of love for Stephen will help greatly at this difficult time, in the same way as it helped Stephen throughout his journey.

"We all know he will never be forgotten, his spirit will live on, in all that he achieved and shared with so many."

Stephen gave speeches about his positive approach to terminal illness

Prime Minister David Cameron, who met Stephen, told Sky News: "He was really inspiring. I feel deeply sorry for Stephen's family, for everyone that knew him.

"He was determined not to waste a minute, not to waste an hour, or a day. I can hardly think of anyone I have met with such a zest for life, with such a belief that you can get things done, and who wanted to live every minute.

"He did extraordinary things for charity and meeting him was a huge privilege. A very bright light has gone out."

The Teenage Cancer Trust, which Stephen raised money for, said in a statement: "We are humbled and hugely grateful for what Stephen achieved, and continues to achieve, for young people with cancer."

David Cameron congratulated Stephen in person for his charity efforts

News of Stephen's death came shortly after his family said the teenager from Burntwood, Staffordshire, had become too sick to communicate as his condition deteriorated.

He was readmitted to hospital on Sunday after having previously been discharged when it appeared he had made a "miraculous recovery" by coughing up a tumour.

At the time he revealed that he was suffering from breathlessness and said doctors thought there was something blocking his airway.

He wrote on Facebook: "The doctors think there may be something restricting my airway again, they're not sure exactly what yet though (tumour regrowth, infection, inflammation, are all potential reasons mentioned), but are currently discussing the possibilities and my scan results to decide what to do next."

Stephen, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15.

Despite treatment the tumours spread, with doctors telling him the disease was terminal in 2012.

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Exclusive: Sky's Man Goes Inside GCHQ

As I crossed the various levels of security required to get into GCHQ, signs went up around the building. Staff were warned that an outsider was inside, and to be aware of that if engaged in any sensitive conversations.

This rare access for a journalist appears to be part of a conscious but cautious effort to explain the workings of the intelligence agency, in the wake of the allegations by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

Most of the interior of Britain's signal intelligence agency looks similar to any large modern office building, but there are constant reminders of the extraordinary inside the ordinary.

This is true of the architecture. The building is referred to by both media and the intelligence community as "the doughnut".

From the outside it is somewhat foreboding, ringed by high fences topped with razor wire. But inside the colours are calming, the ceilings high, and the corridors surprisingly light.

The main internal circular corridor, known somewhat affectionately as "the street" is a busy thoroughfare and a reminder that thousands of people work here. GCHQ is Cheltenham's biggest employer.

On the ground floor, open plan offices look out on to a circular garden complete with water feature and smoking area.

Edward Snowden's revelations have left intelligence staff ruffled

From there you can see a variety of satellite dishes and myriad aerials perched on the roof of the second floor.

It is rumoured the design of the circular walls enclosing the garden were built in a way which limits how much sound from conversations will carry upwards in the direction of interested parties who might be listening high above the building.

Inside, the juxtaposition of the ordinary and extraordinary continues. Next to one of the coffee bars is a pop-up "help with your expenses" desk, which is near a small museum housing the first Enigma coding/decoding machine.

The contraption, which cracked the German codes in the Second World War was purchased in Berlin and brought to the UK in the 1930s,  a move described as "the best £30 Britain has ever spent".

You can also find notes on JRR Tolkien's application to join the Bletchley Park code breakers. His services "were not called upon".

It is a state-of-the-art building, but there may be a few dents in the doughnut.

Staff are stirred, if not shaken in the aftermath of the Snowden furore. For more than a year now there have been allegations that they spend their time engaged in possibly illegal mass surveillance and bulk-trawling through our emails and phone calls.

Time and again officials repeated to me: "Everything we do is lawful, necessary, and proportionate."

This view was recently upheld by Sir Anthony May, the Interception of Communications Commissioner.

However, it appears the agency does indeed engage in scooping up vast amounts of data.

What was lost in the headlines was that officers do not actually look at the text of emails or listen to phone conversations without a warrant signed by a Cabinet Minister and overseen by senior members of the judiciary.

"Don't you actually think your hands are tied?" I asked a senior official, who replied: "Our hands are tied appropriately."

Another added: "We are not struggling against our bonds."

Despite the Snowden affair, and the possibility the agency did not act in the spirit of the laws governing it, the damage to public trust in Britain's spooks appears limited.

Polls suggest that a majority of the public appears not to be concerned about the powers held by GCHQ, nor its methods.

Nevertheless, the presence of a journalist inside the headquarters of an agency (which did not officially exist until the 1980s) indicates that management understands it needs to explain GCHQ more fully.

Staff appear to be at best irritated, and at worst hurt, by suggestions they have acted illegally. They are keen that there should be a better understanding of not just what they do, but why they do it.

For example, if the 'opposition' is developing weapons of various types, including surveillance weapons, it is part of their work to find out and develop counter measures.

About a third of analysts' work is in counter-terrorism. The rest is in cyber security, support for military operations, operations against serious criminals, and a variety of other tasks.

In the public domain, but not widely known, is the fact that more than 200 staff have been awarded medals for service in a military theatre.

Many of these have been won during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The staff were remarkably normal. Some in suits, some in shorts, none of them looking like Daniel Craig.

I did ask to see the "big room with the map of the world on a screen and a guy stroking a white cat" but permission was refused. The room does exist but, alas, the cat does not.

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Property Boom Leaves Many Unable To Buy

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

The proportion of English and Welsh homes selling for over £1m has more than doubled during the Great Recession, in the latest evidence of the property market boom.

In London a record 7% of all home sales listed by the Land Registry in the year to March were for £1m or more - a sharp increase from the 3% level when Britain slid into recession in 2008.

Overall, the number of homes sold for £1m or more over the past year has surpassed 10,000 for the first time - with just over 11,000 £1m sales in the year to March.

This compares to around 9,000 at the peak of the pre-crisis boom.

Sky News analysis has also uncovered the affordability gap between different local authorities has reached unprecedented levels, driven up by a combination of high house prices and falling real wages.

Darker areas show the higher house price to earnings ratios in England

The numbers come as the Bank of England prepares to deliver its quarterly Inflation Report, at which it is expected to signal growing consternation about the property boom.

With the economy recovering faster than many had expected and house prices pushing ever higher, the Bank is widely expected to lift interest rates within a year - and may add further checks on housing market lending as early as next month.

Across the country as a whole, some 1.4% of homes sold in the past year went for £1m or over, another record, and more than double the 0.7% at the beginning of 2008.

Analysts said even these Land Registry figures may understate the extent of the £1m-plus property market, since they exclude many properties bought through corporate vehicles.

The vast majority of these sales - 7,692 of the 11,341 properties sold for £1m or over in England and Wales over the past year - were in London.

However, because wages have not kept pace with rising house prices, the capacity of families to afford bricks and mortar has diminished.

Although one closely-watched measure of housing affordability - house prices vs earnings - remains below its pre-crisis peak, it has risen to unprecedented levels in London.

In Kensington & Chelsea, average property prices hit 22 times the average earnings of local residents last year - a doubling in the past decade.

They are also at 20 times earnings in Westminster, and 12 times earnings in inner London as a whole.

By contrast, prices in Burnley remain 2.9 times the average earnings in the local area, down sharply from the 4 times earnings peak reached in 2007.

The statistics, which are derived from Land Registry and Office for National Statistics data, illustrate the scale of differences in house price performance throughout the country.

Although London boroughs dominate the top of the unaffordability rankings, there are exceptions.

For some tenants, the prospect of buying a property is ever less likely

Elmbridge in Surrey is Britain's sixth most unaffordable district, with prices 12.3 times local earnings.

Sitting at ninth and tenth in the rankings are Hackney and Brent, where although absolute prices are lower than many other parts of the capital, local earnings are also comparatively lower.

The upshot is that for many of those renting in such areas, the prospect of buying a property is becoming ever less likely.

The most affordable homes are primarily in Wales and in northern parts of England.

The figures underline the suspicion among economists that although ever less affordable house prices pose a serious social threat, they are not yet widespread enough to prompt a broad-based economic crisis in the UK.

The Bank has warned that, left unchecked, this could yet be a risk.

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Stephen Sutton Now 'Too Sick To Communicate'

Terminally ill teenager Stephen Sutton, who raised more than £3m for charity after his story was publicised, has been left unable to communicate as his condition worsens.

His family have left a message on his Facebook page saying that because tumours have regrown in his airwaves, the 19-year-old is now too sick to continue posting messages.

The message also called for privacy so his family can focus on the remaining time he has with them.

The statement said: "Unfortunately in the last 24 hours Stephen's condition has deteriorated to where he can no longer communicate through this page himself.

"Unfortunately the breathlessness which had him re-admitted to hospital is due to the regrowth of tumours which are blocking his airways, and not just due to infection as we had all been hoping.

"He is currently comfortable and stable, and we will let you know of any further developments.

"Right now however, as a family, we wish for a certain amount of privacy for us to spend what time he has remaining with him.

David Cameron visited Stephen and said he was 'an inspiration'

"We appreciate everyone's concern, and for all the love and goodwill sent his way, and indeed ours too, we thank you deeply x."

He was readmitted to hospital on Monday after having previously been discharged when it appeared he had made a "miraculous recovery" by coughing up a tumour.

At the time he revealed that he was suffering from breathlessness and said doctors thought there was something blocking his airway.

He wrote on Facebook: "The doctors think there may be something restricting my airway again, they're not sure exactly what yet though (tumour regrowth, infection, inflammation, are all potential reasons mentioned), but are currently discussing the possibilities and my scan results to decide what to do next."

Mr Sutton, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15.

Despite treatment the tumours spread, with doctors telling him the disease was terminal in 2012.

Hundreds of thousands of people have supported his fundraising efforts for the Teenage Cancer Trust since he posted a picture of himself in hospital in April with a goodbye message as he thought he was nearing death.

Among them was Prime Minister David Cameron.

The amount raised totals £3.24m to date.

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Quarterly Jobs Growth Hits 43-Year High

The unemployment rate has hit its lowest level since February 2009, helped by a record number of people finding work over the quarter.

The figures - released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - showed a record 283,000 secured a job in the three months to March, with self-employment driving the performance.

It meant, the ONS said, that more than 30.4 million people are now in work - the highest since records began in 1971.

It helped total unemployment fall by 133,000 to 2.21 million during the period, giving the UK an unemployment rate of 6.8%.

The total number of self-employed rose to a record 4.5 million. 

But there was disappointing news on pay in the figures.

Average earnings increased by 1.7% in the year to March, slightly ahead of the latest CPI inflation rate of 1.6% but below the expectations of economists.

The figure is closely-watched by the Bank of England for evidence people will be able to absorb rising mortgage costs when it begins to raise bank rate - currently expected in Spring 2015.

The ONS also confirmed the 18th consecutive monthly reduction in Jobseeker's Allowance claimants - by 25,100 in April to 1.12m. 

The performance was welcomed by the Government.

Minister for Employment Esther McVey said: "As the recovery takes hold, more people are able to get a job or set up their own business and become the employers of tomorrow.

"Each and every person who has made a new start or hired someone new is helping to make Britain a more prosperous and confident place to be.

"We will continue to support those in and out of work who want to get on and fulfil their ambitions for a more secure future."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted:  "There's more to do, but it's welcome unemployment is down again.

More jobs means more financial security for people."

More follows...

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CBI Says Home Loans To Rise In Early 2015

Homeowners will come under more pressure early next year with the prediction that interest rates are to rise.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the UK base rate will jump from the current historic low of 0.5% to 0.75% in the first quarter.

The CBI had earlier predicted a rate rise in the third quarter of 2015. It declined to say how many homeowners or businesses might be affected by rising interest rates next year.

The Office for National Statistics said that in 2010 more than 9 million UK households had property debt.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders said that in February 22,200 first-time buyers received loans, 26,200 home-movers and 14,300 buy-to-let applicants.

CBI director-general John Cridland said property values were expected to rise by 8.2% in 2014 and 5.1% next year, prompting more fears of prices overheating.

"We have to remain alert to the risks posed by unsustainable house price inflation, and the (Bank of England) Financial Policy Committee is poised to act when necessary," he said.

"Housing has come back under the spotlight as annual house price inflation figures have reached double digits on some measures.

"While housing transactions are still running almost 30% below their last peak in 2006, they are picking up steadily."

London house prices have climbed a quarter above their pre-crash peak, partially prompted by foreign buyers in the prime property segment.

"Outside London, prices remain around 2% below peak figures with an even greater difference when you move outside the South East," Mr Cridland said.

The predictions come amid increased scrutiny of mortgage applications by lenders, in response to a market review by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Mortgage providers are seeking reassurance that applicants will have sufficient income to cover any potential rises in interest rates.

The FCA said new rules were "hardwiring common sense" into the market.

Mortgage broker firm John Charcol said families are the most likely to face scrutiny under the new regime, as their outgoings were potentially greater.

Spokesman Ray Boulger said: "The most common reason to knock people back is childcare costs.

"It's particularly bad if people have more than one child or if they are under school age."

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Two Bodies Found After Kayakers Go Missing

Two bodies have been found after three kayakers went missing on the River Tyne in Northumberland, police have said.

Emergency services have been conducting a search and rescue operation since the alert was raised on Sunday night.

The RAF and the Coastguard have been involved in the hunt after a call came in at 11pm yesterday saying the trio had failed to return home.

The area of the Tyne still being searched is around Riding Mill, about 15 miles (23km) west of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Police said the first body was recovered from the river by an RAF helicopter just after 5.10am and a second body just before 6.20am in the Corbridge area.

Two vehicles driven by the missing men were found by searchers overnight.

One was found at Tyne Green, near to Hexham Rowing Club just after 1am and the other a few hours later, at Wylam railway station car park.

Two kayaks have also been recovered from the group, who were from the South Shields area of South Tyneside.

Another green kayak has been seen close to a weir at Riding Mill.

The RAF helicopter has been flying low over the river after landing nearby in a field.

Superintendent Steve Howes, from Northumberland area command, said: "Our searches of the area are continuing today with assistance from the HM Coastguard and RAF Boulmer.

"Anyone who sees anything or has any information they think would assist with our searches should contact us."

Police said formal identification of the two bodes found earlier is yet to take place and searches are continuing.

More follows...

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Gary Barlow 'Should Not Give Back OBE' Says PM

The Prime Minister has said Gary Barlow should not have to give back his OBE after the Take That star invested in a tax avoidance scheme.

Barlow and two other members of the band have refused to comment after it was disclosed they will have to pay tens of millions of pounds in tax after a court ruled a partnership they invested in was a tax avoidance scheme.

It triggered calls for the singer to hand back his honour, with Labour MP Margaret Hodge, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, telling The Times he "might want to show a bit of contrition by giving back his OBE".

Conservative Charlie Elphicke echoed Ms Hodge's comments, telling the newspaper: "People who have seriously abused the tax system should be stripped of their honours."

However, David Cameron, who last year publicly attacked the comedian Jimmy Carr for his involvement with a tax avoidance scheme, has said he does not think the singer should be forced to give back his OBE.

The Prime Minister, who appeared with Conservative supporter Barlow during the 2010 General Election campaign, said: "Gary Barlow has done a huge amount for charity, raising a huge amount for Children in Need."

Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Gary Barlow

Mr Cameron told ITV's Good Morning Britain Barlow was appointed as an OBE for his charity work and the tax avoidance issue should not affect that.

Along with Howard Donald, Mark Owen and their manager Jonathan Wild, Barlow invested £66m in two partnerships that were styled as music industry investment schemes.

A total of 51 such partnerships set up by Icebreaker Management were to secure tax relief for members, Judge Colin Bishopp ruled.

HM Revenue and Customs is now expected to demand repayment.

Two years ago when it was alleged Barlow, Donald, Owen and Wild invested at least £26m in an Icebreaker Management scheme, lawyers for the band insisted they believed the investments were legitimate and that all four named paid "significant tax".

In a statement released after the ruling, Icebreaker Management said: "Icebreaker Management is extremely disappointed with this decision since it puts a valuable source of funding for the UK's independent music industry in jeopardy.

"Icebreaker will review the full decision and consider all the LLPs' options including appeal."

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Gove Accused Of 'Lunacy' In Free Schools Row

Michael Gove has been accused of stripping £400m from a fund for extra school places in order to plug a financial "black hole" in his free schools programme in a move described as "nothing short of lunacy".

A senior Government source also accused the Education Secretary of being willing to see children struggle for a classroom place so the department can "lavish" money on the free school "experiment".

The attack is the latest coalition spat with the Department for Education at the heart of it.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was earlier this week accused of "lying" over how plans to provide free school meals for infant school pupils would be funded.

The senior Government source said: "Michael Gove is so ideologically obsessed with his free school experiment, he's willing to see children struggle to get suitable school places.

"Everybody knows there's real pressure on school places at the moment and the Secretary of State for Education knows better than most. It is nothing short of lunacy to slash the amount of money available for new school places to lavish on free schools.

"Michael Gove was warned by the schools minister David Laws that this was a bad idea but the zealot pressed on anyway.

"The Conservatives are putting the needs of a handful of their pet-projects ahead of the requirements of the other 24,000 schools in the country."

The source claims Mr Gove reduced the basic need allocation by £400m  - enough to provide around 30,000 new school places - to £2.35bn between 2015 and 2017 to help fund an overspend in the free schools budget of around £800m between 2013 and 2016, the source said.

A spokesman for Mr Gove said: "The suggestion we are cutting money for new places in areas of need to pay for free schools where they are not needed is totally wrong.

"These claims pretend that money spent in free schools is not creating new places in areas of need. That is simply not true.

"From 2015, funding to councils for new school places will rise by more than £200m a year. On top of this, investment in free schools will provide tens of thousands of new places in areas of need.

"Indeed the vast majority of free schools - more than seven in 10 - are in areas with a shortage of places. This investment in free schools is entirely in addition to the rising basic need funding for councils which we announced in December.

"Free schools are hugely popular with parents and are more likely to receive top ratings from Ofsted than council-run schools. So it is absolutely right that, where they are needed, new places are created in free schools."

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Billionaire Britain: New Nation Of Super-Rich

Top 25 Billionaires In Britain

Updated: 12:54am UK, Sunday 11 May 2014

The top 25 names on the 2014 Sunday Times Rich List, including their total fortune and the change from last year.

1. Sri and Gopi Hinduja, £11.9bn, up £1.3bn

2. Alisher Usmanov, £10.65bn, down £2.65bn

3. Lakshmi Mittal and family, £10.25bn, up £250m

4. Len Blavatnik, £10bn, down £1bn

5. Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli, £9.75bn, up £2.35bn

6. John Fredriksen and family, £9.25bn, up £450m

7. David and Simon Reuben, £9bn, up £719m

8. Kirsten and Jorn Rausing, £8.8bn, up £3.691bn

9. Roman Abramovich, £8.52bn, down £780m

10. The Duke of Westminster, £8.5bn, up £700m

11. Galen, Hilary and George Weston and family, £7.3bn, up £650m

12. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken and Michel de Carvalho, £6.365bn, down £635m

13. Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber and family, £6.16bn, up £1.645bn

14. Carrie and Francois Perrodo and family, £6.14bn, new

15. German Khan, £6.08bn, new

16. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, £6bn, up £3.65bn

17. Hans Rausing and family, £5.9bn, up £1.18bn

18. Nicky Oppenheimer and family, £4.57bn, up £785m

19. Earl Cadogan and family, £4.2bn, up £525m

20. Joseph Lau and family, £4.03bn, down £570m

21. Sir Philip and Lady Green £3.88bn, no change

22. Denis O'Brien, £3.854bn, up £486m

23. Mike Ashley, £3.75bn, up £1.45bn

24. Sir Richard Branson and family, £3.6bn, up £86m

25. Idan Ofer, £3.43bn, new

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'Overworked' Doctors Fear Missing Illnesses

More than eight out of 10 GPs have said they fear missing serious illnesses in patients because they are so overworked, according to a survey.

Nine out of 10 family doctors, meanwhile, feel their general practices do not have sufficient resources to provide high quality care.

The survey was carried out by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the professional membership body for family doctors.

The results were released the day after it was claimed patients in some NHS hospitals are at risk of unsafe care because of staff shortages.

Dr Peter Carter, the chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, told Sky News some nurses were having to look after 15 patients on a ward when draft guidelines for the NHS will recommend eight is a suitable number.

When asked whether they are worried about missing signs of a serious illness because of their workload, 29% of GPs said they worried "a great deal", while 55% said they worried "a fair amount".

The poll found 96% of GPs felt their job was stressful, while the same number said morale had decreased in the last five years.

Seven in 10 (70%) believed GP practices will not exist in 10 years' time because of a funding crisis.

The college said that despite accounting for 90% of all NHS contacts, GP practices are allocated just 8.4% of the NHS budget.

Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, a spokeswoman for the college, said: "(This) is a damning indictment of the impact of the deepening funding crisis in general practice.

"Family doctors and practice nurses want to provide their patients with excellent patient care and this takes the right levels of funding.

"However, only 7% of GPs currently think sufficient investment is going into general practice.

"Our poll shows family doctors are severely demoralised and this can only be bad news for patients."

Sky News has asked the Department of Health for its response.

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