PM Faces Tory Rebellion Over Gay Marriage

By Darren McCaffrey, Sky Reporter

David Cameron could be facing the biggest Conservative rebellion of his premiership over plans to introduce gay marriage.

Some 118 Tory MPs - more than a third of the party's representatives- have indicated to their constituents that they are uneasy about the highly controversial move, according to The Daily Mail.

The reported figure is a sign of how divided the Conservative Party is over gay marriage, despite both the Prime Minister and Chancellor George Osborne being personally committed to legislating for it.

Ministers have promised to introduce a Bill before 2015, although it has been claimed this week that Mr Cameron actually wants to fast-track legislation and bring it before Parliament early next year.

The Government has indicated that there will be a free vote, meaning that MPs will be able to vote against the Prime Minister's position without facing disciplinary action.

However it is far from clear if all 118 MPs would vote against the legislation.

Sky News have spoken to several MPs quoted in the article who have ruled out voting against the Government.

Openly gay MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, said he hasn't decided whether to abstain or vote in favour but says he doesn't understand why it's being brought forward now.

Other MPs have expressed concerns over whether enough safeguards are in place to protect religious institutions but refuse to indicate whether they oppose the principle of gay marriage.

The Chancellor however believes a large Tory vote against gay marriage will not help the party appeal to centre ground voters.

Mr Osborne warned last week that ditching the policy would be toxic electorally.

He said that polls indicate a "clear majority" in favour of the change, particularly among the young and women.

A significant vote in opposition to the Government's proposals from within Conservative ranks would certainly be an embarrassment for the Prime Minister and a further blow to his credibility.

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Britain Braced For More Heavy Flooding

Britain is bracing itself for more flooding and travel disruption this weekend as forecasters predict further heavy downpours.

A deep area of low pressure is set to move in over the weekend, bringing more heavy rain to areas already badly hit by Thursday's downpours.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "England and Wales could see 15 to 25mm quite widely, with up to 50mm possible in some spots."

The Environment Agency has issued more than 50 flood warnings and over 150 less serious flood alerts.

:: See the flood warnings and alerts in place for rivers.

A man died after becoming trapped in his 4x4

South and west Wales and the West Country will be worst affected. Strong winds and possible severe gales are expected on Saturday night and Sunday morning,

"There's still some uncertainty about where the strongest winds will be, but it looks like southern counties of England will bear the brunt, with exposed parts seeing gusts up to 70mph," said Robinson.

The AA's head of special operations, Darron Burness, said: "With more heavy rain forecast across the Midlands, Wales and the South West, road conditions in the affected areas are likely to only get worse as the ground is so saturated.

"Even if you think you know your local roads, don't be complacent, as flash-flooding continues to be a real risk and is catching people out."

Driving conditions have been treacherous

Meanwhile, Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday.

The majority of the UK was battered by storms on Thursday leaving hundreds of drivers stranded and thousands of homes without power. More than 100 people had to be evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

An elderly man died after becoming trapped in his 4x4 in floods in Chew Stoke in Somerset.

Wales and southwest England were hit the heaviest.

In Torquay, Devon, several homes were evacuated after a landslide. Part of a cliff face was hit by a landslip after netting was washed away.

Amid the wet and windy weather, thousands of commuters also suffered disruptions, with many train services in the South West and connections to London Paddington either cancelled or delayed.

The Met Office said some areas saw up to 60mm of rain on Thursday.

Thousands of households in the South West and hundreds in Wales were left without power after high winds brought down power lines.

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Tax Backlash Prospect For Independent Shops

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business & Economics correspondent

Independent businesses could benefit from public uproar over low rates of corporation tax paid by global giants Starbucks, Amazon and Google, according to retail experts.

The backlash has been prompted by the revelation that Starbucks has paid just £8.6m UK corporation tax in the past 13 years, on sales of £3.1bn, when most businesses will pay a corporation tax rate of 24% this year.

In 2011, Google paid £6m tax against sales of £395m, while Amazon paid no tax at all in the UK - despite sales here reaching £3.3bn.

Matthew Stych, research director at analysts Planet Retail, believes British retailers can make the most of the furore by highlighting their own contributions and good practices.

"It's a golden opportunity that comes along once in a decade or so, to really capitalise on the negative publicity that some global retailers are receiving at the moment," he says.

"I think it's a huge opportunity that independent retailers in the community must seize now".

Google and Amazon are also accused of paying low taxes on big profits

Independent booksellers in Hertfordshire are doing just that. With support from the Booksellers Association they have launched an advertisement campaign to publicise the fact they pay their taxes.

"People need to think about where they are spending their money and we are hoping that this campaign will bring that to their attention," said Sheryl Shurville, co-owner of Chorleywood Bookshop.

But other analysts are not convinced such consumer campaigns will have any long-term benefit.

"We're unlikely to see any massive dip in the sales of these companies under scrutiny," says Douglas McNeill, chief analyst at Charles Stanley.

"Whilst ethical issues can temporarily make people pause for thought, consumers make their choices on the basis of eternal basics of price, quality and convenience."

Mr Stych says large brands may yet find a way to turn around the negative publicity.

"As far as Amazon and Starbucks are concerned, I think there's an opportunity to strike a more conciliatory note," according to Mr Stych. 

"This is for them also an ideal opportunity to regain or re-forge that bond with local consumers".

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Mugging Death: Two Teenagers Due In Court

Two teenage boys are due to appear in court charged with murdering a partially-sighted pensioner who died following a mugging in west London.

The teenagers, aged 14 and 15, from Southall, were arrested on Wednesday and will appear at Uxbridge Court.

The pair, who are too young to be named, have also been charged with two counts of robbery related to a separate incident.

They are accused of murdering 85-year-old Paula Castle in Greenford.

Mrs Castle, who was registered blind and lived alone, fell to the ground after she was robbed in an alleyway off Oldfield Lane South at 1.50pm on Monday. She died in hospital the following day.

A post-mortem found she died of head injuries.

A card attached to a bunch of flowers at the alley's entrance read: "RIP (lady in alley). What a senseless waste of a good life xxx."

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'Black Friday' Discount Day Reaches UK

Some of the UK's biggest retailers are cashing in on a US tradition, slashing their prices ahead of Christmas.

Amazon, Asda and Apple are among the companies that have launched so-called Black Friday sales in Britain - despite many consumers being unaware of the custom.

In the US, thousands of stores discount their prices the day after Thanksgiving, and many open for longer hours.

Last year a record number of shoppers visited stores over the Black Friday weekend, spending a total of $52bn (£32.6bn) - an average of around $400 (£250) each, according to the National Retail Federation.

Whereas many retailers open stores at midnight, this year the trend to open at 8pm on Thursday has started to spread.

While the shift was denounced by some store employees and traditionalists as pulling people away from families on Thanksgiving, many shoppers welcomed the chance to shop before midnight.

"I think it's better earlier. People are crazier later at midnight," hotel worker Renee Ruhl, 52, said as she shopped at a Target store in Orlando, Florida.

Amazon launched its sale on Monday

Online retailer Amazon was one of the first companies to bring the trend to the UK.

It launched a week-long Black Friday sale on Monday, which it claims "offers millions of pounds of savings on hundreds of Christmas gifts".

Tech giant Apple and Asda, owned by Walmart, are also hoping to make the most of the Christmas shopping rush by offering one-day discounts of their own. 

"There are more retailers launching sales this year than ever before - and many British consumers are becoming aware of the tradition for the first time," Retail Week's Gemma Goldfingle told Sky News.

"In the US it an absolute phenomenon, with people queuing up all night to snap up the best deals.

"In Orlando at least one family camped outside a Best Buy shop for a full week, sleeping in two tents.

"It has not reached that level here and whether it ever will is another matter."

She said that Americans have Thanksgiving to kick-start the event – whereas in the UK it is just a normal day. Boxing Day, when UK sales traditionally begin, is a normal work day for Americans.

"A lot of British retailers would prefer not to have it," Ms Goldfingle said.

"They want to be selling items at full price ahead of Christmas, especially given the tough economic conditions."

Black Friday, which is thought to refer to the first day of the year that retailers go "into the black", comes just ahead of Cyber Monday - which the marketing industry claims is the busiest day in the online shopping calendar.

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Electricity Bills: Green Power Plan To Add £100

Green power could add £100 a year to electricity bills by 2020 under new government plans.

An estimated £110bn is needed in the next decade to renew the UK's ageing electricity infrastructure and much of that is set to go into low-carbon power sources such as wind farms.

But the coalition's long-awaited green energy strategy is set to treble the costs levied on bills from £2.35bn a year to £7.6bn.

And the increased cost to bill-payers from the drive for clean energy could reach £178 a year by 2030, before adjusting for inflation, experts believe.

However, officials say that while consumers will pay more towards green energy strategies they will also save money through increased energy efficiency at home.

The forthcoming Energy Bill, which aims to drive the investment, has been the subject of political wrangling within the coalition.

There have been mixed messages about how committed the Government is to supporting a greener economy or backing new gas power.

But agreement has now been reached on contentious areas.

Energy secretary Ed Davey told Sky News: "By making sure Britain produces our own clean energy we can insulate consumers and insulate the British economy from imported gas prices which is better for energy security."

Significantly, the bill will not include a limit for the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted per megawatt hour of power from the electricity sector by 2030.

The Government believes the spending level agreed for low-carbon power subsidies will allow the UK to meet goals to supply 30% of electricity from renewables by 2020.

Environmental campaigners have reacted angrily to the news that carbon emissions will not be capped.

John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, said: "By failing to agree to any carbon target for the power sector until after the next election, David Cameron has allowed a militant tendency within his own ranks to derail the Energy Bill.

"It's a blatant assault on the greening of the UK economy that leaves consumers vulnerable to rising gas prices, and sends billions of pounds of clean-tech investment to our economic rivals."

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Savile 'Would Walk In On Women Having A Bath'

Jimmy Savile thought he was "untouchable" and would regularly walk in on female patients at Broadmoor while they were having a bath, it has been claimed.

A former patient from the 1970s said the TV presenter had "total" access to the high-security hospital in Berkshire.

His former personal assistant Janet Cope also claimed Savile worked to gain access to high-profile criminals.

She told ITV's Exposure: "Jimmy was untouchable. (He) was very proud of the fact that he spoke to all these very high-profile poorly criminals."

Ms Cope said that although she had never seen him abuse anyone, he was a controlling person.

She explained: "I knew how he operated so I was very wary of him and I felt there was an undercurrent, there was a bad side, which not many people saw."

Ms Cope said Savile held a position of real authority at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, adding: "He controlled everything. He controlled me.

Savile was said to have complete access to Broadmoor

"Everybody was - I'm going to use the word - frightened of him."

Police are investigating claims the former DJ, who died last year, sexually abused hundreds of women and children.

A former Broadmoor patient told Exposure Savile would often walk in while females were taking baths.

She said: "He would come in when you'd be having a bath ... he would just walk in."

Speaking anonymously, she said Savile once tried to touch her breast - and when she reported him she spent months in solitary confinement.

Lawyer Liz Duck said she was representing nine women who claimed they were abused by Savile at Stoke Mandeville.

"Some of them have had their lives destroyed (by Savile)," Ms Duck said.

"Several of the victims did report matters to members ... no action was taken."

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Tory MP Nadine Dorries Voted Out Of Jungle

Tory MP Nadine Dorries has become the first person to be evicted from I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after 12 days in the jungle.

Ms Dorries, who was suspended from the party for going on the ITV show, was voted out by members of the public.

Learning of her eviction, she told hosts Ant and Dec it had been a "fascinating experience".

She said: "I actually came here self-important for a few days - but I'm not now.

"I needed that missile and I think all MPs need that. I came from a council estate and never thought I was like that, but I was. I'm not now."

When asked if she felt she had achieved her aim in raising awareness of issues, she said: "I don't know what people have seen, but I have had some fascinating conversations in there. It's been a fascinating experience.

"I think it is important that MPs realise that you need to go where the public go. More people vote on X Factor and I'm A Celebrity than they do in the general elections. MPs need to go where people vote."

The Mid Bedfordshire MP predicted David Haye would be the eventual winner, with Helen Flanagan and Eric Bristow making up the final three. She said she had guessed she would be the first to go.

Boxer David Haye

She said: "I'm not disappointed at being the first, especially when you're starving. I kind of expected it actually. I don't think the public actually understand how hard and how difficult it is down there.

"The effect it has on your body when you're down there with three teaspoons of rice a day is hard, hard, hard."

Ms Dorries was suspended as a Tory MP after flying to the jungle without permission from David Cameron or informing senior Conservative Party officials.

Her decision to take part in the show angered colleagues and constituents, but she insisted she would use it as a platform to promote politics and engage the electorate.

Before going on I'm A Celebrity, she said "It can't be that hard", but then went on to fail three challenges.

Asked if she regretted those words, she replied: "There's like this massive adrenaline rush and your brain's screaming 'no' and you have to overcome it, but sometimes I can't."

On eating lamb's testicle and ostrich anus, she said: "I would never have thought I would eat any of those things in a million years."

Ms Dorries is to donate her MP's salary to charity for the period in which she appeared on the show.

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Flood Alert As Heavy Rain Sweeps The Country

Britain is braced for another day of deluges and flooding as heavy rain sweeps across the country.

Homes were flooded and roads left underwater on Wednesday as downpours caused widespread disruption, and forecasters warn more misery is on its way.

Vehicles were abandoned and there were reports of entire villages being cut off as floodwater surged through lanes and streets and into homes.

The South West and Wales are expected to bear the brunt of the weather as a low pressure system moves eastwards across the country, bringing gusts of up to 70mph and extremely heavy rain.

The Met Office warned that some areas could see up to 60mm (5ins) of rain falling on already saturated ground, leading to further risk of rivers flooding.

Strong winds could yet worsen conditions, particularly surface water flooding, as leaves and debris block drains and channels.

Flood waters surrounding a cottage close to the village of North Curry

More than 80 flood warnings are in place - 50 alone in the South West and 22 across the Midlands - and there are a further 138 less serious flood alerts, the Environment Agency said.

Agency teams are on the ground across the country clearing watercourses of debris and monitoring river levels, and will be out in force over the coming days.

Pete Fox, the Environment Agency's head of flood risk strategy, said: "There is already significant travel disruption due to the wet weather and we would urge people to remain vigilant as further flooding is possible across the South West."

Sky News weather presenter Sarah Pennock said: "Expect difficult driving conditions across western Britain this morning with plenty of surface water on the roads. Gusty winds will cause broken branches and possible disruption."

Cars make their way through floods in the village of Norton near Worcester

While Thursday is expected to be a washout, Friday should be bright and breezy, with sunny spells and scattered showers in the west, before further rain pushes into central southern Britain on Saturday.

There could be snow across the Scottish hills overnight.

The weather caused major problems on the roads yesterday, with the AA attending more than 8,000 breakdowns - 37% more than normal - and 500 floodwater-related callouts by 4pm.

Roads were reported as being impassable around the M5 corridor and in Worcestershire and south Birmingham, and standing water on roads created difficulties for motorists.

Dozens of schools were closed, including 12 in Devon and 17 in Somerset, two of the worst-hit counties, and businesses including pubs and restaurants forced to turn away customers following the floods.

Emergency services in Somerset were also called to a flooded property to help rescue a woman who had gone into labour and needed to get to hospital.

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Teenage Girl's Attacker Caught On CCTV

Video of a 16-year-old girl being knocked unconscious in an unprovoked street attack has been released by police.

CCTV footage shows the assailant approach the victim from behind and punch her so hard she falls over, hitting the pavement face-first.

Police are appealing for information after the teenager was followed from her home by her attacker, who struck without warning outside the Black Lion pub in Plaistow High Street in east London.

Police say the attacker was "a black man of muscular build"

Scotland Yard described the suspect as black and muscular, wearing a black baseball jacket and jeans, with a shaven head and aged between 25 and 30.

A Metropolitan police spokesperson said: "At about 12.30pm on November 13, a male suspect followed a 16-year-old girl from her home address for approximately 500 metres.

"When he was near the Black Lion public house he ran up behind her and threw a punch to her head.

"This was an unprovoked attack. The victim fell to ground and was unconscious."

After the assault the suspect turned around and jogged back towards Green Gate Street.

The girl was taken to hospital and released with cuts and bruises later that day.

:: Anyone with information should contact Newham Violent Crime Unit on 020 8217 5890 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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