Interior designer accepts £60,000 plus costs, while Ashley Cole joins test cases over levels of compensation Interior designer Kelly Hoppen has settled her phone-hacking claim against the publisher of the News of the World, after it agreed to pay her compensation of £60,000 plus costs. Hoppen sued News Group Newspapers, former News of the World journalist Dan Evans and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for misuse of private information and breach of confidence. She alleged they intercepted messages left on her mobile phone from 2004 to 2006. It emerged in the high court on Friday that NGN had admitted this in April this year. Separately, footballer Ashley Cole, who is also suing NGN, will have his case heard at trial as one of several test cases designed to set the level of compensation the publisher will have to pay to victims if they win their cases. More details soon … •
Continue reading …The economy added a better-than-expected 103,000 jobs in September, the government said in its monthly report–not enough to budge the unemployment rate, but further evidence the danger of slipping back into recession is likely not imminent. Economists had expected a rise of around 60,000. The gain reflected the return to work of 45,000 striking Verizon
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Chuka Umunna and Rachel Reeves are among the rising stars given senior positions in Ed Miliband’s new frontbench A number of newly elected MPs have been promoted to the shadow cabinet in a reshuffle by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband. Chuka Umunna and Rachel Reeves are among the rising stars handed senior positions – as shadow business secretary and shadow chief Treasury secretary. It is the first time a Labour leader has had a completely free hand following a rule change which means the shadow cabinet is no longer elected by a ballot of the party’s MPs. The former minister Stephen Twigg has been brought in to take on Michael Gove at education, allowing Andy Burnham to resume the health brief he held in the last government. Caroline Flint is moved to shadow energy secretary – one of 11 women out of the 27 in the new-look top team. One of those is the deputy leader, Harriet Harman, who has swapped the international development brief for culture, media and sport. Another two female shadow ministers will attend the cabinet without being members. Miliband said: “My decision to appoint half a dozen members of the 2010 intake shows the talent that Labour has and the way in which this new generation can join us in taking Labour’s agenda forward. “Together we will show how the government are failing to help families who face a cost of living crisis, how they are failing to take action on energy bills and rail fares and failing to get the economy moving again. “They will show how we aspire to be a government not for more of the same but to deliver a new bargain for the British people.” He added: “I am determined that my shadow cabinet not only holds this government to account but speaks to the public and the country. “Families across Britain are worried about how they will make ends meet, anxious about what the future holds for their children and tired of the way irresponsibility is tolerated across our society.” New faces around Miliband’s shadow cabinet table also include the phone-hacking campaigner Tom Watson, the new shadow Scotland secretary, Margaret Curran, and the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Vernon Coaker. Watson was a driving force in the battle to get an inquiry into allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World, and a tormentor of News International executives in his role as a member of the Commons culture, media and sport committee. He will co-ordinate Labour’s campaigning and byelection efforts in his new role, and will also remain a member of the committee. The shadow attorney general, Lady Scotland, has quit because she felt it was “time for something new”. She is replaced by the Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry, a barrister who was previously health spokeswoman. Three MPs deemed to have been underperforming are sacked from the shadow cabinet, Meg Hillier losing the energy and climate change portfolio, Ann McKechin losing the Scotland brief and Shaun Woodward being removed from the post of shadow Northern Ireland secretary. Ivan Lewis moves from culture to international development in a straight swap with Harman. His move was widely regarded as a consequence of his ill-judged remarks at Labour’s conference earlier this month about setting up a register of journalists from which misbehaving reporters could be struck off. The proposal, which was swiftly disowned by the leadership, was thought to have made his continuing stewardship of media policy untenable. Harman’s office said she was “delighted” with her new role as shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport. “This is an incredibly important time for sport and for our creative industries, not least the future of media regulation in this country,” said Harman’s office. “Harriet is looking forward to delivering on the media regulation framework precipitated by Ed Miliband’s strong leadership in the hacking scandal this summer. “In addition, Harriet is returning to a domestic role because of the importance of the forthcoming elections in May 2012 in which, as deputy leader and chair of the Labour party, she will have excellent support from Tom Watson MP as deputy chair and campaign co-ordinator.” Miliband’s first reshuffle sees the Labour leader lose from frontbench service two former government ministers, John Denham and John Healey, who both announced on Thursday they were standing down. On Friday morning, Denham, the former cabinet minister, announced he would leave parliament at the next election. Denham, 58, released a letter to the Labour leader saying he had decided some time ago not to seek re-election and it would be wrong to serve in the shadow cabinet if he had no prospect of becoming a minister in a Labour government. On Thursday it emerged that Denham, the shadow business secretary, and Healey, the shadow health secretary, would be leaving the shadow cabinet in the reshuffle. Labour claimed both men had told Miliband some time ago they did not want to carry on in frontline positions. The party insisted the departures were civilised and they had not been sacked. It is generally accepted in Whitehall, however, that Healey had underperformed. Sources said he stood down after he was offered a more junior role having fallen out of favour with the leadership for failing to make political capital out of the government’s NHS reforms. John Denham’s departure is more of a surprise. The former universities minister is close to the Labour leader, being one of only four shadow cabinet members to have backed Ed Miliband in the Labour leadership election. He is thought, however, to have been unhappy with parts of Miliband’s party conference speech that dealt with the business sector. On Friday Denham, who resigned from Tony Blair’s government over the Iraq war but returned to office as a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown, released the text of a letter to Miliband stressing his support for the Labour leader. “I told you some months ago that I would not be standing at the general election,” Denham said. “After 30 years’ continuous service as an elected councillor or MP I think I should move on whilst I still have enthusiasm for the role.” “We both agree that you would need to bring someone into the shadow cabinet who would be able to serve as minster in the next government.” “It has been a huge honour to be on Labour’s frontbench in government and in opposition and I have particularly enjoyed working with you over the past year as you have developed a clear, relevant and necessary vision of the way forward for Britain and for the Labour party.” Denham will take up a new post working for Miliband as his parliamentary private secretary. Miliband plans to announced the full details of his reshuffle on Friday. He hopes to go into the new parliamentary term with a fresh slate after a mixed reaction to his conference speech delivered in Liverpool a fortnight ago. Healey was the second most popular candidate when MPs stood for election to the shadow cabinet a year ago, but his performance has confirmed to Miliband the problems with those elevated to the cabinet through popularity rather than ability. Miliband is understood to believe he has been poorly served by the patchy quality of shadow cabinet members over the past year and during this year’s conference. John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, urged him to use new rules allowing the party leader to choose his frontbench team to shake up his shadow cabinet. Having stayed away from the conference for the first time in 40 years, Prescott said: “This is a Tory government that’s doing some outrageous things and we haven’t had many words of protest. Ed, you’re the leader, get a shadow cabinet who’ll do that.” The new rules were approved by the Labour party conference and Miliband is using the last day of the conference season interregnum to assemble a stronger lineup. Labour Ed Miliband Andy Burnham John Denham Allegra Stratton Andrew Sparrow Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk
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Chuka Umunna and Rachel Reeves are among the rising stars given senior positions in Ed Miliband’s new frontbench A number of newly elected MPs have been promoted to the shadow cabinet in a reshuffle by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband. Chuka Umunna and Rachel Reeves are among the rising stars handed senior positions – as shadow business secretary and shadow chief Treasury secretary. It is the first time a Labour leader has had a completely free hand following a rule change which means the shadow cabinet is no longer elected by a ballot of the party’s MPs. The former minister Stephen Twigg has been brought in to take on Michael Gove at education, allowing Andy Burnham to resume the health brief he held in the last government. Caroline Flint is moved to shadow energy secretary – one of 11 women out of the 27 in the new-look top team. One of those is the deputy leader, Harriet Harman, who has swapped the international development brief for culture, media and sport. Another two female shadow ministers will attend the cabinet without being members. Miliband said: “My decision to appoint half a dozen members of the 2010 intake shows the talent that Labour has and the way in which this new generation can join us in taking Labour’s agenda forward. “Together we will show how the government are failing to help families who face a cost of living crisis, how they are failing to take action on energy bills and rail fares and failing to get the economy moving again. “They will show how we aspire to be a government not for more of the same but to deliver a new bargain for the British people.” He added: “I am determined that my shadow cabinet not only holds this government to account but speaks to the public and the country. “Families across Britain are worried about how they will make ends meet, anxious about what the future holds for their children and tired of the way irresponsibility is tolerated across our society.” New faces around Miliband’s shadow cabinet table also include the phone-hacking campaigner Tom Watson, the new shadow Scotland secretary, Margaret Curran, and the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Vernon Coaker. Watson was a driving force in the battle to get an inquiry into allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World, and a tormentor of News International executives in his role as a member of the Commons culture, media and sport committee. He will co-ordinate Labour’s campaigning and byelection efforts in his new role, and will also remain a member of the committee. The shadow attorney general, Lady Scotland, has quit because she felt it was “time for something new”. She is replaced by the Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry, a barrister who was previously health spokeswoman. Three MPs deemed to have been underperforming are sacked from the shadow cabinet, Meg Hillier losing the energy and climate change portfolio, Ann McKechin losing the Scotland brief and Shaun Woodward being removed from the post of shadow Northern Ireland secretary. Ivan Lewis moves from culture to international development in a straight swap with Harman. His move was widely regarded as a consequence of his ill-judged remarks at Labour’s conference earlier this month about setting up a register of journalists from which misbehaving reporters could be struck off. The proposal, which was swiftly disowned by the leadership, was thought to have made his continuing stewardship of media policy untenable. Harman’s office said she was “delighted” with her new role as shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport. “This is an incredibly important time for sport and for our creative industries, not least the future of media regulation in this country,” said Harman’s office. “Harriet is looking forward to delivering on the media regulation framework precipitated by Ed Miliband’s strong leadership in the hacking scandal this summer. “In addition, Harriet is returning to a domestic role because of the importance of the forthcoming elections in May 2012 in which, as deputy leader and chair of the Labour party, she will have excellent support from Tom Watson MP as deputy chair and campaign co-ordinator.” Miliband’s first reshuffle sees the Labour leader lose from frontbench service two former government ministers, John Denham and John Healey, who both announced on Thursday they were standing down. On Friday morning, Denham, the former cabinet minister, announced he would leave parliament at the next election. Denham, 58, released a letter to the Labour leader saying he had decided some time ago not to seek re-election and it would be wrong to serve in the shadow cabinet if he had no prospect of becoming a minister in a Labour government. On Thursday it emerged that Denham, the shadow business secretary, and Healey, the shadow health secretary, would be leaving the shadow cabinet in the reshuffle. Labour claimed both men had told Miliband some time ago they did not want to carry on in frontline positions. The party insisted the departures were civilised and they had not been sacked. It is generally accepted in Whitehall, however, that Healey had underperformed. Sources said he stood down after he was offered a more junior role having fallen out of favour with the leadership for failing to make political capital out of the government’s NHS reforms. John Denham’s departure is more of a surprise. The former universities minister is close to the Labour leader, being one of only four shadow cabinet members to have backed Ed Miliband in the Labour leadership election. He is thought, however, to have been unhappy with parts of Miliband’s party conference speech that dealt with the business sector. On Friday Denham, who resigned from Tony Blair’s government over the Iraq war but returned to office as a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown, released the text of a letter to Miliband stressing his support for the Labour leader. “I told you some months ago that I would not be standing at the general election,” Denham said. “After 30 years’ continuous service as an elected councillor or MP I think I should move on whilst I still have enthusiasm for the role.” “We both agree that you would need to bring someone into the shadow cabinet who would be able to serve as minster in the next government.” “It has been a huge honour to be on Labour’s frontbench in government and in opposition and I have particularly enjoyed working with you over the past year as you have developed a clear, relevant and necessary vision of the way forward for Britain and for the Labour party.” Denham will take up a new post working for Miliband as his parliamentary private secretary. Miliband plans to announced the full details of his reshuffle on Friday. He hopes to go into the new parliamentary term with a fresh slate after a mixed reaction to his conference speech delivered in Liverpool a fortnight ago. Healey was the second most popular candidate when MPs stood for election to the shadow cabinet a year ago, but his performance has confirmed to Miliband the problems with those elevated to the cabinet through popularity rather than ability. Miliband is understood to believe he has been poorly served by the patchy quality of shadow cabinet members over the past year and during this year’s conference. John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, urged him to use new rules allowing the party leader to choose his frontbench team to shake up his shadow cabinet. Having stayed away from the conference for the first time in 40 years, Prescott said: “This is a Tory government that’s doing some outrageous things and we haven’t had many words of protest. Ed, you’re the leader, get a shadow cabinet who’ll do that.” The new rules were approved by the Labour party conference and Miliband is using the last day of the conference season interregnum to assemble a stronger lineup. Labour Ed Miliband Andy Burnham John Denham Allegra Stratton Andrew Sparrow Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk
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As part of a series focusing on national identity and the future of the United Kingdom, we’d like to know what you think about the idea of being British and part of the UK. What sort of terms would you use to describe your nationality and how you fit into the UK as a whole? (“Liverpudlian, Welsh, Welsh-Irish, Black-british” – what words do you use if any?). Tell us a bit more about what it means to you to be British and how British you feel. Try to keep your video to a minute in length. Below you can watch the videos other people have sent us You can submit your video here or email us at your.videos@guardian.co.uk . Please read our terms and conditions before submitting your video.
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As part of a series focusing on national identity and the future of the United Kingdom, we’d like to know what you think about the idea of being British and part of the UK. What sort of terms would you use to describe your nationality and how you fit into the UK as a whole? (“Liverpudlian, Welsh, Welsh-Irish, Black-british” – what words do you use if any?). Tell us a bit more about what it means to you to be British and how British you feel. Try to keep your video to a minute in length. Below you can watch the videos other people have sent us You can submit your video here or email us at your.videos@guardian.co.uk . Please read our terms and conditions before submitting your video.
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As part of a series focusing on national identity and the future of the United Kingdom, we’d like to know what you think about the idea of being British and part of the UK. What sort of terms would you use to describe your nationality and how you fit into the UK as a whole? (“Liverpudlian, Welsh, Welsh-Irish, Black-british” – what words do you use if any?). Tell us a bit more about what it means to you to be British and how British you feel. Try to keep your video to a minute in length. Below you can watch the videos other people have sent us You can submit your video here or email us at your.videos@guardian.co.uk . Please read our terms and conditions before submitting your video.
Continue reading …As part of a series focusing on national identity and the future of the United Kingdom, we’d like to know what you think about the idea of being British and part of the UK. What sort of terms would you use to describe your nationality and how you fit into the UK as a whole? (“Liverpudlian, Welsh, Welsh-Irish, Black-british” – what words do you use if any?). Tell us a bit more about what it means to you to be British and how British you feel. Try to keep your video to a minute in length. Below you can watch the videos other people have sent us You can submit your video here or email us at your.videos@guardian.co.uk . Please read our terms and conditions before submitting your video.
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Defence secretary asks senior official to look into ‘wild allegations’ that he risked national security over role of his friend The defence secretary, Liam Fox, has ordered an investigation into claims surrounding the role of a controversial friend and adviser . Fox has asked his most senior official, the permanent secretary Ursula Brennan, to look into what he describes as “wild allegations” concerning Adam Werritty. But he has admitted it was “unacceptable” that Werritty was issuing business cards that identified him as a “personal adviser” to Fox. The defence secretary said he understood the business cards were no longer being used. In recent days Fox has been accused of putting national security at risk by allowing Werritty – a former flatmate who was best man at his wedding – access to the Ministry of Defence , even though he is not employed by the government. It has been reported Werritty joined the defence secretary on an official visit to Sri Lanka, despite Fox having previously said Werritty did not travel with him on official visits overseas. The defence secretary said on Friday he did attend a “private event” with his friend on the island after a picture of the pair was published in the Guardian . He told BBC News: “It was organised by Adam Werritty and Mrs [Suganthie Wijayasuriya] Kadirgamar, who’s the widow of the assassinated Tamil former foreign secretary of Sri Lanka. “I have had a long relationship in Sri Lanka, trying to get co-ordination of peace efforts there. That’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do. “Because there have been some allegations of security leaks and so on, I’ve asked the permanent secretary to look into that for me.” He added: “I’ve asked the permanent secretary to look into any of these wild allegations, and I’m very happy to stand by that investigation.” Werritty has been a controversial figure in Whitehall. Despite having no official role he is reported to hand out business cards with a portcullis logo describing himself as “adviser to Rt Hon Liam Fox MP”. Fox said: “I understand those cards are no longer used. I have made it very clear to him that it’s unacceptable to carry a card saying that he is a personal adviser.” Labour MPs have questioned Werritty’s access to the MoD after it was disclosed in parliamentary answers that he had visited Fox there 14 times in the space of 16 months. Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said it was right that an investigation had been launched. He added: “This seems like a panic measure. The secretary of state has ordered an inquiry into himself in order to prevent his top civil servant from forcing one upon him. There are events only he knows about and it would be easier if he just answered questions directly …There is evidence which appears to contradict Liam Fox’s statements. “Mr Werritty is not an MoD employee and yet he is reportedly arranging meetings for the secretary of state without officials present. He is accompanying the secretary of state during official visits. He is a regular visitor to Liam Fox’s office and he is playing an undefined role in an ongoing legal case involving the MoD. It is extraordinary that Liam Fox is unable to tell us what is going on. “We need to understand why Mr Werritty enjoys the access he does, which MoD issues he has been involved in and we need to be certain no commercial gain has arisen from his association from Mr Fox. “There is too much unnecessary uncertainty and the public should not be kept in the dark.” An MoD spokesman said: “Mr Werritty’s meetings with the secretary of state at the MoD have concerned entirely private matters, not to discuss MoD business. At no time has he had access to any classified MoD documents or information.” Liam Fox Ministry of Defence guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Defence secretary asks senior official to look into ‘wild allegations’ that he risked national security over role of his friend The defence secretary, Liam Fox, has ordered an investigation into claims surrounding the role of a controversial friend and adviser . Fox has asked his most senior official, the permanent secretary Ursula Brennan, to look into what he describes as “wild allegations” concerning Adam Werritty. But he has admitted it was “unacceptable” that Werritty was issuing business cards that identified him as a “personal adviser” to Fox. The defence secretary said he understood the business cards were no longer being used. In recent days Fox has been accused of putting national security at risk by allowing Werritty – a former flatmate who was best man at his wedding – access to the Ministry of Defence , even though he is not employed by the government. It has been reported Werritty joined the defence secretary on an official visit to Sri Lanka, despite Fox having previously said Werritty did not travel with him on official visits overseas. The defence secretary said on Friday he did attend a “private event” with his friend on the island after a picture of the pair was published in the Guardian . He told BBC News: “It was organised by Adam Werritty and Mrs [Suganthie Wijayasuriya] Kadirgamar, who’s the widow of the assassinated Tamil former foreign secretary of Sri Lanka. “I have had a long relationship in Sri Lanka, trying to get co-ordination of peace efforts there. That’s a perfectly reasonable thing to do. “Because there have been some allegations of security leaks and so on, I’ve asked the permanent secretary to look into that for me.” He added: “I’ve asked the permanent secretary to look into any of these wild allegations, and I’m very happy to stand by that investigation.” Werritty has been a controversial figure in Whitehall. Despite having no official role he is reported to hand out business cards with a portcullis logo describing himself as “adviser to Rt Hon Liam Fox MP”. Fox said: “I understand those cards are no longer used. I have made it very clear to him that it’s unacceptable to carry a card saying that he is a personal adviser.” Labour MPs have questioned Werritty’s access to the MoD after it was disclosed in parliamentary answers that he had visited Fox there 14 times in the space of 16 months. Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said it was right that an investigation had been launched. He added: “This seems like a panic measure. The secretary of state has ordered an inquiry into himself in order to prevent his top civil servant from forcing one upon him. There are events only he knows about and it would be easier if he just answered questions directly …There is evidence which appears to contradict Liam Fox’s statements. “Mr Werritty is not an MoD employee and yet he is reportedly arranging meetings for the secretary of state without officials present. He is accompanying the secretary of state during official visits. He is a regular visitor to Liam Fox’s office and he is playing an undefined role in an ongoing legal case involving the MoD. It is extraordinary that Liam Fox is unable to tell us what is going on. “We need to understand why Mr Werritty enjoys the access he does, which MoD issues he has been involved in and we need to be certain no commercial gain has arisen from his association from Mr Fox. “There is too much unnecessary uncertainty and the public should not be kept in the dark.” An MoD spokesman said: “Mr Werritty’s meetings with the secretary of state at the MoD have concerned entirely private matters, not to discuss MoD business. At no time has he had access to any classified MoD documents or information.” Liam Fox Ministry of Defence guardian.co.uk
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