No more ministerial cars? That's down to me

While many people dream of a company car and driver, former MP Chris Mullin found it difficult to get rid of his ministerial vehicle. Here, he reflects on how his comic battle inspired David Cameron to cut government cars and encourage ministers onto public transport.Although I cannot claim to have had much influence on the last government, I do appear to have had some influence on the new one. David Cameron remarked to me some months ago that, having read my account of the struggle to shake off a ministerial car, recounted in my diaries View From the Foothills, he was proposing to limit the supply of ministerial limos. And sure enough, he has delivered.One of the perennial embarrassments of being, as I was, a minister in the environment department was that every time a colleague talked of the need to tempt the great British public out of their cars and on to public transport, cameras would appear at the rear entrance filming ministers climbing into their official cars. John Prescott's Jaguar was a particular favourite with mischief-making journalists.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8702883.stm

Schools are promised an academies 'revolution'

Education Secretary Michael Gove has set out his vision for a new era for schools in England. Mr Gove said all schools would be given the opportunity to break away from local authority control and become academies. Academies are state-funded schools which have a high degree of autonomy. Mr Gove said the changes and new freedoms would drive up standards for all schools, with supporters hailing them as a "revolution" in schools. Critics have warned that the changes risk fragmenting state education, with the most disadvantaged children losing out, but the new coalition insists the system will help all pupils. Schools rated as outstanding by inspectors could be fast-tracked into academy status for the autumn. All schools in England - including primaries - will eventually be able to opt to become academies. The proposals could mean thousands of schools leaving local authority control. Mr Gove said: "What I'd like to do is to ensure some of the radicalism that we used to have in education policy returns.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/education/10159448.stm

Kidnapped Chandlers plead for David Cameron to act

A British couple held hostage by Somali pirates have urged UK Prime Minister David Cameron to clarify whether his government will seek their release. Paul Chandler, 60, and Rachel Chandler, 56, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were kidnapped while sailing in the Indian Ocean in October. In an interview broadcast on ITV News, Mr Chandler said they "desperately needed" the PM to make a statement. The Foreign Office said it had a policy of not negotiating with kidnappers. The pair spoke to a Somali journalist at the weekend, ITV News reported, adding that the kidnappers had not benefitted financially from the interview. Mr Chandler offered his congratulations to the new prime minister, but urged him to act.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/10168098.stm

Man arrested over Bradford prostitute murders

A 40-year-old man is being questioned by police on suspicion of murdering three women sex workers in Bradford after body parts were found in a river. Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of killing Suzanne Blamires, 36, who was last seen on Friday. He is also suspected of killing Shelley Armitage, 31, and Susan Rushworth, 43. The BBC understands remains found in the River Aire in Shipley on Tuesday are those of Ms Blamires, although they have not been formally identified. Ms Armitage, from Allerton, Bradford, has been missing since 26 April and Ms Rushworth, from the Manningham area, has not been seen since June 2009. Police are also investigating possible links to the case of Rebecca Hall, 19, who worked as a prostitute in the city and was killed in 2001. Her body was found in the Allerton area of the city, near to where Ms Blamires and Ms Armitage lived.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/bradford_and_west_yorkshire/10163998.stm

Fatal Cumbrian bus on correct side of road

Investigations suggested the bus swerved to avoid an oncoming car which had crossed the central line on Monday, Cumbria Police said in a statement. Kieran Goulding, 15, and Chloe Walker, 16, were both killed. Chloe was marking her birthday. Patrick Short, 68, who was driving a Honda Civic car, was also killed. Nine children remain in hospital, two in a serious condition, after the 49-seater taking pupils home from Keswick School to the Cockermouth area, crashed on the A66 on Monday. Police said 25 other people were treated for injuries, most of them children. Their injuries ranged from cuts to fractures and spinal injuries. The coach driver, a 63-year-old man from Egremont who worked for JB Pickthall in Rowrah, west Cumbria, is in a stable condition in hospital. Police said children from the same school who were travelling on a minibus behind the coach rushed to help their classmates. Ch Supt Steve Johnson praised their actions. He said: "They went straight to the aid of their friends and colleagues and did an incredible job." Chloe Walker's brother Jordan died in April 2007 from the degenerative condition sanfilippo, which was diagnosed when he was seven-years-old. Keswick School head teacher Michael Chapman said of the family's double loss: "I cannot begin to describe how I would feel in those circumstances."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/8704576.stm

Family of murdered Wishaw girl Zoe Nelson 'heartbroken'

The remains of Zoe Nelson, 17, were discovered near Branchalfield Drive in Wishaw on Sunday afternoon. She was last seen by her mother leaving her home in nearby Newmains on Saturday evening. Detectives have launched a murder inquiry and are trying to piece together her last movements. In a statement issued through the police, the teenager's mother Mariann said: "Zoe was a popular girl and a typical 17-year-old who had plenty of friends and was well known in the area.
Zoe, a former Motherwell College student, left home at about 1700 BST on Saturday heading to meet friends. Her body was found in a spot known as "Monkey Hill", which links the areas of Cambusnethan, Newmains and Coltness and is used as a short cut, a cycle track and for walking dogs. Police said local people had reported seeing a fire in that area at about 2320 BST on Saturday.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/10155022.stm

Lancashire curry house bomb hoaxer jailed

A hoaxer who called police to say that she was about to blow up a Lancashire curry house has been jailed for six months.Burnley Crown Court heard that Victoria Hosker, 26, phoned police on 20 May 2009 claiming she had a bomb and would set it off at a Rishton restaurant. Hosker, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty on 24 March to communicating false information about a bomb. Police said they were "delighted" that the judge imposed a prison sentence. Her actions on the night placed a huge demand on police resources which were already stretched Sgt Simon Lynch from Lancashire police
The court heard that Hosker, who made the call at 0124 BST, gave her name to the operator, but not a specific location. Sgt Simon Lynch from Lancashire police said: "What ultimately may have started out as a prank has now resulted in Hosker having to spend some time in jail to reflect on what she has done. "Her actions on the night placed a huge demand on police resources which were already stretched and I am delighted that the judge has seen it appropriate to give Hosker a custodial sentence. "Making hoax calls is extremely irresponsible and members of the public can be confident that the police will thoroughly investigate any such calls and make every effort to track down anyone responsible."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/8695737.stm