Both the Times and the Telegraph lead this morning on the pension crisis
Brown's pension grab secret is revealed reveals the latter
Confidential documents sent to the Chancellor before he axed the dividend tax credit in 1997 also warned that the worst-hit victims would be the poorest members of society.
The internal Treasury forecasts, released last night under the Freedom of Information Act, state that the changes would "cause a shortfall in existing assets of up to £75 billion" and that "employers would have to contribute about an extra £10 billion a year for the next 10 to 15 years to get pension scheme funding back on track".
The internal Treasury forecasts, released last night under the Freedom of Information Act, state that the changes would "cause a shortfall in existing assets of up to £75 billion" and that "employers would have to contribute about an extra £10 billion a year for the next 10 to 15 years to get pension scheme funding back on track".
Pension timebomb – Brown defied advice says the Times
Gordon Brown defied repeated warnings from his own officials about the potentially devastating impact of his £5 billion-a-year raid on pension funds and went ahead with it regardless, The Times can reveal.
Pensions campaigners described the revelations — the result of a two year battle by The Times — as an absolute disgrace, and said that it showed the Chancellor “knowingly set about destroying” Britain’s pensions system.
Pensions campaigners described the revelations — the result of a two year battle by The Times — as an absolute disgrace, and said that it showed the Chancellor “knowingly set about destroying” Britain’s pensions system.
The crisis in Iran continues
Another day, another chance for Iran to heap on the humiliation says the Mail
Iran have cranked up the propaganda war over the kidnapped sailors by contrasting their treatment with the plight of prisoners held by Britain and the United States in Iraq.
For the third day running Tehran issued a letter it claimed was from hostage Faye Turney - this time apparently complaining she had been "sacrificed" to UK and US policies.
Addressed "To British People", it added: "We hear and see on the news the way that prisoners are treated in Abu Ghraib and other jails by the British and American personnel, I have received total respect and faced no harm.
For the third day running Tehran issued a letter it claimed was from hostage Faye Turney - this time apparently complaining she had been "sacrificed" to UK and US policies.
Addressed "To British People", it added: "We hear and see on the news the way that prisoners are treated in Abu Ghraib and other jails by the British and American personnel, I have received total respect and faced no harm.
Europe threatens action as Iran airs new 'confession' says the Guardian
The EU threatened to act against Iran last night if it did not immediately and unconditionally release the 15 British sailors and marines it has been holding for more than a week.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Bremen, Germany, threatened "appropriate measures" if Tehran did not let the group go, supporting Britain's position that the crew had been in Iraqi waters when they were seized eight days ago. The ministers did not spell out what measures would be taken, but British diplomats hoped they would involve an escalating array of punitive steps.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Bremen, Germany, threatened "appropriate measures" if Tehran did not let the group go, supporting Britain's position that the crew had been in Iraqi waters when they were seized eight days ago. The ministers did not spell out what measures would be taken, but British diplomats hoped they would involve an escalating array of punitive steps.
HANG ON IN THERE is the Mirror's headline
THE family of Iran hostage Nathan Summers last night urged him to stay strong as he became the second sailor to be shamefully paraded on TV.
Nathan's brother Nick, who is also in the Navy, told him: "Hang on in there." And his father Roy said: "The Iranian government is playing mind games. I just want my boy back home safe and well."
Nathan's brother Nick, who is also in the Navy, told him: "Hang on in there." And his father Roy said: "The Iranian government is playing mind games. I just want my boy back home safe and well."
The Indy reports from Tehran where
Death chants in Tehran voice resentment of 'the little Satan'
A thundering salavat, an invocation of God, his prophet and the imams, greeted Mr Khatami's more robust statements, followed by chants of "Death to America! Death to England!" As the crowd poured out, the worshippers expressed their defiance and anger at America's smaller ally, nicknamed "the little Satan".
"The British should get it out of their heads to act like they used to," said Hassan Asghari, an angry middle-aged man in a green felt jacket. "They have a very bad record here but must learn the colonial days are over. Now they're so weak all they can do is follow America."
"The British should get it out of their heads to act like they used to," said Hassan Asghari, an angry middle-aged man in a green felt jacket. "They have a very bad record here but must learn the colonial days are over. Now they're so weak all they can do is follow America."
The Guardian leads on the latest prison numbers
UK headed for prison meltdown
The former head of the prison service has warned that up to 100,000 people could be in jail by the end of the decade unless drastic and immediate action is taken by the government.
The prediction from Martin Narey came as the prison population in England and Wales reached an all-time high yesterday of more than 80,300, with only four spare places left in emergency police cells anywhere in the country. The crisis meant prison service officials were, for the first time, forced to turn to cells in magistrates courts with hard benches, no beds and no toilets. The move had near disastrous consequences. Securicor officers were asked to volunteer to look after four prisoners held overnight at a magistrates court in north London. One of the prisoners made a suicide attempt which was only prevented at the last minute.Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Narey warned that Britain is heading towards US levels of imprisonment.
The prediction from Martin Narey came as the prison population in England and Wales reached an all-time high yesterday of more than 80,300, with only four spare places left in emergency police cells anywhere in the country. The crisis meant prison service officials were, for the first time, forced to turn to cells in magistrates courts with hard benches, no beds and no toilets. The move had near disastrous consequences. Securicor officers were asked to volunteer to look after four prisoners held overnight at a magistrates court in north London. One of the prisoners made a suicide attempt which was only prevented at the last minute.Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Narey warned that Britain is heading towards US levels of imprisonment.
Jail population hits new high reports the Telegraph
Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the head of the new Ministry of Justice, held out the prospect yesterday of shorter sentences for "non-dangerous" prisoners to ease jail overcrowding.
On his first day as the Secretary of State for Justice, it was confirmed that the number of prisoners in England and Wales had reached 80,303, an all-time high.Lord Falconer said that "dangerous people have to stay in prison until they cease to be dangerous - if necessary remaining in prison for life".But he would be looking at ways of helping to prevent re-offending by non-dangerous criminals, such as shorter jail terms or effective community penalties.
The Mail leads with
£15 speeding tax for victims of violence - but REAL criminals pay nothing
Motorists fined in court for speeding will be forced from Monday to pay a £15 surcharge to help the victims of domestic violence.
But rapists, murderers and other violent criminals who have earned a jail sentence will escape the penalty.
The decision, announced on Friday, brought an incredulous response.
"If they want to help victims of domestic violence, they should be suing the perpetrator - not treating the motorist as a cash cow," said Paul Smith, of the pressure group Safe Speed.
But rapists, murderers and other violent criminals who have earned a jail sentence will escape the penalty.
The decision, announced on Friday, brought an incredulous response.
"If they want to help victims of domestic violence, they should be suing the perpetrator - not treating the motorist as a cash cow," said Paul Smith, of the pressure group Safe Speed.
Both the Sun and the Express lead on a new outbreak of the hospital superbug.Under the headline
Mutant bug kills 17
The Sun reports
HOSPITAL bosses were yesterday battling to contain a mutant superbug that has already killed 17 patients.
They have ordered an intensive cleaning operation at the crisis-hit James Paget Hospital near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
An insider said: “It’s all down to the cleaning. Lots of people have complained that the wards are filthy.”
Eleven patients at the hospital are being treated for the crippling effects of the 027 form of Clostridium difficile — which is up to TEN times more toxic than other strains.
They have ordered an intensive cleaning operation at the crisis-hit James Paget Hospital near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
An insider said: “It’s all down to the cleaning. Lots of people have complained that the wards are filthy.”
Eleven patients at the hospital are being treated for the crippling effects of the 027 form of Clostridium difficile — which is up to TEN times more toxic than other strains.
Network Rail fined £4m for Paddington disaster reports the Independent
The company responsible for railway maintenance has been fined £4m for "systemic and unacceptable" safety failures that led to the 1999 Paddington train crash which killed 31 people. Network Rail, which had admitted health and safety blunders, was also ordered to pay £225,000 in costs. Unions said the money should come from the company's managers, not the public purse.
As well as the fatalities more than 400 passengers were injured when a First Great Western train hit a Thames Trains service at Ladbroke Grove, west London, on 5 October. The disaster happened against a background of what the judge described as "incompetent management and inadequate process". Its "catalogue of failures" spanned several years and flowed from "the culture at the top", Blackfriars Crown Court in London heard.
As well as the fatalities more than 400 passengers were injured when a First Great Western train hit a Thames Trains service at Ladbroke Grove, west London, on 5 October. The disaster happened against a background of what the judge described as "incompetent management and inadequate process". Its "catalogue of failures" spanned several years and flowed from "the culture at the top", Blackfriars Crown Court in London heard.
As Gordon Brown pays a visit to Afghanistan the Telegraph reports
Miliband 'would be a human sacrifice'
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, the Foreign Secretary says 41-year-old Mr Miliband would be "daft" to put his career at risk in order to satisfy the "prejudices" of Blairite MPs and the press.
Asked about the speculation, Mrs Beckett says: "I think 'poor David'. It is complete nonsense.
"He is very bright. He is a very good minister. I am sure he will be a major figure in the party for a long time to come and a major contender at some time in the future. But should he take this step to satisfy somebody else's prejudices? He would be daft."
Mrs Beckett says the Chancellor is "head and shoulders" above any other potential candidate to succeed Tony Blair this summer.
Asked about the speculation, Mrs Beckett says: "I think 'poor David'. It is complete nonsense.
"He is very bright. He is a very good minister. I am sure he will be a major figure in the party for a long time to come and a major contender at some time in the future. But should he take this step to satisfy somebody else's prejudices? He would be daft."
Mrs Beckett says the Chancellor is "head and shoulders" above any other potential candidate to succeed Tony Blair this summer.
The Times reporting that
Brown boosts credentials in flying visit to front line
Gordon Brown enhanced his image as a prime-minister-in-waiting by making an unannounced one-day visit to British troops in Afghanistan and telling them that they were fighting on one of the “front lines against international terrorism”.
The Chancellor made his first trip to the country accompanied by Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, and praised the troops for their “great courage and bravery”.
The Chancellor made his first trip to the country accompanied by Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, and praised the troops for their “great courage and bravery”.
The papers now have two murders to speculate over
Scotland Yard called in as cricket murder police struggle to cope reports the Times
A team of Scotland Yard detectives will travel to Jamaica next week to conduct a review of the Bob Woolmer murder investigation, amid fears that local police may have missed vital clues.
Mark Shields, the Deputy Commissioner of Jamaica Police and a former Scotland Yard detective, told The Times that he will ask for a team of British murder investigators to assist in the investigation, because “sometimes you can miss the blindingly obvious”.
Mr Shields emphasised that an outside review of murder investigations was normal procedure in British investigations after seven to fourteen days. He added that he would expect the Scotland Yard team, probably a six-man force from the Specialist Crime Directorate, “early next week”, but that the exact date of arrival had to be confirmed.
Mark Shields, the Deputy Commissioner of Jamaica Police and a former Scotland Yard detective, told The Times that he will ask for a team of British murder investigators to assist in the investigation, because “sometimes you can miss the blindingly obvious”.
Mr Shields emphasised that an outside review of murder investigations was normal procedure in British investigations after seven to fourteen days. He added that he would expect the Scotland Yard team, probably a six-man force from the Specialist Crime Directorate, “early next week”, but that the exact date of arrival had to be confirmed.
Whilst from Japan the Mirror reports that
'LINDSAY WAS HELD CAPTIVE'
MURDERED British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker may have been held captive for several hours before she died.
Police believe suspect Tatsuya Ichihashi, 28, lured Lindsay, 22, to his flat in Tokyo and bound her wrists and ankles before beating then strangling her.
Detectives refused to say if she had been sexually assaulted.
Police believe suspect Tatsuya Ichihashi, 28, lured Lindsay, 22, to his flat in Tokyo and bound her wrists and ankles before beating then strangling her.
Detectives refused to say if she had been sexually assaulted.
The Sun speculates that
Mafia 'hiding Lindsay killer'
COPS hunting the suspected killer of English teacher Lindsay Hawker yesterday revealed Japan’s mafia may be shielding him.
Oddball Tatsuya Ichihachi idolised Tokyo’s violent Yakuza gangs and may have had friends in their ranks.
Lindsay’s body was found buried in a bath-tub of sand just moments after the suspect fled when cops called at his house. Blood, mostly Ichihachi’s, was nearby.
Cops believe he may have committed Yubitsome — a craze among young criminals of severing the tip of the left little finger and handing it to a gang boss.
Oddball Tatsuya Ichihachi idolised Tokyo’s violent Yakuza gangs and may have had friends in their ranks.
Lindsay’s body was found buried in a bath-tub of sand just moments after the suspect fled when cops called at his house. Blood, mostly Ichihachi’s, was nearby.
Cops believe he may have committed Yubitsome — a craze among young criminals of severing the tip of the left little finger and handing it to a gang boss.
The Independent leads with a sporting story
Bitter FA (or how Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen may have lost the BBC the right to screen England matches)
Football's leading television analysts Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen may have joked and criticised their way out of the highest profiles in sports broadcasting.
That was the astounding suggestion yesterday when the BBC was stripped of its rights to air FA Cup ties and England home games in a coup by ITV and the Irish-based satellite company Setanta. Against all expectations, the BBC and Sky were beaten by a combined £420m bid by their rivals. Three years into a four-year deal which the BBC claimed had brought stature back to the previously jaded FA Cup, the corporation now faces a ratings wilderness when ITV and Setanta take over its rights to cover the Cup and international games at the start of the 2008-09 season.
Though the winners were claiming a straightforward bidding victory, a position supported by the FA, it emerged that Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, had complainted bitterly about the recent critical tone of coverage of England's recent disappointing performances when he meet BBC executives just a few days before deal was announced yesterday.
That was the astounding suggestion yesterday when the BBC was stripped of its rights to air FA Cup ties and England home games in a coup by ITV and the Irish-based satellite company Setanta. Against all expectations, the BBC and Sky were beaten by a combined £420m bid by their rivals. Three years into a four-year deal which the BBC claimed had brought stature back to the previously jaded FA Cup, the corporation now faces a ratings wilderness when ITV and Setanta take over its rights to cover the Cup and international games at the start of the 2008-09 season.
Though the winners were claiming a straightforward bidding victory, a position supported by the FA, it emerged that Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, had complainted bitterly about the recent critical tone of coverage of England's recent disappointing performances when he meet BBC executives just a few days before deal was announced yesterday.
Finally the Guardian is amongst the papers that report on the atempts to canonise the late Pope
Miracle nun: 'I wrote John Paul II's name and I was cured'
It's like a second birth," she smiled "I feel like I've discovered a new body, new limbs." After two years of intense secrecy, Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre, 45, was yesterday revealed to the public as the earthly embodiment of the latest great mystery of the Catholic church. The nun, who knew she wanted to serve Christ from the age of 12 in her northern French village and now works as a nurse for the Little Sisters of Catholic Maternities, is being cited as the living proof that the late Pope John Paul II has healing powers from beyond the grave.
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