Category: news

Much of Greece is expected to grind to a halt as trade unions stage a new 24-hour strike against austerity measures.

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Chancellor George Osborne tells the CBI’s annual dinner that he is committed to simpler corporate tax rates.

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The Electoral Commission will publish its interim report later into the chaos which ensued at a string of polling stations on general election day.

Hundreds of people, many of whom had queued for more than an hour before the polls closed, were unable to vote.

Problems were reported in Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle and parts of London.

Most returning officers blamed an unexpectedly high turnout and a late surge in voting.

The Electoral Commission will examine the reasons given by officials for the problems with the 6 May poll.

Police called

BBC political correspondent Mike Sergeant says politicians on all sides were swift to condemn the chaos at many polling stations.

Some of the more alarming scenes were in Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s constituency of Sheffield Hallum, where hundreds of students queued for hours but still did not get to vote.

There were more than a dozen reports of police being called in other parts of the country, as most polling stations shut their doors at exactly 2200 BST, which the rules dictated.

But in other areas people were allowed inside – in Lewisham, south London, voting was extended for half an hour.

Among the incidents:

• Police were called to a polling station in Lewisham where about 300 people had still to vote by 2200 BST

• In Hackney, east London, angry would-be voters staged a sit-in when polls closed

• In his Sheffield Hallam constituency, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg went to offer his apologies to frustrated voters at a polling station in Ranmoor, after they queued for more than three hours

• Doors were closed on 200 potential voters at Ladybarn in Withington, Manchester

• In Liverpool, voters were left waiting when one polling station ran out of ballot papers

• Voters were turned away amid long queues at St Paul’s Church in Birmingham and queues were reported at Mere Green polling station in Sutton Coldfield

• There were reports of voters being turned away after long queues in Weybridge, Surrey

• Long queues were reported at two polling stations in Newcastle

It is possible the problems might have affected the result in a few very marginal constituencies, but election re-runs are now considered very unlikely.

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A "radio amnesty" is being launched to encourage listeners to switch from analogue to digital radios.

Participating UK retailers will offer discounts of 10%-20% when people trade in their old analogue sets.

The move, modelled on the government’s vehicle scrappage scheme, runs from Saturday until 26 June to coincide with the build-up to football’s World Cup.

The old sets will be reconditioned and sent to southern Africa to give young people access to radio programmes.

‘Future of radio’

Those beyond repair will be recycled under the government’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, aimed at reducing the amount of electrical and electronic equipment produced.

The radio amnesty initiative, developed by the BBC and commercial radio stations, will be supported by on-air promotions featuring Stephen Fry, Gaby Roslin, Noddy Holder and Gabby Logan.

Ford Ennals, chief executive of industry body Digital Radio UK, said: "Digital radio is the future for UK radio and the radio amnesty gives consumers even more reasons to get digital radio.

"This is an amazing summer of exclusive sports and music on digital radio and also a great opportunity to support children’s charities in southern Africa.

"It is a wonderful example of the UK radio industry coming together to support digital radio and a very worthwhile cause."

The scheme is also being linked with broadcasts of other sporting events such as Wimbledon tennis and England cricket, and music festivals including Glastonbury.

Listening figures

In its Digital Britain report last year, the government predicted 50% of radio listening would be digital by the end of 2013.

Figures released by radio industry organisation Rajar earlier this month suggested almost a quarter of listening was currently on digital platforms.

Retailers participating in the radio amnesty include Argos, Comet, John Lewis, Tesco and many independent stores.

However, DSG International – the owner of Currys and Dixons – said it would not be able to take part because it was in the process of changing its product range.

BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas says that before the final switch-off of analogue radio in the UK, digital coverage must be improved and suitable sets fitted in millions of cars.

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US President Barack Obama vows to pursue UN sanctions against Iran despite Tehran’s nuclear deal with Brazil and Turkey.

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Details of the coalition deal struck between the Tories and the Lib Dems are to be published in full, which the parties say is a "historic document".

In the foreword, David Cameron and Nick Clegg say although their parties have differences, there is "common ground".

But there may be tension as MPs learn which policies have been scrapped.

Conservative MP Bill Cash has said there is "very acute" concern among his colleagues that the Tory manifesto is being watered down.

The 30-page document was discussed by Lib Dem MPs at a meeting on Wednesday – a spokesman told the BBC "people were very pleased with the agreement".

Royal Mail

Prime Minister Mr Cameron and Deputy PM Mr Clegg will unveil the final document later – which will give more details than the four-page deal produced during negotiations in the days after the UK election resulted in a hung Parliament.

The Guardian reported that the two parties had agreed to try to privatise Royal Mail – an issue that proved explosive for the previous Labour government, which shelved it in the face of backbench and union anger.

In their manifesto, the Lib Dems proposed selling 49% to raise money for investment and splitting the remaining 51% between an employee trust and the government.

A spokeswoman for Business Secretary Vince Cable told the BBC: "All options that have been considered are consistent with the coalition agreement and details will follow".

The coalition deal includes the agreements worked out with civil servants on policy areas like banking, civil liberties, defence, the environment, Europe, immigration, welfare and political reform – some of which the parties have disagreed in the past.

But Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, hailing the deal as a "historic document in British politics", wrote: "As our parties have worked together it has become increasingly clear to us that, though there are differences, there is also common ground."

The joint foreword promises "sweeping reform of welfare, taxes and most of all our schools – with a breaking open of the state monopoly and extra money following the poorest pupils".

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the reference to schools was designed to reassure Tory activists and backbench MPs, some of whom viewed compromises between the two parties as a betrayal of manifesto commitments.

Mr Cameron risked stoking Tory backbench anger further on Wednesday evening when he unexpectedly asked his MPs to vote through changes to the powerful backbench 1922 Committee, which would allow ministers to play a bigger role – including voting for the chairman.

Mr Cash, who was also annoyed that the Tory commitment to replace the Human Rights Act with a "British Bill of Rights" has been referred to a government commission, told the BBC there was a "tsunami of changes taking place" which could "create a great deal of uncertainty and tension".

He said there was "very acute" concern among Conservatives that the party’s position was being watered down.

"We want things to work, we want stability, but there are also these democratic questions about being elected on manifesto commitments."

Pre-released extracts from the agreement on education show the parties have agreed on a "significant premium for disadvantaged pupils" as well as the Tory policy of allowing parents and charities to set up new schools.

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Universities should “earn” extra cash for taking more students from low-income families, a charity has said.

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War crimes prosecutors at The Hague say they have received the wartime diaries of Gen Ratko Mladic from Serbia.

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Do BA injunctions erode right to take industrial action?

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Manchester City have offered £20m for Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, BBC Sport understands.

The England international was recently named PFA Young Player of the Year following an impressive season for Martin O’Neill’s team.

The Leeds-born 24-year-old, who joined Villa from Newcastle for £12m in 2008, is halfway through a four-year deal.

Villa owner Randy Lerner said last week the club will do "everything" in their power to ensure Milner stays.

Premier League and FA Cup Double winners Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with Milner, though United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has talked of this summer’s transfer market as being "very difficult".

Villa have secured Europa Cup football for next season having finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Carling Cup final and will not want to lose another influential midfielder to City following the departure of Gareth Barry for £12m last season.

City, funded by the deep pockets of Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are close to signing Germany international defender Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for £11m.

More signings are expected this summer as City push for a coveted Champions League spot having just missed out to Tottenham this season.

Milner has been in a rich vein of form this season, helping Villa finish sixth in the Premier League and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, since O’Neill switched him from wide midfield to a more central position.

He has also become a regular in the England squad under Fabio Capello, and is widely tipped to be part of the 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

If City, who will also play in the Europa League next season, do sign Milner it will then boost their contingent of "homegrown" footballers as required by new Premier League rules.

At the end of the August transfer window Premier League clubs are required to include eight homegrown footballers in a 25-man squad.

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Ex-health secretary Andy Burnham says he wants to stand for Labour leader and "rebuild the party for new times".

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper the party owed a "debt of thanks" to Gordon Brown and Tony Blair but said he would end "stage-managed" politics.

He said Labour had to understand voters’ sense of "unfairness" and that Labour lost because they felt "our priorities were not their priorities".

David and Ed Miliband, John McDonnell and Ed Balls also intend to stand.

They must get the backing of 33 Labour MPs each by Thursday 27 May, if they are to get on the ballot paper.

In an article for the Mirror, Mr Burnham – who held three cabinet posts under Gordon Brown’s premiership – said the party "must avoid looking like we are disowning the past".

‘Sense of unfairness’

But he said Labour had to be "honest" about why it had lost power.

"I heard the same echo everywhere I went. People trying to get on in life and do the right thing felt Labour was no longer at their side.

"Our priorities were not their priorities: that we were doing more for those who didn’t want to work than those in work but struggling, particularly with no children; that we were in denial about the effects of immigration – on wages, housing and anti-social behaviour – in places where life is hardest; and that pensioners who had done the right thing and saved found they were above the line for help.

"Labour won’t be heard again until we show that we understand this sense of unfairness."

He said they had sometimes given the impression Labour had "no views about pay at the top of the scale" and would have picked up on the issues if it had been connected to "our own grassroots".

He said Labour had been "too controlling and cautious" and must become a "people’s party", reducing the influence of "small elites at the top".

He also said the party "should bring down the final curtain on the era of stage-management in politics, making our party conference a forum for real debate and drama once again".

‘Team player’

Mr Burnham pledged to make it cheaper to join the Labour Party and said he could make it "welcoming and unifying", adding: "I am a team-player, I’ve never had time for factions."

Mr Burnham, 40, has been MP for Leigh, Greater Manchester, since 2001.

He held the posts of chief secretary to the Treasury, Culture Secretary and Health Secretary under Gordon Brown’s premiership.

He has also worked as a special adviser in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, a research assistant to Tessa Jowell and parliamentary private secretary to David Blunkett, when he was home secretary.

He is the fifth Labour MP to enter the race. The winner will not be announced until 25 September.

On Wednesday Ed Balls launched his campaign, saying he wanted to "listen first, hear what the public say". Mr Balls, a close ally of Mr Brown, added the contest was not about "Blair versus Brown" or "old Labour versus new Labour".

"I think that’s the past really – what people want to know is, are we in touch with the public, are we on their side, do we understand their concerns?"

MPs who want to get on the ballot paper have until Thursday 27 May to gather the backing of 33 MPs – a timetable some have said is too tight, particularly for less high-profile candidates.

Left-wing MP John McDonnell said he wants to stand but the timetable makes it "almost impossible" and argues that the process has been "stitched up from the start".

Ed Miliband has also said it should be longer. On his Twitter page, he wrote: "MPs/members annoyed about short nominations timetable: I have to say I agree. Need broadest possible choice & time for MPs to decide&consult".

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The Unite union will learn if its appeal against an injunction stopping planned BA cabin crew strikes has succeeded.

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The NHS is exploring the possibility of using financial incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles.

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Manchester City have offered £20m for Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, BBC Sport understands.

The England international was recently named PFA Young Player of the Year following an impressive season for Martin O’Neill’s team.

The Leeds-born 24-year-old, who joined Villa from Newcastle for £12m in 2008, is halfway through a four-year deal.

Villa owner Randy Lerner said last week the club will do "everything" in their power to ensure Milner stays.

Premier League and FA Cup Double winners Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with Milner, though United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has talked of this summer’s transfer market as being "very difficult".

Villa have secured Europa Cup football for next season having finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Carling Cup final and will not want to lose another influential midfielder to City following the departure of Gareth Barry for £12m last season.

City, funded by the deep pockets of Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are close to signing Germany international defender Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for £11m.

More signings are expected this summer as City push for a coveted Champions League spot having just missed out to Tottenham this season.

Milner has been in a rich vein of form this season, helping Villa finish sixth in the Premier League and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, since O’Neill switched him from wide midfield to a more central position.

He has also become a regular in the England squad under Fabio Capello, and is widely tipped to be part of the 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

If City, who will also play in the Europa League next season, do sign Milner it will then boost their contingent of "homegrown" footballers as required by new Premier League rules.

At the end of the August transfer window Premier League clubs are required to include eight homegrown footballers in a 25-man squad.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Brazil and Turkey urge fellow UN Security Council members to heed a deal they struck with Iran on its nuclear programme.

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