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Lib Dems ‘will be more muscular’

Nick CleggThe deputy prime minister will signal the coalition is entering a new period
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The Lib Dems will be more “muscular” in government and their influence more “visible”, Nick Clegg will argue on the first anniversary of the coalition.

The deputy PM and Lib Dem leader will say the arrangement with the Tories is “stable and durable”.

But he will argue it is a coalition of “necessity not conviction” and say the two parties will show their separate identities more overtly in future.

David Cameron has dismissed claims the Lib Dems are a “moderating” influence.

In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, he said the coalition was a “partnership” with both members working in unison to tackle difficult issues rather than one constantly attempting to restrain the other – as some senior Lib Dems have suggested.

Both party leaders are reflecting on the first year of the coalition government – the first in 65 years – seeking to highlight its achievements but stressing the scale of the challenges lying ahead.

Labour leader Ed Miliband is likely to attack the coalition’s record, and highlight its policy differences, at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.

Mr Clegg has been under pressure from Lib Dem activists to wield more clout in government after the party suffered its worst performance in council elections in England for 20 years and amid complaints the party had become a “human shield” for unpopular coalition decisions.

“We will stand together but not so closely that we stand in each other’s shadow”

Nick CleggCoalition is ‘partnership’ – PMYear in the life of a coalition

“The coalition has shown itself to be a durable, stable government,” Mr Clegg will say in a wide-ranging speech. “But it is clear, not least from what we heard on the doorsteps in recent weeks, that people want the Liberal Democrats to be a louder voice in government.”

The Lib Dems have been “punching above their weight” in terms of their contribution to the coalition’s policy agenda, he will say – singling out their support for pensioners, the low paid, nursery education and apprenticeships – but must “do a better job” of trumpeting their achievements.

He will also signal that the coalition – which was damaged by the acrimonious campaign over plans to change the voting system in which the Lib Dems and Conservatives were on different sides of arguments – is entering a new period.

“In the next phase, both partners will be able to be clearer in their identities but equally clear about the need to support government and government policy. We will stand together but not so closely that we stand in each other’s shadow,” he will argue.

“You will see a strong liberal identity in a strong coalition government. You might even call it more muscular liberalism.”

The Lib Dems have suggested they will block proposed NHS reforms unless substantial changes are made and will seek to be more assertive over issues such as banking reform and immigration controls.

Mr Clegg will say he relishes the opportunity to make the “Lib Dem imprint and influence more visible”.

Despite’s last week poll drubbing, in which the party relinquished control of nine English councils and suffered heavy losses in Scotland, Mr Clegg will argue the Lib Dems have “exactly the right answer” and their long-term electoral prospects are good.

“There is a reason neither of the two bigger parties won last May – neither of them were really trusted to deliver both a strong, dynamic economy and a fair society. We can be trusted on both counts.

“I am confident that showing we can combine economic soundness with social justice – competence with a conscience – will make us an even more formidable political force in the future.”

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

Inflation threat from fuel bills

The Bank of England seen between pillars in the City of LondonThe Bank has “pencilled in” double-digit rises in gas and electricity bills

The governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, has warned that higher utility bills could push inflation to 5% later this year.

Publishing the Bank’s latest Inflation Report, he said there remained strong downward pressures on economic growth and upward pressures on inflation.

However, he said that the “big picture” had not changed much since the last report in February.

The Bank still expects inflation to fall back in 2012 and 2013.

The Bank said the slightly gloomier outlook for economic growth reflected not just the dampening effects of high energy costs but also “very weak” consumer spending.

It downgraded its expectations for gross domestic product in 2011 to around 1.75%, from around 2% in February.

Mr King said there was “a great deal of uncertainty about the outlook for inflation”.

It meant that inflation “may not fall back as strong as expected”, he said.

Analysis

Higher inflation – probably 5% later this year – and lower growth. That was the sobering headline from the Bank of England’s Inflation Report.

On inflation, the governor blamed the surge in fuel prices in recent months – he said some utility bills could rise 15%.

The Bank’s growth forecast is now more in line with the Office of Budget Responsibility’s. The Bank’s dilemma is as acute as ever – sluggish growth and inflation way above target. Those who anticipate an interest rate increase in November will stick with that. But there’s still plenty of scope for the outlook and the Bank’s thinking to change by then.

The Bank’s latest Inflation Report has “pencilled in” an assumption that gas prices may rise 15% and electricity prices by 10% this winter.

Several analysts have said they expect domestic fuel bills to rise this winter.

On Monday Centrica, which owns British Gas, said domestic prices did not reflect what the company pays on the wholesale market.

Higher food costs were also contributing to inflation’s rise this year, the governor said.

Despite these “short-term” and “volatile” factors, Mr King said: “Our medium term judgement about inflation and growth is broadly the same as in February.”

However, the Bank still expects such cost pressures to ease and for inflation – currently 4% – to begin falling to its 2% target next year.

He underlined that there were other factors pulling on inflation, especially low pay rises and weak economic activity. “Wage and money growth, at around 2%, continue to be weak,” he said.

But this “softness” in economic activity is likely to be temporary, with a recovery in output likely to be driven by a continuing rise in business investment and a positive contribution from net exports”, he said.

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

Spy in the sky

Caroline WyattBy Caroline Wyatt

On board Sentinel spy plane

Wing Commander Richard Barrow gives a tour of the Sentinel R1

The RAF is flying reconnaissance missions over Libya with its Sentinel R1 spy plane, a modified business jet which uses radar to create accurate real-time images of what is happening on the ground.

Opposition forces are still locked in battle with those loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi.

But without troops on the ground, how is Nato able to choose its targets, and make sure United Nations resolution 1973 is kept? Intelligence-gathering is key here.

The sun is setting over the Mediterranean as the ground crew at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus make the final checks on the plane.

They were scrambled here from 5 Squadron based at RAF Waddington when the Libya no-fly zone was put into place.

Their task: to ensure that one of the UK’s only remaining types of spy plane – the Sentinel R1 – could be sent into action.

Bulking out its slim frame is its sophisticated radar equipment which can scan thousands of square kilometres in minutes.

The bulky portion underneath the airframe is known as the “canoe” for its shape.

Sentinel R1Crew: FiveMax speed: Mach 0.89Systems: High-resolution radar system Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and target identifier Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI)Timeline: UK road to Libya action

The plane itself is an adapted executive jet, much beloved of pop stars and oligarchs – although few will have chosen the same austere grey colour-scheme as the RAF.

There are no marble bathrooms or walnut walls inside these jets.

In place of rows of comfortable seats, three desks and three chairs face the side of the aircraft.

There are banks of computers with screens, and a small table and chairs for four other passengers.

At a final briefing, the air crew are talked through their mission.

They will be flying the skies over Libya, focusing on coastal areas and towns such as Brega and Sirte.

Sentinel R1 at at RAF Akrotiri The Sentinel crew were scrambled to Cyprus from RAF Waddington when the Libya no-fly zone started

Their job is to gather information on the movements of pro-Gaddafi forces and any heavy weaponry, as well as to keep an eye on normal civilian movements and look for any changes.

Once they have built up a picture of what’s happening on the ground, the intelligence is passed on to Nato commanders enforcing the no-fly zone.

“The operations very much rely on the intelligence picture, and the information we provide adds to that picture and allows the commanders to actively look at where we want to go next, and use our assets in the most appropriate manner,” explains Wing Commander Anne-Marie Houghton, the officer commanding ‘A’ flight, 907 Expeditionary Air Wing, now based in Cyprus.

“The US has similar capabilities, but the Sentinel itself is unique to the United Kingdom.”

As darkness falls, we take off from RAF Akrotiri, the crew slipping smoothly into a well-rehearsed rhythm, right down to the number of ready meals waiting to be heated up in the tiny galley area.

There is also tea and coffee for the crew on the long flight, expected to last over 11 hours in total.

The RAF aircrew on board have asked to be identified only by their first names, for reasons of operational security.

“It’s a very good aeroplane to fly, with very good performance,” says the captain, James.

“We have our own tactics and methods of dealing with any air defences, and the job of the pilots up front is to monitor any air threat, and we have procedures to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

He jokes that the crew would “love to have the gold taps and leather armchairs” that are standard fit on this jet in its more glamorous incarnations, “but we’ll make do with what we’ve got.”

After several hours, the lights of Benghazi are clearly visible below us, as the radar scans towns up and down the coast.

In Nato, only the US and UK have the capability needed to do this job – and it doesn’t come cheap.

Five Sentinel jets, their ASTOR [airborne stand-off radar] and a through-life support contract cost the UK taxpayer £1bn over 10 years.

There are still sensitivities about operational security, and we are told we can’t show the live images of the ground below which are being relayed and analysed on the screens by the two on-board analysts.

However, from some seven miles up, the radar produces images of startling clarity for the analysts on board, who are able to pick out areas they have looked at before and compare data on movements or any changes.

That information can then be passed on for commanders to choose targets, or just as crucially, to use in deciding what not to target to avoid any civilian casualties.

Sentinel R1The Sentinel R1 is due to be retired in 2015, eight years after coming into service

Flt Lt Jim, the mission commander, tells us that they are currently looking at movements on the ground to identify pro-Gaddafi forces in the east of the country.

“We are able to give real-time analysis, and for us it makes it all worthwhile to know that we are able to protect civilian lives on the ground.”

Chris, another of the airborne mission commanders, says that the information they can provide is proving vital in this campaign.

“In order to enforce the no-fly zone, we absolutely must understand the environment we are operating in.”

There is still a risk to the crews from Libyan missiles, and these missions can be gruelling.

But the analysts say it is worth it.

“For myself, I thoroughly enjoy it,” says Andy.

“It’s one of the jobs that there’s not many of us are doing, and we get to see a lot more – and can be part of something that is quite special really.”

On board, I find it slightly surreal to be able to see so much of what is happening on the ground without setting foot in Libya itself.

After 10 hours, my eyes are beginning to close as we set off back to Cyprus.

These planes are due to be retired early to save money – in 2015 – a mere eight years after they came into service.

Yet the Sentinels and their crews are operating night and day over Libya and Afghanistan, providing vital information that can save lives in the air and on the ground.

Many are hoping that these high-tech spy planes may be granted a reprieve.

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

Sainsbury’s profits rise by 12.8%

Sainsbury's store in east LondonSainsbury’s chief executive says that economic conditions remain tough

Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has reported a 12.8% rise in annual pre-tax profits to £827m and says that it has taken market share from rivals.

The retailer said that total sales for the year to 19 March rose 7.1% to £23bn, with non-food sales up strongly.

Chief executive Justin King said customer numbers were at an all-time high of 21 million transactions a week – up one million on the previous year.

But he warned that the economic environment remained “uncertain”.

Like-for-like sales, which exclude new store openings and expansions, rose 2.3%. Total sales, excluding petrol, increased by 4.9%.

The UK’s third-largest supermarket chain – whose market share for the year rose from 16.1% to 16.3% – has been increasing the amount of floor space in order to stock more non-food items.

Non-food sales are rising at more than three times the rate of food, and Sainsbury’s said it was now the UK’s seventh largest clothing retailer.

Mr King denied that Sainsbury’s expansion of non-food products was targeting Tesco, the UK’s biggest retailer.

But he told the BBC: “Non-food will be a key area of growth for many years to come.”

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

Uganda’s Besigye ‘allowed home’

Kizza Besigye in hospital in Nairobi, Kenya - 29 April 2011Dr Besigye’s sight was damaged by pepper spray when he was arrested two weeks ago
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Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye says he has been prevented from returning home from Kenya after receiving medical treatment in Nairobi.

He told the BBC the Ugandan government said the flight would not be allowed to land with him on board.

A Ugandan government minister has denied such an order was given.

Dr Besigye was President Yoweri Museveni’s main opponent in February’s election. Mr Museveni is to be sworn in on Thursday for a fourth term.

Dr Besigye was violently arrested during a protest in Uganda two weeks ago and his eyesight was damaged by pepper spray.

He told the BBC from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international airport:

“The Ugandan government had told the Kenya Airways chief executive that if they board us the aircraft will not be allowed to land in Uganda and that we were not welcome and that therefore they had absolutely nothing to do if they wanted to fly to Uganda but offload us.”

Ugandan Internal Affairs Minister Kirunda Kivejinja said the government had no authority over who boarded Kenya Airways flights.

Analysis

With President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing in due on Thursday, it seems the government would rather keep Dr Kizza Besigye away.

The fear is that opposition supporters might choose to show that they have had enough of 25 years of President Museveni and take to the streets, which would be a severe embarrassment for the president in front of visiting heads of state.

With Kizza Besigye out of the country the likelihood of protests diminishes considerably.

The question now is how Dr Besigye’s supporters will react to what the opposition is describing as his enforced exile.

Delaying his return may lead to a larger show of support when he is allowed back – a risk the government seems willing to take in order to ensure there is no disruption to the swearing-in ceremony, which is set to cost over $1m.

On the streets of Entebbe and Kampala the well-armed police force is highly visible – a message of military might intended to keep the opposition out of sight.

“If we managed to allow him to leave, how can we stop him from coming back?” he told Uganda’s Daily Monitor.

It had earlier appeared as though the police and the opposition had reached an agreement on Dr Besigye’s return home, says our correspondent.

But the return of Dr Besigye in time for Mr Museveni’s inauguration had presented an awkward scenario, our correspondent adds, with the possibility of his supporters gathering in large numbers.

The security forces have been deployed in large numbers in Entebbe and along the 40km (25 miles) route into Kampala.

In the last week, the opposition has stepped up its campaign over high prices, which has led to recent clashes between the police and protesters.

Kizza Besigye’s car was attacked during a demonstration in Kampala on 28 April. He was doused in pepper spray and suffered injuries to his eyes.

On Tuesday, opposition demonstrators were doused in pink liquid by police as they tried to hold a banned rally in Kampala.

Police spray pink liquid on opposition supporters in Kampala, Uganda - 10 May 2011

Ugandan opposition sprayed pink Kizza Besigye in profile Would Museveni recognise his former self?

President Museveni has said that, in an effort to curb riots, he wants a new law to deny bail for six months to those arrested while protesting.

Mr Museveni has been in power for 25 years and was re-elected to a fourth term in February in polls that Dr Besigye says were rigged.

The two used to be colleagues, with Dr Besigye serving as Mr Museveni’s personal physician when they were in the bush fighting President Milton Obote’s government in the early 1980s.

Dr Besigye had a role in government when Mr Museveni took power but they fell out about 10 years ago.

Dr Besigye left the country but returned in 2005 with the introduction of multi-party politics.

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

Arrests over missing boy’s murder

Damien NettlesThe last sighting of Damien was on CCTV at Yorkie’s fish and chip shop
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Five people have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenager from the Isle of Wight who has been missing for nearly 15 years.

Damien Nettles was 16 when he vanished after a night out in West Cowes on 2 November 1996.

At the time of his disappearance the teenager lived with his family in Woodvale Road, Gurnard, but they have since moved to the US.

Four men from the Isle of Wight and one from Kent remain in custody.

The last confirmed sighting of the teenager was on CCTV at Yorkie’s fish and chip shop in West Cowes High Street at about 2335 GMT on the night he disappeared.

He has never been seen since, despite his family keeping the disappearance in the spotlight over the years.

Police said they had been “following leads established over the past year about what could have happened to Damien” and the five men were arrested on Tuesday “in response to information about the case”.

The men from the Isle of Wight are a 44-year-old man from Cowes; a 48-year-old man from Sandown; a 37-year-old man from Ryde and a 50-year-old man from Newport.

A 39-year-old man from Gravesend, Kent, is also being quizzed.

They are being questioned at a number of different police stations across the island and Hampshire.

Det Ch Insp Dave Powell, of Hampshire police, said: “The Nettles family has displayed tremendous tenacity and courage in campaigning consistently to encourage witnesses and assistance from the community.

“There has been an intermittent flow of information since 1996 with people coming forward years after Damien’s disappearance.

“This suggested there was always the possibility that members of the public had extra knowledge, which could take the investigation forward.

“A dedicated team of officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s major crime department have been working on information secured during enquiries over the past year.

“Although we have sufficient information to make arrests over an allegation of murder in 1996, detectives will keep an open mind about exactly what happened to Damien because a wide range of information has been received over the past 14 years.

“The body of Damien Nettles has not been located or identified at this time.”

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

Dengue fever cases ‘double in UK’

MosquitoDengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes.
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The number of people bringing dengue fever back to the UK from tropical countries has doubled, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

In 2009 there were 166 cases; a year later there were 406.

The illness, which can be fatal, results in fever, muscle pain, headache and a rash.

It is transmitted by mosquitoes so the HPA recommends travellers take more precautions to prevent themselves being bitten.

Dengue fever is common in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The World Health Organization believes there are 50 million cases each year.

In the UK, HPA figures show 21% of cases were linked to visits to India and 15% with Thailand.

Dr Jane Jones, head of the HPA’s travel and migrant health section, said there was no drug treatment for dengue fever.

“To minimise the risk of being bitten it is advisable to wear appropriate clothing to cover up – such as long sleeve tops and trousers – and use insect repellents,” she said.

Insects which carry malaria tend to be active at night, while those carrying dengue are active in the day.

Dr Jones said that in areas where both illnesses are present “protection against mosquito bites should be used around the clock, including the use of mosquito nets at night”.

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

Facebook profile access ‘leaked’

Screenshot of Allow/Leave app options on FacebookFacebook prompts users to grant third-party access to their profile to power applications
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Access to hundreds of thousands of Facebook accounts may have accidentally been leaked because of a flaw in some applications.

Security firm Symantec discovered that programs were inadvertently sharing access tokens which could be used by advertisers.

It estimates that, as of last month, 100,000 applications were still enabling leaks.

Facebook said that it was improving authentication methods.

“We have been working with Symantec to identity issues in our authentication flow to ensure that they are more secure,” Facebook’s Naitik Shah wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.

In his report, Symantec’s Nishant Doshi explained how access tokens act “like spare keys” to a Facebook user’s account.

These keys were typically given out, with the user’s permission, to help applications on the Facebook platform function.

With the keys, applications could access a user’s profile and photographs, as well as posting messages on their wall.

However, the newly-discovered weakness in the old authentication method would allow spare keys to be passed to further third-parties – likely to include advertisers – through referral data.

“We estimate that over the years, hundreds of thousands of applications may have inadvertently leaked millions of access tokens to third parties”

Nishant Doshi Symantec

“The Facebook application is now in a position to inadvertently leak the access tokens to third parties potentially on purpose and unfortunately very commonly by accident,” explained Mr Doshi.

“We estimate that over the years, hundreds of thousands of applications may have inadvertently leaked millions of access tokens to third parties.”

But he downplayed the risk, adding: “Fortunately, these third-parties may not have realised their ability to access this information.”

Facebook’s director of developer relations Kevin Purdy disputed the findings.

In a statement, he said: “We’ve conducted a thorough investigation which revealed no evidence of this issue resulting in a user’s private information being shared with unauthorised third parties.”

“In addition, this report ignores the contractual obligations of advertisers and developers which prohibit them from obtaining or sharing user information in a way that violates our policies.”

By default, new applications on Facebook are required to authenticate using OAuth 2.0, a shared open standard co-authored by several sites including Google and Twitter.

While older applications are encouraged to change to the new system, it is not yet compulsory.

Facebook is now working with third-party developers help migrate them to the OAuth 2.0 system.

“Because of the number of apps using our legacy auth system, we need to be thoughtful about this transition,” wrote Facebook’s Naitik Shah wrote.

Paul Mutton, a security analyst at Netcraft, said that while the vulnerability could potentially be used for malicious purposes, no secure data such as passwords has been taken.

“Potentially someone else could post stuff to your stream or to your friends’ streams – making you like things that you perhaps wouldn’t have liked,” he said.

Makers of Facebook applications have been given until 1 September by Facebook to make sure their application uses the OAuth 2.0 system.

“For some applications to continue working, the makers will have to make changes. It’s about giving the developers time,” added Mr Mutton.

“It shouldn’t take too long to make the change. But in the cases of more commercial apps, it’s going to be more convoluted.”

Symantec has advised users to change their passwords if they are concerned about unauthorised third-party access to their profile.

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

Burgess archive yields lost gems

Anthony BurgessBurgess’ script for a TV mini-series about Atilla the Hun was never filmed
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Previously unknown stories, scripts, letters and musical compositions by the late author Anthony Burgess have been found in an archive of his possessions.

The contents of three of his houses were left to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester by his widow, who died in 2007.

Most famous for writing A Clockwork Orange, Burgess wrote 33 novels in all.

Researchers have now uncovered some 20 unpublished short stories as well as unproduced film and theatre scripts.

They include a previously unknown movie script about Napoleon Bonaparte, which was to have been filmed by director Stanley Kubrick.

The pair had worked together when Kubrick filmed Burgess’ 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange, which depicted the ruthless sexual “ultra-violence” of a teenage gang leader in a lawless society.

The film caused an international outcry when it was released in 1971, leading Kubrick to withdraw it from cinemas. But it is to be recognised as a classic with a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival next week.

Burgess’ original screenplay for the film is among the most prized artefacts at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation.

The typescript, which has never been published, was rejected by Kubrick, who opted to write his own instead.

Burgess’ version is interesting because it is “very different from the novel”, according to Dr Andrew Biswell, the author’s biographer and the foundation’s director.

“It’s actually quite a bit more violent than the novel. There’s a scene early on where Alex opens his bedroom cupboard and it’s full of drugs, hypodermic needles and a child’s skull.”

Anthony Burgess' original screenplay for A Clockwork OrangeThe archive includes Burgess’ original screenplay for A Clockwork Orange

The foundation is now hoping to publish Burgess’ version.

The archive also includes parts of a script Burgess wrote for a stage show about the escapologist Harry Houdini, which he was working on with Orson Welles.

Among the literary works are a copy of a full-length, unpublished history of London, which blends fiction with non-fiction, plus Burgess’ tome on the history of English literature, which never had a mainstream release.

Some of the unpublished short stories, meanwhile, have only survived as recordings on audio tape.

Burgess often recorded himself reading his work aloud to see how they “fell on the ear”, according to Dr Biswell.

“Burgess was known as someone who wrote really long novels, so it’s a big surprise to find him working in this shorter form,” he says.

“A lot of the stories are very nasty and tending towards the supernatural as well – a lot of ghost stories or stories about Gods who come down to earth.”

Who was Anthony Burgess?Wrote 33 novels plus non-fiction, scripts for stage and screen and musical scoresA Clockwork Orange was his most famous work – but also his least favouriteNominated for the Booker Prize in 1980 for Earthly PowersWrote the Encyclopaedia Britannica entry on “the novel”Died in 1993, aged 76

Another part of the collection is given over to around 200 musical compositions, the vast majority of which have never been performed or recorded.

They include three symphonies and other orchestral works of varying lengths plus musical adaptations of poetry and the score for a ballet about Shakespeare.

Other abandoned dramatic projects demonstrate a fascination with great figures from history.

He started work on scripts for TV mini-series about Atilla the Hun, Sigmund Freud and Michelangelo, but none went into production.

He wrote a musical about Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, which has never been performed, and a musical adaptation of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

“The amount of material which people don’t know about I think heavily outweighs the known,” Dr Biswell says.

“Even though Burgess was productive – he published a lot – a good deal of what we’ve got here has always been below the waterline. It’s never been made available in a public way until now.”

Dr Andrew Biswell

“I’m staggered by the extent of the collection sometimes”

Dr Andrew Biswell International Anthony Burgess Foundation

Burgess was born in Manchester and lived in the city until the age of 23.

He died in 1993 and the foundation was set up to look after his estate by his second wife Liana before her death. The writer has no surviving immediate family members.

Based in a former mill, the foundation has taken possession of items from the couple’s homes in London, Monaco and Italy.

They include 50,000 of Burgess’ books and 20,000 photographs. It is also home to files and letters donated by his agents in London and New York.

There are also some unusual items, such as a signed photo from his friend and comedian Benny Hill, a set of home-made tarot cards and translations of obscene Roman poems that he worked on for Playboy magazine.

Dr Biswell said the collection demonstrated the extent of Burgess’ “encyclopaedic imagination”.

The author embraced cultures, speaking six languages as well as English, and tackled an “epic range” of subjects, Dr Biswell explained.

“I’m staggered by the extent of the collection sometimes – I come down into the basement and I look at it and I think, my God, did this man never sleep?”

The foundation is now planning to publish some of the most significant written works that it has found, and to stage performances of his musical compositions.

It is also supporting young artists who are working with similar themes to Burgess, and is considering commissioning people to complete the unfinished literary, dramatic and musical works.

Dr Biswell also asked for people who knew Burgess, or have material relating to his life and work, to get in touch.

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