Cumbria Votes Against Nuclear Waste Site

Cumbria County Council has voted against proceeding with plans to build an underground nuclear waste dump.

Council leaders rejected a move to the next stage of studying a possible suitable site by seven votes to three.

There were huge cheers from environmental campaigners outside the council chamber in Carlisle when the decision was announced. 

More than 32,000 people had signed a petition against the £12bn underground storage facility.

Greenpeace energy campaigner Leila Deen said: "This decision represents yet another major blow for the Government's attempts to force the construction of costly nuclear power plants.

"Even the Prime Minister admits we need a plan to store waste before we can build a single new plant.

"This decision shows that dumping waste in uncertain geology near one of the country's most pristine national parks is not a solution.

"Ministers must now re-consider their nuclear ambitions and turn their attention instead to clean, sustainable and renewable energy."

Protesters welcomed the decision to vote against a site in Cumbria

Earlier, leaders of Copeland borough councillors voted six to one in favour of moving to the next stage in the search for a site to bury radioactive waste.

But the Cumbria County Council vote over-rides decisions taken by borough authorities in the area.

If the site was given the go ahead it would have been the first of its kind in the UK. Currently most nuclear waste is stored at Sellafield in Cumbria.

Cumbria Council leader Eddie Martin said: "Cumbria has a unique and world-renowned landscape which needs to be cherished and protected.

"While Sellafield and the Lake District have co-existed side by side successfully for decades, we fear that if the area becomes known in the national conscience as the place where nuclear waste is stored underground, the Lake District's reputation may not be so resilient."

Deputy Leader Stewart Young added: "The case for investment in Sellafield is now more pressing than ever.

"We had always raised concerns over the lack of any plan B from Government and the fact that West Cumbria was the only area to express an interest in the process left the Government with few options if we decided not to proceed.

"It is now time for the Government to secure the long-term future of the nuclear industry and put in place robust storage arrangements at Sellafield while it decides how to continue the search for a repository elsewhere in the UK."

Currently most nuclear waste is stored at Sellafield in Cumbria.

Energy Minister Ed Davey said the Government will continue to work with communities to find a waste site.

"There is support out there some communitites realise there's a huge economic benefit for their area.

"We already store a huge amount of waste from the last six decades. We store it safely, but we wanted a long-term storage process and we're going to work with other communities to do just that."

As councillors were meeting, protesters gathered to make their views heard. 

Cumbria resident Miles Fielding told Sky News:  "There are already problems in the continent where there are nuclear dumps with leakage and known cancers occurring in the villages where the dumps are, so it's just not worth playing with."

Also outside the meeting were people staging a demonstration in favour of the plans because of the jobs a new site would create.

Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of Prospect, which represents 12,000 nuclear workers, said: "A decision not to proceed to the next stage of feasibility studies will take us straight back to the drawing board.

"The alternative to building a repository is not no radioactive waste, just continued surface storage. Therefore, the assessment of the scientific case for a geological disposal facility needs to weighed against the pros and cons of the alternatives.

"The next stage consists of experts conducting desk-based geological studies, compiling a waste inventory and discussions over the social and economic implications.

"It is still a long way from a green light for any excavation or exploratory groundwork.

"Not only does the vote have vast implications for the economic wealth of West Cumbria, which relies so heavily on the nuclear industry for jobs and growth, it potentially casts a shadow over any nuclear renaissance in the UK."

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Jeremy Kyle Cancer Battle: Host 'On The Mend'

TV chat show host Jeremy Kyle is recuperating abroad after being treated for testicular cancer.

He is understood to have had chemotherapy following the discovery of a growth late last year.

The 47-year-old presenter has taken a break from recording his ITV daytime programme while he recovers.

He is expected to return to work next week to begin filming new shows.

A statement on his programme's Facebook page said: "Jeremy was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas. After an operation and chemotherapy treatment, I'm pleased to say he's now on the mend.

"It's been a really tough couple of months for him and his family but he wanted to let you all know that he appreciates your continuing support.

"Jeremy will be back at work next week to start filming new shows which you'll see on TV very soon."

An ITV spokeswoman said: "We wish Jeremy well and are pleased that he is making such good progress."

Kyle has hosted his TV programme for seven and a half years, putting dysfunctional relationships in the spotlight, and many have criticised it for glorifying "broken Britain".

Last week, his show was nominated for the National Television Awards for the best daytime TV show award, although it missed out to This Morning.

Kyle was a salesman before his move into broadcasting, hosting programmes in local radio.

He went on to present his Virgin Confessions show on Virgin Radio before landing his TV slot after Trisha Goddard left her daytime ITV series to head to Channel 5.

Kyle has also launched his programme in the US and has fronted other shows for ITV.

In his autobiography, I'm Only Being Honest, the twice-married presenter talked about how he suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Horsemeat Scandal: Tesco Drops Supplier

Tesco has dropped its frozen burger supplier following an investigation into why horsemeat was used in its products.

The supermarket giant's technical director Tim Smith said new DNA testing would be introduced for all of its meat products to avoid similar mistakes happening again.

He said: "The evidence tells us that our frozen burger supplier, Silvercrest, used meat in our products that did not come from the list of approved suppliers we gave them.

"Nor was the meat from the UK or Ireland, despite our instruction that only beef from the UK and Ireland should be used in our frozen beef burgers.

Tesco's Tim Smith has revealed the findings of the firm's investigation

"Consequently we have decided not to take products from that supplier in future.

"We took that decision with regret but the breach of trust is simply too great."

Silvercrest says that it has "never knowingly bought or processed horsemeat", and insists that all of its purchases are from approved and licensed EU plants.

Around two weeks ago Tesco and a number of other supermarkets removed certain brands of frozen beefburgers from their shelves, after they were found to contain horsemeat.

A study examining the authenticity of a number of beefburger, beef meal and salami products available from retail outlets in Ireland found horsemeat accounted for approximately 29% of the content in one sample of Tesco Everyday Value Beef Burgers.

The findings sparked a national outcry and 10 million burgers were taken off shelves as a result of the scandal.

Mr Smith added: "Ultimately Tesco is responsible for the food we sell, so it is not enough just to stop using the supplier.

"To underpin the strong measures already in place, we will now introduce a comprehensive system of DNA testing across our meat products. This will identify any deviation from our high standards."

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HS2: Osborne Denies Meddling With Rail Route

George Osborne has been forced to deny claims he helped obtain a £600m detour of the controversial high-speed rail link where it passes through his constituency.

Critics of the HS2 network have pointed out that plans unveiled this week show there is a dog leg in the line, meaning it avoids some of the more affluent areas of Tatton, Cheshire.

They argue that the extra six miles of train line on the branch between Birmingham and Manchester will cost more than £90m per mile.

Campaigners have accused the Government of double standards because officials insisted the first section of the route, between London and Birmingham, had to be straight.

HS2 route to Manchester (Pic: Dep of Transport)

The Department of Transport denied on Monday that the Chancellor's constituency had been given any sort of special treatment.

But the row resurfaced on Wednesday when Cheshire East Council's leader Michael Jones suggested Mr Osborne had taken part in efforts to influence the route.

In a press release, he reportedly said: "Your MPs George Osborne, Edward Timpson and I have fought hard to keep the line away from Knutsford and Tatton, which we have been successful in achieving.

"Throughout the process we raised concerns about the line of the route and raised the profile for a commonsense solution, which I believe we have achieved. This is great news for Cheshire East and for Crewe in particular."

The council was forced to retract the statement within hours and issue a correction.

Its later statement said: "In a press release, Cheshire East Council stated that George Osborne had fought hard to keep the HS2 rail link out of his constituency in Knutsford and Tatton.

"In fact, this is not the case and MP George Osborne had no say whatsoever over the proposed route of the HS2 link.  We are happy to set the record straight."

A spokesman for Mr Osborne added: "Cheshire East put something out but corrected it when they realised they were wrong. George has never sought to influence the route."

Labour leader Ed Miliband used the row to bait the Chancellor during PMQs, saying her should "less time worrying about how to divert high-speed rail routes away from his constituency".

Mr Miliband began to read Mr Jones' comments but was cut off by the Speaker as the volume of heckling from Tory MPs threatened to drown him out.

David Cameron pointed out that the route would go "right through the middle of the Chancellor's constituency".

The planned route misses some of the most expensive residential areas in Britain and it is set to go through Crewe, with hopes the town will become a major hub.

The Department of Transport said earlier this week: "The design of the route through the constituency followed the same process as it did everywhere else and it is wrong to suggest otherwise.

"The initial preferred route has been chosen to provide the best possible service to Liverpool, Manchester Airport and West Coast Main Line links to Scotland.

"As elsewhere, the route balances passenger demand, cost, engineering and sustainability."

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Scottish Independence: SNP To Change Question

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Scotland's SNP Government is to change the referendum question it will ask people on independence.

The move comes after the Electoral Commission found that the SNP's preferred choice was not neutral enough.

The Scottish Nationalists wanted to ask people: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country? Yes/No".

The independent elections watchdog conducted a wide-ranging assessment of the question and found that the words "Do you agree" potentially encouraged people to vote yes.

The Electoral Commission believes that more neutral wording be used and recommended: "Should Scotland be an independent country? Yes/No."

Deputy SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said: "While its view is that our proposed question was clear, simple and easy to understand, I am nevertheless happy to accept their recommended change."

Sturgeon: 'Considerable weight' will be given to watchdog recommendations

John McCormick, Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, told Sky News: "We have rigorously tested the proposed question, speaking to a wide range of people across Scotland.

"Any referendum question must be, and be seen to be, neutral. People told us that they felt the words "Do you agree" could lead voters towards voting 'yes'.

"People had a clear understanding that "independent country" meant being separate from the UK but they did want factual information in advance about what will happen after the referendum. 

"We're asking the UK and Scottish Government to provide that clarity and then make sure it gets to voters as part of our public awareness campaign."

In theory, the Scottish Government could have ignored the thoughts of the Electoral Commission, but it has accepted the recommendations on the referendum question.

The Electoral Commission also published advice on campaign spending limits.

It has recommended that the lead campaign teams are restricted to £1.5m and that Holyrood's parliamentary parties spend according to the size of their representation in the Scottish Parliament.

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Motorist In Court Over Tandem Couple's Deaths

A motorist has appeared in court accused of killing a couple who were knocked off their tandem bike in an alleged hit-and-run.

Nicholas Lovell, 38, was remanded in custody at North Avon Magistrates' Court in Yate, south Gloucestershire, charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Lovell, of West Street, in nearby Oldland Common, is also charged with driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop after a road accident.

Husband and wife Ross and Clare Simons died in a crash while cycling on Sunday evening in Hanham, near Bristol.

Lovell was arrested after handing himself into police hours after the collision.

He is due to appear over video link at Bristol Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on February 21.

Wearing a navy blue T-shirt and glasses, he was accompanied by two dock officers during the five-minute hearing.

He did not react as the clerk read out the charges against him, and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Kathryn Jones, prosecuting, told the court: "The incident on the 27th resulted unfortunately in the fatalities of the two individuals that have been named.

"There is no bail application. The Crown seeks remand in custody."

The couple died less than 24 hours after celebrating the news that they could undergo fertility treatment to start a family.

Mr Simons, 34, and his 30-year-old wife - described by friends as "two peas in a pod" - died when their bicycle was in collision with a Citroen Picasso car.

Their families described them as "very special" and said they had "no words" to describe their loss.

Dozens of floral tributes have been left at the scene.

A 35-year-old woman arrested in connection with the collision remains on police bail.

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Tax Deadline: 1.8m Still To File Returns

By Pete Norman, Sky News Online

Nearly two million people have still to file their self-assessment tax returns before tomorrow's deadline, Sky News has learned.

Although a total of 8.8 million returns have so far been filed, a further 1.8 million must get their online returns in before Thursday's midnight deadline to avoid being hit with an automatic penalty.

The £100 fine for filing of the self-assessment document on February 1 or later is imposed even if workers have already paid any tax due for the year or no tax is liable.

An HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) spokesman told Sky News: "If you still haven't sent in your tax return, you've got until tomorrow to file to avoid a penalty – and please also make sure to pay what you owe."

The Tax Office said that on Tuesday a total of 321,000 people filed the returns - at a rate of 13,375 an hour.

In recent years HMRC has bolstered its online data facilities to try and keep pace with online filing.

There has been a near-doubling of people filing tax returns over the internet during the past five years.

In January 2008, 45.9% of the 9.3 million returns were filed online and the figure topped 80.9% of 10.5 million returns by last January.

HMRC recently revealed that on Christmas Day 1,548 people also filled in forms while another 4,685 people filed on Boxing Day.

On January 31, 2012 a technical fault left deadline day self-assessment taxpayers unable to check their payment status.

Sky News understands the fault was caused by outside payment service providers and not internal Tax Office systems.

The glitch occurred as HMRC was inundated with returns on deadline day.

Days later HMRC said that a total of 90.4% of taxpayers had met that self-assessment deadline, by filing online or on paper forms.

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Police Reforms: Foreigners Could Run Forces

Foreign police chiefs will be able to run British forces for the first time under a radical shake-up planned by the Government.

Reforms would see the eligibility criteria for chief constable posts widened to include anywhere with a "common law jurisdiction".

Under the proposals, new starters will also be able to join the police at superintendent level instead of spending two years on the beat as a constable.

And there could be moves to create a fast track to inspector scheme, requiring "exceptional" candidates only to have worked in the police for three years.

The changes sparked immediate concern about a lack of practical experience and the prospect of British police chiefs being forced out.

The overhaul is part of a package of reforms that were drawn up by ex-rail regulator Tom Winsor in the most wide-ranging review of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years.

Tom Winsor's police reforms have proved to be controversial

In a written statement, policing minister Damian Green said: "The issue of choosing our police leaders is of the highest importance to the future of the police.

"The fast-track-to-inspector scheme will attract the brightest with the most potential to go on to become leaders.

"Direct entry at senior ranks will make sure that there is access to the best pool of talent, those who have proven leadership and business skills and who can bring with them fresh thinking from other sectors."

He later told Sky News: "Crime has fallen 10% and confidence in the police is generally high. But no organisations are so good they can't be made better."

Mr Winsor, who is now Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, has said he wants to end the notion of policing as an intellectually undemanding occupation.

US "supercop" Bill Bratton was not allowed to head up Scotland Yard

He added that the "brightest and best" applicants with skills "distinctly above those of factory workers" were needed.

It is hoped that people in the military, security services and other industries will be attracted by the possibility of becoming fully operational superintendents in just 15 months.

His outline for direct entry into the police would see around 80 candidates recruited a year, picking the best graduates from top universities.

A Government consultation has now been launched and will close on March 28.

The plans come after Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told a policing conference earlier this month that it was time to "consider and support" direct entry.

He added that he would like to see one in 10 senior officers recruited from outside the police force.

Sir Peter Fahy, from the Association of Chief Police Officers, warned the changes could see existing officers frustrated in their bids for promotion.

"In general police forces are not short of talent. In fact a bigger challenge is dealing with ambitious staff frustrated by the lack of promotion opportunities," he said.

"Bringing people in from outside to senior leadership positions will obviously make that more difficult."

He also cautioned against a move away from the status quo which means that all chief constables must have had experience on the beat.

Steve White, vice-chairman of the Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers in England and Wales, was even more critical.

"The Police Federation does not support proposals that would allow external candidates to join the police service at any rank above that of constable," he said.

"We believe the rank structure allows officers to perfectly equip themselves for their next role within the service.

"To command a policing operation effectively, a senior officer should have first-hand experience of responding to incidents in an operational capacity."

He added: "We have the best police service in the world so it seems strange that the Government - which often echoes this view - may wish for forces to recruit chief constables from overseas."

Current legislation prevented US "supercop" Bill Bratton, former chief of the New York police, applying to take charge of the Metropolitan Police in 2011.

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Tragic London Marathon Runner Used Stimulant

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

A young woman who died in the London Marathon was using a stimulant which has since been banned, an inquest has heard.

After Claire Squires, 30, collapsed and died in the run last April, a public outpouring of support led to more than £1m being donated to her chosen charity.

The inquest at Southwark Coroner's Court heard that Miss Squires died from acute cardiac failure.

On the day of the race, Miss Squires had put Jack3d in her water bottle, the hearing was told.

The popular stimulant used to contain an amphetamine-like substance DMAA, and experts say this contributed to her death.

DMAA was banned from shelves and internet sales in the UK in August last year over fears it could be lethal when used during rigorous activity.

Jack3d since removed the ingredient from their product.

The court heard how several US soldiers had died after taking DMAA during training, and it was subsequently banned by the US Army.

Mr Van Herrewage arrives at the inquest

It was legal in the UK at the time Claire was using it.

Her boyfriend, Simon Van Herrewage, said she had not used it much before, but that she used it for a boost during the London Marathon.

"She put one scoop in her water bottle and said she would only use it if she hit a wall," he said.

"She was trying to beat her previous time and do it in under four hours."

In a statement, cardiologist William McKenna said: "The presence of a substance found it the blood was an important factor in the outcome." 

Dr Nicola Drake, who treated Miss Squires at St Thomas' Hospital, told the court that the drug makes "heart levels increase".

"It makes the heart work harder than it normally would," she said.

Dr John Van der Walt, who conducted the post mortem, concluded that "acute cardiac failure due to extreme physical exertion complicated by the presence of DMAA was the cause of death."

Miss Squires' boyfriend also told the hearing that she had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat by an acupuncturist.

But her GP told the inquest that she never went to see him with concerns over her heartbeat.

Miss Squires collapsed and died a mile from the finish line of the London marathon last April.

The 30-year-old hairdresser from NorthKilworth, Leicestershire, was running to raise funds for the Samaritans in honour of her brother Grant, who died of a drug overdose in 2001, aged 25.

Before the race she had raised £500 but following news of her death, thousands of well-wishers have left donations of more than £1m.

She was treated by medical teams positioned along the route before she was rushed to hospital by ambulance where she was later pronounced dead.

She had previously undertaken a string of gruelling physical challenges for charity, including a marathon in Belfast and the Great North Run.

Asked how long she trained for the London Marathon, her boyfriend said "she never stopped training".

"She ran five times a week and she knew how to build up for a marathon."

After the inquest Mr Van Herrewage said: "This has been an extremely difficult time for us, Claire's death has left a gaping hole in our hearts and in our lives.

"We'll always remember her with a big smile on her face trying to make everyone she met feel good about themselves.

"The outcome of the inquest left us feeling a little numb, Claire took part in the marathon to do some good and challenge herself in the same way she did for many other events.

"Claire was passionately against the use of drugs and would never ever have taken anything that would have caused her harm or even worse risk to life.

"She innocently took a supplement that at the time was entirely legal and widely available on the high street, and somewhat worryingly apparently used by so many others."

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EastEnders Murder: Tony McCluskie Jailed For Life

The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years for her murder.

Tony McCluskie had previously admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of murder by an 11 to 1 majority.

The 36-year-old window cleaner had claimed he killed his sister after a tirade of abuse. He said the last thing he remembered was her coming at him with a knife.

Miss McCluskie's torso was found floating in the Regent's Canal in east London a week after the killing after the suitcase her brother had used to dump the body broke open.

Her limbs were found wrapped in black bags a week later, but her head was not discovered for six months.

She had been hit over the head at least twice before her body had been hacked into six pieces.

Tony McCluskie was caught on CCTV dragging the suitcase containing her body

Alison Saunders, London's Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "The strong case against McCluskie led to him admitting unlawfully killing his sister and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, saying it was not intentional and that he had lost control.

"But the prosecution did not accept his plea to manslaughter. We felt that the evidence of brutality showed a deliberate intent to cause death or serious bodily harm to Gemma, which amounts to murder."

The prosecution said Miss McCluskie had been killed after telling her brother to move out of the flat they shared in Shoreditch, east London last year.

Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said there had been tensions between the pair for some time.

"Gemma told a friend 'He's permanently stoned. He puts a spliff in his mouth first thing in the morning and doesn't know what he's doing'," he told the court.

"On Thursday March 1 last year, McCluskie had got up, gone to the bathroom and forgotten the taps were on in the sink.

"Unsurprisingly, Miss McCluskie was exasperated by this. She had had enough.

Gemma McCluskie's blood was found on a knife in the kitchen of her flat

"Later, while she was out, her friends heard her arguing on the telephone with her brother about what had happened.

"It is clear that Gemma regarded this incident as the last straw and that she wanted the defendant to move out."

After the murder, McCluskie sent his sister a text pretending she was still alive and ending "Love ya xx". He later told police that his sister was seen in a local kebab shop after she went missing, and that she had visited their mother in hospital.

The court heard that McCluskie received a series of hoax telephone calls following his sister's disappearance.

In the first call, the defendant was told that if he wanted to see his sister again he needed to £2m to Benfleet International station. A second call requested that he also bring $500 US dollars worth of Iraqi currency, before a third repeated the demand for £2m.

"The truth is that the defendant could not have believed his luck," Mr Aylett said.

"The calls can only have added to the state of confusion as to Gemma's whereabouts."

Police later traced the telephone calls to an address in Kent and arrested a man.

Miss McCluskie played Kerry Skinner, the niece of Ethel Skinner, in the BBC soap in 2001.

More follows...

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