Watchdog Warning On Price Comparison Sites

Some price comparison websites are failing to meet regulatory standards, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The City regulator found operators in the general insurance sector, which includes property and vehicle cover, were not meeting consumers' expectations and did not always ensure that people were given appropriate information to help them make informed decisions.

The FCA said it was particularly concerned that consumers' focus on headline price and brand when using such sites could distract from crucial product features, such as policy coverage and terms.

As a result, the websites were increasing the risk that consumers bought products without understanding key features such as level of cover or excess levels.

Clive Adamson, FCA director of supervision, said: "Price comparison websites have increased in popularity among consumers, with an estimated one third of consumers buying their motor insurance policy through them.

"They provide an important service for millions of consumers bringing convenience and simplicity to buying financial products online.

"However, our review found that they were not meeting our requirements in delivering fair and consistent outcomes for consumers. 

"We also found, through our consumer research, that consumers had a number of misconceptions about the services they provided.

"We expect price comparison websites to take on board the findings of the review.

"It is also important for consumers to understand that not all products are the same and the cheapest product may not always be the best for their needs".

The review's survey also found some people mistakenly believed that a price comparison website had provided them with quotes on the best policy for their individual needs and had assessed the suitability of the policy for them. 

The FCA said too that not all comparison sites, that were part of a larger group of an insurer or broker, disclosed this potential conflict of interest, which was against FCA rules.

The watchdog declined to name any firm found to be at any fault.

Hayley Parsons, the chief executive and founder of Gocompare.com, told Sky News it had contributed to the review and supported efforts to improve standards though it had "always strived" to operate in its customers' best interests.

She said: "Gocompare.com fully supports measures to promote best practice in the PCW industry.

"Although we regularly update our services to reflect our customers' evolving needs, we will be reviewing the findings of the FCA's report".

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Westminster Child Abuse: Call For Cop Amnesty

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

A former Special Branch police officer has called for an amnesty to help retired colleagues share what they knew of the paedophile network operating in Westminster in the 1980s.

Chris Hobbs, who had a 32-year career with the Metropolitan Police, told Sky News many former officers would be carefully considering the implications of revealing what they knew about the allegations.

Mr Hobbs said: "It is clear that quite a few police officers probably from commissioner, chief constable rank right the way down to detective constables will know something."

"I think the only way that you will get all police officers to come forward is to offer them some sort of protection, some sort of amnesty.

Mr Hobbs during his time as a Special Branch officer

"It would help set officers' minds at rest ... that they weren't suddenly going to subject to the criminal investigations for just possibly doing what they were told.

"I certainly heard nothing in the 80s other than Cyril Smith - and every police officer in London had heard the rumours about Cyril Smith." 

The late Rochdale MP is one of the named abusers of young boys, but the current allegations also concern political figures who are still alive.

It is claimed that a powerful paedophile ring operated at Westminster

Mr Hobbs added that the Metropolitan Police's track record in dealing with whistleblowers is another reason why former officers may be reluctant to step forward.

He said: "They will be thinking to themselves, 'shall I come forward, dare I risk it or if I keep my head down will the storm pass me by?'."

Allegations of abuse have been made against the late Liberal MP Cyril Smith

Peter Garsden, president of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers, said any amnesty would need to be carefully put together.

He told Sky News: "It depends what they are being given an amnesty against - if it is an intention to pervert the course of justice then that is fine. However, if they are part of a paedophile ring that involves the MPs then one does not want to let them off a criminal prosecution."

The Metropolitan Police could not comment on whether any amnesty scheme has been considered in relation to their current investigations.

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ISIS Member From Scotland 'Killed' In Iraq

The Foreign Office has said it is trying to verify reports a man brought up in Aberdeen has been killed while fighting for militant group ISIS in Iraq.

Abdul Raqib Amin, 26, was killed during fighting with government forces near Ramadi, according to social media reports.

Mr Amin, who goes by the fighter name Abu Bara al Hindi and is originally from Bangladesh, was filmed with two other UK-based men in a recruitment video for the extremist group.

The reports of his death have not been officially confirmed. It will add to his family's anguish because the ungoverned status of large parts of Iraq makes it difficult to secure confirmation.

Mr Amin appeared with two other British-based men in an ISIS video

A statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are aware of reports of the death of a British national in Iraq.

"We stand ready to talk to any family who may be affected.

"The UK is deeply concerned by the growth of terrorism in Iraq and Syria, which threatens the people in the entire region and the UK.

"The UK advises against all travel to Syria and much of Iraq and anyone travelling to these areas is exposing themselves to serious risk."

A woman walks past the scene of a bomb attack in Sadr City

In the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) video, posted to YouTube, Mr Amin appeared alongside students Nasser Muthana and Reyaad Khan - both 20 and from Cardiff. They urged Westerners to join the fighting in Iraq and Syria.

It comes as Iraqi forces were forced to withdraw from the northern city of Tikrit after meeting heavy resistance.

Government troops retreated to a base two and a half miles from the city after coming under heavy mortar and sniper fire.

Tikrit was captured by ISIS militants on June 12 and a push to retake it began at the beginning of July.

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi has proclaimed a caliphate, or Islamic state, twice the size of Israel spanning Iraq and Syria.

The group began seizing territory north of Baghdad last month and has killed captured Iraqi soldiers.

Last month, Home Secretary Theresa May said the latest figures suggest the number of UK-linked individuals who have gone to fight in Syria currently stands at around 400.

She added the the Government would "need to exercise every tool that we have" to prevent them returning home and posing a threat to UK citizens.

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Fallon: Britain Is Now A Eurosceptic Country

Cabinet Reshuffle At A Glance

Updated: 5:31pm UK, Tuesday 15 July 2014

David Cameron has announced a cabinet reshuffle as he prepares for a General Election next year. Here are the major comings and goings:

:: Philip Hammond becomes Foreign Secretary, replacing William Hague.

:: William Hague becomes Leader of the House of Commons, replacing Andrew Lansley, and remains First Secretary of State.

:: Liz Truss becomes Secretary of State of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, replacing Owen Paterson

:: Nicky Morgan becomes Secretary of State for Education, replacing Michael Gove. She will continue as Minister for Women and Equalities.

:: Michael Gove becomes Commons Chief Whip, replacing Sir George Young. Mr Gove will have an enhanced role in campaigning and doing broadcast media interviews.

:: Michael Fallon becomes Secretary of State for Defence, replacing Philip Hammond

:: Greg Clark becomes Minister for Science and Universities, replacing David Willetts. He also becomes Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, replacing David Laws.

:: Stephen Crabb becomes Secretary of State for Wales, replacing David Jones.

:: Baroness Tina Stowell becomes Leader of the House of Lords and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, replacing Lord Hill.

:: Jeremy Wright becomes Attorney General, replacing Dominic Grieve.

:: Mattthew Hancock becomes Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Energy, replacing Michael Fallon.

:: Mike Penning becomes Minister of State at the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, replacing Damian Green.

:: Mark Harper becomes Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, replacing Mike Penning.

:: Nick Boles becomes Minister of State for Department of Business and Department of Education, replacing Matthew Hancock.

:: David Gauke becomes Financial Secretary to the Treasury, replacing Nicky Morgan.

:: John Hayes becomes Minister of State for Transport, replacing Baroness Kramer.

:: Anna Soubry becomes Minister of State at Ministry of Defence, replacing Mark Francois.

:: Oliver Letwin becomes Lord Privy Seal, replacing Andrew Lansley. He also remains Minister for Government Policy.

:: Clare Perry becomes Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Transport.

:: Priti Patel becomes Exchequer Secretary at the Treasury, replacing David Gauke.

:: Amber Rudd becomes Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

:: Penny Mordaunt becomes a junior minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government.

:: Nick Gibb returns to the Government as Schools Minister.

:: Desmond Swayne becomes minister at the Department for International Development

:: Robert Buckland has become Solicitor General, replacing Oliver Heald.

:: Julian Brazier has become junior Defence Minister.

:: George Freeman has become Minister for Life Sciences.

:: Andrew Murrison becomes Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office.

:: Liam Fox confirms he was approached to be a minister in the Foreign Office but turned it down.

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New Unit To Monitor NHS Savile Complaints

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The Government believes Jimmy Savile could have abused more patients and staff in NHS hospitals than is currently known.

The Department of Health (DoH) is setting up a special unit to monitor new complaints from victims and to ensure that NHS trusts investigate them properly.

A spokeswoman for the DoH told Sky News the Savile NHS Legacy Unit was being established following publication last month of reports published under the Lampard review into abuse on NHS premises by the disgraced entertainer.

"The NHS has addressed cases reported to date in the reports published last month but we appreciate that there could be other cases," the spokeswoman said.

"(We) want to make sure people are able to come forward to report abuse by Jimmy Savile on NHS premises."

The unit is being set up following publication of the Lampard review

The Lampard review oversaw NHS investigations into Savile's activities at 28 hospital trusts which revealed that he targeted victims aged from five to 75, over decades.

The reports, including a claim that he had sex with corpses, led to an apology from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to victims on behalf of the Government.

The DoH was not able to say how the unit will be constituted or how long it will be maintained, but said it would monitor the response of NHS trusts to any new allegations.

"The Savile NHS Legacy Unit will provide independent oversight and assurance of the investigations conducted by those NHS Trusts," the spokeswoman added.

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More Than 600 Paedophile Suspects Arrested

An operation by the National Crime Agency involving 45 police forces has seen 660 suspected paedophiles arrested across the UK.

Thirty-nine of the 660 were registered sex offenders but the vast majority had not come to the authorities' attention before. More than 800 properties were searched.

One arrested man had access to 17 grandchildren - two of them had already made allegations against him.

Two men, one of whom is a doctor, had between them more than a million indecent images of children on their phones and computers.

Care workers and former police officers were also among the hundreds arrested.

As a result of the six-month investigation across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - which has only now been revealed - more than 400 children have been safeguarded, the NCA said.

A total of 431 children now under official protection had been in the "care, custody or control" of suspects, 127 of those children were considered to be at immediate risk of harm, the agency revealed.

None of those arrested is a serving or former MP or member of the Government, it said.

Charging decisions are still due in most cases because of continuing inquiries, but charges brought so far range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault.

The NCA's deputy director general, Phil Gormley, said: "This is the first time the UK has had the capability to coordinate a single targeted operation of this nature.

The undercover operation involved 45 police forces

"Over the past six months we have seen unprecedented levels of cooperation to deliver this result.

"Our aim was to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation. A child is victimised not only when they are abused and an image is taken. They are re-victimised every time that image is viewed by someone.

"Some of the people who start by accessing indecent images online go on to abuse children directly. So the operation is not only about catching people who have already offended - it is about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line.

"We want those offenders to know that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for accessing indecent images, that they leave a digital footprint, and that law enforcement will find it."

Mr Gormley said he was "profoundly disappointed" at the scale of the problem and the number of arrests police were forced to make.

It was necessary, he said, to take a harder look at the amount of people looking at child abuse images on the internet.

"The alternative," he said, "is not to look under the stone, and we cannot afford not to look under this stone."

Claire Lilley, Head of Online Safety at the NSPCC said: "This is an important two-pronged operation which has rescued children from abuse and also identified many previously unknown sex offenders.

"Direct action like this sends a strong message to those who subject children to harrowing sexual assaults that they can and will be traced and prosecuted."

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Hair Salon Killer Jailed For At Least 24 Years

Asher Maslin, who stabbed his ex-girlfriend Hollie Gazzard to death at the hair salon where she worked, has been jailed for life.

Maslin, 22, was told he would have to serve a minimum of 24 years in prison.

The former security guard attacked his 20-year-old ex-girlfriend at the Fringe Benefits & La Bella Beauty salon in Gloucester on February 18.

Staff and customers tried to protect her, but Maslin cornered her and stabbed her 14 times with a £3 knife he had bought on the way to confront her. She had recently ended their relationship.

Hollie Gazzard had asked colleagues to phone police if Maslin turned up

Police were already on their way to the salon as Ms Gazzard had asked colleagues to phone 999 immediately if Maslin turned up.

She was pronounced dead just over an hour after the attack at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Maslin was arrested the following day and later admitted a charge of murder.

Sentencing him at Gloucester Crown Court, Mr Justice Teare said: "The number of stab wounds on a defenceless young woman show that this was a merciless killing.

Maslin went to the salon to confront Ms Gazzard

"It was carried out in public, witnessed by customers of the salon, colleagues of Hollie Gazzard and by passers-by.

"Hollie Gazzard was 20 years of age and at the start of her adult life. As her father said, 'the world was at her feet'.

"Hollie's father and sister have described the devastating effect Hollie's death has had on them and on other members of the family."

The judge added that Maslin had taken cocaine and crack cocaine in the days before the killing.

As he was taken away, Maslin nodded to members of his family, who were weeping in the public gallery, and said: "Sorry."

Miss Gazzard was stabbed 14 times in front of colleagues

Miss Gazzard suffered multiple wounds in the attack and died as a result of massive blood loss.

The court heard she was killed days after ending their relationship. Maslin also sent her threatening text messages before carrying out the attack.

Hollie's father Nick Gazzard said: "She was a character, she would keep you on your toes. She used to light up the room when she came home from work.

"It is such a loss now not to have her around. It was like a light bulb going on when she came in."

The family, from Churchdown, near Gloucester, have launched a foundation - the Hollie Gazzard Trust - in her memory, to protect young people from knife crime and domestic violence.

Solicitor Steven Young read a statement on behalf of Maslin's mother Sam outside the court.

It said: "Hollie's death has been a tragedy. She was a beautiful young woman and there was a time that she and Asher loved each other.

"Asher cannot explain whey he did what he did. All he can now do is express through us his deeply felt sorrow for the pain which he has caused to so many people."

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Bean said: "This horrific and violent attack was a spiteful and cowardly reaction by a self-obsessed individual who couldn't handle rejection."

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Tulisa 'Brokered Drug Deal For Film Role'

Former X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos helped to supply drugs to an undercover reporter who told her he could help her become a movie star, a court has heard.

Mazher Mahmood, dubbed the "fake sheikh", posed as a film producer and met the star in Las Vegas and at a luxury hotel in London.

He promised the 26-year-old he could get her a part in a film with Leonardo DiCaprio as her possible co-star and she was keen to be "in his good books", prosecutor Tim Cray told Southwark Crown Court.

Contostavlos then allegedly boasted that she could "sort out" drugs for a boys' night out at a London strip club she was arranging for him.

The former N-Dubz star put Mr Mahmood in touch with her rapper friend, Mike GLC, who supplied the cocaine during a late-night rendezvous at London's five-star Dorchester Hotel, jurors heard.

Mike GLC, whose real name is Michael Coombs, 36, pleaded guilty on Monday to supplying half an ounce (13.9g) of cocaine for £820.

Coombs has pleaded guilty to supplying the cocaine

Contostavlos also allegedly bragged that she used to be part of a gang who sold crack cocaine and that her ex-boyfriend was a cocaine dealer.

But the illicit drug deal was taped and exposed in a front-page story in the Sun on Sunday newspaper last May, the court heard.

Contostavlos denies helping to broker the deal in May last year.

Mr Mahmood entered the witness box and gave evidence from behind a screen to protect his identity.

He said he was playing the role of a film producer from India when he met Contostavlos with another undercover reporter in Las Vegas and at London's Metropolitan hotel last year.

Mr Mahmood said Contostavlos brought up the topic of drugs during their meeting in London on May 10.

"She brought it up with words to the effect that she would go home tonight and have a drink and she might have cannabis to go to sleep," he told the court.

They discussed drugs again later at the hotel bar when the singer said she was not a cocaine user but did smoke cannabis, Mr Mahmood said.

It was then that she spoke about being being able to get "white sweets" - a slang for cocaine - and "green sweets", meaning cannabis, he added.

Opening the case, Mr Cray told jurors: "When the defendant had got involved in this drugs supply, she believed that Samir Khan was a film producer, a movie producer, a big shot.

"She thought he could get her a part in a big movie that was coming up and it seems that she was keen to be in his good books and be friendly with him."

But Mr Cray said that rather than endear herself to a powerful film producer, Contostavlos had her face splashed across a national newspaper.

He said: "She was part of a sting by The Sun newspaper. She fell for it.

"It certainly made for a good newspaper story, because the defendant had been a member of a pop group, a judge on a TV talent show, and is generally well known in the world of entertainment."

The trial continues.

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Heatwave Warning Issued For Rest Of Week

Heatwave conditions will affect parts of England later this week, with officials warning people to take precautions as the mercury hits 30C.

The warning comes as the Met Office issued a Level 2 heat alert for parts of the South East, London, east of England and the Midlands.

Thursday is forecast to be the country's hottest day so far this year, with temperatures of up to 30C, while Friday is expected to be nearly as hot.

A Level 2 warning is triggered when the Met Office forecasts a 60% or higher chance of consecutive daily temperatures having a significant impact on health.

People have been told to avoid the hottest part of the day and use suncream

Health experts at Public Health England, which issued a heatwave alert, urged people to be careful remaining outdoors in the hottest part of the day and avert dehydration by drinking cool liquids.

Older people and those with long-term illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the higher temperatures, so even indoors they should remain in cool areas.

Chris England, Sky News weather producer, said: "It'll turn hotter in the south over the next couple of days as humid air moves in from the very warm continent, with temperatures of over 30C (86F) likely in parts of the south by Friday.

"The humidity will make it uncomfortable for many, and there is a health risk, so people should take care to keep cool."

Some areas are expecting thunderstorms at the end of the heatwave

The heatwave warning is due to take effect late on Thursday and carry through until Saturday, when heavy rain is expected.

A warning was also issued for members of the Muslim community fasting during the current period of Ramadan to drink enough water.

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Economy: Weakest Pay Growth For Five Years

The Biggest Five-Year Drop In Wages Since 1864

Updated: 4:28pm UK, Wednesday 16 July 2014

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

Let's begin at the beginning.

Britain is poorer ... much poorer ... than it was five or six years ago.

If you don't believe me, take a look at gross domestic product - simply, the amount of income generated in the country in a given year.

Divided by the number of people in the UK, this income (or, as economists call it, GDP per capita) is still about 6% lower today than in 2008.

Mull over that for a moment, because in the end that's what almost every domestic economic story comes down to these days: that diminished national income and the question of how it is shared among households.

Today's labour market figures are a vivid illustration of the answer.

In years gone by, British workers tended to insist on keeping their real pay rising. So when there were recessions and the country became poorer, the pain was delivered through job cuts rather than wage cuts.

This time around, a cocktail of factors - including globalisation, the decline of unions and, perhaps, more sensible monetary policy - has persuaded workers to allow their incomes to diminish in exchange for keeping their jobs.

The upshot is that unemployment never rose as high as in previous recessions (peaking at 8.4% in late 2011, compared with peaks of 10.7% in early 1993) despite the fall in national income being even greater.

Today the unemployment rate is down at 6.5% (incidentally the level the Bank of England recently cited as the "equilibrium" rate, which would suggest that it should start raising rates, well, yesterday - but that's another story).

The employment rate has reached 73.1%, equalling the 1974/2005 record for the highest level ever.

Admittedly, this includes many self-employed and part-time workers who would rather be in full-time employment, but it is good news, and a massive improvement, all the same.

But since the fall in national income isn't necessarily reflected in the total number of people in work, it is instead reflected in their wages.

The annual rate of wage inflation excluding bonuses is now down to the lowest level on record, 0.7%, and is comfortably below overall CPI inflation of 1.9%.

Whenever inflation outpaces wages it means families' real earnings are falling (as the increase in their salaries isn't enough to compensate for the erosion of that money's spending power).

According to my calculations, the five-year fall in real wages was greater between 2009 and 2013 (8%) than in any comparable period going all the way back to 1864.

So how long until wages recover?

The problem, some suspect, is that the real wage growth of the past few decades, which tended to average about 2.5% plus inflation, was the exception rather than the rule.

According to some employment economists, the pressures of globalisation might mean that the long-term trend will be closer to 1% or even zero.

It is a worrying thought. Britons have patiently absorbed enormous cuts in their real pay over the past few years - but one presumes that this was on the basis that wages would soon bounce back.

If they don't, I would expect a real backlash against those forces of globalisation (particularly immigration), which have pushed them down.

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