PM: 11-Year-Olds Who Fail Should Resit Exams

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs Editor

A new system of resits will require 11-year-olds in England to prove they are meeting minimum standards in maths and English if the Conservatives are returned to power in the General Election.

Under the Tory plan, any pupil who does not achieve a good pass in their English and maths Year 6 'Sats' will be required to resit the exam in their first year of secondary school.

The Conservatives say that it will make sure pupils who leave primary school unable to read, write or do basic maths will have caught up by the time they are 12.

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Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced the measures in response to concerns that 100,000 children are still failing to reach the expected standard in numeracy and literacy by the end of primary school.

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Ms Morgan said: "We know that the biggest predictor of success at GCSE is whether young people have mastered the basics at age 11.

"That means if we fail to get it right for young people at the start of secondary school, they'll struggle for the rest of their time in education."

Schools already receive a £500 "catch-up premium" for every child who does not meet the expected standard at the end of what in England is known as Key Stage 2.

But there is evidence that poorer children are still significantly under-performing compared to their more affluent peers, with only half as many children eligible for free school meals attaining five GCSEs compared to their classmates.

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Experts questioned how much extra support would be available as a result of the Tories' new pledge.

"It's pretty clear there's no new money attached to this, so what we are talking about for secondary schools is using the existing catch-up premium they get," said Jonathan Simons, head of education at the think tank Policy Exchange.

"But assuming that schools are already spending that money on something, they are going to have to do without extra resources."

At the Explore Learning centre in south London, where children attend classes in the school holidays to try to improve their performance at school, there was concern about the pressure on pupils.

"I would say it would potentially be useful, but it potentially could be just another opportunity for children to get anxious about another exam," said Kathleen Goodwin.

The announcement is the Conservatives' first significant education policy pledge since the election campaign began.

Labour said the policy failed to address the root causes of low attainment.

"This is a desperate attempt by the Tories to overshadow their failures on school standards," said Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt.

"On their watch, 1.6 million pupils are being educated in schools that are rated lower than 'good' by Ofsted."

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Litvinenko Suspect: Death 'Suicide By Accident'

One of two ex-KGB agents suspected of using a radioactive poison to kill a former spy in London has said the victim may have accidentally poisoned himself.

Alexander Litvinenko died three weeks after after meeting the two agents at a London hotel on 1 November 2006.

Speaking at a Moscow news conference, Dmitry Kovtun said Mr Litvinenko may have already been contaminated before another meeting they had in October that year.

He suggested the former spy had accidentally poisoned himself, calling it a "suicide by accident".

Russia has refused to arrest Mr Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi (pictured)

"I am sure he was dealing with polonium without realising," Mr Kovtun said.

"Maybe at some point there was a leak of this polonium and it was gradually storing in his body. There were outbreaks, like on 16 October when he was vomiting." 

Video: Poisoning Timeline

Sky's Moscow Correspondent Katie Stallard said people would find the suggestion hard to believe, particularly considering the coincidence around the timing of it.

Police have said a "massive trail" of radiation followed Mr Kovtun and his co-accused, Andrei Lugovoi, across London.

Traces were found in each of the hotel rooms they stayed in, restaurants they visited and even on their plane seats back to Moscow.

The former KGB agent did not deny he and his colleague had met Mr Litvinenko on 16 October 2006 at Itsu restaurant in London, but said Mr Litvinenko had told them he was feeling unwell and had been sick the night before.

Mr Kovtun suggested he had been contaminated when the group shook hands.

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1. Gallery: Police Photo Evidence From Litvinenko Inquiry

   A graphic showing the levels of contamination in the bathroom of room 848 at the Sheraton hotel in London's Park Lane where Andrei Lugovoi, one of the men suspected of killing Mr Litvinenko, stayed just days before he was poisoned

A photograph of the bathroom

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Labour Would Abolish 'Non-Dom' Tax Status

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

Ed Miliband has defended his policy to abolish non-dom status after it emerged the shadow chancellor recently said scrapping the tax rule would cost the country money.

The Labour leader unveiled plans to end the rule that allows some of the wealthiest to limit the amount of tax they pay in the UK and stop Britain effectively becoming an "offshore tax haven" for the wealthiest.

But the Conservatives were quick to point out an interview with BBC Leeds in January in which Ed Balls said doing away with non-dom status would be expensive.

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In the interview Mr Balls said: "I think if you abolished the whole status then probably it ends up costing Britain money because there will be some people who will then leave the country.

Video: What Makes A Non-Dom A Non-Dom?

"But I think we can be tougher and we should be and we will."

The Tories tweeted out a version of the video in which Mr Balls' last sentence was omitted as evidence that the Labour policy was "unravelling".

:: All You Need To Know About Non-Dom Status

However, tackled about the interview during his speech at Warwick University, the Labour leader said: "We've found a way to do this that independent experts say will raise hundreds of millions of pounds."

Video: Labour Would Abolish Non-Dom Status

Mr Balls later tweeted: "My interview with BBC in January, when we working on policy, fully consistent with announcement today - but Tories edited my interview."

Mr Miliband announced plans to end non-dom status for all but "real temporary residents".

There are 116,000 non-doms in the UK who pay no tax on their earnings outside the UK because either they, their fathers or grandfathers were born in another country and consider that home. The status can be inherited.

Mr Miliband said: "It works against every business and working person in this country who has to pay more as a result, everybody who relies on public services like the NHS, everybody who believes in Britain and a fair and modern country.

Video: Non-Dom Plan 'Pretty Chaotic'

"The United States doesn't do it. No other major country in the developed world does it. No one would propose doing it now if didn't already exist. One rule for some and another for others? It is unjust, it does not work, it holds Britain back and we will stop it."

The Conservatives say scrapping the 200-year-old tax rule would cost the country money because non-doms would simply leave the country.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "We have Ed Balls himself saying it would cost the country money.

"It is a classic example of the economic chaos and confusion you get with Ed Miliband.

Video: 'Got To Get The Balance Right'

"It's why they have no economic credibility."

Mr Osborne tightened the rules on non-doms in the Autumn Statement, charging those who have been resident in the UK for 17 years £90,000 a year to allow them to retain non-dom status.

There had been confusion when Nicky Morgan, the Tory Education Secretary, suggested in an interview on the BBC's Today programme the party would tax all those based in the UK  on all earnings - including those earned abroad.

Mr Miliband was also sharply criticised because of the significant increase in the number of non-doms under the last Labour government.

Video: 'We're Selling Ourselves Too Cheap'

The Liberal Democrats said the "vast majority" of those who took advantage of "non-dom" status spent less than five years in the UK.

Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said the policy might be a "shrewd political move" but added: "It's very unclear what additional revenue would be raised, but the UK's international reputation would be put at risk."

Nigel Farage said UKIP would put up the fees for people to retain the non-dom status and would stop it from being hereditary.

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Clarkson Allowed To Present BBC Quiz Show

Jeremy Clarkson has been given permission by the BBC to present the quiz show Have I Got News For You despite his contract not being renewed.

The Top Gear presenter was the subject of an internal investigation at the corporation after he attacked producer Oisin Tymon.

Mr Tymon was left with a split lip and received a torrent of verbal abuse during the 30-second assault on 4 March.

Clarkson was suspended by the BBC on 10 March before it was announced that his contract would not be renewed.

Clarkson will record his appearance on Have I Got News For You, on which he has appeared before, on 23 April and the show will be broadcast the day after.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Jeremy's contract has not been renewed on Top Gear but he isn't banned from appearing on the BBC."

Jimmy Mulville from production company Hat Trick, which makes the show, told the Broadcasting Press Guild last month that he thought Clarkson was "a fantastic broadcaster".

Ian Hislop and Paul Merton are the panel captains on the show

He joked: "Maybe we will get the producer on so he can hit Jeremy Clarkson live on television."

Clarkson's wider future remains unclear, although North Yorkshire Police announced on Tuesday he will not face police action over his attack on Mr Tymon, which happened at a hotel in the area.

It emerged last week that he will appear on stage with his former Top Gear colleagues, Richard Hammond and James May, later this year to fulfil a series of shows planned before he left the BBC.

The gigs will be stripped of all BBC branding and content, and billed as Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.

The move has sparked rumours that the three men intend to team up to continue their careers together after Clarkson's exit from the corporation, but sources close to the tour say it is just a matter of fulfilling commitments to the fans.

The future of the show's other two presenters - Hammond and May - is unclear, with both men's Top Gear contracts having run out.

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Syrian Preacher Found Shot Dead In London

By Duncan Gardham, Security Journalist

A Syrian preacher from a west London mosque has been found shot dead in a car in Wembley.

Abdul Hadi Arwani was found sitting in a dark-coloured Volkswagen Passat with a gunshot wound to his chest on Tuesday morning.

The preacher, in his late 40s, was discovered in the vehicle at 11.15am. An air ambulance was called, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Detectives launched a murder investigation and said they knew the identity of the victim, but that formal identification had not yet been completed.

Mr Arwani was found dead in his car in Wembley on Tuesday

Sources confirmed it was believed to be Mr Arwani, a preacher at the An-Noor Mosque in Acton, west London.

The mosque has previously hosted the son of radical preacher Abu Hamza, and was the location for the November 2013 escape of terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, who dressed himself in a burka.

A police source said the mosque had attracted a number of former criminals who have turned to Islam and it was possible that a feud at the mosque had turned violent.

Mr Arwani was advertised as a speaker at an event at the East London Mosque last June and listed as speaking from Syria.

He is said to be a staunch critic of the Bashar al Assad regime.

Supporters posted messages to the preacher on Twitter.

One read: "Just received the news Sheikh Abdul Hadi has been murdered. May Allah grant him jannatul firdous [paradise]."

Another said: "Former imam of Masjid an-Noor in Acton, Sheikh Abdul Hadi Arwani has been found shot dead in his car. May Allah have mercy on him and accept him."

The An-Noor Mosque has hosted fundamentalist speakers including Murtaza Khan, Shakeel Begg and Haitham Haddad.

Scotland Yard's Homicide and Major Crime Command has appealed for anyone who may have seen Mr Arwani's car in the Wembley area on Tuesday morning to get in touch.

A spokesman said: "At this very early stage detectives retain an open mind regarding the possible motive."

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All Passports To Be Checked On UK Exit

By Joanna Simpson, Sky News Reporter

New border checks are being introduced today which will require every passport to be thoroughly verified before a person can leave the UK.

The checks are being introduced at seaports, airports and tunnels which provide exit points from the British Isles.

The changes are expected to particularly affect cross-Channel and Channel tunnel travellers, who will now need to have their passports scanned.

As airlines currently gather passengers' information ahead of time, there is unlikely to be a noticeable difference in queues for passengers.

But there are fears of delays at peak travelling times while the changes are implemented.

Until now, many people have been able to leave the country without having their passport scrutinised. 

The Home Office says the changes will strengthen Britain's border security, adding that the implementation of the checks will be staggered at sites across the country.

The changes have led to fears of delays for some travellers

For the first month all passports will be scanned, but only 25% of passport holders will have their details verified.

In the second month 50% will be checked. By the middle of June, 100% of passports will be fully checked.

Security and immigration minister James Brokenshire said: "It is right that we have an immigration system that is fair, that tackles immigration and that clamps down on anyone who tries to cheat the system by staying here when they have no right to do so.

"Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK.

"Port and travel operators are experts in their business and know their customers best, which is why we've supported them to design and trial the systems for collecting data in a way that will minimise the impact on customers."

More staff have been brought in to cope with the new measures, but whether the changes will have a detrimental impact on passengers will not be known until peak travelling times, such as the summer months.

A P&O spokesperson said: "They have picked a quiet day for the introduction of the checks.

"The actual scanning of passports is quick, it's the verification that takes longer. We are hoping there will be a fairly seamless transition to the new system."

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Roy Keane Denies 'Road Rage' Allegation

By Becky Johnson, Sky News Correspondent

Roy Keane has pleaded not guilty to a public order offence over an alleged road rage row with a taxi driver.

Keane, 43, from Hale did not appear in person at the brief hearing at Trafford Magistrates Court.

It was alleged that he behaved aggressively towards cabbie Fateh Kerar, 44, during the row in Altrincham in January.

The taxi driver has claimed the argument began when he and his passenger noticed Keane parked in his Range Rover.

Keane, who is currently assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland football team, is charged with a Section 4a Public Order Offence.

He is due to stand trial on 19 June.

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Everything You Need To Know About Non-Doms

Who are the non-doms, what tax do they avoid and who introduced these rules anyway? Here is all you need to know.

:: What is non-dom status?

Non-domiciled status can be claimed where you are living in the UK but your father or grandfather was resident in another country when you were born. (Grandfather because non-dom status can be inherited).

It means you do not have to pay UK tax on money earned outside the UK.

:: What if my mother or grandmother were resident outside the UK when I was born?

Tough luck, you do not qualify. The rules are a bit sexist like that.

:: Rules or law?

Actually non-dom status is a tax rule. It was introduced by William Pitt the Younger in 1799 - along with income tax.

The caveat was included as an allowance for ships bringing goods back from the colonies.

:: How many non-doms are there?

Around 116,000. They tend to be very rich.

Among them are HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft gave up his non-dom status in 2010 so he could remain in the House of Lords.

:: And does it effectively turn the UK into a tax haven for the rich as Labour is claiming?

Yes, and no. People may still have to pay tax in the country where they are earning cash.

That said, leaked files earlier this year showed some were paying no tax anywhere in the world by using Swiss bank accounts at the suggestion of HSBC.

:: So do non-doms get away without paying anything in the UK?

They did - but now they only do for seven years. In 2008 Labour tightened the rules.

Those who have lived in the UK for seven years had to pay an annual fee of £30,000 if they wanted to keep their non-dom status.

George Osborne tightened it further still in the Autumn Statement - increasing the fee for those living in the UK for 17 years to £90,000.

:: For really rich people that annual fee still seems a pretty good deal

It has been said. One non-dom told Sky's Political Editor Faisal Islam that the Chancellor could raise the annual fee to £250,000 and it would still be worth him staying in the UK.

:: And Labour is going to abolish non-dom status?

That is what Ed Miliband has said. It's part of his "broadest shoulders bearing the heaviest burden" approach.

However, the Conservatives point out that technically it is more small adjustments on how long people can be non-dom.

The full details of Labour's plans are as yet unclear, but it will allow only "real temporary residents" to take advantage of the tax benefits.

:: If non-doms had to pay UK tax how much would the country get?

Hundreds of millions according to Labour.

:: Then what are the drawbacks?

The UK could lose hundreds of millions, according to the Tories.

There is a fear if the very rich had to pay tax at the same level the rest of the population do then there would be a "flight of cash and talent", ie they would leave the UK and take the investment, fees they do pay, money they donate to the arts and charities with them.

This could be more costly in the long run. In the 13 years it was in power Labour did review non-dom status and decided not to scrap it.

:: Would the rich really move out lock, stock and barrel?

Just as a number of people cry flight, many also point out that London as a financial capital is a significant draw to the very wealthy and the attractions of that would not be wiped out by paying tax - although it is broadly accepted there would be some departures.

The Financial Times has spoken in support of scrapping the status.

Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne, who last week signed up to a letter supporting the Tories on corporation tax, is in favour of the move.

:: Any other issues?

As Sky's Economics Editor Ed Conway points out: "If Labour do scrap non-dom status & bring in a mansion tax, one can only imagine the scale of collapse of the prime London property market."

:: And are all party members on the same page with this?

There is some confusion.

Tory Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said in interview that the Tories wanted those based in the UK to pay tax on all their earnings - even those from abroad. Although this has not been the Conservative standpoint.

Meanwhile, an interview with shadow chancellor Ed Balls has been unearthed in which he says the UK could not afford to scrap non-dom status.

:: What do other countries do?

The UK deal is very generous but others, including Belgium and the Netherlands, have similar rules.

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Supermarket Wars: Aldi Overtakes Waitrose

Aldi has overtaken Waitrose in terms of market share for the first time in the UK to become the country's sixth largest supermarket chain, according to the latest industry figures.

Statistics published by Kantar Worldpanel for the 12 weeks ending 29 March showed hard discounters continued to eat into the sales dominance of the big four chains - Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.

While upmarket Waitrose grew sales by 2.9% compared to a year earlier, Aldi's sales were found to have soared.

News of the German firm's progress emerged as Aldi confirmed it was to quadruple its number of stores in London this year, creating 600 new jobs.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: "Aldi has recorded double-digit sales growth for the past four years and is now Britain's sixth largest supermarket with 5.3% of the market.

"Growth has been fuelled by over half a million new shoppers choosing to visit Aldi this year and average basket sizes increasing by 7%.

"The German discounter's sales have increased by 16.8% in the latest period, still high compared to other retailers but slower relative to its recent performance."

Waitrose had a market share of 5.1%, Kantar said.

There was also some cheer for the big four, which have been slashing costs and prices in a bid to protect their own market shares.

Sainsbury's returned to growth in the 12 week period for the first time since August 2014.

Its market share fell just 0.1% to 16.4% while Tesco also grew sales, up 0.3%, while Asda and Morrisons declined by 1.1% and 0.7% respectively. 

Kantar said shoppers were continuing to benefit from falling prices.

Grocery inflation saw its 19th successive fall to stand at an annual rate of -2.0% - a new record low.

Falling shop prices, a result of the intense competition and other market forces including weaker oil and other commodity costs, are expected to imminently result in the UK's inflation rate turning negative.

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Jewellery Heist: Gems 'Already Out Of Country'

Gems stolen in one of the largest and most daring jewellery heists ever will already be out of the country, a former Flying Squad chief believes.

Jewellery and precious stones, which could be worth millions of pounds, were snatched by thieves from a vault in Hatton Garden, London, over the weekend.

The audacious villains are believed to have broken into the building through the roof and abseiled down a lift shaft to access the vault.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said heavy cutting equipment was then used get into a vault at the premises, where 60 to 70 safe boxes were raided.

The vault is believed to be reinforced with thick metal and concrete protection doors, up to 2ft thick.

Video: Raid: 'Better System Needed'

This afternoon, questions were raised about security at the premises amid reports guards responded to an alarm on Friday, but left without checking inside.

Safe box owner Gerry Landon said he was devastated after losing the precious items in his safe box, and found the break-in "unbelievable".

"Apparently, as you may have read, the alarm went off at one o'clock on Friday and the the security guards came down," Mr Landon said.

"They more or less looked through the window to see that there was no activity there - and then they left."

Speaking to Sky News earlier, former Flying Squad chief Barry Phillips described the heist as "sophisticated" and "highly organised".

He said the robbery will have been carried out by a "professional team".

"This has all the hallmarks of a TV or Hollywood film production," Mr Phillips said.

Video: Vault Customer's 'Shock' At Raid

"It was a highly organised, sophisticated crime.

"It's highly likely that any gems or jewellery will have already been sourced and out of the country.

"If past jobs of this nature are taken into account, the thieves will have placed all of the jewellery prior to the robbery.

"That takes a high degree of organisation on behalf of the villains."

Neil Duttson, a diamond dealer who buys stones for private clients, said tracing any gems stolen in the heist would be nearly impossible.

He said: "Once diamonds have been re-cut and polished there is no geological map.

"I imagine they will be sat on for six months. You can expect some cheap diamonds will be coming on the market soon."

Video: Raid: How Thieves Gained Entry

Police have not put a value on the goods stolen, but estimates vary widely from hundreds of thousands of pounds to £200m.

One victim of the heist, a jeweller from the area, has spoken of his "extreme shock".

He said he feared that a £5,000 watch he bought for his son on the day he was born might have been stolen.

Michael Miller told Sky News he "felt sick" at the prospect of losing up to £50,000 of jewellery and watches during the burglary.

Mr Miller said his goods - like those of many with deposit boxes there - were uninsured.

The safe boxes might be worth up to £2m each, he said. 

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "The suspects have had perhaps several days (over the Easter weekend) in which to get in.

Video: 1949: The Hatton Garden Vault Opens

"One report, I'm told, suggested that they used a lift shaft at some stage to get into the centre, which must be pretty heavily protected.

"It's probably going to be some days before we get an idea of exactly how much has been stolen or what indeed has been stolen."

Hatton Garden is known as London's jewellery quarter and the safe deposit boxes are mainly used by local jewellers to store loose diamonds in packets.

Other boxes - around 10% of them - are rented by private individuals and so the true value of the heist may never be known, Mr Phillips said. 

Lewis Malka, a diamond jewellery expert who works in Hatton Garden, tweeted: "Quiet day in the office and then I found out one of my client's antique bracelets was stolen in the Hatton Garden robbery."

Mr Malka added: "Most of the people who have got safe deposits there are people in the trade.

"I know for a fact that some of my work colleagues have got boxes down there and we are talking about hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds in goods."

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1. Gallery: From Securitas To Brink's-Mat

   The Securitas depot raid in Tonbridge, 2006, was the largest cash robbery in UK history, netting the gang more than £53m after they kidnapped the site manager and his family. Four received life terms

Graff's Jewellers in London's New Bond Street was hit by men whose faces had been disguised by prosthetics in 2009. They took jewellery valued at £40m but the gang was jailed for a total of 71 years

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