Helicopter Fell 'Like A Stone Out Of The Sky'

Eyewitnesses have described the "terrifying" moment when a police helicopter spun out of control and plunged into a bar which was hosting a live music gig.

Grace MacLean was in The Clutha in Stockwell Street, Glasgow, and said people became aware of the crash only when the ceiling of the venue started to cave in.

She told Sky News: "There was a band on, they were quite loud, and we just kinda heard a whoosh and some smoke.

"We looked around and no-one really knew what was going on. Everyone just carried on listening to the band.

Emergency services at the scene

"And then we kind of looked again and the roof was gradually coming down.

"Someone started shouting and the band cut the music ... and then all of a sudden this cloud of dust came.

"You couldn't breathe for inhaling a mouthful of dust. You couldn't see anything. You were clawing at the walls to see where the exit is.

"No-one had a clue what was going on. There was no loud noise.

"People were helping each other out. Everyone started helping people who were hurt. People had some head injuries. Lots of people were covered in dust. There were lots of people shocked.

"No-one knew it was a helicopter crash until people told you."

Labour's international development spokesman Jim Murphy happened to be driving past the pub immediately after the crash.

Firefighters on the roof of the pub where the helicopter crash-landed

"I jumped out and tried to help," he said. "There were people with injuries. Bad gashes to the head. Some were unconscious."

He described how a human chain formed to help pass unconscious casualties out of the pub so that "inch by inch, we could get the people out".

Scores of passers-by in the area ran to the venue after seeing or hearing the aircraft go down.

Connor Gillies, from Radio Clyde News, told Sky News of the "scenes of chaos" and "continuous stream of sirens" in the area on Friday evening.

Mr Gillies described seeing "blood on the shirt" of Mr Murphy, who he said was "clearly very shaken, very upset by the whole thing".

Wesley Shearer, who posted pictures on Twitter of the scene, said: "This is unbelievable. Just spent 20 minutes pulling people out of the bar."

Jan Hollands, who also tweeted pictures from the scene, said she heard the crash and described it as "scary".

MP Jim Murphy helped people out of the venue

At 7am, one worried man was waiting at a police barrier hoping to hear of news about his father, who was in the pub on Friday night.

"My dad was sitting there with his lady friend. She went to the toilet and boom, it came straight through the roof … right on top of the spot where they were sitting.

He added: "That was the last I heard. I'm going to stay here … It cannot get much worse."

:: Police have issued an emergency telephone number for concerned relatives - 0800 092 0410.

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Police Chopper Crash Was Third In Scotland

Helicopter Crashes Into Glasgow Pub

Updated: 11:19am UK, Saturday 30 November 2013

Police have warned the number of people killed after a police helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow pub will rise in the "coming hours" after confirming one death.

The chief Constable of Police Scotland said were now dealing with a "search and recovery operation" after rescue teams worked through the night to try to rescue people from the wreckage of The Clutha Vaults pub after the aircraft plunged into the roof.

But he said they were still hoping to find survivors alive the remains of the building.

According to Sky News sources at least six people are now known to have died after the helicopter hit the lively city nightspot, which was packed with more than 100 people listening to a band, at 10.25pm on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, Sir Stephen House said: "Sadly at this time I can confirm one fatality. We expect that number to increase over the coming hours."

He confirmed that a further 32 people had been taken to Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Western Infirmary with "multiple injuries" last night.

Sir Stephen says that specialist teams were working to stabilise the building in a "difficult and sensitive" operation and said:  "We're still in a search and recovery phase, and as always our prayers are that it is successful and we do recover people alive.

He said: "There are people on the scene trying to make contact with anyone who may be alive at the scene ... All we can do is confirm there has been one fatality but we are fearful there will be more."

Rescue teams had said they had contacted people inside the pub overnight but Sir Stephen could not say when the last contact had been made.

First Minister Alex Salmond said "This is a black day for Glasgow and Scotland but it's also St Andrew's Day,  and it's a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy."

He praised the "instinctive bravery of ordinary Glaswegians" who went to the rescue of those trapped inside the pub and the emergency service saying: " ... It's a day we can take great pride in how we've responded to this extraordinary tragedy."

The Police have given no details of what has happened to the crew of two officers and a civilian pilot on board the helicopter.

Grace MacLean, who had been inside the pub when the helicopter struck, told Sky News: "Someone started shouting and the band cut the music ... and then all of a sudden this cloud of dust came.

"You couldn't breathe for inhaling a mouthful of dust. You couldn't see anything. You were clawing at the walls to see where the exit is."

Those who helped at the scene told how they worked to form human chain to carry unconscious people out of the pub. Among them was Labour's international development spokesman Jim Murphy, who told Sky News: "I just saw dozens and dozens of people coming out of the pub. It is a horrible, horrible scene."

It is still unclear what caused the crash, with one eyewitness saying the aircraft "dropped like a stone" and police have now launched a full investigation into the crash under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. 

Investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) were on the scene on Saturday morning trying to piece together what had happened.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: "A full investigation is now underway however at this early stage it is too early to provide details on why the helicopter came down. There were three people on board the helicopter - two police officers and a civilian pilot and on a busy Friday night, there were a number of customers in the bar."

A tent had been erected on top of the pub on Saturday morning over the wreckage of the aircraft, whose rotor could be seen protruding from the roof.

The helicopter, a EC135 T2, which is widely used in the police force, has a good safety record with one incident in 2007 after which the AAIB asked manufacturers Eurocopter to look at a stability system switch.

Gordon Smart, editor of the Sun's Scottish edition, saw the crash from a multi-storey car park nearby.

He told Sky News: "I thought it was a plane that was going to crash. I looked up at the sky and I could see the helicopter falling, tumbling ... and then there was an eerie silence for the last part of the fall.

"But the thing that was disturbing and shocking was there was no explosion. I couldn't understand why a helicopter would fall from that height and not explode. To see the angle, the speed and the trajectory of the fall ... it was a horrific sight."

Members of Esperanza, the band playing at the time, all escaped from the wreckage unharmed. They posted on their Facebook site: "Best wishes to everyone from tonight...Hope everyone who got out managed to get home or somewhere safe to stay. To everyone who was injured...please get fixed soon. And please please please let us know of the people who we haven't heard from yet...hope they're found ok."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the helicopter crash in Glasgow - and the emergency services working tonight."

Labour leader Ed Miliband told Sky News: "There will be lots of people worried about their loved ones who are unaccounted for, and my thoughts are with them, and also with the people of Glasgow, who are an incredibly strong people, who showed last night in reaction when the helicopter hit, great bravery, great courage, great calm, in the midst of all this."

A number of St Andrew's Day events were being cancelled on Saturday morning as the tragic toll of Friday night's crash started to become apparent.

Members of the public concerned about relatives who may have been involved in the crash can call an emergency helpline on 0800 092 0410.

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Glasgow Helicopter Crash: At Least Six Dead

Police have warned the number of people killed after a police helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow pub will rise in the "coming hours" after confirming one death.

The chief Constable of Police Scotland said were now dealing with a "search and recovery operation" after rescue teams worked through the night to try to rescue people from the wreckage of The Clutha Vaults pub after the aircraft plunged into the roof.

But he said they were still hoping to find survivors alive the remains of the building.

According to Sky News sources at least six people are now known to have died after the helicopter hit the lively city nightspot, which was packed with more than 100 people listening to a band, at 10.25pm on Friday.

A tent is erected over the wreckage of the helicopter

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, Sir Stephen House said: "Sadly at this time I can confirm one fatality. We expect that number to increase over the coming hours."

He confirmed that a further 32 people had been taken to Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Western Infirmary with "multiple injuries" last night.

Sir Stephen says that specialist teams were working to stabilise the building in a "difficult and sensitive" operation and said:  "We're still in a search and recovery phase, and as always our prayers are that it is successful and we do recover people alive.

He said: "There are people on the scene trying to make contact with anyone who may be alive at the scene ... All we can do is confirm there has been one fatality but we are fearful there will be more."

Firefighters on the roof of the pub

Rescue teams had said they had contacted people inside the pub overnight but Sir Stephen could not say when the last contact had been made.

First Minister Alex Salmond said "This is a black day for Glasgow and Scotland but it's also St Andrew's Day,  and it's a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy."

He praised the "instinctive bravery of ordinary Glaswegians" who went to the rescue of those trapped inside the pub and the emergency service saying: " ... It's a day we can take great pride in how we've responded to this extraordinary tragedy."

The Police have given no details of what has happened to the crew of two officers and a civilian pilot on board the helicopter.

Two police officers and one civilian pilot were on board the helicopter

Grace MacLean, who had been inside the pub when the helicopter struck, told Sky News: "Someone started shouting and the band cut the music ... and then all of a sudden this cloud of dust came.

"You couldn't breathe for inhaling a mouthful of dust. You couldn't see anything. You were clawing at the walls to see where the exit is."

Those who helped at the scene told how they worked to form human chain to carry unconscious people out of the pub. Among them was Labour's international development spokesman Jim Murphy, who told Sky News: "I just saw dozens and dozens of people coming out of the pub. It is a horrible, horrible scene."

It is still unclear what caused the crash, with one eyewitness saying the aircraft "dropped like a stone" and police have now launched a full investigation into the crash under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. 

Investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) were on the scene on Saturday morning trying to piece together what had happened.

Those inside the pub gather outside after the crash Pic: Paul Agnew

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: "A full investigation is now underway however at this early stage it is too early to provide details on why the helicopter came down. There were three people on board the helicopter - two police officers and a civilian pilot and on a busy Friday night, there were a number of customers in the bar."

A tent had been erected on top of the pub on Saturday morning over the wreckage of the aircraft, whose rotor could be seen protruding from the roof.

The helicopter, a EC135 T2, which is widely used in the police force, has a good safety record with one incident in 2007 after which the AAIB asked manufacturers Eurocopter to look at a stability system switch.

Gordon Smart, editor of the Sun's Scottish edition, saw the crash from a multi-storey car park nearby.

He told Sky News: "I thought it was a plane that was going to crash. I looked up at the sky and I could see the helicopter falling, tumbling ... and then there was an eerie silence for the last part of the fall.

"But the thing that was disturbing and shocking was there was no explosion. I couldn't understand why a helicopter would fall from that height and not explode. To see the angle, the speed and the trajectory of the fall ... it was a horrific sight."

The Clutha is situated in Stockwell Street in Glasgow

Members of Esperanza, the band playing at the time, all escaped from the wreckage unharmed. They posted on their Facebook site: "Best wishes to everyone from tonight...Hope everyone who got out managed to get home or somewhere safe to stay. To everyone who was injured...please get fixed soon. And please please please let us know of the people who we haven't heard from yet...hope they're found ok."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the helicopter crash in Glasgow - and the emergency services working tonight."

Labour leader Ed Miliband told Sky News: "There will be lots of people worried about their loved ones who are unaccounted for, and my thoughts are with them, and also with the people of Glasgow, who are an incredibly strong people, who showed last night in reaction when the helicopter hit, great bravery, great courage, great calm, in the midst of all this."

A number of St Andrew's Day events were being cancelled on Saturday morning as the tragic toll of Friday night's crash started to become apparent.

Members of the public concerned about relatives who may have been involved in the crash can call an emergency helpline on 0800 092 0410.

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Savile: 19 Hospitals Face Investigation

A further 19 hospitals are to be investigated in relation to links with Jimmy Savile, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

In a written ministerial statement, Mr Hunt said he expected reports to be delivered by next June.

The 19 hospitals will be investigated by their relevant health trusts but each investigation will be properly monitored, he said.

The new investigations are in addition to an initial 13 inquiries into hospitals which are believed to have been visited by the disgraced radio and television presenter.

Savile is thought to have used his position to abuse vulnerable patients, many of them children.

The total number of hospitals now being investigated is 32.

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Lee Rigby Murder Trial Begins

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11:10am UK, Friday 29 November 2013

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Philpott's 17-Year Sentence 'Draconian'

Mairead Philpott is not safe in prison and her 17-year prison sentence for killing her six children is unfair, a court has heard.

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Tucson 'Captives Tortured With Loud Music'

Three sisters allegedly held captive by their mother and stepfather at their home in Tucson were monitored by video cameras in soundproof rooms, police said.

Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor said the couple used "technological and psychological" means to imprison the three girls, aged 12, 13 and 17.

The couple, Sophia and Fernando Richter, were arrested on charges of emotional and physical abuse and three counts of kidnapping.

As police investigating the case were poring over a journal kept by the 17-year-old, details of the alleged captivity emerged.

Music blared loudly and constantly from the girls' bedrooms. Duct work was sealed and towels were forced against doors to prevent the sound from being heard outside.

Mr Villasenor said: "What the kids are telling us, it was 24-7 either loud music or static." 

There were motion sensors on the doors to the girls' bedrooms and video cameras trained on their bed.

Locks on the girls' bedroom doors kept them from escaping, Mr Villasenor said, adding another method was also used but declined to say what it was.

Two girls escaped on Tuesday, the third was found by police. Pic: KOLD TV

If the girls needed to use the bathroom, there was an unspecified signal for them to let the parents know they needed a bathroom break.

The two younger girls escaped through the window of their bedroom on Tuesday after the stepfather, brandishing a knife, tried to break down the room's door. They ran to a neighbour's home.

When police arrived at the suburban home, they found the 17-year-old, who was being held separately from her sisters in another room.

The three girls were malnourished and dirty and told officers they had not taken a bath in months.

Investigators hope the diary will help them build a criminal case against the 32-year-old mother and 34-year-old stepfather.

Mr Villasenor declined to reveal the diary's contents but said the teen kept one of her most prized possessions - a photo of singer Enrique Iglesias - in the journal, which was kept inside a satchel.

"It did contain a lot of information that I feel will be useful in helping us to determine the method and length of the imprisonment," Mr Villasenor said.

Investigators are also trying to determine the last time the girls attended a school.

No schools in the area had a record of them, Mr Villasenor said, and police have not been able to verify the mother's claims that the children were home-schooled.

The girls are now together at a group home in the custody of a state child welfare agency.

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Bank Acts To Curb House Price Growth

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

The Bank of England has taken its first major step to clamp down on rising house prices and ballooning household debt levels, cutting the incentives for banks to lend to consumers.

The Bank's Financial Policy Committee (FPC), chaired by Governor Mark Carney, said that starting from January banks would no longer get cheap loans from the Bank in exchange for lending to households through mortgages and other debt.

The move is likely to reduce the amount banks are willing to lend on home loans and may push up mortgage rates while shares in major housebuilders including Persimmon, Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey fell more than 6% immediately after the announcement.

The Bank also revealed new research showing that households with loan-to-income ratios greater than five now account for around a fifth of total UK mortgage debt, in the latest sign of overheating in the housing market.

The decision will be seen as a significant shift from the Bank, which until now had insisted that it was comfortable with rates of house price inflation, which on some metrics are rising at the fastest rate since the crash of 2008.

Persimmon was among the stocks hit following the bank's announcement

The FPC said from hereon the Funding for Lending scheme, under which banks receive cheap funding from the Bank of England for every pound of net lending they themselves hand out, would be focused entirely on small businesses.

Banking analysts have claimed that by far and away the biggest impact of Funding for Lending had been to boost lending levels to households, and to help reduce the borrowing rates they face.

The move may come as an embarrassment to the Chancellor, as it will mean the Bank is effectively clamping down on the housing market at precisely the same time as the Treasury is attempting to stimulate it through his new Help to Buy scheme.

However, the Bank said that while it had the power to recommend changes to Help to Buy, it did not think any were necessary at present.

The report said: "Rising house prices - and any subsequent falls - needn't in themselves pose a threat to financial stability.

"It is the interaction of developments in the housing market with a range of factors, including household indebtedness and leverage in the banking sector, which gives rise to financial stability risks."

Mr Carney said: "Over the past year the Funding for Lending scheme has contributed to the recovery by helping to significantly improve credit conditions, especially for households.

"The changes announced today refocus the FLS where it is most needed - to underpin the supply of credit to small businesses over the next year - without providing further broad support to household lending that is no longer needed."

George Osborne said: "Now that the housing market is starting to pick up, it is right that we focus the scheme's firepower on small businesses.

"Small firms are the lifeblood of our economy. That's why we're reforming the banks, introducing the employment allowance and now focusing the Funding for Lending scheme to support them."

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Plane Bomb Threat Accused: No Case To Answer

Two men - dubbed "idiots not terrorists" - have been cleared of threatening to blow up a plane.

Tayyab Subhani, 30, and Mohammed Safdar, 42, were arrested on May 24 after a Boeing 777 heading from Lahore, Pakistan, to Manchester, was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport in Essex.

It had been claimed Safdar, supported by Subhani, had made threats to kill crew and passengers after an argument broke out with air stewards at 30,000 feet.

But jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were instructed to find the men, from Nelson in Lancashire, not guilty of endangering an aircraft.

The Boeing 777 was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport

Judge Charles Gratwicke described the case as "tenuous and peppered with inconsistencies".

He added: "Under the circumstances no jury can properly convict these men."

Prosecutor Brian O'Neill said: "In light of the state of the evidence, it has been decided it is no longer appropriate to seek convictions in this case."

A series of witnesses told the court that although the men had acted like idiots, they had not heard a bomb threat.

Nadeem Sufi, captain of the Pakistan International Airlines flight PK709, originally alerted the authorities to the scare.

But he later told the court that, as the severity of the diversion became apparent, he tried to reverse this decision by telling air traffic control the men were "laughing and joking".

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'Bedroom Tax' Leaves Disabled Fearing Eviction

By Jason Farrell, Sky News Correspondent

Thousands of disabled people are cutting back on food and heating to pay for the so-called "bedroom tax", according to a group of leading charities.

The chief executives of leading groups including Disability Rights UK, Scope, Carers UK, The Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Council For Disabled Children say the policy is having a "devastating impact" on people with disabilities.

More than 50 organisations have signed a letter to Iain Duncan Smith calling for immediate action to exempt disabled people from the Spare Room Subsidy.

They claim that it is harder for people in adapted housing to move and that "it is hitting disabled people who need an extra room for essential home adaptations or equipment which enable them to live independently".

The letter to the Department of Work and Pensions states: "We have been deeply frustrated at reports that disabled people and their families are protected from this policy.

The introduction of the "bedroom tax" has proved controversial

"The stark evidence since the policy was implemented in April clearly shows they are not.

"None of these groups are exempt and our organisations are seeing the devastating impact it is having on those who now face a shortfall in their rent as a result of the changes."

The Government does offer help with extra discretionary housing payments (DHPs) for disabled social housing tenants.

However, the letter points to research conducted by the Papworth Trust which showed that one in three disabled people applying for DHPs are refused, the same number as non-disabled people, and that 90% of disabled people refused a DHP are already cutting back on food, drink, household bills and medication or therapies.

Charities have written to Iain Duncan Smith about the bedroom tax

The letter claims that carers and families of disabled children are "being forced deeper and deeper into debt and falling behind on their rent, putting them at risk of eviction".

Sky News spoke to 47-year-old Heather Simpson from Battersea who suffers from a degenerative disease and needs an adapted property with wheelchair access and a stair-lift.

She has been told by her local housing association that it is unable to find her an appropriate smaller home. 

Come December she is worried she may have to find an additional £80 a month to cover her spare room.

She told Sky News: "I'm stuck basically, there's nowhere for me to go.

"I understand there's overcrowding, but there's nowhere for me to go. So I'll just get into debt."

Council tenants judged to have extra bedrooms now receive less benefit

In a letter sent to Heather last week, her Housing Association, Peabody, said it had 1,600 applicants for rehousing and only 145 places.

In a statement, Peabody told Sky News: "The Government's under-occupancy charge has a significant impact on vulnerable people, and we are working with other housing associations and councils to try and increase the options for people needing to move …

"We would like to see the Government take action to mitigate the impact of this policy particularly for the most vulnerable residents in our homes."  

A Department of Work and Pensions spokesperson told Sky News: "We are determined to support those who might need extra help through these necessary reforms.

"That is why we set aside £190m this year to do precisely this, with £25m specifically for disabled people living in specially adapted properties.

"The courts have ruled we are meeting our equality duties to disabled people who are affected by the policy.

"The removal of the spare room subsidy means we still pay the majority of most claimants' rent, but the taxpayer can no longer afford to pay the £500m cost of claimants' extra bedrooms."

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Simon Gittany Guilty Of High-Rise Murder

A man has been found guilty of throwing his fiancee off the balcony of their high-rise apartment in central Sydney.

Ms Harnum was planning to leave Gittany

Simon Gittany was accused of hurling Lisa Harnum from their 15th floor home in a fit of "apoplectic" rage in July 2011 after discovering she planned to leave him and return to her native Canada.

Gittany, 40, who was supported in court by his new girlfriend Rachelle Louise, had maintained throughout the trial that Ms Harnum, 30, had slipped and fallen after climbing over a railing.

He said he had tried to save Ms Harnum, a former ballerina.

But Justice Lucy McCallum said the lack of Ms Harnum's fingerprints on the glass barrier made his claim implausible.

"At many times in his evidence, the accused struck me as being a person playing a role, telling a story which fitted with the objective evidence, but which did no more than that," she said.

Gittany barely reacted in court as the verdict was read out.

Gittany with his new girlfriend, Rachelle Louise, who screamed at the judge

His current girlfriend screamed at the judge "You're wrong", and stormed out of the packed courtroom. Ms Louise's outburst continued after she left the court.

Delivering the verdict in the judge-only trial, Justice McCallum said witness Josh Rathmell, who had been walking past the apartment building on his way to work when he saw Ms Harnum fall, gave a compelling account.

At the time, Mr Rathmell thought he had seen Gittany "unload" a piece of luggage or rubbish and continued on his way. It was only later he realised it was a body and contacted the police.

Justice McCallum said while Gittany and Ms Harnum had loved each other, there was no doubt the accused was "controlling, dominating and at times abusive".

"I am satisfied by the end of July 2011, those tensions had reached a point of crisis," she said.

Gittany and Ms Harnum's apartment was in central Sydney

The New South Wales Supreme Court heard that Gittany had secretly monitored Ms Harnum's phone and had installed CCTV cameras inside and outside their apartment.

One of the cameras showed Gittany restraining Ms Harnum outside the flat and then dragging her back inside on the night she died. Ms Harnum was heard yelling: "Please help me, help me, God help me."

Ms Harnum's mother said there were no winners in the case. Her only hope was that her daughter's death would be a powerful wake-up call to other young women.

"Young women who are caught up in situations like my daughter found herself in need a voice," Joan Harnum said.

Gittany, who was held in custody for the final weeks of the trial, will be sentenced in February.

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Migrant Benefit Rules Tightened By Cameron

EU migrants are to be barred from claiming out-of-work benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance, for their first three months in the UK, David Cameron has announced.

Those who do go on to claim the benefits will now only be able to get payments for a maximum of six months. Migrants caught sleeping rough could be deported and would not be allowed to return to the UK for 12 months.

The Prime Minister announced the shake-up amid fears of an influx of Romanians and Bulgarians, who will be entitled to come to the UK for work and can then claim benefits like other EU citizens from January 1.

But his intervention sparked stinging criticism from the European employment commissioner Laszlo Andor, who warned that Britain risked becoming the "nasty country" of the EU.

Earlier this week the European Commission claimed that immigration of Bulgarians and Romanians would boost the UK economy.

The Government's own figures for 2011/12 show that only 7% of those claiming Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support were foreigners and only 31% of those were from within the EU.

However, unveiling his plans in the Financial Times, Mr Cameron said he "shared concerns" of many of his MPs over the ending of restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers.

He said: "We are changing the rules so that no one can come to this country and expect to get out-of-work benefits immediately; we will not pay them for the first three months.

"If after three months an EU national needs benefits - we will no longer pay these indefinitely.

"They will only be able to claim for a maximum of six months unless they can prove they have a genuine prospect of employment.

"We are also toughening up the test which migrants who want to claim benefits must undergo.

"This will include a new minimum earnings threshold. If they don't pass the test, we'll cut off access to benefits such as income support. Newly arrived EU jobseekers will not be able to claim housing benefit."

Nick Clegg has welcomed the 'sensible and reasonable' tougher rules

Other measures include fines of up to £20,000 for firms that pay below the minimum wage - an attempt to prevent undercutting of British workers.

Dozens of Conservative MPs want the Government to ignore EU law and extend existing controls on when new arrivals can claim the same benefits at UK citizens until 2018.

Currently, some immigrants can access Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) within a month of arrival in the UK, according to Downing Street aides.

However, a report by University College London earlier this month found that immigrants had contributed £25bn to the UK economy between 2000 and 2011 - significantly more than they had claimed in handouts.

They were also 45% less likely to receive benefits than British people.

There are doubts over how quickly Mr Cameron could introduce the new rules, given the impending January 1 deadline.

His aides insisted that the six-month limit and the 12-month bar on returns could be brought in under existing legislation but the three-month delay on claiming benefits would need legislation, which is to be brought forward to early in the new year.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the Liberal Democrats were behind the tougher rules and called them "sensible and reasonable reforms".

"The right to work does not automatically mean the right to claim," Mr Clegg said.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, said: "These measures fall way short of what the British public want though. Our borders will remain open. Migrants will still be entitled to out-of-work benefits after just three months. It isn't nearly good enough.

Mr Andor told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "The unilateral action, unilateral rhetoric, especially if it is happening at this time, is not really helpful because it risks presenting the UK as the kind of nasty country in the European Union.

"We don't want that. We have to look into the situation collectively and if there are real problems react proportionately."

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Prime Minister was "playing catch-up" after failing to take action earlier.

"Why has it taken him eight months to copy Labour's proposal to make the Habitual Residence Test stronger and clearer?" she said.

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Pensioner Was Hit-And-Run Victim Say Police

An elderly man found fatally injured on a street was the victim of a hit-and-run driver, West Midlands Police say.

The 75-year-old man's injuries were so severe that police believe he must have been hit by a 4x4 or a van and left for dead.

He was found lying in Beakes Road, Smethwick, near Birmingham, at around 9.30pm on Saturday night and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.

Nobody has come forward to report a collision in the road that night.

Inspector Paul Bennett, from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We have launched a major investigation to determine exactly what led to this elderly man's death.

"At this stage we believe he has been struck by a large vehicle, possibly a 4x4 car or a van.

"Whoever was driving must have known they had hit a person but rather than stop to help, they left him in the road to die.

"The vehicle itself would have sustained collision damage and I want to hear from anyone who may have information that could lead us to the vehicle and driver involved."

He appealed to garage mechanics who may be asked to fix damage on a car or van and also to members of the public for information.

Mr Bennett said: "Have you seen a car or van parked in your neighbourhood with serious damage that isn't usually there? If you have, call us on 101.

"Please come forward if you think you can help, no matter how insignificant the information you have may seem."

Anyone with information should call Inspector Bennett from the Regional Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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Scottish Independence: £600 Better Off Claim

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Better childcare and education, a reformed, fairer tax system are being promised under an independent Scotland.

Laying out his blueprint for Scotland's future, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, also said that each Scot would be £600 better off.

It is a figure which sharply contrasts with a Treasury analysis, which claims independence would cost the average Scot £1,000 in tax.

But at the launch event in Glasgow, Mr Salmond has robustly argued that Scotland's public finances are "healthier than those of the UK as a whole".

Independence supporters say it will be fairer to 'divorce' the UK

As a result of this, the Scottish National Party (SNP) blueprint says: "There will be no requirement for an independent Scotland to raise the general rate of taxation to fund existing levels of spending."

In the 670-page document entitled Scotland's Future - Your Guide Mr Salmond has vowed to end controversial and unpopular welfare reforms introduced by Westminster, including the bedroom tax and the Universal Credit System.

He has also pledged an independent Scotland would provide free childcare for all pre-school children. It also promised a cap on payday lenders - one policy he has in common with the Chancellor George Osborne.

Scotland's Future pinpoints "three overriding reasons" for Scotland to leave the UK - it will create a more democratic, prosperous and fair state.

Speaking at the launch Mr Salmond said: "Our vision is of an independent Scotland regaining its place as an equal member of the family of nations. However, we do not seek independence as an end in itself, but rather as a means to changing Scotland for the better.

"We know we have the people, the skills and resources to make Scotland a more successful country. What we need now are the economic tools and powers to build a more competitive, dynamic economy and create more jobs.

"This guide contains policies which offer nothing less than a revolution in employment and social policy for Scotland, with a transformational change in childcare at the heart of those plans.

Pro-independence supporters march through Edinburgh in September

"Our proposals will make it far easier for parents to balance work and family life, and will allow many more people, especially women, to move into the workforce, fostering economic growth and helping to boost revenues - which will in itself help pay for the policy.

"With these policies, we can begin the job of undoing the damage caused by the vast social disparities which have seen the UK become one of the most unequal societies in the developed world."

The SNP also plans to keep the pound in a currency union with the Bank of England, although opponents claim there is no guarantee that the rest of the UK would find that acceptable. 

The paper states "the pound is Scotland's currency just as much as it is the rest of the UK's" saying that an independent Scotland would also make a "substantial contribution" to a "sterling zone".

It also states that  the membership of an independent Scotland in the European Union and Nato would continue, although critics point out that this cannot be guaranteed.

Under the proposals, if the people of Scotland vote for independence in a referendum then Scottish Independence Day would be March 24, 2016. 

The date will resonate with the Scottish people as on March 24, 1707, the Act of Union, which joined the parliaments of England and Scotland, was signed.

Former chancellor Alistair Darling told Sky News ahead of the launch: "We can have the best things about being a successful country and the best things about being part of something bigger.

"We simply don't have to choose between having a strong Scottish Parliament and the strength and security of being part of the United Kingdom. We can have both.

"We can be proudly Scottish and feel a sense of connection to friends and family in the rest of the United Kingdom.

"We can have a distinctive Scottish voice and we can keep the opportunities that come through sharing risks, rewards and resources with one of the biggest economies in the world."

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Indian Dentists Given Life For Murders

An Indian couple who are both dentists have been jailed for life for slitting the throats of their teenage daughter and a servant.

More follows...

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Payday Loans To Be Capped By Government

The cost of payday loans will be capped under new laws by early 2015, the Government has announced.

The industry has been criticised over the affordability of the loans and the way they are marketed, with critics claiming the firms take advantage of vulnerable people.

The Competition Commission is currently investigating the industry and an Office for Fair Trading (OFT) report in September said there were "deep-rooted" problems in the way the loan companies operate.

New financial regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will now be forced by the Government to cap the loans.

The Government will amend the Banking Reform Bill currently going through Parliament to formally establish the cap.

The Labour leader has also heavily criticised the industry

The move comes after the Labour leader Ed Miliband spoke out over what he called the "Wonga economy".

Earlier this month he said payday loan companies were "running riot through our communities".

"They are responsible for a quiet crisis of thousands of families trapped in unpayable debt," said Mr Miliband.

Mr Miliband has also called for a ban on payday advertisements during children's television shows, accusing the companies of using "cartoon characters, trendy puppets or cute plasticine figures" to attract children.

George Osborne denied that the move marked a turnaround for the Government, which had initially resisted calls for a cap and denied that Labour had taken the lead on the issue.

The payday loan industry is worth £2bn

He said: "I don't accept it's a departury from any philosophy. The philosophy is we want markets that work for people, and people who believe in the free market, like myself, want that free market to be properly regulated."

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "The idea that we are following Labour - the Labour Party were in office for 13 years, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband. This issue came up, they were in the Treasury all those years, they did absolutely nothing.

"I am happy to pay tribute to some individual MPs like Stella Creasy, like Robin Walker the Conservative, who have campaigned on this issue.

"But the idea that the Labour leadership, who were running this country for 13 years and did nothing in this space, took a lead is, frankly, fanciful."

However, Ms Creasy said: "Just two months ago this Government criticised Ed Miliband for wanting to reform broken markets, and now today we see them following Labour's lead on the need to act against legal loan-sharking.

Critics claim affordability checks are not being properly carried out

"Whether in Parliament or out on Britain's streets in the Sharkstoppers campaign, we have been making the case that capping is a tried and tested method used in many other countries to tackle the problems caused by payday lenders. For too long David Cameron has ignored our pleas to act and it is cash strapped consumers caught in the spiral of debt these companies generate who have paid a heavy price as a result."

Business Minister Jo Swinson warned in September that interest rate caps to tackle payday lenders could mean people who could pay back loans found they could not get credit and turned to "unsavoury alternatives".

The Competition Commission investigation into the £2bn industry is due to reveal its findings next year.

It will be looking at claims that firms are emphasising the speed of the loan over cost and are "skimping" on affordability checks.

There have also been complaints of payday firms unexpectedly draining people's bank accounts through a type of recurring payment called a continuous payment authority.

Payday loan bosses defended their business in front of MPs

The Financial Conduct Authority, which will take over regulation of consumer credit from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in April 2014, was already considering new controls before today's announcement.

Among its proposals are unlimited fines, limiting to two the number of times a payday loan can be rolled-over and compulsory affordability checks for all applicants.

Bosses of three payday loan companies, Wonga, QuickQuid and Mr Lender, defended their industry when they appeared in front of MPs earlier in November.

Henry Raine, head of regulatory and public affairs at Wonga, told the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee: "Wonga's business is aiming to lend to people who can pay us back, that's how we make money.

"The vast majority of people pay us back on time. We freeze interest after 60 days and 25% of people pay us back early."

Mr Raine said around 3% of loans, equating to around 40,000 of Wonga's 1.25 million customers, go to the 60-day period.

He said Wonga's record compared favourably with the rest of the loan industry, including credit card companies and banks.

The company also made a film telling the stories of 12 of its customers.

Wonga's chief operating officer told Sky News the film was made because "the silent majority of people using our service was not being heard".

He added: "Generally you hear a lot of criticism about our service out in the media and actually the super positive stories that we see every day from our customer feedback are not being heard, so we wanted to redress that balance and allow their voice to come out."

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Dentists Slit Daughter And Servant's Throats

A wealthy dentist couple have been found guilty of murdering their teenage daughter and servant by slitting their throats.

Rajesh and Nupur Talwar burst into tears when the verdict was read out in a packed courtroom - in a case which has gripped India.

"We are deeply disappointed, hurt and anguished for being convicted for a crime that we have not committed. We refuse to feel defeated and will continue to fight for justice," the Talwars said in a written statement.

The couple face life in prison and possibly the death penalty when Judge Shyam Lal hands down his sentence on Tuesday.

They had been charged with killing 14-year-old Aarushi and Nepalese employee Hemraj, 45, at their home in a New Delhi suburb in 2008.

Investigators alleged Aarushi was murdered in a fit of rage when her parents found her with the servant in an "objectionable" situation.

The trial heard the affluent couple slit their victims' throats "with clinical precision".

Lawyer Manoj Kumar Rai, who was inside the court to hear the verdict, told reporters: "They have been found guilty of murder. They have been found guilty of the destruction of evidence."

Rajesh Talwar was attacked outside court in 2011

The defendants insisted they were victims of police incompetence and a media witch-hunt.

Rajesh Talwar recently told the AFP news agency: "We loved Aarushi, we have no lives without her. This has been a never-ending nightmare."

He was attacked in 2011 just outside the court building during the trial by a man with a meat cleaver, leaving his cheek and hand deeply scarred.

The prosecution had conceded there was no forensic or material evidence against the couple, and based its case on the "last-seen theory" - claiming the victims were last seen with the accused.

When Aarushi was found on her bed with her throat slit one morning in May 2008, police initially blamed the missing domestic servant Hemraj.

A day later, they discovered his decomposing body on the roof - his throat was also cut and he had a head wound.

Officers then arrested Rajesh Talwar's Nepalese dental assistant along with two other local servants - Hemraj's friends -- but they were all later released because of a lack of hard evidence.

The case was closed in 2010 by police, citing no substantial evidence, amid allegations of a botched probe with investigators failing to seal off the crime scene, allowing neighbours and relatives to walk over it.

The Talwars insisted they wanted the killers found and petitioned a court to re-open the case.

But they found themselves charged with murder, as media speculation about the successful couple intensified.

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RBS To Probe Claims It Drove Firms To Collapse

Royal Bank of Scotland has hired a law firm to investigate allegations the bank deliberately drove small businesses to collapse for its own gain.

The claims are contained in a dossier, compiled by government adviser Lawrence Tomlinson, which has now been passed to City regulators by Business Secretary Vince Cable, as Sky News revealed at the weekend.

The report suggests the lender drove firms to collapse to buy back their assets at rock-bottom prices.

Chancellor George Osborne has described the allegations as "shocking", but small business campaigners say anecdotal evidence suggests the practice was widespread.

A spokeswoman for RBS - 80% owned by the taxpayer - confirmed that it had now hired law firm Clifford Chance to look into the claims.

Mr Tomlinson, who has been compiling the report independently for the past six months, focuses allegations on the turnaround division at RBS - its Global Restructuring Group (GRG).

The division handles loans classed as being risky and is understood to have the power to scrap loan deals, impose inflated interest rates and charge hefty penalties.

But the report alleges that firms not necessarily in immediate financial distress are "engineered" into GRG, sometimes through small technical breaches of loan terms, such as late filing of minor financial information.

They are then hit with exorbitant rates and fees, which in some cases cause them to collapse, allowing RBS to buy their property and assets on the cheap for the benefit of its West Register property arm, according to Mr Tomlinson.

His report claims that fees charged by GRG can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

One business that submitted evidence to Mr Tomlinson said that it forked out £256,000 in fees alone while in GRG.

Another said that RBS made them pay an immediate sum of £40,000 to continue borrowing terms with the group.

Mr Tomlinson said he was calling for "immediate action to stop this unscrupulous treatment of businesses".

In response, RBS said it was "already committed" to an inquiry on how it treats small firms, following recommendations by Sir Andrew Large whose full report was released on Monday.

Sir Andrew,  the former deputy governor of the Bank of England, believed RBS failed to understand even the basic needs of its small business customers, Sky News has revealed.

An RBS spokesman also said that GRG's role was key to helping the bank face up to its commercial property "mistakes" made in the run-up to the financial crisis.

He said: "In the boom years leading up to the financial crisis, the over-heated property development market became a major threat to the UK economy.

"RBS did more than its fair share to fuel this and commercial property lending was one of the key drivers of our near collapse as valuations rapidly plummeted.

"GRG successfully turns around most of the businesses it works with, but in all cases is working with customers at a time of significant stress in their lives.

"Not all businesses that encounter serious financial trouble can be saved."

The report found a "disproportionately high" number of complaints against RBS, but also hinted at similar practices at other banks.

Fellow part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group was also accused of concentrating on short-term gain at the expense of its business customers but the bank was angered by its inclusion in the dossier - suggesting there was no basis for such a claim.

Its statement said: "The specific practices discussed in the report are attributed to another bank and are not a reflection of Lloyds Banking Group's approach."

The report said Santander UK was among a few banks that were praised by small business customers for their treatment."

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London 'Slavery': Neighbours' Shock At Claims

People living near to a house where three women were allegedly held as slaves for more than three decades have spoken of their shock at the claims.

The women - a 69-year-old from Malaysia, a 57-year-old from Ireland and a 30-year-old Briton - were taken from the property in Brixton, south London, last month after calling a support charity asking for help.

Police said the women, two of whom who lived in a "collective" with a 67-year-old man they met through a "shared political ideology", had suffered "emotional and physical abuse".

The man and a woman, also 67, who came to the UK in the 1960s and are of Indian and Tanzanian origin, were arrested and released on bail.

Commander Steve Rodhouse, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "Somehow that collective came to an end and the women ended up continuing to live with the suspects.

"How this resulted in the women living in this way for over 30 years is what are seeking to establish, but we believe emotional and physical abuse has been a feature of all the victims' lives."

Kamal Francis described the women as having unkempt appearances

As police carried out door-to-door inquiries to establish more details about the alleged victims, neighbours described the area around the block in Peckford Place, where the women had been living, as a "quiet" area.

One woman, who gave her name only as Valerie, said: "Seeing all this going on is quite surprising to me. It's shocking really."

Abdul Rogers said many people did not speak to each other, adding: "I don't even know my next door neighbour. If I met them on the street now I would not be able to tell it was my next door neighbour, which is not good for community cohesion."

Kamal Francis is a regular visitor to the block of flats as his partner lives directly above where the women were held.

He told Sky News: "One would be wearing a long, baggy, cardigan and a long skirt touching the floor. They had messy hair. They were not neat people."

Investigators believe the youngest of the alleged victims may have spent her entire life as a domestic slave.

Cmdr Rodhouse said police had found her birth certificate but no further documentation.

The women lived in the Angell Town estate in Brixton

"We believe she has lived with the suspects and the other victims all her life, but of course at this early stage we are still seeking out evidence," she said.

The woman who called Freedom Charity asking for help said she had been held against her will for more than 30 years.

Aneeta Prem, who founded the organisation, said it had seen an "extraordinary" rise in calls to its helpline since the rescue of the three women came to light.

"These women have had traumatic and distributing experiences," she said.

"What needs to happen now is that the three victims, who have begun a long process of recovery, are able to go through their rehabilitation undisturbed, without being identified."

Officers said they were taking "every step" to protect the "emotionally fragile and highly vulnerable" victims.

Lambeth Council has told Sky News it is investigating whether it had ever come into contact with any of the women.

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Miliband Accuses PM Of 'Reaching A New Low'

Labour leader Ed Miliband has accused the Prime Minister of resorting to a strategy of mud-slinging in an effort to win the 2015 election.

He hit out at David Cameron for using the Paul Flowers scandal to attack his party's links to the co-operative movement.

Writing in the Independent on Sunday, Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron "hit a new low by trying to use the gross errors and misconduct of one man, Paul Flowers, to impugn the integrity of the entire Labour movement".

He said: "We all want proper answers as to what went on at the Co-operative Bank, and the public deserves better than the desperate attempts by the Tory party to score the cheapest political points, including ludicrous claims that Labour's historic links with the Co-op movement were the invention of Rev Flowers.

"Of course, the credibility of their smears was undermined when it emerged that the Chancellor himself was promoting the Co-op's bid to take over Lloyds Bank branches."

The Tories have attacked Labour's links with the Co-op Bank

The Tories have sought to highlight the close links between Labour and the Co-op, including "soft loans" at preferential rates and a £50,000 donation to Ed Balls' office from the Co-operative Group.

But Labour have used the row over the near collapse of the lender to put pressure on George Osborne over the Co-op's aborted bid for Lloyds branches.

Mr Miliband claimed the heated exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions over Labour and the Co-op, along with attacks over the trade unions and seeking to blame Andy Burnham for NHS failings, were part of a plan to fight the "dirtiest general election campaign" for 20 years, masterminded by Tory strategist Lynton Crosby.

"David Cameron cannot resist a low blow when the British public craves a politics on the high ground. His main political strategy is now to sling as much mud as possible in the hope that some of it sticks. When he does so, he demeans his office."

Mr Shapps accused Mr Miliband of 'evading serious issues'

Tory chairman Grant Shapps hit back at the Labour leader, highlighting the activities of Gordon Brown's former spin doctor Damian McBride.

"This is a pathetic attempt to evade the serious issues. Labour have big questions to answer, and when they are asked, they simply try to avoid them by claiming they are smears," he said.

"It is an obvious tactic from the party that brought you the most disgraceful smear operation of modern times, fronted by Damian McBride, and known about, encouraged and tolerated by Ed Balls and Ed Miliband.

"And McBride was simply the latest in a long line of bullying Labour spin doctors, including Alastair Campbell and Charlie Whelan. Incredibly, Labour's new campaign chief Michael Dugher used to be McBride's right-hand man - it's the same old Labour.

"We suggest they explain how the corruption at Falkirk happened, and how the Rev Flowers was allowed to become and remain an adviser, rather than dismiss legitimate questions as smears."

:: Mr Miliband has also been speaking about how his relationship with his brother David has not fully recovered, more than three years after they fought for leadership of Labour.

He told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs the relationship was "healing" and that David was still his best friend.

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Iran Nuclear Deal Reached At Talks In Geneva

An agreement has been reached between Iran and six world powers to curb Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief.

The deal, announced by European Union policy chief Catherine Ashton, is a first step towards resolving a decade-old stand-off between Tehran and the West.

The agreement between the Islamic state and the US, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia was nailed down after more than four days of negotiations in Geneva.

US President Barack Obama said it was an important first step towards a comprehensive solution to Iran's nuclear programme.

William Hague hailed the agreement as 'very important and encouraging'

He said Iran could not use its next-generation centrifuges under the deal and the limitations under the agreement "cut off Iran's most likely paths to a bomb".

He added that if Iran did not meet its commitments during a six-month period, the US would turn off sanctions relief and "ratchet up the pressure".

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the nuclear deal as an "historic mistake" and reserved his country's right to defend itself.

"Today the world became a much more dangerous place because the most dangerous regime in the world made a significant step in obtaining the most dangerous weapons in the world," he said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran's Mohammed Javad Zarif

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the agreement recognises Tehran's "rights" to maintain a nuclear programme, and it would "never" seek atomic weapons.

The country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: "This can be the basis for further intelligent actions. Without a doubt the grace of God and the prayers of the Iranian nation were a factor in this success."

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said the agreement was "very important and encouraging", adding that it meant "the nuclear programme won't move forward for six months".

He and US Secretary of State John Kerry are due to have talks in London today on the Iran deal and the latest developments in Syria.

Speaking on Iran's Press TV, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the deal was an opportunity for the West to restore trust with the Iranian nation.

He said Tehran would expand co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, to address what he called some concerns.

Iran will get access to $4.2bn (£2.6bn) in foreign exchange as part of the accord, a Western diplomat said.

A senior US official added that the agreement halted progress on Iran's nuclear programme, including construction of the Arak research reactor.

It would neutralise Iran's stockpile of uranium refined to a fissile concentration of 20%, which is a close step away from the level needed for weapons, and calls for intrusive UN nuclear inspections.

European Union policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton and Javad Zarif

Iran has also committed to stop uranium enrichment above a fissile purity of 5%, a US fact sheet said.

The deal has no recognition of an Iranian right to enrich uranium and sanctions would still be enforced, the US official added.

Refined uranium can be used to fuel nuclear power plants - Iran's stated goal - but also provide the fissile core of an atomic bomb if refined much further.

The deal has sparked fears in Israel, said Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sam Kiley.

"Israel's economy minister Naftali Bennett has said this deal could result in the use of suitcase nuclear devices five years down the line. It could be traced to this historic moment," he said.

"What they're really saying is that the international community, the world's diplomats, have been suckered by Iran in the same way that the international community was successfully suckered, let's face it, by the North Koreans who agreed to a similar deal to downscale their nuclear programme, and after a few months went by actually demonstrated that they had developed a nuclear weapon in secret.

"That is precisely what worries the Israelis."

Diplomacy was stepped up after the landslide election of Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, as Iranian president in June, replacing nationalist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

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