Stalking law plans 'half-hearted'

David Cameron's plans to bring in a new law of stalking will leave the police needing to prove a fear of violence and will not solve the problems with the current system, Labour has said.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the plans risked being "half-hearted and over-complicated" and would not give victims the protection they needed.

Her criticism came after the Prime Minister told victims at a Downing Street reception to mark International Women's Day that the Government was determined to ensure "justice is done".

But Labour said bringing in two new offences in England and Wales - stalking, and stalking where there is a fear of violence - would leave police and prosecutors with the same problems.

Proving a fear of violence "has been very hard to make work in practice and has meant too many serious cases fell through the net", Ms Cooper said.

Tougher laws have been
announced to protect victims of stalking

"Under the government's proposals there is a serious risk that low sentencing will continue and many persistent stalkers could still be out of prison within weeks free to continue their behaviour. The Government must not waste time with half-hearted measures which deny victims the protection they need."

She called for a system based on the Scottish model instead, saying the Government should back a Labour amendment to the Protection of Freedoms Bill on the issue in the House of Lords on Monday.

But Mr Cameron said the Government was explicitly criminalising stalking, which he said "makes life a living hell for victims", to "show beyond doubt that stalking is a crime".

Home Secretary Theresa May added: "Stalking is an issue which affects many lives, often in devastating ways. That is why we are taking it seriously and introducing these new offences. Offenders need to know that they will be brought to justice for making others' lives a misery."

Police will also be given new powers of entry to investigate stalking offences, the Home Office said. At the moment, officers only have a right of entry in respect of conduct that puts people in fear of violence.

©Press Association 2012

Eurosceptic anger at Cameron U-turn

David Cameron is facing a backlash from Tory eurosceptics after abandoning his opposition to the European Court of Justice being used to enforce a new fiscal compact for the eurozone.

The Prime Minister has previously insisted that European Union institutions could not be used for a new pact because Britain will not be a signatory.

After his dramatic use of the veto last month to block a new treaty, he said the European Commission and the European Court of Justice could only carry out policies applying to all 27 member states.

David Cameron said the UK would only
make any challenge to a new EU treaty
 if the country's interests were 'threatened'

However after a further EU summit in Brussels, Mr Cameron did not press his case against the use of the institutions and said Britain would only make any challenge if its interests were "threatened".

The Prime Minister said: "We don't want to hold up the eurozone doing what is necessary to solve the crisis as long as it doesn't damage our national interests, so it's good that the new treaty states clearly that it cannot encroach upon the competences of the Union and that they must not take measures that undermine the EU single market."

He added: "The key point here for me is what is in our national interest, which is for them to get on and sort out the mess that is the euro. That's in our national interest. We will be watching like a hawk and if there is any sign that they are going to encroach on the single market we will take the appropriate action, if I may put it that way.

"The principle that the EU institutions can only be used with the permission of 27 (member states) has not changed. In as much as this (new treaty) is about fiscal union, fine: if it encroaches on the single market, not fine."

Tory MPs who were jubilant after Mr Cameron wielded the veto voiced their fears ahead of the summit that the Prime Minister would allow EU institutions to be used to police the new pact. The matter is likely to be discussed at the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers on Tuesday. Mr Cameron will report back to the Commons on the latest summit.

Leader of Britain's Tory MEPs Martin Callanan said government policy on the fiscal compact had changed, partly because of a need to mollify Nick Clegg, the pro-Europe Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Callanan said: "There is no doubt that the Government's position has altered since the December summit when they were insisting the institutions could not be used I blame a combination of appeasing Nick Clegg, who is desperate to sign anything the EU puts in front of him, and the practical reality that this pact is actually quite hard to prevent: the Government would have to ask the European Court of Justice to rule against itself having a role."

RBS chairman waives 1.4 million pound bonus after Hester row

Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS.L) Chairman Philip Hampton will not pick up a 1.4 million pound stock bonus, the bailed-out bank said, following public anger and political squabbling over a 1 million pound bonus for its chief executive.

Anger over bankers' earnings has shown few signs of abating, with many still set for million pound salaries while elsewhere thousands lose their jobs as the global economy stutters in the face of Europe's debt crisis.

In Britain, the salaries of top staff at RBS and Lloyds (LLOY.L) are particularly controversial because both banks were bailed out to the tune of 66 billion pounds during the credit crisis, with Britain ending up with an 83 percent stake in RBS along with a 40 percent holding in Lloyds.

"Sir Philip Hampton will not receive the 5.17 million shares he was awarded in 2009 when he joined RBS," said a spokesman for the bank.

Sir Philip Hampton will not receive the 5.17 million shares he was awarded in 2009

Based on RBS's closing share price of 27.74 pence Friday, Hampton's share-based award would have been worth 1.4 million pounds. In 2010, Hampton received a basic salary of 750,000 pounds, with no extra performance bonus or benefits.

The decision not to proceed with Hampton's stock award comes after politicians from across the spectrum criticised the company's decision to give its chief executive Stephen Hester a stock bonus worth roughly 1 million pounds.

Earlier this week, RBS halved CEO Hester's stock bonus for 2011 to just under 1 million pounds from 2 million pounds in 2010, but resisted calls to axe the bonus altogether. Hester has a basic salary of 1.2 million pounds.

The decision by Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio to waive his bonus after he spent time off work on sick leave, had put further pressure on Hester to make a similar gesture.

CAMERON SEEKS TO DEFLECT CRITICISM OVER RBS PAY

RBS shares fell sharply over the course of 2011, losing approximately half their value, and the stock remains well below the average price of 49.90 pence at which the British taxpayer acquired its stake in the bank.

Hester has also had to cut more than 30,000 jobs since taking up his post in 2008, as part of a large-scale restructuring to sell off assets and businesses.

Britain's Conservative-led coalition government has also been criticised for not doing more to curb Hester's pay, facing attacks from not only the opposition Labor party but also from its own members.

CAMERON SEEKS TO DEFLECT CRITICISM

Saturday, Prime Minister David Cameron sought to deflect criticism over his handling of the issue, arguing it would be worse for the taxpayer if RBS had to find a new management team.

"Let me get the facts straight, the fact is Stephen Hester was brought in by the last government, a contract signed by the last government, to turn round RBS, a bank that had got itself into a complete mess," Cameron told television reporters.

"The government has made its views known, and that is why his bonus was cut in half compared to last year. But we do have to bear in mind that the alternatives to what is happening now could be even more expensive if you had a whole new team coming into RBS," he added.

Hester joined RBS in October 2008 from property company British Land (BLND.L) as RBS was reeling from its disastrous acquisition of Dutch bank ABN AMRO.

Britain used some 45 billion pounds of taxpayers' money to rescue RBS, leading to the eventual resignation of former head Sir Fred Goodwin, who was replaced by Hester.

Hester, who had previously worked at rival banks Abbey National and Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX), was given a brief to restructure RBS and return it to health, and RBS said he deserved his stock bonus for making the bank "safer."

Britain aims to eventually sell its state holdings in RBS and Lloyds back to the private sector, although volatile financial markets have meant the timing of any disposal is uncertain.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Tim Castle and Toby Chopra)
©Reuters 2012

PM: EU transaction tax plan madness

PM: EU transaction tax plan madness

David Cameron delivered a scathing assessment of Europe's failure to promote economic growth as he urged it to be "bold" to promote business.

The Prime Minister said it was no time for "tinkering" and described European Union plans for a financial transactions tax as "madness". In a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, he was strongly critical of what he said were anti-competitive Brussels regulations and the flawed framework for the euro.

"In Britain we are taking bold steps necessary to get our economy back on track, but my argument today is that the need for bold action at European level is equally great," he said. "Europe's lack of competitiveness remains its Achilles heel."

The annual gathering comes amid renewed gloom about the economy after the International Monetary Fund this week downgraded its forecasts for global growth. Britain is facing the prospect of a return to recession after the Office of National Statistics on Wednesday reported a 0.2% contraction in the UK economy in the final quarter of 2011.

Mr Cameron accused the EU, despite the economic challenge, of "doing things to make life even harder". He attacked the "unnecessary " regulations on business that "can destroy jobs" and said the proposed financial transactions tax could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs.

David Cameron described EU plans for a
financial transactions tax as 'madness

"Even to be considering this at a time when we are struggling to get our economies growing is quite simply madness," he said.

The Prime Minister suggested the eurozone had none of the features common to successful currency unions like the US dollar and British sterling.

In a message to his European counterparts, Mr Cameron went on: "This is a time to show the leadership our people are demanding. Tinkering here and there and hoping we'll drift to a solution simply won't cut it any more. This is a time for boldness, not caution. Boldness in what we do nationally - and together as a continent."

But he sought to reassure his European counterparts that, despite vetoing a new EU treaty to deal with the eurozone crisis in December, he wanted Britain to remain within the EU - contrary to the demands of some Tory backbenchers.

He said: "To those who think that not signing the treaty means Britain is somehow walking away from Europe let me tell you, nothing could be further from the truth. Britain is part of the European Union. Not by default but by choice. It fundamentally reflects our national interest to be part of the single market on our doorstep and we have no intention of walking away."

©YahooNews 2012

PM 'interested' in Estuary airport

The Government is getting "increasingly interested" in the idea of a new airport in the Thames Estuary, London mayor Boris Johnson has said.

Mr Johnson already firmly backs a new "Boris Island" airport and architect Lord Foster has produced plans for a £50 billion airport on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

With a third runway ruled out at Heathrow, the Government is set to include the Thames Estuary option in a consultation on UK aviation this spring.

Prime Minister David Cameron is said to be growing keener on a Thames Estuary airport plan.

On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Johnson said: "I think that where we are is that the Government is increasingly interested in this idea. I genuinely believe that they see not just the overwhelming aviation argument and the argument from international competitiveness in making sure that Britain has a hub airport that is viable for the long-term future."

But Mick Rix, the GMB union's civil aviation industry national officer, said a Thames Estuary plan was "plain daft" and called on all political parties to reopen the issue of Heathrow's third runway.

An architect's impression of how the Thames Estuary Airport could look

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "No decisions have been taken. As the Chancellor made clear in his autumn statement, we will explore all the options for maintaining the UK's aviation hub status with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow.

"The Government will consult on a sustainable framework for UK aviation this spring, at which time we will set out our long-term plans for the sector."

Colin Matthews, chief executive of airport operator BAA, which runs Heathrow, told the Today programme: "An island airport is very long and very expensive. Even if it is agreed, it will be decades away. We need jobs and we need growth in this economy today."

Having scrapped Labour's plans for a third Heathrow runway, the coalition Government had, originally, ruled out expansion at any south east England airport. Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement, however, indicated that only the Heathrow option was off the table.

©Press Association 2012

PM: WE NEED MORE MAINSTREAM FILMS

David Cameron urged the British film industry to concentrate on making more mainstream movies today.

The Prime Minister signalled he wanted producers to get more help to generate "commercially successful" independent pictures that are not bankrolled by Hollywood.

The comments came ahead of a visit to the famous Pinewood studios in Buckinghamshire - set of numerous James Bond films - and with Lord Smith's review of Government policy due to be published next week.

The Labour former culture secretary is expected to recommend rebalancing Lottery funding in favour of independent pictures with mainstream potential, and the development of an export strategy for UK film expertise.

Last year's Oscar winner The King's Speech has earned around £250 million at the box office worldwide, making it the UK's highest grossing independent film of all time. The movie's budget is said to have been just £9 million.

Mr Cameron hailed the British film industry, saying it made a £4 billion annual contribution to the economy and an "incalculable contribution to our culture".

"But in this year when we set out bold ambitions for the future, when the eyes of the world will be on us, I think we should aim even higher, building on the incredible success of recent years," he said.

"Our role, and that of the British Film Institute (BFI), should be to support the sector in becoming even more dynamic and entrepreneurial, helping UK producers to make commercially successful pictures that rival the quality and impact of the best international productions.

"Just as the British Film Commission has played a crucial role in attracting the biggest and best international studios to produce their films here, so we must incentivise UK producers to chase new markets both here and overseas."

The premier is due to hold talks with small and medium sized businesses during his visit to Pinewood later.

The studios have been operating for more than 70 years, hosting Bond films including The Spy Who Loved Me, View to a Kill and, more recently, Quantum of Solace.

They were also used for blockbusters Mamma Mia! and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

Film director Ken Loach told BBC Breakfast: "If everybody knew what would be successful before it was made, there would be no problem.

"What you have to do is fund a lot of different, varied projects and then some will be successful, some will be original, some will be creative, and you will get a very vibrant industry."

He said there were issues "that this review signally will fail to challenge - one is the monopoly of the multiplexes where you get a very narrow range of films".

"We do not have, as in other countries in Europe, a wide spread of independent cinemas. Now, unless you can really see a wide variety of films you don't have a vibrant film industry and we get a very narrow menu."

He added: "If you went to an art gallery and you just saw ducks flying into the sunset, you would think that it was a rather limited art gallery - you would want a wide variety of ... paintings.

"We don't get that, and that is the opportunity I fear this review will miss."

© Press Association 2012

OUR REFERENDUM IS LEGAL - SALMOND

Alex Salmond has insisted his plans for an independence vote in the autumn of 2014 are legal - despite Westminster saying his Scottish Government does not have the power to stage such a ballot.

The Scottish First Minister announced his preferred date last night for a vote on whether or not the country should remain part of the UK.

That came just over an hour after Scottish Secretary Michael Moore offered to temporarily extend Holyrood's powers so it could hold an independence ballot - if certain conditions are met.

The two administrations now appear to be on a collision course over the staging of a vote on Scotland's future.

When he announced his plans to the Commons yesterday, Mr Moore said: "To legislate for a referendum on independence, the Scottish Parliament must have the legal power to do so. It is the Government's clear view that the Scottish Parliament doesn't have that legal power."

But when asked today if his plans were legal, Mr Salmond said: "Yes, we believe so."

He accused Westminster of trying to interfere in Scottish affairs, and said the Prime Minister should "butt out".

The coalition Government has proposed using a Section 30 order to temporarily extend Holyrood's powers, enabling it to deliver a referendum.

The Scottish National Party leader told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme he had "no objection" to this, but added: "The objection, of course, is that the Prime Minister has started to put all sorts of London-based strings on."

Mr Salmond said there was "plenty of legal authority" to support Scottish Government proposals to stage its own ballot.

The Scottish Secretary refused to say today if the UK Government would mount a legal challenge to any referendum staged by the SNP administration, but he said that the Nationalists' plans "run the risk somewhere along the line of legal challenges".

Mr Salmond hit out at UK ministers and said: "The Prime Minister came in with his size 10 boots and started to put all sorts of strings and conditions, and basically wanted to pull the strings of Scotland's referendum."

He said there had been a "huge adverse reaction" north of the border to "the Thatcheresque idea that Downing Street knows best".

The First Minister continued: "Our conditions are quite clear: this must be a referendum built and run in Scotland, accountable to the Scottish Parliament. It has to be run fairly and transparently, of course, but we won't accept unreasonable conditions placed by London on how Scotland should run the poll."

The order proposed by Westminster would require any referendum to take place under the oversight of the Electoral Commission, with a single ballot paper offering voters the choice between independence or remaining part of the UK.

Those registered to vote in Scottish parliamentary elections would be entitled to take part.

But the SNP has previously suggested an independence referendum could be opened up to those aged 16 and 17, with Mr Salmond saying today: "If you're having a vote on Scotland's future, 16 and 17-year-olds on the electoral roll have a stake in the future of the country."

©Press Association 2012

CAMERON WARNING ON THE EURO

The PM has warned the Eurozone leaders that  action is need to ensure the survival of the Euro

David Cameron issued a warning to eurozone leaders today that they need to take some "pretty decisive steps" if the single currency is to survive.

The Prime Minister said he believed the "most likely outcome" was that the euro would hold together, despite the current debt crisis.

But he stressed that in the longer term it was essential to address the "fundamental competitiveness divide" between the powerful German economy and the weaker southern states.

"I think that the most likely outcome is, yes, it will hold together but it has to take some pretty decisive steps," he told Sky News's Boulton & Co.

"There are the short-term sticking plaster steps of a proper firewall to prevent contagion around Europe, a much more decisive settlement for Greece which the problem still hasn't gone away, strengthening the European banks.

"But that is only the short term. The longer term is that you have got to address the fact that there is a lack of competitiveness between Germany on the one hand and many of the southern European countries on the other.

"You can't have a single currency with those fundamental competitiveness divides unless you have massive transfers of wealth from one part of Europe to another."

Mr Cameron stressed it was in Britain's interest to see the eurozone recover, as the current crisis was having a "chilling effect" on the UK economy.

"We have got to help deal with it," he said.

He did not rule out additional UK support for the International Monetary Fund on top of the £10 billion approved by the Commons in July - a move which would infuriate Tory MPs.

"We have set out our conditions for contributing more to the IMF. We support countries and not currencies or currency zones. The IMF shouldn't be doing what the eurozone itself should be doing," he said.

Mr Cameron acknowledged that his decision last month to wield the British veto to block a new treaty of all 27 EU member states had created a "pressure point" in his coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

However, he stressed that he continued to work closely with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

"We both wanted a treaty at 27, but with safeguards for Britain," he said.

"We both agreed if we couldn't get those safeguards we couldn't agree a treaty. That is what happened. Of course the Liberal Democrats were disappointed with that," he said.

PA 2012

CAMERON: 2012 A DIFFICULT YEAR

David Cameron warned today of another "testing year" ahead for British households.

The Prime Minister said he hoped inflation would fall this year to ease the pressure and insisted there were positive signs on private sector employment and exports.

But he said he would not "pull the wool over people's eyes" about the difficulties that remained.

"Looking into 2012, one of the trends I hope to see happen is a fall in the level of inflation, so households feel under less pressure than they did in 2011," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"But undoubtedly - I don't want to pull the wool over people's eyes - it's a difficult year, it's a testing year, but I think we need to meet these challenges with the sense that we can overcome them."

Mr Cameron acknowledged that the Government's attempts to rebalance the economy away from its reliance on public sector spending and financial services was not going as quickly as he had hoped.

"What we need to have in Britain is a rebalancing of the economy, away from Government spending, excessive borrowing, financial services and consumption and towards business investment, export, manufacturing, making things again, right across the country," he said.

"There is a rebalancing taking place, but it's not going as fast as we'd like it to, we need to do better on that front."

He said private sector employment was growing, exports were improving and there was "some reindustrialisation going on".

"There are some positive signs but my general point is that we want the rebalancing to go further and faster and that's what the Government should help focus on," Mr Cameron said.

PM "not satisfied" with bankers' bonuses

Mr Cameron said he was "not satisfied" with the level of bankers' bonuses, saying they were "completely out of whack".

He indicated that further measures to curb bonuses in the City would be unveiled within days.

"People aren't satisfied, I'm not satisfied. We've seen a level of reward at the top that has just not been commensurate with success."

He said the Government would be introducing greater transparency about remuneration and increasing shareholders' power to restrict pay.

"I think those things can make a difference and I will have more to say about that later this week," he said.

"I think the whole bonus culture has got completely out of whack."

But he said there had already been "a massive reduction" in bonus levels compared with three or four years ago.

PA 2012

PM UNVEILS HOSPITAL CARE REVAMP

Nurses will be told to undertake hourly ward rounds while members of the public will be allowed to inspect hospitals, under plans announced by the Prime Minister.

David Cameron said most patients were happy with NHS care but there was a "real problem" in some hospitals with people not getting food and drink or being treated with respect.

He said the Government was going to "put right" the problem after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found issues with dignity and respect in hospitals up and down the country.

The PM wants hourly rounds by nurses.

Mr Cameron is pledging to strip away "stifling bureaucracy" and allow nurses to focus on what they do best, adding that the whole approach to caring in this country needs to be reset.

He also emphasised the need for leadership on wards, saying people wanted to see a figure of authority, whether they were called matron, ward sister or team leader.

In October, the CQC found a fifth of NHS hospitals are breaking the law on care of the elderly.

Its study also found half of hospitals are failing to provide all-round good nutrition to elderly patients while 40% do not offer dignified care.

Of 100 hospitals investigated in England, 49 were found to generate minor, moderate or major concerns about nutritional standards for elderly people.

Today's announcement is intended to mean nurses can focus on "patients not paperwork" while all hospitals will be expected to implement regular ward rounds "to systematically and routinely check that patients are comfortable, are properly fed and hydrated".

Strong leadership on wards will is also expected become common practice.

A new Nursing Quality Forum of frontline nurses and nursing leaders will be tasked with promoting excellent care and ensuring good practice across the NHS.

Patients will also lead inspections of hospital wards, with local people becoming part of teams assessing cleanliness, dignity and nutrition.

A new "friends and family test" will also ask whether patients, carers and staff would recommend their hospital to friends and family.

The results will be published and hospital leaders who fail the test will be held to account.

Mr Cameron said: "If we want dignity and respect, we need to focus on nurses and the care they deliver.

"Somewhere in the last decade the health system has conspired to undermine one of this country's greatest professions.

"It's not one problem in particular. It's the stifling bureaucracy. The lack of consequence for failing to treat people with dignity.

"Even, at times - as we saw with Mid Staffordshire - the pursuit of cost-cutting or management targets without sufficient regard for quality of care.

"Nursing needs to be about patients not paperwork.

"So we are going to get rid of a whole load of bureaucracy that stops nurses from doing what they do best.

"And in return patients should expect nurses to undertake regular nursing rounds - systematically and routinely checking that each of their patients is comfortable, properly fed and hydrated, and treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

"This happens in the best hospitals. In some it has never stopped happening. "Now it needs to happen in every hospital. And the Royal College of Nursing support us on this and we'll be working with them to make it happen."

Under the plans, an NHS Institute Time to Care initiative will be rolled out with the aim of cutting paperwork.

More than 60% of NHS acute trusts are currently implementing the programme, which has helped nurses to spend an extra 500,000 hours with patients in one year, according to information from Downing Street.

The aim is to have all hospitals implementing the programme from April 2013.

Evidence also shows that regular nurse rounds enable patients to talk to a nurse at least every hour and a ward sister at least twice a day.

The aim is not for the rounds to replace usual nursing care, such as dressing wounds, but to run alongside them.

Where regular rounds have been implemented, evaluation suggests they improve patient safety by cutting the number of falls and patients suffering pressure ulcers, improve patient satisfaction and reduce anxiety and make the shifts less stressful for the nurses.

In another development, hospitals could receive bonus payments of up to 0.5% of their contract income if they use a new NHS Safety Thermometer to improve quality on basic care, including with regard to pressure ulcers, falls, blood clots and hospital infections.

Dr Peter Carver - Nurses care for people.

Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary, said: "Nurses working in every field have one thing in common - they chose the profession because they want to care for people.

"The profession will welcome the moves to free up nurses to put care first, and to focus all their energies on the needs of their patients.

"In particular, nurses themselves have emphasised the enormous burden of the paperwork they have to complete, day in and day out."

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "This is a significant step forward in meeting the demands of our Care Campaign, launched in November last year.

"But we are disappointed that it has taken intervention at this level to bring about the change that is desperately needed.

"We have consistently said that nurses need time to care, and we have called for an end to the bureaucracy that stops effective nursing."

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "If David Cameron really wants to help nurses focus on patient care, he should listen to what they are saying and drop his unnecessary Health Bill."

Jo Webber, deputy policy director at the NHS Confederation, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the amount of paperwork required from nurses varied from hospital to hospital.

She said: "I think the first thing hospitals will do in any case is to do an audit of what nurses are actually doing and to try and pare away those tasks which are mundane and routine and can be done by, say, ward clerks.

"I am not saying they don't need to be done. They need to be done by somebody, things like ordering supplies etc, but maybe it is not the best use of nurses' time."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said: "There is clearly a problem in some hospitals in some settings where we are not getting the standards of care that the nation expects.

"And I think politicians frankly have done nurses a disservice by not talking about this. Such is our respect for nurses that we have almost hidden away concerns about this."


PA 2012