Victory For Man Who Took Cold Caller To Court

A businessman plagued by nuisance phone calls offering compensation for Payment Protection Insurance has secured £220 in an out-of-court settlement.

Richard Herman, 53, was so fed up with the unwanted calls arriving from India, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He warned the company that, in future, he would invoice them £10 for every minute of his time they used.

When the calls continued he began recording them before finally invoicing the company £195 for their use of his "time, telephone and electricity".

Upon receipt of the invoice the marketing firm acting on behalf of UK-based PPI Claimline Ltd, denied making the calls. When Mr Herman revealed he had recorded evidence, they still refused to pay.

But when Mr Herman filed a claim in the small claims court for the unpaid invoice - plus £25 in costs - the company offered to settle the debt out of court and transferred £220 into his bank account.

Mr Herman filed in the small claims court when his invoice was not paid

Mr Herman said: "I kept being called, as we all do, and I thought the only way for them to stop would be for me to speak to them and say, 'For goodness sake, take me off your list!'

"Then it occurred to me to tell them that if they call again I'll charge for my time. When they continued calling I sent them an invoice for 19.5 minutes."

To encourage others to do the same Mr Herman has set up a website with examples of covering letters and invoices to send to nuisance callers.

Even though the validity of Mr Herman's original invoice was not tested in court, he believes anyone who warns cold-calling companies they will be charged if they call, have a right to invoice them.

"I did business studies at 17 and studied 'offer-and-acceptance' so I knew a verbal contract is just as valid as a written one but harder to prove.

"The recorded calls proved I did tell them I would charge for my time if they called again".

Mr Herman, who works in the telephone industry selling call-recording equipment, said his action was a last resort after asking the Information Commissioner and the Telephone Preference Service for help.

In a statment, PPI Claimline said: "We would like to stress that all our supplier relationships are subject to strict contractual provisions requiring full compliance with all relevant regulations, including those which relate to data protection and the telephone preference service.

"We would like to draw a clear line between the two calls to Mr Herman made on behalf of PPI Claimline and any other calls he received, which were nothing to do with PPI Claimline or its suppliers."

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Savile: Celebs 'Frightened By Police Probe'

Major stars from the 60s and 70s are terrified of being named in connection with the Jimmy Savile child abuse scandal, according to PR guru Max Clifford.

Mr Clifford told Sky News that up to 15 celebrities in Britain and beyond had been in touch with him in recent days to express their fears.

The stars are concerned because of their hedonistic lifestyles when they were at the peak of their fame, when young girls would throw themselves at them, he said.

His comments came as the Savile family released a lengthy statement expressing their horror at the revelations.

Mr Clifford told Sky: "In the last few days, I have had an awful lot of calls and expect to get a lot more - some from very famous people who in the 60s and 70s were in the middle of this music explosion in this country.

"I'm very close friends with a lot of these people and have been for 40 to 50 years. I am in the middle of the media world so I'm the first person they turn to.

"Their lives often depend on popularity and public perception. There are a lot of things that get put out there that have nothing to do with reality but can be very damaging.

"They are all saying that they were totally unaware and they themselves have never done anything remotely like Jimmy Savile. Naturally they are concerned because names are being mentioned - 95% of it is total nonsense but it is happening."

He added: "If you're 19 or 20 and suddenly you become a pop star and a dozen girls burst into your dressing room... you don't actually sit there and ask for birth certificates."

Mr Clifford said Freddie Starr was one of those who had been in touch and had called him several times.

"Freddie said to me 'look Max, I've done nothing. There's nothing I ever did but I'm worried to death, I've got a bad heart. I'm in a real state'."

He added: "There's a lot of people that are very very worried about what is going on."

Scotland Yard has said their investigation into accusations of abuse by Savile, who died in 2011, now involves around 300 potential victims.

Police have described him as a sexual predator who could have been one of the most prolific paedophiles Britain has ever seen.

The scandal erupted after an ITV documentary at the start of this month broadcast allegations by a string of women who said the Jim'll Fix It star had assaulted them.

It has since emerged that seven alleged victims contacted four separate police forces - Surrey, London, Sussex and Jersey - while he was alive but no further action was taken.

A retired police officer has also told Scotland Yard that he investigated Savile in the 1980s while based in west London but did not have enough evidence to proceed.

Commander Peter Spindler said he believed the allegation was of an indecent assault, possibly in a caravan on BBC premises in west London, but officers have still not found the original file.

Another allegation, of inappropriate touching dating back to the 1970s, was made by a woman in 2003, but this was treated as "intelligence" by police because the victim did not want to take action.

Surrey Police submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service containing references to four potential offences, including an allegation of indecent assault on a young girl at a children's home.

The allegations related to three potential victims in Surrey and another in Sussex, and Savile was interviewed under caution in 2009, but prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

The seventh allegation emerged in 2008 when Jersey police received a claim that an indecent assault occurred at children's home Haut de la Garenne in the 1970s.

Again it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

Mr Spindler said Savile was "undoubtedly" one of the most prolific sex offenders he had come across and that Operation Yewtree, looking into his alleged crimes, would be a "watershed moment" for child abuse investigations.

Claims have also been made that former DJ Savile, who died last year aged 84, targeted children while they were in hospital.

He had a bedroom at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, an office and living quarters at Broadmoor and widespread access to Leeds General Infirmary.

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British Banker Dies In Hurricane Sandy

The British boss of an investment bank has been killed in a hurricane which has been sweeping across the Caribbean.

Timothy Fraser-Smith, 66, chief executive of Deltec Bank & Trust, fell from the roof of his home in wealthy Lyford Cay a private gated community on the western tip of New Providence Island in the Bahamas as he tried to repair a window shutter.

His death, on Thursday night, was one of 43 across the Caribbean caused by the hurricane that was briefly downgraded to a tropical storm on Saturday before being upgraded to a hurricane again.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in the Bahamas on October 25."

Mr Fraser-Smith joined Deltec in June 2000 as chief executive, according to the company's website, having worked in many countries. Deltec said he studied law at the University of Edinburgh before gaining an MBA from Cranfield Business School, Bedfordshire.

On Saturday, Sandy spun away from the Bahamas, churning northward towards the US East Coast, where it threatens to join with winter weather fronts to create a superstorm.

In Haiti, the number of people who have died reached 26 on Friday.

With the storm projected to hit the US Atlantic Coast early on Tuesday, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned it could merge with two other systems to become a hybrid, monster storm dubbed "Frankenstorm".

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Savile Family: Our Hearts Go Out To Victims

Savile Family Statement In Full

Updated: 11:25am UK, Saturday 27 October 2012

Jimmy Savile's nephew Robert Foster speaks in detail about the family's reaction to the scandal.

"A year ago our uncle, Sir Jimmy Savile, passed away.

It was a shock when it happened as I had only seen him the week before and although seeming under the weather, I had no concerns over his wellbeing. A week later he was dead and my cousin and I were left with the task of organising his funeral.

We were proud of him. Proud of his achievements and the help he had been able to give to others.

We knew nothing of the firestorm of allegations to come. We set out to organise the funeral knowing that he was well respected by many, many thousands of people.

We knew that the funeral was going to grow because so many people wanted to be a part of the celebration of his life.

We felt so honoured that so many wanted to remember him and mark his passing.

As time passed, the grieving process enabled us to come to terms with his death. By the time summer arrived we were getting ready for the auction of his possessions so that, as he requested in his will, the money could go to his charities. It was a great success.

We became aware of the programme that was being made with allegations of a darker side to him that we knew nothing about.

I watched the programme in horror and could not believe that these allegations were about our uncle. This wasn't the man we knew and loved.

Like everyone else we asked the question, Why now? We couldn't find an answer.

The allegations kept coming and were beginning to overwhelm us. Media were chasing us asking for interviews as family members.

The allegations are very serious and we began to have doubts as to our own feeling towards our uncle.

How could the person we thought we knew and loved do such a thing?

Why would a man who raised so much money for charity, who gave so much of his own time and energy for others risk it all doing indecent criminal acts? How could anyone live their life doing the 'most good and most evil' at the same time?

We became more aware of the outrage that many members of the public were feeling.

We began to think that his headstone, which we had only unveiled a couple of weeks earlier could become a target for people wishing to show there emotions. The dignity of the cemetery, the people who are buried there and the relatives who tend the graves had to be respected. We took the decision to remove and destroy the headstone so that it couldn't become a focus for malicious people.

The decision was a difficult one to make but we knew it was the right one.

A vilification of his name, his achievements and everything he stood for followed. People are moving as quickly as possible to disassociate themselves from him.

His charities, which he was so proud of, debated the prospect of removing his name from their title.

The trustees have since decided that this wasn't enough and that the charities will have to be wound up and the monies given to other charities working in a similar field.

Records of all his efforts and the good work he had done, have been, or are in the process of being removed.

We recognise that even our own despair and sadness does not compare to that felt by the victims.

Our thoughts and our prayers are with those who have suffered from every kind of abuse over so many years and we offer our deepest sympathy in what must have been a terrible time for all of them.

We can understand their reluctance to say anything earlier and can appreciate the courage it has taken to speak out now.

Our hearts go out to them and we offer them our sympathy and understanding in their anguish.

Where will it all end? Who knows? The repercussions of this scandal are enormous. We, as his closest family, have to endure further revelations on a daily basis. 
Our feelings are in turmoil as we await the next turn of events."

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Winterbourne View Abuse: Ex-Carers Jailed

Care Home Abusers Sentenced

Updated: 12:14pm UK, Friday 26 October 2012

The former staff admitted 38 charges of either neglect or ill-treatment of people with severe learning difficulties. They are:

:: Wayne Rogers, 32, of Purton Close, Bristol, pleaded guilty to nine charges of ill-treating Ms Deville, Mr Tovey and Miss Blake. He denied a charge of ill-treating Miss Bisset, which was accepted by the prosecution and he did not face trial. He was jailed for two years.

:: Alison Dove, 25, of Chipperfield Drive, Bristol, pleaded guilty to seven charges of ill-treating Miss Guilford, Miss Bisset and Miss Blake. She pleaded not guilty to ill-treating Mr Tovey, which was accepted by the prosecution and she did not face trial. She was jailed for 20 months.

:: Graham Doyle, 26, of Brackendene, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, pleaded guilty to seven charges of ill-treating Miss Blake. He denied charges of wilfully neglecting Miss Guilford and ill-treating Mr Tovey. The prosecution accepted the pleas and he did not face trial. He was also jailed for 20 months.

:: Jason Gardiner, 43, of Mellent Avenue, Bristol, admitted two charges of ill-treating Ms Deville and Mr Tovey. His four-month jail term was suspended for two years. Gardiner was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

:: Michael Ezenagu, 29, of Malabar Court, India Way, Shepherds Bush, west London, pleaded guilty to two counts of ill-treating Miss Blake. He denied two further of ill-treating the same patient and a third similar charge against Mr Tovey. The prosecution accepted the pleas and he did not face trial. His six-month jail term was suspended for two years. Ezenagu was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

:: Danny Brake, 27, of Beechen Drive, Fishponds, Bristol, also pleaded guilty to two charges of ill-treating Miss Blake and Mr Tovey. His four-month jail term was suspended for two years. Brake was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

:: Charlotte Cotterell, 22, of Melrose Avenue, Yate, Bristol, pleaded guilty to one charge of ill-treating Miss Blake. She denied a second charge against the same victim, which was accepted by the prosecution and she did not face trial. Her four-month jail term was suspended for two years. Cotterell was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and complete 12 months supervision.

:: Holly Draper, 24, of The Old Orchard, Mangotsfield, Bristol, pleaded guilty to two charges of ill-treating Miss Blake. She was jailed for 12 months.

:: Neil Ferguson, 28, of Emersons Green, Bristol, pleaded guilty to one count of ill-treating Miss Blake. He denied a second charge of ill-treating the same patient, which the prosecution accepted and he did not face trial. His six-month jail term was suspended for two years. Ferguson was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

:: Sookalingum Appoo, 59, of Dial Lane, Bristol, admitted three charges of wilfully neglecting Miss Blake. He was jailed for six months.

:: Kelvin Fore, 33, of Ellesmere Walk, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to one charge of wilfully neglecting Miss Blake but denied a second allegation against the same person, which was accepted by the prosecution and he did not face trial. He was also jailed for six months.

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EDF To Raise Gas And Electricity Prices

Energy giant EDF is to increase prices for householders by an average of 10.8%.

The rise, gas and electricity, around four times the rate of inflation, is set to be implemented on December 7.

EDF, which has 3.1 million customers and 5.5 million accounts overall, said its annual dual fuel bill was the lowest of the suppliers to have announced price rises so far.

Companies have blamed the changes on rising wholesale prices and increased running costs - especially for transporting gas and electricity to customers' homes - and the cost of energy efficiency programmes.

Martin Lawrence, EDF managing director of energy sourcing and customer supply, said: "We know that customers will not welcome this news and do not want to see prices going up.

"Our new prices will, however, be cheaper on average than those of all the other major suppliers which have announced standard price rises so far this autumn.

"We've taken extra measures to make sure the most vulnerable benefit from the best deals and we continue to help customers reduce their bills with energy efficiency measures."

Earlier this month Npower became the third of the so-called Big Six energy firms to confirm steep rises in its gas and electricity bills ahead of winter.

It said bills would increase by an average 8.8% for gas and 9.1% for electricity from November 26.

Just hours beforehand British Gas confirmed that its average dual fuel tariff would rise by 6% - or £80 annually - from November 16.

The Big Six - British Gas, EDF, E.On, NPower, Scottish Power and SSE - control 99% of the UK's domestic energy supplies.

E.ON is the only big supplier yet to announce price rises after it made a promise not to raise tariffs this year.

Last week the energy regulator Ofgem said it would make the market "simpler, clearer and fairer" for consumers.

The promise follows a call by the Prime Minister to energy giants to overhaul confusing tariff systems.

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British Oil Executive Shot Dead In Brussels

A British oil executive - named by Sky News sources as Nicholas Mockford - has been shot dead in Brussels.

The killing took place on October 14 but Belgian investigators have only just revealed information about his death.

Mr Mockford, who worked for ExxonMobil, was killed as he left a restaurant with his wife.

The Foreign Office said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Brussels on October 14 and we are providing consular assistance."

Police said the businessman was shot as he left an Italian restaurant in Neder-Over-Heembeek, a suburb of the Belgian capital.

It happened at around 10pm as he walked with his wife Mary from the Da Marcello restaurant on Rue de Beyseghem to their car, which was parked nearby.

The attack took place in the Neder-Over-Heembeek area of Brussels

Mrs Mockford was violently attacked and struck several times on her face, as one of the attackers tried to grab her handbag.

A second attacker opened fire on the 60-year-old oil executive, who later died of his injuries.

He was shot three times, once as he lay on the floor, and his wife Mary was left beaten and covered in blood, cradling her husband and shouting for help. He died on the way to hospital.

Witnesses say they saw the couple walk across the street to their Lexus 4x4 car before shots were fired.

It is understood the two men were carrying motorcycle helmets and they initially fled on foot before taking a ring road on a "two-wheeled vehicle".

Shortly after the events, a white van passed Rue de Beyseghem and came across the victims.

Investigators have been questioning the driver of this vehicle.

A neighbour, who does not want to be identified, rushed out to the scene and said: "I heard a strange sound like, tak, tak. I thought that was strange, so I went out to have a look.

"And there was someone lying on the footpath on the other side of the street and someone saying, 'Au secours, au secours (Help, help).' There was someone lying unconscious next to a car."

The neighbour first thought the husband had been in a hit-and-run: "I stayed with them. At one point, he stopped breathing and I gave him first aid and he came back round.

"Then he was again unconscious and I again gave him first aid and brought him round, then the ambulance arrived."

The neighbour then understood that the man had been shot.

She said: "I saw when the ambulance arrived and cut open his shirt and that he had a bullet in his chest and blood on his head. But, of course, I didn't want to move him."

The Daily Telegraph said police in Belgium were considering all possible motives for the shooting, including a carjacking, although Mr Mockford's car was not stolen.

Chief Inspector Wim Van Leifferenge said no-one had been arrested and those responsible were still on the run.

Mr Mockford is understood to have worked for ExxonMobil since the 1970s and was head of marketing for interim technologies for ExxonMobil Chemicals, Europe, promoting new types of greener fuel.

Brought up in Leicestershire, he had moved abroad from Chichester some years ago, living in Belgium and Singapore.

He was married to his Belgian wife for 15 years and had three grown-up children living in Britain from his first marriage, according to the Telegraph.

A family member, who asked not to be named, told the newspaper they thought he had been killed in a professional hit.

The relation said: "We are all confused about what has happened. Nick was a genuinely lovely, clean-cut, mild-mannered, family man."

He added: "He was shot so calmly and so quickly, it smacks horribly of a professional hit, but we can't fathom why. He isn't the type to cave in to blackmail and it just doesn't compute."

A spokesman for ExxonMobil said: "Mr Mockford, a British national, was a department manager at our office close to Brussels, but we have no indication that the incident was work related.

"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues and we are supporting them as best we can at this very difficult time."

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Malala Dad: My Daughter Will Rise Again

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

The schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan will "rise again", her father has said.

Fifteen-year-old Malala Yusufzai was reunited with her father Ziauddin, mother Toorpekai and two brothers at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she is being treated.

The family flew in from Islamabad on Thursday night.

Malala was shot because she had campaigned for girls' education in Pakistan.

At a news conference, Mr Yusufzai described the shooting as a pivotal moment for the country. "When she fell, Pakistan stood. This is a turning point," he said.

Pakistani police are hunting prime suspect Atta ur Rehman

"I'm thankful to all the people all over the world. They condemned the attack and prayed for my daughter. 

"She will rise again, she will stand again."

Mr Yusufzai said she Malala was walking, talking, eating and smiling - and that all signs of infection were gone. He added that she would be having hearing and sight tests later.

He said: "I am thankful that you are very much concerned about my daughter's health. You have supported the cause for which she stands, the cause of peace and education."

He said Malala had just done a second mid-term exam and was on her way home in a school van in the Swat Valley on October 9 when two men stopped the vehicle at pistol point and asked which child was Malala, before one opened fire.

Mr Yusufzai, who was speaking with his 12-year-old son Kushal Khan sitting beside him, said Malala had received good wishes from all over the world.

"She is a daughter of everybody, a sister of everybody," he said.

Malala hugs a toy as she recovers in hospital

When asked how he felt when he and his family saw Malala on Thursday night, he said: "I love her and last night when we met her there were tears in our eyes out of happiness."

Mr Yusufzai told reporters that he was thankful to doctors for the "excellent" and "world class" care Malala - who is now expected to make a full recovery - had received in Birmingham.

He was visibly moved as he described how he was told to prepare for Malala's funeral.

"I'm thankful to God," he said.

"I found angels on my side all around me ... she got the right treatment, at the right place, at the right time.

"In Pakistan for the first time we saw that all political parties, the government, children, women, elders, they were crying and praying to God. Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, indifferent of caste, colour or creed, they prayed for my daughter."

It comes after police in Pakistan named the prime suspect in connection with the shooting as 23-year-old Atta Ullah Khan, a chemistry student from the Swat district.

The hospital's Medical Director Dave Rosser said both Malala's long and short-term memory appeared to be intact - and that specialists do not believe there is any significant brain damage.

Describing the mood on Malala's ward, he said: "I think everyone is very pleased. Her father is a remarkable man, she is a remarkable young lady and I think everybody involved is pleased to help."

He said her skull would need to be reconstructed over the coming weeks but that her long-term prognosis was "excellent".

"There's no reason to think she won't make near to a full recovery," he said.

Dr Rosser said she would remain in hospital following the surgery for "a couple of months at most".

He added that Malala had been eating hospital food -and had also enjoyed a halal takeaway.

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Britain Braced For Bitter Cold Snap

A Wintry Blast To End The Week

Updated: 7:02am UK, Thursday 25 October 2012

By Isobel Lang, Sky News forecaster

Cold northerly winds will plunge southwards over the next 24 hours, pushing away the mild, grey, moist conditions from southern Britain and bringing a taste of winter.

Today it will be mostly cloudy across southern Britain and Ireland with drizzly rain at times and misty conditions over hills.
Some brighter spells are possible along southern coastal counties and near western coasts.

It will not feel as mild as yesterday but temperatures will still climb to around 14 Celsius.

Northern Britain and Ireland will be brighter but turn progressively colder through the day as the winds swing northerly.

Showers of hail or sleet are likely across the Northern Isles with some patchy rain showers speilling south across eastern Scotland and northeast England.

During tonight cold air will sink south across almost all of Britain and Ireland with just southern counties holding on to the cloud and relatively mild conditions.

Northerly winds will be strong at times bringing more frequent wintry showers across northeast Scotland with snow settling over hills.

Scotland will be coldest tonight with temperatures falling well below freezing giving the risk of ice.

On Friday, once the cloud has cleared southern counties, expect a much colder but brighter day.

In shelter from the northerly wind there will be plenty of sunshine.

However showers will spread south across northern and eastern Britain with snow settling over higher ground.

After another frost on Friday night, Saturday should see fewer showers in eastern parts with plenty of fine bright weather.

Rain is expected to spread across the North West later though, perhaps preceded by some hill snow.

This rain will continue to spread southeastwards on Sunday. Temperatures are set to recover slightly.

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Recession Ends Amid Olympic Games Boost

How GDP Is Compiled Really Matters

Updated: 8:11am UK, Thursday 25 October 2012

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

I've covered economics for a decade or so, but I confess that until very recently I didn't really know what GDP really is.

I mean, like most of you I knew it was the broadest and most widely-used measure of our economy's health - that it determines whether we're officially in recession or not (two or more quarters of shrinking GDP equals a recession).

I knew it was the sum of everything spent, earned or made in Britain.

What I didn't know was how it's actually put together.

I guess I vaguely assumed - and I don't think I'm entirely alone - that the Office for National Statistics had some kind of electronic hotline into British business, some privileged access to their numbers, which in turn became the Gross Domestic Product number.

Turns out I was monumentally wrong.

For it transpires that GDP - that big number we're all so focused on, the figure that tells us whether we're in a recession or booming, that can end a political career and swing an election - is actually a big, big survey.

I know this because earlier this month I spent some time in the ONS headquarters in Newport with the team who put together this most significant of all numbers.

For the first time, they allowed cameras into their offices to show how GDP really comes into being - and the genesis might well surprise you.

At this point it might be worth explaining why this matters so much: there is arguably no other number out there that can swing the financial markets quite so much, that can influence Britain's feelgood factor, that dominates the headlines and strikes fear into politicians.

And yet there are many people who question whether we can really rely on the numbers.

Some economists argue that the GDP figures in recent months have painted a far more negative picture of the UK economy than is actually the case.

Some argue that Britain never really experienced a double-dip recession - but that this reality will only ever be confirmed many years into the future when the ONS revises those initial estimates.

So how GDP is put together really matters. And it all starts with the pounds in your pockets.

For the first estimate of GDP - the one today - is created from data collected in surveys of tens of thousands of surveys from businesses around the country - whether they're manufacturers, construction firms, retailers or others.

Each month a large sample of them is asked by the ONS to tell them their turnover (how much money is going through the till), along with a few other industry-specific questions which form part of the retail sales, manufacturing output and other releases.

The turnover number is what matters from the perspective of GDP. They fill the relevant questionnaire in and post it to the ONS (they can also submit the data through an automated telephone system).

When those envelopes arrive there the questionnaires are scanned and the numbers go into the ONS' systems.

The problem is that by the time that first estimate needs to be produced, the ONS only has 44% of the relevant data (the rest arrives in dribs and drabs over the following months, hence the revisions). In particular, the ONS only has early responses for the final month of the quarter.

So there are some pretty big gaps to be filled, and the ONS has to make some estimates about what the other data will eventually say when it comes in.

It relies for this on computer models, backed up by assumptions and calculations from the ONS staff themselves. After they make these calls they meet and discuss them in so-called "balancing meetings": the statisticians ask each other whether the data are reliable and their assumptions have foundation.

During this entire period, those GDP assumptions and the ultimate figure are kept locked up (quite literally - there are safes into which they are put) such that only a dozen or so statisticians actually know the number before it comes out.

So far as anyone knows, there has never been a leak of a number as sensitive as this from the ONS. But 24 hours before the figures are published, selected ministers and officials also get a look.

The figures are revised again a month after that initial release, and then again a month later. During that period, more information has come in from quarterly surveys which measure families' and businesses' incomes, and other spending data.

As I said, GDP can be measured in terms of what we spend, what we earn and what we make - they should all add up to the same number, since what one person buys another person sells. And the extra data furnishes that initial estimate and, occasionally, contradicts it.

The ONS maintains that its record of revisions is acceptable by international standards. It points out that its surveys have far more respondents than those put together by independent competitors.

But some, most notably Kevin Daly of Goldman Sachs, argue that it has a tendency to revise the more distant history so substantially that often periods we thought at the time were slumps were actually booms.

A case in point is the early 1990s: at the time, the ONS said the UK was suffering a double-dip recession.

But by the end of the millennium it had revised its assessment: far from slumping, the UK was actually bouncing back forcefully at that point. When Norman Lamont referred to "green shoots", it turns out he was absolutely right.

Today, the GDP figures have been telling an altogether different story to the unemployment figures, which seem to suggest there never was a double-dip. Based on precedent, we are unlikely to know the definitive story for years to come.

Which implies that the ONS, and the way it puts together this most important of all numbers, will remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future.

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April Jones: Police Teams Continue Search

April: Dyfed-Powys Police Statement

Updated: 1:38pm UK, Thursday 25 October 2012

Dyfed Powys' police search adviser, Inspector Gareth Thomas said: "The current search activity is as intense as when it first started and we will continue to do all that we can with the resources we have available to us from Dyfed Powys and other police forces, as well as the Coastguard and the Fire and Rescue Service.

"We are undertaking a systematic and methodical forensic search of the whole area.

"We have 17 search teams, comprising of a Sergeant and six PCs, currently deployed including eight police search advisers, ten CSI dogs and a range of specialist equipment and teams.

"This includes our own force air support, the marine dive team from South Wales Police and the urban search and rescue team from the Fire and Rescue Service.

"With the assistance of search experts from forces all over the UK, and a range of specialist equipment, we have a detailed search plan that encompasses the whole of Machylleth and the surrounding area.

"This is a massive search operation. We are searching an area of 60km square and have over 300 specific search areas. Each area can be broken down into a number of smaller searches. Some of these areas can take many days to search as the terrain is extremely challenging.

"As the search progresses the activity will vary depending on the site the officers are searching. Some of the areas include woodland, quarries and steep mountains with streams and other limitations like pot holes and mineshafts.

"The terrain is extremely challenging. The mountains, gorges, streams and waterfalls in the area mean extra care has to be taken and specialist safety equipment must be worn.

"As the weather changes the searches will continue. We review the conditions and decide what is possible to search. We carry out risk assessments of all search activity and do what is possible depending on the conditions.

"I have been humbled by the commitment of the officers taking part in the searches. We all have a shared goal, and that is to find April. No one wants to stop searching or doing what they can to help.

"We are committed to continue the search while we still have viable lines of enquiry. We will not leave until we are satisfied that we have done all that we can."

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Ford Confirms 1,400 Job Losses In The UK

Ford confirms it will make 1,400 employees redundant in the UK following the closure of two British factories.

The US company's Southampton plant in Swaythling, which has made Transit vans since 1972, will close next summer with a loss of more than 500 jobs.

And its stamping plant in Dagenham, which presses sheets of metal used to make the vans in Southampton, will be shut down at the same time.

It marks the end of more than a century of vehicle production in the UK by Ford, which will make only engines and other car parts in Britain from mid-2013.

The president and chief executive of Ford, Alan Mulally, is due to hold a conference call this afternoon.

"Using the same One Ford plan that led to strong profitability in North America, we will address the crisis in Europe with a laser focus on new products, a stronger brand and increased cost efficiency," he said in a statement.

"We recognise the impact our actions will have on many employees and their families in Europe, and we will work together with all stakeholders during this necessary transformation of our business." 

The move, revealed by Sky News on Wednesday, has been met with anger by unions representing the workers affected.

Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey accused Ford of betraying its workforce. 

"Only a few months ago Ford was promising staff a new Transit model for Southampton in 2014," he said.

"The planned closures will really hurt the local economies and the supply chain will be badly hit - up to 10,000 jobs could be at risk."

And the national officer of the GMB union, Justin Bowden, added: "This is devastating news for the workers in Southampton and Dagenham and is very bad news for UK manufacturing.

"Ford's track record in Britain is one of broken promises and factory closures. There will be a feeling of shock and anger, and Ford's commitment on investment will cut little ice."

Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton, Caroline Nokes, described the news as a "bitter blow".

"It is critically important that we do everything we can to help those affected," she said.

"The closure will have a significant impact on employment.

"These 500 employees have broadly similar skills and it is very important that they are given the maximum support possible."

But Ford, which employs 11,400 people at sites across the UK, had some good news for its British workforce.

It confirmed the next generation of diesel engines would be built in the UK, safeguarding thousands of jobs.

The carmaker is in the process of restructuring its European operations following a slump in demand, and on Wednesday announced that it would shut down its "under-utilised" factory in Genk, Belgium resulting in 4,300 job losses.

It hopes the three plant closures - which represent 18% of Ford's production capacity in Europe - will save between $450m (£279m) and $500m (£309m ) in annual costs.

The company warned its European operations would lose in excess of $1.5bn (£0.9bn) this year.

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Prisoner Votes: PM Defiant Blanket Ban Will Stay

David Cameron has flatly ruled out giving prisoners the vote after Conservative MPs reacted angrily to speculation that the coalition was planning legislation on the controversial issue.

The Prime Minister moved to clarify his position and told the Commons: "No one should be in any doubt. Prisoners are not getting the vote under this government."

However, his comments appeared to contradict those of his Attorney General, who earlier suggested that the UK would have to accept a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and fulfil its international obligations.

Dominic Grieve said the UK could ultimately decide to ignore the European court.

"Parliament is sovereign in this area. Nobody can impose a solution on Parliament," he told the Commons justice committee.

But he warned Britain's reputation would suffer if it ignored the ruling, and he insisted the UK had "a great deal of latitude" in how it complies with the judgment.

David Cameron at Wormwood Scrubs this week

Ministers are preparing to launch a draft bill to comply with ruling, according to The Guardian.

This is despite Parliament voting overwhelmingly to maintain a blanket ban in February.

Mr Cameron has said the idea of giving prisoners the vote made him "physically ill".

Speaking at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, he signalled that he was ready to hold another vote "to put the legal position beyond doubt".

But there are reportedly concerns in the Government that it could face a huge compensation bill if it does not bring forward legislation before the ECHR's deadline of the end of November.

Publishing draft proposals, possibly giving the vote to those serving terms under four years, would give ministers time as there would be a significant period before anything would reach the statute books.

However, any move to grant the vote to any serving prisoners seems set to provoke outrage from many Conservative backbenchers.

Nick de Bois, secretary of the influential 1922 committee, posted on Twitter after the Guardian report was published.

He tweeted: "Sitting working with 5 other Cons MPs - if reports of prisoner voting rights are accurate then that's 6 MPs who won't vote for it."

Tory colleague Douglas Carswell added: "Make it 7."

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith wrote: "MPs almost unanimously rejected votes for prisoners. If it happens all the same, does that mean the UK Parl officially no longer matters?

"It's no longer a Q of whether prisoners should vote. It's a Q of whether or not the UK Parliament still has the authority to make decisions."

The ECHR admitted that it was up to national authorities to decide exactly who can vote from jail - but said denying voting rights to all inmates indiscriminately was illegal.

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Hillsborough Police Chief Bettison Quits

Police's Bettison Statement In Full

Updated: 1:27pm UK, Wednesday 24 October 2012

West Yorkshire Police Authority released a statement announcing Sir Norman Bettison's resignation as Chief Constable:

"West Yorkshire Police Authority has announced today that it has accepted Sir Norman Bettison's resignation with immediate effect.

The Chief Constable's resignation was tendered this morning, before a meeting of the Authority's Special Committee to consider matters arising out of the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report.

Vice chairman of the Police Authority, Councillor Les Carter said: "I can confirm that the Police Authority has accepted Sir Norman's resignation with immediate effect.

"The media attention and Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation is proving to be a huge distraction for the force, at a time when it is trying to maintain performance and make savings of £100million.

"We therefore believe that his decision is in the best interest of the communities of West Yorkshire.

"Sir Norman has been West Yorkshire's Chief Constable since 2006. It should be recognised that Sir Norman has served West Yorkshire well. He has reduced crime, increased confidence in policing and made a huge contribution to neighbourhood policing. On behalf of the Police Authority, I would like to thank him for what he has achieved here and wish him the best for the future.

"The continued leadership of the force is of paramount importance and I have asked the Deputy Chief Constable, John Parkinson, to take up the role of acting Chief Constable, subject to the formal approval of the full authority."

Sir Norman said: "I wish to make four points, and hope that each will be fairly reported.

"First, and foremost, the Hillsborough tragedy, 23 years ago, left 96 families bereaved and countless others injured and affected by it.

"I have always felt the deepest compassion and sympathy for the families, and I recognise their longing to understand exactly what happened on that April afternoon.  I have never blamed the fans for causing the tragedy.

"Secondly, I refute the report of a conversation 23 years ago.  The suggestion that I would say to a passing acquaintance that I was deployed as part of a team tasked to 'concoct a false story of what happened', is both incredible and wrong.

"That isn't what I was tasked to do, and I did not say that.

"Thirdly, there is a due process to deal with any allegation through the IPCC and the criminal law. I remain consistent in my desire to assist those enquiries to the full, both now and in the future. These processes should help to separate facts from speculation.

"Fourthly, I sought to remain in post to address those allegations.  It now appears that that will take some time. The Police Authority, and some of the candidates in the forthcoming PCC elections, have made it clear that they wish me to go sooner.

"I do so, not because of any allegations about the past, but because I share the view that this has become a distraction to policing in West Yorkshire now and in the future.

"I have therefore agreed to retire within the statutory notice period.  It has been a privilege to serve the public as a police officer for more than 40 years and I wish the force and the police service every success for the future.""

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Israel Bombarded After Militants Die In Gaza

By Sam Kiley, Middle East Correspondent

Israel has been hit with more than 60 missiles in 24 hours in a surge in violence from the Gaza Strip.

Three militants from the armed wing of Hamas, which rules in Gaza, were killed in an Israeli counter-attack.

Hamas has been trying to suppress attacks against Israel by al Qaeda-related Jihadist groups in recent weeks.

Israel moved military personnel and equipment from a joint exercise with US forces and some of its homeland defence soldiers from a drill based on the fiction of an earthquake, in case of further attacks.

Three migrant Thai workers were seriously injured in the mortar and rocket strikes from Gaza and a family home was hit.

A mosque was reported to have been struck by the Israeli Air Force. Eight people were wounded, as well as the three who were killed.

The mother of a Hamas gunman mourns the death of her son

A statement from the Islamist movement Hamas said those killed were members of its military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

An Israeli army spokesman said the air force had attacked two groups of Palestinians who were about to fire rockets into southern Israel.

The raids came after the attack on an Israeli patrol that wounded a soldier was claimed by a leftist group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Military officials were initially unsure what had caused the explosion, but eventually established it was "an explosive device".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again warned he would strike back at Gaza militants, which he said were supported by Tehran.

An Israeli mother carrying her child after an attack

"Today we engaged in exchanges against terrorist aggression that comes from our southern border in Gaza, but it actually comes from Iran and a whole terror network that is supporting these attacks," he said.

"The way to fight terror is to fight terror, and that we shall do with great force."

Defence Minister Ehud Barak noted the explosive device was rigged to a gate on the fence, and said Israel takes the attack "very seriously".

The latest incidents came as the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, made a landmark visit to Gaza where he inaugurated a multi-million dollar project to rebuild the impoverished Palestinian territory.

But Israel's military remains reluctant to get involved in a ground incursion into the region.

Its last major operation there, Cast Lead, was widely condemned internationally for causing civilian deaths and for the use of white phosphorous explosives in urban areas.

Israeli police survey the damage caused by a rocket fired by militants

Former head of Israel's National Security Council Ilan Mizrahi said: "It is a very delicate situation. We do not have a free hand like we did in the past.

"Now we have to consider our relationship with Egypt more carefully. I would expect Cairo will try to pacify the situation and we should be careful not to provoke the Egyptians.

"However, it will be impossible to allow this to continue for a long time."

The attacks follow a visit to Gaza by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who pledged $400m (£250m) for a 3,000-home development in what appeared to be a major boost for the reputation of Hamas, which is struggling to balance its militant elements and instincts with its responsibilities as the administration.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Hamad said: "We are seeing a dangerous escalation of Israeli actions. They are targeting us following the recent visit of the Emir of Qatar which took place successfully.

"They are targeting us to disrupt the atmosphere of the Eid holiday and to score political points ahead of the upcoming [Israeli] elections."

Following the violence, Israel closed schools in the areas close to the Gaza Strip - the first time that has happened since Operation Cast Lead.

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Sky Sources: Ford To Close Southampton Plant

Ford is planning to close its Southampton factory as part of its restructuring in Europe, according to Sky sources.

The announcement is expected on Thursday, when Ford's chief executive Alan Mulally is due to hold a business briefing call, and company management meet with union representatives in Essex. 

The company said this was speculation.

Ford's Swaythling factory, which has built its iconic Transit vans since 1972, employs around 500 people.

But the future of the site has been uncertain since workers began working single shifts in 2009.

It is a relatively small part of the company's UK operation, which employs 11,400 people at factories in Dagenham, Halewood, Bridgend and Southampton.

The news comes after the company confirmed it would close its "under-utilised" factory in Genk, Belgium, resulting in 4,300 job losses.

Workers gathered outside the Belgium plant following news of its closure

"Ford announced its plans to end production at a major production plant in Genk, Belgium, by the end of 2014," the company said in a statement, adding that the closure would entail a "reduction of approximately 4,300 positions".

Ford of Europe's chief executive Stephen Odell added: "The proposed restructuring of our European manufacturing operations is a fundamental part of our plan to strengthen Ford's business in Europe."

In another development for Europe's carmaking industry, the French government offered Peugeot Citroen a 7bn euro (£5.6bn) lifeline following another drop in sales.

The Paris-based company said it was also close to agreeing a 11.5bn euro (£9.3bn) refinancing deal with creditor banks, in addition to the state guarantees, for its lending arm Banque PSA Finance.

Following the announcement, Peugeot shares fell 6.5% - hitting their lowest levels since 1986.

Car sales in Europe have slumped as consumers in the region find their budgets hit by unemployment and government austerity.

Earlier this month, industry figures revealed that the market shrank at its fastest pace for 12 months in September. 

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Monster Energy Drink 'Linked To Five Deaths'

The heavily-caffeinated Monster Energy Drink is being investigated by US officials for its reported link to five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking into claims that people had adverse reactions after they consumed the 24 oz (680ml) can, which contains 240 milligrams of caffeine.

It has three times more caffeine than an 8.4 oz (240ml) can of its nearest rival, Red Bull, and seven times the amount in a regular 12 oz (340ml) cola.

Although the FDA is investigating the allegations, which date back to 2004, the agency said the reports do not necessarily prove that the drinks caused the deaths or injuries.

"As with any reports of a death or injury the agency receives, we take them very seriously and investigate diligently," spokesperson Shelly Burgess said in a statement.

News of the FDA's investigation follows the launch of a wrongful death lawsuit in California, by the parents of a 14-year-old Maryland girl who died after drinking two Monster Energy Drinks in just 24 hours.

Anais Fournier died in December 2011 after consuming two cans in 24 hours

A post mortem examination found that Anais Fournier died of cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity that impeded her heart's ability to pump blood.

She also suffered from an inherited disorder that can weaken blood vessels. Her parents claim Monster failed to warn about the risks of drinking its products.

"I was shocked to learn the FDA can regulate caffeine in a can of soda, but not these huge energy drinks," her mother Wendy Crossland told The Record Herald.

"With their bright colors and names like Monster, Rockstar, and Full Throttle, these drinks are targeting teenagers with no oversight or accountability."

However labels on the cans do state that the drinks are not recommended for children and people who are sensitive to caffeine.

Monster said last week that it was "unaware of any fatality anywhere that has been caused by its drinks".

The company is the market leader in the US for energy drinks with a 35% share, while Red Bull has 30% and Rockstar has 19%.

But the company's shares plunged $7.59, or 14.2%, to close at $45.73 in trading on Monday after news of the FDA investigation.

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Obama Aggressive In Final Presidential Debate

Romney Avoids Foreign Policy Blow

Updated: 10:35am UK, Tuesday 23 October 2012

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

This was always going to be a tough one for Mitt Romney.

The Republican challenger has not distinguished himself on foreign policy. 

And on many foreign issues there is not enough swinging room between him and the President to let him land a punch.

The President probably won on points, but his challenger held his own and made no gaffes. Given his previous form on foreign policy, that's an improvement.

This debate was about foreign policy when the election is not. The economy remains the overriding issue.

It was predictable then that both men would try to bring the debate back to domestic issues.

President Obama was the first, 25 minutes in, stressing that nation building starts at home.

Mr Romney joined in, forcefully making the argument that America will only be respected overseas if it's strong at home. 

Then followed a slew of argument that had nothing to do with foreign policy from healthcare reform to classroom sizes. 

There were cheers in the adjoining "spin room" from journalists when moderator Bob Schieffer tried to return the discussion to foreign affairs even if it was largely in vain.

With the odds stacked against him, Mr Romney was largely avoiding losing.

His most dangerous moment was one of his own creation, a tactical error he could have avoided.

He probably should not have mentioned foreign trips, given how badly his last one went, offending the British, Palestinians and the press travelling with him.

But he brought up the President's visits overseas all the same, accusing him of indulging in an "apology" tour allowing his opponent to come right back at him.

"If you want to talk about trips governor," came back the president. Mr Obama then compared his visit to Israel, which included a tour of the Yad Vashem holocaust museum, to Mitt Romney's which he said was more about attending fundraisers.

Many Americans will not have been watching. This was a big sports night.

In the Tailgaters Sports Bar in Daytona Beach up the coast, most people weren't focused on the debate. The Chicago Bears were playing the Detroit Lions, by coincidence the home town teams of each candidate.

The game was on a much bigger screen than the debate in the bar.

But a few were paying attention to the candidates.

Carl Dephillipe told Sky News the debate had made all the difference to his vote.

"I am a Democrat so I was leaning towards Obama but I hadn't heard anything about his foreign policy till tonight so finally being to sit down tonight to listen to his foreign policy I'll definitely be giving him my vote," he said.

Further down the bar David Daley was also critical of Mr Romney.

"I think he's basically selling the American people a dream. That he's promising a lot of things that he's not going to be able to do," he said. 

For the record, the President's team beat Mr Romney's by 13 to 7.

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Conrad Black: I'll Keep My Seat In The Lords

Former media tycoon Conrad Black, who was jailed for defrauding investors, says he has nothing to be ashamed of and will continue to sit in the House of Lords.

The peer was released in May after serving three years in a US jail. In an interview with Sky's political editor, Adam Boulton, he insisted he had done nothing wrong.

He said he felt "quite rehabilitated" and insisted he had been unfairly targeted by the US legal system.

"The fact that 99.5% of prosecutions in that country end in convictions … it's such a stacked deck. We so dismembered their case and struck down the prosecuting statute as unconstitutional, I feel I've done quite well."

Black was sentenced to more than six years in prison after his conviction for fraud and obstruction of justice at a high-profile trial in Chicago in 2007.

Prosecutors said Black received millions of dollars in payments from companies who had bought newspapers from his Hollinger International group, in return for promises that he would not compete against them.

It was alleged he and other executives pocketed the money, which should have gone to shareholders, without telling Hollinger's board of directors.

Black was released two years into his sentence to pursue an appeal that was partially successful.

A judge reduced his sentence to three years and he returned to prison last September.

Black is now British, having renounced his Canadian citizenship to take his seat in the Lords several years earlier, but the country of his birth has given him a one-year residency permit.

However, Black insisted he is "not a refugee" struggling to find a place to live.

He said: "I am a passport-carrying citizen of the EU, I can live anywhere I want of these 27 countries. I'm not a refugee struggling desperately from place to place for some place to lay my head you know? I'm alright, I'm doing fine."

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Jimmy Savile: BBC Boss Questioned By MPs

BBC boss George Entwistle has defended the broadcaster's handling of the Sir Jimmy Savile scandal but admitted it has affected trust in the corporation.

The director-general, who was questioned by the Culture, Media and Select Committee for two hours, told MPs he believed a Newsnight investigation into the star should have gone ahead.

And he revealed the corporation is now investigating up to 10 "serious allegations" involving past and present employees over the "Savile period".

Mr Entwistle called the Jim'll Fix It star a "skilful and successful sexual predator who covered his tracks" and said it was impossible to view the claims with "anything other than horror".

He conceded that the alleged abuse would have been impossible had there not been a "broader cultural problem" at the BBC but stressed there was not yet enough evidence to say it was "endemic".

Mr Entwistle said: "There's no question that what Jimmy Savile did and the way the BBC behaved ... the culture and practices of the BBC seems to allow Jimmy Savile to do what he did, will raise questions of trust for us and reputation for us.

"It is a gravely serious matter and one cannot look back at it with anything but horror that his activities went on as long as they did undetected. Of course, that is a matter of grave regret to me."

He added: "I would accept that there have been times when we have taken longer to do things than in a perfect world I would have liked.

"But I think if you looked at what we have achieved since the scale of the crisis became clear, I think you see we have done much of what we should have done and done it in the right order and with proper respect paid to the right authorities."

George Entwistle after his committee appearance

Mr Entwistle's appearance before MPs came hours after the BBC broadcast a Panorama programme looking at why a Newsnight investigation in December 2011 into the allegations was dropped.

He argued that the programme was an illustration of the corporation's health rather than a "symptom of chaos" because it showed it could interrogate its own corporate handling of events.

But he admitted that after watching Panorama himself, he had come to the view that Newsnight's work should have been allowed to continue.

The director-general told MPs there had been a "breakdown in communication" between reporters working on the investigation and their editor Peter Rippon.

The allegations about the presenter and DJ only emerged when ITV broadcast a documentary at the start of this month, which sparked accusations of a BBC cover-up.

It also generated major concerns about why persistent rumours about Savile were never properly looked into when he was alive and about the wider culture at the BBC.

Mr Rippon wrote a blog explaining the decision not to proceed with the show, indicating it was down to what they had discovered about the police handling of the Savile investigation.

Police have called Savile a sexual predator

This was then relied on by management setting out the BBC's position but the corporation was later forced to admit the account was "inaccurate or incomplete".

The editor, who has now stepped aside to focus on the internal inquiry, was strongly criticised by Mr Entwistle for spreading confusion.

"There's no doubt that it is a matter of regret and embarrassment that the version of events recorded in Peter Rippon's blog on October 2 did not turn out to be as accurate as they should have been," he said.

"What I relied upon is something that in my BBC career I've always been able to rely upon, which is the editor of a programme having a full grip and understanding of an investigation they were in charge of.

"In this case that doesn't appear to have been the case, and that is disappointing."

The director-general denied there had been any "managerial pressure" to drop the story and said head of news Helen Boaden had only briefly spoken to the Newsnight team.

She had reminded Mr Rippon that the same journalistic standards had to apply even though Savile was dead but Mr Entwistle insisted this was an appropriate point to make.

"The decision was made by Peter Rippon on his own account. What was going on in his mind at the time is something we have got to rely on the Pollard Review to interrogate as best it can," he said.

Newsnight editor Peter Rippon (Jason Alden/Rex Features)

Mr Entwistle was warned by Ms Boaden at an awards lunch on December 2 that the Newsnight investigation could affect plans to broadcast a tribute to Savile over Christmas.

He insisted it would have been straightforward to reorganise the schedule if necessary but admits giving it little thought at the time because it was clear the story was not ready.

"If someone had said to me 'We are happy with this, this is ready to broadcast', then at that stage I would have expected to engage fully with the consequences," he said.

Pressed on his reaction, he said: "I don't remember reflecting on it. This was a busy lunch. It wasn't that I didn't want to know. What was in my mind was this determination not to show an undue interest."

He added: "I don't believe I did fail, but I believe the system as a whole seems not to have got this right."

Asked whether he now regretted going ahead with Savile tribute programmes, he said: "In the light of what's happening, of course I do."

His appearance piles pressure on Mr Rippon, who will have to explain himself to the BBC's own inquiry which is being led by former head of Sky News Nick Pollard.

MPs have said they will wait for the outcome of the inquiry before deciding whether to summon Mr Rippon.

A separate internal audit of the BBC's child protection policies has also been launched and will report in December.

David Jordan, the BBC's head of editorial policy, insisted the set-up had been "transformed since the 1960s and 1970s" to ensure the safety of children on site.

The corporation is also bringing in Dinah Rose QC to look at how it handles sexual harrassment cases.

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BBC Editor 'Steps Aside' Over Savile Scandal

The Newsnight editor who dropped an investigation into claims Sir Jimmy Savile sexually abused people "is stepping aside", the BBC says.

Peter Rippon, who says he dropped the report for editorial reasons, will leave his role with "immediate effect" while an independent review into the BBC's treatment of the Savile crisis is carried out.

The corporation has also published corrections to a blog post by Mr Rippon, which had aimed to explain his decision to drop the programme's investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by the late presenter.

In a statement the BBC described the inaccuracies as "deeply concerning".

It says: "It is apparent from information supplied by the Newsnight editor and programme team - that the explanation in a blog by the editor of his decision to drop the programme's investigation is inaccurate or incomplete in some respects."

It says that while the blog had said that Newsnight had no evidence against the BBC, there were some allegations of abusive conduct on BBC premises.

The blog also claimed that all the women spoken to by the programme had contacted the police and that Newsnight had no new evidence against that would have helped the police. But the BBC now says that in some cases women had not spoken to the police and that the police were not aware of all the allegations.

Questions over how director-general George Entwistle has handled the crisis

Prime Minister David Cameron has called the developments "disturbing".

He said: "The nation is appalled, we're all appalled, by the allegations of what Jimmy Savile did and they seem to get worse by the day.

"The developments today are concerning because the BBC has effectively changed its story about why it dropped the Newsnight programme about Jimmy Savile."

The BBC is said to be facing "its worst crisis for 50 years", as a documentary lifts the lid on the extent to which senior managers of the corporation were aware of the Sir Jimmy Savile abuse claims.

A special edition of Panorama reveals fresh evidence about what the BBC knew of Savile's decades of child abuse and its investigation into why Newsnight spiked its probe into the scandal, sparking allegations of a cover-up.

The BBC flagship programme, which airs tonight, examines why corporation chiefs - including the director-general - gave different explanations why Newsnight was dropped and what it was about.

Mr Rippon maintains the piece - which was due to run last December - was pulled for editorial reasons, and not because the potentially damaging revelations coincided with a planned tribute to the star.

But the hour-long documentary will hear from Newsnight producer Meirion Jones and reporter Liz MacKean, who both claim they had interviewed at least four alleged victims of Savile - and confirmed with Surrey Police that officers had investigated sex abuse complaints against the Jim'll Fix It star in 2007.

Police say they have identified more than 200 potential victims

The journalists say that, when they told bosses the Crown Prosecution Service did not charge Savile because of insufficient evidence, they were told to end the investigation - and the show was withdrawn.

BBC director-general George Entwistle said it would be "inappropriate" for him to comment ahead of the broadcast, as he has not yet seen the programme. He added: "There will be a BBC statement later this morning touching upon some of the issues raised".

The programme also calls into question Mr Entwistle's handling of the crisis in the days after it broke.

On October 5, Mr Entwistle wrote an email to all staff saying "the BBC Newsnight programme investigated Surrey Police's enquiry into Jimmy Savile towards the end of 2011".

But Meirion Jones sent an email reply to Mr Entwistle on the same day taking issue with his account.

He wrote: "George - one note - the investigation was into whether Jimmy Savile was a paedophile - I know because it was my investigation. We didn't know that Surrey Police had investigated Jimmy Savile - no-one did - that was what we found when we investigated and interviewed his victims."

The abuse stories about Savile only fully emerged after ITV broadcast a documentary at the start of this month - sparking controversy at the BBC over losing its scoop and leading to the cover-up allegations.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which will take evidence from Mr Entwistle on Tuesday, said they would want to know why he did not seek more information about the Newsnight investigation.

"If you were the director of vision, you were told at the time you were commissioning programmes paying tribute to Jimmy Savile that Newsnight might be about to reveal a bombshell, you wouldn't just have a 10-second conversation.

"You'd say 'Tell me more, I'm about to go public putting out these programmes making out that Jimmy Savile was this saint'," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Mr Whittingdale said the most important question was why the Newsnight segment was dropped.

He told Sky News: "Whilst Panorama say there is no evidence the editor was leant on from outside, the explanations originally given look very thin today."

Panorama said it has failed to find evidence of a "BBC cover-up" over the Newsnight decision.

In a statement, the programme said: "Peter Rippon has always maintained the story was pulled for 'editorial reasons' and not because of a potentially embarrassing clash with planned BBC tributes to Savile over Christmas.

"Panorama has found no evidence to contradict that view."

But the corporation's veteran foreign affairs editor John Simpson said of the fallout: "This is the worst crisis that I can remember in my nearly 50 years at the BBC. I don't think the BBC has handled it terribly well.

"I mean I think it's better to just come out right at the start and say we're going to open everything up and then we're going to show everybody everything.

"All we have as an organisation is the trust of the people the people that watch us and listen to us and, if we don't have that, if we start to lose that, that's very dangerous I think for the BBC."

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Terror Suspects 'Planned Eight Suicide Bombs'

Three terrorist plotters led a plan to set off eight suicide bombs which could have been bigger than the July 7 London attacks, a court has heard.

Irfan Naseer, 31, and Irfan Khalid and Ashik Ali, both 27, are accused of being "central figures" in the extremist plot, jurors at Woolwich Crown Court were told.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said: "The police successfully disrupted a plan to commit an act or acts of terrorism on a scale potentially greater than the London bombings in July 2005 had it been allowed to run its course.

"The defendants were proposing to detonate up to eight rucksack bombs in a suicide attack and/or to detonate bombs on timers in crowded areas in order to cause mass deaths and casualties."

The bombings would have dwarfed those during the July 7 attacks in London

All the men are accused of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, which they deny.

Naseer is accused of five counts of the offence, Khalid four and Ali three, all between Christmas Day, 2010, and September 19, 2011.

The charges are alleged to have included planning a bombing campaign, collecting money for terrorism and recruiting others for terrorism.

Nasser and Khalid are also accused of travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism, and it is alleged that Naseer also helped others to travel to the country for the same purpose.

In total, 11 men of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin and one woman were arrested over the alleged plot.

Mr Altman told the jury that the three defendants were "central figures" in the plot, and said they are "jihadists" and "senior members of a home-grown terror cell".

The group are also accused of making bogus charity collections in Birmingham for Muslim Aid.

It is alleged that the group sent four other local men to Pakistan to receive terrorist training - Naweed Ali, 25, and Ishaaq Hussain, Khobaib Hussain and Shahid Khan, all 20.

They are also accused of persuading another two to take part in their plot rather than fighting abroad - Mohammed Rizwan, 33, and Bahader Ali, 29.

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Ben Needham's Mother Makes Emotional Plea

By Mike McCarthy, North of England Correspondent

The mother of Ben Needham has made an emotional appeal for help in finding her son who went missing 21 years ago on the Greek island of Kos.

Shaking uncontrollably, Kerry Needham said she was overwhelmed by the commitment of the islanders to the renewed search for Ben.

The 21-month-old Sheffield boy disappeared from a remote spot next to a farmhouse that his grandfather Eddie was renovating.

Ms Needham said she had flown to the island to offer her support to the joint British-Greek operation and to be on standby should anything significant emerge from the reinvestigation.

Ben went missing in 1991

Clinging to her mother Christine throughout the televised statement, she said: "Coming to the island knowing the search experts are looking for my son was heart-wrenching, but I believe that my son Ben is alive and out there somewhere.

"But I understand this search has to be done. I am still determined to find my son and I make a plea to anyone who has been watching this to come forward and to let me know what happened to Ben and end my family's pain and suffering."

Taking a deep breath she added:  "I will never give up the search until I find out what happened to Ben.

"Myself and my family are stronger than ever now and we will do whatever it takes to find Ben and let him know the truth of who he is."

Following the appeal, Ms Needham was led away with a family liaison officer from South Yorkshire Police.

Earlier, the head of the British team, Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, said the search was progressing well and co-operation between the British and Greek teams was "second to none".

Unpaid search specialists in Kos are also helping the hunt

Olive and lemon groves surrounding the farmhouse are being examined and experts have started to use ground-penetrating radar equipment to take readings below ground.

Unpaid search specialists in Kos are also helping. 

Ms Needham said: "When I was told how many people had given up their time searching every day in this heat it overwhelms me and confirms what wonderful people live here on this island."

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Frankie Boyle Wins £50,000 Libel Case

Frankie Boyle has won £50,400 damages after a High Court jury concluded that he had been libelled by the Daily Mirror.

Boyle, aged 40, from Glasgow, claimed that the Daily Mirror defamed him by describing him as racist.

They have yet to reach a verdict on a second issue - relating to a Daily Mirror report that the comedian had been "forced to quit" BBC panel show Mock The Week.

Daily Mirror publisher Mirror Group Newspapers had defended the article, which was published on July 19, 2011, claiming the "racist" description was either true or "honest comment on a matter of public interest".

More follows...

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Cardiff Hit-And Run: Dad Saw Van Target Child

A father has described the terrifying moment his young family were struck by a van in Cardiff.

Adam Lewis' two-year-old daughter Amelia-May was catapulted from her pram during a 30-minute hit-and-run rampage across the Welsh capital.

Luckily, she escaped with only cuts and bruises, while Mr Lewis' partner Annie Jones, 23, was left with a broken leg, fractured ankle and a puncture wound to her hip.

CCTV footage captured the moment the van targeted the young family

He told Sky News: "I caught the van in my peripheral vision but it was too late, he just sped up and smashed straight into us.

"I got pushed to the side with the wing-mirror and unfortunately my partner and the baby took the brunt of it.

"(Amelia-May) ended up face down on the pavement, and my partner was there holding onto her leg, and it was broken."

Amelia-May was left with cuts, bruises and a grazed face.

Ms Jones is undergoing surgery to have metal pins and rods inserted into her leg to help with the healing process.

CCTV footage taken by a shopkeeper showed the Iveco transit-style van veering across the road and targeting the couple and their child just minutes before the driver goes on to kill mother-of-three Karina Menzies, 32.

Ten others were injured in the crashes on the streets of the Welsh capital.

Ms Menzies, 32, was killed on Friday after being knocked down

"We're just so relieved that we're still all OK," Mr Lewis said. "It's just so overwhelming, such as surreal situation to be put in.

"You don't expect a big white van to come and smack you off the pavement.

"Why somebody would want to do that, I'll never know.

The van went on a hit-and-run rampage across Cardiff

"I'm just hoping there's not going to be any psychological effects with Amelia-May."

Detectives were last night granted a further 36 hours to question a 31-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Officers are also appealing for information about a mystery car seen driving on the wrong side of the road shortly before the crashes.

Reverend Jan Gould will lead a special church service later

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said that the suspect left his vehicle and physically assaulted people between the crashes and also carried a steering wheel lock as a weapon.

According to unconfirmed reports, police are also investigating whether the driver was involved in a domestic incident before the collisions.

At 2pm a crowd of around 200 gathered outside the fire station where Ms Menzies was killed.

Among them was Stuart Cosslett, who told Sky News that people wanted to pay their respects, adding: "Friday was a dark day, a day that shouldn't happen. It will only galvanise us even more as a community."

A special church service will be held later for the victims at the Church of the Resurrection on Grand Avenue.

Reverend Jan Gould said that while community was in shock local people would stand "shoulder to shoulder" together.

Ms Menzies' family have released a statement calling her a "good friend" who would be "sorely missed".

"Karina was a lovely girl. She lived for her kids and her brothers and sisters and everything she did was for her family.

"She was a good friend to everyone and was well thought of in the community. She will be sorely missed by everyone."

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Arrest Over Goalkeeper Assault During Match

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Cheltenham over an incident during the Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds match on Friday.

A statement from Gloucestershire Police said the man was arrested shortly before 1pm on Sunday on suspicion of assault during the Yorkshire derby.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was struck in the face by a man who got on to the pitch shortly after Leeds had scored an equaliser.

He fell to the ground and required treatment, but was able to finish the game.

South Yorkshire Police are leading the investigation. The man remains in police custody.

A statement from South Yorkshire Police's senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Mark Monteiro said the offender was identified with public help.

He said: "With the public's assistance we have clearly identified the offender who ran on to the pitch during Friday night's game between Sheffield Wednesday FC and Leeds United FC and who is suspected of assaulting the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper.

"We are also using CCTV footage from around the ground to identify suspects who may have been responsible for other offences before, during or after the match.

"I'd like to thank the supporters and general public who have provided information and assisted with our inquiries."

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Bristol Bridge Plunge: Man Charged Over Death

A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a mother-of-one was killed when a car containing five people plummeted into a river.

Police said a 33-year-old from Bristol had been charged in relation to the incident and is also accused of drink-driving and driving without insurance or a licence.

The accident saw a silver BMW crash through railings at Bristol's St Philip's Bridge and into the River Avon, leaving a woman believed to be the front seat passenger dead.

The victim was named locally as Namara Whisker, 21, who is said to have given birth to a boy two months ago.

She is believed to have been at a nightclub in the city before getting into the car.

Friends have described the former business studies student, from the Easton area of the city, as "the kindest person you could ever meet".

School friend Shawnika Sergeant, 22, said: "She was so pretty, bubbly and a special girl. I could not believe it when people started texting me this morning. I have known her for so long, it is hard to take."

Another friend said Ms Whisker was a guest at her five-year-old son's christening.

She added: "Namara has a two-month-old son, I can't believe he is going to grow up without his mummy."

A 21-year-old woman from Bristol who was also being held has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Six police officers who dived into the water after the car were taken to hospital as a precaution, but later released.

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Mourners Try To Storm Lebanese PM's Office

Lebanese soldiers have fired machine guns and thrown tear gas at hundreds of angry protesters attempting to storm the Prime Minister's office in Beirut.

Clashes with police erupted during the funeral for top intelligence chief Brigadier General Wissam al Hassan, who was killed in a massive car bombing on Friday.

Forces had earlier set up road blocks and cordoned off Beirut's Martyrs' Square as well as boosting security in the capital.

Al Hassan, 47, was a powerful opponent of Syria in Lebanon and headed an investigation over the summer that led to the arrest of former information minister Michel Samaha, a politican who was one of Syria's most loyal allies.

He was among eight people killed in the attack on Friday, which many have blamed on the Syrian regime.

Wissam al Hassan was killed by a massive car bomb on Friday

The protesters believe the government is too close to Syria and its ally in Lebanon, the Shiite group Hezbollah.

Even before the bombing, the civil war in neighboring Syria had set off violence in Lebanon and deepened tensions between supporters and opponents of President Bashar Assad's regime.

The attack heightened fears that Lebanon could easily plunge back into cycles of sectarian violence and reprisal that have haunted it for decades.

Dozens of anti-Syrian protesters erected eight tents near the cabinet headquarters in central Beirut, saying they will stay until Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government, which is dominated by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies, resigns.

Hezbollah is Syria's most powerful ally in Lebanon, which for much of the past 30 years has lived under Syrian military and political domination.

Syria's hold on Lebanon began to slip in 2005, when former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, an opponent of Syria, was assassinated by a truck bomb along Beirut's Mediterranean waterfront.

Syria denied any role, but broad public outrage in Lebanon expressed in massive street protests forced Damascus to withdraw its tens of thousands of troops from the country.

For years after the pullouts, there was a string of attacks on anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon without any trials for those responsible.

Al Hassan will be buried in Martyrs' Square next to the late Hariri.

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