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MI5 spy chief to step down

March 25, 2013 14:15
By Guy Faulconbridge LONDON (Reuters) - The MI5 spy chief, who oversaw a safe Olympics and helped transform the Security Service's counter-terrorism operations in the wake of the 2005 London bombings, will step down next month. Sir Jonathan Evans, appointed director general of the domestic intelligence service less than two years after the July 7 bombings, presided over an expansion anti-terrorism operations. There were no major attacks on his five-year watch.

Britain considers 'bail' system for immigration

March 22, 2013 08:02
British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called on Friday for a bail-like system to stop visitors from so-called high risk countries abusing their immigration visas. Under the proposal, applicants would have to pay a cash deposit believed to be at least £1,000 ($1,500, 1,170 euros) which would be repaid when they leave Britain. Clegg, the head of the Liberal Democrat party which is the junior partner in Britain's governing coalition, said he had asked the interior ministry to run a pilot scheme.

Scottish independence referendum set for Sept 18, 2014

March 21, 2013 12:02
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said on Thursday that Scots will vote on September 18, 2014 in a referendum on whether the country should be independent. Announcing the long-awaited date for the ballot, Salmond said it would be the "historic day when the people will decide Scotland's future". Salmond, whose Scottish National Party (SNP) will campaign hard for a "yes" vote, announced the date to the country's parliament in Edinburgh as the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill was published.

Scotland sets independence vote for September 2014

March 21, 2013 11:31
London, Mar 21 (EFE).- Scotland's referendum on independence from London will take place Sept. 18., 2014, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond announced Thursday. It will be "a historic day" as Scots decide their future after three centuries as part of the United Kingdom, he told Scotland's parliament. The ballot will ask voters whether or not Scotland, with its 5 million people, should be an independent country.

URGENT ¥¥¥ Scottish independence referendum set for Sept 18, 2014

March 21, 2013 10:46
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said on Thursday that Scots will vote in a referendum on whether the country should become independent on September 18, 2014. Announcing the long-awaited date for the ballot, Salmond said it would be the "historic day when the people will decide Scotland's future". gj/txw

Scotland independence referendum set for September 18, 2014

March 21, 2013 10:45
By Ian Mackenzie EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland will hold an independence referendum on September 18, 2014, to decide if its five million people should end a 300-year-old union and leave the United Kingdom. First Minister Alex Salmond, announcing the date in the Scottish parliament on Thursday, said a break of ties with London would give Scots the chance "to build a better country". Salmond's pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) won a majority in the Scottish parliament in elections in May 2011.

Newspaper leak of UK budget prompts uproar

March 20, 2013 11:15
By Rosalba O'Brien LONDON (Reuters) - Details of Britain's market moving budget were published on the Internet by a newspaper reporter 15 minutes before the Chancellor stood up to give his speech on Wednesday, prompting calls for an investigation. A copy of the front page of the London Evening Standard, containing details of economic forecasts, tax changes and borrowing, was published on Twitter well before George Osborne rose to his feet.

British politicians agree on new press watchdog

March 18, 2013 12:16
British politicians said Monday they had reached a deal on a tough new system of newspaper self-regulation to rein in the excesses of the press revealed in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Political leaders said the deal, finally struck at 2:30 am after months of negotiations, addressed the abuses laid bare in last year's Leveson Inquiry while protecting freedom of the press.

British politicians 'reach deal on press regulation'

March 18, 2013 06:01
British politicians have reached a deal on a new system of regulation for the press after overnight talks designed to avoid a parliamentary showdown, the opposition Labour party said on Monday. Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said a compromise had been agreed that would protect the new system, sparked by the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World, from interference by ministers. "There is agreement," Harman told BBC radio, adding that it would be put to members of the House of Commons later on Monday.

Britain seals deal to regulate scandal-hungry press

March 18, 2013 05:30
By Andrew Osborn LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's main political parties agreed to create a new system to regulate the news media on Monday, hoping to end an era when tabloid newspapers trawled through people's mobile phone messages to dredge up salacious stories. Public outrage over phone hacking, which went beyond celebrities to include victims of crime and abducted children, pushed the government to act, but it said it had done so in a way that still protected press freedom.
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