bbcuk--2020-02-13--Number of female homicide victims reaches highest level since 2006

The number of female homicide victims in England and Wales has risen to the highest level since 2006 .
There were 241 female victims of murder , manslaughter and infanticide in the 12 months to the end of March 2019 , up 10 % on the previous year .
The number of separate homicide incidents rose to 662 , up from 644 the previous year , according to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) .
However , the overall number of victims fell to 671 .
This was 33 , or 5 % , fewer than the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2015 , although this was partly due to those killed in the London and Manchester terror attacks and the Shoreham air crash being included in the 2018 figures .
The ONS said the year-on-year decline was driven by a fall in male victims - down 11 % , from 484 to 429 .
The number of black homicide victims was the highest in 17 years - totalling 97 in 2018/19 .
The majority of homicide victims ( 64 % ) were male , while just over a third ( 36 % ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) of female victims were killed in a domestic homicide , with the suspect a partner or ex-partner in 38 % of cases .
One of these was Kay Richardson , 49 , who was beaten and strangled to death by her estranged husband Alan Martin , 53 , in September 2018 , just days after he had been arrested for allegedly raping her .
He had been released under investigation by police , without any restrictions .
The number of baby girls and toddlers killed in the period also reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 females under the age of one and 13 toddlers aged between one and four .
These are the highest numbers since the earliest available figures , when six female babies and eight children aged between one and four were killed in the year to March 2009 .
Labour MP Jess Phillips , who has campaigned on domestic violence , said the figures were `` horrendous '' but an `` inevitability '' in light of cuts to public services .
The `` degradation of police resources '' , a `` crumbling criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have affected routes out of danger for women trying to escape abusive relationships have all played a factor , she said .
Ms Phillips added that the number of suspects being released under investigation with no restrictions on their movements by police , rather than with stricter bail conditions , was of particular concern .
The Victims ' Commissioner , Dame Vera Baird , said the number of women killed by a partner or ex-partner was `` not surprising '' but `` deeply troubling '' .
`` In the name of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action on early intervention , '' she said .
Crime Minister Kit Malthouse said the government was recruiting 20,000 new police officers and ensuring violent and sexual offenders spent longer behind bars to help protect the public .
He said the figures were a `` stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic abuse '' and the Domestic Abuse Bill , which the government plans to reintroduce to Parliament , would also provide greater protections for victims .
The bill would place a legal duty on councils to offer secure homes to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a government definition of domestic abuse , including emotional and financial abuse , and a commissioner to hold government to account .

One of these was Kay Richardson, 49, who was beaten and strangled to death by her estranged husband Alan Martin, 53, in September 2018, just days after he had been arrested for allegedly raping her.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Rapper sorry for 'shameful actions' at NME Awards

Rapper Slowthai has `` unreservedly apologised '' to comedian Katherine Ryan after making sexual comments towards her at the NME Awards .
The 25-year-old said it started out as a joke but `` escalated to a point of shameful actions on my part '' .
Katherine said Slowthai `` did n't make me uncomfortable '' but the artist was accused of harassing her .
The rapper also apologised to anyone who `` saw a reflection of situations they 've been in '' in the videos .
The interaction between Slowthai and Katherine , who was co-hosting the awards , came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year award - which was voted for by the public .
He 's now asked for the award to be forwarded on to Katherine instead , saying : `` I am not a hero . ''
NME said it would `` take him up '' on the offer .
Comedian Katherine replied telling Slowthai that `` a bad day on social media passes so quickly '' .
Videos on social media show Slowthai and the Canadian comedian with their arms around each other , with co-host Julie Adenuga asking `` What is happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smell his cologne .
`` Babygirl , I do n't want to have to do this to you right now , but everybody - she needs to understand the levels right now , '' Slowthai said to Katherine .
`` If you want to do something , see me later , '' he said before walking off .
Later , when they were on stage together again , the pair had a conversation including sexual words and phrases , with Slowthai telling the crowd : `` She wants me to tend to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she `` loves '' him - in a seemingly sarcastic tone .
`` Thank you for the attention , '' she said , adding , `` You are younger than my babysitter '' , as he left the stage .
Plenty of people watching at home and in the Brixton Academy in south London tweeted to say that Katherine was using sarcasm to `` mask her discomfort '' .
The host tweeted afterwards to say that she was n't uncomfortable - but there has still been a lot of criticism for Slowthai 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online said they recognised the situation as one they 'd been in .
The rapper apologised to those people , saying : `` To any woman or man who saw a reflection of situations they 've been in in those videos , I am sorry . ''
Slowthai was heckled for his behaviour towards Katherine when collecting the hero of the year award - leading to a scuffle .
`` NME , thank you , '' Slowthai said , before pointing down at someone in the audience , saying `` thank you for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mic from the stage .
Someone then used the mic that Slowthai had dropped to call him a `` wasteman '' , before the microphone and a drink were thrown at him .
The 25-year-old threw his own drink back before jumping down into the crowd where security staff held him back .
The Metropolitan police has confirmed to Newsbeat that no complaints were made , police did not attend the event and there is no investigation into what happened .
Slowthai had previously been announced as the ambassador for next month 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been withdrawn since the NME Awards .
`` The individual record shops who organise Record Store Day have spoken this morning and have unanimously agreed that Slowthai 's behaviour and statements do not reflect their values or those of Record Store Day , '' a spokesperson says in a statement .
Slowthai , who was nominated in seven categories , also won best collaboration with Mura Masa for Deal Wiv it .
Taylor Swift was also honoured at the ceremony , picking up the best solo act in the world award .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a previous NME award she won she is now able to display two of the middle finger-shaped trophies side by side in her home .
She added : `` This is like the craziest awards show I have ever been to , thank you . ''
In the other categories Little Simz picked up the award for best British album for GREY Area , while AJ Tracey won best British song with Ladbroke Grove .
The best album in the world award went to Lana Del Rey 's Norman F***ing Rockwell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Billie Eilish for Bad Guy .
Best British solo artist went to FKA twigs and best British band was chosen as The 1975 .
US heavy metal band Slipknot won the best band in the world gong .
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

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bbcuk--2020-02-13--Labour calls for investigation into PM's £15,000 holiday

Labour has called for an investigation into who funded Boris Johnson 's Caribbean holiday over the New Year .
The MPs ' register of interests stated the accommodation had a `` value '' of £15,000 and was covered by Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross .
Mr Ross initially said he had not paid for the holiday , but in a clarification insisted the register `` is correct '' and he had `` facilitated accommodation '' .
Downing Street said the trip had been properly registered .
The prime minister took the holiday to Mustique , a private island that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with girlfriend Carrie Symonds between Boxing Day 2019 and 5 January 2020 .
Labour 's Jon Trickett has now asked the parliamentary commissioner for standards to investigate who paid for it .
In a letter to the watchdog , the shadow Cabinet Office minister said : `` The code of conduct requires members to provide the name of the person or organisation that actually funded a donation . ''
He said that the `` evidence suggests it was not David Ross '' who funded the donation and that the entry made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ register of interests `` appears to be incorrect '' .
Mr Trickett said a number of questions needed `` urgently answering '' , including `` the true source of the £15,000 donation '' and `` did the PM knowingly make a false entry into the register '' .
`` Transparency is crucial to ensuring that the public have confidence that elected Members of this House have not been unduly influence by any donations or gifts that they may receive , '' he added .
Mr Johnson 's entry in the register of interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a private holiday for my partner and me , value £15,000 '' .
But a spokesman for Mr Ross told the Daily Mail : `` Boris wanted some help to find somewhere in Mustique , David called the company who run all the villas and somebody had dropped out .
`` So Boris got the use of a villa that was worth £15,000 , but David Ross did not pay any monies whatsoever for this . ''
A later statement from the spokesman added : `` Mr Ross facilitated accommodation for Mr Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Therefore this is a benefit in kind from Mr Ross to Mr Johnson , and Mr Johnson 's declaration to the House of Commons is correct . ''
A Downing Street spokesperson said : `` All transparency requirements have been followed , as set out in the Register of Members ' Financial Interests '' .
A spokeswoman for the standards commissioner said the office could not confirm whether an investigation had been opened into the prime minister .
She explained this was due to a decision by MPs in 2018 to allow colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross has not provided any further details as to what he means , in this context , by a 'benefit in kind . '
But sources in Westminster have suggested to me that this could refer to some sort of swap whereby David Ross agreed to give up his own property - at a later date - in order to facilitate the prime minister 's stay elsewhere on the island .
And , I 'm told , that there was no kind of cash donation .
But until there 's total clarity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep coming .
Such as , whose villa did Boris Johnson stay at ?
And opposition parties may not wish to miss the chance of pointing out that the PM did n't pay for at least part of his own holiday .
Mr Ross was one of Mr Johnson 's aides in City Hall and was appointed to the Olympics organising committee .
But he resigned from the roles , and his company , over a share scandal in 2008 .
It emerged Mr Ross had used millions of pounds ' worth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans without informing the company 's other directors - a potential breach of City rules at the time .
Mr Ross has been a long-standing donor to the Conservative Party , pledging £250,000 in the last election campaign .
Mr Johnson faced criticism over his holiday for not returning sooner , after the US killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani raised tensions in the Middle East .
In April 2019 Mr Johnson was rebuked by the parliamentary commissioner for standards for failing to register a share of a Somerset property within 28 days @ @ @ @

But sources in Westminster have suggested to me that this could refer to some sort of swap whereby David Ross agreed to give up his own property - at a later date - in order to facilitate the prime minister's stay elsewhere on the island.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Jamaica deportation: 'I feel I was punished twice when I was deported'

Amid controversy and protests , 17 convicted offenders - many of them living in the UK since childhood - were deported to Jamaica .
BBC Newsnight has been following their stories .
`` If somebody commits a crime and they went to prison for it , and they 've been rehabilitated , why would you punish them again by deporting them to Jamaica ? ''
says Rayan Crawford .
Mr Crawford had not set foot in Jamaica since he was 12 years old , he says .
Now 34 , he is living there at the house of his sister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Back home in Bow , east London , he has a partner of 14 years , Jana , as well as two boys aged three and 12 .
He served 12 months in prison after he was convicted of burglary in 2017 .
Then , on 27 January , 10 officials detained him at his home .
He and 16 others were flown out of the UK on Monday , designated as `` serious foreign national offenders '' by the government .
The Home Office said those detained included people convicted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them had their cases `` fully reviewed '' to ensure there were no legal barriers to their removal .
It said Mr Crawford was convicted 10 times for a total of 22 offences , including the burglary .
`` We make no apology whatsoever for seeking to remove dangerous foreign criminals , '' a spokesman said .
But Mr Crawford says his deportation did not make anyone safer .
`` I regret what I 've done , but I do n't think I 'm a danger to the public , '' he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was risking another Windrush scandal , in which the children of Commonwealth citizens were threatened with deportation despite living in the UK for decades .
A leaked report into the scandal , revealed by Newsnight last week , recommended that the UK stop deporting people who had arrived in the UK as children or reserve deportation for the most serious cases .
Under both of these tests it would be unlikely that Rayan Crawford would be eligible for deportation .
Mr Crawford says he voted for Boris Johnson and thought he was going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but believes the law around deportation needs to be re-examined .
`` I feel British , '' he says .
`` I 've been there from a child .
I went to school there , I went to college there .
I spent my whole life there . ''
His belongings are still in the UK , he adds , with a plastic bag containing two pairs of jeans being all he could bring with him .
Mr Crawford , who has inflammatory arthritis and the bone disorder Blount 's disease , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his medication .
He says officials told him if he did not have the medication for his arthritis with him when he was detained , they could not give it to him .
`` I thought I was going to have a heart attack , I was panicking so much I started getting pain in my chest .
Even on the plane I was crying .
My back was killing me so much I was crying . ''
The Home Office said individuals were assessed to establish they were medically fit to fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removal flights with their medical notes and those with pre-existing conditions were brought to the attention of accompanying medical staff .
Mr Crawford believes the medication he needs is not available in Jamaica .
He adds that he had been told in detention he could not access the medication without doctors ' reports .
Now he does not know what the future holds .
`` There 's nothing around here to do .
There 's no work to do or anything .
Even finding somewhere to stay - I do n't know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am I going to go from here ? ''

"There's nothing around here to do. There's no work to do or anything. Even finding somewhere to stay - I don't know how long I can stay here. Where am I going to go from here?"


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Ticket touts: Ed Sheeran and Harry Potter play ticket traders guilty of trade fraud

Two online ticket touts who made millions reselling tickets for high profile gigs and plays have been found guilty of fraudulent trading .
Peter Hunter and David Smith tricked selling sites over two-and-a-half years , buying £4m worth of tickets that they sold for £10.8m .
They targeted events including Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift gigs and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child , Leeds Crown Court heard .
They will be sentenced on 24 February .
The prosecution is the first of its kind in the UK since the York-based National Trading Standards ( NTS ) eCrime team began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet in 2017 .
During a three-month trial , prosecutors said the married couple used multiple identities and computer bots to harvest large numbers of tickets for a range of events .
They sold the tickets on secondary ticketing sites , including the `` big four '' - Viagogo , GetMein , StubHub and Seatwave - at inflated prices , the prosecution said .
Jonathan Sandiford , prosecuting , told the jury that Hunter and Smith were `` dishonest fraudsters motivated by greed '' .
NTS said Hunter and Smith deployed at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 290 email addresses to evade platform restrictions .
Sheeran 's manager Stuart Camp told jurors the act had decided to take a stand against touts after spotting £75 seats at a charity gig on sale for £7,000 .
But Hunter and Smith , both from north London , argued they did nothing wrong .
Hunter 's defence team told the jury that they were a trusted source of tickets with thousands of positive reviews .
Ben Douglas-Jones QC , for Hunter , said his client was no more greedy than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the prosecution 's focus on high-profile , high sought-after events missed the point that sellers like Hunter , who is originally from Dublin , provided a valuable service to acts who struggled to sell out venues and to customers who found it difficult to buy from the primary sellers in the tiny windows when tickets are issued .
Mr Douglas-Jones said his client accepted breaching terms and conditions of the ticket sellers but said that was not a criminal act and it was known across the industry many of the rules were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , 66 , of Crossfield Road , were both found guilty of fraudulent trading and possessing an article for fraud .
Granting them bail until sentencing , Judge Mushtaq Khokhar warned the men they could be jailed .

He said the prosecution's focus on high-profile, high sought-after events missed the point that sellers like Hunter, who is originally from Dublin, provided a valuable service to acts who struggled to sell out venues and to customers who found it difficult to buy from the primary sellers in the tiny windows when tickets are issued.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Bradford policeman guilty of insurance fraud

A serving police officer has been found guilty of making a fraudulent insurance claim - after his own dashcam footage incriminated him .
Mohammed Yasin Mulla had claimed flying debris cracked his car 's windscreen , causing injury and repair costs .
Mulla , a West Yorkshire Police officer , made claims of about £10,000 after driving on the M606 in Bradford .
He was found guilty of fraud by false representation and sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work , plus court costs .
The 38-year-old , of Elwyn Grove , Bradford , claimed debris that flew off a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windscreen and caused damage to the bonnet and roof .
He also claimed to have suffered neck and shoulder injuries because he had suddenly swerved and braked .
However , his trial at Leeds Crown Court heard that Mulla 's own dashcam footage showed a piece of polystyrene flying towards his car , but missing it .
It did not cause any damage and Mulla had not tried to avoid it .
Det Ch Supt Oz Khan said West Yorkshire Police 's professional standards directorate was investigating and would consider `` appropriate action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restricted duties , '' he added .
Det Con Peter Gartland , of City of London Police , which led the investigation , said : `` Police officers are expected to be honest and act with integrity , and the vast majority do , but cases such as this one threaten to damage the police 's reputation . ''
Allianz Insurance suspected a fraudulent claim and forwarded the case in January 2018 .
James Burge , of Allianz , said : `` What was unusual in this case , was that the defendant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incriminating him . ''
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Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .

However, his trial at Leeds Crown Court heard that Mulla's own dashcam footage showed a piece of polystyrene flying towards his car, but missing it. It did not cause any damage and Mulla had not tried to avoid it.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--MP Tracy Brabin's off-the-shoulder dress sells for £20k

Labour MP Tracy Brabin raised £20,000 for charity after auctioning an off-the-shoulder dress which caused controversy in the Commons .
She faced criticism from `` keyboard warriors '' after her dress slipped down her shoulder as she leaned on the despatch box due to a broken ankle .
The Batley and Spen MP put the black Asos dress up for sale on eBay with proceeds going to Girlguiding .
Ms Brabin said young girls ' `` lives will be changed because of this money '' .
• More news from across Yorkshire Ms Brabin had been raising a point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists being asked to leave a Downing Street press briefing on the next stage of Brexit talks , when her shoulder was exposed .
The shadow culture secretary said she had been to a music event earlier in the day and was not expecting to be called to the despatch box .
Ms Brabin later told BBC Breakfast she had been `` startled by the vitriolic nature '' of some comments she had received online .
She said it was her responsibility to `` call it out '' , adding : `` Women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every day because of what they wear . ''
The garment was listed on eBay as a `` Black dress worn by Tracy Brabin MP in 'shouldergate ' as widely covered across the media '' .
Ms Brabin said the dress had been `` flying off the shelves as a result of the coverage . ''
The size 12 pencil dress attracted 180 bids with two potential buyers battling it out until the last minute .
It eventually eventually went for £20,200 as bidding closed on Thursday evening .
Ms Brabin said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a charity for girls and young women in the UK , `` in the hope that they grow up to be leaders '' .
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Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Peterborough Roman Catholic primary gets green light

A council has approved the first state-funded Catholic school to be built in England for more than a decade .
Plans for the primary school at the new Hampton Water development in Peterborough were approved on Wednesday night , despite an 11th-hour challenge from three city councillors .
The school has been criticised over `` discriminatory '' selection criteria .
Jonathan Lewis , of Peterborough City Council , said : `` Meeting local need is always the priority . ''
It will open to 90 children in 2022 , growing to accommodate 630 pupils .
The government will pay 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the city council contributing between £1.1m and £1.5m .
Campaigners said the decision was `` discriminatory '' for prioritising pupils on faith , while there are concerns over increased traffic on the nearby A15 .
If the school is oversubscribed , it will make selection 80 % Catholic faith-based , with the rest chosen by proximity .
The council said the admissions policy would be `` reviewed annually by the school governing body '' .
Mr Lewis , director of education , said the criteria for primary school admission was `` never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have an obligation to provide school places and we feel the proposal is a positive one , '' he said .
`` We have looked at the numbers and I 'm very confident that in the Hampton area there are four other schools within a mile , so we can meet that need . ''
There are currently 25 schools within the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia .
Parent Tracy Butler , who protested at the meeting , said she was `` disgusted '' the council `` did n't vote with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a school that all local children can go to , '' she said .
`` There are families here of different faiths and no faiths and the council has taken that choice away . ''
Joseph McCrossan , head teacher of St Alban 's Roman Catholic Primary School in Cambridge , said faith schools across the diocese were largely mixed .
`` In my experience Catholic schools look at the wider community , at global issues , at other faiths , cultures and values .
We celebrate that . ''

"We have looked at the numbers and I'm very confident that in the Hampton area there are four other schools within a mile, so we can meet that need."


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Who is in Boris Johnson's new cabinet?

Who is in Boris Johnson's new cabinet?

Boris Johnson 's election win in December secured him the largest Tory majority in Parliament since 1987 .
While his @ @ @ @ @ get Brexit done '' , Mr Johnson has said his `` one nation government '' @ @ @ @ @ investment in the NHS '' .
Mr Johnson succeeded Theresa May as prime minister in @ @ @ @ @ foreign secretary since 2016 in what was only his first cabinet post .
His views @ @ @ @ @ brought him into conflict with Mrs May , and led to his resignation in 2018 @

Boris Johnson's election win in December secured him the largest Tory majority in Parliament since 1987.
While his election campaign promised to "get Brexit done", Mr Johnson has said his "one nation government" will also "massively increase investment in the NHS".
Mr Johnson succeeded Theresa May as prime minister in July, having served as foreign secretary since 2016 in what was only his first cabinet post.
His views on how to deliver Brexit brought him into conflict with Mrs May, and led to his resignation in 2018.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Who is the new chancellor Rishi Sunak?

Who is the new chancellor Rishi Sunak?

Following the shock resignation of Chancellor Sajid Javid , a new chancellor has been appointed .
With just four weeks to go until the Budget , one of the main events in the calendar for the UK Treasury , Mr Javid has been replaced by 39-year-old Chancellor Rishi Sunak .
So who is Mr Sunak , and what is his background ?
Mr Sunak has been the Conservative MP for Richmond in Yorkshire since 2015 .
He lives in Kirby Sigston , just outside the town of Northallerton .
His father was a GP , and his mother was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Indian origin - came to the UK from east Africa .
• Listen : Political Thinking with Nick Robinson - The Rishi Sunak One He was born in 1980 in Southampton in Hampshire , and studied at the exclusive private school Winchester College .
Mr Sunak then went on to Oxford University to read Philosophy , Politics and Economics , a tried and trusted route for aspiring Westminster politicians .
He also studied for an MBA at Stanford University .
Before entering politics he worked for investment bank Goldman Sachs and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm .
His wife - Akshata Murthy - is the daughter of Indian billionaire and co-founder of IT services giant Infosys Narayana Murthy .
The couple have two daughters .
Mr Sunak campaigned for Leave in the EU referendum , and his constituency voted 55 % Leave .
He voted for Theresa May 's Brexit deal on all three occasions , and was an early supporter of Boris Johnson , making a number of media appearances in his support .
In July 2019 Mr Sunak was picked by Mr Johnson to be chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliamentary under-secretary in the Ministry of Housing , Communities and Local Government from January 2018 to July 2019 .
Mr Sunak is seen as a rising star in the Conservatives , with endorsements from people including former Conservative Party leader Lord Hague of Richmond , who has described Mr Sunak as an `` exceptional individual '' .
He was also endorsed by Mr Javid , who in a recent tweet said `` The force is strong with young Sunak '' in reference to a phrase from Disney 's Star Wars franchise .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football and watching films , according to his website .
One of his childhood heroes was Southampton football player Matt Le Tissier .
`` One of my prized possessions is an 18th birthday card signed by the entire Saints team , but Matt in the middle there , which I 've still got , '' Mr Sunak told the BBC in an October 2019 interview .
Mr Sunak has said his Asian identity matters to him .
`` I 'm a first generation immigrant .
My parents emigrated here , so you 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born here , their parents were not born here , and they 've come to this country to make a life , '' he said .
`` In terms of cultural upbringing , I 'd be at the temple at the weekend - I 'm a Hindu - but I 'd also be at the Saints game as well on a Saturday - you do everything , you do both . ''
In the interview he said he had been `` fortunate '' not to have to endure much racism growing up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident that sticks in my head '' .
`` I was just out with my younger brother and younger sister , and I think , probably pretty young , I was probably a mid-teenager , and we were out at a fast food restaurant and I was just looking after them .
There were people sitting nearby , it was the first time I 'd experienced it , just saying some very unpleasant things .
The ' P ' word . ''
`` And it stung .
I still remember it .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be insulted in many different ways , certainly in this job , but that stings in a way that is hard to explain . ''
However , he said he `` ca n't conceive of that happening today '' in the UK .

"I was just out with my younger brother and younger sister, and I think, probably pretty young, I was probably a mid-teenager, and we were out at a fast food restaurant and I was just looking after them. There were people sitting nearby, it was the first time I'd experienced it, just saying some very unpleasant things. The 'P' word.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--T-levels: What are they and who is going to study them?

A new vocational qualification , the T-level , is to be introduced in England in September 2020 .
But what are they , who are they meant for , and why are they being introduced ?
Aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds , they will focus on practical , rather than academic subjects .
Courses will be introduced from September 2020 and last two years .
They will include a mixture of classroom learning and on-the-job experience , with a work placement of at least 315 hours - about nine weeks .
Vocational students can currently choose between thousands of different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T-levels will make things less confusing for students and employers .
T-level students will have a range of subjects to choose from , including accountancy , catering , finance , hair and beauty and manufacturing .
Those who successfully complete their course will be awarded one of four overall grades , ranging from a distinction* to a pass .
They will receive a nationally recognised certificate showing their overall grade and listing what they have achieved .
T-levels are being introduced in England only .
For the rest of the UK , Btecs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NVQs ( available in England , Wales and Northern Ireland ) and other vocational courses like Scottish Vocational Qualifications ( SVQs ) will continue to apply .
T-levels are aimed at students seeking an alternative to A-levels .
They are also targeted at those who do not wish to take an apprenticeship , which usually requires 80 % of a student 's time to be spent with an employer .
Instead , T-levels will offer a mix of classroom study and technical training , and subjects , such as maths , English and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of qualifications awarded to 16 to 18-year-olds in England are for vocational courses , like Btecs and City & Guilds .
• Who are the students who do n't do A-levels ?
What do they replace ?
There are currently more than 12,000 vocational qualifications at all levels , offered by more than 150 awarding bodies , says Ofqual , which oversees qualifications .
Some courses are studied by just a few students or none at all .
There are also many different qualifications to choose from for certain skills , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department for Education is to stop funding about 40 % of these qualifications as it introduces T-levels .
What will a T-level be worth ?
Students who successfully complete a T-level will have a qualification which compares to having studied three A-levels , the government says .
And those who achieve the very top grade will have the equivalent of three A*s at A-level .
For those hoping to go on to university , admissions service Ucas says a starred distinction will be worth 168 Ucas points - the same as three A*s. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the equivalent of three Bs at A-level .
Why were they introduced ?
T-levels were announced in 2017 as one outcome of a government review of education after the age of 16 .
The aim was to have teenagers `` work-fit '' in a number of key industries .
Former Prime Minister Theresa May had previously announced plans to slash the number of vocational courses available .
At the time , the government said this would help avoid confusion for students and employers .
But some organisations are questioning why a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be funded by the government , when there has been no major review of the more than 50,000 degree courses available in the UK .

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bbcuk--2020-02-14--LGBT racism: 'I felt like a piece of meat'

'How far we 've come since the ban was lifted' Two decades after the ban on gay people serving in @ @ @ @ @ three people share their stories .

Racism within the LGBT community leave black people suffering poor mental health, a leading charity says.
Research by Stonewall shows that 61% of ethnic minority LGBT people have experienced racism through online dating apps or in person.
LGBT correspondent Ben Hunte went to one of the only club nights dedicated to black and Asian LGBT people to hear people's experiences.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Johnson's reshuffle: A tighter grip on cabinet?

Leila Nathoo looks back at the day in politics , as the PM 's reshuffle went further than even he @ @ @

Leila Nathoo looks back at the day in politics, as the PM's reshuffle went further than even he perhaps expected.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Tackling the fly-tippers who dump by the truckload

Large-scale fly-tipping is on the increase across England and London is getting hit the worst .
In Harrow , which @ @ @ @ @ such incidents over the past eight years , enforcement teams are trying to get tough @ @ @ @ @ authority is one of only two to issue the maximum £50,000 fine for dumping illegally @ @ @ @ @ covered with waste .
Officers traced a marked bean can back to the owner of @ @ @ @ @ hidden cameras to catch him in the act .

Large-scale fly-tipping is on the increase across England and London is getting hit the worst.
In Harrow, which has seen more than 4,000 such incidents over the past eight years, enforcement teams are trying to get tough on the tippers.
The authority is one of only two to issue the maximum £50,000 fine for dumping illegally after a playing field was covered with waste.
Officers traced a marked bean can back to the owner of a maintenance company and placed hidden cameras to catch him in the act.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--London sixth-formers get 'Smiles' bags out to the homeless

Sixth former Tahiyat launched her `` Smile Bags '' campaign to bring a little cheer to the homeless people she @ @ @ @ @ school .
The bags are filled with toiletries , dried foods and sanitary products .
@ @ @ @ @ by her friends , who are getting local businesses involved in making donations , so @ @ @ @ @ to the streets .

Sixth former Tahiyat launched her "Smile Bags" campaign to bring a little cheer to the homeless people she sees on her way to school.
The bags are filled with toiletries, dried foods and sanitary products.
Now Tahiyat has been joined by her friends, who are getting local businesses involved in making donations, so they can get the bags to the streets.
Video by Gem O'Reilly


bbcuk--2020-02-13--The Papers: PM's 'power grab' and Harry and Meghan 'axe team'

Mr Javid 's resignation was the result of a `` brutal power struggle '' , the Financial Times says .
@ @ @ @ @ out in protest after clashing with Boris Johnson 's most senior adviser , Dominic Cummings @ @ @ @ @ the UK 's finances after leaving the EU .
The front page also finds room @ @ @ @ @ writer Robert Shrimsley , who writes : `` While Mr Javid 's departure was clearly @ @ @ @ @ theme of this reshufffle - that compliance trumps competence .

He writes that during their meeting, Mr Johnson congratulated the job his chancellor had done during the election campaign, only introducing the idea which would lead to Mr Javid's resignation as a "throwaway" remark at the end of the meeting.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Missing Leah Croucher's dad in threat to name man 'hiding information'

The father of a woman who vanished a year ago has threatened to `` publicly name '' a man he believes is hiding key information about his daughter .
Leah Croucher , then 19 , disappeared in Milton Keynes on 15 February 2019 .
A wide-scale investigation was launched in an attempt to find Leah , who was last seen at about 08:15 GMT in Buzzacott Lane , in the Furzton area .
Her father John Croucher said he was aware of `` someone who knows something and is hiding it '' .
Ms Croucher was last seen by her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 22:00 GMT on 14 February .
She told her family she was meeting a friend that night but police said the meeting did not happen and have appealed for information on where she was between 18:00 and 19:15 GMT .
Speaking at a police press conference , Mr Croucher said the `` selfish person '' needed to come forward as the disappearance was `` destroying the family '' .
`` I will name him .
If the police do n't like it , tough .
I will name him publicly if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information the police need , '' he said .
Det Ch Insp Andy Howard , senior investigating officer with Thames Valley Police , said he thought there were friends or associates of Leah who `` potentially hold more information about Leah 's life than they are willing to share with the police so far '' .
But he suggested he was less sure those people would also know why she had disappeared .
`` From our inquiries regarding information on what happened to Leah , I do n't believe that necessarily there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Ms Croucher 's parents Claire and John Croucher said they feared someone may have taken their daughter because they questioned why she would `` just disappear '' .
`` Every day I feel like I 've given up hope , and it 's a big struggle to get that hope back , '' said Mrs Croucher .
She told of her family 's further heartbreak following the death of Leah 's brother , who she said found the disappearance of his sister `` very difficult '' .
Haydon Croucher , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , the day after the nine-month anniversary of his sister 's disappearance .
Mrs Croucher said : `` They 've destroyed our entire family and I do n't think they will ever come forward with their information . ''
The appeal came as Thames Valley Police revealed a reward for any information about Leah 's whereabouts had been doubled to £10,000 .
Police are looking to establish the identity of a woman seen near Furzton Lake between 09:30 and 11:15 GMT on the day of her disappearance .
Anyone with any information @ @ @ @ @ @

"I will name him. If the police don't like it, tough. I will name him publicly if he doesn't come forward soon with the information the police need," he said.


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Mossmorran: Huge flaring during chemical plant restart

Huge gas flaring was visible at the Mossmorran petrochemical plant in Fife on Thursday night as operators ExxonMobil restart the plant .
Many local residents took to social media to complain , with reports of the flames being visible from Edinburgh .
The plant was shut down last year following persistent flaring episodes .
ExxonMobil said the elevated flare was being used as part of the restart work , and apologised for any intrusion .
A spokesman said the process of restarting the plant was `` safe and controlled '' , adding : `` Our team are working to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flare . ''
He continued : `` We apologise to communities for any concern that we may have caused . ''
In recent years local residents have complained of repeated unscheduled flaring incidents leading to noise , disturbed sleep , light pollution and vibration to houses .
The process of flaring involves burning off gas that can not be processed .
The site , which is shared by ExxonMobil Chemical Ltd and Shell Fife NGL , is used to produce ethylene .
Although the technique is legally permitted , it causes significant light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obliged to minimise .
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( Sepa ) said in a post on social media that it was `` receiving a high volume of calls '' about the flaring , adding that it was `` working hard to address the root-causes of 'unacceptable flaring ' , making flaring an exception rather than the routine '' .
It added that it was requiring the operator to make changes which would make a `` real difference to local communities '' .
Residents from miles around the plant , which is close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complain - with one Twitter user in Edinburgh describing the flare `` as bright as streetlights '' , despite being 12 miles ( 19km ) away .


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Brandon Lewis replaces Julian Smith as NI secretary

Brandon Lewis has been appointed the new Northern Ireland secretary .
He replaces Julian Smith , who was fired after 204 days in the job and had helped to restore power-sharing at Stormont .
Mr Lewis is a former chair of the Conservative Party and , most recently , a security minister in Boris Johnson 's cabinet .
Shortly after his appointment was announced , he posted on Twitter that he was `` honoured '' to take on the role .
Mr Lewis has been the MP for Great Yarmouth on the east coast of England since 2010 .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 but later said he would support leaving the EU as he was `` first and foremost a democrat '' .
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she would speak to Mr Lewis on Friday morning .
The Sinn Féin vice-president posted on Twitter that she had several issues to discuss with him .
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he hoped Mr Lewis would act with `` fairness and integrity '' in his work in Northern Ireland .
Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said Mr Lewis would face a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` let the grass grow under his feet '' .
The Northern Ireland branch of the business body the Institute of Directors said it wanted to meet the new secretary of state soon to `` discuss concerns of business leaders '' .
In 2018 , when Mr Lewis was a Cabinet Office minister , he visited the Irish border and later met businesses in Belfast to hear their concerns about Brexit .
Last year , during an interview with the BBC , Mr Lewis said that after Brexit checks on some goods leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required if those goods were then destined to leave the UK .
But he disputed the accuracy of a leaked government document that stated customs declarations checks would be highly disruptive and separate Northern Ireland from Great Britain .
Mr Lewis becomes the fourth Northern Ireland secretary in four years .
His three most-recent predecessors are : Mr Lewis takes up the job just weeks after a deal was reached to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland after a three-year impasse .
Mr Smith was widely credited with overseeing efforts to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the executive together .


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Storm Ciara: Nine homes evacuated after landslide in Conwy county

Nine homes have been evacuated following a large landslip , thought to have been caused by Storm Ciara .
People are being advised to stay away from Crafnant , near Trefriw in Conwy county , by Natural Resources Wales ( NRW ) and Conwy council and roads and footpaths have been closed .
Staff from NRW will work with geoscience and engineering experts to monitor the landslide .
More rain is expected from Storm Dennis over the weekend .
A woman in her 80s , who lives alone , was one of the nine households evacuated .
Others included families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomos Jones .
Trefriw councillor Tomos Jones said : `` The elderly resident lived nearest the landslide .
I believe she 's staying with her family in Trefriw .
`` Another resident lives near the bridge that was taken out by the landslide . ''
Sian Williams , NRW 's head of operations in north west Wales , said : `` We are working quickly with a number of partners to monitor the landslip and determine if there are any movements .
`` In the meantime , North Wales Police , Conwy County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents of nine properties to evacuate their homes , as there is a concern that this area remains unstable with an immediate risk to properties and highways in the area . ''

"In the meantime, North Wales Police, Conwy County Borough Council and NRW have advised the residents of nine properties to evacuate their homes, as there is a concern that this area remains unstable with an immediate risk to properties and highways in the area."


bbcuk--2020-02-13--Oxford grooming trial: Three men jailed for sexually abusing girl

Three men have been jailed for sexually abusing a schoolgirl in Oxford following an investigation into child sexual exploitation .
Naim Khan , 41 , Mohammed Nazir , 44 , and Raheem Ahmed , 42 , were found guilty of 35 offences against the girl when she was aged between 13 and 15 .
Oxford Crown Court heard the girl was used as a `` sexual commodity '' by older men between 1999 and 2001 .
Khan was sentenced to 24 years , Nazir to 20 years , and Ahmed to five years .
In an impact statement read to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had suffered from `` severe stress and anxiety '' as a result of the crimes committed against her .
She said she struggled to live a normal life day-to-day and she still had a fear of going outside .
`` My life has been destroyed , '' her statement said .
`` I can not form loving or lasting relationships with men .
I have not been able to care for my children as a mother should be able to . ''
To deal with her trauma , she had become addicted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
Judge Peter Ross said the victim came in contact with Khan who was part of a grooming gang that was operating on the Cowley Road .
He said through the supply of cannabis and alcohol , the victim and another girl were `` sucked into the vortex that was this grooming gang '' .
`` This group preyed upon young vulnerable teenage girls , '' he added .
He said the girls were given a `` sense of belonging , a sense of esteem , a sense of adulthood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it generated a `` sense of obligation '' which made them `` feel that the sexual abuse perpetrated on them was merely the behaviour of adults '' .
Judge Ross said Nazir was `` not part of the grooming gang '' but `` took full advantage '' of the vulnerable girl .
He said both Khan and Nazir `` pimped out '' their victim for financial reward .
The three men are the last to be sentenced as part of Operation Silk , a Thames Valley Police investigation into non-recent child sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Herschel Crescent , Oxford , was also convicted of indecently assaulting a second girl .
He was found guilty of eight counts of rape , seven counts of indecent assault and one count of supplying a Class B drug .
Nazir , formerly of Wood Farm Road , Oxford , was convicted of seven counts of rape , eight counts of indecent assault and one count of supplying a Class B drug .
Ahmed , formerly of Starwort Path , Oxford , was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug .
Thirteen men have been convicted since Operation Silk was launched in 2015 .
During the trial prosecutor Alan Gardner told the jury the attacks took place `` in parks , lavatories , unoccupied houses , and flats '' .
He said the men created `` the notion that sexual activity was part of the deal , something to be provided by the girls in return for what the males gave them '' .
He added : `` There had been grooming behaviour designed to extinguish freedom of choice , to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Investigator Mark Glover said the victims had shown `` bravery , commitment and resilience '' during the `` traumatic process '' of the investigation .
He added : `` The abuse to which they were subjected to by these men was horrendous and sadistic .
`` They were targeted because they were vulnerable and groomed to the point where they did not believe that what was happening to them was wrong .
`` They have had to live with the actions of these predatory offenders for the majority of their lives and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They will never be able to forget what happened to them all those years ago , however I hope they all know what a crucial part they have played in bringing to justice the men who subjected them to such vile abuse for such a long time . ''
A fourth defendant , Afzal Mohammed , 42 , of Randolph Street , Oxford , was found not guilty of one count of rape .
Khan was also accused of one count of kidnap and another of false improvement , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those charges .
It also could not reach verdicts on two further counts of rape against Ahmed .

"They will never be able to forget what happened to them all those years ago, however I hope they all know what a crucial part they have played in bringing to justice the men who subjected them to such vile abuse for such a long time."


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Cabinet reshuffle: New team meeting after Sajid Javid quits

Boris Johnson 's new cabinet is meeting for the first time , following a reshuffle that saw Sajid Javid quit his role as chancellor .
The prime minister had offered to reappoint Mr Javid on the condition he fire his team of aides - a demand rejected by Mr Javid on Thursday .
Rishi Sunak , former chief secretary to the Treasury , said he had `` lots to get on with '' after replacing Mr Javid .
The PM told his ministers to focus on delivering Tory election promises .
Opening the meeting , he congratulated those present on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs .
He said they needed to get on with their `` basic work '' of improving the livelihoods of all the British people and , in particular , spreading economic opportunity more widely across the UK .
`` We have to repay the trust of those who voted for us in large numbers in December . ''
• Who is in Boris Johnson 's new cabinet ?
Mr Javid , who had been due to deliver his first Budget in March , said he was left with `` no option '' but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' could accept the prime minister 's demands .
His departure from the cabinet follows rumours of tension between Mr Javid and the prime minister 's senior adviser , Dominic Cummings .
In his resignation letter , Mr Javid - who was in his Bromsgrove constituency on Friday opening a Pensioners Fair - said : `` I believe it is important as leaders to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity that you would wish to be associated with . ''
Downing Street said there would now be a joint team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prime minister .
Losing a chancellor is no small event , and it was n't what Boris Johnson set out to do .
But yesterday shows that No 10 's priority was political control rather than keeping personnel they valued .
When Mr Javid refused , they chose instead to see him leave .
This begs a wider question - is it stronger to share power or hoard it ?
Boris Johnson and his team have made the choice to do the latter - to lose a chancellor rather than allow a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next door neighbour .
Read more from Laura here .
A Downing Street spokesman would not confirm whether or not the Budget scheduled for 11 March would go ahead as planned .
`` Extensive preparations have already been carried out for the Budget and they will continue at pace , '' he said .
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC Mr Javid had been a `` great public servant '' but defended No 10 's actions , saying it was important it and the Treasury worked together as `` closely as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there is a co-ordinated economic function in this country , '' he told Breakfast .
`` What was proposed and what will now happen is we bring together the back office teams that help to advise the prime minister ... and those that advise the chancellor .
`` I think that it is sensible because we have a lot to do .
We were elected a few weeks ago with a big mission to level up the country and get things done for the people - whether that is on the NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So we need to have a strong team working as one . ''
• Islam : Test for the new chancellor • Alok Sharma to be president of climate conference Other ministers to depart in Thursday 's shake-up include Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey who , along with Mr Javid , were among those who lost out to Mr Johnson 's in last summer Conservative leadership contest .
Cabinet members remaining in place include Home Secretary Priti Patel ; Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab ; Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove ; Health Secretary Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ; Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ; Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg ; and Chief Whip Mark Spencer .
Those without a government role after the reshuffle include former Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom , former Housing Minister Esther McVey , former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers and former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox .
Julian Smith was also sacked as Northern Ireland Secretary - weeks after he brokered the deal that restored the power-sharing administration in Stormont .
Speaking on Friday , he said his dismissal was `` not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brandon Lewis well in dealing with the `` key '' challenges facing Northern Ireland , including historical legacy issues and abortion law reforms .
Asked about his own plans , he said they included `` things like going to the pub '' .
Newcomers at the cabinet meeting on Friday will include Anne-Marie Trevelyan , who replaces Alok Sharma as international development secretary ; Amanda Milling , who is minister without portfolio and chairwoman of the Conservative Party ; and Suella Braverman , who takes on the role of attorney general after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
There had been rumours that the Department for International Development could be closed , but while it remains open , No 10 appears to have merged its ministerial team with the Foreign Office .
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said there had been two joint ministers ahead of the reshuffle , but by the end of Thursday , there were seven joint posts across the two departments .

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bbcuk--2020-02-14--Midrar Ali: Parents lose court appeal over baby's treatment

Doctors can stop providing medical treatment for a brain dead baby , the Court of Appeal has ruled .
The three appeal judges analysed evidence on four-month-old Midrar Ali after a High Court judge concluded that treatment could be withdrawn .
Midrar 's father said the ruling was `` terrible '' , after arguing their son had been showing `` signs of life '' .
But doctors at St Mary 's Hospital in Manchester said Midrar should be allowed a `` kind and dignified death '' .
Mrs Justice Lieven , who analysed evidence at a trial in the Family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month , had concluded that Midrar was brain-stem dead .
Midrar 's parents , Karwan Ali , 35 , and Shokhan Namiq , 28 , who live in Manchester , had asked appeal judges to overturn this ruling .
They said he was still growing and that doctors could not be sure that he will not improve , which meant more tests should be carried out .
But appeal judges Sir Andrew McFarlane , Lord Justice Patten and Lady Justice King dismissed their challenge , saying stopping the treatment was in Midrar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Midrar 's parents did not have an arguable case , and declared that their son died at 20:01 GMT on October 1 , when he would have been 14 days old .
Sir Andrew said evidence showed that `` awfully '' Midrar no longer has a `` brain that is recognisable as such '' .
`` There is no basis for contemplating that any further tests would result in a different outcome , '' he said .
Midrar was starved of oxygen when the umbilical cord came out ahead of his birth on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University NHS Foundation Trust , which runs St Mary 's Hospital , has previously said that Midrar has always been on a ventilator and has never breathed independently .
It said his organs were deteriorating and continuing to treat Midrar was `` undignified '' .
Lawyers representing the hospital 's trust said three tests had confirmed brain stem death .
Speaking after the latest legal ruling , Mr Ali said : `` I 'm just reading what the appeal judges have said , then we 'll discuss it with our lawyers .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be 100 % sure he is dead .
He 's still growing .
His eyes move .
I 've seen them move . ''
The family 's solicitor , David Foster , said Midrar 's parents were considering an appeal and would like the court to `` give weight to experts from outside the UK '' .
`` They believe the law in this area should be reviewed and do not consider Midrar 's condition is necessarily irreversible , '' he said .

They said he was still growing and that doctors could not be sure that he will not improve, which meant more tests should be carried out.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Harry Miller: Police probe into 'transphobic' tweets unlawful

The police response to an ex-officer 's allegedly transphobic tweets was unlawful , the High Court has ruled .
Harry Miller , from Lincolnshire , was visited by Humberside Police at work in January last year after a complaint about his tweets .
He was told he had not committed a crime , but it would be recorded as a non-crime `` hate incident '' .
The court found the force 's actions were a `` disproportionate interference '' on his right to freedom of expression .
Speaking after the ruling , Mr Miller said : `` This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were wrong to visit my workplace , wrong to 'check my thinking ' . ''
His solicitor Paul Conrathe added : `` It is a strong warning to local police forces not to interfere with people 's free speech rights on matters of significant controversy . ''
Mr Miller , 54 , also launched a wider challenge against the lawfulness of College of Policing guidelines on hate crimes , which was rejected .
These define a hate incident as `` any non-crime incident which is perceived , by the victim or any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender '' .
Mr Justice Julian Knowles rejected Mr Miller 's challenge against the guidelines , ruling they `` serve legitimate purposes and [ are ] not disproportionate '' .
Mr Miller posted a number of tweets between November 2018 and January 2019 about transgender issues as part of the debate about reforming the Gender Recognition Act 2004 .
In one tweet Mr Miller wrote : `` I was assigned mammal at birth , but my orientation is fish .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet was among several others which were reported to Humberside Police as being allegedly transphobic .
Officers visited Mr Miller 's workplace and then spoke with him on the phone , and he was left with the impression `` that he might be prosecuted if he continued to tweet '' , according to the judge , Mr Miller 's barrister , Ian Wise QC , argued the force 's response had sought to `` dissuade him from expressing himself on such issues in the future '' .
Mr Justice Knowles said Mr Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people '' and had regarded himself as a participant in a public debate .
The judge said : `` The claimants ' tweets were lawful and there was not the slightest risk that he would commit a criminal offence by continuing to tweet .
`` I find the combination of the police visiting the claimant 's place of work , and their subsequent statements in relation to the possibility of prosecution , were a disproportionate interference with the claimant 's right to freedom of expression because of their potential chilling effect . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the College of Policing guidance and permission has been granted for the case to go straight to the Supreme Court .
Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news @ bbc.co.uk .

He said only one person, known in court as Mrs B, had complained about the tweets and they had been recorded as a hate incident "without any critical scrutiny...or any assessment of whether what she was saying was accurate".


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Coronavirus: UK conference attendees warned over case

Health officials have contacted hundreds of people who attended a conference in London , after it emerged someone subsequently diagnosed with coronavirus had been there .
The person , who has not been identified , was at the UK Bus Summit at the QEII Conference Centre last week .
Dr Yimmy Chow from Public Health England said the delegates had been informed as a precaution .
So far , nine people in the UK have been diagnosed with the virus , Covid-19 .
• Coronavirus : What you need to know • Britain 's race to contain the coronavirus Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport industry were listed as attending the annual summit on 6 February , in Westminster .
Transport Times , the organiser of the conference , sent an email on Thursday afternoon to attendees informing them that a person confirmed to have coronavirus had been at the event .
The email included advice from PHE urging delegates that no action was needed if they felt well , but if they developed symptoms such as a fever or cough they should stay indoors , avoid contact with others and call NHS 111 .
The letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 February , `` even if your symptoms are minor '' .
Dr Chow , a PHE consultant in health protection , said : `` One of our main priorities has been to identify any people who we think have been in close contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 to provide public health advice , as they may be at slightly increased risk of catching the virus .
`` While the degree of contact conference delegates may have had with the case is unlikely to have been significant , we have taken a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation . ''
According to the latest figures , more than 1,300 people are now known to have died from the virus , the majority in China .
According to the Press Association news agency , the conference case is not linked to the latest person in the UK to test positive for the virus earlier this week , a Chinese woman .
The woman , who caught the virus in China before flying to the UK , went to hospital in an Uber but PHE said the driver is not at `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first case to be identified in London .
As of 14:00 GMT Thursday , tests for the virus have been carried out on 2,521 people in the UK - with all but nine being negative .
In addition to the patient being treated at St Thomas ' Hospital in London , the UK 's coronavirus cases include two Chinese nationals who tested positive in York .
Another cluster of cases began with British businessman Steve Walsh , who contracted the virus in Singapore and passed it to 11 people at a ski resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the UK .
Mr Walsh has now recovered .
Meanwhile , more than 80 people who stayed in accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral for two weeks have left after testing negative for the new strain of coronavirus .
They are one of two groups of British nationals evacuated from Wuhan , with the second quarantined near Milton Keynes .
On Thursday , the head of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens warned that many more people may be forced to self-isolate as part of efforts to stop the coronavirus spreading in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and what can help stop its spread ?
The main signs of infection are fever ( high temperature ) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties .
Frequent hand washing with soap or gel , avoiding close contact with people who are ill and not touching your eyes , nose and mouth with unwashed hands , can help cut the risk of infection .
Catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue , binning it and washing your hands can minimise the risk of spreading disease .
Anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after travelling from mainland China , Thailand , Japan , Republic of Korea , Hong Kong , Taiwan , Singapore , Malaysia or Macau , is advised to stay indoors and call the NHS 111 phone service .
Read more about the coronavirus SHOULD WE WORRY ?
Our health correspondent explains YOUR QUESTIONS : Can you get it more than once ?
WHAT YOU CAN DO : Do masks really help ?
UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD : A visual guide to the outbreak ECONOMIC IMPACT : Why much of 'the world 's factory ' @ @

Coronavirus: UK conference attendees warned over case Published 14 February 2020
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Image source, EPA Image caption, Some people in the UK are choosing to wear face masks amid fears of the virus
Health officials have contacted hundreds of conference attendees in London, after it emerged one of them was later diagnosed with coronavirus.
The person, who has not been identified, was at the UK Bus Summit at the QEII Conference Centre last week.
Two Labour MPs who were also at the conference said they were well but cancelling public engagements until 20 February as a precaution.
So far, nine people in the UK have tested positive for the virus.
MP Lilian Greenwood - a former chair of the transport select committee - spoke at the 6 February conference in Westminster, which was attended by about 250 people from the bus and transport industry.
She said on Twitter she was "feeling completely well" but to be "extra-cautious" she was cancelling her public engagements for two weeks from the date of the conference, in line with advice from Public Health England (PHE).
Her colleague Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds North West, told BBC News he only found out through a journalist about the positive test and was "concerned" other attendees may still be unaware.
Mr Sobel, who said he was not exhibiting any symptoms, called the NHS non-emergency 111 phone line to be "formally assessed" and has been "established as low risk".
He said he spent Friday afternoon in a room in his office away from staff but, after receiving the advice from 111, will not remain in isolation - although he has cancelled public engagements as a precaution.
The government's buses minister Baroness Vere - who was a keynote speaker at the conference - is "following Public Health England advice", the Department for Transport said.
Transport Times, the organiser of the conference, sent an email on Thursday afternoon to attendees informing them that a person confirmed to have coronavirus - which causes an illness now named Covid-19 - had been at the event.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A person with coronavirus was at a conference at the QEII centre in Westminster last week
The email included advice from PHE urging delegates that no action was needed if they felt well, but if they developed symptoms such as a fever or cough they should stay indoors, avoid contact with others and call NHS 111.
The letter told people to follow the advice until 20 February, "even if your symptoms are minor".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Coronavirus in the UK: Five things you need to know about Covid-19
Dr Yimmy Chow, a PHE consultant in health protection, said: "One of our main priorities has been to identify any people who we think have been in close contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 to provide public health advice, as they may be at slightly increased risk of catching the virus.
"While the degree of contact conference delegates may have had with the case is unlikely to have been significant, we have taken a precautionary approach and informed them of the situation."
Meanwhile, Andy West, who was a passenger on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Heathrow Airport told the PA news agency that the captain said those on board had to "stay put" after landing as there was "a suspected case of coronavirus on the plane".
He said the individual was moved to the rear of the plane while forms were handed out asking for customers' contact details and if they had experienced any symptoms. United Airlines said its team was providing assistance.
It has also emerged that a worker on a North Sea platform off Shetland, who recently returned from holiday in Thailand, is being kept in isolation and will be tested for suspected coronavirus after developing symptoms.
According to the latest figures, more than 1,300 people are now known to have died from the virus, the majority in China.
In the latest attempt to contain the outbreak, anyone returning to Beijing has been ordered to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment, Chinese state media have reported.
Nine cases
According to the PA news agency, the bus conference case is not linked to the latest person in the UK to test positive for the virus earlier this week, a Chinese woman.
Image caption, Steve Walsh, 53, was infected with the virus in Singapore before bringing it into the UK
The woman, who caught the virus in China before flying to the UK, went to hospital in an Uber but PHE said the driver is not at "high risk". It was the first case to be identified in London.
In addition to the patient being treated at St Thomas' Hospital in London, the UK's coronavirus cases include two Chinese nationals who tested positive in York.
Another cluster of cases began with British businessman Steve Walsh, who contracted the virus in Singapore and passed it to 11 people at a ski resort in France. Five of these returned to the UK. Mr Walsh has now recovered.
As of 14:00 on Friday, tests for the virus have been carried out on 2,964 people in the UK - with all but nine being negative.
Image source, China Image caption, Employees work on a production line for surgical masks at a factory in Jiangsu province, China
Meanwhile, more than 80 people who stayed in accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral for two weeks have left after testing negative for the new strain of coronavirus.
They are one of two groups of British nationals evacuated from Wuhan, with the second quarantined near Milton Keynes.
On Thursday, the head of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens warned that many more people may be forced to self-isolate as part of efforts to stop the coronavirus spreading in Britain.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus and what can help stop its spread?
The main signs of infection are fever (high temperature) and a cough as well as shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Frequent hand washing with soap or gel, avoiding close contact with people who are ill and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, can help cut the risk of infection.
Catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, binning it and washing your hands can minimise the risk of spreading disease.
Anyone experiencing symptoms, even if mild, after travelling from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau, is advised to stay indoors and call the NHS 111 phone service.
Read more about the coronavirus
SHOULD WE WORRY? Our health correspondent explains
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Do masks really help?
UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD: A visual guide to the outbreak
LIFE UNDER LOCKDOWN: A Wuhan diary
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this article? If so get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Dating website 'scammed me out of hundreds of pounds'

`` An hour after I paid my £3 I got quite a few emails from people ... and I thought 'wow , these are so much better than people on other sites ' '' .
Sacha Cowlam is talking about her month-long trial with Dating.com .
Within days she 'd been charged £271 and only managed to stop the website taking her money by getting her bank to block the payments .
Dating.com says if customers believe they 've been illegally charged they should contact customer services .
Sacha , 55 , from Dulwich in south London , says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight away who began sending her emails almost immediately .
`` I clicked on the emails and it said '10 credits to read this email ' but I 'd engaged in a month long trial so did n't take too much notice and just read the email .
`` Some of them I replied to , some of them I just read .
I got so many [ emails ] , all very similar . ''
'What have I done ? '
Before long Sacha noticed an unusual payment of £15.99 from her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of it as it was a relatively small amount .
`` Then I got an alert form my bank to say I was overdrawn .
I thought 'Oh my goodness , what have I done ? '
I looked at my balance there and then and saw several payments for £15.99 .
`` In total they 'd taken nearly £300 from my account . ''
In the space of just over two weeks Dating.com took 17 payments of £15.99 .
What Sacha did n't realise is that each time she read an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twenty credits cost £15.99 and Dating.com set up auto-payment as the default option when Sacha gave her bank details to pay the £3 for her month-long trial .
That meant it was able to automatically charge Sacha £15.99 each time she read two emails , time and time again .
Dating.com says its terms and conditions are as clear and transparent as they can be .
But at 12 full pages of A4 paper long , they may not be enforceable , says legal expert Gary Rycroft .
`` Any T & Cs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be prominent and explained to the consumer in order for it to be enforceable in law .
`` A company can not just say 'It 's in the T & C 's - we got you ' .
So on that basis the consumer could sue the company for taking money under an unenforceable contract . ''
Gary also says the fact the auto-payment box was ticked as the default option could be another potential breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 because it has a requirement for transparency `` which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been breached '' .
Regardless of legalities , George Kidd , chief executive of the Online Dating Association ( ODA ) , says Sacha has had a terrible experience and `` unimpressed would hardly cover it '' .
`` I 'm not happy with the idea that you 've joined a service and the capacity to charge sits with the other parties and not Sacha .
`` The most relevant [ regulation ] here is unfair commercial practices .
As an ex-regulator I would be concerned that presenting something that costs £3 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not presenting the fact there could be further charges in days , is misleading .
`` I mean what is the most relevant piece of information here ?
I do n't think it 's the £3 . ''
His advice is always look for a dating website with the ODA logo on it , look for reviews online and ask for recommendations from friends and family about which dating websites they 've used .
Dating.com said in a statement : `` If customers are n't satisfied with the result of their communication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always contact their card issuer to dispute the transaction .
`` In such cases the card issuer contacts us and we share the transaction details .
If the card issuer decides that the transaction was misleading they roll it back . ''
You can hear more on BBC Radio 4 's Money Box programme by listening again here .

"The most relevant [regulation] here is unfair commercial practices. As an ex-regulator I would be concerned that presenting something that costs £3 and highlighting that as the key fact, and not presenting the fact there could be further charges in days, is misleading.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Storm Dennis: Met Office issues warnings for more rain and wind

The UK is bracing itself for more disruption , with another storm forecast for the second weekend running .
Storm Dennis `` is likely to bring very heavy rain , flooding and disruption '' in some areas the Met Office says .
Amber warnings for rain and yellow warnings for wind are in place for most of the country from Saturday afternoon and into Sunday evening .
It comes after Storm Ciara left hundreds of homes flooded and more than 500,000 without power .
The worst hit areas could witness between 120-140mm of rainfall and gusts of up to 80mph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , The predictions are not as severe as last weekend when Ciara brought as much as 184mm of rain and gusts reaching 97mph .
But there are concerns of worse flooding due to the saturated ground .
There are currently 13 flood warnings and 104 flood alerts in place across England .
• How do I stop my trampoline flying off in a storm ?
UK power operators say they have employed extra engineers and call centre staff to respond to any possible impact of the storm , after widespread power cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is advising passengers to expect delays and cancellations to services due to flooding and allow more time for their journeys .
The Met Office has amber warnings for rain in pockets of northern and south-west England , and Wales from 12:00 GMT on Saturday until 15:00 on Sunday .
An amber warning is also in place for most of southern England from 00:15 until 18:00 on Sunday .
Flooding , power cuts and travel disruption are predicted in these areas .
Yellow warnings for strong winds and heavy rain also cover all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0900 GMT and midday on Saturday .
Further yellow warnings for wind are in place for northern parts of the UK from midday on Sunday until midday on Monday - potentially bringing travel disruption to commuters .
BBC Weather forecaster Phil Avery warned that the `` real issue about Storm Dennis is going to be the amount of rainfall '' .
He warned that some areas could see two days of persistent rainfall , in which a month of rain could fall over 48 hours .
Network Rail passenger director Jake Kelly said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rain on us last weekend , leaving ground waterlogged and rivers swollen .
`` With Storm Dennis set to bring more high winds and further rainfall this Saturday and Sunday , we 're preparing for more of the same . ''
The Environment Agency urged people to check for further warnings throughout the weekend .
It said preparations were under way to operate flood defences , flood storage reservoirs and to put up temporary barriers to protect communities .
This includes the Foss Barrier in York , the Thames Barrier in London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the River Severn .
Flood duty manager Caroline Douglass said : `` Remember to never drive or walk through floodwater , just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car - it 's not worth the risk . ''
The Energy Networks Association - which represents operators - said the UK 's networks were `` very resilient and built to withstand strong winds and heavy rain '' but added that flying debris `` can pose a risk to infrastructure '' during a storm .

The agency's head of flood defence, John Curtin, told a media briefing that 800 homes were flooded last weekend during Storm Ciara and that "my feeling is that this will be at least as bad, probably more so".


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Stephanie Simpson: New Zealand police find body of missing woman

Police looking for a British woman missing in New Zealand have said they have found her body .
Stephanie Simpson , 32 , from Essex , is thought to have died in a `` tragic accident '' while on a hike last weekend in Mount Aspiring National Park .
Searchers made the discovery at about 13:40 New Zealand time ( 00:40 GMT ) on Friday in the Pyke Creek area , New Zealand Police said .
She appeared to have been washed into a canyon after going into water .
Ms Simpson , from the Basildon area , was reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began in the national park in the country 's Southern Alps region on its South Island .
According to her Facebook account , she had been living in the Wanaka area since November and was working as a landscaper .
A thermal-imaging drone , dog teams , helicopter and search teams failed to find any sign of her on Thursday , and police in New Zealand had said the search was difficult due to the size and terrain of the area .
The search continued on Friday with more teams , who focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her body was located after aerial searches provided images of the area and her boots and backpack were spotted , police said .
Sgt Mark Kirkwood , from West Coast Search and Rescue , told the BBC there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Ms Simpson 's death and it appeared to be a tragic accident .
It seemed that she had left the hiking track , taken off her boots and gone into a waterfall , he said .
Her body was found in a canyon in the Pyke Creek area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into it .
Her boots were about 900m ( 2,953 ft ) upstream from where her body was discovered and her backpack was nearer to her .
`` It 's a very hazardous area .
We have no idea why she went into the water , '' Sgt Kirkwood said .
Her body was identified by her mother and other family who were at the search site after travelling to New Zealand from the UK .
Sgt Kirkwood said police wanted to thank all those involved in the search for their `` considerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely challenging at times , especially in consideration of the terrain , and the work of all involved is to be commended , '' he said .
`` Police extend their condolences to Stephanie 's family at this tragic time . ''
The death will be referred to the coroner .
People posting on a crowdfunding page set up by a friend to support the LANDSAR rescue team have been talking about the loss .
One , who wished to remain anonymous , thanked those who found her and said she was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sadly missed [ by ] those who knew her '' .
South Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe said on Twitter : `` So sorry to hear that police in New Zealand have found the body of missing British ( from Basildon ) hiker Stephanie Simpson .
`` I can only imagine the pain the family must feel and send my heartfelt condolences to family and friends . ''

Her body was found in a canyon in the Pyke Creek area, which suggested she had been washed down into it. Her boots were about 900m (2,953 ft) upstream from where her body was discovered and her backpack was nearer to her.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Storm Ciara: Wild dogs kill animals after escaping enclosure

Sixteen animals were killed at a safari park after a pack of African wild dogs escaped from their enclosure due to damage caused by Storm Ciara .
Staff at West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley , Worcestershire , were left `` extremely saddened '' by the loss of six deer and 10 sheep .
The 12 wild dogs were able to get into a neighbouring enclosure in the early hours of 9 February .
`` At no point was there a risk to public safety and there was no danger of any animals escaping the park 's perimeter fencing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The wild dogs were returned to their compound unharmed , she added .
`` The wild dogs entered the neighbouring compound through a gated entrance which had been damaged in the storm which hit Worcestershire earlier that morning , '' the spokeswoman explained .
She added : `` Given their personal attachment to our animals , our staff are extremely saddened by the incident . ''
With amber weather warnings issued as Storm Dennis is set to hit the country on Saturday , the park spokeswoman said it would be monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` in the best interests of our animals and public safety '' .
According to the World Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) , the African wild dog is `` one of the world 's most endangered mammals '' , with only about 1,400 left in the wild .
The largest populations remain in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa .
The predator , which gathers in packs , hunts species such as gazelles and can reach speeds of more than 44mph .
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news updates direct to your phone .

With amber weather warnings issued as Storm Dennis is set to hit the country on Saturday, the park spokeswoman said it would be monitoring the situation closely and would make decisions "in the best interests of our animals and public safety".


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Consumer contract changes 'could save customers money'

Broadband , TV and phone customers will be given the chance to avoid hefty price hikes when their contracts end under rules taking effect on Saturday .
UK watchdog Ofcom says users could save £150 a year on broadband alone once they are informed of alternative deals .
Around 20 million customers are out of contract with their suppliers , leaving many paying more than they need to .
The regulator says people can earn big monthly savings if they are told in advance of discounts on new deals .
Matt Powell , editor at comparison site Broadband Genie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when contracts are about to expire would help loyal customers remain on the best plans .
• BT to charge people £50 for keeping old wi-fi routers • Regulator Ofcom to have more powers over UK social media '' Many broadband deals are sold with discounts for the initial contract term , and although these are often good value for the first 12 or 18 months , the cost after the discount ends can be substantially higher , '' he said .
`` Regularly switching will let you take advantage of the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection .
And if you do n't want to switch , you should always negotiate with the provider at the end of your contract term to see if a better deal is available . ''
Some 25,000 broadband customers come out of contract daily , usually leading to an automatic price rise .
Ofcom says the new rules , which come into force on 15 February , could help consumers save £150 or more on their annual bills .
Service providers will need to text , email or write to their customers between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to an end , giving details of : • the date their contracts can be terminated without penalty • the price they have been paying • any changes to the price or service that come into effect automatically after that date • how much notice they need to give to cancel the deal • the best alternative subscriptions on offer , including the prices charged to new customers

"Regularly switching will let you take advantage of the latest offers and perhaps get you a faster connection. And if you don't want to switch, you should always negotiate with the provider at the end of your contract term to see if a better deal is available."


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Scottish Conservatives: Jackson Carlaw succeeds Ruth Davidson as leader

Jackson Carlaw has been confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish Conservatives after winning a vote of party members .
Mr Carlaw had been the party 's interim leader since Ruth Davidson quit the role in August .
He has now won the job full time after defeating fellow MSP Michelle Ballantyne by 4,917 votes to 1,581 .
Mr Carlaw had been the clear favourite in the contest , and was backed by most of the party 's MPs and MSPs .
He said he was now `` ready to hit the ground running and win '' in next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters from `` middle Scotland '' .
The new leader has already promised a full review of the party 's policies and a `` new , reinvigorated '' frontbench team at Holyrood .
The leadership contest - which was delayed by December 's general election - had been bad-tempered at times , with the two candidates trading insults ahead of the result being announced .
Ms Ballantyne , who claimed to have strong grassroots support , accused Mr Carlaw of running a general election campaign that `` lacked vision and ambition '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 MPs .
Mr Carlaw hit back by claiming his opponent was the only member of the Tory frontbench team at Holyrood never to have submitted a `` single policy proposal '' .
The Scottish Conservatives are currently the second biggest party at Holyrood , with Ms Davidson widely credited with turning around its electoral fortunes in her eight years as leader .
But she quit shortly after returning from maternity leave , saying that `` much had changed '' both politically and personally in recent months .
As well as the birth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Boris Johnson - particularly over his approach to Brexit .
Mr Carlaw will now have to prepare the party for next year 's Scottish Parliament election , with opinion polls suggesting that the SNP , led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon , remains on course to win a fourth successive term in government .
Jackson Carlaw worked as a car salesman in the west of Scotland for 25 years before being elected as an MSP , but has been involved in politics since joining the Conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He first stood as a candidate in the 1982 Queen 's Park by-election , and after several other unsuccessful attempts was eventually elected as a list MSP for the West of Scotland region in the 2007 and again in 2011 - when he also became Ms Davidson 's deputy leader .
Mr Carlaw , who is married with two children , was elected as the MSP for Eastwood in 2016 , and served as acting leader when Ms Davidson went on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her son in May of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as party leader in August , Mr Carlaw was immediately appointed as interim leader - with some of his supporters hoping he would be given the role on a permanent basis without a leadership contest being required .
The 60-year-old says he wants the party to appeal to `` middle Scotland '' ahead of next year 's Scottish Parliament election , when he says his goal is to `` take down '' Ms Sturgeon and the SNP .
Among his key policy proposals are increasing the number of teachers in Scotland by 2,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the UK , and scrapping the Scottish government 's plan to introduce a so-called parking tax .
He told his official campaign launch last month that he stands for `` a decent , generous-spirited , aspirational conservatism that promotes the values and ambitions of middle Scotland '' .
Mr Carlaw secured public support from the majority of Conservative MSPs and MPs during the leadership contest , as well as all of the party 's local council leaders .
He points to the experience he has built up in his lengthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him go head-to-head with Ms Sturgeon during first minister 's questions every week .
But critics say that Mr Carlaw 's tenure included last month 's general election , when the Scottish Conservatives lost seven of the 13 seats they had won under Ms Davidson in 2017 despite the Tories winning a majority across the UK as a whole .

Mr Carlaw said: "This is not about asking the people of Scotland to re-elect us as a strong opposition, this is about offering the people of Scotland a clear alternative to the SNP and then fighting all the way to polling day next year to provide them with an alternative government.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Mumps cases hit decade high in England

Mumps cases hit decade high in England

Health officials are urging people to have both parts of the MMR vaccine after cases of mumps in England reached their highest level in a decade .
Outbreaks in universities and colleges raised the number of cases of the painful viral illness to 5,042 in 2019 - four times the number in 2018 .
Most were in young adults who missed out on the MMR jab .
Public Health England said the full two doses of the vaccination were needed to maximise protection .
The vaccine prevents most cases of mumps - but not all , and so some young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were also increases in mumps cases in Wales and Scotland in 2019 .
It is a viral infection that used to be very common in children before the MMR ( measles , mumps and rubella ) vaccine was introduced in the UK in 1988 .
A classic sign is puffy cheeks under the ears .
Mumps is contagious and spread through infected droplets of saliva breathed in through the mouth or nose .
What are the symptoms ?
• painful swelling of the glands at the side of the face Most people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare cases , there can be serious complications , such as inflammation of the testicles in males , meningitis and deafness .
What does it feel like ?
`` I went to bed normal , everything fine , and then I woke up , and bang - my face was so puffed out , so swollen , '' says Olly Finch , a student at Leeds University .
`` I got prescribed morphine - it was that bad . ''
Flora Cox , another Leeds student , said : `` It started out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and jaw , and then it started swelling - it was so painful .
• Mumps - is it the forgotten disease ?
How can I protect myself ?
The best and safest way is to get two doses of the MMR vaccine - the middle 'M ' stands for mumps .
It 's never too late to catch up , says Dr Vanessa Saliba , from Public Health England .
`` We encourage all students and young people who may have missed out on their MMR vaccine in the past to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date as soon as possible , '' she said .
Adults and children who missed out on the vaccine as babies can also have it on the NHS at any age - it is given in two doses , with the second at least a month after the first .
Why do some people still get mumps ?
The part of the triple vaccine that specifically protects against mumps is n't quite as effective as the elements protecting against measles and rubella .
However , getting the jab is still crucial - because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the less likely mumps is to be shared around .
During outbreaks among students , which are common , completely unvaccinated people are at highest risk .
Even if you get the illness after being vaccinated , you are likely to have a less serious form of it and fewer complications .
Cases of mumps consistently outnumber measles and rubella cases every year .
Teenagers and young adults in colleges and universities are now the ones who tend to be affected - for several reasons .
Many of the 2019 cases were born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and missed out on the MMR vaccine when they were children .
Research by a disgraced UK doctor falsely linking the vaccine to autism undoubtedly had an impact on uptake .
Current students may also be too old to have been immunised or offered the MMR , or may only have had one dose of the vaccine and thus not be fully protected .
It is also possible the vaccine 's protection against mumps may have worn off .
Despite the recent rise in cases , mumps has n't just reappeared .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 people developed it and most of them were children of school age .
At that time , there were five deaths a year from mumps , mainly due to encephalitis or swelling of the brain .
The illness then became relatively rare before returning in the 2000s .
There was a particularly large outbreak ( 43,000 cases ) in 2005 .
Have you had mumps in adulthood ?
Did you have the MMR jab ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

Adults and children who missed out on the vaccine as babies can also have it on the NHS at any age - it is given in two doses, with the second at least a month after the first.


bbcuk--2020-02-14--Banksy confirms Bristol Valentine's Day artwork is his

An artwork that appeared on the side of a house in Bristol has been confirmed as the work of street artist Banksy .
The piece features a stencil of a girl firing a slingshot of red flowers made with spray-painted ivy .
Banksy published a picture of the work on his Instagram page at midnight on Valentine 's Day .
Kelly Woodruff , whose father owns the property in Barton Hill , said they now wanted to protect the `` special '' work from the approaching Storm Dennis .
`` As it 's Valentine 's Day , it 's really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the flowers is incredible , '' said 37-year-old Ms Woodruff .
`` There 's so many people coming and enjoying it , taking pictures , it 's fantastic .
`` There 's been a lot of debate if it is a Banksy or not .
Most people I 've spoken to think it 100 % is , and they 're naming it the Valentine 's Banksy .
Flowers placed on the road sign as part of the artwork had already been stolen , said Ms Woodruff , along with a protective plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening .
Ms Woodruff said her family had contacted Bristol City Council 's street maintenance department but it was unable to offer any advice or help .
`` We 're not sure where to go from here .
We 're going to get some advice [ about protecting the work ] , '' she added .
The council has been approached for comment .
The Bristol Somali Community Association , based in Barton Hill , tweeted about the artwork after it was spotted .
`` Come and have a look yourself .
Whoever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creativity . ''