George Galloway Mulls London Mayor Bid

George Galloway has suggested he might quit the "tedium" of Parliament in 2015 and run as a candidate for the Mayor of London.

The outspoken Respect MP said he enjoys elections more than the work and would "relish" the chance to stand for City Hall.

Mr Galloway revealed he had discussed his ambitions with Ed Miliband at a meeting in January.

At the time, the Labour leader said the talks were devoted to an upcoming vote on boundary changes.

Mr Galloway, who was a Labour MP for 16 years before being expelled from the party in 2003, said he found Parliament "2% terrifying and 98% tedium".

"I'm interested in running for the mayor of London in 2016 but I haven't decided. I like elections more than I like serving," he told Total Politics magazine.

"I relish them in the way most politicians don't, and this is the only mass popular election that there is here.

"Seven million people have the right to vote in it; it's the next best thing to a presidential election that you're ever going to get in Britain.

"So, I relish running for the office, and the opportunity finally to be in power over substantial sets of important tasks in a city as great as London is obviously attractive."

George Galloway fancies a tilt at running City Hall

Mr Galloway was re-elected to Parliament as Respect's only MP in March last year after pulling off a shock victory in the Bradford West by-election.

He beat Labour by more than 10,000 votes after taking more than 55% of the vote share and dubbed his victory the "Bradford Spring".

It was his third attempt at a comeback in two years after he was kicked out of Labour for his opposition to the Iraq War.

He defeated Oona King in Bethnal and Bow in 2005 but failed to oust former Labour minister Jim Fitzpatrick in another east London seat in 2010.

He also stood unsuccessfully for the Scottish Parliament in 2011.

The current London Mayor Boris Johnson has admitted considering running for a third term but is widely expected to quit and pursue a return to Westminster.

Potential Tory candidates for the role in 2016 include Lord Coe and Karren Brady, while Dame Tessa Jowell and Diane Abbott are among possible Labour candidates.

Comedian Eddie Izzard is another possibility, although he has said he is seeking Labour's nomination for 2019 instead.

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Rachael Slack Murder: Ex 'Made Death Threats'

By Lisa Dowd, Midlands Correspondent

A man threatened to kill his former partner and their son six days before all three were found stabbed dead to death, an inquest has heard.

Rachael Slack, 38, her son Auden, 23 months, and his father Andrew Cairns, 44, were found with multiple stab wounds on June 2, 2010, at her home in Holbrook, Derbyshire.

Derby coroner Dr Robert Hunter told jurors that Cairns had been known to psychiatric services for a "considerable number of years" before the deaths.

The court heard that at the beginning of May 2010, Ms Slack visited Cairns, with her new partner Robert Barlow, to tell him that she was in a new relationship.

Later that month, on May 26, Ms Slack contacted a clinical psychologist to say Cairns was in her car, would not get out and was threatening to kill her.

Ms Slack told the psychologist that she had informed Cairns she was pregnant with Mr Barlow's child.

She drove Cairns to a police station, where a psychiatric assessment was carried out.

Cairns was "deemed not to be detainable and was released from the section".

The next day, Ms Slack reported that Cairns was outside her house, but she did not need police to attend.

Later Ms Slack went to a police station and told officers that Cairns had said: "You're a f****** bitch for abandoning me and getting together with someone else and getting pregnant.

"I've given up everything to be with you, if you are going to make it difficult, I'll make it more so, you've no idea of what I'm capable of, I'll kill you and take him (Auden) with me."

Cairns then tried to phone Ms Slack 23 times.

The coroner said Cairns was arrested and Ms Slack was "at high risk of homicide".

Cairns, a golf tutor, was detained overnight and released on bail the following morning. He was told not to contact either Ms Slack or their son.

On May 28, a neighbour contacted police to say Cairns was upset about not seeing his son and felt like "grabbing" him.

Officers spoke to Cairns and felt "there was no indication" of him wanting to harm himself or anyone else.

On the morning of the killings, Cairns complained to his GP about "the lack of input from mental health services" and said: "This is going to be the most important day of your career".

The hearing was told that Cairns went straight to Ms Slack's home. A neighbour reported hearing Ms Slack screaming, and seeing her head and shoulders at the window.

When police arrived, Ms Slack and Cairns were dead.

Cairns was found with a knife on his lap.

Ms Slack had been stabbed 32 times, including twice through the heart. She also had "defensive" injuries to her hands.

Auden had been stabbed 16 times and had a "faint pulse". The child was airlifted to hospital but later pronounced dead.

Giving evidence, Home Office pathologist Professor Guy Rutty told the inquest that he believed Cairns' wounds were self-inflicted.

He added: "From a pathological point of view, it would not be of any surprise to me if Mr Cairns is responsible for the other two.

"I would favour that scenario but I feel ultimately that is the decision of the court."

The inquest, which could last around four weeks, was adjourned until Friday.

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Royal Gwent Hospital: Travellers Told To Move

Travellers camped out in a hospital car park in Newport, South Wales, have been given a deadline to move.

The group is threatened with legal action if it fails to leave the site by 4pm.

French travellers with around 14 caravans set up camp on a staff car park at Royal Gwent Hospital on Saturday, blocking spaces for NHS workers.

It has meant doctors, surgeons, and nursing staff having to find alternative parking.

Hospital bosses have also reassured workers that security will be available on the site between 6am and 10pm.

A statement from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs the hospital, said: "Following advice given by our legal advisers, the health board yesterday issued letters to the travellers requesting that they vacate the site by 4pm today.

"If this does not happen, as advised we will move to the next stage in the process which is to commence legal proceedings."

More than 3,400 staff work at the hospital, which has about 774 beds, and serves a population of more than 600,000.

The staff car park has 300 spaces, and the travellers have taken over 65 of them, according to the hospital.

The disruption has inevitably led to frustrations.

One hospital worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "I find it infuriating this situation can be allowed to continue until the families decide to move themselves on.

"There are doctors and other medical staff who work on emergency cases around the clock.

"They are being forced to park some distance away all because a group of French travellers fancied the spot to set up camp."

According to Sky News correspondent Isabel Webster, who is at the scene, the hospital says the situation is not affecting patient care, and that it is in negotiations with the travellers.

Webster said: "Everybody is hoping this won't be one of those protracted incidents, and they can reach a swift resolution."

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Prince George Christening: Archbishop's Message

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken for the first time about the christening of Prince George and the moment he will mark the future king's forehead with the sign of the cross.

In a message released by Lambeth Palace, the Most Reverend Justin Welby spoke of the "great times" the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have as parents in the years to come.

The 45-minute christening will take place on Wednesday at 3pm at the Chapel Royal within St James's Palace.

The Chapel Royal at St James's Palace

The ceremony will be conducted by the Archbishop in what he called a celebration of "the next hugely important moment" in Prince George's life.

He said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had so much advice they could probably fill a house with it.

"My message to them would be 'what a treat, what an amazing gift, what wonderful times you will have'.

"A few months ago millions of people around the world celebrated the birth of Prince George.

"Now we're celebrating the next hugely important moment, which is his christening."

The Chapel Royal has been the setting for historic royal occasions ever since the reign of Henry VIII, such as the marriage of Queen Victoria in 1840.

Beneath the ornate Hans Holbein ceiling, the third-in-line to the throne and future supreme governor of the Church of England will be christened George Alexander Louis.

The Eton-educated Archbishop said: "I will mark Prince George with the sign of the cross on his forehead and that's exactly what every priest always does every single baptism.

"It's an extraordinary moment because that is the sign by which we understand this person belongs to God.

The ceremony will be a private family occasion and an historic event

"There'll be great times, there'll be tough times - there always are with children.

"Through christening you are bringing God into the middle of it all and I know that when he's in the middle of it all, somehow, it's held in his hands, and that's extraordinary."

Mr Welby also talked about how Prince George's baptism means he joins almost 2,000 million people around the world in what he calls the "family of the Church".

Kate and William have 'great times' ahead, according to the Archbishop

But Prince George is entering a family that is dwindling in number.

Both Anglican and Catholic Churches have seen a steady decline in the numbers choosing to christen their children in recent decades.

Reverend Sally Hitchiner, who has worked alongside Mr Welby in the past, told Sky News: "I don't think it's an entirely bad thing.

"My experiences as a priest are that people I meet coming forward to have their child christened tend to be more sincere.

"There tends to be a genuine interest in faith and I always think that being honest in front of your newborn child is a good thing."

A gold proof kilo coin worth £50,000 struck to commemorate the event

She believes William, Kate and of course Prince George, are in safe hands.

She said of the Archbishop: "He's actually quite normal.

"He makes a joke when things are funny and he's not afraid to smile if something goes wrong.

"I would imagine his welcome would be very warm and very personal."

:: For coverage of Prince George's christening on Wednesday October 23 watch on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad.

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Health Tourism: NHS Can Save £500m A Year

The NHS could save £500m a year if it was better at charging foreign nationals to use its services, according to a new report.

This represents a quarter of the annual £2bn cost of treating temporary migrants and foreign visitors given by the Department of Health (DoH).

The savings would come from a crackdown on so-called health tourists, who travel to the UK to access free treatment.

The Government is currently consulting on a package of measures, including a £200 annual levy on migrants from outside Europe.

A new cost recovery unit would also work to recoup money owed by other governments for treating foreign nationals.

Health tourists, such as women who come to the UK in late pregnancy to give birth, cost the NHS at least £70m each year, according to the study on migrant access to NHS care in England.

It also estimates £388m could be recovered from patients who should pay for care but are not always charged.

Officials say that only around 16% of this money - £62m - is currently recouped.

The independent report conducted for the DoH says the NHS has "some of the most generous rules in the world".

At the moment, only hospitals are required to charge for services and even then, emergency care is free.

Jeremy Hunt says the NHS is not an 'international' service

The figures were released ahead of the second reading of the Government's Immigration Bill, which aims to bring in measures to stop migrants abusing public services.

A key measure in the Bill will see temporary migrants, such as overseas students, pay to access the NHS.

Ministers hope the levy on students or foreign workers who come to the UK for more than half a year will generate £200m a year.

The surcharge, combined with better recovery of costs and a deterrent on health tourism, could save the NHS "well over half a billion pounds", a DoH spokesman said.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the NHS is a "national health service - not an international one".

He told Sky News: "I have absolutely no problem at all with foreigners and international visitors using the NHS, but if they are not contributing to it through their taxes they should make a fair contribution in another way.

"Other European countries have much better systems in place. We have to recognise that we are one of the most open economies in the world, London is the most international city in the world and we have an NHS that is free at the point of use.

"We need to have some sensible checks so that we can recover money that will pay for more doctors and nurses."

Labour's shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "We are in favour of improving the recovery of costs from people with no entitlement to NHS treatment."

However, he claimed the figures were based on "old and incomplete data" and were more about "spin than substance".

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Stuart Hall: Jailed Broadcaster To Lose OBE

Shamed broadcaster Stuart Hall is to be stripped of his OBE following his conviction for sex offences against children, say Sky News sources.

The 83-year-old is set to officially lose the honour, which he was awarded in 2012 for services to broadcasting and charity, later today.

An independent forfeiture committee decides whether recipients should lose honours if they have brought the system into disrepute.

Its decision is then announced in the London Gazette.

Former It's A Knockout presenter Hall was jailed this year for 15 months after admitting 14 charges of indecent assault on girls aged between nine and 17 between 1967 and 1985.

The former broadcaster was jailed in June for sexual assault

He had previously publicly declared his innocence.

Last month it was revealed detectives wanted to question Hall over dozens of new rape allegations.

A woman has told police that Hall raped her regularly over several years when she was a young teenager.

The alleged victim is thought to be a relative of friends of the disgraced presenter.

Hall could be re-arrested in prison and, if charged and convicted, he may never be freed.

At the time, a single rape charge was not pursued and was left on file.

His sentence was later doubled when the Attorney General appealed after some of Hall's victims complained he had been dealt with too leniently.

If Hall is charged with further offences, prosecutors would have to decide whether more expensive and time-consuming court action is in the public interest.

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Great British Bake Off Winner Tweet Denied

SPOILER ALERT: Great British Bake Off judge Sue Perkins has denied Raymond Blanc revealed the winner of Tuesday's final on Twitter - and told internet trolls to stay silent.

The TV chef was branded an "idiot" when he apparently let slip which one of the three finalists would take the BBC2 show's cooking crown.

"The Great British Bake Off. Not much skills, female tears and a winner so thin who makes me doubt of her love for great cooking, baking," he tweeted to his 85,000 followers.

He also suggested finalist Ruby Tandoh, 21, is too thin to enjoy food as fans prepared to tune in tonight to see the winner revealed.

Blanc was branded an 'idiot' for his apparent slip

The 63-year-old later apologised, blaming his actions on being a "grumpy Frenchman this morning".

Perkins, one of the show's four judges, then took a pot shot at the Michelin-starred chef and told fans to still tune in.

"Raymond has not seen the final, and his comments make me sad because I am a fan of his. I'd watch, ce soir, if I were you," she wrote on Twitter.

"PS. I do so hope the trolls are silent tonight, and instead, people commend the efforts of 3 lovely woman who happen to be great at baking."

Perkins said Blanc hadn't seen tonight's pre-recorded show

Former model Tandoh - who takes on Frances Quinn, 31, and Kimberley Wilson, 30, in tonight's final - also hit back, tweeting: "What has anyone's size got to do with it?

"I don't care if you're a patisserie king - don't be an idiot."

Viewers complained that Blanc has ruined the finale, with one writing: "You've ruined this for millions of viewers!" and another adding: "Thanks for spoiling #NotImpressed".

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Neil McArdle Jailed Over Wedding Bomb Hoax

A man who phoned in a bomb hoax on his wedding day because he had forgotten to book the register office has been jailed for 12 months.

Neil McArdle could not face telling his excited bride that the wedding could not take place, so decided on a drastic course of action.

The 36-year-old slipped out of his house, went to a phone box, disguised his voice and rang Liverpool Register Office, claiming: "This is not a hoax call.

"There's a bomb in St George's Hall and it will go off in 45 minutes."

Coming 11 days after the Boston Marathon bombing, the call sparked "terror" at the venue, which was quickly evacuated.

Bride Amy Williams was left standing outside in her wedding dress with the rest of the wedding party as emergency services raced to the venue.

However, McArdle's would-be in-laws were already suspicious, Liverpool Crown Court heard, and a row broke out with Miss Williams' sister telling a "flustered" McArdle: "You probably done the bomb scare yourself."

Police managed to trace the phone call and McArdle admitted to the hoax.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of communicating false information with intent.

Charles Lander, defending, told the court: "If it was not so serious, the facts of this case have all the markings of a comedy."

He said the defendant had failed to go through the forms given to him to make sure the wedding was legal and would go ahead as planned.

And only the night before the big day did he notice a "checklist" of what needed to be done before their "dream day".

The court heard that Miss Williams has stood by McArdle and the couple are still together.

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Appeal To Trace Dead Woman's iPhone And Bag

Police investigating the discovery of a woman's body in the street have appealed for help to trace her missing iPhone and bag.

The death of Patricia Dornan is being treated as unexplained by Warwickshire Police, who are attempting to establish the 39-year-old's movements last Wednesday.

A member of the public discovered Ms Dornan's body in the early hours of Thursday at the junction of James Street and Albert Street in Rugby.

Ms Dornan, who lived locally, is known to have been in possession of her mobile phone and shoulder bag in the hours before she was found.

A police spokesman said officers would like to hear from anyone who saw Ms Dornan, or who had contact with her between 3pm and midnight on the Wednesday.

The spokesman said: "To assist the investigation Patricia's family have released a picture of her in the hope that it will assist the police in piecing together Patricia's movements.

"Police are also keen to locate Patricia's iPhone, that is described as being white with a pink sparkly back, and a dark-coloured shoulder bag that Patricia is believed to have had with her earlier."

Anyone with any information about the items is asked to contact the incident room on 01788 853956.

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Energy Bills: Major Calls For 'Windfall Tax'

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has dropped an energy price hike bombshell on David Cameron by calling for a windfall tax on power companies this winter.

In a move that stunned the Tory high command, he said the recent price rises were unacceptable and many people would have to choose between heating and eating.

And he said that if there was severe cold weather this winter and the Government had to help vulnerable people it should impose an "excess profits tax" on the energy companies.

But within an hour the former Prime Minister was slapped down by Downing Street, with the Prime Minister's spokesman declaring: "We have no plans for this."

Labour seized on the apparent disarray.

Ed Miliband, whose price freeze pledge has put the Government on the defensive for weeks, tweeted: "Sir John Major makes Labour's argument: David Cameron stands up for the energy companies not hard-pressed families."

Ed Miliband said Sir John was making "Labour's argument"

Sir John's shock intervention in the energy price row came in a comeback speech to political journalists at Westminster in which he made a passionate plea to the Tories to win back the support of blue collar voters.

Asked about energy price hikes of up to 10%, Sir John said: "I do not see how it can be in any way acceptable that with energy prices rising broadly 4% in terms of costs that the price to the consumer should rise by the 9-10% that we are hearing.

"I do not regard that as acceptable at all by the energy companies.

"And it is not acceptable to me, it ought not to be acceptable to anyone, that many people are going to have to choose between keeping warm and eating. That is not acceptable.

"So if we get this cold spell the government, I think, will have to intervene and if they do intervene, and it is costly, I for one would regard it as perfectly acceptable for them then, subsequently, to levy and excess profits tax on the energy companies and claw that money back to the Exchequer, where their primary job is to get the economy working and people back to work."

Asked if he was backing the Labour leader, the former Prime Minister said: "When Ed Miliband made his suggestions just a few weeks ago I think his heart was in the right place but his head had gone walkabout.

"But he did touch on an issue that's very important. The private sector is something the Conservative party support but when the private sector goes wrong or behaves badly I think it is entirely right to make changes and put it right."

David Cameron's spokesman said it was an "interesting contribution"

Sir John told reporters that with interest rates at a record low, energy companies should be looking to borrow money to pay for investment rather than funding it "out of the revenue of families whose wages have not been going up at a time when other costs have been rising".

"I believe there will be difficulties this winter without action and, if there are those difficulties, the Chancellor will have my total support if he acted in the way I suggest and imposed an emergency impost upon the energy companies to claw back the money that we will have to give to people to help them see the winter in any form of warmth," he said.

Shortly after Sir John's speech, Mr Cameron's spokesman told reporters: "The Prime Minister's view on this is that this is an interesting contribution. We have no plans for this.

"What the Government is doing is legislating around forcing energy companies to put customers on their lowest tariffs and more competition in energy markets."

Asked about Sir John's concerns about people having to choose between eating and heating this winter, the spokesman said: "There are a number of initiatives that the Government has to support vulnerable people, such as the cold weather payments.

"We have a range of ways in which support is given and those are the right ones."

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