Bob Crow: A Man Devoted To The Railways

Bob Crow left school at 16 and took a job as an apprentice track worker. He worked on the railways for the rest of his life.

The RMT leader was clear about the importance of taking action

The 52-year-old was born in east London on June 13, 1961, and moved with his family to Essex as a toddler.

He became one of the most high-profile, left-wing union leaders of his generation, sparking as much anger among passengers hit by rail and Tube strikes as praise from his members for winning pay rises.

Mr Crow started working for London Underground at 16

His first job was on London Underground as an apprentice track worker and he soon became involved in union activity, becoming a local representative at the age of 20 for what was then the National Union of Railwaymen.

He won the union's youth award - handed to him by veteran general secretary Jimmy Knapp, whom he later succeeded - and rose quickly through the ranks, via the executive, to the top job.

His formative years were at a time when unions enjoyed huge power and influence over the country, thanks to leaders such as Jack Jones, Hugh Scanlon and Joe Gormley.

Under his leadership, the RMT was one of Britain's fastest-growing unions

He took part in a TUC-organised nationwide day of action in 1980, and the next strike he joined was on the Tube - a day after returning from his honeymoon in 1982.

After that he took part in, or helped organise, official and unofficial strikes against London Underground and was clear about the need to take action to improve pay and conditions.

"I don't shirk from taking industrial action," he said. "Our job is to negotiate the best pay and conditions. Industrial action is the last resort and you don't take it lightly - but when you start you don't finish until you have won. That's what I have been brought up on."

Crow and colleagues adding their protest at the Leveson Inquiry

Mr Crow maintained he wanted to do the "very best" for his members, wherever they worked and whichever political party they belonged to.

"I will be the captain, steering the ship, but the members will make all the decisions," he said.

He was constantly involved in industrial disputes and campaigns and led a walkout by London Underground workers last month in a dispute over ticket office closures.

Mr Crow said he wanted to do the "very best" for his members

Apart from his devotion to Millwall football club - he had been supporting the team since first going to the ground as a young boy - Mr Crow had an unusual interest outside his job.

"I'm really interested in the weather," he admitted. "I spend ages looking at weather maps and graphs. I have a barometer in the house and if I could have been anything else other than a union official I would have been a footballer - or a weatherman."

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We Will Rock You To Close After 12 Years

It has played to over 6.5 million people but the Queen musical We Will Rock You is to close after 12 years in the West End.

The show will close on May 31 after 4,600 performances at the Dominion Theatre.

Its creators, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Ben Elton, said: "We want to thank every one of the many hundreds of incredible musical theatre artists, musicians and crew with whom we've had the privilege of working at the Dominion since 2002.

"And of course the incredible audiences who have rewarded them with over four and a half thousand standing ovations."

Freddie Mercury and Brian May playing together in 1985

The show, featuring the group's hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are The Champions, is the 10th longest-running musical of all time in London.

The theatre's general manager, David Pearson, said: "It has been a privilege to have hosted We Will Rock You for the past 12 years.

"To have the show rocking the Dominion and seeing a standing ovation night after night has been quite amazing.

"We wish the show every success for the future, as we now prepare to accelerate our restoration and refurbishment programme ready to welcome an exciting new production in 2015."

The 2,000-seater theatre has a giant statue of late Queen singer Freddie Mercury outside, which has become something of a London landmark.

No reason was given for the show closing but it comes a fortnight after it was announced that Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest musical, Stephen Ward, is to close after just four months following sluggish ticket sales.        

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Edinburgh Child Killer Theresa Riggi Found Dead

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

Theresa Riggi, who killed her three children in an Edinburgh flat in 2010, has been found dead at a high security hospital.

The 49-year-old was jailed for 16 years for killing her children, twins Gianluca and Austin, aged eight, and five-year-old Cecilia.

They were stabbed to death in a flat in August 2010.

After killing the three children, Riggi was badly injured after creating a gas explosion and jumping from the second floor balcony of the property.

She broke her pelvis but might have been killed had a neighbour not attempted to catch her, breaking her fall. When emergency services arrived, Riggi was also found to have stab wounds which were believed to have been self-inflicted.

California-born Riggi, who was initially charged with murder, admitted culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility in March 2011.

On Monday, a Nottinghamshire Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that we were called to Rampton in the early hours of this morning to the death of a woman.

"It's not being treated as suspicious and we are preparing a file for the coroner."

The children's deaths came amid a bitter custody battle between Riggi and the children's father, Pasquale.

In July 2010, Riggi had gone missing with her three children and they were the subject of a missing persons appeal.

Police eventually traced them to a flat on the west side of Edinburgh on July 21, 2010, but officers took no further action.

On August 3, Theresa Riggi failed to turn up to a custody hearing.

The judge duly instructed that she be traced and a decision taken by social workers as to whether her children should be taken into care.

The next day, August 4, the children were found dead with several stab wounds each.

The couple had moved to the UK because of the children's father's work in the oil industry. He is originally from Colorado.

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New Rules To Tackle Excess Skin Op 'Lottery'

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

A woman who says she has almost two stone (12 kilos) of spare skin after losing more than half her body weight is supporting new national guidelines for corrective surgery.

Kerry Trotter, 39, wants a body contouring operation to remove excess skin on her stomach, arms and legs after a gastric bypass helped reduce her weight from 27 stone (171 kilos) four years ago to 11 stone (70 kilos) today.

"It hangs, it stops you from doing things," she explained at home in Penshaw, County Durham.

"It affects your self-confidence, you don't want to do certain things because you know it's there, it moves, it's not easy."

Kerry Trotter with a pair of her old trousers

Kerry says a hospital appointment to assess her for surgery was cancelled because it had been decided she didn't fit the eligible criteria for surgery in her area.

Consultant plastic surgeon Mark Soldin from the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), says a postcode lottery has prevented people who have lost a lot of weight from getting the help they need.

"I've seen many patients whose lives have been transformed through receiving body contouring reconstructive plastic surgery," he said.

"However, there are many other people who, simply due to their postcode, are denied this procedure and are left to deal with the huge physical and psychological problems caused by excess skin."

A picture of Kerry before her gastric bypass

New guidelines on who should get help, accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, are being introduced from Tuesday for hospitals across England.

They follow research showing many hospitals have no procedures in place for weight-loss patients who need corrective surgery, despite the problem causing significant health concerns.

A study of 67 primary care trusts in England showed 23 excluded any reference to body contouring procedures, while patients denied the treatment were more likely to suffer a range of problems including depression and an increased chance of putting weight back on.

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One Direction Back Anti-Poverty Campaign

One Direction, Katy Perry and Kings Of Leon are among dozens of stars backing a new scheme to encourage young people to help fight global poverty.

The musicians are joining up to give away tickets to their shows this summer, in exchange for showing support for the Global Citizen initiative.

Music fans will be able to win tickets through a points system after registering with the scheme, by performing a variety of actions such as signing petitions, sharing content via social networking sites and contacting their local MPs about issues involving food and hunger.

The 1D boys said: "We are absolutely proud to join so many amazing artists to inspire people to take action to end extreme poverty."

Katy Perry has also pledged to do her bit to end poverty

The scheme is launching in the UK after proving popular in the US, Australia and New Zealand with nearly 1.7 million "actions" having taken place worldwide.

The campaign has helped to increase funding of polio eradication and pledging more than £600,000 to community health workers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Around a fifth of the world's population is estimated to be affected by extreme poverty.

Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Franz Ferdinand, Russell Brand, John Newman and Jessie J are among the 100 artists already signed up.

More details can be found at globalcitizen.org/tickets.

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Bob Crow: Sudden Death Of Union Leader

Tributes Pour In For 'Tireless' Bob Crow

Updated: 3:05pm UK, Tuesday 11 March 2014

Union leaders and politicians have praised the tough-talking "giant of the labour movement" Bob Crow after learning of his death.

Labour leader Ed Miliband: "I didn't always agree with him politically but I always respected his tireless commitment to fighting for the men and women in his union. He did what he was elected to do, was not afraid of controversy and was always out supporting his members across the country."

Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union: "Bob's strength, personal integrity and straightforward speaking won many battles for his members. He took his job very seriously and never stopped working. A giant of the labour movement. He is irreplaceable."

London Mayor Boris Johnson: "I'm shocked. Bob Crow was a fighter and a man of character. Whatever our political differences, and there were many, this is tragic news. Bob fought tirelessly for his beliefs and for his members."

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef: "It's a tragedy that he was taken from us at such a young age. Bob always did his best for his members, and the industry in which he worked. Our thoughts, at this sad time, are with his family and all his colleagues in the trade union movement."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage: "Sad at the death of Bob Crow. I liked him and he also realised working-class people were having their chances damaged by the EU."

Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union: "Bob Crow was admired by his members and feared by employers, which is exactly how he liked it. It was a privilege to campaign and fight alongside him because he never gave an inch."

Sir Peter Hendy, London's Transport Commissioner: "We are shocked by this terribly sad and unexpected news. Our thoughts are with Bob Crow's family, friends and all those he represented."

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady: "This is shocking news. Bob was an outstanding trade unionist, who tirelessly fought for his members, his industry and the wider trade union movement."

Fire Brigades Union leader Matt Wrack: "Bob was a good friend to me personally and to the Fire Brigades Union as a whole. He was a strong leader for the labour movement and he'll be sorely missed by those who knew him."

Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne: "Bob possessed a deep understanding of the rail industry and his contribution to its success was significant, in particular the focus he gave to working with Network Rail on improving passenger and workforce safety."

Former mayor of London Ken Livingstone: "He fought really hard for his members. The only working-class people who still have well-paid jobs in London are his members."

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives: "He was a staunch supporter and advocate of rights for workers and a fairer and more just world for working people. He invested his work with passion, commitment and dedication. He will be missed by his colleagues across the union world."

Millwall Football Club: "Millwall Football Club would like to extend our condolences to the family of Bob Crow who passed away on Monday night at the age of 52."

Prime Minister's Official Spokesman: "The Prime Minister expresses his sincere condolences to Mr Crow's family and friends."

Sir Brendan Barber, chairman of the conciliation service Acas, and former TUC general secretary: "His bluff exterior masked a shrewd and intelligent negotiator who actually won high respect from employers as well as deep loyalty and support from his members."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin: "While we may not always have agreed on how to run our railways, he was a powerful advocate who led his organisation from the front and made an important contribution to the debate around the future of rail services in this country."

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite: "Bob was a life-long, and highly successful fighter for the interests of his members and for working people as a whole. I am sure that is the only epitaph he would have wanted."

Unison general secretary, Dave Prentis: "Bob was a tough, no-nonsense union leader who always did his best for his members, and it was very much down to his tough stance that their pay and conditions improved."

Communication Workers Union general secretary Billy Hayes: "Bob Crow was a great leader and he was a great inspiration to rail workers and trade unionists around the world."

Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka: "Bob was a tireless fighter for RMT members and working class people and a towering force in the trade union movement."

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Woman Called Clifford A 'Pervert', Court Told

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

A woman who alleged Max Clifford attempted to indecently assault her went on to describe him as a "dirty old b******" and a "pervert" to colleagues, a court has heard.

A friend and former colleague of the woman told Southwark Crown Court that the alleged victim described the assault taking place after she had met Clifford at a Wimpy bar in south-west London when she was 14.

The witness said Clifford appeared on television at their office around six years ago and another colleague commented that he was a "lovely man". The alleged victim then recounted the 1966 incident in Morden.

She told the court: "She turned to me and said 'he is not a lovely man, he is a b***** pervert'.

"Her words were 'he's just a dirty old b******'."

She added that the woman had then given a "brief description of an incident" where Clifford, 70, "tried it on" and "started touching" her.

On Monday, the alleged victim told the court that Clifford drove her to an alleyway and "tried to force himself on her", before she managed to escape from his car.

The daughter of the woman also appeared as a witness, and told the court she heard Clifford come up in conversation between her mother and stepfather.

She told the jury she was aged 12 or 13 at the time, and the discussion was "probably about 18 years ago".

She said: "She did say that she started to feel concern because she knew she wasn't going in the direction of her house.

"She said that she was obviously sitting in the passenger seat and she said he made an advance towards her and sort of was trying to force himself on top of her.

"She tried to wriggle away from him to get the car door open and escape from the car and escape that situation. Luckily she was able to do that, orientate herself and run back home."

The witness added that her mother mentioned Clifford when she saw him on television.

She said: "She would say 'well there's some skeletons in his closet'."

Clifford, from Hersham in Surrey, is accused of 11 counts of indecent assault against seven women and girls. He denies all the charges.

The trial continues.

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Co-Op Crisis: Boss Euan Sutherland Quits

The chief executive of the Co-operative Group has quit amid continuing turmoil at the mutual.

The Group confirmed a Sky News report this morning that Euan Sutherland had left his job, despite efforts by the board to change his mind.

Mr Sutherland resigned on a point of principle, citing the Group's structure as 'ungovernable.'

He was also known to be furious over a number of leaks to the media - leaks that he believed had come from the top of the organisation and included details of his pay.

Mr Sutherland said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that I have resigned as chief executive.

Richard Pennycook is now running the Co-op Group

"I have given my all to the business and had hoped to be able to lead its revival. However, I now feel that until the Group adopts professional and commercial governance it will be impossible to implement what my team and I believe are the necessary changes and reforms to renew the Group and give it a relevant and sustainable future.

"Saving The Co-operative Bank and with it The Co-operative Group from administration was a huge task, but the changes required do not stop there, with fundamental modernisation needed to safeguard the 11 future for our 90,000 colleagues and millions of members.

"The Group must reduce its significant debt and drive major efficiencies and growth in all of its businesses, but to do so also urgently needs fundamental governance reform and a revitalised membership.

"I will not accept the retention payments and long term incentive payments previously agreed for the delivery and protection of value in the Group and the Bank, even though this was successfully delivered."

The Group's chairman Ursula Lidbetter confirmed Richard Pennycook - who was chief financial officer - had been appointed interim chief executive pending the appointment of a permanent successor to Mr Sutherland.

She said she had accepted his resignation with "deep regret."

An emergency board meeting on Monday night - held to discuss Mr Sutherland's resignation - also proposed a restructuring that would result in the current 21-member board being disbanded and replaced by two different structures.

One would be a PLC-type board while the other would represent members.

The appointment of now ex-bank chair Paul Flowers is being investigated

Ms Lidbetter has described the planned reforms as urgent.

The decisions were taken following a crisis for the Co-op which has seen its banking operation subjected to regulatory scrutiny after control was lost to US hedge funds.

A £1.5bn black hole in the bank's balance sheet sparked the Co-op's problems but the restructuring of the lender left the Group with just a 30% stake.

Mr Sutherland's own role was in focus at the weekend over plans to raise his own pay to £3.6m despite the mutual's problems and an expected worst-ever loss for 2013 of £2bn, due to be announced at the end of the month.

The debate over rising awards at the Co-op began just weeks after Mr Sutherland admitted the Group had "lost touch" with customers.

At that time he launched an online poll so the public could make suggestions about its future direction.

The Co-op could sell 15 farms and its pharmacy business

A plan to sell parts of its business also left question marks over more than six thousand jobs.

Mr Sutherland has only been in the job since last April.

He expressed fury about media leaks on Sunday in a Facebook posting to an employees' group after the news on pay awards appeared in a national newspaper.

He said: "I'm very sorry to have to report that we have had yet another leak to the media.

"This time it is to the Observer newspaper and concerns levels of annual Executive remuneration, including my salary, and also proposed changes to the Group Executive team.

"It appears that, once again, the leak has come from our Group Boardroom.

"We seem to have an individual, or individuals, determined to undermine me personally, my team and the rest of the Group Board regardless of the uncertainty and disruption this causes to our 90,000 colleagues and our supportive members.

"Despite this, I am determined that we will see through the vital transformation of our business."

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Nigel Evans: Man 'Wanted To Punch' MP

By Mike McCarthy, Sky News Correspondent

A Westminster worker who alleged Nigel Evans sexually assaulted him in 2002 told a friend he was going to "punch" the MP following the incident, a court has heard.

The man told Preston Crown Court Evans put his hand down the back of his trousers at the Sanctuary bar in Soho during a night out with friends.

He told jurors he moved away from him "rather than make a scene" and told a female friend he was "going to punch him" after he allegedly did it for a second time.

The witness said: "It was just a normal going out and having fun and I thought, 'Oh God, he's doing it to me now'.

"He was like a drunken 14-year-old at a school disco who could not chat you up with words."

When asked by prosecutor Mark Heywood QC when he first became aware that something had happened, he said: "That some fingers had gone down my trousers. He was on one side of me... because he had a reputation.

"I was annoyed by it. I thought if I don't walk away I'm going to hit him."

The man then alleged Evans put his hand down his trousers again and he told a female friend "I'm going to punch him".

He added: "She said, 'you can't do that - he is the shadow secretary of state for Wales'."

The man confirmed he had socialised with Evans on a number of occasions since the alleged assault, but had never discussed the matter.

He told the court he considered the matter at the time "as like a big joke" and was shocked when Evans was arrested.

Under cross-examination he dismissed suggestions that Evans had been trying to steady himself, but accepted he had "physically and emotionally brushed the incident off".

He said: "He was quite persistent and I was annoyed but at the same time he was my friend, and I certainly forgave him for it because he was drunk.

"When I heard he had been arrested I could not believe it. I sent him an email asking if he wanted to come for a drink, and to 'stay strong'.

"It was like we were out one night and the shadow secretary of state for Wales puts his hands down my trousers. Crazy, crazy Westminster. It seemed so funny."

A second alleged victim told the court Evans had assaulted him at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool during the Conservative Party conference in 2003.

He said that he felt "annoyance and embarrassment" after Evans had allegedly put his hand down his trousers twice.

Evans, 56, faces nine charges dating from 2002 to April 1 last year. The MP for Ribble Valley, in Lancashire, denies two counts of indecent assault, six of sexual assault and one of rape.

The trial continues.

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Alan Pardew: Seven-Match Ban Issued For Headbutt

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been banned for seven games and fined £60,000 for headbutting a Hull City player.

Pardew, who was also warned as to his future conduct, was handed the punishment for headbutting midfielder David Meyler during a Premier League match at KC Stadium on March 1.

Referee Kevin Friend then sent Pardew to the stands and Newcastle went on to win the game 4-1.

Pardew, right, and Meyler confront each other during the spat

After the punishment was announced, Newcastle said in a statement: "The Club and Pardew have accepted the decision and now wish to draw a line under the matter."

Pardew said he 'deeply regrets' the incident

Pardew added: "As I have made clear, I deeply regret the incident and again wholeheartedly apologise to all parties for my conduct, which I understand was not acceptable."

Speaking to Sky Sports News after the match, Pardew said: "I think I'm going to sit down now because that's two or three incidents I've been involved in. I think I'm going to sit now.

"I didn't meant to do anything aggressive but I moved my head forward and that's enough."

More follows...

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