UKIP Member Says Gay Adoption Is 'Child Abuse'

A leading member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has called for a ban on gay people adopting.

Winston McKenzie, the culture spokesman for UKIP, said placing children with gay or lesbian couples was "child abuse".

The former boxer, who is standing in the Croydon North by-election on Thursday, told the Metro newspaper: "To say to a child, 'I am having you adopted by two men who kiss regularly but don't worry about it' - that is abuse.

"It is a violation of a child's human rights because that child has no opportunity to grow up under normal circumstances."

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, replied: "These 19th Century views are not acceptable in the 21st Century."

Mr McKenzie's comments come days after Rotherham Council removed three children from a South Yorkshire couple because of their membership of UKIP.

Social workers said they were concerned about the children's "cultural and ethnic needs".

The Labour-controlled local authority has launched an investigation into the move following criticism from across the political spectrum.

Council leader Roger Stone has offered no apology to the couple

UKIP leader Nigel Farage condemned it as "outrageous", while Education Secretary Michael Gove said the decision was "indefensible".

The unnamed husband and wife have said council leaders should consider resigning after they failed to apologise for their actions.

They told the Daily Telegraph they felt "slandered and besmirched" after social workers took the ethnic minority children away.

"They should be considering their position," the husband said.

"These are people on incredible salaries who are paid to make responsible decisions but they can't do it.

"It's completely baffling that they just can't put their hands up. They say this is a complex case but we don't agree. It's very simple."

In his statement on Monday, council leader Roger Stone said he had received an initial report from his officials on what he described as a "very complex case".

He said: "The Secretary of State for Education has asked for an inquiry relating to this case over the weekend. The council welcomes this. We will work very closely with and give full co-operation to the department."

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Second Man Held After Girl, 11, Raped In Park

Detectives have arrested a second man on suspicion of raping an 11-year-old girl in a north London park.

The man, aged 18, was arrested in Edmonton and remains in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 26-year-old who was arrested earlier on Monday has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late December.

The youngster is being treated in hospital after she was grabbed by a man on her way home from school on Friday afternoon.

She was dragged into Jubilee Park, in Enfield, before being raped near a pitch and putt course.

The girl, who had caught a bus from Enfield town to Bury Street, was snatched as she was walking along Galliards Road at around 4.15pm.

She eventually returned home after the attack at 7.45pm.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless schoolgirl making her way home via her usual route, along one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.

"She says the attack happened for some considerable time - possibly in the region of two to three hours.

"At present an extensive search of the park is underway and local officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries, and we have already been receiving helpful information from members of the public.

"Given the significant and unaccounted amount of time between the incident and the victim's arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or dishevelled following her ordeal. All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence."

Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson said: "Over the course of the weekend police have been working using every resource available to support the victim, identify the suspect and provide a police response to increase confidence and provide reassurance to residents.

"Although this is an isolated and extremely rare incident, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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William And Harry To Help Oversee Diana Funds

By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent

The charity set up in the aftermath of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, is being wrapped up after raising £100m - with all future donations being entrusted to her sons.

As contributions to the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund continue to roll in, they will be distributed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry's Royal Foundation.

Diana's fund was set up in 1997 to continue her humanitarian work.

In 15 years it has given tens of millions of pounds to charitable causes and supported more than 400 organisations across the globe.

Ahead of the fund being wrapped up in December, it has awarded a final £3.1m in grants to 44 organisations that help disadvantaged people in the UK and around the world.

The decision to wind down the fund was made in 2007, but as an "unincorporated" trust it cannot legally cease to exist.

So as it continues to automatically receive donations in future, it will do so through the foundation run by Diana's sons, which becomes the fund's new legal owner.

The Duke and Duchess along with Prince Harry oversee the Royal Foundation

In the past five years the fund has spent almost £25m working with organisations that help those suffering from HIV/Aids, cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

Others who have benefited include those affected by the use of landmines, a cause close to Diana.

The Royal Foundation's chief executive Nick Booth said: "The fund has carried out fantastic work over the last 15 years to continue the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales, and has improved the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in the world.

"We feel it is appropriate and important that the Royal Foundation becomes the legal owner of the fund after its planned closure.

"We can think of no better organisation to continue the spirit of the humanitarian legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales, a legacy we have proudly based our work on for the past 15 years."

The chairman of Diana Memorial Fund, Sir Roger Singleton, said: "We are very pleased that the Royal Foundation has agreed to safeguard the name of the fund in the future."

:: For more information, go to the fund's website.

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Afghan War Supplier Issues Major Warning

The British firm that supplies Nato forces with safety devices has revealed major woes ahead of an Afghanistan troop drawdown.

Apache helicopters have been fitted wiith decoys made by Chemring

Chemring issued a trading warning, saying its year-end order book forecast was £760m, down from £878.3m last year.

"The group's performance during 2012 was extremely disappointing," the trading statement said.

"Chemring's operational performance has been weak, and management of investors' expectations over the past year has also been poor."

Chemring also makes pyrotechnics to protect soldiers or show their location

The Hampshire-based firm makes aviation decoys, known as countermeasures, that are fired by military aircraft to thwart missile attacks.

It also makes munitions, counter-improvised explosive device (IED) equipment and pyrotechnic flares, which have been widely used by UK, US and Nato forces against the Taliban.

Dozens of other countries around the world use its products. The firm commands around a 60% share of the £360m global market in countermeasures.

Illuminated artillery munitions have been used against Afghan insurgents

But both US and UK military budgets are under tight pressure ahead of a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The US is expected to cut nearly $500bn (£310bn) from defence expenditure over the next decade and Britain's Ministry of Defence has ordered a review of its procurement process.

Chemring admitted it has been hit by slow adaptation to changing tempos after more than a decade of US and UK military combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A Japanese plane sets off a string of flares designed to attract missiles

"In part, this resulted from a failure to anticipate the likely impact of the changing market dynamics on the group's businesses, but also reflected failures in performance at several of our businesses," it said.

Technical faults with a countermeasure product have seen it rejected by a customer recently.

It has also failed to get export licences for a major vehicle-based mortar system for a Middle East customer.

And it hinted that the so-called Arab Spring - with uncertainty over ruling regimes - made export licences "more difficult to achieve in some markets".

US Air Force gunships have used Chemring's countermeasures

The company, which is saddled with net debt of £250m, has recently seen the departure of its chief executive and a decision by private equity firm the Carlyle Group to pull out of takeover talks.

"The wider market backdrop is likely to remain challenging," the company said.

"Chemring needs to adapt and better equip itself in order to meet these challenges."

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Man Who Raped Girl, Four, Jailed Indefinitely

A 21-year-old man has been jailed indefinitely after admitting he raped a girl aged four.

Liam Ineson, of Lancaster, subjected his victim to a six-month "campaign of abuse", police said, targeting her on a number of occasions earlier this year.

He was given an indeterminate sentence after pleading guilty to rape and sexual activity with a child.

Ineson, of Ryelands Road, will serve nearly six years before his sentence is reviewed.

Detective sergeant Simon Coates, of Lancaster police, said: "Ineson preyed on a young girl and then tried to make her keep the abuse a secret.

"He is a dangerous individual and the indeterminate sentence means he should not be released from prison until experts are satisfied that he no longer poses a threat to our community."

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Nadine Dorries Has To Wait For Whip Ruling

Nadine Dorries has been put on probation by the Tories after returning from her stint in I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

The Mid-Bedfordshire MP has been warned her suspension from the party will not be lifted until she can prove she has built bridges with her constituents and fellow MPs.

Ms Dorries expressed confidence that she would soon be back on the Tory benches - but party sources made clear she is "very much in limbo".

The MP was suspended when it emerged she was heading to the jungle in Australia to participate in the ITV reality show, despite Parliament being in session.

She insisted it was an opportunity to reach out and connect with the public but was the first contestant to be kicked off the programme.

Ms Dorries hears she is the first celebrity to be booted off (Pic: ITV)

The MP was summoned to meet with Tory Chief Whip Sir George Young on Tuesday morning after flying back to the UK to face the music.

After the meeting, a spokesman for Sir George said: "The whip has not been restored and nor will it be until she proves that she can rebuild bridges with her constituents, her association and her parliamentary colleagues."

However, a cheerful Ms Dorries insisted: "I think we will be fine" and described the talks as "very good-natured" and "very happy".

"We have adjourned the meeting and we are reconvening this time next week, if not before," she added.

The MP after her first bushtucker trial (Pic: ITV)

She also stressed that she wanted to stay in Parliament.

"Of course I want to be an MP. An MP is not doing a job, it is a life choice. If I didn't want to make that life choice, I wouldn't be doing it, I can assure you," she said.

The outspoken backbencher claimed she still had a "huge amount of support" in her constituency and had returned to more than 700 emails which were "very complimentary".

She denied that she was trying to cultivate an alternative career in television, saying that she had been trying to find new ways of engaging with the public.

"I have gone to a place where 12 million people go and engaged with them at their level," she said.

"I don't want a television career. I do want a platform which engages with the public on a different level from that which Westminster offers."

The MP also claimed that she still did not know how much she was being paid by ITV for her appearance on the show, amid reports of a £40,000 fee.

Ms Dorries has been fighting ever since she emerged from the jungle, arguing that former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell had given her permission to take time off.

Mr Mitchell told Sky News that he had not given her the go-ahead to be away in November and that the first he knew of it was when publicity around the show began.

Ms Dorries claims that she has only missed three sitting days in Parliament, with the rest falling over half-term.

On Monday night, she described the furore as "slightly hysterical" and said the show had done wonders for her profile, calling herself the "best-known MP in Britain".

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Welfare-to-Work Scheme Misses Its Target

The Government has defended its flagship employment scheme after new figures showed the programme has missed its target.

Only 3.5% of the long-term unemployed helped by the scheme were still employed six months later, according to data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Figures showed that 800,000 people had started the Work Programme since it was launched last year, but that only 31,000 stayed in a job for six months.

A target of 5.5% was set for finding sustainable jobs.

But employment minister Mark Hoban defended the scheme, saying the programme is succeeding in getting people off benefits and into work.

He said that 56% of people who joined the scheme were no longer receiving benefits, with one in five of the earliest participants spending at least six months without them.

Mr Hoban also revealed that notices had been sent to a number of organisations involved in the programme, asking them to come up with plans to improve their performance

But Labour leader Ed Miliband criticised the programme and said it was on course to be a "miserable failure".

Labour leader Ed Miliband has called the scheme a "miserable failure"

During a visit to Stevenage, he said: "It is just not working. What we've seen from the Government is a failure to reform welfare."

The initiative, which was launched in June 2011 to help the long-term unemployed find work, divides the country into regions, with each comprising a range of private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

It is a two-year scheme which supports some of the hardest-to-help claimants, including the long-term unemployed, disabled and ex-offenders.

Employers are paid by results to get people into work, and providers can earn between £3,700 and £13,700 per person, depending how hard it is to help an individual.

The DWP says the scheme so far has cost just over £2,097 for every participant.

The statistics were expected to be poor after various leaks showed the programme slowly "descending into chaos" as one source put it.

Unemployment is now slowly falling despite a stagnation in GDP, a phenomenon that has become known as the "productivity puzzle".

The Employment Related Services Association (ERSA), the trade body for the welfare-to-work industry, said criticism of the scheme was unfair, predicting that an increasing number of people will be helped into a sustained job.

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Bill Tarmey Funeral: Corrie Says Goodbye

Coronation Street stars have gathered in Manchester to pay their respects to the actor Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth in the long-running soap.

Tarmey, 71, became one of TV's most recognisable faces as the long-suffering husband to nagging battleaxe Vera, played by Liz Dawn.

The ceremony at the Albion United Reformed Church in Ashton-under-Lyne was attended by a host of the actor's former co-stars including Julie Goodyear, William Roache and Kevin Kennedy.

Moving readings and tributes were given by his granddaughter, grandson and Coronation Street co-stars Nigel Pivaro, who plays his son Terry and Samia Ghadie , who plays Maria O'Connor.

Ghadie described Bill as "devoted to his family" and said he had been a "surrogate father" to her during her first months on the soap.

"He was genuinely one of the most decent and honourable men you could ever wish to meet, " she said.

"Jack and Vera were a truly unforgettable and formidable partnership, and I doubt we'll ever see that again. They were simply iconic and Jack Duckworth will forever be a true Coronation Street legend.

Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn in character

"On behalf of everyone who works at Coronation Street and has worked on the programme during its 52 years, and the loyal viewers who have followed the programme throughout these years - Bill, we salute you."

Tarmey worked as a singer in local nightclubs before landing his role on the Street in 1979.

During the funeral service a recording of his track The Wind Beneath My Wings was played whilst a montage charting his career and life was screened throughout the church, leaving much of the congregation in tears.

Tarmey was one of the show's best-loved actors and it was his chemistry and rapport with his on-screen wife that provided some of the most memorable and funny moments in the soap.

Speaking during the ceremony Pivaro questioned why Jack Duckworth was beloved by millions across the world.

He was "a workshy ne'er do well, a layabout and they were just his good points", he said.

Tarmey and Dawn in one of their final scenes together

But the actor added "there is a bit of Jack Duckworth in all of us men, frustration and thwarted ambition, you know the rest".

He continued: "Behind the character was the man. Bill's huge generosity of spirit, his warmth, his wit, his patience, his wisdom."

The service was relayed on loudspeakers for several hundred fans of the show who gathered outside.

The former builder was married to his childhood sweetheart Alison for 50 years and they had two children Carl and Sara.

A life-long smoker, Bill suffered with persistent heart problems, but it was the ill health of his son that forced him to quit the soap in 2010 to help care for him, whilst he battled a brain tumour.

The actor died earlier this month while at his holiday home in Tenerife.

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Flood Water Levels Rise: Hundreds Flee Homes

Rain-battered Britain is struggling to cope with rising flood levels after further heavy rain brought misery to thousands of residents and motorists across the UK.

Householders have already evacuated over 900 properties after deluges left many properties uninhabitable and caused road and rail chaos.

Hundreds of people were urged to flee their homes after the River Elwy reached record levels and surged through flood defences into the beleaguered city of St Asaph in North Wales.

The torrential downpours spread overnight from the South West to North Wales and northern England, leading to the Environment Agency issuing about 180 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts across the UK.

Residents in St Asaph say they do not remember the area flooding so badly since the 1960s. Some have used canoes to salvage as many possessions as they could carry.

Tina Bailey and her family are rescued in Maisemore, Gloucestershire

Police have said the body of an elderly woman has been recovered from a flooded property in the town, though there are no suspicious circumstances and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

Resident Vincent Jones was asked to leave his home in the early hours of the morning. He said: "I had a knock at 12.30am to say there was an imminent flood, and then at 4.30am we were told to leave.

"When I left, within an hour the water had engulfed us. I put some personal possessions upstairs and made sure we took the children to safety. My sister-in-law on the other side of St Asaph has taken the kids in.

"I'm absolutely devastated. I don't have insurance. It doesn't bear thinking about at the minute. My kids are safe, we'll just have to plod on and sort it out one way or another."

The Environment Agency says that flood defences in St Asaph which were designed to cope with up to 4m (13ft) of water, appear to be holding.

Hotel owner Charlie Ryan and his dog leave their home in St Asaph

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has expressed sympathy with residents but said most of the flood defences around the UK had held up well.

"We offer our sympathies to all those affected. I did see that our flood schemes in the South West are protecting properties. Six thousand key properties were protected in Exeter despite a torrent of water. Fifteen thousand properties in the country are being protected.

"We're spending £2.17bn on flood defences over this spending round. We've opened up new arrangement partnerships with local councils and these flood schemes provide real benefits.

"It's bitterly disappointing and awful for residences who feel safe behind defences which then fail. I can't comment on what's happened in St Asaph because I need to get the details of what's happened there.

"The vast majority of the schemes we've built are designed to withstand floods except under extraordinary circumstances."

Firemen filled sandbags to deliver to residents in North Wales

But Mr Paterson added that the current system for insuring people against floods is flawed, after claims that hundreds of thousands of homes could be left without flood cover due to a row between ministers and the insurance industry over how future flooding bills would be covered.

He also criticised the way insurance companies have raised the issue.

"We're trying to come up with an improved system that gives affordable and universal insurance which isn't a huge burden on the taxpayer.

"We've been involved in detailed negotiations with the Association of British Insurers (ABI), but it was unhelpful of them to throw this into the mix yesterday when people were still struggling to recover from the flooding."

The ABI had claimed that talks about a "safety net" deal to ensure those in flood-risk areas can continue to afford their policies were at "crisis point".

Graeme Trudgill from the British Insurance Brokers' Association said the solution could lie in insurers themselves being insured.

Residents of St Asaph wade to safety

"The insurance brokers we represent want to find a solution. It's a question of getting government and insurers to find the right balance.

"Flood mapping technology is so advanced now we can tell which properties are at risk of flooding and we can insure 98% of the properties in the UK. It's the top 200,000 properties that are very high risk.

"Specialist brokers can insure most of them but it's a case of those properties working with their broker and agreeing to things like air-brick covers on their homes so they're prepared if the worst happens.

"We're looking at a re-insurance solution to provide insurance for the insurance companies. We're confident that next year there will be some broker solutions in place.

Flood levels are continuing to rise in the worst hit areas across the UK despite the forecast of drier spells.

Sky's weather presenter Isobel Lang, said: "Drier weather is on the way. That is definitely welcome news after the exceptional rain of the last few days. However the flood risk will not go away.

A resident collects her belongings in Willington, central England

"Some slow responding rivers such as the Severn, Trent and Thames will continue to rise over the next day or two leading to local flooding problems.

"Areas with high ground water could still experience flooding, and Dorset is a county at risk. There is still a risk of river or surface water flooding across northeast England, north Wales and Northamptonshire, too".

Across the UK, three people have died in the flooding and around 900 homes have been evacuated following a weekend of almost non-stop rain.

There is still a risk of flooding, as the heavy rain in northern England and Wales moves southwards. But the wind and rain are expected to ease over the next few days which are expected to be drier, with freezing temperatures taking hold of the UK instead.

The EA remains particularly concerned about the River Thames, Trent and the Severn, as well as the Northamptonshire area.

The A417 at Maisemore has already flooded and is closed, while the River Severn at Tewkesbury is expected to peak at 4.8m - a metre less than its peak in 2007.

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Ofsted: Postcode Lottery For Good Schools

More than two million children are still not getting a decent education, and a youngster's chance of attending a good school is often too dependent on where they live, Ofsted has warned.

There are stark inequalities in England's education system, with pupils in some areas of the country facing a less than 50% chance of being taught at a good or better school, the inspectorate said.

In his first annual report, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said that for a country which wants to be a global leader, England's schools system is not good enough and must do better.

He also announced the launch of an online league table, ranking local authorities according to inspectors' ratings of schools.

The report shows that there have been improvements in the last few years, with 70% of schools now rated good or outstanding compared to 64% five years ago.

An extra half a million pupils are now being in taught in good or better schools, it says.

But it also means that almost 2.3 million children are still attending a "small minority" of schools that are less than good.

Sir Michael Wilshaw has criticised school standards in his report

In his commentary on the report, Sir Michael said he "worries most about the 30% or so of schools which, at their last inspection, and often before that, were judged to be no better than satisfactory".

In these schools, lessons are often "formulaic", he said, with students that are not fully interested, or being stretched to reach their full potential.

He suggested that in most assessments, a rating of seven out of 10, or 70% could be seen as "fair but could do better".

The new report warns that the overall rise in the performance of England's schools masks real challenges for the education system.

It raises serious concerns about the "marked inequality of access" to a good school across the country.

A primary school pupil in England has, on average, a 69% chance of being in a good or outstanding school, it says, but in some parts of the country, a child has a better than 90% chance, and in others a less than 50% chance.

"Why is it that a child living in Derby or Doncaster local authority areas has only half the chance of attending a good or better primary or secondary school compared with a child living in Wigan or Darlington?" said Sir Michael.

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