Labour plan to raise minimum wage to £10 an hour

political correspondent(wp/es):
A major increase in the minimum wage to £10 was pledged by Labour today as Jeremy Corbyn’s party tried to turn from infighting to policies for the next general election.
The flagship announcement was made by shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who said it was “the level needed for a decent life”.
In a move that would strengthen trade unions, he also vowed Labour would bring back national wage bargaining, arguing this would “end the race to the bottom”.
Mr McDonnell told conference that the Living Wage — currently £7.20 per hour for workers aged over 25, £6.70 per hour for those aged 21 to 24, and £5.30 per hour for ages 18 to 20 — was too low.
Although it is due to rise to more than £9 in 2020, he said Labour would go further if elected and make it £10 an hour.
“Under the next Labour government, everyone will earn enough to live on,” he declared. “When we win the next election we will write a real Living Wage into law.”

He said 200,000 workers were getting less than the legal minimum.
Today’s National Executive Committee backed a  10-point statement of party values drawn  up by Mr Corbyn, including a commitment to a “more equal society”, universal childcare, rent controls and opposing wars.
Earlier, Mr McDonnell had urged Labour MPs who have resigned from the shadow cabinet to return to the party’s front bench, saying: “I’d like to see virtually all of them back.”
He hinted that the next shadow cabinet reshuffle was being postponed until November to allow for a wider look at Labour’s internal democracy.

However, that apparent olive branch only alarmed centrist MPs who believe the leadership is plotting to let grassroots activists — who back Mr Corbyn — choose shadow cabinet members.
Mr McDonnell also set out plans to borrow £100 billion to support industry, saying Labour would offer an “interventionist government” ready to protect key home-grown businesses against global market pressures.
“We are setting up a national investment bank,” he said. “We are putting into that bank £100 billion. Yes, that will be borrowed, but it will be  borrowed at the cheapest rates in our history.”
Shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis announced that Labour would build three new ships to be deployed in support of aircraft carriers. He presented the move as a boost for members of trade unions Unite and the GMB, saying: “Your members help defend us and we will help defend them.”

Man, 29, charged with murder of London businessman

 
Pic: Zdenek maker
Crime reporter(wp/es):
A 29-year-old man was today charged with the murder of a London businessman who was allegedly killed after a row at a chicken shop.
Raymond Sculley, of Sherman House, is accused of killing Zdenek Makar, 31, who died after he was attacked in the street in Poplar, east London.
Mr Makar, a Czech national, was pronounced dead at the scene near to All Saints DLR station, late on Wednesday.
Sculley is set to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Two others arrested on Friday – a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy – have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Both are due to return to an east London police station on dates in early October.

Mr Makar had enjoyed an evening at the pub and stopped off at the Perfect Fried Chicken shop in East India Dock Road on his way home before he was killed.
Close friends have paid tribute to him as “a great man with a big dreams and a big heart.”

Man die in Dagenham

staff reporter(wp/es):
A man has been killed after a fire ripped through a terraced house in Dagenham.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene after four fire engines and 21 firefighters rushed to tackle the blaze on the residential street.
Another person was treated for smoke inhalation but they have been discharged by paramedics.
Roads are closed off as police investigate the cause of the fire in the first floor flat on Lower Broad Street.
 Fire crews and ambulances were called to the fire at 2:47pm and Barking and Dagenham police tweeted warning people to “avoid the area” due to a “serious investigation”.

Two paramedics cars, and London Ambulance Service  (LAS) Hazardous Area Response Team were called to the scene.
A LAS spokeswoman said: “Sadly we found a person dead at the scene.
"We treated another patient for smoke inhalation and they were discharged.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation by police and London Fire Brigade.

Prince William today said he was delighted to bring his young family to Canada to start their "lifetime of friendship" with the country.

Pic: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Canada with their children
royal correspondent(es/wp):
Prince William today said he was delighted to bring his young family to Canada to start their "lifetime of friendship" with the country.
The future King, who was last in Canada in 2011 just after their wedding, said, "Catherine and I are delighted to be back in Canada.
He said he was delighted Prince George and Princess Charlotte could be with them to start "them on lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country."
The Prince spoke of Canada and its people being "much esteemed for its strong values" - praising its armed services, arts culture and environment.
He went on: "We want to meet as many people from as many walks of life as possible."

And he said he hoped to discover how the Canadian people are tackling challenges of the day - including mental health issues of which he is passionate about.
William added he had "Happy memories" of being in British Colombia as a "shy teenager". "A few remember it too well I think," he joked.

Speaking to a huge crowd opposite Victoria's Parliament the prince delivered some of his address in French.
He joked, "It's a little rusty bear with me."
George and Charlotte were not at the official welcome and had been dropped off at Government House where the royals are staying on route.

Canada's Governor General David Johnston spoke of his delight that the royals had come as a family on the royal tour.
He said: "You've come back as a family and we couldn't be happier for you
"We are delighted to welcome Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Canada. May it be the first of many visits.”

The Prince joked that he hoped his children were not "tearing up" the Governor's House in their absence as he met well-wishers.
The prince and his wife made a beeline for fellow parents and accepted gifts for their children.
Kate told one Royal fan, the mother of a six month old girl, that parenthood would "get easier" after she grew older.
Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister, used his speech to highlight the family feel of the trip, the first overseas tour for the family as a foursome.

"As any parent who has travelled with children knows, it's a whole different experience when you bring your children with you," he said, to cheers.
"Let me caution you from my own experience, if they are anything like our kids, getting them back on the plane after a visit to the beautiful west coast will really be a challenge."
They were greeted by cheers from thousands of well-wishers as they stepped out of their car, waving before stepping forward to greet Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon, Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie, Lt-Gov of BC Judith Guichon and Christy Clark, premier of BC.

Motorcyclist injured in dramatic crash with car near Edgware road Tube station

staff reporter(wp/es):
A motorcyclist is injured in hospital today after a dramatic crash with a car near to a Tube station.
Emergency services raced to the scene in Edgware Road after the smash in the early hours of this morning.
Dramatic pictures emerged on social media of medics treating an injured man lying in the road before he was rushed to hospital.
A witness told the Standard they were awoken by the sound of the crash and dialled 999.
Police and paramedics said they were called to the scene at 4.30am.

The road was closed for more than four hours as officers investigated the crash.
Police said the injured man’s condition is stable and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said no arrests have been made.

Two men have been acquitted of the rape and murder of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in India.

crime reporter(wp/es):

Two men have been acquitted of the rape and murder of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in India.

The 15-year-old’s bruised and half-naked body was found on Anjuna beach in the north of Goa in 2008.

The teenager had been at a Valentine's Day beach party while the rest of her family had gone travelling.

A post-mortem examination showed there was ecstasy, cocaine and LSD in her body when she died.

Following a police investigation two local men, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, were charged with causing her death. 

It was believed they had plied her with drugs, raped her and left her unconscious on the beach where she subsequently drowned.

Both denied charges of culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault and were today acquitted by a judge in India.

Scarlett, from Bideford in north Devon, suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack, Goa's Children's Court has previously heard.

The teenager's mother, Fiona MacKeown, travelled to India for the verdict.

She said following the verdict: “I've waited 8 years and now this.

"I am disappointed with the verdict and I will definitely move to the higher court."

Samson D'Souza reportedly said: “Justice has prevailed.”

Ms MacKeown described her daughter as "just a normal teenage girl" and said she would always “regret” allowing her to go to the beach party.

She told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "She wanted to be more grown up than she was. 

“Mostly people don't know the facts when they say I left her on the beach on her own or with her 29-year-old boyfriend. He wasn't her boyfriend and I didn't leave her on her own. They don't know the facts and I try not to take what they say personally. 

"Obviously I will regret that decision for the rest of my life that I let her go to that party. I wish more than anything that I'd said no and kept her with us but I can't change the past. I just have to accept it and get on."

The bereaved mother described her daughter as “happy and lively”.

She said: "She played saxophone and she was going to join a band. She used to ride the horses a lot - we had horses and she loved that. She used to swim - all of us used to get into the sea in Cornwall and swim. She was active and strong and healthy."

A teenager raped

crime reporter(wp/es):

An 18-year-old was raped after being held down and robbed by two other women.

Greater Manchester Police said the female victim was thrown to the ground in Manchester city centre on Wednesday by a man who then held her down with a woman while a second woman robbed her.

The man then raped the woman before the trio fled from the scene in Major Street towards the city’s Gay Village shortly before 3am.

Detective Inspector Dave Moores of GMP’s Serious Sexual Offences Unit said: “This was a horrendous attack on a young woman which has, understandably, left her extremely distressed.

“We are providing her with support from specially trained officers and have launched a full investigation.”

The man is described as white, in his early 20s, of slim build and with a clean-shaven face. He was wearing sports clothing.

The first woman, who helped restrain the victim during the robbery, is described as 18, of mixed race with a scrawny build and had her hair tied up in a ponytail. She spoke with a local accent.

The second woman, who carried out the robbery, is described as mixed race, in her early 20s and had a messy ponytail. She also spoke with a local accent.

Detectives leading the investigation are asking anyone who may have seen people matching the description of the group between 2am and 3pm to come forward.