Updated 5:55am 23 May 2013

Powered by Google

national news

Morning news headlines for May 20, 2013

THE coalition’s controversial gay marriage legislation returns to the Commons today with Tory MPs and activists deeply split over the issue and Conservative co-chairman Lord Feldman will face questions about allegations he described grassroots activists as “swivel-eyed loons”, at a meeting of the party’s board.Read

Man in court after two children die

A British father is due to appear in court in France, where he is expected to be formally charged with slitting the throats of his two young children.Read

Abu Qatada makes Siac freedom bid

Radical cleric Abu Qatada will launch a fresh bid for freedom as he seeks to be released from prison at an immigration tribunal.Read

MPs to debate gay marriage plans

The coalition's controversial gay marriage legislation returns to the Commons with Tory MPs and activists deeply split over the issue.Read

Tory leaders rally around Feldman

Conservative co-chairman Lord Feldman will face questions about allegations he described grassroots activists as "swivel-eyed loons", at a meeting of the party's board.Read

Man killed in house gas explosion

A man has died and another person is still missing after a gas explosion which destroyed a terraced house, police said.Read

New laws 'open to abuse of power'

Proposed anti-social behaviour laws are open to abuse of power and could be used by councils to create new crimes ranging from spitting to homelessness, a think-tank has warned.Read

High inflation is 'here to stay'

Households are facing a continued squeeze on their spending power after a leading forecaster warned that high inflation was here to stay.Read

House asking prices reach new high

House sellers' asking prices have soared to a new high, in further signs of confidence returning to the market, a property website has reported.Read

Help offered to probation mutuals

Probation staff who start their own John Lewis-style mutuals will be offered support to bid for contracts under the Government's rehabilitation reforms, Nick Clegg will announce.Read

Cameron calls for tax transparency

David Cameron has written to the leaders of Britain's offshore tax havens stressing the need to "get our own houses in order" as he pushes for international action to tackle avoidance schemes.Read

Four hurt in suspected gas blast

Four casualties have been taken to hospital after a suspected gas blast which destroyed a terraced house.Read

Cable denies plotting against Clegg

Business Secretary Vince Cable has refused to rule out becoming leader of the Liberal Democrats, but insisted that it was "not something I'm thinking about".Read

Five people hurt in gas explosion

Five casualties have been taken to hospital after a suspected gas blast which ripped through a house, police have said.Read

One rescued following gas blast

One person has been rescued by fire crews after a suspected gas explosion ripped through a house.Read

Father admits killing children

A British father has admitted slitting the throats of his two young children in France following a difficult divorce, sources said.Read

One dead, two hurt in plane crash

A man has died while a boy and another man are fighting for their lives after a light aircraft crashed on the approach to an airport runway.Read

'One dead, two hurt' in plane crash

One person is reportedly feared dead and two others have been injured after a light aircraft crash.Read

Politics of New Labour era 'over'

One of the key architects of New Labour said that the politics of the Blair-era government was over and that it was time for a new generation with new ideas.Read

Cameron hints at going it alone

David Cameron has hinted that he could attempt to govern without the Liberal Democrats if disputes within the coalition made it impossible to continue.Read