Birmingham Post

Strike Threat As Blood Jobs Axed

Staff at Birmingham NHS blood centres are planning strike action over Christmas in protest at 140 job cuts which, it was claimed, could result in patients' lives being put at risk. The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) service yesterday announced it was axing 600 jobs nationwide, including the 140 at three centres in Birmingham.

Brown's Son Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis

Gordon Brown last night revealed that his four-month-old son James Fraser has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. A spokesman for the Chancellor said he and wife Sarah were informed their youngest son might have the condition shortly after his birth in July.

Bosses React Angrily to Report

Social services bosses reacted angrily last night to a Government report criticising Birmingham for failing to promote independence and choice among older people. The Commission for Social Care Inspection gave the city council's adult care services a one-star rating, but warned of an "uncertain capacity for improvement".

'Urgent Need' for Social Services Improvement ; Adult Social Services in Birmingham Have Managed to Retain Their One- Star Rating, but Government Inspectors Are Far From Impressed by the Rate of Progress Says Chief Reporter Paul Dale

The Champagne corks were popping a year ago when Birmingham City Council finally overcame years of failure to have its social services department awarded a one-star ranking by the Government. Sue Anderson, the cabinet member, was so pleased by the findings of the Commission for Social Care Inspection that she invited staff to an impromptu party.

Hewitt Admits Lessons to Be Learned From Worcestershire Royal Pfi Deficit

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has admitted there are "lessons" to be learned from the contro-versial rebuild of Worcestershire Royal Hospital, which is heading for a pounds 30 million deficit. Critics ranging from trade unions to opposition MPs have long claimed that the use of private finance to pay for the hospital rebuild has contributed to its financial difficulties.

Newspaper Apology in Court to Royal Family for Invasion of Privacy

The News of the World publicly apologised to members of the Royal Family yesterday for invading their privacy after a senior journalist admitted a plot to hack into personal phone calls. The unreserved apology from the paper's editor Andy Coulson and its royal correspondent Clive Goodman came as an Old Bailey court heard details of a phone tapping operation targeting both royals and celebrities.

Troubled School has to Close Its Doors

A Birmingham primary school was shut yesterday after 16 teachers called in sick - days after its headteacher was suspended for alleged gross misconduct. Parents and children arriving at Adderley School in Saltley were told to go back home and telephone this morning to see if it would be reopening.

Kiss Mistletoe Prices Goodbye

Bumper crops of mistletoe and out-of-season raspberries are the result of what is expected to be Britain's warmest year. But in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire - renowned for its mistletoe auctions -the unusually temperate weather has led to a slump in prices.

Shop Owner Shot Dead in City

A man was shot dead in Birmingham last night in what was believed to be a grudge attack. The victim, named by local residents as Busharat Ali and aged 23, was shot in the face in Lozells Road at about 8.30pm.

Fewtrell Brother Tragedy

The brother of former nightclub king Eddie Fewtrell has been found hanged at his Birmingham home. Don Fewtrell, 76, who lived alone at his house in Handsworth Wood, had been "fighting a losing battle" to save his eyesight.

Distressed Soldier's Suicide

A Midland soldier who took his own life just days before being deployed to Iraq had shown signs of distress which were not investigated sufficiently, an inquest heard yesterday. Lane Corporal Michael Chapman, from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, was found hanging in the drying room of his block at Athlone Barracks, in Germany, in February 2003.

Politics Why the Capital Gets More Funding

The growing funding gap between London and the West Midlands was defended by Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander yesterday. He said the capital received more money because it needed it.

Retirement at 68 but No Increase Until 2015

Laws increasing the retirement age to 68 were published by the Government as pension reforms moved a step closer yesterday. The state pension age for both men and women will increase gradually to the new level by 2046.

Prisoner Numbers Top 80,000

The number of prisoners in England and Wales topped 80,000 for the first time in history yesterday, it was revealed. There were 79,908 inmates in jails and a further 152 being held in police stations under the Government's emergency plans, making a total of 80,060.

'No Risk' in Immigration Centre Riots

Large scale disturbances were taking place yesterday at Britain's largest immigration detention centre. Several fires were lit in causing disruption in all four wings of the facility in Middlesex, the Home Office said. The disturbance at Harmondsworth Immigration Detention Centre, West London, began on Tuesday night and continued yesterday.

British Officials 'Unhelpful' to Tsunami Survivors, Says Report

Scathing attacks on the insensitive way in which some UK officials dealt with British survivors of the Asian tsunami were disclosed for the first time today. In the new independent report, some survivors describe the actions of British embassy officials in the area as unhelpful, "superior" and selfish.

More Nhs Jobs Go in Shake-Ups

There will be "significantly more" job losses as a result of an NHS shake-up, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said yesterday. Ms Hewitt told MPs that moves to slash the number of bodies running services across the country had led to 100 compulsory redundancies so far.

Green Light for Pounds 12.8m Scheme to Transform the Mac Complex

A pounds 12.8 million scheme to transform Birmingham's MAC and Sampad arts complex has won approval. Supporters of the two organisations are celebrating an Arts Council decision to confirm a pounds 5.4 million grant to rebuild and modernise the popular Cannon Park venue.

33,000 On Alert in Ba Nuke Find

The investigation into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko spread to 33,000 British Airways passengers last night after radioactive traces were found on aircraft. Experts found "low levels of radioactive traces" on two aircraft at Heathrow airport and were preparing to examine a third in Moscow, the airline said.

Farepak Goodwill Fund Closes at Pounds 6m

The "goodwill gesture" relief fund for those who lost money in the collapsed Farepak Christmas savings scheme raised more than pounds 6 million, as it closed last night. It was set up after 150,000 Britons lost about pounds 400 each when the company went into administration last month.