Birmingham Post

Government Tells City: You Need a Livingstone

Birmingham will receive extensive new powers to run its own affairs if it accepts the need for a strong leader such as a mayor, Ministers have pledged. A planned revolution in local government, to be unveiled in October, will offer councils billions of pounds of extra funding and control over transport, planning and economic development.

Great Crested Newt Trumps the Economy

CBI director general Sir Digby Jones last night launched a ferocious attack on the planning laws, claiming environmental concerns were placed ahead of jobs. The great crested newt was deemed more important than economic success, said Sir Digby. And he complained that the Government had failed to rectify the balance.

Jobs for Cons Drive in Region

Employers across all sectors are being urged to recruit former criminals who have been on special training programmes while in prison. But small business leaders warned smaller firms might struggle to offer the extra support such employees might need.

Affair Led to Murder and Fireball Suicide

A father-of-two suffocated his partner and then killed himself in a fireball, police have revealed. Post mortem findings confirmed that "obsessive" father-of-two Noel Lee murdered 37-year-old Dawn Mansfield before killing himself.

Children and Adults Gathered at St Martin's

Qpr Blackmail at Gunpoint Case Thrown Out by Judge

The four remaining defendants accused of a plot to force a director of Queens Park Rangers to resign at gunpoint were yesterday cleared as the case was thrown out. Andy Baker, aged 40, Aaron Lacey, 36, David Davenport, 38, and Michael Reynolds, 45, were originally on trial alongside three other men accused of an attack on Gianni Paladini, who is now chairman of the Championship club, at QPR's ground last year.

Fears Over New Tier of Exams for Students

A Midland university piloting a new test to select students said it had concerns about putting pupils through another tier of exams. Warwick University is one of seven higher education institutions currently trying out the new method of assessing candidates.

How Andy Just Ran Into Blue Peter Presenter's Job

A Birmingham TV runner has landed the plum job of new Blue Peter presenter after being spotted and put up for audition. As the BBC show's 32nd presenter, Nigerian-born Andy Akinwolere's immediate daredevil tasks will include abseiling from the Humber Bridge, attempting the Dutch sport of canal jumping, and sampling the life of a working cowboy in Texas.

Relief As Killer's Sentence Doubled

The mother of a medical student killed by a hit-and-run driver last night spoke of her "relief" after the Court of Appeal doubled his prison sentence and banned him from driving for ten years. Three judges in London ruled that the original 18-month term handed down to Jaswinder Singh (46) of Ward End, Birmingham, was "unduly lenient".

Lord Lichfield's Photos On Show at Shugborough

Iconic photographs taken by the late Lord Lichfield are to go on display at his ancestral home tomorrow. The images have never been seen together before and were personally selected by the world-renowned photographer before his death last year.

Iconic Ad Theme Brought Back to Life for Internet

For millions of British cinema-goers the famous "Pa-pa, pa-pa pa- pa" of Pearl & Dean has been a part of the movie experience for decades. From the moment the tune begins film fans know the main feature is just around the corner, after a brief commercial break.

Wh Smith to Have Post Offices

The Royal Mail is planning to open Post Offices in WH Smith stores, it was announced yesterday. Plans were unveiled to enter a partnership deal at stores in Swansea, Slough, Shrewsbury, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Hammersmith in west London.

Take Us to Your Leader - Moneybags Minister ; Council Leaders in the West Midlands Want More Power. Local Government Minister Phil Woolas Told Political Editor Jonathan Walker They Can Have It - If They Accept the Need for New Forms of Leadership, Such As an Elected Mayor

Birmingham is failing to fulfil its potential and the whole UK economy suffers as a result, according to Phil Woolas. His solution is to offer the city, and its neighbours, what they have been demanding for some time - far more control over their own affairs.

Awm Backs Moves to Resurrect Nec Super-Casino Plans

Attempts to resurrect plans for a super-casino at the National Exhibition Centre received a boost yesterday as a powerful Government body backed the proposals. Advantage West Midlands said it is supporting Birmingham and Solihull's bid to locate a pounds 250 million gaming complex at the NEC as the campaign to put the proposals back on a national shortlist began to gain momentum.

Murdoch Ready to Back Tories

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch could switch his support to David Cameron's Conservatives at the next General Election, he said yesterday. The news will come as a blow to Prime Minister Tony Blair, who sets great store by the support of Mr Murdoch's stable of British newspapers, including The Sun and The Times.

Leaving Rat Race Makes Horse Sense for Couple

Many workers long for a life away from office gossip and broken photocopiers. Few, however, swap their suits for slacks and follow those dreams.

Hundreds Fear Tap Water Illness

Hundreds of people feared tap water made them ill despite its extremely high quality, according to a new report. Virtually every water company in England received complaints from customers on the issue last year, according to the Drinking Water 2005 report.

Severn Trent Queries National Grid Idea

Severn Trent Water has questioned proposals by civil engineers to build a national water grid to bring relief to the drought-ridden south. A study by the Institution of Civil Engineers puts forward ideas for two river transfer schemes and a sophisticated grid of pipelines.

'Dry-Run' for Career of Killing Ends in Jail

Millionaire's daughter Kemi Adeyoola was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years yesterday for the murder of pensioner Anne Mendel. Adeyoola (18) hatched her plan in prison and the judge said she might have gone on to kill others.

Duo Beat Man to Death 'for Pleasure of Inflicting Pain'

Two killers have been jailed for life for beating a man to death "for the sadistic pleasure of inflicting pain". Father-of-two 47-year-old Gerrard McAndrew was kicked, stamped on and punched in July last year moments after he left a public house in Telford. He was robbed of a mobile phone and a gold necklace and, while unconscious, stuffed into the boot of a car and taken to a local park where he was stripped naked and dumped.