Birmingham Post

Police in Jersey Dig Look for Third Room and Find Trapdoor

Police searching a Jersey care home where more than 160 victims have claimed they were abused have uncovered a trap door in the cellar area, a senior officer said yesterday. The discovery seems to corroborate evidence provided by witnesses, Jersey Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper said.

Cover Blown so Harry Is Pulled Out of Afghanistan

Prince Harry was last night preparing to return to Britain after being pulled out of his frontline deployment in Afghanistan for his own safety and that of his fellow soldiers. The 23-year-old Household Cavalry officer, who has been secretly fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province, was due to fly home after an emergency extraction ordered by the Chief of Defence Staff.

Contingency Plan in Place for Extraction

Here is the Ministry of Defence's full statement about Prince Harry's extraction from Afghanistan: "The decision by elements of the foreign media to report Prince Harry's presence in Afghanistan without any consultation with the Ministry of Defence is regrettable.

Queen's Pride Over Grandson

The Queen yesterday spoke with pride about Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan. She said her 23-year-old grandson had performed "a good job in a very difficult climate".

History and Glamour As Post Celebrates 150 Years

It was a night of history, glitz and glamour as hundreds of the most important people from across the West Midlands celebrated the 150th anniversary of The Birmingham Post. More than 500 of the great and good gathered at Birmingham University last night for the Post's anniversary gala dinner.

'Setting Local Information Free Is the Future'

Councils will be forced to publish information about their activities online in a standardised format under a future Conservative government, to give residents more power to hold them to account, David Cameron said yesterday. The Conservative leader said the future of local government lay in "setting information free" so voters can easily judge their council's performance against neighbouring authorities.

Longer, More Frequent Trains for East Coast Line

Longer and more-frequent trains could soon be coming to a key London to Scotland line under plans published from rail infrastructure company Network Rail (NR). The improved services are proposed for the East Coast Main Line (ECML) under a route utilisation strategy document from NR.

Judge Seeks Views On Repossessions

One of the country's leading judges yesterday set out proposals on how the courts should deal with home repossession moves by banks and building societies. Sir Anthony Clarke, the Master of the Rolls who heads the civil Court of Appeal, called for comments from the legal profession on a new protocol to try to avoid large numbers of homeowners facing court action because of mortgage arrears following the credit crunch.

The Best Is yet to Come, Cameron Tells Guests

Birmingham needs a "city renaissance" to allow it to compete against cities in China and India, Conservative leader David Cameron has warned. He said: "Let's celebrate Birmingham and the success story it has become - but let us do so, knowing that Birmingham's best years are to come."

Politics: Speak with One Voice, Urges Pm

The West Midlands must learn to "come together" and speak with one voice if it is to succeed, Gordon Brown has warned. The Prime Minister said councils and agencies must present a united front if they wanted to win funding for projects such as the Midland Metro.

Politics: Conference Pays Tribute to City Legacy Left by Sir Richard Knowles

The Labour Party paid tribute to Birmingham's former council leader Sir Richard Knowles as delegates from across the country gathered in the city. Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary and a close ally of Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, praised the Labour stalwart, who died last week. He was making a major speech about the Government's plans to improve schools, working with local councils.

Politics: High-Tech Home Will Showcase 'Assisted Living'

The Black Country is spearheading a move to develop high-tech houses that will help get dependent patients out of care homes and acute wards into their own homes, the Labour Party Spring Conference will be told today . The West Bromwich Building Society is part of a pounds 150,000 project to convert a Victorian house in the town centre into the most advanced property of its kind in the country.

Politics: Overseas Trips for Youngsters From Deprived Backgrounds

Young British adults from deprived backgrounds will be offered the chance to work as volunteers in developing countries, the Government announced yesterday. Over the next three years 2,500 people aged 18 to 25 will be sponsored under the pounds 10 million scheme, which also aims to raise awareness of development issues in the UK.

Politics: Livingstone Facing 'Close Fight' in London Mayor Battle

Labour activists were warned yesterday that the race for Mayor of London was the closest since the office was created eight years ago. The stark declaration came from Minister for London Tessa Jowell, speaking at the party's spring conference in Birmingham.

Politics: Bosses Face Jail for Hiring Illegal Immigrants

Employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants could be jailed for two years under new measures unveiled in Birmingham yesterday. Unscrupulous bosses could also be hit with an unlimited fine, as part of changes which are now in force.

Politics: Clegg Rapped Over Pounds 14,000 Payment ; Donations

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has been rebuked for delays in declaring more than pounds 14,000 in donations, it was revealed yesterday. Mr Clegg did not notify the Electoral Commission of six cash gifts which he received between December 2006 and last November, according to the regulator's updated register.

Politics: Tories Gain Seat in Bromsgrove Poll

Tories gained in the latest council by-elections despite a result which saw their vote halved. Their candidate Diane Campbell took a Slideslow seat at Worcestershire's Bromsgrove District from Liberal Democrats who failed to fight.

Politics: Government Stops Plastic Bag Use ; Clean-Up

The Government's marketing arm yesterday announced it was stopping the use of plastic bags for promotional purposes, with immediate effect. The move came after Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned he was ready to force supermarkets to take action to cut their own use of disposable bags if they do not do so voluntarily.

Injunction On Former Sas Man Extended by a Week

The High Court heard details yesterday of an injunction served on a former SAS soldier aimed at preventing him making further disclosures about the work of special forces in Iraq. Ben Griffin, 29, gave a press conference in London on Monday saying that Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and other senior Government officials should be charged with breaches of international conventions protecting individuals from torture over the alleged involvement of British forces in detaining people in Iraq.

'Genius' Banker Used Fake Id to Sit Exams for Friend

A "genius" former City banker with Asperger's Syndrome and an economics student yesterday escaped jail for cheating in university exams. Jerome Drean, 34, and Elnar Askerov, 23, each received sentences of nine months imprisonment suspended for two years after Drean netted pounds 20,000 for posing as York University student Askerov using a fake ID card.