Birmingham Post

Labour's Bid to Shore Up Housing Market 'Doomed'

An award-winning Midland property developer has attacked the Government over its attempts to revitalise the housing market after he was forced to put one of his companies into voluntary liquidation. Brian Lewis said the Government desperately needed to overhaul the stamp duty system and claimed that the decision to exempt properties under the value of pounds 175,000 would have little or no effect on the market.

Outcry As Friends' Institute Faces 'Callous' Closure by City Council

Popular south Birmingham community centre the Friends' Institute is facing almost certain closure after it emerged the city council is to ask the Charity Commission for permission to sell the 110- year-old building. Disposal of the imposing Victorian structure in Balsall Heath would force more than 40 arts and community organisations to find new premises.

Banks Merger Could Mean the Loss of Thousands of Jobs

There were fears for thousands of jobs last night after Lloyds TSB agreed the UK's biggest bank rescue deal with ailing rival Halifax Bank of Scotland. The Government-approved pounds 12 billion takeover, which values HBOS at a fraction of its worth six months ago, will create a "mega- bank" with nearly a third of the UK mortgage market and more than pounds 300 billion of deposits.

One in 10 of Us Spend 14 Years Watching the Tv ; Media

One in 10 Britons spend 14 years in front of the television in their lifetime, according to research out yesterday. Almost a third (29 per cent) use nine years of their life watching.

Ironbridge Gorge Event Expected to Pull Crowds ; Festival

Hundreds of people are expected to flock to Shropshire for the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival. The popular event kicks off with a light show on September 26 organised by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust as part of the regional launch of the Cultural Olympiad.

Tornado Off Torbay ; Weather

A tornado "hundreds of feet high" was seen swirling off the coast of a popular holiday resort, witnesses said yesterday. The twister was said to be "sucking water from the sea" near Torbay, south Devon, yesterday afternoon.

Family Tributes to Talented 'Angels' Killed in City Flat

The family of two sisters found brutally murdered in a city centre flat yesterday paid tribute to their lost "angels". Yasmine and Sabrina Larbi-Cherif, Algerian-born women who were British nationals, had lived in their flat in Birmingham's Ladywood for just a few weeks.

Sex Education Leaflet for Primary School Pupils Defended

The decision to publish a cartoon sex education leaflet for six year olds was defended yesterday. The FPA, formerly known as the Family Planning Association, released a comic stripstyle pamphlet, Let's Grow With Nisha And Joe, about growing up.

'Gateway' Design Hailed As Iconic International Landmark

The "stunning" makeover planned for New Street Station will provide rail passengers with a first class travel experience while giving Birmingham a building of global importance, city council leader Mike Whitby insisted yesterday. Launching initial drawings for the pounds 600 million Gateway project, Coun Whitby said: "This is an unmissable opportunity to add something to Birmingham's architectural heritage.

Plan to Respray Cabs On Hold After Pounds 24,000 Oversight by Consultants

A plan to respray every cab in Birmingham a single colour has been put on hold after it emerged the consultants paid pounds 24,000 to assess the scheme failed to ask drivers what they thought. Furious city licensing chief David Osborne slammed Leicester- based consults Social Research Associates when he found most of Birmingham's 5,000 private hire car drivers were unaware of the proposals.

Gascoigne Arrested Over Criminal Damage Trying to Get Into Pub

Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne was yesterday arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage. Northumbria Police would not confirm the identity of the man in custody but it is understood to be the former midfielder.

Watchdog Gives Green Light to First Two City Academies

The first two city academies in Birmingham will open next year after the controversial plans were given the green light by a council watchdog. Heartlands High School in Nechells and Shenley Court Specialist Arts College in Northfield will cease to exist at midnight on August 31 next year and reopen the next day as privately-sponsored secondaries outside local authority control.

Schools 'Failing Pupils' Over Maths Education

Too many schools are failing to provide children with a good maths education, inspectors warned yesterday. An Ofsted review of maths in primary and secondary schools in England found many lessons do not teach children how to apply maths to other subjects and in their everyday lives.

Ceremonial Posts Are 'Preserve of Wealthy' ; Parliament Politics

The positions of high sheriff and lord lieutenant remain largely the preserve of the wealthy, MPs warned yesterday. Less affluent people are effectively excluded from the roles because of associated costs the holders are expected to bear themselves, the House of Commons Justice Committee said.

Nuclear Is Necessary to Keep the Lights On ; Energy Politics

Government support for nuclear energy stepped up a gear yesterday when a minister pledged "maximum support" for new nuclear power stations. Business Secretary John Hutton told a meeting energy from new nuclear generators was "absolutely indispensable" for keeping the nation's lights on.

Privatisation Push Could Prove Costly ; Public Service Politics

The Government and taxpayers are being exposed to huge financial risks because of the "seismic" shift towards private firms providing public services, a leading trade union warned yesterday. Unison said the public service industry had become a "murky world", where massive amounts of money were being spent to create a "sympathetic" environment for increased privatisation.

Mrsa Cases at City Hospital Decline From 20 to Just Three ; Politics

Birmingham hospitals were celebrating a major reduction in cases of MRSA today. Trusts have recorded a fall in the number of infections by almost two thirds in two years.

Conservative Accuses Labour Over Jobless Data ; Politics

Conservatives yesterday claimed the real rate of unemployment was significantly higher than the Government was admitting. Chris Grayling, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, claimed up to three million could be out of work, a figure reminiscent of the levels reached during Margaret Thatcher's premiership.

Jail Population Forecast Reduced ; Politics

The Government reduced its forecast for the prison population yesterday, prompting campaigners to question its jail building programme. Last year the Ministry of Justice said as many as 101,900 prison places could be needed by 2015, but now puts the figure at 95,800.

'Uk Must Be Part of Eu Club' ; Politics

Britain must abandon its "island mentality" over EU membership and redefine its role as a key member of the club, a new report urged yesterday. As long as the country continues the "sterile" debate about membership, it cannot push a European agenda which benefits Britain and the rest of the EU, argues the 74-page report by Chatham House.