SDP founder Owen donates to Labour

1 March 2014 Last updated at 21:27 ET

Co-founder and former leader of the SDP Lord Owen has given money to Labour, having hailed its "brave and bold" change to its links with the unions.

David Owen, a former Labour cabinet minister, made the announcement after the party backed Ed Miliband's reforms.

He said he had given up his status as a crossbench peer to give "over £7,500" but would remain an independent.

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said Labour's reforms were "a big victory for the unions".

Labour leader Ed Miliband's proposals to change the link between the party and the unions were approved by an overwhelming majority at a conference of party members held in London.

'Desirable change'

Lord Owen quit the party in 1981 to set up the Social Democratic Party as one of the so-called "gang of four" with fellow Labour MPs Roy Jenkins, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams.

He said he hoped Labour would "rescue" the National Health Service, which would be "completely destroyed" without a change of government.

He said: "This is a brave and bold reform by Ed Miliband and one I strenuously argued for as a Labour MP at the special conference on Saturday, 25 January 1981.

"This very desirable change, nevertheless, threatens to weaken Labour's financial support at a critical time when I and many others are hoping to see the party produce a plan for government from May of next year to rescue our NHS.

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Labour Leader Ed Miliband: "We should all be proud of the Labour Party that has shown the courage to change"

"Saving the NHS is my main political priority and I suspect that of many others. To help Labour reverse the 2012 NHS legislation without yet another major reorganisation, I have made a declarable contribution of over £7,500 to Labour funds. Unless there is a change of government the NHS in England will be completely destroyed by 2020."

The peer, who held positions in Labour governments including foreign secretary, added: "I want to support Labour but also value my independence. I have informed the convenor of the crossbenchers in the House of Lords of this.

"I will continue to sit, as allowed under their rules, on the crossbenches as I have done from 1992. However, since I can no longer be called a crossbencher under their rules, I will now be an independent Social Democrat."

Mr Miliband said Lord Owen's "support is welcome".

The Labour leader said: "It is 33 years since he left our party and much has happened since. In our many conversations over the past few years, I have come to value his friendship and insight into politics.

"I value his support and respect his decision to remain an independent member of the House of Lords."

Complete process

Mr Miliband had urged a "one member, one vote" system for leadership elections and an end to the automatic affiliation of union members.

He praised the party's "courage to change" after members backed the plans by 86.29% in favour.

Continue reading the main story

A new method of electing Labour's leader - the electoral college, which gives unions, party members and MPs/MEPs a third of the votes each, abolished in favour of one member, one vote

MPs have sole nomination rights for leadership candidates and those candidates will need a higher level of support than at present - possibly 15% of MPs

All union members will have to 'double opt-in' if they want to take part in a leadership contest. They have to say that they are content to give money to Labour AND that they want to become 'an affiliated supporter'

Only full party members - not trade union 'affiliated supporters' - will choose parliamentary and council candidates

Changes to London mayoral selection - Labour's candidate to be selected in the same way as the party leader

New leadership rules will be put in place this year - but changes to the party's funding will be phased in over five years

Mr Miliband said a "one-member, one-vote" system would complete a process started by former leader John Smith more than 30 years ago.

The proposals were prompted after Mr Miliband asked police to investigate the alleged rigging of a Labour candidate selection by the Unite union in Falkirk.

Unite leader Len McCluskey told the conference "my union has done nothing wrong" and declared: "This is our party and we are going nowhere."

Under the changes, unions would still control 50% of votes at Labour conferences, there would be no cap on union donations, and some of the changes would be phased in over five years.

Historically, millions of union members have been automatically affiliated with Labour, but few take part in campaigning activities or even vote in general elections.

Labour leadership elections have previously been decided by a complex electoral college system, with equal weight given to the votes of three groups - one third to MPs and MEPs, one third to ordinary party members and one third to trade unionists.

Mr Shapps said: "These reforms are a big victory for the unions, increasing their powerbase and ensuring they remain the dominant players in Labour politics for years to come."

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China separatists blamed for attack

2 March 2014 Last updated at 04:30 ET

Chinese officials have blamed separatists from the north-western Xinjiang region for a mass knife attack at a railway station that left 29 people dead and at least 130 wounded.

A group of attackers, dressed in black, burst into the station in the south-west city of Kunming and began stabbing people at random.

Images from the scene posted online showed bodies lying in pools of blood.

State news agency Xinhua said police shot at least four suspects dead.

A female suspect was arrested and is being treated in hospital for unspecified injuries while a search continues for others who fled the scene, the BBC's Celia Hatton in Beijing reports.

Authorities described the incident as an "organised, premeditated, violent terrorist attack".

The Kunming city government later said that evidence from the scene pointed to separatists from Xinjiang as being behind the attack.

Continue reading the main story

When news of the Kunming knife attacks surfaced on Chinese social media, many wondered whether Xinjiang separatists were responsible.

Hours later, Kunming city authorities confirmed those suspicions, pointing to unnamed evidence found at the scene.

One of the assailants was captured alive. According to Chinese state television, she will play a critical role in police efforts to piece together an episode that clearly caught them off guard.

Witnesses say the "well trained" group easily overpowered security guards at the train station. In just 12 minutes, the knife-wielding attackers killed at least 29 people and injured 130 more.

Once the majority group in Xinjiang, Uighurs now represent just 45% of the population. Many Uighur Muslims living in Xinjiang resent living under Chinese rule. They complain bitterly of the restrictions posed on their religious practices.

Only a small number appear to support the use of violence. But now, simmering anger inside the territory is spilling into other parts of China.

In November, an SUV carrying three Uighurs intentionally crashed into a group of people standing near Tiananmen Square, killing five.

Online, some in China are wondering how the government can possibly put an end to an ongoing cycle of security clampdowns in Xinjiang, followed by brutal attacks on unsuspecting Han Chinese.

It gave no details and the claim could not be verified.

Some of Xinjiang's minority Uighur Muslims want autonomy from Chinese rule and an end to state suppression of their religion.

Witnesses in Kunming said those who couldn't run quickly were cut down by the attackers' knives.

A survivor named Yang Haifei, who was wounded in the back and chest, told Xinhua he had been buying a train ticket when the attackers rushed into the station.

"I saw a person come straight at me with a long knife and I ran away with everyone," he said.

First reports said the attackers were only men, but witnesses and police later said the group also included women.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang sent condolences to the victims and their families.

President Xi urged "all-out efforts" to investigate the attack.

"Severely punish in accordance with the law the violent terrorists and resolutely crack down on those who have been swollen with arrogance," Xinhua quoted the president as saying.

The incident comes a few days before the opening of China's annual parliamentary session, the National People's Congress.

Our correspondent says domestic security is expected to top the agenda.

Last October China blamed Xinjiang separatists when a car was driven into a crowd of people on the edge of Beijing's Tiananamen Square, leaving five dead.

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Gamblers 'need more protection'

2 March 2014 Last updated at 05:25 ET

A voluntary code of conduct for the gambling industry will be compulsory but needs toughening up, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has said.

The voluntary code includes setting limits for the amount of money and time customers spend on machines.

But Ms Miller wants the Gambling Commission to look at tougher rules, including forcing customers to set spending limits before they play.

The Association of British Bookmakers welcomed her comments.

A spokesman said it wanted to help the small number of people who had gambling problems without ruining the experience for those who gambled safely.

Continue reading the main story

• The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling in the UK.
• Addicts who would like to prevent themselves from gambling can ask the operator to refuse to accept their custom. The number of people who have chosen to do this has risen from 11,424 in 2008-9 to 22,485 in 2012-13.
• The average number of people employed by the gambling industry has fallen from 60,247 in 2008-9 to 54,093 in 2012-13.

Source: The Gambling Commission

The voluntary code created by the gambling industry came into effect on Friday. Where it is adopted it means gamblers are forced to take breaks, warning messages appear on screen and staff are trained to spot problems.

Under Ms Miller's proposals rules would be toughened up to include forced spending and time limits, particularly on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), including high-stakes games such as roulette.

It would be mandatory for bookmakers to sign up to the code before being granted a licence.

The culture secretary has also ordered the Advertising Standards Authority to review the rules surrounding gambling adverts.

She is concerned about the number of adverts by betting firms on television, and whether children and other vulnerable people needed to be better protected.

'Cravings'

Ms Miller said: "We want a successful gambling industry but not at the price of public protection. Player protections must be made mandatory so that every bookmaker must abide by the new rules.

"I have asked the Gambling Commission to make this happen. In the future, these rules will therefore form part of the operators' licence conditions and bookmakers will have to accept them or not be able to trade."

Gambling therapist Liz Carter told the BBC that she also welcomed the proposals, but said she was "concerned" these changes would be seen as a cure to those people already hooked.

She said: "For them limiting the amount and time and money spent to this degree is not going to limit the cravings that they are experiencing to continue playing with these machines.

"And the cravings are every bit as serious as those for the drug addict or the alcoholic."

Addicts who would like to prevent themselves from gambling can ask the operator to refuse to accept their custom, this is known as self-exclusion. Figures from the Gambling Commission show that the number of self-exclusions has risen from 11,424 in 2008-9 to 22,485 in 2012-13.

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Hague to visit Ukraine over crisis

2 March 2014 Last updated at 05:57 ET

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to visit Kiev amid growing tensions after the Russian parliament approved the deployment of troops to Ukraine.

Mr Hague said he was "deeply concerned" and would "reiterate support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine".

Mr Hague summoned Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko to the Foreign Office (FCO) to hear the UK's reaction.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said there can be "no excuse" for outside military intervention in Ukraine.

'Condemn aggression'

Mr Yakovenko was met by Political Director Simon Gass at the FCO on Saturday evening.

Mr Gass "expressed deep concern at the Russian Parliament's decision to authorise military action in Ukraine against the wishes of the Ukrainian government", said the FCO in a statement.

Former British Ambassador to Moscow Sir Tony Brenton, who served as British Ambassador from 2004 to 2008, told the BBC that Mr Hague must "damp down" the heightening tensions between the two countries.

He said: "He [the Russian President Vladimir Putin] has just seen his man, in effect, [Viktor] Yanukovych, overthrown by what he sees as a Western instigated revolt. He [Putin] is determined to maintain Russian influence in Ukraine as a whole, and he has now taken Crimea... hostage.

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Former British ambassador to Moscow, Sir Tony Brenton, says Crimea has been "taken hostage" by President Putin

"William Hague's job in Kiev today is to begin to damp down the dangers of things getting worse. There are two real problems, first of all Ukraine may overreact to the Russian occupation of Crimea and we could get into a shooting engagements, which would be deeply disastrous, and certainly wouldn't get the Russians out.

"And secondly other bits of eastern Ukraine are showing signs of unrest, the Ukraine government in Kiev needs to reassure those part of the country about their attention to the rights of the Russian minority there."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said there could be 'no justification' for Russian military action in Ukraine.

He told the BBC: "I think it is a deeply worrying situation.

"I believe diplomatic and economic pressure we can put on Russia is the best hope we can have for what everyone wants to see, which is the de-escalation of this crisis."

On Saturday, Mr Hague also said Russia's decision to deploy troops went against the wishes of the Ukrainian government.

"This action is a potentially grave threat to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We condemn any act of aggression against Ukraine," the foreign secretary said.

"I spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to urge steps to calm this dangerous situation. I told Minister Lavrov that Britain supports the Ukrainian government's request for urgent consultations in accordance with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum signed by the UK, US, Russia and Ukraine."

The Budapest Memorandum guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity following the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Mr Hague said he had also made clear the UK's support for Ukraine's new government when he spoke to the country's acting President Olexander Turchynov.

'Think carefully'

The UK called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Saturday afternoon to address the crisis.

Mr Cameron said: "Britain views the developments in the Ukraine with growing concern. There can be no excuse for outside military intervention in Ukraine - a point I made to President Putin when we spoke.

"Everyone must think carefully about their actions and work to lower, not escalate tensions. The world is watching."

The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Crimea, and urging British nationals in Crimea to leave by all practical means.

US President Barack Obama has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Russia has flouted international law by sending troops to Ukraine.

In a 90-minute telephone conversation, Mr Obama urged the Russian leader to pull forces back to bases in Crimea.

Mr Putin responded by saying that Moscow reserved the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

Tensions have been high since Ukraine's elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted in a popular uprising on 22 February.

His removal from power followed four months of street protests that culminated in bloody clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

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Ukraine in full army mobilisation

2 March 2014 Last updated at 07:12 ET

Ukraine has ordered a full military mobilisation in response to Russia's build-up of its forces in Crimea.

Acting President Olexander Turchynov has ordered the closure of airspace to all non-civilian aircraft.

US President Barack Obama has called Russian troop deployments a "violation of Ukrainian sovereignty".

Ukraine has said it will seek the help of US and UK leaders in guaranteeing its security. Nato has called emergency talks to be held at 1200 GMT.

Several other measures were announced by Andriy Parubiy, chair of the national security and defence council of Ukraine:

• The armed forces would be put on "full combat readiness".
• Reserves to be mobilised and trained
• Emergency headquarters to be set up
• Increased security at key sites, including nuclear plants.

The BBC has seen what appear to be Russian troops digging trenches on the Crimean border.

Heavily armed groups continue to occupy key sites on the peninsula, including airports and communications hubs, although there has been no actual violence.

Russian 'violation'

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President Obama had a lengthy telephone call with President Putin, as Simon Clemison reports

On Saturday, Mr Obama held a 90-minute telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and urged him to pull forces back to bases in Crimea.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

The facts on the ground are such that Russia, to a large extent, is already in control there "

End Quote

Mr Putin said Moscow reserved the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine.

President Putin submitted his request for troops to the Russian parliament on Saturday "in connection with the extraordinary situation in Ukraine and the threat to the lives of Russian citizens", the Kremlin said.

The US, France and Canada say they are suspending preparations for a G8 summit in the Russian resort of Sochi in June as a reaction to the deployment, with Canada also recalling its ambassador from Moscow for consultations.

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: "It is crucial to restore calm and proceed to an immediate de-escalation of the situation"

Mr Obama, the White House said, told Mr Putin that the appropriate way to address any concerns "is peacefully through direct engagement" with the Ukrainian government and international mediating bodies.

He told Mr Putin his actions were a "breach of international law, including Russia's obligations under the UN Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine", a statement added.

The Kremlin said that in his phone call with Mr Obama, President Putin "underlined that there are real threats to the life and health of Russian citizens and compatriots on Ukrainian territory".

Military build-up

Continue reading the main story

At the scene

Crowds of excited pro-Russian Crimeans have gathered near the gates of the marines' base in Feodosia. A deadline demanding the marines pledge loyalty to the new government in Crimea has passed. Despite threats to attack the base, local Cossacks, who act as law and order here, continue to stand in a chain near the gates. Behind the gates I could see freshly-made dugouts, but no-one is inside them at the moment. A couple of marines in sand-coloured flak jackets are manning the gates from the inside.

The street leading to the base is blocked by two armoured personnel carriers, with another closer to the gates. When asked whose APCs and soldiers they were, a Cossack said "Russians", but he didn't know whether they came from Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol or Russia. From time to time the loudspeaker on a van near to the entrance of the base calls on the marines to recognise the new pro-Russian government in Crimea, and not to act upon "criminal orders from Kiev".

Any filming activity in the crowds is risky - we saw cameramen and photographers being harassed. One cameraman had to leave the approach to the base and another was led away by a policeman.

Tensions are high in Ukraine, not only in Crimea, which is home to a large number of ethnic Russians.

In the Crimean port city of Feodosia, a group of Ukrainian marines were blockaded into their base on Sunday.

Armed men surrounded the base demanding that the garrison pledge loyalty to the region's new pro-Russian authorities.

Around 100 marines are thought to be inside the base.

There were big pro-Russian rallies in several Ukrainian cities on Saturday.

Observers have been watching a build-up of Russian military activity in Crimea - home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet - for the past few days.

Latest reports say two Russian anti-submarine warships have appeared off the coast of Crimea in violation of an agreement governing the presence of Russia's Fleet in the peninsula.

Russian soldiers are widely reported to be guarding a number of administrative buildings and military bases in Crimea. Parliament, airports, the state television building and telecommunications hubs have also been surrounded.

Some 6,000 extra Russian troops and 30 additional armoured vehicles are now in Crimea, Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh said on Saturday.

The newly-elected pro-Moscow leader of Crimea, Sergiy Aksyonov, said he had appealed to Mr Putin for help to ensure peace on the peninsula.

The interim government in Kiev does not recognise Mr Aksyonov and his government, and signed a decree on Saturday that their election at an emergency session of the regional parliament this week was illegal.

Are you in Ukraine or in the Crimean region? What is your reaction to this news of Russian troop deployment? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details.

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Northern Lights illuminate the UK

28 February 2014 Last updated at 04:13 ET

The Aurora Borealis - better known as the Northern Lights - has been giving rare and spectacular displays over parts of the UK, from the north of Scotland to as far south as Essex and Gloucestershire.

The lights have also been clearly visible in places such as Orkney, Norfolk and south Wales.

The display, which is caused by electrically charged particles from the Sun entering the Earth's atmosphere, led to scenes such as this one at the Stonehaven war memorial, Aberdeenshire.

Mark Thompson, presenter of the BBC's Stargazing Live, said he had not been expecting a display as spectacular as it was in places such as Wick, in Caithness.

Mr Thompson said the display, which was also seen in Corbridge, Northumberland, happens when solar wind - electrically charged particles - is ejected from the Sun. He said: "They take two or three days to get here and when they do get here they cause the gas atoms in the sky to glow. It is as simple as that."

The astronomer said: "Three or four days ago the Sun will have thrown a lot of this stuff out in an event called a coronal mass ejection, and they would have been travelling towards the Earth since. It all depends how active the Sun has been." This photograph was taken in Boulmer, Northumberland.

Mr Thompson said the particles were usually pulled towards the North Pole but if there were enough of them "they will travel further down towards the equator and cause the lights to go further south". Unusually, this time they were seen as far south as Gloucestershire.

"It is just good luck," Mr Thompson said. "The last time I have seen it this spectacular was probably 20 years ago." The lights were seen in many locations across the UK, including Shap in Cumbria.

Lucie Green, of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said: "At the moment we are at the height of the Sun's activity cycle, and it's ultimately energy from the Sun that creates the Northern Lights." The lights were seen from many parts of the UK, including here at Bow Fiddle Rock in Portknockie, Moray.

Ms Green said: "When we were watching the Sun on 25 February we saw that a particularly large and fast eruption leapt off from the Sun's atmosphere, and the models predicted that we would probably get a glancing blow from this eruption, and they were right." This picture was taken at Embleton Bay in Northumberland.

The Aurora Borealis was also visible from Foxley, Norfolk.

Many people took photographs of the illuminated skies. This one shows St Mary's Island, Tyne and Wear.

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Energy firms told to hand back £400m

28 February 2014 Last updated at 06:15 ET

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Ofgem director Philip Cullum: "We want suppliers to show more responsibility"

The "big six" energy firms have been told to hand back more than £400m owed to customers.

Credit left in customer accounts when people and businesses move or switch suppliers has accumulated over the last six years, Ofgem said.

The energy regulator, which says its estimates are the minimum owed, has called the amount "unacceptably large".

It thinks 3.5 million domestic and 300,000 business accounts are affected.

"When many people are struggling to make ends meet, it is vital that energy companies do the right thing and do all they can to return this money and restore consumer trust," said Andrew Wright, chief executive of Ofgem.

"We want to see decisive action by suppliers, individually and collectively, to address this issue."

Alerting customers

Ofgem estimates the suppliers hold at least £202m from former domestic customers and at least £204m from old business accounts.

The regulator says it is investigating whether suppliers' policies on returning money to customers comply with existing rules.

In cases where the money cannot be returned, the regulator expects companies to "find ways to use this money to benefit consumers more generally" and clearly explain what they have done with it.

Customers need to be aware of the problem of outstanding credit, said Sarah Harrison, senior partner in charge of enforcement at Ofgem.

"We're using the opportunity to alert customers," she told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. "Make sure that you take with you what is owed to you when you change supplier."

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The body that represents the suppliers, Energy UK, said returning credit balances can be difficult because some customers leave no new contact details when they move house, or they have no details of next of kin when people die.

Its spokeswoman, Angela Knight, urged customers to keep their energy suppliers informed, and told Radio 5 live that suppliers would like to return the money to customers.

"We want to give the money back, of course we do," she said. "Thousands of letters are sent out, people are telephoned, but if you don't have contact details, how do you find them?"

One of the big six energy suppliers, SSE, said it was having to write off four times as much money, in bad debt for departing customers, as it was retaining in the form of unreturned credit.

"Although sometimes customers do disappear and cannot be traced, we always view any credit as theirs and, no matter how much time passes, if they come forward and we can identify an outstanding credit, we will return it to them," said the company, which trades as Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro, SWALEC & Atlantic.

"We're happy to work with anyone who has legitimate suggestions for how we can find customers more easily and efficiently," it added.

Ofgem's call comes after most of the "big six" energy firms agreed to automatic refunds for direct debit customers when they are in credit.

Are you owed money by your energy company? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Energy' in the subject heading and including your contact details.

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Taxi sex attack women win payout bid

28 February 2014 Last updated at 06:51 ET

Two women who were sexually assaulted by London taxi driver John Worboys have won their High Court bid to get compensation from the Met Police.

The women claimed their treatment by police after reporting Worboys's attacks had caused mental suffering.

The judge ruled their human rights were breached. Damages will now be assessed.

The judge also said "systemic" failures in the investigation meant Worboys - jailed for life in 2009 for attacks from 2002-08 - was not stopped earlier.

Reacting to the judgement, the Met said the case raised "important arguments regarding the boundaries of police responsibility", adding that it had already apologised for mistakes in the investigation. It said many of the judge's criticisms had already been addressed and that it would now consider the judgement.

'Great significance'

Delivering his judgement at the High Court in London, Mr Justice Green said Worboys - who was convicted of 19 offences, including one rape and 12 drugging charges - had carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults.

The women, known only as DSD and NBV for legal reasons, brought their claims under article three of the Human Rights Act - the right not to be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.

DSD's 2003 allegation was the first received by the Met - although a woman went to City of London Police the previous year.

NBV contacted the police after being attacked by Worboys in July 2007.

DSD said she suffered a depressive disorder as a result of her treatment by officers during the 2003 investigation, while NBV claimed that she suffered serious distress, anxiety, guilt and an exacerbation of a post-traumatic disorder and depression as a result of her treatment in 2007.

The judge said there had been a "series of systemic failings" by the Met, which had failed to "cut short his five to six-year spree of violent attacks".

He said the Met had failed to "join the dots" between various despite the fact a "common modus operandi" was used by Worboys.

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Harriet Wistrich said police guidance had not "translated on to the ground"

Harriet Wistrich, solicitor for the two women, said the judgement was of "great significance" because it was the first in the High Court to find that such failings by the police "can give rise" to successful legal action.

She said that, during the case, the police had "questioned whether they have a duty at all towards victims under law" and the judgement made it clear they did have such a duty.

"Had the police done their job properly, probably a lot of women wouldn't have been raped, which is really appalling," she said.

She said the judge had identified five main areas of failure by the police - training, supervision, use of intelligence, systems to ensure victim confidence and allocation of adequate resources.

Ms Wistrich said the police had appropriate policies and guidance in place, but that was not "translated on to the ground".

The Met said it did not contest the case due to "factual differences" with the women - but rather on the "interpretation of European human rights law".

"The case has raised important arguments regarding the boundaries of police responsibility and liability and we believed that it was important for these principles to be tested before the courts," a Met statement said.

It said it had "previously apologised for mistakes" in the Worboys investigation, adding that the errors were "very much historic".

"In the interim we have made important and significant changes to the way we investigate rape, which remains one of the most challenging and complex policing issues," it added.

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'Russians occupy' Crimea airports

28 February 2014 Last updated at 06:53 ET

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Christian Fraser says barriers and armed men are blocking Sevastopol airport

Ukraine's interior minister has accused Russian naval forces of occupying Sevastopol airport in the region of Crimea.

Arsen Avakov called their presence an "armed invasion".

But Russia's Black Sea Fleet has denied that Russian servicemen are taking part.

The other main Crimean airport, Simferopol, has also been occupied by armed men, thought to be pro-Russia militia.

Continue reading the main story

At the Scene

Sevastopol is by name an international airport, but civilian flights stopped some years ago, and it is owned by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.

So it would be of no real consequence that soldiers are guarding a military base were it not for the fact no-one knows whose orders they are obeying.

There are roadblocks springing up from here to the administrative capital Simferopol.

The local parliament is in session there, but is sharing the municipal building with a paramilitary unit, and Simferopol airport is also under protection.

There are also signs of further military movements:

• The BBC has seen eight truck with the black plates of the Russian army - usually the type used to carry personnel - moving towards Simferopol
• There are unconfirmed Ukrainian reports of eight Russian military helicopters arriving in Sevastopol

The Ukrainian parliament has called on the United Nations Security Council to discuss the unfolding crisis in Crimea.

As Ukraine's currency slides, the central bank has put a 15,000 hryvnia (1,000 euro; £820) limit on daily bank cash withdrawals.

Meanwhile interim President Olexander Turchynov has dismissed the Armed Forces chief, Yuriy Ilyin.

He was reported to have been admitted to hospital with a heart attack on Thursday.

Mr Ilyin was appointed earlier this month by Viktor Yanukovych, in one of his last acts before being ousted from the Ukraine presidency.

Tensions rise

Relations between Russia and Ukraine have been strained since Mr Yanukovych lost power.

These tensions have been particularly evident in Crimea, Ukraine's only Russian-majority region.

The BBC's Bridget Kendall in Moscow says the Crimea is becoming the lynchpin of a struggle between Ukraine's new leaders and those loyal to Russia.

Mr Yanukovych is now in Russia and is preparing to hold a news conference on Friday in the city of Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukrainian border.

He surfaced in Russia on Thursday, asserting that he is still Ukraine's lawful president.

Ukraine's general prosecutor has said that Ukraine will ask Russia to extradite Mr Yanukovych, if it is confirmed that he is there.

Armed men, said by Mr Avakov to be Russian soldiers, arrived in the Sevastopol military airport near Russia's Black Sea Fleet Base on Friday morning.

The men were patrolling outside, backed up by armoured vehicles, but Ukrainian military and border guards remained inside, Mr Avakov said.

"I consider what has happened to be an armed invasion and occupation in violation of all international agreements and norms," Mr Avakov said on his Facebook page.

Armed men also arrived at Simferopol airport overnight, some carrying Russian flags.

A man called Vladimir told Reuters news agency he was a volunteer helping the group there, though he said he did not know where they came from.

"I'm with the People's Militia of Crimea. We're simple people, volunteers," he said.

"We're here at the airport to maintain order. We'll meet the planes with a nice smile - the airport is working as normal."

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The armed men at Simferopol Airport would not talk to the BBC

After the violent clashes and the ousting of Mr Yanukovych in Kiev, the focus of the Ukraine crisis has now moved to Crimea, which traditionally leans towards Russia.

Continue reading the main story

Crimea's airports

• Simferopol is the main international terminal, serving the regional capital
• Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, has a Soviet-era military airport (Belbek) which was also used for civilian flights until some years ago. Ukrainian air force jets are stationed there
• The Russian Black Sea Fleet has aircraft stationed at other air bases in Crimea (Gvardeyskaya and Kacha)

On Thursday, a group of unidentified armed men entered Crimea's parliament building by force, and hoisted a Russian flag on the roof.

The Crimean parliament later announced it would hold a referendum on expanding the region's autonomy on 25 May.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged his government to maintain relations with Kiev and even join Western efforts to bail out its troubled economy.

But he is also giving the Crimean government humanitarian aid.

The US sought assurances from Russia earlier this week, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap military drills to test the combat readiness of troops near the border with Ukraine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on all sides to "step back and avoid any kind of provocations".

Mr Kerry said he had spoken to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, who vowed to respect Ukraine's "territorial integrity".

Financial strain

On top of its political problems, Ukraine also faces huge financial hurdles.

It says it needs $35 billion over the next two years to avoid default on its loans.

Russia has suspended the next instalment of a $15bn loan because of the political uncertainty.

Switzerland and Austria announced on Friday that it had launched an investigation against Mr Yanukovych and his son Aleksander for "aggravated money laundering".

Austria also said it had frozen the assets of 18 Ukrainians suspected of violating human rights and involvement in corruption. It did not give any names.

Crimea - where ethnic Russians are in a majority - was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954.

Ethnic Ukrainians loyal to Kiev and Muslim Tatars - whose animosity towards Russia stretches back to Stalin's deportations during World War Two - have formed an alliance to oppose any move back towards Moscow.

Russia, along with the US, UK and France, pledged to uphold the territorial integrity of Ukraine in a memorandum signed in 1994.

Are you in the Crimea region of Ukraine? Email your stories to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details.

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Energy firms told to trade fairly

26 February 2014 Last updated at 06:15 ET

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Rachel Fletcher, Ofgem: Reforms are meant to open up the energy market

The "big six" energy firms are being told to trade with small energy suppliers fairly, or face heavy fines.

Regulator Ofgem says its plan will make it easier for new suppliers to enter the market, and will improve the transparency of the firms' accounts.

The firms, such as E.On and British Gas, will have to publish wholesale power prices two years in advance.

This will make it easier for small companies to buy energy and re-sell it to domestic and industrial customers.

Andrew Wright, chief executive of Ofgem, said that having changed the rules so consumers can find the best deals, the regulator now wanted to break down barriers to competition for new suppliers.

"These reforms give independent suppliers, generators and new entrants to the market, both the visibility of prices, and [the] opportunities to trade, [that] they need to compete with the largest energy suppliers," he said.

"Almost two million customers are with independent suppliers, and we expect these reforms to help these suppliers and any new entrants to grow."

New rules

When selling their power in the wholesale market, the companies will have to publish their prices daily, in two one-hour windows, to give independent suppliers the chance to buy power in advance more economically.

Darren Braham of the small supplier First Utility, said the latest reforms could make a big difference.

"Currently the Big Six generators sell their energy to themselves meaning on the forward wholesale energy market, where smaller suppliers need to buy their energy, there is very little liquidity," he said.

"First Utility's analysis suggests that this increases costs by approximately £30 per household per year.

"If the industry were changed, these reduced costs could be passed on to customers equating to UK wide savings of almost £1bn from energy bills," he added.

Clearer accounting

The regulator is now looking at the way suppliers account for the electricity they generate, trade, and sell to consumers.

Continue reading the main story

These reforms will help ensure competition bears down as effectively as possible on prices"

End Quote Andrew Wright Ofgem

The companies will have to provide more details of their trading operations and have full audits of the accounts they provide to the regulator.

"We also want to ensure that information on revenues, costs and profits of the largest energy suppliers is as clear as possible for consumers," said Mr Wright.

"Now we are taking further steps to ensure that it is published more quickly, and that it gives a robust, useful and accessible picture of company profits.

"Both of these reforms will help ensure competition bears down as effectively as possible on prices," he added.

Scratching the surface

Energy UK, the trade body for the energy suppliers, said its members had been cooperating with the regulator in drawing up its latest plans.

"Ofgem already receives information about costs and trading and we are working together on ways to make our information more easily and widely available," it said.

But the consumers' association Which? said the latest measures only "scratched the surface" of the changes needed to benefit consumers.

"We want a full competition inquiry so that hard-pressed consumers can be confident that the market works well for them, as well as shareholders, and that the price they pay is fair," said Which? executive director Richard Lloyd.

The new rules on competition, which come into effect on 31 March 2014, follow criticism from MPs last year that Ofgem had failed consumers by not doing enough to ensure that the finances of the dominant big six suppliers were transparent.

MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC) said in July that "working out exactly how their profits are made requires forensic accountants".

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