Church of England ban BNP

The Church of England's General Synod has voted to exclude clergy from being members of the British National Party. The proposal was overwhelmingly approved with 322 votes for and 13 against, with 20 abstentions. The plans, proposed by e member of the police, are styled on the policy of the Association of the Chief Police Officers.
Vasantha Gnanadoss, who put forward the idea, said this measure was essential in stopping parties such as the BNP from attaching themselves to the Church but banning clergy from joining any political parties wasn't possible under current rules. She also said that it was also important that a strong message was sent out against racial prejudice. The BNP, which campaigns for repatriation of immigrants, say they are not racist and this is a claim regularly refuted by chariman Nick Griffin. The church has encouraged voters to shun the BNP in previous elections and has also passed a resolution before which deplored the "sin of racial hatred".

Head resigns over Muslim assembly row

A headteacher, in Sheffield, has resigned after her announcement to scrap separate Muslim assemblies came under fire from parents. Julia Robinson had planned to hold one multifaith assembly for all pupils at Meersbrook Bank Primary School. Her replacement said her resignation was unrelated to these plans and the criticism they had brought and were for "personal reasons". He also said that the school will continue with one "daily act of worship" as required by law. The law says that most of these acts of worship must be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character", however, others can reflect other pupils' backgrounds. The local council said they had acted in the pupil's best interests but they had not forced Mrs Robinson to resign.

UPDATE: Death toll tops 170 in Australian fires

The death toll from bush fires, sweeping Southern Australia, has reached 176. The fires, thought to be the work of arsonists, have scorched 115 sq miles of forest and farmland and destroyed over 700 homes. Many of the dead were found in their cars trying to escape from the blaze which spread rapidly and engulfed whole towns. The fires have been spurred on by 8 weeks without rain, strong, unpredictable winds and 47 degree heat. Fire officials say despite a drop in temperatures they will not be able to fully control the infernos until there is substantial rainfall. Hospitals in Melbourne have been inundated with people suffering from burns, "They range from minor, just the soles of their feet running away through embers, to people who've got major, life-threatening burns," Said a hospital spokesperson."And unfortunately there are some people who will not survive."

Eye-witnesses report seeing "walls of flames" four storeys high with ash raining from the sky. Many were caught out by the "sheer speed and ferocity" of the fire and towns were rapidly engulfed. These fires are the worst in Australia's history, far surpassing the 1983 fires which killed 75 and destroyed 2,300 homes on a day which has become known as' Ash Wednesday'.

Snow on the way in fresh winter storm

More snow is set to fall today and tomorrow afternoon, bringing more disruption. Many parts of the UK are currently seeing heavy snow, which is spreading Eastwards. Weather forecasters say that some areas could see fresh accumulations of 8 inches but almost everywhere will see some of the 'white stuff' over the next few days. Councils are running low on rock salt supplies meaning several roads may have to be left untreated and some councils have had to resort to using table salt to keep the traffic flowing. The government has imported 40,000 tonnes of rock salt from Spain and other supplies are on their way from Germany, Italy and Tunisia. However, a spokesperson from the AA says that this may sound like a lot but each gritter run uses 130 tonnes so supplies will rapidly be depleted.

Motorists are being advised to drive with extreme caution in Nothern Ireland as two inches of snow is expected this evening. Across the rest of the UK the heaviest snow is expected on Monday afternoon but there will be some snowfall over the next 48 hours. The Met office has issued a severe weather warning for this period, details of which can be found on their website metoffice.gov.uk. The wintry storm will not only bring heavy snow but also strong winds, possibly leading to some drifting snow. In some areas the snow will be preceded by heavy rain, falling on saturated ground after last weeks snow melt. This could lead to some localized flooding.

Bushfire death toll nearing 100

The death toll of the wildfires in Southern Australia has reached 96 with many more feared dead. Firefighters, along with the army and volunteers, are battling against numerous blazes across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Many of the dead were found in cars as residents fled towns North of Melbourne. Eye-witnesses report seeing walls of flames four storeys high which have engulfed towns and destroyed 115 sq miles of forest and farmland as well as 700 homes in Victoria. Elsewhere in the State, 14,000 homes have been left without power. Firefighters say that the "sheer speed and ferocity" of the fires left people trapped as strong, unpredictable fires combined with 47 degree heat spur on the inferno. Temperatures have dipped but fire officials say that its impact is insignificant and they will not be able to fully control the bushfires until there is rainfall.

Many of the fires are thought to be the work of arsonists with some extinguished blazes being relit. New South Wales Premier, John Rees, said that these criminals will be punished severely, adding that "we will through the book at you if you are caught." Police have said that the arsonists will also be charged with the murder of those killed by the fires on top of the 25 years they could serve for arson.

These fires are the worst in Australian history , where bush fires are common, killing far more than the 1983 wildfires, which killed 75 people on a day that has become known as Ash Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said "Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," and has ordered troops into the state to help tackle the infernos.

More snow to come as wintry conditions turn deadly

Forecasters predict that the UK will see more snow today and into next week as yesterday a six year old boy died in West Yorkshire and in a separate incident three other children were injured in a sledging accident. The six year old was playing on a frozen fishing pond near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, with a twelve year old when the ice cracked plunging the pair into the freezing waters. The older boy was rescued by firefighters but the six year old had to be recovered by police divers. He was rushed to Pindersfield Hospital, Wakefield in an Air Ambulance but was pronounced dead at five past seven yesterday evening. The other boy is being treated for the effects of the cold water and is believed to be doing well.

Elsewhere in Warwickshire, three children were injured in two separate sledging accidents. A nine year old boy suffered back injuries after the sledge he was riding collided with a boulder. Just minutes later and only five miles away two thirteen year old girls, riding a rubber ring down a hillside, sustained neck injuries. Ambulance crews were forced to walk across snow-covered fields to reach the injured children, who were all taken to Horton General Hospital, Banbury. A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance services said that whilst " No-one wants to be a kill-joy... these incidents tied a up a large number of ambulance resources and saw staff having to walk large distances across snow-covered fields, putting themselves in danger as well". He added that "By all means enjoy yourself while the snow lasts, but please take care."

The warning comes after a similar accident lead to the death of Francesca Anobile at Rother Valley Country Park on Tuesday. She was one of five girls who's sledge crashed into barbed wire after going out of control.

Australian inferno worst in its history

Wildfires across the Southern states of Australia have claimed the lives of 84 people, becoming the worst fires in the nation's history. Thousands of firefighters, aided by the army and volunteers, are trying to extinguish the blazes in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and the death toll is expected to rise as the fires are put out. The fires have swept across the country destroying towns, spurred on by strong, unpredictable winds and 47 degree heat. Temperatures have dropped slightly but Fire Officials say that they will not be able to fully control the fires until there is rainfall.

The fires are believed to be the work of arsonists and police say they will be severely punished and charged with the murders of those the fires have killed. Premier of New South Wales, John Rees, said that "We will throw the book at you if you are caught," and that the arsonists faced a 25 year prison stretch.


Eye-witnesses report seeing flames four storeys high, trees exploding from the heat and ash raining from the sky. The blazes have wiped out 115 sq miles of farmland, forest and towns. In Victoria 700 homes have been destroyed and 14,000 homes across the state are without power. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said "Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," and has ordered troops into the state to help tackle the infernos.

Temperatures to plummet overnight

Tonight temperatures are expected to drop to -8C, maybe even -10C, in rural areas and -4C in towns and cities. Anywhere across the UK could wake up to a dusting of snow and further snowfall can be expected throughout Sunday and Monday. Councils across the country are running low on levels of rock salt and drivers are warned that road conditions could be treacherous. Due to the shortage councils will only be able to grit main roads and those which link up hospitals, others will be left untreated. Gloucestershire council has said that should they run out of rock salt they will resort to using table salt to keep the traffic flowing.
The Highways Agency and police have told drivers in the West country to only travel where essential due to the weather conditions. Many roads have been closed and others are covered with black ice making travelling extremely dangerous. Earlier today, the M4 Severn crossing and the M48 Severn bridge were reopened, after being closed due to falling ice. Sheets of up to a metre fell from the structures smashing the windscreens of five cars and leaving the bridges impassible.
In West Yorkshire, a boy, aged six, has died after falling through ice. It is believed that he was playing on the frozen waters with a twelve year old boy, who was rescued by firefighters. The boy was rescued by police divers and rushed to hospital in an air ambulance. He was pronounced dead a little after seven o'clock this evening.

US to "reset" foreign relations

The new US Presidency is keen to set a new tone in their foreign ties, Vice-President Biden announced today. He said that the new administration was open to talks with Iran and wanted to "reset" relations with Russia. Biden said that whilst the US was prepared to do more they need international cooperation and no approach in Afghanistan would be successful without Pakistani involvement. Adding that the deteriorating situation in the region as a whole, was a threat to peace and security globally, not just for the US.

Australian bush fires kill 14

In the deadliest wildfires in Australia for decades, 14 people have been killed in Victoria state. The deaths were confirmed by state deputy police commissioner Kieran Walsh, who also said that another 40 were feared dead. The fires started after temperatures reached 47C and firefighters, along with aircraft, are battling dozens of bushfires across Southern Australia. In Victoria, over 100 homes have been destroyed and fires also blaze in New South Wales and South Australia, but largely away from residential areas. Fire officials fear that, the currently contained fires, could spread if winds pick up. Water-bombing aircraft are being used to extinguish the fires along with thousands of volunteers with hoses and hundreds of firefighters are on standby,

Fired Baby P chief victim of "witch hunt"

Former Head of Children's Services at Haringey council has said in interviews to BBC Radio 4 and The Guardian that the governments response to the Baby P case had been "breathtakingly reckless" and she had considered suicide after becoming the victim of a press "witch hunt." Mrs Shoesmith also said in the interviews that she has "shocked" at how the death of Baby P had become a party political issue and that she didn't "think people really understood quite what the potential impact could be,". Ed Balls, Children's secretary, defended himself saying he had "acted responsibly" and "didn't jump in, even though I was pressed to do so," Mr balls said he had waited for the results of an independent report before making his decision but "in the end the director of children's services has to take responsibility,"
Mrs Shoesmith said that the responsibility for the death had given her "many sleepness nights" and added that it was "a local tragedy and a national catastrophe".

Wintry weather sticking around

After a week of the heaviest snow for almost 20 years there is more snow set to fall over the weekend and into next week. Anywhere in Britain can expect to see snow over the next few days with some places seeing further accumulations of 5-10 cm. Along with this councils across the country are running low on supplies of grit, meaning many roads may have to be left untreated. This could lead to dangerous driving conditions as temperatures plunge to - 10C in rural areas and -4C to -7C in cities. The highways agency and police had advised people across the West Country to only make journeys if they are essential as many roads in the area are covered with black ice.
Many parts of the country will have seen further snow fall last night on top of existing accumulations. The village of Exford in Somerset is completely cut-off after 2 foot of snow fell last week but local residents report that it is thawing fast. Across Somerset, 1000 homes have been left without power and weather conditions have hampered attempts to restore power. Western Power say that all homes should have electricity back by the end of the day.
With a busy sporting weekend Police are braced to deal with the football and rugby fans traveling to the games. Today there are eight Premiership matches and the six nations begins with England vs Italy at Twickenham and Wales vs Scotland at Murray Field. Many Welsh rugby fans have already seen difficulties in flying out to see the game after several cancellations. In horse racing, the Wetherby meeting on Monday has been cancelled after a failed track inspection.

Those above images owned by Tom King are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.