In Today's Papers

By Amy Taylor, Clare Jerrom and Alex Dobson

Blunkett's asylum plan hit by double rebellion

MPs rebelled against two sections of the controversial asylum bill in the House of Commons last night.

Around 35 Labour MPs voted against a measure in the bill which restricts asylum seekers’ right to appeal against decisions on their cases. A further 28 rebelled against plans to remove welfare benefits from failed asylum seekers.

The Tories opposed the restrictions on the right to appeal while the Liberal Democrats opposed both measures.

Despite the opposition the bill still got through the Commons, but is expected to face strong opposition in the House of Lords.

Source:- The Financial Times Tuesday 2 March page 2

Here's an immigration story you are unlikely to read in other newspapers and don't hear too often from the government

Staff from outside the European Union are helping to keep the NHS going and often work in the areas British professionals are reluctant to work, according to new research.

Home Office figures show that 44,443 healthcare staff from countries outside the European Union were given work permits last year.

This represents a 27-fold increase from the level in 1993.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 2 March page 1

Life for repeat offender paedophile

A serial paedophile who warned that he was a danger to children when he was released from jail after being convicted for sex offences against young boys was jailed for life yesterday for a similar attack.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Thomas Titley had carried out a series of sex attacks on two seven-year-old boys in a cellar and a 6ft deep hole he had dug under his floorboards.

The attacks took place at his flat in Walsall, West Midlands.

Source:- The Independent Tuesday 2 March page 9

Officer tells of surprise at purge of Huntley data

A policeman who put a report on Ian Huntley's file identifying him as a possible serial rapist in 1999 said he was surprised his information had been deleted from police intelligence a year later.

PC Mick Harding placed the note on the file after analysing information on sex attacks to which Huntley had been linked but not charged with in 1998 and 1999.

The Humberside officer, who was giving evidence to the Bichard Inquiry into how vetting procedures did not stop Huntley getting a job as a school caretaker, said he thought the information should have remained on the file indefinitely.

Source:- The Daily Telegraph Tuesday 2 March page 10

Scottish newspapers

Worker cleared

A social worker suspended following the Caleb Ness case in Edinburgh has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

David Wilkie was accused of rehearsing evidence with another member of staff before giving testimony to an inquiry into the baby’s death.

Edinburgh council will this week announce the outcome of its inquiry into its social work department.

Source:- The Scotsman Tuesday 2 March

Nurseries closed as nurses start indefinite strike action

Nursery nurses embarked on the first day of their all-out strike yesterday calling for better pay.

Some parents of children under-five, including children with special needs, were thrown into chaos and were forced to take time off work or leave children with friends as nurseries were closed to all but vulnerable children on at-risk registers.

Around 4,000 staff took part in the industrial action in pursuit of better pay.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 2 March

Archbishop criticises Executive strategy on sexual health

The Catholic Church has warned that plans to improve Scotland’s record on sexual health are a threat to the morality of society.


The Scottish executive’s strategy to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and lower the incidence of sexually transmitted disease was slammed by Archbishop Mario Conti.

Responding to the draft strategy, the Archbishop of Glasgow said the expert group who drew up proposals “paid too much attention to the medical treatment of symptoms and not enough to the spiritual and social causes of the problem”.

Source:- The Scotsman  Tuesday 2 March

Doctor denies trial lies

A medical expert lied at child abuse hearings to promote his theories, it was claimed yesterday.

Dr Colin Paterson came up with the controversial theory that multiple fractures among children could arise through a condition known as temporary brittle bone disease. The General Medical Council hearing was told the syndrome was treated with suspicion by others in the profession.

The doctor, from Longforgan near Dundee, is accused of failing in his duty as an expert witness in a custody case in Britain and a criminal trial in Arizona.

Richard Tyson for the GMC said Paterson was “promoting a cause” and protecting his theory. The hearing in Manchester continues.

Source:- Daily Record  Tuesday 2 March page 9

Welsh newspapers

Hospital shuts heart unit to rest exhausted staff

A major Welsh hospital has cancelled all routine cardiac surgery to give staff time to ‘recharge their batteries’.

Morriston Hospital in Swansea, which is one of the principality's busiest heart centres, has taken the unprecedented move following what is described as the ‘considerable’ pressure that staff are working under, and because of the heavy reliance on overtime to keep the service going.

Health experts have warned that the situation at Morriston is indicative of the pressures that the whole of the NHS in Wales is experiencing.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 2 March page 1

Accuser jealous, claims care worker

A man accused of ill-treating two vulnerable adults in his care by practising martial arts on them has claimed his accuser was motivated by bitterness and jealousy, a court heard yesterday.

Darren Young, a former staff member at a Care in the Community project at The Hollows in Llanharan, alleged fellow worker Jonathan Evans used ju-jitsu moves on patients.

Evans denies five charges of ill-treatment of two residents at the project. He claimed his accuser was motivated by jealousy after missing out on promotion.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 2 March page 2

Patients who are dying to go home

The Marie Curie Cancer Care launched a campaign yesterday that wants to see more people given the choice to decide if they want to die in hospital or at home.

New research commissioned by the charity suggests that there is not enough choice for terminally ill people in Wales, at this last stage in their lives, and that more palliative care is required.

Source:- Western Mail Tuesday 2 March page 10