Haringey council chief sacked without pay-off

Child safety chief in the Baby P case is sacked without a payoff

The official in charge of child protection at Haringey Council at the time of Baby P’s death has finally been sacked from her £100,000-a-year post, with no payoff.

Sharon Shoesmith, the former director of children’s services, was dismissed by a panel of three councillors with immediate effect.

Read more on this story in The Times

Haringey Council said Sharon Shoesmith was dismissed from her £100,000-a-year post with immediate effect and would not receive any compensation.

But she will still get her gold-plated civil service pension, estimated to be worth up to £1.5million.

Read more on this story in The Daily Mail

Costs exclude thousands from fuel poverty aid

A Government scheme to combat fuel poverty has been called a failure after it emerged that more than 10,000 eligible low-income households will be unable to benefit this winter – because they are too poor.

Read more on this story in The Times

Mother arrested after death of ME sufferer

A mother has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the alleged mercy killing of her daughter, who had been seriously ill with ME for 17 years, it emerged yesterday.

London to lose NHS resources to areas with more older patients

The NHS was told yesterday to prepare for a massive switch of resources out of London into areas with a high proportion of older people with chronic medical conditions.

Alan Johnson, the health secretary, said he would allocate £164bn for primary care trusts in England to commission hospitals and GPs to provide care for patients over the next two years.

Read more on this story in The Guardian