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05/05/2006
Blair reshuffles Cabinet on Labour losses
Prime Minister Tony Blair has reshuffled his Cabinet after Labour lost more than 250 council seats in England's local elections.
As widely expected, Home Secretary Charles Clarke, who has been at the centre of a row over the release of foreign prisoners, has been sacked from his post. He has been replaced by Defence Secretary John Reid, while Margaret Beckett has become the new Foreign Secretary, replacing Jack Straw who becomes the Commons leader.
Beleaguered Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who also faced calls to resign following revelations that he had an affair with one of his secretaries, will remain in his post, but will lose control of his department.
Labour lost 251 councillors in the election and also lost control of 16 town halls. They suffered their most damaging defeats in London, where their losses included Croydon, Bexley, Merton and Hammersmith and Fulham.
Outside the capital, Labour losses included Stoke-on-Trent, Bury, Warrington and Crawley.
In contrast, the Conservatives enjoyed their best results since 1992, gaining an additional 274 councillors. In London, they gained control of Ealing, Bexley, Hammersmith and Fulham, while gains outside the capital included Shrewsbury and Atcham, Harrow and Crawley. However, the Tories failed to make hoped-for inroads into northern cities such as Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester.
The British National Party also made significant gains in Barking and Dagenham, winning eleven seats, after fielding a total of 13 candidates. They also won three seats in both Sandwell and Epping Forest, as well as one seat in Pendle.
The Green Party also won 17 seats.
However, the Liberal Democrats failed to make the headway that they had anticipated, picking up just 18 councillors. They also lost control of Islington and Milton Keynes, but gained control of South Lakeland and St Albans and Richmond.
The projected share of the vote showed the Conservatives on 40%, the Liberal Democrats on 27% and Labour on 26%. Turnout was estiminated to be around 36% - down three points from 2004.
(KMcA/SP)
As widely expected, Home Secretary Charles Clarke, who has been at the centre of a row over the release of foreign prisoners, has been sacked from his post. He has been replaced by Defence Secretary John Reid, while Margaret Beckett has become the new Foreign Secretary, replacing Jack Straw who becomes the Commons leader.
Beleaguered Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who also faced calls to resign following revelations that he had an affair with one of his secretaries, will remain in his post, but will lose control of his department.
Labour lost 251 councillors in the election and also lost control of 16 town halls. They suffered their most damaging defeats in London, where their losses included Croydon, Bexley, Merton and Hammersmith and Fulham.
Outside the capital, Labour losses included Stoke-on-Trent, Bury, Warrington and Crawley.
In contrast, the Conservatives enjoyed their best results since 1992, gaining an additional 274 councillors. In London, they gained control of Ealing, Bexley, Hammersmith and Fulham, while gains outside the capital included Shrewsbury and Atcham, Harrow and Crawley. However, the Tories failed to make hoped-for inroads into northern cities such as Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester.
The British National Party also made significant gains in Barking and Dagenham, winning eleven seats, after fielding a total of 13 candidates. They also won three seats in both Sandwell and Epping Forest, as well as one seat in Pendle.
The Green Party also won 17 seats.
However, the Liberal Democrats failed to make the headway that they had anticipated, picking up just 18 councillors. They also lost control of Islington and Milton Keynes, but gained control of South Lakeland and St Albans and Richmond.
The projected share of the vote showed the Conservatives on 40%, the Liberal Democrats on 27% and Labour on 26%. Turnout was estiminated to be around 36% - down three points from 2004.
(KMcA/SP)
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17 May 2004
Six killed in Brighton motorway smash
Six people have died following a road accident on a section of motorway north of Brighton yesterday. The four-car collision occurred at around 4.30pm on the A23 – the main London to Brighton road – at Pyecombe. Three people, including a two-year-old child, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Six killed in Brighton motorway smash
Six people have died following a road accident on a section of motorway north of Brighton yesterday. The four-car collision occurred at around 4.30pm on the A23 – the main London to Brighton road – at Pyecombe. Three people, including a two-year-old child, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
04 May 2006
Voting under way in local elections
Voting is under way in the local council elections in England. In all 4,360 council seats are up for election in 176 out of the 386 councils, including all 32 London boroughs. Around a third of the seats are also up for election in 36 metropolitan authorities and 20 unitary authorities.
Voting under way in local elections
Voting is under way in the local council elections in England. In all 4,360 council seats are up for election in 176 out of the 386 councils, including all 32 London boroughs. Around a third of the seats are also up for election in 36 metropolitan authorities and 20 unitary authorities.
07 April 2003
Think-tank warns police have 'lost control of the streets'
The forces of law and order have "lost control of the streets", according to a new report from the independent think-tank Civitas. The report follows on from government statistics released last week stating that crime levels had dropped by 9% over 2002.
Think-tank warns police have 'lost control of the streets'
The forces of law and order have "lost control of the streets", according to a new report from the independent think-tank Civitas. The report follows on from government statistics released last week stating that crime levels had dropped by 9% over 2002.
15 August 2008
Two Die In Stolen Car Collision
Two men have died after the car they were travelling in was involved in a collision. Police attended the scene on Alderdale Road in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, just before 1am on Friday following reports that the Vauxhall Astra had lost control and overturned, landing in a front garden of a house.
Two Die In Stolen Car Collision
Two men have died after the car they were travelling in was involved in a collision. Police attended the scene on Alderdale Road in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, just before 1am on Friday following reports that the Vauxhall Astra had lost control and overturned, landing in a front garden of a house.
05 June 2009
Blow For Brown In Council Polls
The Tories have made massive gains in the English local elections, it is emerging. They have secured the control of at least six councils, with predictions that bigger gains will be made, as the counting continues. Latest results show the Conservatives took 131 new council seats, compared to Labour's 106 loss, equating to six councils.
Blow For Brown In Council Polls
The Tories have made massive gains in the English local elections, it is emerging. They have secured the control of at least six councils, with predictions that bigger gains will be made, as the counting continues. Latest results show the Conservatives took 131 new council seats, compared to Labour's 106 loss, equating to six councils.
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