Brown faces new by-election
The death of John MacDougall, the Scottish Labour MP, will trigger another crucial by-election for Gordon Brown. The 60-year-old MP for Glenrothes, who had been suffering from Mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer, died at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife early this morning .
MacDougall, who had a low profile in the Commons, held a majority of 10,664 over the Scottish National Party at the last election. However Glenrothes, which is literally in the Prime Minister's political backyard (near his own Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat and close to his constituency home), is now vulnerable. The SNP, who were second in Glenrothes in 2005, need only a swing of 14.5 per cent.
In last month's Glasgow East by-election, the SNP overturned a Labour majority of more than 13,000 with a 22 per cent swing.
The Mole: MP's death is another nightmare for Brown
Suicide bomber kills British soldier in Kabul
Four more civilians and a British soldier travelling in a Nato convoy in the Afghan capital of Kabul have been killed by a Taliban suicide bomber, a day after the blast killed three Afghans outright. The soldier, who has not yet been named, was in the vehicle rammed... [continued]
Suicide bombers: a message from al-Qaeda
Russia dictates peace terms
Russia yesterday dictated humiliating peace terms to Georgia in return for declaring a ceasefire of the Kremlin's five-day invasion of the tiny Black Sea country. Following a meeting with European Union President, France's Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for a halt to fighting and agreed six principles of... [continued]
In pictures: five days in Georgia
Russia knew the West wouldn't dare step in
ITV journalist arrested in Beijing
A British journalist has been arrested by Beijing police after he covered a Free Tibet protest near the National Stadium. ITV News's China correspondent John Ray said he had been "roughed up" by officers after he was pushed into a police van and driven away. Speaking by phone... [continued]
Beijing 2008: speedy analysis, strong comment, enduring photographs
In pictures: the best photography from Beijing
Mugabe sidelines Tsvangirai
Robert Mugabe appears to have ensured his political survival by sidelining his main rival Morgan Tsvangirai and striking a deal with Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a breakaway opposition faction. Mugabe's officials claimed yesterday that the 84-year-old dictator has agreed a coalition deal with Mutumbara that apparently excludes Tsvangirai.... [continued]
Zimbabwe Today: exclusive reports from Moses Moyo in Harare
British hacker wins two-week stay
The British man accused of hacking into Nasa and the Pentagon's computers has won a two-week stay on his extradition to the US. Gary McKinnon, who lost his appeal at the House of Lords last month, was yesterday granted a stay until August 28 by the European Court of Human... [continued]
Dead cat may hold clue to murders
Police are hoping that a black-and-white cat owned by the murdered Newcastle University graduates may produce the identity of their killers. Zhou Xi and her boyfriend Yang Zhen Zing, who are both from southern China, were found dead in their flat on Saturday. The pet's body was found in a... [continued]
British Energy profits fall by 60%
British Energy profits plunged by more than 60 per cent in the three months to June from £179 million to £62 million, the group announced today. The nuclear operator, whose £12 billion takeover bid from France’s EDF was rejected by its shareholders earlier this month, blamed the fall on lower... [continued]
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