Strikes by drivers at East Midlands Trains have been planned for three days during the London 2012 Olympics in a row over pensions.
Members of the train drivers' union Aslef have scheduled industrial action for 6, 7, and 8 August.
It said talks with East Midlands Trains had failed to produce a breakthrough over pension contribution cuts.
The rail operator said Aslef was "playing games" and the strikes were a "kick in the teeth" for customers.
Aslef members oppose East Midlands Trains' plans to reduce both its own and staff contributions to its pension fund from July.
'National pride'Aslef's general secretary Mick Whelan said: "To cut pension contributions in the current climate is highly irresponsible."
The managing director of East Midlands Trains, David Horne, said: "This is yet another example of Aslef playing games and is a real kick in the teeth for our customers and the country during a time of great national pride."
Aslef has said it will have further talks with East Midlands Trains on Friday with a view to resolving the dispute.
East Midlands Trains had said in June that the change would leave drivers £500 a year better off without affecting pension benefits.
The firm announced on Wednesday that it would be providing 50,000 extra seats on trains to London for the games.
Industrial action had been suspended on two dates in June to allow for negotiations with the rail operator to take place.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
London policeman cleared of G20 protest killing - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - A police officer accused of killing a newspaper seller at anti-capitalist G20 protests in London in 2009 was cleared by a jury on Thursday in a case that raised wider questions about recruitment policies at the capital's police force.
Police Constable Simon Harwood had been charged with the manslaughter of 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson who collapsed and died on the fringes of the demonstrations in central London.
At the end of a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court the jury found Harwood not guilty.
Tomlinson had become caught up in the protests near the Bank of England as he tried to make his way home.
Video footage taken by an American tourist showed Harwood, wearing a riot helmet, pushing Tomlinson over shortly before he collapsed on a nearby street.
The case attracted widespread public interest, with critics condemning an original decision not to prosecute Harwood.
An initial post-mortem recorded that Tomlinson had died from a heart attack, but two further autopsies showed the cause of death to be internal bleeding.
Prosecutors finally charged Harwood after an inquest jury in May 2011 found that Tomlinson had been unlawfully killed. That jury had found that Harwood used "excessive and unreasonable" force in hitting Tomlinson with a baton and that he had posed no threat at the time.
Despite his acquittal, Harwood will now face a public misconduct hearing in September, the Independent Police Complaints Commission watchdog (IPCC) said.
"It is clear that significant questions remain in connection with his actions on the day Ian Tomlinson died," said IPCC deputy chair Deborah Glass.
London's Metropolitan Police in addition had questions to answer over its employment of Harwood, who had also worked for Surrey Police, she added.
"PC Harwood was able to retire from the Metropolitan Police while facing disciplinary proceedings for previous alleged misconduct towards a member of the public," she said.
"That he was then re-employed by the force, first in a civilian role and later as a constable, is simply staggering and raises considerable concerns about their vetting procedures," Glass added.
The Met Police said it had made "huge changes" to its vetting process following the case.
"It is clear that insufficient recording and checks meant that detailed information regarding the officer's misconduct history was not shared at key points. We got that wrong," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner.
Tomlinson's stepson Paul King described Thursday's verdict as a "joke" and said the family would continue to seek justice through the civil courts.
"In April 2009, along with everyone else, we saw the shocking video of Ian being violently assaulted by PC Harwood, just minutes before he died," he told reporters.
"After the unlawful killing verdict at the inquest last year we expected to hear a guilty verdict, not a not-guilty verdict. It really hurts," King added in an emotional statement outside the court.
(Reporting by Tim Castle)
Source: uk.reuters.com
Strike threats loom over London Games - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - Strikes by train drivers and passport officials threaten major disruptions to the London Olympics, prompting the government to warn unions on Thursday that they risked public anger if the industrial action went ahead.
The Aslef rail union announced on Thursday that 450 of its members in central England would walk out between August 6 and 8 in a dispute over pensions, affecting passengers travelling from cities such as Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby to the capital.
The decision coincided with a move by border officials to strike on July 26, the day before the start of the Games, potentially delaying thousands of visitors arriving for the showpiece event.
The threat of transport chaos added to pressure on the government, which has already had to call in thousands of extra soldiers to guard the Games after a failed private sector recruitment drive left an embarrassing hole in security.
Even the wet weather has conspired to dampen spirits ahead of the sporting showcase, which has earned the nickname the "Soggy Olympics" in the British media.
Perhaps it was no coincidence that Police lyrics "sending out an SOS", from the song "Message in a Bottle", were blaring before the daily press conference at the Olympic Park in east London.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt rejected accusations that the build-up to the Games had been a shambles, arguing that for an operation of such a scale the preparations had in fact been remarkably smooth.
"Actually I think it has been a very smooth process," he told reporters, after a barrage of questions on issues ranging from security shortfalls to sanitation on the main Olympic site. "I think it has been an encouraging first week.
"I think it is very important that people understand that of course you are going to have a few hitches on a project of this scale, but actually things have gone pretty smoothly, and the athletes are getting a fantastic welcome in the village, and I think morale is very high."
On the issue of the danger of strike action causing disruptions, he added: "It would be completely out of tune with the mood of the British public. This is a moment when Britain wants to show its best face to the world, and that is what the vast majority of the public wants as well.
"I would strongly counsel any unions thinking of disrupting this very important period, I think they would lose huge amounts of public support if they really tried to do this."
Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking during a visit to Afghanistan, said of the planned action by passport officials: "I do not believe it would be justified.
GUARD SHORTFALL
The security glitch came after G4S said it could not provide a promised 10,400 security guards to staff Games venues, meaning the Defence Ministry had to call up an extra 3,500 troops to take the armed forces contribution to 17,000 personnel.
A further 2,000 troops may be required if security firm G4S fails to find a minimum requirement of 7,000 staff.
Hunt reiterated government assurances that the Games would be safe in a city where suicide bombers killed 52 people in attacks on the transport system in July 2005.
Further concerns could be raised by Wednesday's suicide bomb attack on a bus transporting Israeli tourists at Burgas airport in Bulgaria.
"Obviously we are monitoring the whole time what's happening with respect to the changing security situation, and we have extremely competent intelligence services who are giving us advice and we are responding to that on an ongoing basis," Hunt said when asked about the Burgas attack.
"The world can be absolutely certain that we will deliver a safe and secure Olympics. It has always been our number one priority."
OPENING CEREMONY
With the Games eight days away, British media has focused heavily on the opening ceremony amid reports of tensions between Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle, who is overseeing the 27 million pound ($42 million) show, and the Olympic Broadcasting Services in charge of airing the Games.
According to the Guardian newspaper, quoting an unnamed source, the atmosphere between the two was "miserable" and rehearsals were behind.
The July 27 evening ceremony, to be watched by a global audience estimated at more than a billion people, has already been shortened to avoid a possible late-night rush for trains and buses home.
"I think I would expect there to be lots of negotiations going on behind the scenes, but I think the overall picture is very encouraging," Hunt said, explaining that he was not aware of the specific problems being reported.
"I think it is going to be a sensational opening ceremony. It will show the best of Britain - its history, its culture, our contribution to the world. But it will do it through the artistic vision of one our finest film directors."
The ceremony will feature more than 10,000 performers and include the recreation of an idyllic English rural scene complete with live animals.
($1 = 0.6401 British pounds)
(Additional reporting by Mohammed Abbas in Kabul and Peter Griffiths and Michael Holden in London; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Alison Williams)
Source: uk.reuters.com
London street food: London's best street food stalls - Daily Telegraph
Lucky Chip is a burger joint through and through. It is widely tipped as (whisper it) better than MEATliquor, the acclaimed restaurant that evolved from a burger van.
How long has it been on the streets? Just over a year.
Trader’s background: Former bar manager Ben Denner began an obsessive hunt for the perfect burger last year, which included visiting 70 bakeries over three months to find the right buns.
Signature dishes: The Sheen: a dream burger made with beer-soaked onions, Philadelphia, applewood smoked bacon, cheddar and aioli.
Average prices: Burgers £6.50-£8
Where can I find Lucky Chip? At Netil Market on Westgate Street, London Fields, E8, or in residency at The Sebright Arms, Coate Street, E2. Follow @Lucky_Chip.
The Everybody Love Love Jhalmuri Express has the theatre of street food down to a fine art. Angus Denoon sells jhal muri (a crispy and chewy rice dish served with vegetables and seasoning), dhal and other Indian street food.
How long has it been on the streets: For years, in various forms.
Trader’s background: Angus Denoon started by selling the Kolkata street food Jhal Muri from a supermarket trolley. Today, he runs his business out of a white van which opens out like a pop-up book and spills India out onto the street.
Signature dishes: The Jhal Muri
Average prices: £3 for a Jhal Muri cone; £4 for delicious Ghugni dal.
Where can I find The Everybody Love Love Jhalmuri Express? He is at Eat.st in King’s Cross but it’s best to check his Facebook page for updates.
Luardos sells fantastic fish tacos, burritos and other Mexican food
Luardos on Whitecross Street market, by Old Street. Image: Alamy
How long has it been on the streets? Since Christmas 2006
Trader’s background: Simon Luard started the business with John Bell and Sarah Maxwell because he had £10,000 to spare in the bank and couldn’t think of a better way to spend it.
Signature dishes: The fish tacos - soft, crispy and spicy.
Average prices: Around £5 for a burrito.
Where can I find Luardos? Whitecross Street Market, Brockley Market and Eat.st, as well as a number of festivals. Follow @Luardos on Twitter.
The Bowler is a grass-covered van and occasional stall that sells nothing but meatballs.
How long has it been operational?
For 9 months. It runs four days a week at Eat St and will be at Dalston Street Feast on Friday evenings.
Trader’s background: Jez Felwick, 37, has a background in developing TV shows and talent, but he always loved food and was looking for a cost-effective way into the industry. The Bowler started as a weekend hobby, but when business started picking up towards the end of last year, he put his media career on hold with the aim of selling meatballs full time.
Signature dishes: Great Balls of Fire is the moreish, finely honed, spicy meatball. Jez also sells chickpea, spinach and ricotta balls for vegetarians which are pretty good.
Average prices: One ball ‘shooters’ £2. Two large balls for £6.
Where can I find The Bowler? Eat.st, Friday lunchtimes through July
Other favourites…
There are plenty of other street food options in London so once you’ve had your fill of the above consider checking out the below.
The Ribman deals in fantastic pulled pork with extra hot sauce - £5 a bun or wrap
Bhangra Burger sells handmade spiced Indian burgers in flatbreads for around £6 each out of their colourful van. Veggie options are great too.
Homeslice Pizza sells thin, crispy pizza with toppings like serrano ham, stilton and mushroom - £3 a slice
Green Goat Food hawks slow roasted pork wraps, mackerel, cuttlefish and lots more from their green van - £5 a box
Kimchi Cult flog Korean-style fast food including great burgers - around £5 each.
London’s rapidly expanding fleet of street food stalls has seen the emergence of a number of London blogs dedicated solely to their menus and movements. Among them is London Street Foodie, which provides detailed profiles of street-food sellers, info on what they sell and maps of their pitches.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Kent duo rock Glamorgan - SkySports
Source: www.skysports.com
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