9am Briefing: Rugby legend Hastings reveals wife has Parkinson's

RUGBY legend Gavin Hastings has revealed that his wife is battling Parkinson's disease.

Diane Hastings, who was diagnosed with the degenerative brain disorder seven years ago when she was just 39, is one of only a handful of people in Scotland to have suffered from the illness so early in life.

Addressing a major conference on the disease in Glasgow, the former Scotland international said: "When you get Parkinson's, it's a pretty devastating diagnosis. But I'm very proud of Diane and how she has coped with this, and I will continue to be proud of her."

Guarantee for Queen's Hall ticket-buyers

THE Queen's Hall is to offer ticket-buyers a money back guarantee for the first time.

The Clerk Street venue is launching a pilot project next month, which will give punters the chance to leave the venue and claim a refund within the first 15 minutes of a show under a "no questions asked" policy.

Managers at the hall – which hosts everything from classical, folk, jazz and blues events to rock and pop gigs – hope to make the venture a regular feature in its programme as they say they are confident in the quality of the music at the venue.

Call for change in Labour leadership rules

LOTHIANS Labour MSP George Foulkes today called for a change in the way Labour chooses its leader.

He joined other Labour politicians in praising Ed Miliband's speech to the Labour conference in Manchester yesterday. But he said he would support a move to one-member-one-vote in future leadership elections.

After Ed Miliband's knife-edge victory over his brother David – by 50.65 per cent to 49.35 per cent – Lord Foulkes today called for the party to replace the current system, which gives a third of the overall votes to MPS and MEPs, another third to party members and the final third to trade unionists.

Opposition parties have highlighted the fact that Ed Miliband secured a majority only among trade unionists, while David had a majority among parliamentarians and party members.

Lord Foulkes said: "I would support one person one vote to ensure that every party member has an equal vote and also to ensure it's only party members who elect the leader. At the moment people within the unions who are not party members will still get a vote."

Lord Foulkes was a David Miliband supporter, but pledged his loyal backing to Ed.