UK News: Armed forces 'are left exposed by cutbacks'

CUTS to the armed forces may leave them unable to deliver what is asked of them after 2015, an influential House of Commons committee warned today.

The Defence Select Committee said it rejected the Prime Minister's assurance that Britain retains a "full spectrum" defence capability.

Miliband in unions vow

ED Miliband plans to curb the power trade unions have over the Labour Party.

Mr Miliband, who was elected Labour leader last September thanks to unions' backing, hopes to boost democracy within the party by reducing unions' voting power at Labour conferences to below 50 per cent.

Two-thirds reject move to let disabled adults die

ONLY one in three people would change the law to allow doctors to help physically disabled adults who are not terminally ill to die, a poll showed.

The survey, commissioned by campaigners for a change in the law on assisted dying, showed most people saw a difference between helping terminally ill adults to die and assistance for those who were not dying. Three in four people said terminally ill adults who want to die should be able to ask their doctor for help.

Families face food squeeze

HOUSEHOLD incomes continued to be squeezed in July after figures today showed food bills remained more than 5 per cent higher than last year.

The British Retail Consortium said overall shop price inflation slowed marginally, while food inflation fell, but the easing was largely due to retailers slashing prices to draw in cash-strapped consumers.

Dowler killer sues prison

THE killer of Milly Dowler is suing the prison service for 30,000 after being attacked in jail, it was reported today.

Levi Bellfield is demanding compensation after suffering cuts following an attack outside a bathroom in HMP Wakefield last year.

London: Novelist and journalist Tony Parsons starts work today as writer-in-residence at Heathrow Airport. Parsons has moved into a hotel at the airport and will stay for a week roaming the terminals talking to travellers and staff looking for inspiration.

Yorkshire: Members of the public have been warned not to approach a man police are looking for in connection with an attack on two women who suffered multiple stab injuries. Officers sealed off part of the small town of Garforth, near Leeds, yesterday after the mother and daughter, aged 55 and 25, were seriously injured.