UK News: Climbdown on plans for inmate voting

Ministers are preparing to back down on plans to give the vote to all inmates serving less than four years in the hope of heading off a backbench revolt in the House of Commons.

Muslim prejudice fears

PREJUDICE against Muslims has "passed the dinner table test" and become widely acceptable in Britain, the Conservative chairman was set to claim today.

Baroness Warsi was set to warn against the tendency to divide Muslims between "moderates" and "extremists" at a speech in Leicester.

'No prospect' of new polling system by May

THE House of Lords finally rose at 3.04am today, ending the latest in a series of marathon debates on plans to change the voting system and cut the number of MPs.

Shadow justice minister Lord Falconer warned the government had "no prospect" of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill reaching the statute book by February 16.

Ministers are determined to stage a referendum on adopting the alternative vote system for elections on May 5.

Jobcentre staff strike

THOUSANDS of workers in Jobcentre Plus call centres will stage a 48-hour strike from today in a row over working conditions and claims of "excessive monitoring".

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union at seven sites will take industrial action after previously voting in favour of a walkout.

The union said staff have complained about "intolerable" conditions.

Banned pastor hits back

American preacher Pastor Terry Jones said he was disappointed to be barred from the United Kingdom, calling his exclusion "unfair".

The preacher, who sparked outrage when he announced plans to burn copies of the Koran, has been banned from visiting by the Home Office.

Sussex: A toddler was in a serious condition in hospital today after being mauled by a dog. The two-year-old girl was attacked by the animal, a Japanese akita believed to be her family's pet, in Hailsham, police said. The injuries are serious but not life-threatening.

Nottingham: A young man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenager killed during a suspected gang fight. The 19-year-old suspect was being held in police custody in east London today after being arrested in Nottingham yesterday in connection with the murder of Marvin Henry, Scotland Yard said.