Prince 'wanted more grammar schools'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 07:21

The Prince of Wales tried to persuade Tony Blair's government to expand grammar schools, former education secretary David Blunkett has said.

In a BBC Radio 4 documentary examining the constitutional role of the prince, Mr Blunkett said Prince Charles "didn't like" it when his request was refused.

He discussed complementary medicine and climate with other Labour ministers.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Sir John Major revealed he changed policies after discussing them with the Queen.

Mr Blunkett is one of three former cabinet ministers interviewed for the documentary, The Royal Activist.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

If you are waiting to be the king of the United Kingdom... you genuinely have to engage with something or you'd go spare"

End Quote David Blunkett

'Constantly frustrated'

Recalling his conversations, Mr Blunkett, who was education secretary for four years between 1997 and 2001, said: "I would explain that our policy was not to expand grammar schools, and he didn't like that.

"He was very keen that we should go back to a different era where youngsters had what he would have seen as the opportunity to escape from their background, whereas I wanted to change their background."

"I can see constitutionally that there's an argument that the heir to the throne should not get involved in controversy; the honest truth is I didn't mind," added Mr Blunkett.

"If you are waiting to be the king of the United Kingdom, and you've waited a very long time, you genuinely have to engage with something or you'd go spare."

But Graham Smith, chief executive of the group Republic which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy, said it was wrong for any member of the Royal Family to try to shape the decisions of the elected.

"The deal with the monarchy is that the royals stay out of politics completely and these revelations just kind of prove what we've been saying all along which is that they are involving themselves, influencing public policy and that is completely unacceptable in a democratic society," Mr Smith said.

Former environment minister Michael Meacher recalled that he and the Prince "would consort together quietly" to affect policy on climate change and genetically modified crops.

He said they worked together "to try and ensure that we increased our influence within government".

"I knew that he largely agreed with me and he knew that I largely agreed with him," said Mr Meacher. "We were together in trying to persuade Tony Blair to change course."

Asked if there might be a constitutional problem in the Prince taking a political opinion, Mr Meacher replied: "Well, over GM I suppose you could well say that. Maybe he was pushing it a bit. I was delighted, of course."

Prince Charles has been a well-known supporter of complementary medicine. According to another former Labour cabinet minister, Peter Hain, it was a topic they shared an interest in.

"He had been constantly frustrated at his inability to persuade any health ministers anywhere that that was a good idea, and so he, as he once described it to me, found me unique from this point of view, in being somebody that actually agreed with him on this, and might want to deliver it."

Mr Hain added: "When I was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2005-7, he was delighted when I told him that since I was running the place I could more or less do what I wanted to do.

"I was able to introduce a trial for complementary medicine on the NHS, and it had spectacularly good results, that people's well-being and health was vastly improved.

"And when he learnt about this he was really enthusiastic and tried to persuade the Welsh government to do the same thing and the government in Whitehall to do the same thing for England, but not successfully," added Mr Hain.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

I can recall occasions where the Queen in discussion put a gloss upon something that made one think and reflect upon whether it was being done in the right fashion"

End Quote Sir John Major

The Prince's policy interventions are also supported by Sir John Major.

The former prime minister said: "I think it is encouraging that the Prince of Wales is entirely free from his unique perspective to write to ministers or the prime minister in a way that is invariably intended to be helpful, and I think to cut that off, or to make sure those letters are much more bland than they otherwise might be, would be a loss."

Sir John also revealed that he occasionally changed policy as a result of discussions with the Queen - although he would not be drawn on the specific times this took place.

Asked if he remembered being influenced by the Queen, Sir John said : "I think every prime minister can think that, and can think of occasions where that happened...

"But the answer is yes of course. It would be very foolish indeed not to be influenced."

"I can recall occasions where the Queen in discussion put a gloss upon something that made one think and reflect upon whether it was being done in the right fashion at the right time, or perhaps reflect upon what the impact of it would be," Sir John said.

The Royal Activist is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 13:30 BST on Sunday, 29 June.

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Britain should stay in EU, CBI says

29 June 2014 Last updated at 01:59

The success of the UK economy depends on staying in the EU, the head of the country's biggest business group says.

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director general John Cridland told the Observer EU membership supported jobs, growth and the UK's "competitiveness".

His comments come after Prime Minister David Cameron lost a vote on the next president of the European Commission.

He tried to block the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker, who is seen as a backer of closer political union.

EU states voted 26-2 to appoint Mr Juncker on Friday, and Mr Cameron called it a "bad day for Europe".

Mr Cameron wants to renegotiate Britain's position in the EU before holding a referendum on membership after the next general election.

'Fundamental'

Some Conservative MPs believe Britain should leave the EU, and on Friday Tory MEP Daniel Hannan proposed a "Swiss-type deal where we are only in the free market and we are outside everything else".

But Mr Cridland opposed this, saying: "Alternatives to full membership of the EU simply wouldn't work, leaving us beholden to its rules without being able to influence them."

He said the CBI, which lobbies the government on behalf of businesses, would "continue to press the case for the UK remaining in a reformed European Union".

"The EU is our biggest export market and remains fundamental to our economic future," he said.

"Our membership supports jobs, drives growth and boosts our international competitiveness."

After Friday's European vote Labour leader Ed Miliband said the UK was now "closer to the exit door" in Europe, posing a threat to the economy, and UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Cameron had been "utterly humiliated".

But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Mr Cameron had been "brave" to take on Europe and said the debate had now changed.

The leaders of Sweden and Germany offered the PM some encouragement after the vote.

Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt said he knew closer union was not "for everyone", and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "ready to address British concerns".

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Labour in £30bn local funding plan

29 June 2014 Last updated at 05:31

Ed Miliband has said Labour would transfer £30bn of funding from central to local government to "begin reversing a century of centralisation".

The party is set to unveil a range of new policies, and writing in the Sunday Times Mr Miliband also said he wanted a quarter of government contracts to go to small and medium-sized firms.

Meanwhile Labour's Jon Cruddas has been recorded calling party plans "cynical".

Labour said Mr Miliband and Mr Cruddas shared a commitment to "radical" ideas.

Writing about the party's plans, Mr Miliband said he would unveil a report about growth by Labour peer Lord Adonis next week.

He said the report "recommends transferring £30bn of funding to city and county regions over the course of the next Parliament".

"This is just one of many ideas he has to nurture skills, help small businesses thrive and ensure innovation flourishes," he added.

He concluded that Labour's plans were not about "big spending" but rather "big reform".

'Cynical nuggets'

Criticism of Labour's policies have come from Mr Cruddas - a Labour MP and also co-ordinator of the party's policy review.

In a recording of a talk he gave to the think tank Compass last weekend, he expressed frustration at what he saw as the crushing of complicated ideas about policy into pithy, media-friendly soundbites.

He said "cynical nuggets of policy" which "chime with focus groups" were being prioritised by the party over "innovation or creativity".

BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said it was not the first time Mr Cruddas had "wondered aloud" about party policy.

"He doesn't mention Ed Miliband by name - and has praised his leadership in recent days," our correspondent said.

"But he contrasted what he saw as the vitality of ideas he heard from activists around the country with what he called the 'profound dead hand at the centre [of the party]'."

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Tikrit rebels 'push back Iraq army'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:49

Iraqi government forces trying to retake the city of Tikrit from Sunni insurgents have pulled back to a nearby town amid fierce clashes, reports say.

Government troops launched an assault on the city on Saturday with tanks, armoured vehicles and air support.

Eyewitnesses say both sides suffered heavy losses and that the army had to pull back to Dijla, 25km to the south.

The city of Tikrit was captured by Sunni rebels on 11 June as they swept across large parts of northern Iraq.

Heavy fighting took place on Saturday between the Iraqi security forces and armed men from different factions controlling Tikrit, eyewitnesses and journalists told the BBC.

The security forces launched a major attack using tanks and armoured military vehicles supported by air cover and there were many casualties from both sides, the sources said.

Insurgents, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis), were reported to have shot down a helicopter and captured the pilot.

The witnesses said the Iraqi forces had been hampered in their bid to retake the city by the large number of improvised explosive devices laid on the approaches to the city.

Earlier in the week Iraqi special forces had been inserted into a position near Tikrit's university to establish a foothold in the city, but it is not clear whether they have remained.

Jets delivered

On Sunday the city was said to be quiet, but witnesses have reported shelling by the security forces.

Earlier the Iraqi government claimed to have recaptured the city and to have killed 60 militants.

Meanwhile, Iraq said it had received the first batch of military jets ordered from Russia in order to help fight the militants.

The defence ministry said five Sukhoi aircraft would enter service in "three to four days".

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, British Secretary of State William Hague called for political unity in Iraq to help fight what he called the "mortal threat" to the state.

"Security operations will only work with strong political support from all elements in Iraq" he said.

Mr Hague's intervention will add to the pressure on Iraq's leaders to form a national unity government, correspondents say.

It follows a call from Iraq's most influential Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Sistani for a prime minister to be appointed by Tuesday - when the new parliament meets - to try to defuse the country's political crisis.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki wants a third term, though correspondents say he is seen by many as having precipitated the crisis through sectarian policies that have pushed Iraq's Sunni minority into the hands of Isis extremists.

Are you in the area? What is your reaction to the current situation? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.o.ukwith the word 'Iraq' in the subject heading.

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'Scores trapped' in India collapse

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:08

More than 100 people are still feared trapped after a building collapsed in southern India, an official has said.

At least nine people died and several were hurt when the 12-storey building under construction toppled in Chennai in heavy rain late on Saturday.

Hours earlier, a four-storey building came down in the capital Delhi killing 10 people including five children.

India has seen frequent building collapses, many blamed on lax safety and substandard materials.

Rescue teams with cutters and shovels are continuing to search for survivors in the rubble in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state.

"There are approximately 132 labourers who are under the debris and approximately 100 of them belong to southern Andhra Pradesh province," joint collector Rekha Rani told Reuters news agency.

At least 26 people have so far been rescued. It is not clear whether Mr Rani was speaking before the rescues took place.

A police investigation has also been launched.

By Yogita Limaye, BBC News, Mumbai

Building collapses have become an almost common occurrence in India, with numerous such accidents taking place across large cities over the past year. The latest incidents have once again put the spotlight on the need for better regulation of construction in the country.

While some collapses have occurred because poor quality material was used, others, have been because the buildings were simply too old and residents refused to leave despite them being labelled as dangerous to live in.

Corruption is also a factor, because in many cases, changes to the building's structure, such as adding extra floors, or breaking down walls, which might make it vulnerable are permitted by authorities that have been found to have accepted bribes.

Soaring property prices in Indian cities have also meant that finding a flat that fits your budget is so hard, that people very often tend to compromise on safety.

Police said larger pieces of rubble would have to be moved before rescuers could search for more survivors, adding that access to the building was difficult because of a narrow lane leading to it.

Fire service official Vijay Shekar told the Times of India newspaper that it could take two days to reach the ground floor of the building, adding that it would be a "massive operation".

While the cause of the latest collapse is still under investigation, a lack of construction codes, leading to lax safety, is one reason for frequent collapses of buildings and other infrastructure projects in India.

There is also a high demand for housing, pushing up costs and forcing less affluent people to risk their lives in decrepit or badly constructed buildings.

In January, at least 14 people died when a building under construction came crashing down in the western state of Goa.

At least 42 people died after a four-storey building collapsed in Mumbai last September.

Are you in the area? Have you been affected? Please share your comments with us. You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'India Building Collapse'.

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Metallica: Glastonbury 'sensational'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:21 By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter

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There have been mixed reactions to headline act Metallica at the Glastonbury Festival, as Lizo Mzimba reports

Heavy metal band Metallica won over new fans as they headlined on Glastonbury's famous Pyramid Stage on Saturday.

The band played for 90 minutes, with highlights including One, Cyanide and an extended version of Master Of Puppets.

The quartet are the first metal act to headline the festival since its inception in 1970.

Drummer Lars Ulrich said: "That was sensational. I don't remember much of it... the energy was fantastic."

Speaking to the BBC's Jo Whiley backstage after their set, Ulrich said he had been at Glastonbury since Friday and wanted to immerse himself in the experience.

"We have one shot, you never know if you'll be invited back," he said.

"I want to soak up every second of this thing. We would love to come back."

He added that he was looking forward to Sunday's acts, including Dolly Parton and Kasabian.

"I'll be the last one (here)... the one walking round with a garbage bag on Tuesday."

Asked to describe his Glastonbury experience in one sentence, Ulrich simply said: "Other-worldly."

Even the band's detractors would have been hard-pushed to deny their musicianship.

Fans and supporters lined the back of the stage as they ended the main set with Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman.

"Metallica. Glastonbury. Together at last," declared songwriter James Hetfield. "That felt good."

Returning for an encore of Whiskey in the Jar and Seek and Destroy, the band launched dozens of black Metallica-branded weather balloons into the audience, triggering a giant game of dodgeball between the audience and security guards.

"Metallica loves you, Glastonbury," said Hetfield as the band took their final bow.

"You made us feel so good. Thank you for having us."

Taking the microphone, Ulrich added: "There's no place on this earth like this beautiful Glastonbury Festival. Thank you for letting us be part of your experience and we hope to see you one more time."

Formed 33 years ago, the group's best-known songs include Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and Master of Puppets.

Prior to their arrival on the Pyramid Stage, the band played a clip of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, in tribute to actor Eli Wallach, who died this week.

Ennio Morricone's Ecstasy of Gold, which features in the classic Western, has been Metallica's introduction music for many years.

The band also addressed criticism of Hetfield's involvement with pro-hunting groups head-on, showing an extended clip of an English fox hunt, soundtracked by Sweet's glam rock classic Fox on the Run.

At the climax of the hunt, four men in bear costumes shot the riders from their horses.

The bear's heads were removed to reveal the four grinning members of Metallica.

In the field

Metallica rocked Glastonbury with a strange mix of arrogance and humility.

Continue reading the main story

• Creeping Death
• For Whom the Bell Tolls
• Wherever I May Roam
• Sad But True
• Fade to Black
• Cyanide
• The Unforgiven
• The Memory Remains
• One
• Master of Puppets
• Nothing Else Matters
• Enter Sandman

Encore:

• Whiskey in the Jar
• Seek and Destroy

Speaking to the crowd 15 minutes into the set, Hetfield said: "Glasto - Metallica is grateful to be invited to such an event.

They knew they had something to prove - but they were also representing a genre of music that, they feel, has been unfairly maligned.

"We're very proud to be representing the heavier side of music," said Hetfield, dedicating a song to "all the UK bands dreaming of playing this stage and uttering the cry: 'Do you want heavy?'"

The answer was a definitive "yes".

The band didn't hold back, delivering a sensory assault of punchy power riffs from the outset.

But it wasn't just, as one critic suggested "loud one, loud one, loud one, encore" - with moments of acoustic reflection and supple musicianship amidst the double kick drums.

In the end, Metallica did what they came to do - win over new fans.

And for metalheads, the show will have been much more resonant than the Rolling Stones' headline set was for their audience last year.

Jack White, who played the Pyramid Stage immediately before Metallica, jammed on the riff to Enter Sandman during his set, prompting a surge towards the stage.

The musician ran through two dozen hits - including Hotel Yorba and Seven Nation Army - each delivered with the urgency of a band playing their encore.

But the effect was dampened slightly when, leaving the stage, he fell over his drum kit.

The audience had endured heavy showers throughout Saturday, and large swathes of the 900-acre site have become a swamp - but there was no sign of the thunder and lightning that had been forecast.

Sunday is due to be dry.

Famous faces spotted at the festival include Stella McCartney, Downton Abbey actresses Laura Carmichael and Lily James, film star Bradley Cooper and new Culture Secretary Sajid Javid.

As of midday on Saturday 138,152 ticket-holders were on site - a few thousand below capacity, suggesting some had been put off by the weather.

Singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey opened proceedings on the main Pyramid Stage, telling fans: "I know you're going to have the best day of your lives."

The musician, whose hits include Cucurrucu and Meet Me There, later confessed he only had "10 minutes to get things together, because Metallica were soundchecking right up until our stage time."

But his uplifting acoustic-pop was perfect for the early morning revellers, who swayed and bobbed in time to the music.

Mulvey later played at a special event curated by folk-pop band Mumford and Sons in the Avalon Field, on the very outskirts of the site.

Rock group Haim also joined the low-key show, playing Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well and the Rolling Stones' Honky Tonk Woman with Marcus Mumford and his band, who headlined the festival last year.

Lana Del Rey drew an adoring crowd to the Pyramid Stage, making a dramatic appearance in kohl-smudged eyes and a tie-dye dress.

Her louche, darkly romantic hits National Anthem, Video Game and West Coast were suitably dramatic as the sun played hide-and-seek in a stormy sky, but some fans felt the singer lacked charisma and drifted away towards the end of her set.

Thousands turned up to watch rock newcomers Royal Blood at the smaller John Peel tent, spilling out into the fields and nearby campsites.

"We couldn't see any grass, it was all just hair and eyes," said frontman Mike Kerr after the show.

"We always felt [Glastonbury] was going to be a bit of a milestone for us, but that show blew us out of the water. The response still hasn't registered."

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant played one of the most musically diverse sets of the day, with hits like Black Dog given drastic West African and South East Asian overhauls.

Preceding him on the Pyramid Stage, R&B star Kelis also re-tooled some of her most famous songs, giving a jazzy big-band treatment to tracks like Milkshake and A Capella.

Dressed in a neon pink dress, the US star spread positive vibes in the midday sun, signing off saying: "Live well. Treat each other well. Cheers!"

"I feel like I'm on a winning streak," she told the BBC backstage.

"This is my third Glastonbury and it's been sunny every time. I'm very happy about that."

Over on the Other Stage, Jake Bugg played a headline set, above more experienced acts like Manic Street Preachers and The Pixies.

The 20-year-old admitted that topping the bill had given him a case of the nerves.

"I get apprehensive, certainly," he told the BBC. "It's a big deal for me.

"If people are going to come and spend their evening watching my set, I've got to make sure I perform well and play the songs they want."

The festival continues on Sunday with Dolly Parton, Ed Sheeran and Kasabian on the bill.

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Interest rates 'could return to 5%'

29 June 2014 Last updated at 10:38

Interest rates could rise to 5% in "the very long term", a senior Bank of England figure has said.

Sir Charlie Bean, deputy governor for monetary policy, called it "reasonable" to think rates would return to pre-recession levels in 10 years or more.

The rate was cut when the financial crisis hit the UK from 2007, and it has remained at 0.5% since March 2009.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said it could now rise, possibly to a "new normal" of 2.5% by 2017.

'Gradual and limited'

In an interview with Sky News, Sir Charlie, who will step down from his Bank of England role on Monday, was asked if the interest rate could return to 5% within 10 years.

"That may well be so. I wouldn't want to say it will be back there in 10 years," he said.

"It might be reasonable to think that in that very long term you would go back to 5% but it's probably quite a long way down the road."

He also said that in the run-up to the financial crisis, economists were "not sufficiently cognisant of the risks building up".

But he said the economy was now far more resilient than when he arrived at the central bank in 2000.

On Friday Mr Carney said that any interest rate rises in the coming years would be done in a "gradual and limited fashion".

He said UK household debt levels had altered the financial system, and increasing interest rates would have more impact on household spending than in the past.

Slow rise

In a keynote speech earlier this month, Mr Carney hinted that the Bank may raise interest rates later this year. Markets had previously expected the move to come in the first half of next year.

The governor also reiterated his belief that the timing of the first rise was less important than the speed at which subsequent increases were made.

He told the BBC on Friday that when the time came, rates would rise more slowly than they have the past. Rates would rise in "a gradual and limited fashion", he said.

The Bank is trying to give businesses and homeowners a better insight into interest rate movements to help them plan better for the future. This policy of forward guidance was introduced by Mr Carney when he joined the Bank last year.

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Armed Forces Day celebrations begin

28 June 2014 Last updated at 10:25

Armed Forces Day celebrations across the country are set to be led from Stirling.

Hundreds of veterans, serving personnel and cadets are to join the Princess Royal and other dignitaries for the day of military demonstrations and events.

A huge parade of services personnel - young and old - is to kick off the proceedings, marching from Stirling Castle to the events grounds nearby.

A Red Arrows display is among a packed timetable of entertainment on show.

Representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force are all taking part in the event, which is the centrepiece of celebrations going on all over the country and at British military outposts abroad.

A group of veterans on motorcycles will lead the 1000-strong parade from the castle at 11:30.

They will head through the Old Town and be joined by cadets and serving personnel at the Albert Halls, before making their way to the events ground at the Royal Parklands.

Tanks and military vehicles will be on display throughout the day, with demonstrations by Sea King, Apache and Puma helicopters.

Plane enthusiasts will get to see the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane in flight, along with more modern Typhoon and Tornado jets, and a demonstration by the Red Arrows stunt team is scheduled to close the event.

Other displays include Royal Marines fast-roping from helicopters, pipe bands, a parachute display by the Army's Red Devils, an artillery gun salute and troops staging a ground assault complete with casualty evacuations.

The event comes on the same day First Minister Alex Salmond appointed Scotland's first Veterans Commissioner to provide greater support for services personnel.

Organisers estimate the event will earn about £1m for the local economy, while boosting Stirling's reputation as a tourist destination.

'Time to shine'

Armed Forces Day is part of Stirling's "Big Weekend", which includes the Bannockburn Live battle re-enactment weekend, the Pipefest pipe band competition, and a night of open-air performances, entertainment and street art at Stirling's Big Night Out.

VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said thousands of people were expected to attend the events.

He said: "The teams for Pipefest, Armed Forces Day and Bannockburn Live are working hard to ensure Stirling's Big Weekend is one to remember.

"Never before has this stunning city hosted as many tourists from all over the world and it really is Stirling's time to shine, showcasing the attractions, landscapes and history of this amazing area."

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UK facing 'major' sperm shortage

28 June 2014 Last updated at 00:07 By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News online

The UK is facing a major sperm shortage that may be tempting fertility clinics to accept poorer quality sperm, the British Fertility Society (BFS) warns.

Some clinics rely on imported sperm to keep up with demand.

However, the BFS chairman, Dr Allan Pacey, said he was "worried" that some clinics may be setting a lower bar to "get donors through the door".

He said woman may be subjected to more invasive and expensive techniques if poor-quality sperm were used.

There are thought to have been fewer sperm donors after the right to anonymity was removed in 2005.

The demand for donors has been falling as advances in fertility treatment let more men father their own children.

However, a shortage of donors has still emerged.

Figures from the fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), show nearly one in four donated sperm samples are from abroad.

The figure was one in 10 in 2005.

Sperm banks in Denmark and the US are the major suppliers.

Dr Pacey warned this was limiting patient choice and increasing waiting times, which led to potential risky practices, including DIY insemination with a friend's sperm or seeking treatment in a country with less fertility regulation.

He told the BBC: "We do still have a major sperm shortage in the UK.

"The worry is clinics might decide to change the quality of sperm they are willing to accept in order to get donors through the door and I think that's a very dangerous road to go down."

He said one possible example was sperm being accepted that would be suitable only for injecting into an egg - intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection - rather than for artificial insemination.

"That is putting the woman through more procedures, in terms of eggs being collected, than would be done if sperm of higher quality was collected and she could be treated with a simple insemination.

"My worry is clinics may be tempted to bend the rules, I have no evidence that they are, but I think when we have a national sperm shortage they're the kind of things we need to be looking for and warding against."

'Fully inform patients'

Professor Yakoub Khalaf, of the assisted conception unit at Guy's Hospital in London, commented: "We are now more reliant on external sperm banks than ever before.

"I don't think it is an issue as such, but what I have observed is that when people get sperm from abroad they can be given an option of 'suitable for insemination', or 'suitable for IVF or ICSI' [sperm injected to the egg].

"But how can donor sperm be less than adequate for all treatments?"

He said that based on his experience of the quality of imported sperm "the same could be happening here".

A HFEA spokesperson said: "We expect our clinics to use only donor sperm of a quality that will ensure the best outcome for the patient, and under our code of practice clinics are required to fully inform patients of the different treatment options available to them."

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Arcade Fire warm Glastonbury crowd

28 June 2014 Last updated at 01:59 By Mark Savage BBC News entertainment reporter

Arcade Fire brought a party atmosphere to Glastonbury on Friday, hours after an electric storm stopped the festival.

Aided by dancers, confetti cannons and a man in a mirrored suit, the Canadian band revived revellers' spirits with a series of arms-aloft anthems.

"In a lifetime of pretty much impossible things that have happened to our band, this is the highlight," said frontman Win Butler.

Earlier, every stage at the event was closed after lightning struck ground.

Dance act Rudimental were escorted off the main stage mid-set, and had to abandon their planned encore - Feel The Love, with guest vocalist John Newman.

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Organisers led the performers off stage

"We're quite upset," musician Amir Amor told the BBC, "but we had a great time anyway".

Metallica's Lars Ulrich was flying into the site by helicopter as the storm descended.

"It was kind of frightening," he said.

"When we landed, all the people picking us up were going, 'we didn't expect you were going to fly in this weather'.

"But the pilot didn't say anything about that. We saw the lightning up there. I thought it was pyrotechnics for Arcade Fire."

The thunderstorm heralded a brief but torrential downpour, and the power cut took BBC coverage off the air.

Music resumed on the main stage at 19:00 BST with Lily Allen, who dedicated an expletive-laden song to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Other performers on Friday included Blondie, who proved so popular it became impossible to enter or leave The Other Stage at lunchtime, and Paolo Nutini, whose soulful ballads were a fitting soundtrack as dusk fell over Somerset.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor sneaked some disco into her set at the largely-acoustic Avalon Stage, while the pulsing synthpop of Glaswegian band Chvrches made for a steamy atmosphere in the John Peel tent as fans danced off the downpour.

Arcade Fire took to the stage shortly after 22:00 BST, their arrival heralded by a man dressed from head-to-toe in a mirrored suit.

Bravely, considering the weather conditions, the 12-piece band were largely dressed in white, but if they were worried about laundry bills, it didn't show.

They threw themselves around the stage, thrashing and spinning as though plagued by a swarm of invisible bees, each member switching instruments between - and often during - songs.

As well as guitars, they played steel drums, xylophones and even a hurdy gurdy.

Frontman Win Butler made frequent excursions into the audience and, during the song Flashbulb Eyes, plucked a camera from a press photographer and carried it on stage to capture the band's performance.

The set list was evenly spread across their four albums, with highlights including No Cars Go, Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) and Rebellion (Lies).

The group's recurring subject matter of suburban despair and alienation might have seemed like an odd fit for Glastonbury's peace and love ethos, but there is an optimism and belief in humanity at the core of their music.

Plus, they have really catchy choruses.

'You're perfect'

The band's willingness to embrace all walks of life was displayed on Friday night during the song We Exist - about a teenager whose father struggles to accept his sexuality.

As the opening chords rang out, a troupe of transgender and cross-dressing dancers joined the band onstage.

"Every one of us is born special and unique," said Butler. "However you are and however you were born, you're perfect."

The feel-good atmosphere continued throughout the two-hour set - ending with a mass singalong to the band's signature song, Wake Up.

Speaking to the BBC earlier in the day, the band's guitarist Richard Reed-Parry said they had enjoyed soaking up the Glastonbury atmosphere on Friday.

"There's a great feeling coming in," he said.

"It's a nice vibe. There's lots of families.

"It's not just about massive headlining acts. And it's not going to be a swamp of corporate beer-swilling drunkards.

"There's rain and there's mud but it's new and it doesn't smell bad yet. It's like, 'oh, this mud smells like grass! It's spring!'"

The music continues on Saturday with Jake Bugg, Pixies, Clean Bandit and Manic Street Preachers on the bill.

Among those watching the action will be Hollywood star Bradley Cooper, who told the BBC: "I'm excited to see Metallica and I want to see Jack White and Lana Del Rey."

Asked if he was put off by the weather, the Hangover star replied: "I love it. I do! But I'm a dumb American - you expect it."

Glastonbury 2014

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Bosnia marks centenary of WWI spark

28 June 2014 Last updated at 09:10

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Allan Little looks at how the assassin is remembered in Sarajevo

Bosnia is commemorating 100 years since the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, the act that triggered World War One.

Cultural and sporting events, including a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic, are marking the occasion in the city.

Gavrilo Princip, who shot the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, continues to be a divisive figure in Bosnia.

The shots fired by the Bosnian Serb on 28 June 1914 sucked Europe's great powers into four years of warfare.

Bosnia's Serbs, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks are still divided over the role Princip played in bringing tensions to a head in Europe in 1914, with counter-commemorations planned by Bosnian Serbs.

In Austria, Franz Ferdinand's great-granddaughter and family will be holding events at the family castle at Artstetten, near Vienna, where he is buried.

Countdown to WW1

The World War One Centenary

Differing interpretations

Leaders of Serbia and some Bosnian Serbs are boycotting official events, which they say are designed to incriminate Serbs.

On Friday, Serbs in eastern Sarajevo unveiled a statue of Princip, seen by them as a national hero who ended years of occupation of the Balkans by the Austro-Hungarian empire.

In the eastern town of Visegrad, actors will re-enact the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, and the Belgrade Philharmonic will play music by Vivaldi.

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Anita Hohenberg speaks about her great grandfather Franz Ferdinand

The commemorations in central Sarajevo will take on a completely different tone to those in the east of the city, says the BBC's Guy De Launey.

The Vienna Philharmonic will play a selection harking back to Hapsburg days, including Haydn's Emperor Quartet, he adds.

The concert is being held at the newly-restored national library, which was destroyed during the 1992 siege of the city by Bosnian Serb forces in the Bosnian War.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer will be attending the concert, which is the centrepiece of official events marking the anniversary.

Commemorations are due to close with an open-air musical memorial event in Sarajevo.

Twenty-eight European Union leaders gathered on Thursday to mark 100 years since the beginning of World War One at Ypres in Belgium.

Princip and the shot that sparked WWI

• Gavrilo Princip, one of seven members of Mlada Bosnia (Young Bosnia), a Bosnian Serb militant organisation which wanted independence from Austria-Hungary
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie shot dead in their car by Princip on 28 June 1914 in Sarajevo
• Austria responds angrily and declares war on Serbia, securing unconditional support from Germany
• Russia announces mobilisation of its troops
• Germany declares war on Russia, 1 August
• Britain declares war on Germany, 4 August

Gavrilo Princip's living legacy

Ten interpretations of who started WW1

Gavrilo Princip: Remembering an assassin

Meanwhile, the UN cultural organisation Unesco has asked all vessels at sea to fly their flags at half-mast on Saturday to mark the assassination anniversary.

The organisation is trying to highlight its convention on underwater cultural heritage, designed to increase safeguards for thousands of sunken ships vulnerable to deliberate destruction and looting.

The agreement only applies to century-old wrecks so over the next four years, thousands of British, German and other ships lost in World War One will be added to the list.

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Soul legend Bobby Womack dead at 70

28 June 2014 Last updated at 09:54

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Bobby Womack's career spanned more than 50 years

Legendary soul singer and songwriter Bobby Womack, who penned hits for many of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century, has died at the age of 70.

The cause of death was not announced, but Womack had suffered from cancer and Alzheimer's disease and battled with drug addiction.

His hits included It's All Over Now, performed by the Rolling Stones, and Lookin' for Love.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Survivor

Womack was born in 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio and began singing in a gospel group in the 1950s with his brothers.

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He later gained attention after the siblings signed to SAR Records in 1960.

The brothers, including Cecil, Curtis, Harry and Friendly Jr, cut two R&B albums as the Valentinos.

Later the group broke up and Womack turned to song writing and a solo career.

He outlived many of the acts with whom he played and with whom he was friendly, including Jimi Hendrix and Wilson Pickett.

His songs were recorded by Janis Joplin, Wilson Pickett and many others. His friend Sam Cooke persuaded him to let the Rolling Stones record It's All Over Now.

"He said, 'One day you'll be part of history, this group is gonna be huge,'" Womack told BBC Newsnight in 2012. "I said, 'Why don't they get their own songs?'"

He also worked as a session guitarist, appearing on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, and Pickett.

From 1970-90, Womack charted 36 singles including That's the Way I Feel About Cha and Woman's Gotta Have It.

A series of personal tragedies including the deaths of two sons led him to drug abuse, according to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

'My worst critic'

After a long musical hiatus, in 2009 he was tapped by Gorillaz co-founder Damon Albarn to record a song for the group's third album.

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In 2012, Womack talked to Newsnight's Stephen Smith about his career

In 2012, Womack released his first album in more than ten years, entitled The Bravest Man in the Universe.

Womack told the BBC in 2013 "drugs had a lot to do with" a period spent away from the music industry prior to 2009.

"I've always been my worst critic," he said. "I think that keeps me reaching... I never take the audience for granted."

Just two weeks before his death, Womack performed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Musicians who worked with the star paid tribute to his career and contribution to music.

Gospel singer Candi Staton, who knew Womack since childhood, said he had "a style that nobody else could ever capture".

"I loved him and I will miss him so, so very much" said the singer, who also toured with him.

Jason Newman from Rolling Stone Magazine said that he was one of the biggest soul acts of the day in the 1970s.

"Some of his albums and tracks are classics.. He was doing it for seven decades", he told the BBC.

Twitter reaction

Have you met Bobby Womack or did you know him? You can share your stories and experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.cousing Bobby Womack in the subject heading.

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EU leaders offer Cameron hope

28 June 2014 Last updated at 10:01

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Jean-Claude Juncker: Career insider or committed European?

The leaders of Sweden and Germany have offered encouragement to David Cameron after his defeat in a vote on the new European Commission president.

Britain forced a vote to block the selection of Jean-Claude Juncker, seen as a backer of closer political union, but EU states voted 26-2 in his favour.

Sweden backed Mr Juncker but after the vote PM Fredrik Reinfeldt said he knew closer union was not "for everyone".

Germany's Angela Merkel said she was "ready to address British concerns".

Labour said the result of Friday's vote was "humiliating" for the UK prime minister but Mr Cameron said it was not his "last stand".

He said he would not "back down" in his fight to reform the EU and take powers back from Brussels, something he plans to do before holding a referendum on Britain's EU membership after the next general election.

But speaking about the vote, he said: "This is a bad day for Europe.

"It risks undermining the position of national governments, it risks undermining the power of national parliaments and it hands new power to the European Parliament."

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David Cameron: "This is a bad day for Europe"

Mr Reinfeldt pointed to a document issued by EU leaders after the vote which accepted that the idea of an ever-closer union should not apply to all member states.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

Among the leaders there is anxiety that this defeat will hasten the exit of Britain from the EU"

End Quote

"Just look into what we have written in our conclusions," he said.

"You will find references with text, which I think is very important for David Cameron, saying this ever-closer union perception is maybe not the best for everyone."

He highlighted that this had "never been stated" by the EU before.

Germany also supported Mr Juncker's appointment, but after the vote Chancellor Merkel said there would be a review of how the president was nominated and said she shared Britain's ideas about what the EU should be like.

Mr Juncker was the preferred candidate of the European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, and his appointment must now be endorsed by the parliament.

The appointment of the European Commission president has previously been by consensus but Mr Cameron opposed the choice and his demand for a vote was granted.

He tried to convince other countries to oppose Mr Juncker, a former leader of Luxembourg, but in the end only the UK and Hungary did so.

The BBC's Europe editor Gavin Hewitt said Mr Cameron's fight against Mr Juncker was part of a wider struggle to reform the EU.

Mr Cameron sees the appointment as handing more power to the European Parliament and taking it away from the heads of government, he said.

He said the prime minister needed a shift in power back to national parliaments in order to sell the idea of a reformed Europe to the British public.

"David Cameron sees a career insider whose election undermines the power of national parliaments," he said.

"The German chancellor sees a committed European. Mr Cameron says he will work with Mr Juncker but suspicions will run deep."

UK Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said Mr Cameron's advocacy had become "toxic" and Friday's events showed the prime minister could not "represent our interests in Europe".

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

Angela Merkel wasn't for a moment suggesting that Britain can opt out of the principle of an ever closer union"

End Quote Nigel Farage UKIP leader

'Damned nuisance'

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said there was a mood within the EU that it would rather get rid of the "friendless" UK than allow it to start "picking apart treaties".

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that leaders viewed Britain as "a damned nuisance" that was "always complaining".

Mr Farage added that while Chancellor Merkel said she would address British concerns, ultimately, when she "puts her foot down" everybody fell into line.

"She said countries can move at different paces, while some can get there more quickly than others, but she wasn't for a moment suggesting that Britain can opt out of the principle of an ever closer union."

But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt rejected this. He told the same programme that Mrs Merkel knew she had to deliver "real change" because of Mr Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum on Britain's membership after the next UK general election.

He said there had been a "sea change" in the European debate and that negotiations were open.

European leaders "desperately" wanted Britain to remain within the EU, he said, but they would have to "work much harder" to persuade it to stay.

Eurosceptic Conservative MP Peter Bone said David Cameron had "no chance" of a successful renegotiation and predicted the prime minister would lead the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

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Ukraine truce holds despite attacks

28 June 2014 Last updated at 10:46

A Ukrainian government ceasefire in the conflict in the east of the country appears to be holding, despite attacks by pro-Russia rebels.

Several government-held sites came under fire overnight and in the morning but no casualties were reported.

President Petro Poroshenko extended the week-long ceasefire on Friday for three days, saying he was hoping for progress on his peace plan.

Some rebel leaders said they would match the truce but others oppose it.

Mr Poroshenko's announcement came hours after he had signed a landmark EU trade pact - the issue that has been the trigger of the recent crisis.

He said it was a "historic" moment and Ukraine's most important day since independence.

The refusal of Mr Poroshenko's predecessor, Viktor Yanukovych, to sign the EU deal - under pressure from Russia - led to protests in Kiev and his eventual overthrow this year.

Russia has since warned it will hit Ukraine with punishing trade restrictions if the pact has a negative effect on its economy.

But speaking on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian TV that it would be easier to solve the Ukrainian crisis if the United States was not involved.

"Our American colleagues... prefer to push the Ukrainian leadership along a confrontational path," he said.

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President Poroshenko said the EU deal "marks a historic day for Ukraine"

Key steps

In the latest fighting, separatists opened fire with mortars on the airfield in the town of Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian forces base near Kryva Luka and another base in Donetsk region, military reporter Dmytro Tymchuk said on his Facebook page (in Russian).

Later the Defence Ministry reported more attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and said the Ukrainian army had regained control of a checkpoint outside Sloviansk.

No casualties have been reported.

A gas distribution station was also targeted in the third attack. There were no casualties on the government side.

One of the leaders of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic" in the east, Aleksander Boroday, said the new truce would be observed until 30 June.

However, two other senior rebels in the Donetsk region, Pavlo Gubarev and Igor Girkin, were quoted by local media as saying they rejected the truce.

Mr Poroshenko agreed to extend the truce after meeting top security and defence officials on his return from Brussels.

It will continue until 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Monday.

A statement on the Ukrainian presidential website pointed to a policy statement on Ukraine, issued by the European Council on Friday which set out key steps it expected to happen by Monday.

They include the return of three key checkpoints to Ukrainian forces and the "launch of substantial negotiations on the implementation of President Poroshenko's peace plan".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted on a long-term ceasefire to allow for negotiations between the Ukrainian government and separatists, urging Mr Poroshenko to embark on a "path of peace, dialogue and accord".

Mr Poroshenko set out a 15-point peace plan on 20 June. It involves decentralising power and holding early local and parliamentary elections.

It also proposes the creation of a 10km (six-mile) buffer zone on the Ukrainian-Russian border, and a safe corridor for pro-Russian separatists to leave the conflict areas.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Russia the EU was prepared for "drastic measures" if there was no speedy progress on the plan.

More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates.

The separatists have declared independence, claiming that extremists have taken power in Kiev. Their move followed Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

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EU signs pacts with ex-USSR states

27 June 2014 Last updated at 10:51

Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova have signed partnership agreements with the European Union, in a move strongly opposed by Russia.

The pact - which would bind the three countries more closely to the West both economically and politically - is at the heart of the crisis in Ukraine.

Russia said that while the signing of the deal was the right of any state there could be grave consequences.

A ceasefire with pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine is due to end on Friday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed the signing as Ukraine's most historic day since independence in 1991, describing it as a "symbol of faith and unbreakable will".

Analysis: Steve Rosenberg, BBC News Moscow

There is a general sense of irritation or perhaps even anger here that Moscow has failed to convince countries like Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia not to sign this historic free trade deal today with the EU.

Moscow has economic concerns about these deals - it is worried that the Russian market could be flooded by cheap goods from the EU that would hit Russian producers.

More pressing for Moscow are the geopolitical concerns here - the whole idea of former Soviet states, countries that Moscow still views as being within its sphere of influence, drifting towards Europe and one day possibly becoming part of the EU - that really grates with Moscow, particularly in the case of Ukraine.

There's a lot of concern about what could happen in eastern Ukraine - the ceasefire announced a few days ago by Mr Poroshenko, and the ceasefire announced by armed separatist rebels, is due to expire today. It's unclear how things are going to develop later.

Ukraine crisis timeline

What happens after deal is signed?

Numbers behind the deal

Mr Poroshenko also said he saw the signing as the start of preparations for joining the bloc.

"Ukraine is underlining its sovereign choice in favour of membership of the EU," he said.

Meanwhile European Council President Herman Van Rompuy described it as a "great day for Europe".

"The EU stands by your side, today more than ever before," he told leaders of the three countries, adding that there was nothing in the agreements that might harm Russia in any way.

'Nazi' jibe

But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Interfax news agency that the move was fraught with difficulties.

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David Eades describes the moment Ukraine signed EU deal

"The signing of this serious document is, certainly, a sovereign right of each state," he said.

"[But] the consequences of the signing by Ukraine and Moldova no doubt, will be serious."

Earlier senior Kremlin adviser Sergei Glazyev described Mr Poroshenko as a "Nazi" and said his presidency was illegitimate because parts of Ukraine did not vote in the May elections.

He also said that Mr Poroshenko had no constitutional right to sign the treaty, which would damage the Ukrainian economy.

However, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Mr Glazyev's comments did not reflect the official Kremlin position.

Mr Poroshenko's predecessor Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the deal under pressure from Russia and protests led to his overthrow.

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Some worry about losing Russia as a market for Georgian wine again, as Rayhan Demytrie reports

After this Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region and pro-Russia separatists in eastern regions declared independence, claiming that extremists had taken power in Kiev.

Fighting is said to have continued in some areas of eastern Ukraine despite a temporary ceasefire this week.

Talks on extending the truce in in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions are also set to take place on Friday.

Meanwhile the United Nations refugee agency said there had been a sharp rise in the numbers of displaced people in eastern Ukraine in the past week, with 16,400 people fleeing the area.

In another development, rebels released four international observers captured more than a month ago.

Alexander Borodai, head of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, said the members of the Vienna-based Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) had been freed as a goodwill gesture.

More than 420 people have been killed in fighting between pro-Russia rebels and government forces in eastern Ukraine since mid-April, the UN estimates.

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Sudan 'apostasy' woman freed again

27 June 2014 Last updated at 05:40

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Meriam Ibrahim spoke to the BBC on the way to the US embassy in Khartoum

A Sudanese woman whose death sentence for renouncing Islam was overturned has been released from jail again, after she was detained at Khartoum airport on Tuesday.

Meriam Ibrahim's lawyer, Muhannad Mustafa, said that she was currently in the US embassy with her family.

Mrs Ibrahim had been detained on charges of falsifying ID documents.

She was first released on 23 June when an appeals court lifted her death sentence for renouncing Islam.

Her sentencing in May to hang for apostasy sparked an outcry at home and around the world.

Mrs Ibrahim, 27, had been held at a police station in the capital, since Tuesday, when she was prevented from leaving the country along with her husband, Daniel Wani, and their two children.

Daniel Wani is a Christian from South Sudan and is a US citizen.

She had reportedly planned to travel to the US with her family.

According to Reuters news agency, quoting her lawyer, Mrs Ibrahim was released on the condition that she remains in Sudan.

"Mariam was released after a guarantor was found, but, of course, she would not be able to leave the country," Mr Mustafa said.

"I would like to thank the Sudanese people and the Sudanese police," she told the BBC in an exclusive interview as she left custody. "I would like to thank those who stood beside me."

Asked about her plans following her release, she said: "I will leave it to God. I didn't even have a chance to see my family after I got out of prison."

Document dispute

She has been charged with forgery relating to the South Sudanese travel document she was carrying, and accused of providing false information.

South Sudan's embassy in Khartoum says the emergency travel documents were issued by the South Sudan authorities and are genuine.

However, Sudanese officials say she should have used a Sudanese passport and on Wednesday Sudan's foreign ministry summoned the US and South Sudan charges d'affaires over the issue.

The ministry criticised South Sudan for issuing travel documents "despite their knowledge that she is a Sudanese national" and condemned the US for trying to help the woman leave Sudan using an "illegal [false] travel document", the Suna news agency reports.

Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Authority is reported to have lodged the complaint against Mrs Ibrahim.

BBC correspondents say that now Sudan's intelligence agency is involved, Mrs Ibrahim's case is likely to be more difficult and complicated to resolve.

Sudan has a majority Muslim population, and Islamic law has been in force there since the 1980s.

Born to a Muslim father, Mrs Ibrahim married Mr Wani in 2011.

Even though Mrs Ibrahim was brought up as an Orthodox Christian, the authorities considered her to be a Muslim because of her father's religion.

At her trial in May in the capital, Khartoum, a judge also sentenced Mrs Ibrahim to 100 lashes for adultery because her marriage to a Christian man was not valid under Islamic law.

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PSNI call for murder probes limit

27 June 2014 Last updated at 05:01

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Matt Baggott on the need to "separate the past from the present"

The outgoing chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said his force should not investigate Troubles-related murders from before the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Matt Baggott told the BBC that a new way must be found to deal with such cases.

He made the comments in an interview marking his final day in office.

He told the BBC that there was a "need to separate the past from the present".

"I think how ever that is done, the PSNI should no longer be accountable for dealing with issues that pre-date the Good Friday Agreement," he said.

'Different authority'

"We have to create a situation where police resources are focused on the here and now, without taking away from the needs of justice or victims.

"But that can be done in a different place, under a different authority."

Northern Ireland attorney general John Larkin QC said last December that there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into any killings pre-dating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Continue reading the main story

The conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century is known as the Troubles.

More than 3,600 people were killed and thousands more injured.

During a period of 30 years, many acts of violence were carried out by paramilitaries and the security forces.

Mr Larkin's proposal prompted First Minister Peter Robinson to say it was "effectively an amnesty" and that those who were victims of the Troubles had a right to expect prosecutions.

More than 3,500 people were killed during three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Mr Baggott, who has been a police officer for 37 years, first took up the job as head of the PSNI in August 2009.

His tenure in Northern Ireland included overseeing what was described as the safest G8 summit ever held, a policing operation praised by protesters and US President Barack Obama.

However, he also found himself heavily criticised by unionists and nationalists over how police dealt with flag protests and parades.

'Massive privilege'

Protests over the flying of the union flag started in December 2012 after many people within loyalist communities were angered by the decision of Belfast City Council to restrict the number of days the flag is flown at the city hall.

Mr Baggott said being the chief constable in Northern Ireland had been a "massive, massive privilege".

"It is absolutely the friendliest place that I've ever had the privilege to work and throughout the last five years, which hasn't been without its challenges, we have been buoyed and encouraged all the way along that by some fantastic people.

"It is with a heavy heart that we're going."

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Auditors probe green power contracts

27 June 2014 Last updated at 06:19 By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News

The government may have failed to protect the interests of bill payers when awarding green energy contracts, says the National Audit Office (NAO).

Eight long-term deals worth £16.6bn were signed earlier this year to secure projects at risk of cancellation.

The NAO says too much money was awarded to these renewable sources "without price competition" and is concerned this could ultimately increase costs.

The government says the projects will provide jobs and private investment.

Under an EU directive, the UK government is committed to producing 30% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.

To drive investment in this area, the government has long operated a system of subsidising generators.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

We are not convinced that they needed to do this amount this early"

End Quote Jill Goldsmith National Audit Office

In an effort to improve efficiency and value for money, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) embarked on a series of reforms to the electricity market over the past two years.

The major change has been the introduction of Contracts for Difference.

This is a two-way system where the government sets an agreed price for electricity and the generators either receive a subsidy or have to pay money back depending on the state of the market.

Ultimately, the idea is that generators would bid for these contracts, guaranteeing that consumers would get green energy at the most competitive price.

But with the system not fully up and running until April next year, DECC was faced with the tricky problem of how to fund enough renewables to meet 2020 targets.

Limiting opportunities

Its solution was to award early contracts to five offshore wind farms, two coal plant conversions to biomass and one biomass combined heat and power plant.

However the NAO is not satisfied that the way these contracts have been awarded is good for consumers and the long-term health of the renewables industry.

"Our view is that awarding £16.6bn of contracts has limited the opportunities to secure better value for money through competition under the contracts for difference regime, due to start this year," said Jill Goldsmith from the NAO.

The NAO highlights the fact that the money will generate just 5% of the renewable electricity required by 2020.

It is also concerned that the department made its decision to commit consumer funding, not on the basis of price competition but with a weighting for the likely impact on the project of any delay or "hiatus".

"The qualification rule around hiatus required confirmation that the project would be put back if they didn't get funding," said Jill Goldsmith.

"It was a kind of yes/no qualification criteria which was largely based on confirmation from the project's board that this was the case."

The government watchdog is concerned that the prices that have been agreed for energy under these contracts "may provide higher returns than needed to secure the investment".

The report suggests that the projects were likely to make money but the government did not ask for any information on projected costs and profits in the bidding process.

Continue reading the main story

The early contracts

The projects that have been approved are:

• Beatrice offshore wind, Outer Moray Firth
• Burbo Bank offshore wind, Liverpool Bay
• Drax 2nd biomass conversion unit, Selby
• Dudgeon offshore wind, north of Cromer
• Hornsea offshore wind, off the East Yorkshire coast
• Lynemouth biomass conversion, Ashington, Northumberland
• Teesside biomass with combined heat and power, Middlesbrough
• Walney extension offshore wind, off Walney Island

Crucially DECC has not included any provision for clawing the money back if returns are excessive, something that has drawn the ire of Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons committee of public accounts.

"I am frustrated that, despite the huge consumer subsidy that has gone into supporting these projects, the Department has failed to put in place any arrangements to recoup consumers' money if providers make bigger-than-expected profits from these projects," she said.

"This is an issue we have raised as a committee before: private providers must not be allowed to make excessive profits at the expense of consumers and taxpayers."

The report also expresses concern that these early contracts have been awarded 58% of the funds available for renewable contracts up to 2020/21.

"We are not convinced that they needed to do this amount this early," said Jill Goldsmith.

"It ties their hands on the amount available for spending in the next round."

The report is at pains to point out that the steps taken have boosted confidence in the market and the projects supported can make a significant contribution to meeting the UK's 2020 targets.

The government goes further, saying these projects will provide an extra £12bn of private investment, will support 8,500 jobs and add up to 5% of low carbon capacity to the energy mix.

A DECC spokesperson said: "The government has been dealing with a legacy of underinvestment and neglect in our energy system, meaning we've needed to drive through reforms to secure investment in new generation to keep the lights on in the years and decades ahead while decarbonising our electricity supplies, and getting the best possible deal for consumers.

"As the NAO's report recognises, these early contracts are designed to offer better value to billpayers than the previous system and have reassured those we need to invest in our energy security. Without that investment, projects would have been unable to go ahead or been significantly delayed - putting our future energy security at risk."

Officials from DECC are due to appear before the committee of public accounts on 2 July.

Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.

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Summit set to snub UK over Juncker

27 June 2014 Last updated at 09:56

EU leaders meeting in Brussels are expected to confirm former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission.

The move comes despite strong opposition from Britain.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said "the odds are stacked against me" over Mr Juncker, but stressed that he would stick to his principles.

He believes Mr Juncker is too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform.

He also objects to the way Mr Juncker, a 59-year-old veteran of Brussels deal-making, was put forward. He was lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which won last month's European elections.

The UK Conservatives - who pulled out of the EPP - suspect that the Commission is being politicised in a power grab by the European Parliament. But Mr Juncker's supporters value his record of consensus-building and commitment to EU integration.

Under new EU treaty rules the leaders have to take account of the European election result when nominating a Commission chief. The parliament will vote on the nominee next month.

Mr Cameron is seeking an unprecedented vote on the appointment, which is usually made by consensus.

But his bid to block Mr Juncker suffered a major setback this week when his allies changed tack.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given Mr Cameron hope after agreeing to a vote on the issue if there was no consensus.

But both the Netherlands and Sweden - normally close to UK positions in Europe - have since said they will back Mr Juncker.

Jean-Claude Juncker: A man for Europe?

Arguments for and against Juncker

In the past such sensitive appointments have been decided through informal negotiations in the European Council.

With Hungary now Mr Cameron's only supporter, analysts say Mr Juncker is likely to be overwhelmingly backed, even if it does go to a vote.

The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says many European diplomats feel that Mr Cameron's approach in the EU is too confrontational, going against the grain of consensus decision-making in the union.

There is speculation that the UK may get a powerful seat on the Commission as a "consolation prize", he says - for example, commissioner for the internal market. But UK officials say they are not negotiating for something else as a trade-off.

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David Cameron: "Juncker not right person to take organisation forward"

Mr Cameron vowed to "insist" on a vote on Mr Juncker, so that EU leaders would have to justify their support for the veteran politician in public.

Mr Cameron says he is determined to press ahead with renegotiation of Britain's EU membership, followed by an in/out referendum in the UK in 2017, if his Conservative Party wins next year's general election.

"It is the opening step in a longer campaign to secure change in Europe, a better position for Britain in Europe, and a referendum that will be held before the end of 2017," he said.

The row comes a month after anti-EU parties made sweeping gains in European elections. They won nearly a third of the parliamentary seats.

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In 60 seconds: What does UK have against Jean-Claude Juncker?

In a landmark move on Friday the summit leaders signed far-reaching trade partnership deals with three former Soviet republics - Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

The "association agreements" commit the countries to EU standards, including new customs regulations, quality controls and free market competition.

Russia is suspicious of these agreements and is trying to draw ex-Soviet republics into its own customs union. A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin told the BBC the deal was in breach of the Ukrainian constitution.

"What [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko is doing is illegitimate thing," Sergei Glazyev said.

On the first day of the summit on Thursday, prime ministers and presidents of the 28 EU states set aside their differences to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One in a ceremony at Ypres, Belgium.

Next steps

27 June - European Council expected to nominate Mr Juncker

1-3 July - First post-election session of new European Parliament

14-17 July - European Parliament votes on nominee for Commission president - expected to back Mr Juncker

September - Parliament grills each nominee for 28-member Commission (one from each member state)

October - Parliament votes on new Commission team

November - New Commission should take office, as should new EU foreign policy chief and new European Council president.

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