The Herald

Ministers Accused of Snub to Pioneer of Free Care Key Recommendations 'Ignored' Exclusive

THE architect of free personal care for the elderly in Scotland has accused the SNP Government of ignoring key recommendations to tackle problems caused by the country's ageing population. First Minister Alex Salmond called in Lord Sutherland, who chaired the Royal Commission that conceived free care a decade ago, as part of a "rescue" review amid growing concern about the policy's rising costs.

Scotland Manager Burley Set to Be Sacked

GEORGE BURLEY is set to be sacked as Scotland's national team manager, possibly within the next 48 hours. Scotland lost 3-0 to a weak Wales side on Saturday and supporters called for his head, prompting the Scottish Football Association to move to end his 20-month reign.

We Didn't Need Cash Lifeline, Says Airline

SCOTLAND'S largest airline yesterday denied reports it is in danger of collapse and revealed that it had secured investment that will allow it to "continue to prosper and grow". Flyglobespan, which employs about 1000 people across the UK made the announcement after a Sunday newspaper said it had needed a "last-ditch" cash injection on Friday to prevent the business going under.

Darling Set to Take On Bankers Over Bonuses

CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling is preparing to face down a bankers' backlash against his plans to "tear up" their contracts in an attempt to stamp out the bonus culture that rewards unnecessary risk- taking in the financial sector. The move to ensure that bankers never again trigger another financial meltdown in the hunt for profits and personal bonuses is contained in a tough Financial Services Bill that will form the centrepiece of Wednesday's Queen's Speech, the Government's legislative plan ...

City Lights

THE festive countdown began in spectacular style in Glasgow last night after a firework display marked the official switch-on on the city's Christmas lights. More than 17,000 people braved the cold in George Square to watch Glasgow's Lord Provost, Bob Winter, and Real Radio presenters Robin Galloway and Cat Harvey flick the switch on the tinsel-clad Christmas tree and overhead fairy lights at the annual Winterfest.

96th British Soldier Dies As Pm Set to Defend Afghan War

A BRITISH soldier was shot dead in Afghanistan yesterday, bringing to 96 the total number of UK soldiers killed in the conflict this year as Gordon Brown prepares his strongest defence yet of the Afghan campaign. The Prime Minister is to use the annual speech to the Lord Mayor's Banquet in London, to restate the case for British involvement in Afghanistan.

Man Injured in Murder Attempt in Brief

House Prices Are Recovering Average Cost of Scottish Homes Suggest Signs of Market Recovery

THE housing market downturn appears to be bottoming out, with the price of an average Scottish house showing a slight rise, the latest high price index reveals. The average cost of buying a property in Scotland had gone up by 0.7per cent, according to Lloyds TSB Scotland's latest quarterly monitor of prices.

Dannii Deadlock Decision Gives Jamie X Factor Boot

AFRO-haired rocker Jamie Archer became the latest X Factor hopeful to get the boot last night, as one of the show's judges, Dannii Minogue, used her deciding vote to go to "deadlock." Archer found himself in the bottom two with Welsh teenager Lloyd Daniels after the public vote. Both acts then had to sing for their survival by performing songs of their own choice for the judges.

Apology at Last for Britain's Child Migrants Policy Was 'One of the Crimes of the Century'

THEY were promised a "better life", but for many of the 7000 children sent to Australia from Britain after the war the reality was an existence involving hard labour and, for some, mental and even physical abuse. Brothers and sisters were separated. Some were told - incorrectly - that their parents were dead. Many parents were unaware that their children had been deported, wrongly believing they had been adopted elsewhere in the UK.

Belle de Jour Unmasked As Scientist From Bristol

SO now we know. Belle de Jour, the anonymous blogger who wrote about her days as an escort girl, is not a figment of a writer's imagination. She is not Rowan Pelling, the former editor of the Erotic Review, or Toby Young, the pushy journalist and author of How to Lose Friends and Influence People. She is not any of the many male or female novelists whose names journalists and fellow bloggers put forward as answers to the mystery of her identity.

Five Arrested at Sdl's City Demo

STRATHCLYDE Police arrested four men for alleged breach of the peace and a fifth for racially motivated breach of the peace after a demonstration by the right-wing Scottish Defence League in Glasgow. Assistant chief constable Fiona Taylor said the demonstration involving about 70 people against immigration and Islamic fundamentalism had passed off "without any major incident" .

Plastic Plea to Buckfast Over Bottle Attacks Glassing Figures Higher Than Stabbings Glassing Figures Higher Than Stabbings Exclusive

BUCKFAST has been urged to change its packaging from glass to plastic following research showing that a higher proportion of violent offenders use bottles than knives. The call has come as a study has also revealed that of all the broken bottles in one central belt Scottish town, some 54per cent were from Buckfast.

Scots Star Butler Comes Home for Film Premiere

HOLLYWOOD heart-throb Gerard Butler returned to Glasgow last night for the premiere of his latest film. Hundreds of screaming fans gathered to see the Paisley-born film star on the red carpet at Cineworld on Renfrew Street for the screening of Law Abiding Citizen, which he also co-produced.

Forest Park Is Over the Moon at Night Sky Award

A SCOTTISH forest park has been named by a group of stargazers as one of the best places on the planet from which to study the night sky. Galloway Forest Park has been singled out as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK, a prestigious award conferred on it by the International Dark Sky Association.

Church Attempts to 'Grow' After Kluk Murder

THE congregation of the church where Polish student Angelika Kluk was murdered are hoping a major renovation project will help put the tragedy behind them. Canon Robert Hill, priest at St Patrick's RC Church in Anderston, Glasgow, said that the efforts of the community in raising funds for a new roof had helped the parish to "grow a little more".

Campsie Fells Plan 'Could Earn Local Area Gbp500m Over Decade' Supporters Cite Benefits of Creating a Regional Park Supporters Cite Benefits of Creating a Regional Park Exclusive

THE creation of a Campsie Fells Regional Park could generate GBP500 million for the area's economy over 10 years, according to supporters of the project. They base the claim on VisitScotland figures which estimated that the local economic contribution arising from people visiting the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park in Renfrewshire was almost exactly that sum over just seven years, suggesting that a similar set-up in the picturesque area north of Glasgow would bring equivalent benefits.

Biggest Cause of Rows in Bedroom? Pinching the Duvet

FORGET money worries or extra-marital affairs, new research has discovered that pinching the duvet while your partner is asleep is one of the most significant causes of arguments within relationships. A third of adults polled said they argue with their partner about sleeping habits at least once a week and the No 1 pet hate was stealing the covers.

Bridge Jump Girls' Home has Had 1000 Police Callouts Figures Also Reveal 6500 Scots Abscond

THE care home that looked after two teenage girls who killed themselves last month has had nearly 1000 police visits in three years. Police calls to the Good Shepherd centre would have included assault, theft and property damage.

Care Home Fire Deaths Inquiry to Open Today

FAMILIES still waiting for answers six years after 14 residents were killed in a care home fire will be given the chance to question the owners at a long-awaited Fatal Accident Inquiry, which opens today. The inquiry follow s three failed attempts to prosecute the family over the blaze in Rosepark Nursing Home, in Uddingston, near Glasgow.