Government workers to strike

Scotland: Local government workers in Scotland yesterday voted to go on strike in a move which will worsen a long-running pay dispute.

Council employees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are set to take industrial action next Tuesday in protest at a pay offer worth 1 per cent for most employees.

Unison announced that workers voted to strike with 53.5 per cent in favour of taking industrial action.

‘Plebgate’ probe decision flawed

Crime: A police watchdog’s decision to reopen investigations into three officers caught up in the “plebgate” row is legally flawed and must be retaken, the High Court ruled yesterday.

The men are accused of giving a false account of a meeting with Andrew Mitchell MP during the dispute over whether he called Downing Street police “plebs” on September 19 2012.

Former chief whip Mr Mitchell denied using the word. 

British prisoners handed to Isis

Prisoner Swap: Two British extremists were among dozens of prisoners handed back to Islamic State by the Turkish government in exchange for the release of diplomats, it was reported yesterday.

The Times newspaper claims Shabazz Suleman, 18, from Buckinghamshire, and another 26-year-old Briton are among as many as 180 fighters traded with Isis to secure the release of Turkish consular staff.

Man killed by falling masonry in storm

Weather: A 61-year-old man has been killed after he was hit by falling masonry during windy conditions yesterday.

Humberside Police said officers were called to the incident in Cliff Street in the seaside town of Bridlington, East Yorkshire just before 1pm. The masonry also hit a vehicle.

Meanwhile hundreds of homes in north-west England were left without electricity amid severegales. Gusts of 84mph were recorded in the Outer Hebrides.