Morning news headlines for October 24, 2012

Oct 24 2012 By Cheryl Mullin

Meeting over Hillsborough officer

POLICE authority members will meet again today to discuss the position of under-fire West Yorkshire chief constable Sir Norman Bettison.

The West Yorkshire authority has not said why its Special Committee is convening in Wakefield but the meeting comes the day after Mark Burns-Williamson – who chaired the authority until a fortnight ago – called for Sir Norman to step down immediately.

Mr Burns-Williamson called for the chief to go, following new claims that Sir Norman had boasted about being asked to help “concoct” South Yorkshire Police’s version of events following the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed 96 lives in 1989.

Recovery slow and fitful: Clegg

NICK Clegg will warn today that Britain’s recovery remains “slow and fitful” ahead of the publication of key economic data.

The Deputy Prime Minister is to strike a cautious note despite expectations that the country will finally have emerged from recession when GDP figures are released tomorrow.

He will also fire a shot across Tory bows by insisting that a “balanced and engaged” approach to Europe is vital for the UK’s prospects.

‘Landmark’ equal pay ruling due

A RULING by leading judges today on equal pay compensation claims by women who worked for a local authority could have “huge implications”, lawyers say.

Solicitors say the Supreme Court judgment could be a “landmark” and the most “radical reform” since equal pay legislation was introduced in 1970.

The Supreme Court decision – which will be announced at a hearing in London – follows rulings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Funeral due for house fire family

THE funeral of a mother and five children who died in a house fire will be held today.

Sabah Usmani, a doctor, and her children – Hira, 12, Sohaib, 11, Muneeb, nine, Rayyan, six, and Maheen, three – died in the blaze in Barn Mead, Harlow, Essex, last week.

Father and husband Dr Abdul Shakoor was the only survivor.

MPS’ fury over prisoner vote plans

TORY MPs reacted with fury after it was claimed the coalition is poised to introduce legislation to give prisoners the vote.

According to the Guardian, ministers are preparing to launch a draft bill to comply with a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

However, a government source told the newspaper that a final decision was unlikely to be taken until late November – after police commissioner elections.