Burglars should only be jailed if they cause property damage or hurt someone, courts have been told. (Posed by model) Burglars should not be jailed unless they cause damage or hurt someone when committing their crime, Government advisers said yesterday. The Sentencing Advisory Panel called for judges and magistrates not to hand down prison sentences to ordinary burglars who were responsible for ‘minimal... 

Three Labour MPs at the centre of the expenses scandal tried to wriggle out of a criminal trial yesterday. Although charged at Westminster magistrates’ court with claiming a combined total of almost £60,000 in fraudulent expenses, they insisted the courts had no jurisdiction over them. Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine argued that, under the 321-year-old Bill of Rights, they could... 

Buffoon: Jacob Zuma with one of his four wives Jacob Zuma is a sex-obsessed bigot with four wives and 35 children. So why is Britain fawning over this vile buffoon? Spare a thought for the Buckingham Palace protocol officials tomorrow when His Excellency President Jacob Zuma arrives in London for his first state visit to these shores. For this incoming ‘One hundred per cent Zulu Boy’, as... 

‘Environmentally-friendly’ biofuels have been found to be more harmful to the planet than normal fossil fuel. A new government study shows that the Department of Transport’s aim to increase the level of biofuel in fuel sold across Britain will result in millions of acres of forest being burned down and turned into plantations. The findings of the study showed that using palm oil instead... 

MEP and UKIP leader Nigel Farage on Wednesday delivered another major tirade against EU President Herman van Rompuy and, along the way, severely insulted Belgium and Greece during a plenary debate in the European Parliament. Farage said Van Rompuy had the “charisma of a damp rag” and the appearance of a “low-grade bank clerk.” Edited Version but High Quality video 1080p Full... 

An international investigation into the assassination of a senior Palestinian militant in the Persian Gulf region has taken British police to Israel. A special British police investigator has arrived in Israel to probe the use of false British passports in the assassination of a senior Hamas operative in Dubai last month. The investigator will meet with dual Israeli-British citizens whose passports... 

Protesters in Greece are demanding that the plutocrats pay The recession has increased the wealth gap to dangerous levels, and George Osborne does not seem serious about tackling it, says Edmund Conway. If you don’t work in the City or in economics, you may not have heard of the annual Mais lecture, which was delivered last night by George Osborne. But it’s a big deal, arguably the most... 

The New Conservative Party’s claims to be committed to preserving Britain identity is in tatters after it nominated a Ugandan as one of its council candidates in Barking and Dagenham. Richard Ssemitego will fight the Eastbury council seat in Barking and Dagenham on behalf of New Conservatives. The announcement was made, appropriately enough, at a Bangladeshi Women Association Community Hall in Barking... 

Hamas chief: Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh poses in military garb with his rifle The use of fake passports will be condemned by European Union foreign ministers today, in a move designed to censure Israel over the assassination of a Palestinian militant in Dubai. Diplomatic sources said the statement from officials, meeting in Brussels was intended to show disapproval at the killing Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh... 

An Israeli minister tonight insisted the assassination of a high-ranking member of Hamas should not be considered as murder. Yuli Edelstein, speaking on a visit to the House of Commons, said no-one should become ‘overly emotional’ about the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, which has been widely blamed on the Israeli secret service, Mossad. His remarks came as it emerged that two more counterfeit... 

David Cameron has vowed to boost the number of ethnic MPs if he wins the election David Cameron hopes to more than treble the number of female Tory MPs and boast up to 15 ethnic minority members if he wins the general election. Inisiders say his candidate selection policy will have the ‘Obama effect’ and change the face of the white, male-dominated party. Currently the Tories have 18 women... 

Labour's early release scheme for inmates is being scrapped (posed by model) Labour was last night accused of a cynical election ploy after scrapping its controversial early release scheme for prisoners only weeks before polling day. Jack Straw announced the ending of the scheme, which has resulted in nearly 80,000 offenders walking free 18 days before their sentence reaches its halfway point. The... 

Labour 'wanted social change', according to the new document Labour encouraged mass immigration even though it knew that voters opposed it, Whitehall documents confirmed yesterday. The Government said the public disagreed with immigration because of ‘racism’ and ministers were told to try to alter public attitudes. The thinking on immigration among Labour leaders was set down in... 

* Agent claims MI5 and Foreign Office were tipped off * David Miliband vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of affair * Gordon Brown promises an inquiry into identity theft * Dubai police chief calls for arrest of Mossad head * Hamas promises retaliation against Israel MI6 was tipped off that Israeli agents were going to carry out an ‘overseas operation’ using fake British passports,... 

The head of Britain’s MI5 security service denied on Friday that his agency colluded in torture after a court ruling showed it knew that a detained British resident had been abused by U.S. intelligence officers. In a rare public intervention, MI5 Director-General Jonathan Evans said criticism of the security agency could play into the hands of Britain’s enemies. In addition to bombs and...