News

David Cameron has challenged Labour to rule out a "grubby" coalition deal with the Scottish National Party to protect Britain's nuclear deterrent.

Last month, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon told ITV News that Labour would have to agree to scrap the Trident nuclear programme in any potential coalition deal between the two parties after May's election.

Responding to a question from former defence secretary Liam Fox, the Prime Minister said he would never get involved in any coalition deal to remove Trident ahead of its planned renewal in the next parliament.

He said it was "concerning that almost three-quarters of Labour candidates oppose renewal of trident".

"Now is the time for Labour to rule out any agreement with the SNP because no-one wants to see some grubby deal between the people who want to break up the United Kingdom and the people who want to bankrupt the United Kingdom," Mr Cameron told MPs.

Nigel Farage has promised a "common sense" approach to immigration after dropping proposals to introduce a 50,000 cap on net migration.

The Ukip leader said he would restore "sanity" by introducing an Australian-style points-based system to control who would be allowed to settle in the UK and take back control of the borders by leaving the European Union.

Farage claimed that under the plan, 27,000 people would have been granted entry to Britain last year and it was "very unlikely that we would need 50,000 people".

"We as a party hold no prejudice against anyone on the grounds of their nationality, their religion or their race," He told an audience in central London. "But we are calling for a return to sanity."

Tragic Ayesha Ali was tortured for months before she was found dead on the floor of her bedroom in London, a jury heard - with her mother and her mother's lover taking it in turns to deliberately terrify her during the night by wearing a bizarre monster mask.

Her mother, Polly Chowdhury, would punish her by hitting her with her hand or a wooden spoon, while Chowdhury's lesbian lover Kiki Muddar gave her a cold bath for wetting the bed.

The jury at the Old Bailey heard that they would also take it in turns to wear the scary mask in the girl's room at night to frighten her into better behaviour.

A neighbour reported hearing her screaming in the night, pleading with her mother: "Amah, I don't want to be bad, Amah, Amah I don't want to be bad."

Chowdhury and Muddar were both convicted of manslaughter today and will be sentenced on Friday.

The reported arrest of Becky Watts' stepbrother and his girlfriend in connection with her suspected murder "continues to haunt" her family, her brother said.

Dan Galsworthy posted an emotional message on Facebook revealing his turmoil.

He said: "This has left a deep hole in my heart and will continue to haunt me.

"To everyone messaging and supporting me I haven't replied to any messages because I simply have no words, I thank you all and deeply appreciate everyone's support. Love to you all."

Matthews is understood to be the son of Anjie Galsworthy, 49, who is married to Becky's dad, Darren, 51, who fathered her and Dan with their mum Tanya Watts, 46.

Detectives are also questioning four men, two aged 29 and two aged 23, and a 23-year-old woman, who have been arrested on suspicion of helping an offender.

The mother of tragic schoolgirl Ayesha Ali told psychiatrists she had been "groomed" by her lesbian lover, who made her believe she was a "conduit" for her cyber boyfriend Jimmy, a court was told.

The jury at the Old Bailey heard that 'Jimmy' - one of the fake profiles created by Kiki Muddar to get close to Polly Chowdhury - said he was not allowed to meet Chowdhury in real life, so 'Skyman' - a spirit guide also invented by Muddar - arranged for 'Jimmy's' spirit to reside in Muddar's body, allowing Chowdhury and 'Jimmy' to be intimate.

Muddar - who said she was born to a Sikh family but was now a Jehovah's witness - also told Chowdhury that she had pain in her body which only went away when Chowdhury touched her.

The court heard that the characters would egg Chowdhury on to punish her eight-year-old daughter, telling her that the girl's "bad behaviour" was hurting them.

Chowdhury and Muddar were both convicted of manslaughter today and will be sentenced on Friday.

A mother and her lesbian lover have been remanded in custody to be sentenced on Friday after being found guily of the manslaughter of her eight-year-old daughter.

Ayesha Ali was found dead in her bedroom, naked except for a pair of pink pants. She had suffered more than 40 injuries, including carpet burns, a bite mark - possibly inflicted by her mother - and the major blow to the head which killed her.

Judge Christopher Moss QC remanded her mother, Polly Chowdhury, and Chowdhury's lover Kiki Muddar, into custody until the sentencing hearing.

The devastated father of tragic Ayesha Ali has said he will never forgive his ex-wife and her "evil witch" lover for killing their "perfect" daughter.

Afsar Ali, aged 35, was in court for every day of the trial against his former partner Polly Chowdhury and her lover Kiki Muddar, who have both been convicted of manslaughter.

He said the death of his "intelligent and loving" eight-year-old had left him heartbroken.