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Pay must attract people from 'modest backgrounds'
Labour's Jack Straw has said MPs pay must increase to attract "people of modest backgrounds" into politics.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) is expected to increase MPs' pay by 11 per cent to take effect after the 2015 general election.
Mr Straw, who will stand down as an MP at the next election, admitted said there was never a right time to increase MPs pay but said the salary must be sufficient enough to attract a wide range of people including those who had not inherited family wealth or homes.
Speaking on Radio 4's The World This Weekend, the former Foreign Secretary questioned whether it was right MPs pay had "fallen so far behind" some primary and secondary school headteachers, local government figures and senior journalists.
South Africans continue to grieve for Nelson Mandela
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Alexander: IPSA should 'apply restraint' to MPs pay
"Most people would find it pretty extraordinary that [IPSA] would be recommending a large rise for MPs at a time when living standards in this country are under pressure," Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told ITV News.
"I would still appeal to IPSA even at this late stage to recognise that the economic climate - the climate of pay for people in the public sector particularly - is one of continuing restraint and that same principle should be applied to MPs," he said.
David Cameron to attend memorial service for Mandela
David Cameron has confirmed that he will attend a memorial service for the former South African president Nelson Mandela in South Africa on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister wrote on Twitter: "I'll be at the memorial service in South Africa on Tuesday to commemorate the great man. #RIPMandela."
Prince Charles to represent Queen at Mandela's funeral
The Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales at Nelson Mandela's funeral in South Africa on December 15, Buckingham Palace confirmed today.
Prince Charles and Prince Harry visited South Africa in 1997 and met Mr Mandela at his home in Pretoria.
The previous year, Charles had hosted Mr Mandela on a visit to Brixton during his first state visit to the UK.
Montano: 'I was hacking people down' against Wolves
Footballer Cristian Montano, 21, was filmed by the Sun on Sunday claiming he had tried to get booked during a League One match for Oldham against Wolves in return for cash payment.
The attacker told the undercover reporter: "From minute one I was hacking people down. People running past me and I would go clip. I run against one player and barged him."
He also offers to take another yellow card in an upcoming league fixture.
Montano was on the books of Premier League club West Ham between 2010 and 2012 but did not make any league appearances.
He was loaned to Notts County, Swindon, Dagenham & Redbridge and Oxford United before being sold to Oldham in August 2012.
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Oldham investigate claims against Cristian Montano
Oldham Athletic have launched an internal investigation after a Sun on Sunday report claimed winger Cristian Montano was part of a spot-fixing operation.
– Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic Football Club has been made aware of the incident and allegation surrounding one of its players, Cristian Montano.
The Club will commence an immediate internal investigation to establish all the relevant facts of the case.
The Club is co-operating with other agencies in this matter and cannot comment on specific facts at this stage.
The Club will not be issuing any further statements at this time.
Colombian-born Montano, 21, was filmed claiming he attempted to pick up a deliberate yellow card in a League One match against Wolves in October.
Body parts spotted by dog walker
Hampshire Police have sealed off part of the foreshore at Weston, Southampton, after parts of a body were found washed up on the beach this morning, 8th December 2013.
At around 8.25am, the body parts were spotted close to the yacht club by a dog walker who called police. The area has been sealed off and the remains removed. It is not known whether the body parts are male or female. A post-mortem examination will take place later today.
Police are focusing on establishing dead person's identity and checking local missing persons records. There is nothing at this time to indicate this is suspicious, officers will keep an open mind while inquiries continue. Part of the foreshore will remain cordoned off whilst the area is searched.
Ukip's Ayling 'must apologise' for immigration remarks
Shadow immigration minister David Hanson called for an apology after comments made by Ukip councillor Victoria Ayling.
"This type of offensive language should have no place in modern Britain," he said.
"British people do not deserve to be 'sent back home' because this is their home.
"It has taken us years to defeat the ideology and language of the NF [National Front] and the views of the BNP [British National Party] and they should not be resurrected by someone calling themselves a serious politician.
"She needs to apologise and repudiate the use of this type of language and thinking."
Portsmouth 'shocked and saddened' by allegations
Portsmouth spokesman Colin Farmery said: "If these serious allegations are true then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them, as match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game.
"The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would cooperate fully with any inquiry."
