Kite Runner Flies into Nottingham
A Birmingham composer has created the music for a stage version of The Kite Runner which has made its European premiere in the Midlands.
West Coast Mainline fiasco cost taxpayer £50m
A critical report by MPS has condemned the £50 million cost to the taxpayer caused by the West Coast Mainline fiasco.
Green Party Spring Conference in Nottingham
The Green Party's MP, Natalie Bennett, has arrived in Nottingham to kick start the Spring Conference weekend.
Live updates
NHS team to visit Burton as part of Keogh review
A team of doctors, nurses and patient representatives will visit Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust today, as part of their review into death rates.
They have been called in by the medical director of the health service, Sir Bruce Keogh. 14 hospital trusts are to have visits in the wake of the scandal at Stafford, where hundreds of people were said to have died needlessly.
Stronger scrutiny required over Police and Crime Commissioners say MPs
Stronger scrutiny is required of elected police commissioners to prevent 'maverick decision making', a damning report by MPs has warned.
The report follows a string of heavily-criticised decisions made by commissioners, including Lincolnshire PCC Alan Hardwick, who suspended Chief Constable Neil Rhodes over "potential conduct matters", which were later rejected by the police watchdog, the IPCC.
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Gandhi's sandals fetch £19,000 at auction
Sandals that once belonged to Mahatma Gandhi fetched £19,000 today at an auction in Shropshire.
Despite the sandals being auctioned off in 'poor condition', the footwear fetched more than expected at Mullock's Auctioneers in Church Stretton.
The sandal's guide price was £10,000 to £15,000.
Thatcher's Falkland document auctioned for £5,500
The original telex message signed by Margaret Thatcher to signify victory in the Falklands, has today fetched £5,500 at an auction in Church Stretton, Shropshire.
The document states: " The Falkland Islands are once more under the government desired by their inhabitants. God Save the Queen."
It was predicted to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.
NHS boss Sir David Nicholson to retire in 2014
NHS boss Sir David Nicholson plans to retire in March next year, NHS England said today.
Thatcher's Falkland victory document to be auctioned
The original document sent and signed by Margaret Thatcher signalling the end of the Falklands War, is going under the hammer today in Shropshire.
The telex message from Major General Sir Jeremy Moore to London dated June 15 1982, is expected to fetch around £15,000.
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Union: Michael Gove like a 'fanatical personal trainer'
Schools are losing their sense of humour under piles of data and spreadsheets as headteachers are forced to "wrestle with an octopus" of government initiatives and reforms, a union leader will warn today.
Heads are becoming tired of constant change to the education system, and believe it is being dismantled before their eyes, according to Bernadette Hunter, president of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).
In a strongly-worded attack, Ms Hunter will say she believes that Education Secretary Michael Gove is not a champion of education, and liken the minister to a "fanatical personal trainer" urging headteachers to go "faster, faster, higher and higher".
TONIGHT: 11.35pm, ITV, The Lobby
Join Alison MacKenzie at 11.35pm tonight for our political programme The Lobby. Here's what's coming up on the show...
UKIP Councillor says sorry following resignation over 'racism' on Facebook
The UKIP County Councillor at the centre of a row over racism on Facebook, has released a statement following his resignation.
Eric Kitson is to quit the Worcestershire County Council seat he won less than two weeks ago following the incident.
The 59-year-old, who represented Stourport-on-Severn, has denied being a racist.
– Eric Kitson, Former UKIP CouncillorIt is with sadness that I am announcing my resignation as a Councillor. I am extremely sorry to have let down my friends, the people in the hardworking UKIP team that got me elected, the people of Stourport on Seven who gave me the honour of electing and of course my family.
Like many people who are not professional politicians, I used my Facebook page as a general post board. That was foolish. I am no racist, but I can understand why people could think so.
Ukip councillor quits over offensive Facebook posts
A Ukip county councillor will quit and could be removed from the party after admitting to sharing offensive material about Muslims on his Facebook page.
Eric Kitson is to quit the Worcestershire County Council seat he won less than two weeks ago following the incident.
The 59-year-old, who represented Stourport-on-Severn, has denied being a racist and claims he shared cartoons and jokes to show how "disgusting" they were.
He has since apologised and said it was "stupid" for him to share the messages, which were posted last year on his Facebook.
Bill Etheridge, the Ukip chairman for Dudley and Halesowen, said an internal investigation had been launched: "Ukip does not condone hate, racism or prejudice. We totally condemn those things because it's not what the party is about. In fact it is the total opposite of what the party is about."
