Latest UK news

Pay bargaining chief resigns
University pay bargaining chief Peter Humphreys today announced his resignation and said that local pay bargaining is almost certain to become the norm in the sector. Mr Humphreys, who joined the Universities and Colleges Employers Association in 1997, said he was disappointed that the government had not funded the £1.4 billion cost of implementing all the Bett recommendations.

Lobbying starts as MPs vote for cloning law change
Campaigners on both sides of the debate over cloning human embryos for medical research today began concerted lobbying of peers. Last night the House of Commons voted by a majority of 192 for a change in the law which would allow scientists to clone embryos up to 14 days old for stem cells.

Pressure on poor children to buy designer gear
Children from disadvantaged areas are under huge pressure to buy expensive designer clothing. They are also more likely to be subjected to bullying if they fail to buy designer labels, according to research by the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at Edinburgh University.

Rare Pooh Bear figures given to the British Library
Tiny plasticine figures of Winnie The Pooh and his friends, created by the original illustrator of the books, have been added to the British Library’s archive. Along with a letter written by artist E. H. Shepard, penned as though it were from Pooh himself, they will be on display in London over the Christmas holidays.