“We might have to get to a situation with compulsory insurance, as with road traffic,” he added.This follows the recent disclosure by The Independent on Sunday that many flood victims are not covered by insurance, and are still facing months in temporary accommodation after being flooded out of their homes.Nigel Waterson, the Tory spokesman on local government, said councils were not getting full compensation from the Government under its complex funding formula.Many householders will face rises of 10 per cent in their council tax bills next April, he added. “People fondly think the Government is going to pick up the extra bill for flooding but that simply isn’t true. Council tax payers in the worst-affected areas may find they are paying significantly more council tax from April on top of their problems in replacing their damaged furniture,” he said.Anne McIntosh, the Tory MP for the Vale of York, where some of the worst flooding took place, said: “Local people are up in arms about the increases they face in their council tax It is adding insult to injury.”. In a move that threatens to embroil the Tories in a fresh row over race, Ann Widdecombe has confirmed they are considering tightening immigration laws to curb abuses by those who use marriage to gain entry to Britain, writes Colin Brown. In a move that threatens to embroil the Tories in a fresh row over race, Ann Widdecombe has confirmed they are considering tightening immigration laws to curb abuses by those who use marriage to gain entry to Britain, writes Colin Brown.
The Shadow Home Secretary told Indian community leaders she is looking at the system after a jump in the number of immigrants gaining entry by marriage.William Hague has refused to retreat after stepping into the race row and, in spite of criticism by Kenneth Clarke that it was misguided, the Conservatives show no sign of letting up in their attack on the Government over immigration.The numbers gaining entry to Britain by marriage rose to 28,500 in 1998 after the incoming Labour Government abolished the so-called primary purpose rule. For more than a decade, this had allowed immigration officers to bar immigrants who they believed intended to use their marriage solely to gain residency.Ms Widdecombe insisted the Conservatives had not said they would restore the primary purpose rule.

But Barbara Roche, the Home Office minister responsible for immigration, said: “The primary purpose rule was arbitrary, unfair and ineffective. Ann Widdecombe must now come clean on what her party’s policy is on this important issue.”. Why would a mother run away from the hospital hours after giving birth, abandoning her child? Romanians shrug when you ask such a questions Tiny tragedies like that are commonplace. Why would a mother run away from the hospital hours after giving birth, abandoning her child? Romanians shrug when you ask such a questions.

Tiny tragedies like that are commonplace.
“Denisa did not recognise her own name when she was called,” says Miori, hugging the three-year-old she has chosen to foster. “They stay so long in hospital that they don’t know who they are Nobody shows love. The first step is to help them find their personality.”Denisa’s mother discharged herself immediately after the birth and could not be found There was not even a certificate But the child was lucky. She found this temporary home, with people who care, and will probably be adopted one day.