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Stonewall, country’s largest gay group’s help sought by M15.

British intelligence service M15 in a bid to attract a broader range of applications to combat the threat of Islamist terrorism since the London bombings three years back, will recruit gay spies.

The Sunday times, quoted the unnamed government official at Whitehall as saying “ the service (M15) seeks to reflect the broad range of the United Kingdom society which it serves.”

Until the early 1990’s, as a result of fears, that they would be vulnerable to blackmail. Until early 1990’s, the homosexuals were barred from sensitive government jobs because of fears that they would be vulnerable to blackmail.

Since July 7, 2005 London bombings M15, thought made a successive move to recruit British Muslims and speakers of Asian languages to fight against terrorism. The ensuing success drove M15 to take in gays as recruits.

Earlier, may be gays among the staff, but they were certainly nervous about revealing their orientation to colleagues because it may imply that they had concealed the fact from the recruiters at the time of recruitment.

The UK’s annual rate of inflation surges

The UK’s annual rate of inflation reached 4.4 per cent in the last month (July), its highest level since records started in 1997. The 0.6 per cent rise was the biggest monthly change ever and took the figure to almost twice the government’s target. The increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) was also more than expected. Food prices went up a record 13.7 per cent on the year.

Inflation, as calculated on basis of the Retail Prices Index (RPI), rose to 5 per cent from 4.6 per cent. The latest figures are bound to make the interest rate decision by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England even tougher, with the bank now having to cope with inflation and a slowing economy. Philip Shaw, the Investec chief economist, stated: “It is very disappointing data showing widespread signs of higher price pressures.”

Many economists expect the rates to be cut by next year if the British economy goes into a tailspin. Figures released suggested that the summer sales had little effect on reviving retail sales. Mortgage approvals and House prices continued to tumble.

Co-op takes over Somerfield for £1.6 billion

Co-op has joined the league of big 4 to become the fifth biggest retailer of food in the UK. It took over Somerfield through the biggest deal of £1.6 billion in the history of food retailers. Co-op will now enjoy market share of 8 per cent with the biggest chain of 3,000 outlets spread all over the UK. Tesco still leads the market with share of 31 per cent, followed by Asda and Sainsbury’s 16 per cent and Morrison’s 11 per cent.

Co-op chief executive Peter Marks, after the acquisition of Somerfield, expects people to start referring retailers as “big five” instead of “big four”. He considers this deal as ‘rocket fuel’ for the group’s growth and is confident of winning out-of-town customers of its rivals who would prefer to shop locally than to waste money for shopping out of town.

Mr. Marks added that time and cost-conscious people will prefer to go down the road and buy from local Co-op shop rather than driving 5 miles to a superstore for shopping. He believes that in terms of convenience market, its growth is much faster than the grocery market.

People in England to have more say and power over the running of local services

Proposals that are likely to give people in England more say and power over the running of local services are set to be unveiled. A government White Paper ‘Communities in Control’ has suggested that pilot schemes allow some council assets should be transferred to neighbourhood groups.

Community centres, land and swimming pools could perhaps be handed over under the programme, the BBC News has reported. It (the programme) also proposes to give petitions more weight and make it easier to introduce mayors, who are directly elected.
Some areas presently struggle to get requisite amount of signatures to trigger any mayoral referendum. However, the White Paper has suggested allowing names to be gathered online.

Organisers of local petitions, who are often ignored by councils, will be provided the opportunity of a full, comprehensive council debate on the issue in case their demands are initially not accepted.

The government is hoping that the reforms will cause local authorities to get more responsive to the public sentiments. Ministers have rejected a suggestion that long-serving councillors should be not more than five terms.