WHAT HAPPENED ON 7th December 1996?

3th December 1996

DISABLED CAMPAIGNERS HIT BACK AT SHOWS

Children In Need is among shows attacked for depictions of disability in a new-look award scheme. The BBC charity telethon has been shortlisted among the worst portrayals of disabled people in the Raspberry Ripple awards. The scheme is organised by the campaigning group One In Eight. A spokesman scorned the idea that the way to help disabled children was by "people doing ridiculous things".

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

WHAT WILL YOUR PENSION BE WORTH?

Next week pensioners' leaders will try to persuade the Labour Party to restore the state pension to its pre-1980 value It was in 1980 the state pension was linked to inflation rather than earnings and since it has steadily lost value in real terms. Wishful thinking that any government would be willing to restore its value when doing so would cost £7.4bn. BUT there is recognition the problem of dwindling pensions will not go away and some politicians are thinking of how to support pensioners in the futyre THE MONEY PROGRAMME Sun BBC2 8.30pm

3th December 1996

SOARING POUND "TO LOWER SHOP PRICES"

Shop prices look set to fall on the back of the powering pound a top Government economist has predicted. Alan Budd chief economic adviser to the Treasury told a Commons select committee sterling's recent rally would have a "downward effect" on prices. "The effect... has already fed through to lower import prices " he said. "But its effect on retail prices is far from mechanical. It would be misleading to set a figure but it is apparent it will have a downward effect on prices."

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

GOVERNMENT RALLIES AROUND JOHN MAJOR

Cabinet members have rallied to the Prime Minister's cause following the disappearance of the Government's overall Commons majority. Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell said the Government's line in opposing a single currency was consistent. Home Secretary Michael Howard insisted that the Government would not join EMU if it was built on a fudge. He said this had been made clear by the Prime Minister & the Chancellor.

3th December 1996

Pc DENIES MURDERING CAR THIEF SUSPECT

A policeman who shot & fatally wounded a suspect car thief could have stopped the man without killing him a prosecutor has told the Old Bailey. Pc Patrick Hodgson 49 denies murder in what is thought to be the first such case against an officer. He fired twice at David Ewin 38 in Barnes south-west London in February last year the jury heard. Mr Ewin died later in hospital from major injuries. The case continues.

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

HOSPITAL TREATS "ROAD RAGE" SUSPECT

A 27-year-old woman arrested in connection with the murder of alleged road rage victim Lee Harvey is being treated in hospital police have said. Mr Harvey 25 was apparently knifed to death after a row with another motorist near Alvechurch Worcestershire. Earlier his girlfriend Tracie Andrews was discharged from hospital after apparently taking an overdose. Her aunt said she had left two letters before taking the tablets.

3th December 1996

MAJOR SORRY AT FRIEND SCOTT'S DEFEAT

The Prime Minister has said he is sorry that Sir Nicholas Scott has been deselected by his constituency party. John Major told reporters: "Nick Scott is a very old friend of mine & I'm sorry at events in Chelsea." Conservative ex-minister Sir Nicholas 63 earlier said he would carry on until the next election. A meeting of Kensington & Chelsea Tories last night voted by 509 to 439 to select another candidate.

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

GOVERNMENT RALLIES AROUND JOHN MAJOR

Cabinet members have rallied to the Prime Minister's cause following the disappearance of the Government's overall Commons majority. Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell said the Government's line in opposing a single currency was consistent. Home Secretary Michael Howard insisted that the Government would not join EMU if it was built on a fudge. He said this had been made clear by the Prime Minister & the Chancellor.

3th December 1996

NO EURO AGREEMENT BEFORE JUNE ` CLARKE

Chancellor Kenneth Clarke has told MPs he does not expect any binding decision on the single currency before June 1997 He said ministers at yesterday's Ecofin talks had decided "nothing was agreed until everything was agreed". And Mr Clarke said he had made clear that his agreement would be subject to British parliamentary discussion. Earlier John Major said reports he would rule out a single currency were "fiction worthy of the Booker prize".

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

CHARLES KENNEDY

(Lib Dem Ross Crom Skye) QWhich piece of legislation would you most like to bring to the statute book? AA Scottish Parliament within the UK elected by proportional representation. Q Which piece of legislation would you most like to overturn? A Feudal pre-emption rights. >>>>>

3th December 1996

MAJOR SORRY AT FRIEND SCOTT'S DEFEAT

The Prime Minister has said he is sorry that Sir Nicholas Scott has been deselected by his constituency party. John Major told reporters: "Nick Scott is a very old friend of mine & I'm sorry at events in Chelsea." Conservative ex-minister Sir Nicholas 63 earlier said he would carry on until the next election. A meeting of Kensington & Chelsea Tories last night voted by 509 to 439 to select another candidate.

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN "TOTAL DISARRAY"

Labour deputy leader John Prescott has denounced the Tories as "a party that cannot be led ` with a leader that cannot lead". He was commenting on MP Sir John Gorst's decision to withdraw cooperation from his party's whip. Mr Prescott said the Government were in total disarray & "melting down". He was campaigning for next Thursday's by-election in Barnsley East where Labour is defending a huge majority.

3th December 1996

REDWOOD TELLS PM TO MAKE UP MIND ON EMU

Leading Tory Euro-sceptic John Redwood says the Prime Minister must abandon his wait-and-see policy on a single European currency. He urged John Major to declare that Britain would not sign up to the first wave of monetary union in 1999. Mr Redwood told Radio 4 the PM would have the support of the overwhelming majority of his Cabinet if he did. Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine has said there will be no such move.

7th December 1996

MAJOR IN TV BID TO BOLSTER AILING PARTY

John Major is appearing on television tomorrow in an attempt to bolster his party after the loss of his overall parliamentary majority. Backbench Tory Sir John Gorst withdrew his cooperation from the Government over the closure of full casualty services at Edgware General Hospital. He did not resign the whip but said the Tories could not rely on his vote. Mr Major will be appearing on BBC1's On the Record programme at 12.30pm.

7th December 1996

INDONESIA Fifteen people died when a twin-engined plane crashed shortly after take-off into a gas factory in the country's South Kalimantan province TURKEY90 000 people are sitting exams after applying for 2 500 civil service jobs. Critics say posts will go to supporters of the party which heads the country's coalition government. LEBANON Israel has slated a decision by a Lebanese military court to impose a death sentence on the commander of an Israeli-backed SLA militia. Gen Antoine Lahd was found guilty of collaboration.