Other News In Brief

Midwives Win Conscientious Objection Abortion Case

Two midwives, Mary Doogan, 58, and Concepta Wood, 52, have won a legal battle to avoid taking any part in abortion procedures.

The pair, both Roman Catholic, lost a previous case against NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC).

The court ruled that their human rights had not been violated as they were not directly involved in terminations.

Appeal judges have now ruled their right to conscientious objection means they can refuse to delegate, supervise or support staff involved in abortions.

The midwifery sisters have a right of conscientious objection, which is recognised in the 1967 Abortion Act.

Sun Royal Editor Amongst Four Arrested By Operation Elvedan

Four more people have been charged as part of the ongoing Operation Elvedan.

Royal editor for the Sun, an ex-instructor at Sandhurst, his wife, and a former pharmacy assistant at the Royal Military Academy, have been charged.

Sun journalist Duncan Larcombe is charged with a conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, along with John and Claire Hardy, the CPS said.

Tracey Bell has been charged with misconduct in public office.

They will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on 8 May.

Council Employee’s Offered First pay Rise Since 2009

More than 1 million council workers have been offered their first pay rise in three years, with a proposed increase of 1%.

Local authority employers said the offer to workers in Wales, England and Northern Ireland was the best they could make in the face of "significant" spending cuts.

The 1% offer, the first since 2009, when a three-year pay freeze kicked in, covers employees earning at least £12,145 a year, but does not include teachers, firefighters and council chief executives.

The offer would add more than £150m to the paybill.

(H/CD)