UK News: 9000 in public sector paid more than PM

MORE than 9,000 employees working in the public sector are paid more than the Prime Minister.

An investigation by BBC1's Panorama and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism suggested the numbers earning more than David Cameron's 142,500-a-year are higher than previously thought.

Clegg defends coalition

THE Liberal Democrats would never have been taken seriously again if they had passed up the chance to govern in coalition, Nick Clegg was set to say today.

The Deputy Prime Minister was to deliver an impassioned defence of his deal with David Cameron in his keynote speech to party conference.

Cuts will see crime rise warns probation union

CRIME will rise and there will be more victims if "Draconian" public spending cuts of 25 per cent go ahead, a union warned today.

Probation union Napo said many programmes for offenders in the community would be cut or withdrawn if the proposed cuts go ahead.

The Government said there was no evidence that cuts to the Probation Service would lead to an increase in crime and ministers vowed to stand firm against "vested interests" pleading for special treatment.

Glasses put years on looks

WEARING glasses ages people by at least three years, according to a new poll.

Those who wear glasses are perceived to be older and tend to be regarded as "geeky" compared with people who do not wear glasses.

On average, glasses-wearers were put at 3.3 years older than they actually were in the study, while those aged 45 and over were thought to be five years older.

Vorderman parties add up

CAROL Vorderman has vowed to spend a year celebrating her 50th birthday to make up for missing out on parties due to her Christmas Eve birth. The former Countdown star, who reaches her half-century in December, said she planned to hold 50 parties throughout next year.

Rotherham: TV chef Jamie Oliver said looming Government spending cuts could threaten his pioneering centre aimed at teaching communities healthy cooking. Oliver said Rotherham Council fears budget cuts will jeopardise his Ministry of Food project, which he set up in the South Yorkshire town in 2008.

Northamptonshire: Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and Lady Bianca Eliot have called off their engagement. Lawyers for the pair said they had ended their relationship "some time ago" but remained friends.