Politicians pay tribute to Chavez

FOREIGN Secretary William Hague has paid tribute to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who died yesterday after a two-year battle with cancer, ending his 14-year rule.

The 58-year-old, who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela and crusaded against US influence, won a new six-year term as recently as October.

Mr Hague said: “I was saddened to learn of the death of president Hugo Chavez. As president of Venezuela for 14 years he has left a lasting impression on the country and more widely. I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Venezuelan people at this time.”

New measures to tackle sex abuse

RADICAL measures to transform the way the criminal justice system tackles child sexual abuse have been agreed in a bid to head off “another Savile moment”, the Director of Public Prosecutions said today.

Keir Starmer QC and the Association of Chief Police Officers’ lead on violence and public protection, Chief Constable David Whatton, set out plans for an overhaul of guidance, a programme of training, and proposals for a panel of officers and prosecutors to look at past decisions if requested.

Mr Starmer said: “We cannot afford another Savile moment in five or 10 years’ time. Whatever approach is now agreed it has to be fully informed, coherent, consistently applied across the country and able to withstand the test of time.”

New approach on migration: Miliband

ED Miliband will today unveil Labour’s “new approach” to immigration, acknowledging that Britain needs to reduce the numbers of low-skilled migrants coming to the country to work.

In a party political broadcast, Mr Miliband will admit Labour got the issue wrong while in power and should not have dismissed the concerns raised by ordinary people about immigration.

The Labour leader will insist that diversity is good for Britain, but will say that migration needs to work for all of the country’s people and not just some.

Payday lenders face ads clampdown

PAYDAY lenders are facing new rules on how they advertise under a Government clampdown to make sure firms do not take advantage of people who are already drowning in debt.

The plans include limiting the number of adverts firms are allowed to put out per hour, the times they can advertise and forcing them to make sure that interest rates are clearly displayed.

The Government will work with the Advertising Standards Authority and the industry to make sure advertising does not tempt consumers into taking out payday loans that turn out to be unsuitable.

Has Kate let slip baby secret?

THE Duchess of Cambridge might have let slip that she is expecting a daughter while chatting to crowds during her latest official engagement, it has been reported.

Kate is said to have let her guard down while accepting a teddy bear from a member of the public in Grimsby yesterday.

She was overheard telling the well-wisher: “Thank you, I will take that for my d...” before stopping herself.