Clegg targets visa ‘overstayers’

LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to call for a bail-like system of security bonds to tackle visa abuse in his first speech on immigration as deputy prime minister.

The bonds would be paid as a cash guarantee from visa applicants coming from high-risk countries and would be repaid once the visitor leaves Britain.

Mr Clegg will unveil the radical proposal as he outlines his vision for a “tolerant Britain, zero-tolerant of abuse” at the liberal think-tank, the Centre Forum.

Medals for Afghan campaign heroes

A SOLDIER who single-handedly battled insurgents in Afghanistan, two members of the RAF who defended Camp Bastion from an attack, and a female Army medic are among those recognised in the latest round of military honours.

Some 118 members of the British Armed Forces are included in the latest Operational Honours list, published in the London Gazette today.

Last weekend it was revealed that Lance-Corporal James Ashworth, of the First Battalion, The Grenadier Guards, became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross since 2006 after being awarded it posthumously.

Rain and snow bring chaos warning

BRITAIN faces a day of severe disruption as heavy snow, flooding and blizzard conditions blight the country.

Emergency services are already responding to a surge in weather-related call-outs with Government agencies issuing a string of warnings urging the public to take care on the roads.

More flooding is expected in the south-west as yesterday’s heavy rain continues to pour throughout the day and overnight.

Court to decide on Christian bus ad

THE High Court rules today in a case in which the Mayor of London has been accused of unlawfully banning a Christian group’s controversial advert about gays as he faced a mayoral election.

At a recent hearing, a judge was told that Boris Johnson was “politically driven” when he intervened to prevent the ad, which suggests that gay people can be helped to “move out of homosexuality”, appearing on the sides of London buses.

The ad posters read: “Not Gay! Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get over it!”

Cold weather hits gas supplies

WEEKS of unusually cold weather have drained nearly all of Britain’s gas supplies, sparking fears of a spike in energy prices, it has been reported.

Households have been forced to turn up their heating as the freezing weather continues, pushing the demand for gas to 20% higher than normal in March, The Times reported.

Last night gas stocks were just 10% full, compared to 49% this time last year, it said.