Nick Clegg questioned by Lib Dems over Tory deal

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Labour fights on after debate blow

David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown shake hands after the TV debate

Labour has vowed to carry on fighting to polling day after Gordon Brown failed to make the party's hoped-for breakthrough in the final leaders' debate.

A clutch of instant polls following the last of three televised head-to-heads made David Cameron clear winner, with the Prime Minister again trailing in third place.

With just a week to go and Labour still behind in the overall opinion polls, the party had been hoping desperately that Mr Brown would put in a performance that would change the dynamics of the campaign.

Mr Cameron cautioned that the election was "far from won" for the Conservatives and said that he would spend the next six days concentrating on winning every vote.

Labour election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander also insisted that the result of the election remained "wide open", and said that Mr Brown would carry on fighting until the end.

British politics-Leaders square up for second debate-Questions over Lib Dem leader's funding before TV debate

Nick Clegg


David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Nick Clegg

The leaders of the three major parties will go head-to-head in the second live televised debate of the General Election campaign.

The debate in Bristol is expected to see Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg come under pressure from his two rivals, after his widely-praised performance in last week's broadcast gave his party a boost of up to 12 points in the polls, transforming the election into a real three-horse race.

Labour's Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron will seek to highlight Lib Dem policies on the Trident nuclear deterrent and the European Union, which they believe will prove unattractive to voters.

The image Microsoft doesn't want you to see: Too tired to stay awake, the Chinese workers earning just 34p an hour

Showing Chinese sweatshop workers slumped over their desks with exhaustion, it is an image that Microsoft won't want the world to see.

Employed for gruelling 15-hour shifts, in appalling conditions and 86f heat, many fall asleep on their stations during their meagre ten-minute breaks.

Minister admits Islamic extremists who believe in jihad and sharia law have infiltrated the Labour Party

Concern: Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the Islamic Forum of Europe was acting like a party within Labour

Unpopular: Artist impression of the hijab-inspired arch Tower Hamlets council has proposed be built at either end of Brick Lane

 

 

 Extremist group: The IFE supports jihad - such as acts carried out by Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi (pictured) who killed seven CIA operatives

The Labour Party has been inflitrated by Islamic fundamentalists, a Government Minister admitted today.

Members of the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) which believes in Britain should develop sharia law have placed sympathisers in elected office and local branches of parties, an investigation revealed.

The covert campaign is part of an attempt at 'mass mobilisation' of voters by the group, which believes in jihad.

Jim Fitzpatrick, the Environment Minister, told the Sunday Telegraph the IFE had become a secret party within Labour.

He said: 'They are acting almost as an entryist organisation, placing people within the political parties, recruiting members to those political parties, trying to get individuals selected and elected so they can exercise political influence and power, whether it’s at local government level or national level.'

'They are completely at odds with Labour’s programme, with our support for secularism.'

Mr Fitzpatrick, the MP for Poplar and Canning Town, said the IFE had infiltrated and 'corrupted' his party in east London in the same way that the far-Left Militant Tendency did in the 1980s.

Leaked Labour lists show a 110 per cent rise in party membership in one constituency in two years.

A six-month investigation into the IFE and its political activities revealed it had 'consolidated' its influence at the London borough council of Tower Hamlets, which has a budget estimated at£1bn.

Other recordings by undercover reporters include leaders of the group saying they opposed democracy and supported sharia law.

The investigation revealed the group had received £10m in taxpayer cash from government funds designed to 'prevent violent extremism'.

It also uncovered evidence that moderate Muslims were being targeted by group leaders who resent their 'un-Islamic' behaviour.

Lutfur Rahman, leader of Labour-run Tower Hamlets Council, obtained his post with the group's help.

Referring to IFE activists, he said: 'There are various people across Tower Hamlets who get excited, who get involved.'
He would not comment on concerns about infiltration, saying they were 'party matters'.

He said: 'If you look at our flagship policies, like investing £20 million to tackle overcrowding, you can see that we are working for everyone.'

The IFE said it did not seek to influence the council and had not lobbied for Mr Rahman.

'If anything, existing members of the Labour Party have joined the IFE, rather than the other way round,' it said.

The group insisted it was not a fundamentalist or extremist organisation and did not support violence.

Labour today promised to investigate the allegations and said the local party in Tower Hamlets was already in 'special measures'.

This means the selection of candidates has been taken over by the regional party in London.
'The London Regional Labour Party has placed Tower Hamlets Labour Party in special measures following complaints of membership abuse and its administration, including the selection of council candidates, has been taken out of the hands of the local party,' the party said in a statement.

'This is now run by the London Regional Labour Party and we will investigate any further evidence which is raised by this programme.

'The Labour Party will take firm action and do whatever is necessary to ensure that everyone who joins the party does so as an individual and supports Labour's aims and values.'

Tower Hamlets Council recently courted controversy by proposing to build 'hijab'-shaped arches at either end of London's Brick Lane as part of a cultural tour.

Residents said the £1.85m scheme was culturally-insensitive and a waste of money.

Margaret Thatcher returns to 10 Downing Street for the official unveiling of her new portrait -But reported banned inside scare bad publicity

Baroness Thatcher poses on the steps of 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, before Mr Brown helped Lady Thatcher safely down the steps

Lady Thatcher poses next to Richard Stone's portrait but said she couldn't decide if it was 'good or bad',but she said 'I like it'

She might have preferred to be shaking the hand of a new Conservative prime minister.

But Baroness Thatcher had to make do with Gordon Brown yesterday as she visited Downing Street for the unveiling of her portrait.

The Prime Minister and his wife Sarah were happy to pose with the former Tory leader outside No 10.

But once inside, cameras were banned from the ceremony to unveil the portrait by Royal artist Richard Stone.

A formal picture of Lady Thatcher was later released alongside the painting.

Some speculated that Mr Brown feared images of him paying homage to the Iron Lady would go down badly with certain Labour MPs.

A spokesman for Lady Thatcher said of the media ban: 'It was always a question for No 10. Lady Thatcher was very relaxed about it.

'But it was always their call.'

The former prime minister is believed to be the first living politician to have her portrait hung in the official residence.

Although photos of all modern prime ministers line the main staircase, only two 20th century premiers have paintings on display: David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.

The portrait, which depicts her just after the Falklands War in 1982, will go on permanent display in the stateroom's lobby on the first floor.

The guest list for yesterday's event, drawn up by Lady Thatcher, included Tory leader David Cameron - who entered No 10 via a rear door.

During the reception, Mr Brown paid tribute to Lady Thatcher's ' determination, resolution and courage'.

After Mr Stone removed the cloth, she delivered her verdict: 'I'm not sure if it's good or not, but I like it.'


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