You’re having a gag, Sir Fred

Laughter in court as QC
says banker's fling would not
have affected his work

THE court battle over the gag stopping The Sun naming Sir Fred Goodwin's Royal Bank of Scotland mistress descended into farce yesterday.

There was laughter as the QC for the woman - who held a senior role at RBS - insisted she would have acted responsibly if a complaint had been made about him.
The court had heard she may have been in a position to know of any staff grumbles about Sir Fred's running of the bank - leading to a potential conflict of interest.
Her lawyers deny there was any connection between her fling with the ex-chief exec and RBS's near collapse.
The Sun is barred from telling readers the woman's job or employment history at RBS.
But our QC Richard Spearman told London's High Court yesterday: "It is plainly a matter of real, genuine, public interest.
"The lady in question had a role in which she might have expected to be the recipient of information from employees who had concerns about how the company was run.
"If she was having an affair with the chief executive of the company then a conflict of interest arises."
He suggested it might have been possible for someone in the woman's job to "kill off an inquiry" out of loyalty to Sir Fred, 52. He added: "Sunlight should be shed on dark corners of this case."

Legal battle ... laughter at London's High Court

He said the public has the right to know what happened at RBS - now propped up with £50billion of taxpayers' cash.
But the woman's QC Hugh Tomlinson yesterday insisted: "There is no evidence that the relationship had anything to do with the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland. There is no evidence of wrongdoing."
He claimed there was no public interest in revealing her name.
No complaints were ever made about married dad-of-two Sir Fred, who was forced out in 2008 after eight years at the helm. The woman also insists she was not promoted during the affair.
Last month Mr Justice Tugendhat lifted a ban preventing newspapers revealing that Sir Fred had an affair with the woman.
He made the ruling after Liberal Democrat peer Lord Stoneham used Parliamentary privilege to name the fallen banker in the House of Lords.
The Financial Services Authority will examine whether there was any breach of corporate governance rules.
Sir Fred was nicknamed Fred the Shred for his brutal costcutting style. He swaggered off with a pension of £700,000 a year and a lump sum of nearly £3million.
But following public outrage he agreed to reduce his payout by £342,000 a year. He lives in a mansion with Joyce, his wife of more than 20 years.
A High Court judge made the original gagging order in March after Sir Fred discovered The Sun planned to reveal the affair.
The Sun was even blocked from identifying Sir Fred as a banker. A ruling is expected at the end of next week

You’re having a gag, Sir Fred

Laughter in court as QC
says banker's fling would not
have affected his work

THE court battle over the gag stopping The Sun naming Sir Fred Goodwin's Royal Bank of Scotland mistress descended into farce yesterday.

There was laughter as the QC for the woman - who held a senior role at RBS - insisted she would have acted responsibly if a complaint had been made about him.
The court had heard she may have been in a position to know of any staff grumbles about Sir Fred's running of the bank - leading to a potential conflict of interest.
Her lawyers deny there was any connection between her fling with the ex-chief exec and RBS's near collapse.
The Sun is barred from telling readers the woman's job or employment history at RBS.
But our QC Richard Spearman told London's High Court yesterday: "It is plainly a matter of real, genuine, public interest.
"The lady in question had a role in which she might have expected to be the recipient of information from employees who had concerns about how the company was run.
"If she was having an affair with the chief executive of the company then a conflict of interest arises."
He suggested it might have been possible for someone in the woman's job to "kill off an inquiry" out of loyalty to Sir Fred, 52. He added: "Sunlight should be shed on dark corners of this case."

Legal battle ... laughter at London's High Court

He said the public has the right to know what happened at RBS - now propped up with £50billion of taxpayers' cash.
But the woman's QC Hugh Tomlinson yesterday insisted: "There is no evidence that the relationship had anything to do with the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland. There is no evidence of wrongdoing."
He claimed there was no public interest in revealing her name.
No complaints were ever made about married dad-of-two Sir Fred, who was forced out in 2008 after eight years at the helm. The woman also insists she was not promoted during the affair.
Last month Mr Justice Tugendhat lifted a ban preventing newspapers revealing that Sir Fred had an affair with the woman.
He made the ruling after Liberal Democrat peer Lord Stoneham used Parliamentary privilege to name the fallen banker in the House of Lords.
The Financial Services Authority will examine whether there was any breach of corporate governance rules.
Sir Fred was nicknamed Fred the Shred for his brutal costcutting style. He swaggered off with a pension of £700,000 a year and a lump sum of nearly £3million.
But following public outrage he agreed to reduce his payout by £342,000 a year. He lives in a mansion with Joyce, his wife of more than 20 years.
A High Court judge made the original gagging order in March after Sir Fred discovered The Sun planned to reveal the affair.
The Sun was even blocked from identifying Sir Fred as a banker. A ruling is expected at the end of next week

£7m blown on treats for fatcat Eurocrats

Fury at taxpayers' cash wasted

£24,500 bill ... EU President Jose Manuel Barroso

FREELOADING Eurocrats have spent £7million of taxpayers' cash on private jets, posh hotels and even Tiffany jewellery.

EU chiefs blew the vast sums as recession-hit economies across Europe face massive budget cuts and beg for billions in IMF bail-outs.
The shameful waste includes £6.5MILLION on private jet travel for Commissioners between 2006 and 2010. Another £17,500 went on luxury gifts for guest speakers between 2008 and 2010.
The presents included Tiffany jewellery, cufflinks and fountain pens.
In 2009, cocktail parties alone accounted for £260,000 of expenditure.
A £24,500 bill was run up by EU President Jose Manuel Barroso and eight aides during a four-night stay at New York's £680-a-night Peninsula Hotel.
Officials splashed out £65,700 for an event in Amsterdam where guests were promised a "night filled with wonder".
The Commission also treated officials and their families to away days at top resorts in Papua New Guinea and Ghana.
On one occasion, a delegation of 44 Commission staff based in Hanoi, Vietnam, were flown to the country's five-star Palm Garden Resort at Cua Dai Beach for an "annual away day".

Enlarge

Eurocrats' expenses ... click to see more

It was designed to "facilitate internal co-operation".
Last November it emerged Brussels bureaucrats blew £160,000 on a fitness centre for dogs. It never opened.
The latest figures have been unearthed by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism at London's City University.
The Commission is currently proposing a 4.9 per cent rise in its 2012 budget. In October 2010 PM David Cameron claimed victory after keeping the increase this year to 2.9 per cent. It was set to be six per cent.
But it still meant an extra £430million for Europe's coffers.
Emma Boon, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "This is a disgrace.
"They are spending on luxury goods and private jets whilst we are cutting spending at home."Independent Austrian MEP Martin Ehrehauser said: "This makes the gap between citizens and the EU bureaucracy even bigger and deeper."
The European Commission confirmed the figures but insisted the spending was "justified."

£7m blown on treats for fatcat Eurocrats

Fury at taxpayers' cash wasted

£24,500 bill ... EU President Jose Manuel Barroso

FREELOADING Eurocrats have spent £7million of taxpayers' cash on private jets, posh hotels and even Tiffany jewellery.

EU chiefs blew the vast sums as recession-hit economies across Europe face massive budget cuts and beg for billions in IMF bail-outs.
The shameful waste includes £6.5MILLION on private jet travel for Commissioners between 2006 and 2010. Another £17,500 went on luxury gifts for guest speakers between 2008 and 2010.
The presents included Tiffany jewellery, cufflinks and fountain pens.
In 2009, cocktail parties alone accounted for £260,000 of expenditure.
A £24,500 bill was run up by EU President Jose Manuel Barroso and eight aides during a four-night stay at New York's £680-a-night Peninsula Hotel.
Officials splashed out £65,700 for an event in Amsterdam where guests were promised a "night filled with wonder".
The Commission also treated officials and their families to away days at top resorts in Papua New Guinea and Ghana.
On one occasion, a delegation of 44 Commission staff based in Hanoi, Vietnam, were flown to the country's five-star Palm Garden Resort at Cua Dai Beach for an "annual away day".

Enlarge

Eurocrats' expenses ... click to see more

It was designed to "facilitate internal co-operation".
Last November it emerged Brussels bureaucrats blew £160,000 on a fitness centre for dogs. It never opened.
The latest figures have been unearthed by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism at London's City University.
The Commission is currently proposing a 4.9 per cent rise in its 2012 budget. In October 2010 PM David Cameron claimed victory after keeping the increase this year to 2.9 per cent. It was set to be six per cent.
But it still meant an extra £430million for Europe's coffers.
Emma Boon, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "This is a disgrace.
"They are spending on luxury goods and private jets whilst we are cutting spending at home."Independent Austrian MEP Martin Ehrehauser said: "This makes the gap between citizens and the EU bureaucracy even bigger and deeper."
The European Commission confirmed the figures but insisted the spending was "justified."

What’s she wearing? Not a lot!

Paul Daniels' shock at nude lesbian's tweets

Tweets ... magician Paul Daniels

MAGICIAN Paul Daniels claims he is being stalked by a nude lesbian young enough to be his granddaughter.

Veteran TV star Paul, 73, said the 27-year-old brunette has sent him dozens of X-rated photos.
His agent described the woman, a model and student, as "a nutter" who has bombarded him on Twitter.
Yet she and Paul - famed for his "Not a lot!" catchphrase - have exchanged at least 300 messages on the social networking site over five months, most recently last Monday.
In one exchange, the woman wrote: "No one saw me just run screaming like a girl past the spider to the kitchen in my underwear, right?"
To which Paul - who has been married to stage sidekick Debbie McGee for 23 years - replied: "There's never a video when you want one."
In another tweet Paul jokingly poses the question of whether he should be "proud" of being in contact with a nude model in her 20s - then adds: "Maybe not."

Veteran TV star ... Paul Daniels with wife Debbie McGee

Rex

The woman is a member of a number of lesbian dating websites and brags on Twitter that she is bisexual.
Her Facebook profile shows her topless, covering her breasts with her arms. She has also posted other saucy photos online in just her undies.
Paul's agent Chris Davis said: "She is a nutter on Twitter who has been stalking not only Paul, but Debbie as well.

Jokey ... message from telly star Paul asking if he should be 'proud of it'

"She has been having an affair with a nurse up North. She is a nude model. She sends Paul regular nude pictures of herself.

"Since she got in touch with him on Twitter and bombarded him, he has just stayed close and sort of polite."
The alleged stalker lives in the South East. Paul and Debbie, 52, have a luxury home in Wargrave, Berks.
One friend of the woman said she had been boasting about having contact with the TV star and claiming to have met him several times.
The pal added: "She couldn't shut up about Paul. It's all very weird."

What’s she wearing? Not a lot!

Paul Daniels' shock at nude lesbian's tweets

Tweets ... magician Paul Daniels

MAGICIAN Paul Daniels claims he is being stalked by a nude lesbian young enough to be his granddaughter.

Veteran TV star Paul, 73, said the 27-year-old brunette has sent him dozens of X-rated photos.
His agent described the woman, a model and student, as "a nutter" who has bombarded him on Twitter.
Yet she and Paul - famed for his "Not a lot!" catchphrase - have exchanged at least 300 messages on the social networking site over five months, most recently last Monday.
In one exchange, the woman wrote: "No one saw me just run screaming like a girl past the spider to the kitchen in my underwear, right?"
To which Paul - who has been married to stage sidekick Debbie McGee for 23 years - replied: "There's never a video when you want one."
In another tweet Paul jokingly poses the question of whether he should be "proud" of being in contact with a nude model in her 20s - then adds: "Maybe not."

Veteran TV star ... Paul Daniels with wife Debbie McGee

Rex

The woman is a member of a number of lesbian dating websites and brags on Twitter that she is bisexual.
Her Facebook profile shows her topless, covering her breasts with her arms. She has also posted other saucy photos online in just her undies.
Paul's agent Chris Davis said: "She is a nutter on Twitter who has been stalking not only Paul, but Debbie as well.

Jokey ... message from telly star Paul asking if he should be 'proud of it'

"She has been having an affair with a nurse up North. She is a nude model. She sends Paul regular nude pictures of herself.

"Since she got in touch with him on Twitter and bombarded him, he has just stayed close and sort of polite."
The alleged stalker lives in the South East. Paul and Debbie, 52, have a luxury home in Wargrave, Berks.
One friend of the woman said she had been boasting about having contact with the TV star and claiming to have met him several times.
The pal added: "She couldn't shut up about Paul. It's all very weird."

'Space station' found on Mars

Final approach ... armchair astronaut takes viewers towards the Red Planet

A GOOGLE geek has found what he believes is a 'space station' on Mars.

He found the spec on the Red Planet by accident but has provided fellow explorers with the coordinates of the 'object' so they can discover it for themselves.
American armchair astronaut David Martines posted a clip of his trip to the surface of the planet on YouTube.
He used the search giant's maps of the astral body and his video has already clocked up a staggering 58,000 views.
David explains how he found the 'space station' or possibly 'power station' quite by accident at coordinates 71 49'19.73"N 29 33'06.53"W.
Unlike mountains and other features on the surface, the white 'building' appears to have blue and red stripes painted on it.
According to David's calculations it is also huge - measuring 700ft long by 150ft wide.

Video: 'Space station' found on Red Planet

ARMCHAIR astronaut says surprise object could be power station on Mars

• News

He said: "This is a video of something I discovered on Google Mars quite by accident.
"I call it Bio-station Alpha, because I'm just assuming that something lives in it or has lived in it.
"It's very unusual in that it's quite large, it's over 700 feet long and 150 feet wide, it looks like it's a cylinder or made up of cylinders.

"It could be a power station or it could be a biological containment or it could be a glorified garage - hope it's not a weapon.
"Whoever put it up there had a purpose I'm sure. I couldn't imagine what the purpose was. I couldn't imagine why anybody would want to live on Mars.
"It could be a way station for weary space travellers. It could also belong to NASA, I don't know that they would admit that.
"I don't know if they could pull off such a project without all the people seeing all the material going up there. I sort of doubt NASA has anything to do with this.
"I don't know if NASA even knows about this."

'Space station' found on Mars

Final approach ... armchair astronaut takes viewers towards the Red Planet

A GOOGLE geek has found what he believes is a 'space station' on Mars.

He found the spec on the Red Planet by accident but has provided fellow explorers with the coordinates of the 'object' so they can discover it for themselves.
American armchair astronaut David Martines posted a clip of his trip to the surface of the planet on YouTube.
He used the search giant's maps of the astral body and his video has already clocked up a staggering 58,000 views.
David explains how he found the 'space station' or possibly 'power station' quite by accident at coordinates 71 49'19.73"N 29 33'06.53"W.
Unlike mountains and other features on the surface, the white 'building' appears to have blue and red stripes painted on it.
According to David's calculations it is also huge - measuring 700ft long by 150ft wide.

Video: 'Space station' found on Red Planet

ARMCHAIR astronaut says surprise object could be power station on Mars

• News

He said: "This is a video of something I discovered on Google Mars quite by accident.
"I call it Bio-station Alpha, because I'm just assuming that something lives in it or has lived in it.
"It's very unusual in that it's quite large, it's over 700 feet long and 150 feet wide, it looks like it's a cylinder or made up of cylinders.

"It could be a power station or it could be a biological containment or it could be a glorified garage - hope it's not a weapon.
"Whoever put it up there had a purpose I'm sure. I couldn't imagine what the purpose was. I couldn't imagine why anybody would want to live on Mars.
"It could be a way station for weary space travellers. It could also belong to NASA, I don't know that they would admit that.
"I don't know if they could pull off such a project without all the people seeing all the material going up there. I sort of doubt NASA has anything to do with this.
"I don't know if NASA even knows about this."

Li a win away from making history

LI NA is once again one win away from changing history.

The Chinese star, 29, booked her place in the French Open final today after swatting aside Maria Sharapova in Paris.
Back in January, Li had the chance to spark what many hope will be a monumental tennis boom in Asia.
That time Kim Clijsters ensured she went home empty handed.
But now she has another chance.
And the way she dispatched poor old Shazza gives the indication that this time there will be no messing around.
If Li manages to become the first ever Asian woman to win a Grand Slam , the boost it will give to the game in her homeland should not be discounted.
Tennis isn't as popular as it should be in those parts.
There is interest, but other sports dwarf it.
Beating Francesca Schiavone, the reigning champ from Italy, will not be easy.
The way she dealt with a partisan home crowd desperate for Marion Bartoli to win in straight sets spoke volumes for her grit and character.
Fifth seed Schiavone, who will turn 31 in three weeks' time, said: "I hope my experience from the final last year will help. It's a dream come true to reach another final.
"But Li has had an amazing year. She was in the Australian Open when she lost to Kim Clijsters. It will be tough. She is a great player and a great person, but someone has to win."
You have to admire Schiavone but you feel watching Li carve her own special place in the history books will be extra special.
It could change the game forever.
And when you consider the somewhat dire state of women's tennis right now, that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Li a win away from making history

LI NA is once again one win away from changing history.

The Chinese star, 29, booked her place in the French Open final today after swatting aside Maria Sharapova in Paris.
Back in January, Li had the chance to spark what many hope will be a monumental tennis boom in Asia.
That time Kim Clijsters ensured she went home empty handed.
But now she has another chance.
And the way she dispatched poor old Shazza gives the indication that this time there will be no messing around.
If Li manages to become the first ever Asian woman to win a Grand Slam , the boost it will give to the game in her homeland should not be discounted.
Tennis isn't as popular as it should be in those parts.
There is interest, but other sports dwarf it.
Beating Francesca Schiavone, the reigning champ from Italy, will not be easy.
The way she dealt with a partisan home crowd desperate for Marion Bartoli to win in straight sets spoke volumes for her grit and character.
Fifth seed Schiavone, who will turn 31 in three weeks' time, said: "I hope my experience from the final last year will help. It's a dream come true to reach another final.
"But Li has had an amazing year. She was in the Australian Open when she lost to Kim Clijsters. It will be tough. She is a great player and a great person, but someone has to win."
You have to admire Schiavone but you feel watching Li carve her own special place in the history books will be extra special.
It could change the game forever.
And when you consider the somewhat dire state of women's tennis right now, that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Neil deals out Ramage reward

PETER RAMAGE has agreed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at QPR until 2012.

The defender, 27, has made 74 appearances for the club since his arrival from Newcastle in 2008.
But he spent most of last season in the treatment room due to a knee injury.
Ramage played in the final two fixtures of Rangers' Championship-winning campaign and boss Neil Warnock revealed the new deal is dependent on his fitness.
Warncock said: "Peter deserves this new contract.
"Obviously he's got to prove his fitness again in pre-season, but someone with his quality, attitude and love for the game is always worth having on board.
"He's a great man and a great character in the dressing room."
Ramage has a point to prove and is determined to prove Warnock's loyalty was well placed as the club prepare for their return to the Premier League.
He said: "I always wanted to stay here and the gaffer made it clear from the day I got injured that he'd give me a chance, so now it's up to me to repay the faith he's shown in me.
"I always had confidence that I'd get a new deal, but it's great to put pen to paper.
"Now I can focus all my attentions on getting ready for pre-season in early July.
"I feel I've got a point to prove and a lot to offer this club.
"I've got a great feeling for the place now and I'm proud to be a QPR player.
"Next season will be tough - we're under no illusions. But we've got great team spirit, coupled with some real quality and we're all excited about the challenge that lies ahead."

Neil deals out Ramage reward

PETER RAMAGE has agreed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at QPR until 2012.

The defender, 27, has made 74 appearances for the club since his arrival from Newcastle in 2008.
But he spent most of last season in the treatment room due to a knee injury.
Ramage played in the final two fixtures of Rangers' Championship-winning campaign and boss Neil Warnock revealed the new deal is dependent on his fitness.
Warncock said: "Peter deserves this new contract.
"Obviously he's got to prove his fitness again in pre-season, but someone with his quality, attitude and love for the game is always worth having on board.
"He's a great man and a great character in the dressing room."
Ramage has a point to prove and is determined to prove Warnock's loyalty was well placed as the club prepare for their return to the Premier League.
He said: "I always wanted to stay here and the gaffer made it clear from the day I got injured that he'd give me a chance, so now it's up to me to repay the faith he's shown in me.
"I always had confidence that I'd get a new deal, but it's great to put pen to paper.
"Now I can focus all my attentions on getting ready for pre-season in early July.
"I feel I've got a point to prove and a lot to offer this club.
"I've got a great feeling for the place now and I'm proud to be a QPR player.
"Next season will be tough - we're under no illusions. But we've got great team spirit, coupled with some real quality and we're all excited about the challenge that lies ahead."

Fury at UK 'asylum amnesty'

EXPLOSIVE claims that border police introduced an unofficial asylum "amnesty" that let over 160,000 immigrants stay in the UK have sparked fury.

In a damning report, the Home Affairs Select Committee said the UK Border Agency had used the desperate measure to help clear an enormous backlog.
A staggering 161,000 asylum seekers - or 40 per cent of unresolved cases - were given leave to stay in Britain.
Committee chairman Keith Vaz slammed the findings saying the UKBA was not "fit for purpose".
The report said: "We understand that ministers would have been unwilling to announce an amnesty for the applicants caught up in this backlog, not least because this might be interpreted as meaning that the UK was prepared more generally to relax its approach towards migration.
"But we consider that in practice an amnesty has taken place, at considerable cost to the taxpayer."

Immigrants

The report added: "The net result is that a very large number of people remain in the UK who either have no right to be here or who would have been removed had their cases been dealt with in a timely manner."
The report estimated that 74,500 cases were dropped because the immigrants could not be found.
And just 38,000 were booted out of the UK by officials.
Critics of the influx were furious as immigration minister Damian Green continued to deny any amnesty today.
Outraged Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said: "David Cameron has previously slapped down fellow Conservatives for daring to suggest an amnesty for illegal immigrants yet it appears this is exactly what is happening.
"In order to maintain an effective immigration system, those that have overstayed their visas and therefore have no right to legally be in the UK need to be removed, not covertly merged into society.
"The system is not working and with cuts to the UK Border Agency's budget, it can only get worse."
Mr Vaz said doubts remained over the agency's ability to handle its remit.

Damning ... Keith Vaz says UKBA is not 'fit for purpose'

He said: "While there is no doubt that individual caseworkers are dedicated and hard-working, there are serious concerns over the agency's ability to deal with cases and respond to intelligence swiftly and thoroughly. "The Government is set on reducing immigration to the tens of thousands and effectively controlling immigration.
"It will have to ensure that the UK Border Agency begins to focus on the outcome rather than the processes of their work."

Clamp

The report is yet another blow for the Government, which has vowed to clamp down on immigration.
But last week, new figures showed net migration had soared to a six-year high of 242,000.
Ministers say they will slash the number of visas being given to foreigners, and tighten border controls, to help deal with the problem.
Today Mr Green claimed there had been no big leap in the number of people granted leave to remain, insisting the "40 per cent grant rate has been pretty consistent since 2005".
He said: "I would accept there was some truth in the allegations of an amnesty if there had been a big leap in that 40 per cent figure under this Government. But actually the opposite is the case."
He said the the Government "inherited a shambles", adding: "The immigration system, which was completely chaotic, is getting better.
"Inevitably, when you are turning around as big a problem as this it is going to take a few years, but we can see measurable progress in the first year of this Government."
Asylum claims were at their lowest in 20 years, he claimed, and the Government was cracking down on sham marriages and abuse of student visas.
Shadow home office minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "This is woeful mismanagement."
He continued: "Following the Government's decision to cut over 5,000 staff from the UKBA, we have repeatedly warned the Home Office that enforcement will suffer as a result.

"This report shows that managers and staff at UKBA consistently say there are not sufficient resources to track and return illegal immigrants."
He added: "This is woeful mismanagement from the Home Office, adding to the confusion surrounding their policy.
"We still do not know whether their promise of cutting net migration to the tens of thousands by 2015 is Government policy or not, while enforcement of the UK's borders is being undermined by cuts.
"The Conservatives made big promises on immigration, but they are failing to deliver."

Fury at UK 'asylum amnesty'

EXPLOSIVE claims that border police introduced an unofficial asylum "amnesty" that let over 160,000 immigrants stay in the UK have sparked fury.

In a damning report, the Home Affairs Select Committee said the UK Border Agency had used the desperate measure to help clear an enormous backlog.
A staggering 161,000 asylum seekers - or 40 per cent of unresolved cases - were given leave to stay in Britain.
Committee chairman Keith Vaz slammed the findings saying the UKBA was not "fit for purpose".
The report said: "We understand that ministers would have been unwilling to announce an amnesty for the applicants caught up in this backlog, not least because this might be interpreted as meaning that the UK was prepared more generally to relax its approach towards migration.
"But we consider that in practice an amnesty has taken place, at considerable cost to the taxpayer."

Immigrants

The report added: "The net result is that a very large number of people remain in the UK who either have no right to be here or who would have been removed had their cases been dealt with in a timely manner."
The report estimated that 74,500 cases were dropped because the immigrants could not be found.
And just 38,000 were booted out of the UK by officials.
Critics of the influx were furious as immigration minister Damian Green continued to deny any amnesty today.
Outraged Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said: "David Cameron has previously slapped down fellow Conservatives for daring to suggest an amnesty for illegal immigrants yet it appears this is exactly what is happening.
"In order to maintain an effective immigration system, those that have overstayed their visas and therefore have no right to legally be in the UK need to be removed, not covertly merged into society.
"The system is not working and with cuts to the UK Border Agency's budget, it can only get worse."
Mr Vaz said doubts remained over the agency's ability to handle its remit.

Damning ... Keith Vaz says UKBA is not 'fit for purpose'

He said: "While there is no doubt that individual caseworkers are dedicated and hard-working, there are serious concerns over the agency's ability to deal with cases and respond to intelligence swiftly and thoroughly. "The Government is set on reducing immigration to the tens of thousands and effectively controlling immigration.
"It will have to ensure that the UK Border Agency begins to focus on the outcome rather than the processes of their work."

Clamp

The report is yet another blow for the Government, which has vowed to clamp down on immigration.
But last week, new figures showed net migration had soared to a six-year high of 242,000.
Ministers say they will slash the number of visas being given to foreigners, and tighten border controls, to help deal with the problem.
Today Mr Green claimed there had been no big leap in the number of people granted leave to remain, insisting the "40 per cent grant rate has been pretty consistent since 2005".
He said: "I would accept there was some truth in the allegations of an amnesty if there had been a big leap in that 40 per cent figure under this Government. But actually the opposite is the case."
He said the the Government "inherited a shambles", adding: "The immigration system, which was completely chaotic, is getting better.
"Inevitably, when you are turning around as big a problem as this it is going to take a few years, but we can see measurable progress in the first year of this Government."
Asylum claims were at their lowest in 20 years, he claimed, and the Government was cracking down on sham marriages and abuse of student visas.
Shadow home office minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "This is woeful mismanagement."
He continued: "Following the Government's decision to cut over 5,000 staff from the UKBA, we have repeatedly warned the Home Office that enforcement will suffer as a result.

"This report shows that managers and staff at UKBA consistently say there are not sufficient resources to track and return illegal immigrants."
He added: "This is woeful mismanagement from the Home Office, adding to the confusion surrounding their policy.
"We still do not know whether their promise of cutting net migration to the tens of thousands by 2015 is Government policy or not, while enforcement of the UK's borders is being undermined by cuts.
"The Conservatives made big promises on immigration, but they are failing to deliver."

World's most expensive kebab costs £750

Chef creates don of doners

Don ... most expensive kebab in the world at £750

A CHEF has created the most expensive kebab in the world.

The dish has moved on from being a humble doner to include saffron-infused flat bread, milk-fed lamb from the Pyrenees and even edible GOLD.
The aptly titled 'King of Kebabs' uses gold leaf for a finishing flourish and champagne-infused mint and cucumber yoghurt completes the luxury — no wonder it costs a whopping £750.
Chef Andy Bates created the kebab to mark the launch of The Great Food Truck Race TV show, celebrating street food.
Andy said: "It took a fair bit of time to source the best possible ingredients to ensure that this kebab was the most exclusive one out there but I loved every minute."

Feast ... Sun man Lup tucks into kebab

The breakdown in full for the ultimate doner is:

Shoulder of milk-fed lamb - £84
Coeur de Boeuf tomatoes - £20
Micro Cress and Bibb Salad - £11.95
Chili Peppers - £35
Barrel Aged Feta Cheese - £54.20
Laudemio Extra Virgin Olive Oil - £26.95
Purple violet potatoes - £15
Edible gold leaf and platinum - £130
Saffron - £138
Krug Champagne - £195
Other ingredients (garlic, lemon, salsa, mint, cucumber, yoghurt) - £40
Total: £750.10

The Great Food Truck Race airs on June 6 on Food Network UK.