PM 'Preparing To Lift Grammar Schools Ban'

Theresa May is said to be planning to allow a new wave of grammar schools for the first time in 20 years. 

A government source suggested bringing back academic selection in state schools would be part of her agenda to increase social mobility.

But lifting the ban on new grammar schools, imposed by Labour in 1998, would be highly controversial and put her on a collision course with the teaching establishment. 

Mrs May attended a grammar school and recently allowed a new "annex" for one in her Maidenhead constituency, which is permitted within the law.

The green light for a new generation of grammars, which now account for just 163 of the 3,000 state secondaries in England, would cheer Tory backbenchers who failed to win David Cameron's backing.

Downing Street said: "The Prime Minister has been clear that we need to build a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

"Every child should be allowed to rise as far as their talents will take them and birth should never be a barrier.

"Policies on education will be set out in due course."

A government source told The Sunday Telegraph that grammars were about "social mobility and making sure that people have the opportunity to capitalise on all of their talents".

Education Secretary Justine Greening has said she is 'open' to reversing the ban

The report suggests an announcement may be made at the party conference in October.

Mr Cameron dropped the Conservative party's commitment to bringing back grammars in 2007 - accusing his party of "clinging to outdated mantras".

He said at the time that parents "don't want children divided into successes and failures at age 11".

He and his education secretary Michael Gove instead put their energies into expanding academies and free schools, which do not select by ability but are free from local authority control.

But Mrs May's education secretary Justine Greening said she was "open-minded" about allowing new grammar schools.

State-educated Miss Greening said the education system had changed "dramatically" from the "binary" choice between grammars and secondary modern schools of decades past. 

Her comments fuelled speculation that the new administration may change its policy by allowing some free schools and academies to introduce academic selection. 

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has vowed his party will work to block the move

Graham Brady MP, the chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, is a powerful supporter of grammar schools, who says they would "restore the ladder that used to take so many of us from modest backgrounds to the best universities and beyond".

But there are also strong opponents within the Tory party.

Ryan Shorthouse, of the Bright Blue think-tank of Tory modernisers recently said grammar schools are "not engines of social mobility" as only 3% of entrants are eligible for free schools meals, compared to an average of 18% of the children in these areas. 

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said bringing back grammars would be a "disaster" and warned that they make nearby schools worse. 

Reversing the ban would require a change in the law, which could come this autumn with a new schools bill.

There would be strong opposition from other parties.

Labour's former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said re-introducing grammar schools would be an "incredibly backward step".

She said: "All the evidence tells us that, far from giving working class kids chances, they entrench advantage and have become the preserve of the privately-tutored."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said his party "will work to block any Tory attempt to create grammar schools" - which his party could do in the House of Lords where the Tories lack a majority. 

PM 'Preparing To Lift Grammar Schools Ban'

Theresa May is said to be planning to allow a new wave of grammar schools for the first time in 20 years. 

A government source suggested bringing back academic selection in state schools would be part of her agenda to increase social mobility.

But lifting the ban on new grammar schools, imposed by Labour in 1998, would be highly controversial and put her on a collision course with the teaching establishment. 

Mrs May attended a grammar school and recently allowed a new "annex" for one in her Maidenhead constituency, which is permitted within the law.

The green light for a new generation of grammars, which now account for just 163 of the 3,000 state secondaries in England, would cheer Tory backbenchers who failed to win David Cameron's backing.

Downing Street said: "The Prime Minister has been clear that we need to build a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

"Every child should be allowed to rise as far as their talents will take them and birth should never be a barrier.

"Policies on education will be set out in due course."

A government source told The Sunday Telegraph that grammars were about "social mobility and making sure that people have the opportunity to capitalise on all of their talents".

Education Secretary Justine Greening has said she is 'open' to reversing the ban

The report suggests an announcement may be made at the party conference in October.

Mr Cameron dropped the Conservative party's commitment to bringing back grammars in 2007 - accusing his party of "clinging to outdated mantras".

He said at the time that parents "don't want children divided into successes and failures at age 11".

He and his education secretary Michael Gove instead put their energies into expanding academies and free schools, which do not select by ability but are free from local authority control.

But Mrs May's education secretary Justine Greening said she was "open-minded" about allowing new grammar schools.

State-educated Miss Greening said the education system had changed "dramatically" from the "binary" choice between grammars and secondary modern schools of decades past. 

Her comments fuelled speculation that the new administration may change its policy by allowing some free schools and academies to introduce academic selection. 

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has vowed his party will work to block the move

Graham Brady MP, the chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, is a powerful supporter of grammar schools, who says they would "restore the ladder that used to take so many of us from modest backgrounds to the best universities and beyond".

But there are also strong opponents within the Tory party.

Ryan Shorthouse, of the Bright Blue think-tank of Tory modernisers recently said grammar schools are "not engines of social mobility" as only 3% of entrants are eligible for free schools meals, compared to an average of 18% of the children in these areas. 

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said bringing back grammars would be a "disaster" and warned that they make nearby schools worse. 

Reversing the ban would require a change in the law, which could come this autumn with a new schools bill.

There would be strong opposition from other parties.

Labour's former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said re-introducing grammar schools would be an "incredibly backward step".

She said: "All the evidence tells us that, far from giving working class kids chances, they entrench advantage and have become the preserve of the privately-tutored."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said his party "will work to block any Tory attempt to create grammar schools" - which his party could do in the House of Lords where the Tories lack a majority. 

PM 'Preparing To Lift Grammar Schools Ban'

Theresa May is said to be planning to allow a new wave of grammar schools for the first time in 20 years. 

A government source suggested bringing back academic selection in state schools would be part of her agenda to increase social mobility.

But lifting the ban on new grammar schools, imposed by Labour in 1998, would be highly controversial and put her on a collision course with the teaching establishment. 

Mrs May attended a grammar school and recently allowed a new "annex" for one in her Maidenhead constituency, which is permitted within the law.

The green light for a new generation of grammars, which now account for just 163 of the 3,000 state secondaries in England, would cheer Tory backbenchers who failed to win David Cameron's backing.

Downing Street said: "The Prime Minister has been clear that we need to build a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

"Every child should be allowed to rise as far as their talents will take them and birth should never be a barrier.

"Policies on education will be set out in due course."

A government source told The Sunday Telegraph that grammars were about "social mobility and making sure that people have the opportunity to capitalise on all of their talents".

Education Secretary Justine Greening has said she is 'open' to reversing the ban

The report suggests an announcement may be made at the party conference in October.

Mr Cameron dropped the Conservative party's commitment to bringing back grammars in 2007 - accusing his party of "clinging to outdated mantras".

He said at the time that parents "don't want children divided into successes and failures at age 11".

He and his education secretary Michael Gove instead put their energies into expanding academies and free schools, which do not select by ability but are free from local authority control.

But Mrs May's education secretary Justine Greening said she was "open-minded" about allowing new grammar schools.

State-educated Miss Greening said the education system had changed "dramatically" from the "binary" choice between grammars and secondary modern schools of decades past. 

Her comments fuelled speculation that the new administration may change its policy by allowing some free schools and academies to introduce academic selection. 

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has vowed his party will work to block the move

Graham Brady MP, the chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, is a powerful supporter of grammar schools, who says they would "restore the ladder that used to take so many of us from modest backgrounds to the best universities and beyond".

But there are also strong opponents within the Tory party.

Ryan Shorthouse, of the Bright Blue think-tank of Tory modernisers recently said grammar schools are "not engines of social mobility" as only 3% of entrants are eligible for free schools meals, compared to an average of 18% of the children in these areas. 

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw has said bringing back grammars would be a "disaster" and warned that they make nearby schools worse. 

Reversing the ban would require a change in the law, which could come this autumn with a new schools bill.

There would be strong opposition from other parties.

Labour's former shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said re-introducing grammar schools would be an "incredibly backward step".

She said: "All the evidence tells us that, far from giving working class kids chances, they entrench advantage and have become the preserve of the privately-tutored."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said his party "will work to block any Tory attempt to create grammar schools" - which his party could do in the House of Lords where the Tories lack a majority. 

Armed Man Barricades Himself In Restaurant

An armed man covered in blood has barricaded himself in a restaurant in Germany, police have said.

It is unclear how he injured himself and what type of weapon he has on him.

Officers outside the eaterie in Saarbruecken, in southwest Germany, are trying to convince him to end the stand-off.

It is believed he is not holding anyone hostage.

He ran into the restaurant called Dubrovnik in the town centre on Sunday morning while shouting for everyone inside to leave, according to a report by German newspaper Bild.

Footage from the scene shows a police street cordon and several vehicles outside the building, including a marked police car.

Police said the man appeared to be mentally disturbed and there are no indications that it is a terrorism-related incident.

A police spokesman said the man appeared to be in an "exceptional psychological situation".

It is thought he is the son-in-law of the owner of the restaurant and is originally from Macedonia, but has lived in Germany for several years.

Some reports suggest he is a former employee.

More follows...

        

Oscar Pistorius Hospitalized

Oscar Pistorius has been treated at a private hospital in Pretoria after suffering injuries in jail.

The Paralympian was rushed to Kalafong Hospital from his Pretoria prison cell on Saturday, where he is serving a six-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He has since been returned to jail following treatment.

Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesman for the correctional services department, said Pistorius told officials that he suffered injuries after falling out of bed.

South African media reported that Pistorius also suffered injuries to his wrists.

Last month prosecutors said they would appeal Pistorius' six-year jail sentence, saying it was too lenient.

Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp in his home on Valentine's Day 2013.

Homes Hit By Fracking Could Get £10k

handouts of up to £10,000 for homes hit by fracking are being pledged in a major policy shift by Theresa May.

Under a scheme launched by George Osborne last year, councils in areas affected were set to receive payments from the Government.

But now cash will be paid direct to households from a fund which could hand out up to 10% of tax revenues from shale exploration.

In each area affected by fracking, mostly in the north of England, between 500 and 2,000 households would receive a cash payment.

That could total up to £10m per area.

:: Emotions Running High At Fracking Protest

The move is being hailed by ministers and fracking supporters as a generous windfall.

But it has been condemned by opponents as a cynical bribe.

Theresa May said: "The Government I lead will always be driven by the interests of the many - ordinary families for whom life is harder than many people in politics realise.

Fracking involves injecting shale rock with water, sand and chemicals 

"As I said on my first night as Prime Minister: when we take the big calls, we'll think not of the powerful but of you.
 
"This announcement is an example of putting those principles into action. It's about making sure people personally benefit from economic decisions that are taken - not just councils - and putting them back in control over their lives."
 
The move is also about the cost of energy. When she launched her bid for the Tory leadership last month, Mrs May pledged to tackle what she called "rocketing" energy bills hitting households.

There could be as much as 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas under the north of England

"I want to see an energy policy that emphasises the reliability of supply and lower costs for users," she said, barely an hour before her opponent Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the leadership contest and she was elected unopposed.

One of Mrs May's first acts as Prime Minister was to axe the Department for Energy and Climate Change, created by Labour, and move energy into a beefed-up Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Then, last week, the Prime Minister delayed approving the new £18bn Hinkley nuclear power station in Somerset because of concerns over Chinese involvement and about value for money for taxpayers and energy consumers.

Fracking is hugely controversial. It involves drilling deep into the earth and injecting shale rock with a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals to release the gas inside.

There has been strong opposition to fracking by affected communities

There could be as much as 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas under the north of England, providing more than 500 years of gas supply for the UK.

Supporters claim that post-Brexit, the falling pound makes it more expensive to import gas and boosts the case for a reliable supply of low-cost shale gas. But opponents say it is dangerous, because it requires huge amounts of water, causes pollution and earth tremors.

"Communities across the UK have made it clear that they don't want fracking," said Tony Bosworth of Friends of the Earth.

"A YouGov survey for the Sunday Times last year showed that, even where communities were offered £1m, they still remained opposed to fracking taking place near them.

"Communities won't suddenly be bribed into accepting this unpopular practice, which poses risks to people and the environment."

Greenpeace UK chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said: "The government has tried to sweeten the fracking pill with cash bribes before, and public opposition just kept on growing.

"The simple truth is that people's concerns about climate change and their local environment cannot be bought off with a wad of cash. You can't put a price on the quality of the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the beauty of our countryside.

"If Theresa May wants to show the UK open for business, she should reverse the policies that have harmed our vibrant clean energy sector and back the technologies that can supply cheap, home grown energy for decades to come."

Biggins 'Sorry' For Bisexual AIDS Remark

Christopher Biggins has apologised for saying AIDS is a "bisexual disease" during his time as a guest in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

The gay entertainer was removed from the house after saying that he believed bisexual individuals should take their share of the blame for helping to spread the disease.

Details of what he had said were revealed for the first time last night, although he was kicked out of the house on Friday.

"There were a lot of bisexuals who went to (third world) countries and had sex with those people and brought it back to their own families in America, and that's how it became a worldwide disease," he said.

Fellow contestant Renee Graziano then said she had been told by an unnamed CIA agent that AIDS was deliberately created to "kill off" third world countries, which Mr Biggins agreed could be true.

The show's producers called him into the Diary Room and said they had no option other than to remove him from the house for what they declared was his third use of "unacceptable language".

The entertainer was told his language was "unnaceptable"

His first reprimand came on Monday when he made comments about the Holocaust to Katie Waissel that were not aired by producers.

The 67-year-old was hauled into the diary room for a second time when he told Ms Graziano in a separate conversation: "I think the worst type is the bisexuals, what it is is people not wanting to admit they are gay."

On Friday he was called to the Diary Room again and a producer read out the charges to the shocked-looking entertainer.

"The rules regarding unacceptable language and behaviour were explained to you," he was told.

"On Monday, in a conversation with Katie, where she remarked she was not in the house to represent the Jewish community, your comment was plainly capable of causing offence to Katie and the viewing public.

"You have continued to use unacceptable language … which is capable of causing offence … do you have anything to say?"

Mr Biggins replied: "I'm very sorry and I'm very sad."

After being ordered to leave, Mr Biggins left the house immediately and the housemates were called to the sofa by Big Brother to be told the news.

DJ James Whale opted to collect Mr Biggins' suitcase from the storage room while the other housemates expressed their distress at his removal.

EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood said a prayer for their former housemate when he helped Whale pack up his belongings in the suitcase, while Samantha Fox burst into tears.

"I can't believe it, I'm upset," she said.

On Friday, Channel 5 said a transcript of comments circulating on social media and claiming to have been made by Mr Biggins was fake.