AV claims 'can be investigated'

25 April 2011 last updated at 09: 12 GMT the referendum of 5 May was a Liberal Democrats condition for the entry of coalition with the Tories. The Electoral Commission says that it can claims of dishonesty during the referendum campaign AV examine.

Liberal Democrats Minister Chris Huhne threatened legal action over "Lies" he said conservative to the alternative vote system had told.

There are special laws in relation to claims of dishonesty during the parliamentary election campaigns.

The Commission said the BBC is not a body with the power to investigate claims during a referendum campaign.

The referendum of 5 May was a Liberal Democrat condition for the entry of coalition with the Tories.

But with all Lib Dems in the Cabinet, secure the change and their Tory counterparts, however, speak, the two parties, which the coalition have been increasingly pitted against each other during the campaign.

"False claims"

Chris Huhne, who refused to exclude resignation as Minister for energy by the tensions, said on Sunday that Tory ministers back up the ' no ' campaign its credibility undermined by the false claims about the costs of introducing AV

He threatened legal action on the "extraordinary claim" by Chancellor George Osborne, that expensive new voting machines are required to the voices include a choice of AV rules place.

"Australia used [AV] for 80 years without ever voting machines." If not, there are simple appeal, "he said those who can prove." "they had better clean quickly come."

Belittling the disagreement, former Lib Dem leader, who said Sir Menzies Campbell labour was divided as in the question of the series

"Of course it we know quite a few conservatives are not fully reconciled to the Coalition," he told BBC Radio 4 today program.

"Perhaps they will be satisfied by the term, which do not overwhelm David Cameron on Nick Clegg is."

Former Tory leader Lord Howard said there was a "very important issue at stake" in the referendum, and both coalition partners had "different views".

"The truth is that these two parties with different traditions and different views on many issues, which together have come for the most of the country work together," he said.

"The need that most of the country together work will be just as big on May 6."

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Ombudsman claims: order review

15 April 2011 last updated at 17: 15 GMT Sam Pollock has its role end, on "Interference" of senior officials, an independent review into the allegations of the Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman establishes Justice Minister David Ford.

Sam Pollock resigned from his ￡ 90,000 a year job after claims was undermining the independence of the Office has, through intervention by senior officials.

Mr Ford said that he charged would announce the person with the rating "in the coming days".

Office of the Ombudsman has rejected the claims of interference.

Mr Ford, said in an interview with the BBC on Friday night, that he with "senior official" early next week would meet the test set up.

He said, he had personally seen no evidence, true, but refused the allegations would be next comment.

"The people who I have to work for me the clear impression given me, which they committed that devolution will work."

"I no reason independence had until now doubt (the Ombudsman)," he added.

Ulster Unionist David McNarry and Sinn Féin Alex Maskey said that the allegations raised "serious" problems.

David McNarry said it was an "extraordinary and shocking state".

He said "This a big question mark of the Office of the Ombudsman and a number of high officials in the Ministry of Justice has left,".

"It is a very serious matter and David Ford answer whether its officials must be the reason for the Mr Pollock's departure."

"We need to find out, if he too far, pushed is whether his allegations are founded, the matter can be resolved and what happens to his successor".

The Ombudsman, Al Hutchinson, has strongly rejected proposals undermining the independence of the Office.

Mr Hutchinson, said the independence of the Ombudsman's "guaranteed by law" and he was able to confirm that "independence both real and practical, as our records show".

"It would be different, so I say," he added.

Alex Maskey a rigorous investigation was necessary, said: "We need to go to the bottom of this.".

"As I understand, Mr Pollock's accusations back on previously go the Ministry of justice it was as if it has any notion of errors, or if available on the Ombudsman's independence undermined totally unacceptable."

Catastrophic

"Our party and the people we represent one of the reasons, were able to endorse and support police was that it was an independent body such as the Ombudsman."

"This independence was the key to the architecture to keep our future and the need for police and justice, of our communities"

"All shaking of confidence could be catastrophic".

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said that appropriate arrangements in place, to the arrangements for the accountability of public funds were meeting.

It said if there was evidence to suggest that any officials had behaved wrong, the fully in would be considered, but no such evidence was submitted had.

Mr Pollock claimed that he his concern was subjected to vicious personal attacks to increase.

He has opened Chief Executive, the Office ten-and a half years.

Prior to that he had stretches a long and distinguished career within the criminal justice system, more than 40 years. This service was rewarded in 2005 with an OBE.

He will leave his post at the end of August.

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TEPCO may face $23 billion in claims

12 April 2011 last updated at 07: 43 GMT Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in the heart of Japan's nuclear crisis Tokyo electric power company (Tepco is) as much as 2 trillion yen either $23 billion (￡ 14 billion) in claims for damages, according to JP Morgan may face.

The company has the dispute was the radiation leak crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant contain nuclear.

On Tuesday Japan's nuclear and industrial agency raised the seriousness of the nuclear crisis in the work to level 7.

Japan has live people evacuated within a radius of 20 km of the plant.

The power station was engulfed worst affected one of the earthquake and tidal wave, much of Japan on 11 March.

If the company now the nuclear crisis abstain, their shares have one of the Tokyo Stock Exchange hit taken.

More than 75% of its value lost since 11 March that hits all-time lows, TEPCO have shares.

Continue reading the most important story

a central theme of damages is whether the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident is an inevitable natural disaster "

Tomohiro Jikihara quote end investors were JP Morgan through the effects of the crisis on the Unternehmensgewinn.Naturkatastrophe"

While it concerns about the huge compensation Bill may, that Tepco say face, analysts much will depend how to interpret a law for these cases.

In the Japanese law can operator of a nuclear facility of any responsibility be avoided, if the accident is a natural disaster of an exceptional character thrown have.

If the current crisis fits this classification will determine the course for Tepco, analysts say.

"A central theme of damages is whether the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident is an inevitable natural disaster," said Tomohiro Jikihara by JP Morgan.

The Japanese Government is still to decide whether it is classified the earthquake and tsunami as an extraordinary disaster.

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