"UK couple face jail for killing 6 children in fire" by Jill Lawless | Associated Press, April 04, 2013
LONDON — The Englishman’s ramshackle existence took a horrifying turn when he and his wife set a fire that killed six of their children....
The May 2012 deaths and the twisting saga that ensued have shocked Britain and sparked debate on everything from sexism to Britain’s welfare system....
Related: UK minister asked to make good on welfare pledge
The jury — and the nation — got a close-up look during the trial at Mick Philpott’s messy life with his 32-year-old wife, Mairead, his girlfriend, and as many as 11 children in a three-bedroom public housing property in Derby. They heard of threesomes and public sex, of Philpott’s controlling behavior, and of his bizarre claim that he had not washed for 12 weeks before the fire.
Shortly before the fire, girlfriend Lisa Willis moved out, taking her five children with her. Philpott’s five children with Mairead and his wife’s 13-year-old son from a previous relationship remained in the home and died in the blaze.
After the fire, the Philpotts made an emotional appeal on television, with Mick describing how he had battled the flames to try to save his children.
But police soon grew suspicious of the couple’s erratic behavior and bugged the hotel room where they were staying. The jury was played recordings of Philpott asking his wife: ‘‘Are you sticking to the story?’’
The couple was arrested two weeks after the fire and charged with murder, later downgraded to manslaughter....
Steve Cotterill, the assistant chief constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, said it had been ‘‘one of, if not the most, upsetting cases any of us has ever investigated.’’
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Something else that has them fired up:
"11% pay hike to legislators roils Britain" Associated Press, July 12, 2013
LONDON — An independent watchdog has proposed an 11 percent pay raise for British members of Parliament despite stagnating public sector salaries.
And while the public is under the lash of banker-driven austerity?
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority announced recommendations Thursday to increase MPs’ annual salaries to around $112,000 by 2015 while reducing pensions and additional expenses.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told a London radio station it was ‘‘about the worst time to advocate a double-digit pay increase for MPs.’’
Authority chairman Ian Kennedy last week warned that avoiding an increase in salaries could lead to an expenses scandal similar in scale to the one that erupted in 2009 during the previous parliamentary term.
Well, it is an island. Into the sea with them then!
That emerged after freedom of information requests revealed some members of Parliament had abused their expense accounts by purchasing such items as model duck houses and pornographic movies. The scandal led to a series of resignations.
Just setting a good example for you all.
Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said Thursday former MP Denis MacShane is to be charged with false accounting over parliamentary expenses claims.
Kennedy said his agency’s proposals, which cannot be blocked by government, would end the era of MPs effectively setting their own salaries and bring their remuneration in line with private sector pay.
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