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The head of Scotland Yard has told the racist thugs who continue to dodge justice over Stephen Lawrence’s murder: ‘We are after you.’ On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Stephen’s killing, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe renewed his pledge to catch the rest of the gang. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner offered to place anyone who has vital information about Stephen’s murder in the police witness protection scheme. He insisted he was confident his force would make further progress in the inquiry, and hinted his officers might one day visit one of the men already convicted of Stephen’s murder in prison. Sir Bernard’s bold words came in an interview marking the 20th anniversary next Monday of the A-level student’s murder. Asked what his message is to the killers who are still at large, he said, without referring to any suspects by name: ‘We are after you.’ His statement will pile pressure on unconvicted prime suspects Neil and Jamie Acourt, and their friend Luke Knight, who were famously na

rapped and seriously injured beneath the wreckage of his car, 76-year-old Herbert Schutz thought he was facing certain death. In agony and without protection from the elements, he knew the chances of being found quickly on his remote farm at the foot of an Australian mountain range were slim. But luckily for Mr Schutz, his faithful sheepdog Boydy was with him. Boydy knew just what to do – he snuggled next to his owner to keep him warm as temperatures fell to 4C (39F). He even refused to leave his master’s side when rescuers finally located them four days later. Mr Schutz became trapped after his four-wheel-drive vehicle crashed into a tree on his property near Rylstone, in central New South Wales, on Friday. He managed to clamber out but as he did so the car rolled over, pinning him under the chassis. He suffered a fractured skull, two broken hips and a dislocated shoulder. Neighbours set out to look for Mr Schutz after his worried daughter rang on Monday to tell them she had not be

A primary school is paying its caretaker £50,000 a year – double the wage of a newly qualified teacher. The caretaker, named only as Mr Wootton, receives a basic salary of £38,000. But the school has topped that up with an extra £14,500 for overtime and groundsmen duties which he carries out. By contrast qualified primary school teachers in the same area can expect to start on just £25,117. Despite education budget cuts, Mr Wootton has been enjoying the same generous basic salary for the past five years in his role as 'site manager', it was revealed yesterday. His pay is £13,000 more than the amount set aside for special educational needs at the school, Ravenscroft in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, according to its budget for 2010-11. Clacton MP Douglas Carswell yesterday strongly criticised the huge pay package and called on the school's management to 'get a grip'. Tory Mr Carswell, who has been governor at a neighbouring school, said it was unheard of for a caretaker to

Labour MPs suggested draconian measures could be introduced to regulate newspapers yesterday as the Culture Secretary said the Press would not be forced to sign up to the Royal Charter agreed by political parties and the Hacked Off lobby group. Labour’s media spokesman Harriet Harman suggested ‘full-on statutory regulation’ could be considered if papers do not comply. Other MPs called for the Government to find a ‘stick’ to beat the Press into line and said there would be a ‘clamour for something stronger’ if newspapers and magazines do not agree to the deal. All three political parties agreed the new system that will use a Royal Charter to establish a watchdog to oversee a regulator set up by the Press, after late-night talks in Ed Miliband’s office last month. Those who refuse to sign up to the body could be hit with exemplary damages in court cases. But Culture Secretary Maria Miller told MPs that papers cannot be forced to join since Lord Justice Leveson had recommended a voluntar

Ed Miliband could seize power with just 35 per cent of the vote, senior Labour figures calculate. Advisers to the Labour leader say a coalition of core voters and disaffected Liberal Democrats could put him in Downing Street. They point out that Tony Blair secured his third term in office with just over 35 per cent of the vote. Supporters claim the so-called '35 per cent strategy' would allow Mr Miliband to ignore the concerns of Middle England and focus on the demands of the unions and the Left. But the idea dismayed the party's remaining Blairites, who warn it would be disastrous to ignore the needs of the majority of the country even if they were not vital to secure power. Supporters of the approach believe Labour's core support is about 29 per cent of the electorate, with Lib Dem defections likely to boost that figure by at least six per cent in 2015. With the Lib Dems scuppering attempts to reform Britain's electoral system, Labour also still enjoys an inbuilt

Ministers engineered a partial climbdown over plans to reform Britain’s libel laws last night amid claims that they are strangling free speech. The Ministry of Justice said it would listen to complaints that the plans will allow big companies to silence their critics. MPs rejected plans passed by the House of Lords which would have made it impossible for a company to sue unless they could show that they have suffered significant financial loss. But Justice Minister Helen Grant last night offered to look again at the issue of financial losses - hinting that the government would bring in a fresh amendment in the House of Lords next week to strengthen the safeguards. She said: ‘I am aware of the strength of the feeling that exists on this particular issue and whether or not there should be specific provision in the Bill requiring non-natural persons, trading for profit, to show substantial financial loss. ‘Such bodies are likely in practise to show some actual or likely financial loss an

Energy giant nPower has admitted paying no UK corporation tax for three years despite making £766million in profits. The revelation emerged yesterday during fierce questioning of the company's chief executive by MPs. NPower joins Amazon, Google and Starbucks in coming under fire for making millions in Britain while contributing little to the Treasury's coffers. The company's average dual fuel bill has risen by £257 in just two years – leaving households facing punishing annual payments of £1,352. In theory, the £766million profits for the period 2009 to 2011 could have generated a tax bill of £200million rather than staying wholly with German parent company RWE and its shareholders. Ian Lavery, a Labour MP, suggested several of the 'big six' power firms were paying less corporation tax than they should – with nPower the worst offender. Paul Massara, who heads the firm, admitted it had paid no corporation tax in the three years. However, he insisted the situation wa