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The Chancellor of Oxford University has rejected calls to endow a college in honour of Margaret Thatcher – suggesting she cannot compete with Jesus. Lord Patten dismissed demands for the university to make good its snub to Lady Thatcher three decades after it refused her an honorary degree. He backed plans to set up a Thatcher scholarship at Somerville College, where Lady Thatcher earned her degree. But in a speech to journalists in Westminster, Lord Patten – a Cabinet minister under Mrs Thatcher – rejected calls by London Mayor Boris Johnson to name a college at Oxford University after her. He said: ‘You would either have to start a new college, which would be more expensive, or you would have to persuade Jesus [College] or Corpus Christi or Christ Church to change their name.’ Lord Patten then issued a barbed comment, saying: ‘It may be thought – however admirable she was – slightly pushing it to persuade Jesus to change its name.’ Campaigners have been demanding recognition for Lad

David Cameron last night sought to shrug off speculation about his leadership of the Tories – by hinting that any one of Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Michael Gove and George Osborne could succeed him. The Prime Minister said he was surrounded by ‘talented people’ and did not want them to be ‘shrinking violets’. Mr Cameron made his point after business and energy minister Michael Fallon, who is close to Downing Street, dropped a hint that Mrs May wants to lead the party. And the Home Secretary herself added fuel to the fire with a speech casting herself as the party’s new Iron Lady. Nonplussed: The Prime Minister deflected speculation about potential rivals to his leadership saying he was surrounded by 'talented people' Mrs May told colleagues pushing through unpopular cuts and reforms: ‘Whatever you do, don’t buckle.’ The Tories needed to do more to reassure voters about their motives, she said. In an interview with Bloomberg last night, Mr Cameron was asked if he was worr

No one can accuse Communities Secretary Eric Pickles of not taking his job seriously. While most ministers seem content with shaping national policy, Mr Pickles took direct action when he saw a group of travellers heading towards his constituency. He gave chase in his car and bravely confronted them after they pulled on to a cricket pitch. Mr Pickles – who has brought in a raft of measures aimed at preventing itinerants from setting up camp on greenfield land without permission – first noticed their convoy turning off a motorway as he drove towards his home. He then followed them and watched as the 40 travellers with their 15 caravans moved on to the cricket pitch at around 10pm last Thursday. The minister pulled over and asked them what they thought they were doing. Unhappy with their answers, he then called in the police and local council to deal with them.  One Tory source said the minister’s actions had led to Commons wags comparing him to a private investigator. He said: ‘We’re c

The BBC appears to spend taxpayers' money as if it comes from a cash machine, Lord Patten said today. The Chairman of the Corporation's Trust admitted the public’s trust in the BBC had been rocked by revelations about financial largesse and was braced for more damaging headlines over vast severance pay deals to departing executives. But he defended the cost of moving staff to the a new £1billion headquarters in Salford, insisting the only mistake was not keeping checks on how money was spent furnishing the new homes of employees who made the move north. Lord Patten said the public's trust in the BBC had been rocked by revelations about financial largesse and was braced for more damaging headlines over vast severance pay deals to departing executives The licence fee has been frozen at £145.50 until 2015, and Lord Patten warned that if it did not rise in future there would be a ‘storm’ of protest as services are switched off. But he lifted the lid on the attitude of sta

A family who created a makeshift annexe by putting a 26ft mobile home on the side of their house have been ordered to move it by planners. Grandmother Audrey Sells, 69, came  up with the cut-price idea after deciding  she needed to be closer to her married daughter, Tina Sanders, who helps to care for her. Instead of moving into the three-bedroom semi where Mrs Sanders lives with her  family, or building an extension, they paid £4,000 for the static caravan which now fills up the entire yard. The mobile home – which did not have planning permission – was installed last month. It has double glazing, mains  electricity and drainage, but there is no direct access to the house. Neighbours in Deal, Kent, are furious and say it makes their street look like a  travellers’ site. Planning officers at Dover District Council have now ruled that the ‘dominant and incongruous’ caravan adversely affects the character of the area and has to go. Mrs Sanders, 48, who lives with her husband  and two ch

It is often regarded as the British Army’s greatest military victory. Led into battle by the Duke of Wellington, UK troops routed Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, a triumph ushering in almost a century of peace and stability in Europe. But the Government is refusing to mark the battle’s 200th anniversary in 2015 amid suspicions it does not want to offend France. That decision is in stark contrast to Belgium - where the clash took place. The government in Brussels is spending at least £20million on commemorative events, including restoring the battlefield. A painting of the Battle of Waterloo, which will celebrate its bicentennial in 2015. The government has pledged little support to the occasion Instead, there will only be ‘initiatives’ at military museums and ‘some commemorative activity’ at the Duke’s former homes. The decision also contrasts with the major events organised to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in 2007 which involved an apology on

It's usually the length of a skirt that puts schoolgirls at odds with teachers over uniform policy. But the headmistress at one primary school has issued a fashion clampdown – on frilly socks. Elaborate ‘princess socks’, decorated with frills, bows and ribbons, are considered a ‘trip hazard’. Any pupil who flouts the rules will be told to replace them with another pair from Primark. A playground craze has seen pupils wearing increasingly elaborate 'princess' socks decorated with frills, bows and ribbons. But they have been banned at Kingsholm Primary School, in Gloucester Headmistress Jan Buckland turned against the flowery footwear after a pupil fell over - and sent a letter home to the parents of the 438 pupils, citing health and safety fears. She imposed a blanket ban on frills larger than 3cm The ban at Kingsholm Primary School in Gloucester came after one girl suffered a fall which was judged – in a health and safety assessment form – to have been caused by