17/12/2012 BBC News at One

The Connecticut shooting - President Obama says he'll use all

his powers to prevent further tragedies. 20 school children and

six adults were killed. The President makes clear he'll re-open

the debate on gun control. cannot tolerate this any more.

These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change.

Finding it harder to pay the Energy Bills. Claims nearly one-third of a

million people could face fuel poverty this Christmas. A police

officer is arrested on suspicion of leaking details about the former

Chief Whip's confrontation at the gates of Downing Street. Scotland

is expanding - the census revealed the population is the highest it's

ever been. Victory for England for the first time since 1984, 85, in

India. And an historic series win for England's cricketers in India.

Their first there for more than 25 years. Later on BBC London -

exposed the high street pharmacists selling addictive drugs. Why have

Welcome to the BBC News. President Obama says he will use whatever

powers he has to try and prevent further tragedies, following the

mass shooting at a school in Connecticut. Mr Obama told a multi-

-fate vigil in Newtown that the country had to change. 20 children

and six staff were shot dead by Adam Lanza, who then turned the gun

on himself. The first funeral of one of the victims will take place

later today. Our correspondent reports.

A moment for Newtown to come together, after the horror and the

heart-break. An interfaith prayer vigil for the dead. In his role as

the nation's comforter in chief, the President offered this

assurance. I come to offer the love and prayers of the nation. I am

very mindful that words can not match the depths of your sorrow,

nor can they heal your wounded hearts.

I can only hope it helps for you to know you're not alone.

President praised the teachers who died trying to protect their

charges. As families held their children tightly, he said mass

shootings couldn't be tolerated any more. We can't accept events like

this as routine. Are we really prepared to say we

are powerless? In the face of such carnage.

That the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say such violence

visited on our children, year, after year, after year are the

price of our freedom. As Newtown grieved for the 20 lost children,

Barack Obama named each one. Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Benjamin,

Avielle, Allison, God has called them all home.

Newtown is experiencing heart- rending sorrow.

Watching the President's speech, was an emotional experience for

many. His coming here is very momental.

It means a lot to everybody here. It raises a question that everybody

is thinking about. What else can we do? More should definitely be done.

There's got to be something because there's too many kids dying, too

many shootings. It doesn't belong anywhere. As this town mourns, the

President's call for meaningful action in the wake of these

killings will soon be tested. A senior Democrat will try and

introduce a law to ban assault weapons. The question is whether

the political climate has changed after this tragedy, so that such a

ban can pass. Let's pick that up now with our

correspondent, who joins us from Newtown. How much has the feeling

towards gun laws changed since what happened in Newtown? Well,

unfortunately in America they have seen mass shootings before, but I

think why this one particularly is so different is because it involves

children of such a young age and shot in such a brutal way using an

assault weapon. An assault weapon which had previously been banned by

federal law, but that law had lapsed in 2004. There is talk now

about having that reinstated. Certainly President Obama was here

last night, speaking at that memorial service and he vowed to

use all the powers of his office to make sure that something like this

never happened again. He didn't mention gun control specifically.

But there is increasing pressure for something to be done, possibly

to tighten the laws. Many States over the last few years have seen

laws against guns actually get more lenient.

Thank you. You can find out more about the

debate on gun laws in America and some profiles of some of those who

lost their lives in the Newtown shootings. It's on the BBC News

website. A further 300,000 people are likely

to have been pushed into fuel poverty by Christmas, according to

Government advisers. A household is considered to be fuel poor if more

than 10% of income is spent on Energy Bills. The big six energy

firms have all announced price rises this winter. The annual

direct debit bill per year is �1,000.

It's the perfect Christmas scene. With our energy prices up, and

winter upon us, the last thing many households will want this year is a

white Christmas. The latest figures suggest that a further 300,000

households will be pushed into fuel poverty by the latest rounds of

energy price hikes. Leaving 6.5 million households classed as fuel

poor. Some suggest the figure could go higher in the years to come.

And it is the vulnerable who suffer most. Over half of them are

pensioners. Around one-third have a disability or a long-term illness.

Around one fifth, or 20%, they have a child under five. With Energy

Bills already at record high levels, this report warns that the plight

of the fuel poor has never be more serious. What's more, there are now

real concerns that in the coming years our domestic Energy Bills

could go higher. Some fear that global gas prices

could be one of the main drivers. The Government's plans for low-

carbon energy will also increase our bills. Today, the energy

regulator confirmed we would all pay an extra �12 on average a year

to upgrade the electricity and gas networks. We know that people are

struggling with their bills. That is something we are very conscious

of. Our plans are designed to make sure that customers pay the minimum

for the necessary upgrades to the infrastructure.

The report calls for a step-change in the energy efficiency of our

housing stock. It warns that in England help for the fuel poor will

be cut by almost half. So what can the Government do? Gas prices will

have doubled by 2007. No-one can do anything about that. I am

determined to do as much as we can, whether on competition, to drive

down energy costs or whether in energy efficiency. That will not

help this Christmas, when for many, there'll be just one way to keep

bills low. The Queen is going to Downing Street tomorrow to attend a

Cabinet meeting as an observer. It is thought to be the first time a

monarch has done so since Queen Victoria's reign. She is expected

to sit next to the Prime Minister. Nick, how much is Downing Street

revealing about what is likely to happen tomorrow? Not a great deal.

It has to be said. The Queen, she has regular meetings with her Prime

Ministers. Perhaps, surprisingly, she has never attended a Cabinet

meeting. No monarch has since Queen Victoria. Tomorrow, the Queen will

come here to Downing Street. The purpose of the visit is to receive

a Diamond Jubilee gift from the Cabinet. They've had a kind of a

whip around and they are not revealing what they have raised or

what that gift is. A previous Government for a previous jubilee

bought her a silver coffee pot. She will join the Cabinet meeting, not

for the 90 minutes, be -- but it is thought for 30 minutes. Downing

Street are saying she will be an observer. She's not expected to

make any contributions. Judging by the sharp questions she asked at

the Bank of England last Thursday, you never know!

Thank you. Nick Clegg has set out the differences between his party

and their coalition partners, the Conservatives. Talking about some

of the themes on which the Liberal Democrats will contest the next

election, the Deputy Prime Minister said they had rejected extreme

welfare reforms and anchored the UK in the political centre-ground. Our

correspondent joins us from Westminster now.

Tomorrow, will be Nick Clegg's fifth anniversary as Lib Dem leader.

He spent half the time in Government, half in opposition. He

said he has kept the Conservatives in the centre-ground of British

politics T problem is it has cost him dear in electoral support.

Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in lock-step during the

first step of this Government. That is how Nick Clegg describes his

approach to date. Now that is to change and his poll ratings are

down in single figures. He said there'll be more disagreements with

David Cameron in coming months. can be a bit more relaxed and open

about the fact it is a process, a process by which decisions are

reached through deliberations, through argument, through

compromise. The party's future in Government would be in coalition,

said Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems would be those who tempered the

iedlogs of left and right. It is, at times like these, that Britain

needs a party rooted in the centre ground, which anchors the country

there. The Liberal Democrats are that

party. We're not centre-ground tourists.

The centre ground is our home. The strategy had already borne

fruit. It was his presence that stopped the Conservatives from

pushing through a further �10 billion of benefits cuts. We agreed

to update them all in line with the pay raises we can afford from the

public sector from 1%. We rejected the more extreme reforms that had

been put on the table. But after 2015 15 things like the winter fuel

allowance and free TV licenses for the elderly can be cut. It is not

sustainable to somehow say that people, multi-millionaire

pensioners still receive universal benefits across the board. It is

something we need to look at. was a pitch for the centre ground.

The problem is everyone else wants to be there too. Nick Clegg's

likening his new approach to the making of sausages. He wants the

public to know what goes into coalition policy and what he

insists is left out. I guess the taste test will be in the opinion

polls. Thank you. Nearly 60 MPs and peers from all parties have joined

forces to urge the Prime Minister to drop his plans to legalise same-

sex marriage in England and Wales. 35 of the parliamentarians are

Conservative MPs. They have signed an open letter in the Daily

Telegraph newspaper, warning that the Government does not have a

mandate to redefine marriage. The nurse who aparently killed herself

after she took a prank call at the hospital where the Duchess of

Cambridge was being treated has been buried. Her funeral in the

town of Shirva was attended by thousands of people, including

friends and family. Her final journey. Jacintha Saldanha's coffin

arriving at Shirva's church. Her family, joined by friends and

hundreds of well-wishers, as the kas ket is taken in for the service.

This tragedy has been closely followed in India. And the media

were out in full force. It's been the wish of Jacintha Saldanha's

family that the ceremony inside remain private. So many people have

gathered here today to pay their last respects. The police have had

a very hard time controlling the crowds. This is an event that has

devastated this very close, tightly-knit community. Many people

are raising questions, wondering how this could have happened in the

first place. Her final resting place is in this grave at the

Church cemetery. Mrs Saldanha's husband, who brought her body from

the UK, inspected it earlier in the day. The Church service was

proceeded by a private ceremony at the family home. Only those closest

Most families here have a loved one living and working abroad. So this

is a tragedy that has struck home. Many are asking why and what caused

Jacintha Saldanha's death? There is anger and anguish and many

unanswered questions. Our top story:

The Connecticut school shooting, President Obama says he will use

all of his powers to prevent further tragedies.

Coming up: The vulnerability of the local vicar, how some are now

considering closing their doors. On BBC London: The inquest into the

death of singer, Amy Winehouse is to be re-heard. A steam train built

more than 100 years ago has travelled on the tube ahead of a

special service in January. It is a busy time of year for

parish priests. In the run-up to Christmas many ensure that the

doors are open to those who need help and support. Sometimes, though,

that accessability can have dangers. Earlier in the year, the Reverend,

Reverend John Suddards was murdered in his vicarage. His death prompted

concerns about the dangers facing the clergy and their families.

Reverend John Suddards had been the vicar of St Mary's Church in

Thornberry for six months when he was attacked and murdered. He was

well aware of the potential risks that came with the collar and once

discussed the issue with a community radio station.

I think it is very important, the Church has been there for the

people of Thornberry for hundreds of years. We do have to take risks,

but we believe they are the risks we are called on to take.

Risks that just months later would cost his life. Such murders are

rare, but abuse and violence are not.

I came here, there was a big group of lads kicking a football up

against the crucifix here. A football, repeatedly doing it. I

was unnerved by that. So I came out, I grabbed the ball, went inside and

locked the doors. Father Kevin Scully was badly

beaten up at his church in East London.

I raze how close and dangerous the situation had been. How near to

real hurt, and real danger that I was. So that affected the way that

I behaved, especially, I would see groups of lads coming around, I

would lock up the church. I was anxious. I had to seek professional

help. I was unnerved and had lost my confidence.

Now, the number of these attacks can be difficult to categorise.

Academic research in the past, has named the clergy as one of the most

at-risk groups of professionals working in the community. This is

the response. What would happen.if you jumped up

and tried to attack me? Where would I go? The doors are there? These

courses don't teach martial arts, the aim is to prevent situations

escalating to the point of violence, so that priests, and in this case,

their wives and husbands, are equipped to deal with the problems.

If you are aware you are on your own in that vicarage, you are

putting yourself at danger. Say "no", but give an alternative.

For many, that may feel as if it goes against the core beliefs, but

controlling the open door policy may protect them from serious harm.

A police officer has been arrested and suspended from duty on

suspicion of leaking details of the confrontation at the gates of

Downing Street between the police and the former Chief Whip, Andrew

Mitchell. Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling officers plebes

as they would not ride his bike, something that he denies.

Now let's speak with our correspondent. What more do we

know? Good afternoon. Well, Andrew Mitchell has already admitted that

he swore at the police officers who tried to stop him riding on his

bike through the main gates of Downing Street. He apologised for

that and has paid a political price, but he denies calling the officers

morons and plebes, who should know their place. These are the alleged

comments in a police log book about the event and those comments were

leaked to two national newspapers. So the issue is who leaked that

information without authorisation and Scotland Yard says that the

Metropolitan Police got a fresh tip-off on Thursday about this. On

Saturday they arrested a constable with the diplomatic protection

group. He has been suspended and he has been bailed until next month. I

should make the point that this is not one of the officers on duty,

involved in the incident in Downing Street itself at the time. We have

had reaction from the Police Federation saying it expresses

great regrets about the decision to arrest an officer over this. It say

it is hopes that justice will prevail.

Thank you very much. The family of a man shot dead by

police officers have urged the inquiry into his death to declare

that it was an unlawful killing. Azelle Rodney died in April, 2005,

after an armed officer opened fire on the car he was in. The police

believed he had been armed and planning to rob a clopian drugs

gang. -- Colombian. Susan Alexander

described her son's killing as an execution. She had to wait seven

years for the inquiry to get under way as sensitive intelligence

material was involved. This has been the final day of evidence.

Azelle Rodney was 24 when he was shot dead by the police in north

London. One officer fired eight bullets, six hit him in the head

and the body. For weeks his mother listened to

scores of witnesses, including the marksman who fired the fatal shots.

That officer did not give him time to put his hands up, get out or

anything, you know? So, you are supposed to stop and warn somebody

before you do something. He did not do that.

He didn't stand a chance. This footage, filmed from a police

car, recorded the shooting. The police were in pursuit of a

Caruanaying three men, including Azelle Rodney. Officers were

working on intelligence, that the men they were chasing were

respected of being armed with machine guns and on their way to

rip off a Colombian drugs gang. One officer stopped and opened fire.

Sweet as... This is a reconstruction of how the car drew

level with the Gulf and that officer, known only as E7, shot

Azelle Rodney in the back seat. E7 told the inquiry he believed that

the suspect was reaching forward for a weapon to open fire. Guns

were found in the car, but not in Azelle Rodney's hand. One former

Scotland Yard firearms commander, described the judgment call that

the marks men have to make. The police officer is aware that

the time frame that they are working to is about a quarter of a

second. Now that is how long it will take, potentially, for the

person in the car they are approaching to produce and to fire

a weapon. The inquiry chairman will now have

to decide whether the force used against Azelle Rodney was

absolutely necessary. He will produce his report next

year. At least nine girls have been

killed and three others injured in an explosion in Afghanistan.

A spokesperson for the governor of the Nangarhar province in the east

said that the girls were collecting fire wood when one of them hit a

landmine with an axe. The girls were said to have been aged between

nine and 12. The population of Scotland has risen to its highest

level. The ruls from the 2011 Census showed that the biggest rise

was amongst those over 0, but also increases in those under safplt

-- 15. Lorna, what do the figures tell us?

Well, this is a snapshot of what life was like in Scotland on the

27th of March, 2011. It throws up headline figures. The first being

that after 30 years of Scotland's population being stagnant or

declining, it is on the rise once again. Increasing by 233,000 to

just under 5 .3 million, according to the estimates. That means that

the population has increased by 5% between 20 2001 and 2011, the

fastest growth rate between two sensus dates in the last century.

It is also the first sensus when the number of people aged 65 and

over was higher than the number aged under 15. An increase notable

in people aged over 80, where the numbers have increased by 19%. Are

they boring statistic? Well, they are important. They help plan where

the public services are needed most. So what we know is that Scotland's

population is growing older and it is increasing.

Do we know why? As to the increasing, there is a couple of

minor reasons, we found that out today, one is that there are more

children under irthe age of five. There are also more births than

deaths. You don't get the break down in the figures that you had

for England and Wales, but because of earlier work, we know that the

suggestion is that the vast majority of the population increase

is due to migration. As to the ex ct -- exact breakdown of ethnicity

and employment in Scotland, we will not find that out until the summer

of next year. Thank you very much.

The Tour de France winner and Olympic champion, Bradley Wiggins

has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The Gold

Medal winning help at that time leet, Jessica Ennis was the runner

up and the US Open tennis champion, Andy Murray, came therd. More than

1..5 million votes were cast last night. The five runner up got

100,000 votes each, more than many previous winners.

England's cricketers have won a historic victory, winning a Test

Series in India for the first time in nearly 28 years. Centuries from

Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell helped to secure the draw that they needed

in the fourth and the final match in Nagpur to take the series 2-1.

Alastair Cook said it was a special day for the team.

Try, try, and try again. In India, England persevered, a slow march to

history. However much the country changes, one thing remains. At home

India's cricketers are expected to win. The only chance that they had

of taking the Test was to grab the wickets on Monday morning. Ian Bell

made the first 50 of of the series. Jonathan Trott went on and on. He

was India's irritant. India were not amused. Trt Jonathan Trott

thrives on this situation. At lunch England were nearly 250 runs ahead.

Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott still together. There was not time for

India to bowl England out again. India's tactic of beating England

by spin unravelled. The overwhelming win in the first Test

seemed like a dream. Ian Bell helped himself, but England were

patient. They were hopeless against spin bowling at the start of the

year. Was Kevin Pietersen at home in the dressing room again? It

looked like it. Jonathan Trott fell for 143, there was time for Ian

Bell to get to 100. Then the two teams agreed to a draw and the

series went to England. The new captain had done what no England

can't has managed for nearly 30 years.

It has been an incredible tour. To end it like we did today, to

convincingly bat out, it was a nervous dressing room, knowing how

close we were to doing see so special, but to do it as convincing

I -- convincingly as we did, it was incredible.

This is the kind of result that careers are defined by.

Now let's have a look at the weather. Louise is here. It is

weather. Louise is here. It is brollies up, I'm afraid.

Some of vus seen sunshine, but I suspect that the story is for --

some of us have seen sunshine today, but I suspect that the showers will

be becoming more widespread. So far the showers have been over North

Wales, north-west England and stretching into the north-east of

Scotland. There is a cluster of a shower

cloud. The two weather fronts are straddled either side of northern

Britain. If you don't have the showers it is grey and damp, but

there are breaks into the central and the southern areas. You cling

on to the best of the sunshine. Then the showers becoming more

widespread. By the middle of the afternoon pushing into the south-

west. Highs of 10 Celsius, but come showers could be sharp. A cluster

of showers over Wales. More waiting out in the wings to push to the

west and the east. For Northern Ireland, not a bad

afternoon. About seven Celsius. Staying cloudy, but also dry. The

same tie for the Great Glen. There are the showers into parts of

Aberdeenshire and to the north-west of the Pennines. Some starting to

migrate to the east. If you continue to see sunny spells in

East Anglia and the London area, I suspect for the evening rush hour

some of the showers could be frequent as they continue to drive

to the west and the east. Accompanied by strong winds in the

south-west, this at the -- they could be up to 50 miles an hour. In

the evening, clearer skies to the west and in the Northern Ireland

and in Scotland freeze ing fog and icy surfaces.

If the fog lingers that will affect the temperatures, further western

areas seeing the best of the brightness. A quiet day on Tuesday.

More cloud into the south-east than today. Highs of five to 10 Celsius,

but all change for Wednesday. More wet and windy weather arriving.

Some significant rainfall likely. The potential may be for up to 30

millimetres of rain into the south- west. That is pushing to the north

and the east. A wet day in prospect. The highs looking about five to 12

Celsius. There are more details on the weather online or join me live