26/11/2013 BBC News at Ten

We are in Edinburgh, where the Scottish government has published

its plans for independence. With ten months to go to the referendum, the

First Minister and his deputy unveiled their mission statement,

but opponents say it's a work of fiction. With independence we could

have the powers and responsibilities we need to seize opportunities, to

build a wealthier and fairer nation, but also to face our major

challenges. They were supposed to come up with all the answers anyone

could want to know with any thing to do with independence, but there is

nothing new. But what do Scotland's voters make of it? We will be in

Dundee, asking people for their reaction to the prospect of

independence. Also, a police officer is charged over the so-called

plebgate affair. It is alleged he falsely claimed to have seen the

incident involving former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell in Downing

Street. The celebrity chef Nigella Lawson is accused in court of being

a regular user of cocaine and other drugs by her ex-husband, Charles

Saatchi. A sharp rise in deaths last winter, more than 31,000 were linked

to cold weather, most of them pensioners. And the end of the road

for Celtic, as Milan put them out of the Champions League. In Sportsday,

find out if Chelsea and Arsenal were able to book their places in the

last 16 of the Champions League in what has been a busy night in

Europe. Good evening from the Scottish

parliament in Edinburgh. With ten months to go before next year's

referendum, the Scottish government has set out its vision of an

independent country. Alex Salmond, the First Minister, is promoting

independence as a way of changing Scotland for the better. The rather

hefty document he published today, some 650 pages of it, does include a

long list of policy pledges. But his opponents say this is a work of

fiction, full of meaningless assertions. First, our special

correspondent reports on the independence plan unveiled today.

This report contains some flash photography. For nationalists this

was an exhilarating moment, a game-changing landmark, they hope,

on the march to independence. All Europe is watching now. There were

cameras and reporters from across the continent, as Alex Salmond

detailed the character and shape of the new Scotland he hopes will be

born soon. An independent Scotland could have the eighth highest

economic output and the 10th highest national income per head of

population in the whole of the developed world. So what would an

independent Scotland look like? It would be a kingdom with the Queen as

head of state. It would join NATO, but demand the removal of submarine

born Trident nuclear missiles within four years. And it would keep the

pound as part of a sterling zone with the rest of the UK. And what if

the UK Government refused to share the pound? Then an independent

Scotland, Alex Salmond told me, might refuse to share Britain's

national debt. These things follow as night follows day. We've

indicated a willingness in this document that we will accept the

financing of some of the massive obligations and liabilities that

have been built up by Alistair Darling and now George Osborne. But

that is predicated on the share of assets, you have to share both sides

of the balance sheet. One of these assets is sterling and the Bank of

England. It is a truly immense tome, it runs to 670 pages and the

last section provides detailed answers to 650 separate questions,

on everything from consumer protection to national defence. It

includes a commitment for a Scottish broadcasting service to replace BBC

Scotland. And for a single Intelligence and Security Committee

replace MI5 and MI6. It answers questions like, will Scotland have

security post that the lan d border with England? Answer, no. And, can

Scotland afford to be independent? Answer, these include a huge

expansion of childcare, to allow women to go back into the

workplace, the scrapping of the so-called bedroom tax, I guarantee

that the value of pensions will be protected under the minimum wage

would rise with this is a country of two national identities interwoven.

Many here are genuinely tall. But opponents of independent this is a

country of two national identities interwoven. Many here are genuinely

torn. But opponents of Alex Salmond's He's got nothing new to

say. You just repeat the assertions and claims he's been making for

years. He says there will be a currency union. He ignores the fact

there would have to be in negotiation, and in a negotiation

you don't get everything you want. It takes two. They've got to reach

agreement. But there's a danger in this line, for pro-independence

campaigner see this as a battle between the sunlit promise of a new

start and the fearful caution of the status quo, for pro-independence

campaigner see this as a battle between the sunlit promise of a new

start and the fearful caution of the status and might that yet swing is

the health of the Scottish economy and how that would be affected by

independence. The aim of keeping the pound sterling in a currency union

has been dismissed by Downing Street. Alex Salmond insists that

Scotland can become a more prosperous nation, but his opponents

say he has no answer to the practical challenges of leaving the

UK. Nick Robinson consider some of the main questions raised when he

was the fastest man on two wheels, Sir Chris Hoy won medals. Some in

the name of Great Britain, some in the name of Scotland. But those

following in his wake and all their fellow countrymen are now in effect

being asked to when he was the fastest man on two wheels, Sir Chris

Hoy one medals. Some in the name of Great Britain, some in the name of

Scotland. But those following in his wake and all their fellow countrymen

are now in effect being asked which team they really want to belong a

burst of national optimism will follow next summer's Commonwealth

Games. That Scots will then believe that they are better off in team

Scotland. Better off leaving Alex Salmond's dreamers that a burst of

national optimism will follow next summer's Commonwealth Games. That

Scots will then believe that they are better off in team Scotland.

Better off leaving. But if that is to be right, he's got an awful lot

of questions still to wouldn't just be in the interests of an

independent Scotland to keep using the pound, it would be good for the

top of the list in Glasgow today, questions about the pound. This

weighty tome claims it wouldn't just be in the interests of an

independent Scotland to keep using the pound, it would be good for the

rest of the UK too. So with that is The problem is the current UK

Government doesn't think this is a terribly good idea. And also the

Labour opposition at Westminster has signalled also isn't very keen on

the idea either The problem is the current UK Government doesn't think

this is a terribly good idea. And also the Labour opposition at

Westminster has signalled also isn't very keen on the idea a the next key

question, could Scotland simply stay in the EU if voters choose

independent? The government in Edinburgh insists the answer is yet

-- yes. But a repeated their view that new countries have to apply

from the treaty provide some clear articles when it comes to the need

for to apply to the EU if they want to join. Alex Salmond also moved to

reassure voters that they'd still get their favourite BBC shows, even

though there will be a new Scottish broadcasting service. I asked him

whether he could really promise people that all the things they

liked wouldn't country to apply to the EU if they want to join. Alex

Salmond also moved to reassure voters that they'd still get their

favourite BBC shows, even though there will be a new Scottish

broadcasting service. I asked him whether he could really promise

people that all the things they liked wouldn't and that Scots

viewers will be able to watch study come dancing. Wouldn't it be more

and that Scots viewers will be able to watch study come dancing.

Wouldn't it be to voters to add words like perhaps, fingers crossed

and hope for the, fingers crossed and hope for the logical. The people

will judge. They will look at the Guess case, the reasonable case we

are making for Scottish independence they will judge it against the no

campaign and the cry of doom, gloom and negativity. Top of his promises

is more childcare, paid for in part by less defence spending. It's time

for the Scottish government and Scottish Nationalists to own up and

say, yes, you can do lots of things but there will be prizes attached to

them. The message in Glasgow, everything will change if Scotland

votes for independence, except, that is, not that much will change. Good,

or too good to be true they will judge it against the no campaign and

the criers of doom, gloom and negativity. Top of his promises is

more childcare, paid for in part by less defence spending. It's time for

the Scottish government and Scottish Nationalists to own up and say, yes,

you can do lots of things but there will be prizes attached to them. The

message in Glasgow, everything will change if Scotland votes for

independence, except, that is, not that much will change. Good, or too

good to be true? The people will get the final so let's consider what has

changed today. We Nicola Sturgeon was wearing an outfit of Harris to

that Nicola Sturgeon was wearing an Critics say, you would not be able

to afford these within the economy. But Alex Salmond is trying to appeal

over the heads of the politicians, over the heads of the more is Derek

aspects, and giving a direct pitch to voters, first of all to reassure

them about what stays the same, but secondly to offer them change and

advantage, who offer them gain, to offer them a plus. This has become

an intriguing second front in this referendum campaign. We will be back

later with some thoughts from the city of Dundee on what it means to

be Scottish these days. Back to London. The former Cabinet Minister

Andrew Mitchell has accused the police with whom he clashed in

Downing Street of not telling the truth. It follows the news that an

officer has been charged over allegations that he falsely claimed

to have witnessed the incident. Seven other police officers face

this conduct proceedings. This report contains flash photography.

This is the moment more than a year ago when the police refused to let

Cabinet Minister Andrew Mitchell cycle through the main gates of

Downing Street. He denied calling them plebs in the altercation that

followed, but he was not believed. So, under relentless pressure, not

least from the police, he resigned. When new evidence came to light, an

investigation began, and today, prosecutors said one policeman would

be charged and seven others would face disciplinary proceedings. This

afternoon, alongside his wife, Mr Mitchell let rip. I have told the

truth about these incidences. The police did not. My reputation was

destroyed. I was spat at in the street. I lost my job after a career

spanning more than 25 years in Parliament. The Crown Prosecution

Service said PC Keith Wallis will be charged with misconduct in a public

office after falsely claiming in any mail to have witnessed the incident

in Downing Street. Scotland Yard said seven other officers would face

disciplinary proceedings, including gross misconduct for some. But they

said there was not enough evidence to prove a conspiracy. The policeman

at the centre of the case, Tony Rowland, will not face any

proceedings, having not been arrested or spoken to under caution.

He was not telling the truth. I will seek to say this on oath in a court

of law, and it is our intention to make sure that PC Toby Roland has to

swear his account. Tonight, PC Roland said in a statement that he

stood by his account and was prepared to give evidence under oath

if required. This case remains unresolved. It is still not proven

who said what to whom. Andrew Mitchell will have to wait before

any possible return to government, and the police have some work to do

to recover the public trust that they have lost. How much do you

regret the original altercation? Of course I wish it had not happened,

but I was obstructed from leaving Downing Street. I made that point.

Andrew Mitchell and his wife weight on. Above all, they say, for those

who do not have the money, or friends like theirs, to challenge

the police. Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has been accused in court of

being a regular user of cocaine and other drugs by her former husband.

Charles Saatchi claimed in any mail that she was so off her head on

drugs that she had allowed to personal assistants to spend the

couple's money on whatever they liked. The assistants are both on

trial accused of committing fraud. Sangita Myska's report contains

flash photography. Nigella Lawson, daughter of a top politician and one

of Britain's most celebrated television chefs. A string of TV

shows and books has earned her ?20 million and a place on the celebrity

circuit. Today, her two former personal assistants, Elisabetta

Grillo and Francesca Grillo, came to court to face Georges that they had

defrauded Nigella Lawson and her ex-husband to the tune of hundreds

of thousands of pounds. Charles Saatchi, a multimillionaire art

collector, and Nigella Lawson recently divorced acrimoniously

after photographs of them outside a restaurant were published, one of

which appeared to show Vista Saatchi with his hands around her throat. In

another, she appears to be leaving the restaurant in tears. Today, as

part of the fraud trial, the judge read any mail from Charles Saatchi

to Nigella Lawson. It said... A court had also previously heard

that the Grillos' defence team claimed that Nigella Lawson used

cocaine, prescription drugs and class B drugs and that her personal

assistants had been given use of credit cards with the tacit

acceptance that they would not reveal how drug use to her

ex-husband, Charles Saatchi. The Grillo sisters deny the charges. The

trial continues. Last winter saw one of the coldest

spells on record - and now there is new evidence of a sharp rise in the

number of people who died. There were more than 31,000 extra deaths

in England and Wales according to official figures. That's an increase

of 29% on the previous winter. The majority of the deaths - more than

25,000 of them - were among the over-75s. Doctors have called the

figures "disturbing" and say fuel poverty is a major factor. Our

health correspondent, Branwen Jeffreys, reports.

It felt as though last winter went on for ever. Snow in March and

bitterly cold temperatures. Cold which claimed the lives of thousands

of elderly people. Jane is one of the Snow Angels, and she checks up

on people to make sure they know how to keep warm. Roy has had heart

problems, and last winter was tough. It was the coldest winter we have

had for a long time and snow lasted for longer. It is 60 years at least

since I had experienced anything approaching this. Roy keeps his

spirits up in winter, and his heating, but not all pensioners do.

It may be that they keep one room warm but others very cold, which can

itself be very dangerous. People may end up sleeping in bedrooms which

are too cold to be safe. Energy prices have been going up, leaving

doctors worried about those in their 80s and 90s. Their bodies are not as

good as they were to resist cold, and they become thick hymns of the

energy price crisis that we have got, and the poverty of the poor

pensions that they are on. -- they become victims. If you take a look

at this graph, the longer term trend has been for winter deaths to fall.

But in March the average temperature was just 2.6 Celsius, and very low

temperatures are linked to more deaths. Health officials say there

is help for the elderly in winter. We really understand the difficulty

that it causes if people feel that they have to make a choice between

spending money on heating and spending money on eating. Both of

those are absolutely essential. Last winter also saw more deaths in

Scotland and Northern Ireland. As it gets cold again, these figures can

only fuel the debate about energy prices.

Two unarmed American B-52 bombers have flown over disputed islands in

the East China Sea in defiance of new Chinese air defence rules. China

announced the air defence zone at the weekend following a territorial

dispute over the islands between China and Japan. The US says the

flight was part of a planned training exercise.

A picture of the man accused of keeping three women as slaves in

South London for more than 30 years has emerged for the first time. As

police continue their investigation into Aravindan Balakrishnan and his

wife Chanda, the BBC has been speaking to one of their former

neighbours. She said that one woman would stand for hours at the window

holding up notes, but she could never read them. Our home affairs

correspondent, Tom Symonds, reports. Court on camera in a documentary

from 1997. He was attending an inquest into the death of a woman

who fell from the upstairs window of a house where he lived. The inquest

failed to explain why, and today, Scotland Yard confirmed it was

re-examining the case. It is believed that among the women living

at the house were the three who called a charity last month,

triggering the investigation. This set designer, Charlotta Watts, lived

two doors down for more than a decade. She called Princes of the

group and the images are still with her. They look honourable, they did

not have any social skills whatsoever. They used to walk in a

line and they never made any eye contact. I used to regularly say

hello to them and they would either look through you all look away from

you. She describes the occupants at the house, the Indian man who came

to the door when she once called, three women, one Malaysian, a face

in an upstairs window. They would stand up in that window for hours,

staring, and I used to wave at her and never get anything back. And

then I do remember her writing these notes, which she would sort of

sliding front of her, but because it was so high up I could never read

what they were saying. It is now known that the group later moved to

this flat in Brixton, which was boarded up yesterday, where

Aravindan Balakrishnan and his partner were arrested. They are on

bail until January, as police enquiries continue. Celtic are out

of the Champions League, having lost to AC Milan in Italy. Chelsea are

through to the last 16 with a game to spare despite losing 1-0 to FC

Basel. Arsenal beat Marseille 2-0, but they will have to wait until

their final game to qualify, and Celtic are out losing 3-0 to AC

Milan. Natalie Pirks rounds up the action. For Celtic, only a win in

Milan would do. AC Milan are on a bad run but they boast some of

Europe's finest, not least a former World Player of the Year. Just after

half-time, Celtic mist this glorious chance. One minute later, Cristian

Zapata doubled Milan's lead. Soon after, Mario Balotelli showed why

they call him super. It was a bad night for Neil Lennon. Now, they do

not even have the consolation of the Europa League. A win would not

guarantee Arsenal qualification, but it would help. Fans did not have to

wait long for Jack Wilshere to pounce. Mesut Ozil missed a penalty

but made amends in the second half, helping Jack Wilshere to get another

one. But Arsenal still need a result in a fortnight against Napoli. Basel

had beaten Chelsea before, and gave them an early warning. Chelsea

failed to register a single shot on target in the entire game, and Basel

finally made them pay. Jose Mourinho's defence had gone to sleep

but his luck was in. Other results meant tired Chelsea squeaked

through, just. Back now to our main story - with

ten months to go before next year's referendum, the Scottish Government

has set out its vision of an independent country. Huw is in

Edinburgh. The document published today lists some of the advantages

of independence as the Scottish Government sees them. But the appeal

is not simply about policy. Alex Salmond and his team are urging

Scots to think of independence as a natural step. But what do Scots

understand by building a modern Scottish identity? Our correspondent

James Cook has been talking to people in the city of Dundee.

The city skies are clear now, but once, Dundee roared with industry

and echoed with radical ideas. Socialism thrived here. Today,

though, this old Labour city is a stronghold for the Scottish National

Party. The air is alive with change. Dundee is undergoing an

extraordinary transformation. The whole of the waterfront is being

redeveloped. It is an exciting time, and campaigners for independents

want to tap into this sense of optimism, to persuade people to vote

yes not out of fear, but out of hope. There is no shortage of hope

at Dundee University. These physics students are full with energy and

ideas, but will they vote with their heads or their hearts? At the start,

when there were whispers about a possible referendum, a lot of people

thought, I am Scottish, I am going to say yes, I am going to fight for

my country, I am going to be patriotically but people are

becoming a lot more tactical in the way they think about it. I would say

it depends on what is best for Scotland, not white I think about

being Scottish. It is not really chasing money. People are not going

to trade away a 300 year partnership just for the price of an iPad. But

does Dundee benefit from its British identity? It has certainly built

hundreds of ships for the Empire. And these visitors think a shared

history should count for something. This is an island, it is not mine,

not yours, it is ours. You both need each other. You might as well stay

in the UK with us. I think you would be better off in every way. Stay

with us. Whether Scotland does or not is up to 4 million individuals.

But this historian does not think identity will drive their decision.

People outside of it is now coming down to issues of how you want that

nation to be governed. But even if Scotland's identity is settled, it

must still decide on the road, and the miles, it wants to travel. Our

political editor, Nick Robinson, is here. Your impressions? I thought

before coming that we might get some of the excitement of a new maternity

ward, as we saw the birth of a new nation, the offspring of the United

Kingdom. But what was striking I think was that Alex Salmond and his

deputy were desperate not to look like beaming and proud parents,

looking at what the future might look like. Instead, they were

low-key, they were calm and measured, trying to look more like

business executives involved in a corporate rebranding exercise. And I

think that is for a good reason. Plenty of Scots have made their mind

up either way, but there are many in the middle who have not. And this

huge document I think was designed to say, don't worry about all of

that constitutional stuff, there are answers in here. Mr Salmond believes

the way to win the referendum is on those old election-winning issues,

jobs and benefits, promises of childcare, not arguments about the

euro. His opponents will try and drag him back, day after day,

because that is where they think the campaign can be won. Thank you very

much. There's plenty of extra information for you on the BBC

website. That's all from the team in