25/01/2014 BBC Weekend News

Good evening. Labour have pledged to bring back the 50 pence top rate of

income tax if they win the next election. The higher rate, would be

introduced for those earning more than ?150,000 a year. In a keynote

speech, the Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, said those with the broadest

shoulders should bear a fairer share of the burden. The announcement was

quickly condemned by the Conservatives. Our political

correspondent, Ross Hawkins, is in Westminster. Ross. Politicians know

they need to be credible on the economy but they also know that they

need to get noticed and today, Labour reached for a distinctive

policy from when they were last in government. Showed high earners pay

a top tax rate of 50p in the pound? That question is certain to loom

over the general election campaign after Ed Balls said this. It cannot

be right but David Cameron and George Osborne took chosen to give

the richest people in our country a huge tax cut. That is why, for the

next parliament, the next Labour government will reverse this

government's top rate tax cut so we can finish the job of getting the

deficit down fairly. No surprise that went down well with this

friendly audience, and tonight it hit close to many of their hearts.

Because, in 2009, Labour Chancellor, Alistair Darling, announced the top

rate for those earning over ?150,000 a year would go up from 40p up to

50p, just in time for the general election, perhaps guessing that

three years later, a Conservative Chancellor George Osborne would

bring it down to 45p, letting Labour accused him, as I have ever since,

of cutting taxes for the rich, but the Tories say they've heard it all

before. The reality is, what we've heard from Ed Balls today is the

same old Labour. Their reaction to almost every economic problem is

more borrowing and more taxes, and today is no change from that. Tories

say official figures show cutting the rate costs just ?100 million,

not much in tax terms. Labour dispute the sums, either way, the

numbers are not huge. In terms of tax revenue, even on the most

optimistic view, this will make next to no difference to the amount of

money available for public services. It could make a big difference to

the politics, though. Ed Balls has promised to spend less on day-to-day

outgoings badly raising taxes, to ensure national debt was falling

compared to the size of the economy. But politicians campaign

with symbols not spreadsheets. Labour will help this one looks

fair, and not the sign of a party poised for too much tax and spend. A

former Labour city minister has warned against predatory taxation.

Business groups have expressed their concerns. This will infuse some of

Labour's core supporters. Can a high-profile tax rise, even one

aimed at relatively high earners, appealed to voters at large? Ross,

thanks very much. Syria's government and opposition have finally met

face-to-face at the UN sponsored peace talks in Geneva. Today's talks

were aimed at getting agreement for local cease-fires to allow

humanitarian aid to be delivered. Tomorrow, they will discuss the

issue of prisoners. Our World Affairs correspondent, Paul Wood

reports from Geneva. Geneva has brought no relief yet

from the agonies of Syria's Civil War. This is the latest fighting in

a suburb of Damascus. Regime forces are dropping the much feared the

barrel bomb. It's hoped that Geneva will bring a

cease-fire here and in many other places. In coming here, the regime

was forced to accept the Geneva one decoration for a transfer of power.

But the government does not accept that means President Assad should

go. This is a big lie, when we speak about President Assad to step down.

This is not part of Geneva one, but a missed interpretation of the

policies. For the opposition, getting rid of President Assad is

the entire premise of these talks. The first day of meetings hasn't

moved closer together. Or eased the rhetoric. Dictators usually don't

like to listen. But today, they had to listen to us and to the voice of

the Syrian people. Syrian people, they want a transition. From

dictatorship to democracy. For the UN mediator, just getting regime and

opposition into the same room was an achievement. But he knows there much

more to do. We hope that they will exercise their influence on all

sides inside Syria and in the region. To get out of the ditch that

they are in. And work with us. These discussions have been inching

forward, but so far, only because they have avoided the main issue.

That is the future of President Assad and of his regime. As many as

130,000 people have lost their lives over that question. It won't be

solved quickly or easily here. Here, a senior police chief has warned

Britons returning to the UK from Syria that they will be stopped at

the border and face arrest. Sir Peter Fahy, who's the Chief

Constable of Greater Manchester Police, told the BBC there was huge

concern that Britons arriving back, after fighting in Syria could return

as terrorists. There are very extreme groups now so people may

have seen things, been subject to training, may be traumatised, may be

radicalised, and therefore, we are saying anybody coming back and we

believe has been in Syria, they will be stopped, they may well be

arrested, because we need to find out what they have been up to so,

clearly, there is a concern people are getting training in the Syrian

conflict and could come back and pose a threat to this country. A

murder investigation has been launched by Surrey Police following

the death of a 17-year-old goal. Officers were called, to an address

in Oxted yesterday afternoon after the body of the goal was discovered.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in

police custody. The French President, Francois Hollande, has

announced he has separated from his partner Valerie Trierweiler. The

French First Lady is not married to Mr Hollande, but assumed the role

following his election in 2012. Two weeks ago, a magazine claimed that

the President has been having an affair with an actress. Let's cross

to Paris and our correspondent, Christian Fraser. Christian, this

wasn't unexpected? No it wasn't, Matthew. He signalled a week ago

there were problems in the relationship and we have read about

them in a magazine that he needed but clarity on the situation quickly

because he is due to travel to the White House on the 11th of debris,

and they were supposed to go together. I think you would like to

have done it sooner but she has been in hospital suffering from nervous

exhaustion -- February. I think it's been carefully timed because she is

due to head to Italy tomorrow, sorry, India, on a long planned

engagement, and he is going on a two-day visit to Turkey on Monday.

According to sources close to the president, the new lady isn't likely

to be moved in to his official residence as official partner.

President Holland says he wants to be there alone for the foreseeable

future. Kristin, thanks very much. Sport now, and it's been a busy day

of action in the fourth round of the FA Cup. In the early kick off,

Liverpool beat Championship side Bournemouth, 2-0. Emily Croyden has

been watching the action. The sort of cup tie that football league fans

dream of, a chance to take on the Premier League's finest on your

patch. Championship Bournemouth more than matched Liverpool early on but

Victor Moses brought them back down to earth. A spark of Premier League

quality cutting through the home defence. Bournemouth kept pushing,

though,. They came close to an equaliser. And they might have had

the chance to draw level from the penalty spot. This misdemeanour was

missed by the referee. Bournemouth were left wondering what might have

been as, less than three minutes later, Suarez released Daniel

Sturridge who finished clinically, one of the country 's most prolific

strike partnerships proving the difference. Liverpool were not at

their best, but their Premier League class means they can progress in the

cup. In some of the day's other ties, Manchester City rescued

themselves from two goals down at half time to beat Watford, Sheffield

Wednesday beat Rochdale, while Hull beat Southend United. There was no

giant-killing, as Premier League Sunderland beat non-league

Kidderminster While Cup holders Wigan beat Crystal Palace. At half

time, in the late kick off, Everton are beating League One side

Stevenage, by 2-0. There is more throughout the evening on the BBC

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