Rainbow does mayoral race

Genius...

Emptier Emirates

I was lucky enough to go to the Emirates Stadium to see Arsenal cruise to victory against a struggling Reading side yesterday.
The Gunners dominated the game in terms of possession, territory and imagination, and the 2-0 scoreline flattered Reading, who are teetering just a point above the drop-zone.
But it's not the match, or the reasons why Arsenal didn't score at least another three goals, that I want to comment on.
I know the Gunners have blown yet another promising season, both domestically and in Europe, and there is little to play for in the league with third place all but sealed, but why were there so many empty seats?
I was disappointed with my fellow supporters for not bothering to show up to watch their team, just because we're not challenging for silverware.
Admittedly, the reason I got a ticket was because a friend couldn't make it, but I bit his hand off for the chance of going to the Emirates!
Fans of all clubs, across all sports should show up to support their team, whether they are top of the league, or fighting for their lives.
Arsenal are by no means the worst, and the stadium was pretty full, but far short of capacity.
There are thousands of fans who would have reacted like I did if they were offered a chance to watch a top-flight football match, and I feel the fans who couldn't be bothered to turn up yesterday are selfish glory-supporters, oblivious to their privileged position.

Arguidos, damages and Dewsbury

The news that Maddy arguido Robert Murat is seeking damages from 11 newspapers and one broadcaster, as the Observer reported yesterday, is a dramatic development in this remarkable story.
If he wins, he could get about £200,000 from each, which would work out at well over £2m.
A month ago today the Express and Star newspapers published front-page apologies for their coverage of the alleged involvment of Madeleine's parents in her disappearance. They also paid £550,000 towards the Find Madeleine Fund.
So it looks like we're entering an exciting and uncharted time for the world of libel and media law in general.
And particularly interesting is the fact that the Portuguese police seem no closer to finding out what actually happened.

In a similar case of child-disappearance, the tangled web of familial involvement is being unravelled by police investigating the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews.

The two stories have been compared and contrasted in terms of the financial backing of the hunts, the class and connections of the families involved and the police investigation itself.

But now that Karen Matthews has been charged, along with a number of friends and family for various parts played in the kidnapping, I expect the suggestive and relatively quiet criticism of the Dewsbury Moor community to turn into more full-blown attacks on the leading protagonists, such as this peice in yesterday's News of the World.

Who has increased rates and by how much

Times Money outlines a week of turmoil in the mortgage market

James Edgar, The Times

April 1

RBS: Selected 2 year fixed rate mortgages increased by 0.50 per cent. Variable tracker rate increased by 0.80 per cent.
Bank of Scotland: Selected rates for self-certification increased by up to 0.50 per cent.
First Direct: Stopped taking applications from new customers. In recent weeks it received five times the usual volume of applications. First Direct's two-year fixed rate mortgage was one of the most competitive on the market.

March 31

Cheltenham and Gloucester: Selected trackers available through direct business increased by up to 0.20 per cent. Selected trackers available through Intermediary business increased by up to 0.35 per cent. Selected Fixed rates available through intermediary business increased by up to 0.17 per cent.
Chelsea BS: 2 year fixed rates increased by 0.20 per cent. Trackers increased by 0.35 per cent.
Cumberland BS: 5 year fixed rates increased by up to 0.20 per cent.
Yorkshire BS: Variable trackers for 2 years and for term increased by up to 0.25 per cent. Selected offset fixed rates increased by 0.1 per cent
Co-operative Bank: Selected trackers increased by up to 0.15 per cent .

March 28

Progressive BS: Discounts and Trackers increased by xx
Nationwide BS: 2 year trackers increased by 0.57 per cent. Trackers for term increased by 0.51 per cent. 2 year fixed increased by 0.20 per cent.
Standard Life Bank: 5 year fixed rates increased by up to 0.49 per cent. Trackers for term increased by 0.40 per cent
Hinckley & Rugby BS: Selected variable tracker rates for term increased by 0.56 per cent.
RBS: Two year fixed rate mortgages increase by up to 0.20 per cent.
First Active: Discounted variable rate for 2 years increased by 0.25 per cent.
Norwich & Peterborough BS: Discounted variable rates increased by 0.75 per cent. Base rate trackers increased by up to 0.50 per cent

March 27

Abbey: Fixed rates for 10 and 15 years increased by 0.05 per cent and selected tracker rate increased by 0.45 per cent.
Intelligent Finance: Variable tracker rates increased by up to 0.50 per cent. Fixed rates increased by up to 0.35 per cent.

March 26

Heritable Bank: Fixed rate mortgages for self cert increased by up to 0.25 per cent.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/money/property_and_mortgages/article3666371.ece