Have the Queen waving on your window sill! Vol. 30 No. 8 November 2012 See AD on page 12 UK, Scotland To Set Out Terms Of BBC – Savile Scandal Raises Independence Vote R Police Chief Resigns In Questions For Incoming NYT Boss Hillsborough Tragedy Probe By Ben McConville By Raphael Satter they knew about and Jill Lawless THE POLICE CHIEF being investigated THE CHILD ABUSE scandal that has Savile – and why the for his actions after Britain’s worst-ever IT’S NOT A meeting David Cameron enveloped one of Britain’s most respected posthumous expose stadium disaster has resigned. probably enjoyed. news organizations is now hitting one of about his sexual West Yorkshire chief constable The British prime minister paid a visit America’s, as the incoming president of crimes was blocked Norman Bettison resigned ahead of the leader of Scotland’s separatist admin- The New York Times is on the defensive from being broad- a meeting to consider his role in the istration last month to agree the terms of a about his final days as head of the BBC. cast – Thompson is aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough referendum that could break up the United Mark Thompson was in charge of the being quizzed about disaster, which he investigated for South Kingdom. BBC in late 2011 when the broadcaster his role as well. Yorkshire Police. Cameron does not want to be the leader shelved what would have been a bombshell Thompson, His resignation last month came who presides over the demise of the 300- investigation alleging that the late Jimmy 55, was the BBC after an independent panel reviewed year-old political union between England Savile, one of its biggest stars, was a serial director-general hundreds of thousands of pages of docu- and its northern neighbour. But, practi- sex offender. from 2004 until last ments relating to the deaths of 96 soccer cally, there is little he can do to stop politi- The BBC scandal has horrified Britain month. fans at in 1989. The review vindicated cians in semiautonomous Scotland asking with revelations that Savile, a popular In a letter to Con- efforts by the families of victims, who voters whether they want to break free. children’s television presenter, cajoled servative lawmaker have been trying to get a full accounting With Scotland, like much of Europe, and coerced vulnerable teens into having Rob Wilson, Thompson laid out his de- pounded when it emerged that an investi- of the incident. facing recession and economic uncertainty, sex with him in his car, in his camper van, fense, saying he never worked with Savile, gation into his misdeeds by the BBC’s own Bettison is now being investigated the answer is hard to predict. and even in dingy dressing rooms on BBC never worked on any of the entertainer’s Newsnight program was shelved last year by the Independent Police Complaints “I can’t find a job and my prospects are premises. He is also alleged to have sexu- programs and indeed never met the man. only weeks before the broadcaster aired Commission. slim,” said Sally Murray, an unemployed ally assaulted disabled children at hospitals Referring to the a glowing holiday “I had no reason to believe that tribute show to office worker in Edinburgh. “I’ve got noth- that he helped by raising charity funds. increasing number R PM Not Worried By ing to lose. Perhaps my prospects would Police now say there could be more of BBC employees anyone in the BBC was withhold- Savile. improve by going independent.” than 300 victims, leading one child pro- who have come Now journal- ‘Rock Star’ Mayor Officials from London and Edinburgh tection charity to say that Savile could forward to say that ing controversial or incriminating ists and lawmak- ers are asking BORIS JOHNSON received a hero’s met for weeks to hammer out details of a rank among Britain’s most prolific child Savile’s interest in material,” – Thompson wrote in his welcome at Britain’s Conservative vote. Sticking points included the date and sex predators. young girls was whether BBC bosses canned the Party conference last month, but Prime the wording of the question. EMPLOYEES widely rumored, letter to Wilson, the lawmaker. Minister David Cameron insists he’s Last month the two sides said they had In a sign of how the scandal may spread, Thompson said he Newsnight show to protect their star, a prodigious charity not threatened by the London mayor’s reached a deal, which was expected to be the BBC said last month it was looking had never been aware of the whispers. “rock star” status. approved later by Cameron and Scottish into claims of sexual abuse and harass- “If I had, I would have raised them fundraiser who was widely eulogized fol- lowing his death last year at age 84. Crowd-favorite Johnson was care- First Minister Alex Salmond. ment against nine other current and former with senior colleagues and contacted the ful to use his conference speech last REFERENDUM employees and contributors. police,” said Thompson. The corporation denies a cover-up, although Newsnight editor Peter Rippon month to predict Cameron would win It is likely to call for a referendum in As increasing numbers of BBC execu- COMPOUNDED the 2015 election rather than encourage October 2014, as Salmond’s nationalists tives come under the microscope over what The controversy over Saville was com- See story on page 4 speculation that he would make a bid had desired. Cameron and other pro-union for the job. politicians had pressed for the vote to be ARMISTICE DAY NOVEMBER 11 He also basked in post-Olympic held earlier, because opinion polls show Eric Lomax, Ex-POW Who glory, calling for British firms to beat that only between a quarter and a third of the recession with the “can-do” spirit Scots favor splitting the nation. GET YOUR shown during the London Games. The referendum will involve a single Forgave Captor, Dies At 93 POPPIES Johnson’s political profile was yes-no question on leaving the United raised by the successful Olympics and Kingdom, as Cameron’s government HERE! Paralympics, leading some to suggest wished. Salmond’s Scottish Nationalist UJ READERS he should lead the party into the next Party favored including a third option election. of greater autonomy short of full inde- Go to Cameron told ITV television it was pendence. www.ujnews.com/Poppies “great that we have got someone with The deal is likely to give 16- and 17- Nearly 100 locations rock star status in the Tory party.” year-olds votes, another proposal backed listed nationwide! by the Scottish nationalists. The voting age R in other British elections is 18. Man Charged With Scotland and England have a complex Maker Of London’s Murder Of Missing Girl relationship. They fought one another PROSECUTORS have charged a man for centuries, and Scottish children are Black Cabs Says with the murder of a missing five-year- still raised on tales of Robert the Bruce old girl in Wales. and William “Braveheart” Wallace. The It’s Going Bust The 46-year-old Mark Bridger was latter’s story was told, with Hollywood also charged October 6 with child artistic license, in the Mel Gibson film abduction and attempting to pervert Braveheart. Many Scots are also brought the course of justice. He had been in up in the Unionist tradition and have Eric Lomax, left, in 1998 with Nagase Takashi, his chief wartime custody since the day after April Jones a strong affinity with England and the tormentor. The two met again at the River Kwai, Thailand. went missing from outside her home in monarchy. the Welsh town of Machynlleth. MONARCH IT’S AN UNUSUAL man who can forgive his wartime torturer – or whose She was last seen by another child The two countries united in 1707 quest to do so can touch so many people getting into a grey van. to form Great Britain, with a common THE MAKER of London’s famous black The girl’s disappearance sparked around the world. cabs said last month it was going into Continued on page 4 a huge search effort with hundreds of Eric Lomax, a former British prisoner administration after failing to secure an local volunteers combing woods and of war whose moving tale of wartime injection of cash from one of its largest fields. She still has not been found, but torture and forgiveness is being turned shareholders. a prosecutor said there was enough evi- Your Very Own into a film, died last month in Berwick- Manganese Bronze’s rounded, limou- dence to charge Bridger with murder. upon-Tweed in northern England, his sine-like cabs are known the world over, He was remanded in custody and will publisher, Vintage Books, reported. but the company has been losing money be held in prison in Manchester and was YORKSHIRE Lomax was 93. for years, hit both by Britain’s economic to be scheduled to appear at Caernarfon Lomax was a British army officer downturn and stiff rivalry from vehicles Crown Court via video link. PASSPORT when he was captured by Japanese such as the Vito, made by Mercedes, an DIRECT FROM THE ‘YORKSHIRE forces as they overran Singapore in 1942. Oldest Battle Of Britain arm of German car giant Daimler AG. EMBASSY’ SANCTIONED BY: Lomax endured horrific conditions and Pilot Dies At 99 Manganese Bronze launched its latest The Independent State of Yorkshire savage beatings as he and thousands of model, the TX4, in 2006, but a defect in the taxi’s steering system recently forced and Colonies others were put to work building the WILLIAM WALKER, whose poem is part infamous Burma to Siam railroad.