At three and a half years old, here, i caught polio. There was an epidemic at that time. They said, stephen wont live through this. But during those years in and out of hospital, he developed a passion for music, and after a spell as a journalist, he began trying out his songs at folk clubs before finally hitting the big time. But when his chart success began to slide, his attention shifted to another musical avenue. Sing once again with me. He was given the chance to record the single for andrew lloyd webber s phantom of the opera, but he was devastated when he wasnt chosen to play the role for the west end. Youve done it all, broken every code. Nevertheless, he continued to perform. The effects of his childhood polio were lifelong, but onstage in the spotlight he said it was the one place he could forget it all and simply be steve harley, the rock star. Ooh ooh, la la la. That is David Sillito looking back at the life of steve harley, the front man of Cockney Rebel who has died at th
He later apologised for what he called rude comments. Plenty of people saw the remarks straightaway as racist but it took an age in political terms for rishi sunak to agree. At a rally on friday night in hackney, diane abbott told the crowd to stand firm against racism. This is about the way that black women are disrespected. Decade upon decade. The conservative Cabinet Minister and transport secretary, mark harper, spoke to laura kuennsberg, on her sunday morning programme, she asked him Whether Frank Hester s comments were racist. Did you think these comments were racist . Yes, look, the Prime Minister made it very clear at Prime Ministers questions on wednesday that they were racist. It took him some time to do that. Did you think straight they were racist . You said it took an age in political terms but it didnt take long at all, the Prime Minister said it on wednesday and his spokesperson was clear the day before that they were racist comments and unacceptable. And frank hester ap
Economy and help families with permanent tax breaks. Labour will argue that any reductions will still leave people worse off because of the freezing of Tax Thresholds. Ben king reports. The background to todays budget has been gloomy, with the economy in recession. But it looks like the chancellor will still find room to cut taxes. The conservatives are trailing labour in the polls, and looking Forjeremy Hunt to give them some cheer in places like this, winchester, a seat the Lib Dems Hope to win. So what do people here think about tax cuts . I think it would be a good idea because it gives people more money to spend on what they want to buy. Realistically, people arent going to save that much money from a tax cut, whereas more money in Public Services means Better Health care services. Itsjust much more important. I would prefer not to have a tax cut, but to see more money invested in the community. If the Public Services were properly organised, theres more than enough money to do it
What exactly do we know about tomorrows budget . Lets look at the bi icture tomorrows budget . Lets look at The Big Picture and tomorrows budget . Lets look at The Big Picture and then tomorrows budget . Lets look at The Big Picture and then the tomorrows budget . Lets look at The Big Picture and then the detail. Tomorrows budget . Lets look at The Big Picture and then the detail. The l big picture and then the detail. The economic reality, the economy is stagnant. We are in recession. Albeit a shallow one. Taxes are through the roof by any recent historic standard. And Family Finances feel squeezed. Then there is the political reality, the conservatives have been in government for yonks and there has been more than the odd economic and political calamity and their ratings, their popularity, is really poon ratings, their popularity, is really poor. So, enter the chancellor. Ratings, their popularity, is really poor. So, enterthe chancellor. No pressure then for him. Trying to do someth