Petition power isn't all it seems

OPPOSITION to road charging continues to grow and 682,000 people have now signed an "electronic petition" against it on the Downing Street website.

But there is little chance of the government scrapping plans for charges - perhaps with a pilot scheme in the West Midlands.

Other petitions Tony Blair can be expected to ignore include one calling for his Local Government Minister Ruth Kelly to be sacked, signed by 5,000.

And 2,476 people have called for God Save the Queen to be replaced as national anthem with Spandau Ballet's Gold.

Gisela in tune with her party

LABOUR MP Gisela Stuart will celebrate Christmas Eve by singing the traditional Socialist anthem, The Red Flag. Read

STUDENTS at a Midland university have created a high-powered racing car made from plants. Read

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