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Not-so-jolly Roger

David Waterman, 41, is being threatened with court proceedings after a neighbour complained about his Skull and Crossbones. He erected the 5ft by 3ft flag for his daughter's pirate-themed birthday party and is determined to keep it.

Mr Waterman is now paying £95 to apply for advertising consent for the flag, but a senior officer from Mole Valley Council has warned him it is unlikely to be granted.

Another neighbour erected a pirate flag in support but took it down after receiving a warning letter from the council.

Evening Standard (Ron Rubin)

Government thinking

Liam Byrne, the immigration minister, said the government thought "long and hard" about exempting South American and African stars from the rules, but decided it would be "un-British".

Independent (Harvey Cole)

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