‘I predict a riot’…at Kate and Will’s wedding

No, we're not talking about hundreds of royal drunk people tripping over each other in a stampede to the dessert buffet – but anarchists who are plotting to disrupt the festivities.

A repeat is expected from the anarchist militants who clashed with police last Saturday during a march against the public sector spending cuts. 200 people were arrested, and 31 police officers were injured during violent street battles in London.

Senior police figures have warned that the anarchists will "deliberately target" next month's royal wedding, as the groups who vandalised shops and landmarks during Saturday's protest mobilise again for the high profile occasion. The day also coincides with May Day weekend, which has traditionally seen violent protests in recent years.

"Yesterday reinforced the fact that there does appear to be an appetite out there to endorse violence," a senior police spokesman said.
The worry is that on a day when security will already be stretched, the anarchists are an unwelcome diversion for police and security forces already dealing with the increased terror and security threats that surround the royal wedding.


Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets to watch the royal procession in the glare of the world’s media. But the police are taking extra measures to ensure the anarchists don’t use this to promote their agenda of chaos through petty acts of crime and vandalism in the public eye. The police will have increased stop and search powers, and there could also be a ban on people covering their faces with masks.


The mostly peaceful demonstrations on Saturday were against the government’s planned spending cuts, and the cost of the royal family and the wedding will fuel the sense of unfairness. Should we celebrate the royal family? Or is it an unfair use of taxpayer’s money? (it’s expected to cost the economy £3bn).

Or is anyone fed up with it all already and going on holiday to avoid it? (in which case get some cheap travel insurance)

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Do you rely on the ‘Bank of Grandma and Grandpa’?

It seems that ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is being joined by ‘Bank of Grandma and Grandpa’ as an essential part of the modern family’s survival plan. The post war ‘Golden Generation’ of current grandparents are now being relied upon more and more to help their less well-off offspring raise their own families, as tough economic times continue to bite hard.

New research from Aviva has revealed that a massive 7 million grandparents are child-minding and helping around the house whilst mums and dads go to work. On average each grandparent will care for two grandchildren for around 13 hours per week – the equivalent child-minding costs are about £2,400 per year – that amounts to £33 billion saving for UK parents each year.

And grandparents’ work doesn’t stop there, with 28% regularly doing the school run, and 15% helping out with household bills. However, the additional childcare is taking a toll on the older generation. Many are already working for longer until retirement, and 10% of grandparents say they feel worse off as a result of childcare for their grandchildren, and 1 in 20 saying that childcare prevented them from doing paid work.

Age UK commented, “the high cost of childcare in many areas can mean that for many families, support provided by grandparents is a financial necessity, without which they would not be able to continue working”. With the cost of raising a child to their 21^st birthday rising to an estimated at £270,000, the work of grandparents ise likely to become more and more essential in raising a child.

Families are urged to ensure anyone who earns an income, or does essential non-paid work such as child-minding or the school run, have enough life insurance cover to ensure the work can be paid for if they died or were incapacitated. The UK’s increasing reliance on grandparents brings the importance of life insurance even more sharply into focus.

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Drink drivers can no longer request a blood test

The Transport Secretary, Phllip Hammond is to plug an existing loophole in the law which enables motorists to request a blood test, in the hope that the extra time allows the alcohol to disappear from their bloodstream.

The Department for Transport estimates that scrapping the right to demand a blood test could lead to 5,000 more drink drive convictions a year.  It will also allow police officers making the arrest to go back on patrol sooner instead of waiting to find a doctor or nurse to carry out the test.

Although this is a victory for safety campaigners they are angered that the Government has rejected the call to lower the drink drive limit. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said, improving the way the current limit was enforced would have a bigger impact on the problem than reducing the amount motorists are allowed to drink.

So what will this mean for motorists? Initially, this will mean that suspected drink drivers will need to take a breath test at the police station and the results of which can be used in court.  The next step is to introduce evidential breath tests to be taken at the roadside.

Alongside this tightening of current testing methods the Government are also introducing a new specific offence to punish motorists who are driving under the influence of drugs. This will bring UK laws in line with other countries such as Australia and Spain where it is illegal to drive with an illegal substance in your bloodstream.

Police will also be given roadside drug testing kits as soon as possible. Six such devices are currently being tested by the Home Office.

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News in brief: Expectations of rate rises in fuel ease slightly

Expectations of rate rises in the UK have been sharply pushed back this week amid fears of a reversal in the global economy because of the crisis in Japan and the high price of oil.


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Staged car crashes on the rise

A recent Government report has called for a crackdown on fraudulent staged car accidents which have caused motor insurance premiums to soar.

This report comes after evidence that ‘staged accidents’ - where motorists deliberately ‘crash for cash’ and submit false claims to gain insurance payouts - are on the rise.

The Transport Committee report urges the insurance industry to tackle fraudulent injury claims which are the cause for the rise in car insurance premiums. They also call for a dedicated police unit, funded by insurers to tackle this issue. The belief is that a police unit that concentrates on combating this kind of crime would have a positive impact on reducing the number of illegal claims and fraudulent staged accidents.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman said: ‘Wider access to justice is to be welcomed, but it has come at a significant cost, with far more personal injury claims being made than in the past. The police made plain to the committee that staged accidents are on the increase and that, so far, we have been lucky there have been no fatalities resulting from such incidents. That luck may run out unless the insurance industry acts rapidly to help the police target this kind of insurance fraud.’

The Automobile Association, which gave data to the transport committee's inquiry, said the rise in legal costs had added £40 a year to the average motor premiums, the biggest leap for at least 16 years.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, welcomed the idea of a special police unit. ‘With insurer control, such a unit could very quickly pay for itself. Fraud, particularly false personal injury claims, is in my view the biggest driver of premium increases,’ he said.

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Check crime levels in your area before taking out insurance cover

Drivers can now use a government website to check how many crimes have been committed in their area, including vehicle crimes. The new www.police.uk  website has been launched for England and Wales which allows the public to search their postcode for crime and anti-social behavior. The map cost £300,000 to develop and has already received over 400 million hits since it’s launch from the general public.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the map would give real facts and make police more accountable. She said: ‘I think people are going to welcome the fact they can really see what's happening with crime in their area, not just on their street but in their neighbourhood.’
The information on crime is split into six categories - burglary, robbery, vehicle crime, violence, other crime and anti-social behaviour.
It has been confirmed that hoax calls to emergency services will appear on the crime map as antisocial behaviour. This helps to explain why some areas of the UK which are normally considered quiet areas may appear as a crime hotspot on the map.
A spokesman for charity Victim Support said it was important that victims of crime had consented as to whether information about their incident was released. In an effort to prevent identification of victims’, sex crimes have been included in the ‘other’ category and streets with fewer than 12 houses will only be included in a wider neighbourhood area.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the crime maps, although she said they ‘should also include police strength for forces across the UK’.
She added: ‘Knowing where crime takes place isn't enough if there aren't sufficient police to deal with it.
‘People want to know what effect the government's deep and rapid cuts to the police are going to have on their area’
Suitable insurance for your home and vehicles is a wise move in any area, so get an online quote today and seen how much money you could save to ensure your peace of mind. http://www.einsurancegroup.co.uk/?source=190

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What do Charlie Sheen, Prince Andrew and 28,000 policemen have in common?

Poor old Hollywood megastar Charlie Sheen and our very own Prince Andrew have both seen their careers hitting the buffers in recent weeks.

Actor Charlie Sheen was dumped by Warner Brothers from his hit TV show Two and a Half Men after a tirade of abuse against the show’s producer, and his long term associate Chuck Lorre. Despite losing his $1.2 million per episode contract, Sheen claims to be delighted. ‘I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension,’ he said about Lorre.

What’s more, Sheen has already filled the hole in his wallet. His public campaign against his producers has been splashed all over the media, and spread like wildfire online, amassing one million Twitter followers in under 25 hours last week. The controversial actor’s antics have won him folk hero status for standing up for himself, as well as amusing us all with his curious online rambles, ‘I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen.’

As a result Sheen has now inked a deal to release a line of merchandise bearing his most memorable quotes and catchphrases from the recent media whirlwind – to be sold online at first, before stocking in mega US chains like Wal-Mart and Target.

Prince Andrew, also no stranger to controversy has seen his position as UK Trade Ambassador undermined by a series of seedy allegations about his friendships with dictators and sex offenders.  The accompanying media storm could see him lose his job too.

But neither Sheen nor Prince Andrew need worry about paying the bills if they’re suddenly jobless. Not all of us are as fortunate as these two though. Spare a thought for the 28,000 police jobs thought to be at risk this week as a result of planned budget cuts over the next four years. The Police Federation has reacted:

‘Officers feel frustrated and let down. They feel there's an air of bobby bashing going on at the moment - no matter what they do it's wrong and they want to try and get their voice out there as human beings, as well as the impact on them and their families.’ 

If you’re concerned in any way about your own income and employment prospects, it’s worth talking to eLifeCompare about Income Protection policies. It’s quick and easy to get a quote, and may cost less than you think. And then you too can feel free to tweet about evil warlocks and befriend dictators without fear of losing your income.

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Could drivers be banned from smoking when children in car?

In 2007, laws banned smoking in enclosed public places including smoking in vehicles used for work. Now, 20 of Britain’s most senior doctors have called for a ban on smoking in cars carrying children. Latest figures show around four million people in the UK still smoke near children.
Professor Mitch Blair from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said, ‘Secondhand smoke has been linked to chest infections, asthma, ear problems sudden infant death syndrome, or cot death.’
In a report published this week it said second-hand smoke can be 27 times more toxic in a car than a smoker's home.
A YouGov poll for the UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) found 74% support for banning anyone from smoking in a car carrying children, with 10% against and 11% undecided.
It has proven difficult to enforce these new laws covering motorists in work vehicles, yet it is unclear how police officers would enforce any change to criminalise all drivers and passengers who smoke with children in the car.
Opinions will be strongly divided on this issue as if a ban is implemented many would argue we are a step closer to introducing a nanny state, and adults should be allowed to use their common sense in these issues. But what if ‘common sense’ is simply not in the best interests of children, who are too young to have a voice themselves?
For the meantime, the government has made it clear that they will not be implementing any further restrictions on smoking. The Department of Health said: ‘Most people know about the dangers of passive smoking, particularly with regards to children. It is important parents take responsibility for their children's health.’
But how would the government’s position fare if the ‘in favour’ 74% campaign for change? Only time will tell.


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Leon Haslam testing video now on our channel

For all you World superbikes fans, check out our video of Leon Haslam testing at: http://www.youtube.com/einsurancegroup#p/a/u/2/PGQ0Hw5pOH8

Go Leon!

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Petrol prices 'may hit £2 at pumps'

Petrol prices could jump to a record £2 per litre if instability in Libya continues to escalate, the Government has warned.
Former oil trader Alan Duncan, now the UK International Development Minister has warned that the price of a barrel of crude oil could hit $200, significantly more than the current record high of $147 that was seen in July 2008.
Mr Duncan said in an interview with The Times newspaper, ‘I've been saying in Government for two months that if this does go wrong, £1.30 at the pump could look like a luxury.
'$200 (USD) is on the cards if anyone is reckless and foments unrest.
‘It could be very serious. If crude oil doubles, [we're] going to have a serious spike [in petrol prices]. Try living without it for a week.’
The impact of such a rise in petrol prices could have a devastating impact on all areas of the British economy. Of course, commuters will face even further costs in getting to and from their place of work, but the real impact will be seen in other areas; the additional costs of items on the supermarket shelves, further tightening of the Government’s public spending budgets across areas such as the emergency services which run fuel-dependant services, travel costs on public transport and so on.
From an individual perspective, there are many ways in which drivers can try and reduce their fuel consumption:
- Pump up your tyres - under inflated tyres makes your car work harder and use more fuel
- Streamline your car - remove external racks when not required for less drag
- Get your car serviced - if you haven’t, it’s less likely to be operating at its most efficient.
- Empty your boot - carrying unnecessary weight makes the car less efficient
- Good value car Insurance: OK, not exactly a petrol saving tip, but still a great way to cut motoring costs!
However, at the end of the day we must all take note and be thankful that although the current difficulties we may be facing as an economy and an import-dependent country are significant, they pale into comparison against the plight of the Libyan people, currently living in the midst of a civil war.


So let’s take stock, and look on the Brightside – in true British fashion, we must keep calm, and carry on.

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Famed manufacturer Bristol Cars files for bankruptcy

The flags are flying at half-mast here at eInsurance Group today, as luxury car manufacturer Bristol Cars has gone into administration, it has been announced.

The business filed for bankruptcy on 8 March after 65-years of producing high-performance luxury vehicles. Twenty-two staff are reported to have been made redundant from its Kensington High Street showroom and its Bristol-based factory, but sales and service operations, continue for now. Tom MacLennan and Trevor Binyon from RSM Tenon have been appointed joint administrators.

This truly is a grey day for the British car industry. Bristol Cars is one of the few genuinely British car makers left, and offers customers very eccentric (and very British) qualities in its vehicles. The company was formed in 1946, immediately after the second World War. The Bristol Aeroplane Company formed a partnership with the makers of Frazer Nash (AFN) cars that became Bristol Cars, and steadily built a global reputation for quality and style. The company was bought in 1997 by Toby Silverton and has always maintained an air of secrecy, often refusing to publish sales figures and not allowing the media to test-drive cars.

Famous fans of the brand include Liam Gallagher, Sir Richard Branson and the late, great, motoring writer LJK Setright, who was self-confessedly ‘obsessed’ by them, and thoroughly approved of the fact they were well equipped with ashtrays.

The current Bristol Cars range includes the Fighter, Blenheim, Blenheim Speedster and Series 6 with prices starting at £150,000.

It will now be a tortuous wait for fans of the brand and, of course, the company itself, to see if a suitable buyer can be found. At eInsurance Group, we're certainly hoping so.

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Ford to launch ‘Talking Car’ in UK in 2012

Well, can you believe it? Ford has announced it is launching a car that can ‘talk’ to its drivers, reports have claimed.

Ford’s exciting new SyncCar Communication system will enable two-way conversation and recognise 19 languages, regional dialects, and 10,000 commands. It will answer questions like, ‘Where is the nearest petrol station?’ and even the dreaded ‘are we nearly there yet?’ (a silent 'hurrah' from parents everywhere!).

Bill Ford, Executive Chair of the Ford Motor Company, said, ‘We are going to build smart cars, but we also need to build smart roads, smart parking, smart public transportation systems and more.

‘Imagine a car that could communicate with a parking garage?

‘While pulling out of the driveway, the car could reserve a parking spot at its final destination, saving time and fuel by eliminating the need to hunt down parking.’

SyncCar could even pinpoint the exact location of your vehicle and call the emergency service for help in the event of an accident. Such technology could dramatically affect many areas of the car industry, from vehicle repairs to costs of breakdown cover.

And what of insurance costs? We asked our very own Alan Sanderson, CEO of eInsurance Group, for his thoughts and he said, ‘The potential of SyncCar technology is very interesting. After all, if cars were able to talk to each other on the road, this could potentially eliminate human error in driving and reduce the number of accidents.

‘This in turn, could affect average insurance premiums, but the technology would have to have a dramatic impact on the industry, and be applied to all cars, for this to be the case.’

The car is expected to launch in the UK in 2012 and could be coming to a street near you!

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