Free Republic

Angela Merkel has called on campaigners in Britain’s EU referendum debate to moderate their language ahead of next week’s vote, as political leaders and officials across Europe paid tribute to the killed Labour MP Jo Cox. The German chancellor, who described the attack on the pro-European West Yorkshire MP as “terrible” but declined to link it directly to the referendum, called for all involved to respect the beliefs and opinions of others. “Otherwise, the radicalisation will become unstoppable,” she said. “Exaggerations, and radicalisation of part of the language, do not help foster an atmosphere of respect. We know how important...

Hundreds of lawyers’ jobs face the axe in West Yorkshire as a result of controversial legal aid reforms which could leave ordinary people trying to defend themselves in court, solicitors have warned.

"Seven Men Arrested Under Terror Act The arrests followed a routine stop of a vehicle by police on the M1 motorway in South Yorkshire on June 30." SNIPPET: ""Firearms, offensive weapons and other material were later found hidden inside, prompting police to take action to trace and arrest the driver, passenger and others suspected of being involved," he said. Police said three men aged 23, 26 and 27 from Sparkhill, Birmingham, were arrested on Tuesday morning. Three more suspects, a 22-year-old from Alum Rock, Birmingham, a 24-year-old from the Moseley area of the city, and a 22-year-old from Smethwick, West...

He lost his puppy - and his voice. A 4-year-old mute boy who spoke for the first time after getting a dog for his birthday went silent again after the puppy was stolen. Liam Hainsworth, of West Yorkshire, England, is heartbroken over the loss of his best friend, a pug named Milie. "There's no words coming out but you just know he's screaming 'Where is Milie? Where is she?' inside," his worried mother, Aimee Hainsworth, 24, told London's Daily Mail. "Milie really was his best friend. They would play together happily for hours. None of his toys has ever held...

A foul-mouthed parrot is ruffling a few feathers after setting up home in a West Yorkshire churchyard. The vicar has received complaints from people who have become targets for verbal abuse from the exotic bird. The mischievous African grey parrot called Charlie has been living with a flock of pigeons in the bell-tower at St Mary's Church in Mirfield. Three-year-old Charlie regularly turns the air blue by swearing and wolf-whistling at passers-by. But despite several attempts to catch the parrot he remains free as a bird. Owner Zarina France, 34, of Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, said even Charlie's favourite monkey nuts had...