Lord Woolf the Master of the Rolls described Mr Howard’s approach as perfunctory

Lord Woolf, the Master of the Rolls, described Mr Howard’s approach as “perfunctory.. and falling below the standards of a court”. Lord Justice Hobhouse said the procedures followed “were flawed”. Their decision was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights which also stated that politicians should not be involved in the sentencing process.Yesterday, Ann Widdecombe, the shadow Home Secretary, maintained that Mr Howard’s tariff was appropriate.The mediaHeadline writers clambered over each other to describe just how “evil” Venables and Thompson were. This undoubtedly struck a chord with the public mood, but also played a significant part in demonising the two boys.The media also led the campaign to increase the minimum sentences for the two boys and found an ally in Mr Howard. There was little attempt made to understand what shaped the two killers, apart from honing in on the fact that the Venables household had a rented copy of a horror film called Child’s Play 3. Although there was no evidence that Jon Venables had even seen the film, there was an instant clamour for such “video nasties” to be banned.

The Sun urged its readers to burn copies of the film – but neglected to mention it had actually been shown by its sister satellite station, Sky, during the trial.. The Royal Ballet’s new artistic director is to be Ross Stretton, the 48-year-old head of the Australian Ballet. His appointment, likely to be announced today by the Royal Opera House management, means that Britain’s most expensive and prestigious arts venue will have three people from overseas at the helm. The Royal Ballet’s new artistic director is to be Ross Stretton, the 48-year-old head of the Australian Ballet.

His appointment, likely to be announced today by the Royal Opera House management, means that Britain’s most expensive and prestigious arts venue will have three people from overseas at the helm.
Mr Stretton will join a former colleague, Michael Kaiser, an American who is executive director of the Royal Opera House. They will shortly be joined by another American, Antonio Pappano, who will take charge of the opera company.Significantly, Stretton, an Australian, was for much of the 1980s and 1990s with the American Ballet Theatre where he became assistant director.Kaiser is a past executive director of ABT and will see Stretton as an ally at a time when he has been under fire for persistent technical problems, cancellations and high prices.Little of the criticism aimed at the ROH has been directed at the Royal Ballet. Though some critics have bemoaned too conservative a repertoire, the past few years have seen an emergence of exciting and charismatic stars, both home-grown and imported, including Darcey Bussell, Silvie Guillem, Sarah Wildor, Viviana Durante and Irek Mukhamedov.After the current director, Sir Anthony Dowell, announced that he would be leaving in 2001, an approach was made to the choreographer and favourite to succeed him, David Bintley, head of Birmingham Royal Ballet But he was unwilling to leave. The ambitious Royal Ballet dancer and Arts Council member, Deborah Bull, was known to be interested, but is not sufficiently experienced as a director and still dances with her peers in the company. Ross McGibbon, once principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, was a close challenger to Stretton; and other applicants are believed to include Mukhamedov and the choreographer Ashley Page.Stretton, a former dancer, will follow in an illustrious line dating back to the still-living founder of the Royal Ballet, Dame Ninette de Valois, and including architects of the Royal Ballet’s style, Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan.Stretton, who takes up his appointment in a year’s time, will work closely with another Australian, the head of the Royal Ballet School, Gailene Stock, former director of the Australian Ballet School.

She said last night that the chairman of the Royal Opera House, Sir Colin Southgate, “rang me last week and said, ‘Do you know this gentleman?’ I said, ‘He was the best man at our wedding.’ Southgate said, ‘We thought we’d go all Australian’.”. Dr George Carey ordered a review of his “vast” role as Archbishop of Canterbury last night before a potential overhaul of the Anglican Church’s principal office. Dr George Carey ordered a review of his “vast” role as Archbishop of Canterbury last night before a potential overhaul of the Anglican Church’s principal office.
The former foreign secretary Lord Hurd of Westwell is to lead the survey of the responsibilities and resources of the head of the Church. It is likely to focus on commitments faced by the Archbishop within the Church in greater ecumenical co-operation and increased ministry to Anglican communities abroad.Dr Carey’s jobs range from acting as bishop for the diocese of Canterbury to leading the Church of England, sitting in the Lords and acting as global leader of the Anglican Church.Commentators have questioned the scope of the office, calling the responsibility “vast” as the Church of England tries to reverse a fall in its congregations and modernise its role.Dr Carey, who commissioned the review after consulting colleagues, said he believed the review was “timely and prudent. One of my priorities is to seek to ensure the church and communion I lead is as effective and responsive as it can be on behalf of those it seeks to serve.”Lord Hurd, who will work with about six lay and clerical experts to be appointed soon, is expected to present his report and recommendations to Lambeth Palace next summer. He has been given free rein to look at “possible future developments” in the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and decide how the office can be made to work “effectively”.The study, which follows similar reviews during the tenure of two previous archbishops, will look at the office of archbishop and not the record of the present incumbent. But the terms of reference remain vague, giving no indication of what view Lambeth Palace takes on whether the archbishop’s responsibilities should be slimmed down or more money provided to expand his role and staff..