THE LEADER of Britain's biggest union has backed a moderate who is AGAINST militant strike action to be his successor.

Outgoing Unite boss Derek Simpson last night threw his weight behind Les Bayliss, who has slammed walk-outs over spending cuts as “suicide”.

If the ex-engineer wins the top job, the recent spate of strike action could be a thing of the past.

Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault following allegations of improper behaviour towards a female constituent.

I've been passed emails showing councillors in his Portsmouth constituency are struggling to work out how to deal with him, with his Lib Dem colleagues refusing to condemn their local MP.

DAVID Miliband is poised for a sensational return to frontline politics with a top job at the European Union.

Senior sources in Paris and Brussels have told the News of the World that European leaders want the defeated Labour leadership candidate to be their Foreign Minister.

Mr Miliband walked away from the Shadow Cabinet on Wednesday, five days after being narrowly defeated by his brother Ed.

But French President Nicolas Sarkozy has told the current EU Foreign Minister, Baroness Ashton, he wants her to "move on" and "make room for David".

NINE out of 10 MPs are cashing in on second jobs - with one trousering more than £285,000 since May's election.

Some 563 of the 650 MPs - 87 per cent - have revealed incomes on top of their £64,766 Commons salaries.

Many work as highly-paid lawyers, directors and business advisors.

New Tory MP Stephen Phillips - a QC - has pocketed £285,150 for legal work in just five months since the election.

In an exclusive interview in tomorrow's News of the World, David Cameron has blasted scaremongers who predict his spending cuts will spell doom, insisting it won't hurt as much as people think.

The Prime Minister said fears he will massacre schools, hospitals and police forces when he wields the axe in 17 days time are unfounded.

"Let's put these cuts into perspective," he declared. "Many businesses have had to make far greater reduction that us in one year."

By Sophy Ridge

Newly-elected Labour leader Ed Miliband had to pick his way through a minefield in today's conference speech.

Somehow he had to placate the unions, MPs, Labour members and activists - all of whom are looking for different things and many of whom voted for his older brother.

After a knife-edge duel with David for the leader's crown, Ed had to make sure delegates left the party conference feeling optimistic about the future... and not worried that the wrong choice had been made.

And, all in all, he did a pretty good job.

It was a photo-finish... but Ed Miliband is the new leader of the Labour party after beating his brother by the slimmest of margins.

He ended up with 50.6 per cent, compared to David's 49.4 per cent.

David Miliband won the majority of votes from MPs and Labour members.

But it was the support of the trade unions which clinched it for the younger Miliband brother.