Dozens of leading news organisations, including the BBC, are taking part in a scheme that will allow their web-based articles to load more quickly on smartphones and tablets.

Leaders of the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) initiative promise that the stripped-back versions of the pages will be "lightning fast" to load.
The move has been led by Google, which is providing use of its servers.
Participants believe it may discourage the use of ad-blocking plug-ins.
AMP works by simplifying the technical underpinnings of the pages involved.
Much of the Javascript code used on normal webpages is absent, meaning articles should not only appear faster but use less battery power.
Publishers can continue to tap into the same ad networks as before, but they will not be able to display some types of adverts including pop-ups and "sticky" images that move as users scroll down a page.
Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Wordpress have said they also intend to make use of the technology.
Facebook is a notable exception. The social network recently launched an alternative programme called Instant Articles, which speeds up the delivery of third-party content by hosting it on its own platform.
News sites will automatically create AMP versions of their stories at the same time as they publish and update the originals.
View an AMP edition of this article (does not work via the BBC app)
Google intends to scrape these from the web, store them on its cache servers and then serve them to users via its Search and News tools.
Likewise, the social networks involved are also expected to cache and direct users to the AMP articles rather than the originals if users click on relevant links in their apps.
"Today, roughly 40% of users abandon an article if it doesn't load after six seconds," Danny Bernstein, Google's director of product partnerships, told the BBC.
"To be able to pull down an article instantly from Twitter, from Pinterest is a remarkable thing.
"We'll support accelerated mobile pages in search in 2016, but the code is public, so publishers can launch them today, and we expect some smaller apps to be able to render AMP files immediately."
Many of the biggest names in publishing are already involved.
Conde Nast, The Guardian, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, Vox Media and the New York Times are among those taking part.
The BBC noted that at present some of its mobile pages could take 12 seconds or longer to download in Australia, and this helped address that problem.
"Pages on mobiles will load much quicker than before, particularly in markets with slow connectivity, due to a simplified approach to both coding and caching of pages," explained Robin Pembrooke, general manager of the BBC's News Product.
"With over 60% of traffic to BBC News coming from mobiles or tablets, optimising this performance is crucial, particularly for events such as the [UK] general election where we saw over 85% of traffic coming in on mobile devices in the morning after as final results came in."
The Guardian's chief strategy officer Tony Danker added that there was huge benefit in his industry taking co-ordinated action to reduce the appeal of ad-blockers.
"Users are not spending hours discriminating between sites based on their speed," he said.
"They punish each of us for the sins of the whole ecosystem."
More work needs to be done, however, to ensure approved ads appear and to let the publishers track readership of their work.
Google said it did not plan to automatically prioritise AMP-enabled articles in its search results.
However, since loading times are one of the factors its algorithms take into account there is an added incentive for other news organisations to join.
It is already offering a demo for users to see how the service might work on mobiles.
One industry analyst said he expected the service to be popular.
"Anything which enables content to be distributed more quickly and makes it more accessible is good for the industry," said Ian Maude from Enders Analysis.
"And because it's backed by Google and other companies of its ilk and several of the major publishers it could have an impact on Facebook's own efforts to promote Instant Articles."


The Communist Party has launched its manifesto under the slogan "Tax The Rich", with pledges to end austerity and renationalise the railways.

The 22-page document promises policies for the "millions, not millionaires" and to plug tax-avoidance loopholes.
The party, formed in 1920, is fielding nine candidates, including six who are standing against incumbent Labour MPs.
One of the candidates is 18-year-old Laura-Jane Rossington, who is believed to be the youngest in England.
'Good reception'
The party, which has around 1,000 members, also backs leaving the European Union which it claims gives power to big business, and quitting NATO, which it says is the "greatest threat to world peace".
General Secretary Robert Griffiths, who is standing in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, told reporters in Westminster that voters on the doorstep supported many of the party's policies.
"Most of the time we are receiving a very good reception," he said. "Anti-Communist feelings are nowhere near as widespread as the general impression is given.
"The other party leaders can repeat their promises to clamp down on the tax dodgers until flying pigs come home, but they refuse to abolish the tax-haven status of some 28 British overseas territories and dependencies, from Jersey and the Isle of Man to Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands."
Mr Griffiths would like to see a Tobin tax-style levy on financial transactions in the City, meaning a tax on all payments from one currency to another.
He would also like to see a "modest" 2% wealth tax on the richest one-tenth of the population.
Miss Rossington, an A-level student standing in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, called for an end to minimum wage "discrimination" against young people and "real equality" for women.
Mr Griffiths said his party would not want to jeopardise a Labour victory, but its candidates were standing in areas where there were active Communist members and supporters.
The candidates for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney are:
The candidates for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport are:


Newcastle United head coach Steve McClaren says confidence is "fragile" going into Sunday's encounter against in-form Liverpool at St James' Park.

The Magpies are 19th in the Premier League after last week's 5-1 loss at Crystal Palace and the Reds have won their last four matches, the last being a 6-1 win at Southampton.
"Nobody is happy at this football club," said McClaren.
"All of sudden we have gone three steps forward and five or six back."
The Magpies have only managed two league wins in 14 games, and conceded 30 goals in that time - the joint most with Bournemouth.
"We believe in these players but confidence is very fragile," he continued.
"People question a lack of character and fight and it appears that way, but these are young players, this is what they are going through.
"This experience they have to go through to come through it - that bit of adversity in a big club in a tough situation and be stronger when they come out of it."
Meanwhile, defender Mike Williamson, recalled from his loan spell at Wolves, is set for a scan on a hamstring problem he picked up in training.
"When it goes against you, it goes against you," said the Newcastle coach.


Senior officers and a solicitor who were involved in the South Yorkshire Police response to Hillsborough and the so-called Battle of Orgreave can be named for the first time.

Peter Metcalf was involved in defending the force against unlawful arrest claims after the 1984 Orgreave clash.
He also played a key role in reviewing statements after Hillsborough.
Deputy Chief Constable Peter Hayes and Assistant Chief Constable Walter Jackson are connected to both cases.
The officers, who were involved in a review of the evidence after Orgreave and have links to Hillsborough, have both denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Metcalf did not wish to comment on Orgreave when approached by the BBC.
About 10,000 strikers and 5,000 police officers clashed at Orgreave coking plant in June 1984.
Mr Hayes ordered a review of the way evidence had been gathered about Orgreave and was later involved in co-ordinating the force's evidence after the disaster at the Sheffield stadium.
Mr Jackson was given the job of reviewing the Orgreave evidence and was at Hillsborough to watch the FA Cup semi-final after signing off the policing plan.
The parallels between Hillsborough and Orgreave have been drawn before. Now evidence is starting to emerge showing the actual links, the names of people involved in the aftermath of both.
There have been claims the way South Yorkshire Police conducted themselves after 'The Battle of Orgreave' fed into their response to the Hillsborough disaster.
There have been growing calls for some form of investigation to fully understand what happened during the miners' strike and how that may have shown a culture within the South Yorkshire force that endured long after.
But it should also be remembered these are very different incidents. Nobody died at Orgreave. Although miners were put on trial, the cases collapsed so there was no miscarriage of justice. That said, the miners have always carried a sense of injustice about what happened. Their calls for an inquiry now have the backing of some of the Hillsborough families. It's up to the home secretary to decide what happens next.
Mr Metcalf wrote a note saying he had been told some of the police statements did not match the video evidence at Orgreave.
His note also records Mr Metcalfe as saying that he had been told that senior officers were reluctant to provide anything that might undermine the case.
Last year, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it had identified possible cases of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to Orgreave.
However, the police watchdog decided an investigation was not in the public interest.
Former miners' union president Arthur Scargill has called for an inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave disorder.
More than 120 officers and pickets were injured and 93 people were arrested following clashes at the coking plant.
Campaigners have called on Dave Jones, the interim chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, to open up the force's archives on Orgreave.
The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign said it wanted Mr Jones to intervene in its legal bid to push Home Secretary Theresa May to hold a public inquiry.
Mr Jones said he would "welcome an appropriate independent assessment of Orgreave".
"The Hillsborough inquests have brought into sharp focus the need to understand and confront the past and give people the opportunity to explore the circumstances of such significant events," he said.
In the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster, police accounts of what happened were amended, in some cases to remove criticism of senior officers.
In contrast to their professional training, police officers at Hillsborough were told not to record the day's events in their pocket books but to set down their "recollections". In an "unprecedented process of review and alteration", they were then edited by the force's lawyers before submission to the official inquiry.


An ingot of Roman lead unearthed on a farm is expected to fetch up to £60,000 at auction.

Bricklayer Jason Baker, 31, from Plymouth, found the very rare bar, called a pig, near Wells.
The 2ft (60cm) ingot dates from AD 164 and is inscribed with the name of emperor Marcus Aurelius Armeniacus.
Auctioneers Bonhams said it was the only known pig found in the UK to survive from the Antonine period, the 2nd Century AD.
More on the Roman ingot auction, plus more Devon and Cornwall news
Four ingots bearing the same inscriptions are known to have been discovered, all found within 18 miles of Charterhouse in Mendip, Somerset - the supposed point of manufacture, said Bonhams.
The first two, found in the 16th and 18th Centuries, have since been lost.
The third, consisting of two fragments, is on display at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.
Mr Baker has been metal detecting for two years when he found the pig on a rally with the Southern Detectorists Club.
He said: "Normally I find just a couple of Roman coins and that's normally a good day, so to find something like this has just changed my life.
"I knew I had found something because it was a really good signal. I dug down about two and a half feet and saw this thing with writing all over it. I didn't have a clue what it was.
"I was just happy to have found something, I don't do it for the money - I do it for discovering history."
Mr Baker added: "On the day when I found it me and the farmer had a chat. I said 'I found it on your land' and he agreed to go halves on the profits."
He has also agreed to give half of his profits to his friend Zack Littlejohn, who taught him "everything he knows" and has become a good friend, meaning the builder will only get a quarter of whatever it sells for.
Siobhan Quin, Bonhams' senior antiquities specialist, said the ingot was worth between £40,000 and £60,000.
"This is a wonderful discovery," she said.
"The Mendips were a major source of lead for the Romans who cast the metal into ingots for ease of transportation.
"Some lead was sent back to Rome and some used locally - the great bath at nearby Bath, for example, is lined with original Mendip lead."
The auction takes place at Bonhams in London on 30 November.


Harrogate is the happiest place to live in Britain, according to a survey by a property website.

The spa town topped the poll for the third year in a row in the Rightmove report, which asked 24,000 people how they feel about where they live.
Shrewsbury was ranked second, with Ipswich third and York and Chester completing the top five.
Inverness came highest in Scotland, in sixth, with seventh-placed Llandrindod Wells the top Welsh location.
Participants in the survey were asked to rate their area based on 12 factors, including neighbourliness, how safe they felt, recreational facilities, sense of community, living costs, contentment and how proud they felt about their home.
Richard Cooper, Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council, described the North Yorkshire town as a fantastic place to live.
"We are surrounded by some of the UK's most beautiful scenery, have fantastic shopping, a wide variety of restaurants and cafes and great entertainment and leisure opportunities, including some unique experiences such as the elegant Turkish Baths," he said.
"As a floral town, we are also extremely lucky to have a significant number of parks and gardens in the immediate vicinity, which are a joy to discover."
Hemel Hempstead ranked highest in the south-east of England, in eighth place, but London fared badly in the poll - with nine of the bottom 10 places in the capital.
Bottom of the list, in 130th place, was the east London borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Do you fit in with the personality of your area? Could there be somewhere in Britain that suits you better?
Take a test to find the best place in Britain for you
Darren Rodwell, the Labour leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: "I find this report quite amusing as we have just had tens of thousands of people coming to a series of events celebrating 50 years of our borough.
"Of course there are challenges in Barking and Dagenham, like there is anywhere else in the country in this age of austerity, but I know we have the drive and ambition to make this borough a better place to live for everyone."


JB Bruzulier, who played a key part in both of Worcester Warriors' trophy wins last season, is to leave Sixways to return to French rugby with Nevers.

Having captained Warriors in their British & Irish Cup triumph, he then played in both legs of the Championship play-off final win over Bristol.
But the 23-year-old Welshman has been surplus to requirements this season.
Already behind Jonny Arr, his chances were further lessened by the arrival of South African Francis Hougaard.
He becomes the second Warriors scrum-half to announce his departure, following Charlie Mulchrone's planned move to Harlequins.
"I'd like to thank JB for his efforts during his time at Sixways," said Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan. "Especially during the latter stages of last season where he was thrust into first-team action and helped the side gain promotion from the Championship.
"We wish him all the best in his next chapter in France."
Bruzulier, who has represented Wales at age-group and sevens level, was at Saracens before moving to the French ProD2 with Le Pays d'Aix in 2012.


Scarlets' home advantage will play a key role in Saturday's European Champions Cup opener against Sale, according to head coach Wayne Pivac.

Scarlets recovered from a 13-point deficit to beat Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pro12 on Saturday in what Pivac described as a "lucky win".
Scarlets and Sale each lie seventh in their domestic competitions.
"We've probably got the best draw in the group having a home game first up and that's pretty important," he said.
Reigning champions Saracens are at 2013, 2014 and 2015 title holders Toulon in Pool 3's opening encounter earlier in the day.
Scarlets wing Steff Evans scored a memorable opener in the Welsh derby, but his side trailed 20-14 at the break.
"We put ourselves under a lot of pressure in that first half in particular," said New Zealander Pivac.
"I think we started, really, really well, got the quick try and that's what we're after.
"We started to be put under pressure and make mistakes and they took their opportunities and scored some good tries.
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"Certainly we had a bit of a chat at half time and refocused the boys and I thought they were a lot better in the second half.
"We talked about not under-estimating the Dragons because they've got a lot of talented young players and we knew they'd come here and it's a derby and they'd throw everything at it.
"In the end we were probably lucky to get away with a win."
Pivac says his side must learn "not to get ahead of ourselves".
He added: "We've had three wins in a row, but against sides that haven't been performing that well so we've just got to be realistic as to where we're at at this stage of the season and keep building."


The mother of a missing airman has appealed for anyone who saw her "good-looking lad" to contact police.

Corrie Mckeague, based at RAF Honington in Suffolk, disappeared after a night out in Bury St Edmunds nine days ago.
Nicola Urquhart said someone would have seen her 23-year-old son at "three o'clock in the morning walking in a pink shirt and white trousers".
Her plea to find him comes after police revealed they had seized a bin lorry believing it may contain his phone.
Mr Mckeague was last spotted on CCTV walking alone and eating fast food in Bury St Edmunds at 03:20 BST on 24 September.
Read more updates on this story
Mrs Urquhart, of Dunfermline, Fife, attended a police press conference in Bury St Edmunds with two of her sons, telling reporters his disappearance had been "hard" for the family.
"This is about finding him - this is not Corrie, he would not do this out of choice," she said.
"We are an incredibly, incredibly close family.
"My son has disappeared - so somebody please, if anyone knows anything, get in touch, get in touch with Suffolk Police.
"We would like him to come home, we would like him to come home soon, so please get in touch."
Mrs Urquhart said he had spoken to one of his brothers on the phone four times the day before he vanished.
Mr Mckeague has been based at RAF Honington for three years and his mother said he had never gone missing before.
She appealed for people to check their gardens and properties in a bid to find him.
CCTV indicated Mr Mckeague, who was out with RAF colleagues, stopped for a nap in a doorway before getting up and moving on.
"Once he goes out he is a creature of habit - he will leave absolutely on his own," said Mrs Urquhart.
"He will go and get food and if he has to lay down and have a sleep before he goes home he will. Nothing in his behaviour was remotely unusual," she said.
"What is absolutely out of character is that he would not contact one of us."
Police said they did not believe Mr Mckeague still had his mobile phone after data showed it moved to nearby Barton Mills, matching the route of a bin lorry.
The phone has not been used since it was pinpointed to the location, which is about 10 miles (16km) from Bury.
Police said they were "exploring the possibility that the phone may have been lost or discarded as the timings of the movement has been found to coincide with that of a bin lorry".
Over the weekend, searches by police, the RAF, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and a National Police Air Service helicopter were carried out, but have not revealed "any new information".
Checks in Bury St Edmunds were also held a week after the last confirmed sighting of Mr Mckeague in Brentgovel Street.
Police said he could have been in the area of Mildenhall between 04:30 and 08:00 on the Saturday.
They said they wanted to hear from anyone who may have seen or spoken to a man matching Mr Mckeague's description in the area at the time.
Speculation that Mr Mckeague may have been kidnapped has been played down by police, who said they were keeping an "open mind" to all possibilities.
A police spokesman said the main line of inquiry was Mr Mckeague had attempted to walk home after his night out.


Ayr United completed their stroll into the Scottish Championship play-off final with another win over Peterhead.

Leading 4-1 from the first leg in midweek, they were ahead as Robbie Crawford opened his right foot to virtually pass the ball into net.
Peterhead were level when a speculative cross from Leighton McIntosh spun off the head of Michael Donald and diverted under his own crossbar.
Nicky Devlin restored the lead to secure a play-off against Stranraer.
The equaliser had briefly silenced a home crowd of 1,848, but few sheltering from the wind and rain in the old stadium had been worrying that it would trigger a northern resurgence.
Devlin was on the end of Michael Donald corner as Graeme Smith failed to get to grips with the floated cross to kill the game 12 minutes into the second half.
Jim McInally's team failed to capitalise on the weather at their back in the first half, even dovetailed with the return of top scorer Rory McAllister after suspension.
It was always odds against them producing a miracle after a run of seven matches without a win and, in stark contrast, Ayr were strengthened by the re-appearance of Jamie Adams.
The Honest Men are now two games away from a return to the second tier of Scottish football.
And, beyond that, the possibility of the rebirth of the Ayrshire derby if Kilmarnock were to be relegated from the Premiership.


The rules that govern how our personal data can be used, where it can be stored, and who can see it, are, at the moment, written by the European Union but what will happen when we leave the EU?

The next time you fill your name and other information into a box on a website remember this: when you do it, you are transferring data about yourself.
But what will happen when we leave the EU?
Data is not just a commodity for the likes of Google and Facebook to sell on. It can also be a cure.
At the moment, scientists are taking part in a study of how cancer is affected by lifestyle and diet.
The project is called Epic, and it is one of many research projects that rely on moving large amounts of data around the EU.
"The data can move freely between the researchers," says Beth Thompson, senior policy adviser at the health charity, the Wellcome Trust.
Right now, much of her time is taken up working out whether that will still be the case when we leave the EU.
You might think data is the ultimate borderless commodity, but how it moves is governed by rules made in Europe.
Imagine you're a Liverpudlian tax specialist offering online services to British expats living in Spain. Or an Edinburgh children's toy-maker marketing products in Germany.
When a customer fills in your online form and gives you data about themselves, you're legally covered because the UK is part of the system of EU data laws.
The rules we operate under at the moment were drawn up more than 20 years ago, well before the advent of social media.
New EU rules will come into force next year, and the UK will have to implement them. A year later we leave the Union, and then it will be up to the European Commission to decide whether it believes the UK meets EU standards - whether we are deemed to be "adequate".
"Adequacy is something equivalent to EU standards," says Chris Pounder, a lawyer at information specialists Amberhawk, with 30 years' experience in data protection.
Would we get adequacy?
"Already the Europeans are concerned about the level of protection afforded by the [current British] Data Protection Act."
He believes that if this continues when we implement the new data rules next year we are not going to get adequacy.
It's not just Britain's data relationship with the EU that is at stake here.
"Because we are part of the European Union we trade data with the United States as part of something called Privacy Shield," says Stephanie Hare, a political risk analyst who specialises in technology.
When we leave the EU we will leave that data-sharing arrangement, as we will the EU's other arrangements with Canada, New Zealand and the like. Stephanie Hare says in the future Britain will probably mirror the way non-EU countries currently do it.
"They have to go to these third-party agreements. It's really expensive, it's bureaucratically heavy, it becomes an added cost for business."
Those costs would exist for researchers too.
Beth Thompson, at the Wellcome Trust, isn't worried about data flows stopping, but "if we don't have adequacy the researchers in other EU countries who want to transfer their data to the UK will have to go through a series of hurdles and that will make the UK a less attractive place to do research."
Some argue we will not end up in that sort of situation.
Paul Lindsell co-founded the Data Governance Forum, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting best practice.
He says firms have to comply with the new EU rules at least until the point of Brexit. "Since the government is unlikely to waste time on unpicking data protection legislation post-Brexit, the vast majority of corporations will have become compliant.
"The result is de facto compliance. 'Adequacy' of legislation is almost sure to remain."
That would be the easiest scenario, but before then, organisations must plan for a more complicated future, even if that's not what emerges in the end.
Matthew Price reports for the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.


Nottingham Panthers continue the quest to become the first British ice hockey team to win European honours when their Continental Cup campaign reaches the Super Final stage in Italy on Friday.

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Panthers reached the final stages of Europe's second-tier event by topping their three-team group in November.
Coach Corey Neilson told BBC East Midlands Today: "We are excited that we have put ourselves in this position.
"This is a nice break to play against unique opposition and test ourselves."
The best-ever Continental Cup performance by a British side came in 2010, when Sheffield Steelers finished third in Grenoble, France.
Seventeen teams from 17 countries entered this season's competition, and the winning side will go onto play in next season's Champions Hockey League - the sport's premier European competition.
Nottingham's bid for history-setting honours, in ice hockey's equivalent of football's Europa League, sees them face Odense of Denmark on Friday, Beibarys Atyrau of Kazakhstan on Saturday and hosts Ritten on Sunday.
Neilson added: "We have done our due diligence checking out their rosters. We have had this league focus all season long. Now it's a matter of going out and doing our thing."
Panthers are fourth in the Elite League, but they have won 10 of their past 13 games and recent signing Jason Williams said the team is in good shape.
Williams, a former Stanley Cup winner who played for Ritten in this season's Continental Cup, added: "We have confidence to put on a good show.
"Everybody is looking forward to it. Hopefully for the three games in three nights, we can stay healthy and everybody will contribute. We need everybody, that is for sure."


Some of Suffolk's care homes could close when a new provider takes over from Suffolk County Council.

The council has named Care UK as its preferred company to manage its 16 care homes and eight wellbeing centres.
Care UK has committed to build 10 new care homes but would not comment on how this would affect the existing homes.
Councillor Colin Noble said it was "absolutely possible" that some of the 16 would be closed.
Mr Noble, portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: "Care UK is nationally recognised as specialists in dementia care with a proven track record of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in society."
Staff currently employed by the council will be transferred to Care UK.
Mr Noble said staff and residents at the existing homes would be consulted about the proposed changes but he could not guarantee all of the homes would remain open.
"We need to look at the provision that is there at the moment, look at what Care UK are proposing in terms of how they're going to invest hundreds of millions of pounds into Suffolk, and then we need to sit down and work out what we need to plan for in each of those communities.
"We've got to plan for the future and how we're going to provide more care homes for more people in the future."
Care UK said it would not comment on details of the plans as a contract was yet to be signed.
Toby Siddall, Care UK's residential care services managing director said: "We are delighted to reach the final stage of this opportunity to work in partnership with Suffolk County Council.
"We look forward to completing the outstanding discussions with the council so that we can start getting to know the residents, relatives and the teams that deliver the services in the council's homes today."


Convicted paedophile Christopher Paul Neil has been released from custody and will settle in Vancouver.

Dubbed "swirl face" due to efforts he made to disguise himself, Neil is classed a "high-risk sex offender".
The 42-year-old Canadian was arrested in Thailand in 2007 following a global manhunt and a worldwide appeal for public information by Interpol.
He has spent time in jail in both Thailand and Canada for sexually abusing young boys.
Corrections officials from the province of British Columbia (BC) issued a public warning following Neil's release on Sunday.
BC Corrections spokeswoman Cindy Rose said in a statement that Neil will be "subject to an intensive level of monitoring and supervision in the community".
It includes:
Neil was arrested 10 years ago when Interpol, the international police agency, appealed for help after experts unscrambled his digitally-swirled internet photos.
It was the first time Interpol had made a direct worldwide appeal for public information in a case.
Online images of Neil showing him abusing young boys had been manipulated to disguise his face with a swirl pattern, but German computer specialists were able to produce identifiable images.
Neil was jailed in Thailand between August 2008 and September 2012 following a conviction for sexual offences against two boys.  He was released and deported to Canada.
In December 2015 he pleaded guilty to five new charges involving the sexual abuse of young boys in Cambodia and possession of child pornography in Canada.  His sentenced was reduced due to time already served.
Neil, originally from Maple Ridge, BC, had spent about 15 years in Asia teaching English.


Police have arrested two people in connection with a £60,000 drugs haul in Belfast.

A 34-year-old man was arrested after a car crash at Springfield Road, west Belfast, on Friday.
He is being questioned on suspicion of drugs offences after a suspected cutting agent was found.
Later, police found what they believe to be cocaine with an estimated value of £60,000 in a follow-up search in Edenderry.
A 27-year-old woman was also arrested.


In our series of letters from African journalists, Joseph Warungu looks at why Kenya insists that its senior political leaders must hold a university degree.

There is a whirl of activity online at the moment as Kenyans try to "find" their old school mates to stand by them in case they are required to prove that they did in fact attend school and sat national examinations.
It is all a light-hearted mock of the serious situation in which the Governor of Mombasa, Ali Hassan Joho, has found himself in.
Police are investigating whether Mr Joho forged his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) as alleged by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
He denies any wrongdoing but if these allegations are proven, Mr Joho could be in danger of criminal charges and could be stripped of the degrees he subsequently obtained at university.
A person vying for the position of governor is required by law to hold a degree from a recognised university.
This means Mr Joho could potentially be locked out of the race to defend his seat in the August general election.
It is this last point that leads Mr Joho to describe the whole situation as attempts to intimidate him.
Joseph Warungu:
"Some of the worst cases of abuse of power have involved highly educated people."
Mr Joho, who is a member of the opposition ODM party, is a fierce critic of the ruling Jubilee Party government and is never afraid to clash publicly with the president.
It is unlikely that the learned men and women who drafted the 2010 constitution of Kenya had Mr Joho in mind when they included a university degree requirement for holders of the office of president, governor and deputy governor.
The thinking was that the president is the CEO of the country while governors are the CEOs of Kenya's 47 regional county governments.
These positions require governance experience and a visionary leadership that is partly the product of a mind broadened by education.
But perhaps the big issue the constitution was trying to address was the culture of the 1980s and early 1990s, when the Kenyan president tended to be surrounded by half-educated sycophants.
These handfuls of men who had the ear of the president were so powerful they could influence public policy on just about anything.
The story is told of how in a bid to stem anti-government sentiments at public universities, one of these semi-literate leaders said: "The government has enough resources to hunt down and arrest this Karo Makisi who is inciting the students to riot".
The poor politician was convinced that Karl Marx was a man physically present at the universities and was causing trouble for the government.
No-one had educated him on popular social, economic and political ideologies.
Another of the inner-circle politicians who barely went to school is famously said to have proposed a great solution to the frequent unrest and clamour for political change taking place in public universities.
"If all that the students want is dayarog, they should be given the dayarog to eat so that calm returns to the institutions."
He mistook the students' demand for dialogue as a type of food that was missing from their menu.
This is how far Kenya has come in the evolution of its political leaders.
Now fearful of being barred from running for the lucrative position of governor, many politicians who did not go to university have been studying day and night to obtain degrees.
But based on experience of poor leadership, Kenyans know that a university degree does not define a leader nor guarantee competent leadership.
Some of the worst cases of mismanagement of resources and abuse of power have involved highly educated people.
On the contrary, Kenya has in the past witnessed brilliant leaders who were elected into office without degrees and who have gone on to personify exemplary leadership.
The constitution of Kenya has another provision on leadership and integrity.
This requires people vying for public office to be elected on the basis of personal integrity, selfless service and honesty.
However, these core leadership principles have been reduced to a mere process of certifying that the candidate is of good conduct and free from corruption charges.
The clearance procedure is open to manipulation and abuse, and judging by the number of leaders who have been involved in grand corruption over the last five years, it is an exercise in futility.
So Kenyans can be forgiven for turning Mr Joho's education pain into a national pastime online.
No matter how progressive the constitution is or how comprehensive the laws are, it is only when the people breathe life into its letter and spirit and defend it with their lives that transformation can truly begin to take place.
For now, because I'm not sure who else might be reading this, excuse me for a moment as I try to find my long lost classmates â€¦ just in case.
More from Joseph Warungu:
What to look out for in Africa during 2017
How to stop exam cheats
Party time in Kenya
Should the UK join the African Union?


UK construction firm Balfour Beatty has reported a loss of £59m for 2014 and said it will not be paying an annual dividend to shareholders.

That compares with a pre-tax profit of £185m the previous year.
It comes after a tumultuous year for the firm, which saw the company issue four profit warnings.
Were it not for the sale of Balfour's US construction business, Parsons Brinckerhoff, losses for 2014 would have amounted to £304m.
Balfour sold the business for £753m in October last year making a profit on the sale of £234m.
Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn, who joined the construction firm at the start of the year from defence technology firm QinetiQ, said the firm would spend the next two years working through its "severe legacy of problem construction projects".
He said the firm's performance had been in decline since 2010, but admitted "the sharpest and most noticeable decline" had occurred in the last  12 months.
Mr Quinn added that "in tackling the cultural change required to ensure these issues are behind us, we face major short-term challenges."
In total, Balfour reported losses of £391m in its UK construction division for the year as a result of contractual issues, a group wide restructuring programme and contractual delays. The company added its cost base remained too high.
Major projects include a £154m contract to convert London's Olympic Stadium into a multi-use venue which will host the 2015 rugby World Cup matches before becoming the home of West Ham United.
Balfour also reported underlying losses of £15m in its Middle East construction business, which it said was due to problems with two specific contract positions within the mechanical and electrical engineering joint venture business.
Roger Johnston, analyst at Edison Investment Research, said: "While the turnaround in performance will not be easy to achieve, we believe that Quinn's track record and no-nonsense approach will drag the business with him."
In May last year chief executive Andrew McNaughton resigned after the firm issued its third profit warning that year.
Balfour spent much of the rest of 2014 fending off a takeover approach from rival Carillion.
The deal collapsed after disagreements over Balfour's plan to sell Parsons Brinckerhoff, which Carillion wanted to keep as part of the takeover.
In January, the firm said it had cancelled a proposed £200m share buyback and said it was reviewing its dividend policy.


New Spanish golfing sensation Jon Rahm is set to play at the Irish Open in Portstewart from 6-9 July.

Rahm, 22, has made a major impact since turning professional after enjoying a distinguished career as an amateur.
The Spaniard has moved up to 13 in the world rankings in the wake of a win at the Farmers Insurance Open in January, followed by four more top-10 finishes in consecutive PGA Tour tournaments.
Rahm will also play in the Scottish Open and the Open Championship in July.
News of his proposed participation at Portstewart was reported in the Spanish Ten-Golf website.
His presence at Portstewart in July will come as a major boost to the event, and provide him with some practice in playing links golf before heading to Royal Birkdale for the third major of the year.
For Rahm, it will be his first European Tour event since turning professional last year, although he did play in the Open at Royal Troon in 2016.
He played in the same group as Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy for the first two rounds of the Masters at Augusta last week and ended in a tie for 27th position.
The Barrika golfer's next tournament will be the Players' Championship at Sawgrass, the PGA Tour's flagship event, in mid-May.
His achievements in the amateur game include being the only two-time winner of the Ben Hogan Award in 2015 and 2016, an award that recognises the outstanding male amateur and collegiate golfer of the year.


The UK should pass laws to ban parents from smacking their children at home, a United Nations report has suggested.

The UN recommended that the UK "put an end to corporal punishment in all settings" and encourage non-violent forms of discipline instead.
A government spokeswoman said they did not wish to "criminalise parents for issuing a mild smack".
The report also urged the UK to review counter-terrorism powers and raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10.
They were among the recommendations issued by the UN Human Rights Committee, which has published an assessment of legal and cultural issues in the UK.
The report said the government "should take practical steps" including "legislative measures where appropriate" to end corporal punishment.
It suggested the government should "conduct public information campaigns to raise awareness about its harmful effects".
Under current laws "reasonable chastisement" to control a child's behaviour is allowed, but parents can be prosecuted if their actions result in injuries such as bruises, cuts or scratches.
The report also suggested a review of counter-terrorism legislation because of concerns about measures introduced to combat the threat of violent extremism.
Powers to temporarily seize passports of those suspected of planning to travel abroad to engage in terrorism and relocate terror suspects were among those singled out.
The report said the government should consider reducing the maximum period that a terrorism suspect can be detained before charge, which stands at 14 days.
It said there should be an end to the "blanket denial of bail" to those arrested under terrorism legislation.
Another recommendation urged the UK to review the regime regulating the interception of personal communications and the retention of communications data.
The report called for current investigatory powers laws to be revised so access to communications data is "limited to the extent strictly necessary for the prosecution of the most serious crimes".
A Home Office spokeswoman said:  "We believe the UK's counter-terrorism legislation strikes the right balance between privacy and security and has, where appropriate, been upheld by the ECHR [European Court of Human Rights].
"At a time of very significant threat, it is vital police have the powers they need to protect the British public."
She said legislative proposals are being drawn up on investigatory powers.


An unattended package investigated by an army bomb disposal team outside Redford Barracks in Edinburgh posed no threat to the public, police confirmed.

The item was deemed safe at 12:30, nearly two hours after after the bomb disposal team was called in.
Police are appealing for anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in Colinton Road at about 10:30 to contact them.
The section between Patie's Road and Redford Road has been closed for several hours.
The road will be reopened once it has been recovered.
Earlier, a man was seen acting suspiciously in the area.
He was described as white, in his 50s, tall and of heavy build with short brown hair.
His appearance was dishevelled and he was wearing light-coloured clothing, possibly green or beige.
Insp Graeme Dignan, of Police Scotland, said: "This item was not a threat and there was no danger to the public at any time.
"I would like to thank people in the area for their patience whilst this situation was brought to a safe conclusion.
"We are now investigating how the item came to be left outside the barracks, and want to speak to anyone who was in the Colinton/Craiglockhart/Colinton Mains areas this morning and may have seen the man described or has any other information that may assist."


A man was attacked with a hammer and 12in machete in a racially-motivated revenge assault for the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby, a court has heard.

Zack Davies, 26, from Mold, Flintshire, followed Dr Sarandev Bhambra into Tesco in the town and carried out a "brutal and unprovoked attack".
Mold Crown Court heard the trainee dentist's hand was almost severed from his arm.
Mr Davies denies attempted murder but admits wounding with intent.
The jury was told Dr Bhambra was walking down an aisle in the store on 14 January when he felt a "huge blow" from the 30cm blade to the back of his head.
He tried escape but Mr Davies attacked him again.
Dr Bhambra suffered severe and life-changing injuries, the court was told.
He said former soldier Peter Michael Fuller saved his life when he intervened during the attack.
Mr Fuller told the court he saw an Asian man crouched down on his knees while another man hit him with a machete.
The pair ran towards him and, as the attacker approached, Mr Fuller said he stood in the middle of the aisle, put his hands up and shouted: "Stop, this is madness, I am ex-forces."
Mr Fuller said the man's demeanour changed and he started to engage with him.
He put the weapons down and the pair spoke until the police arrived.
Mr Fuller described the attack as one of the worst incidents of violence he has ever seen.
Sion ap Mihangel, prosecuting, said Mr Davies identified Dr Bhambra because of his race and his "Asian appearance".
He told the court: "This attack was racially motivated... as the attack was taking place he was shouting words such as 'white power', 'this is revenge' and 'this is for Lee Rigby'."
Mr Davies told police it was "a moment of madness" and he never intended to kill Dr Bhambra.
He said he heard voices telling him to follow and attack the victim.
Dr Bhambra said, had he lost consciousness, Mr Davies would have "hacked me to pieces".
Fusilier Rigby was murdered in Woolwich, south-east London, in May 2013.
Two men, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, were jailed for life in February 2014 for hacking the soldier to death.
The court heard items associated with white supremacy and Nazism were found at the defendant's home, including banners, swastika badges and Combat 18 stickers.
Mr Davies told police he was a member of a far-right organisation, but had acted alone at the supermarket.
The jury was told Mr Davies was expelled from school at the age of 11 or 12 after taking a knife onto the premises to attack a classmate.
The trial continues.


Nigeria's military says it has killed 20 fighters from Islamist group Boko Haram in the north-eastern Borno state.

An army spokesman said the militants were killed as they tried to seize military barracks in the village of Monguno. The attack was repelled.
Weapons and ammunition were also seized from the militants. The spokesman made no mention of military casualties.
Boko Haram has been blamed for a series of deadly attacks in northern Nigeria in recent years.
The group has not commented on the latest attack in Monguno, about 200km (124 miles) north of the regional capital Maiduguri.
In a separate development, a video emerged purportedly showing Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, who denied claims that his group was taking part in any peace talks with the government.
This comes after reports that a senior Boko Haram commander declared ceasefire earlier this year.
Boko Haram says its members are fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north.
The group has been blamed for the deaths of some 1,400 people in central and northern Nigeria since 2010.
Last month, a video emerged featuring a gunman claiming to be from Boko Haram, who said the group had abducted seven members of a French members, including four children.
The militant said the Westerners had been seized in Cameroon. He demanded an immediate release of prisoners in Nigeria and Cameroon.


The Lord Mayor of York has denied she is "a prima donna" after she sent email complaints about her accommodation and mayoral chains.

Refurbishment of the city's Mansion House has left councillor Sonja Crisp without an official residence.
In an email seen by the York Press she said: "A gentle reminder, I am the Lord Mayor, the first citizen, the rightful resident of the Mansion House."
In another email she said her mayoral chains were "in a disgusting state".
Due to the state of the chains, she said she was not going to wear them until she had confirmation they were to be re-gilded.
Chris Steward, the Conservative leader of the council, said he was "very disappointed" and it was "totally inappropriate behaviour for someone who has the honour of being Lord Mayor".
After stories about the leaked emails appeared in the national press Mrs Crisp, Labour councillor for Holgate Ward, told BBC Radio York the row had been "blown out of all proportion".
Her private emails complaining about her accommodation and mayoral chains were "stronger than they should have been" but "I'm not a prima donna", she said.
Her comments had been about the council's treatment of the office of mayor, she said.
A request for an alternative one-bedroom flat for changing clothes before official visits had been turned down by the council. "It was always implied to me alternative arrangements would be put in place," she said.
Mrs Crisp said the row was making her ill and she had collapsed twice. In an email she said the problems were "in no small part due to the stress and extra worry and work that my treatment by the council is causing me".
Mrs Crisp has confirmed she would continue as Lord Mayor of York.
The council is run by a coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.


A kestrel that flew into a car's grille has been released by garage mechanics.

The bird became trapped on the road at Whittington near Downham Market in Norfolk.
The driver travelled slowly to Graham Gillis Auto Repair where technicians removed the bird, which was then taken to the RSPCA centre at East Winch.
Craig Plumley, animal welfare officer, said: "It is the first time I have known it happen in the 19 years I have been working at the RSPCA."
Mr Plumley said the bird of prey was a victim of "very unfortunate timing".
"He got hit by the car at the exact moment it swooped up from catching a mouse - the dead mouse was also found in the grille," he said.
"You can't prepare for anything like this, but the driver did the right thing by driving slowly to a garage and the garage was really good in getting the kestrel out."
The RSPCA said the bird had been X-rayed and had no broken bones and it hoped to release it back to the wild soon.
Sue Levings, from East Winch wildlife centre, said: "Apart from tail feather damage, the bird is making a good recovery.
"He is receiving treatment for a wound, but it is eating well and it seems bright."


The new leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, said he was working "fine" with the new leader of Scottish Labour, Kezia Dugdale.

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30 September 2015 Last updated at 10:06 BST
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that he had met with the MSP during the party's annual conference in Brighton and would be with her in Scotland later in the week.
Mr Corbyn said: "Kezia and I are working fine together. I have had discussions with her here in Brighton and in Scotland tomorrow morning, in Holyrood and other places, meeting colleagues and other people in Scotland."
He added that he would listen to the views of people in Scotland on issues like economic policy because the "mood in the party was one of openness and democracy".
Mr Corbyn also stood by his comments at the weekend that the SNP government was "privatising CalMac" and was "behind the privatisation of ScotRail".
These are claims that the Nationalists have strongly denied.


Planning permission has been given to the new Inverness Justice Centre.

It is to be developed on the site of a former bus depot between Longman Road and Burnett Road to the north of Burnett Road Police Station.
The new centre would allow the courts service to move out of Inverness Castle.
The 19th Century building overlooking Inverness city centre is to be turned into a tourist attraction.
The Scottish government is to fund the construction of the new two-storey justice centre.
Highland Council's south planning applications committee approved planning permission.
The same committee was also due to consider proposals for other major developments in and around Inverness.
These include a new railway station at Dalcross near Inverness Airport.
Councillors were also to consider a notification of plans for a new prison in Inverness.
The Scottish Prison Service has submitted a document to inform Highland Council that it is preparing a planning application for the new HMP Highland on a site next to Inverness Retail Park on the A96.


A man who was in a critical condition after a shooting in Rhondda Cynon Taff two months ago has now died, police said.

Mark Jones, 43, who had been in hospital since the incident on 26 July, died on Saturday.
Two men have been charged with attempted murder and having a shotgun following the shooting on New Road, Mountain Ash.
South Wales Police said a review of those charges would now take place.
Edward Bennett, 47, from Mountain Ash, and Stephen Bennett, 52, from Pontypridd, were both remanded in custody after appearing at Cardiff Crown Court in August.
Det Ch Insp Ceri Hughes said: "Our thoughts are with Mark's family who are being supported by a family liaison officer at this difficult time.
"A review of charges in relation to the two men in custody will now take place."


Premiership side Sale Sharks have signed prop Halani Aulika from relegated London Irish.

The 32-year-old Tongan has spent four seasons with the Exiles after joining from Leeds in 2012.
He featured for Auckland and Otago in New Zealand and also played once for Super Rugby side Highlanders.
"I have been watching Aulika all season and when his agent got in touch I didn't hesitate in signing him," said director of rugby Steve Diamond.
"He is a great scrummager and puts himself about on the pitch. I am sure he will be a big asset for us next season and beyond."
Sale have also announced that England Under-18 internationals and twin brothers Tom and Ben Curry have signed their first professional contracts with the club.


An early goal from Alex Jones helped Port Vale on their way to a comfortable 3-1 win over Millwall at Vale Park.

The Valiants' top scorer netted his sixth goal of the campaign, before Martin Paterson and Remie Streete condemned the Lions to their third consecutive defeat with Lee Gregory's penalty only scant consolation.
Jones took only four minutes to fire the home side in front, collecting a cross from the right, turning his marker and thumping the ball past Jordan Archer.
Vale, boasting a 100% home record, doubled their lead after 59 minutes when Sam Foley's shot from the edge of the box was clipped over the Lions keeper by Paterson from close range.
Defender Streete put the result beyond doubt 12 minutes later when he rose highest to meet Sam Hart's corner and planted a header into the ground and over Archer.
Millwall finally got off the mark six minutes from time when Gregory slotted home from the spot after Anthony Grant was penalised for handball while trying to block a shot.
Report supplied by Press Association.
Match ends, Port Vale 3, Millwall 1.
Second Half ends, Port Vale 3, Millwall 1.
Anthony Grant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Shane Ferguson (Millwall).
Substitution, Port Vale. Quentin Pereira replaces Sam Foley.
Anthony Grant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Shaun Williams (Millwall).
Remie Streete (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Remie Streete (Port Vale).
Lee Gregory (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Rigino Cicilia (Port Vale) because of an injury.
Goal!  Port Vale 3, Millwall 1. Lee Gregory (Millwall) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty conceded by Anthony Grant (Port Vale) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Attempt blocked. Shaun Williams (Millwall) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Nadjim Abdou (Millwall) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Paulo Tavares (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Paulo Tavares (Port Vale).
Shaun Williams (Millwall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Rigino Cicilia (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Steve Morison (Millwall) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Corner,  Millwall. Conceded by Kjell Knops.
Attempt missed. Shaun Williams (Millwall) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Foul by Kiko (Port Vale).
Mahlon Romeo (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner,  Port Vale. Conceded by Byron Webster.
Substitution, Millwall. Fred Onyedinma replaces David Worrall.
Substitution, Port Vale. Kiko replaces Sam Hart.
Alex Jones (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Shane Ferguson (Millwall).
Goal!  Port Vale 3, Millwall 0. Remie Streete (Port Vale) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Sam Hart with a cross following a corner.
Corner,  Port Vale. Conceded by Byron Webster.
Corner,  Port Vale. Conceded by Byron Webster.
Attempt missed. Lee Gregory (Millwall) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution, Port Vale. Rigino Cicilia replaces Martin Paterson.
Anthony Grant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Shaun Williams (Millwall).
Substitution, Millwall. Gregg Wylde replaces Joe Martin.
Substitution, Millwall. Shaun Williams replaces Callum Butcher.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.


A Peruvian father has recovered the body of his son, after embarking on a nine-hour journey through the jungle.

Dionisio Vilca set off on his search, protesting that the authorities had abandoned efforts to find his police officer son Cesar.
Cesar Vilca had been missing for 20 days, after his unit came under attack by rebels in the southern Cusco region.
Another officer, Luis Astuquillca, was shot in the leg but walked for 17 days through the rainforest to safety.
With the help of two local people who had spotted Cesar's body, Mr Vilca set off to recover his remains.
Travelling in a pick-up truck, the group reached the spot and took the police officer's corpse back to the nearest community.
Mr Vilca had complained that the authorities had wound down their efforts to locate Cesar.
But the interior ministry noted that there had been "an intense and prolonged search"  that had cost the lives of three members of the security forces.
Cesar Vilca and his unit were deployed on 12 April to search for a group of 36 gas workers abducted by Shining Path rebels.
They came under fire from the guerrillas and four officers were killed.
The hostages were released by their captors six days after being abducted in a remote region close to the Ene-Apurimac valley - one of the last strongholds of the Shining Path.
The Shining Path posed a major challenge to the Peruvian state in the 1980s and early 1990s, but is now reduced to small gangs involved in cocaine trafficking.


Hundreds of thousands of women who are fighting against delays to their state pension have had their hopes dashed.

Many women born between April 1951 and 1960  have claimed they were not aware that their pension age was being raised by up to six years.
Although there had been talk of a compromise solution, the new Work and Pensions Secretary has told MPs that will not be possible.
"I don't see there is a do-able policy solution," said Stephen Crabb MP.
Members of the campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) said they were disappointed, but were still hopeful that a solution could be found.
Many of those affected say they have been left without enough money to live on, and not enough time to make alternative arrangements.
Two weeks ago, the Pensions Minister, Ros Altmann, told the BBC that she was hoping to help the women.
MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee had also suggested a compromise, that would not cost the tax-payer any extra money.
They said the women should be allowed to claim their pensions early, if they wanted to, but at a reduced rate.
But Stephen Crabb rejected that, saying, "When I've discussed that, some of the women have said that's not actually what they want".
"It is just fiscally impossible," he said.
"And I think it's irresponsible for anyone in this House of Commons to try to pretend, or lead these women into thinking there's an easy decision to be made."
"I am disappointed, but still hopeful," said Marion Smulders, a co-founder of Waspi.
"There is a cross-party parliamentary group on this. I trust they will have further contact with Stephen Crabb, and hope he will re-visit this."
She said a lot of women affected would have been happy with the compromise suggested by the Work and Pensions Committee, although it would not be acceptable for everybody.
The government's state pension calculator is available here.
Under the 1995 Pensions Act, the government decided that the pension ages of both men and women would be equalised by 2020. Previously, women retired at 60, while men retired at 65.
In 2011, state pension ages were raised at an even faster rate.
The government has said that everyone was told about the changes, but many women say they never received the information.


The first group of migrants has reached Croatia - opening up a new route to northern EU countries, a day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia.

About 150 migrants crossed into Croatia, an EU member, from Serbia.
Croatia says it is ready to receive them or "direct" them to where they want to go. Many migrants - mainly Syrian - are hoping to reach Germany.
New border restrictions and a row over allocating migrants have shown bitter divisions in Europe over the crisis.
The refugees who chose Brazil over Europe
Five 'happy refugees' pictures that went viral
Crisis explained in graphics
Hundreds of migrants remain stranded outside or in makeshift tents near the Serbian border with Hungary.
On Tuesday, Hungary declared a state of emergency in the border area, with hundreds of army and police deployed to enforce new laws making it an offence to breach a razor-wire border fence.
Police sealed a railway crossing point near Roszke which had been used by tens of thousands of migrants to enter the European border-free Schengen zone.
The move has all but stopped the inflow. On Wednesday, Hungarian police said they had detained 367 migrants entering illegally - and the first criminal proceedings have been launched.
The EU's border agency says more than 500,000 migrants have arrived at the EU's borders so far this year, compared with 280,000 in 2014.
Many are fleeing conflict and poverty in countries including Syria, where a civil war has been raging since 2011.
The migrants have been crossing from Turkey, with about about 1,000 in the city of Edirne on Wednesday, waiting to organise a crossing into Greece. Their journey would then take them to Macedonia and Serbia.
Until Monday, most poured into Schengen member Hungary and crossed into Austria to reach Germany. Both Germany and Austria have introduced tighter border controls to control the flow.
A group of about 40 migrants arrived in the border town of Sid in Serbia on Wednesday. They had travelled by bus from the Serbian town of Presevo near the Macedonian border in the south.
"We heard that Hungary was closed so the police told us we should come this way," Amadou, 35, from Mauritania told AFP news agency.
"We don't know what we should do now. Do we have to catch a boat?"
They crossed into Croatia where police began registering them.
Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic told parliament that authorities were "entirely ready to receive or direct those people where they want to go, which is obviously Germany or Scandinavian countries".
"They will be able to pass through Croatia and we will help, we're getting ready for that possibility," he said.
A meeting of the Croatian National Security Council has been called to co-ordinate the response.
Croatian media have warned of the dangers posed by landmines dating back to Croatia's war of independence in the early 1990s, even though experts say the areas are clearly marked.
The Serbian minister in charge of the government's working committee on migrants, Aleksandar Vulin, argued that the closure of the border by Hungary was unsustainable for Serbia.
He told the BBC's Lyse Doucet that contact between Serbian and Hungarian officials had been minimal.
Analysis: BBC's Guy Delauney, Belgrade
All year, Serbia has taken a relaxed attitude towards the migrants and refugees entering from neighbouring Macedonia.
The authorities understood that few of the people coming in would want to stay, although some expressed regret that people desperately fleeing conflict did not view Serbia as a desirable destination.
But Hungary's fence and its criminalisation of unofficial border crossings has brought a halt to the flow of people across Serbia.
If an exit into Hungary becomes impossible, the number of refugees here may begin to rise, challenging not only the country's capacity for dealing with asylum seekers but its citizens' hitherto admirable tolerance and empathy.
Serbian alarm over stranded migrants
Hungary has also said it could extend its fence to the border with Romania - a possible new route.
Romania said this would violate the "European spirit" of co-operation.


Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis has hailed Kyle Lafferty's "maturity" after he struck late to salvage a 1-1 draw against Hungary at Windsor Park.

Lafferty has not played for Norwich this season but his injury-time equaliser moved his country to within two points of qualifying for Euro 2016.
It took his tally of goals to seven in this qualifying campaign.
"That's something that's been evident in this campaign, the change in him," said Davis.
Lafferty picked up a booking for a late tackle which rules him out of the next qualifier at home to Greece on 8 October.
"With the occasion, maybe a few years ago he [Lafferty] might have ended up getting sent off but he's shown a great maturity about him," Davis said.
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"He's put in a great shift for the team."
Lafferty last played for the Canaries in January, having spent the latter part of last season on loan at Rizespor in Turkey, where he scored two league goals.
While he remains out of favour at Carrow Road, he is an unstoppable force for Northern Ireland, who are chasing a first major tournament appearance in 30 years.
"To play two games in the space of three days is not easy, but he kept plugging away and obviously was in the right place at the right time to get the equaliser," added Davis.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill admitted he was tempted to substitute his star striker on Monday night, but he changed his mind when Richard Guzmics put the visitors in front after a dreadful handling error from Michael McGovern.
"Kyle gives the squad belief," said Northern Ireland boss O'Neill, whose side remain top of Group F with two games to play.
"We were taking him off at 0-0 but by the time we were ready to make the change it was 1-0 and it suddenly changed.
"Kyle hasn't played a single minute of club football this season, or in pre-season, and he was really struggling.
"We just felt he couldn't give us any more. But the thing about taking off Kyle is you're taking off your talisman.
"If I'm the opposition manager I'm happy to see Kyle going off so we didn't want to give them that hope or satisfaction.
"At 1-0 it was essential to keep him on the pitch. He treaded water for the last 20-25 minutes but he was there at the right time."
Hungary need to win their two remaining matches to deny Northern Ireland a top-two finish, while one more victory - or two draws against Greece and Finland - will be enough for O'Neill's side.


Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump masqueraded as a spokesman for himself in the 1990s, the Washington Post reports.

In a recording obtained by the paper, a voice similar to Mr Trump's purporting to be a media representative advocates for the billionaire businessman.
Reporters would hear from the "spokesman", John Miller or John Baron, when asking to interview Mr Trump.
Mr Trump denied the story to the Today Show on Friday.
"No, I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time and it doesn't sound like my voice at all," he said.
"I have many, many people that are trying to imitate my voice and you can imagine that. This sounds like one of these scams, one of the many scams. It doesn't sound like me.
"It was not me on the phone. And it doesn't sound like me on the phone, I will tell you that. It was not me on the phone."
Donald Trump is an unusual man who often behaves, shall we say, unconventionally. There's plenty of evidence for this, whether or not he made calls 25 years ago pretending to be his own publicist.
Many New York reporters are convinced that this is a bona fide recording of the billionaire, and the fact that he's (allegedly) boasting about his dating prowess and celebrity socialising probably isn't the kind of story Mr Trump wants circulating as he tries to present himself as a more serious general election candidate.
This is just the start, however. While Mr Trump has been in the public eye for decades, and New York tabloid scrutiny can be daunting, nothing compares to the glare of the presidential spotlight. Given that this is Mr Trump's first foray into public office, his past will receive extra scrutiny - with more revelations to come. The Washington Post, for instance, has assigned a team of 20 reporters to sift through Mr Trump's background, from his business dealings to oddball stories.
This latest episode definitely falls into the latter category.
However, in 1990, Mr Trump admitted in court he and one of his employees used the name "John Baron" in business dealings during a case about undocumented Polish workers constructing Trump Tower.
A lawyer for the workers said he received a call from someone named "Mr Baron" who threatened to sue if he did not drop a lawsuit over withheld pay for the workers, the New York Times reported.
A reporter for People magazine contacted Mr Trump's office in 1991 to interview him about the end of his marriage to Ivana Trump and his relationship with model Marla Maples.
The "media spokesman" called the reporter, Sue Carswell, back and began telling her about why Mr Trump broke up with Ms Maples for Italian model Carla Bruni.
"He really didn't want to make a commitment," said the man claiming to be John Miller. "He's coming out of a marriage, and he's starting to do tremendously well financially."
Once, Mr Miller slipped out of talking about Mr Trump in the third person in a conversation with Ms Carswell, but quickly corrected himself.
Mr Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee after pushing out more than a dozen Republican rivals in the race for the White House.
Traditional Republicans are warming to him to unify the party and beat likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The divisive candidate, who in the past has been a registered Democrat, has no prior political experience. He has made controversial calls to build a border wall with Mexico, deport undocumented immigrants from the country and ban Muslims from the US.
House Speaker Paul Ryan has still not officially backed him but the two recently met in Washington and had a "productive meeting".


Former Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has been appointed as a coaching consultant at Premiership club Bristol for the rest of the season.

The 66-year-old South African, who stepped down as Edinburgh boss in September, has previously coached Northampton Saints and Ulster.
He arrives with Bristol bottom of the top flight, six points below Worcester.
"Alan is a hugely experienced operator who understands the game," head coach Mark Tainton told the club website.
"With seven games remaining, it's vital that Bristol rediscover our form from over the Christmas period and Alan's arrival as a consultant should give everyone a boost."
Meanwhile, Tainton - who has worked as interim boss since Andy Robinson's departure in November - is to become Bristol's chief operations officer at the end of the season, overseeing the club's recruitment policy.
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Connacht boss Pat Lam has already been appointed as Bristol's new head coach from the start of next season.
Chief executive Steve Gorvett will also step down at the end of the current campaign.
Gorvett has been with Bristol for 12 season, initially arriving in 2005 as finance director before taking on the chief executive role in 2008.
"I took the decision to step down at the end of the season after 12 enjoyable years at Bristol," Gorvett said. "It's been a period of huge transition for the club and we have faced a series of significant challenges along the way.
"At the end of the season, we aim to still be in the Premiership with a world-class head coach already committed, a stadium that we are proud to call home and a state-of-the-art training ground on the way."


Thousands of pro-Europe protesters have been marching in London, calling for the UK to strengthen its ties to the continent following the Brexit vote.

The March for Europe aimed to put pressure on the government to delay activating the formal process of leaving the EU.
Pro-Brexit demonstrators staged a counter-protest at one location along the marching route.
Rallies have taken place across the UK, including in Edinburgh and Birmingham.
A sea of blue EU flags filled Parliament square shortly after 13:00 BST, where protesters sang along to The Beatles' hit Hey Jude, replacing the title words instead with "EU".
Demonstrators were calling for the government to make tight economic, cultural, and social ties with the rest of Europe.
Armed with homemade banners and flags, campaigners marched from Hyde Park and through Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament, where a debate on whether a second EU referendum should take place will be held on Monday.
An online petition garnered more than four million signatures after the vote to leave the EU in June, but an official government response to the campaign said the Brexit decision "must be respected".
Politicians including Labour's Chuka Umunna and Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party, backed the march along with comedian Eddie Izzard.
A man was wrestled to the floor by police after snatching Mr Izzard's trademark pink beret when grappling with him in the street.
Mr Izzard pursued the man and retrieved his beret. A man was later arrested.
The comedian said: "There was one guy... he went up and snatched my beret - which has a British flag and an EU flag on - and he marched off, he stole it."
Mr Izzard said the police "did fantastic, there was an inspector, some other officers in there, they took him down".
"I got my beret back, but it's gone off as evidence - my beret is now in evidence," he said, adding: "I'm out, transgender for 31 years and if anyone steals my pink beret, I'll get it back."
The Met Police said a 26-year-old man "from a group of around four men who attempted to demonstrate against the march" had been arrested.
Simultaneous protests also took place in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol.


Hundreds of animals at ZSL London Zoo - from the tree frogs to the squirrel monkeys - are being measured as part of the annual weigh-in.

The sizes and weights of the creatures are recorded by zookeepers so they can monitor the creatures' health and well-being.
BBC News looks at the facts and figures behind the event.
Why do they carry out the weigh-in?
There are currently 20,166 animals and 698 different species at the zoo.
While statistics are taken during the year, the zoo say it holds the annual weigh-in to ensure measurements are up-to-date and accurate.
"Weight is a particularly important indicator of health, and we can even detect pregnancies through a growing waist line," ZSL's zoological manager Mark Habben said.
The results are recorded in a database so that zoos around the world can compare information and check their animals are normal and healthy.
What is the heaviest and the lightest animal?
The heaviest creature in London Zoo is Ellish the giraffe.
The female weighs in at 850kg (133 stone) and stands at 15ft (4.5m) tall.
The lightest creature is a leaf cutter ant which weighs between three and five milligrams (0.0001 oz - 0.0002 oz)
How did some of the animals measure up?
How are the animals measured?
The keepers have to use various methods to get the creatures on the scales.
The penguins are tricked into walking on to the scales using fish while squirrel monkeys follow a blue ball on a stick.
For larger animals, the scales are disguised as patches of grass in order to record their statistics.
How does this work help animals in the wild?
Much of what is known about the typical weights and measurements of animals has been discovered in zoos.
London Zoo said it meant that people who were studying wild animals could use the zoo's measurements to get a better idea about them.
For example, conservationists in Indonesia are able to tell the rough ages of the tigers they are tracking by measuring the size of their paw prints and comparing them to animals in zoos.


Police in the Philippines say they have identified an attacker who killed at least 36 people when he set fire to a casino in Manila on Friday.

They said he was a Filipino, Jessie Javier Carlos, who had heavy gambling debts, and was not a terrorist.
Manila's police chief Oscar Albayalde told reporters that the attack was believed to have been carried out by only one person.
Carlos was found dead several hours after the attack.
"He is heavily indebted due to being hooked on casino gambling, according to his immediate family," said Mr Albayalde.
Carlos had entered the capital's Resorts World Casino and began shooting, before setting fire to a gaming room.
He also filled a backpack with gambling chips worth 113m Philippine pesos (£1.7m, $2.3m).
He later fled to the hotel section of the complex, leaving behind the backpack and entering a hotel room.
He died after setting himself on fire, said police.
"He lay down on the bed, covered himself with a thick blanket, apparently poured petrol on the blanket and burned himself," national police chief Ronald Dela Rosa said on Friday.
Previously, he was said to have poured petrol over furniture and rugs, causing them to catch fire immediately.
Although the casino fire was not large, thick smoke caused the multiple deaths.


The sudden death of a 14-year-old Swansea schoolgirl is being investigated by police.

Bishop Gore School student Nyah James was described as a vibrant girl who was popular with pupils and staff.
Her family said they loved her with all their hearts and their lives would never be the same again.
South Wales Police are investigating the death at an address in the Blaenymaes area of Swansea.
In a statement her family said: "Nyah was a beautiful vibrant 14-year-old child that had her whole life ahead of her.
"Due to circumstances that were beyond our control we lost our little girl.  She loved her friends, her family and we loved her with all of our heart.
"She had so much ahead of her and wanted to travel and see the world."
Head teacher Ryan Davies said the school was deeply saddened by the death of Miss James who had been "achieving well".
Pupils and staff were receiving support following the news.


A Conservative MSP has become the first Holyrood politician to speak publicly in favour of the UK leaving the European Union.

Margaret Mitchell, the party's justice spokeswoman, told BBC Scotland the EU was "unwieldy" and expensive.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson supports the UK remaining in the EU.
But she has also made it clear that other Tory MSPs are free to take a different view.
A UK referendum on whether to remain a member of the EU will take place on 23 June.
It's not exactly a Boris Johnson-style bombshell but it's not without significance.
Not only is Margaret Mitchell the first Conservative MSP to publicly back Brexit - she is also the first Holyrood politician of any party to do so.
Other MSPs may follow her example. But some of the staunchest Eurosceptics in her own party, like Murdo Fraser and Alex Johnstone, have already said they'll back the "in" campaign.
The leaders of all five Holyrood parties also support the UK's continued membership of the EU.
For one or two MSPs minded towards an "out" vote, it's a question of priority.
They judge that their campaign priority is the Holyrood election in May and intend to put all their effort into that before thinking about expending energy on June's EU referendum.
Mrs Mitchell, a former Scottish Conservative leadership contender, said she was open to persuasion but at the moment she would vote to leave.
The Central Scotland MSP told the BBC: "I'm not looking at renegotiation. I think it would be a vote to leave because there are too many advantages of coming out and too many restrictions about staying in.
"The free movement of people doesn't look to me as though it's something that's easily resolved.
"This is a union that's increasing all the time - it's unwieldy. Twenty-eight member states trying to make decisions that are in the best interests of each member state really doesn't work."
A second Conservative MSP, Cameron Buchanan, told the Times newspaper he would vote to leave the EU.
But he subsequently told the BBC he would back the campaign to remain.
Fellow Tory MSP Alex Johnstone, who is known for his Eurosceptic views, has said the UK should press for change while remaining within the European Union.
He said: "There's probably very few people are as Eurosceptic as I am. But my problem is that I know Europe will continue to be a problem for Britain whether we are in or out.
"So, if I want to see a failing European project turned around, if I want to see an end to fiscal and political convergence, if I want to see a Europe that works as a trading block, then I think it's in our interest to be on the inside, arguing our case for change instead of being on the outside, allowing Europe to have its head."
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson supports the UK's continued membership of the EU.
In a recent statement to the BBC, she said: "To me, the cost benefit analysis is clear. The advantages we gain from EU membership clearly and categorically outweigh any disadvantages that come with it.
"I campaigned for Scotland to stay part of a wider Union. And I believe Britain should stay part of a wider Union too".
At the time she said "many" of her parliamentary colleagues shared her view but were free to campaign in a personal capacity for an "out" vote.


Two men who shot dead a mother-of-two by mistake have been jailed for life for her murder.

Hayley Pointon, 30, was shot at a house in Hinckley, Leicestershire, as she visited her on-off boyfriend Nigel Barwell, in February 2013.
Aaron Power, 25 and Aaron Newman, 24, both of Coventry, had blamed each other for the killing.
The pair were ordered to serve a minimum of 31 years each for murdering Ms Pointon, of Coventry.
The eight-week trial at Leicester Crown Court heard that Mr Barwell was the intended target for the shooting.
Ms Pointon had been leaving the property when shots were fired, and died from a single gunshot wound.
The judge, Mr Justice King, said: "The scars you have inflicted on each family member will be long-lasting.
"This was in truth a calculated, cold-blooded murder. This was a planned killing and each of you were part of that plan.
"It may never be known who fired the shot but what is sure is each of you were involved in the killing and each had an intention to kill."
Hayley's mother, Kerry Pointon, said the family would try to rebuild their "shattered lives".
She said: "She can never be replaced in our lives and therefore we feel that there can never be any true justice for Hayley and her children."
A third man, Dylan Whitty, 30, from Coventry, was found guilty of assisting an offender. He is due to be sentenced on 8 September.
Three other men were cleared of the same charge.


Wayne Rooney has moved level with Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer.

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The 31-year-old's FA Cup strike against Reading took him to 249 in 543 games, reaching the landmark 215 matches and four seasons quicker than Charlton.
The record had stood since 1973 but Rooney now seems certain to beat it.
"This club is a huge part of my life and I'm honoured to be up there alongside Sir Bobby," said Rooney following the 4-0 win.
"It's a proud moment. To do it at a massive club like Manchester United, I'm hugely honoured."
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Manager Jose Mourinho added: "A more special day will arrive. It was great but I want one more goal! He is an amazing guy in the group and we all want him to do it. To have Wayne as the top scorer in a club like this is magnificent for him."
In 2015, Rooney surpassed World Cup winner Charlton's England scoring record of 49 goals and has since taken his tally to 53.
The United landmark comes during a season in which the England captain has been left out of the starting line-up for both club and country, his record-equalling goal being just his fourth of the campaign.
BBC Sport's Simon Stone at Old Trafford
As Old Trafford celebrated the occasion, the stadium announcer made sure he remembered the 'other' player: 'Manchester United's goalscorer, and equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 249...'
Up in the directors' box, blinking through his glasses under a dark, brimmed hat, Charlton looked down. Wife Norma sat alongside, applauding generously.
At 79, Charlton was not on his feet like others around him as the ball lobbed in off Rooney's right knee. But close by, Sir Alex Ferguson, who paid £27m to buy the then 18-year-old striker from Everton in 2004, was up and applauding.
The genuine enthusiasm and warmth around the stadium as Rooney celebrated the landmark was an acknowledgement of what he has achieved.
The signs were there from the very start that Rooney's could be a stellar Old Trafford career.
In his first game following a £27m move from Everton in 2004, he scored a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in a 6-2 Champions League win.
He has not looked back since, reaching double figures in every season at the club, including a career-high 34 in all competitions in 2009-10 and 2011-12.
Rooney and Charlton are ahead of some of the finest players that Manchester United and British football has known.
Charlton, who came up through the United youth system, spent 17 years at Old Trafford before finishing his career with spells at Preston and Irish side Waterford United.
And despite his consistency over such a long period, he never managed to hit the 30-goal mark in a single season, coming closest when he struck 29 times during his third season at Old Trafford.
Despite Rooney's scoring bursts, his goals have not come at the fastest rate. Tommy Taylor, who was a two-time title winner with United in the 1950s, holds that honour, just ahead of former Netherlands international Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Rooney's ratio of 0.459 goals per game puts him eighth on the list, while Charlton (0.328) does not even make the top 10.
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport's chief football writer
Rooney has secured his place in Manchester United history and Old Trafford's hall of greats with his record-equalling goalscoring feats.
However, he will have to resign himself to never being held in the same esteem, and place of legend, as the likes of Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.
Indeed, despite his lofty place in United's record books, the 31-year-old will never be revered by United's supporters in the same manner as the maverick Old Trafford catalyst Eric Cantona, the great leaders Roy Keane and Bryan Robson, and brilliant home-grown products such as Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.
This may seem brutally unfair given his contribution to United's successes, but there are several factors at work when his place in the club's historical affections is measured.
Rooney was an expensive import from Merseyside, while Charlton, who survived the 1958 Munich air disaster, led United to their first European Cup in 1968 and stands alongside his great mentor Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson as an iconic Old Trafford figure.
Best and Law came alongside Charlton as United's 'Holy Trinity' as the club emerged from the tragedy of Munich, while Cantona was the great transformer in the early 90s and the likes of Robson and Keane were world-class players and warriors.
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Rooney's chequered history with the club and its fans will also have an impact on his legacy when his contribution to United - a truly great one when judged solely in a football context - is reflected upon.
In many eyes, Rooney will never quite be forgiven for the episode in October 2010 when he decided he wanted to leave, then further strained his relationship with club and fans by issuing a statement which effectively said United lacked ambition and questioned the quality of his team-mates.
This was resolved within days when he signed a new five-year-contract, but the memory has lingered for many. There was another disagreement late in the 2012-13 season as Ferguson prepared for retirement and made it clear Rooney again wanted to leave - a claim that led to the player being jeered by some fans as he collected his title winner's medal at Old Trafford.
Fans and those who record history and legends take these matters into account.
What must also be remembered is that Rooney has had a stellar United career littered with trophies, brilliance and game-changing moments. He fully deserves to be remembered as one of the greats of Old Trafford.
There will, however, be many more remembered before him.


The stereotypical view of Cheshire is that it is full of leafy country lanes and luxury sports cars parked outside sprawling palatial mansions.

With this in mind, is it the perfect natural habitat for Conservatives?
If you look at a map of the county, it certainly appears to be true blue, with the main exception of the western fringes which border Merseyside.
When you look behind the numbers, though, Labour seems to have a good chance of painting more of Cheshire red.
The constituency of Weaver Vale is currently held, with a majority of 991, by Graham Evans for the Conservatives.
Whilst his party may feel at home in Tory-leaning areas like Frodsham and its rural hinterland, his biggest challenge comes from the part of his patch which includes Runcorn, where Labour have all but five of the 56 seats on the local council.
Most of Runcorn and neighbouring Widnes are served by the traditionally safe Labour seat of Halton.
That constituency, as well as Ellesmere Port and Neston and Warrington North include areas of considerable deprivation.
Warrington South, where the Conservatives' David Mowat is defending a majority of 1,553, is also a key target for Labour.
But in 2010 the Liberal Democrat vote meant the seat was a three-way marginal, and the continued popularity of the party in local council elections over the last four years adds another element of uncertainty.
If Labour don't take the likes of Warrington South and Weaver Vale, their chances of being the biggest party in Westminster after the general election on 7 May look very shaky.
The City of Chester, meanwhile, is the kind of seat Labour needs to secure in order to have any hope of gaining an outright majority.
Tory Stephen Mosley has a majority of 5.5% but the Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft's polls in the city are looking good for Labour.
Lord Ashcroft predicted they would take the seat with a lead of 1% back in October, but a few weeks ago he had them leading with 11% - so high that local Conservatives wrote it off as a rogue poll.
The Green Party does not have a history of electoral representation in Cheshire, but across the west of the county it will be hoping to capitalise on the controversy surrounding a number of sites given licenses for hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking.
There will not be much of a media focus on the safe Tory seats of Macclesfield or Chancellor George Osborne's Tatton, where he enjoys a majority of more than 14,000.
Edward Timpson even looks relatively safe in Gwyneth Dunwoody's former Labour stronghold of Crewe and Nantwich.
But in Congleton and the mostly rural constituency of Eddisbury the focus may not be on the 2015 general election but that of 2020.
UKIP say they have high hopes of coming second in these seats, helped by a combination of disaffected Tories and traditional Labour voters voting tactically in the aim of upsetting the Conservatives.
The Lib Dems nearly tied with Labour in those safer Tory seats in 2010, and with the party widely expected to shed votes the difficult question now is which party will pick them up.
Labour will be leading its march eastwards with its national rallying cries about the supposed "privatisation" of the NHS and, as they put it, the cost of living crisis.
But it will be directing those appeals not just at those in more deprived parts of Chester, Runcorn and Warrington - but also at those across the county who regards themselves as being part of what they call the "squeezed middle".
The Tories can point to the fact that a lot of jobs have been created in Cheshire under the coalition government, and bad news stories like the exit of AstraZeneca from its base near Macclesfield appears to have been turned into good news about the site's future.
But both parties have two very difficult issues to deal with in the county - the incursion of house builders into the countryside at a time when more houses need to be built, and the role Cheshire may or may not play in the Northern Powerhouse.
Sandwiched between Manchester and Merseyside - where does Cheshire fit in?
I'll be here throughout the campaign and you can follow my updates on Twitter and listen to my reports on BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Manchester, and BBC Radio Stoke.


Defending champion Danny Willett carded a five-under-par 65 to sit a shot behind the leaders after the opening round of the European Masters.

The Masters champion is in a nine-way tie for fifth after finishing with an eagle in Switzerland.
Fellow Englishman Daniel Brooks shares a four-way tie for the lead.
Willett will play in the Ryder Cup on 30 September and European team-mates Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick struggled at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Sullivan finished on four-over with Fitzpatrick a shot back, while fellow Englishmen James Morrison and Andrew Johnston are tied for second with Willett.
Willett, 28, has struggled since winning his first major at Augusta in April. finishing no higher than 37th place at the US Open, The Open Championship, the US PGA Championship and the Rio Olympics.
The European Masters is one of a handful of tournaments before the Ryder Cup begins at Hazeltine in the United States.
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Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has urged fans to keep giving his struggling side their backing.

The Grecians are second-from-bottom in League Two and have not won at home since April, one of only two wins at St James Park in the whole of 2016 so far.
"I understand the dissatisfaction with a number of the supporters," he said.
"But it's important those people stay behind the team as this is a supporter-owned club, everyone's in it together and we have to have that mentality."
City conceded a late goal to lose 1-0 at Wycombe on Saturday - their eighth defeat in 11 league games after an injury-hit start to the season.
"There's a lot of will in the squad and a lot of effort and people behind them and we've just got to keep going with it," Tisdale added.
"We're going through one of those periods where that's all we can do.
"There's no point shirking it, but I believe in the players, they've put some real work in and we've just got to take that into next week."