The Nifty 250: news of the day in so many words

LIVERPOOL COUNCIL TO TURN JARGON BUSTER in a bid to make plain English its main priority. After years of writing documents with impenetrable language, the Local Government Association report contained 117 words on the banned list of confusing language. The council is considering sending senior staff on courses to help them speak plain English in an effort to encourage more people to get involved in local politics.

‘LIVERPOOL DAY’ BANK HOLIDAY is called for by the organisers of the Grand National. Aintree racecourse is asking decision-makers to back the plan, which would see everyone with an ‘L’ postcode granted a day off on April 8. Organisers have said the response has unsurprisingly “absolutely phenomenal”.

MAN AND WOMAN SHOT outside a pub in Croxteth. Police are investigating the incident which happened outside the Abbey Road wine bar on Croxteth Hall Lane on Friday night. A 41-year-old male received gunshot wounds to the leg, and police were contacted on Saturday by a woman suffering from “injuries consistent with pellet wounds”, the force said.

EMI NOT TO SELL ABBEY ROAD RECORDING STUDIOS but is in talks with third parties about a “revitalisation” project. Made famous by the Beatles album, EMI released a statement saying it believes the studios should remain under its ownership. Reports that the record company may sell the sight led to an outpouring of public concern. “EMI confirms that it is holding preliminary discussions for the revitalisation of Abbey Road with interested and appropriate third parties,” the firm said yesterday.