On Tuesday, the Speaker's Office had told the BBC that it was its understanding that Mr Adams had not applied for the crown position and therefore remained an MP.

BBC: John Bercow says Gerry Adams is not an MP

"The Crown's position in relation to the petition will be confirmed directly to the court and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time, " he added.

BBC: Moira Anderson

The trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard Benson abused his position of authority and groomed the girls.

BBC: Stephen Benson

Keir Starmer said the Crown Prosecution Service had changed its position ahead of a Lords vote this week.

BBC: CPS backs 'insulting' law change

This will also affect London which may have won the crown as world leading financial services centre but that position is very precarious.

BBC: City Diaries: 15 October

In the 1980s, IBM was king, then Compaq took the crown through the late 1990s, then Dell held the position from 2001 through 2006, only to be supplanted by HP, which is now in turn being replaced by Lenovo.

FORBES: Segmentating On Fear And Lust

More importantly in terms of the Premier League title race, it left United in pole position to claim a record-extending 20th English crown at the expense of their bitter rivals.

CNN: Mancini furious as City defeat gives United 15-point lead