Britain's 'Sarah Palin' is half Maltese

A fiery UK conservative candidate dubbed the “British Sarah Palin” by newspapers and opponents for her outspoken socially conservative views is half Maltese. Maria Hutchings, 51, is a candidate in a by-election to replace disgraced Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne in the Eastleigh by-election. Ms Hutchings disagrees with David Cameron’s same-sex marriage proposals and says she would vote to reduce the 24-week limit on abortions “as far as possible”. She has raised eyebrows over her criticism of state schools and is also against EU membership. Ms Hutchings is the daughter of a British Royal Fusilier, who died when she was 16, and a Maltese woman named Victoria, now aged 76. Full story in The Times