News digest 10 December 2010
Student fees top the headlines again as
the government wins its vote and mayhem breaks out on the streets,
conveniently knocking the Lib Dems off the front page, elsewhere
the cuts at BAE see wide coverage, there’s a float for FlyBe while
Rolls-Royce plays down the costs of its engine explosion, trains
are not in service, petrol prices are going through the roof, clean
buses emit water and three MPs finally pay for being cabs for
hire…
Coalition wins fees battle –
The Con-Dem government votes to treble tuition fees to £9,000,
although with 27 rebels the majority was down from 84 to just 21
and three ministerial aides resigned. Most of the papers report on
student demonstrators as violence flared and the Met faces
questions over how it handled the event after the Prince of Wales’
car was separated from its security detail and daubed with paint.
That means the real message is not covered in as much detail;
yesterday’s vote was another step towards attacking ordinary
working people, education is a right the Con-Dems want to make it
for the privileged only. Unite general secretary-elect Len
McCluskey said: "This vote today speaks volumes about
the character of this government. It is pushing through insane
levels of cuts to the higher education budget while forcing young
people to make up the shortfall by undertaking crippling levels of
personal debt. Incoherence and inequality are fast becoming
the hallmarks of the coalition.” (Mirror p1, Sun p1, Express p1, Mail p1, Times p1, Indie p1, Guardian p1, Telegraph p1, FT p1, Morning Star p1, Unite
release).
BAE cuts spell doom for defence
manufacturing – And the impact of cuts on the defence
sector is brought into focus. Unite’s Bernie Hamilton sums up the
latest round of job losses at the defence group as “the
beginning of the end for UK defence aircraft
manufacturing” as almost all papers report on the
1,400 job losses announced by the company yesterday (Mirror p11, Sun p71, Express p27, Mail p87, Indie p50, Guardian p41, Morning Star p5, Unite
release).
FlyBe float price announced –
City is expecting an offer price for the carrier of 295p as the £60
million float is expected to be confirmed today (Telegraph b1).
Gatwick spending spree – New
boss of Gatwick airport interviewed in the Guardian (p43). Stewart Wingate
has a £1 billion to spend on the airport, after the recent snow
closure, perhaps he should buy a few snowploughs.
Rolls-Royce’s explosive bill
– The costs of the engine failure expected to hit $500 million
although the company has dismissed these estimates from aviation
experts (FT p19).
No Boeing engine upgrades –
And the FT (p25) also reports that
Boeing - unlike its arch rival Airbus - says it has no plans to
upgrade engines for its single aisle aeroplanes.
Petrol pressure – From skies
to the roads and the cost of petrol is now hitting 122p a litre
with potential for more rises (Sun p16, Times p7).
Catch the bus – The Guardian (p19) reports that the
UK’s first hydrogen bus is to be launched in London today; launch
coincides with opening of the UK’s largest hydrogen refuelling
station based in Leyton in east London.
Not the train – Two Eurostar
board members – Barbara Dalibard and Dominique Thillaud – resigned
last Friday ahead of the formal signing of the deal for German
trains for cross-channel services (FT p24).
De-icing trains in service –
You’d think with the cold snap that there would be good demand for
these trains, but they are actually currently being serviced, the
boss of Southeastern trains obviously couldn’t pick a better time
(Mirror p21, Sun p9).
Soaring power profits –
Energy giants are however making soaring profits over plunging
temperatures with the Mirror
(p64) saying gas usage has risen by 25 per cent and demand for
energy has benefited all the big suppliers; owners of coal power
stations doing the best.
Powerfuel runs out – But not
so good for clean coal, Powerfuel goes into administration over
£635 million cash shortfall (Times p64, Guardian p41).
Oberthur strapped for cash –
And the De La Rue takeover talk continues with news that the French
bidder Oberthur would need to raise fresh equity to increase its
offer from its current 905p. City thinks that any bid below £10
would be unsuccessful (FT
p21).
Diageo looking for Turkey –
And drinks giant is also considering an offer for Turkish drinks
maker Mey Icki, the spirit maker is valued at $2.5 billion,
although its owners may opt for a float instead (Times p66).
High street woes – But bad
news for HMV as it admits its £41.3 million losses are ‘scary’
could this be the end for the group (Sun p70, Express p65, Mail p87, Times p63, Indie p46, Guardian p13, Telegraph b1, FT p23).
House prices down – And bad
news for homeowners as houses prices dip 0.7 per cent and the
market reports its first year on year fall since November 2009
(Guardian p42).
Low life opportunities – ONS
report shows disabled people are twice as likely to be unable to
work, take a holiday or take courses according to the Life
Opportunities survey (Guardian p23, Telegraph p, FT p, Morning Star p)
Bank levy raised – Some good
news as the amount banks have to pay is upped by another £400
million, except is more good news for bankers as the levy will be
just a third of what the banks will pay out in bonuses, Robin Hood
group says industry can afford £20 billion rather than the £2.5
billion being levied (Express p68, Guardian p40, Telegraph b3, FT p4).
50p tax temporary –
Chancellor Osborne shows his priorities, saying the 50p tax rate is
only temporary and he will move to cut it as soon as he can,
although he says not while he is enforcing a pay freeze on the
public sector (Express
p17).
Don’t sell the Tote – And the
horseracing industry has come out against privatisation of the Tote
and instead calls on the government to turn it into a charitable
body (FT p22).
Ex MPs barred – And finally
it’s back to politics with the news that three ex-MPs could be
banned from the Commons for breaking lobbying rules. The standards
committee recommended ex defence secretary Geoff Hoon be barred for
5 years, ex-transport secretary Stephen Byers for 2 years and
Richard Caborn for 6 months. It is also reported that police have
handed a file to prosecutors on ex-MP Margaret Moran over her
claims for dry rot for a house that was not even in her
constituency (Mirror p24,
Sun p2, Express p27, Mail p36, Times p19, Indie p9, Guardian p11, Telegraph p8, Morning Star p4).
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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