News digest 11 March 2011
The digest opens with further coverage of
the Hutton report into public sector pensions, Clegg has no
regrets, there’s more concern over NHS changes and the BloodMoney
petition hits new highs. There’s still pressure on petrol prices, a
refinery being sold, Vodafone’s hacked, BAA’s boss gets a boost, a
banker is behind bars but you may need to think of a new name for
former RBS boss Fred Goodwin…
Hutton digested – Hutton’s
review of public sector pensions continues to be covered across the
papers, like yesterday there’s a variance between papers with the
more left leaning focusing on the cuts and changes while the right
wing press go for the lowest common denominator saying that unions
are threatening a summer of strikes and that the public sector
should go the way of pensions in the private sector, so much for
progress (Mirror p4,
Sun p4, Express p2, Mail p12, Times p16, Indie p13, Guardian p6, Telegraph p8, FT p1, Morning Star p1, Unite
release).
Front line cuts – And the
Mirror (p16-17) brings home
the real impact with a spread on how cuts to services are impacting
ordinary people and also trails the March for the Alternative; 15
days to go now…
No money and no regrets – The
Mirror (p21) says that the
Lib Dem party is suffering a cash crisis and has had to take out a
loan and overdraft as money from donors has dried up, the Mail (p32) and Guardian (p16) note that the
government has rushed through a law that will allow joint
candidates to stand at elections, could a more formal pact be on
the way? In an interview with the Indie (p4-5) ahead of the Lib
Dem spring party conference deputy prime minister Nick Clegg says
he has no regrets, remorse or desire to turn back on the path he
has chosen. He may change his mind tomorrow as a 10,000 strong
protest is expected on the streets as the Sheffield anti-cuts
campaign gathers pace. Health workers and Unite members plan to
join the lobby calling on Clegg to break with Tory plans for the
NHS…
Scrap the NHS? – The Mirror (p29) reports communities
secretary Eric Pickles proudly addressed a rally of right wing
Tories last night. Speaking to the Young Britons Foundation – whose
president Daniel Hannon rubbished the NHS as “a 60-year
mistake” – Pickles warned them to be aware of
cigar-chomping Commies…
Kill the bill – And workers
marched through London to call on Lansley to kill the bill. Unite
regional officer Steve Hart praised all the health unions for
speaking out against the bill while medical workers, students,
healthcare users all outlined why they think the bill will
effectively privatise the service and shift a million jobs to the
private sector (Morning Star p2).
Sack Lansley – And the BMA is
considering holding an Extraordinary General Meeting to seek a vote
of no-confidence in the health secretary over the proposed changes
to the NHS (Guardian
p9).
No to Blood Money – Unite’s
campaign against the plans to sell off the National Blood Service
goes from strength to strength. A mass twitter campaign updating
messages on why the change was wrong helped drive 10,000 more
signatures to the petition. Said Unite assistant general secretary,
Jennie Bremner: "The message is getting louder by the
hour as more people join the campaign - our blood is not for
sale." More than 32,000 people have now signed
the petition (Mirror
online, Morning
Star p5, Medical News
Today, Unite
release).
Scrap the bac – And from
health to education where the Guardian (p16) says shadow
education secretary Andy Burnham has called on Gove to stop his
changes because all they will do is recreate the two tier grammar
school system.
Scrap the duty – More
pressure on Osborne over fuel duty prices, pressures on petrol are
limiting consumer confidence and spending (Sun p14, Times p9).
Pembroke refinery sold –
Chevron close to finalising deal to sell Pembroke Refinery is south
west Wales to US group Valero in £1.2 billion deal as another oil
company eyes exit from low margin sector (Mail p77).
Argos slumps – Home Delivery
Network sees 4.6 per cent fall in sales as consumer pressures
harden (Mirror p58, Sun p50, Express p15, Mail p77, Times p41, Indie p30, Guardian p29, Telegraph pb4, FT p20).
Morrissonline –
Supermarket company makes plans to move into the online sector by
splashing out on a 10 per cent stake in US e-tailer Fresh Direct
which delivers fresh food to homes across New York, roll out in the
UK is not expected for some two years (Mirror p58, Sun p50, Express p15, Mail p77, Times p41, Indie p30, Guardian p29, Telegraph b4, FT p20).
Punch up – For those that
don’t want home delivery the Punch pubs group surprises the City
with an upbeat trading statement as group sales rose by 8,6 per
cent for the last quarter (Sun p50, Express p68, Mail p75, Telegraph b5).
Vodafone hacked – But
telecomms company Vodafone smarting after UKUncut activists hacked
the company website and displayed messages highlighting the
company’s tax affairs (Indie p19, FT p3).
Nimrod’s 90 day reprieve –
From telecomms to surveillance and one cut that has now been
postponed according to the Sun (p23) is for two spy planes
which were bound for the scrap yard but have been temporarily
reprieved as they are put into service over Libya.
Positive words – More
aviation news and the Sun
(p2) also reports that BA’s new boss is keen to ‘build bridges’
with Unite to solve the ongoing dispute.
New crew – Virgin Atlantic
announces it plans to recruit 450 new staff as it expands routes to
the US and Caribbean (Sun
p50).
A costly massage – But the
company pays out £300,000 in compensation to two beauty therapists
after they developed RSI giving massages to Virgin Atlantic’s
business customers (Mirror
p19, Mail p29).
BAA boss gets boost – And
even with the wrong type of snow, he gets the right type of
paycheque as the BAA boss sees an almost 20 per cent increase in
his salary of £150,000 to £971,000 (Telegraph p7).
Santander boss behind
bars? – Chief executive Alfredo Saenz has been banned from
working as a banker for three months by Spain’s supreme court over
false accusations, he was also sentenced to three months in jail
but is not expected to serve the sentence. He has announced he will
appeal (Times p42,
Indie p34, Telegraph b1, FT p21).
Rock ditches adviser –
Northern Rock ditches Morgan Stanley and gets Deutsche Bank in to
handle its return to the private sector (Express p68, Mail p74, Times p41, Telegraph b3, FT p4).
Is he a banker? – And finally
all the papers feature a super injunction from Fred - the shred –
Goodwin, the former boss of RBS who cost the nation billions.
Apparently he won a legal gag to stop him being described as a
banker although that was blasted apart by Lib Dem MP John Hemming
who declared in the commons: “Is there one law for him,
and another for the poor?” Looks that way, but in the
meantime how about a competition, what would you call Fred? Answers
on a postcard/via email please… (Mirror p3, Sun p1, Express p2, Mail p2, Times p5, Indie p20, Guardian p17, Telegraph p1, FT p1)
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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