News digest 17 August 2011
The digest starts with more trouble for
Cameron as hackgate returns to the front pages with new revelations
of who knew what. The aftermath of the riots is still being raked
over, while the euro is still shaky despite pledges from Germany
and France. UK inflation is up as are rail fares and energy prices,
there are some mergers allowed and sales in the pipeline and while
Qantas cuts 1,000 jobs in Australia, shipbuilding supports the
Scottish economy, but the UK workplace remains unequal and talking
of inequality Eton’s pay policy could be considered a
mess…
Hackgate kicks off again – A
new smoking gun – or smouldering letter – has emerged in the News
of the World hacking scandal which blows away the argument that
hacking was never discussed at editorial meetings. Andy Coulson and
James Murdoch face allegations of dishonesty after the publication
of the four year old letter by former reporter Clive Goodman, and
James Murdoch is likely to be recalled by the culture select
committee. The question is not only did the Murdochs know about
Goodman’s claims, but what about prime minister David Cameron?
Serious questions are being asked about the prime minister’s
judgement… (Mirror p18,
Sun p14, Express p4, Mail p1/6-7, Times p1/4-5, Indie p1-5, Guardian p1/4-5, Telegraph p1/8-9, FT p1/3, Morning Star p2)
Tough justice - And talking
of poor judgment the Tories’ kneejerk reaction to the riots is
challenged. Home secretary Theresa May is openly considering
curfews for young people and continues to bang the drum for elected
police chiefs. Lib Dem MPs describe the Tory reaction as ‘bonkers’
and questions are being asked about the severity of some sentences.
The Morning Star
(p8-9) argues what is needed is social justice not criminal
justice while the Mirror (p1/4-7) highlights how the
Tories are talking tough on crime but 18,000 police and support
officers face the axe, 181 police stations are closing and over
16,100 civilian staff will lose their jobs, hardly a recipe for
restoring order (Sun p4-6,
Express p5, Mail p10-11, Times p1/8-9, Indie p6-7, Guardian p1/4-9, Telegraph p1/4-5, FT p3).
Merkel and Sarkozy back euro
– The questions is will anyone else? Markets fell after the latest
summit between Germany and France indicated moves towards greater
economic and fiscal co-operation. Pledges included harmonised
economic outlooks, a common corporation tax and plans for a common
tax on financial transactions. The summit was overshadowed by poor
GDP data from Germany which showed Europe’s biggest economy has
almost ground to a halt, and the eurozone overall hardly faring any
better. Some of the right wing papers fear closer European unity,
but the half hearted approach does not seem to be working (Mirror p18, Sun p2, Express p4, Mail p2, Times p12/32, Indie p33, Guardian p1/23, Telegraph b1/5, FT p1/5).
Inflation up again – Back in
the UK and CPI hits 4.4 per cent while RPI remains at 5.0 per cent
with increases across all essentials including food, petrol, energy
and travel (Mirror p40,
Express p2, Mail p4/57, Times p31, Guardian p11, Telegraph b1, FT p3, Morning Star p3).
Unfair fares – The advent of
the £10,000 annual season ticket for some travellers nears as rail
prices will see rises of between eight and 13 per cent next year
(Mirror p10, Sun p8, Express p2, Mail p17, Times p16, Indie p11, Guardian p11, Telegraph p6, FT p2, Morning Star p1).
Unfair deal – Still on trains
and Unite and the RMT call for answers on the Thameslink rail deal.
Writing to transport secretary Philip Hammond Unite assistant
general secretary Diana Holland said: "Was the
government's decision more about raising cash rather than building
trains, and if Siemens has not yet developed a crucial component,
how can the government guarantee the trains will arrive on time?
Bombardier's workforce, and the public deserve answers. To date all
we've had from the government is a catalogue of excuses rather that
a compelling case for choosing Siemens over
Bombardier.” (Mirror p19, Morning Star p5, Unite
release)
Unfair increase? - Despite
profits doubling energy firms continue to raise prices for
customers, yesterday Npower signalled it would raise gas prices by
16 per cent and electricity by seven per cent while Ofgem notes
that EDF has admitted overcharging 100,000 customers. EDF is the
only company not to join in the latest round of price rises
(Mirror p10, Times p18, Telegraph b1, FT p2).
Second oil leak – After
control an initial leak last week Shell is now battling a second
leak at its Gannet Alpha platform (Mirror p11, Mail p18/58, Indie p8, Guardian p14, Telegraph b5, Morning Star p5)
OFT cement probe – Regulators
are to probe the £3.4 billion cement industry over fears of too
little competition in the market (Express p50, Times p37, Telegraph b8, FT p16).
Cook and Co-op come together
– Plan to create Britain’s biggest high street travel agent by
merging Thomas Cook and Co-operative Group has officially been
given the go ahead by the Competition Commission although one
senior shareholder has questioned the deal (Sun p39, Express p51, Mail p57, Times p39, Telegraph b2, FT p30).
AEGON sells Guardian Life –
Business sold to private equity group Cinven for £275 million.
Unite is seeking confirmation that jobs for all 170 staff based at
the company’s the Lytham site will be safeguarded (Express p50, Times p39, Indie p38, Unite
release).
RBS ban on rival cashpoints –
The Sun (p24) reports on a
crackdown by RBS on holders of its no frills ‘Basic’ account who
have been banned from using rival cashpoints as RBS does not get
reimbursed for the charge. The ban will hit some 8,000 customers,
many of whom are the bank’s poorest customers.
MBNA sell off threatens 5,000
jobs – The Guardian (p25) reports on the Bank
of America’s decision to sell its MBNA credit card business which
could put up to 4,000 UK jobs and 1,000 Irish jobs at risk.
Qantas cuts 1,000 jobs –
Airline unveils plans to shift operations overseas and lay off
1,000 staff in Australia, the airline will also cease flying to
London, back to ships then? (Sun p39, Times p35, Indie p38, Telegraph b4, FT p17, Morning Star p7)
Ship creates 1,000 jobs –
Aircraft carrier being built in Scotland has helped secure
thousands of jobs says the Guardian (p25) on day two of the
series on Made in Britain, tomorrow the focus switches to Derby,
where it is time for the government to take a lead.
Equality in workplace still over 70
years away – The Guardian (p13) and Telegraph (p7) feature a new
report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission says 5,400
women are ‘missing’ from the country’s 26,000 most powerful jobs in
the public and private sector, and at current rates of change it
will be 70 more years before an equal number of men and women were
directors of FTSE 100 companies, the debate remains whether there
is a glass ceiling or is it down to privilege and who you know…
Eton’s poverty pay – And
talking of privilege the Mirror (p21) reports that Britain’s
poshest college is paying its staff ‘poverty’ wages. With fees for
students of approximately £30,000 a year the school is advertising
jobs for dining room staff that pay just £10,745 a year for a 40
hour week, but only during term time meaning the final figure is
barely above the minimum wage. How about the government doing
something about this divide? After all we’re all in this together
aren’t we…
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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