News digest 18 October 2010
Today’s top story concerns the cuts,
there’s going to be a lot of them and all papers trail Wednesday’s
comprehensive spending review, elsewhere there’s a possible
equitable settlement, bids for the Chunnel even as Eurostar comes
to a halt and more dodgy politicians…
The axeman cometh – Workers
from across the public and private sectors will gather outside the
Commons tomorrow to urge the Con-Dem coalition to think again over
plans for swingeing cuts to public services (Unite
release). The Telegraph (b4) highlights a CIPD
report that says 50 per cent of public sector workers would back
strike action over pay and job cuts, but the Indie (p30) also highlights
that the same report shows there would be little sympathy for
strikes, it’s all in the message...
Cuts countdown - All of the
papers trail the comprehensive spending review, the Sun (p8-9) runs with ‘Grim ‘n bear
it’ but argues the toughest cuts since the 1920s are needed to rein
in the deficit. Shadow chancellor Alan Johnson is interviewed in
the Mirror (p8-9) on why the
cuts won’t work and will just result in no jobs and low growth. The
Mail (p1) leads with news
that child benefit will be cut at 16, but the Telegraph (p1) leads with a
letter from business leaders (mainly the ones that backed the
Tories in the election) that says cut now or pay later. The
Times (p35) is one of
many papers to trail the ITEM Club forecasts that says business
must lend, spend and hire of face a lost decade. The Guardian (p1) focuses on large
capital projects that are expected to be saved including Crossrail
in London, the Mersey Gateway bridge and some money to help build
two million rural homes and also has a handy map which lists
departmental spending and changes over the past year (p20-21) while
the FT (p2) trails Cameron’s focus
on wanting to offer good news stories and how he will argue that
the cuts are fair…
Female bankruptcy soars to record
high – The Mail
(p24) highlights how the recession is hitting women three times
harder than men; female unemployment is at the highest level for 17
years and 175 women are going bankrupt every day.
Health cuts – The Indie (p4-5) and Guardian (p6-7) both focus on how
the NHS is being forced to make cuts as even with more money the
surge in demand from an ageing population, the cost of drugs and
the expanding obesity crisis is forcing hospital trusts to scale
back.
Transport cuts – The Mail (p6-7) also focuses on a
possible 30 per cent rise in rail fares over the next four years as
subsidies are cut back, while the Times (p6-7) also expects one
in 10 bus routes to be axed and 10 per cent rises in bus and rail
fares every year.
Defence cuts - No planes for
new carriers says defence secretary Liam Fox (Mirror p6, Express p2)
Housing cuts – The Telegraph (p1) warns that there
may be a big rise in council house rents as levels are brought up
to the market rate although welfare reform minister Lord Freud
lambasts the housing benefit rip off, although he is attacking how
landlords exploit low-income families (b1).
Welfare cuts – This is where
the axe will hit hardest. The FT
(p1) says the government want to axe the bloated benefits budget,
and a few other papers trail a benefit ban, with the Express (p4) and Telegraph (p13) saying three
false claims and you lose benefits, the so-called three strikes and
you are out, no mention if it will also apply to bank bailouts
too…
Agricultural cuts – Challenge
to abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board will go to court over
lack of consultation (Unite
release).
Voluntary squeeze – No not
someone accepting cuts, but Cameron’s big society could be hit by
changes to how councils can spend money, removing ring fencing from
many areas of local spending (Times p7).
Equitable settlement – But
the government has found £1.5 billion for victims of the collapsed
insurer, although campaigners want more (Mail p63, FT p5).
RBS to offload loans – Bank
to sell off £1 billion of Spanish commercial property loans
(FT p20).
Allianz to bid for Chunnel –
German insurer submits £2 billion bid for High Speed 1 rail link
from London to the channel tunnel (Telegraph b3, Indie p32).
Eurostar stops – Strike
action in Belgium leads to mass cancellations (Indie p12).
Jaguar joy in West
Midlands– The FT (p22)
profiles the success story at Jaguar and the importance of
manufacturing to the West Midlands in a regional round up.
Political roundup – And on
the day that former chief secretary to the treasury David Laws says
he wants to come back (Guardian p5), three Labour peers
are likely to be suspended and will have to pay back almost
£200,000 in expenses (Mail p30), while the Mail (p12) also highlights that
three cabinet ministers are to face TV claims of ‘tax dodging’ in a
Channel 4 investigation.
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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