News digest 20 April 2011
It’s an education themed start with
trouble with tuition fees and teachers threatening to strike, the
government says it is listening on the NHS while effectively
admitting it didn’t read previous responses, there’s news on the
Welsh election, Gordon gets punished, but banking bosses get away
again, BP’s still in bother, but Burton’s gets a breather, Ryanair
thinks up another charge as Unite’s talks with BA continue, and
there may soon be hidden messages from Essex Fire Authority as it
looks to counter the cuts…
Tuition fiasco – Most of the
papers cover the government’s miscalculation about tuition fees
which can be expected to see 36,000 less student places as the
government has to divert money to cover the higher than expected
fees, some 10 per cent of places may have to be cut to plug the
£450 million funding hole that has opened up (Mirror p29, Sun p2, Mail p17, Indie p2, Telegraph p1, FT p2, Morning Star p3).
Teachers out? – ATL union
backs a ballot to take strike action over changes to pensions which
could see schools close during the summer term (Express p27, Times p4, Indie p19, Guardian p18, Morning Star p2).
NHS is listening? – The
Times (p8) reports that
the doctor leading the government’s ‘rethink’ of NHS changes –
Steve Field - says the review is real and that they are examining
the responses to the consultation last year, does that mean they
did not look at them originally? The Guardian (p9) and Telegraph (p14) both report on
the first in a new series of quarterly reports from the King’s Fund
health think tank which says that wards will close, jobs will be
cut and less drugs discharged. Worryingly it also reports that
waiting times are now the longest for three years and creeping ever
upwards.
No vote hardens – Another
poll shows the no vote in the AV referendum solidifying as the war
of words between both sides worsens. The ‘No’ campaign has focused
on Clegg, ‘Yes’ a bit more on reform, but overall while the
politicians seem exercised, the general population seems
non-plussed (Sun p6,
Express p2, Mail p8, Times p15, Guardian p8, FT p2).
Wales election round up – The
Guardian (p14-15)
continues its series on the election with a focus on Wales today,
there’s an air of uncertainty as coalition and cuts come to the
fore, but the question is do they want to punish Cardiff or
Westminster?
Punishing Gordon – Yet
another example of spin before thought as prime minister Cameron
announces his intention to block Gordon Brown’s IMF hopes saying it
should go to someone from outside Europe, that will put European
leaders noses out of joint as the job has traditionally been for a
European nation, while the US gets the World Bank (Mirror p14, Sun p2, Express p7, Times p15, Indie p17, Guardian p4, Telegraph p13, FT p1).
Banks let off for not lending
– Despite pledging to support loans to small businesses in exchange
for allowing bonuses Lloyds and RBS fell £30 billion short of their
lending targets. At the same time the treasury select committee has
blasted banks for taking over £500 billion in support from the
government while continuing to pay bonuses (Sun p7, Express p5, Mail p17, Indie p34).
Bonuses approved – And in a
‘they never learn’ exercise the £7.7 million pay package for the
RBS boss was passed at the AGM yesterday. The bank is 83 per cent
state owned and the government shareholding backed all the
resolutions on pay. Barclays is also facing shareholder protests
over boss Bob Diamond’s pay package, especially his basic pay which
is 20 per cent higher than his predecessor (Mirror p14, Express p65, Times p48, Indie p34, Guardian p28, Telegraph b5, FT p17).
BP’s bother – The FT (p20) has a full page analysis after
the company’s AGM highlighting the pressures and fall out from the
Deepwater disaster which could see the total compensation package
cost $60 billion.
Breather for Burton’s – Some
good news as the consultation on the plans to close the Burton's
biscuit plant has been extended until 16 May, although the company
will press on with plans to cease biscuit manufacture it has said
it will look at proposals to retain the chocolate refinery and
seasonal assortment packing operations of the site (Liverpool
Daily Post, Unite
release).
SAB up – Brewer sees annual
revenues rise by five per cent, while US business is subdued growth
in China and Africa has bolstered the firm, full results will be
announced next month (Express p64, Mail p72, FT p18).
Tesco takes £3.8 billion –
Company reports first set of results under new chief executive
Philip Clarke. Although the company reported pre-tax profits up
11.3 per cent to £3.54 billion, Clarke says that the company needed
to improve its UK and US operations and the company plans to shake
up its non-foods business (Mirror p40, Sun p50, Express p64, Mail p75, Times p44, Indie p36, Guardian p31, Telegraph b1, FT p17).
Subsidised bus services
slashed? – On to transport and the Sun (p50) reports council cuts
across the north could see bus services disappear according to
Arriva.
Reserve a Ryanair seat – A
new service – and new charge – from the airline, if you’d like to
secure a specific seat it will cost you £10 (Mirror p40, Times p47).
BA talks continue – BA’s
Keith Williams and Unite’s Len McCluskey, and cabin crew reps, had
a positive meeting yesterday, further discussions will be held in
the near future (Times
p47).
Fire adverts – And finally
the Mirror (p16) reports
cash-strapped Essex Fire Authority is looking to rent our
advertising space on fire engines and stations as one possible way
of dealing with its funding shortfall, no news on whether a canny
frying pan salesman has taken up the offer…
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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