News digest 21 March 2011
The digest starts with Libya and Japan
still in the headlines, while Wednesday’s budget is coming into
view, banks don’t want to be broken up, house prices rise while
Kraft is called to account again, Diageo looks for another tipple
while Sainsbury’s and South West Trains are both in a squeeze, NHS
nurses see more complaints, Labour outlines its health plan and
health and safety protection is slashed so its time to put your
boots on for the March for the Alternative…
Air strikes launched on Libya
– All the papers cover the first wave of attacks as planes target
ground command and control centres. Explosions and anti-aircraft
fire rock Tripoli, Gaddafi announces a ceasefire which is ignored
by the US-led coalition, while the Arab League wobbles over its
support as Russia and China express regret over the violence.
Defence secretary Liam Fox claims that Gaddafi is a legitimate
target, but one of the more worrying factors is the lack of an exit
strategy and the fear that the operation will be prolonged and
bloody rather than a short, sharp shock (Mirror p1-7, Sun p1/4-7, Express p4-5, Mail p1-9, Times p1-11, Indie p1-8, Guardian p1-7, Telegraph p1-7, FT p1-3, Morning Star p1/4).
Slow progress in Japan – The
other major international story sees the rescue operation in Japan
continue, the nuclear reactor is more stable, radiation has been
detected in the food chain, so the danger still remains as the
clean up programme across the country continues (Mirror p11, Sun p11, Express p11, Mail p20, Times p27-29, Indie p24-25, Guardian p18-19, Telegraph p16-17, FT p6, Morning Star p7).
Budget – Most of the papers
start to trail Wednesday’s budget with the main issue seeming to be
that chancellor Osborne does not have much room for manoeuvre as he
has set his stall and the gamble will either pay off or backfire. A
few hints are covered by the papers which expect both air and fuel
duty to be held, the income tax threshold to be raised to take some
low paid workers out of the tax base (and placate the Lib Dems) and
possibly some much needed funds to help tackle youth unemployment
and as the deficit is expected to be £8 billion less than expected
Osborne may have some extra funds he can use (Mirror p8, Sun p2, Express p2, Mail p10, Times p13, Indie p16, Guardian p8, Telegraph p1, FT p1, Morning Star p5).
£15 billion to break up banks
– Leading banks try to stem any threat to split retail and
investment divisions saying it would cost the industry £15 billion
(Mail p69, Times p40).
More millionaires – But it’s
not all bad according to the Express (p25) as 120 millionaires
are being created every day, yes you guessed it, mainly in the
City…
House prices rise – And
there’s another rise in house prices but the top level figures mask
a greater divide as the cost of large homes rises, but terraced
properties are squeezed (Sun
p2, Express p7, Times p36-37, Indie p39).
Builders’ bump – And
government cuts have hit the building sector which has seen the 10
largest companies gain projects worth a combined £2.7 billion over
the last six months, down from £5 billion a year ago (FT p21).
Inflation rises – The
Times p35 says there
are fears for more pressure on prices as tomorrow’s figures are
expected to show a further rise while the Mirror (p20) reports that food
producers are shrinking packs to hide higher prices and the
Mail (p25) in its usual
miserable approach tries to ruin Easter by saying chocolate egg
prices have rise by 1,400 per cent…
Kraft called to account –
Fears that parent company may be backtracking on Cadbury’s
‘Pandora’ agreement which provides an enhanced redundancy package
for long term workforce, Unite’s Jennie Formby writes to the
company to request the company makes “urgent
contact” to discuss the matter (Times p41).
Diageo to add tequila to drinks
cabinet? – Company weighing up a £1.2 billion approach for
Jose Cuervo, the world’s biggest tequila brand (Express p47, Times p47).
Sainsbury’s to herald
slowdown? – Company first to reveal results for last
quarter which is expected to see high street confidence impact
overall sales growth (Mail p70).
Vodafone on top – Telecomms
company ranked fifth in Brand Finance Global 500, making it the top
British brand, now how about paying some UK taxes… (Times p47, Indie p37, Guardian p28).
South West squeeze- And the
Times (p19) reports
seats on South West Trains condemned for causing commuter crush as
the small size of seats is forcing people to see osteopaths.
No third runway – Labour
could be signalling its intention to scrap any plans for a third
runway at Heathrow (Times p19).
Healey’s health plan – And
the shadow health secretary outlines his plans for the NHS to the
Morning Star
(p8-9) arguing that Labour was too ready to reorganise, but the
Tory plans could see the end of the NHS.
Nurse complaints double – As
the Mirror (p14) reports
that the NHS food budget has been slashed the Express (p15) and Mail (p12) both highlight the
rise in complaints against nurses which have doubled to 3,000 over
the last two years, although it should be noted there are 600,000
nurses currently working in the NHS.
Health and safety axe – As
the Mirror (p22) reports the
sad story of a worker dying on his final shift just before he was
made redundant, the Sun (p2)
says the government will announce safety checks are to be cut by a
third (Guardian p9,
FT p12, Morning Star p3).
5 days to go – Get your
marching boots ready as cuts can be challenged as the Indie (p14) reports on the
preparation for the March for the Alternative with 2,500 stewards
while the Morning
Star (p3) has a look at police tactics and a new approach to
kettling – nothing to do with making tea for protestors sadly -
although they haven’t tested it yet; perhaps the protestors need to
kettle the cops if they get out of order…
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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