News digest 23 November 2010
Today’s digest starts with more on the
Irish bailout with Unite calling for an Irish election now ahead of
a major demonstration next week, while there’s more trouble for
Cameron from foreign climes, and back in the UK there’s more cuts
and a cancelled growth paper. Miliband’s starting to edge ahead in
the polls while Rolls-Royce has gained more engine orders, there’s
a new boss at BA, HP hots up and there’s a welcome boost to
Tyneside which could see 1,000 new jobs…
Ireland cracks – Irish
coalition under pressure as election expected to be called early
next year. Conditions imposed by the IMF should be put to the vote
and Unite has called for a general election to be held before the
setting of a 2011 budge. Unite Ireland regional secretary Jimmy
Kelly said: “The decision on how the necessary
adjustments to the public finances are made should be put to the
people, not a redundant government.” Fears that the
crisis will spread remain with Portugal, Spain and Greece all
facing pressures, and Germany thought to be losing patience while
in the UK Osborne is taken to task by the Tory right-wing over his
backing for the plan, and British banks remain exposed with some
£140 billion in outstanding loans to the country, all in all it’s a
case of the bankers get away and the people pay (Mirror p8-9, Sun p15, Express p8-9, Mail p1, Times p1/6, Indie p2, Guardian p1, Telegraph p1, FT p1, Morning Star p7, Unite
release).
Cracks in Cameron’s alliance
– And more bad news for Cameron as his alliance in the European
parliament sees its head Michal Kaminski - who has been accused of
homophobia and failing to commemorate the holocaust - leave the
party because it has become too right wing (Mirror p6, Guardian p11).
Not welcome here – Home
secretary Theresa May has said that immigration will be capped at
43,000 next year, although if you earn more than £40,000 and it’s
an intercompany transfer you can still get in (Sun p2, Mail p19, Times p, Indie p9, Telegraph p1, FT p6).
Volunteers at the station –
Latest cuts wheeze from police minister Nick Herbert is to get rid
of desk sergeants at police stations and instead use volunteers to
do the job (Mirror p14).
Outsourcing boom – Mitie
upbeat as firm expects to gain from greater government outsourcing
in public services (Sun p45,
Express p49, FT p21).
Housing shakeup condemned –
Homeless charity Shelter calls government plans for two year
tenancies and curbs if tenants get pay rises a ‘deliberate attack
on the poor’ (Mirror p18,
Times p, Indie p14, Guardian p4, Morning Star p1).
Whistleblowers not protected
– But government backtracks on plans to protect workers who reveal
dangerous, corrupt or incompetent practices (Guardian p16).
Bonus backtrack – and
chancellor Osborne has put the kibosh on Cable’s plans to make
banks publish details of bonuses over £1 million (Mirror p6, Mail p10, Times p44, Guardian p26, FT p7).
Too many Lords a
leaping – Concerns raised about Cameron packing the Lords
– he has created 111 new Lords since being elected – while reducing
the number of MPs; each Lord costs £211,000 a year (Mail p5).
No growth white paper – No,
the government is not introducing a white paper for ‘no growth’
rather the white paper to promote growth has been shelved according
to the Times (p44).
Poll position – So what is
the impact of all these changes? The latest Guardian (p6) ICM poll puts Labour
at 38 per cent, the Tories drop to 36 per cent and the Lib Dems are
down to 14 per cent, not bad for a period when Miliband’s been on
paternity leave…
Miliband’s plans – And joint
general secretary Tony Woodley hails Miliband’s plans to move
beyond the Blair era with trade union links in the Morning Star (p4):
“We are fully behind Mr Miliband’s determination to
ensure that Labour is a party fit for purpose to take on the
Tories.” Other papers also note that shadow home
secretary Alan Johnson has been slapped down again over the 50 per
cent tax rate (Telegraph
p12), while the (FT p6) trails the
long game on policy even if there are a few concerns about the
route ahead…
Rolls-Royce wins more orders
- Talking of travel Rolls-Royce announces that it has won a £1.2
billion order to supply engines for 20 new Air China planes
(Mirror p49, Express p49, Mail p65, Indie p33, Guardian p26, Telegraph b2, FT p22).
Go-Ahead to BA – And current
Go-Ahead finance director Nick Swift is to be the new chief of BA
when Willie Walsh is kicked upstairs, he starts in March,
unfortunately the Sun (p45)
also reports that another BA steward has been suspended (Express p52, Mail p65, Times p45, Telegraph b4, FT p20).
It’s good to talk – Perhaps
they should pay attention to advisory body Acas which the Telegraph (b4) says has saved
companies £46.7 million since launching its new early conciliations
service two years ago.
It’s bad for TalkTalk – Ofcom
launches fresh investigation into sales practices of Britain’s
second biggest broadband provider (Mirror p, Sun p, Express p, Mail p, Times p45, Indie p36, Telegraph b1, FT p20).
HP hots up – Hewlett Packard
sees eight per cent jump in Q4 sales and raises profit forecasts
for the year (FT p23).
BP covered – And oil giant
says the $20 billion it has put aside should more than cover
expected compensation claims (FT
p20).
Oil boost to Tyneside – And a
£150 million order for OGN for an oil platform which will be built
at the currently mothballed Hadrian Yard on the river Tyne is on
course to create 1,000 jobs (Sun p45, Indie p38).
QinetiQ takes off – Company
lands £1.2 billion services deal to support Nasa bases including
designing and developing ground systems for the Kennedy centre
(Sun p45, Express p49, Mail p65).
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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