News digest 27 May 2011
It’s a quieter end to the week as the
country winds down for the long bank holiday weekend, it starts
with the capture of one of the world’s most wanted war criminals, a
Lord is found guilty over expenses while Huhne could be off the
hook. Looking at policy there are some economic jitters and is the
health bill splitting the coalition, while Virgin may be coming to
a high street near you, but Barclays cuts again, Jaguar’s profits
jump, BAE sells, BAT buys and BP and other oil firms are taken to
task over an alleged oil oligopoly at petrol stations…
Mladic caught – After a
16-year hunt the former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic – accused
of orchestrating the siege of Sarajevo and the massacre of 8,000
Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica - has been arrested in Serbia.
The move could pave the way for Serbia’s eventual membership of the
EU (Mirror p1, Sun p8/9, Express p7, Mail p9, Times p1, Indie p1, Guardian p1, Telegraph p1, FT p1, Morning Star p7).
Lord caught out – As David
Chaytor – the first MP jailed in the expenses scandal - is freed
after 18 weeks in jail, Tory peer Lord Hanningfield will be
sentenced next month having being found guilty of falsely claiming
£14,000 in expenses (Mirror
p35, Sun p12, Express p4, Indie p28, Guardian p15, Telegraph p9, FT p2, Morning Star p2).
Huhne off the hook? – The
Telegraph (p1) now
reports a police source said that Chris Huhne’s ex wife – Vicky
Pryce - has refused to tell police whether she took speeding points
on his behalf.
Ed gets wed – And as the
focus is on politicians and personalities so far, congratulations
to Labour leader Ed Miliband who will get married to Justine
Thornton in Nottingham later today (Mirror p43, Telegraph p25).
Andy is president – And
congratulations to Unite Wales regional secretary Andy Richards who
was elected president of the Wales TUC on Wednesday (Morning Star p5, Unite
release).
Economic jitters – Now back
to the policy and the Indie (p10) reports that
Osborne is looking isolated as cabinet colleagues are getting
worried about UK growth being so weak, is this the first sign of a
wobble, or are they worried about results from the Resolution
Foundation report that says low and middle income earners will
still be struggling by the time of the next election in 2015.
Clegg’s NHS challenge – And
the coalition also seems to be fighting over the NHS bill after
Clegg indicated he expected the bill to return to scrutiny –
essentially adding another six months to its passage through
parliament – while Tory critics have accused Clegg of trying to
undermine health secretary Andrew Lansley. A leaked email from Tory
MP Nick de Bois has called on the Tories to reclaim the debate on
the future of the NHS and ignore Lib Dem demands, in a so-called
listening exercise are they actually listening to any of the
submissions that have been made? I think we should be told…
(Mirror p9, Sun p2, Express p19, Mail p4, Times p5, Indie p10, Guardian p1, Telegraph p6, FT p4, Unite
release)
Health recommendations - The
Times (p16-17) lays out
its main ideas for the NHS mixing up greater GP control (although
saying they should resume round-the-clock responsibility) with more
competition, Unite’s submission (Unite
release) says the bill should be withdrawn, and highlights 10
other reasons why the government should go back to the drawing
board.
Shock rise in immigration –
And more bad news for the coalition as net migration in 2010
rocketed to a six year high of 242,000; Cameron has pledged to
bring immigration down to “tens of thousands” so will this herald
another crackdown? The figures also reveal that one in five workers
in low skilled jobs is now a foreigner, more than double the 2001
figure (Mirror p9, Sun p6, Express p1, Mail p2, Times p24, Indie p23, Guardian p2/12-13, Telegraph p2, FT p3).
Right targets unions – And
the Guardian (p17) reports
that far right groups are now targeting anti-racism campaigners and
unions with recent attacks in Liverpool, Brighton and East London.
Searchlight thinks that after the losses in elections the far right
has lost interest in the electoral process and has gone back to
fighting on the streets.
Virgin on the high street –
And Virgin could be coming to a high street near you as Richard
Branson looks to make parallel bids for ex-Lloyds branches as well
as Northern Rock, Branson met the boss of Lloyds earlier this week
(Mirror p70, Express p68, Mail p87, Guardian p1).
Barclays cuts jobs again –
But in the rest of the banking and finance sector the news
continues to worsen with more job losses at Barclays, said Unite
national officer David Fleming: "The news today that
Barclays is to cut 500 staff marks this as a disastrous week for
the UK's financial services sector where nearly 1,400 staff have
been cut. The sector is haemorrhaging jobs.”
(Mirror p70, Times p67, Guardian p38, Telegraph b1).
Heinz plans closures – Food
giant plans to close five factories – and cut 1,000 jobs – as it
tries to deal with rising commodity costs, two of the closures will
be in Europe and the company has not indicated whether any of the
UK’s five factories will be affected (Times p57, Telegraph b3).
Pub profit – Brewing giant
Young’s saw sales jump nine per cent in April helping company
profits surge seven per cent to £21 million (Mirror p70, Indie p48).
Jaguar’s profits jump – From
booze to cars and Jaguar’s profits top £1.1 billion with revenues
rising by 51 per cent to £9.9 billion and gaining from sales in
Asia. The company is to spend a £1 billion a year on upgrading its
range of cars with the aim of doubling global sales (Sun p69, Express p65, Mail p89, Times p58, Indie p43, Guardian p35, Telegraph b1/6, FT p23).
QinetiQ quids in – Defence
firm moves back into profit with returns of £26.6 million on the
back of sales of high-tech netting that protects combat vehicles,
although the company warned of further change as it looks to drive
through further efficiencies as part of a two-year self help plan
(Mail p88, Times p65, Guardian p38, Telegraph b6, FT p20).
BAE sells aircraft division –
BAE Asset management owns and leases almost 300 aircraft and has
been sold to Fortress Investment Group for £115 million (Times p67).
BAT buys Protabaco –
Colombian company sold 5.5 billion cigarettes in 2010, representing
a third of the Colombian market. British American Tobacco paid $452
million for the business which should help secure the company’s
position in South America (Times p66, Telegraph b2, FT p20).
Eurotunnel’s electric link –
Electricity will flow between Britain and France alongside Eurostar
trains after the operator of the Channel Tunnel unveiled a €250
million plan to run a cable under the sea (Mail p87, Times p63, Indie p48, Telegraph b3, FT p19).
Shell and BP shut out – And
finally the Telegraph
(b4) reports that five big oil companies including BP and Shell are
in trouble with German regulators over fears of running an
oligopoly and over-charging drivers at petrol stations. The
regulator has banned further takeovers or expansion of the big five
companies’ petrol station operations, they control half of the
14,800 petrol stations in Germany at present…
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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