News digest 30 June 2011
One of the biggest strikes for decades
starts as hundreds of thousands of workers take action over
pensions, Maude is mauled by PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka,
strikers in Southampton are snubbed, the police face bail chaos,
but it’s ok to stab a burglar, there’s more on high street closures
and consumer sales weaken, but rail profits soar, Huhne puts his
foot on the accelerator and then does a U-turn on nuclear plants,
while Cable calls for more apprentices, and while an iconic UK site
is up for sale, in Greece everything must go…
Strike action across the
country – Challenging cuts to pay, pensions and terms and
conditions, thousands of ordinary workers are out on strike today.
There’s a good spread with lots of Unite flags in the Mirror (p8-9), the Indie (p1-4) contrasts the cuts
for civil servants, health workers and teachers and asks why MPs
don’t have to share the pain, and the Guardian (p1/6-7) is also
generally supportive highlighting the march through central London
later today and looks at the people who are being hit hardest by
the cuts. Conversely the Sun
(p1/8-9) goes back to the 1980s, the Express (p4) focuses on the NUT
leader while the Mail
(p1) calls on people to defy the ‘strike bullies’ and tries to
create a split between the public and private sector. The Times (p1/10-11) says that
schools may need to get set for months of action, while the
Telegraph (p1) argues
that the public sector pensions are too generous but hints at the
anger citing that four million may strike in the autumn, FT (p2) as expected focused on the
financial aspects, and the Morning Star (p10-13)
puts across the importance of unity while also noting that
fire-fighters may quit the service if their pension contributions
are increased. Mark Serwotka of PCS takes the government to task in
the Guardian (p34), but
also hammered away at cabinet office minister Francis Maude on the
BBC Radio 4’s Today programme who
was completely demolished and shown to not have even read the
Hutton report, the last five minutes are very good…
Southampton strikers snubbed
– The Morning
Star (p4) also reports on 30 striking workers who left the
Southampton picket line and travelled to Birmingham to call on the
deputy prime minister to save their jobs from hard line Tory
councillor Royston Smith, both of whom were asked to address the
workers, neither turned up (Unite
release).
Legal aid cuts challenged –
But bill still goes through with mini concession of a £20 million
‘safety net’ fund, the actual budget is due to be cut by £350
million (Indie p15,
Guardian p4).
Bail chaos – Court ruling
says that suspects should be released on police bail for no more
than four days. Police would not be able to re-arrest suspects
unless they have new evidence (Mirror p6, Sun p1, Express p15, Mail p13, Times p3, Indie p6, Guardian p4, Telegraph p12, FT p4).
OK to stab burglars – Justice
secretary also announced homeowners will be allowed to stab
burglars that break into their homes (Mirror p6, Sun p2, Express p2, Mail p20, Times p, Indie p, Guardian p4, Telegraph p5, FT p4).
Maternity deaths lead to trust
inquiry – The (Indie pp14) reports an
investigation by the Care Quality Commission has been launched into
Barking Havering and Redbridge University Trust after mounting
pressure from patients and MPs .
Redundancy bill challenged –
And at PMQs Miliband took Cameron to task after the prime minister
refused to rule out rehiring people made redundant as part of the
changes to the NHS, especially as hundreds of extra quangos are
being created, the Indie (p17) quotes the
redundancy cost at £852 million (Mirror p15, Mail p18, Times p21, Guardian p17, Morning Star p3).
Councils to be masters of their
budgets – The Telegraph (p2) reports that
councils will be nearly able to keep all the money raised through
business rates, which will probably mean more money going to the
very rich councils and poorer areas facing further cuts.
Pay to play shelved – The
Mirror (p14) and Guardian (p9) report that
Wandsworth council is to withdraw its plans to make children pay to
play in the council’s local playgrounds.
High street closures – The
job cuts on the high street are also laid bare in the Mirror (p16-17) and the Sun (p24) while the Guardian (p10) looks at the
widening divide as the number of discount stores increases and the
Guardian (p28) is also one
to focus on the cuts expected to be announced today by Lloyds
(Unite
release).
10,000 applications for 750
jobs – And the Sun
(p15) reports that when John Lewis advertised for 750 jobs at a new
store on the site of the London Olympics, more than 10,000 people
applied.
Consumer borrowing slumps –
And the Mail (p79)
reports that shoppers are even now shunning credit cards as
borrowing levels rise at the lowest level for more than a year.
Warburtons squeezed – Rising
wheat prices and forced discounting has seen the breadmaker’s
profits fall 19 per cent to £26 million (Times p44).
Magners flat – And the
Mirror (p58) and Sun (p48) reports that the cider
drinks company has seen a slump in sales although it still expected
to hit its profit forecasts.
Nissan recall – Fear over
cracked wheels sees 35,000 Navara 4x4 trucks recalled (Mirror p22, Sun p11).
Stagecoach soars – But higher
ticket prices has paid dividends for Stagecoach which saw revenues
rise 27 per cent to £206 million, boss Brian Souter says he wants
to take the unions to task, specifically singling out the RMT
(Mirror p58, Sun p48, Express p54, Mail p79, Times p47, Indie p36, Telegraph b10, FT p22).
Virgin to hit turbulence -
And the Indie (p39)
interviews Virgin chief executive Steve Ridgeway who outlines his
strategy for the airline which is facing industrial action by
pilots.
Rolls-Royce wins $1 billion
contract – But good news for the engine maker, with
another billion dollar deal from Singapore Airlines, showing the
fallout from the explosion seems to have cleared (Mail p80, Times p57).
New nukes needed – And energy
secretary Huhne has completed a U-turn and will back a new
generation of nuclear power stations (Mail p2, Times p25, Telegraph p6).
More apprentices needed – And
the Guardian (p30) reports
business secretary Vince Cable – speaking during a visit to the
Mini factory in Oxford – says UK manufacturing needs to do more to
nurture the skills base. Perhaps if he had a more active industrial
policy that supported UK industry - like Bombardier and Sheffield
Forgemasters - that might be the case
Brighton pier up for sale –
And talking of metal structures the Guardian (p11) and Morning Star (p7) report
that the company that owns the iconic Brighton Pier has put it up
for sale.
Greecesold –
And Greek MPs passed its latest austerity budget paving the way for
€28 billion of spending cuts plus tax rises and a €50 billion
privatisation plan, could Portugal and Ireland be next? (Mirror p8, Sun p6, Express p4, Mail p12, Times p14, Indie p22, Guardian p18, Telegraph p1, FT p1, Morning Star p9)
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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