News digest 6 October 2011
The digest opens with Cameron’s conference
closer, while the TUC’s Brendan Barber has been in talks over
pensions, Southampton workers are back on strike while the
construction workers campaign is building, workers pay is down yet
again while growth is downgraded, Tesco has some troubles, Pizza
Hut could go and there’s mixed news in aviation as FlyBe flops
while Ryanair rises and a Qantas chief gets a threat. Over in the
US Palin exits the race and its goodbye to Steve Jobs…
Tory conference: Cameron’s shambolic
speech – As UK economic growth figures were downgraded
prime minister David Cameron closed the Conservative party
conference with a lacklustre speech that had to be hastily
rewritten. Comments he planned to make telling ordinary people to
pay off their debts sparked fears that he would be seen as
out-of-touch after commentators questioned whether he realised the
unprecedented squeeze on incomes as a result of the coalition’s
cuts, pay freezes and tax rises. Unite general secretary Len
McCluskey said: "David Cameron's speech was shambolic.
It was more about what he didn't say than what he did. It
highlights just how worryingly out-of-touch the Tories are with
ordinary working people and the everyday pressures they
face.” In a speech bereft of new policy announcements
Cameron said times were tough but pledged to stick to the current
course no matter what and even though he tried to create an
optimistic vision by pledging to take Britain forward to better
days the argument fell flat. Continuing the animal theme raised by
Theresa May, Cameron closed with a quote saying “It’s
not the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight
in the dog” judging from his speech Cameron’s not so
much of a British bulldog more of a lap dog doing the bidding
of his rich and powerful friends in the City and shires (Mirror p1/4-5, Sun p2/8-9, Express p4-5, Mail p2/10-11, Times p6-10, Indie p6-8, Guardian p6-8, Telegraph p1/8-11, FT p1/2, Morning Star p2, Unite
release).
Barber meets ministers over pension
changes – the Indie (p1/9) reports that TUC
general secretary Brendan barber has been in Manchester this week
where he held informal talks with chancellor George Osborne and
chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander in a bid to resolve
the dispute which could lead to the biggest strike in a generation.
The paper has a handy list of the 17 unions that are mobilising for
action on 30 November.
Scots may join 30 November
action – The Morning Star (p4) reports
the biggest strike in Scotland’s history could be on the cards
after Unison announced plans to ballot its more than 150,000
members on co-ordinated action over pensions.
Southampton workers on strike
– A new round of strikes at Southampton council is underway today
as the workers’ fight to defend their jobs continues. Unite’s Ian
Woodland said: "Today's strike action reflects the
continued resolve of our members. The Tory administration has
plunged this city into months of turmoil because it refuses to
negotiate a fairer way forward.” (Southampton
Echo, Unite
release)
Redcar getting ready to
reopen – From south to north and the FT (p3) says 19 months after the plant was
mothballed the vast industrial complex at Redcar is getting ready
for the blast furnace to roar back into life with the eventual aim
of producing 3.6 million tonnes of steel slab a year.
Construction workers close Oxford
Circus – Back in London he Morning Star (p1) reports
that despite heavy handed police disrupting their demonstration
construction workers managed to get their voice heard as they
called on contractors to return to the JIB while the Indie (p39) follows up a
Unite
release which will see workers boycott a swish industry awards
do in Glasgow tomorrow as part of the ongoing campaign.
Pay down for third month in a
row – The Telegraph (b2) reports that
workers’ take home pay has now fallen for the third month in a row,
with pay growing by just 2.2 per cent in the three months to
September.
Spending at 10 year low – The
Telegraph (p1) also
reports that household spending is now at its lowest level for 10
years as families tighten their belts as the economic climate
worsens.
Growth downgraded – And UK
growth was revised downwards as the figures for the last two
quarters were both revised downwards to just 0.1 per cent meaning
the economy has now been flatlining for nine months (Sun p9, Express p2, Times p5, FT p4).
EU looks for kickstart –
Across the channel many of the papers report on the continued
pressures in the eurozone although there is some market cheer as it
looks like moves towards shoring up Europe’s banks is improving
sentiment, then again they said that last week, and the week before
that, expect the road to recovery to remain very rocky… (Mail p73, Times p56-57, Indie p38, Guardian p36-37, Telegraph b1, FT p1/6)
Tesco trouble – On the UK
high street Tesco revealed its worst results for 20 years after
takings fell by 0.5 per cent as the spending squeeze hit consumers
(Mirror p60, Sun p52, Express p50, Mail p28/75, Times p49, Indie p39/40, Guardian p4-5, Telegraph b2, FT p18, Morning Star p5).
Sainsbury’s strengthens –
Rival supermarket chain Sainsbury’s defied the high street downturn
with a 5.4 per cent rise in sales in the last 16 weeks, the group
has benefited from a 20 per cent rise in takings at its local
convenience stores as people do top-up shops (Mirror p60, Sun p52, Express p50, Indie p40, Telegraph b4, FT p18)
Pizza Hut to go – The
Times (p49) reports
more high street gloom as the US owner of Pizza Hut is to put its
UK operations up for sale as chain’s profitability has been hit by
rival suppliers like Domino’s. 380 restaurants and 320 take-aways
are up for grabs.
BBC to slash 2,000 more jobs
– BBC head Mark Thompson will today meet with staff to say where
the axe will fall as the corporation looks to make 20 per cent
savings, 2,000 jobs are at risk and channels BBC3 and BBC4 could be
for the chop (Mirror p6,
Sun p4, Mail p13, Guardian p17, Telegraph p1, FT p3).
March for jobs – The Guardian (p29) is the latest paper
to follow up on the second Jarrow march for jobs.
Car trouble in 2012 – On the
roads the Times (p55)
reports that the SMMT which is due to release the September car
sales figures today says that sales this year are expected to be
just 1.93 million, forecast for 2012 have also been downgraded to
two million.
BA bags more pilots – In the
air and British Airway’s hunt for 800 pilots has triggered a flood
of more than 6,500 applications as experienced pilots from other
carriers look to switch to the UK carrier. The airline is also
projecting ‘significant’ profits growth as even though passengers
fell, business traffic rose by 9.3 per cent in September (Mirror p60, Sun p53, Express p50, Mail p74, Telegraph b3, FT p23).
Ryanair rises – Budget
airline carried 7.3 million passengers in September reaching 82 per
cent capacity (Sun p53,
Express p, Mail p, Times p, Indie p, Guardian p, Telegraph p, FT p, Morning Star p)
easyJet expands – Airline
plans to start turning Europe orange as budget carrier looks to set
up two new operating hubs in Toulouse and Nice in France in an
attempt to challenge Air France (Times p50, Telegraph b5, FT p, Morning Star p)
FlyBe flops – Shares in the
budget airline fell 36 per cent yesterday after the company issued
its second profit warning in five months (Mirror p60, Express p50, Mail p75, Times p50, Indie p42, Guardian p38, Telegraph b3, FT p34, Morning Star p)
Thomas Cook crew to be
balloted – With 498 jobs on the line Thomas Cook cabin
crew are to hold a consultative ballot on whether they wish to take
industrial action over redundancy plans after the company failed to
put a ‘realistic’ voluntary severance package on the table
(Sun p53, Times p55, Indie p42, Morning Star p3, Unite
release).
Qantas chief sent death
threats – The Times (p59) and Indie (p31) report Alan Joyce
the chief executive of the Australian airline - locked in a bitter
dispute with its pilots, engineering and other staff – has received
death threats although the airline refused to release any further
details. The union has said it does not believe it was responsible
for the threats and has asked whether the allegations are serious
or a PR stunt.
Good and bad news from the US
– Across the pond and the good news is that former vice
presidential candidate Sarah Palin has dropped out of the race to
be president in 2012 (Mirror
p21, Express p7, Guardian p32). Sadly a few of the
papers catch up with the overnight news of the death of Apple
founder and technology innovator Steve Jobs who has died after
losing his battle with cancer, expect much more detailed coverage
tomorrow (Express p2,
Mail p7, Guardian p1/3).
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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