News digest 7 March 2011
A busy start to the week as the digest
starts with challenging the cuts in Cardiff before Cameron lays the
blame, the Mirror provides a map of cuts which are nice to Tory
heartlands and nasty to the rest of us while there’s a warning of
healthcare going back to the 1930s, more clamour for tax cuts (for
the rich), a banking bonus that may be liked, before its back to
cuts in Ireland although there’s good news on UK strike action from
the courts for once…
Thousands rally against the
cuts – The streets of Cardiff were awash with protesters
challenging the Con-Dem cuts over the weekend as Clegg and Cameron
came to Wales to outline their vision, or lack of. Unite general
secretary Len McCluskey is quoted in the Morning Star (p1)
denouncing the spivs and speculators intent on
“attacking the very fabric of our society. We’re not
standing for that.” at the rally which took place
close to the Tory Spring conference…
Cameron’s enemies – No, not
people who have it in for the prime minister, sadly it is Cameron’s
latest speech to outline his vision which includes attacking the
‘enemies of enterprise’ which he names as faceless bureaucrats in
Whitehall and town halls across the country. Cameron also defended
his trade mission to the Middle East saying it is important to bat
for Britain and said he wanted to see small sized companies bidding
for major government contracts. Cameron then attempted to end his
speech on an optimistic note, many papers report on the note from
the PM’s new spin doctor that was headed ‘optimistic speech’ even
if Cameron hasn’t got the blues, I expect after the Barnsley result
Clegg has… (Mirror p8,
Sun p2, Express p4, Mail p2, Times p15, Indie p16, Guardian p12, Telegraph p4, FT p1)
Cuts map – And a Mirror (p6-7) investigation shows
where the Con-Dem axe is falling and strangely enough it is in
Labour and Lib Dem seats rather than Conservative ones. David
Cameron’s Oxfordshire seat gets just a 1.9 per cent cut, Ed
Miliband’s Doncaster seat sees an 8.8 per cent cut, even Nick
Clegg’s seat loses 8.4 per cent while Osborne over the way in
Cheshire sees a 1.6 per cent cut. The piece ends with the call to
join the March for the Alternative, only19 days to go…
No lollipop ladies – Latest
group to be hit by cuts as the Telegraph (p15) reports that all
60 lollipop ladies in North Lincolnshire are to be cut, while 62
will go in Suffolk.
Back to the 1930s – And the
head of the BMA’s claims that the NHS changes will take Britain
back to the 1930s. Dr Mark Porter says the reforms threaten to turn
the service into a “tattered safety net”
as private firms can cherry pick profitable patients to treat which
in the long run could limit the work hospitals do and force some to
close (Mail p4, Guardian p1, Telegraph p6, Morning Star p3).
NHS budget risks – And the
Times (p12) and
Indie (p2) both report
that the future of more than 50 hospitals may be at risk with one
consultant saying that a third of trusts are in deficit while two
thirds of London’s trusts are refusing to sign their budgets for
next year as they refuse to accept the spending settlements.
Bupa boss interviewed – And
in the Times (p44-45)
the boss of Bupa, Ray King, says that Britain’s biggest private
healthcare provider is misunderstood and complains about trading
conditions being more demanding, don’t worry sure the government
will look to sell off profitable business to the private
sector…
Public sector pension age to
rise – And as the Hutton report into public sector
pensions is readied for publication this week the main
recommendations will see an end to final salary schemes with a
switch to career average ones. Lifting the retirement age and the
payment of pensions to 65 are just two aims although the government
is not expected to respond until the summer (Express p7, Mail p4, Guardian p15, FT p3).
Big bill – And annual costs
for police overtime have rocketed to £437 million as government
looks to axe bonuses and end reliance on ‘excess allowances’ no
mention of whether you could employ more bobbies, oh I forgot,
they’re cutting front line services (Sun p12, Express p30, Mail p24, Telegraph p1).
Cautions up – And the
Guardian (p4) reports that
many young people are being dissuaded from protesting as the Met
hands out a higher than expected number of cautions. Protesters are
increasingly charged with ‘aggravated trespass’ which sees them
criminalised if they ‘intimidate’ or ‘cause disruption’ on open
land, yes, they get a criminal conviction.
Probation rules eased – And
still on criminal convictions national standards to be scrapped
next year so probation officers can choose when to see offenders,
focus will remain on problem offenders leaving those committing
non-violent offences like white collar crime to get away with less
checks according to experts (Times p11).
Housing benefit cap
challenged – the Child Poverty Action Group is to take
action over the controversial cap on housing benefits, some 9,000
people could be forced to leave their homes in London alone
(Guardian p16).
‘Third world’ roads – And
according to the Sun (p6)
Britain’s crumbling road network will become ‘third world’ like
unless more money is put in. The government announced an extra £100
million last month, but estimates place the true cost close to £1
billion…
In-car communications – And
the Mail (p30) says Ford
plans to sell in-car communications as standard meaning that it
will not only tell you how empty your fuel gauge is, but also what
track to play or radio station to listen to, no mention of whether
it will solve the “are we there yet” question…
Fuel furore – More complaints
over rising fuel prices as the cost of an litre exceeds the £1.41
mark, some papers say Osborne is likely to offer a cut in duty,
although the FT (p2) says Clegg
has pressed the brake on the fuel duty cut instead saying the tax
threshold for low earners should be raised… (Sun p18, Express p22, Mail p19)
CBI calls for tax cuts – And
ahead of the budget the CBI has said taxes must be cut, its
priority is a reduction in the 50p tax rate, of course those poor
bankers and high earning executives are really struggling on
£100,000 a year (Indie
p35, Guardian p26,
Telegraph b1).
King attacked – For once King
gets something right as the Bank of England governor Mervyn King’s
attack on bankers has been attacked by bankers, well keeps his mind
off the MPC meeting later this week (Express p11).
Gordon going? – And could
former prime minister Gordon Brown be on his way to Washington?
More rumours that he may take over at the IMF if Dominque
Strauss-Khan stands down to contest the French presidency (Mail p18).
Peoples’ bank bonuses – And
for once a banking bonus idea that may go down well with the public
as a Lib Dem sounds out an idea to give everyone a share in the
state owned banks under a new bonus scheme that would dish out
shares to the electorate, although you’d only be able to cash them
in after the government has made its money back (Guardian p26, FT p3).
RBS report delayed again –
The FSA report into the problems that led to the almost collapse of
RBS is shelved for another month (Indie p36, Telegraph b1).
HSBC exit off - Bank
threatens to relocate to Asia and then backtracks, apparently Boris
Johnson said don’t go, but they decided to stay anyway (Express p44, Mail p10, Times p, Indie p38, Telegraph b2, FT p18).
Record takeovers – UK firms
falling prey to acquisitions by foreign firms with 54 per cent of
the 113 firms bought by foreign firms in 2010 (Mail p64, Times p, Indie p, Guardian p, Telegraph p, FT p, Morning Star p)
Kraft subpoena over Cadbury corruption
claims – Talking of takeovers Kraft faces concerns about
payments at Indian Cadbury factory (Times p37).
Nestle to stay? – Despite the
threat of moving out of its Croydon base a new development could
keep the company sweet (Times p41).
Recycled coke – Drinks group
plans to set up Europe’s biggest plastic bottling recycling plant
in north Lincolnshire creating some 45 jobs (Indie p39).
Ghost jobs? – And the
Times (p37) also looks
into pledges by the private sector to create jobs focusing on
planning permission for supermarkets. The paper reports that
Sainsbury’s said it would create 13,000 new jobs, buts its
headcount has actually dropped by 1,600 in the last two years,
while Tesco committed to 13,000 jobs, but only added 1,305. Let’s
hope Cameron didn’t base his figures (and hopes) for private sector
jobs on advice from the supermarkets…
Plain packets – And the
Sun (p20) and Telegraph (p10) report that
Wednesday is expected to see an announcement that will means all
cigarette packaging is the same, could it be a licence for
smugglers?
Irish deal – And rather than
build an effective opposition and alternative Labour has decided to
form a coalition with the right wing Fine Gael, the result will be
more cuts in Ireland (Mail p34, Times p30, Indie p32, Guardian p19, FT p6, Morning Star p6, Unite
Ireland release).
David’s pain –
“Sometimes it hurts” is the message from
defeated Labour leadership contender David Miliband as he tours the
studios to make the case, well not for much at all, just continued
rumours that he could get an ambassador’s job (Mirror p19, Sun p2, Mail p20, Guardian p2, Telegraph p16).
Workers’ gain – And finally
some good news from the courts for once. The Morning Star (p5) reports
on a court win that ruled that strikes could NOT
be stopped over minor technical errors in the ballot notice,
fingers crossed it stands…
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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