News digest 7 October 2011
The digest opens with news that while we
may not all be in it together, we are definitely in it as the
financial crisis deepens, Cameron tries to reconnect with women,
Clarke still has some of his nine lives left, Fox’s friend is still
in the headlines while it is time to leave Afghanistan. Elsewhere
Ed reshuffles his shadow cabinet, and could Cable replace Clegg?
Down in Southampton workers continue their struggle as more
mobilise for 30 November, the BBC faces severe cuts, and the buses
could be broken up. While manufacturing is heading back to America,
Airbus gets a big order, BA closes OpenSkies, easyJet is on the
up, and Steve Jobs is remembered…
Worst slump ever – Governor
of the Bank of England Mervyn King warned that Britain’s financial
crisis is so serious it could eclipse the great depression.
Signalling another round of quantitative easing – the bank plans to
pump £75 billion into the economy – he outlined fears for the
global economy, echoed by former chancellor Alistair Darling and
shadow chancellor Ed Balls. The pound crashed to a 15-month low,
while gilt yields also dropped, and that was before today’s
downgrade of more banks [Moody's downgraded the credit rating of 12
UK financial firms including Lloyds TSB, RBS, Nationwide and
Santander UK] with fears that the UK government will have to
recapitalise the Royal Bank of Scotland some commentators say that
this is good news as it places the risk in the hands of
shareholders rather than the taxpayer; seems they’ve forgotten the
government’s shareholding in the banks. Strangely chancellor George
Osborne is nowhere to be seen (Mirror p7, Sun p17, Express p2, Mail p1/85, Times p1/11, Indie p1/37, Guardian p1/4-5, Telegraph p1/b1, FT p1/4).
Cameron tries to reconnect with
women – The Guardian (p6) reports that the
government has found £300 million to help with childcare costs. The
money, which will only come into effect when the universal credit
starts in 2013 is to help women who currently receive no help
because they work less than 16 hours a week.
Claws out for Clarke – The
cat fight over Maya continues as Cameron backs home secretary May
over the justice secretary, both of whom were summoned to Downing
Street yesterday after a pretty poor week for the Tories, the
question remains how many lives Clarke has got left (Mirror p6, Sun p2, Express p4, Mail p10, Times p17, Indie p2, Guardian p3, Telegraph p4).
Fox’s friend on foreign trip
– And the Liam Fox and giving friends influence and access story
continues with the Mail
(p28) and Guardian (p1)
highlighting how his close personal friend, and former flatmate
Adam Werrity, joined the defence secretary on his official visit to
Sri Lanka last summer despite a parliamentary answer earlier this
year saying Fox’s friend had not travelled on any official overseas
visits.
Time to leave – And many of
the papers report that the ‘mission’ in Afghanistan is now entering
its tenth year with time running out for a peaceful solution,
thousands of Afghans yesterday marched through Kabul calling for an
immediate withdrawal of all the occupation forces, time for the
allies to listen to the will of the people (Mirror p22-23, Express p2, Guardian p28-31, Telegraph p20-21, Morning Star p6).
Time to go – The Express (p2) follows up on the
concerns over former UK prime minister Tony Blair’s oxymoronic role
as Middle East peace envoy as the Palestinian leadership called for
him to resign, rumours that a former chancellor/prime minister is
waiting in the wings to succeed him have yet to be confirmed…
Ed’s reshuffle – And current
Labour leader Ed Miliband announced the start of the first
reshuffle of his team as he stamps his authority on the party. John
Denham and John Healey, the shadow business and health secretaries,
have stood down and Miliband is expected to promote several new
female MPs – which some of the papers condescendingly call Mili’s
fillies - to his shadow cabinet which will be announced later today
(Mirror p7, Sun p2, Express p4, Mail p2, Times p26, Indie p15, Guardian p22, Telegraph p2, FT p4).
Clegg’s reshuffle? – The
Indie (p14) also has
the results of a poll off 550 grassroots Lib Dems which suggest
that business secretary Vince Cable could be a good bet for next
leader of the Lib Dems if Clegg stands down. Although Clegg’s
position in the party has improved, boundary changes, a
decapitation strategy by the opposition and student activists and
the lure of being Britain’s European commissioner could see Clegg
exit the coalition having done the Tories dirty work and helped
provide cover for the cuts…
Southampton strikers force
concessions – There’s a strong piece in the Guardian (p26) on the latest
developments in the Southampton council workers’ strike, while the
Morning Star (p3)
reports that the local authority has now been forced to promise
talks on making an improved offer, the Guardian’s Dan Milmo cites
Southampton as an example of how the mass action that could hit the
country on 30 November and how it could then roll out to cause
maximum impact with selective and serial strike action which can
paralyse operations and force negotiators back to the table…
Mobilising for action
on 30 November – And there is mixed coverage of
the talks between the government and unions on averting major
strikes. The Indie
(p18-19) says that employers and some unions are optimistic that
they can agree a deal over pensions in local government, but the
Sun (p2) outlines that
agreement over other public sector pension schemes is unlikely even
with the talks during this week’s Tory conference.
Unilever faces strike vote –
Over in the private sector the Times (p55) reports action
could be likely as workers at Unilever are to begin balloting
for strike action over changes to the final salary pensions
scheme.
Fighting for a future for Remploy
factories – And the Morning Star (p5) reports
ministers are also under pressure from Labour peers and unions to
save 54 Remploy threatened factories which provide thousands of
skilled jobs for disabled people.
Here is the news, again – BBC
unveils £670 million worth of cuts which will see 2,000 staff go,
more repeats across all channels and a reduction in news output,
Unite regional officer, Mike Eatwell said: ”The
decision to hold the licence fee for six years was a political one
forced on the BBC by a Conservative prime minister. This followed
extensive lobbying by the Murdoch empire to undermine one of our
most respected national assets in order to assist that
organisation’s plans for Sky television. Our members and those of
the other unions will now be asked to pay the price.”
(Mirror p8-9, Express p1, Mail p12-13, Times p28-29, Indie p1/4, Guardian p18-19, Telegraph p9, FT p2, Morning Star p1, Unite
release)
Sack via cab - The Mirror (p4) and Morning Star (p5) also
report that Tory-run Aylesbury council told 24 fire service control
staff their jobs were at risk with letters that were sent to their
doors by taxi.
Break up the buses – The
Sun (p64) and Telegraph (b8) both feature
findings from the Competition Commission that looks to break the
stranglehold of the big five bus suppliers as in many areas the
largest operator faces little or no competition, not sure they
understand the viability – or lack of - of many local routes; a new
code of conduct is to be proposed.
Car sales fall again – The
Times (p61) and
Indie (p42) report that
sales of new cars fell last month, the vital month for new
registrations, fleet sales supported the market as sales to private
buyers dipped 9.3 per cent.
Nissan heading to Brazil –
The FT (p20) reports that Nissan
is to build an new factory in Brazil with the capacity to build
200,000 cars a year, the Brazilian market is expected to overtake
Japan to become the world’s third largest automotive market by
2015.
SABMiller soars – And
strangely enough the Express (p79) and FT (p32) report claims on a Brazilian
website saw shares in SABMiller soar after it reported that
Anheuser-Busch InBev was close to finalising an $80 billion bid for
its main rival.
Manufacturing heading back to
America – and the FT
(p1/5) also leads with the rise of ‘re-shoring’ as higher labour
costs in China begin to push manufacturing jobs back to the US
according to a new study from the Boston Consulting Group.
BA ends OpenSkies – The
Indie (p42) reports
British Airways is to scrap its business class subsidiary and end
flights between Paris and Washington at the end of October, just 18
months after the route was launched.
Qantas and Airbus sign record
deal – Still in aviation and the Telegraph (b3) reports that the
largest aircraft deal in Australian aviation history has been
signed. The $9.5 billion deal is for 78 A320neos and 32 A320s which
will be used to expand the company’s short haul business in
Asia.
easyJet still on the up – And
after yesterday’s expansion plans the budget airline reports it
carried nearly 5.2 million passengers in September, up 8.5 per cent
on the previous year (Mirror
p56, Express p78, Mail p86).
iConic – And with the acres
of coverage you’d imagine he’s in the stars, there’s wall to wall
coverage of the legacy of Steve Jobs and the iconic products pushed
out over the last 30 years (Mirror p12-13, Sun p10-11, Express p32-33, Mail p8-9, Times p4-9, Indie p8-11, Guardian p8-9, Telegraph b3, FT p11).
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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