News digest 8 February 2011
The digest starts with pressure on the
‘Big Society’ as Cameron gets concerned he is being defined by
cuts, Lib Dem hypocrites are challenged, Clegg wants easier access
to universities, there’s a class of 70 and free schools are causing
some problems in London, there’s no deal on AV, but a possible
agreement on bankers, the IoD gets it wrong, there’s a stark divide
on pensions and change brewing in the drinks sector…
Big society blues – Cameron’s
flagship ‘Big Society’ comes under renewed fire across all the
papers. The Mirror (p10)
highlights the £6.5 billion of council cuts and the Guardian (p1) also lays the blame
at communities secretary Eric Pickles. Unite general secretary Len
McCluskey said: ”The coalition needs to urgently review
the funding of the sector in the light of mass devastation of
essential services to some of the most marginalised people in our
society. The electorate were conned into the ‘Big Society’
mirage.” A survey shows that 93 per cent of charities
have faced funding cuts, but Cameron will instead blame civil
servants for not explaining his vision properly, think he may need
to look a bit closer to home (Sun p2, Mail p6, Times p6, Indie p10, Telegraph p1, FT p2, Morning Star p5, Unite
release).
NHS hypocrites – And the
Guardian (p15) reports a
survey which found over half of the Lib Dem MPs asked were opposed
to the proposed changes to the NHS; 21 of the 57 Lib Dems did not
turn up for last week’s vote after all. Unite accuses Vince Cable
and Ed Davey over health service ‘reform’ as the business secretary
and employment relations minister are supporting the Health and
Social Care bill which is designed to prevent MPs from having ‘a
say’ on hospital closures. Unite is to hold a briefing today over
its evidence to the public bill committee regarding the bill
(Unite
release).
Clegg’s call – Deputy prime
minister tries to store up his conscience by saying there needs to
be a greater social mix on university campuses saying they are
currently “instruments of social segregation” while neglecting the
fact that raising tuition fees won’t have really helped (Mail p20, Times p1, Guardian p6, Telegraph p1).
Class of 70 – No not 40 year
old students celebrating, but a couple of papers focus on a primary
school that has combined its forms and teaches 70 children in one
class, fortunately they have two teachers and three classroom
assistants and progress in core subjects is advancing (Mirror p26, Express p9, Mail p13).
Recorders at the ready –
Government report says £82.5 million ring fencing for teaching
music in schools should be retained, but only for this year
(Indie p20, Guardian p15, Telegraph p20).
Making way for free schools –
But not so good news the Mirror (p18) reports that Wandsworth
council is buying land for a free school which will exclude poorer
kids from a local estate, while closing the kids nearest library.
The Mirror (p6) also reports
of a howler by nearby Hammersmith & Fulham as it advised a
group for Afghan refugees who will be kicked out of a community
building to make way for a free school to get help from the
Southern Afghan Club instead, that’s a group set up by owners of
Afghan hounds. The council has apologised…
AV setback – Back in
parliament and the government lost a key vote on the AV referendum
in the Lords yesterday as a Labour amendment to say that at least
40 per cent of the electorate must vote for the ballot to be valid
scraped through by one vote (Mirror p27, Times p11, Indie p18, Guardian p4, Telegraph p2).
Bank deal? – But Osborne says
he should have a deal over bank pay. Unite general secretary Len
McCluskey said: "Nobody is fooled by Cameron and
Clegg's empty promises of reining in these greedy bankers. They are
busy slashing essential public services, while these bosses
continue to enjoy their lavish lifestyles." The
government has said it will increase the levy on banks to £2.5
billion this year - raising an extra £800 million (Mail p2, Indie p10, Guardian p26, FT p1, Unite
release).
Banker slated – And the
Mail (p66) reports that
the governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King has been slated by
the New York Times especially over his lack of criticism of
government actions, is he too close to Cameron and Osborne?
Audit cut challenge – And the
FT (p3) also highlights concerns
about the scrapping of the Audit Commission saying ‘independence’
is the cornerstone of auditing as evidence is taken by the local
government select committee.
IoD ideas slammed – And
multiple unions rubbished the call from bosses’ lobby the Institute
of Directors to scrap union rights for public sector workers.
Unite’s Gail Cartmail said: "The Institute of
Directors’ proposal … is about driving down pay and conditions. The
IoD's proposals would embed inequality into public sector pay in
order to please a private sector that wants to compete from
the lowest base possible." (Morning Star p1, Unite
release).
Pensions’ divide – And while
the Guardian (p28) reports
that the value of global pension funds has hit a new high of £16
trillion and that the UK’s pensions funds are worth as much as UK
GDP, the Telegraph (p12)
shows how big the divide remains between men and women, the average
pension pot of a woman (aged 56) is just £9,100 (which equates to
£11 a week), for a man it stands at £52,800.
M&S nets Tesco chief –
Back in the City and M&S have poached Tesco’s online business
head Laura Wade-Gery to lead a £1 billion online sales strategy
(Sun p39, Express p45, Indie p33, Guardian p26, FT p18).
Breeze blowing – Britain to
be the global centre for Gamesa’s offshore wind energy business
(Times p37).
New calls? – Nokia chief
gearing up to ring in the changes ahead of major announcement at
the end of the week (Times p34).
Mine’s a half? – And finally
Foster’s looks set to split in two as it outlines the plans to
split its beer and wine businesses, announcement expected next week
(Mail p69).
Edited by Mik Sabiers
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