EXCL: disagreements rage at BBC London over ‘cuts’ v ‘savings’
Last week I reported on Liberal Conspiracy that journalists within the BBC were being pressured to replace the word ‘cuts’ with ‘savings’ by senior editors.
In particular I singled out BBC London, as my sources indicated that heated internal discussions had taken place within their news department.
Readers unearthed several examples of BBC online using ‘savings’ in absurd contexts. A complaint was also lodged by Labour over BBC London coverage.
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Why a western-backed No Fly Zone in Libya is likely to fail
contribution by Naadir Jeewa
That rebel forces are asking for a no-fly-zone (NFZ) to be established does not further the case for NATO to actually establish one.
They’re untrained, relatively disorganised, and are relying on the misguided belief, perpetuated by pundits and social media that an NFZ would significantly alter the balance of power. It won’t.
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Win a copy of Verso’s Book of Dissent
The political books publisher Verso want to offer Liberal Conspiracy readers the chance to win a copy of The Verso Book of Dissent: From Spartacus to the Shoe-Thrower of Baghdad.
You just answer these easy questions:
1. What uprising is this entry from 1916 about?
“There was much work to do in getting things right
But the old and the young were all anxious to fight.
Every man worked hard at his own barricade,
And rifles rang out from the Dublin Brigade.”
2. According to Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise, what is the true aim of government?
3. In Mahmoud Darwish’s poem ‘Those Who Pass Between Fleeting Words,’ what is the “bleeding homeland of a bleeding people” fit for?
Competition details:
Entrants must email their answers to enquiries@verso.co.uk with the address to which the book should be sent.
10 winners will be chosen at random on the competition closing date of March 21st 2011.
—
For all questions regarding the competition, contact Verso directly please
The anti-cuts movement isn’t going away, Labour party
Peter Watt, former general secretary of the Labour party, thinks that we should leave the anti-cuts rallies and join the fuel protests because the latter are likely to be more politically beneficial to Labour.
This isn’t going to happen, not only because the cuts are more brutal and hard-hitting than the rising price of fuel, but because its difficult to see how anyone can push the anti-cuts movement in any one direction. But also – I think that some basic points are being missed on the Labour Right and on the anti-cuts Left.
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Not seen a GP in 6mths? Beware being ‘cleansed’
Up to 40% of patients could be completely removed from their doctor’s surgery lists without their knowledge due to “cost saving initiatives” being planned by NHS managers.
Anyone who has not visited their surgery in the last six months and who does not respond to the two letters asking them to confirm their details will be automatically struck off GP lists.
The practice, revealed by Pulse Today magazine last week, is being carried out by NHS Shared Business Services – a venture jointly ran by French-based private firm Steria and the Department of Health.
It is currently working on cost cutting measures with 50 Primary care trusts across the country and has carried out ‘list cleansing‘ across 7 PCTs in London, removing of a staggering 58,000 names.
A report by the London Medical Committee (PDF) has found that practices in Brent may lose up to 40% of their patients and has warned that some surgeries may have to close as a result.
Doctors in Brent have expressed their concern that the new plans could also put lives at risk.
“The people most likely to end up without a doctor are those whose needs are the greatest” says Dr Helen Clark Brent GP “I’m particularly worried about the impact on the elderly, people who have difficulty reading and writing, and those with illnesses that make communication difficult”
GPs will be given 6 months to appeal against patients being removed from their registers and will face an increase in their administrative workloads as a result.
Polls show public back decent public sector pensions
Here’s a fascinating poll commissioned by Prospect on public sector pensions that has not received the attention it deserves.
By more than five to one, the British public says the average public sector pension should be increased to at least £10,000, a YouGov poll for the Prospect professionals’ union has revealed. Only 11% of people say public servants should get less than £10,000.
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Obama rejects No-Fly-Zone in Libya for now
The NY Times reports:
The White House campaign to convince both Colonel Qaddafi’s loyalists and NATO allies that the Libyan dictator’s days are numbered were undercut by a military assessment given earlier in the day by the director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper.
Responding to questions, Mr. Clapper told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that Colonel Qaddafi had a potentially decisive advantage in arms and equipment that would make itself felt as the conflict wore on.
Despite that pessimistic assessment, it seems Defense Secretary Robert Gates is not keen on a No Fly Zone, let alone an invasion.
In Brussels, meanwhile, NATO all but rejected a no-flight zone over Libya and agreed only to reposition warships in the region and plan for humanitarian aid.
Mr. Gates, who has been strongly resistant to a no-flight zone, said in a news briefing after a two-hour meeting of NATO defense ministers that planning for a possible no-flight zone would continue, “but that’s the extent of it.”
Both Mr. Gates and the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, stressed that NATO would agree to a no-flight zone only with “a clear legal basis” — in short, authorization from the United Nations.
Both also said in nearly identical statements that NATO would not take military action unless there was “a demonstrable need” and strong support from neighboring Arab nations.
Sarkozy is still reported as aggressively pushing for a NFZ however.
Barnet workers to go on strike over outsourcing
More than 140 staff at Barnet Council’s Regulatory Service’s Department will take industrial action, in a bid to remain directly employed by the council.
Barnet council is a flagship for the Tory’s small-state vision of outsourced public service delivery.
Instead of directly providing services, the council plans to shrink the workforce down to a small core of a few hundred staff, who will commission services from outside providers. The current workforce is 3500.
The Regulatory Services Department is first in line for sell off, which includes Trading Standards and Licensing, Land Charges, Environmental Health, Planning and Development, Highways, Cemeteries, Registrars, Building Control. The programme of action is designed to cause maximum disruption to councillors and to their plans, but very little inconvenience to local residents.
Vicky Easton, UNISON head of local government in London, said:
Many council workers are Barnet residents too – they wont just stand aside and watch the council take a wreaking ball to local services. This department is well run and staff want to remain directly employed by the council. We’ve tried to negotiate, we’ve presented the council with alternative proposals, but they stubbornly refuse to listen. Staff do not take action lightly, but they’ve tried everything else – they have no other choice.
The action starting next week will cause maximum disruption for councillors and for their agenda, but have a minimum impact on the public. We remind the employers they could avoid action by getting into talks.
Action will begin on Wednesday 16 March. Staff will stop answering calls, attending meetings and other support work.
*Full list of departments
Trading Standards and Licensing Land Charges
Planning and Development
Building Control and Structure Registration (births, deaths and marriages)
Environmental Health Highways Strategy
Highways Network and Management
Highways Traffic and Development
Highways Transport and Regeneration
Strategic Planning and Regeneration
Cemeteries and Crematoria
Why is the Census compulsory while voting isn’t?
The census form in particular is an impressive-looking beast: at 32 sickly mauve pages, each stuffed with text and speckled with tickboxes.
But more interesting is the seven-word dictum that greets you cheerlessly before you even open the envelope: your census response is required by law.
This is in contrast to the local elections paraphernalia coming soon to a doormat near you: registration forms, confirmation forms, polling cards; all labelled “important”, but not actually necessary.
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No2AV ‘rallies’ a damp squib with empty chairs
The No2AV campaign are currently going on a series of events across the country to rally their support and ‘build a grassroots movement’ against the referendum.
Except, it’s not turning out exactly as they’d hoped.
Pictures from the events show a rows of empty chairs and bored faces, sometimes filled with people who already belong to the No2AV campaign.
Pictures from yesterday’s event in Brent, London
and
.
A snapshot from Stratford
A comment underneath the album said:
The most interesting part was coming out and finding that someone had been stabbed in Stratford Town Hall lobby.
Ouch!
.
From Leeds
Oh dear…
What happened to the grass-roots movement?
but not to worry, I hear that Cameron’s money will soon deal with the problem.
Update: Let’s compare with with a Yes2AV rally:
and another one
Can you say ‘enthusiasm gap’?
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