e Publications
Reform Media Summary
24 April 2008
Education
The teachers' strike today is heavily criticised. Appearing on Today with Mark Serwotka of the PCS, the key civil service union, Andrew Haldenby, Reform's Director, said we must “move to a reformed public pay system which is about decentralisation, about a much closer relationship between what people pay and what they do”. The FT reports that up to 100,000 civil servants will join the 200,000-strong National Union of Teachers in separate 24-hour strikes in protest over public-sector pay (BBC Radio 4, Today, the transcript can be found on www.reform.co.uk; Times, p.9, p.16 [leader]; Telegraph, p.1, p.23 [leader]; FT, p.2; Sun, p.4, p.11 [Kelvin MacKenzie]; Mirror, p.10; Mail, p.4; New Statesman, p.28; Independent p.10, p.30 [leader]; Guardian, p.1; Express, p.8).
The Complete University Guide published by the Independent confirms the continuing dominance of Britain’s traditional universities. Of the top 20 universities 12 belonged to the Russell Group with the group’s lowest ranking university being Liverpool in 42nd place (Independent, p.10).
A report published in the Times Higher Education Supplement says that a growing number of universities are offering “bogus” degrees in alternative and complementary medicine (Times Higher Education, p.7; Telegraph, p.14).
Economy
The Government's decision to introduce compensation for the 10p tax rate is very widely covered.
FT
A leader in the FT says: “When a humiliating U-turn is the best bet, then the other options are grim indeed. That was Gordon Brown's predicament yesterday over the 10p tax band” (FT, p.1, p.3, p.3, p.14 [leader]).
Times
The paper's front page is headlined “Brown Wednesday - the humbling of a Prime Minister”. Peter Riddell says: “Mr Brown's leadership has been seriously damaged.” The paper's leader concludes: “Gesture politics rarely makes for sound public policy” (Times, p.1, p.6, p.6 [Peter Riddell), p.7 [profile of Frank Field], p.16 [leader]).
Telegraph
A leader in the paper says: “Labour MPs are no longer in awe of their leader, and that must have implications for the next threatened revolt, over increasing the maximum time terrorist suspects can be held without charge to 42 days. Will we see another retreat there?” Andrew Gimson asks “How long will Labour let him stay at the wheel?” (Telegraph, p.1, p.4, p.4 [Andrew Gimson], p.23 [leader]).
Guardian
Richard Reeves argues that the 10p tax revolt “demonstrates that the Commons can still bite. But it also shows that it needs more teeth. If the Commons was taken more seriously, Labour won’t be in this mess.” A leader argues that the Government is now in a “more comfortable position” than yesterday (Guardian, p.2, p.32 [Richard Reeves], p.34 [leader]).
Independent
Andrew Grice suggests that many Labour MPs believe the “affair raises questions about Mr Brown’s judgment and even his ability to be an effective Prime Minister” (Independent, p.4, p.4 [Andrew Grice], p.31 [Steve Richards]).
Sun
George Pascoe-Watson comments in the Sun: “The Prime Minister must now fight to protect his authority. Any sign of weakness will be exploited by Blairite enemies.” While the paper’s leader says: “In the end, Gordon Brown had no choice but to listen to Labour MPs leading the 10p tax revolt. And it was the sign of a sensible leader that he did” (Sun, p.1, p.2 [George Pascoe-Watson], p.8 [leader]).
Mirror
Bob Roberts comments in the Mirror: “When you’re heading in the wrong direction, you do a U-turn. Despite all the denials from Downing Street, that is what Gordon Brown did yesterday” (Mirror, p.4 [Bob Roberts], p.8 [leader]).
A leader in the paper says: “In a humiliating U-turn, Gordon Brown finally bit the political bullet yesterday, admitted that there had been losers from his scrapping of the 10p tax rate and promised to compensate them.” Benedict Brogan comments that: “He [the Prime Minister] warned he would not climb down when it comes to his next big test – the vote on extending pre-trial detention for suspected terrorists” (Mail, p.8 [Benedict Brogan], p.8 [Michael Lea], p.9 [Quentin Letts], p.14 [leader]).
New Statesman
Martin Bright comments: “It is tempting, in light of the rebellion over the abolition of the 10p rate of income tax, to write off Gordon Brown’s last Budget as Chancellor as an unmitigated disaster …. What few realised at the time (including many on the Labour back benches who threatened to vote against the Government before Alistair Darling’s last-minute concessions) was that significant numbers of people on lower incomes would be worse off as a result of the change” (New Statesman, p.12 [Martin Bright], p.22 [Michael Meacher]).
Spectator
The leading article is headlined “Brown’s weakness is his strength”. The Spectator argues that “Mr Brown was able to see off this particular mutiny. But there is still plenty for him to worry about.” The article concludes that no matter what happens in Thursday’s elections: “Mr Brown is already close to the point of no return” (Spectator, p.5).
Express
Further coverage of the 10p tax (Express p.6).
Mortgage approvals by UK banks slumped to the lowest level in a decade last month, the British Bankers’ Association reported yesterday (FT, p.2; Mail, p.2; Telegraph, p.4; Guardian, p.25, p.27, p.28-29; Express, p.50; Independent, p.39).
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee was split six against three in its vote to cut interest rates to 5 per cent this month. In a speech to the CBI, Andrew Sentence warned that a weaker pound can boost demand for exports more quickly than it damps domestic demand, creating inflationary pressures (FT, p.2, p.2; Telegraph, B.1; Independent, p.39).
In a comment piece in the Times, David Wighton identifies “the quality and quantity of scientific and technical education” as the key factor in supporting manufacturing and financial services (Times, p.45).
Campaigners, union leaders and opposition MPs have attacked the Government for doing too little to help alleviate fuel poverty. Mervyn Kohler, of Help the Aged, described as “inadequate” a package of measures announced to cut the number of people forced to spend more than ten per cent of their income on fuel bills (Independent, p.15).
The “green levy” on motorists announced in the Budget will double car tax revenue to £4 billion but reduce vehicle emissions by less than one per cent according to figures released by the Treasury yesterday (Telegraph, p.1).
Jersey is to introduce a value-added tax on 6 May (Times, p.27).
Health
Patient satisfaction with the NHS was unchanged between 2005-06 and 2006-07 (Times, p.26).
Children's Society report: mental health problems among children are rising due to “family breakdown and peer pressure” (Times, p.21; Telegraph, p.8; Express, p.19).
The Department of Health is to replace the head of the NHS computer redesign project with two posts, increasing costs (Times, p.26; Telegraph, p.14).
Doctors warn that blood transfusions may increase risks of dying following surgery (Guardian, p.12).
Two heart attack victims have become the first patients in Britain to be treated with their own stem cells (Mail, p.4; Telegraph, p.1).
The Royal College of Midwives and Unite, an NHS union, is urging members to reject the Government’s pay offer to NHS workers (Mirror, p.23).
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has decided that the drug abatacept (used for treating moderate to severe arthritis) is not cost effective. NICE had already turned down appeals from the British Society for Rheumatology (Telegraph, p.10; Mail, p.19).
North Bristol NHS Trust is refusing to treat Welsh patients because of a row over funding (Telegraph, p.8).
Official figures will show today that rates of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile are falling (Telegraph, p.2).
Home Affairs
A survey by Cardiff University’s violence research group has found that violence against children and babies more than doubled last year (Telegraph, p.11).
A report by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies shows that the probation service is at “breaking point” and thousands of criminals are not completing their sentences because of funding cuts (Telegraph, p.11).
Politics
Gordon Brown has told the Times that the Labour Party is “watching closely” the fundraising methods and success of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (Times, p.24).
