Reform Media Summary

25 April 2008

Economy

In a Times letter, Elizabeth Truss, Reform's Deputy Director, criticises Alice Miles' arguments on childcare earlier this week. Ms Truss writes: “[Alice Miles] wrongly conflates two points: recognition of the financial burden of children in the tax system and the inequitable situation faced by the poor” (Times, p.18).

In the FT, Andrew Bolger mentions Reform Scotland’s launch party in Edinburgh and questions whether the think tank’s “enthusiasm for lower taxes and a smaller public sector will prove an unpalatable brew for most Holyrood politicians” (FT, p.14).

Further coverage of the Government's difficulties over the 10p tax rate. The Social Market Foundation has estimated that the Government's compensation package is worth less than £4 billion. Peter Riddell says: “It is very hard to develop a compensation package in view of the diverse groups of losers.” Polly Toynbee writes: “Public outrage over tax has created the right political mood for Labour to restore its reputation as a party for social justice.” The Economist’s view of the Prime Minister’s U-turn is it “avoids immediate disaster but will damage the Government in the longer run, for it encourages the view that Mr Brown has neither a sense of political direction nor a firm grip on the party.” Matthew Elliott writes in the Express: “In one fell swoop, Gordon Brown made life even more difficult from some of the poorest working people in the country” (Times, p.26, p.26 [Peter Riddell]; Guardian, p.13, p.33; Economist, p.41; Mirror, p.29 [Paul Routledge]; Telegraph, p.4; FT, p.2, p.2; Express, p.2, p.4, p.4, p.12 [Matthew Elliott]).

Further coverage of public sector strikes focuses on forthcoming ballots in local government, the civil service and the NHS. Christine Blower, NUT acting General Secretary said: “After three years of below-inflation pay increases, the prospect of a further three years of the same is the last curve.” A Guardian leader says: “agreeing to the demands of one group that is faring relatively well could prove a pricey precedent for the Government” (Times, p.1; Telegraph, p.8; FT, p.2; Guardian, p.16, p.16, p.34 [Sarah Donachy], p.34 [Paul Parker], p.35; Mirror, p.11; Telegraph, p.8, p.25 [Alice Thomson]; Independent, p.6-7; Sun, p.19; Express, p.7, p.12 [leader]; Mail, p.6).

The Economist praises this weeks intervention by the Bank of England saying the Bank’s “bold initiative should calm frayed financial nerves” (Economist, p.42; Telegraph, p.2; FT, p.2, p.15 [Paul Myners]).

The Office for National Statistics said retail sales volumes fell 0.4 per cent between February and March (FT, p.3).

Housebuilders, reluctant to commit to new developments given a fall in demand caused by buyers struggling to secure mortgages, call the ambitious government targets to ease housing shortage “increasingly unrealistic” (FT, p.1).

Health

Department of Health is to investigate all 172 acute hospital trusts after a rise in MRSA infections (Times, p.4; Guardian, p.6; Mirror, p.17; Express, p.14).

The Royal College of Surgeons said yesterday that operations are being cancelled because of dirty or broken instruments sent back by private companies employed to clean them (Telegraph, p.6; Express, p.9).

According to a study published today in the British Medical Journal, one in five parents could refuse to allow their teenage daughters to receive a new cervical cancer jab amid fears about its long term safety (Telegraph, p.6; Guardian, p.4; Mirror, p.37; Mail, p.4).

A new – and reportedly cheaper and clearer than existing X-ray mammograms – test to detect breast cancers is to undergo hospital trials and could soon be available in doctors’ surgeries (Express, p.17).

Home Affairs

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said yesterday that secret “crime maps” should be made public to let residents see how many assaults, muggings and burglaries are committed in their areas (Telegraph, p.12).

Latest recorded crime figures show further falls, except for gun crime (Times, p.20; Guardian, p.6; Telegraph, p.12).

Assistant General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association: prisoners at Everthorpe prison preferred to enjoy lax regimes than escape (Times, p.15; Guardian, p.5; Telegraph, p.1; Express, p.1).

Coverage of the proposed changes in the rail fare system which could see the loss of the cheapest tickets (Telegraph, p.13, p.25 [leader]).

Politics

A YouGov poll for the Telegraph, shows the Conservatives have an 18-point opinion poll lead over Labour. The poll puts the Conservatives on 44 per cent (up 1 since last month), Labour on 26 per cent (down 3) and the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent (no change) (Telegraph, p.1, p.4, p.23 [Iain Dale], p.25 [leader]; Express, p.7; Mirror, p.4; Mail, p.10).

Simon Carr describes all of Gordon Brown’s recent problems as “self-inflicted”, criticising the number of “U-turns” made by Mr Brown since coming to power (Independent, p.10)

106 MPs including three members of the Cabinet have admitted employing family members (Telegraph, p.1; Guardian, p.13, Mirror, p.6; Independent, p.10; Mail p.2).