Kieran Lawrence looks at autonomous weapons and the effect they could have on modern warfare
Continuing a series on world leaders, Miles Deverson takes a look at Angela Merkel
Ben Bland examines the fallout from the Iowa caucuses and looks forward to the New Hampshire primaries.
In the first of a series on world leaders, Miles Deverson takes a look at Nicholas Sarkozy
The Age of Austerity: Slashing the Budget Deficit
Prime Minister David Cameron started the week with a speech about our unpleasant economic future. He talked about the Age of Austerity, the arrival of dark, forbidding times. Following Mr Cameron's painting of this bleak future, the Chancellor of the Exchequer laid out a severe review of spending in a Treasury Consultation document. Mr George Osborne asked for the public’s help with identifying services to be cut. Find out more about the document here.
Up is the new down: Universities, fees and students
What-ho, fellow burdens on the taxpayers (aka. students)! Willet, the universities minister, has said England’s university system is in dire need of a radical fix to give it more value. Universities face Hard Times. They will need to find cheaper and more flexible ways to teach; students will need to consider fees ‘more as an obligation to pay higher income tax’ than debts. It’s all Labour’s fault, those nummern fiddlers! According to the UCU lecturer’s union, an increase in tuition fees would be ‘the most regressive piece of education policy since the war’. Sadly, the debate will lead nowhere until Lord Browne’s (former BP boss) review on university funding reports in autumn. In the meantime, if I may direct you to the United for Education petition.
The Nightmare that Refuses to Die: Iraq
Inquiry into Baha Mousa’s death: Geoff Hoon, former defence secretary, told the inquiry he did not know. He insists he was unaware that British troops stationed in Iraq hooded prisoners as standard operating procedure until Baha Mousa’s death. Hoon has said, "I was clearly deeply shocked that a man had died in such circumstances at the hands of apparently British soldiers," and that the abuse he had suffered, manacled and hooded, while held by British soldiers was "appalling" and "reprehensible".
Former UN weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix is expected to give evidence at the Chilcot Iraq Inquiry this summer. Lord Prescott, former deputy prime minister, is also to face the inquiry. A full list of names can be found here.
Ken Clarke is considering whether or not to release Dr Kelly’s post-mortem documents, in response to a group of doctors demanding another inquest. Lord Hutton placed a 70-year gagging order on the file to avoid distressing the Kelly family. However, he does not oppose doctors viewing it.
Phase II: Labour Leadership Race
The leftwinger MP John McDonnell withdrew from the leadership race on Wednesday morning to ensure a woman got on the ballot. David Miliband, Harriet Harman and Jack Straw were some of the names that delievered Abbott the 33 nominations she needed. Abbott says, the numbers all fell into place at the last minute with 30 MPs supporting her at 12.29pm, a minute shy of the deadline. The next phase of the leadership race has begun, with candidates making their way across the country on a challenging round of hustings.
Other News
Mummy’s returned to Downing Street. Mr Cameron invited Mrs Thatcher back to No. 10 this week for a reception in her honour.
Prime Minister David Cameron jetted off to Afghanistan where he received his first assassination attempt.
The Queen has met with and thanked civil servants who were instrumental during the handover of power in the aftermath of the general election result.
Downing Street revealed that Andy Coulson, Mr Cameron’s communications director, is paid £140,000 per year. That is £2, 500 less than Mr Cameron and £5435 more than all the cabinet ministers (£134,565). On the subject of pay, one of Mr Brown’s last acts as PM was to sneakily organise a pay cut for his successor from £194,000 to £150,000. Hard times, indeed.
Former Labour MP Nick Palmer, 60, is thought to be the first former MP to sign on for dole. He wanted to ‘explore what it’s like’ for himself, continue his NI contributions and prove that claiming benefits was nothing to be embarrassed about.
On Wednesday, Mr Cameron declared he would fly the flag of St George over Number 10 during the football Word Cup in SA. This would be at no cost to the taxpayer. He hoped it would help unite everyone behind the England team. So… c’mon England!
You must log in to submit a comment.
