MoD seeks to cut soldiers' payout

"BBC NEWS | UK | MoD seeks to cut soldiers' payout
The Ministry of Defence will go to the Court of Appeal later to try to significantly reduce the compensation awarded to two injured soldiers. One, who was shot in the leg in Iraq, received £46,000, while the other, injured in training, got £28,750. Both had their payouts increased due to complications, but the MoD is arguing that they should only be compensated for their "original injuries"."

I already knew the MoD was tight, but this really takes the biscuit. Wonder just how many of the tight-arses behind this decision have even been shot at, let alone injured in the line of duty? Will they even remember the names of these soldiers when they retire on fat, civil service pensions?

BBC NEWS | UK | MoD seeks to cut soldiers' payout

British 'careless' with liberties

"BBC NEWS | Politics | British 'careless' with liberties
British people have been 'careless' with their civil liberties, but that is beginning to change, former shadow home affairs minister David Davis has said."

Oh, come on - when have we said "yes please, lets have yet another national database"? Its not us being careless - we're not having a say in the matter.

BBC NEWS | Politics | British 'careless' with liberties

Straw vetoes Iraq minutes release

"BBC NEWS | Politics | Straw vetoes Iraq minutes release
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has vetoed the publication of minutes of key Cabinet meetings held in the run-up to the Iraq war in 2003. He said he would use a clause in the Freedom of Information Act to block the release of details of meetings in which the war's legality was discussed. Releasing the papers would do 'serious damage' to Cabinet government, he said, and outweighed public interest needs."

Presumably vetoed because he knows what a bunch of deceiving tykes it will reveal the Government to be.

"'There is a balance to be struck between openness and maintaining aspects of our structure of democratic government,' he [Straw] said."

There was no democracy involved in the decision to go to war - the Cabinet's decision was a complete travesty.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Straw vetoes Iraq minutes release

Kelly attacks Thames airport plan

"BBC NEWS | Politics | Kelly attacks Thames airport plan
London mayor Boris Johnson's idea of building a new airport on the Thames estuary is 'irresponsible', Ruth Kelly has told the Labour conference.

The transport secretary said the idea, aimed at easing congestion at Heathrow, was also 'opportunistic' and would prove 'environmentally disastrous'. Ministers are set to decide on a third runway at Heathrow later this year."

Unless the Government drops its plans for Heathrow, I don't see how anyone in their ranks can make comments like "environmentally disastrous".

BBC NEWS | Politics | Kelly attacks Thames airport planTechnorati Tags: politics, green, environment, airport, expansion

10p tax losers 'need more help'

"BBC NEWS | Politics | 10p tax losers 'need more help'
Alistair Darling must do more to help the 1.1m low-income households still losing out as a result of the scrapping of the 10p tax rate, MPs have said. A £2.7bn emergency package announced by the chancellor last month did not go far enough, the cross-party Commons Treasury committee said in a report. The money had not been 'well-targeted', with £2bn going to middle-income workers who had not lost out, it added."

What a mess. Just why exactly did they get rid of the 10% rate? To make it less complicated, wasn't it? This Government really is clueless.

BBC NEWS | Politics | 10p tax losers 'need more help'

Green energy push planned for UK

"BBC NEWS | UK | Green energy push planned for UK
As many as a quarter of British homes could be fitted with solar heating panels under new government plans for a 'green revolution'. Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the new proposals are 'the most ambitious' such strategy that Britain has seen.

The goal is to meet the EU target of 15% of energy from renewables by 2020. But at a time of consumer anger over fuel prices, the plan concedes that green power will cost more."

More? How can it cost more? Its free! Or are New Labour going to tax sunshine now?

It should already be part of the building regulations that all new buildings, domestic or industrial, should have solar water heating. Why not have around 80% of your hot water heating free?

BBC NEWS | UK | Green energy push planned for UK

Darling 'seeks energy cost talks'
Chancellor Alistair Darling has asked to meet with energy regulator Ofgem to discuss last week's gas and electricity price rises by Npower, a report says. In a letter to Ofgem, obtained by the Times, Mr Darling is said to want to review the reasons behind the price hikes and their implications. Npower, which has increased average gas prices by 17.2% and electricity by 12.7%, expects rivals to follow suit.

Perhaps he's concerned because such big rises draw attention to what a load of tosh the Government's official inflation figure is?

BBC NEWS | Business | Darling 'seeks energy cost talks'

John Denham MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills wants to cut funding that currently helps mature students carry on their studies, as promoted by the Government's own "Life Long Learning" policy. He visited the OU today to explain his reasoning.


"Removing the second chance
Universities secretary John Denham decided that students with a first degree will not be funded for a course for an equivalent of lower qualification - or ELQ in the jargon."
Removing the second chance | Mortarboard | Guardian Unlimited

"OU's funding cut branded 'short-sighted'
A £31 million hole will be blasted in Open University finances by Government withdrawal of support for part-time students. The OU said it was 'deeply concerned' by a move that could put many graduates off embarking on career-linked courses. City MPs have united to fight the plan to phase out funding for the majority of students in England and Northern Ireland who are studying for a qualification equivalent to – or lower than – one they already hold. The OU said figures from the Higher Education Funding Council showed that for the OU £31.6million of teaching money will be phased out from next year."

OU's funding cut branded 'short-sighted' - Milton Keynes Today

"Ministers accused of burying news on university funding changes
The government was accused of 'sneaking out' £100m a year in cuts in higher education funding earlier this year because they contradicted the Leitch review of skills. The universities' secretary, John Denham, set out new funding arrangements in a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England late on Friday September 7. The letter called for support for people studying for a second degree to be 'phased out' and reduced by £100m a year over the next four years."

Ministers accused of burying news on university funding changes | Higher | EducationGuardian.co.uk

"David Latchman: Want a second degree? It'll certainly cost you...
A few weeks ago, with no warning, the Government announced its intention to axe the funding for people wanting to take a second degree at the same level in a different subject. Until now, universities were funded for both home and EU students taking a second qualification on the same basis as those taking their first. Now this is to be abandoned. Any student wanting to improve their skills in this way will be faced with prohibitively high annual fees of up to four times what they pay now.

This change will affect part-time students and the institutions that teach them particularly seriously. In future, students wanting to improve their skills will be treated the same way as non-EU overseas students, with universities receiving no government funding for teaching them. Institutions that specialise in part-time education, like Birkbeck and the Open University, have a high concentration of these students so will be the worst hit. However, these changes will affect a large number of universities and the effects will be far reaching. All part-time students will suffer, not just those taking a second qualification."

David Latchman: Want a second degree? It'll certainly cost you... - Independent Online Edition > Higher

The expanion of our Police State continues:

"Stop and quiz powers considered
The government is considering giving police officers across the UK 'stop and question' powers under new anti-terror laws, says the Home Office. The proposal, allowing police to ask people about their identity and movement, is among measures being considered by Home Secretary John Reid.

The measure is so far used only in Northern Ireland. Police elsewhere have to have 'reasonable suspicion' a crime has been committed before they can stop people."

And the real kicker, bearing in mind the people stopped may well be completely innocent of any crime:
"Anyone who refuses to co-operate could be charged with obstructing the police and fined up to £5,000, according to the Sunday Times."

BBC NEWS | UK | Stop and quiz powers considered

Technorati tags: Government police state civil liberties

Britain - a Police State? Surely not? Well, in the last three days, we have:

"Police chief's 'Orwellian' fears
A senior police officer has said he fears the spread of CCTV cameras is leading to 'an Orwellian situation'. Deputy chief constable of Hampshire Ian Readhead said Britain could become a surveillance society with cameras on every street corner."
BBC NEWS | UK | Police chief's 'Orwellian' fears

...then we have:

"Brown will not block secrecy bid
Gordon Brown has rejected calls to block a controversial move by MPs to get out of freedom of information laws. MPs pushed the plan closer to becoming law earlier in what critics called a 'shameful day for Parliament'. The MPs say they want to protect private letters from constituents - but critics say the move would also allow them to keep their expenses secret."
BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown will not block secrecy bid

...and now we have:

"Staff asked to 'snoop' for police
Council staff, charity workers and doctors could be required by law to tip off police about anyone they believe could commit a violent crime. The Home Office proposals, leaked to the Times newspaper, insist public bodies have 'valuable information' that could identify potential offenders. Possible warning signs could include heavy drinking, mental health problems or a violent family background. The Tories say the plans would require staff to 'snoop on their customers'."
BBC NEWS | UK | Staff asked to 'snoop' for police

And people wonder where all those ex-Stasi members disappeared when the Wall came down...

Technorati tags: police state Government secrecy freedom of information