Wednesday, 2 July, 2008
Gavin will be presenting this evening's show:
The Politics
The Finance Bill will finally limp through the Commons tonight after an extraordinary number of U-turns and concessions by the Treasury. Another retreat could also be signalled tonight on tax discs after more threats by Labour backbenchers. Thousands of hauliers have been in Westminster to lobby for fuel duties to be reduced. How weak is the Treasury, the Chancellor and government's authority? The Conservatives are claiming the government has relied on "grubby deal making" to get its legislation through.
The Economics
How close are we to a recession? There have been wretched statistics from Marks and Spencer and Taylor Wimpey this morning, and this week's advertising figures could be even more significant.
We speak to senior business people about how bad the downturn really is.
The Taliban
We have an interview with Ahmed Rashid the hugely influential Pakistani journalist who has studied the Taliban for many years. How can the West beat them?
NHS
And in the latest in our series of films to mark the , Liz MacKean has travelled across the country to hear your views on the health service - both good and bad.
Comment number 1.
At 2nd Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:The Politics.
The Economics.
The Taliban.
The NHS.
The Immigrant Crimewave.
The News Blackout.
The Cover-Up.
...and what was that other tosh, with its own section? There was once a riot somewhere in China? For pity's sake, when will you people stop suppressing, and start reporting the news. Already the burst of interest generated by the Blog being rejigged, has evaporated, and there's a lack of posters.
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Comment number 2.
At 2nd Jul 2008, JadedJean wrote:VICKY POLLARD POLITICS
grumpy-jon @(#1)
What we could do with is a bit more government I reckon. We've got far too many Vicky Pollards everywhere.
/blogs/newsnight/markurban/2008/06/radiohead_zimbabwe_and_the_spi.html
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Comment number 3.
At 2nd Jul 2008, JamesStGeorge wrote:Report a recession when it happens, not talk one up!
I suspect the 成人快手 in line with its attitude to house prices and interest rates is actually trying to manipulate the news to keep interest rates down, so house prices can go up again.
成人快手 reporting policy is interest rates up=bad. House prices down=bad.
Neither being right!
Cheaper housing is all good, better returns on savings is all good.
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Comment number 4.
At 2nd Jul 2008, thegangofone wrote:An excellent piece on the Taliban but WAY too short. I could have had another twenty minutes on that as I felt it was not clear exactly how the impact of any incursion by the US would be greeted by Pakistan as a whole.
I am SO not surprised that #2 agrees with #1.
The whole mindset is the same.
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Comment number 5.
At 2nd Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:Re #2.
Thanx as ever for the ref JJ.
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Comment number 6.
At 2nd Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:Re #4.
Thanx for the compliment.
If you want to further your studies of the Taliban, you'll find them in London, thanx to this Govt's insane immigration policy. I'm sure they'll like you, when you inform them of your fabulous mindset.
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Comment number 7.
At 2nd Jul 2008, barriesingleton wrote:VERY OLD AMBULANCE AND DRIVER TOURS MAINLAND BRITAIN.
Oh dear - another Newsnight 'installation'.
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Comment number 8.
At 3rd Jul 2008, LiamMerseyside wrote:Editor - please don't mind the begrudgers. One just needs to watch Fox News (USA) or Sky News (UK) to appreciate that the 成人快手 and Newsnight in particular are doing a brilliant job by posing the questions, even if the Government do not have the public interest at heart to answer them.
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Comment number 9.
At 3rd Jul 2008, JamesStGeorge wrote:The Taliban. It is only obvious what they are doing, terrorism. They are not causing the western military problems, it is entirely the west's own attitudes and values that are being used against us. Just because we developed good losers, playing fair, as a way to war, does not mean anyone else has to accept them! When the west finally wants to win it will have to be ruthless.
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Comment number 10.
At 3rd Jul 2008, restassured wrote:Most interesting thing I found about tonight's debate re the economy was when James Caan asked John McFall, Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, how much we pay to the government in tax on fuel at the pumps. The answer - 70 per cent. SEVENTY PER CENT! Outrageous!! For every 拢1 we spend at the pump we give 70 pence to the government. Only a country (sorry to say) with a population as limp as ours would put up with such a rip-off.
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Comment number 11.
At 3rd Jul 2008, midnightPantsman wrote:Liz MacKean reporting that was fierce, shame one week she is the anchor of Newsnight during the holidays then next she sits in an ambulance.
So will Jeremy and Emily and Kirsty be doing this sort of reporting in the future ?
Doubt it somehow !
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Comment number 12.
At 3rd Jul 2008, JadedJean wrote:BELIEF AND OTHER INTENSIONAL IDIOMS
thegangofone (#4) Just as a heuristic exercise, give some careful thought to the fact that when one tells others what one believes, it doesn't (a priori), mean that what one believes is true.
We all tend to forget this at times. That's the problem with belief (and other propositional attitudes).
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Comment number 13.
At 3rd Jul 2008, barriesingleton wrote:BELIEF AND UNINTENDED IDIOTS
The pie chart says that Christians are 33%
Whatever it is that the rest believe, it wasn鈥檛 Heaven-sent.
The Muslim segment covers less (though ladies cover more)
Allah comes second best to God; he scores 19.4
You鈥檇 hardly think 13.4 was all Hindus could muster
With all those gods 鈥 such wide appeal 鈥 they鈥檙e quite a meagre cluster.
At 6% the Buddhist鈥檚 seem as though they might unravel
But maybe that鈥檚 the fate of those who contemplate their navel.
Then China, for all her billions: just 6 鈥 a modest fist
Confused Confucian, wayward Taoist, Shinto animist.
While down in southern continents, with the killer bugs and bees
You find another 6% revering rocks and trees.
One really must admire the shear tenacity of Sikhs
Having 鈥渃ut the crap鈥 quite admirably, all they got is .36
The poor old Jews at .22 deserve a better deal
The Christians owe them everything 鈥 how about a cash appeal?
And finally the also-rans, standing around quite idle
They fornicate their lives away with a phallus for their idol.
Here ends the lesson, mark it well, I speak no word of lie.
With luck - and stubborn certainty - you鈥檒l get pie in the sky when you die.
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Comment number 14.
At 3rd Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:Re #8.
Give that man a merit. No damn it, let's make it the class-star for subservience. OK so his attitude would never have won us the vote, but his tie is straight and he keeps his hands out of his pockets.( I thought Merseysiders were street wise and didn't take any c**p.)
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Comment number 15.
At 3rd Jul 2008, barriesingleton wrote:GRUMPO - PITHY - CUSS (definitely 'cross')
A wince-some comment Grumpy Jon #14.
Personally: I just winced and ran.
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Comment number 16.
At 3rd Jul 2008, kevseywevsey wrote:testing
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Comment number 17.
At 3rd Jul 2008, dondle wrote:What fantasic acting by your "Am dram" reporter on a picture of health. It would have made an entertaining piece in a comedy show - had it been funny - it wasn't, nor should it tried to have been...
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Comment number 18.
At 4th Jul 2008, LiamMerseyside wrote:Re: Grumpy, I am sure you would make a good editor of Newsnight, but you are missing the point. The 成人快手 does not suppress news, the viewers do that! This is what I meant by my suggestion that you watch Fox News. Newsnight is the only program that tries to shine the light into places designed to be dark. The 成人快手 is under savage pressure to dumb down its programmes, and Newsnight is an obvious target.
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Comment number 19.
At 7th Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:Re #18. LiamEstablishment.
If only you were capable of making a point, there might be a chance I'd miss it.
To be honest, your post was so confused, I can't be bothered to answer what you might have been trying to say.
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