bbc-newsnight « WordPress.com Tag Feed

Nog wat fraude bij de EU

gwave — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:40:13 +0000

BBC Newsnight over fraude bij de EU.

Europe's last dictatorship

aristotlethegeek — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:52:50 +0000

Belarus, and the dictator - Alexander Lukashenko. Watch the story on BBC Newsnight.

If you are as bandwidth-starved as I am, then read -
Alexander Lukashenko (BBC)
Europe's last dictator? (BBC)
Politics of Belarus (Wikipedia).

London's yellow brick road

bloomsburygirl — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:22:03 +0000

I turned on Newsnight last night on BBC2 to watch the mayoral election favourites give their 3 minute 'sell' to any Londoners who might be tempted to vote in the elections on 1 May. Turnout is traditionally low for the role of London mayor but the congestion charge has enraged the owners of 4x4s in Kensington and Chelsea so much so that we'll probably get lots of protest votes. They're adament that they don't want to pay a daily fee to drive their tank through London's residential streets. £25.00 is the daily congestion charge for cars like the Porsche Cayenne or Range Rovers if you don't live here. Locals usually pay about 10% of that but it applies only to one car - so if you keep a garage full of the things you'll pay full whack when you take them out. Interestingly, when the congestion charge was launched in the poorer areas of London - particularly south of Euston, Kings Cross and Holborn - no-one batted an eyelid, not a word was said - do these communities have deep pockets, or do they lack a voice? But as soon as the charge was introduced to millionaires row, the debate went ballistic, we saw public protests of 'opinion formers' outside city hall. Then the dazzling Evening Standard came flying in to help its favourite community - they never did like that mayor much. Poor old Ken...he is looking a bit knackered these days.

Anyhow, back to last night's quickie debate on BBC2. There was Boris Johnson...he's such fun, so fluffy...you can't not but love him. He reminds me of the cowardly lion in the wizard of oz, except he's not so cowardly - just lacking in conviction. What does he stand for? Let's be frank his knowledge on bendy buses and crime is a bit sparse for someone wanting to be mayor full time. Perhaps what he stands for are 'let's cut the rules and regs - London's a party town so let's just have fun! Londoner's want to be left alone by the nanny state. But we still have some realities to confront, like the environment, gun crime amongst teenagers, a lack of social housing and risks from terrorism. Those issues call for someone with some clout, except we probably don't want to be reminded about them all the time.

Then there was Ken - he really did look like the tin man. He is tired and rusting badly after so many run ins with the media, his relationships, Chavez and the Venezualan oil deal - poor old red ken, he's actually much less lefty than he used to be. He really needs a good spruce up and polish. His strength is that he knows the issues - he just needs to emphasise housing and London's place in the world more - people want to hear the good news, and do the environment stuff behind the scenes. They want more heart.

Then there was Brian Paddick, a former met police man. Seems like he'd make a good senior civil servant behind the scenes, but lacks the spiel and showmanship of Boris, and Ken's knowledge. His campaign needs more brain and personality, and he reminded me of the straw man...very nice n' all but lacking in spirit and spontaneous concrete answers.

I feel as though i should vote, but feel very undecided. The policy options in front of us appear to be: more of the same, complete chaos, or a city with no profile globally, but with a few neighbourhood disputes sorted out. I might ask my mates at the cafe in the park today what they think...

Anyhow, away from that minor political skirmish, I still have a few more days off! It's sunny and fabulous in London today - which makes up for it also being freezing...so it's time to go out and live a bit in this frenetic city.

BBC Newsnight Exposes Policy Exchange Report

Rasheed Gonzales — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:38:56 +0000

Much thanks to brother AbdulHaq for bringing this BBC Newsnight programme to my attention; may Allah reward and bless him with good.

From "Mimaro" on Dr. Marranci's blog:

and the latest unravelling of the ‘anonymous Policy Exchange researchers’ flawed methodology has been exposed on newsnight[12/12/07] by a forensic scientist showing that several receipts for ‘inflamatory’ literature were forged receipts - same handwriting for different institutions, even the institutions addresses on the forged receipts were erroneous as were the letterheads…

Watch the programme. It's well worth the time.

Taking the Path to New Politics

Editor — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:33:17 +0000

By Jeff Peel - NI Area, Conservatives

Today the people of Northern Ireland are being asked to vote for a new Assembly. As Conservatives, we want people to think carefully before proceeding the way they may have in the past. The media – particularly BBCNI - presents our four “main” Parties as pretty much all there is in terms of political debate.

But there is more. It is possible to change this society. We believe that real politics, real discussion about the things that matter, should overshadow the local obsession with constitution: the same old, same old that we have endured for decades.

It is possible for our society to take its first faltering steps towards real political structures.

Jeremy Paxman, in his excellent pre-election report for Newsnight on Monday evening, made the point that we now have more barricades or peace-lines between communities here than we had before the peace process began. He finished his report with a comment that while, on the surface, Northern Ireland may be moving forward the politicians need to catch up.

As Conservatives we believe that people here should play their part in the politics of the country in which they live (even if they aspire, ultimately, to Irish unification). That’s why we think it’s a disgrace that Labour hasn’t the guts to seek an electoral mandate here. That’s why we think it’s a sham that the only left of centre Parties contesting these elections are Nationalist. That’s why we think it is a nonsense for Unionist Parties to claim that they have clear policy commitments when there is no ideological position that unites their members apart from religion, opposition to Nationalism, and a narrow parochial view of what it is to be British.

There is only one UK-wide political Party contesting this election: The Conservative Party. We ask you to please give us your vote today. It’s more important than ever that you do.