BBC News | UK | World Edition

Benn denies fuel bill cave-in
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:34:59 -0000
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn denies ministers "caved in" to energy firms over cash rebates for soaring fuel bills.
Winds and rain battering Britain
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:01:29 -0000
Heavy rainfall and strong winds are sweeping across south Wales and western England, bringing the risk of flooding.
Shannon mother accused of kidnap
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:49:13 -0000
The mother of Shannon Matthews and a 40-year-old man plead not guilty to kidnapping the Dewsbury schoolgirl.
Canoeist appeals against sentence
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:36:19 -0000
Back-from-the dead canoeist John Darwin is to appeal against his prison sentence for fraud, his lawyer says.
Teenagers charged over stab death
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:58:49 -0000
Two teenagers are charged with the murder of 14-year-old Shaquille Smith in east London.
DJs criticised for drink comments
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:07:32 -0000
A report criticises a number of radio presenters for encouraging heavy drinking among their listeners.

The Economist: Britain

The City of London: Defying augury
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
Can the stock exchange and the City see off the competition?AS THE British economy heads straight for the doldrums, the City is struggling too. Recent moves by the London Stock Exchange designed to see off encroaching rivals may cost the LSE custom rather than increase it. And even if the 300-year-old market can change its ways, the financial centre it buttresses may well be shaky. The signs are not good.This week the LSE slashed its trading fees to match those of electronic trading platforms (known as MTFs), and said it would allow ultra-fast computerised traders to put their machines close to the LSE’s own computers. This will save the increasingly important program traders precious nanoseconds between sending an order and executing the trade. In July the stock exchange struck a deal with Lehman Brothers, an investment bank, to form Baikal, a so-called “dark pool” that allows high-volume trades to be executed bit-by-bit off-exchange and out of the public eye—that is, in competition with the LSE itself. The LSE still has a near-monopoly in listing stocks and providing price data, but increasing volumes are being traded on electronic platforms. Chi-X, launched last year, already has 15% of London’s share-trading volume. Other rivals are queuing up. ...
The economy: Home's where the hurt is
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
There have been far worse times for the economy but few for a chancellorIT WAS, perhaps, frustration at his own helplessness that prompted Alistair Darling’s dire prognosis. The chancellor of the exchequer told the Guardian, in an interview reported on August 30th, that economic times were “arguably the worst they’ve been in 60 years”. His remarks raised fears of a harder economic landing for Britain than predicted and helped push sterling to new lows against the euro. His slip may have had more to do with his own anxieties (see article) than with the fate of the economy.Only the terminally gloomy expect a downturn to match the deep recession of the early 1990s, or a repeat of the grim 1970s. Yet Mr Darling had a point, even if he made it clumsily. It is rare to be hit by so many problems in such a short space of time. A spike in the cost of oil and food has poked a big hole in consumers’ pockets, leaving less money for other spending. Meanwhile the banking crisis has cut the supply of credit, hastening a collapse in the housing market. ...
The army in Afghanistan: Dam difficult
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
Britain scores a military success. But it will take much more to beat the TalibanTHE earthen wall holding back the turquoise lake at Kajaki has stood as a rebuke to British forces for more than two years. Work on refurbishing its hydroelectric power station all but stopped when British and other NATO troops arrived in southern Afghanistan in 2006, reigniting the war with the Taliban.More than two seasons of inconclusive fighting, and the death of more than 100 British soldiers, have failed to secure southern Afghanistan. If anything, the Taliban have become bolder, staging more ambitious attacks and extending the insurgency to the gates of Kabul. As the Americans have reinforced understrength British forces in Helmand, relations between the allies have become tetchy. The Afghan government, too, has been critical of Western troops for killing Afghan civilians. ...
Titian in Britain: Exit, unfunded?
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
The fate of two Old Masters reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the laws governing the sale of artPAINTING, said Ambrose Bierce, is “the art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic”. In Titian’s case, the critics have purred with enthusiasm. Lucian Freud hailed the two paintings offered for sale by the Duke of Sutherland, Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto, as “simply the most beautiful pictures in the world”. And the Bridgewater Collection to which they belong is widely regarded as the world’s most important private collection of Old Masters.Yet keeping the paintings in the country will be a struggle. Although the duke is offering the Titians for much less than their market price, the National Galleries in England and Scotland still have to find GBP100m—almost five times the highest amount ever raised to keep art in Britain. And Britain’s notoriously liberal art-export laws do not provide much of a safety net. Between 1995 and 2005, 211 works of art totalling GBP274m in value were judged pre-eminent and worth keeping; yet money could be raised to hang on to only GBP105m-worth of them. ...
Bagehot: Deny, deflect, detonate
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
Is economic woe driving the government’s political problems or vice versa?WHEN the Kursk, a Russian submarine, sank in 2000, Vladimir Putin’s government at first pretended the situation was not as awful as it seemed. Next, it blamed outsiders (in the shape of a phantom foreign craft). Finally, when obfuscation would no longer wash, it claimed that the crew had all died immediately, and thus that nothing the authorities might have done could have helped. In its efforts to explain Britain’s subsiding economy, the government of Gordon Brown—another leader installed by opaque anointment rather than open choice—seems to have adopted a similar approach to crisis management. The effect can be summarised as deny, deflect and detonate.For as long as he could, Mr Brown denied the seriousness of the downturn. Things, he insisted, had been much worse in the early 1990s; the government was taking the “tough long-term decisions” needed to avert a repeat of such Tory-inflicted hardship. Growth would remain stronger than the gloomy analysts were predicting. Next came deflect: when price rises and the collapse of the housing market became too stark to spin away, Mr Brown acknowledged the difficulties but stressed that, in the words of the song, “It wasn’t me”. He deflected the blame on to irresponsible foreigners, such as greedy American financiers and Arab oil sheikhs. He and his chancellor, Alistair Darling, nevertheless insisted that Britain’s “resilient” economy would withstand the credit crunch and other global squalls better than others. ...
Social housing: Estate management
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:30:35 -0000
New proposals are likely to expand council housingHALF the government’s efforts this week were spent trying to convince wary buyers to set off down the risky path of home ownership. Soft loans and a temporary break from stamp duty, dangled tantalisingly on September 2nd, might tempt a few to take the plunge. But those who are weighing the risks and rewards of buying must have been alarmed that the government was simultaneously promoting rescue packages for those who had entered the housing market and got burned.Chief among these bail-outs was a GBP200m “mortgage-rescue” scheme, under which some 6,000 households in danger of having their home repossessed are to be saved. Councils and housing associations will be able to buy a share of the property, reducing the occupier’s mortgage. In some cases the authorities could buy it outright and let it back to its erstwhile owner, turning it into de facto social housing. ...

 

Subscribe to United_Kingdom RSS feed

UNISON - Britain's biggest trade union, with members in the public services and the essential utilities. Information on the activities of the union, as well as resources of interest to members.
Meta Description: [ UNISON is the biggest trade union in Britain, representing people who work in public services, the voluntary and private sectors. ]

Humberside UNISON - Regional news and contact details for local branches.

Aberdeen Universities UNISON Branch - Representing staff employed at the University of Aberdeen and the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Includes local news, campaigns, contact details and document library.
Meta Description: [ Aberdeen Universities Branch of UNISON, including the University of Aberdeen and the Robert Gordon University. ]

Argyll and Bute UNISON - News, campaigns, services and contact information for UNISON members in Argyll and Bute Council.
Meta Description: [ The web site for all Argyll and Bute Council UNISON members. ]

Bradford Local Government Branch of UNISON - For UNISON members of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, with an active retired members group, news bulletins and campaign updates.
Meta Description: [ UNISON, Wakefield Branch, the public service union, largest union in uk. ]

Capability Scotland UNISON - News, contacts and services for employees of Capability Scotland.

Central Bristol health UNISON - Represents workers in Bristol and Avon health services. Includes contact details and membership benefits.

Corporation of London UNISON - Local government branch news and contact details with retired members news.

Devon County Branch of UNISON - Represents County Council staff in Devon (except teachers).
Meta Description: [ Represents County Council staff in Devon (except teachers) ]

Dumfries and Galloway UNISON - Local branch information, contacts and membership services for Dumfries and Galloway Council workers.
Meta Description: [ Unison is the region's largest public service trade union. This site is for Unison members , mainly in Local Government, who work within Dumfries and Galloway. To be heard - speak in Unison ]

East Sussex UNISON - News and information on international and local issues and campaigns against privatisation.

Edinburgh UNISON - Representing 10,000 members working for the City of Edinburgh Council, voluntary and related sectors. Includes newsletter and policy database.
Meta Description: [ UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch, the union branch representing 10,000 members working for the City of Edinburgh Council, voluntary and related sectors. ]

Fife UNISON - Fife local government UNISON branch, with newsletter and campaign updates.

Hull and East Riding Community Health UNISON - Basic branch contact details and stewards list.

Islington UNISON - Local government branch for London Borough of Islington, with branch news, campaigns and contacts.
Meta Description: [ London weighting: £4,000 now! ]

Kensington and Chelsea UNISON - News, membership details, member benefits and contacts for Kensington and Chelsea local government branch.
Meta Description: [ Kensington and Chelsea Unison ]

King's College London UNISON - Includes news, campaigns, events and membership benefits.
Meta Description: [ UNISON Homepage ]

Lancashire UNISON - Newsletter and contact details for Lancashire region.
Meta Description: [ The Official Lancashire UNISON Website ]

London UNISON - London Region Unison news, contact details and campaigns.
Meta Description: [ UNISON London region website ]

Moray UNISON - Local branch representing members employed within Moray's public, community and voluntary sector, with branch newsletters and briefings.
Meta Description: [ Moray Unison, the union branch representing over 1,000 members employed within Moray Council, Moray College, voluntary and community sectors. ]

North Lincolnshire UNISON - Represents staff working for North Lincolnshire Council, John Leggott and North Lindsey Colleges, Bottesford and Brigg Town Councils and Humberside Airport.
Meta Description: [ North Lincolnshire UNISON is the biggest trade union in North Lincolnshire, representing employeesof North Lincolnshire Council, North Lindsey and John Lindsey Colleges and several smaller employers poviding public services in North Lincolnshire ]

North West Region UNISON - Regional news, training and events listing.

Northumbria Healthcare UNISON - UNISON branch for members working for Northumbria Healthcare Trust, North Tyneside Primary Healthcare Trust, voluntary agencies and nursing homes.

500 Nottingham Trent University UNISON - Branch details and campaigns with information on employment rights and health and safety.

Oxford Brookes University UNISON - Branch news and contact details with discussion board.

Oxfordshire Health Services UNISON - Includes branch news, welfare and campaign updates.

Public Servant Lifestyle - E-magazine dedicated to the lifestyle interests of British public sector workers. Sections on food and drink, other general interests, as well as financial and legal.
Meta Description: [ A comprehensive Lifestyle guide for public servants providing information and advice on a variety of topic areas, Entertainment, Motors, Home, Garden, Finance, Family, Friends, Travel, Work, Fashion and Food ]

Salford City UNISON - Represents workers in Salford City Council and other local public services.

Scottish Electricity UNISON - News, campaigns and event listings for UNISON members in Scottish Electricity.

Scottish Hydro Electric UNISON - Branch details, officers, meetings, stewards and health safety reps plus health and safety advice for members at Scottish and Southern Energy.

Scottish Water UNISON - Local news, campaign updates and contact information for UNISON members in Scottish Water.

500 SEPA UNISON - News, services and health and safety information for UNISON members in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Severn Health Branch UNISON - Represents members in primary care trusts and the partnership NHS mental health and learning disabilities trust.

Sheffield Hallam University UNISON - Local branch contacts, news and information on health and safety.

South Glasgow Hospitals UNISON - Local union contacts and news for workers in South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.

South Lanarkshire UNISON - Local news and contact information for workers in South Lanarkshire local government and further education.

Stirling Council UNISON - Local government branch for Stirling Council, with branch news and contact details.

Suffolk HealthCare UNISON - Newsletter with branch details and online support form.
Meta Description: [ Biggest trade union in the U.K. Represents 1.4 million public sector workers. Suffolk HealthCare Branch of UNISON. Communicator is the copyright of Suffolk HealthCare ]

Sussex Ambulance UNISON - Local UNISON branch for negotiating on pay and terms and conditions for the staff and paramedics of Sussex Ambulance Service.
Meta Description: [ Sussex Ambulance Service Unison Branch, News on Standby, Pay, Agenda for Change, Useful Documents and details of Stewards/Reps. ]

Trafford Metropolitan UNISON - Represents members in Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council and other local public services.

UNISON Cymru Wales Region - News, events and campaign details for UNISON members in Wales.

UNISON East Midlands Region - Details of how to join, regionally specific information and education section.
Meta Description: [ UNISON - East Midlands Region - part of the UK's largest public service trade union. ]

UNISON Eastern Region - Regional news, stewards' training, branch contacts, events, campaigns, health and safety and welfare information.
Meta Description: [ UNISON Eastern ]

UNISON Health and Safety Department - Information about becoming a health and safety rep together with general advice.

UNISON Manchester - Represents Manchester City Council and associated voluntary sector workers, with newsletter and branch contacts.

UNISON Nottinghamshire Healthcare - UNISON Nottinghamshire Healthcare Branch including Nottingham, Rampton, Arnold Lodge, Wathwood, Mansfield and Bassetlaw. Includes branch details and bulletins.

UNISON Open College - Distance learning college offering open distance and flexible learning courses for trade unionists and members.
Meta Description: [ The best in open distance and flexible learning from Britain's biggest union. ]

Unison Power Branch - The branch of Unison in the East Midlands for employees of Powergen, East Midlands Electricity and Siemens Metering. Can also include ex-TXU and EME employees.

UNISON Scotland online - Scottish region of UNISON, with regional news, training, health and safety and legal information.
Meta Description: [ UNISON, Scotland's public service union, representing 150,000 members delivering Scotland's public services. ]

UNISON Somerset County Branch - Branch diary, campaigns, social information and contacts for the Somerset branch representing some 4,000 workers in the county council and related employers.
Meta Description: [ Somerset's local government branch of UNISON, the union for people working in Britain's public services. Details of how to contact the branch, benefits of membership, advice, education, campaigns, news, newsletter, links ]

UNISON South Glasgow Hospitals Branch - Home pages of the UNISON South Glasgow Hospitals Branch and its award winning newsletter 'Southside UNISON'.

UNISON South West Region - Regional information on campaigns, workplace rights and coming events.

University of Glasgow UNISON - News, events, contacts and information for workers in University of Glasgow.

University of Southampton UNISON - Local branch news, contacts and information.

University of Strathclyde UNISON - Local branch news, events and contacts for workers in University of Strathclyde.

University of Wolverhampton UNISON - News and branch contacts for UNISON members at University of Wolverhampton.

University of York UNISON - Local branch rules and contact details.

West Dunbartonshire UNISON - Representing members in West Dunbartonshire Council. Includes news, events and contact details.

Wigan UNISON - Wigan local government branch of UNISON, with information on membership benefits and branch contacts.
Meta Description: [ Unison Public Service Union, Wigan Branch for Employees of Wigan MBC. ]

Wirral Local Government UNISON - Represents members in Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, with branch news and contact details.