Archives for February 2009
Is your council tax good value?
Council tax bills in England are going up by around three percent this year. That's in line with one measure of inflation, the Consumer Prices Index -- but it's significantly above the inflation figure your pay deal is probably based on, of 0.1%.
In Scotland, most council tax bills are frozen this year. We don't know the figures from Wales yet, and Northern Ireland uses a rates system instead. Do you get value for money from your council?
Council tax in our town is a joke, one bin bag a week and the street lights on our estate turned off! No salt on our estate when the snow was bad so what do we pay for? Eddie from mid wales
I work in a library where we provide an hour a day free computer use for those who cant afford one. As well as information for children and adults who cant afford books for study, not to mention escapism from reality by lending fiction books. People who have money are always willing to criticise us and forget those for whom we provide an invaluable service. Kate in Cheshire
In Northants it's not the council that's the problem. The police authority has just pushed through a 4.5% increase in their take of council tax. Paul, Northants
Deal or No Deal..?
Deal or No Deal - should Fred the Shred keep his gold-plated pension?
Deal or No Deal - should the tax payer keep bailing out the banks?
It's the topic lots of you seem to want to talk about - so we're changing the phone in at 9. You can post your thoughts here.
Too young to be a mum?
The latest figures on teenage pregnancies in England and Wales are published this morning, and they're expected to show an overall rise for the first time since 2002. The statistics for Scotland are the highest in the UK. The Department of Health's target for England is to halve the number of teenage pregnancies -- so why's it not working?
Nicky's taking calls on this on the phone-in - and you can post your thoughts here too
Political correctness gone mad?
| 07:36 UK time, Wednesday, 25 February 2009
The Communities Secretary Hazel Blears is making a speech later, and she's expected to say that political correctness is making it difficult to deal with extremism in the UK. She says it's important to have good manners and be tolerant of other people, but that worrying about upsetting people is preventing open debate and common sense.
Is she right? Has political correctness gone mad, or are we right to be careful about what we say and do? Nicky's taking your calls on the breakfast phone-in. Post your thoughts below.
U ask U2
They are reckoned by many to be the biggest band in the world. And on Friday, U2 will be the guests on Simon Mayo's programme on 5live (1-4 pm).
But - given the chance -what question would you ask Bono, The Edge, Larry or Adam?
Post your question here before Friday morning's Breakfast programme - and Simon Mayo will sift through them and pick one to ask during his interview with the band. It'll be Simon's choice alone - he'll tell us his pick on Friday morning and then you can hear him ask the band on Friday afternoon.
update Friday morning - no more questions please. Listen to the interview on Mayo this afternoon - the question Simon will ask is about U2 supporting Slade in the past
Mourinho, the mini-skirt and Manchester
MOURINHO v SIR ALEX
"You invented the mini skirt".
That was Italian Sports Journalist Beppe Severgnini retort when Nicky put it to him that Italy invented defensive, boring football - "Catenaccio" as it is called.
Catenaccio translates as "door-bolt" and it refers to a highly organised and effective backline defence intended to prevent goals. It was utilised at Inter Milan in the 1960s and is partly the reason why many still view Italian football today as chess-like.
And Jose Mourinho made the first move yesterday. The Inter Milan boss claiming that it is Sir Alex Ferguson's side that will play defensively, refusing to go "eye to eye" with Milan.
You have to be a brave man to goad Sir Alex; just ask Liverpool fans if they think it's a good idea.
Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful British manager of all time - his record reads: 10 league titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups, two league cups, one Cup Winners' Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup. He also helped Aberdeen to Cup Winners' Cup glory in 1983.
Jose's CV: Champions League and Uefa Cup victories with Porto and two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two league cups with Chelsea between 2004 to 2007.
However, perhaps we should give Mourinho some credit for his remarks as he must be one of the only coaches in the world to have the upper hand against Sir Alex. His record reads: Played 12, Won 6, Drawn 4, Lost 2 (Porto and Chelsea).
Mourinho is also on a run of 110 home league matches unbeaten - the last time a side he managed lost a league match at home was when Porto were beaten 3-2 by Beira-Mar on 23 February 2002.
For the neutral it's a shame this isn't the final as both teams offer so much. They are both league champions, and they are both runaway league leaders this season, they both play attractive football and they both know how to win. And for added incentive Mourinho's first battle with Sir Alex was when FC Porto knocked out Manchester United at this stage on their way to lifting the Champions League in 2004.
There is nothing like a bit of sweet revenge.
As one Man City fan said when they were made the richest club in the world......Ding dong, bring it on.
Commentary in 5live Sport tonight with updates of Arsenal v Roma.
Last Post for Royal Mail?
Royal Mail's pension fund could collapse if the Government doesn't sell off a stake to a private company according to Jane Newell, the chair of the pension trustees.
She warns the hole in the fund could get even bigger than the £5.9bn we know about.
The Government will introduce a plan to sell a 30% stake to help pay for modernisation of the service.
Unions say the plan amounts to the government nationalising the debt and privatising the profit.
Royal Mail made a profit of £255m in the last nine months of last year.
So what's your view on the fate of Royal Mail? Nicky's taking your calls this morning...or you can post your thoughts here.
Have Liverpool now handed the title to Manchester United?
They are now seven points behind and yesterday's 1-1 draw with Man City at Anfield was their sixth at home this season. In comparison Man United have only drawn one at Old Trafford.
Manchester United also have a 10-goal advantage over Liverpool.
So that means Liverpool must rely on Man United losing three out of their last 12 games - they have only lost twice so far this season so that seems highly unlikely. That is also on the understanding Liverpool do not drop anymore points - again this seems highly unlikely.
So with the league now seemingly out of reach, Benitez can turn his hand to the first knockout stage of the Champions League starting this week.
Liverpool play Real Madrid in Spain on Wednesday and former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri returns to Stamford Bridge - this time as manager of Juventus. On Tuesday Arsenal are at home Roma and at the San Siro Manchester United play Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan - you can hear all the build up and fall out on 5 live Breakfast and you can listen to the Liverpool and Man Utd games in full on 5 live.
Are doctors failing sufferers from anorexia?
The charity BEAT says the majority of Gps don't understand their patients who have eating disorders and don't know how to help them. Eighty five percent of sufferers they questioned felt they weren't taken seriously by their family doctors.
Doctors say they're well practised in treating eating disorders, although can be difficult to diagnose as they're not physical illnesses.
Is that your experience? Nicky's taking calls on this on the Breakfast phone-in and you can post your thoughts here.
Max Clifford on Friday's phone-in
Jade Goody gets married this weekend.
She's undergoing treatment for terminal cancer and has sold the media rights to the wedding to raise money for her two boys, Bobby and Freddie.
A documentary about her treatment is being broadcast tonight (Thursday).
Some people have said Jade shouldn't still be in the public eye when she's dying - but Cancer Research UK says it's received thousands of extra enquiries from women concerned about cervical cancer in the wake of Jade's diagnosis.
On Friday's Breakfast phone-in from 9am, Jade's publicist Max Clifford took your calls. You can listen back to a selection of your views below.
Too much strain to take the train?
Travelling by train is more expensive in the UK than anywhere else in western Europe, according to a report by the customer watchdog Passenger Focus - you can read the full report here. You've been getting in touch already this morning:
It cost me nearly £70 for 2 adults and 1 child from Stockport to York yesterday. It is a disgrace. Next school break I am going abroad. James in Stockport
High train fares don't worry me. I find it cheaper and more convenient to drive everywhere. Dave. St. Albans.
Passenger Focus says the government should get taxpayers, not just passengers, to bear the costs of running Britain's railway. Should we all pay for rail travel? Nicky's talking about this on the breakfast phone-in.
A key fight to win?
| 07:18 UK time, Wednesday, 18 February 2009
President Obama's sending another 17,000 troops to Afghanistan, to help stabilise the worsening security situation there. The additional troops being deployed had originally been scheduled to go to Iraq. You can read more about the details here.
Nicky's talking about this on the breakfast phone-in this morning. 8,000 British troops are serving in Afghanistan. Is the war against the Taleban a war the US and Britain must win?
You can tell us your opinion on the role of our armed forces by filling in our 5 live questionnaire.
John and Bonnie Suchet
This morning we had John Suchet on the programme, talking about his wife Bonnie's dementia and how their life together has been since she was diagnosed with the condition three years ago. We got a huge response from the audience who had been moved by John's response to the enormous changes in his relationship with his wife - if you missed it, you can listen back to the interview here.
Too costly to be green?
Supermarkets should pay towards the cost of recycling their food packaging, according to the body which represents English and Welsh councils.
The Local Government Association says 40% of food packaging has to be sent to landfill, and that figure's hardly changed over the last twelve years. But when times are hard, is cutting down on packaging really your priority when you go to the supermarket? The price councils get for your old cans, bottles and newspapers has collapsed. Is it really worth anyone's while to recycle?
Nicky's talking about this on the phone-in this morning. Sales of organic food have plummeted, and with the manufacturers struggling, it's a great time to buy a new car. Can we ever be green in a recession? On the other hand, maybe you've turned the heating down to cut fuel bills, and never leave the TV on standby any more. In the light of the economic situation, has the climate changed?
A noble calling?
This morning we're broadcasting from Sandhurst, the world-renowned military academy where gentlemen have been trained to become officers since the Napoleonic Wars. We've come here to find out how the army trains its leaders, and whether others can learn from the way the Academy does its job.
We're be broadcasting from The Indian Army Memorial Room, a former chapel that faces out onto the main parade ground and whose beautiful stained glass windows commemorate the British Indian Army and the Gurkha Regiment.
At the same time 5 live's also launching a questionnaire to find out what you think the future holds for the British Armed Forces. Your views will help make a special day of programmes on 5 live in March.
Take part in the "What do you think about the role of the British armed forces in the 21st Century?" questionnaire
Our reporter Stephen Chittenden has been out on a training exercise with officer cadets in the Brecon Beacons as part of Operation Longreach and recorded this diary with Officer Cadet Clark.
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Match abandoned due to...
This morning we wanted to find out if you had any examples of sporting occasions being abandoned due to strange events. This of course followed the fiasco in Antigua when the Second Test between England and the West Indies was called off because of the state of the pitch. As usual you didn't let us down. Here's a selection of your stories. If you have any more feel free to share them with us on the Blog.
I've played in what wisden say is the only cricket match to be abandoned due to flying ants! Domines and Guild vs Alvechurch in Worcestershire in 1996. Boiling hot day, ants were in both wicket ends, boiling water and ant spray all failed. Richard, manchester.
Whilst playing a league cricket match for Bath Hospitals CC v Knowle in Bristol game delayed due to 2 lads on motorbike driving across square and pinching the WICKETS ! whilst we were having tea. Phil Chant, Bath
We had a football match interrupted by a police car chase on the pitch, in Wellingboro, Northants.
We had to abandon school cricket match in Simonstown, South Africa in 1966 when a troop of baboons invaded the pitch from david.
We had a cricket game in the North East London league delayed by a drunk who decided to walk onto the square and sunbathe on a length on the wicket. He said that because it was a Hackney council public park, he could lie down wherever he wanted. After 10 mins or more of unsuccesful negotiations, and after a punch up with another drunk spectator who'd come on to try to forcibly remove him, the police arrived with a van and 3 bikes that they parked on the square whilst arresting and questioning the two inebriates. As scorer and lead Negotiator , I was asked to make a statement, but refused until the police moved their vehicles from the pitch. we lost 3 wickets within 5 mins of the the restart and it cost is the league title. Steve, isle of dogs cricket club.
Early 70's Singapore in RN v RAF match called off hundreds of poisonous snakes sunning themselves on the fresh grass Hugh Perth
When i was 12 in the early 80's i was playing football in a small village called Shalden in Hampshire. Part way into the game we saw a hot air balloon in the distance and over the next 10 mins noticed it getting closer and closer to us. We then heard a huge shout of 'watch out' from the skies and had to scatter as the balloon crash landed in the centre circle, abandoning the game. The balloon had got into difficulties and our pitch was the only non wooded area they could spot to land inBrendon Norris in Manchester.
When we played a game near Blackpool, there was a wedding reception in the pavilion. Suddenly a fight broke out - tables overturned, finger food flying - and the home team rushed off the pitch to sort things out. When they heard police sirens the players came back out - 'whites' torn and bloody - and we tried to carry on playing as if nothing had happened. The result? I can't remember...John
Life with the leaders
Breakfast is at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst on Monday. Nicky will be finding out about life with the cadets who are set to become the officers of tomorrow.
Stephen Chittenden has been out training with some of them on Operation Longreach.
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The amazing inflatable jacket
Should motorcyclists wear inflatable jackets - a kind of air-bag you can wear.
It inflates in less than a second and needs six stones of weight pulling in the opposite direction to be activated. Nicky tried it out.
He's a 13-year-old dad. Is sex education failing?
Alfie is 13 years old. His girlfriend Chantelle is 15. She gave birth to their baby, Maisie, this week. The couple have told the Sun newspaper they'll be "good, loving parents".
Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in western Europe. In England in 2006, 7296 girls under 16 got pregnant.
How difficult is life for under-age parents? Why is sex education failing these children? We want to hear your experiences this morning -- Nicky's taking your calls on the phone-in.
Is free-speech at risk? It's your call
A Dutch MP's been told he can't come to the UK because of his extremist views. Geert Wilders was invited to the House of Lords to show his film, which shows passages from the Koran alongside footage of the 9/11 attacks in New York. The Home Office says it doesn't allow people who spread "extremism, hatred and violent messages" into the country. Mr Wilders says he'll try to travel here anyway.
Elsewhere a nurse was suspended for asking a patient is she wanted her to say a prayer - there was a row over Jerry Springer the Opera . So where - if anywhere - should the line be drawn over free speech? Should religions be robust enough to withstand criticism or ridicule? Anyone remember Life of Brian ?
Nicky's talking about this on the phone in.
Feeling the job crunch - Christine's story
With the latest employment figures due out, we're going to focus on one woman's story about how she's been affected by the economic downturn - and her attempts to find answers to why she - and many others - are out of work. .
Christine Tinling was made redundant from her job at Findus' Newcastle factory in January along with most of the other staff at the plant, and is now looking for new work. She's been telling us her own story.
Young men under attack
Men in their early twenties are just as likely to suffer violence from their partners as women according to government statistics seen by Newsbeat.
It's not just physical - it can be emotional abuse as well, we're told.
Across all age ranges, one in four women experienced domestic violence at some point compared with one in six men. Are the two comparable? Is this problem being tackled? What should be done? Nicky's taking calls on the phone in.
Listen to this morning's report:
How can we stop the abuse?
The charity, Childline, tells us today that the number of children reporting sexual abuse has gone up dramatically in the past three years and is the highest in its 22 year history.
More than thirteen thousand called the helpline last year and five hundred of them were under the age of seven.
So what can be done to stop this? Nicky's taking calls about this on the phone in.
The Childline number is 0800 1111
You can also contact the organisation Stop it Now or call 0808 1000 900
Looking forward to Monday?
A winter storm on its way...all out for 51.... more bad news on the economy expected?
See you at 6!
Bonuses for bankers - would you chip in?
Bankers are blamed for the recession - but some are getting bonuses.
Gordon Brown says we shouldn't reward failure
We - the taxpayer - have bailed out some of the banks and now some of the bankers are said to be rushing to get bonuses before a crackdown comes into force.
Is it time for the bankers to fight back? Couldn't they be part of the solution as well as the problem? If they are making money shouldn't they be rewarded?
Nicky's talking about this on the phone in. Tell us what you think.
You can read what Robert Peston makes of it all - click here to go to his blog . And here's what he said on the programme this morning:
Who can save the economy? It's your call
Will interest rates fall again?
But is that how to save the economy? Is Gordon Brown the person to lead us out of a slump. Or could any of the other Westminster politicians do a better job? Maybe David Cameron is the man with the plan? What about Nick Clegg?
Or is it the best brains in business who can bail us out....or maybe it's up to all of us. It's your call on the Breakfast phone in this morning - or post your thoughts here.
All change for England
Kevin Pietersen is no longer captain. Peter Moores is no longer coach. We have seen someone try to oust Giles Clarke as Chairman of the ECB and now we hear that some England players are unhappy at the deal that allowed them to play in the Indian Premier League.
It's just not been cricket, has it?
Finally though there is an opportunity for some on-field action to make the headlines as England start their winter series against West Indies this afternoon. Commentary is live on 5 live Sports Extra, both on Digital Radio and online, and on Radio 4 LW at 2:15pm.
Andrew Strauss is captain but there's no full-time coach since Moores departed. Well, you can't have it all, can you?
This is an important series because the sports hacks will be waiting to see the true fallout of all the issues - how will Kevin Pietersen respond? how will Strauss cope with the extra responsibility of captaincy? How long will it be before Andrew Flintoff picks up another injury?
Well, with this being an Ashes year we spoke to one of England's best bowlers from the 2005 victory over Australia - Simon Jones, and asked him whether England could rely on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff.
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And here is former West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft's views.
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Can you predict any headlines from the series?
What language is acceptable at work?
Carol Thatcher's being criticised for comparing a tennis player to a golliwog.
She's apologised, saying she wasn't being racist and that it was a meant as a joke. But she's still being dropped from her job on the BBC's One Show.
Her remark wasn't broadcast - it was a private conversation to colleagues - so should she have been punished? When should a private conversation become public property? And what language is and isn't acceptable at work?
We heard plenty of views on the Phone-in. You can call listen again via the i-player or download the podcast.
Happy birthday Facebook.
Facebook was launched on the 4th Feb 2004.
We'll mark the fifth birthday on the programme. You can join the party by clicking on this link to find our new page there
Britain's biggest snowman?
...unless you know better.
(hats off to Charlie, who built it)
Dealing with dementia - what's your experience?
Dementia's a growing problem -- 1 in 3 people over 65 will get it.
Plans for improving how it's diagnosed and treated in England are announced today.
Is someone in your family living with dementia? Are you getting the support you need to care for them?
It's the phone in topic on Tuesday morning.
Keane back to Spurs? Just a rumour?
Here's Vassos's assessment of his final rumour before the transfer window closes.
"At 5pm today the transfer window will shut close, so there is a lot of wheeling and dealing to be done.
But one move that everyone will have their eyes on is whether Robbie Keane will end one of the most disappointing transfers for a while and move back from Liverpool to Tottenham.
Rafa Benitez has hardly been ringing in his endorsement of a striker he apparently spent £20 million on a few months ago.
Will he stay beyond today - we asked him yesterday - "I think so" was the answer. Fine - but you can't imagine him being so dismissive about Fernando Torres.
Spurs, as we know, do want Keane - and they've lost Jermaine Defoe to injury.
So I reckon the deal could happen as long as the transfer's sweetened for Liverpool - they can't just accept 15m and take a 5m hit.
Aaron Lennon's being mentioned as part of a possible sway deal - which could swing it."
On things for sure though, 5live will keep you up to date will all the movers and shakers up until and after the 5pm deadline.
Who do you think's going where?
Standstill Britain - tell us your story
The snow's causing chaos for millions of people this morning.
How is it for you?
Nicky's taking calls this morning, or post your thoughts here.
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