Thursday, 5 June, 2008
- 5 Jun 08, 06:33 PM
Expenses scandal
Planning
Is the government heading for another policy climb-down? A major shake up of the planning process designed to speed up consent for big infrastructure projects is under fire from all sides of the Commons. MPs fear that the creation of a new Infrastructure Planning Commission will allow ministers to force through big projects such as motorways and power stations despite local opposition. Now miraculously the debate on the bill's report stage timetabled for Monday has disappeared into thin air, wiped from the agenda. Is the government running scared of its backbenches again? We'll be speaking to the Planning Minister John Healey.
US politics
More politics from across the Atlantic. Scott McClellan was George W Bush's White House Press Secretary for three crucial years during which he says in his new memoirs that President Bush "veered terribly off course" and was not open and forthright on Iraq. Given that he admits that some of his own assertions from the White House briefing room turned out to be "badly misguided". I'll be asking him live about what share of the blame he takes for his bosses actions.
We'll also be hearing from our reporter alongside the Obama camp in Virginia - the latest on possible running mates, tactics and the Hillary issue.
Cheapest car
And exclusively revealed on Newsnight tonight, the world's cheapest car - the Tata Nano. We have the first look inside the factory which is making the £1,000 car which could revolutionise car culture in India and bring a new set of questions on climate change.
NHS
And we want Newsnight viewers to participate in the launch of our UK map to create a picture of the health of the NHS at 60.
Kirsty
Comments
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Does this £400,000 not come under any falsification of accounts?
I well remember, when I was working in the cash industry, any deviation from the Rules was met with a caution from the Investigators and a Court appearance for such falsification.
How is it, that MEP's and MP's of whichever Party, seem to be absolved from the responsibility we mere commoners are subjected to?
There should be restoration to Public Funds, a resignation and a ourt appearance for these deviants.
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Guess what!!
Tonight, again about US politics. Last night I got so fed up with the programe, I switched the TV off. When are you going to realise that most of your audience is not interested in US politics, night after night, to such a detail?
The best you can do is withdraw all your correspondents from the US, and give them proper jobs in Europe. In case it has escaped your attention, we are part of Europe. If you don't believe me, just open any map and have a look.
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GILES CHICHESTER.
Clearly a case of miss-taking. Hardly culpable. Possibly grounds for promotion in the current ethos.
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Like BasilA *2,
I'd had enough of the US politics last night and also switched chanels.
It could be the same tonight.
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How much does Kirsty claim every week from the licence fee payer for her flights to London to present Newsnight?
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anybody who has seen the 80s Richard Prior film brewsters millions will understand this
Why would anybody spend millions getting a job that pays only thousands of pounds (granted maybe hundreds of) must be planning to recoup that money somehow either via expenses or more corrupt methods (no direct accusations there) in general i question the motivation of the vast majority of people going for political posiitions amd I dont feel i am the only member of the vast unuducated population that has through this opinion become very much questionable about government in general be it local or central many people sit with the long established view of "no matter how I vote the government still gets in" this i believe breeds a truely unhealthy swing towards radical parties such as the B.N.P. (spits at the thought) as we vote for the only people we have knocking on our doors and therefore the only people we believe actually care about the issue's that concern us. please note that i would have voted B.N.P, had there been a candidate standing in my area however i have changed radically from being socialist to now being very much right wing its somewhat like the barter system ie take a stance far beyond what you consider reasonabe to force others to become inclined towards your own view therefore meeting somewhere closer to what you find acceptable.
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Could Kirsty Wark slow down a bit?
Pause for a second or two between items?
Could she attempt at least to give the impression that she is engaged with the programme content and with the viewers - not just running through a pre-prepared script?
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basilA
do you not realise we are the 51st state, its often said in jest but we are in fact at the very least the 50th and a half state ie the U.S.A.s insider in europe (the only realistic opposition to the U.S.A. empire) hence the "special relationship" so regularly commented upon after election wait till after the "western world" elections and hear the vast conversation about such with in our media
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The more US election news you put on the less i bother to watch you ... this could become a habit. Watch Euronews for a while and see how its done .... a European perspective .... now theres a thought.
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#8 Sadly we're not the 51st . If we were under the electoral college system our 60 million population would basically ensure that we decided the outcome of every US presidential election.
Frankly we'd have a lot more influence on world events that way that with our feeble influence in the EU.
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If Michael Crick can turn from appearance and personality for a moment to thoughts of honesty and integrity he might question the suitability of Kirsty Wark for the role of inquisitor in any story that involves sleaze and dodgy financial dealings/contracts. He might also wonder whether employees of the BBC, an organisation that's prone to whitewashing dodgy expenses claims and inviting asset strippers in to buy off all the best bits at knock down prices, are suitably qualified to report on any mismanagement of public assets. We should be pleased that the evidence of the MEPs' expenses is available for inspection and that unlike Tony Blair they didn't shred it to destroy all traces of their claims.
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The labour MEP who was on the show last night said that any difference between what he was given in travel allowances and what he actually spent was legally his and he donated it to the labour party.That may be questionable at the least,but my question is,when excess tax free allowances are given as a gift to a political party who is claiming the tax relief on it?If either the individual or the party are claiming it it would seem the ultimate insult to the taxpayer effectively paying tax twice .
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Re-#6. I share much of your reasoning on your voting behaviour, squidthing. Plus I've rejected any link between the labels that are attached to the Parties, and their policies. Labour certainly isn't socialist and the BNP isn't Far Right IMO. More traditional British common-sense. I'm hugely more socialist in my dealings with people than Brown in his handling of this country, and I don't fiddle my expenses like that "whoops a daisy, I've made a mistake" creature Chichester we saw on the programme last night.
I totally agree with profoundManchester#1; the law of the land should be rigorously applied. But will a corrupt system do this?not a chance.
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the BNP isn't Far Right IMO. More traditional British common-sense.
More like traditional lack of any common sense.... their plans to slash the price of petrol are just ludicrous. I'd just love to hear how they plan to make the Russians and Saudis cut the price of oil, or where they plan to make up the tax shortfall.
I'd also be curious how many BNP voters have ever paid a penny in income tax in their life.
At least the proper nazi party were efficient administrators. The BNP's performance on every council seat they've won (when they turn up) proves they can't organise the proverbial part in a brewery.
Incidentally I describe myself as to the right of genghis khan politically. Its quite possible to be very right wing without being a racist and vice versa. The two don't have to go hand in hand.
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Ah the tendency of some Brits for self loathing and apparently for yakking up propanda. We'll see who's right over the next 10 years, won't we. You just go on voting for the corrupt and greedy party as your enemies intend. Have fun in your world of racists and nazis, won't you ? I'm keener on seeing measures taken to stop the wave of immigrant crime on our streets, and cutting fuel duty by getting out of the EU, stopping Blair's wars etc etc. And yes, I hope my large tax-bill might be cut if UK didn't tolerate 'representatives' like Giles Chichester.
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The problem is that I've yet to find any political party that isn't corrupt and greedy. It doesn't matter who you vote for because a politician will win.
Without immigrants the NHS would cease to exist: we depend upon African and Philipino nurses and Indian GPs. The only dentists in Nottingham that take NHS patients are Poles.
The BNP focuses on 'immigrant crime' yet I haven't seen any. The vast majority of our crime (and most of our other problems) are commited by our own home grown work shy dole scrounging population: the BNP's main voter block. I don't want to listen to people who can't realise how ironic it is to rant about the evils of foreigners and then go for a curry afterwards!
Personally I'm sick of Brits refusing to do work that a Pole is desperate to do (like picking potatoes). I'd personally thrown one of our own scum over beachy head for every immigrant that enters the country who will work. It would make the UK a much better country. Thats right wing politics!
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Re-#16.
You raise good points as usual IMO. Pesky business prevents me trying to respond
just now.Can I get back to you after close of school?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Hate to lower the tone in my first post, but does any kind soul out there know the music that was part of the planning item on tonight's show?
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Re-19.
Should still have it on DVD (how sad am I)
Will check late tonight.
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Re-Fakediamond_geezer.
Sorry geezer. The wife has recorded over it.
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Expenses scandal
Kristy!
cc: Giles:
I don't know why you did this mistake..did you think that someone was never going to find out about the misapproriation of funds.
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PLANNING:
What kind of planning are you talking about?
Building bridges, roads etc!
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US politics
It is going to be a very HOT summer in the U.S. Political scene.
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Cheapest car
where can i get about 100 of them!.
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NHS
It is a good thing it has been around 60 years.
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