- Stephen Smith
- 13 Nov 07, 07:11 PM
It would be easy to be wounded. The ±«Óãtv's flagship late-night round-up has been slightingly compared to other things that red-blooded Brits might care to devote themselves to as the long evenings draw in.
Yes, as hard as it may be for regular viewers to credit, Newsnight has been cast as some kind of milk-and-water alternative to a bit of how's-your-father.
And we've been on the receiving end of this calumny not once but twice!
Continue reading "Newsnight wins out over nookie"
- Newsnight
- 13 Nov 07, 06:35 PM
Tonight's programme is presented by .
Immigration Cover up?
"Blunder, panic and cover up" at the ±«Óãtv Office? Well, that's the charge from the Tories after leaked e-mails revealed that the ±«Óãtv Office was warned five months ago that thousands of illegal immigrants had been cleared to work in security jobs, some in Whitehall. One of the memos from Jacqui Smith's private secretary talks about holding back the information because "she did not think the lines we have are good enough for the Press Office or Ministers to use to explain the situation." During angry exchanges in the House, she said she had taken "robust action" as soon as she was informed of the problem. But the accusation remains that news management was the overriding concern of the ±«Óãtv Office. We'll have more tonight.
"Free and Fair Elections"
In Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto is under house arrest again. In interviews with foreign media this morning, she has called for President Musharraf to step down from office and has said her party is "unlikely" to contest elections in January. Where does this leave the Washington/London strategy towards Pakistan, and can any kind of elections, let alone "free and fair", be held in these circumstances? We'll be speaking to Pakistan’s Minister for Information.
Sarkozy and the strikers
Rolling strikes on the railways are due to begin in France tonight over pension reform. Other public sector workers will join in over the coming days. Is this Sarkozy's "Thatcher moment?" Allan Little is in Paris.
Cost of war
How much did the war in Iraq and Afghanistan cost? A Congressional report by Democrats tonight claims that that "hidden costs" have pushed the total to $1.5 trillion, that's $20,900 for the average US family of four - but do their figures add up?
We also have an interview with the Aga Khan on his attempts to restore ancient Islamic art. And we’ll have the latest on the bird flu outbreak in Suffolk.
- Newsnight
- 13 Nov 07, 10:59 AM
Today's programme editor is Dan Kelly - here's his early e-mail to the programme team:
Good morning.
Some good stories today.
The ±«Óãtv Office have been accused of a cover up, after leaked e-mails suggest that the ±«Óãtv Office was warned four months ago that thousands of illegal immigrants had been cleared to work in security jobs, some in Whitehall. One of the memos from Jacqui Smith's private secretary talks about holding back the information because "she did not think the lines we have are good enough for Press Office or Ministers to use to explain the situation." The story was finally leaked this Sunday to the Mirror. An attempt to bury bad news? What happened to Brown's spin free "new politics?" What are the real figures, and what type of jobs are we actually talking about?
In Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto is under house arrest again. In interviews to the foreign press this morning, she has called for President Musharaff to step down from office and has said her party is "unlikely" to contest elections in January. Where does this leave the Washington/London strategy towards Pakistan, and can any kind of elections, let alone "free and fair" be held in these circumstances?
Rolling strikes on the railways are due to begin in France tonight over pension reform. Other public sector workers will join in over the coming days. Is this Sarkozy's "Thatcher moment?" Or will he bend as Chirac did famously in 1995. Allan Little is in Paris.
We have an interview with the Aga Khan on his attempts to restore ancient Islamic art.
Other stories today include inflation higher than expected, we'll watch bird flu and is can Newsnight gain any friends on Bebo???
Other ideas, treatments? Guest suggestions?
See you at 10.30
Dan
