Prospects for Tuesday, 1 July
Good morning, we're looking at the NHS again today - Paul Mason is trying to discover where all our money is spent - do let us know your thoughts on the NHS. But here are the other stories we're looking at for tonight's programme - and a certain Frenchman has caught the eye of programme producer Shaminder Nahal:
"Europe's most charismatic politician takes over the Presidency of the EU today - at a time when the very future of the union is under threat. "Something isn't right. Something isn't right at all with the EU", President Sarkozy said last night. Just a few hours later it emerged the Polish President Lech Kaczynski was refusing to sign the Lisbon Treaty after its rejection by Irish voters. "For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said. Apart from finding a way through the Lisbon impasse, Sarkozy has to try and make deals on climate change and immigration. As he takes his unique brand of political showbiz to the big stage of Europe, can he pull it all off?
The 10p tax rears its head in the Commons today with the return of the Finance Bill. Some Labour MPs want money for more than a million people not covered by Alistair Darling's compensation package. There will also be a debate on the controversial vehicle excise duty plans which would affect up to 18 million drivers, and possible signs of concessions from the government tomorrow. Ken Clarke has come up with proposals for the Conservatives on how to deal with the "West Lothian question" - which would curtail the voting rights of Scottish MPs. Interested in any of that?
It's a year since the smoking ban in England. Has it changed us?
Paul Mason and Nick Menzies are working on a film - as part of our NHS at 60 series - about how effectively the government has spent money on health.
You can watch our special NHS debate from Leicester .
The African Union summit ends today. What will happen?
Or do you like the 150th anniversary of Darwin's theory of natural selection. Or anything else?
Yours, Shaminder"
Comment number 1.
At 1st Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:As usual when there has been a stabbing or a shooting on the streets of our capital city, the media is full of meaningless filler about how much the victim had to live for, how they were in the wrong place at the wrong time etc., plus video of the dozens of police officers who were so sadly lacking when the victim was killed, searching drains, and accepting flowers from grieving friends.
And as usual, despite the many witnesses, no description of the culprits is forthcoming. Perhaps the programme could set aside such desperately urgent matters as consideration of Darwin's Theory, for long enough to tell us why they partake in this shameful ritual of news-suppression.
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Comment number 2.
At 1st Jul 2008, JadedJean wrote:grumpy-jon (#1) Perhaps the NN team might be so bold as to try to link the two? They could look at the full title of Darwin's magnum opus.
Still, it wouldn't be the first time the obvious was pointed out and then just ignored (or complicated away). The Ö÷²¥´óÐã Affairs Select Committee spent some time scatching their heads over the disporportionality of violent crime 'associated with' Black youth - and whta did they come up with? We watch it on TV, we read about it in the press and we've recently observed it during elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe. The pattern here is the same as that revealed in USA crime statistics. Still the EU's Mr Frattini says we need more.
(Rhetorical) why?
The following IS one way to 'improve' standards:
But then, feminising education is also an effective way to increase the crime rate (in more ways than one).
I sometimes wonder whether our politicians realy have our citizens' best interests in mind, rather than those of some unspoken alien power?
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:Re #2. JJ.
"....some unspoken alien power" you say? Really? Surely not in this fine Parliamentary democracy of ours. Deals cut and careers advanced? Tony and Gordon would never have countenanced such things, I feel certain.
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Comment number 4.
At 1st Jul 2008, grumpy-jon wrote:Re-tonight's programme running order, is everyone getting the dreaded '404 page not found' flag?, when trying to view 'Comments?'
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Comment number 5.
At 1st Jul 2008, barriesingleton wrote:THAT'S THE WAY THE MONEY GOES
You mean you don't know? GIMMICKS!
This is right across Ö÷²¥´óÐã output. Studios with 'Wall of picture' on all sides showing - well anything really. (Do you remember years ago - Python or Not the 9.00 - had the news reader say: 'Lord Privy Seal' to sequenced pictures of a lord, a privy and a seal? Prophetic.) The greatest effort goes into seeking out background noise - the very thing that makes life annoying for those of us heading into deafness. All interviews are now done in busy streets. Oh why bother. You know all this. Those in charge clearly have no wish to please or serve. Serious news is now clever imagery backed by mood music. Why the hell am I still typing? ? ? Those whom the Ö÷²¥´óÐã wish to see off, they first make mad.
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Comment number 6.
At 1st Jul 2008, barriesingleton wrote:OH THAT MONEY
How strange that I misconstrued at #5 but you validated me with an NHS report full of art-shots through drips and drip-bags in various degrees of focus with 'dementia music' as a backing track. Is there still time to bung the tape in that exhibition with the dopey running man? It's not news reporting is it though? Newsnight imitating Art.
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