Moves to keep up with ‘express train’ of life expectancy could mean retirement age rising to 67 as early as 2026 The government will bring forward an increase in the state pension age to 67 under radical plans designed to prolong the working life of millions of people aged 50 and under. Ministers are already pushing controversial changes through parliament to raise the age at which men and women can claim a pension to 66 by 2020. Now, as the government moves to keep up with the “express train” of life expectancy, the retirement age could rise to 67 as early as 2026. Steve Webb, the pensions minister, has told the Observer that further moves are necessary and the coalition government will rip up the former administration’s timetable, under which the pension age was to be increased to 67 in 2036 and 68 by 2046. Webb, a Liberal Democrat, indicated that he was not seeking merely to tinker with the timescales. He said: “The timescales for 67 and 68 are too slow. If it is 67 in the mid-2030s we will be going backwards in terms of share of your life in retirement. I mean the problem would be worse than 20
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• Bash F5 or use auto-refresh for the latest updates • Send your US Open chatter to john.ashdown@guardian.co.uk • Or get in touch via Twitter at @JohnAshdown Third set: Federer* 7-6, 6-4, 3-5 Djokovic Federer holds to 30 – an important hold because it means if Djokovic serves this out, Federer will be serving first in the fourth set. Third set: Federer 7-6, 6-4, 2-5 *Djokovic This is a crucial game for Djokovic. If he holds here, you back him to take the set. If he’s broken the match could be Federer’s. The Serb shows no sign of pressure, though, finding the corners with precision and easing into a 40-0 lead before thumping down a serve that oozes authority. Another love hold. Third set: Federer* 7-6, 6-4, 2-4 Djokovic Federer holds to love after a display of hitting so clean you could eat your dinner off it. Third set: Federer 7-6, 6-4, 1-4 *Djokovic Federer gets the better of an arm-wrestle from the baseline, whumping a forehand past the Serb to make it 15-15. The edge has just gone from the Swiss player’s game, though – he’s made eight unforced errors in this set alone. Djokovic roars his pleasure after a forehand down the line brings up 40-15 and another crunch at Federer’s toes takes the game. Third set: Federer* 7-6, 6-4, 1-3 Djokovic Djokovic has very much got his dander up once more – a delicious dropshot brings him back to 40-30 and some remarkable baseline agility forces Federer to another deuce. There’s no drama this time, though, and Federer holds. Third set: Federer 7-6, 6-4, 0-3 *Djokovic We had pyrotechnics in the first set, Federer on fire in the second, now it’s slowed down and Djokovic is grinding his into the ascendancy. Grinding is probably doing him a disservice actually. He’s really digging in deep and has rediscovered his serve. A straightforward hold there. Third set: Federer* 7-6, 6-4, 0-2 Djokovic A couple of loopers off the net bring us to 30-30. Federer produces a 129mph serve, his fastest of the day, but then miscues to bring up deuce. Djokovic is fizzing and popping around the back of the court like a grasshopper in a deep fat fryer, and he takes Federer to a third deuce without gaining a break point of his own. A sumptuous return finally gives him that chance, though, but even Federer’s second serve has the smothering quality of a duvet dunked in chloroform. The Serb battles back to another advantage, another break point, another second serve, but walks right into another second serve that kicks up into his teeth (figuratively at least). Incredibly he does it again, another advantage, another break point, another second serve … and this time he survives the smother and watches Federer slap one into the net from the baseline. Djokovic goes a break up. Third set: Federer 7-6, 6-4, 0-1 *Djokovic The courtside Greg Rusedski reckons this is the best he’s seen Federer play in years. But then he also reckons Djokovic has Star Power in his box. Expect the Serb to begin flashing random colours and leaving trails of stars as he runs, enemies tumbling in his path. A little Mario Bros. reference for you there. He’s taken his first service game of the third set to love, at least. Roger Federer wins the second set 6-4. Federer leads 7-6, 6-4 Second set: Federer* 7-6, 6-4 Djokovic Federer, then, serving for a two-set lead. Djokovic looks like he’s trying to get himself pumped up, but the technique isn’t coming with him – it’s 30-0 in the blink of an eye. A hammer … No scratch that … An anvil-off-the-roof of a serve makes it 40-15 and another unreturnable effort is enough. ADVERTS, ADVERTS, ADVERTS … (a précis) Buy a car! Gamble! Get some stuff delivered somewhere! Second set: Federer 7-6, 5-4 *Djokovic Djokovic was just feeling his ankle at the end of that game, but looks unaffected as he races into a 30-0 lead. The scowl returns after he lets a backhand slip wide. The scowl deepens after a double fault makes it 40-30, but Federer drags a forehand into the net. He’ll have to serve out if he wants this set. Second set: Federer* 7-6, 5-3 Djokovic At 15-15 Federer splats an ace down the centre, with Djokovic groping at thin air. A poor volley from Federer allows Djokovic to make it 30-30, before a smash and another thumping serve allows the No3 seed to consolidate the break. Second set: Federer 7-6, 4-3 *Djokovic Djokovic drags a forehand a foot wide – that’s a chasm in this match – and Federer has the advantage at 0-30 and facing a second serve. More otherworldly stuff from the back of the court – his backhand down the line is astonishing – makes it 0-40 and again a bullying rally gives Federer the break. In the first set neither player came close to breaking – we’ve had three breaks in the opening seven games of the second. Second set: Federer* 7-6, 3-3 Djokovic What with all this high-quality tennis action I’ve not been able to bring you any Worms updates. I’m hearing the Utensils team is on top, although Spoon has taken refuge under a girder. Momentum is hugely important in any sport, but it really seems to weigh heavily on tennis. And Djokovic seems to have dragged it back. He’s 15-30 up and playing superbly again. A shoddy Federer forehand five the Serb a break point at 30-40 … and the Swiss goes wide. A break back. You really couldn’t see that coming two games ago. Second set: Federer 7-6, 3-2 *Djokovic There’s a pause as someone in the crowd is taken ill. After a short break Djokovic begins the unenviable task of fighting his way back into this match, with the frightening tennis robot from the future at the other end. The Serb goes 40-15 ahead thanks to a couple of Federer backhands that drift long and with a wonderful pick up of the soles of the soles of the soles of his shoes he whacks home a winner to stop the rot. Second set: Federer* 7-6, 3-1 Djokovic While Federer has remained on that other tennis planet, Djokovic has edged back towards earth. Only edged – he plays a wonderful backhand to drag things back to 30-30 – but Federer is still in orbit. Mind you, that forehand he’s just hit isn’t far from heading into orbit – somehow it’s deuce. Federer bosses another rally … in fact, make that another couple of rallies … to take the game. Second set: Federer 7-6, 2-1 *Djokovic Djokovic hammers a forehand into the net – and he’s beginning to look a little irked at himself. No wonder – he’s been playing wonderfully but not getting close to a break. He follows up with a stress-relieving ace, but then nets another forehand. It’s 15-30 on the Djokovic serve and a breathtaking backhand gives Federer two break points. The serve is still working just fine – he saves one break point with another crunching first serve – but the Serb is struggling to get the upper hand in the rallies. Still, Federer goes too long to bring up deuce, the first deuce by my reckoning, but another nervy shot gives the Swiss another break point. No mistake this time and Federer has the break. Second set: Federer* 7-6, 1-1 Djokovic That was a bit too easy. Djokovic’s level drops off just a touch and Federer holds to love. Second set: Federer 7-6, 0-1 *Djokovic These two are playing at such a high level. You simply can’t play tennis much better than this. Anyway, Djokovic needs to pick himself up after that. He’s done a decent job of it here, racing into a 40-0 before a whipped forehand from Federer puts the brakes on the momentum. Still, it’s a straightforward hold. Roger Federer wins the first set 7-6 (9-7) 1st set: TIE BREAK Djokovic goes narrowly wide on Federer’s second serve and then nets a forehand to give Federer a mini-break at 2-0 … but he drags a backhand wide on his own serve to level it up at 2-2 … Federer again gets the upper hand at 4-2 with a lovely backhand down the line … and under pressure Djokovic double-faults. Federer leads 5-2 with two serves to come … But Federer throws in his own double-fault … Djokovic nets the next, though, to give Federer three set points at 6-3 … a crunching Djokovic serve saves one … and after another rally-to-end-all-rallies Federer clips the net cord and Djokovic puts it away. 6-5, but two serves for Federer … Djokovic saves the third set point with a hammering forehand. 6-6 now … ‘COME ON!’ urges Federer after forcing another error. 7-6 another set point … saved once more by Djokovic, forcing Federer to hit long … a clever return puts Federer 8-7 up and he’s got two serves once more … this time he only needs one! Federer wins the first set 7-6 (9-7) 1st set: Federer 6-6 *Djokovic It’s 0-15 early doors, but Djokovic produces yet another fantastic serve to level it up. Federer caresses the next into the foot of the net, lofts the next long and goes back to the net with the next. 6-6 we’re going to a tie-break. 1st set: Federer* 6-5 Djokovic A cracking return on Federer’s first serve puts Djokovic 15-0 up, but a shuddering serve evens it up. They really are playing astonishing tennis. Save one, or possibly two, others, every player on the ATP tour must watch these two and shake their heads at their play. It’s on a different plane. Another couple of mini-classic rallies later Federer is 40-15 up and a long return means Djokovic is going to have to hold for a a tie-break. 1st set: Federer 5-5 *Djokovic The first nine games have taken just 27 minutes and in that time the clouds have been shooed away and the sun has very much got his hat on. Hip-hip-hip hooray and all that. WHAT A RALLY THAT WAS! The first point is surely the longest of the match so far, Federer fending off Djokovic’s laser-guided forehands to Federer’s backhand. Eventually, with the Serb at his mercy, Federer smacks one long. This really has got ‘Epic’ written all over it. In fact, if you got a moment, it’s a twelve-storey epic with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying ‘This Is an Epic’. Get me two pencils and a pair of underpants. Djokovic holds to 15. 1st set: Federer* 5-4 Djokovic Federer raises to a 40-0 lead, thanks in part to a couple of serves that kick like a mule angered by rising house prices. A misjudged drop shot gives Djokovic a sniff at 40-30, but, despite the tricksy intervention of a net cord, Federer thumps a forehand past his opponent to hold. Again. 1st set: Federer 4-4 *Djokovic WHUMP! Ace. 15-0. BLAMP! Net. 30-0. SKEW! Long. 40-0. DINKY DROP! Net. 40-15. (Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce) FLAP! Wide. Game Djokovic. 1st set: Federer* 4-3 Djokovic Federer drags a forehand off towards Texas and, for the first time in the game I think, one of these players leads on the opponent’s serve. It doesn’t last long, though, and the Swiss gets the better of a couple of hard-hitting rallies to go 30-15 up. A stunning cross-court passing shot brings parity once more, but then Djokovic semi-shanks a forehand long and it’s another hold. This couldn’t be more even if it were a surface plate . Yes, I had to Google that. 1st set: Federer 3-3 *Djokovic The Arthur Ashe Arena is one of sport’s great arenas – from above it looks like a giant satellite dish filled with humanity (er, albeit one with a blue tennis court in the middle). Djokovic again needs a couple of early seconds serves and it’s 15-15 before a whistling, unreturnable serve down the middle and a Federer forehand into the net gives him breathing space. You definitely get the sense that Djokovic is working the hardest in the rallies but he’s plenty good enough to stay in the points. Another netted return, another hold. 1st set: Federer* 3-2 Djokovic Federer charges the net and forces the Serb to panic a backhand well long. And he mixes it up again – after picking up one Djokovic forehand from around his ankles, a delicate drop-shot (one you might even call Murrayesque) is enough to make it 30-0. A thunking exocet of a backhand from the Serb drags it back to 30-30 but Federer finishes the job courtesy of a stray Djokovic backhand and an ace. 1st set: Federer 2-2 *Djokovic Djokovic needs second serves on each of the first two points – Federer is wild with his return on the first but from the second Djoko puts Federer’s return into the net. Finally, from the 14th point of the game, we have a point against serve. Djokovic slows it down in response – Bounce, bounce, bounce. Bounce, bounce, bounce. Bounce, bounce, bounce before the serve – and a couple of streaky returns from Federer gives Djokovic 40-15. A pounding, insistent two-handed backhand down the line gives him the hold. 1st set: Federer* 2-1 Djokovic There’s barely a breath between games. Both players seem intent on obliterating the other with their intensity and tempo. In the blink of an eye it’s 40-0 to Federer. And in two blinks, despite a second serve, it’s all over. Twelve points, three games … thunderous, ruthless stuff. 1st set: Federer 1-1 *Djokovic The Serb kicks things off with an ace arrowed down the centre and there’s no let-up, a wonderful forehand that has Federer watching on in admiration (and, I’m sure, a soupçon of disgust) puts Djokovic 40-0 up and Federer nets to concede the hold. Neither player has dropped a point on serve. 1st set: Federer* 1-0 Djokovic Federer opens up with a crunching cross-court forehand to go 30-0 up, and produces another superbly judged forehand to go 40-0. And after 90 seconds or so, the Swiss is 1-0 up. Here’s Gary Naylor’s answer. 6.20pm: Alicia Keys warbles ‘New York, New York, New Yooooorrrrrkkk’ as the players go through their warm-up. That’s a little self-referential isn’t it. Can’t see Wimbledon blasting out ‘Waterloo Sunset’ or Pulp’s Mile End before a semi-final. Though wouldn’t it be brilliant if they did. Right here we go. Federer to serve … 6.15pm: The players are knocking up out on court – Federer in red and grey, Djokovic all in white. 6.14pm: Roger Federer is being interviewed outside the dressing rooms. Looks like we might have some play in the next 20 minutes. Whenever I see Federer I’m always struck by the fact that he’s almost exactly six months younger than me because a) he somehow manages to look both much older and much younger than me and b) he’s won 16 grand slams and I’m yet to get off the mark. 6.08pm: A quiz question from Gary Naylor: “Which group’s first single was a Number One, but they did not release their second single for another twelve years (it went top five) by which time they had a completely different line-up?” I have a hunch (which the more I think about, the more wrong it seems). But I’ll wait for Gary to send over the answer. 6.05pm: This is the latest rainfall radar from intellicast.com . As you can see, it’s hardly a blanket. And, as if by magic, the rain has stopped at Flushing Meadows. 5.55pm: Sky are now showing the 1976 final. Still pouring at Flushing Meadows, but looking a little brighter. Even so there’ll be no play for a good hour I’d say. Anyone fancy a game of I spy? No? Kerplunk then? Mr Pop? Tell you what would be handy – I’m doing one of my largely ignored hugely popular pub quizzes at the Rose and Crown on Tuesday 20 September (come one, come all, fine ales, wines of the world, cash prizes, etc, etc). Has anyone out there got any superb questions that I can steal wholesale consider for selection? 5.40pm: “Hey John – 24 has to be the worst offender,” writes Alex Hanton. “An entire anti-terrorism group spending a day without relieving themselves? No wonder Jack Bauer is always so angry. The best aversion is probably Pulp Fiction.” Good call. See also: Lethal Weapon 2.ui 5.35pm: Rain continues to thunder down in New York. “The opening scene of Barbarella sent a lot of teenage boys to the ba…” Behave yourself Gary Naylor. 5.30pm: Sky Sports have settled in with a Hard-Fi backed montage – Hard To Beat, aptly enough – of Federer’s tournament so far. He has been imperious – he’s only dropped one set at Flushing Meadows this year. 5.22pm: As we’ve got this delay, we can expand on our theme. Of the top of my head, the only sci-fi film I can think of with what we’ll call, for want of a better phrase, a “toilet scene” is Jurassic Park. And that ends with your man getting chomped by a Tyrannosaur. Obviously you’ve got to make allowances. It’s all about escapism so you don’t want to ruin the viewer’s pleasure by sending people off to the bogs all the time. But just the odd reference, here and there. That’s all I’m asking for. For example: Darth Vader: I’ve been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master. Obi-Wan: Only a master of evil, Darth. Darth Vader: I tell you what was evil, that mushroom stroganoff I had at lunchtime. Can you give me a minute? Obi-Wan: No worries. I’ve got to stretch first anyways. 5.21pm: It looks like this might be a heavy shower only, rather than a prolonged downpour. Here’s hoping anyway. 5.15pm: WEATHER NEWS! It’s just started absolutely wellying it down. There’ll be a delay. 5.04pm: Something that has been on my mind today: I watched Aliens last night. Great film. Lovely stuff. But at one point Hicks turns to Ripley and says: Hicks (in husky US marine voice): How long has it been since you slept? 24 hours? You should get some rest. Ripley: Yeah. It’s not a classic exchange but it got me thinking. In that sort of stressful situation, sleep is going to be tricky. But what about going to the loo? You’ve been chased around by insectoid killing machines with acid for blood for the best part of a day, but at some point you’re going to need a comfort break. A more realistic exchange would be: Hicks (in husky US marine voice): How long has it been since you slept? 24 hours? You should get some rest. Ripley (looking slightly pained): I’ll be alright. But do you know where the facilities are? I’m busting. In fact, this unstoppable human need is largely ignored. I think it would add another layer of realism: Balrog: GRRRRR!!! Gandalf: You cannot pass! I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun! Go back to the shadow. YOU SHALL NOT PASS! And if you could direct us to your restrooms, I’m sure we’d all really appreciate it. Gimli drank several gourds at lunchtime, hasn’t stopped going on about it, and Pippin says he’s had enough of squatting behind rocks. You see? Anyway. Glad to have got that off my chest. Right, tennis … Preamble Evening all. Today the men’s draw at the US Open gets interesting, because, at last, the four players who dominate the game come face-to-face. The quartet’s record in the last six grand slams is remarkable: Wimbledon 2010 Three out of four reached the semi-finals (with Federer absent) US Open 2010 Three out of four reached the semi-finals (Murray absent) Australian Open 2011 Three out of the four reached the semi-finals (Nadal absent) French Open 2011 All four reached the semi-finals Wimbledon 2011 Three out of the four reached the semi-finals (Federer absent). And now at the US Open 2011 All four have reached the semi-finals once more. Djokovic is, increasingly, the man to beat. He’s reached six successive grand-slam semis, and three of the last four finals, winning two of them. The last man to deny the Serb a place in a final was his opponent today. Federer beat the Joker in the last four at the French Open earlier this year. The pair have met 23 times, with Federer winning 14 to Djokovic’s nine, but in the past two years it’s a much closer 5-4 to the Swiss and in 2011 it’s 3-1 to Djokovic with that defeat on the red clay at Roland Garros the only blemish. In other news , thanks to a slight diary error, I’m missing a retro Worms and whiskey marathon at a friend’s house tonight. Maybe we’ll get an update from there as we go along. US Open 2011 Roger Federer Novak Djokovic US Open tennis Tennis John Ashdown guardian.co.uk
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Fashion-conscious coach parties expected to keep shopping giant running until 2012 Olympics The largest urban shopping mall in Europe will open in east London this week amid hopes that foreign shoppers might bring in the cash that British shoppers seem unwilling to part with. One financial expert said experts could not say that the project would have been cancelled had anyone been able to predict the economic slowdown, but with the capital awash with rising numbers of tourists, it could well be down to London’s cachet with fashion-conscious Europeans to keep our stores afloat. The massive new Westfield Stratford City mall – with its 300 shops, 70 restaurants and bars, a 17-screen cinema and 1.9m sq feet of retail space – opens on Tuesday in Stratford at the site of next year’s Olympic Games, at a time when o ne in seven shops in Britain are boarded up as retailers struggle. Richard Dodd of the British Retail Consortium said: “Any retailer or developer would want to be able to choose a time to open, and we wouldn’t choose the conditions we have now. But that doesn’t mean that if they knew in the past what it would be like now they would have cancelled.” Dodd added: “Consumer confidence is very weak. Our own figures for August showed that spending was only 1.5% higher than in August a year ago, but that is less than inflation and we’ve had a VAT rise. People bought less stuff this year than a year ago. And all the indicators are that people feel their own costs are rising.” But with the Australian-based Westfield company – which has another, slightly smaller mall in west London – bringing in 10,000 jobs to what is one of the most deprived parts of the city, it is not just big businesses that hope the glamour of Tuesday, when pop star and occasional X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger will open the shopping centre, will stick with it. In total, £1.45bn and 40,000 tonnes of steel have gone into construction – Marks & Spencer and John Lewis have taken huge outlets. They will be joined by names such as Topshop, River Island, Primark, Boots and Goldsmiths, which will be selling some of its jewellery from vending machines. Westfield will undoubtedly benefit from the Olympics, and developers expect around 70% of the 10 million visitors to the Games to pass through. “Westfield is not being built solely for the Olympics, but it’s a major long-term investment by retailers for that part of east London, and it needs to be successful well outside of any Olympic considerations,” said Dodd. There has been a surge in European tourists in London this year, mostly French, German and Spanish, many attracted by the spending power of their euros against a weak pound, and this has kept many retailers in the capital afloat. Westfield will be hoping for a share of the continental visitor spending power, much of which at the moment is spent in the West End triumvirate of Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street. Jace Tyrrell, of the New West End Company, said there is no fear that the West End will lose custom to the new project. “We’re relaxed about Stratford. We’ve seen a huge rise in European shoppers and I don’t think we’ll lose too many to a mall.” But coaches are already offering direct runs from Paris to Stratford. Eurostar, which is also reporting a rise in the popularity of London as a destination for its passengers, will not stop at Stratford International at the very least until after the Games, when the train operator will review its decision. But the transport links from other parts of London are fast and varied and as the 150 cleaners put the final polish on the site, shops and developers at Westfield Stratford City are hoping for a brighter, long-term future. Westfield facts 40,000 tonnes of structural steel was used in the construction – equivalent to the weight of 80 million medals. 10,000 permanent jobs have been provided – 2,000 of which have gone to local unemployed people. 4 million people live less than 45 minutes away and have £3.24bn to spend. 1.25m metres of cable is in the centre. Plus 30,000 metres of piping. 150 cleaners are clearing the site to be ready for Tuesday’s opening. 75% of Stratford City’s electrical power will be met by an onsite power plant. Retail industry Olympic Games 2012 London Tracy McVeigh Simon Goodley guardian.co.uk
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The publication, which offers ideas on Labour’s future direction, has been described by opponents as ‘lazy’ and ‘idiotic’ A book offering ideas for Labour’s future direction has caused a savage split in the party, with one senior figure accusing its detractors of employing the tactics of Damian McBride, an adviser to Gordon Brown who was forced to resign after his underhand behaviour was revealed. The Purple Book , which includes a chapter by Ivan Lewis, the shadow culture secretary, on re-engaging communities with politics – regarded as Blairite in approach – was described by opponents in anonymous briefings published yesterday as “lazy” and “idiotic”. However, supporters of the book, which has been written as a response to Lord Glasman’s Blue Labour ideas, a philosophy said to be an inspiration to party leader Ed Miliband, hit back last night, claiming the attacks were reminiscent of McBride’s actions. A senior figure in the Labour party told the Observer that while Miliband and those around him had previously called for the party to re-engage with ideas and let a thousand flowers bloom, “it would seem some people don’t want a thousand flowers to bloom, hence this Damian McBride-style briefing”. He added: “This hasn’t been the hallmark of Ed Miliband’s operation and he has put great store in removing himself from this kind of thing.” That was why, he said, the latest briefing had “caused a great deal of alarm”. The split comes in the run-up to the party conference, where tensions now seem set to become public. There are concerns within the Blairite wing that Miliband has moved himself too far towards the ideas of Glasman, who claims the party needs to re-engage with traditional working-class issues such as the family and patriotism. Miliband announced on taking leadership of the party that the era of New Labour was dead. While the Labour leader has managed to reassert his authority over the party in the wake of the phone hacking scandal, during which he was an impressive performer, the are continuing doubts about whether he has the ability to win a general election. Last night shadow transport minister, John Woodcock, posted a message on Twitter, saying: “Shame 2 c anon hatchet job on Purple Book in Times, partic when so few’ve had chance to read it. Ed’s clear we’ve moved on from this approach.” Labour Ed Miliband Daniel Boffey guardian.co.uk
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Fresh fears over threat of urban sprawl as National Trust survey finds majority of people are unlikely to get involved Fears that the coalition’s relaxation of the planning system will result in urban sprawl have been reignited after it emerged that the vast majority of people are unlikely to participate in the government’s newly created local forums that allow communities to block housing developments. A YouGov poll, commissioned by the National Trust, found that few people were aware of the government’s proposals to alter the planning laws dramatically, and even fewer had the inclination to address planning issues in their local area. The findings, based on interviews with 2,319 adults living in England, are a blow to the government which has struggled to defend its controversial draft national planning policy framework in recent weeks. The framework is seeking to slash what most agree are unwieldy planning laws. But ministers insist this will not result in a carte blanche for developers. Instead, they say communities will have the final decision under the government’s new neighbourhood plans, which allow local people to voice their opposition to new developments. Planning minister Greg Clark pledged that the plans “will be a huge opportunity for communities to exercise genuine influence over what their home town should look like in the future”. But the poll found that 70% of people said they were “not very likely” or “not at all likely” to get involved in their neighbourhood plan. Only 4% said they were “very likely” to get involved. The apathy appears subject to political variation. Lib Dem and Tory voters are slightly more likely to get involved (28% and 26%, respectively) than Labour voters (21%). The National Trust, which is strongly opposed to the plans, suggested the findings reinforced fears that the new laws would play into the hands of developers, who have the time and resources to participate in planning applications and want to develop on greenfield rather than more expensive brownfield sites. “The government needs to do more to understand how to engage people in planning,” said Dame Fiona Reynolds, the director general of the National Trust. “Our fear is that if people don’t participate in the new system, then neighbourhood plans may simply become a charter for those best equipped or with vested interests to get the most, say, with local communities only getting involved once decisions have been made.” Communities secretary Eric Pickles and the chancellor, George Osborne, have defended the proposals, saying they are good for the UK economy. “No one should underestimate our determination to win this battle,” they wrote in an article in the Financial Times last week. “We will fight for jobs, prosperity and the right protection for our countryside.” But there has been criticism that the legislation is being rushed through with little consultation. Labour MPs have urged the government to extend the consultation period on the draft framework and hold a Commons debate and vote. The National Trust poll suggests that concerns over the speed with which the government is moving on the issue may be justified. The survey revealed that 73% of the population say they have heard “not very much” or “nothing at all” about the proposals. Geographically, awareness is highest in the south east, outside London, with 25% saying they have heard a “fair amount” or a “great deal”, compared with 17% in the north. “This low level of awareness is very concerning, especially given the government’s timetable for consultation on the proposed changes to the planning system,” Reynolds said. “We think the government should make sure people across the length and breadth of England have heard more about the proposals before a major decision like this, which will affect our landscape for ever, is made.” The survey also found that there appeared to be wariness of “big business” when it came to planning. Only 5% of those questioned said commercial property developers should have a significant say in planning decisions. And seven in 10 people said they believed that all new housing developments should be required to include space for people to grow food, such as allotments. “People are clearly wary about big business having too big a role in planning in their local community,” Reynolds said. “Commercial developers and large businesses appear to be the stakeholders that the public feel should have the least say in deciding what gets built.” Clark has insisted that the government has put in place “extensive consultation arrangements” and promised a parliamentary debate on the proposals. He told the Observer last month that building more housing was vital if younger generations were to gain a foothold on the property ladder. There is speculation, however, that a group of backbench Tories, led by Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry, may press the government to make changes. Planning policy Housing The National Trust Communities Jamie Doward guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Unite leader Len McCluskey calls for protests and strikes against cuts
September 10, 2011 No Comment
Uncompromising rallying cry by leader of Britain’s biggest union ahead of TUC conference likely to alarm Labour leader The leader of Britain’s biggest union today calls on millions of working people to prepare for a national campaign of “civil disobedience” and co-ordinated strikes in protest at coalition cuts to pensions and public services. In a rallying cry ahead of the Trades Union Congress, which opens in London on Sunday, Len McCluskey, the general secretary of Unite, warns that the movement will head into “terminal decline” if the 6.5 million members of unions fail to “stand up and fight” this autumn. In terms that will alarm the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, who won the leadership a year ago on the back of union votes and has worked since to shed his “red Ed” label, McCluskey says all forms of organised action and disruption should be considered to defeat a government with “no legitimacy”. “My view is that we should rule nothing in and nothing out. Every conceivable form of protest and action should be carefully considered from civil disobedience through to co-ordinated industrial strikes,” he said in an interview with the Observer . “Everything should be considered in the face of the type of onslaught that we are looking at.” McCluskey, who condemned last month’s riots and looting as “the exact opposite of community spirit, collectivism and what trades unionism is all about”, said non-violent civil disobedience would be justified. “The reality is that we have got to demonstrate to people that unions are organisations that we are proud to belong to. If we don’t – if we run for cover – if we involve ourselves in shabby compromises and shabby deals, if we appear frightened in the face of the enemy, then who would want you on their side?” He added: “The concept of protest is as old as democracy itself. We should looks at all forms of engagement. That is why we are involved in a coalition of resistance with church groups, with community organisations, with student organisations, with unemployed organisations, with senior citizens organisations, creating people power that can demonstrate its anger against a coalition that we don’t believe has a mandate to do what it is doing and to try to persuade it to take a step back.” Unite, which has 1.55m members, is expected to announce details this week of plans to ballot them on strike action, as is Unison, the public services union, and the GMB general union. On Friday, the NASUWT teaching union announced a ballot that it said could lead to strike action by up to 250,000 school staff. Its general secretary, Chris Keates, said ministers were riding roughshod over measures to support teachers and raise standards. In June the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers took part in a one-day strike over cuts to their pensions. The strike closed thousands of schools. Government plans to increase the amount that public sector workers pay into pensions by an average 3%, while at the same time raising the pension age, are likely to dominate the TUC. McCluskey, whose union is Labour’s principle donor, said he did not expect Miliband to back him on strikes or civil disobedience. “I would like him to support our campaign but I don’t expect him to… I suspect he is worried about the union tag that the media put on him.” The Unite leader said talks with ministers on pensions had made minimal progress, making it almost certain that there would at least one co-ordinated one-day strike across the public services before the end of the year. This is expected to be followed by a rolling programme of targeted action and so-called “smart strikes” involving selected groups of workers. “I think, therefore, it is almost inevitable that there will be large-scale industrial action within the public services before the year is out.” A former Liverpool docker, McCluskey cited the poll tax riots that helped bring down Margaret Thatcher, the protests against the Iraq war that hardened opposition to Tony Blair, and the “Arab Spring” pro-democracy uprisings as evidence of where “people power” can make a real difference. Last night the unions appeared to be backing away from a confrontation with Miliband over his plans to reduce the union vote at party conference. The Labour leader, who is addressing the TUC in Tuesday, has indicated he wants to loosen the grip of union leaders over party policymaking. McCluskey said he had an “open mind” about the ideas and did not expect a big row about them. In his opening speech, the TUC general secretary Brendan Barber will call for reform of the banks so they promote lending and investment in the economy. Ahead of the release this week of a report by the government’s commission on banking reform, he will say: “Banking should be a utility just like energy and water – supplying credit and the other services that our productive industries and services need. “The spectre of a double dip is raising its head. We desperately need an economic stimulus. Unless we move to a low-carbon economy, we face climate chaos. The real challenge, therefore, is how to raise investment – not just by companies but in infrastructure and the public works that can provide jobs, restore confidence and kick start growth. “And while the political classes seem rather embarrassed and can’t wait to get rid of them, the public has big stakes in two major banks. It’s time we put them to work on behalf of the public.” Trade unions Len McCluskey TUC Public sector pensions Public sector cuts Unite Labour Liberal-Conservative coalition Toby Helm guardian.co.uk
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Greek prime minister George Papandreou under fire amid rumours that creditors are about to pull the plug Greece’s embattled prime minister, George Papandreou, has moved to counter growing fears that Athens is about to default on its debts, saying there was a clear route back to economic health. Speaking amid high security as protesters converged on the northern city of Thessaloniki for its annual international trade fair on Saturday, the socialist leader said: “There are two paths. One is the path of major change that will lead to a productive and creative Greece. “The other path, the supposedly easier one, does not look problems straight in the eye and leads to disaster. We insist on the path of change.” Despite strong denials that the country is heading for a default, rumours have grown that the end game is approaching. Wolfgang Schäuble, the German finance minister, has insisted that a sixth, €8bn (£6.8bn) instalment of aid will not be released unless Greece enacts corrective measures to kickstart its economy and improve competitiveness. Experts from Washington and Brussels will fly into Athens this week to assess whether Greece is sticking to its programme of drastic spending cuts and tax rises, amid fears that its creditors could be ready to pull the plug. Share prices plunged on both sides of the Atlantic on Friday, as Athens was forced to deny that it would default, perhaps as soon as this week. The Dow Jones closed more than 300 points down, while in London the FTSE100 lost more than 2% of its value. A team from the so-called “troika” of the IMF, the European commission and the European Central Bank, which bankrolled the Greek rescue deal last May, are due to rule by the end of the month whether it should receive the latest €8bn tranche of the bailout. The troika left Athens at the start of this month after talks with the government broke down. Papandreou has faced down riots on the streets to pass a series of austerity bills, but the country’s creditors accuse him of dragging his feet over job cuts in the civil service and the privatisation of €50bn-worth of state assets. Greece’s plans have also been blown off course by the worse-than-expected performance of its recession-hit economy, which is now expected to shrink by up to 7% this year. Without the €8bn, Athens will be unable to meet repayments due on its bonds. At the same time, Europe’s finance ministers, who gathered with their G7 counterparts in Marseille on Saturday, are still wrangling over the details of a second, €109bn rescue package for the embattled country. The ministers sought to calm world markets by repeating their pledge to do everything necessary to secure recovery, but there were no new details of concrete measures. “There is now a clear slowdown in global growth. We are committed to a strong and co-ordinated international response to these challenges,” they said. As the euro plunged to its weakest level in six months on Friday, Athens issued a statement describing the latest rumours as “a game of very bad taste, an orchestrated speculation that is targeting the euro and the euro area as a whole”. The latest sell-off in financial markets came after a rumour emerged that Germany was drawing up plans to protect its banking sector in the event of a Greek default. A series of other key measures, such as new powers for the eurozone-wide rescue fund, are awaiting approval by national parliaments. But insiders say both IMF boss Christine Lagarde and German chancellor Angela Merkel are coming round to the view that Greece must be allowed to go bust. The IMF, in particular, is said to have become convinced that Greece’s debts are unsustainable. If it passes this week’s test, Greece faces another progress check in December. “My understanding is that in December it’s much more likely the plug will be pulled,” said a source close to the troika. That could prompt other struggling euro members, including Portugal and Ireland, to demand reductions in their own debt burdens, and increase fears that the single currency area is close to collapse. Friday’s anxious mood was exacerbated by news that ECB director Jürgen Stark, who had been sceptical about its policy of buying up Italian and Spanish bonds to restore calm to international debt markets, had resigned. Stark, with Bundesbank boss Jens Weidmann, had toured German media outlets criticising the bank’s policy. A furious outburst from ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet on Thursday, in which he said Germany should be grateful for the low inflation it had achieved through euro-membership, was seen by many observers as an attack on Stark. “Overall, Mr Stark’s departure could be seen by financial markets as another indication of growing disenchantment in Germany towards the euro,” said Julian Callow, of Barclays Capital. But Erik Britton, of City consultancy Fathom, said it was good news if Germany was preparing its banks for the debt restructuring which a growing number of observers see as inevitable. “If they are drawing up a plan to protect the banks, it’s not before time,” he said. “[Greece] will default, it’s just a matter of time – but the bad scenario would be if we got a messy default.” Greece Europe IMF Economics Global economy Euro Currencies Helena Smith Heather Stewart guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Gaddafi’s diehard secret police dig in as Nato jets blast desert stronghold
September 10, 2011 No Comment
Fierce resistance from fighters loyal to the dictator have stopped rebels in their tracks in the hills leading to Bani Walid Nato launched air strikes against Bani Walid, one of the last remaining Libyan towns still held by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. Loyalists were mounting fierce resistance, fuelling speculation about which regime figures were hiding in the desert bastion. Rebel commanders believe several hundred fanatical fighters are trapped in the town, a maze of hills and fortified positions 90 miles south-east of the capital, Tripoli. Street-to-street fighting raged and loyalists were accused of firing Grad rockets from civilian homes. Air strikes hammered fortified positions near the town centre, including buildings thought to shelter Scud missiles that have already been launched against rebel-held Misrata. Overnight fighting saw eight prisoners, one of them a brigadier, captured by rebel patrols, and one unit of Misrata’s Halbus brigade, thought to be operating with forward air controllers of the SAS, is now six miles from the town centre. But the fierce resistance convinced rebel forces to cancel an attack planned for the early hours of the morning, together with an offensive further east at Sirte, Gaddafi’s birthplace and his final coastal stronghold. Three weeks after rebel forces entered Tripoli, and with the new government, the National Transitional Council, completing its move to the capital, loyalist units continue to hold out in Sirte and in a series of desert towns far to the south. The impetus appears to be not realistic hopes of victory but fear of retribution if loyalist units surrender. War crimes investigations are already well advanced in Libya, and lists of names linked to so-called blood crimes have been circulated around rebel units, with trial and execution the likely fate of Gaddafi loyalists who surrender. Regular soldiers, by contrast, are deserting in droves, with rebel units finding outlying positions around Bani Walid deserted. Khalid Abdula Salem, commander of the rebel Western Front, said advanced units were inside the suburbs of the sprawling town and found many people flying the green flag of Gaddafi. He said no reprisals were being taken against them. “Some houses now have our flag, some have the green flag. For those houses, we take down the green flag.” He said that an attack order for the early hours of the morning was cancelled, apparently to give Nato jets freedom to strike. “We have an order from the National Transitional Council not to go inside,” he said. Ranged against the rebels are more than 600 diehard Gaddafi loyalists, including men of the Legion Thoria,Gaddafi’s secret police, and units of the elite 32nd Brigade, commanded by the dictator’s son Khamis. Khamis is thought to have fled the town, leaving his men to their fate. Salem said the town’s defenders also included mercenaries from a rebel faction in Darfur, who had first been encountered when Misratan rebels broke their siege late last month. Bani Walid will prove a tough nut to crack: loyalist forces are dug into caves among the twisting valleys that lead into the town. In the town centre they are barricaded into a former Kalashnikov machine-gun factory, the university and a half-built replica castle built on a hill as a luxury residence for Gaddafi. Bani Walid’s tribal elders, who were once among Gaddafi’s staunchest supporters, last week gave their permission for opposition forces to enter the town, but say they are powerless to overcome the loyalist units within. Instead, it is likely the rebels will have to winkle them out: at the rebel forward base of Abdul Rauf, five tanks and more than 100 black pickup trucks, most mounting rockets or anti-aircraft guns, stood ready for an assault. Standing at a checkpoint facing the empty desert highway that leads to the town, rebel fighter Abdul Fatah Susi said: “The guys in there [Bani Walid] are Legion Thoria, that’s why they don’t want to give up. “We are ready to attack.” Libya Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Africa Nato Chris Stephen Abdul Raufu Mustapha David Smith guardian.co.uk
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Attack on embassy is latest storm to engulf Jewish state as relations with Turkey also deteriorate Israel is facing its worst crisis with Egypt for 30 years after being forced to airlift diplomats and their families to safety during the storming of its embassy in Cairo by a violent mob. The siege of the embassy ended, with the 86 Israelis fleeing, only after intervention from the White House following phone calls between the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and US President Barack Obama. The attack was the latest diplomatic storm to engulf the Jewish state, whose relations with another ally, Turkey, have worsened over the past nine days. Israel is also facing a “diplomatic tsunami” at the UN later this month when a majority of countries are expected to back recognition of a Palestinian state. The embassy attack, in which a security wall was demolished and a group of protesters reached the door of the embassy’s secure area, threatened to cause “serious damage in peaceful relations between our two countries”, the prime minister said. He added that it was a “grave violation of accepted diplomatic practice”. He spent the night with senior officials in a foreign ministry operation room dealing with the crisis. Eighty diplomats and their families were airlifted on an Israeli military plane at 4.40am, but six personnel were trapped inside the building. “There was one door separating them from the mob,” said the official, who described the night as “very dramatic and tense”. Eventually the six were rescued by Egyptian commandos following behind-the-scenes intervention by the US. Obama spoke to Netanyahu during the night, the White House said. He also appealed to Egypt to “honour its international obligations”. David Cameron condemned the attack and urged Egypt to meet its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention to protect diplomatic property and personnel. Three people died during the overnight protests in Cairo and at least 1,093 were injured, according to Egypt’s deputy health minister. Anti-Israel sentiment in Egypt has been vociferous since the killing of five Egyptian soldiers by Israeli forces in the aftermath of a militant attack last month near the border between the two countries in which eight Israelis died. Thousands of people mobbed the Israeli embassy in Cairo, and Israel was forced to issue a statement regretting the deaths in the hope that it would contain the anti-Israel mood. Israel has been nervous about the future of its peace treaty with Egypt, signed 30 years ago, since its staunch ally, former president Hosni Mubarak, was forced out of office in an uprising earlier this year. It fears the temporary military government is more attuned to anti-Israel sentiment on the street. Israel is also deeply alarmed by its rapidly deteriorating relationship with Turkey, whose prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is to visit Cairo amid fears that he will attempt to forge an anti-Israel alliance with the new Egyptian government. “The situation with Turkey is not good, and the situation with Egypt is not good,” said the Israeli official. “We hope this is not a sign of things to come.” Both Turkey and Egypt are supporting the bid to have a Palestinian state recognised at the UN general assembly. Israel is braced for what its defence minister, Ehud Barak, described as a “diplomatic tsunami”. The US – which has pledged to veto Palestinian statehood – is frantically trying to find a way of averting a vote, fearing further alienation within the Arab world. The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said US efforts to encourage the parties to return to negotiations had come “too late”. Egypt Israel Turkey Binyamin Netanyahu Middle East Africa Harriet Sherwood guardian.co.uk
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Charity chief says that planned £500 weekly limit on amount families can claim will have huge human and social cost The government’s benefits cap could make more than 80,000 children homeless and push many thousands more into poverty, says the Children’s Society. In a devastating critique of the plan to limit the amount even the largest families can claim in benefits, Bob Reitemeier, its chief executive, said there would be a huge “human and social cost” if the reforms went ahead. The welfare reform bill, which proposes a £500 a week cap on the amount families can claim for housing, childcare and sustenance, is set to return to parliament in the House of Lords on Tuesday after making unsteady progress through the Commons earlier this year. The society says 200,000 children will have their lives affected by the changes to the amount their parents can claim and 27,600 adults and 82,400 children could be made homeless. While supporters of the benefits cap claim it would simply mean families would be forced to move into cheaper accommodation, government figures suggest 70% of those who will be hit are already living in social housing. Reitemeier said changes to the proposed legislation were urgently needed. “The reason we are so concerned about children is that three in four of the people that are going to be affected by the benefits cap are children and I don’t think that’s publicly understood”, he said. “There are some main concerns: one is that the children will be made homeless, possibly 80,000 children, which would be a significant change to their lives. “Secondly, what we think could happen is that those children already in poverty, below 60% of the median income line, will fall into severe poverty, less than 40% of the median income. This has a very human and social impact on their lives.” The Children’s Society also believes that children, who are nine times as likely as adults to be hit by the cap because of the prevalence of large families among those claiming benefits, will experience lower levels of wellbeing. It says it understands the element of unfairness in people who are on benefits having large families catered for, but that the government should ensure children do not suffer for their parents’ decisions. The £500 cap is based on the average annual household wage of £26,000. The charity proposes that instead the government should work out the level of the cap – the universal credit – by basing it on the average household income of working families with children, which would include in-work benefits. “Ideally we would say reverse the cap, but if it is a political agenda going forward then our view would be that the government should use average income, including in-work benefits for working families with children, to calculate the cap,” Reitemeier said. “That would change the cap from £500 [a week] to a higher amount.” It is understood the charity’s concerns are shared at the highest levels of the coalition government, particularly among Liberal Democrats. Last night Karen Buck MP, the shadow minister for welfare reform, said she could not understand why the government was moving ahead with its policy. She added: “The household benefit cap will punish children disproportionately and increase homelessness with all the human and economic costs that implies. Worse still, cuts in childcare reduce the capacity of families to make work pay and so avoid the cap. “We saw from leaked warnings this summer that the housing department fears that Department for Work and Pensions cuts will increase homelessness and now this is being confirmed. What is the point of policies which cost more than they save?” A spokeswoman for the DWP said that additional take up of benefits due to the simplicity of the new system would actually take half a million people out of poverty. She added: “Someone in work should be better off than someone on benefits – this is at the heart of our welfare reform. There must be a clear incentive to work. No one will be worse off as a result of Universal Credit.” Welfare Children Liberal-Conservative coalition Homelessness Child benefit Daniel Boffey guardian.co.uk
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