She has an answer for the euro crisis, a name as a steely radical and seven children. The chancellorship could be in her sights It’s a popular parlour game among Berlin’s politicos. With Angela Merkel’s unsteady leadership battered by the euro crisis, the question many Germans are asking is: “Who next?” Two names come up most often: Norbert Röttgen, the thrusting environment minister, with George Clooney hair, graphic designer’s glasses and unflappable demeanour; and Ursula von der Leyen, the ash blonde physician with an answer for everything who combines running Germany’s labour ministry with bringing up seven school-age children. Von der Leyen consistently denies having her eye on the chancellorship, but few believe her. “Merkel’s rival?” is the coverline trailing a story about her in this week’s Focus magazine. And in an interview in last week’s Spiegel, the first question posed to the 52-year-old was: “Frau minister, do you want to bring down the chancellor?” Von der Leyen – whose father, Ernst Albrecht, was prime minister of Lower Saxony – has been touted as a candidate for the chancellery before, most notably when Merkel made her families minister in 2005, just days after she entered the federal parliament for the first time. The speculation became more serious recently when she started talking to the media, not about her ministerial brief of work and pensions, but about how to solve the euro crisis. Worse, in the eyes of her enemies, she didn’t even toe the party line. First she said countries asking for assistance from the euro rescue fund should be made to put up gold or industrial assets as collateral. Then, in Der Spiegel, she announced she wanted to see “a united states of Europe – run along the lines of the federal states of Switzerland, Germany or the USA” which would capitalise on Europe’s size by agreeing on core issues relating to finance, tax and economic politics. Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, was furious. According to Focus magazine, he said keeping control of the crisis when surrounded by such treacherous colleagues was “like walking with a burning candle through a room of nitroglycerine”. In the debating chamber of the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, on Thursday, an opposition MP expressed sarcastic surprise that Von der Leyen had made time to attend a debate on the budget of her ministry. “How nice you could join us,” said Anette Kramme from the SPD. “We weren’t sure whether you’d come now that you’re so busy with economics rather than pensions and unemployment.” As ever, Von der Leyen was unruffled. She has a reputation for resolve in the face of even the most aggressive opposition, according to Joachim Koschnicke, a researcher at the Berlin-based market researchers Forsa. “There’s no doubt that Von der Leyen is among the most popular politicians in Germany. She is seen as tough, strong, a visionary. People think of her as a reformer who can push through in the face of a lot of resistance, for example how she introduced ‘parents’ money’,” said Koschnicke, referring to Von der Leyen’s long battle to introduce improved maternity and paternity benefits in her quest to encourage more Germans to have babies. Germany’s birth rate, fewer than 8 births per 1,000 people, is the lowest in Germany’s history and reversing it is one of Von der Leyen’s most heartfelt quests. At the heart of the problem, she firmly believes, is that too many German women believe having children and a good career are mutually exclusive. Many voters admired Von der Leyen for combining a high-profile job with a large family, but for others it had the opposite effect, said Koschnicke. “Her having seven children is certainly a source of wonder for some of the electorate – they admire her for making it to the top as a mother. But others see it as a bad thing. They ask themselves what kind of woman could take on such a full-time job away from all her children, and how she can possibly afford it. They know that she can afford it because she is rich and has a nanny. She comes from an elite family – her father was a state prime minister. That does not make them warm to her at all.” Von der Leyen’s husband, Heiko, also a trained doctor, does the lion’s share of the childcare and she believes more men should follow his example. “We need to make it clear that someone isn’t just good at their job because they are available at all hours, but because the quality of their work is high,” she said in a 2005 interview. “In Sweden it’s the case that male board members leave at 4pm to pick up their children from kindergarten. Men are not ashamed to say: ‘I want to be a good father and therefore I am investing this time in my child.’ That’s still a taboo in Germany. Any man who looks after his children is seen as a wuss – and not career compatible. In this respect we are way, way, behind the rest of the world.” Koschnicke believes this sort of revolutionary thinking could cost her the top job. “Having a good public image is not necessarily enough to make her popular within her party. She cannot be a candidate for chancellor unless she can convince her peers, and a lot of them are sceptical about her. For a lot of the old guard in particular, she is perhaps too associated with radical reforms. “When Merkel’s position becomes vacant – and there may not be federal elections until 2013, and she is quite likely to stand again – they are more likely to look for a safe pair of hands. “Remember that she is not the only name you hear in association with the chancellery. For me, the clear frontrunner would be [the defence minister] Thomas de Maizière. He is thought of as completely trustworthy, he is well-known and, importantly, he is seen as devoid of ego. “People believe when he proposes something he is doing it for the country, whereas when Von der Leyen says something, people tend to say: ‘She’s only saying it because she wants to be chancellor.’” Germany Angela Merkel Europe Helen Pidd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …She has an answer for the euro crisis, a name as a steely radical and seven children. The chancellorship could be in her sights It’s a popular parlour game among Berlin’s politicos. With Angela Merkel’s unsteady leadership battered by the euro crisis, the question many Germans are asking is: “Who next?” Two names come up most often: Norbert Röttgen, the thrusting environment minister, with George Clooney hair, graphic designer’s glasses and unflappable demeanour; and Ursula von der Leyen, the ash blonde physician with an answer for everything who combines running Germany’s labour ministry with bringing up seven school-age children. Von der Leyen consistently denies having her eye on the chancellorship, but few believe her. “Merkel’s rival?” is the coverline trailing a story about her in this week’s Focus magazine. And in an interview in last week’s Spiegel, the first question posed to the 52-year-old was: “Frau minister, do you want to bring down the chancellor?” Von der Leyen – whose father, Ernst Albrecht, was prime minister of Lower Saxony – has been touted as a candidate for the chancellery before, most notably when Merkel made her families minister in 2005, just days after she entered the federal parliament for the first time. The speculation became more serious recently when she started talking to the media, not about her ministerial brief of work and pensions, but about how to solve the euro crisis. Worse, in the eyes of her enemies, she didn’t even toe the party line. First she said countries asking for assistance from the euro rescue fund should be made to put up gold or industrial assets as collateral. Then, in Der Spiegel, she announced she wanted to see “a united states of Europe – run along the lines of the federal states of Switzerland, Germany or the USA” which would capitalise on Europe’s size by agreeing on core issues relating to finance, tax and economic politics. Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, was furious. According to Focus magazine, he said keeping control of the crisis when surrounded by such treacherous colleagues was “like walking with a burning candle through a room of nitroglycerine”. In the debating chamber of the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, on Thursday, an opposition MP expressed sarcastic surprise that Von der Leyen had made time to attend a debate on the budget of her ministry. “How nice you could join us,” said Anette Kramme from the SPD. “We weren’t sure whether you’d come now that you’re so busy with economics rather than pensions and unemployment.” As ever, Von der Leyen was unruffled. She has a reputation for resolve in the face of even the most aggressive opposition, according to Joachim Koschnicke, a researcher at the Berlin-based market researchers Forsa. “There’s no doubt that Von der Leyen is among the most popular politicians in Germany. She is seen as tough, strong, a visionary. People think of her as a reformer who can push through in the face of a lot of resistance, for example how she introduced ‘parents’ money’,” said Koschnicke, referring to Von der Leyen’s long battle to introduce improved maternity and paternity benefits in her quest to encourage more Germans to have babies. Germany’s birth rate, fewer than 8 births per 1,000 people, is the lowest in Germany’s history and reversing it is one of Von der Leyen’s most heartfelt quests. At the heart of the problem, she firmly believes, is that too many German women believe having children and a good career are mutually exclusive. Many voters admired Von der Leyen for combining a high-profile job with a large family, but for others it had the opposite effect, said Koschnicke. “Her having seven children is certainly a source of wonder for some of the electorate – they admire her for making it to the top as a mother. But others see it as a bad thing. They ask themselves what kind of woman could take on such a full-time job away from all her children, and how she can possibly afford it. They know that she can afford it because she is rich and has a nanny. She comes from an elite family – her father was a state prime minister. That does not make them warm to her at all.” Von der Leyen’s husband, Heiko, also a trained doctor, does the lion’s share of the childcare and she believes more men should follow his example. “We need to make it clear that someone isn’t just good at their job because they are available at all hours, but because the quality of their work is high,” she said in a 2005 interview. “In Sweden it’s the case that male board members leave at 4pm to pick up their children from kindergarten. Men are not ashamed to say: ‘I want to be a good father and therefore I am investing this time in my child.’ That’s still a taboo in Germany. Any man who looks after his children is seen as a wuss – and not career compatible. In this respect we are way, way, behind the rest of the world.” Koschnicke believes this sort of revolutionary thinking could cost her the top job. “Having a good public image is not necessarily enough to make her popular within her party. She cannot be a candidate for chancellor unless she can convince her peers, and a lot of them are sceptical about her. For a lot of the old guard in particular, she is perhaps too associated with radical reforms. “When Merkel’s position becomes vacant – and there may not be federal elections until 2013, and she is quite likely to stand again – they are more likely to look for a safe pair of hands. “Remember that she is not the only name you hear in association with the chancellery. For me, the clear frontrunner would be [the defence minister] Thomas de Maizière. He is thought of as completely trustworthy, he is well-known and, importantly, he is seen as devoid of ego. “People believe when he proposes something he is doing it for the country, whereas when Von der Leyen says something, people tend to say: ‘She’s only saying it because she wants to be chancellor.’” Germany Angela Merkel Europe Helen Pidd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …She has an answer for the euro crisis, a name as a steely radical and seven children. The chancellorship could be in her sights It’s a popular parlour game among Berlin’s politicos. With Angela Merkel’s unsteady leadership battered by the euro crisis, the question many Germans are asking is: “Who next?” Two names come up most often: Norbert Röttgen, the thrusting environment minister, with George Clooney hair, graphic designer’s glasses and unflappable demeanour; and Ursula von der Leyen, the ash blonde physician with an answer for everything who combines running Germany’s labour ministry with bringing up seven school-age children. Von der Leyen consistently denies having her eye on the chancellorship, but few believe her. “Merkel’s rival?” is the coverline trailing a story about her in this week’s Focus magazine. And in an interview in last week’s Spiegel, the first question posed to the 52-year-old was: “Frau minister, do you want to bring down the chancellor?” Von der Leyen – whose father, Ernst Albrecht, was prime minister of Lower Saxony – has been touted as a candidate for the chancellery before, most notably when Merkel made her families minister in 2005, just days after she entered the federal parliament for the first time. The speculation became more serious recently when she started talking to the media, not about her ministerial brief of work and pensions, but about how to solve the euro crisis. Worse, in the eyes of her enemies, she didn’t even toe the party line. First she said countries asking for assistance from the euro rescue fund should be made to put up gold or industrial assets as collateral. Then, in Der Spiegel, she announced she wanted to see “a united states of Europe – run along the lines of the federal states of Switzerland, Germany or the USA” which would capitalise on Europe’s size by agreeing on core issues relating to finance, tax and economic politics. Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, was furious. According to Focus magazine, he said keeping control of the crisis when surrounded by such treacherous colleagues was “like walking with a burning candle through a room of nitroglycerine”. In the debating chamber of the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, on Thursday, an opposition MP expressed sarcastic surprise that Von der Leyen had made time to attend a debate on the budget of her ministry. “How nice you could join us,” said Anette Kramme from the SPD. “We weren’t sure whether you’d come now that you’re so busy with economics rather than pensions and unemployment.” As ever, Von der Leyen was unruffled. She has a reputation for resolve in the face of even the most aggressive opposition, according to Joachim Koschnicke, a researcher at the Berlin-based market researchers Forsa. “There’s no doubt that Von der Leyen is among the most popular politicians in Germany. She is seen as tough, strong, a visionary. People think of her as a reformer who can push through in the face of a lot of resistance, for example how she introduced ‘parents’ money’,” said Koschnicke, referring to Von der Leyen’s long battle to introduce improved maternity and paternity benefits in her quest to encourage more Germans to have babies. Germany’s birth rate, fewer than 8 births per 1,000 people, is the lowest in Germany’s history and reversing it is one of Von der Leyen’s most heartfelt quests. At the heart of the problem, she firmly believes, is that too many German women believe having children and a good career are mutually exclusive. Many voters admired Von der Leyen for combining a high-profile job with a large family, but for others it had the opposite effect, said Koschnicke. “Her having seven children is certainly a source of wonder for some of the electorate – they admire her for making it to the top as a mother. But others see it as a bad thing. They ask themselves what kind of woman could take on such a full-time job away from all her children, and how she can possibly afford it. They know that she can afford it because she is rich and has a nanny. She comes from an elite family – her father was a state prime minister. That does not make them warm to her at all.” Von der Leyen’s husband, Heiko, also a trained doctor, does the lion’s share of the childcare and she believes more men should follow his example. “We need to make it clear that someone isn’t just good at their job because they are available at all hours, but because the quality of their work is high,” she said in a 2005 interview. “In Sweden it’s the case that male board members leave at 4pm to pick up their children from kindergarten. Men are not ashamed to say: ‘I want to be a good father and therefore I am investing this time in my child.’ That’s still a taboo in Germany. Any man who looks after his children is seen as a wuss – and not career compatible. In this respect we are way, way, behind the rest of the world.” Koschnicke believes this sort of revolutionary thinking could cost her the top job. “Having a good public image is not necessarily enough to make her popular within her party. She cannot be a candidate for chancellor unless she can convince her peers, and a lot of them are sceptical about her. For a lot of the old guard in particular, she is perhaps too associated with radical reforms. “When Merkel’s position becomes vacant – and there may not be federal elections until 2013, and she is quite likely to stand again – they are more likely to look for a safe pair of hands. “Remember that she is not the only name you hear in association with the chancellery. For me, the clear frontrunner would be [the defence minister] Thomas de Maizière. He is thought of as completely trustworthy, he is well-known and, importantly, he is seen as devoid of ego. “People believe when he proposes something he is doing it for the country, whereas when Von der Leyen says something, people tend to say: ‘She’s only saying it because she wants to be chancellor.’” Germany Angela Merkel Europe Helen Pidd guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …‘This is the way Fiji is supposed to be, and we want to keep that’ – audio slideshow
September 9, 2011 No Comment
Two hundred miles east of Fiji’s main island, the Lau archipelago is spectacular and remote – with one flight a week and one place to stay. Kevin Rushby is one of just 20 annual visitors to this old slice of the South Pacific Kevin Rushby
Continue reading …‘This is the way Fiji is supposed to be, and we want to keep that’ – audio slideshow
September 9, 2011 No CommentTwo hundred miles east of Fiji’s main island, the Lau archipelago is spectacular and remote – with one flight a week and one place to stay. Kevin Rushby is one of just 20 annual visitors to this old slice of the South Pacific Kevin Rushby
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Man whose fatal shooting by police sparked riots across England is being buried near home in north London Crowds gathered in north London on Friday for the funeral of Mark Duggan, the man whose fatal shooting by police sparked riots that spread around England. The body of the 29-year-old father of four, who died on 4 August , was taken from his parents’ house in Tottenham through the Broadwater Farm estate, where he grew up, to a church in Wood Green. A private service is to be followed by his burial at Wood Green. A reception will be held at Broadwater Farm. Duggan’s family remain highly critical of police, both over the events which left him with a gunshot wound to the chest and what they say was subsequent misinformation and lack of communication from Scotland Yard and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the incident. The Tottenham MP, David Lammy, has criticised the IPCC for leaving Duggan’s family “floundering” and failing to make it clear to local people that it was independent from the police. Dozens of relatives and friends gathered outside the Duggan family home before the funeral vehicle, a white carriage drawn by four plumed horses, arrived shortly after 10am. Bishop Kwaku Frimpong-Manson, who was to lead the funeral at the New Testament Church of God, called mourners to the carriage. “We are going to stretch our hands towards the casket to thank God for Mark’s life as he begins his heavenly journey,” he said. About 100 people stood on the pavement, the silence broken only by the bishop’s short prayer and quiet sobs from Duggan’s mother. Other people gathered outside Tangmere House, on Broadwater Farm, where Duggan grew up. One local man, wearing a black suit with matching trilby, who did not want to be named, explained that there was a strong sense of community on the estate but also the heavy weight of stigma. “Unless you have grown up here you cannot understand,” he said. “You think if people see this address on a job application you are going to get a job? Even if you have done no wrong you have no hope. The only way you can have hope is to move away.” Large numbers of police remain on duty in the wake of the riots, but the presence at the funeral will be low key and involve local officers. “We have met with Mr Duggan’s parents,” a police spokesman said. “In line with the family’s wishes, the policing will reflect the family’s desire for a local, peaceful and dignified funeral.” Clasford Sterling, a veteran youth worker at the Broadwater Farm Community centre said that, while there was still anger in the area, he did not think there would be any trouble. “Today is all about showing respect for his last journey,” he said. “There is always going to be anger – if people are antagonised and pushed, then we have seen what can happen.” The Duggan family has requested that the media stay outside the church and leave them in peace. Duggan was a passenger in a minicab stopped by police near Tottenham Hale tube station when he was shot. The IPCC initially suggested he had fired at an officer before he was shot, but ballistic tests showed the two bullets fired – one of which killed Duggan while the other lodged in an officer’s radio – were both police issue. Another weapon, a blank-firing pistol which had been converted to use live rounds, was recovered near the scene of the shooting. A march to protest at the death escalated into outbreaks of trouble in Tottenham and Wood Green, which spread into four days of serious riots in many locations around England. An inquest into Duggan’s death at north London coroners’ court heard that he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Mark Duggan Police UK riots Peter Walker Hugh Muir Alexandra Topping guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Man whose fatal shooting by police sparked riots across England is being buried near home in north London Crowds gathered in north London on Friday for the funeral of Mark Duggan, the man whose fatal shooting by police sparked riots that spread around England. The body of the 29-year-old father of four, who died on 4 August , was taken from his parents’ house in Tottenham through the Broadwater Farm estate, where he grew up, to a church in Wood Green. A private service is to be followed by his burial at Wood Green. A reception will be held at Broadwater Farm. Duggan’s family remain highly critical of police, both over the events which left him with a gunshot wound to the chest and what they say was subsequent misinformation and lack of communication from Scotland Yard and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the incident. The Tottenham MP, David Lammy, has criticised the IPCC for leaving Duggan’s family “floundering” and failing to make it clear to local people that it was independent from the police. Dozens of relatives and friends gathered outside the Duggan family home before the funeral vehicle, a white carriage drawn by four plumed horses, arrived shortly after 10am. Bishop Kwaku Frimpong-Manson, who was to lead the funeral at the New Testament Church of God, called mourners to the carriage. “We are going to stretch our hands towards the casket to thank God for Mark’s life as he begins his heavenly journey,” he said. About 100 people stood on the pavement, the silence broken only by the bishop’s short prayer and quiet sobs from Duggan’s mother. Other people gathered outside Tangmere House, on Broadwater Farm, where Duggan grew up. One local man, wearing a black suit with matching trilby, who did not want to be named, explained that there was a strong sense of community on the estate but also the heavy weight of stigma. “Unless you have grown up here you cannot understand,” he said. “You think if people see this address on a job application you are going to get a job? Even if you have done no wrong you have no hope. The only way you can have hope is to move away.” Large numbers of police remain on duty in the wake of the riots, but the presence at the funeral will be low key and involve local officers. “We have met with Mr Duggan’s parents,” a police spokesman said. “In line with the family’s wishes, the policing will reflect the family’s desire for a local, peaceful and dignified funeral.” Clasford Sterling, a veteran youth worker at the Broadwater Farm Community centre said that, while there was still anger in the area, he did not think there would be any trouble. “Today is all about showing respect for his last journey,” he said. “There is always going to be anger – if people are antagonised and pushed, then we have seen what can happen.” The Duggan family has requested that the media stay outside the church and leave them in peace. Duggan was a passenger in a minicab stopped by police near Tottenham Hale tube station when he was shot. The IPCC initially suggested he had fired at an officer before he was shot, but ballistic tests showed the two bullets fired – one of which killed Duggan while the other lodged in an officer’s radio – were both police issue. Another weapon, a blank-firing pistol which had been converted to use live rounds, was recovered near the scene of the shooting. A march to protest at the death escalated into outbreaks of trouble in Tottenham and Wood Green, which spread into four days of serious riots in many locations around England. An inquest into Duggan’s death at north London coroners’ court heard that he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Mark Duggan Police UK riots Peter Walker Hugh Muir Alexandra Topping guardian.co.uk
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The government says honest motorists are seeing car insurance premiums rise as insurers seek to cover the costs of increased compensation claims The government hopes to stem rising insurance costs by banning referral fees in personal injury claim cases. The fees, highlighted by former Labour MP Jack Straw in June , are paid to claims management companies, garages and insurance companies who provide details of accidents – often car accidents – to personal injury lawyers. The business is estimated to be worth £3bn a year, and successful claims are paid in most cases by insurance policies. Insurers have covered the cost by passing it on to policyholders in the form of higher premiums. Justice minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “Honest motorists are seeing their premiums hiked up as insurance companies cover the increasing costs of more and more compensation claims. Many of the claims are spurious and only happen because the current system allows too many people to profit from minor accidents and incidents. “Referral fees are one symptom of the compensation culture problem and too much money sloshing through the system.” Djanogly said people were being encouraged to sue at no risk to themselves, “leaving schools, business and individuals living in fear of being dragged to the courts for simply going about daily life”. He added: “We will ban referral fees and we will go further. We have proposals before parliament to end the bizarre situation in which people have no stake in the legal costs their cases bring. This will make claimants think harder about whether to sue and give insurance companies and business generally an incentive to pass the savings on to customers through lower prices.” A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice denied that the announcement was in response to an announcement by the Office of Fair Trading yesterday that it will investigate soaring car insurance premiums to determine whether drivers are being overcharged. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the industry was committed to keeping costs down for consumers, but reform of the compensation system was necessary if premiums were to come down. Director general Otto Thoresen said: “Rising claims costs from personal injury claims, excessive legal costs, insurance fraud and uninsured driving, coupled with lower investment returns in recent years, have unfortunately led to rising motor insurance bills for many customers. “In fact, the motor insurance sector has not been profitable for the last 16 years because the amount paid out in claims and expenses has been greater than that received in premiums.” Thoresen said moves to reform the compensation system in Ireland had led to a 16% reduction in motor insurance premiums. The news was welcomed by consumer group Which?. Chief executive Richard Lloyd said: “This is great news for motorists. Referral fees feed the growing compensation culture that has been pushing up insurance premiums at a time when many families are already feeling the pinch. It’s absolutely right to ban them, and quickly.” There is no timetable for when the ban will be introduced, but the plan is that it will be a regulatory offence for firms to pay and receive referral fees. The government’s proposals currently before parliament focus on stopping losing defendants having to pay a “success fee”. The government is changing the law so that in future the person making the claim will have to pay the success fee, rather than the defendant, and the fee will be capped. The intended result is a fairer split of costs between parties and lower legal costs overall, which means lower costs to pass on to customers or taxpayers. The proposals follow a Ministry of Justice consultation published in November 2010. Car insurance Insurance Motoring Consumer affairs Insurance industry Jill Insley guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Man whose fatal shooting by police sparked Tottenham riots will be buried in north London Thousands of people are expected to gather in north London this morning for the funeral of Mark Duggan , the man whose fatal shooting by police sparked riots which spread around England. The body of the 29-year-old father of four, who died on 4 August , will be taken from his parents’ house in Tottenham, through the Broadwater Farm estate, where he grew up, to a church in Wood Green. A private service will be followed by the burial in Wood Green. A reception will be held at Broadwater Farm. Duggan’s family remain highly critical of police, over both the events which left him with a gunshot wound to the chest and what they say was subsequent misinformation and lack of communication from Scotland Yard and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the incident. The Tottenham MP, David Lammy, has criticised the IPCC for leaving Duggan’s family “floundering” and failing to make it clear to local people that it was independent from the police. Large numbers of police remain on duty in the wake of the riots, but the presence at the funeral will be low-key and involve local officers. “We have met with Mr Duggan’s parents,” a police spokesman said. “In line with the family’s wishes, the policing will reflect the family’s desire for a local, peaceful and dignified funeral.” The family has requested that the media stay outside the church and that they are left in peace. Duggan was a passenger in a minicab which was stopped by police near Tottenham Hale tube station when he was shot. An official account initially suggested Duggan had fired at an officer before he was shot, but ballistic tests showed that the two bullets which were fired – one which killed Duggan and one which lodged in an officer’s radio – were both police issue. Another weapon, a blank-firing pistol which had been converted to use live rounds, was recovered near the scene of the shooting. A march to protest at the death escalated into outbreaks of trouble in Tottenham and Wood Green, which spread into four days of serious riots in many locations around England. An inquest into Duggan’s death at north London coroners court heard he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Mark Duggan Police UK riots Peter Walker guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …George Osborne defends deficit reduction plan as UK’s ‘rock of stability’
September 9, 2011 No Comment
• Chancellor again refuses to change direction • IMF boss Christine Lagarde says UK must remain ‘nimble’ • Osborne hints at more quantitiative easing George Osborne mounted a strong defence of his deficit reduction plan on Friday, hailing it as the “rock of stability” that will prevent Britain being wrecked by the global financial crisis. The chancellor again refused to change direction in the face of poor economic news at home and abroad, in a speech in which he reiterated that Britain’s deficit must be vigorously tackled. Otherwise, Osborne warned, Britain’s homeowners and businesses would suffer. “Britain will stick to the deficit plan we’ve set out. It’s the rock of stability on which our recovery is built,” he said. “It’s delivered record low interest rates. Abandoning it would put that at risk. For nothing would be more damaging for Britain at this fragile moment for the world’s economy than an increase in mortgage rates for families and an increase in the cost of borrowing for businesses.” Osborne was speaking at Chatham House in London alongside Christine Lagarde, the new managing director of the International Monetary Fund. She said that the IMF continued to support Osborne’s fiscal consolidation plan, but warned that the deteriorating global economy means the chancellor must remain “nimble”. “Since the summer the outlook has become more subdued, including in the rest of Europe and the United States, the UK’s major trading partners. So risk levels are rising. The policy stance remains appropriate, but this heightened risk means a heightened readiness to respond, particularly if it looks like the economy is headed for a prolonged period of weak growth and high unemployment,” Lagarde said. Osborne acknowledged this point, and said that monetary policy – implemented by the Bank of England – could become more “accommodative” if needed. On Thursday the Bank decided not to increase its quantitative easing programme , but some economists believe this asset-purchasing scheme could soon be enlarged. The meeting came just a day after the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicted that the UK economy will barely grow in the second half of 2011 . The OECD also predicted that the eurozone economy will shrink in the final three months of the year. Earlier this week, data showed that UK retail sales fell in August while the dominant services sector suffered its steepest slowdown in a decade . Football, not a tug of war Osborne and Lagarde are heading for Marseille later on Friday for a meeting of G7 finance ministers. This gathering will focus on efforts to revive global growth, but will be dominated by the ongoing European debt crisis. Lagarde said it was crucial for eurozone leaders to rapidly agree the details of the deal hammered out in July, which included a second bailout for Greece. She also warned that some European banks need fresh capital injections to cover losses on sovereign debt and reassure the financial community that they are safe. “We must not underestimate the risks of a further spread of economic weakness, or even a debilitating liquidity crisis,” Lagarde said, harking back to the dark days of 2008. Osborne argued that the current crisis requires a more sophisticated response than three years ago. “In 2008 the world had to act like a tug of war team, all pulling in the same direction. Today, we need to be like a football team – with everyone’s role suited to their positions and abilities if the team is to be successful,” the chancellor said. The global economic slowdown means world leaders must make growth a top priority, although they may lack the tools and the political agreement to be successful, warned US treasury secretary Tim Geithner. “The shocks behind the slowdown – oil prices, Japan’s disaster, the crisis in Europe – are severe enough to have been dangerous even if they had happened during a global boom. They are more dangerous now because they hit a world still healing from financial crisis and because of the general fear that political constraints will prevent governments and central banks from acting sensibly with the tools available,” Geithner wrote in Friday’s Financial Times . America’s President Barack Obama also put growth and employment at the top of the US agenda on Thursday night with a $447bn package aimed at cutting joblessness and stimulating the economy. Economics Global economy Economic policy George Osborne IMF Christine Lagarde Graeme Wearden guardian.co.uk
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