Cronyism row over sleaze watchdog
Tony Blair was embroiled in cronyism row yesterday after the replacement for
Sir Alistair Graham as head of the sleaze watchdog was denounced as a Labour
stooge (Sam Coates writes).
Rita Donaghy, a member of the TUC general council for 13 years until 2000, was
appointed by the Prime Minister as interim chairman of the Committee on
Standards in Public Life. Opposition parties questioned the decision to
appoint an interim chairman, saying that it raised doubts about the
Government’s long-term support for the committee.
The Tories suggested that Ms Donaghy, who is chairman of the Advisory,
Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), was a Labour “stooge”. She was
appointed to the committee in 2001 by open competition and was a member of
the Unison national executive until 2000. The Tories said that she had
campaigned on behalf of the Labour Party.
Mr Blair said that she had the right experience, adding: “Rita is ideally
suited to lead the committee at this time.”
Training review
As junior doctors lobbied MPs in protest at the new medical training system,
Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, made clear that the review to be
chaired by Sir John Tooke, Dean of Peninsula Medical School, was to “improve
and strengthen” Modernising Medical Careers, not to reject it or suggest
alternatives.
Detention limit
John Reid will abandon any attempt to extend the 28-day period that terrorism
suspects can be held for questioning if he cannot secure backing from the
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The Home Secretary told MPs that unless
there was parliamentary consensus he would not try to increase it.
Court veil approval
Women may wear the Muslim veil in court if it does not interfere with the
justice system, judges have concluded in new guidelines. The Judicial
Studies Board’s equal treatment advisory committee said that cases would be
decided individually but that the interests of justice remained paramount.
TV firm says sorry to cheated viewers
The company responsible for choosing winners on GMTV phone-in quizzes before
lines had closed apologised unreservedly to cheated viewers (Adam Sherwin
writes).
Opera Interactive Technology initially said that there was not a “shred of
truth” in the allegations made by the BBC Panorama programme. But after the
company was fired by GMTV it accepted that viewers were conned.
It promised to work with the television company and regulators to compensate
those who lost out.
A spokesman said: “Investigations have shown certain irregularities in our
internal processes which should have prevented anything like this from
happening. We have put new systems and processes in place that will ensure
that this can never happen again.”
Minister booed
The Minister for NHS reform was booed and heckled at a health workers’
conference organised by Unison, the public sector union. Laughter erupted
and Andy Burnham was jeered by delegates when he announced a U-turn on a
decision to privatise NHS prescription services worth £8 billion.
Roundabout risk
An increase in advertising on roundabouts is creating a higher risk of
accidents and blighting scenery, according to rural campaigners who want
stricter planning controls. The Campaign to Protect Rural England says that
councils are ignoring an initiative set up by the Government to remove
unauthorised signs.
Electric blanket risk
Women who regularly use electric blankets could be increasing their risk of
cancer of the lining of the womb. A study published in European Journal of
Cancer Prevention found that women who had used an electric blanket were 15
per cent more likely to develop the cancer than those who had never used
them.
Martyr’s letters
Glyn Redworth, a historian at Manchester University, has been given a £300,000
grant by the Arts and Humanities Council to translate the letters of Luisa
de Carvajal y Mendoza, a Spanish noblewoman sent to Britain in 1605 by the
Jesuits to convert Protestants to Catholicism. She died a martyr in London.
Wrong sort of rain
Hundreds of commuters were delayed after “the wrong sort of rain” held up
trains to London. A driver on the Brighton line announced: “Light rain does
make train-driving conditions more difficult. There will be delays going
into London.” First Capital Connect blamed the delays on dry weather in
April.
Canine calming
The makers of Prozac have developed the antidepressant drug for dogs, with the
canine version coming in chewable form and tasty beef flavour. The drug,
Reconcile, is being brought to the pet market by Eli Lilly, the
pharmaceuticals company, to treat dogs that bark incessantly or destroy
furniture when left alone.
Teenagers charged over London killing
Six teenagers appeared at the Old Bailey charged with the murder of a
schoolboy, Paul Erhahon, 15, stabbed in the heart in the foyer of a block of
flats in Leytonstone, East London, on April 6.
Theo Diah, 18, was the only one of the accused who can be named. The others
are a youth aged 13, two aged 14, one aged 17 — all from Leytonstone — and a
15-year-old from Stratford. A plea and case management hearing was set for
June 13.
Crash damages
A firm that fostered a culture of long hours was found liable for a crash in
which a worker was paralysed. Michael Eyres, who fell asleep at the wheel,
can sue Atkinsons Kitchens and Bedrooms, of Bradford, for damages, the Court
of Appeal ruled. His final award will be reduced because of contributory
negligence.
£2bn unspent
The bodies responsible for distributing National Lottery money to good causes
have failed to hand out almost £2 billion, the president of the Council for
the Advancement of Arts, Recreation and Education said. Denis Vaughan urged
bodies such as the Arts Council and Sport England to spend the money.
Hunt for abusers
Photographs of three missing paedophiles have been posted on a website. The
site, set up by a child protection group, has led to the arrest of five
missing offenders. The three additions are Andrew Jeremy Eden, 48, Stephen
Lionel Gordon, 46, and Daniel Mark Joslin, 25. The site is at: www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted.
Pub garden killer
A teenager who caused fatal injuries when he smashed a glass into a man’s face
in the garden of a London pub admitted manslaughter and was given 28 months
in youth custody by the Old Bailey. James Cuthbert, 18, an A-level student,
hit Daniel Corroyer, 29, last July after being goaded for being “antigay”.
High for Hawking
Professor Stephen Hawking will free himself from his wheelchair this week to
experience being weightless. The theoretical physicist, who is almost
totally paralysed with motor neuron disease, will float within a specially
adapted passenger jet put into a steep dive over Florida to simulate zero
gravity.
Arctics’ hot album
Arctic Monkeys could have the biggest-selling album of the year after 85,000
copies of their new release were sold in one day. Favourite Worst
Nightmare, the band’s second album, went on sale on Monday and is
outselling the rest of the Top 20 combined. Sales are predicted to reach
250,000 by the weekend.
