Wednesday 25 November 2009

 

DEVOLVING POWER..

The BBC has been a loud voice in hailing the imagined "triumph" of Labour's wretched devolution plans which have resulted in a much weakened UK. This morning, on Today, during an item on the Calman Commission's report which suggests that Scotland should now be provided with tax raising powers. former communist and now Labour Minister Jim Murphy got to claim that "everyone" agreed that devolution was a success. No. That is his opinion, fair enough, but there are plenty of people who view the manner and model of devolution espoused by Labour to be a miserable failure. Why does the BBC not provide a platform for those seeking to argue that point of view? I suppose anyone who seeks to promote the intrinsic stability of the United Kingdom is always going to be Persona non Grata with the BBC - our State broadcaster.

Today: Wednesday 25th November

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer transcripts for our programme interviews. Today is broadcast live and the running order is subject to change.

All children in England are to be taught how to prevent violence against women and girls. And the Chancellor is facing calls to make a Commons statement about the decision to secretly lend RBS and HBOS more than £60bn during the banking crisis last year.

0709

The government is to respond to the Calman Commission into Scottish devolution, which recommended a fundamental change in how public money is allocated. The response comes a few days before Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, publishes his party's white paper outlying plans for a referendum. Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy discusses the proposals.

0713

The second instalment of a review into the way protests are policed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is to be published today. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, requested the review following criticisms of tactics used in the G20 demonstrations last year. Criminologist and film maker Roger Graef outlines the changes.