News Round-Up

HOUSING: Tories divided as local councillors seek to protect ‘environmental safeguards’ accusing government of ‘over-development’ while national Conservative party seeks to galvanise house-building market, injecting £3.5b into New Homes Scheme.

FEMINISM: Twitter inflamed over #Steubenville as sympathy expressed for convicted rapists, including on CNN, and suggestions repeatedly made that rape victim was partly to blame.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Cyprus in chaos as politicians desperately seek solution to crippled banking system – a 25% bank levy on savings deposits over EU100,000 currently proposed. Observers fear bank run and immanent collapse. Banks have been closed for last seven days.

WEATHER: Bristol struck by cold snap, while nation’s eye turns to dwindling gas reserves as supply from Belgium is cut off by pump failure.

POLITICS: Labour pull ahead in polls as Conservative stick to current economic policy (Poll Average: Con: 30  Lab: 40  Lib-Dem: 11)

MEDIA: Newspapers contemplate new cross-party agreement on new regulations backed by law. Early indications suggest some may refuse to sign. Supporters insist regulations protect freedom of the press while protecting the public.

RELIGION: New pope calls for a ‘poor church’.

WELFARE: “Bedroom Tax” to be implemented as “Mansion Tax” is dropped – nation split between the need for housing and the needs of the vulnerable. Conservatives reward both parents when they decide to work by offering more childcare support – many now ask how much Tories value the work of stay-at-home parents.