Tuesday 16th September 2008
Here's Emily with the details of what is coming up in tonight's programme.
Labour Resignation
Yesterday members of the Cabinet tried to tell us that turmoil within the Labour party was pretty much a media confection - the chatter, if you like, of the Westminster village. Today - with the resignation of a Labour minister who has admitted he's lost faith in Gordon Brown - it's a pretty hard argument for them to sustain.
David Cairns - the Scotland Office minister - now becomes the second member of Gordon Brown's government to resign within a week - he says he just hasn't got confidence in his leader.
The question is, are there more to follow?
We'll be assessing what this means for the Prime Minister and whether the rebels' cause has now gained enough momentum to force a leadership election.
George Soros and the economic crisis
"I'm afraid we're not through the worst of it at all - in some ways we're heading into the storm, rather than coming out of it".
The words of hedge fund supremo George Soros, who I spoke to half an hour ago. He believes this is the product of ten years of greed - and that Britain - with its heavy dependence on the financial sector - is one of the worst placed economies to deal with it.
He knows a thing or two about making money in a crisis. He wouldn't divulge how much HE has made in the last 48 hours, but he did say he thought the whole financial system had gone overboard in recent times.
Tonight, as the world waits with baited breath to see what happens to the American Insurance Group - AIG, and watches as even a high street name like HBOS sees its share price slashed, our Economics Editor Paul Mason is on Wall Street with the latest analysis.
Was Iraq the Wrong War?
As General David Petraeus - the American soldier credited with making the surge a success in Iraq - says goodbye, we talk to the UK's Chief of Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup about what has been achieved.
Could a 'surge' in Afghanistan secure victory there? Does he believe the focus was put into the wrong country, given the clear problems with the mission against Taleban forces?
And we report from Afghanistan, revealing just who is funding the Taleban and how they are being armed.
Place that Face
And just when you feared there weren't enough magnetic political quiz games to play Newsnight brings you PLACE THAT FACE.
Yes, you DON'T have to be a conference party delegate to play, YOU TOO can play the online version in the comfort of your own home. All will be explained on the show this evening. Ignore it at your peril.
Our online editor is fierce when he's angry.
Join us for that and more.
Emily
Comment number 1.
At 16th Sep 2008, Neil Robertson wrote:Astonishing that this should happen on the day that Labour's new leader at Holyrood unveils his new team. I guess it means too
that Glenrothes has been written off - Mr
Cairns was the campaign manager in the Glasgow East byelection. And it will add
to the pressure on Des Browne who is
the Secretary of State for Scotland and
Derfence Secretary. There have been a lot of calls for these roles to be separated so
this might force a Cabinet reshuffle .......?
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Comment number 2.
At 16th Sep 2008, Neil Robertson wrote:Curiously too there is no mention of this ministerial resignation on the Downing Street website??!!
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Comment number 3.
At 16th Sep 2008, Neil Robertson wrote:Speculators may be selling HBOS short but this is Scotland's oldest bank and the only
one in the world which puts its reserves
on public show. If you want to see what a million pounds looks like go and visit the new HBOS Museum on The Mound when next in Edinburgh! They also have a bank draft drawn on The British Linen Company
branch in Selkirk 1824 which reads: 'Debit my account with the British Linen Company with the sum of Ninety Pounds Sterling -
signed Walter Scott'; and (NB Paxman!)
a One Guinea banknote on the back of
which another HBOS customer Robert
Burns (poet) scribbled in 1786: "Wae worth thy pow'r thou cursed lent, Fel source of all my woe and grief, For lake o' thee I've lost my lass, For lake o' thee I scrimp my glass".
If they go down (which they won't) they will go down singing .........
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Comment number 4.
At 16th Sep 2008, Neil Robertson wrote:The Museum of Money is fascinating .......
NB I'm sure they would also show Liberal Democratic leader Nick Clegg what £30 looks like and explain why this is only
a third of the current old age pension!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 16th Sep 2008, NickThornsby wrote:The lib dems have been talking about some incredibly important policy today- Chris Huhne on Crime, Ed Davey on foreign affairs. But newsnight would rather go on about stupid Westminster gossip about some bloody minister who no-one has ever heard of resigning. I though newsnight was a serious programme, perhaps I was wrong?
I shan't be watching tonight.
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Comment number 6.
At 16th Sep 2008, Iamthegorillaman wrote:I cannot appreciate Labour's so called achievements at any stage. G Brown inherited his OWN legacy. His predecessor inherited a very "rosy" garden. Tony - a good talker; I would admit. As a true believer in Tory fiscal policy I would never turn into existing directions promoted by our current government. Borrowing is nice when it comes to procuring makeup to see one's self look better in the mirror - but it is so easily washed away in the shower that will always follow in order to stay clean.
However - the current turbulence goes to show that all politics is hilarious; the moment the inevitable "*%*%" hits the proverbial fan. The fellow members of the current so called "leading party" fight for the jugular of the their current leader. So VERY easy to do when you wish to be opportunistic and develop your own goals. We all want the top job with the top pay/prestige.
This situation says so much for current political status. When John Major was removed - the same rules applied.
Politicians are just in jobs like the rest of us. Plain and simple. Anyone with knowledge of the "facts" in the current world economic climate needs to be endorsed by all parties. No more "jobs for the boys" please! Sadly I fear this will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears. As for the Tories; get William on side and we will at least see some light of reality before it is too late.
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Comment number 7.
At 16th Sep 2008, Iamthegorillaman wrote:I cannot appreciate Labour's so called achievements at any stage. G Brown inherited his OWN legacy. His predecessor inherited a very "rosy" garden. Tony - a good talker; I would admit. As a true believer is Tory fiscal policy I would never turn into existing directions promoted by our current government. Borrowing is nice when it comes to procuring makeup to see one's self look better in the mirror - but it is so easily washed away in the shower that will always follow in order to stay clean.
However - the current turbulence goes to show that all politics is hilarious; the moment the inevitable "*%*%" hits the proverbial fan. The fellow members of the current so called "leading party" fight for the jugular of the their current leader. So VERY easy to do when you wish to be opportunistic and develop your own goals. We all want the top job with the top pay/prestige.
This situation says so much for current political status. When John Major was removed - the same rules applied.
Politicians are just in jobs like the rest of us. Plain and simple. Anyone with knowledge of the "facts" in the current world economic climate needs to be endorsed by all parties. No more "jobs for the boys" please! Sadly I fear this will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears. As for the Tories; get William on side and we will at least see some light of reality before it is too late.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 16th Sep 2008, lordslum wrote:Just watched a taleban "leader"answer a mobile phonecall with a very chav ring. One stops taking them seriously after this. "Trigger happy terrorism"
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Comment number 9.
At 16th Sep 2008, barriesingleton wrote:SOROS POINT
Shaun Woodward says Gordon is renowned as the world's greatest economist.
Gordon, who saw nothing coming, says we are OK in Britain.
Soros (who did see it coming) says Britain can expect to be hit hard as money manipulation is what we do.
I know who my imaginary money is on.
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Comment number 10.
At 16th Sep 2008, jollytruthandjustice wrote:Nice to see your 'undercover' piece from Afghanistan.
Bhurka clad female graduate talking to illegal arms suppliers providing weapons to use agains ours and NATO troops.
Makes you proud to be British.
Bet she sees her pension before some of those squaddies do.
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Comment number 11.
At 16th Sep 2008, barriesingleton wrote:YOU CAN NOT BE SERIOUS (Nick #5)
And neither can they . . .
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Comment number 12.
At 16th Sep 2008, Mistress76uk wrote:Surprised but happy to see Emily tonight! Excellent interview - and I think Michael C may well have been having way too much fun with place that face tonight! And why not!!!!!
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Comment number 13.
At 17th Sep 2008, Neil Robertson wrote:Shaun Woodward was of course a TORY MP during the last recession - until he rebelled,
crossed the floor and ended up as a Labour loyalist as Northern Ireland Secretary in the Brown Government ......
Even more bizarre, however, was news on Newsnight Scotland that Anne McKechin MP had pulled out of an interview at the last minute about the resignation of Scottish
Minister of State David Cairns. According
to Gordon Brewer the reason given was
that he had just been offered Mr Cairns's old job and Ministerial Mondeo by Brown!
The lengths this guy is prepared to go to to keep people off Newsnight is quite amazing:
McKechin is anti-Trident and opposed the War in Iraq so hopefully she set her price
high for non-participation in Newsnight!!!
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Comment number 14.
At 17th Sep 2008, kevseywevsey wrote:I've always said that the Liberials are a party full of out-of-touch clowns with the real world the rest of us inhabit; Cleggies proved it again with his £30 old age pension ball park figure. yeah and how much is a loaf of bread Nick? ..3p. Find the pulse Nick..find the pulse.
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Comment number 15.
At 17th Sep 2008, NickThornsby wrote:Very good Barrie!
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