Bitesize Blighty: November 20, 2015
Ramifications of last Friday's events in Paris have dominated the British press this week. Senior police figures have questioned whether government spending cuts could seriously affect Britain's ability to prevent and cope with a Paris-style terrorist attack. It is feared that lashing the forces' budgets will make it harder for armed police to react quickly if terrorist gunmen bring urban warfare to British streets.
On Tuesday, England and France paid tribute to the 129 people killed in Friday's attacks in Paris at an international friendly at Wembley on Tuesday. A crowd of more than 70,000 sang La Marseillaise - the French national anthem - with the Duke of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron present.
An overwhelming 98% of junior doctors voted in favour of a full strike in their dispute with ministers over a new contract. The planned strikes, set for three dates in December, are in response to contract changes proposed by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt from the ruling Conservative Party. The proposals, published on 4th November, aim to cut back on the hours for which junior doctors can receive a premium pay rate. UK junior doctors last went on strike as a group in 1975, in relation to the non-payment of work done outside their standard 40-hour week — at the time, some doctors worked 100-hour weeks!
Apocalypse now — the end of the lad's mag! Two of the UK's premier (ehem) magazines aimed at over-charged teenage boys are to suspend publication. The closures of FHM and Zoo (I mean, really?) follow pressures from campaigners over the magazines' content, which was said to objectify women and promote misogyny. 