The Wardman Wire

Here is today’s roundup of stories.

Comment

Geoffrey Wheatcroft (Comment is Free) - Lament for the disarmer
We may have been naive, but I do not regret my CND days. Fifty years on, where are our heirs?

Mary O’Hara (Guardian) - Bridging the gap
Fed up with having no voice on issues that affect them, a group of campaigners with dementia are making themselves heard in the corridors of power.

Carl Mortished (Times Online) - Do not be taken in by the oil giants and their billions
Do not be fooled; this pumped-up industry is impoverished, both in performance and opportunity. Beset from all sides, by inflation, weak operations and lack of opportunity, the oil majors have reverted to Plan A - cut the costs and raise the dividend.

News

BBC (BBC) - Review backs intercept evidence
An independent review into the use of intercept evidence in court cases will conclude that it can and should be allowed, the BBC has learned.

BBC (BBC) - Mobiles not brain cancer risk
Mobile phone use does not raise the risk of brain tumours, a Japanese study suggests

Economist (Economist) - The day after Super Tuesday
Muddle for the Democrats, but John McCain pushes close to the Republican nomination

Mail (Mail) - Four MP couples caught cashing in on taxpayer-funded housing allowances
Four husband and wife couples in the Commons are cashing in on taxpayer-funded housing allowances by claiming twice for the same home.

NYT (NYT) - Voting Goes Smoothly in Most Places
Despite long lines, confusion among poll workers and scattered computer malfunctions, there were no reports of widespread problems Tuesday as voters showed up in record numbers to cast ballots for their preferred presidential candidates.

The Sun (The Sun) - Army runs out of machine guns
British troops desperately need 400 of the jumbo 0.5in calibre heavy machine guns – the weapon most acutely missed.

Franics Elliott and Philip Webster (Times Online) - Juries should hear wire tap and e-mail evidence, says review
Gordon Brown will announce the findings of an independent review today that will open the door to the use of intercept evidence in court.

Scotland

BBC (BBC)

- Budget showdown after quit threat
The Scottish Government £30bn budget faces a crucial vote after First Minister Alex Salmond threatened to quit if MSPs do not support the plans.

Wales

BBC (BBC)

- Extra cash for Welsh newspapers
An extra subsidy pot of £200,000 a year for Welsh language newspapers and magazines has been announced by the Welsh language minister.

Blogs

(Brass Neck) Telegraph

- Dromey faces online challenge
Brassneck understands that Labour’s Treasurer, Jack Dromey, is to face a challenge from Mark McDonald, a human rights barrister and associate editor of the Labour Home website. The site, which is backing McDonald’s challenge, hopes to use the internet to reconnect the party to grassroots by enabling members to have their say and question McDonald through online polling and live forums.

[tags]daily roundup, the skinny, matt wardman, wardman wire, mattwardman[/tags]