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One of the key measures of UK inflation has risen to 1.5 percent in October – marking the first rise since February this year.

The inflation statistic published by the Office for National Statistics shows that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed up to 1.5 percent in October. In September the CPI ranged around 1.1 percent.

Inflation is measured by the CPI and RPI, the Retail Prices Index.

Although inflation means that prices go up - the steady increase of the price of goods and services – an inflation rate between 2 and 3 percent is acceptable in Europe, says Finance Lecturer Hafid Benamraoui of Westminster University.

1.5 percent is, thus, not a high rate. The Office for National Statistics even states:

“The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is required to achieve a (CPI) target of 2 per cent.”

The next UK inflation statistic is to be published in December.

Interview with Dr Abdelhafid Benamraoui, Finance Lecturer at Westminster University, about inflation and the what the figures mean for the UK consumers.

Pigeon free: Trafalgar Square

By Simone Knox and Amy May Shead

Taxpayers are funding a £60,000 campaign to scare pigeons from Trafalgar Square and a lobby group is calling for an immediate end to the “blood sport”.

Two hawks are used to chase the birds from the iconic London Square, as part the Greater London Authority’s pigeon control programme.

The Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons lobby group said the hawks were being used to kill pigeons instead of chasing them away.

“They’re charging the London tax-payer thousands of pounds to rip up a tame flock of birds” said spokesperson Julia Fletcher.

Pigeon numbers have dropped dramatically over the past five years, but the STTP group blames the ban on feeding pigeons for their reduction in numbers.

Feeding ban: A by-law prevents people from feeding pigeons at Trafalgar Sqaure

“Today there’s just a few hundred birds from a flock of 4,500. The hawks have not killed 4,000 pigeons. They’re starving to death,” Ms Fletcher said.

“There are hardly any birds left there. The hawks are totally unnecessary.”

The scheme has also drawn criticism from London Assembly member, Gareth Bacon, who said the cost was not justifiable in the current economic climate.

A flamboyant use of public money

The Greater London Authority contributes £45,000 to the scheme, while Westminster City Council pays £15,000 towards it.

“This something that has irritated me since 2004,” Mr Bacon said.

“I thought this was a rather flamboyant use of public money, and was rather surprised to learn that the practice is continuing.”

The scheme was introduced by former London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, in 2000. He said that he wanted to make Trafalgar Square a cleaner and safer place for visitors.

A by-law was introduced to prevent feeding the birds, but when they continued to return to the Sqaure, two hawks were introduced to scare them away.

Despite the growing anger over the programme, London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson said he would continue to divert money to the scheme.

“The programme of control has proved successful in dispersing numbers from around 4,000 to around 120,” he said.

Trying to take a photo of what the Square is renowned for

“As a result the square is cleaner and hygienic. Further, the programme enables a significant ease on the costs of cleaning the site and conservation of statues.”

Anna Brown, from London, was visiting Trafalgar Square yesterday and she said it was the most “pigeon-free” she had seen it in years.

“It had more atmosphere with the pigeons. But it is cleaner now,” she said.

Hundreds of people gathered in Whitehall, London, today to remember the men and women who have been killed in former and recent conflicts.

At 11 am thousands all over the country fell silent for two minutes honouring the soldiers who have been killed.

Her Majesty the Queen Elisabeth II then laid down the first wreath at the Cenotaph, followed by Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Harry, who represented his father the Prince of Wales.

Wreaths at the Cenotaph

Political leaders, amongst them Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative Party leader David Cameron and Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats remembered the soldiers as well as representatives of the Commonwealth and of the military.

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Remembrance Day Parade

Accompanied by standing ovations 7 500 former soldiers and other service personnel marched past the Cenotaph, with them around 1 500 civilians.

Private Roy Davies

Private Roy Davies, 78, was one of them.

“Remembrance Day means a lot to me. I lost 63 friends in Korea in 1952.”

Private Davies served in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI).  He attended Remembrance Day for the ninth time.

“It is nice. You meet old friends who you only see on Remembrance Day”, Private Davies said.

“And everyone applauds for the whole parade – you only get that once a year.”

Paying tribute

Earlier today about 2 000 British service personnel held a remembrance ceremony at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, while another soldier has been killed raising the number of deaths in Afghanistan to 231 since 2001.

Prime Minister Brown paid tribute to all servicemen and women in his Remembrance Day podcast: “it is our sacred duty to celebrate the courage of the fallen; to honour their extraordinary sacrifice; and to remember them with pride.”

Private Roy Davies is thankful. “Remembering the dead is important.”

Abi Mowbray

Thousands gathered for a candlelight vigil at Trafalgar Square last night to remember Ian Baynham who was fatally attacked there last month.

The 62year old civil servant is believed to have been the victim of a homophobic hate crime.

Baynham was attacked while out celebrating his new job at the Home Office on 25 September and later died of his injuries.

Attacks Increase

Last night’s crowd gathered to remember Ian and to show solidarity at a time when homophobic assaults are on the increase.

Recent figures show that homophobic crime in the capital has risen by almost a fifth.

But many believe the increase is the result of more victims of homophobic abuse coming forward.

Metropolitan Police Hate Crime Squad Officer, Kirsten Hearn said last night “If you experience hatred speak up about it, do not be silent because silence kills.”

The vigil received messages of support from all political parties with the exception of the BNP.

Gordon Brown applauded the homosexual community for having the courage to act and warned “homophobia breeds in silence…thank you for speaking out today.”

Education is key

But many believe that it is the silent issue of homosexuality in schools that allows homophobia to develop.

Green Party MP Darren Johnson noted the youth of Baynham’s alleged attackers. He said the issue of homosexuality in schools has not changed since he was in education 30 years ago.

The key to acceptance, Johnson said “is for children to be brought up in an atmosphere of tolerance and celebration of diversity. If we want to banish homophobia then lets start in schools.”

Comedian Stephen Amos also believes that youth is the future. In the closing speech of the evening he said “There are people behind us who are going to keep following us and keep doing the good work. We will not be silenced. We should not be afraid.”

Click for the news article from the day.

By Amy Shead

It could mean the beginning of the end for London Metropolitan University. £36.5 million is the current sum that is owed back to the Higher Education Funding Council for England due to incorrect student data returns.

Around 550 job losses are to be expected so the money required can be found.  A spokesman for the University and College Union explained how he feels that “staff and students are being punished for blunders up the top” and University staff member Amir Soumeeh suggested how he felt that other things should be done to reduce the number of job losses.

He hinted that he believes the senior employees are earning astronomical amounts of money, and as the issue has stemmed from the management they should take pay cuts and reduce bonuses so that more jobs can be saved.

A joint union strike between UCU and UNISON took place last week as the management of the University failed to agree to negotiate with staff trade unions and withdraw redundancy notices that were to be issued with nursery staff.

The HEFCE are still set on recovering the funds that have been over paid across a five-year period. When suggested to them that it seems ironic that the government can find millions to bail out banks but not a University that enables access to higher education for some of the poorest students in the country – a spokesman replied:

‘”It would be unfair to the rest of the sector, we fund Universities on correct data”

Ladybirds clustered in a house window today

By Amy Shead

An invasion of ladybirds is sweeping across the south east today. Many being spotted are the Harlequin variety, which are a potential threat to numerous insect species.

Many people this morning would have arisen to find the exterior of their houses swarmed by the insects, large numbers of which would have been gathered in between doorways and windows; a sight that can appear slightly unsettling.

“They tend to swarm at this time of year, they are seeking a place to spend the winter” said a spokesman from the Essex Wildlife Trust today.

A real threat

The harlequin ladybird seems to be dominating this invasion. Originating from Asia, and only colonising Britain for the past four years scientists suggest that it could be threatening more than one thousand native species. Those at threat include other insects, parasites and plants.  It is known as a voracious predator, even preying on the larvae of other ladybirds.

A harlequin ladybird

The Essex Wildlife Trust spokesman expressed his concern for the vast amounts of harlequin ladybirds being spotted.

“They are incredibly invasive and thought to be detrimental to native ladybirds”

This swarm is certainly quite the spectacle, something of which people should appreciate even though it does carry its deeper concerns.  Observing the sky, trees and thousands of buildings being decorated with small black and red beings is extraordinary, and a rare opportunity.

Protests outside the BBC

A crowd stood outside the BBC’s front gates shouting anti-fascist slogans, and holding placards. Inside the studio, an audience member told Clem Silverman, that the panel had not done enough to expose Griffin’s views.

Over 500 protesters gathered outside television centre to meet Nick Griffin MEP, the head of the British National Party, who was appearing on BBC Question Time. 25 people managed to enter the reception area when the front gates were opened to let a car past, though it was mostly peaceful.

A section of the crowd tried to push back police, dressed in full riot gear, to gain access to the rear of the BBC where they suspected Mr Griffin would exit after the program has finished recording.

Spilling onto the high street.

The protesters lit flares and blocked the A4020 Uxbridge Road. It appeared that the police were prepared to use the ‘kettling‘ technique used at the G20 summit in London earlier this year.

Nick Griffin appeared on Question Time 22nd of October, which is availble on  BBC iPlayer.

A statement on the BNP website said that “Our violent opponents on the far left have promised to lay siege and barricade the studio venue, because they know only too well that this could be THE key moment that propels the BNP into the big time”.

The protest was organised to “voice the huge opposition” to Nick Griffin appearing on the “flagship politics program” BBC Question Time.

Sabby Dhalu

Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, asked “would we have given a platform to Hitler?” during the 1930s, so why does the “broadcast media give the BNP a platform” from which to spout its fascist views?

She said that the BBC could be labeled right wing for not denouncing the BNP with the same vigour as the print media, including comments in the Daily Mail.

Ex-London Mayor and chair of Unite, Ken Livingstone, sent a press-release saying that ‘the public do not pay the license fee to have them abused be the BBC to spread hatred and intolerance’.

Some members of the crowd also took the opportunity to present a socialist -”the enemy is profit” – point of view.

Jim Kelly from Britain’s biggest Union Unite the Union said,

It’s important to oppose Griffin tonight because of what he stands for. I think the BBC are totally wrong on this one. After he speaks on here tonight there will be people like the English Defence League and other fascist groups that are going to go out on the back of this and attack ethnic minorities…it will stoke racial hatred and it’s the wrong descion

A member of the studio audience said after the filming that the other panelists had “all come prepared to attack Nick Griffin”, and that he did not stand up to scrutiny. However, he explained that those on the panel did not have a satisfactory answer as to why the BNP were gaining in popularity.

The BNP say that their policy on immigration is ‘reasonable, sensible, fair and just… which will guarantee that Britain remains British.’ The points of which will be discussed and broadcast on tonight’s Question Time programme.

See below for a video podcast of the interviews and scenes from the protest.

The video begins with an introduction inspired by the thriller film Psycho. It then introduces a mentally ill patient with the caption “Schizo, he’s amongst us.” before showing him in a normal family environment.

Time To Change Communications Officer, Kate Stringer, said “the video has to be hard hitting to get people to stop and take notice.

“The term schizo is used in order to take a derogatory slang word and flip it on it’s head, to make people think.” Said Stringer.

Response

The video has received a mixed response from mental health sufferers.

Marian Moore, 67, was diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar 20 Years ago. Speaking at a mental health awareness event at Westminster University, she said “I didn’t like the video.

“It uses the word schizo as a marketing tool. They are trying to go as far as they can.” Said Moore.

Marian believes the answer to breaking down mental health barriers is for “more people to be prepared to talk about their experiences.”

Balancing needs

Stringer admits that though the film has received some criticism “We have had to balance that with a need to create an advert that gets people’s attention to something they don’t usually take notice of.”

With a recent public survey showing that one in eight people would not want a mental health sufferer living next door. The campaign tackles an issue described by Moore as “the last public taboo.”