Food and petrol push up inflation

Rising food and petrol prices pushed up UK inflation in January, figures show.
Last month's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation figure rose to 2.2%, up from 2.1% in December. The rate is the highest since June 2007. The Retail Price Index (RPI), which includes mortgage interest payments, rose to 4.1% from 4% in December.

However, while price growth was strong, it was not as quick as many analysts had feared, boosting hopes of further interest rate cuts in the UK this year. Below trend The Bank of England cut UK interest rates last week to 5.25% from 5.5% in an attempt to prevent a major slowdown in the economy.

But the Bank signalled that it was unlikely to cut rates as sharply as the US Federal Reserve - which has slashed borrowing costs to 3% - because of fears over inflationary pressures. "It will be some time yet before the MPC's inflation concerns evaporate," said Jonathan Loynes at Capital Economics. Many analysts are predicting that the Bank will keep rates on hold in order to get a clearer picture of long-term economic and inflationary trends, and the impact slower growth will have on consumer prices.

Full Story

This article is about the rising inflation in Great Britain. In Britain Their is a direct effect between our economy and theirs . These rates could be cause by our problems right now.

No plan to ban 'anti-teen' device

There are no plans in England to ban the use of devices which emit a high-pitched sound to disperse groups of teenagers, the government has said.

But it stressed the Mosquito devices, which can cause discomfort to youngsters' ears, should be "a last resort" against anti-social behaviour.

The children's commissioner and other critics want a ban, saying the gadget is indiscriminate in who it targets.

Some stores say the devices can be useful against anti-social youths.

In a statement issued after the calls for a ban, the government said:

"'Mosquito alarms' are not banned and the government has no plans to do so.
Obviously no-one would want to have to use a device like this, and it should
very much be seen as a last resort. We will continue to tackle the
underlying problems through better neighbourhood policing, giving young
people alternative things to do in their spare time and, where necessary,
using the powers we have put in place to prevent anti-social behaviour."

Full Story

The country with the most complex security system in the world has still found another way to increase their public surveillance.

Grade this.

AP Comparative Government Great Britain Blog 2

This is our temporary title because we didnt want to overshadow our current project.

Questions and Updates.

Anyone with Questions or comments please feel free to ask .

Updates coming soon to blog:

Country Fact Side bar
British Music on Blog
Updated Format Colors
Poll
British Pictures Slideshow



Expect these updates and some surprise updates all completed by next Tuesday February 19, 2008.

*Subject to change

British TV

Britain has a deep culture of Television Broadcasting.Click Here for a list of the top British shows of all time.

Also I apologize for missing Saturdays post , Both Blog members were not able to access the internet that day . If anyone noticed it should not happen again but before it does you will be notified.

Assessment Complete

Trivia Week 2 Results

The answer to this week's trivia question was The Clash. Continue checking out the blog this upcoming week for the new question.

Results So Far:
Henry 2
Camp 2
Sean 2
Kritesh 2
Courtney 2

Arrests after school gas attack

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested after a substance was released in a school, prompting an evacuation. Police said a pepper spray aerosol was set off in the rear stairwell of a classroom block at Christ Church High School, Ashford.

Twenty one pupils were taken to hospital with symptoms including sore eyes, coughing and vomiting. Others were checked by medics at the scene. Two parents were later arrested on suspicion of assaulting police.

Police, fire and ambulance teams attended the scene in the Kingsnorth area at about 1220 GMT, and firefighters using breathing apparatus ventilated the building. Clearly tensions ran quite high Ch Insp Martin Bradley said the gas used was an illegal substance which cannot be bought in shops.

Full Story

This article is interesting because it proves how even with the strict gun control laws in Great Britain there are still ways of attacking . It is scary that the gas was a substance not sold in shops and that it has not been released by name to the public.

Grade this.

Clegg attacks 'surveillance' UK

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has accused Gordon Brown of turning Britain into a "surveillance state" during prime minister's questions in the Commons. He also urged an end to the "scandalous fingerprinting" of children at schools and the removal of more than a million innocent people from the DNA database.

Mr Brown, who earlier promised a quick report on the MP bugging row responded by asking if the Lib Dems backed CCTV. He added: "We are taking the steps to protect the liberties of citizens." Mr Clegg told the prime minister controversy surrounding the bugging of Labour MP Sadiq Khan, on a prison visit to a constituent, "shouldn't come as a surprise to you".

'Urgent' security needs "After all, it is this government that has turned the British public into the most spied upon the planet - 1,000 surveillance requests every day, one million innocent people on the DNA database and 5,000 schools now fingerprinting our children," he said.
"Is that what you meant when you spoke so stirringly a few months ago about the great British tradition of liberty?"

Full Story

This story really shows how in depth the British Surveillance system has reached . It is very interesting to see what our closest ally is up to , and if they could possibly have an affect on security choices made here in the U.S.

Grade This.

Labour MPs to declare family jobs

Gordon Brown has ordered all Labour MPs to declare "as soon as possible" details of any relatives they employ.

In a letter to the Speaker, he says he has told Labour MPs not to wait until April, as recommended by the Commons standards committee earlier.

Conservative leader David Cameron has already told his frontbenchers to declare any employed relatives, plus a range of other expenditure.

The initiatives come after a series of revelations about MPs employing family.

The Commons estimates committee announced on Tuesday it was to hold a review of expenses after claims public money was being misused. It is due to report in October.

In a letter to Speaker Michael Martin, the chairman of the estimates committee, Gordon Brown said he welcomed its review, saying a "root-and-branch overhaul of the current system" was needed.

Full Story

I feel that Brown is implementing this investigation because he is worried about losing his power in Parliament. I think he feels that if members of opposing parties elect family members with similar views, he could very well be voted out of office.

Grade this.