Friday Drivetime

BCfm’s weekly politics show presented by Tony Gosling

At five: discussing the big stories in Bristol, Britain and around the world
After six:  straight talking and investigative reports with Martin Summers and Marina Morris

For all the shows back to Easter 2009 visit the Friday Drivetime archive page.

First hour: Bristol City Council cabinet member for Education, Children and Young People, Labour Councillor for Southmead, Brenda Massey. Ofsted inspection of Bristol schools, cuts in youth service and expansion of Bristol Cathedral School. Cyprus president announces ‘Citizen’s Income’, which is UK Green Party policy, following economic disaster. Lib Dems and Tories hand back Fishponds’ former nurse Joan Edwards’ £520,000 bequest after outcry: Coalition parties return donation that was bequeathed by Joan Edwards to ‘whichever government is in office’ Prince Charles faces scrutiny by MPs over veto on laws: Parliament to examine heir to the throne’s little-known veto over any laws that affect his private interests. House prices picking up – but beware the north-south divide: Government hails rise as signal of economic recovery but critics fear a new property bubble. Rail users face price hike of £200 a year in move branded ‘bad for the economy’, Fares will rise by an average of 4.1 per cent in January, Increase is higher than pay rise majority of workers can expect, Cost of annual season tickets has risen more than 50 per cent in decade. Wages in the UK have seen one of the largest falls in the European Union during the economic downturn, according to official figures. UK wages decline among worst in Europe. Gas and electricity bills could rise by £140 before winter (despite energy companies making £3.3bn profits since last election). Price comparison website warns price hike could be on the way, Households warned bills could increase by up to 10 per cent before winter, Britain’s big six energy companies seen £3.3bn profits since last election. Gregory Lauder-Frost exposed: The Tory fringe group leader with Nazi sympathies , Right-wing views and criminal past revealed of vice-president of the Traditional Britain Group. Crowds on Demand: Rebels with a cause – if the price is right . The somewhat dubious organisation that will provide you with protesters to passionately promote your cause
[audio: 201308161700]
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Second hour: Over 650 dead and 4,500 injured as army opens fire on peaceful Muslim Brotherhood camps in Egypt’s Raafa massacre. Frank Wisner Jr., son of CIA/OSS officer who ran ‘Operation Paperclip’, helping SS Nazis to escape justice in 1945 at the end of World War Two. PRI’s The World host Marco Werman talks with former US Ambassador to Egypt, Frank Wisner, about his view of the events, and how the United States should respond. Depleted Uranium expert and author of ‘Uranium in Iraq: The Poisonous Legacy of the Iraq Wars’ Joanne Baker explains World Health Organisation [link to WHO petition] is suppressing its own report into birth defects caused by UK & US radioactive ordnance, link to Child Victims Of War website. £8m of non lethal aid goes to Syrian Rebels but the real figure is much higher, CIA ‘running arms smuggling team in Benghazi when consulate was attacked’: The CIA has been subjecting operatives to monthly polygraph tests in an attempt to suppress details of a reported US arms smuggling operation in Benghazi that was ongoing when its ambassador was killed by a mob in the city last year, according to reports. CENSORED: Syrian TV news suppressed in the UK YouTube Syrian News in English  by former BBC Director General John Birt’s Eutelsat. Saudi Arabia has launched an offensive against anti-regime activists arresting many and sentencing some to years in jail. Total number of political prisoners has now surpassed 40,000 according to some reports. The crackdown has even forced a member of the ruling family to defect. RT Arabic spoke exclusively to Saudi prince Khaled Bin Farhan Al-Saud – who accuses the monarchy of corruption and silencing all voices of dissent. Hunting Humans In Bahrain With Shotguns Will Stone from Avon and Bristol Law Centre on ‘Zero Hours Contracts’ where employers don’t have any obligation to pay staff or even provide any work. Final dispatch from Temas Teani in Columbia’s Red Zone: Israel’s IDF is training assassins & torturers; China is buying up resources: Temas Teani reports from Columbia’s Mafia run police state against the backdrop of Santos/FARC ‘peace talks’ in Cuba. Two films: ‘Impunity’: A film by Juan José Lozano & Hollman Morris [film’s own website] and Impunity In Columbia part 1of2 – part 2of2
[audio: 201308161800]
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