MPs' pay, expenses and all that.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has announced it plans to bring forward its inquiry into MPs' expenses. More .
Archives for March 2009
Tuesday's Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Dr Roger Sawyer will read your comments and may well add his own.
Five Live's Peter Allen
on the front of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Newspaper today:
Diverting.
I like .
And there's related article.
Monday's Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. PM's editor Jo Carr will read your comments and may well add her own.
Water meters.
We'll talk about this tonight. The Environment Agency's thinking is .
"Hi...
...When driving down the A11 past the the disused airfield at Snetterton in Norfolk I have often glimpsed this sculpture. On Saturday I stopped and took these. It is the memorial to the personnel of the 96th Bomb Group of the 8th USAAF that were stationed there from '43 to '45.
DiY"
Ah, the delights of being back
and hitting the delete key on as many emails as possible.
So, for two weeks,
I've been in a news vacuum.
What do I need to know before tomorrow?
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Robert Peston
Not only is the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Business Editor being awarded the title of Television Performer of the Year at the Broadcasting Press Guild awards today, but he was also interviewed last night on PM by schoolchildren in Middlesborough who were learning how to be reporters.
The piece finished with one of the youngsters saying to Robert "My mum thinks you're like a modern day Mr Darcy". All we heard was a hint of a laugh - but what do you think Robert Peston's response was? Go on, have a guess.
Sir Paul Smith
Remember we spoke to him about cycling earlier in the week?. He was angry that there had been so little coverage of British success in the Milan-San Remo 300 kilometre one day classic. It's a real test of cycling prowess and stamina. Last weekend, the Isle of Man cyclist Mark Cavendish won it - only the second British cyclist to take the title and the first time since 1964.
Sir Paul wanted to be a professional cyclist until he had an accident at the age of 7 but he still takes a very keen interest in the sport and often writes about it on his blog
The Beach.
"Hello. Welcome to my beach.
It's a place to take all your inhibitions off and run into the sea and have a dip...
Go to the bar have a drink or just lay down and sun yourself...
because the sun always shines on the beach.
Be nice.
Say nice things.
Have a nice day."
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Tweet
We might, just might, do something in the programme tonight about Sparkie the budgie who sang in a Geordie accent and was a star of 1950s television. Today, nearly 50 years after his death an opera written about him will receive its world premiere featuring the stuffed body of Sparkie himself.
I know, I know, it's a silly story but hey, we can't be serious all the time.
My favourite film bird is Joey - Sid Plummer's budgie in Carry On At Your Convenience who turns out to be able to correctly predict the winners of horseraces. Sid reads out the runners and riders and Joey tweets when the winner's name is read out. Priceless.
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
More from Hugh
For some more information about the people featured in Hugh's photos you can
See the video about trumpeter Farand and his mum
Read a report about the tourists visiting Iraq
Pictures from Hugh in Iraq
Hugh Sykes has been reporting from Baghdad quite a lot recently, over the sixth annniversary of the start of the Iraq War in 2003. Here are some pictures from him which allow us a glimpse at what it's like there now.
Read the paper hopefully, but don't put your gun away.
Checkpoints still rule.
Blastwalls still dominate.
"We have to get out. The children have forgotten how to play": Mohammed, with his son Ali.
"Take our picture mister!"
Farand Nashat, trumpet student.
Farand with his mother Bushra.
This is their neighbourhood.
Tourists in Iraq: Bridget Jones (aged 77, an archaeologist from London) and Geoff Moore (a retired subpostmaster from Otterburn.He's 75.)
Playing soldiers.
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
What sort of PI?
Everyone is talking about....
CPI and RPI.
What about Magnum PI?
This is, in fact, Nils in disguise. He says he that after today's shock hike in the UK's official measure of inflation, he will be able to answer your questions about the difference between the the RPI - the retail prices index and the CPI - the consumer prices index and how both might affect you.
What question do you have for Nils?
On your bike
Today's Editor, Roger, was seething this morning about the fact that there was barely any coverage of Milan-San Remo cycle race - a 300km one day classic. For the first time in more than 40 years a British cyclist has won it - Mark Cavendish.
I've just done an interview with Sir Paul Smith, the fashion designer who was seething as much as Roger. Here he is with one of his prized possessions:
He is a massive cycling fan, a friend of Mark Cavendish and even has a cycle in his office. He feels that cycling is an overlooked sport in Britain and should get more recognition.
He says he's going to write about it on his blog later. We'll run our interview with him tonight.
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
After the fire
In a minute I'm going to speak to the parish priest of Marysville in Victoria, Australia a town that was almost completely destroyed by the devastating bushfires there in February.
It just set us talking here in the office about how we'd feel about returning to live in an area where so many people died or had their homes and possessions destroyed. Would you feel the same about living in that area again if some of your neighbours had been killed or indeed if you'd lost a family member? Or would you want to try to rebuild your life and try to recreate what had gone before?
If all that's a bit philosophical at this time in the morning, maybe you could just send me a joke instead. My supply for the newsletter is running low and I've lost track of which ones Eddie has already used!
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Veterans
You may have heard Ed Slater, the Chairman of the Normandy Veterans Association this morning. He was reacting to news that the Government will, after all, provide support for veterans who want to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy this year. The change of heart came after the French Government decided to turn this year's D Day commemorations into a major event and President Obama said he would attend.
Last November the MOD said that it regularly receives requests from various different veterans' organisations seeking financial or other support for pilgrimages and events to commemorate the campaigns in which they took part. The vast majority are similarly worthy, the MOD said, and could make an equally compelling case as the Normandy veterans, but it would be inappropriate to provide official support for one and not the others.
I wondered how YOU think the MOD should deal with this dilemma. People may understand there isn't a bottomless pit of money but are there some causes that are beyond question and should be ringfenced for support?
The Beach.
The beach is a state of mind, where we escape from the must to the maybe and what if, where thoughts may be lightly etched on the shore or sculpted in the sand, admired and commented on by others, then swept away by the waves or jumped on by small children of all ages...
More on spring has sprung
Sue writes: In Ireland we have had two glorious days in a row and yesterday evening I took advantage of the good weather to listen to PM outside. I thought you would like to see where "you" were during PM. Two (similar) photos attached in which you will see my radio, dutifully tuned in, with you and Nils inside, chatting away. Best wishes, Sue.
Sadly it doesn't in any way match the view Nils and I had from the studio.
and
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Volunteer
On yesterday's PM our reporter Becky Milligan was talking to "Sarah" (not her real name) about what her daily routine is now that she's unemployed.
You can hear the interview here.
Quite a few of you got in touch to suggest that Sarah should try volunteering. But we've heard from some people that it's actually becoming more difficult to do that and that competition for places is an obstacle.
Some PM listeners have spoken about their experiences recently and we put their questions to the so-called 'Volunteering Tsar', Baroness Neuberger.
Do you have any experience of volunteering yourself?
Coatless
First of all, apologies if you haven't managed to see much sun yet.
I have to announce that today was the first day I left the house WITHOUT A COAT.
Never mind first swallows etc.
What, for you, is the indicator that the seasons are really changing?
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
You are being actioned
We've been going forward with some blue skies thinking in the office environment . We want you, the stakeholders, to join us in proactively thinking outside the box to seek a level playing field for all those verbal utterances that are constantly cascaded up (and down) by newsreaders and presenters. I have been meeting with my Editor and brainstorming how we might incentivise you, our stakeholders, to join with us in seeking out jargon across the piece.
I can't keep this up.
Tell us which words YOU would like to ban. The Local Government Association is calling on councils to cut out 200 jargon words including "revenue stream", "stakeholder" and
"incentivising". Margaret Eaton, the chairman of the LGA said "During the recession, it is vital that we explain to people in plain English how to get access to the 800 different services that local government provides with taxpayers' money. "
"incintstacen
Bad birds
I had a very near miss while walking into Television Centre today .
Picture the scene. A walkway with steel rafters above. Pigeons perched on it. They aimed. They fired. My colleague and I jumped out of the way just in time.
Reminds me of the old saying:
"May the bird of happiness fly over you........safely".
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Youth Parliament
On the programme tonight we're going to be talking to a member of the Youth Parliament. They wanted to stage a debate in the Commons chamber. Last night MPs gave the proposal the thumbs up - but not without a group of Conservative MPs putting up a fight against the idea. So we're bringing together Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough who was one of those who voted against and James Greenhouse of the Youth Parliament.
See James and his colleagues in action
Pensions..
I'm watching Lord Myners, the Financial Services minister talking about the 703 thousand pound pension awarded to former RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin.
MPs on the committee are trying to get him to admit that he made mistakes in the way that he handled the negotiations and that he should have known such a vast sum was being lined up to drop into Sir Fred's pockets.
Lord Myners is insisting he's done nothing wrong. In fact he has just said if he had his time again, he would have acted in the same way.
Fascinating stuff. I need to put my headphones back on and continue listening....
The Glass Box.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
French soldiers in Afghanistan.
Emma Jane Kirby will report for us tonight.
For the blog, she writes:
"I just came back from an embed with the French army - the Chasseurs Alpins or mountain infantry - in NE Afghanistan in an area called Kapisa.
Alcohol
Hello there,
Nice to be back in the chair for a couple of days.
Despite the best efforts of some of you to appeal to Eddie's better nature and persuade him to leave his cocktail cabinet keys in an accessible place, he has failed to do so. I will have to rely on you to lift my spirits instead.
There's been a lot of talk about alcohol pricing in the last day or so, with Liam Donaldson the Chief Medical Officer calling for minimum pricing and Ministers suggesting that it would not happen in England. I was talking about this last night with my MP panellists on The (10pm, Radio 4) . Tom Harris the former Transport Minister was saying that while his New Labour instincts should lead him to support the Government's dismissal of the suggestion, his concern for his constituents meant that he felt alcohol pricing HAD to be a sensible suggestion. See here:
What do you think? Will charging a pound for a can of lager or £4 for a bottle of wine make a difference to binge drinking and harmful consumption?
The email I didn't read on air...
"Dare I suggest that whilst men may indeed be better at women in reading maps- PM today- they have never- despite what your contributer may have observed- had problems finding anything in my drawers.
regards
Glynis Kozma"
Sorry about the
lack of PM newsletter. My fault entirely. Just scrambled one together.
Comic Relief.
If you tune in for the 16.30 PM trail on Radio 4, we'll have some news for you.
And the Comic Relief website is .
PM report Jon Manel has interviewed Binyam Mohamed.
We'll talk more about this tonight. 
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ News report is . There's much more of the interview . And if you listen to PM via digital TV, you can also find it by pressing the red button.
The Glass Box for Friday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Spring...
...as seen by listener Verna Enebo in Norway...
"After one day of glorious sunshine, it snowed for 24 hours again. As you can see, spring is definitely not just round the corner here. These photos were all taken earlyish this morning ... A pleasant weekend to all, where ever you may be."
Call on the Listener Log about last night's programme.
"PM
TX Date: 12/03/09
"I can't understand why Esther Rantzen was on the programme giving her views on the state of Child Protection services in this country. She is not a qualified social worker and so has no professional expertise to offer."
Total number of contacts for the programme: 1"
Yes that's right. No professional expertise....
The Beach.
"Welcome to The Beach, a very special place on the PM Blog.
The sun shines, the drinks are free, there are more than enough sun loungers and hammocks to go round, and the camels are friendly. So, take a break from your day to day stresses and strains and relax.
There are only two rules; 1) be nice to everyone, and 2) don't eat the petunias."
Roger under the Red Sea.
There's some related (by marriage) video footage and .
Is the news getting you down?
Here is a photo to cheer you up
Lord Laming's report.
Read it in full . ´óÏó´«Ã½ News coverage is .
The Glass Box for Thursday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editorial team will read your comments and may well add their own.
Tonight, Andrew Bomford reports on the hundreds of migrants in the Calais area in northern France...
"...who are desperate to get across the Channel to the UK. They are living in dreadful conditions, in makeshift camps and derelict buildings, and get little help from the authorities, who are trying to discourage them from coming. We found women and children also living there. Every day they make increasingly dangerous attempts to get on board lorries heading to Britain, and violent people smugglers are making money out of their plight by facilitating access to trucks and the port area. But increased security and regular sweeps by the police are making it much harder for migrants to make it through.
Some pictures captured from a car as migrants run behind moving lorries heading to the port and open the rear doors to climb inside
This is Sebella, a 5 year old girl from Eritrea, living in a derelict building in Calais with her mother. She's trying out my headphones and microphone.
Every day hundreds of migrants queue for food given out by a local charity. I'll be reporting from this location tonight.
This is known as the "jungle", a makeshift camp on the outskirts of Calais where the migrants from Afghanistan live
They've built these shacks out of old wooden pallets, corrugated iron, and plastic. Up to twenty people live in each building."
The words and photos above are Andrew's. Hear his report on PM tonight.
PM goes to war with Newsnight.
Paxman and Mair.
It's war.
To be fair, Newsnight have been doing jokes on their newsletter for a lot longer than us. But recently, in an effort to boost spirits during the creditcrunchcrisiscrunchrecessioncrunch we have started sending out jokes gifted to us by newsletter subscribers. On Friday the joke was this:
"And now today's joke, sent in by Gary Thomas:
"I went to the zoo the other day but all it had was a dog. It was a Shih Tzu.""
This morning an email arrives from Colin Leverett. It seems our joke from Friday became their joke yesterday:
"Eddie,
You want to have words with that Esler chap over on Paxmanight. First he pinches your editor; now he's after your newsletter jokes ."
They are just across the corridor from us, and we are considering our next step. This is not acceptable.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Roger Sawyer, will read your comments and may well add his own.
What's Your News?
Not only does iPM always welcome a sentence about your lovely life...we're thinking of devoting an entire show to it soon.
More here.
The Glass Box for Tuesday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
In the Glass Box we try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. The photo is of Jo Carr, the editor of PM, who is also output editing the programme tonight. That means she's directly in charge of everything you hear, including pulling my strings. She'll read your comments and may well respond here later. But as you can see, she's not to be messed with.
How to save money. Got any top tips?
During this recession, I can't seem to pick up a newspaper without it having 76 money-saving tips I can't live without.
We're especially drawn to the tips in the new Vogue. For example: "Slice the bottom off last summer's maxidress and use the off-cuts as a beach turban. Alternatively, turn them into a sun shelter using willow canes."
I'm sure you can do better.
And now here is one of the three pictures that came up when I searched our photo library for Vogue:
The caption reads: "An old friend of Edinas comes to stay with her husband and baby, and Patsy gets jealous. A competition developes between them to prove who has the most famous friend. At the office Bubbles no longer works for Edina, having been, in her own words, 'head-shrunk' by Vogue."
Therapy for unemployed people.
What do you think?
DiY says Spring has Sprung...and sends this evidence.
Jack and Vera yesterday.
Violence against Women.
is the Home Office's public consultation document. In PM tonight we'll let you hear what happened when one anti-violence campaigner confronted the Home Secretary over the "unworkable" and "offensive" proposals.
The Glass Box for Monday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Mark Frankel, will read your comments and may well add his own.
Savers versus Borrowers. Nils writes:
"These very low interest rates are bad for savers. But how many people are savers?
The answer is not simple.
£7,000 lampposts.
These were designed by Nayan Kulkarni, for Ashford in Kent. There are 56 of them, at about seven thousand pounds each. Some local councillors are said to be outraged. We'll talk to Nayan Kulkarni tonight.
There's another view here:
John Prescott on
what happened to Lord Mandelson:
(The original incident is .)
From Frances O: "Here's a quantitative easing parody for you
Ease up, Gordon Brown
Ease up, Gordon Brown!
Ease up, Gordon Brown!
Off to the bankers you must go
Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-oh!
If you start them lending,
They'll see the crunch right off,
Ease up! Ease up!
Don't get the breeze up,
Ease up, Gordon Brown!
Oh my! What a rotten crunch!
What a rotten crunch!
Oh, what a rotten bunch!
Oh my! What a rotten crunch!
What a rotten system too!
Ease up, Mervyn King!
Ease up, Mervyn King!
Off to the bankers you must go
Ee-i-ee-i-ee-i-oh!
If you start them lending,
They'll see the crunch right off,
Stop this squeezing
With quantitative easing!
Ease - up - Mervyn - King!
Ow's yer printer? All right!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hope this brings a smile,
Frances O"
The Glass Box for Friday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Roger Sawyer, will read your comments and may well add his own. Oh yes.
The final countdown...
...to the final strapline!
The straplines at the top of the blog have been as much a part of its success as 502 messages, Jack and Vera, and frog singing.
But it's important to keep refreshing, and not just falling back on the same tired old ideas...we keep that for the show...so very soon, we are going to publish the FINAL strapline. The very last one.
Could it be yours?
Think.
Think hard.
Think of the strapline that deserves to be used as the very last one...and send it to pm@bbc.co.uk.
Please put FINAL STRAPLINE in caps so I can see it amid the Nigerian lottery wins. I will choose one from the hundreds we will receive. Remember, I can be bribed, my decision is final, and not a word to the DG.
Who would you like to throw green goo over?
Or is it, over whom would you like to throw green goo?
( is why it's on our minds)
On PM tonight - Ray Furlong in Paris...he writes...
"I'm reporting from Paris on the impact of the recession on the fashion industry. It's Fashion Week and all the movers and shakers are here. And everything looks just like it should at the big trade shows...
But it's not business as usual. Many say it's the quietest its been in years and this trader told me buyers are fussier than ever, unwilling to take risks.
But I've come here with a designer who can't even be in these trade halls. A stand here costs abut £15000 for the duration of the show. Jacob Kimmie's investors have dried up, and getting credit is impossible. But he's got to be in Paris. So he's come up with a novel solution...
This is Jacob is his hotel room. It's next door to where all the big shows are and he's hoping people will come and view his collection here. Other designers in the hotel are doing the same; the lobby has signs up saying which designer is in which room. It's credit crunch fashion. But so far, it's not really working... yesterday (Thursday) no-one came to see Jacob's little black dress with a kilometre of black satin ribbons, or his other designs.
The whole enterprise, which his business partner James says is a ''do or die venture,' rests on a Saudi Princess. She has promised to come on Friday afternoon... but will she make it? And if she does, will she buy? Tune in tonight to find out!"
The Beach.
The beach is a state of mind, where we escape from the must to the maybe and what if, where thoughts may be lightly etched on the shore or sculpted in the sand, admired and commented on by others, then swept away by the waves or jumped on by small children of all ages...
The Glass Box for Thursday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Roger Saywer, will read your comments and may well add his own. Oh yes.
That Bank of England statement in full.
.
Got any questions? Nils wants to hear from you. He'll do his best to answer questions on the air tonight.
Please send an email to pm@bbc.co.uk, putting "Gordon Jackson" in the subject line.
Thank you.
(Stephanie Flanders has a word or two of explanation here.)
More on the Miners' Strike...25 years after it began.
Hugh reported for us last night. There's a slideshow .
Interest rates. Where will they be after noon?
The person who guesses correctly and answers a non-existent tie-break question will win an hour on the Bank of England's Big Money Printing Machine.
Hugh Sykes. He covered the miners' strike for Today....
...tomorrow it will be 25 years since the strike started. And Hugh reports for us this evening, going back to one South Wales mining commuinity - to find some of the people he met there in 1984. He sends these words and pictures:
"Bleak billboard, 2009"
How clean is our valley. A park and a picnic area where the colliery used to be.
John Richings, retired Six Bells miner. There are new homes now where some of the colliery buildings used to be.
Jim Watkins, former Six Bells National Union of Mineworkers chairman.
He says miners came to him 'crying' that they had to go back to work - to feed their children.
Edgar Oldland, son of a Six Bells miner who promised his son he would never have to work down the pit. Edgar worked 20 years in the armed forces - including service in north Africa during the second world war - and then twenty years as a teacher. Edgar's crisp verdict on the 1984 strike: "Stupid Scargill".
Paul Mehat, Six Bells greengrocer - outside his local. In 1984, Indian-born Paul thought his shop would have to close if the strike went on for several months, but it and he survived. And so did the pub, despite the landlord's fears. They serve the local ale, Allbrights.
The colliery memorialised in the pedestrian tunnel under the disused railway.
Bleak memorial. 45 Six Bells miners died in the 1960 disaster - there was an explosion underground."
If you'd like to see what to Six Bells looked like 25 years ago, and to watch the colliery being demolished in 1989, click .
Chris Broad on Lahore.
As you'll hear in PM, former England batsman Chris Broad was right at the centre of the gun attack in Lahore yesterday. You can see some of his comments .
1550 UPDATE: I've just recorded an interview with Pakistan's High Commissioner in London who says that Mr Broad is ungrateful.
The Glass Box for Wednesday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Briony Harris, will read your comments and may well add her own.
Wonko sends
this from New Zealand's south island' west coast..."with native Punga ferns and rushes framing the picture".
"Keep the frog warm for me...back in Feb...."
Cheating. Everyone's doing it
According to , and other papers, everyone who has ever appeared on University Challenge was in fact a registered OAP who had never even passed the eleven plus. I exaggerate. Slightly.
I'm wondering if you've ever cheated. Go on. Confess.
By the way the clocks are going backwards again right now.
The Glass Box for Tuesday
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Roger Saywer, will read your comments and may well add his own.
Wonder what happened after the Wonder of Woollies? Michael Buchanan reports tonight and sends this for the blog:
"The final days of Woolworths' Ramsgate branch are familiar to many former staff. Tears, frustration, anger (much of it from customers who thought everything was going for pennies) and an overwhelming sense of sadness for the demise of the store. John Webb - 25 years at Woolies - and Vickie Boden - 4 years experience - both say they enjoyed their jobs so much they'd happily go back and work for free if Woolworths was re-opened.
That's not going to happen, of course. So John and Vickie have found themselves jobs at Boots, which is handily located across the High Street. Far more typical of the former employees is Michelle Fright 
who remains unemployed 2 months after the store closed. Fourteen other employees that we were told about remain unemployed, one has retired, one is about to retire while 4 have found jobs. We couldn't track down the remaining 5 people.
Woolworths was one of Ramsgate few "destination" stores, a reason to go into town, and its closure has - according to locals - had a crippling effect on the town and many retail outlets on Ramsgate High Street are closed with little immediate prospect of re-opening."
Jade Goody.
Max Clifford is on our programme tonight, talking about whether some of the coverage of Jade Goody - particularly the footage of her being wheeled into hospital - is appropriate.
Have a listen and feel free to add your comment.
The Glass Box for Monday.
The Glass Box is where the PM team meets in at 18.00 every weeknight to discuss the content of the programme.
We try to be honest with each other, but not hurtful, as we talk about what worked and what didn't...what met our expectations and what fell short.
This virtual glass box is where you're encouraged to take part in the same spirit. Tonight's editor, Joe something, will read your comments and may well add her own.
Scotland and alcohol.
is the Scottish government's "framework for action" - you can read the main points .
1410 UPDATE: There is also conducted at the University of Sheffield.
Normal childbirth...
...what is it...and is it "unnatural" to have an epidural? We're talking about that tonight. Click for a link to the National Childcare Trust page which has much more.
What have YOU done for your children's education?
As the government in England reviews the use of lotteries to allocate places at oversubscribed schools (more ) we're wondering what lengths YOU have gone to to help your children's schooling.
Have you moved to a "better" postcode area? Given up your own dreams to fund private education? Or maybe you're one of our listeners who home schools.
Let us know how far you've gone...by clicking on Comments.
Changes.
Our new editor, Joe something, has been in the job a week and today she is directly in charge of the content of PM for the first time, as Day Editor.
Not only that, she has changed the seating arrangement so that she sits next to me. I just tried to take a secret photo of the view to my left, only for her to turn round and tell me that if I did that again she would "fire your fat ass".
The editor used to sit opposite, which is where you see today's Number Two - Mark. Confused?
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PM The evening news and current affairs programme presented by Eddie Mair.
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