Politics UK

East Germans charged with espionage

An East German couple have appeared before Horseferry Road magistrates court in London charged under the Official Secrets Act. Reinhard and Sonja Schulze of Cranford in Middlesex are accused of possessing documents detrimental to the public interest. They are also charged with making false statements for immigration purposes.

Reinhard Schulze, 32, is described as a kitchen designer while Sonia Schulze, 35, is said to be a technical translator. The pair were arrested by Special Branch officers last Friday after weeks of surveillance. Their home is still being searched for evidence and sack-loads of items have already been taken away for examination.

The Schulze's arrest came on the same day that the former head of West Germany's counter-intelligence service was unmasked as an East German spy. Investigations are continuing into whether the Schulze case is linked with the current West German spy scandal. The Schulzes were in court for only a short time before being driven back to prison. There was no application for bail and they were remanded in custody for another week.

Liverpool Issues 90-Day Redundancy Notices

Despite opposition from trade unions and from the national Labour Party, the Liverpool City Council has issued 90-day redundancy notices to its staff today, telling them that they expect their employer – the council – to go insolvent within 90 days and that as a result they are to expect redundancy. They are not formal notices of redundancy – no individual will be made redundant based on the documents issued – but they are nonetheless being interpreted as a statement of intent by the council by a number of employees.

Hoping for trade unions to vote in favour of an all out strike, the council had delayed issuing these notices until today, with only a few days until they would have missed the legal deadline to do so. In order to comply with the law, the Council was forced to hire taxies to hand out the notices to the council's 31,000 strong workforce because they could not rely on the postal service delivering them in time.

The move has been condemned by the NALGO Union, which voted against taking strike action last week, and by the National Union of Teachers which has threatened legal action against the council. NALGO Shop Stewards were joined by members of the Further Education Teaching Union, NAHFHE, in staging a walkout of the meeting of the Joint Shop Stewards Committee in protest at the issuing of notices.

The move comes as the Leader of the Labour Party is expected to condemn the actions of the Liverpool Council in his first speech as Leader of the Opposition to the Labour Party Conference since he was elected earlier this year. Analysts are split on how far they believe he might go in condemning the council and how the conference might react.

Colwich Rail Crash



Yesterday evening at around 19:15 at Colwich Junction, Staffordshire, two high-speed intercity trains collided. So far it is known that two people have died and around 100 have been injured; the cause of the accident is being described as a miscommunication between signalling and one of the trains.

The 17:20 Liverpool to London Euston stopped midway between slow and fast lines and was hit broadside by the 17:00 from London Euston to Manchester. Experts are saying that both trains were very busy and it is a miracle that more were not killed or injured.

Emergency services arrived within 15 minutes of the crash being reported by signalmen, with the injured being taken to Stafford General Hospital. Stafford General Hospital has closed it’s A&E department to all emergencies and has declared a major incident. Being 5 miles from the crash Stafford General is conveniently placed to deal with this incident. What is a worry to local emergency services is the fact that the next nearest A&E is more than 25 miles away in Stoke-on-Trent, at the North Stafford Royal Infirmary. This extra distance could see routine medical emergencies becoming more problematic, perhaps even fatal.

The Police are asking for all non-essential travel in the vicinity of Colwich, by road, to be rerouted or cancelled until further notice. Please listen to further announcements on Radio Stafford.

Those with loved ones who may be involved; a number will be posted at the end of this program, where Police staff from Staffordshire Police will take calls.

Handsworth, Birmingham:



Reports are coming in of serious public disturbances in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. A local BBC reporter, Ted Matthews, of Radio Birmingham, had this for us:



Ted Mathews there, reporting from Handsworth.

Gunmen hijack Italian cruise liner

Palestinian militants have hijacked an Italian cruise liner, the Achille Lauro, in the Mediterranean and threatened to blow it up. The gunmen are demanding the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. There are said to be 420 passengers and crew on board the ship including six Britons.

Little is yet known about the hijackers but Egyptian and Italian authorities are said to be in communication with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.

The Naples-based ship was commandeered this afternoon shortly after leaving the port of Alexandria in Egypt on its way to Port Said. Most of the passengers disembarked in Alexandria to go on a sight-seeing tour and were planning to rejoin the cruise further up the Egyptian coast. The Achille Lauro's present position and intended destination is unknown, but the Italian Navy is sending ships and reconnaissance aircraft in an attempt to establish its location. Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi is understood to be holding an emergency meeting to discuss options with his foreign and defence ministers.

Marine hijackings are uncommon. In 1961 the passenger liner Santa Maria was taken over by opponents of the Portuguese dictator Antonio Salazar, but it ended peacefully. Notable sea hijacks have also occurred off Singapore, Greece and Cambodia in the 1970s. Experts say a forced boarding of the Achille Lauro could result in heavy hostage casualties.

Handsworth Riots



West Midlands Police report that violence is still raging around the Lozells Road area of Handsworth, after two days of continuous violence. Two people have died during the violence and up to 50 shops have been utterly destroyed by fire damage, with the Fire brigade not being able to get through. Another report from a local newspaper suggests that as many as 200 cars have been burnt, and insurance estimates state that the cost of this violence will be as high as £250,000.

What many people wonder is why did this happen. Speculation is rife that many in the area are unemployed and disillusioned by their prospects of finding work, others say it is institutional racism in the Police that has driven this mainly Black and Asian area of Birmingham to erupt in this way.

In other news…

Newsflash: End of rioting in Handsworth



The Handsworth Riots have ended say Police. In a statement held outside of Handsworth Police Station, the Chief Constable, Paul Leopold, of West Midlands Police gave a brief statement to the assembled press.




Why did the Handsworth riot happened. Why did such a blaze occur after such a small spark?

Well, to answer this I turn you over to our Home affairs correspondent, Larry Chapman. Larry?



Thank you Larry. We asked for a representative from West Midlands Police for comment on the accusations of racism against them, and they declined to comment. We did however manage to get comment from the Police Federation, and their current Chairman, Superintendent Maxwell MacGyver, earlier on today; this is what he had to say:



Maxwell MacGyver, Chairman of the Police Federation talking to us earlier.

The BBC has learnt that high level meetings are taking place at the Department of Industry, Whitehall, over the future of Westland. A high level source has said that the Government is looking at all options to safeguard the future of Westland.

It is not known what shape these meeting are taking, but we do know that representatives from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, Sikorsky, Augusta and surprisingly Honda Global Technologies are at these meetings. It is unknown what significance the addition of Honda is to the future of Westland, but Honda are known to have more financial clout than the other companies involved, combined.

Let’s take a look at the front runners in the race for Westland control:

Honda is due to complete the first of several assembly plants in the north east, around Sunderland, the first outside of Asia for this company. So a bid or merger with Honda would see that company enter into a new sector for them. However, there are some concerns that Honda entering into the helicopter engineering sector could see a drop in the quality of produce, but with a proven track record of employment in deprived areas Honda could be an appealing prospect for the Government to support. In Partnership with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, builders of the Police Helicopter BK 117, and known to be developing extremely high tech missiles and attack helicopters, this Japanese consortium could be irresistible.

Augusta has worked in partnership with Westland in the past, helping to design and build one of the fastest attack helicopters in the world, the Westland Lynx. The design of this [Lynx] helicopter has yet to be bettered in speed and agility for a helicopter in this class. The Army Air Corp has two battalions of this helicopter; with various munitions and surveillance models is use. As such, they may make an attractive proposition for the MoD procurement section.

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is the basic design for the Royal Navy anti-submarine Sea King built by Westland. With Westland having the exclusive rights to build this machine for the British military, it is unknown if Sikorsky will allow continued use of these rights if they were not given preferred status in these negotiations. The Royal Navy would also have great concern if Sikorsky were not retained in some deal, as it would throw servicing contracts into disarray if Westland, or her new owner, had no rights to manufacture parts for the existing fleet of British Sea Kings.

All three bidders must satisfy the demands of the MoD to be considered, regardless of political considerations. This whole affair is causing many headaches for the Treasury, the MoD and the Department of Industry; who have thus far not ruled out nationalisation. It is also not known what direction Westland are looking at, who have the final say in any deal to be made, but without confirmation of Government build contracts, know that the company is virtually worthless; perhaps even worse than worthless?

Liverpool Rejects Labour NEC Compromise

Liverpool City Council, which remains embroiled in a dispute with the Government over the Council's setting of an illegal budget, has rejected a proposal by the Labour Party's National Executive Committee which would have seen the council set a budget within the confines of the law.

A leading Trade Unionist who told us he and other union leaders were “incensed” by the Council's refusal to accept the proposal, speaking to the BBC, confirmed that the report had been commissioned by Labour's NEC, spearheaded by the former Sheffield Council leader David Blunkett and was chaired by the GLC Director General Maurice Stonefrost. The report suggested, among other things, a larger rise in rates, reclassification of certain types of expenditure, a recruitment freeze and a loan from the Labour controlled AMA and was supported by all trade unions representing LCC workers.

A leading member of the NEC told the BBC that “The rejection of the Stonefrost Report is the rejection of moderation by a council bent on extremism and fuelled by dogma. That is not what Labour stands for, and that will be made clear. The Liverpool Council must change its mind or there will be consequences.”

Opinion on Labour's NEC is said to be almost wholly in favour of the report and there are suggestions that opinion is turning against the council among members of Labour's left, with a prominent trade unionist on the NEC telling us that “they're playing politics with our member's jobs, their livelihoods. Is that socialist? Is that what the Labour Party stands for? Of course not. They've got to knuckle down and do their jobs not play politics from their comfort of their middle-class ideological straitjackets.”

***BREAKING NEWS***

We are receiving reports that a major explosion has occurred in the grounds of the Northern Ireland assembly. Extensive damage is believed to have been caused to the west and south of the building. The assembly was currently in process. So far casualty numbers and fatalities are unknown. The RUC and army are on the scene. It has not been confirmed by the PIRA, but it is believed this is another attack on creating political and social instability in the province.

Since last year the PIRA have stepped up their campaign of violence. They admitted responsibility for the Brighton bombing which took the life of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

We will bring you more as we get it.

Stalker Resigns



The BBC today has learnt that the head of the Stalker inquiry, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, John Stalker, has resigned from his own inquiry into the alleged shoot-to-kill policy by the RUC.

It was speculated that the findings of the inquiry were to be made in the coming weeks, with Mr Stalker having indicated that this may have been so some weeks ago. From the outset of this three year investigation the Government has declined to announce if the findings would ever be made public, as it could inadvertently constitute a security risk to release names of those questioned during the inquiry.

John Stalker, an expert in international terrorism and organised crime, was invited to setup the inquiry by the RUC Chief Constable, John Hermon, to look into whether or not officers of his force had indeed carried out extrajudicial killings.

A prosecution of three RUC officers for allegations of murder was held in 1982, but collapsed when witnesses and evidence were found to be tampered with. The three officers, one of whom has since disappeared, presumed dead, admitted to giving false testimony and lying under oath, in order to “protect others”.

The Northern Ireland Office has thus far failed to make an announcement on this issue, but one is expected shortly.

It is, as of yet, unclear why Mr Stalker has resigned from his own inquiry, especially when it was thought to be almost ready to release. It is also unclear whether or not someone else will step into heading up this inquiry, or that a new inquiry will be held.

We will bring you more on this when we have something…

Casualties

Following the explosion at Stormont the BBC can confirm that there are major casualties. The chamber of the building, which had been chairing a discussion on housing issues remains undamaged, by as confirmed earlier there is extensive damage to the south and west of the building. Early reports indicate that at least three people, not MLAs have been killed in the explosion...

And....I can tell you, that reports coming in right at this moment in time.... can...confirm that the leader of the Alliance party John Cushnahan has been found dead in the rubble.

It is expected that the PIRA have carried out this attack on the Northern Irish assembly.

Deal on the table?

The Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald has arrived in Downing Street today to follow up discussions with the Prime Minister Oscar Traynor this evening. Both leaders have been in discussions over the past few weeks regarding the Northern Ireland issue and substantial progress is believed to have been made on a possible deal.

Details on a possible deal have been confined to Downing Street, but the BBC has learned that a press conference has been scheduled for 19:30pm which both men will attend.

We will be live at Downing Street from 19:30pm to bring you news.

Northern Ireland Assembly due to be suspended

Following on from talks with the Irish Taoiseach this afternoon, the Prime Minister Oscar Traynor has today confirmed to the House of Commons that the Northern Ireland Assembly is due to be suspended on the 1st of January. The Assembly has recently sustained an attack from the PIRA, an attack which the province has never witnessed before, confirming fears that the PIRA are intent on targeting British political institutions.

The attack last week sadly took the life of the leader of the Alliance party, the only party in the Assembly that represented views of the Nationalist community within the province. The SDLP previously had refused to take their seats in the Assembly. The planned suspension aims to bring some form of stability to a province that has witnessed an upsurge in violence. The Prime Minister has confirmed to the BBC that he hopes this suspension will pave way for dialogue between the Unionist and Nationalist parties. The Prime Minister, refused to comment on speculation that a deal was imminent between Britain and the Republic of Ireland, although he had this to say in regards to the planned suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly



The news of the planned suspension has brought outrage from within the Unionist community. Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party had this to say to the BBC:

Over 3,000 descend upon City Hall

The Democract Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley assembled a crowd of over 3,000 Unionists to City Hall this afternoon. This wide-scale protest is aimed directly at the Prime Minister Oscar Traynor, and the Irish Taoiseach. This news comes directly after the BBC learned that the Stormont Assembly is due to be suspended on the 1st of January, and rumours circulating the media and political circles that a deal between the British and Irish governments will be announced at 19:30.

The BBC believe that any potential deal over Northern Ireland will include the Republic Of Ireland being fully consulted and briefed over issues relating to the province, a rumour that has angered Unionists throughout the province. This move brings a dramatic shift in Constitutional affairs, and is seen as a brave step forward by those surrounding the Prime Minister. Mr. Paisley, however was quick to show his disgust at any change in British constitutional affairs over the province. At around 15:20pm, crowds gathered from the Sandy Row estate in Belfast, meeting with other Unionists in Belfast City centre. As rumours of the protest strengthened and spread, the crowd grew in numbers and descended upon Belfast City Hall in protest. Mr. Paisley took to a platform and said to the assembled crowd:

"Today, we represent every single Unionist man, woman and child who couldn't be here today in such short notice. Today we send a message to those who want to cut our ties with our fellow brothers and sisters. We are represented here today, by over 3,000 people demanding that their voices be heard, demanding that we are not sold and sent on our way to Dublin. Traynor is trying his best to defeat us Unionists, but he will not win. We send a message - ULSTER SAYS NO!"

Liverpool Crisis Resolved “At Eleventh Hour”

Liverpool Council's Leaders earlier today announced at a press conference that their months long budget crisis was to be resolved following the negotiation of over £30 million worth of loans from a Swiss banking consortium. At the press conference the Liverpool Council's deputy leader, Derek Hatton, said that “we have made out point to the Government and have proven there is a real, popular movement in this city against the Government's policies and against their savage cuts for Liverpool's budget and we have been able while doing so to maintain the vital services the people of this city need and deserve.” It has however since been revealed that the Council's executive had managed to arrange this loan nearly six month ago – before the illegal budget was even passed by the Council.

Trade Unions involved in the dispute have reacted angrily to the deal, with a TGWU shop steward, one of the unions originally most supportive of the council, saying that “any faith any trade unionist or council worker put in the Liverpool Council has now been shattered.... it's now clear that they had the means to guarantee jobs and to guarantee services all along, and instead have had workers, pensioners, parents wondering when the money would stop.”

National Union leaders have been even more forthright in their condemnation of the Council, with the General Secretaries of the TGWU, GMBATU and NALGO Unions all calling on the Labour Party's NEC to launch an immediate investigation into the Liverpool Council and Party, with the view of “removing from the Labour Movement this rot at its core and expelling from its ranks entryist and extreme elements which are now acting in complete and utter contravention to the views, principles and values of the Labour Movement.”

(OOC: Apologies for this being slightly late)

Deal Struck

After weeks of frantic negotiations and behind the scenes talks, the BBC can confirm that the British and Irish governments have agreed and signed a deal on the future of Northern Ireland. Today marks a historic day in the history of both countries. Details of the deal have emerged following a press conference between the Prime Minister and the Irish Taoiseach. The news of such a deal has been met by wide spread hostility from Unionists within the province, with rumours circulating that a bigger protest, organized this afternoon by Ian Paisley, is planned.

The deal that has been struck involves future decision making over Northern Ireland. The province has witnessed wide spread violence in the last few years, and Britain has often been the target of such violence, today witnesses a joint declaration between the two countries. This deal has strengthened the Republic of Ireland's involvement in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister over the last number of weeks has been keen to get the Republic of Ireland government involved in Northern Ireland as much as possible. Since the upsurge in IRA attacks, the Prime Minister has came to the conclusion that a partnership between his Irish counterparts is the necessary way forward for both countries.

Both men made a desperate call for an end to violence within the province. No Paramilitary organization has at this moment made a public statement on the matter. In a move that has agitated the Unionist community, both men have agreed that the RUC is in need of reform. This announcement has also met resentment within an organization that feels it keeps its country safe from terrorists, who constantly bomb and shoot at their officers. There are also rumors circulating that the Chief Constable of the RUC will meet with the Prime Minister to offer his resignation following the announcement that the RUC may be reformed.

Another breakthrough involved the issue of self-determination in the province. Both governments signed a joint declaration that if the majority of the people of Northern Ireland agree to join the Republic of Ireland then they will do so. This move is viewed as an attempt to improve strained relations within the Nationalist community.

In future discussions over the future of the province, the British government has agreed the following with the Irish government:

Irish government are given an advisory role in Northern Irish affairs
States there will be a change in Northern Ireland's constitutional status if the majority in NI wish so

Article 2 and 3 of the agreement states that:



The Prime Minister has agreed to fully consider the recommendations set out by the New Ireland Forum, a step which will infuriate the Unionist population within Northern Ireland. The agreement is expected to bring fierce protests from Unionists within Northern Ireland. The 10:00pm news will have a full copy of the agreement discussed.