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Wednesday, 5 December, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 5 Dec 07, 05:45 PM

Tonight, what would you do if you were in the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)?

rates_graphic.jpgWould you cut interest rates? And what effect would that have on the economy?

As the MPC meets at the Bank of England we've convened a committee of the great and good of our own. Jeremy will chair it, with Stephanie to advise him. But in the meantime, do play our Monetary Policy Committee game and let us know what you think.

Also tonight, Jack Straw outlines how he's going to control the prison population. Does this mean asking judges to make the punishment fit the prison places available rather than the crime? Jeremy is putting that point to Jack Straw right now.

As the former chief police officer responsible for roads it is a little embarrassing for Meredydd Hughes to be banned for driving at 90 mph in a 60 mph zone. But he's not the only police officer to have been caught on camera.
Tonight we show over a dozen photos we've obtained using the Freedom of Information Act showing police officers speeding. The difference is that none of these police officers - all members of Meredydd Hughes’s South Yorkshire force - have been prosecuted after they refused to say who was driving the car.

Finally, what has happened to the punk violinist Nigel Kennedy? Our culture correspondent, Madeleine Holt has caught up with him in his new home, in Poland.
Join Jeremy tonight at 10.30pm

Wednesday's prospects

  • Newsnight
  • 5 Dec 07, 10:20 AM

Simon Enright is today's programme producer, returning to the Newsnight fold after a stint elsewhere in the BBC. Here's his early email to the team.

Hello All,

Its good to be back - please do be gentle with me on my first day back in the big chair and I will try not to over commission...

There are stories but which can and should we make our own?

- Should sentencing be linked to the number of jail places?
- Expect HMRC to get a grilling over lost disks at the Treasury Select Ctte
- We also expect the new points system for immigration to be announced
- Are we donored-out or should we keep digging? It is PMQs today

Or should we go for an Economy special? I want to hear from Stephanie Flanders ahead of tomorrow's interest rate decision. Could we have a Hawk vs a Dove in debate? Could we have a piece to remind us what the last recession was like?

We could also slip in another 'where are they now' piece. Meirion/Jackie Long have an update on the money raised to help with Tsunami. Remember that? Have the Red Cross finally spent all the money raised three years ago? (Would I be asking that question if they had?)

Finally while Polish plumbers are coming over here you might be surprised to hear who we are exporting to Poland…Madeleine Holt catches up with violinist and new Polish patriot Nigel Kennedy.

For those of you who don't know me I'm the one with the loud laugh.

Simon

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