Peter Atkinson

Macfarlane says rising profits are in the bag as it packs off 50 more staff

Published Date: 18 November 2008 MACFARLANE Group yesterday predicted it was on track to increase profits this year after cutting about 50 jobs as demand for its products has reduced. The Glasgow-based packaging group, which is...

Amateur jockey in race for seat

HEXHAM Conservatives have selected a London-based barrister to stand for election when Peter Atkinson MP steps down. Former senior Tory adviser Guy Opperman will fight for the Hexham seat at the next general election.

Why Rowan said God was 'useless'

Nov 11 2008 WalesOnline THE Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, told a congregation the day after the September 11 attacks in New York that God was “useless” at a time like that. A new biography of Dr Williams...

Manukau Water fights to avoid compo

Manukau Water is lobbying for a law change to avoid the possibility of having to pay back trade waste charges to businesses. A water executive in Auckland told the Herald that the potential liability for Manukau Water and...

Interest rate cut to 1.5% but banks not passing it on

Nov 7 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal NORTH MPS have warned banks they are risking the economy by refusing to pass on interest rate cuts to homeowners. The region’s MPs have called on lenders to reduce mortgage rates after...

Swimming pools ban floats over health and safety

Floats have been banned from swimming pools because of fears that they pose a hygiene risk. The swimming aids will no longer be handed out at pools in the North East after managers decided they could spread infections. A local...

Obama victory echoes Blair's 'new dawn' say North MPs

Nov 6 2008 by William Green, The Journal BARACK Obama’s election as US president was yesterday heralded in the North as comparisons were drawn with Labour’s 1997 landslide victory. Labour MPs said he would improve the world,...

Probe call over airport boss deal

An MP is calling on the government and the Audit Commission to examine an out-of-court settlement between Newcastle Airport and its former chief executive. Airport boss John Parkin received a £6m payout before he resigned in...

‘Cruel’ drugs ban lifted

Nov 5 2008 by William Green, The Journal MINISTERS yesterday lifted a “cruel” ban on desperate patients paying for their own drugs while still receiving NHS care. Health Secretary Alan Johnson also pledged to speed up the...

‘Stop changes to save jobs’

Nov 3 2008 by William Green, The Journal THE switch to a single council in Northumberland should be delayed to stop hundreds of job losses amid the recession, according to a Labour MP. A Northumberland economic task force made...

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