Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Week in Review: Home News

Kathy Marks
Friday 10 July 1992 19:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

BRITISH motorists feeling disillusioned with French roads may care to consider a day out on a major artery closer to home. Chauffeur-driven trips along the M25 are among a range of summer specials offered in a brochure produced by a consortium of hoteliers this week.

Convinced that the infamous orbital motorway around London has untapped potential as a tourist attraction, the group is offering a free picnic as part of the deal, provided it is consumed within sight of the traffic.

Only the seriously rich can afford Thomas Cook's latest package holiday, a 37-day, first- class world tour costing all of pounds 24,000. Judges and mandarins may have to give it a miss this year; the Prime Minister rejected a 19.7 per cent pay recommendation for senior public sector workers to award them 9.8 per cent over three years.

There will be few tears shed for them, particularly by the nation's dentists, whose two professional bodies voted not to accept new patients for National Health Service treatment in anger at a fee cut imposed by the Government.

Fishermen also opted for the politics of confrontation. Led by a flotilla of trawlers which sailed down the Thames, thousands of them converged on Westminster for a protest rally against plans to limit the number of days on which they may fish.

Supermarkets and DIY stores were defiant in the face of a European Court of Justice judge's opinion that the Shops Act banning Sunday opening does not violate the Treaty of Rome. Legislation liberalising Sunday trading is expected to be announced by the Home Secretary in the autumn.

But the Garrick Club, the drinking establishment frequented by lawyers, actors and media people, is to remain closed seven days a week to one half of the population. At the annual meeting of the West End gentleman's club, a motion to extend membership to women was defeated 4-1.

Andrew Neil, one of the few newspaper editors who does not belong to the Garrick, might have had reason to feel self-righteous this week. Instead, his discomfort increased daily.

After mounting criticism of the Sunday Times over the involvement of the right-wing revisionist historian David Irving in its serialisation of Joseph Goebbels' diaries, it emerged that Mr Neil had been scooped by the Daily Mail, which began its own serialisation of the diaries two days before his newspaper.

Over in Oxfordshire, there was much consternation at an old people's day centre when it transpired that the pensioners' favourite herbal brew was in fact made from cannabis leaves.

'They'll just have to go back to PG Tips,' one drugs squad officer said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in