Review of the Papers, Monday 18 June

Government

• One in four NHS trusts is failing the latest government targets on cleanliness and tackling superbug infections, figures published today reveal. Fewer hospitals and NHS trusts than last year can demonstrate that they are maintaining standards on cleanliness and infection control, despite the introduction of a strict "hygiene code" to eradicate illness caused by MRSA and Clostridium difficile. Figures released by the Healthcare Commission show that six out of ten trusts in England have reported failing one or more of the twenty-four "core standards" on all aspects of care, on which they are assessed by the NHS watchdog. Particular problems include failing to decontaminate reusable medical devices, to reduce healthcare-associated infections and to supply the latest recommended treatments for patients. There was also a slight decline in the number of trusts saying they met two standards on treating patients with dignity and respect. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life-and-style/health/article1945915.ece
• The government is to press ahead with plans to reform the rape laws in an attempt to increase the low conviction rate, despite strong opposition from the judges who will have to put them into effect. Plans to try to clarify the law on drunkenness and consent are set to be dropped. But ministers are likely to proceed with other proposals outlined in a consultation paper last year, Mike O'Brien, the solicitor general, said in an interview. "The conviction rate in rape cases is appalling," he said. "There are too many rapists getting away with it and many of them are repeat rapists." Ministers expect to publish their final conclusions this month and to legislate as soon as possible. They pledged to reform the law after the conviction rate dropped from 33% of reported rapes in 1977 to 5.4% in 2005, before rising slightly to 5.7% last year. http://society.guardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/story/0,,2105422,00.html
• The Ministry of Defence has for a year ignored a £20 million deal to hire transport helicopters from a British firm which could have resolved the transportation shortage in Afghanistan. The desperate lack of air transport could have been resolved if ministers had agreed last year to an offer from Security Support Solutions Ltd to provide four Mi17 Hip helicopters and an Mi26 Halo transporter, capable of carrying 20 tons. But the deal foundered because the MoD was reluctant to fly troops in Soviet era helicopters despite the aircraft being specifically designed for the heat and dust of Afghanistan. Last year Lord Drayson, the defence procurement minister, told the House of Lords that the Government was "seriously considering" an offer from an independent helicopter company to provide logistical support. Security Support Solutions had the aircraft, flown by former British and European special forces pilots, available immediately to carry troops, food and ammunition in Helmand province. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/18/nwar118.xml

**Conservatives  **

• David Cameron will set out the Tory battle lines today for the next general election, using a speech to try to get back on the front foot after a miserable month of rows and setbacks. Under the slogan "Our Society, Your Life", the Conservative leader will state that "people know best" and should be left to control their own lives, in contrast to the interfering "big government" policies of the incoming prime minister Gordon Brown. Mr Cameron will also pledge a "grammar stream" for children at every comprehensive school, so that all pupils are taught at the right level. Internal party rows over grammar schools, accusations that he sees himself as "heir to Blair" and an ill-fated attempt to recruit Greg Dyke as a candidate for London mayor have hampered his efforts to capitalise on the slender - and shrinking - Tory poll lead over Labour. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/32af0072-1d38-11dc-9b58-000b5df10621.html  
• Bright teenagers are leaving school without good GCSEs in the core subjects because they are being encouraged to take "soft" courses instead, the Conservatives claimed last night. In the last 10 years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of 16-year-olds gaining at least five good passes. But the Tories say the headline figures mask significant weaknesses in basic skills - as pupils shun traditional subjects, inflating schools' positions in league tables. According to new figures, the proportion of top pupils with five good GCSEs in English, maths, science, a modern language and history or geography has dropped sharply from nearly 44 per cent to 28.6 per cent. Head teachers insist that courses are now better tailored to pupils' individual needs, with a greater number of less academic children achieving good grades by taking practical courses. But David Willetts, the Conservative shadow education secretary, said there had been a "shocking decline in standards". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/18/nschools318.xml
• The Conservatives were forced into an embarrassing U-turn last night over a plan to scrap free admission to many of Britain's most famous museums and art galleries. The climbdown came after Hugo Swire, the shadow culture secretary, argued in a Sunday newspaper that museums and galleries should be allowed to start charging. The intervention by Mr Swire, a close friend of David Cameron, the Conservative leader, triggered a furious reaction and bewildered many senior Tories. Labour's decision to introduce free admission six years ago has proved to be one of its most popular policies and has seen visitor numbers soar by more than 80 per cent. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/18/ntories118.xml

Liberal Democrats

• Sir Menzies Campbell is to hold regular briefings with political journalists as part of a new high-risk strategy to relaunch his stuttering leadership. The Liberal Democrat leader is challenging David Cameron to follow suit in making himself available for cross-examination by the Westminster media. The initiative is part of a drive to portray Sir Menzies as a "pinstripe radical" but comes against the backdrop of worsening opinion polls. The party, which has suffered badly since Mr Cameron became Tory leader 18 months ago, registered a new low at the weekend as a YouGov survey in The Sunday Times put it on 14 per cent. Mark Webster, the Liberal Democrat leader's new press secretary, is understood to have successfully argued that Sir Menzies must take more risks if he is to take on the Conservatives. An internal memo leaked over the weekend showed that he and other aides believe that the party must become more "spiky". Greg Simpson, the Liberal Democrats' head of policy and research, wrote: "We will need to leave our comfort zone to achieve this and in this there are risks, but I am convinced that there is no success in politics without taking those risks." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1946044.ece

EU

• Britain's flexible labour market could come under serious threat from European judges unless Tony Blair puts a legal truss around an EU charter of rights, business will warn today. Richard Lambert, head of the Confederation of British Industry, will claim that the charter's "right to strike" provisions could roll back Thatcherite labour market reforms. Mr Blair has vowed to protect Britain's labour laws, but faces resistance from some European leaders when negotiations start on a new EU treaty in Brussels on Thursday. The prime minister wants to ensure the EU's charter of fundamental rights, agreed in 2000, does not acquire legal force in member states through a reference in the new treaty, which would replace the Union's proposed constitution. Mr Lambert, in a speech at the Centre for European Reform, will say that many early fears from business about the new treaty - such as more majority voting in taxation - did not materialise, but the threat ofthe charter of rights is "awhopper". http://www.ft.com/cms/s/f70f3ef6-1d37-11dc-9b58-000b5df10621.html