August 2005 in Britain and Ireland - 4 August 2005 (Thursday)

4 August 2005 (Thursday)

• Ayman al-Zawahiri, thought to be Osama bin Laden's second in command, blames Tony Blair for the recent bombings in London. The comments are made in a videotape aired on Al Jazeera, an Arab satellite channel. (BBC)
• The Bank of England cuts interest rates by a quarter of a percent to 4.5%. The cut is the first change in interest rates since August 2004. (BBC)
• Identity cards: Home Office minister Tony McNulty states that "the government, in its enthusiasm, oversold the advantages of identity cards", admitting that they may not prove as useful in preventing terrorism as the government had previously suggested. However the government remains committed to introducing the cards, and hoped to announce a "ceiling" on costs in October. (BBC)
• NHS: The King's Fund reports that the government target of a maximum 18 week waiting period between a GP referral and the receiving of treatment is likely to be missed. (BBC)
• Asylum seekers: Zimbabwean asylum seeker's saw their cases adjourned in the High Court today. The Home Office states that a test case will be examined by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal once the situation in Zimbabwe has been reviewed, especially "material presented by the Refugee Legal Centre". (BBC)
• Over 6000 police officers patrol London today, in a bid to prevent further terrorist action. (BBC)
• Six people are arrested in relation to the feud between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Loyalist Volunteer Force. Three people have so far died as a result of the feud. (BBC)
• Transport: Strike action is averted as a deal is struck in the pay dispute at Lothian buses which sees the Transport and General Workers Union recommend acceptance of a two-year pay deal. Members are to be balloted regarding the deal. (BBC)
• Ismael Abdurahman, the first person to be charged in connection with the 21 July 2005 London bombings is remanded in custody until 11 August. (BBC)
• MP George Galloway defends comments made during a tour of the Middle East in which he referred to insurgents in Iraq as "martyrs". The comments were criticised by Labour MP Eric Joyce as having endangered British troops "in a small way". (BBC)
• Northern Ireland: Tony Blair defends the decision to disband three battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment stationed there. (BBC)
• A report by consultants Collinson Grant strongly criticises the way the Foreign Office is managed. The report came to light after being entered into the House of Commons library by MP Andrew Mackinlay. The Foreign Office states that the criticisms have been acted upon. (BBC)
• Sport:
  • Cricket:
    • The Ashes: England are bowled out for 407 in the first day of the second Test. Rain prevents the Australian's from replying. (BBC)
  • Football:
    • Phil Neville signs for Everton from Manchester United in a deal reportedly in excess of £3 million. (BBC)
    • Bolton Wanderers complete the signing of Jared Borgetti from Mexican club C.F. Pachuca. (BBC)
  • 2012 Summer Olympics: Jacques Rogge defends the London bid as being "conducted according to the rules that we have set out.". His comments are made in light of criticism from some connected with the Paris bid that London had been underhand in the bidding process. (BBC)