Newspin: Balancing the News (UK)

News for May 21, 2023

Old so and so is at it again… probably. Here's what else is happening, served with a delicious side of slow-cooked analysis.

Labour should pledge 11bn to build BritGPT AI, thinktank says -- The Guardian

Labour for the Long Term says UK risks falling even further into dependence on US tech firms; Keir Starmer should pledge £11bn towards building ‘BritGPT’ and a national artificial intelligence (AI) cloud

Outline: (what is this?) britgpt ai

Tone: (what is this?) + positive

Discussion: (what is this?) + AI, ++ BritGPT, - Labour

Schools bewildered by AI advances, say head teachers -- BBC News (UK)

UK schools left confused by fast rate of change in AI and its impact on education

Outline:  ai advances

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ++ AI

Phillip Schofield to leave This Morning with immediate effect -- The Guardian

News comes after reports of tension between Schofield and co-presenter Holly Willoughby; Last Thursday’s episode will now be his last, ITV announced

Outline:  presenter holly willoughby rumours

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ++ Phil, ? Cameron, ? Hammond

Phillip Schofield said he was stepping back from This Morning because the programme has become the story and I want to do what I can to protect the show I love -- ITV News

Outline:  phillip schofield

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ± Phil, ++ Holly, ± ITV

Holly Willoughby taking break from This Morning after Phillip Schofield announces departure -- Metro

Holly Willoughby will not be returning to Monday's This Morning after Phillip Schofield announced his departure from the programme

Outline:  departure holly willoughby

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ? Holly, ? fern, ? Phillip

Thousands didn't vote in England's local elections due to ID rule, data shows -- BBC News (UK)

Council data shows 26,165 people were denied ballot papers at polling stations; Of these, 16,588 people came back with valid ID, whilst 9,577 did not return

Outline:  voter id policy

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  ++ Tories, ++ Tory, -- BBC

Article: published on 20 May 2023 -- BBC News (UK)

Thousands in Welsh independence march in Swansea

Outline:  welsh independence march

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  + Wales, ++ England, - UK

NI council elections 2023: Sinn Fin largest party in NI local government -- BBC News (UK)

Sinn Fin is now the largest party in Northern Ireland local government for the first time, after gains in council elections

Outline:  ni council elections

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  ? EU, ? Ireland, ? U.K.

White theatregoers urged not to attend play aimed at black audiences -- The Telegraph

A theatre has urged white people not to attend a play, arguing that its audience should be free from the white gaze

Outline:  white theatregoers

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  -- US, ? East London, ? wokelogic

Man arrested after damage done to Eric Gill statue at BBC headquarters -- BBC News (UK)

Man scales BBC HQ and hits statue with hammer

Outline:  eric gill statue

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  + BBC, -- Eric Gill, ++ Jim

Fuse ODG complains after being cuffed by Met Police -- BBC News (UK)

London-born Afrobeat artist Fuse ODG said he was "racially profiled" by police officers; Met Police said the complaint was being assessed by officers from the Directorate of Professional Standard

Outline:  musician fuse odg

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? UK, ? LondonBlockchainConference, ? BBC

London mayor Sadiq Khan reveals he has PTSD after death threats -- BBC News (UK)

Sadiq Khan has spoken out about how death threats have affected his mental health; The London mayor said: "I lost my mojo

Outline:  london mayor sadiq khan

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  - London, -- PTSD, - Khan

Energy bills predicted to fall from July by nearly 450 -- BBC News (UK)

Consultancy firm Cornwall Insight predicts bills could drop by as much as £446; New official price cap for an average household is set to be announced by Ofgem on 25 May

Outline:  energy price guarantee

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  -- BBC, ± Ukraine, ? Tories

Energy bills could fall by 16% this summer, report claims -- ITV News

Outline:  energy bills

Tone:  + positive

Discussion:  ? Cornwall Insight, ? Ukraine, ? England

Depp comes up smelling of roses despite defamation trials catalogue of misogyny -- The Guardian

The actor who joked about drowning and burning his then wife Amber Heard has been the toast of Cannes and has snagged $20m to hawk perfume; The woman at the centre of the case, however, has ended up fleeing the country after vicious abuse

Outline:  defamation trials catalogue

Tone:  - negative

Discussion:  -- Johnny Depp, + Depp, -- Amber Heard

The Observer view on the high costs order against Carole Cadwalladr | Observer editorial -- The Observer

Carole Cadwalladr’s journalism has prompted worldwide debate about the role of social media in our democracy and the part that Facebook played in the Brexit referendum; An initial high court judgment vindicated her and represented real progress for British journalism

Outline:  observer editorial carole cadwalladr

Tone:  ++ v. positive

Discussion:  - Carole, - Observer, ? Codswallop

BBC to review immigration coverage after complaints of liberal bias and cultural sneer -- The Telegraph

The BBC is to review its coverage of immigration for impartiality amid complaints it has a liberal bias and cultural sneer towards the issue

Outline:  outgoing bbc chairman

Tone:  ± mixed

Discussion:  - BBC, ? UK, ? Tory

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