The Nifty 250: News of the day in so many words

LECTURERS ARE GOING ON FUNERAL MARCH to “mourn” new contracts that could mean the death of Liverpool Community College. The morbid march on Friday will see the angry lecturers dress in black and carry a real coffin from the college’s art centre in Myrtle Street through the city centre. They say the new conditions have created a two-tier workforce at the college and threaten its ability to sustain its current Grade I Ofsted status. The University and College Union claim their wages are capped at £29,000 unless they take on additional administration or managerial responsibilities.

MPS’ EXPENSES REFORM is set to save the taxpayer £10m annually, but will cost some MPs thousands. Although angry at Sir Christopher Kelly’s proposals, MPs will reluctantly accept them if Westminster is to finally put the damaging expenses scandal behind it. Dubbed “sell the home, sack the spouse”, one North-West MP said, “I recognise that there have to be changes, but I wonder whether we are in danger of throwing the baby out with the water.”

AINTREE BUSINESSES ARE IN DARKNESS over a dispute between the landlord and the electricity company. The power was cut to all units at Aintree’s Box Works Industrial Estate, on Tuesday, without warning to the individual businesses, which now face losses of thousands of pounds each day.

A LIVERPOOL CHARITY will receive Freedom of the City. Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services is being bestowed the honour as recognition for the difference it has made in the 100 years serving the city.