Reviews, murder and skulduggery
Updated on 02 December 2008
Today's morning meeting reveals discussions on police investigations, murder reforms and the origins of Yorick's skull.
Scotland Yard announced this morning a review will be held into the handling of the Home Office leaks inquiry - an inquiry that has seen one Tory MP, Damian Green, arrested and much discussion held over the police and politics.
"The decision to hold a review is the first admission by the police that something may be wrong."
"What about Green? It's very unlikely they can press charges against someone, whilst holding a review into the investigation at the same time."
There's also a very strong story coming out of Zimbabwe. Jonathan Miller and the team have been travelling inside the country reporting on the cholera outbreak, and the onset of refugees fleeing to South Africa.
"People are flooding across the border, and it's putting a real strain on the South African health care".
Figures are still unclear as to how many have died - government figures put it at around 400, but there are reports of a thousand dead in one small town alone. We hope to have Jonathan Miller live tonight.
"The government has turned off the water pumps in Harare, because they can't purify it anymore. Is that better than having people drink out of puddles?"
Then there's the Queen's speech tomorrow which will include one proposed reform of the murder laws. A move that's designed to modernise the laws surrounding domestic violence, may have unintended consequences for those participating in "mercy killings."
"They haven't thought this through. A lot more people involved in mercy killings are now going to face jail because of this reform."
Finally Stephanie West will report on the furore in theatre land about the skull of Yorick - which was destined to be handled by David Tennant in tomorrow's opening of Hamlet in London.
It's been revealed however that the skull is a real one formerly belonging to a Polish pianist who bequeathed it to the stage. Such has been the outcry surrounding the story, the skull will be replaced by a fake skull for tomorrow's performance.
"They've pulled the skull!"
"The skull has been put back in its box."
"Is this theatre fakery at its worst?"
"If you go down to any box office queue now and ask if them if they think it's a real skull, I bet you they say yes."
