Murray loses 'quitter' tag

Last Modified: 01 Jul 2008
By: Channel 4 News

Inside today's morning meeting.

Britain's new tennis hero Andy Murray was the first topic of discussion, after his dramatic comeback against Frenchman Richard Gasquet last night.

"There was a time when he [Murray] couldn't even complete a five-set match, that's what earned him the nickname 'the quitter' in Channel 4 News editorial meetings. That has clearly changed."

"He has a fitness guru now, a mental guru - as well as an overall mentor."

"Maybe we can speak to one of the gurus today then!"

Doorstepping Mugabe

On more serious matters, we will be looking to follow up our 'door-stepping' of Robert Mugabe yesterday (to watch the piece, click here.

"We are not expecting any new major condemnation of Mugabe today, but there is talk of South Africa brokering a deal to create a government of unity; which Tsvangirai has previously said he would be up for. "Our team are going to hang around and see what we can do with that."

After a significant break, the McCanns are back on the news-list.

"There are stories in the Portuguese papers that the case into the McCanns - and the whole inquiry - is going to be dropped."

Disarming Britain

Cherie Blair has been selected to appear in front of the homes affairs committee after her role in Channel 4's Disarming Britain campaign, in which she toured the country finding out about the problem of youth violence.

"There has been a lot of criticism saying this is just a bunch of white middle-class people talking about knives."

"So, don't we need to get someone who is not white and middle class to talk about this?"

"That's a bit easy isn't it?"

"Well, if our only editorial contribution is some quotes from Cherie Blair that we are open to the same criticism."

Sixteen-year-old Ben Kinsella became the latest victim of the UK's knife crime on Sunday, after being stabbed in North London.

"In relation to the stabbing in Islington over the weekend, I heard the police saying that not being able to offer anonymity is really harming their investigation."

"That is what the police are saying, but they are also quietly confident that they will get the powers back soon. After all, it's what a lot of Operation Trident [a police initiative to combat gun crime in the black community in London] is based on."

Northern Rock

There's a briefing at the Treasury today about the plans to compensate people in the wake of the Northern Rock fiasco. "There were initial plans to offer people up to £35,000, but the speculation is that it will rise to £50,000. "But there is an issue as to how they will pay for this - and banks are worried that these sorts of protection plans will provide a further drain on their funds, and extend the liquidity problems."

"Of course, it's about access too. Because one of the major problems before was that people could not get at their money quickly enough, and that causes panic. Under this new system they should be able to get at it faster."

"Are people still trying to get money out of Northern Rock?" "Yes, especially at the excellent rates our nationalised bank is offering..."

We also have exclusive footage from inside the Serious Fraud Office, looking at the gadgets and equipment they use to crack crime.

"This includes the kit they have got to beat passwords, and retrieve information from smashed up mobile phones."

"It sounds a bit puffy to me - we need to make sure there is a story there too - never mind how good the access is."