Crosby and Cameron still under the microscope – Media roundup: July 25th, 2013

Subscribers to our morning email get the best of LabourList – including the Media and blog round up – every weekday morning. If you were a subscriber you would have already received this (and much more) in your inbox. You can sign up here.

Crosby and Cameron still under the microscope – now over government staffing

David Cameron faces fresh claims over Lynton Crosby’s influence after it emerged one of the Australian’s former staff is a senior Government aide. Guy Robinson worked at the lobbyist’s UK firm Crosby Textor Fullbrook before becoming special adviser to Environment Secretary Owen Paterson. His appointment last autumn came to light after an outcry when the Mirror revealed his old boss’s links to the fracking industry. Mr Paterson runs the Environment Agency, main regulator of firms which use hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – to extract gas from shale rock. The watchdog recently announced the application process for shale drilling permits was being speeded up. – Mirror

Post office workers to strike on Monday

Post Office workers will walk out on Monday in their ninth strike since Easter in a battle against government plans to franchise out 70 high street branches. The walkout by 4,000 workers in 373 crown post offices – the large high-street operations selling everything from stamps to financial services – has been timed for the last Monday of the month to cause maximum disruption. The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents post office staff, claims the franchise plans will lead to 1,500 job losses and reduced customer service. The Post Office insists there will be no compulsory redundancies among staff who work at the affected branches. – Guardian

Other highlights

• Labour should join Justin Welby’s war on Wonga – Maurice Glasman, Guardian
• Lynton Crosby is a master strategist with the common touch – John McTernan, Telegraph