Newsnight 14 December 2004

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Tuesday's programme, presented by Gavin Esler, covers the following stories:
Mental Capacity Bill

MPs debate the controversial Mental Capacity Bill; many Labour MPs are expected to rebel. The government have argued that the bill will simply clarify the existing legal position but their opponents insist it sanctions voluntary euthanasia by the back door. Who's right?

Identity cards

Conservative leader Michael Howard says his party's backing for the government's plans on ID cards was a "collective" decision. But rumours persist that some of his shadow cabinet members are fiercely opposed to the strategy.

Our political editor Martha Kearney looks at an issue that goes to the very heart and soul of the Conservative Party.

Greg Dyke

The former Director General Greg Dyke tells us what he thinks about his successor's plans to cut costs and slash jobs. As new figures reveal audiences at an all-time low for BBC One and Two we ask him if he accepts any responsibility.

Film downloads

You may never have heard of it but "BitTorrent" is the new big thing in cyberspace. This new technology will make it easier and faster to download films from the internet. Should it be seen as a threat to film makers or as an innovation that will promote global creativity?

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