TORTOISE HELL
PREPARATIONS for the
Guardian
’s handwashing of the
Observer (surely “handover”? – Ed
.
) continue, with so many staff taking fright at Tortoise boss James Harding’s plans for the paper that managers have had to offer the option of voluntary redundancy for a
third
time, the initial process having closed in February.
At least 45 of the 70 staff employed by the Observer will now not be transferring to the new management. The New Review section has a single member of staff continuing. Hacks estimate that with several of the highest-paid names on the Sunday paper among those departing, redundancy costs will easily double the £5m the Guardian has already pledged to hand over to Tortoise to persuade it to take the Observer away.