| TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 22.30 BST - BBC TWO FROM JON SOPEL Hello, So, the one day you get to do Newsnight and sit in the big chair you want the news agenda to be fizzing. But as luck would have it the sun appears to be shining, storm clouds would appear to have scudded off in all directions, and all seems well with the world. What use is that? But hang on. If it hadn't been for the utter turmoil and exceptional events of the past few days, today would be considered - in that hackneyed phrase - another grim day for the government. Inflation's gone up to over 5%. The housing market is going through the floor (you almost begin to feel the estate agents' pain...), retail sales are in the basement - the bargain basement, presumably. So, if last night's programme was the trial on who was responsible for the mess, tonight we'll be looking at what sort of stretch we've all been sentenced to as the economy slows down. Tomorrow, our superhero Gordon Brown (that's how European journalists dubbed him today after the UK recovery plan was adopted around the world) is off to the European Council. How much more needs to be done in terms of regulation? We'll be joined by Paul Rasmussen, socialist leader in the European Parliament. And our reporter Liz Mackean is starting a European sojourn to find out how other countries are dealing with the financial crisis. She's in Germany tonight. There are 21 days to go before the US elections (in case it had escaped your notice). It's normal at this stage to say 'it's been one of the dirtiest campaigns ever'. But is the reality that it's been one of the cleanest? When you have the Bush administration partially nationalising the banks who needs to sling mud? There are enough real issues to attack each other on. But with John McCain trailing badly, is his best hope now to go negative? Peter Marshall is in Washington for us. Do join us tonight at 10.30 on BBC2 Missed Newsnight? Click here to watch online Newsnight Blog Add your comments to our correspondents' blogs: CLICK HERE | 
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