Ref: slots - as the worlds busiest single RWY airport not utilising your slots, even over the quieter winter period (did I say quieter with all the ski traffic?) retaining your slots with no commitment to utilise your slots for Summer 09 will have some other operators knocking on the slot shops door (and they will have a valid legal case as well).
Time is long gone when BA could do whatever they wanted and stick 2 fingers up to the rest (at LGW anyway). Your ground handling license has been a bone of contention anyway (totally clogged up South with empty stands all over the place at the North).
Shooting yourself in the foot seems to spring to mind!