Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell gave a passionate speech at a rally in Brighton pledging to get “rid of the bloody Universal Credit”. Speaking about how Labour plans to transform the economy should they win the likely upcoming General Election, McDonnell vowed to reverse the Tories hostile and oppressive welfare reforms. While some may want Brexit to dominate any impending
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The current form of austerity was introduced by the Conservative-Liberal coalition government that came to power in 2010. The world was still recovering from the aftermath of the financial ‘crash’ of 2008; the most significant global economic downturn since the Great Depression (1929-39). It is effectively a campaign of budget cutting designed to reduce the UK’s (at the time) unsustainable
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Today saw the long awaited report from United Nations Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Professor Philip Alston. Alston visited the UK last November and was highly critical in his initial findings. The full report is damning about the Conservative’s use of austerity. Due to the length and content of the report, I’m breaking it down into a
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Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron seems to be suffering from a case of selective amnesia. Following the Lib Dem gains in the English Local Council Elections, Farron tweeted blaming Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn for being the “enabler of crushing austerity”. Has he forgotten that when in government, his party thought a 5p bag charge was worth allowing
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Low paid jobs. Or is it “Low skilled”? These two terms are routinely interchanged by politicians and the media alike. However, despite the assumption that a low wage must equate to a low skills, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Carers often work long hours for extremely low wages. Sometimes, they are incorrectly described as “unskilled” workers due to
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This week saw the annual rise of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW). While a rise for low paid workers is always welcome, those aged under 25 may be feeling short changed. After all, they get less than their elders despite doing the same job. The same also applies to under 25s on benefits but they
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The Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the country last night regarding her decision to extend Article 50. In it she lay blame firmly at the door of MPs. MPs have hit back accusing her of endangering their safety. As such, I have today submitted a report to The Metropolitan Police regarding Theresa May’s reckless actions. Brexit negotiations have not been
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On Wednesday, the Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his spring statement to update us on the state of the UK economy. On benefits, he resisted cross party calls to scrap the benefit freeze early. However, in an Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) report accompanying the statement, it was revealed that Amber Rudd’s recent announcements were not for compassion but due to
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This evening saw the resignation of Minister for Disabled People, Sarah Newton MP. Unlike her colleagues, Newton resigned as she was voting against the wishes of the government. This is known as collective responsibility. Collective responsibility applies to all Ministers in government. It requires that they all vote as agreed at Cabinet. Should they not, they are expected to resign
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The Scottish Government unveiled its ambitious plans for how it’s going to deliver the 11 welfare benefits devolved to it from Westminster. In a break from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hostility to claimants, the Scottish system concentrates on claimants welfare, rather than how much they’re costing them. Having looked at the plans, all I can say is
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It has emerged that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have already started development of an digital tool that will automatically trawl claimants NHS medical records. Health professionals have raised fears that the doctor patient relationship could be at risk as claimants will be less likely to be completely open about their condition in fear of the DWP using
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Tory MP and supposed Knight of the Realm Sir Roger Gale, sent a response to a constituent that only be described as contemptuous. Sir Roger had received an email from a constituent who was concerned about the planned closure of the Stoke Unit at the QEQM Hospital in Margate. He responded with a short sharp message blowing them off. Specialist
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There’s rarely a dull week in Westminster these days, However this week, several Labour & Tory MPs thought they could up the anti. It began when seven MPs left the Labour Party, joined by another shortly afterwards. Then on Wednesday, the media circus hit it’s peak when 3 Tory MPs joining the group. They claim to want to “change UK
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MPs from all parties yesterday showed that they’re not taking the issue of poverty seriously. as only 13 bothered to turn up to debate a scathing UN report. Yesterday evening was the first chance MPs had to debate the findings of the United Nations Report on Extreme Poverty & Human Rights in the UK and NI. Despite this, only 14
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