Today it was reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that the average the rate of COVID-19 infection is 1.9 times higher amongst primary and secondary teachers, than in the general population. For teaching assistants, the rate of COVID infection is three times higher in primary schools. Despite this, the Government are using Lateral Flow tests against the Medicine
Read more
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
Read more
“There is reliable evidence that the threshold of grave or systematic violations of the rights of persons with disabilities has been met in the State party” – United Nations At 21 years old, I’ve spent the entirety of my years maturing through high school and college under a Conservative government. Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type II, I was no
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have released a damning report on Universal Credit and how it will affect claimants financially in the future. The report states that while some will benefit, the poorest 10% of claimants will be an average of £150 worse off per year. Worse still, claimants with a long term disability will be especially hit. The
Read more
For a week now, the world has been talking about Extinction Rebellion and its efforts to force governments to act on climate change. While this goes on, the effects of austerity that even the United Nations condemned, continue to push people over the edge. Despite this, there’s no action to force the government change their ways. What Extinction Rebellion have
Read more
The UK government has again shown that it’s one rule for them and another for those of whom they govern. It has emerged that they have purchased a £12 million ($15.9m) luxury apartment in New York for the Consul General and his wife to live in. While it will also be used to “negotiate trade deals” is this really an
Read more
Former Tory MP Heidi Allen is the Independent Group’s Welfare Spokeswoman. She recent;y put out a video on social media calling for the end of the benefits freeze. What’s staggering is that since 2015 her voting record on welfare has been to cut, scrimp and exclude those with disabilities. Why should we believe a word she says? Heidi Allen recently
Read more
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
Read more
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
Read more
The New Year’s Honours list was announced this week and as usual there are some questionable recipients. In what can only be seen as a slap in the face to the victims of austerity, 15 Members of the Department for Work and Pensions will receive a gong from the Queen. The DWP has been under intense pressure in 2018 over
Read more
A study by The University of Lancaster on the effects of austerity in the social security system has labelled the policy as ‘social murder’. While this is of no surprise to many, it does add weight to the growing calls to end cuts to the benefit system. The research titled:“‘Violent proletarianisation: social murder, the reserve army of labour and social
Read more