The commitments on housing in the Chancellor’s autumn statement have now been “marked” by the TUC. The government is vulnerable on a number of aspects of their record in this key area and this was their chance to put it right. In practice, they probably scored 5 out of 10 at best….Read more…
A spectacular U-turn on tax credits, but working people needed more from the #SpendingReview
George Osborne was forced into a spectacular climb-down over his plans to cut tax credits in his Spending Review today. That’s a victory for decency, and the strong campaign run by civil society groups and unions to oppose the proposals. But by the end of the parliament many working people…Read more…
A ‘wild experiment’ on UK
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey accused the chancellor of a ‘Frankenstein’ experiment that puts his ideological commitment to a surplus above the needs of the British people. Responding…Read more…
Hidebound by ideology
George Orwell once noted, “Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” It perfectly sums up…Read more…
Why George Osborne is a bloody communist
It is very ironic that the Chancellor, George Osborne, is described as a Conservative “iideologically committed to cutting the state”.
Yet he has overseen almost unprecedented nationalisation and the expansion of “Big Government” since the Tory…Read more…
Fare treatment please
George Osborne is being warned the impact of looming government cuts to bus services will see the country “grind to a halt.” Local bus services – which account for almost two thirds of public…Read more…
Rock bottom deal?
Boasts by George Osborne that the £13bn sale of former Northern Rock mortgage loans have resulted in gains for the taxpayer are being questioned by industry experts with Unite calling for answers and…Read more…
The commission of omission
At the end of October the chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, revealed the eight names on the new infrastructure commission led by former Labour transport secretary Lord Adonis. The…Read more…
11 ways Cameron’s cuts are hurting the NHS – #FullyFundOurNHS
David Cameron claims to have protected NHS spending. But this has failed to keep pace with growing demand, or even with inflation. Funding per head of population has actually fallen 0.6% in real terms since 2010. Public funding of health as a proportio…Read more…
Letter to the “Workers Party” on the theft of Workers Tax Credits
Picture is from this mornings programme on the BBC “Andrew Marr” Show where I saw a confident Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, pretty much destroy Tory Education Minister, Nicky Morgan, rather desperate attempts to justify the Government’s proposals to rob £1000’s from hardworking British…Read more…
Remember to put your clocks back this weekend?
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this weekend! In accordance to Government edict at 02:00 on Sunday you should turn all your clocks back to 25 October 1865 to reflect the society they want to create.
Please note that in accordance with this …Read more…
Chancellor’s letter on public sector cuts: UNISON responds
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis comments on Osborne’s letter to public sector workers asking them to find ways to save money.
The article Chancellor’s letter on public sector cuts:…Read more…
The Common People (Remember this is what tories do)
There is huge anger tonight inside and outside Parliament about Cameron’s first full Tory Queen Speech. There are also bad tempered (but tiny) protests outside Downing Street and of course lots of noise on social media. People seem genuinely shocked.
Newham Local Government Branch AGM 2015 – The threat to your pensions- “if it sounds too good to be true then…”
On Friday I was invited to speak at the annual general meeting of the Newham UNISON branch at the Town Hall in East Ham.
This was in my trade union capacity as the Chair of the London UNISON pension network. This is my wr…Read more…
#Budget2015 Real talk about regional employment growth
Regional employment growth is a pretty simple statistic. The ONS helpfully publishes a clear analysis every month. In fact, they did this just yesterday morning. In his budget announcement yesterday afternoon, Mr. Osborne boldly proclaimed: “Today’s figures show that since 2010, 1000 more jobs have…Read more…
#Budget2015: Growth of good jobs? Good luck!
When it comes to jobs growth figures, one would expect the Chancellor to, at minimum, get his speech to agree with his own analysis, better still for that analysis to be accurate. When presenting at the despatch box this afternoon, Mr Osborne stated: “Today’s figures show that since 2010, 1000 more…Read more…
Labour v Tories 2015: It’s ideological
Last week I watched Ed Balls give a typically combative speech at the RSA about Tory spending and taxation plans if they won the next election.
On Sunday morning I again saw Ed interviewed on the BBC Andrew Marr programme who then went on to intervie…Read more…
Protecting our Pensions from Tory Con Trick
UNISON Housing Association delegate, Mitsy Harman, speaking at the regional AGM last week on our motion “Protect our Pensions” (see link here for text). This is an early draft of her speech.
“Council, from April 6 this year, this Conservative led gov…Read more…
“Protect Our Pensions” – Tories latest attempt to destroy peoples futures
While driving today I listened to “Money Box” on Radio 4. The programme was about investing a windfall. Experts warned about all the financial rogues and con merchants out there who will rob people out of their money. It remind…Read more…
The real story of the Autumn Statement: the OBR tell the Chancellor to think again
Many are already reporting today’s Autumn Statement in terms of the immediate changes to stamp duty and air travel. But the big headlines were not in the Chancellor’s speech. It’s the OBR’s chilling analysis of the spending cuts that are set to come that should be the real…Read more…