Commentators across the spectrum, from Conservative Home to Diane Abbott, have railed against Theresa May's idea to call for new laws to ban the intimidation of politicians. As Diane Abbott says, why should MPs have special rights? https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2018/02/centenary-suffragette-100-years-women-vote-theresa-may-new-law
Education: Period Poverty a Parental Problem?
Justine Greening (Education Secretary) has suggested that parents need to play a greater part in making sure their children get to school with the right equipment. This is after she has announced a new funding formula for schools which makes schools every school in our ward worse off. See here for the details of your … Continue reading Education: Period Poverty a Parental Problem?
Welfare: Benefits Sanctions Up 50%
In the last 6 months the number of people on JSA or Universal Credit that have had their benefits sanctioned is up 50% from the previous 6 months. http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2017/09/04/benefit-sanctions-shoot-up-50-in-six-months
McStrike: John McDonnell Speaks to Workers on College Green
John McDonald has joined striking McDonald's staff outside Parliament to reaffirm Labour's solidarity with the group from the BFAWU. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/04/mcdonalds-workers-rally-outside-parliament-first-uk-strike
UKIP: Leadership Contest
One of the hopefuls for the UKIP top spot has suggested using Foreign Aid to help pay to deport UK residents born in other countries. Even one of the other candidates thinks this is dangerous, what do you think? http://uk.businessinsider.com/ukip-leadership-candidate-pay-british-indians-to-leave-the-uk-john-rees-evans-2017-8
Sarah Champion: Should she have Stood Down?
On LBC today Maajid Nawaz argues that Sarah Champion's piece in The S*n didn't go far enough to highlight the disproportionate levels of convictions of sexual assault by British Muslim men. http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/maajid-nawaz/sarah-champion-is-right-maajid-nawaz/
Politics: Left, Right, Centre?
Owen Jones writes in today's Guardian, prompted by the Centrist move to potentially form another political party. https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/17/centrists-attack-left-extremists-labour-moderates
NHS: Safe Staffing Numbers Not Being Met
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found of the 50 trusts they examined – which manage a total of around 150 hospital sites – the vast majority are not meeting their own safe staffing targets. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/health-and-care/nhs/news/88205/nine-10-hospital-trusts-below-safe-staffing-level-report
NHS: Tories Selling Off More Property
It has emerged that the government has only disclosed about 50% of the property sales they're undertaking of NHS assets. They say it's down to "sensitivity issues". http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-quietly-doubled-number-nhs-10962728
Adel and Wharfedale Branch 