http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11798366
Lord Young's comments that the British people have 'never had it so good' have, not suprisingly, provoked a storm of protest from all quarters of the political arena.
And quite rightly, the former Cabinet minister, appointed as the Prime Minister's Enterprise advisor just last month, has very quickly seen the error of his words and resigned.
Labour leader Ed Milliband branded the Government as completely out of touch with ordinary people. And the Unite union called the remarks 'Thatcherite Claptrap'.
It is a chilling reminder of comments that were made in the previous Tory administration that 'unemployment was a price worth paying'.
It is yet another example of the Prime Minister enlisting the experience of millionaire ministers from another era who are totally divorced from the realities of economic hardship that many people are currently having to face.
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Common Sense Prevails As PM Reverses Photographer Appointment
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11764138
It has been announced that the Prime Minister has decided against employing a photographer and film maker at the tax-payers' expense.
David Cameron has recently come under a barrage of criticism for previously deciding on this move, largely seen as an unnecessary expense at a time when the Coalition are engaging in a program of huge cuts in public spending and have endlessly lectured the British people on the need to tighten their belts.
Common sense has eventually and quite rightly, prevailed.
But it reflects very badly on Mr Cameron and the Coalition to have even thought that such appointments were acceptable in the first place.
It shows how out of touch the Prime Minister and his Cabinet of millionaires are with the needs of ordinary people who struggle every day to make ends meet.
It has been announced that the Prime Minister has decided against employing a photographer and film maker at the tax-payers' expense.
David Cameron has recently come under a barrage of criticism for previously deciding on this move, largely seen as an unnecessary expense at a time when the Coalition are engaging in a program of huge cuts in public spending and have endlessly lectured the British people on the need to tighten their belts.
Common sense has eventually and quite rightly, prevailed.
But it reflects very badly on Mr Cameron and the Coalition to have even thought that such appointments were acceptable in the first place.
It shows how out of touch the Prime Minister and his Cabinet of millionaires are with the needs of ordinary people who struggle every day to make ends meet.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Criticism Of Harriet Harman Over Woolas Affair Is Unwarranted
http://www.labourlist.org/i-agree-with-harriet-too---woolas-had-to-go
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11719438
Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman is facing a barrage of criticism today over her comments effectively disowning expelled MP Phil Woolas.
Mr Woolas has been barred from politics for three years after making false statements about a rival candidate in the vote for his parliamentary seat during the recent general election. This in clear breach of the 1983 Representation of the People Act.
I believe, along with many readers of the Party's online bulletin Labour List, that the anger this episode has raised amongst many Labour MPs, is unfair.
I can understand the concerns raised by both Conservative and Labour MPs in the Commons yesterday that a hastily-convened election court having the final say over whether an MP should be removed and barred from office sets a very difficult precedent. There has not been a case like this for 99 years and these matters should where possible, be decided by the electorate.
However, this a case where an MP has been elected on the back of telling lies about other election candidates. Therefore Mr Woolas should not be allowed to remain in office, no matter how many fellow MPs may support him.
Harriet Harman is, in my view, absolutely right.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11719438
Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman is facing a barrage of criticism today over her comments effectively disowning expelled MP Phil Woolas.
Mr Woolas has been barred from politics for three years after making false statements about a rival candidate in the vote for his parliamentary seat during the recent general election. This in clear breach of the 1983 Representation of the People Act.
I believe, along with many readers of the Party's online bulletin Labour List, that the anger this episode has raised amongst many Labour MPs, is unfair.
I can understand the concerns raised by both Conservative and Labour MPs in the Commons yesterday that a hastily-convened election court having the final say over whether an MP should be removed and barred from office sets a very difficult precedent. There has not been a case like this for 99 years and these matters should where possible, be decided by the electorate.
However, this a case where an MP has been elected on the back of telling lies about other election candidates. Therefore Mr Woolas should not be allowed to remain in office, no matter how many fellow MPs may support him.
Harriet Harman is, in my view, absolutely right.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Coalition Work Activity Scheme More Punitive Than Beneficial
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11706545
The Coalition will this week unveil its plans to get the long-term jobless back into work.
Under the new scheme, benefit-claimants will be forced undertake manual work. If they refuse, they could lose their £65 a week Jobseekers Allowance for up to three months.
It is the government's attempt to force the 'work-shy' - those who are happy to just live off their state hand-outs and are making no effort at all to find work - to get into the routine of a typical working day. The move is also designed to stop people from claiming benefit whilst working 'on the side'.
For the Coalition, Danny Alexander stressed that the aim of the scheme was not to 'punish or humiliate' but to get the unemployed into the habit of working.
Labour and leading Church figures have criticised the scheme, saying that it does nothing to actually create new jobs.
Labour's Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, speaking on Sunday's The Andrew Marr Show, quite rightly pointed out, that for this sort of scheme to succeed, there had to be the jobs available. With an average of five people chasing every vacancy, getting the long-term unemployed into meaningful employment, will be an extremely tall order.
I have to agree.
I find myself really questioning the purpose of the Coalition's plans here. Yes, on one level, getting the long-term jobless out of the house and accustomed to a structured daily routine is clearly a positive step. But, such a programme will only be of real benefit if it allows for the acquiring of a wide variety of skills to equip them for the workplace. And more important, participants in the scheme will not be at all motivated if there is no guaranteed job at the end of it.
Whilst most people will agree with the Work Activity Scheme in principle, the Coalition's approach to the problem of tackling long-term unemployment appears to be much too punitive and in the long-term may be of little benefit to those it is meant to help.
The Coalition will this week unveil its plans to get the long-term jobless back into work.
Under the new scheme, benefit-claimants will be forced undertake manual work. If they refuse, they could lose their £65 a week Jobseekers Allowance for up to three months.
It is the government's attempt to force the 'work-shy' - those who are happy to just live off their state hand-outs and are making no effort at all to find work - to get into the routine of a typical working day. The move is also designed to stop people from claiming benefit whilst working 'on the side'.
For the Coalition, Danny Alexander stressed that the aim of the scheme was not to 'punish or humiliate' but to get the unemployed into the habit of working.
Labour and leading Church figures have criticised the scheme, saying that it does nothing to actually create new jobs.
Labour's Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman, speaking on Sunday's The Andrew Marr Show, quite rightly pointed out, that for this sort of scheme to succeed, there had to be the jobs available. With an average of five people chasing every vacancy, getting the long-term unemployed into meaningful employment, will be an extremely tall order.
I have to agree.
I find myself really questioning the purpose of the Coalition's plans here. Yes, on one level, getting the long-term jobless out of the house and accustomed to a structured daily routine is clearly a positive step. But, such a programme will only be of real benefit if it allows for the acquiring of a wide variety of skills to equip them for the workplace. And more important, participants in the scheme will not be at all motivated if there is no guaranteed job at the end of it.
Whilst most people will agree with the Work Activity Scheme in principle, the Coalition's approach to the problem of tackling long-term unemployment appears to be much too punitive and in the long-term may be of little benefit to those it is meant to help.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Pressure Mounts On Cameron Aide Coulson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11703766
It has emerged that Andy Coulson, David Cameron's Communications Director, has been interviewed by police regarding the interception of phone-messages, during his time at The News of the World.
The claims relate to as many as 3000 messages being intercepted, including those of MPs. And there are now calls for a judicial review to allow for the names of those whose phones were tapped to be made public.
Mr Coulson has denied all the allegations, but they just will not go away.
The spotlight is now clearly on the Prime Minister, who must surely now question the wisdom of keeping Mr Coulson in his post.
Following his appointment of a personal film-maker and photographer, at the tax-payers' expense, Mr Cameron's reputation for poor judgement is fast becoming an embarrasment.
It has emerged that Andy Coulson, David Cameron's Communications Director, has been interviewed by police regarding the interception of phone-messages, during his time at The News of the World.
The claims relate to as many as 3000 messages being intercepted, including those of MPs. And there are now calls for a judicial review to allow for the names of those whose phones were tapped to be made public.
Mr Coulson has denied all the allegations, but they just will not go away.
The spotlight is now clearly on the Prime Minister, who must surely now question the wisdom of keeping Mr Coulson in his post.
Following his appointment of a personal film-maker and photographer, at the tax-payers' expense, Mr Cameron's reputation for poor judgement is fast becoming an embarrasment.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Cameron's Spending Exposed In Photographers Appointment Row
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11685442
The Prime Minister has appointed both a photographer and film-maker, with both their salaries coming out of the civil service payroll.
Labour Leader, Ed Miliband used Prime Minister's Questions to take a swipe at Mr Cameron's decision:
"The Prime Minister.. I cannot believe that he is talking about hard choices this week, because whom has he chosen to put on the civil service payroll this week? His own personal photographer. There is good news for the Prime Minister—apparently he does a nice line in airbrushing. You can picture the scene, Mr Speaker, of the Cabinet photo: “We’re all in this together; just a little bit more to the right, Nick.” Let me ask the Prime Minister in all seriousness, is it really a wise judgment when he is telling everybody to tighten their belts to put his own personal photographer on the civil service payroll?"
This was another excellent performance at PMQs by Mr Miliband; exposing the sheer hypocracy of a Prime Minister who has recently overseen unprecendented cuts to public spending. He has repeatedly told the country to the point of ad nauseam that Labour has left the UK's finances in such a mess that future generations will be paying for their mistakes for years to come.
And yet he is allowing taxpayers to foot the bill for his own photographer's services.
Well, as the saying goes, 'Do as I say, not as I do....'
The Prime Minister has appointed both a photographer and film-maker, with both their salaries coming out of the civil service payroll.
Labour Leader, Ed Miliband used Prime Minister's Questions to take a swipe at Mr Cameron's decision:
"The Prime Minister.. I cannot believe that he is talking about hard choices this week, because whom has he chosen to put on the civil service payroll this week? His own personal photographer. There is good news for the Prime Minister—apparently he does a nice line in airbrushing. You can picture the scene, Mr Speaker, of the Cabinet photo: “We’re all in this together; just a little bit more to the right, Nick.” Let me ask the Prime Minister in all seriousness, is it really a wise judgment when he is telling everybody to tighten their belts to put his own personal photographer on the civil service payroll?"
This was another excellent performance at PMQs by Mr Miliband; exposing the sheer hypocracy of a Prime Minister who has recently overseen unprecendented cuts to public spending. He has repeatedly told the country to the point of ad nauseam that Labour has left the UK's finances in such a mess that future generations will be paying for their mistakes for years to come.
And yet he is allowing taxpayers to foot the bill for his own photographer's services.
Well, as the saying goes, 'Do as I say, not as I do....'
Student Tuition-Fee Hike Will Have Far-Reaching Consequences
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11677862
The decision to raise university student tuition fees will have enormous repercussions.
Students face a huge rise in annual tuition costs, with the fees increasing from the current level of £3290, to anything from £6-9000.
Labour's universities spokesman, Gareth Thomas, described the move as a tragedy, with the poorer students in the UK being forced to pick courses on the basis of cost, rather than the course that they actually want.
What is most worrying is that because of the cuts to spending on the arts announced in last month's Spending Review, the funding of many degree courses in the arts, humanities and other related subjects will now be almost completely reliant on student fees alone.
This will mean that a wider choice of degree subjects will be available to those students able to afford them, with many colleges being forced to charge the maximum fee of £9000 to ensure adequate funding of the courses on offer.
Despite Coalition reassurances that those universities charging closest to the maximum fee will have to give financial assistance to those students who need it, the prospect of a two-tier system is clearly looming large.
The memory of all those Liberal Democrat MPs pledging during the election to oppose any rise in tuition fees is now a very distant one.
The decision to raise university student tuition fees will have enormous repercussions.
Students face a huge rise in annual tuition costs, with the fees increasing from the current level of £3290, to anything from £6-9000.
Labour's universities spokesman, Gareth Thomas, described the move as a tragedy, with the poorer students in the UK being forced to pick courses on the basis of cost, rather than the course that they actually want.
What is most worrying is that because of the cuts to spending on the arts announced in last month's Spending Review, the funding of many degree courses in the arts, humanities and other related subjects will now be almost completely reliant on student fees alone.
This will mean that a wider choice of degree subjects will be available to those students able to afford them, with many colleges being forced to charge the maximum fee of £9000 to ensure adequate funding of the courses on offer.
Despite Coalition reassurances that those universities charging closest to the maximum fee will have to give financial assistance to those students who need it, the prospect of a two-tier system is clearly looming large.
The memory of all those Liberal Democrat MPs pledging during the election to oppose any rise in tuition fees is now a very distant one.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Harman's 'Ginger Rodent' Jibe Does Labour No Favours
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-11658228
Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman has sparked fury by launching a personal attack on the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.
In her speech to the Scottish Labour Party Conference she referred to the red-haired Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister as a 'ginger rodent'.
Clearly this was a major blunder on the part of Ms Harman, not to mention her speech-writers.
I was not impressed at all.
The coalition government are on the back-foot at the moment, following the announcement of huge cuts to public expenditure in the recent Spending Review. They know that once the cuts start to bite, they will be very unpopular.
I wanted to see coverage of Labour's promised new policy announcements at the Scottish Conference. Instead the media, predictably, seized on Ms Harman's gaffe and it became the story of the weekend. Not surprisingly, she was forced to telephone Mr Alexander to personally apologise for her remarks.
It is extremely disappointing to see an experienced ex-cabinet minister with not only 13 years experience of government - but also an acute awareness of what many years of being stuck on the Opposition benches is like - behaving in this way.
This is the last thing that Labour needs at the moment.
I have raised the point on one of my earlier blogposts that I feel that Harriet Harman should have stepped down as Deputy leader at the same time of Gordon Brown's resignation. This just reinforces my view that a totally fresh leadership team was needed.
However, the Party is invigourated following the election of Ed Miliband as leader and his very promising start, especially in PMQs. They are also ahead in the polls for the first time in three years.
It is vital that the Party continues to focus on being a strong opposition and convincing the electorate that they are ready to return to power in five years time and are not detracted from this path by ridiculous personal jibes at the opposition from the leadership.
Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman has sparked fury by launching a personal attack on the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.
In her speech to the Scottish Labour Party Conference she referred to the red-haired Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister as a 'ginger rodent'.
Clearly this was a major blunder on the part of Ms Harman, not to mention her speech-writers.
I was not impressed at all.
The coalition government are on the back-foot at the moment, following the announcement of huge cuts to public expenditure in the recent Spending Review. They know that once the cuts start to bite, they will be very unpopular.
I wanted to see coverage of Labour's promised new policy announcements at the Scottish Conference. Instead the media, predictably, seized on Ms Harman's gaffe and it became the story of the weekend. Not surprisingly, she was forced to telephone Mr Alexander to personally apologise for her remarks.
It is extremely disappointing to see an experienced ex-cabinet minister with not only 13 years experience of government - but also an acute awareness of what many years of being stuck on the Opposition benches is like - behaving in this way.
This is the last thing that Labour needs at the moment.
I have raised the point on one of my earlier blogposts that I feel that Harriet Harman should have stepped down as Deputy leader at the same time of Gordon Brown's resignation. This just reinforces my view that a totally fresh leadership team was needed.
However, the Party is invigourated following the election of Ed Miliband as leader and his very promising start, especially in PMQs. They are also ahead in the polls for the first time in three years.
It is vital that the Party continues to focus on being a strong opposition and convincing the electorate that they are ready to return to power in five years time and are not detracted from this path by ridiculous personal jibes at the opposition from the leadership.
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