http://www.talktalk.co.uk/news/pa/uknews/2010/06/29/cuts-could-mean-1-3m-job-losses.html?lpos=tat-links-1-news_pa&lid=tat-links-1-cuts39couldmean13mjoblosses39
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. The Tories have clearly lied to the British people.
We can look forward to a swift end to any economic recovery.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Monday, 28 June 2010
Jeremy Hunt's Hillsborough Gaffe Beyond Belief
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/10434714.stm
I was absolutely horrified to learn of new Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's comments about Hillsborough today.
He has praised the behaviour of England football supporters at the World Cup, saying that he is thankful that the days of Hillsborough and Heysel were behind us.
Years after it was established that violence played no part in the Hillsborough tragedy, he has reopened many old wounds for the families of the victims and those who survived a living nightmare. Quite rightly, they have been very quick to condemn his thoughtless gaffe.
Yes, Mr Hunt has been very quick to apologise, and Home Secretary Theresa May has reinforced this by acknowledging that the facts of the tragedy were determined a very long time ago.
But this Coalition government has many problems ahead of it. There is no guarantee that it will last a full five-year term.
Given the disquiet on the Liberal Democrat backbenches that is already surfacing in the wake of the Budget, the last thing we need is cabinet ministers shooting their mouths off and making utterly insensitive remarks that are simply not true.
I was absolutely horrified to learn of new Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's comments about Hillsborough today.
He has praised the behaviour of England football supporters at the World Cup, saying that he is thankful that the days of Hillsborough and Heysel were behind us.
Years after it was established that violence played no part in the Hillsborough tragedy, he has reopened many old wounds for the families of the victims and those who survived a living nightmare. Quite rightly, they have been very quick to condemn his thoughtless gaffe.
Yes, Mr Hunt has been very quick to apologise, and Home Secretary Theresa May has reinforced this by acknowledging that the facts of the tragedy were determined a very long time ago.
But this Coalition government has many problems ahead of it. There is no guarantee that it will last a full five-year term.
Given the disquiet on the Liberal Democrat backbenches that is already surfacing in the wake of the Budget, the last thing we need is cabinet ministers shooting their mouths off and making utterly insensitive remarks that are simply not true.
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Balls Attacks IDS On Jobs Policy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10426714.stm
Labour Leadership contender Ed Balls has roundly criticised Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith for suggesting that the unemployed should be prepared to move home in order to find work.
On the surface, this idea is not bad in itself. Many people do move to wherever a job takes them. But as Mr Balls says, the coalition has already cut millions of pounds from funding for the jobless. He is absolutely right to accuse the Tories and the Liberal Democrats of taking money away from the poorer regions whose economies need regeneration; a move which will, in turn, only serve to slow the overall economic recovery, if not take Britain back in recession.
By encouraging people to move to more prosperous areas where the jobs are more likely to be, that is exactly what the Conservative-Liberal coalition are doing.
Labour Leadership contender Ed Balls has roundly criticised Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith for suggesting that the unemployed should be prepared to move home in order to find work.
On the surface, this idea is not bad in itself. Many people do move to wherever a job takes them. But as Mr Balls says, the coalition has already cut millions of pounds from funding for the jobless. He is absolutely right to accuse the Tories and the Liberal Democrats of taking money away from the poorer regions whose economies need regeneration; a move which will, in turn, only serve to slow the overall economic recovery, if not take Britain back in recession.
By encouraging people to move to more prosperous areas where the jobs are more likely to be, that is exactly what the Conservative-Liberal coalition are doing.
Friday, 25 June 2010
Simon Hughes Warns Of Lib-Dem Opposition To Budget
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10411906.stm
Liberal Democrat Deputy leader Simon Hughes is now a highly influential voice speaking out against last week's Budget.
A statement was issued by the Party in response to Mr Hughes speech in the Commons, denying that the Lib Dems were not in support of the Budget.
But following the comments made by Tim Farron earlier this week, it is possible that mass opposition to the cuts in housing benefit and changes to the way Disability Living Allowance is assessed, amongst other things announced in George Osborne's maiden Budget, will gain momentum amongst dissatisfied Liberal Democrat backbenchers.
It will be interesting to see if any other MPs make similar comments.
Liberal Democrat Deputy leader Simon Hughes is now a highly influential voice speaking out against last week's Budget.
A statement was issued by the Party in response to Mr Hughes speech in the Commons, denying that the Lib Dems were not in support of the Budget.
But following the comments made by Tim Farron earlier this week, it is possible that mass opposition to the cuts in housing benefit and changes to the way Disability Living Allowance is assessed, amongst other things announced in George Osborne's maiden Budget, will gain momentum amongst dissatisfied Liberal Democrat backbenchers.
It will be interesting to see if any other MPs make similar comments.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Budget Exposes Cracks In In Conservative- Lib Dem Coalition
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10395602.stm
Before yesterday's Budget, it was well-known that many Liberal Democrat MPs were vehemently opposed to Conservative plans to cut public spending in order to bring down the country's massive deficit.
Now MP Tim Farron, who lost out in the recent deputy leadership contest to veteran MP Simon Hughes, has described the coalition as 'a poor fit' and publicly voiced his opposition to the measures outlined by George Osborne.
Mr Farron believes that whilst Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg may get on well personally, on a political level, they couldn't be further apart; with Clegg's instincts being far closer to Labour than the Tories.
Deputy PM Nick Clegg has said all the spending cuts are necessary, despite campaigning to the contrary during the election.
Now that backbenchers are starting to express their opposition, I wonder how long it will be before Mr Clegg is forced to do the same.
I'd say not too long at all.
Before yesterday's Budget, it was well-known that many Liberal Democrat MPs were vehemently opposed to Conservative plans to cut public spending in order to bring down the country's massive deficit.
Now MP Tim Farron, who lost out in the recent deputy leadership contest to veteran MP Simon Hughes, has described the coalition as 'a poor fit' and publicly voiced his opposition to the measures outlined by George Osborne.
Mr Farron believes that whilst Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg may get on well personally, on a political level, they couldn't be further apart; with Clegg's instincts being far closer to Labour than the Tories.
Deputy PM Nick Clegg has said all the spending cuts are necessary, despite campaigning to the contrary during the election.
Now that backbenchers are starting to express their opposition, I wonder how long it will be before Mr Clegg is forced to do the same.
I'd say not too long at all.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Coalition's First Budget Tough But Hardly Fair
George Osborne gave us what he promised in his first Budget.
Tough measures to bring down the Budget deficit - policies that will hit the poorest in Britain and can hardly, therefore, be described as fair.
In particular, the plans to cap Housing Benefit will affect many very profoundly and so will the decision to make claimants of Disability Living Allowance undergo a medical assessment from 2013.
Surely the government could have found other ways of dealing with the deficit? What about increasing taxes on alcohol and tobacco? That would have raised millions.
Instead the Conservatives and their Liberal Democrat poodles chose to penalise those least able to cope financially.
Millions of voters who were promised by David Cameron during the election that the Tories will always look after the most vulnerable in our society have been well and truly duped.
Coalition Partners Set To Break Pre-Election Promises In Emergency Budget
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10362367.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10371590.stm
Today, the Chancellor, George Osborne, will unveil what is likely to be the toughest Budget in many years.
And in doing so, both Osborne's Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats look set to break crucial pre-election pledges.
David Cameron told the nation during the election campaign that the Conservatives had no plans to raise VAT.
The Liberal Democrat rank and file, meanwhile, from the leadership to the grassroots, campaigned vigorously against any proposed public spending cuts by the Conservatives.
Whatever measures are spelt out today, there is likely to be considerable disquiet on the backbenches of both coalition partners. Liberal Democrat MP, Bob Russell, has already said that he will vote against any tough measures in the Budget. I am quite sure others will follow.
I am certain that several Conservative backbenchers will be very unhappy if Mr Osborne announces a significant rise in VAT. They will find it very hard to justify such steps to their constituents.
And, as if it needs to be said again, this clip really underlines just how hypocritical the Liberal Democrats are.
http://www.labourlist.org/what-clegg-said-before-the-election-on-spending-cuts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10371590.stm
Today, the Chancellor, George Osborne, will unveil what is likely to be the toughest Budget in many years.
And in doing so, both Osborne's Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats look set to break crucial pre-election pledges.
David Cameron told the nation during the election campaign that the Conservatives had no plans to raise VAT.
The Liberal Democrat rank and file, meanwhile, from the leadership to the grassroots, campaigned vigorously against any proposed public spending cuts by the Conservatives.
Whatever measures are spelt out today, there is likely to be considerable disquiet on the backbenches of both coalition partners. Liberal Democrat MP, Bob Russell, has already said that he will vote against any tough measures in the Budget. I am quite sure others will follow.
I am certain that several Conservative backbenchers will be very unhappy if Mr Osborne announces a significant rise in VAT. They will find it very hard to justify such steps to their constituents.
And, as if it needs to be said again, this clip really underlines just how hypocritical the Liberal Democrats are.
http://www.labourlist.org/what-clegg-said-before-the-election-on-spending-cuts
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