Yearly Archives: 2024

24 MPs sign motion calling to reconsider two-child benefits limit

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/24-mps-sign-motion-calling-to-reconsider-two-child-benefits-limit/. Many articles featured from LeftFootForward today.

The motion expresses ‘incredulity’ that the government hasn’t assessed correlations between the two-child limit and child poverty levels

A motion signed by 24 MPs has called on the two-child limit to be reconsidered while expressing disbelief that the government has not assessed the correlation between child poverty and the Tories benefit cap as new research came to light. 

Tabled by Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy, the Early Day Motion highlighted research from the End Child Poverty Coalition which revealed how some of the most vulnerable families are those hardest hit by the two-child limit. 

Introduced in April 2017 by the Tories supposedly as an incentive to get parents into work, the policy prevents households from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for a third or subsequent child.

Concerns were raised by the government’s own Work and Pensions Committee in 2019 which recommended that the policy be abandoned, warning that the limit would increase the number of children in poverty and disproportionately affect minority groups.

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/24-mps-sign-motion-calling-to-reconsider-two-child-benefits-limit/. Many articles featured from LeftFootForward today.

Continue Reading24 MPs sign motion calling to reconsider two-child benefits limit

‘Where are those 40 hospitals?’: Tory Health Secretary in car crash interview over failed election pledge

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/where-are-those-40-hospitals-tory-health-secretary-in-car-crash-interview-over-failed-tory-election-pledge/. Many articles from LeftFootForward featured today.

Tory Health Secretary Victoria Atkins endured a car crash interview on LBC earlier today, after being grilled on yet another failed Tory pledge.

In the run-up to the last general election, the Tories had promised to build 40 new hospitals in their 2019 manifesto under Boris Johnson, yet no one in the government seems to know how much progress has been made towards the target.

On LBC earlier today, presenter Nick Ferrari asked Atkins: “I know it was a number of years ago and I know it was under a previous leadership, but where are those 40 hospitals?”

Atkins replied: “Well we are making progress and we will be opening, I think, four of these hospitals this year and there will be many other sites around the country.

“I’ve been to visit one or two of them that are not completed but very much rising out of the ground. Alongside that we have the programme of works to upgrade existing hospitals.”

Ferrari hit back: “Of the 40, how many will be built by the time we come to a general election?”

A clearly frustrated Atkins replied: “We’re opening four more this year, so depending on when the election is … we will have around four this year, we’ve already opened a few more.”

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/where-are-those-40-hospitals-tory-health-secretary-in-car-crash-interview-over-failed-tory-election-pledge/. Many articles from LeftFootForward featured today.

Continue Reading‘Where are those 40 hospitals?’: Tory Health Secretary in car crash interview over failed election pledge

Tory plans to update NHS Constitution ‘made in a parallel universe’ says nurses’ union 

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/tory-plans-to-update-nhs-constitution-made-in-a-parallel-universe-says-nurses-union/. Many articles from LeftFootForward featured today.

Part of the proposals include divisive plans to treat trans people in separate rooms

Proposals announced by the UK Government to adjust the NHS Constitution in England have been ‘made in a parallel universe’ to the realities of NHS workers, the UK’s leading nurses’ union has said. 

New government plans which could see transgender people treated in separate rooms in hospitals in England have been taken apart by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), as equality organisations raised concerns about how the proposals will impact trans patients and healthcare professionals and NHS bosses accused the government of dragging the NHS into “pre-election culture wars”.

Under the proposed NHS Constitution changes, trans people may be treated in single rooms if patients request single-sex wards. RCN Chief Nursing Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Nicola Ranger, said patients are already able to request intimate care from staff of the same sex, however this is “nigh-on impossible to accommodate with any consistency” due to a staffing crisis seeing a shortfall in tens of thousands of nursing staff. 

“Much of this announcement sounds like it was made in a parallel universe to the everyday experience of nursing staff working in the NHS,” said Ranger. 

“Nursing staff are caring for people in corridors, doorways and even store cupboards. They will have little faith in ministers’ supposed commitment to the ‘privacy, dignity and safety’ of patients.  

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Amnesty UK said today: “No one’s health should suffer because of who they are or where they live. The government must strengthen the NHS constitution to ensure everyone’s right to healthcare.

“We need real solutions, not distractions from government failures that have left people waiting too long for care.” 

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/tory-plans-to-update-nhs-constitution-made-in-a-parallel-universe-says-nurses-union/. Many articles from LeftFootForward featured today.

Continue ReadingTory plans to update NHS Constitution ‘made in a parallel universe’ says nurses’ union 

Nigel Farage set to announce return to politics as Reform UK candidate

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/05/nigel-farage-set-to-announce-return-to-politics-as-reform-uk-candidate/. Many articles from LeftFootForward featured today.

“He is well aware what those weeks of national TV exposure have done for him – and the position he could be in to help Reform.”

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage is set to announce a return to frontline politics it has been reported, as he seeks to capitalise on the increased media exposure he has gained following his appearance on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The Mirror reports that the former UKIP politician, 60, who retired in 2021, ‘is understood to want to stand as a parliamentary candidate this year. And it comes after sources say he is determined to make the most of the exposure he gained in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.’

There have previously been rumours that Farage was considering joining the Tory party, after his appearance at the party’s conference and after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hinted that he could be welcomed in the ‘broach church’ of the Conservative Party.

However, sources have told the Mirror that he wanted to capitalise on the recent media exposure he has gained, including on GB News.

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“The shitbag returns”.

https://leftfootforward.org/2024/05/nigel-farage-set-to-announce-return-to-politics-as-reform-uk-candidate/. Many articles from LeftFootForward featured today.

Continue ReadingNigel Farage set to announce return to politics as Reform UK candidate