Austerity 2

Morning Star Editorial: As Britain freezes, thanks to Reeves, so do its most vulnerable citizens

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Image of cash and pre-payment meter key
Image of cash and pre-payment meter key

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/britain-freezes-thanks-reeves-so-do-its-most-vulnerable-citizens

THE stark fact is that Britain’s fuel poverty crisis puts lives at risk.

The present cold snap brings home the extent of the crisis for the elderly, made more intense by the Labour government’s removal of the automatic winter fuel payment.

More than three-quarters of the public want a social tariff to underpin an energy bill discount for those who need it most.

Pensioners are a clear example of a group that includes many of the most vulnerable.

The arguments in favour of a social tariff are simple. It should support all who depend on heating and electricity for their health and wellbeing. Keeping the costs of energy at a manageable level and protecting the vulnerable from the volatility of the capitalist market in energy should be the mark of a modern and civilised country.

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Continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/britain-freezes-thanks-reeves-so-do-its-most-vulnerable-citizens

Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives.
Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives.
Continue ReadingMorning Star Editorial: As Britain freezes, thanks to Reeves, so do its most vulnerable citizens

Children’s charities call for action on under-4s poverty in Wales

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/childrens-charities-call-action-under-4s-poverty-wales

A preschool age child playing with plastic building blocks

CHARITIES called for action yesterday after research revealed that most children living in poverty in Wales live in a family with at least one child under four years old.

The study from Barnardo’s Cymru and the Bevan Foundation found that the birth of a baby often leads to a drop in household income while costs increase.

This, combined with low maternity pay, meagre social security benefits and the rising costs of essentials, can push families with young children into poverty.

Sarah Row, a child services manager for nearly 10 years, said she had been shocked by the scale of poverty, poor housing and mental health problems affecting the lives of children and their parents in recent months.

Working in some of South Wales’s poorest communities, she has come across examples of young children sleeping on mattresses black with mould and others spending the night on the floor.

“I have never seen things this bad,” Ms Row said.

“Parents are often reluctant to admit just how bad things are, as they feel ashamed they cannot feed and clothe their children or keep them warm.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/childrens-charities-call-action-under-4s-poverty-wales

Continue ReadingChildren’s charities call for action on under-4s poverty in Wales

Teachers and NHS workers’ unions ‘put the government on notice’ over below-inflation pay rises

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/teachers-and-nhs-workers-unions-put-the-government-on-notice-over-below-inflation-pay-rises

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) chief executive Pat Cullen (second right front row) joins members of the RCN on the picket line outside the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, as nurses take industrial action over pay, January 18, 2023

TEACHER and NHS worker unions threatened strike action today over government-backed below-inflation public-sector pay rises.

The Department of Health and Social Care, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education have recommended 2.8 per cent unfunded rises for 2025-26 to pay review bodies after Chancellor Rachel Reeves ordered all departments to cut costs by 5 per cent.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “There are real concerns across the trade union movement about the government’s recommendation.

“The government must now engage unions and the millions of public-sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.

“It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises.

“And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings.

“In the longer term, we need a spending review that gives hope to those delivering and relying on our public services.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/teachers-and-nhs-workers-unions-put-the-government-on-notice-over-below-inflation-pay-rises

Keir Starmer confirms that he's proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Continue ReadingTeachers and NHS workers’ unions ‘put the government on notice’ over below-inflation pay rises

Disabled activist in court to challenge benefit assessment reforms

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/disabled-activists-court-challenge-benefit-assessment-reforms

Department for Work & Pensions in Westminster, London

DISABLED activist Ellen Clifford began her legal challenge against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) today over the government’s “disingenuous” consultation on tightening the Work Capability Assessment.

Ms Clifford, represented by lawyers from Public Law Project, appeared at the High Court in London for the first of a two-day hearing to argue that the consultation was unlawful as it did not properly explain the conditions of the proposed changes.

The challenge also argues that the primary motive behind the consultation, which ran for eight weeks in 2023, was to reduce spending on disability benefits rather than to get more people into work.

Disability rights campaigners affected by the proposed changes also held a vigil outside the Royal Courts of Justice today.

Ahead of the hearing, Ms Clifford said: “More than 400,000 people will be worse off by £416 a month if the changes proposed in this consultation go ahead.

“And then there is the risk that people will lose even more money if they are sanctioned for not being able to comply with conditions they will now need to fulfil in order to receive their benefits.

“To be blunt, this would be cataclysmic for deaf and disabled people in the UK and would push many into destitution.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/disabled-activists-court-challenge-benefit-assessment-reforms

Keir Starmer confirms that he's proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.

Continue ReadingDisabled activist in court to challenge benefit assessment reforms

Reeves orders 5% cuts across all government departments in ‘efficiency drive’

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Keir Starmer justifies why he has to travel abroad so much
Keir Starmer justifies why he has to travel abroad so much

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/reeves-orders-5-cuts-across-all-government-departments-in-efficiency-drive

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has ordered 5 per cent cuts across government departments in an “efficiency drive” that resembles austerity.

Announcing the spending review, Ms Reeves said: “I have no doubt that we can find efficiency savings within government spending of 5 per cent and I’m determined to do so.”

She said the cuts would be secured by cracking down on waste and focusing on the five “milestone” policies Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined in his government relaunch last week.

Those were boosting living standards, building more homes, cutting NHS waiting lists, ensuring children are ready for school and raising military spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

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The 5 per cent reductions are to be achieved over three years, the Treasury said, adding that the Chancellor will “work with departments to prioritise spending that supports the milestones to deliver the plan,” indicating that areas not a “milestone,” such as welfare, will be squeezed.

Ms Reeves denied that her move replicated a similar announcement by her predecessor George Osborne at the height of Tory austerity.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: “Labour call their 5 per cent cuts across government departments ‘efficiency savings.’ We call it what it is: cuts to services.

“This amounts to the continuation of the same damaging, unpopular and unnecessary policy that has so devastated our country over many years.”

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Read the complete, original article at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/reeves-orders-5-cuts-across-all-government-departments-in-efficiency-drive

Continue ReadingReeves orders 5% cuts across all government departments in ‘efficiency drive’