Austerity 2

Millions will spend Christmas in ‘Dickensian conditions’

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This article was originally posted 6/12/24 but was deleted, probably my mistake.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/millions-will-spend-christmas-dickensian-conditions

A general view of housing in Scarborough, North Yorkshire

MILLIONS of people are spending a fourth Christmas in “Dickensian conditions” due to fuel poverty, a damning report revealed today.

Warm This Winter found that 16 per cent of adults, equal to 8.8 million people, in Britain live in cold, damp homes, exposed to the health risks of living in fuel poverty.

The campaign group has warned that the government’s Warm Homes Plan will come too late for one in 10 people who have frequently experienced dangerous mould levels in their homes this year.

Poorly insulated homes risk damp and mould spreading, which the NHS warns can lead to respiratory issues, infections, allergies and asthma.

Such conditions can also increase the risk of heart disease, strokes and other severe health problems.

Cold homes can cause and worsen respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, poor mental health, dementia and hypothermia as well as cause and slow recovery from injury.

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End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said: “The sheer numbers of people living in cold, damp homes this winter should send alarm bells throughout Westminster.

“These shocking figures have hardly changed since last year and with energy bills heading upwards again in January, the situation is now critical for the government.”

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Original aticle at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/millions-will-spend-christmas-dickensian-conditions

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 ReadingMillions will spend Christmas in ‘Dickensian conditions’

Scottish budget vows to scrap two-child benefits cap

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-budget-vows-to-scrap-two-child-benefits-cap

Finance Secretary Shona Robison during a visit to Logan Energy Limited in Edinburgh ahead of the publication of the Scottish Budget, December 4, 2024

SCOTTISH Finance Secretary Shona Robison announced that the two-child cap on benefits will be scrapped in Scotland as she pledged record spending for both the NHS and councils in next year’s Budget today.

The moved to scrap the cap would lift 15,000 children out of poverty, Ms Robison said.

She told MSPs as she outlined her draft Budget plans in Holyrood: “Be in no doubt that the cap will be scrapped.”

Ms Robison slammed the UK Labour government’s inaction on a “pernicious” policy considered to be a key driver of child poverty by organisations such as the Poverty Alliance.

She challenged the UK government to work with them and share the necessary information to “build a system” to mitigate it “as early as we can in 2026.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/scottish-budget-vows-to-scrap-two-child-benefits-cap

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 ReadingScottish budget vows to scrap two-child benefits cap

Eradicate child poverty in 20 years, coalition of children’s charities tell government

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/eradicate-child-poverty-20-years-coalition-childrens-charities-say

Stocks of food at the Trussell Trust Brent Foodbank, Neasden, London

A COALITION of 120 children’s charities today called for the complete eradication of child poverty in 20 years, increasing pressure for government to scrap the two-child benefit cap.

The End Child Poverty Coalition set out eight tests it said should be met by the government’s taskforce strategy if it is to succeed in tackling and ending child poverty.

Among them was that government must ultimately aim to halve child poverty in the next 10 years, and completely eradicate it in the next 20.

The coalition also said the two-child limit to benefit payments must be scrapped, estimating this could immediately lift around 300,000 children out of poverty, and that “further fundamental reform” to the social security system is needed.

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End Child Poverty Coalition chair Joseph Howes said: “Child poverty is a blight on our society and is also completely avoidable.

“If the government is serious about tackling and ultimately eradicating child poverty in this country, it needs to be bold and ambitious in its investments, including immediately scrapping the two-child limit to benefit payments.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/eradicate-child-poverty-20-years-coalition-childrens-charities-say

Continue ReadingEradicate child poverty in 20 years, coalition of children’s charities tell government

Calls for energy support intensify as temperatures expected to plunge

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/calls-energy-support-intensify-temperatures-expected-plunge

The temperature control of a radiator in a domestic home

DEMANDS for more energy support for vulnerable households intensified today as temperatures are expected to plummet this week.

Some areas rose above 16°C on Sunday, but the Met Office forecast a sharp drop by last night, with temperatures potentially plunging to -8°C in parts of Scotland.

Meteorologists warned that the cold spell would continue tomorrow, with parts of England becoming as chilly as -3°C.

The cold snap comes just over a month after energy regulator raised the price cap by 10 per cent, while 6.5 million households remain trapped in fuel poverty.

Peter Smith of National Energy Action said: “Millions of people will endure these freezing conditions at the same time as unaffordable energy bills and unmanageable energy debt.

“At this exceptionally difficult time for vulnerable households, we see a desperate need for a larger energy discount or a new social tariff to provide long-term protection.

…

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/calls-energy-support-intensify-temperatures-expected-plunge

Continue ReadingCalls for energy support intensify as temperatures expected to plunge

Labour welfare ‘reforms’ are a cruel, destructive move

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labour-welfare-reforms-cruel-destructive-move Many articles from Morning Star today

WELFARE AUSTERITY: (L to R) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall; Keir Starmer

DIANE ABBOTT MP condemns the government’s vicious attack on benefits that callously denies the pandemic’s impact on the working class while pushing vulnerable people into unsuitable work through punitive measures

THERE is now overwhelming evidence that the government is reimposing austerity measures. This is true in relation to income tax, public spending after next year, higher energy bills, bus fares and other prices determined by government.

But perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of austerity has been the planned cuts to the welfare bill.

Yet Keir Starmer, Liz Kendall and a host of other ministers have done their best to dispel any complacency on this issue. People who are on welfare, for whatever reason, are in the government’s firing line.

Their attack has two prongs. The first is that there is a blanket assertion that the welfare bill is “too high” and the second is that they will crack down on benefit fraud. Deliberately or otherwise, it is clear that these two issues are closely connected.

Promising “radical reforms to get Britain working,” in a recent article, Starmer went on to say, “In the coming months, Mail on Sunday readers will see even more sweeping changes. Because make no mistake, we will get to grips with the bulging benefits bill blighting our society.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labour-welfare-reforms-cruel-destructive-move Many articles from Morning Star today

Continue ReadingLabour welfare ‘reforms’ are a cruel, destructive move