austerity

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

Spread the love
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.

…

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.”

…

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’

Millions will spend Christmas in ‘Dickensian conditions’

Spread the love

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.

…

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.”

…

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

Spread the love

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.”

…

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

Spread the love

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.

…

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.

…

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

Spread the love

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