Cost of Living crisis

It’s time to ban MPs from taking donations from fossil fuel firms

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/its-time-to-ban-mps-from-taking-donations-from-fossil-fuel-firms/ Many articles from LeftFootForward today.

We need to build a firewall between politicians and the oil and gas firms driving the climate crisis.

Richard Burgon is the Labour MP for Leeds East

The same oil and gas giants behind the record energy bills that have forced so many into poverty have also brought us to the cliff edge of climate catastrophe.

If we are to have a fighting chance of preventing the worst of the climate crisis, then we need to rapidly cut fossil fuel use. Key to that is breaking the vast power that oil and gas companies have over our politics.

That’s why this week I will present a Bill in the House of Commons to ban MPs from receiving funding or any other benefit from oil and gas companies.

My Private Members Bill would stop MPs from taking any second jobs with, or receiving any donations, gifts, hospitality or benefits-in-kind from, any company that makes more than 50% of its annual revenue from oil or gas.

It would also force the Government to end investments by the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund in any oil and gas companies.

The aim of my Bill is simple: to build a firewall between our political decision-makers and the oil and gas corporations that have knowingly caused the climate crisis.

For decades, oil and gas giants used their vast financial power to confuse and undermine the science about the role of fossil fuels in driving climate change. More recently, their focus has moved on throwing huge sums at delaying, blocking and weakening global climate action.

Fossil fuel money also pollutes British politics. The Tory Party received £3.5m from donors with fossil fuel, polluter and climate denial links in 2022 according to an analysis of Electoral Commission records by DeSmog, an investigative website focused on global warming misinformation campaigns.

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/its-time-to-ban-mps-from-taking-donations-from-fossil-fuel-firms/

dizzy: Despite this article having been written by a Labour MP it should not be assumed that the UK Labour Party will be any different from the Conservatives on the climate crisis or fossil fuel industry.

Continue ReadingIt’s time to ban MPs from taking donations from fossil fuel firms

Millions living in ‘dangerous’ homes that put people’s health at risk, charities say

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/millions-living-dangerous-homes-putting-peoples-health-risk-charities-say

Houses, August 19, 2014

EIGHT million people are at risk of ill-health caused by substandard housing that is putting “enormous strain” on an overstretched NHS, a coalition of charities warned today.

Nine charities are backing a national Safe Homes Now campaign, demanding an end to the “scandal” of 3.7 million “dangerous” homes “that pose significant risk to inhabitants’ health” in both the private rented and owner-occupied sectors.

The charities said the “hidden housing crisis” included shocking conditions such as rat infestation, damp, leaks and mould on children’s bedding.

They said that grant support for home repairs has been slashed by more than £2 billion over the past decade, preventing the repair of 600,000 homes.

And they highlighted that 2.2 million owner-occupied homes were now defined as “unsafe” — double the number in the private rented sector.

A survey by campaign founder the Centre for Better Ageing revealed increasing problems with heating costs and home maintenance bills.

The nine charities, including St John Ambulance, Race Equality Foundation and children’s charity Barnardo’s, are calling for a “national strategy to tackle the poor quality of the country’s homes” that includes halving the number of unsafe homes within the next decade to improve the nation’s health.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/millions-living-dangerous-homes-putting-peoples-health-risk-charities-say

Continue ReadingMillions living in ‘dangerous’ homes that put people’s health at risk, charities say

Sunak launches ‘full-on assault’ on disabled people

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/sunak-launches-full-on-assault-against-disabled-people

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak giving his speech in central London on welfare reform, April 19, 2024

PM announces major plans to impose curbs on benefits

RISHI SUNAK was accused of launching a “full-on assault” on disabled people today after he announced major plans to impose fresh curbs on benefits.

The Prime Minister said an expected rise in benefits spending is “not sustainable” and vowed to “significantly reform” the system.

He announced a new consultation on personal independent payment (PIP), a non means-tested benefit that helps with extra costs caused by long-term disability or ill health.

Citing an increasing number of people are claiming PIP for anxiety and depression, Mr Sunak said a more “rigorous” approach will be introduced, and that “greater medical evidence” will be required to substantiate a claim.

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He pledged to “tighten” the work capability assessment so that “hundreds of thousands of benefit recipients with less severe conditions will now be expected to engage in the world of work.”

James Taylor of disability charity Scope said the plan “feels like a full-on assault on disabled people.”

He said: “These proposals are dangerous and risk leaving disabled people destitute.

“In a cost-of-living crisis, looking to slash disabled people’s income by hitting PIP is a horrific proposal.”

Disability Rights UK’s head of policy Fazilet Hadi accused the government of “targeting disabled people for a failing economy.”

She said: “The Prime Minister’s approach to systemic inequalities caused by government policies and underfunding of public services, is to further penalise, punish and threaten disabled people living on inadequate benefits.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/sunak-launches-full-on-assault-against-disabled-people

Charities blast Rishi Sunak’s ‘dangerous’ and heartless clamp down on disability welfare

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Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the Prime Minister’s speech today continues a trend in recent rhetoric which conjures up the image of a “mental health culture” that has “gone too far”.

“This is harmful, inaccurate and contrary to the reality for people up and down the country. The truth is that mental health services are at breaking point following years of under investment with many people getting increasingly unwell while they wait to receive support.”

She added: “To imply that it is easy both to be signed-off work and then to access benefits is deeply damaging. It is insulting to the 1.9 million people on a waiting list to get mental health support, and to the GPs whose expert judgement is being called into question.”

Labour MP John Trickett offered an alternative solution: “Sunak would stop doctors from issuing ‘sick notes’ in effort to force ill people back to work. I have a 3-part proposal: 1) fully finance the NHS & cut waiting lists 2) an all-out drive to end poverty which is at the root of so much ill health 3) force bosses to pay living wage”.

Charities blast Rishi Sunak’s ‘dangerous’ and heartless clamp down on disability welfare

Continue ReadingSunak launches ‘full-on assault’ on disabled people

Caroline Lucas tables Early Day Motion calling for rent controls in England

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Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion

https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/caroline-lucas-tables-early-day-motion-calling-for-rent-controls-in-england/

An Early Days Motion tabled by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas has called on the UK government to establish a national system of rent controls to address the increasingly huge costs of renting in England. 

Eight MPs have signed the motion so far which calls on the government to set up a Living Rent Commission, tasked with consultation on and designing a national rent control system with local flexibility and to provide powers to local councils to control rents in high rent areas.

The motion highlights how tenants in private accommodation in England are forced to pay out more for housing than our European counterparts where rights for renters are stronger, and therefore urges the UK government to follow suit and provide better protection for private renters. 

It comes as rents in the UK are rising at the highest rate in decades, increasing by 9.2% in the 12 months to March 2024 according to the ONS, highlighting the ongoing affordability crisis. 

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/04/caroline-lucas-tables-early-day-motion-calling-for-rent-controls-in-england/

Continue ReadingCaroline Lucas tables Early Day Motion calling for rent controls in England

Energy giants reap £420bn profits as beleaguered customers faced further price hikes

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/energy-giants-reap-ps420bn-profits-beleaguered-customers-faced-further-price-hikes

An online energy bill, February 3, 2022

AS BELEAGUERED customers faced further price hikes today, the scale of Britain’s energy rip-off was revealed.

The energy firms have collectively reaped profits of £420 billion since 2020, according to research by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.

For comparison, the annual budget of the Department of Health & Social Care, which includes the NHS, was £181.7bn in 2022-3.

Though the Ofgem-imposed price cap, limiting what customers pay for each unit of gas and electricity that we use, fell today to £1,690 a year for a typical household, the average standing charge rose from £303 a year to £334.

These charges, which have to be paid even if no gas or electricity is used, have risen by 147 per cent since the 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Those cashing in on the profits dividend include not only the energy providers but also the firms that own the wires and pipes through which electricity and gas supplies travel, all publicly owned prior to privatisation in 1990.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/energy-giants-reap-ps420bn-profits-beleaguered-customers-faced-further-price-hikes

Continue ReadingEnergy giants reap £420bn profits as beleaguered customers faced further price hikes