Rachel Reeves on the hard times ahead
Morning Star: Labour’s zombie economics must be challenged in Liverpool
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labours-zombie-economics-must-be-challenged-liverpool
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Starmer has worked to undo the steps taken by his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn to empower Labour members, reducing conference to its status under Tony Blair, an extended rally for loyalists to cheer the all-powerful leader.
The crackdown on members’ democratic rights was welcomed by right-wing MPs who resented efforts to make them accountable to the grassroots under Corbyn, but now extends to MPs themselves. They are cast from the back benches for defying the whip — unprecedented authoritarianism in a parliamentary party and one that has left it so cowed that just one MP dared to side with the labour movement and the public in voting against winter fuel cuts.
MPs will only find the courage of their convictions when pressure other than that of the whip’s office is brought to bear — pressure from the trade unions which founded their party and from the constituents who can kick them out.
Defeating Reeves on winter fuel payments at conference might not change government policy right away — but it will encourage the gathering revolt we need.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/labours-zombie-economics-must-be-challenged-liverpool
Fair taxes on private jets and superyachts could have raised up to £2bn last year, Oxfam finds
FAIR taxes on private jets and superyachts could have raked in £2 billion last year to help communities devastated by climate change, an Oxfam report revealed today.
Britain has the second-highest number of private jet flights in Europe, trailing only behind France.
Oxfam found that there were 192,052 private jet flights to and from Britain last year, not including those for medical, government, or military purposes.
According to climate charity Possible, flying by private jet can be up to 30 times more polluting than standard flights.
Oxfam also found that Britain is also home to 450 fuel-guzzling superyachts.
Indiana University academics found that a superyacht with a permanent crew, helicopter pad, submarines and pools emits an estimated 7,020 (US) tonnes of CO2 a year. In comparison, petrol cars produce about 1,749kg a year.
Oxfam is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase taxes on the super-rich using these modes of transport, and redirect the funds to help tackle the climate emergency, while preventing lower-income families from shouldering the burden.
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‘Let there be no doubt, lives will be lost’
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/let-there-be-no-doubt-lives-will-be-lost
More than 1.7 million households plan on keeping their heating off this year, survey reveals
LIVES will be lost, campaigners warned today after a survey revealed that more than 1.7 million households do not plan on turning on their heating this year.
The number of those who said they will keep the heating off in polling for Uswitch is nearly double the 972,000 who said they did not heat their homes last year.
Fifty-five per cent of those blamed the continued rise of the cost of living, while 25 per cent of those over 65 said their decision followed the loss of winter fuel payments.
Another one million households will not turn on the heating until December to keep costs down, according to the poll.
About 43 per cent of households said they will only turn the heating on if they are too cold while 31 per cent will only heat some rooms in their home.
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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/let-there-be-no-doubt-lives-will-be-lost