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Government urged to scrap Raab’s ‘rights removal Bill’

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/government-urged-to-scrap-raabs-rights-removal-bill

A campaigner for advocacy group Liberty, dressed as Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, swings a wrecking ball at a temporary wall on the Southbank, London to share their concerns around the Government’s plans to pass the ‘Rights Removal Bill’, repealing the Human Rights Act 1998, ahead of Human Rights Day this Saturday. Picture date: Thursday December 8, 2022.

DOMINIC RAAB’S Bill of Rights was dealt a fresh blow today after a damning report warned the reforms would seriously damage people’s ability to enforce their rights.

A cross-party committee of MPs and peers has called on PM Rishi Sunak to totally scrap his Justice Secretary’s plans to overhaul Britain’s human rights laws, with committee members saying they found “hardly any support” for the changes following their inquiry.

The reforms seek to replace the Human Rights Act 1998, which enshrines the European Convention on Human Rights in domestic law, with a new Bill of Rights.

Mr Raab says the overhaul is needed to prevent abuses of the current system, often citing cases where human rights defences have been used to halt deportations.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/government-urged-to-scrap-raabs-rights-removal-bill

Continue ReadingGovernment urged to scrap Raab’s ‘rights removal Bill’

Ambulance workers stage another day of strike action as dispute over pay for overstretched staff shows no sign of ending

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/ambulance-staff-stage-another-day-strike-action-dispute-over-pay

Image of Accident and emergency

THOUSANDS of ambulance workers staged more strike action today as the bitter dispute over pay for overstretched NHS staff showed no sign of abating.

Nearly 2,000 paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff across north-west England downed tools for 12 hours from midday, their union GMB said.

The walkout, which followed industrial action by thousands of GMB, Unite and Unison ambulance employees on Monday, came ahead of what could be biggest-ever NHS strike on February 6, when all three unions are due to strike alongside nurses.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/ambulance-staff-stage-another-day-strike-action-dispute-over-pay

Continue ReadingAmbulance workers stage another day of strike action as dispute over pay for overstretched staff shows no sign of ending

Campaigners protest arms fair in Twickenham

Anti-arms campaigners outside Twickenham Stadium

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/campaigners-protest-arms-fair-in-twickenham

ACTIVISTS protested today outside Twickenham rugby stadium, where “human rights-abusing nations” were taking part in an armoured vehicle trade fair.

About 70 people took part in the demonstration in south-west London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and supported by Campaign Against Arms Trade.

The local PSC group said that Israeli defence ministers were among the delegates at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 fair, along wth representatives of Israeli weapons giant Elbit Systems.

Also among the attendees was Italian arms firm Leonardo, part of a consortium of firms producing the Typhoon jets used by Saudi Arabia in its war on Yemen, according to the fair’s events programme.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/campaigners-protest-arms-fair-in-twickenham

Continue ReadingCampaigners protest arms fair in Twickenham

Energy firms face Ofgem investigation over number of households forced onto pre-payment meters

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/energy-firms-face-ofgem-investigation-forced-prepayment-metres

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

ENERGY firms face an Ofgem investigation over a “concerning” rise in the number of struggling households being forced onto prepayment meters.

The regulator said yesterday that it would also consider taking legal action if firms are found not to have taken due care when moving customers onto the more costly meters.

Customers who fail to keep the devices topped up with money have their electricity and gas cut off.

In recent months, hundreds of thousands of households have been switched onto prepayment metres, often unwillingly, after falling behind on their bills.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/energy-firms-face-ofgem-investigation-forced-prepayment-metres

Continue ReadingEnergy firms face Ofgem investigation over number of households forced onto pre-payment meters