A UK Socialist's blog

Socialist councillors outraged at Met Police mistreatment of Kurds

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/socialist-councillors-outraged-met-police-mistreatment-kurds

People take part in a Kurdish community march in central London in response to the arrest of seven people said to be associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK. The group is proscribed by the government, and expressing support for it is a criminal offence, Scotland Yard said, December 1, 2024

SOCIALIST councillors in Haringey have expressed outrage at the Metropolitan Police’s treatment of the borough’s Kurdish community.

Six members of the Kurdish community in the north London borough were charged with membership of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Tuesday, following raids on their homes and community centre on November 27. The organisation is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and Britain.

Independent Socialist Group on Haringey Council leader Councillor Lotte Collett said that the raids seemed “totally disproportionate when measured against the charges that have been laid.”

She said: “We are minded to believe that this raid was a politically motivated assault on a minority ethnic community that have made their home in our borough carried out at the behest of the Turkish government and was probably sanctioned here at cabinet level.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/socialist-councillors-outraged-met-police-mistreatment-kurds

Continue ReadingSocialist councillors outraged at Met Police mistreatment of Kurds

Met Police staff to strike for the first time over work from home row

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/met-police-staff-strike-first-time-over-work-home-row

The New Scotland Yard sign outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters in London

METROPOLITAN POLICE staff have voted to strike for the first time, having been ordered back to the office in the New Year.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members were outraged after managers reneged on a blended working deal that allowed them to work from home part of the week.

The new edict affects 2,400 civilians who support the day-to-day work of police officers, but disproportionately impacts women, part-time workers and those with disabilities.

Depending on where they work, the increase in office attendance is from 40 to 60 per cent, 60 to 80 or 80 to 100.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members are not bobbies on the beat.

“They are desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute.

“It’s time politicians and the right-wing media stopped their obsession with telling people where they have to work and started listening to the evidence of academics, employers and employees that shows working from home is a perfectly viable option for many people.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/met-police-staff-strike-first-time-over-work-home-row

Continue ReadingMet Police staff to strike for the first time over work from home row

Starmer ducks taking firm action against Israel’s Gaza genocide at PMQs

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/starmer-ducks-taking-firm-action-against-israel-gaza-genocide-at-pmqs

Israeli female soldiers pose for a photo on a position on the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel, February 19, 2024

SIR KEIR STARMER again ducked taking firm action against Israel over the Gaza genocide when pressured in the Commons today.

Belfast South Social Democratic and Labour MP Claire Hanna demanded to know when Israel would be held to the same standards as Russia. They demanded action including an arms embargo, sanctions and the recognition of a Palestinian state.

But the Prime Minister merely reiterated calls for a ceasefire, release of Israeli hostages and the eventual implementation of a “two-state solution” in Palestine.

Otherwise, Sir Keir spent Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in an unedifying row with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch as to who had the tougher anti-migrant record.

The strategy is not working for Labour politically, as its approval rating has fallen to a record low of minus 41 per cent, according to a YouGov poll.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/starmer-ducks-taking-firm-action-against-israel-gaza-genocide-at-pmqs

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy confirms that UK government and military are active participants in Israel’s genocides and that the F-35 parts that they suspended from supplying to Israel are instead simply diverted via the United States. He says see https://youtu.be/QILgUHrdWRE
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy confirms that UK government and military are active participants in Israel’s genocides and that the F-35 parts that they suspended from supplying to Israel are instead simply diverted via the United States. He says see https://youtu.be/QILgUHrdWRE

Continue ReadingStarmer ducks taking firm action against Israel’s Gaza genocide at PMQs

Children’s charities call for action on under-4s poverty in Wales

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/childrens-charities-call-action-under-4s-poverty-wales

A preschool age child playing with plastic building blocks

CHARITIES called for action yesterday after research revealed that most children living in poverty in Wales live in a family with at least one child under four years old.

The study from Barnardo’s Cymru and the Bevan Foundation found that the birth of a baby often leads to a drop in household income while costs increase.

This, combined with low maternity pay, meagre social security benefits and the rising costs of essentials, can push families with young children into poverty.

Sarah Row, a child services manager for nearly 10 years, said she had been shocked by the scale of poverty, poor housing and mental health problems affecting the lives of children and their parents in recent months.

Working in some of South Wales’s poorest communities, she has come across examples of young children sleeping on mattresses black with mould and others spending the night on the floor.

“I have never seen things this bad,” Ms Row said.

“Parents are often reluctant to admit just how bad things are, as they feel ashamed they cannot feed and clothe their children or keep them warm.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/childrens-charities-call-action-under-4s-poverty-wales

Continue ReadingChildren’s charities call for action on under-4s poverty in Wales

Teachers and NHS workers’ unions ‘put the government on notice’ over below-inflation pay rises

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/teachers-and-nhs-workers-unions-put-the-government-on-notice-over-below-inflation-pay-rises

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) chief executive Pat Cullen (second right front row) joins members of the RCN on the picket line outside the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, as nurses take industrial action over pay, January 18, 2023

TEACHER and NHS worker unions threatened strike action today over government-backed below-inflation public-sector pay rises.

The Department of Health and Social Care, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education have recommended 2.8 per cent unfunded rises for 2025-26 to pay review bodies after Chancellor Rachel Reeves ordered all departments to cut costs by 5 per cent.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “There are real concerns across the trade union movement about the government’s recommendation.

“The government must now engage unions and the millions of public-sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.

“It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises.

“And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings.

“In the longer term, we need a spending review that gives hope to those delivering and relying on our public services.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/teachers-and-nhs-workers-unions-put-the-government-on-notice-over-below-inflation-pay-rises

Keir Starmer confirms that he's proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Continue ReadingTeachers and NHS workers’ unions ‘put the government on notice’ over below-inflation pay rises