National Debt is an Irrelevant Statistic - Editorial The unifying framework of Sunak’s budget is that the size of the national debt is a critical concern. Hence, he has done the minimum possible to get the country through the next 6 months while sending a clear signal that there will be a return to austerity and increased unemployment … Continue reading National Debt is an Irrelevant Statistic – Editorial
Month: April 2021
Labour and the Housing Crisis
Labour and the Housing Crisis by Eamon Dyas On 22 March 2021 the Guardian reported that in four London boroughs 40% of the households residing in those boroughs were in receipt of housing benefits. In other words, close to half of the households are currently having to get help from the authorities to cover the basic costs … Continue reading Labour and the Housing Crisis
Hancock’s NHS Reforms
Hancock’s NHS Reforms Pete Whitelegg On the 11th of February Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced wide ranging reforms to the current structure of the NHS. In the House of Commons Hancock said: “At its heart, this white paper enables greater integration, reduces bureaucracy and supports the way that the NHS and social care work when they work … Continue reading Hancock’s NHS Reforms
What Am I Going to Do Next? Part 4: Colleges of Further Education.
What Am I Going to Do Next? Part 4: Colleges of Further Education. Dave Gardner What are FE colleges? This month I am going to look more closely at the infrastructure for vocational education and training in England and Wales to see how fit it is to tackle youth unemployment. I will then consider how … Continue reading What Am I Going to Do Next? Part 4: Colleges of Further Education.
Ernest Bevin: Labour’s Churchill by Andrew Adonis
Ernest Bevin: Labour’s Churchill by Andrew Adonis A review by Brendan Clifford Lord Adonis, who was a Junior Minister in the Blair Government, has written a book about Ernest Bevin. Bevin was an organiser of working class power. Blair's great object was to dissolve working class power in order to free the Labour Party from it. The Labour … Continue reading Ernest Bevin: Labour’s Churchill by Andrew Adonis
Ernest Bevin’s speech to the House of Commons, 21 June 1944.
Bevin’s speech to the House of Commons, 21 June 1944. [This is the speech that Ed Miliband refers to in his rejection of the March budget, see Parliament Notes. It lays down full employment as a priority: “In laying down that it is the primary responsibility of the Government to maintain a high and stable level … Continue reading Ernest Bevin’s speech to the House of Commons, 21 June 1944.
ALL CHANGE
Listening to Italy by Orecchiette ALL CHANGE Mario Draghi became Prime Minister of Italy on 13 February following the resignation of Giuseppe Conte. Conte had served two Prime Ministerial terms. He was nominated by President Sergio Mattarella and given a parliamentary vote of confirmation, but he has never held an elected post. He had a … Continue reading ALL CHANGE
Diary of a Corbyn Foot Soldier
Diary of a Corbyn foot soldier (April, 2021) Dictionary definition of a foot soldier: “…a dedicated low level follower” Content: “The weaponisation of Suspension in the Labour Party.” (1)“The weaponisation of suspension” (2) “ACAS guidelines on Suspensions compared to Labour Rules and Procedures” (3) “And these are the people who are going to change the … Continue reading Diary of a Corbyn Foot Soldier
Notes on the News
Notes on the News By Gwydion M. Williams The Covid Olympics Brexit – English Self-Harm Cotton Wars Abnormal is the New Normal The West Buggers Up The ‘Third World’ Snippets ‘Wide Boys’ of the Suez Canal Good Trends Unwelcoming Anglos Czechs Imperfect Greed Good for Medicine? Mending Rather Than Ending The Covid Olympics I was … Continue reading Notes on the News
Parliament Notes – Budget Debate 9 March 2021
Parliament Notes - Budget Debate 9 March 2021 [This is Ed Miliband’s speech against the budget. His standpoint is Ernest Bevin’s speech in 1944 advocating full employment; this is the ‘Bevin test’. “We cannot build private sector success on the back of public sector austerity. The cuts of the last decade have made local services worse, … Continue reading Parliament Notes – Budget Debate 9 March 2021
Labour Affairs 