The debate on the future of the railways is among the most interesting at the Labour Party’s National Policy Forum. The challenge was to understand that there are three key challenges facing the rail system – the privatised structure, capacity issues, and the cuts in subsidy in recent years that have contributed hugely to the […]
Category Archives: Privatisation
There has been much debate since the last election about the piecemeal privatisation of the NHS – despite the fact that the mainstream media have given it far less coverage than it merits. But there’s another huge piece of privatisation being lined up, and the Infrastructure Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech is laying the […]
The purpose of Private Members’ Bills is not always to create legislation, and can be an opportunity to embarrass the Government; in that sense Caroline Lucas’ Bill to renationalise the railways, due to receive its Second Reading today, is unusual in that it is more. It’s certainly not remotely fit for purpose as a piece […]
Hove MP Mike Weatherley issued a largely overlooked press release earlier today, commenting on the success of a pilot scheme in Croydon which aims to provide sanctions against those who drop litter and leave mess. In the press release Weatherley states: Following a recent anti-social behaviour crackdown by Croydon Council, Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member […]
Listening to the noise around today’s announcement of rail fare rises from January next year has been dispiriting. Time and time again, the issue of fares has been linked to renationalisation – as for example in this Guardian opinion piece which is notable for a complete failure to understand the issues around fares and ownership. […]
The Government has sold a majority holding in Plasma Resources UK, the state-owned enterprise that forms the basis of Britain’s blood plasma supplies, to an American venture capitalist, Bain, for £230m. While it is not clear whether this will affect the blood that is given by millions of donors across the UK, it has certainly […]
Over the weekend, Ian Duncan Smith made widely reported comments that wealthy pensioners should be prepared to return some of their benefits – notably winter fuel payments and free bus passes. This morning on the BBC Today programme, Labour DWP spokesman Liam Byrne (unsurprisingly) refused to defend the principle of universality. Nick Clegg and his […]
Ed Miliband has proposed tax breaks to encourage employers to offer a living wage, according to reports in this morning’s Guardian. Labour, it is argued, wants to reduce the benefits bill by encouraging employers to pay higher wages. The shadow Treasury team is reported to be considering options. The aims are laudible – better pay, a real […]
There’s an excellent piece by Zoe Williams in today’s Guardian in which she describes the impact of the decision that crisis loans – now administered by local authorities – will be paid by vouchers or card; or in some cases will be given straight to a foodbank charity. Williams is right to point out that […]
The people behind the Think Left blog yesterday circulated a piece from the Independent about the way in which New Zealand has reacted to the imposition of an austerity agenda. It’s an old piece, but the landscape is strikingly familiar – food banks, homelessness, benefit cuts, soaring crime. The piece points out how New Zealand’s […]
Notes from a Broken Society 