Agenda 2019

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-food-bank-charity-was-threatened-with-closure-by-ministers-aide-9533456.html Food bank charity ‘was threatened with closure by minister’s aide’ Andrew Selous, PPS to Iain Duncan Smith, Threats and intimidation by government to conceal the real scandal of foodbank reliance in this country. There seem to be no depths to which this ConDem coalition will not sink to cover up and distort the effects of their drive for austerity and the way in which peoples lives are being afflicted by hardship. Iain Duncan-Smith and his collaborators, should feel shame at their dogmatic policies which have led to and are perpetuating this outrage.  Mr Selous strongly denied having been the individual concerned.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/26/food-banks-crawley-liam-marshall-ascough_n_5034541.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Extra Food Banks Aren't Needed Because Restaurants Are Busy, Says Tory Councillor  People aren't going hungry : Cllr Liam Marshall-Ascough Sometimes, it is hard to believe that that there are "people" in this country who still accept the myth that foodbanks are a consequence of "scroungers" preferring to live on charity rather than the result of government policies and delays in payment of essential  benefits. Last week it was Tebbit wading into the demonisation and general slurs in respect of Foodbanks and the people who use the charities.The Tebbit of "On your bike" fame. Tebbit, the lackey of Thatcher. Tebbit, the former airline pilot, who came to fame within the Tory party with his odious attacks on working people, immigrants, unemployed and the gay community a perfect lapdog in fact for the  grocers daughter from G...

  http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/454730/Edwina-Currie-s-cruel-jibe-at-poor?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-uk-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+UK+Feed%29 Former Tory MP Edwina Currie has provoked outrage by saying that ­people who use food banks waste their money on ­tattoos and dog food. Former Tory MP Edwina Currie   Edwina Currie, former junior cabinet minister, former MP, former lover of a nondescript parliamentary whip who became prime minister, crawling out from the depths of obscurity, to demonstrate that in all of her 67 years she has learned little if anything of reality in the United Kingdom. The gross generalisations pouring out of this politician turned author confirm a lack of understanding about how and why many people today, are forced into reliance on food banks and other charities for their day to day existence. With patronising comments, poorly constructed remarks and simplisti...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-in-line-for-20000-pay-rise-in-move-likely-to-spark-public-anger-8622556.html  MPs are set to receive a pay rise of up to £20,000. Just when you thought that you had heard everything, just when you thought that there were no other depths to which MP's could sink, just when you thought that the greed of demanding an increase in their expenses for lunch followed by another demand for an increase in their bar drinks allowance, could not be topped, comes this. Make no mistake about it, no matter how many times the MP's may bleat, plead poverty and trot out the well worn cliche that their salaries are set by an "independent review body", the levels of salary that these parasites pay themselves are set behind closed doors in smoke filled rooms and agreed long before any announcement is made in the media.   John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, is understood to be sympathetic to a pay rise after saying that M...

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/23/food-banks-trussell-trust-coalition-charity-_n_3138241.html?1366783614&utm_hp_ref=uk Foodbank Britain: Demand for Emergency Food Increases Five-Fold Since Coalition Came To Power Volunteers put a selection of tinned food together for a client at a depot at St Paul's Church, Brixton In Great Britain, in the first quarter of the 21st Century, more than 350,000 people rely on food banks. Last December, it was predicted that in 2013 foodbanks would feed more than 200,000 people across the country, double the number of 2012, and the expectation was that the number would grow rapidly. It is now only April and the figure already exceeds 350,000. This is a situation about which we should all feel angry, uncomfortable and even ashamed that we have collectively allowed this position to come about. A country which once boasted having "an empire upon which the sun never sets" and a collective wealth envied by nations aro...

 The Daily Mail exceeds all limits of decency and responsible news coverage. The "vile" Daily Mail.  This front page, taken from today's Daily Mail, rates amongst the most despicable and reprehensible excesses of British newspaper "reporting", standing alongside and arguably exceeding the Hillsborough coverage by the Sun. For any "Newspaper" to suggest that a criminal act of such evil motivation and tragic outcome, is a consequence of a welfare state established to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, is an insult to to the ideal of the system and every single person reliant on it. True there are those people, such as Mick Philpott who abuse the system, but that does not excuse or justify the warped logic of the Daily Mail to imply that all benefit claimants are of the same inclination. The Daily Mail abuses its position to make snide political points, as their contribution to the o...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/not-so-universal-credit-government-puts-the-brakes-on-trials-of-its-controversial-new-benefits-programme-8554053.html Ministers have significantly scaled back plans to begin piloting their controversial universal credit programme next month.  Iain Duncan Smith: Secretary of State for Work and pensions   Another Iain Duncan Smith failure.This man is an embarrassment to all and sundry. Everything Midas touched turned to gold, but in the case of IDS, everything he touches turns to rat droppings.

  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/workfare-why-did-so-many-labour-mps-accept-this-brutal-unforgivable-attack-on-vulnerable-people-8542193.html?origin=internalSearch   Workfare: Why did so many Labour MPs accept this attack on vulnerable people?  Liam Byrne, demanded that Labour MPs abstain; sit on their hands, hide in the toilet, whatever.   We do not have many "Labour" MP's. We have a PLP dominated by the centre right opportunists who have sold out principle in exchange for position (shadow or otherwise) and a rump of Blairites who, in pursuit of popularity,  change their positions more often than their underwear. The front bench  The history of the Parliamentary Labour Party is littered with "disgraceful, grubby chapters" where working people and the poorest in society have been betrayed by the very party created to represent them. Most, but not all, of the PLP have reverted to being members of "the club" in the c...

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/10/iain-duncan-smith-justin-welby-reforms_n_2849177.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Iain Duncan Smith, Work and Pensions Secretary said "fairness" was at the centre of the overhaul he was steering through parliament.   Iain Duncan Smith   Iain Duncan Smith, failed Conservative party leader, failed shadow defence secretary, central character in "Betsygate" and arch enemy of working people, (to mention just a few points from his rather checkered past), considers that it is fair to attack the sick, the disabled and young in the name of welfare reforms. His understanding of the word fair is as warped as is his personality.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/09/lib-dem-conference-nick-clegg-secret-courts_n_2845254.html?utm_hp_ref=uk  Activists Show Fury At Nick Clegg Support For Secret Courts   Nick Clegg holds a Q&A session with party members    On the BBC News24 Programme "Hard Talk" yesterday (Saturday 9th March), Yasmin Alibhai-Brown admitted to voting for the Liberal Democrats at the last election, then went on to say that she had made the wrong decision and would "never vote for them again".  Yasmin Alibhai-Brown   The reason for this change of heart was, as she put it, because the Liberals had supported Tory legislation that reneged on every principle, promise, undertaking  and pledge that Liberal Democrats had made during the election campaign and generally betrayed people in this country.They had, again in her words, become  "Tarts" in the political arena. I have argued previously that the way in which Clegg and...

  http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/heather-frost-home-jobless-mum-1723708 Heather frost hits back at "sickening" abuse.  "One bloke said on Facebook he wanted to put all my kids in a house and gas them. It’s just sickening.”  If you saw Question time last night, and read this article today, you may come to the view that the original story as related by sections of the media, was not quite accurate. The "demonisation" of benefit claimants is a growing practice in the media and with some politicians.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/benefits-cap-seven-million-families-hit-8441819.html Benefits cap: seven million families hit Iain Duncan Smith , Prime Minster David Cameron and George Osborne Government insists there are no "soft options" when it comes to tackling the deficit. The Government has insisted capping benefits at 1% for the next three years is vital in reducing the debt.  There are however, no plans being prepared to stop the energy companies increasing their prices two or even three times every year, to cap any bonus payments made by banks or other financial institutions to 1% or less, to restrict the prices charged to consumers by the water companies or public utilities, to cut the subsidies paid to private companies such as the railways and to reverse their recently announced inflation busting price hikes. When it comes to essential measures to reduce the deficit, this government seems to have forgotten that "we are all in i...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cutting-benefits-to-poorest-a-tragedy-8374315.html  Campaigners warn Chancellor not to freeze welfare payments to balance budget David Cameron and George Osborne .   George Osborne was urged tonight not to cut the deficit by reducing benefits paid to the poorest, as a coalition of charities and campaigners warned that this would be "a tragedy for millions and a travesty for the economy". A ConDem coalition, bankrupt of policies, a chancellor bankrupt of ideas, a country reeling under disastrous government ineptitude, a nation where the divisions between the haves and the have nots grows wider with each passing day and where Tory obsession with expenditure cuts and imposition of "austerity" is seen as the only option, despite all the evidence to the contrary. There is no doubt that people in this country, will die this winter as a direct result of this governments pursuit of "austerity". I...

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/17/benefit-cap-immoral-sarah-teather   The government's flagship plan to impose a £500-a-week cap on benefits paid to families has been denounced as immoral and deeply socially divisive in a savage attack by the former coalition minister for children and families.   Sarah Teather MP  Has Sarah Teather actually "seen the light"? Her comments certainly do not concur with what she said on "Question Time" some months ago. Either it is sour grapes, or she was telling porkies when she was in cabinet. Perhaps she actually believes now what many of us have been arguing for months and she will now join the opposition to this socially decisive and politically bankrupt apology of a government. A spokesman for Iain Duncan Smith , the work and pensions minister, said: "The criticisms Sarah Teather is leveling against the government's welfare reforms are hugely misinformed" Well, he would say ...

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stress-puts-people-out-of-work-and-on-to-benefits-8301330.html workplace stress  Growing stress and pressure at work has led to a surge in people being forced to quit their jobs and live on benefits until such times as Atos decide that they are "fit for work" of course. Atos the parasitic organisation grasping £millions of our money via dubious contracts placed by the government. Atos, the organisation that decrees that if you can raise one finger, you are fit for work. Stress is real and if you suffer from it you will know. One of the main causes of stress is of course this government and the parasitic organisations getting our money (which all too often finds its way back into Conservative party funds through grubby donations) through government awarded contracts.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/average-income-stagnant-for-twelve-years--and-it-wont-improve-for-at-least-eight-more-8262320.html Average income stagnant for twelve years – and it won't improve for at least eight more years.A typical low income family in 2020 is set to have an income 15 per cent lower than in 2008 average disposable income is at its lowest point since 2003, However, this will not prevent Morrisons, Asda, Tesco and the rest or for that matter British Gas, EDF, E.on and the other parasites from ensuring that their profits and their prices continue to rise. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9605858/120000-troubled-families-could-be-legally-banned-from-spending-benefits-on-alochol-and-tobacco.html Troubled families living on benefits will be legally barred from spending welfare money on alcohol and tobacco, under plans being drawn up in Whitehall. Just like that ! Ian Duncan Smith. Three of the biggest numbskulls to ever hold a parliamentary seat, let alone a position in government. A harebrained scheme too far. How much will it cost? How will it be managed? How many extra civil servants will be required to manage the scheme?  What is a "problem family? The list of questions is almost endless. There is a problem with benefits being spent on alcohol and tobacco sometimes to the detriment of the family, which should be addressed, but not in this knee jerk simplistic fashion, more concerned with popularity than reality. These three should think again, and then do something more useful.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/08/conservative-welfare-cuts-analysis  The Tories claim they are making things fairer but their plans to save £10bn rely on penalising poorer children with siblings   They have always been a nasty, authoritarian bunch of  self centered tyrants.  Its just that over the past few years some of them have become even more nasty and authoritarian (if that's possible). It seems that there is a competition between   Duncan Smith, Osborne, Rabb, Schapps and a few others to be the most nasty.

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/08/george-osborne-deal-welfare-cuts Osborne and the Lib Dem conspirators, planning the next assault on the people of this country. The "rich will be targeted next", is just empty rhetoric for the benefit of public consumption. The Lib Dems will, in the end, do as they are instructed, in order to retain their seats in cabinet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-19529717 Brain damaged man's family loses benefits   This is obscene. The way in which "government benefits departments" deal with dis ability cases is unbelievably complex. It seems that they create an obstacle course in the hope that rather than work through their endless "we require more information" letters, people will give up and go away. Complaining to your MP and sending them copies of the paperwork can sometimes be a useful exercise. Good luck to Tamsyn and Alex Wood in this battle.