News

This is just what you didn’t want to hear, especially if you have been slapped with a National Insurance tax rise, as a self-employed worker. The IFS has made a post-budget statement and it makes grim reading for the nation. The impact of Brexit is unknown, but the future already looks gloomy. Well over a decade of austerity will be too much for a lot the UK’s population to take. In 2020 it will be 15 years without an effective...

The crisis in the NHS continues and it is getting worse, hitting historically high levels of patient waiting times. This January, official figures have shown, that A & E department waiting times were the worst the NHS has faced. More people than ever had to sit in emergency departments, for over four hours, before they were seen by medical staff. Over the winter period the Red Cross said the NHS was facing a humanitarian crisis. The Conservative Government said this...

Go Vegan World  has accused the National Farmers’ Union of “entirely missing the point” in its recent criticism of the campaign which has been appearing across the UK and Ireland on billboards, taxis, motorways and at underground stations as well as full page adverts in national newspapers. The campaign features powerful, highly thought-provoking messages such as Dairy Takes Babies from their Mothers, Humane Milk is a Myth: Don't Buy It and Vegetarianism is Not Enough for male chicks who are...

It appears Mhairi Black is at it again, still only 22-year-old but is already a Commons legend, after many speeches that make the hair on back your neck stand on their end, no matter what side of the political divide you are on. When elected in May 2015, she was just 20 years and 237 days old. The youngest MP in the house but her age has been no obstacle to making a name for herself and fighting against Tory...

In today’s Spring Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond made no mention of the Government’s plans to change the way Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is awarded in the future. PIP is awarded to cover the extra costs that disabled people face, and is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance. Recently the courts ruled that people who find it difficult to leave the house because of psychological distress should be able to receive the higher rate of PIP. But two...

Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Budget Statement failed to relieve the strain on workers from a further squeeze on living standards as wage growth is on course fall, GMB trade union warned today. Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget statement, the union said he neglected to support workers facing a decade of pay and had failed to provide proper funding for public services or social care. Hammond also raised National Insurance for the self-employed, turning his back on a manifesto pledge to not...

Today’s PMQs was fairly subdued as the Budget followed, it always is in these situations, so I’ll merge the two as seamlessly as the government’s Brexit plan. It is International Women’s Day and the Tories were beaming they have had two female PMs. Thatcher did literally nothing for women’s rights, but that doesn’t matter when you are gloating at the opposition. Victoria Atkins, Con, announced it was 2-0 to the Tories over women PMs. Sometimes results flatter to deceive. Corbyn...

Half (50%) of London adults believe women receive fewer opportunities after returning from maternity leave 17% of the respondents from London disagree that their CEO actively strives for gender equality and supports initiatives in the workplace Over half (56%) of adults surveyed in London said they would be ‘much happier’ at work if their employer offered a more flexible working arrangement This International Women’s Day, RICS encourages employers to review diversity initiatives and sign up to its Inclusive Employer Quality...

Public sector workers have been slapped with a decade long “pay pinch” and now inflation caused by Brexit has worsened the pay problems for midwives, teaching assistants and refuse collectors amongst others. The GMB union claims the public sector is now suffering from the worst salary squeeze since the Thatcher government The government cap on wages means that full-time workers, in the public sector, now actually face a real terms reduction in income. On average this will be a huge...