The NEU kept children and teachers safe during the pandemic, yet we are disgracefully slandered by the politicians who have truly failed our children by not funding a proper education recovery programme — here’s what is needed, explains KEVIN COURTNEY
Maximum medical misjudgement
SOLOMON HUGHES condemns the Tory decision to take out a contract with Maximus – the scandal-hit US outsourcing firm reviled for its handing of Medicaid in the US
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd
The appalling bigotry and bias of London’s police force has been obvious for years – and the police leadership does not appear inclined to do anything about it, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE
As Holyrood elections approach, BRIAN LEISHMAN MP argues that Labour’s time has come — to open a new chapter which puts an end to the years of managed decline
ASSAF TALGAM talks to an Israeli Communist lawmaker about the need to use every tool of democratic and non-violent struggle; how Israeli society has changed since October 7 2023; and the persecution of the left in the parliamentary arena
Apart from a bright spark of hope in the victory of the Gaza motion, this year’s conference lacked vision and purpose — we need to urgently reconnect Labour with its roots rather than weakly aping the flag-waving right, argues KIM JOHNSON MP
In the face of funding cuts, closures and a shift into women’s centres providing criminal justice-only services rather than a holistic approach, RUTH HUNT urges women to protect existing resources, volunteer and build new networks of support
In March, Amber Rudd extended the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) contract with US corporation Maximus until 2021. The DWP pays Maximus about £150m a year to test disabled people for benefits with the “Work Capability Assessment.”
If Maximus says claimants are “fit for work,” they can’t get the most important benefit, the “Employment & Support Allowance.” There is a deep well of anger against Maximus in Britain, because disabled people say their judgements are mean, perverse and shoddy. The company makes millions, while claimants lose benefits after humiliating tests.
But Maximus are smirking all the way to the bank. Poor performance is nothing new to the firm. But grabbing public-sector contracts has turned them from a small business founded in 1975 to a corporate giant with a $2.3billion turnover.
The big money doesn’t show the firm does a good job. Maximus are currently in the middle of another scandal in their native US. In Kansas, state leaders have been wrestling with Maximus’s poor performance on a “Medicaid” contract for three years.
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It is rather strange that Labour continues to give prestigious roles to inappropriate, controversy-mired businessmen who are also major Tory donors. What could Labour possibly be hoping to get out of it, asks SOLOMON HUGHES
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