Despite the adoring support from Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Javier Milei’s radical-right free-market nightmare is unravelling, and the people are beginning to score major victories against the government in the streets and in elections, reports BEN HAYES
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Labour pushes millions on benefits deeper into poverty
Social security is lagging further and further behind inflation and our government quite simply does not care, argues Dr DYLAN MURPHY
‘TAKING THE MICKEY’: Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz
Kendall
PAUL ATKIN argues that we must avoid being tied to the millstone of US energy policy — a death sentence paid for by big oil — and embrace co-operation with the world’s green leader for a renewable, sustainable future
The move against alleged PKK members that sparked outrage as a community centre in north London was raided last year has now come to trial, writes TONY BURKE, but in the meantime, the peace process abroad has changed the situation almost entirely
NICK WRIGHT reports from Italy, where 80 cities saw Gaza strikes as unions paralysed transport and massive crowds clashed with police in Milan — but France is also kicking off, and Westminster, in a very different way, is facing a crisis of legitimacy too
The modern railway network turns 200 this month and is currently one of the greenest forms of transport. But unless focus shifts from profits to people, Britain won’t benefit from it, argue ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
ZHANG HE highlights pressure coming from the global South for a more multilateral approach to global governance and a more equitable world order
ON TUESDAY February 4 the House of Commons debated the annual increase in social security benefits. Minister for Social Security and Disability Stephen Timms bragged about the 4.1 per cent increase in the state pension coming into effect in April and noted the miserly increase in most other benefits which will be increased by 1.7 per cent from April.
During the debate Timms had the nerve to state: “We have committed in our manifesto to reviewing universal credit, so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty … On disability and carers’ benefits, we will continue to ensure that carers and people who face additional costs because of disability or health impairment, get the support that they need.’’
He failed to acknowledge that the 1.7 per cent increase in most benefits, including universal credit, was yet another cut in the standard of living of some of the poorest people in our country. In January of this year inflation was 2.5 per cent and is forecast to rise to over 3 per cent later this year. So this cut in living standards for millions is even before Labour starts cutting over £1 billion a year from universal credit (UC), employment support allowance (ESA) and personal independence payments (PIP) over the lifetime of this parliament.
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