Secret consultation documents finally released after the Morning Star’s two-year freedom of information battle show the Home Office misrepresented public opinion, claiming support for policies that most respondents actually strongly criticised as dangerous and unfair, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
Latest editorial
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
Our groundbreaking report reveals how private rail companies are bleeding millions from public coffers through exploitative leasing practices — but we have the solutions, writes Aslef Scottish organiser KEVIN LINDSAY
With Reform UK surging and Labour determined not to offer anything different from the status quo, a clear opportunity opens for the left, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE
Reform’s rise speaks to a deep crisis in Establishment parties – but relies on appealing to social and economic grievances the left should make its own, argues NICK WRIGHT
This year’s Bristol Radical History Festival focused on the persistent threats of racism, xenophobia and, of course, our radical collective resistance to it across Ireland and Britain, reports LYNNE WALSH
A maverick’s self-inflicted snake bites could unlock breakthrough treatments – but they also reveal deeper tensions between noble scientific curiosity and cold corporate callousness, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
The FBU is demanding 52 weeks of full pay for women firefighters, highlighting the unique health risks they face — and the continuing need to recruit and retain more women if policies like this are still not in place, writes SEONA HART
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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