Tony Jones

Lib Dem Chris Huhne Charged With Perverting The Course Of Justice

2012-02-03T11:02:00.004Z

Chris Huhne and Daisy Benson pose next to stationary cars

Well, the news we've been expecting for a while has arrived: leading Lib Dem Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, has been charged with perverting the course of justice and now faces a criminal trial and the loss of his Cabinet position.

Who will replace him? Too soon to bring back another disgraced ex-Cabinet Minister David Laws, and the rest are a bit thin on ther ground. Who cares. The Lib Dems are a spent force in terminal decline locally and nationally.

Cameron's U Turn On Veto

2012-01-30T17:31:00.001Z

Remember all the big talk about how Cameron had saved the nation from all those nasty Europeans by bravely wielding his "Veto".

Well, this is how Conservative Home sees it now:

"Cameron's veto has all but died" and "A capitulation".

Leading Tory MEP Dan Hannan is clear:

"December's 'veto' turns out to be nothing of the kind; at best, it is a partial opt-out. Britain had asked for concessions in return for allowing the other member states to use EU institutions and structures for their fiscal compact. No such concessions were forthcoming, but we have given them permission anyway. The only difference is that, because the deal was done in a separate treaty structure, the PM doesn't have to put anything through the House of Commons. We had a generational opportunity to improve our relationship with the EU. That opportunity has passed."

Martin Callanan, leader of Tory MEPs, has come to a similar conclusion:

"There is no doubt that the Government's position has altered since the December summit when they were insisting the Institutions could not be used."

Even poor, old Iain Duncan Smith was adamant on Sunday's Andrew Marr show that Cameron would uphold the veto: Canmeron's made him look a right chump!

Typical Cameron: big talk, little action.

Cameron: Hypocrite On RBS Chief's Pay

2012-01-28T16:17:00.009Z

Cameron: All Talk On Fat Cat Pay, But No Action

A couple of weeks ago David Cameron said that “big rewards” for corporate failure “make people’s blood boil” and that the Government would now prepare new rules which will give shareholders the legal right to veto excessive pay packages.

So what does he do when the Royal Bank of Scotland - in which the government holds an 83% share on our behalf - award chief executive Stephen Hester a £963,000 bonus on top of his £1.2million salary?

Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

Typical Cameron: big talk, little action.

All in this together? Not likely.

The Tories will always protect their cronies in the City.

What a hypocrite.

(cartoon image: Martin Rowson, guardian.co.uk)

We STILL Need A New Secondary School In East Reading

2012-01-25T14:54:00.003Z

Lib Dems:"An Earley School For Earley Children"

Last November I started a petition requesting that the Government reconsider the decision to open a new secondary school in East Reading - but only for 14 to 19 year olds. The original post is here. Since then, hundreds of people have signed the paper-based petition, as well as more being aware of the e.petition.

The e.petition can be found here.

Now, further information shows that schools in Reading and Wokingham will be full by 2014. Further housing development plans in Wokingham will only add to these pressures and will, in time, make it even more difficult to access secondary school places.

We know the Tories hate the thought of Reading school children being educated in Wokingham schools, and as can been seen on the Earley Lib Dem website, they too campaign for "an Earley School for Earley's children". The recent admissions review can surely only be a sticking plaster for a long outstanding problem.

So we must make sure that we protect the interests of future school children in East Reading by demanding that the Government think again, and not waste the current opportunity to provide a full 11 to 19 years secondary school by 2014.

Labour Gains From Lib Dems Where It Matters - In The Ballot Box

2012-01-24T19:13:00.000Z

Roll On 3 May In Redlands

With just a 100 days left before the next council elections, further evidence arrives of voters turning their backs on the discredited LibDems and coming home to Labour.

In two by-elections last week, Labour picked up seats, both with significant swings from the Lib Dems:

Redcar & Cleveland UA (Newcomen Ward). Lab gain from LibDem.
Lab 539, LibDem 484, Con 76.

Swing of 15.3% from LibDem to Labour since May 2011.

St Albans DC (Batchwood Ward).
Lab gain from LibDem.
Lab 1002, LibDem 395, Con 347, Green 76.

Swing of 8.5% from LibDem to Labour since May 2011.

Roill on 3 May!

Cancer Patients And Disabled Set To Pay For Bankers' Failure

2012-01-12T13:05:00.002Z

Welfare reform plans which cut support for cancer patients and the disabled were defeated in the House of Lords last night - but the Lib Dem / Tory coalition government immediately said that it will "seek to reverse the amendments".

Members of the House of Lords last night rejected proposals to limit the availability of the employment and support allowance (ESA), which would mean significant cuts for many of the most vulnerable in our society.

However, Labour said the coalition had been defeated for trying to "cross the basic line of British decency. The British public do not accept the idea that the banks screw up and very disabled people pay the bill.”

Opponents of the reform urged ministers not to try to reinstate the measures in the Commons. However, Chris Grayling, the Employment Minister, said the Government would seek to over-turn the Lords' amendments and would press ahead with the cuts.

Congratulations Tim, But ...

2012-01-10T15:04:00.003Z

...

Runner Harris

As I predicted last November compromise candidate Tim Harris has replaced Andrew Cumpsty as the new leader of the Conservatives on Reading Borough Council. As one commentator put it "Poor Richard Willis passed over by a younger man!" And congratulations to Jeanette Skeats as Deputy Leader - she was certainly beaming last night!

The question of whether (or when) Harris will attempt to chicken-run to a safer Tory seat in face of a resurgent Labour Party in Church ward remains to be seen. People laughed when this was first suggested, but wait and see ... he could hang on until 2014, but he would have fewer options then and it would look more cynical or desperate.

Along with Glenn Goodall fleeing Redlands, Harris is just another prediction come true.

Fugitive Lib Dem Arrested - But They'll Keep His Money

2012-01-07T13:16:00.002Z

"The fraudster only gave us this much"

Multi-millionaire fraudster and Liberal Democrat donor Michael Brown has been arrested in the Dominican Republic after going on the run, police said. Brown was sentenced in his absence to seven years in jail after being convicted of fraud at Southwark Crown Court in 2008.

He donated about £2.4 million to the Lib Dems ahead of the 2005 general election - its largest donation to date. He secretly used investors' money to fund the record donation to the Lib Dems' 2005 election war chest.

However, the Lib Dems have always refused to give the money back.

What's The Point Of Nick Clegg?

2012-01-06T15:40:00.001Z

Needs no explanation.

Whereas Clegg has quite a lot of explaining to do ...

(Thanks to Cllr Chris Maskell for finding this one)

RBH: Inquiry Launched

2012-01-06T14:28:00.007Z

RBH: Spending Money On Investigation

Following the botched attempt to get rid of the Chief Executive Ed Donald at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, word reaches me that a high level investigation has been launched into the whole squalid affair.

Many will see this as a further humilation to the hospital's senior executives. And, of course, as there as no such thing as a cost-free report, it will also consume money that should be spent on providing front-line medical care.

So as the good name of our proud hospital gets dragged further through the mud, to those responsible for this shambles, there is only one last message: In the name of all that is good, go!

Coalition's Small Business Job Creation Scheme Flops

2012-01-04T19:00:00.001Z

The coalition’s flagship job creation scheme has cost more to administer in its first year than the support it provided, Treasury figures show.

Just 12,400 jobs claiming tax breaks under the £940m national insurance scheme holiday scheme have been created in its first 13 months of operation, costing £6m. The three-year scheme has so far cost £12m to set up and administer. It had been claimed the scheme would create 800,000 new jobs.

Mr Osborne had said the scheme would help stimulate private sector activity in parts of the country experiencing the heaviest cuts in public expenditure. However, businesses in London, the South East and East of England are prevented from applying to focus the incentives on the rest of the country.

Labour say the Government should extend the scheme to all businesses creating new jobs for one year so that it was fully utilised.

Happy New Year - And Thanks!

2011-12-31T17:17:00.001Z

Thanks to the brilliant team of supporters who have delivered nearly 10,000 calendars from the Labour Party in Minster and Redlands wards in Reading between Christmas and New Year's Eve!

Best wishes from Liz Terry and me - we all know what we have to do between now and 3 May 2012, so take the rest of the evening off.

National Trust Cuts Solar Power Plans

2011-12-28T19:06:00.003Z

While the Coalition government is preparing it's appeal to the law courts which ruled their cuts to solar panel "feed in tariffs" illegal, the National Trust has decided that only two of its 14 planned solar projects would now go ahead.

Solar panels on country mansions were part of the trust’s plans to halve its energy use over the next 10 years and save money at the same time.

Under the “feed-in tariff” scheme, the Government offers to pay for any surplus energy fed into the grid from solar panels. However, despite teh recent set-back in the courts, the government is still planning to reduce the payment to owners of panels to 20p per kwh of electricity, rather than 42p, making it a much poorer investment for households and businesses.

Their claims to be the "greenest government ever" now seem a remote and sadly hollow claim - remember that next time Lib Dem Environment Minister Chris Huhne starts to lecture us.

RBH: Return Of The Chief

2011-12-22T11:32:00.001Z

Royal Berks Hospital: Deserves Better Leadership

Word reaches me that Ed Donald, CEO at the Royal Berks Hospital, was due to return to work today.

If this is true, then those responsible for the botched attempt to remove him earlier this month should now look at themselves and consider their own positions.

We are proud of the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading - shame on those for tarnishing it's name.

Election Would Finish Us, Nick Clegg Tells Lib Dems

2011-12-14T10:49:00.002Z

Clegg knows he and the Lib Dems are finished - they have no where to go

Here's an interesting confession from Cleggy - and explains why the Lib Dems are so desperate to hang on to power, regardless what Cameron does.

The Liberal Democrats would cease to exist as a party if they brought down the Coalition over Europe and triggered an early election, Nick Clegg warned his MPs last night.

The Deputy Prime Minister told a private meeting of more than 100 MPs and peers that he would not play “Russian roulette” with the Conservatives over David Cameron’s rejection of a new European treaty.

He said: “I don’t want to be the last leader of the Liberal Democrats by provoking a general election today.”

Mr Clegg’s public attacks on Mr Cameron over Europe have raised questions about the future of the Coalition but the Deputy Prime Minister told his party he intends to remain in power with the Conservatives until the election due in 2015.

Earlier, Mr Clegg had seemed to backtrack from his former position by ordering his MPs to back a Commons motion “commending” Mr Cameron for rejecting the treaty. Mr Clegg has denounced Mr Cameron’s refusal to endorse a treaty aimed at creating a fiscal union between eurozone countries, suggesting the decision could harm British interests.

But Liberal Democrat MPs were told to vote in favour of a Commons motion describing the Prime Minister’s veto as “a vital means of defending the national interests of the UK”.

Lib Dems were also ordered to back a motion for “a rebalancing of the relationship with our European neighbours”, echoing the calls of eurosceptic Tories.

It was tabled by the Ulster Unionists and backed by the Conservatives, while Labour were opposed. To avoid the spectacle of Coalition MPs voting both ways — and a government defeat — Lib Dem MPs were whipped to vote in favour, too.

The decision exposed Mr Clegg to allegations that he has had three positions on the treaty in five days. Having initially given Mr Cameron lukewarm support on Friday, a Lib Dem backlash forced him to criticise the Prime Minister on Sunday.

So there we have it - the Tories can do what they like until 2015 and their Lib Dem poodles will just suck it up!

Lib Dems: Yellow To The Core

2011-12-12T18:10:00.000Z

Lib Dems in action today.

1. Nick Clegg hides away from Parliament as Cameron makes his statement on using the veto in Europe.

2. Glenn Goodall runs away from the voters in Redlands in the face of near certain defeat come next May (as I long predicted).

Lib Dems: "a particular brand of cowardice and lack of confidence in your own beliefs".

Chickens.

RBH: Doctors "Spitting Blood" At Move To Sack CEO

2011-12-09T17:31:00.001Z

Consultatnts & GPs Fury

Word reaches me that there is something of an internecine power battle unfolding within the Royal Berks Hospital.

Following the clumsy attempt to sack CEO Ed Donald (who contrary to some reports has not been sacked and has refused to resign) has caused considerable uneasiness about the future of the Trust Chair and Non-Executive Directors.
The botched move has caused "fury" amongst senior medical staff, some of whom are said to be "spitting blood" (never a pretty sight in a hospital), having moved a vote of no confidence in Trust Chair Colin Maclean at a packed meeting earlier this week and demanded the return of their CEO.

The Non-Exec Directors, who include RCRE's Rajinder Sophal, should also be aware that the local PCT and new South Reading Commissioning Group of GPs are also said to be up in arms, with threats of removing £5million worth of patient contracts if Donald is not allowed to return to his role.

Some Governors are now said to be calling for the removal of all the NEDs - let's hope they have the back-bone to see it through.

Nurse, scalpel please!

Government Delay Private Sector Pensions: "Devastating" For Younger Workers

2011-12-03T14:21:00.000Z

The Government's decision to delay the new national pension scheme (Nest) will have devastating consequences for young workers.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the Government's decision to delay the new national pension scheme (Nest) will have devastating consequences for young workers.

While most attention focused on this week's disclosure that everyone born after 1960 will have to work one year longer before receiving their state pension, an apparently technical statement sneaked out on the eve of the Autumn Statement will hit millions of young and poor people much harder.

They are the groups most likely not to have any company or occupational retirement scheme if they work in the private sector. The poor are most likely to be excluded because of their lowly place in corporate hierarchies and, in any case, many struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month – let alone a working lifetime.

Young people often lack company pensions because they have more immediate concerns – such as paying off student debts – or they work for small or start-up companies that regard retirement planning for junior employees as none of their business.

More than seven million workers without any retirement savings were told three years ago that they would gain a legal right to have one from 2014 onwards. Better still, employers would have to contribute at least 3pc of payroll toward the new National Employment Savings Trust (Nest).

Now the Government has decided to delay implementation by one year. That may not sound like much but the power of compound interest means the cash effect will be substantial.

For example, as the graph illustrates, a 22 year-old earning £15,000 a year who delays starting a Nest pension by just one year will cut his pension fund value at the new retirement age of 67 by £26,000. A 22 year-old earning £25,000 a year who delays starting a Nest pension by a year will cut his fund value at 67 by £43,000.

That's a high price to pay for this young worker having an extra £600 before tax in his or her salary because they won't have to make the employee's 4pc contribution until one year later. The explanation is that they will also miss the benefit of the employer's 3pc contribution – £450 in this case – and 1pc tax relief or £150. Most importantly, these modest sums will then be denied the powerful effect of compounding over long periods of time.

That raises the more positive point that younger people are best placed to make the most of this week's bad news because they have time on their side. The same cannot be said for older workers without pensions who will have to wait another year before starting to build up the Nest egg.

Julian Webb of Fidelity Investments predicted that 50 year-olds on national average earnings could receive 10pc less pension because of this week's about-turn by the Government. He said: "Delaying saving for retirement is rarely a sensible decision and will result in lower incomes for some of the poorest people in society.

"The eventual result is that people end up needing more support from the state in retirement, which will further undermine the perceived benefits of these savings. In effect, the Government is foregoing future benefit savings to reduce employer and employee costs in the near term. This looks like borrowing by the back door."

Nobody needs to tell Michelle Mitchell, a director of the charity Age UK, about the reality of poverty for people who rely on state benefits. She said: "This is an extremely disappointing decision about Nest and one that will affect millions. It is appalling that many employees will miss out on at least a year's worth of contributions and a decent retirement."

Lib Dems: Come Home To Labour

2011-12-02T08:17:00.001Z

Just as thousands of disaffected Lib Dem voters are turning to Labour up and down the land - including here in Reading - news reaches me of a possible high profile switch amongst their steadily decreasing band of councillors.

Secret, tentative, informal and completely unofficial talks have apparently taken place with at least one Lib Dem councillor (a former Labour Party member in their past) who seems to be increasingly fed-up with the role their national leadership is playing in propping up the right-wing toxic Tory Government.

The cuts to Working Tax Credits, Child Benefits and OAP Winter Fuel Allowances may just be the last straws to force a change. On the other hand, our friend may feel obliged to wait until after next May's impending disaster at the polls before jumping ship.

Take it from me, there will always be a place in the Labour Party for people who are prepared to work hard in their community and stand up for decent hard working people and those less well off.

New Tory Leader Harris - Runs From Church

2011-11-29T09:30:00.001Z

Runner Harris

The merry-go-round that is Reading Conservative group continues to spin.

News reaches me that Cllr Tim Harris has been lined up as the "compromise candidate" between the warring factions responsible for deselecting Jamie Chowdhary and nudging Andrew Cumpsty out of office, as the next Tory group leader on Reading council .

Notable for promoting all-party support in the Council for a LGBT Centre in Reading, he is one of the few Tories to have actually done anything recently.

More remarkable, however, is the suggestion that Harris could flee his Church ward seat, where he is not due for re-election until 2014 - but where Labour won last time and look set to pick up another seat in May 2012 - and seek election next year in the safer haven of Peppard, or even Thames ward if Isobel Ballsdon seeks to follow on from the retiring Fred Pugh in the one seat ward of Mapledurham.

Of course, this could all just be Tory spin!

Lib Dem Desperate Rebranding

2011-11-27T12:42:00.000Z

Lib Dems Want To Claim Credit For Abolishing Slavery

The Liberal Democrats are so desperate to shake off their growing image as "Yellow Tories" they are planning to rebrand their party it has emerged .

Advisors have suggested for more "short-term themes, straplines and sound bites" to boost the party's popularity amid demands to take more credit for historic reforms such as the abolition of slavery.

The project comes as Nick Clegg's party is slumping in the opinion polls. A YouGov survey today puts it on just 11 per cent - way behind Labour on 43 per cent and the Conservatives on 34 per cent.

As I noted last year, party chiefs have been concerned for some time that the Lib Dem identity was being lost because of the coalition with the Conservatives - more often seen as these days as simply being Yellow Conservatives.

MPs should also, they were told, claim more credit for "liberal" achievements of the past such as the abolition of slavery - even though the leading abolitionist, William Wilberforce, was an independent MP.

Thank You Baroness Morris

2011-11-25T12:08:00.000Z

Estelle Morris - supporting Redlands Labour

I am greatly indebted to Baroness Morris of Yardley - better known as Estelle Morris - for being the guest speaker at the latest Redlands Labour Party fund-raising event.

Not only did she bring in a sell-out crowd - always good news for a fund-raiser! - she offered some interesting insights into the current divisive education policies of the coalition government, as well as laying out some challenges for us in the Labour Party.

Estelle also praised the ward for the outstanding election result at the last council elections where we resoundingly beat the Lib Dems and wished us well for next May.

By my reckoning, that's most of the leaflets paid for!

Cumpsty To Stand Down In 2012

2011-11-23T18:49:00.002Z

Andrew or Dave - Who Quits First?

When Councillor Andrew Cumpsty announced last month that he was giving up the Leadership of the Tory Group I predicted that he would also leave the council when next up for election in 2014.

My reasons for thinking this would happen were based on a number of factors: he'd fulfilled an ambition to lead the council (albeit for just one year}; my impression of his growing unhappiness with all the turmoil in the East Reading Conservative Association; and that the Tory hold on Caversham is rapidly loosening.

However, word now reaches me that in fact Andrew wants to quit the council at the next election, two years ahead of time. (I've even been given the name of his replacement candidate)

This would cause a huge dilemma for the Tories.

Dave Luckett's seat is up next May, but with Labour's Richard Davies already running a very effective campaign in Caversham, Dave has been wobbling. If both he and Andrew were to step down at the same time, they would certainly open the door for Labour to pick up at least one of the seats - if not both. Pressure is therefore mounting on the luckless Luckett to stay on.

Andrew is a nice bloke and deserved more support than he's been given.

Expect immediate denials - followed by the real announcements next April!

Don’t Let The Cuts Turn Back Time On Women’s Equality

2011-11-22T15:52:00.000Z

From the monochrome silhouettes of Mad Men to the scandals and seductions of Downton Abbey, vintage style offers some nostalgic escapism at this time of austerity. Yet beneath the veneer of glamour and gentility, the bygone decades harbored a raft of gendered double-standards and institutional sexism. Unfortunately for Britain’s women, the world of yesteryear is rearing its head again as evidence emerges that coalition cuts are literally turning back time on women’s equality.

The coalition strategy for reducing the deficit is hitting women disproportionately hard. Hardly surprising considering that the cabinet is dominated more by millionaires than by female voices.

Women face a unique ‘triple jeopardy’: cuts to their jobs, since two-thirds of public sector workers are women; cuts to state services and benefits that women rely on more than men – such as childcare assistance and support for victims of sexual and domestic violence; and, as reduced state services and benefits increase levels of unpaid labour and decrease financial autonomy, women face being pushed back into dependent roles as ‘homemakers’.

Women’s unemployment is at a record high. Soaring childcare costs and cuts to childcare support are forcing over half of working mothers to ‘stop work or significantly reduce their working hours’; 124 Sure Start children’s centres have closed down, with many more set to follow unless urgent action is taken; organisations that provide specialist services for women, such as for victims of sexual and domestic violence or for lone parents, are being hit hard by local authority funding cuts with some having to close their doors for good; legal aid support is becoming a rare privilege. And these are just some of the impacts.

Welcome to the past. Do not pass go. Do not collect £200. Or your child benefit. Or your working tax credits. Or your equality.

The Fawcett Society, along with a coalition of charities, unions and academics, recently unveiled a manifesto of policies to lessen the disproportionate impact of the cuts on women. We are asking for proposals in this ‘Life Raft for Women’s Equality’ report, which cover work, pensions, families and violence prevention, to be implemented before or at the next budget in March 2012. These would include a U-turn on cuts to childcare support, safeguarded funding for specialist violence against women support services, and ring-fencing money for Sure Start centres. These requests are tangible, workable solutions, and vital for safeguarding hard-fought women’s rights and opportunities.

There has been much rhetoric from the coalition about connecting with women voters. No wonder women are turning their backs on Cameron and Clegg in their droves!

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

2011-11-21T18:36:00.003Z

Running Out Of Others To Blame

What do the following have in common?

Angela Merkel, cold weather, Ed Balls, Silvio Berlusconi, the wedding of William Windsor and Kate Middleton, British civil servants, Brussels bureaucrats, people concerned about global warming, employment tribunals, trade unions, banks, bank holidays, Liberal Democrats, energy prices, Gordon Brown and the world?

The answer is that they have all been deployed as excuses by members of the government for why the economy is so dire. The proliferation of alibis offered by ministers, and their inability to stick to the same one, is a symptom of increasing desperation about the unravelling of their economic strategy.

Read how as the chancellor is running out of alibis, the blame game over who is responsible for our dire economic state now sees the government turning on itself.

His opponents have been saying for some time that the problem with the chancellor is that he had a deficit strategy but not a growth strategy, and the absence of the latter would be the undoing of the former. He could shrug that off so long as it was only being said by Ed Balls and Ed Miliband. The most alarming sound for George Osborne in the past few days has been members of his own party starting to say the same thing. He must know that, when every other alibi fails, they will all blame him.

Anger At Winter Fuel Allowance Cut

2011-11-20T15:12:00.001Z

I have been contacted by angry pensioners on Hexham Road who this week have been told at the Post Office that this year's winter fuel allowance has been cut.

After a year of rapidly rising prices - with gas and electricity increasing by between 15% and 20% this year - it is alarming to think the coalition government has decided to cut winter fuel by £50 for the over 60s and £100 for the over 80s compared to last year.

To say that our pensioners are baffled would be an understatement: most are angry that the government has decided to take support for fuel bills back top 2007 levels at a time when costs have never been higher.

When we did a house to house survey on the estate a month ago, many residents felt insulted that the Energy Secretary Lib Dem Chris Huhne blamed people for not shopping around for the best deal. Many older householders simply to do have access or know how to use the internet. Others pay more because they don't use direct debits. They also use more fuel in the day time, so forcing even higher bills.

It is unbelievably mean for the government to cut support for pensioners at a time when many are worrying about how to make ends meet. The coalition will not be forgiven by them for this.

Note:

George Osborne, in the speech introducing the Government's 2010 spending review was very careful to say that “winter fuel payments will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous government”. If it is the case that the rates of 2010/11 were intended as a temporary, one year increase by the previous government, then this is, of course, true. And if we look back at the description of the 2010/11 rates then we do see that they are described as “a higher rate”, suggesting that these rates were indeed temporarily increased.

However, if we look further back in time we see that both in 2009/10 and in 2008/09 the rates of £250 and £400 applied. In both cases, £50 and £100 of these amounts respectively are described as “an additional amount”, and it is stressed that these additional amounts apply for one year only. We have to look back to 2007/08 before we find rates at the level they are planned to return to in 2011/12, of £200 and £300.

It may well be the case, as the DWP claims, that no additional amount for 2011/12 was budgeted for by the previous government. It is also the case, however, that these additional amounts have been consistently reintroduced over the last three years.

Willis Gagging Order Lifted!

2011-11-16T11:07:00.001Z

Oh no, not Reading again!

The influence of this blog just keeps on growing ... glad to hear Richard is safe and well and been given permission to speak, sir.

Can't wait to read his commentary on Cumpsty's departure, the downing of Chowdhary and Ralph, the investigation by the Central Office ... so much to tell.

Ha, ha.

Willis Gagged? Lib Dems Should Target Peppard

2011-11-15T16:16:00.010Z

Willis: No News

I'm sure others will have noticed that Richard Willis's blog hasn't been up-dated since 27 October, and in fact the last local item on the self-styled "first for local news and first for comment" was published more than a month ago on 11 October (announcing the new school for 14-19 years in east Reading - which I have launched a petition against).

I know that in the past Richard has taken a holiday around this time of the year, but even then he has posted about his travels. However I was most surprised that this radio silence was maintained through-out the Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday period. Richard is to be respected for his commitment to the armed services, so I did find this a bit strange. He must have had a reason.

Given Richard's absence at the Council meeting where Andrew Cumpsty announced his resignation as Tory leader, I am beginning to wonder if he has been gagged by the Conservative Association high command outside the council in Reading. Remember when Warren Swaine was investigated by the Lib Dems, he was effectively told to "shut up" - has the same thing happened to Richard?

Voters don't like divided parties, but Reading Tories seem hell bent on mirroring their national party, with a new You Gov report (11 Nov) showing 64% of people now see the Conservative party as divided, compared to just 18% who see them as united. This is the most divided the Conservative party has been seen since YouGov started asking the question, down from a peak in 2008 when 56% saw the party as united.

If the Lib Dems have any political sense (and, of course, that's a BIG "if") they must realise that they could win back Peppard - a relatively safe seat for them in the recent past.

The council elections next May could be quite turblent, with a lot of swopping of seats, so here's part of a betting accumulator I'm going down to Ladbrokes with:

Labour gain Redlands from Lib Dems (Goodall to stand down), Caversham (Luckett to stand down) and Church from the Tories;
Tories gain Tilehurst from Lib Dems (Beard to stand down);
Lib Dems gain Peppard from Tories.

It's already getting mean out there - and will only get tougher!

Wounded Soldiers Face Sack Under Army Redundancy Plans

2011-11-12T09:15:00.000Z

After Armistice Day and before Remembrance Sunday, this story in today's Daily Telegraph of disabled soldiers facing the sack just about takes the biscuit.

Nothing else to say about this contemptible coalition's policies.

Armistice Day In Reading

2011-11-11T18:23:00.000Z

At the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, we shall remember them.

Except in Reading, except for an honourable few, we have been ignoring them.

Until today in 2011.

Well done to Brian Lewendon, from Tilehurst's Royal British Legion, and my old friend Councillor Chris Maskell for pushing the council and others to give this hour and this day the respect it deserves.

I was proud to be among the 300 or so Reading people who gathered at the Forbury War Memorial today.

A New Secondary School For East Reading: Sign The Petition

2011-11-10T18:12:00.001Z

I have long held the view that we need a new secondary school in east Reading.

Currently many parents in east Reading have no choice other than to find a place for their children to undertake their secondary education in schools in neighbouring Wokingham.

It is hard not to be disappointed with the news that the Government has given the go ahead for a new secondary school in east Reading will only take pupils from 14 upwards - and not from the age of 11 as parents hoped.

It should be stressed that any new education provision is a plus, and such schools will go a long way to equipping less academic youngsters with the technical skills to become assets on the increasingly tough job market.

But at an already confusing time in a young person's life it will be highly disconcerting to be moving schools after two years and just before GCSE courses begin, and schools face having their year nine stripped of pupils heading for a UCT.

So please consider signing the petition here and pass it on. Contact me if you want paper copies.

Here's the wording in full:

"We, the undersigned, call upon Michael Gove as Secretary of State for Education and the Department for Education to reconsider the decision to only fund a new technology based secondary school in east Reading.

We call upon Michael Gove and the DfE to invest in an 11 to 19 years comprehensive school which will offer a high quality, wide ranging curriculum to all young people in east Reading."

NHS: Stealth Privatisation Nobody Voted For

2011-11-10T15:25:00.001Z

Royal Berks Hospital: Rebuilt by Labour

Labour transformed the NHS.

Over 13 years in government more doctors and nurses were employed, waiting times were reduced, treatment was improved for millions of people and hospitals were rebuilt, including the Royal Berkshire Hospital here in Reading.

Now the Tories and Lib Dems are making a mess of the NHS. With Labour's guarantees scrapped, there is already a big difference:

Routine operations are being delayed and cancelled
Waiting times for treatment, guaranteed at less than 18 weeks by Labour, are now getting steadily longer
Nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital are having their pay cut by £600 a year

And Conservative ministers backed by the Lib Dems are desperate to press on with changes to the NHS that are opposed by most doctors, nurses and health organisations.

Remember when David Cameron promised "no top down reorganisation of the health service" - yet his government has now embarked on the biggest top down reorganisation since the NHS was established.
We've always known that we couldn't trust the NHS with the Tories, but now we've seen the Lib Dems eagerly support these changes too.

Their changes mean "privatisation by stealth" for much of the NHS. Private health companies will be able to poach the profitable services they want to run, leaving hospitals like the RBH struggling to run the bits which money can't be made, like intensive care units, A&E services, emergency cover, geriatric medicine and care for the terminally ill.

These changes will cost around £2Billion to implement at a time when operations are being cancelled and nurses' pay being cut.

In the face of public opposition the Conservatives have made cosmetic changes, but the main thrust - to bring a market of privatised services - is still at the heart of their plans. In the end, the Lob Dems voted to back the Tories.

I have no doubt that local people overwhelmingly oppose the Coalition's proposals to break up the NHS. Nobody voted for this. Nobody got the chance to - because if the Conservatives or Lib Dems had the guts to put this in their election manifestos Mr Cameron wouldn't be Prime Minister today.

(image: getreading.co.uk)

Lib Dems Support In Free Fall

2011-11-05T16:39:00.004Z

Closer examination of last week's You Gov data reveals some startling information for the Lib Dems.

Of those who voted Lib Dem at the 2010 General Election, it now seems that only 33% would still vote for Nick Clegg's Lib Dems.

A whopping 41% of those former Lib Dem supporters would now vote Labour, 11% would vote Tory and 15% would vote for other parties including UKIP and the Greens.

These are current voting intentions, so any belief by the Lib Dems that we'd forget about their U-turn on tution fees or forgive their support for propping up the Tory-led coalition seems widely misplaced.

Expect increasingly desperate claims from the local Lib Dems in Redlands and elsewhere over the coming weeks and months.

UKIP To Replace Lib Dems As Third Party

2011-11-03T16:48:00.002Z

Clegg: Leading the Lib Dems to political oblivion

Here's an interesting piece which argues that the splits over Europe and Cameron's leadership amongst the Tories and the inevitable fate of a junior partner in a coalition creates the ground for UKIP to prosper.

Peter Obone suggests that:

The reason why Conservative Party activists were heavily outnumbered by lobbyists at this year’s Conservative conference was that so many Tory activists have gone off to join UKIP, with Alexander Hesketh, the former treasurer and chief whip in the House of Lords the most recent.
Last Sunday’s YouGov poll showing that support for Farage’s party had crept up to 7% – just one point fewer than the Liberal Democrats - is significant as UKIP strive to take over from the Lib Dems as Britain’s third largest political party.
The Lib Dems are finished for the foreseeable future – the invariable fate of the smaller party in a coalition government. They will be fortunate to retain a dozen seats at the next general election.
UKIP will probably overtake them in the polls over the coming months, most likely pulling well ahead as the general election approaches.
The European elections, due in two and a half years’ time, will provide an important test: UKIP will perform very strongly, while the Lib Dems will be all but wiped out.

And as I've previously blogged the LibDems in the House of Commons could end up as an all white, all male party.

Not much sign of UKIP around Reading, but the local Tories are split and the LibDems are already in electoral melt-down at the council elections.

Richard Davies: One To Watch In Caversham

2011-11-01T13:45:00.000Z

Richard Davies

Around this time last year I published this blog - "Matt Rodda: One To Watch In Katesgrove". As history now shows, Matt went on to win in Katesgrove and get elected to Reading Council.

Well, here's another one.

Each time I meet Richard Davies in Caversham, I'm more impressed by him.

Richard is a smart and interesting person, Director of ThoughtBreak and Advance Renewables and a really nice guy as well. And I know that he and the revitalised Caversham Labour team, led by Duncan Bruce, are getting a really positive response on the door step. (Remember, Duncan was the architect of Matt's victory in Katesgrove)

Just like in Redlands, so many people are saying how let down they feel by the Tories and will never vote for them again - ever!

It's not so long ago that there were Labour Councillors in Caversham, so I'm sure that come next May - particularly as sitting Tory Councillor Dave Luckett doesn't seem to know whether to stand and fight, or run away - Richard (if selected) would be a fine addition to the Reading Labour Group on the council.

Euro Bail Out: An Explanation

2011-10-29T17:50:00.001+01:00

More money for the banks, essentially, and hoping that Europe will be saved by the Chinese or Aliens.

Sharma: Can't Wait For Your Next Campaign

2011-10-25T11:04:00.002+01:00

Sharma: Despite This Publicity Stunt, He Didn't Vote For A Referendum

In a massive humilation for David Cameron, a record number of Conservative MPs rebelled against the government and voted for an EU referendum. In all, 79 Tory MPs voted in favour of an EU referendum while a further two were tellers.

A list Tory MPs who voted for a referendum: Stuart Andrew (Pudsey), Steven Baker (Wycombe), John Baron (Basildon and Billericay), Andrew Bingham (High Peak), Brian Binley (Northampton South), Bob Blackman (Harrow East), Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West), Andrew Bridgen (Leicestershire North West), Steve Brine (Winchester), Fiona Bruce (Congleton), Dan Byles (Warwickshire North), Douglas Carswell (Clacton), Bill Cash (Stone), Christopher Chope (Christchurch), James Clappison (Hertsmere), Tracey Crouch (Chatham & Aylesford), David Davies (Monmouth), Philip Davies (Shipley), David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden), Nick de Bois (Enfield North), Caroline Dinenage (Gosport), Nadine Dorries (Bedfordshire Mid), Richard Drax (Dorset South), Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster), Lorraine Fullbrook (South Ribble), Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park), James Gray (Wiltshire North), Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry), Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne & Sheppey), George Hollingbery (Meon Valley), Adam Holloway (Gravesham), Stewart Jackson (Peterborough), Bernard Jenkin (Harwich & Essex North), Marcus Jones (Nuneaton), Chris Kelly (Dudley South), Andrea Leadsom (Northamptonshire South), Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford), Edward Leigh (Gainsborough), Julian Lewis (New Forest East), Karen Lumley (Redditch), Jason McCartney (Colne Valley), Karl McCartney (Lincoln), Stephen McPartland (Stevenage), Anne Main (St Albans), Patrick Mercer (Newark), Nigel Mills (Amber Valley), Anne-Marie Morris (Newton Abbot), James Morris (Halesowen & Rowley Regis), Stephen Mosley (Chester, City of), Sheryll Murray (Cornwall South East), Caroline Nokes (Romsey & Southampton North), David Nuttall (Bury North), Matthew Offord (Hendon), Neil Parish (Tiverton & Honiton), Priti Patel (Witham), Andrew Percy (Brigg & Goole), Mark Pritchard (Wrekin, The), Mark Reckless (Rochester & Strood), John Redwood (Wokingham), Jacob Rees-Mogg (Somerset North East), Simon Reevell (Dewsbury), Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury), Andrew Rosindell (Romford), Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills), Henry Smith (Crawley), John Stevenson (Carlisle), Bob Stewart (Beckenham), Gary Streeter (Devon South West), Julian Sturdy (York Outer), Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth & Horncastle), Justin Tomlinson (Swindon North), Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight), Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes), Charles Walker (Broxbourne), Robin Walker (Worcester), Heather Wheeler (Derbyshire South), Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley), John Whittingdale (Maldon), Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes)

Two Tory MPs acted as tellers for the rebels. They were Peter Bone (Wellingborough) and Philip Hollobone (Kettering).

Two Tory MPs voted in both the Aye and Noe lobbies, which counts as an abstention. They were: Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) and Mike Weatherley (Hove).

Two Tory MPs notable for their absence from this list: Alok Sharma (Reading West) and Robert Wilson (Reading East).

We can't wait for Sharma's next campaign. Honest.

We’re Sick Of You Telling Us What To Do

2011-10-23T23:15:00.000+01:00

”We’re sick of you criticising us and telling us what to do. You say you hate the euro, you didn’t want to join and now you want to interfere in our meetings” the French leader President Sarkozy told Mr David Cameron.

All this while the Conservative Right rues Cameron's broken promises.

He promises one thing and does another. His own party sees it. Conservative lite has lost its fizz.

Eventually everyone else will see it too.

Europe: What Will Sharma And Wilson Do?

2011-10-21T09:34:00.002+01:00

Another Sham Campaign From Sharma?

Our two local Tory MPs have been only too happy to demand a referendum over Europe in the past.

Now, safely ensconced in the rag-bag coalition government (albeit at the lowest level of the greasy pole) what will they do next week when the Prime Minister is facing a significant rebellion among Conservative MPs over his order that they should reject a Commons motion calling for the first popular vote on Britain’s relationship with the EU since 1975.

Will they be caught saying one thing and doing another? We'll see.

Cumpsty Out

2011-10-19T08:12:00.009+01:00

Cumpsty and Luckett look for Plan B in Caversham

Local Tory Leader Andrew Cumpsty told last night's full Council meeting of his intention to stand down as leader of the Conservative group.

In perhaps a telling turn of phrase, Andrew thanked his friends on the council "many of whom are in the Conservative Group".

In my opinion and experience Andrew is a decent bloke, ill served by the warring factions in the local Conservative Associations.

The fact that his rag-bag coalition with the local Lib Dems was booted out of office after only one year, despite the national bribe of a council tax freeze, shows the lack of real political strategy or understanding.

The idea of pouring resources into Battle ward last May was one visible example of cluttered thinking, but perhaps that wasn't his decision.

Tory Richard Willis and Lib Dem Glenn Goodall were notable absentees for the statement last night. The pair obviously had more important things to do than be at the council meeting.

Logo courtesy of Dave Luckett

Andrew's statement was met with warm applause from all around the council chamber.

He must know, however, that Caversham is now vulnerable to a resurgent local Labour Party already doing great work on the ground and that his fellow Tory Dave Luckett will probably lose his seat next May. Expect Andrew to bow out gracefully long before the 2014 election.

One comment Andrew made last night did make me and others laugh: his observation that in five years as Tory leader, he had worked with four Lib Dem leaders!

'Nough said.

Fighting For Redlands

2011-10-18T08:30:00.001+01:00

Tony Jones: Local resident with huge experience

Redlands Labour Party has selected me to be their candidate at the May 2012 council elections.

I have lived here in Redlands Ward in Morgan Road for over 15 years, with my wife Liz and three children.

Some will remember that I represented Redlands Ward as a councillor during the 1990s. In that time I was instrumental in winning Government funds for a major regeneration of the Hexham Estate that included the building of the popular Hexham Community Centre and children’s play area, as well as helping to win important traffic safety improvements.

I also led the highly successful campaign which opened up over 500 empty homes across the town.

My community roles have included being a school governor and serving on the university council. As Mayor of Reading, I raised a record-breaking sum of money for local children in need and other charities.

I am grateful to Redlands Labour Party for giving me this chance to work alongside Jan Gavin. Since she was elected last May Jan has shown what a difference a Labour councillor can make to an area. I trust my energy and experience will continue to build on her good work for the benefit of all residents in Redlands.

With 28 weeks to go to election day I know that I'm in for a tough fight. But we managed to pull off a magnificent victory last year and there is no reason, with a lot of hard work, we can't do the same again in 2012.

2011 Result in Redlands
Labour 1,295 votes
Lib Dem 757
Cons 526
Green 345

More about me here.

Huhne: Energy Prices "Relatively Good" As 70% Struggle To Pay

2011-10-17T16:41:00.002+01:00

Lib Dem Huhne: energy prices are relatively good

Lib Dem Energy Minister Chris Huhne said today that UK electricity and gas prices are "relatively good".
Huhne has previously blamed lazy consumers for high energy bills because they fail to shop around for the best deals.

He also said energy companies were “not the Salvation Army” and that “We expect them to earn respectable returns for their shareholders."

This is in stark contrast to the Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of the energy summit, noting that energy bills had increased by more than £100 for most people since this summer, as energy suppliers profits were eight times higher than last year and a new report which suggests that seven in ten consumers will need to turn to their savings, credit cards or overdraft to fund rising energy bills - not that multi-millionaire Huhne is likely to be one of them.

This Would Be Funny If ...

2011-10-15T17:11:00.000+01:00

Liam Fox and Oliver Letwin - shambles at the heart of government

... it wasn't for the fact that unemployment in Britain has jumped to its highest level since 1994, with young people and women hit hardest as private companies fail to make up for job losses in the public sector, while the economy is teetering on the brink of recession again as consumers tighten their belts and key export markets slow down, particularly in Europe.

Parking Mad

2011-10-12T08:06:00.002+01:00

Sharma Attacks Coalition Decision

Here's a story of the Reading West MP attacking his coalition colleagues on Reading Council and showing his ignorance all at the same time!

Alok Sharma has finally woken up to the fact that the Lib Dem/Tory gang who briefly ran the council managed to slash residents parking permits by half LAST January, replacing the 20 all-day permits offered free to residents each year with 20 half-day vouchers.

The Labour run Council has since doubled the number of free half-day permits available a year to the 12,000 people living in residents' parking zones from 20 to 40.

The Tory MP said residents were concerned about the lack of consultation by the Lib Dems and Tories over the January change from all-day permits.

I guess Sharma must have finally held a surgery to wise up to the changes. Cllr Willis, are you listening? Well done Reading Chronicle!

All But Two FTSE 100 Firms 'Avoid Paying Tax'

2011-10-11T18:51:00.000+01:00

Nearly all of Britain's biggest companies avoid paying tax in the UK. Action Aid found that 98 out of the 100 companies on the FTSE 100 base their operations in territories where there is low or no tax.

The biggest users were based in the financial sector despite the industry's role in the economic crisis, with Britain's four biggest banks - HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and RBS - having 1,649 tax haven companies between them.

Action Aid's tax justice expert Chris Jordan told Sky News that the UK could be missing out on £18bn a year in tax revenues due to the practice.

He said: "Tax havens have a damaging impact on the UK exchequer, the stability of the international financial system, and vitally on the ability of developing countries to raise tax revenues which would lift them out of poverty and make them less dependent on aid.

When multinationals use tax havens to avoid paying their fair share, ordinary people in both poor and rich countries are left to pick up the bill. Spending on doctors, nurses and other essential services gets cut for those who need it most."

Remember that the next time you hear a news report saying that these business leaders have all signed a letter supporting the cutting of the minimum wage, or cut backs to publuc services.

Lest We Forget

2011-10-10T17:23:00.000+01:00

As Rememberance Day approaches, thanks to Simon Foley for the image. Helps puts politics into perspective.

Huhne Apology For Newspaper Story

2011-10-09T18:28:00.001+01:00

Huhne: Wanted to keep his "fingerprints" off newspaper story

Embattled coalition Lib Dem Minister Chris Huhne has apologised to Theresa May for tipping off a national newspaper about her notorious cat speech.

Huhne's actions came to light after he accidentally posted a private message on Twitter about the story which undermined his Cabinet colleague, saying he wanted to keep his “fingerprints” off the story, which must appear as if it had come from “someone else”.

Huhne has recently been described in the High Court as a hypocrite who concealed his affair in order to portray himself as a family man in the run up to the general election.

He has also been investigated by Essex Police amid claims that he asked his ex-wifeVicky Pryce to take three penalty points for him in March 2003.

Cameron's Flip Flop On Fox

2011-10-08T14:32:00.006+01:00

Saturday morning: In another astonishing failure of judgement by David Cameron, the PM has declared he has "full confidence" in the embattled defence secretary, Liam Fox, and the Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary's review must be allowed time to report, after new revelations about his close friend and self-styled "advisor" Adam Werritty.

The Guardian has established that Werritty used Fox's room 341 in the MPs' block at Portcullis House as the official headquarters of a rightwing charity, the Atlantic Bridge, which works in conjunction with a major US business lobby group - recently closed down following criticism from the Charity Commission. The office was provided at taxpayers' expense. Werritty has made 14 visits to the Ministry of Defence over 16 months despite not being employed by the government.

Fresh questions will be asked following claims in the Daily Telegraph that Werritty stayed "rent free" in the defence secretary's tax-payer funded London flat. He is also said to have used that address when setting up a defence consultancy firm.

Fox pulled out of scheduled interviews with the BBC today and refused to answer questions.

Odds are mounting that he will be the second minister to leave the Cabinet, following the disgraced David Laws.

Same old Tories.

UPDATE Saturday afternoon: Obvious confusion and panic in Downing Street (just as there was with the "Pay off your credit cards" speech) as Cameron has now asked the Cabinet Secretary to examine the initial findings of the MoD Permanent Secretary's review, and report his conclusions to him on Monday.

Many MPs are now demanding Fox makes an emergency statement to the House of Commons on Monday about the access to government Mr Werritty has enjoyed. Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy has warned that if Dr Fox refuses he will attempt to use parliamentary procedures to force him to address MPs over a series of allegations. It will be at the discretion of the Commons Speaker to decide if that is granted, though it is unlikely that he would reject a submission concerning such a high profile case.

Mr Murphy said "This is a self-inflicted political crisis and it seems to run and run with fresh allegations every day. There should be a full statement by the Secretary of State on Monday in the House of Commons. If he doesn't volunteer to make a full statement I will seek to summon him. An inquiry is important but so too are direct answers. There are accusations mounting. It is time for the avoidance to stop and for the answers to start."

Same old Cameron: flip flopping judgement.

Tory Cat Fight As Country Goes To The Dogs

2011-10-06T16:15:00.000+01:00

Clarke on May: "laughable, child-like" claims about the law

While the David Cameron defends Theresa May over her “laughable, child-like” claims about the law, a new report highlights the difficulties facing hard working families.

When will they stop squabbling and realise that their Plan A isn't working?

Millionaire Cameron: Patronising, Out Of Touch

2011-10-05T18:31:00.000+01:00

Millionaire Cameron was to tell the rest of us to pay off our credit cards to help the economy - but this was pulled from his conference speech at the last minute. Someone realised that his patronising demand for families to clear their debts is bad economics and terrible politics.

George Eaton explains that at a time when voters are facing the biggest fall in living standards since the 1920s (owing to a combination of rising prices, falling wages, lower benefits and higher taxes), Cameron's demand is hideously patronising. It is a perfect example of what the novelist Joyce Carey once described as a "tumbril remark" - the sort of statement seemingly designed to ignite class war.

Cameron, a man who has had never had a money worry in his life, insists that the poor must repay their debts, as if, up to this point, they had merely chosen not to do so. Has there ever been a less sensitive or more thoughtless remark from a serving Prime Minister.

But worse, Cameron's comments confirm that he has no grasp of basic economics. The more people save, the more they reduce aggregate demand, thus further reducing (and eventually destroying) economic growth. They will be individually wise but collectively foolish. If no one spends (because they're paying off their debts) then businesses can't grow and unemployment willl soar.

The final irony is that Cameron is leading a government whose own policies are increasing household debt. George Osborne's decision to take an axe to the welfare state is helping to fuel the household debt bubble.

Cameron's blunt demand for households to repay their debts suggests a man who not only can't solve the problem but doesn't even understand it. Today, we have seen the clearest indication yet that he is unfit to govern this country.

And this from a man who claimed 40p for a chocolate bar on his parliamentary expenses.

Health Experts Reject NHS Changes

2011-10-04T19:49:00.000+01:00

Nearly 400 public health experts warn Lords to reject NHS reforms as
the Lib Dem / Tory coalition is facing a fresh revolt over their controversial health reforms, saying the plans will cause the NHS “irreparable harm”.

In an open letter to peers published in The Daily Telegraph, the public health specialists say the proposals will put patient safety at risk, waste money and damage trust in the medical profession.

They say that the Health and Social Care Bill will weaken the ability of the authorities to fight disease and tackle health emergencies. The experts also tell the Lords that the goverment is wrong to claim that doctors support them.

They conclude: “It is our professional judgement that the Health and Social Care Bill will erode the NHS’s ethical and co-operative foundations and that it will not deliver efficiency, quality, fairness or choice. We therefore request that you reject passage of the Health and Social Care Bill.”

Nick Clegg, who forced the “pause” in the Bill’s progress after a uprising by grassroots Liberal Democrats in the spring, stopped his party calling for more substantial changes at this month’s conference.

However, it is expected that Baroness Williams, the influential Lib Dem peer who has "huge concerns" about the Bill, will lead the opposition with Lord Owen, a former health minister who has called the plans "fatally flawed", also likely to figure prominently in the debates.

The Shadow Health Secretary, John Healey, said: "David Cameron is in denial, both about the damage his plans are doing to the NHS and the strength of opposition to his Health Bill across the NHS."

"There is no mandate for the Bill, either from the election or the coalition agreement. With the government having railroaded its plans through the Commons, heavy responsibility is now going to be shouldered by the Lords."

How The City Bankrolls The Tories

2011-10-02T16:07:00.000+01:00

The Conservative Party has become reliant on the financial sector for more than half its annual income, new research shows. Since Mr Cameron became leader, the Tories have become increasingly dependent on City funding.

Dr Stuart Wilks-Heeg, executive director of Democratic Audit, which monitors the state of democracy in the UK, said: "The coalition agreement included clear undertakings to take big money out of politics but there appears to be no sign of this happening. What this study tellingly reveals is the scale of the Conservative party’s reliance on a variety of City interests at a time when the Conservative-led government is attempting to kick banking reform into the long grass."

Downturn Abbey

2011-10-01T15:30:00.000+01:00

One of the best jokes at Labour Conference about how out of touch the Tories are, came from Harriet Harman when she told delegates "I hear they do watch TV from time to time and I hear they love Downton Abbey. The only problem is they think it's a fly-on-the-wall documentary.

The Tories probably thought everyone lived on a posh Edwardian estate. Harman added: "And they never need to do their own dirty work. Why would they? They've got the Lib Dems for that.

The Lib Dems boast of being a brake on the Tories. So what happened on tuition fees, on VAT, on police cuts, on the NHS? Clearly the brakes failed."

Meanwhile Cameron's sexism continues to drive away women voters. Yvette Cooper said the PM had turned his back on millions of female voters by cutting childcare, child benefit and Sure Start centres.

Remember Cameron's response to Angela Eagle who warned him about the damage he was doing, not 'sorry', but 'calm down, dear'.

Same old Tories.

2012 - The Year To Celebrate

2011-09-29T15:12:00.000+01:00

Reading Y2C say:

"It’s going to be a fantastic year – and you can make sure you don’t miss a thing by using this site to find out about all the events going on in the Reading area leading up to, and during, 2012. It’s the only site you need to plan your year of celebrations – including the London 2012 Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee."

Something tells me that in Redlands, as in other parts of the town, Thursday 3 May 2012 will be a day of great celebration. Just 31 weeks to go ... and counting!

No One Voted For The Coalition To Break Up THe NHS

2011-09-29T08:42:00.000+01:00

Before the election David Cameron promised "no top down reorganisation of the NHS". However, no sooner had he crawled into government with his Coalition Chums led by Nick Clegg, then they unveiled the biggest top-down reorganisation of the NHS since it was created in 1948.

We've always known that you can't trust the Tories with the NHS - but now it is clear that the Lib Dems are no better, as they bring in to a Competition Regulator and Competition Courts, coalition ministers talk about "huge opportunities for the private sector" and American and German multi-national investors being lined up to buy our hospitals and take home the profits.

If thay have their way, the NHS will just become a badge, a powerful brand logo, as cover for the break-up of our national service, with a greater post code lottery in health care, as waiting lists get longer.

The battle is not over. The NHS was built by the people, is cherished by the people, it belongs to the people.

We heard Cameron's promises at the last election and saw his posters, but the truth is, you can't trust the coalition with the NHS.

YouGov: Labour 6 Points Ahead

2011-09-28T14:23:00.002+01:00

The latest YouGov poll has Labour 6 points ahead of the Tories and the LibDems at a dismal 8%.

Labour 43%
Conservatives 37%
Lib Dems 8%

The overall approval rating of the Coalition Government is at minus 25%

Stand With Labour

2011-09-27T18:17:00.001+01:00

I'm proud that my 100th post of the year is a message from Ed Miliband:

I have just finished giving my speech to Labour’s Annual Conference and I wanted to write to you straight away. The way Britain is run is letting people down and holding our country back. For too long our economy and our society have rewarded the wrong people with the wrong values.

We need to build an economy that rewards the right people with the right values.

I’m asking you to ask one friend or family member to stand with Labour as a supporter.

A new bargain matters to people up and down our country. I wasn’t just speaking to Labour members in the hall when I said that I am the guy who is determined to break the closed circles of Britain. It was a message for the whole country.

As young people confront the choices they have in life, they see routes to success today based on the wrong set of values.

Ask a friend to stand with us as a Labour Supporter and together we will build a society that rewards hard work and the people who help each other.

Today, Labour said "no more". We need change and we need a new bargain. We need an economy built on the values of hard work, something for something, the long-term.

We see the need for a new bargain when we look at what this Government is doing. Young people, doing the right thing, wanting to go to higher education are going to find that their hard work and ambition will be punished with tens of thousands of pounds of debt.

And yet at the same time, George Osborne plans cuts in corporation tax for the banks.

These aren’t my values. I know they are not yours either. If your friend shares our values then ask them to stand with us as a Labour Supporter today

I don’t want to be Prime Minister so we can have more of the same. I want us to build a country together where each of us can reach our potential. Where together, we fulfil the Promise of Britain.

Ask a friend to stand with us and make that possible. Ask a friend to help us build a Britain based on Britain’s values: hard work, helping each other and something for something.

Thank you,

Ed Miliband
Leader of the Labour Party

Prime Minister, The People Are Hurting

2011-09-25T17:18:00.003+01:00

We are told by David Cameron and Nick Clegg that there is no alternative to the cuts. No Plan B to be contemplated instead of their austerity package.

Yet when the coalition embarked upon their 4 year dash to “rebalance the economy” they said the private sector would step up to create the jobs slashed in the public sector and help support our local economies. But that hasn’t happened.

Unemployment is rising, with a million young jobless and more women out of work than at any time since 1988. The economy is sliding back into recession, while the banks sit on stock piles of capital unwilling to lend to small businesses or would be mortgagees. Property developers sit on land banks, waiting for easier planning laws, while the country cries out for new housing. Food prices at record highs and train travel becoming unaffordable for many. Hospital waiting lists grow ever longer, as operations are rationed. And we now have a record prison population.

And hidden fuel poverty waiting in the wings to become a winter killer for 7 million families while Chris Huhne blames for us for being too lazy to shop around to get a better deal.

Remember when Cameron and Clegg used to claim “We’re all in this together”. They’ve stopped saying that lately.

Coalition ministers – Tories and Liberal Democrats alike – have little experience of unemployment or life on benefits. In fact, 23 of 29 Cabinet ministers are millionaires with little understanding of economic hardship. Not since the late 1950s has Britain been governed by politicians representing such a narrow social base. But at least MacMillan and his millionaire colleagues believed in the universal welfare state. Cameron and his rich chums, in contrast, are engaged in a war on welfare.

Prime Minister, the people are hurting. Are you listening?

Big Society: Disappearing Off The Agenda

2011-09-23T16:01:00.001+01:00

Last year we had David Cameron telling us all about his "great passion" and something that will "make a real difference" to Britain - but there is no place for the Big Society on the agenda for this year's Conservative Party conference.

However, it has been blamed for dividing the cabinet and criticised as a "cover" for government spending cuts, so with volunteering and participation in the community at at a 10 year low, is this another headline grabbing initiative which will slowly be forgotten about?

Coalition Council Bans British Legion Poppy Sellers

2011-09-14T18:08:00.002+01:00

The Royal British Legion has been banned from selling poppies in Birmingham city centre in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.

Birmingham City Council, which is run by a Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition, said it was following a strict first-come-first-served policy to applications from charities.

Both the Anthony Nolan Trust and Shelter, who were due to collect on the 11th and 12th November, have offered to waive their right to collect. However, the Chairman of the licensing committee Bruce Lines said "Unfortunately they are unable to overturn that decision as it would be unlawful.".

Labour Councillors in Birmingham have called on the Tory and Lib Dem leaders to make sure this problem is sorted, that common sense prevails and that the British Legion get a satisfactory outcome.

To donate on-line to this year's Poppy Appeal go here.

The Chancellor, The Prostitute, Cocaine, Friends, Favours & Phone Hacking

2011-09-13T14:51:00.001+01:00

A solicitor representing victims of phone hacking by the News of the World during Mr Coulson’s time as editor suggested Mr Osborne was “almost indebted” to Mr Coulson because of the way the newspaper had covered allegations made by a prostitute that the MP had taken cocaine with her, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The phone hacking scandal is a story that just keeps on giving: you couldn't make it up.

Reading Lib Dems: "W**kers"

2011-09-10T14:50:00.004+01:00

The latest edition of the Lib Dem's newsletter contains the following pledge: "Liberal Democrats will not personally attack any fellow councillors, regardless of their Party".

Well, that's another Lib Dem pledge that didn't last long, as earlier this week Lib Dem Cllr Goodall commented on the outcome of the Council's Transport Management Panel on Twitter thus (8 Sep):

"Politicians love their games! Labour really are a bunch of wankers!"

An apparently ill prepared and stumbling Goodall had failed to have any impact on the Panel.

However he does have a hisory of rather nasty tweets and making false and malicious claims - which the Police ignore.

He must know that he nor any other Lib Dem can win in Redlands in 2012, but the real question is will the Lib Dem leader Benson take any action against Goodall?

She certainly failed to act against Warren Swaine, choosing in fact along with their then leader Kirsten Bayes, to ignore his national suspension.

Goodness knows what decent Lib Dems like Gareth Epps make of this, as he goes off to their National Conference, seeing the reputation of Reading Lib Dems being dragged deeper into the dirt.

Empty pledges, nasty politics.

New Planning Laws: Tories Given Millions By Property Developers

2011-09-10T13:25:00.002+01:00

The Conservative Party has received millions of pounds in donations from developers who stand to benefit from the Government’s controversial planning reforms according to The Daily Telegraph. Dozens of property firms have given a total of £3.3million to the party over the past three years, including large gifts from companies seeking to develop rural land.

Developers are also paying thousands of pounds for access to senior Tories through the Conservative Property Forum, a club of elite donors which sets up “breakfast meetings” to discuss planning and property issues.

The disclosures are likely to provoke a new “cash-for-access” row and will give rise to fears that planning policies could have been influenced by powerful figures from the property industry.

The new plaaning guidance states that there should be a “presumption in favour of sustainable development”, which campaigners have warned would give developers “carte blanche”.

Some of the Tories’ biggest donors are from the property world. David and Simon Reuben, billionaires who own Millbank Tower in Westminster, have given almost £500,000 over the past decade, while Terence Cole, a London-based developer, donated almost £300,000. IM Properties, which is expanding Birch Coppice Business Park, near Tamworth, Staffs, has given around £1million since 2009.

A senior Tory MP, who did not wish to be named, accused the Chancellor, George Osborne, of “shoe-horning in” the presumption in favour of development in a bid to stimulate the economy.

He said: “This is a clear example of localism being hijacked. Developers will have state licence to print money and we will see a proliferation of identikit suburbs springing up in the countryside.”

Some were surprised when Chancellor George Osborne entered the debate last week in the face of opposition from the National Trust, English Heritage and the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Perhaps we now know why.

Alok Sharma: Hospital Hypocrite

2011-09-09T10:13:00.006+01:00

They say "Never trust a Tory with the NHS" and here's living proof.

Like many Tories before the General Election, Alok Sharma campaigned on a ticket of 'stopping' NHS cuts - he adopted the phrase 'stop Brown's NHS cuts' in his election material and on his website.

But now, after his election, the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust expects to cut 200 posts during 2010/11, with a further 300-400 posts going over the following two years: where's Alok?

Alok Sharma voted for the Health and Social Care Bill, which will put profit before patients as waiting lists continue to lengthen - he is a Hospital Hypocrite.

The Tory Minister, The Tory Donor And A Contract To Supply Oil

2011-09-03T14:07:00.000+01:00

The Daily Telegraph reports how an oil firm whose chief executive has bankrolled the Conservatives won valuable rights to trade with Libyan rebels during the conflict, following secret talks involving the British Government.

The report goes on to suggest that the deal with Vitol - a firm previously fined for making payments to a Serbian warlord - was said to have been masterminded by Tory Minister Alan Duncan, the former oil trader turned junior minister, who has close business links to the oil firm and was previously a director of one of its subsidiaries.

Many will remember that this is the same Alan Duncan who at the height of the MP's Expenses Scandal, said that MPs (who are paid around £64,000 a year – within the top 4% of the population) were having, "to live on rations and are treated like shit."

Mr Duncan who had previously boasted about his second home allowance on Have I Got News For You was later forced to repay thousands of pounds he had claimed for gardening costs. Since 2001, he had claimed a total of £143,392 in second home allowance, despite owning two properties in Westminster, one of which he had rented out.

Mr Duncan's Westminster career has also included his resignation from his first government position as PPS to the Minister of Health, after it emerged that he had used the right-to-buy council house programme to make profits on property deals.

Mr Duncan remains a Minister in the Coalition Government.

New NH$

2011-09-02T16:28:00.000+01:00

The Lib Dems like to claim that they have stopped the worst of their Tory Coalition NHS reforms. No they didn't.

BMA Council chairman, Dr Hamish Meldrum has written to all MPs saying that the Health & Social Catre Bill, which goes back before Parliament next week, threatens the NHS' ability to operate "effectively and equitably, now and in the future".

Reading Lib Dems: The Sound Of Silence

2011-08-18T14:04:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Chris Maskell for highlighting this.

The normally media hungry Lib Dem Councillors have been keeping tight lipped on this issue, as I've previously noted.

What would the Lib Dem Headquarters have made of the fact that while "suspended" Warren Swaine was actively and openly working from their May 2011 local election headquarters in Redlands Road - presumably under the noses and with the support of Kirtsen Bayes and Daisy Benson?

Many Lib Dems around the country aren't happy with a state of affairs that the local Lib Dem leadership seem content with.

Some suspension: not even lip service.

The Adventures Of A Sporting Angler

2011-08-15T14:11:00.001+01:00

Just back from holidays and delighted that with the wonderful opportunities created by sites like Amazon and Ancestry, I've been able track down this book by my great uncle Tony.

The only shame is that I have no interest in fishing at all.

More Bagman Than Batman

2011-07-29T10:57:00.001+01:00

I take great care to avoid these blogs being labelled "misleading and inaccurate" so I feel duty bound to pass on the fact that I have received several urgent and urging messages insisting that Richard Willis will not be the next leader of the Conservatives on Reading Council.

I'm told that "Chocolate Teapot" Cumpsty (their description, not mine) is to be dumped in favour of Mark Ralph, Peppard Tory colleague of Willis and the recently axed Jamie Chowdhary.

Other Tory councillors must now start to look nervously over their shoulders and wonder who will be next.

The return of the nasty party? It never really went away.

Batman To The Rescue: Part 2

2011-07-28T14:47:00.001+01:00

I raised the prospect of a Conservative leadership coup if the Tories didn't perform well at the last local elections here.

Unfortunately, all that proved was what a lack of any sense of humour some people have.

However, the axing of Jamie Chowdhary has brought this "bitter political power struggle" in to the public domain.

How long will it be before Richard Willis (occupation: "employed by the Ministry of Defence as an RAF full time reservist") gets the Group Leader's Allowance? My guess is not long at all!

To the Batmobile, Robin!

Freeman Of Information: Cash For Honours

2011-07-26T18:25:00.003+01:00

There is a very small, select group of people in Reading who enjoy the honour of being a Freeman of the Borough.

Recent recipients of the town's "highest honour given in recognition of their distinguished service for Reading" are Sir John Madejski and the late former Mayor and councillor Bob Green.

You may think, therefore, that such highly esteemed civic honours carry a similar value in other places and any recipient will rank as someone of achievement and note.

Surely then we should also celebrate the fact that Conservative leader Andrew Cumpsty is a Freeman of the City of Lancaster, a matter he highlights elsewhere.

But scrolling through Lancaster City Council's list of Honorary Freeman, Andrew's name is nowhere to be found.

How can this be?

Well, apparently in Lancaster it is possible to apply and pay to become a Freeman - the current going rate is 50p. So did Andrew hand over cash for his honour?

In these tough financial times and flaging economy, perhaps Reading council should open up the Freeman of Reading club to all who are prepared to pay - make it £10 or even £100 a go and we could soon reduce the council's debt.

Perhaps Councillor Cumpsty will propose such an enterprise?

(image: getreading.co.uk)

Telegraph: Get Out Of This One Dave

2011-07-17T15:12:00.001+01:00

It's hard to add anything to this from the newspaper that many refer to as "The Daily Torygraph".

"I’d like to have seen the Prime Minister’s face as he read this statement from the Met:

The MPS has this afternoon, Sunday 17 July, arrested a female in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking. At approximately 12.00 hrs a 43-year-old woman was arrested by appointment at a London police station by officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden. She is currently in custody.

She was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. The Operation Weeting team is conducting the new investigation into phone hacking. Operation Elveden is the investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police. This investigation is being supervised by the IPCC.

It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details regarding these cases at this time."

Now Sky News has confirmed that the 43-year-old woman is indeed Rebekah Brooks, disgraced former CEO of News International and member of David Cameron’s social circle. I suppose I should say former member of Dave’s circle, but Andy Coulson was at Chequers soon after he left Number 10 in disgrace, so who knows?

How very, very badly all this reflects on the PM. It will be difficult to vote Tory at the next election."

Indeed.

Lib Dems: Getting Desperate In Redlands

2011-07-08T14:03:00.003+01:00

With ten months to go before the next council election, on Thursday, 3 May 2012, the local Lib Dems already seem to be becoming desperate.

They obviously still haven't got over the fact that, even in a year when they thought they would benefit from the government's cash bribe to freeze council tax, they and their Tory buddies lost control of the council.

Expect more stamping of feet, more tantrums, more deceit. After the university clean-up embarrassment for them, here's more current examples.

Daily Telegraph: Why David Cameron Is In The Sewer

2011-07-07T18:35:00.001+01:00

A powerful piece in the Daily Telegraph, which you can read in full here, but in summary:

"Until now it has been easy to argue that Mr Cameron was properly grounded with a decent set of values. Unfortunately, it is impossible to make that assertion any longer. He has made not one, but a long succession of chronic personal misjudgments.

He should never have employed Andy Coulson, the News of the World editor, as his director of communications. He should never have cultivated Rupert Murdoch. And – the worst mistake of all – he should never have allowed himself to become a close friend of Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of the media giant News International, whose departure from that company in shame and disgrace can only be a matter of time.

We are talking about a pattern of behaviour here. Indeed, it might be better described as a course of action. Mr Cameron allowed himself to be drawn into a social coterie in which no respectable person, let alone a British prime minister, should be seen dead."

and

"The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister knew all about Mr Coulson before last May’s coalition negotiations. And yet they both paid no attention and went on to make him the Downing Street director of communications, an indiscretion that beggars belief."

And here's from my blog from 21 January 2011.

You Can't Trust The Lib Dems On Nuclear Power

2011-07-05T17:37:00.003+01:00

When is a promise not to subsidise the building of new nuclear power stations with public money, not a promise?

When it's just another Lib Dem hollow pledge cast aside in their eagerness to support the Tory-led government.

The coalition agreement declared that the "Liberal Democrats have long opposed any new nuclear construction. Conservatives, by contrast, are committed to allowing the replacement of existing nuclear power stations provided that they are subject to the normal planning process for major projects (under a new National Planning Statement), and also provided that they receive no public subsidy."

The first sign of change was the rather over-eager about face by the Lib Dem Energy Sectretary Chris Huhne.

In 2006 while in opposition Huhne had said “We do not believe that nuclear has a part to play in the energy generation future of this country.” In 2007 Huhne described nuclear power as a “tried, tested and failed” technology. By October 2010, now in government, "Shameless Huhne" was trumpeting the building of eight new nuclear power stations.

But it doesn't just stop there.

Not only have they flip-flopped on building new nuclear power stations, they've also agreed a massive public subsidy to the private energy companies: that will have pleased the Tories.

The last Budget handed a windfall gain to the nuclear industry from 2013 onwards of £50 millions per year, thereby enriching their private profits, but will do nothing to curb steeply rising household energy costs, or help reduce those facing fuel poverty.

Remember, the Lib Dems try to claim the moral high ground in public, yet behind the scenes in Government Departments, Clegg, Alexander, Cable and the rest are actively supporting Tory policies. At least the Tories don't pretend about these things.

Are they just Tory dupes? They can't be that stupid, can they? Make up your own mind.

But just as with tuition fees, the Lib Dems say one thing and do another.

Why Don't Lib Dems Care About Education?

2011-07-04T15:55:00.004+01:00

Why don't Lib Dems care about education?

We know they lied over their now notorious pledge to vote against any increase in student fees.

But now even some of their activists (but not in Reading) are beginning to ask "Is Lib Dem education policy simply "Let Michael Gove do what ever he wants"? This Lib Dem councillor (and teacher) concludes that the Lib Dems have "a total lack of influence over education policy" in Parliament.

Yet sadly in Redlands local Lib Dems appear to show little interest in education matters. Local councillors usually share school governor responsibilities in their ward, but Benson, Goodall (and defeated Bayes) obviously have never made this a priority.

I hear that they didn't even bother to turn up to a meeting at Redlands Primary School today to discuss road safety issues with parents.

You don't have to be a parent to care about education, but the Lib Dems in Redlands just don't get it.

Sunday Times Poll: Labour Holds Steady Lead

2011-07-03T16:22:00.001+01:00

The UK Polling Report has YouGov’s weekly poll for today's Sunday Times has Labour steady with a 6 point lead over the Tories.

These figures - of LAB 42%, CON 36%, LIBDEM 9% - are very much in line with recent YouGov averages.

The public's renewed confidence in Labour chimes with our experiences canvassing in Redlands yesterday and today, with a very positive response on the doorstep.

Boris Derails Cameron's Flagship Scheme

2011-07-03T15:02:00.000+01:00

Only days ago David Cameron was enthusiastically promoting the coalition government's £34 billion flagship transport infrastructure project, the high speed rail link (HS2) from London to Birmingham and the north.

But now London Mayor Boris Johnson has dealt a "personal blow" to Cameron by describing the project as "perverse" and "inadequate". Boris has further demanded a commitment from the government that their proposals for HS2 would include new underground rail capacity between Euston and Victoria and has concluded that "I cannot support the current proposal".

While it may be more challenging to predict a U-turn on rails, I still believe that this is "another big headline grabbing plan which will be quietly side-lined" before it finally hits the buffers.

Unlikely Things To Get Through Your Letterbox

2011-07-02T16:12:00.003+01:00

Or a truthful Lib Dem leaflet.
Or anything from the Tories at all.

Cuts Are Not The Cure

2011-06-27T16:58:00.000+01:00

Cuts Are Not The Cure from Unionfilms on Vimeo.

Watch it, pass it on.

This about a political choice: the Tory/Lib Dems choice to inflicit the hardest cuts on the poorest in our society.

Coalition Cuts Hurt Women More

2011-06-24T14:07:00.002+01:00

Far from being "all in this together" a new report highlights the fact that the coalition cuts hit single mothers hardest.

The research prepared for the Fawcett Society demonstrates as false the government's claim that it is unable to assess the different impact of its tax and benefit policies on women and men.

Using the government's own currently available data the report, considering all tax and benefit reforms to be introduced between 2010 – 2015, shows that single women will lose more as a proportion of their income than other households as a result of the cuts.

Single mothers can expect to lose 8.5% of their net annual income by 2015 –more than a month’s income each year.

Anna Bird, Acting Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society said:

“During our court case, the government insisted that assessing how cuts impact differently on women and men in any meaningful way wasn’t possible; this research shows it can be done.

“This puts paid to the idea that the government can’t anticipate or predict the impact of its fiscal policies on different demographic groups. Had the Treasury been doing this research in the first place, single mothers might now not be facing a situation where they can’t afford childcare and so can’t work, and where some of the poorest women in our society are right now getting poorer.

“We’ve looked at each of the tax and welfare changes in turn, considered how different households will be affected by them, and calculated what the impact will be on different groups’ incomes.

“The results are clear: women are bearing the brunt of cuts. Single women, on average, are set to lose a greater proportion of their income than other households, such as single men or couple households.

“In part this is because women are typically poorer than men, but it is also because women make up the vast majority of lone parents – and it this group that are set to lose most under the reforms. Lone mothers can expect to lose the equivalent of one month’s income a year by the time all the cuts are implemented.

“Some of the least well off in our society are being forced to act as shock absorbers for the cuts, with women – in particular single mothers - faring worse.

“A year on from the Coalition Government’s first budget, we call on the Chancellor to adopt this analysis in future budgets to allow for fairer and more transparent decision-making. The government should also review welfare, employment and childcare policy, so that lone mothers do not shoulder more than their fair share of cuts.”

Tuition Fees: Just A Question Of Language Apparently

2011-06-23T16:13:00.000+01:00

Last autumn I linked to a local LibDem activist who had complained to his national party leader about being put in the position of "Knocking on doors and being called liars".

Sadly, Chris Mills later removed his response to Nick Clegg's letter to members on the tuition fees debacle.

However it now appears that Chris thinks it is just a problem of language. Apparently if the tuition fees, loans and debts were renamed a graduate tax then would be no problem.

At least Chris admits that the pre-election pledge by Clegg was dishonest: "It was pretty obvious we were never going to win an election outright, so would either be in coalition or in opposition. Either way we would not be able to stop a fees rise going through."

Read it while you can, before it disappears.

Even now, they just don't get it do they.

Royal Air Farce

2011-06-22T17:13:00.003+01:00

Cameron's clumsy Strategic Defence and Security Review continues to draw fire from within the armed services, as well as at home and amongst our allies abroad.

When Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant said that "huge" demands were being placed on the RAF and morale among airmen was, as a result, "fragile", he was told by the Prime Minister to stop "sniping".

Cuts earlier this year saw a quarter of trainee pilots made redundant, some within hours of qualification, wasting up to £4m a pilot, Tornado squadrons scrapped, the versatile Harrier jump jets sold "for peanuts", which as a consequence could leave Britain unable to defend its air space, counter threats from hostile states or conduct major foreign military campaigns.

With "rock bottom morale" it is time to reopen the Strategic Defence and Security Review: the country and our armed services deserve better from a government apparently lacking in any coherent defence strategy worthy of the name.

.

Inflation: We're Not All In This Together

2011-06-14T17:18:00.001+01:00

An interesting report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies highlights the fact that there isn't a single rate of inflation which applies to all of us.

With rocketing fuel and food costs, and the inflation rate way above the government's target and no sign of falling, the truth is that the poorer you are, the higher your real inflation rate is.

This is because pensioners and less well-off families typically spend a greater share of their income on food and fuel. So with inflation around 5% and rising, and fuel prices rising at 10% - 19%, the real cost of inflation for this group is nearer 8%. Add that to the VAT rise, cuts to tax credits, cuts to childcare support and the child benefit freeze, and many low paid families are really hurting.

The inflation rate for better off families is actually less than 4%.

Yet when will the coalition government act on this? Is this because they aren't feeling the pinch?

Rachel Eden has another angle on the issue.

Trash Talk

2011-06-08T18:34:00.003+01:00

The Lib Dems have been in overdrive in Redlands, spreading lies that Labour has cut an end of year special collection of rubbish from student housing. Misleading residents and students alike, they even have a petition about it.

The truth is that the decision to axe this service was taken by RBC's Streetcare service last March when, erm, Lib Dem Cllr Ricky Duveen was the Lead Member for these services.

So the Redlands Lib Dems are petitioning to get a Lib Dem cut restored. Excellent politics! Obviously a case of being in power, but not in control.

Let's just see if they will start banging on people's doors to retract their slurs ... because we will certainly ensure that everyone knows when this was done!

I am confident that the Labour council will ensure the student clearances will be taken care of. Who can clean up the mess to Redlands Lib Dems' reputation may be a job too far.

On a lighter note, but just as expected, word reaches me that poor Cllr Glenn Goodall is being pushed aside in Redlands after just one term, to make way for the defeated Kirsten Bayes to have another try at winning an election next May.

If that's true, it's going to get very interesting!

(image: getreading.co.uk)

Redlands: And So It Begins ...

2011-06-06T16:46:00.002+01:00

It didn't take long for the Redlands Lib Dems to settle back in to their traditional opposition role of saying anything to get elected. Well, they've now discovered that no seat, not even their Leader's (the last one or the latest!) is safe.

Something tells me that the May 2012 election campaign is already underway, and that the Lib Dems in Redlands will become more and more desperate in their actions and words to hang on - and all to no avail: then there will be one.

Elections, Etc

2011-05-29T16:18:00.000+01:00

Here are two excellent summaries of the recent council elections in Reading and the consequential change of administration.

John Ennis firmly places responsibility on the Tory High Command of Cumpsty and others for losing control of the council after just one year.

It will be vaguely interesting to see if any one pays for this political inepititude or whether they accept the same leadership charging into the 2012 elections.

John also highlights the desperate position of the Lib Dems, still supporting the same Tories who will do them over next May.

John Howarth winds the clock back to 2008, to a time when Labour lost overall majority of the council and the Tories and Lib Dems were still loathing each other, to give a broader context to their current demise.

Redlands: Meet Cllr Jan Gavin

2011-05-28T06:57:00.001+01:00

Following her spectacular victory at the ballot box on May 5th, new Redlands Councillor Jan Gavin has finalised the dates and locations for her local ‘Meet Your Labour Councillor’ sessions from now until April 2012.

Jan will be holding monthly static sessions, mainly on the second Saturday of each month, as well as organising some roving Surgery dates using the Readibus or other locations on weekday evenings. Look out for details of when the bus is in your area.

If you have an issue, concern or problem that you would like Jan to help with please come along. Jan is also keen to hear your ideas about what you think the Council does well or should be doing better.

Details are here: Come and meet your local Labour Councillor

You don’t need to wait for these monthly events if you have an issue or concern you would like to talk to Jan about. Feel free to either email Jan at jan.gavin@reading.gov.uk or give her a call on 0797 967 1215

Another Politician Heads For Prison

2011-05-27T14:28:00.001+01:00

This week has seen another national politician be found guilty of fiddling his expenses, with a real expectation that he will be sentenced to a spell inside at Her Majesty's pleasure.

The past year has seen four former Labour MPs rightly tread the same route, another Tory Lord still waiting to hear his fate, and two Lib Dem current or former Cabinet ministers face questioning by the police.

The wider public are sick of this behaviour.

No one is served, however, by the type of recent intemperate language used by a local politician simply to score cheap, partisan points. Shouldn't this be the time to set a better example than those they criticise?

Let's hope this is an end to it all.

Redlands: Local Champion, Proven Record

2011-05-24T16:31:00.001+01:00

Redlands 1995. Thanks Jonny: "When we were very young, we had lovely skin".

"Tony led the Council's successful bid for grant aid to regenerate the Hexham Road Eastate and a new community centre for our area. An experienced councillor, Tony has promoted a better relationship between local people and the University."

All About You

2011-05-20T15:56:00.002+01:00

And now, a little about me too - for consideration by Redlands Labour Party!

By the way, Happy Birthday Cllr Richard Willis, and welcome Isobel Ballsdon, a fiesty and determined campaigner.

Will Nick Agree With Them?

2011-05-19T11:38:00.001+01:00

In happier times they wanted to agree with Nick. Now Chris Huhne and David Laws are facing investigations by the Police. The question is will the nick agree with them?

Clegg: You Can't Trust Anything He Signs

2011-05-18T13:31:00.002+01:00

You would have thought that after the "Cledge" fiasco of signing the pledge to abolish student fees, then voting to triple them, Nick Clegg would have been more careful about signing anything else.

But no, there was Nick Clegg as one of the three signatures gracing the foreword of the White Paper on health reform. The other two were David Cameron and Andrew Lansley.

Just to show this was not done in some fit of absent-mindedness, the Deputy Prime Minister spoke of his great enthusiasm for the reforms pointing out that the Liberal Democrats had fought the general election committed to scrapping primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.

Now Clegg says "As far as government legislation is concerned, no Bill is better than a bad one and I want to get this right. Getting these changes right — protecting the NHS not undermining it — is my number one priority."

So if Clegg was deeply committed to the health reforms in January, why has he flip-flopped in May?

Could it be the crushing defeat of Lib Dem candidates at the local elections and the massive rejection of his coalition Danegeld vote on AV has much to do with it?

Either way, we can't trust anything that bears Clegg's toxic signature.

The Nick Clegg Song

2011-05-16T17:09:00.000+01:00

And they have Chris Huhne, David Laws & Vince Cable too!

Absence Of Malice

2011-05-14T00:32:00.000+01:00

I like these people.

Unlike the defeated Tory candidate and the others in this contest and others who showed no grace.

Does Daniel Bowen Work For No.10?

2011-05-12T11:04:00.000+01:00

As Daniel Bowen doesn't appear to be a paid up member of the Lib Dems in Reading, further questions are being asked about who he is and what is his agenda.

In a remarkable twist this morning, there is a suggestion that he is really a Tory parachuted in from No.10 armed with a plan of undermining their coalition partners in the town.

No.10 has been forced to admit that they do employ pseudonyms to cover the identities of their officials. But surely using false names would be a step too far in Reading ...

Who Is Lib Dem Daniel Bowen?

2011-05-11T22:50:00.000+01:00

When I first heard the name, I thought the chatter in the back street pubs in Reading was about the Wales and Arsenal midfielder Dave Bowen.

But, it's not so.

Daniel Bowen is clearly not the Average Australian nor one of the four inhabitants on Bowen Island, but could he be the Brazen Careerist?

I don't know.

What is clear is that he has and continues to do a lot of damage to the Lib Dems in Reading.

Play up, play up.

Lib Dem MP David Laws Suspended

2011-05-11T14:24:00.000+01:00

The MP who Clegg and Cameron were desperate to get back into the Cabinet - particularly as Huhne and Cable look increasingly unreliable - has been suspended from the House of Commons following an investigation into his expense claims.

David Laws has had the most serious punishment imposed on any parliamentarian by fellow MPs following the expenses scandal.

The Prime Minister had hoped that Laws, who was popular among Conservatives as well as Liberal Democrats, would return to the cabinet soon, but this has now been ruled out.

Laws was Chief Secretary to the Treasury for 17 days last May, but resigned after The Daily Telegraph reported that he had claimed more than £40,000 to pay rent to James Lundie, his boyfriend, despite MPs having been banned from paying rent to family members or partners since 2006.

It is understood that in total the millionaire former banker Laws claimed more than £100,000, despite providing virtually no documentary evidence in support of the claims. After new rules were introduced demanding that MPs produce bills or receipts to back up such claims, Laws’s claims dropped sharply.

Labour Wins Borough Vote Share

2011-05-09T15:28:00.005+01:00

As Reading Borough Council officers set to work on the new seating plan for the council chamber ("Cllr Gavin, here is your seat") and local Party Leaders get to work on new administrative arrangements / saving face / or in the case of the LibDems, having to elect a new leader(!), here are the figures for votes cast across the Borough:

Labour ............... 39.54% .. (up 8.43%) 17,788 votes
Conservatives .... 33.84% .. (down 1.31%) 15,223 votes
LibDems ............ 12.71% .. (down 12.94%) 5,719 votes
Green ................ 10.76% .. (up 4.08%) 4,840 votes
Others ................ 3.16% .. (up 1.76%) 1,420 votes
(figures compared to 2010)

Strong progress by Labour across the town, and the strategy of getting the LibDems to act as Mr Cameron's "human shield" really paying off for the Tories in Reading as elsewhere.

Surprisingly, another local commentator overlooked the local picture and concentrates on the national figures.

A Few More Predictions ...

2011-05-08T18:01:00.004+01:00

Over the past year I've made a number of predictions which were denied and derided at the time, but subsequently proved to be true, including:

* Gareth Epps would stand down from the council - 17 Nov 2010.

He did.

* Kisten Bayes would lose in Redlands at the May 2011 council elections - 9 Dec 2010.

She did.

* Warren Swaine would fall foul of the Standards Committee again - 10 Feb 2011.

He did.

* There would be a LibDem/Conservative trist at the May elections - 17 Nov 2010.

"I urge all Lib Dems and Conservatives in Redlands ward to unite to keep Labour from reclaiming the ward." - Richard Willis, 5 May 2011

So here are a few more:

* LibDem Glenn Goodall will not stand in Redlands at the May 2012 council elections.

* Regardless of who stands for the LibDems, Labour will again win in Redlands in 2012.

* Labour will gain overall control of the council after the 2012 council elections.

* The LibDems will be reduced to just 3 seats in 2012.

* Daisy Benson will not stand for re-election to the council in 2014, stating her intention to seek election as an MP (outside of Reading) instead.

Dismiss them at your peril!