100 days to COP26

Tomorrow marks 100 days until the start of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. It is due to take place in November having been pushed back a year, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. 

Freedom day: a gamble or a safe bet?

Whilst Tory ministers celebrate so called “freedom day” in England, coronavirus is ripping through the UK, leading to mounting health problems caused by long Covid and pressures on the overstretched NHS. Once again, the Tories are putting profits before lives in a cruelly expected fashion. Boris Johnson ended mandatory Covid-19-related restrictions on Monday (19 July 2021). This is despite the fact that the country is now seeing over 50,000 new Covid-19 cases per day and there are still no plans to make vaccines generally available to under 18s.

Keir Starmer set to expel 1,000 Labour members

In what seems like the everlasting ideological war for control of the Labour Party, three groups and their respective members are to be removed from Labour … The accumulation of these suspended groups totals to about 1,000 members. Losing this many members cannot be good for a party which has already seen a massive decline in membership since Starmer’s took over as leader of the party. The ideological war of the Labour Party has been going since nearly it’s inception in 1900.

UK military: harbingers of death or climate change activists?

Whilst visiting the US, Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has disclosed the Tories’ military plans, suggesting that British soldiers will wage secret wars and employ new types of warfare. Furthermore, he asserted that the military was capable of handling climate change, population growth, and migration. Wallace added that the Tory government was still keen to be close to American power.

Inquest into rape prosecutions highlights endemic failure

A joint report commissioned by the Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Inspectorates has accused the two organisations of engaging in a “blame game”, which ultimately results in a failure to prosecute sexual offences. The report, published today, said “both organisations argued that the other was to blame for the low conviction rates.” It continued, “Until this blame culture is eradicated, a real shift in attitudes seems unachievable”.

More than one million children of key workers live in poverty

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that over one million children of key workers live in poverty. The TUC has blamed this on low pay, poor contracts and a high cost of living for workers in Britain. Employment even for key workers throughout the pandemic have proven to be insecure and of poor quality. In England, Scotland and Wales this reality is faced by one in five children of key workers. The worst affected region according to the report is the North East where the figure increases to as many as one in three.

MPs approve controversial foreign aid cut

Today (Tuesday 13 July), the House of Commons approved the Tory government’s planned cuts to foreign aid. The cuts from 0.7% to 0.5% of the budget will see a reduction of around £4 billion, with the government justifying the decrease by blaming the pandemic.

Universal Credit £20 uplift to end

At the end of September, the Covid Universal Credit boost of £20 a week will be removed. Confirmed by work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey, the Tories have been undeterred by pervasive public and cross-party opposition to the move. 

Leiston and Aldeburgh – Communists staying on the campaign trail

Steve Marsling, Communist Party candidate for the Leiston and Aldeburgh by election, polled 61 votes on a poor 27% turnout. The poll proved a shock for the Conservatives as the Greens topped the poll in this massive true blue area. Steve polled 20% of the Labour vote and 1.25% of the total vote. At the three hustings that were held it was agreed by all parties that the Communist candidate was the most powerful and passionate speaker. So much so that the victorious Greens asked to work with Steve in future campaigns.