Are some fiddles more acceptable than others?

Congratulations to the BBC for their second in-depth investigation into benefit cheats in the space of a fortnight. When can we expect the same amount of impartial unbiased BBC scrutiny into the somewhat more costly scandal of corporate tax evasion? Would it be millions or trillions? Or are some fiddles more acceptable than others?

Status Zero Generation

Our speaker at Tuesday's branch meeting was Professor Sue Maguire, an expert in the field of youth unemployment. Sue's professional profile, research projects and publications can be found here. Sue kindly left her notes with me so that I could add them to the blog. You will find them under the new 'pages' sidebar on the righthand side of the page.

Sue's talk was brilliant, the discussion it sparked fascinating - but is there a more chilling phrase in the lexicon of Government-speak than Status Zero Generation?

Great win for Sally

I don't know how many saw the great news about Sally Gimson's thumping win in the Highgate ward of Camden Council back at the end of September. For those who didn't, click on the title of this post. Sounds to me like it was a deeply unpleasant campaign - but then it would be, wouldn't it, when the main opposition was a LibDem defector.

On the subject of former parliamentary candidates who became great friends of our branch, I have added David Morgan's fascinating Washminster blog to the links.

Unison's Vision Principles for the NHS

Last night's public meeting on the Tory's so-called NHS reforms, organised by Market Harborough Labour Party, was a real eye-opener. I hope to gather material from all three speakers over the next week or so and post it here on our blog, but I'd like to start with Unison's ten vision principles for the future of the NHS which were quoted by Unison's (and Lutterworth's own) Gerry Looker at the end of the evening.

1. The NHS remains a free, comprehensive, public service, funded by taxation rather than health insurance or 'top-ups'.
2. Access to the NHS continues to depend on need, not the ability to pay.
3. Improvements in the quality and responsiveness of services are achieved through a continuing process of engagement in partnership with service users, staff and trade unions.
4. NHS staff are valued and supported in their work.
5. Determining pay, terms and conditions for NHS staff continues to be a UK-wide activity.
6. The NHS is accountable, both locally and to Parliament.
7. Equality is fully and effectively embedded in the delivery of healthcare provision.
8. NHS organisations will work collaboratively across geographical areas to help deliver specialist services and with social care, to ensure services are shaped around the needs of users and carers.
9. Patients will receive high quality care which conforms to national standards.
10. Quality and efficiency is delivered through public health care provision rather than competition between private providers.

These seem like statements of the obvious - but every one of them is under threat from Lansley's sledgehammer bill of which there was no mention in the Tory manifesto only 17 months ago. Indeed, Cameron made specific electoral pledges not to destroy our NHS.

We are allowed a referendum on self-serving voting systems and lots of Tories were happy to defy their own government whips to demand a referendum on the terms of our EU membership - but the NHS, by far Britain's greatest and most enduring achievement of the last hundred years, is being systematically dismantled even before the bill has passed through Parliament.

Clicking on the post title will take you to the Unison campaign material and there's loads of other useful stuff on their website, www.unison.org.uk.

Finally, congratulations to Sonia and Annie and the rest of Market Harborough Branch for organising this important event.

Legal Aid Cuts

For anyone who missed it, the title of this post links to Willy Bach's article in yesterday's Guardian - "The quiet scandal of legal aid cuts". The motion Willy moved in the Lords on Wednesday can be read here. No doubt we will get an update when Willy speaks to the Fabians in Rugby on November 18.

October Branch meeting

At the October Branch meeting, we discussed the extraordinary Boundary Commission plans to put Lutterworth with Daventry. This would create a strange Constituency covering an area crossing county and service delivery boundaries. We have taken steps to support an alternative plan of keeping S Leicestershire much as it is, as proposed by the Democratic Audit Group of Liverpool University, (see www.democraticaudit.com for further details)
Our speaker was Tristan Koriya on Social Housing. He explained how it is currently in crisis with a severe shortage of suitable homes, and how this adversely effects employment, health and education. The reckless Government proposal of having Council Housing for only a limited tenancy would further increase these highly undesirable effect, and would be likely to lead to break down and destabilisation of communities. Suggestions inclded raising stamp duty on second homes to contribute towards social housing; better regulation of private renting of property; and tax breaks for good private landlords.
We are looking forward to our speaker at the November meeting: Professor Sue Maguire of Warwick University on Youth Unemployment.

JABBER JABBER

A poem for literary readers.

...with apologies to Lewis Caroll....

`Twas Ofsted and the slithy Gove
Did whine and bluster in the House.
The Tories all feigned love
For him, but thought he was a louse.

"Beware the Milliband", said Dave.
"That nasal twang, those stary eyes!
The Coalition is unsafe;
Lib Dems seek your demise."

Gove took his Parker pen in hand
(A present from his Aunty Maud.)
Long time his policies he planned,
Though he was really bored.

He came up with a scheme so vague
That no one could make sense of it.
He ran it past his mate, Will Hague,
Who thought it total sh.. rubbish.

"The system`s simple" he averred:
"Grammar, Comprehensive, Free...."
His colleagues thought it quite absurd -
"State and Academy..."

"Voluntary Aided or Controlled
Sponsored and Foundation."
His master plan he did unfold
To a bewildered nation.

So, Govey waffled on and on
(He suffered from delusion.)
He thought his arguement was won,
But all was mere confusion.

He said the Independent Schools
Could help those who has less,
But even a half-witted fool
Foresaw an Eton mess!

`Twas Ofsted and the slithy Gove
Did whine and bluster in the House.
For him the Commons have no love;
All think he is a louse.

Ken Kaylor, Arnesby