Treating benefits claimants as adults
Posted January 24, 2012 * Comments(0)
The current debate raging about welfare benefits caps throws into sharp relief how benefits claimants are expected to behave compared with non-claimants. Take for instance a person supporting their family on a wage of about £35,000, which is approx. £26,000 after tax. From that they are expected to pay for accommodation, food, necessities and the rest. It’s not a massive wage, but well above the national average. However if such a person is unable to live exactly where they like, society is not terribly sympathetic, there’s a view that people will budget, save and make their own arrangements. ... More
Labour call to scrap the pupil premium
Posted December 7, 2011 * Comments(2)
At full Council today, I was taken aback by Labour’s amendment which called upon the government to “scrap the sham pupil premium”.  Now there is only one pupil premium which this year has delivered over £10 million to Manchester’s schools targeted at those in most need and which will be doubled next year to over £20 million.  That’s money which is per pupil who is in need, i.e. those receiving free school meals (as there is a clear link between families in financial need and those pupils needing extra assistance) and children in care.  I know that in Gorton and ... More
A tale of two pensions
Posted December 1, 2011 * Comments(0)
In the light of the public sector strike yesterday regarding pensions, I found it interesting to compare my pensions. Since I started working, I have been paying rather more than the minimum percentage of my wages into a private pension scheme.  This is money which frankly in the last few years I’d rather have had at my disposal for short-term needs, but like a good citizen I have tried to save for the future.  This year’s statement was a shocker.  At the end of the year, I have less money in my pension pot than this time last year, despite the contributions ... More
Christmas is on its way
Posted November 30, 2011 * Comments(0)
Christmas is coming and on Thursday 1st December there will be the official Christmas lights switch-on for Gorton.  This will take place in Tesco car park from 5:30 onwards.  There will be stalls, entertainment and the tree.  All welcome. ... More
£1 Billion to tackle youth unemployment
Friday, November 25th, 2011 by aldcadmin
Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined a £1 billion pound Youth Contract to tackle youth unemployment. The aim is to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done. Over three years, the Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24 year olds into work. Starting April 2012 Including 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements. In addition, there will be at least ... More
Labour’s voodoo economics
Posted November 25, 2011 * Comments(0)
After 18 months of complaining that the coalition is cutting “too far, too fast” we now have the Labour Leader complaining that by 2015 there’ll still be a huge deficit and the Government should do more to get rid of it. Of course, by 2015 the deficit will only be down to 2008 levels, at which time both of the Eds were firmly in charge of economic policy for the Labour Government.  So seriously, if Labour really do agree that the deficit is too high and want it cutting even further than planned, but do not want any spending cuts at ... More
Milking the cash cow
Posted November 7, 2011 * Comments(0)
It looks like Manchester’s Labour Council’s new car parking fees managed to catch out over 300 motorists on the first Sunday when they were implemented.  This measure was never a cost-saver and the Council chose to ignore all of the City Centre residents and businesses who pointed out that the new charging scheme would deter people from coming into the City Centre and spending their money in the restaurants and shops, with places like the Trafford Centre benefiting instead. I am concerned with next Sunday, Remembrance Sunday.  Many veterans and families who don’t usually come into the City Centre will be ... More
Turning down money
Posted October 31, 2011 * Comments(0)
When the fortnightly bin collection was brought in earlier this year, the Labour-controlled Council in Manchester made it clear was nothing to do with cost-cutting. Indeed, the change was cost-neutral. This was about the environment. Well, now that environment is filling up with refuse and the communal black bins have not been popular (to say the least). However the Government is offering Councils a share of £250 million to switch back to weekly black bin collections. Now such an offer usually comes with strings, but it would be good to know what those strings are and for us to decide if this ... More
Closing police station front desks not necessary
Posted September 26, 2011 * Comments(0)
Greater Manchester Police have released a list of police station front desks which are to close, they are: Harpurhey, Grey Mare Lane, Plant Hill, Cheetham Hill, Colyhurst, Greenheys, Gorton, Elizabeth Slinger Road, Didsbury, Chorlton, Little Hulton, Salford, Denton, Stalybridge, Droylsden, Hazel Grove, Reddish, Astley Bridge, Farnworth, Westhoughton, Atherton, Bamfurlong, Ashton in Makerfield, Standish, Hindley, Urmston, Sale, Ramsbottom, Prestwich, Radcliffe, Littleborough, Heywood, Failsworth, Uppermill and Royton. The problem is that they have tried to close front desks before, but they do a useful job especially for those without transport who have to visit a police station in person (people on bail for ... More
Nick Clegg’s speech to Liberal Democrat Conference 2011
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 by aldcadmin
Deputy Prime Minister addresses the Party Conference in Birmingham. You can read the full text of the speech here. ... More
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