SOAS Cleaners at Yarl's Wood
Marina Silva and Rosa dePerez were picked up in a brutal immigration raid on 12 June at the School of African & Oriental Studies (SOAS) in London. They both worked as cleaners, along with other colleagues who were deported. Marina and Rosa are in detention at Yarl' s Wood Immigration Removal Centre at Clapham.
Marina is 63. She has applied for asylum following the killing of her husband and threats to her own life. The campaign for the Home Office to grant leave to remain for both Marina and Rosa is supported by UNISON and UCU (Universities and Colleges Union). As a UCU member it is a campaign that I fully support.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
The Future of Middle Schools
My own view on Middle Schools is that they should be scrapped. The present three tier system should change to two tiers, ending what for many pupils is a disruptive break at age 13. The educational and social arguments are well known, and the changeover ought to have been made many years ago. The council should give a clear lead and present to parents the various options for making the change.
My own view on Middle Schools is that they should be scrapped. The present three tier system should change to two tiers, ending what for many pupils is a disruptive break at age 13. The educational and social arguments are well known, and the changeover ought to have been made many years ago. The council should give a clear lead and present to parents the various options for making the change.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Doctors Condemn 'Commercial' NHS
The BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum has said that moves to create polyclinics and PFI schemes, which use private money to build hospitals, are draining the health service of resources and fragmenting care, the BBC News reports.
This was a Labour government in the good times. As the recession continues we face a bleak future of cuts in public services. Nobody believes that following the General Election, a Conservative or a Labour goverment would do anything other than continue the policies that are slowly but surely destroying the NHS.
The BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum has said that moves to create polyclinics and PFI schemes, which use private money to build hospitals, are draining the health service of resources and fragmenting care, the BBC News reports.
This was a Labour government in the good times. As the recession continues we face a bleak future of cuts in public services. Nobody believes that following the General Election, a Conservative or a Labour goverment would do anything other than continue the policies that are slowly but surely destroying the NHS.
Monday, 30 March 2009
We Won't Pay For Their Crisis
The words on a banner at Saturday's London March before the 'G20' meeting this week.
But the reality is that we will pay, if they have their way.
That is, the poor around the world will pay for capitalism's crisis.
Already, in the thick of the crisis, they are busy planning for business as usual.
The words on a banner at Saturday's London March before the 'G20' meeting this week.
But the reality is that we will pay, if they have their way.
That is, the poor around the world will pay for capitalism's crisis.
Already, in the thick of the crisis, they are busy planning for business as usual.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Another Minister Bends the Rules
After the Home Secretary's creative efforts with her allowances, now the Employment Minister Tony McNulty has been caught up to tricks.
The simple fact is this New Labour government has no principles. Both at an individual ministerial level, and as a government. New Labour has never had any moral high ground. The entire banking crisis in this country was allowed to happen by a government without any moral compass. Everyone except the government could seek the credit bubble was unsustainable. When the General Election comes sometime in the next year or so, New Labour will pay a heavy price.
After the Home Secretary's creative efforts with her allowances, now the Employment Minister Tony McNulty has been caught up to tricks.
The simple fact is this New Labour government has no principles. Both at an individual ministerial level, and as a government. New Labour has never had any moral high ground. The entire banking crisis in this country was allowed to happen by a government without any moral compass. Everyone except the government could seek the credit bubble was unsustainable. When the General Election comes sometime in the next year or so, New Labour will pay a heavy price.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Fred's Pension: 3
It's been getting even better for Fred.
Things are looking up.
It transpires Fred the Shred has already taken a tax-free lump sum of £2.7m as an advance on his £16.9m pension pile. Yes, that's right : tax-free.
And - cheek - the Shred has kindly offered to pay back the £2.7m , if the Tax Man will only promise not to ask for the tax still due.
His annual pension has already been revised upwards to £703,000 per year, from the £650,000 - odd we were first told.
Meanwhile the pathetic Lord Myners says it wasn't my fault.
Pigs at the trough - it's not a pleasant sight.
It's been getting even better for Fred.
Things are looking up.
It transpires Fred the Shred has already taken a tax-free lump sum of £2.7m as an advance on his £16.9m pension pile. Yes, that's right : tax-free.
And - cheek - the Shred has kindly offered to pay back the £2.7m , if the Tax Man will only promise not to ask for the tax still due.
His annual pension has already been revised upwards to £703,000 per year, from the £650,000 - odd we were first told.
Meanwhile the pathetic Lord Myners says it wasn't my fault.
Pigs at the trough - it's not a pleasant sight.
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