IT is unthinkable now that, less than 20 years ago, some employers in this city and beyond were getting away with paying workers below a pound an hour.
Yet awful though that sounds, it is in fact a grim reality of a Britain that had been left to rot during two decades of Tory rule under Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
I can even remember the opposition that the Labour government faced following its election in 1997, when it set about introducing a minimum wage that was long overdue.
Opponents warned of economic collapse, of businesses ceasing to exist, of ruin and resultant joblessness.
This was, of course, utter nonsense as it quickly became clear that the additional disposable income created by having a minimum wage bolstered local economies, rather than destroying them. This is not to mention the fact that having a minimum wage was the morally right thing to do.
It is with that episode in mind that I am absolutely confident that Derby’s major employers should now be ready and able to do something even more progressive by adopting the Living Wage.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the Living Wage raises the bar above the minimum wage to a level which reflects the true costs of existing in Britain today.
Derby is in a better position than many other cities in regard to the Living Wage – the city council has already committed to its adoption and, in doing so, has helped to dispel many of the myths which opponents to it are keen to put about.
Such as the alleged escalating costs as the knock-on effect of rising salaries is felt higher up the pay ladder. In fact, this suggestion is nonsense. It is very easy for employers to dampen the impact so that the benefits are felt at the bottom end of the pay scales without impacting on those already earning a decent salary.
No organisation in our city has been placed under more intense pressure than the council in the last five years – with budgets drastically cut and increased expectations – and if it can find a way to make the Living Wage work then so can other employers.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Derby could truly become Britain’s first Living Wage City? What a statement it would make if people knew that earning the Living Wage was the very least that Derby’s workforce could expect.
We are all unified in a hope of improving Derby’s local economy and making it a better place to work in order to attract the best possible talent. Local workers tend to reinvest a large proportion of their earnings within their own economy, creating an upward spiral of growth. The more organisations that support this, then the greater the impact will be.
That is why I have just written to every employer with more than 100 staff in Derby’s ‘travel to work’ area, in the hope of persuading them to make the Living Wage commitment. This is about companies saying: “We value our workforce and we’re prepared to put our money where our mouth is”.
I am not naïve enough to recognise that Derby becoming a Living Wage City is not going to happen tomorrow, next week or next month. But because something is aspirational does not make it unachievable. It is certainly very possible; all that is needed is the will to make it happen.
Saturday, 17 January 2015
Sunday, 11 January 2015
CORPORATE FAT-CATS ENJOYED £500,000 PAY RISE IN 2014:
TIME TO FORCE CAPITALISM TO WORK FOR EVERYONE
AT the time of writing (3.00pm on Sunday 11 January 2015) Britain’s top company executives had already ‘earned’ (sic) over £90,500 in 2015. In fact they’d made more money by last Tuesday, (6 January 2015), than most UK workers will earn all year!
That’s why last Tuesday was dubbed ‘Fatcat Tuesday’. On that day top bosses’ earnings surpassed the average full-time UK worker's annual salary – just two days after returning to work following the Christmas and New Year holidays!
Calculations by the High Pay Centre think-tank showed that earnings for company executives returning to work last Monday had reached the equivalent of the UK average salary of £27,200 by late afternoon on ‘Fatcat Tuesday.’
FTSE 100 Chief Executives are paid an average £4.72 million. The High Pay Centre found that even if CEOs are assumed to work long hours with very few holidays, this is equivalent to hourly pay of nearly £1,200
When the High Pay Centre made the same calculation last year, the think-tank estimated that top bosses would have to wait until the first working Wednesday of 2014 to surpass the earnings of the average worker. But while pay realised by FTSE 100 Chief Executives has risen by nearly £500,000 since last year, the annual pay of the average UK worker has increased by just £200, from £27,000 to £27,200.
These figures demonstrate that the Government’s half-hearted effort to curb top pay by giving shareholders the power to veto excessive pay packages has been a complete failure.
Labour’s plans to make firms publish the ratio of their top earners pay compared to average employees and put worker representatives on remuneration committees would help to tackle this grotesque inequality.
Let’s remember that the UK is one of the richest nations on the planet. But if we are ever going to make our economy more productive and ensure that everyone shares in Britain’s wealth, we need a different approach.
That means standing up to big business and the super-rich to start making capitalism work for everyone, not just Britain’s wealthiest individuals, as is the case now. One important step we should take is to give workers the power to force employers to share pay more fairly throughout their organisation. We could also follow the Ecuadorian example that requires companies to pay the Living Wage before they can declare any dividends for shareholders.
If anyone doubts the need to take action I suggest you watch the BBC2 documentary ‘The super-rich and us’ screened last week. It’s available now on iPayer.
AT the time of writing (3.00pm on Sunday 11 January 2015) Britain’s top company executives had already ‘earned’ (sic) over £90,500 in 2015. In fact they’d made more money by last Tuesday, (6 January 2015), than most UK workers will earn all year!
That’s why last Tuesday was dubbed ‘Fatcat Tuesday’. On that day top bosses’ earnings surpassed the average full-time UK worker's annual salary – just two days after returning to work following the Christmas and New Year holidays!
Calculations by the High Pay Centre think-tank showed that earnings for company executives returning to work last Monday had reached the equivalent of the UK average salary of £27,200 by late afternoon on ‘Fatcat Tuesday.’
FTSE 100 Chief Executives are paid an average £4.72 million. The High Pay Centre found that even if CEOs are assumed to work long hours with very few holidays, this is equivalent to hourly pay of nearly £1,200
When the High Pay Centre made the same calculation last year, the think-tank estimated that top bosses would have to wait until the first working Wednesday of 2014 to surpass the earnings of the average worker. But while pay realised by FTSE 100 Chief Executives has risen by nearly £500,000 since last year, the annual pay of the average UK worker has increased by just £200, from £27,000 to £27,200.
These figures demonstrate that the Government’s half-hearted effort to curb top pay by giving shareholders the power to veto excessive pay packages has been a complete failure.
Labour’s plans to make firms publish the ratio of their top earners pay compared to average employees and put worker representatives on remuneration committees would help to tackle this grotesque inequality.
Let’s remember that the UK is one of the richest nations on the planet. But if we are ever going to make our economy more productive and ensure that everyone shares in Britain’s wealth, we need a different approach.
That means standing up to big business and the super-rich to start making capitalism work for everyone, not just Britain’s wealthiest individuals, as is the case now. One important step we should take is to give workers the power to force employers to share pay more fairly throughout their organisation. We could also follow the Ecuadorian example that requires companies to pay the Living Wage before they can declare any dividends for shareholders.
If anyone doubts the need to take action I suggest you watch the BBC2 documentary ‘The super-rich and us’ screened last week. It’s available now on iPayer.
Friday, 9 January 2015
£1000 REWARD FOR GUILDFORD GIN TRAP CULPRIT INFORMATION
The League Against Cruel Sports and the Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) have today launched a public appeal and a £1000 reward for information leading to the successful conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for setting the illegal gin traps resulting in the death of two foxes in Guildford, Surrey.
The animal welfare and wildlife charities have partnered up to offer the cash incentive fearing that there may be more of the cruel devices in the area.
Anyone with information relating to the perpetrators and the traps are being urged to contact the League via their Wildlife CrimeWatch Line in complete confidence on 01483 361 108 or via the charity’s website using their online form as soon as possible to prevent any further wild animals, pets or even child casualties. Alternatively members of the public can report information to the Police by calling 101 and quoting crime watch reference number: P15006136.
WAF Chief Executive Simon Cowell MBE said: "We don’t know how many gin traps there are in the area. If some very sadistic person has been going around putting out these traps around Guildford to try to kill foxes, it is anybody's guess how many of the devices are out there.”
Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive of the League said: “Like snares, gin traps are incredibly archaic, indiscriminate and inherently cruel devices - designed purely to cause destruction, pain and suffering.
“We hope that by partnering up with Wildlife Aid to offer this monetary incentive, anyone with information will come forward to prevent any more wild animals, pets or even people falling victim.”
The animal welfare and wildlife charities have partnered up to offer the cash incentive fearing that there may be more of the cruel devices in the area.
Anyone with information relating to the perpetrators and the traps are being urged to contact the League via their Wildlife CrimeWatch Line in complete confidence on 01483 361 108 or via the charity’s website using their online form as soon as possible to prevent any further wild animals, pets or even child casualties. Alternatively members of the public can report information to the Police by calling 101 and quoting crime watch reference number: P15006136.
WAF Chief Executive Simon Cowell MBE said: "We don’t know how many gin traps there are in the area. If some very sadistic person has been going around putting out these traps around Guildford to try to kill foxes, it is anybody's guess how many of the devices are out there.”
Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive of the League said: “Like snares, gin traps are incredibly archaic, indiscriminate and inherently cruel devices - designed purely to cause destruction, pain and suffering.
“We hope that by partnering up with Wildlife Aid to offer this monetary incentive, anyone with information will come forward to prevent any more wild animals, pets or even people falling victim.”
Thursday, 8 January 2015
JE SUIS CHARLIE
The response from the Dialogue Society to the brutal murders of the Charlie Hebdo journalists and police officers by death sect fanatics, who pervert the teachings of Islam to justify their repugnant actions, is apposite.
The Dialogue Society says: "Such horrific actions represent an assault on human dignity and democratic values and can never be justified. At the Dialogue Society we promote open and candid dialogue and interaction where ideas are aired, appreciated and only challenged, if challenged at all, again through ideas.
"In these difficult times we offer the families of the victims and the people of France our heartfelt condolences. We wish those injured a speedy recovery and pray for peace, unity and patience between communities in France and around the world. We call upon everyone to stand together and united against such murderous acts."
International solidarity to defend the values brought about by the French revolution of liberty, equality and fraternity are more important now than ever.
We need to ensure that the crazy, brutalised perversion of Islamic teachings, that drove those killers to behave like frenzied monsters, is defeated through liberty, equality and fraternity.
The natural condition of humanity is to show compassion and love. Indeed the very term humanity is a byword for compassion and love. The truth is when humanity defaults to its natural condition of humanity, it surpasses anything offered by any religion.
All of us need to, in the words of Professor Brian Cox: "...learn to value the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, and not just because it grows our economy or allows us to build better bombs.
"We must also learn to value the human race and take responsibility for our own survival. Why? Because there's nobody out there to value us or to look after us.
"And finally, most important of all, we must educate the next generation in the great discoveries of science, and we must teach them to use the light of reason to banish the darkness of superstition. Because if we do that, at least there's a chance that this universe will remain a human one."
If the horrific scenes in Paris yesterday galvanises the world against the darkness of superstition that ultimately drives some people to intimidate and murder, the deaths of those Charlie Hebdo journalists, and the police officers protecting them, will not have been in vain.
The Dialogue Society says: "Such horrific actions represent an assault on human dignity and democratic values and can never be justified. At the Dialogue Society we promote open and candid dialogue and interaction where ideas are aired, appreciated and only challenged, if challenged at all, again through ideas.
"In these difficult times we offer the families of the victims and the people of France our heartfelt condolences. We wish those injured a speedy recovery and pray for peace, unity and patience between communities in France and around the world. We call upon everyone to stand together and united against such murderous acts."
International solidarity to defend the values brought about by the French revolution of liberty, equality and fraternity are more important now than ever.
We need to ensure that the crazy, brutalised perversion of Islamic teachings, that drove those killers to behave like frenzied monsters, is defeated through liberty, equality and fraternity.
The natural condition of humanity is to show compassion and love. Indeed the very term humanity is a byword for compassion and love. The truth is when humanity defaults to its natural condition of humanity, it surpasses anything offered by any religion.
All of us need to, in the words of Professor Brian Cox: "...learn to value the acquisition of knowledge for its own sake, and not just because it grows our economy or allows us to build better bombs.
"We must also learn to value the human race and take responsibility for our own survival. Why? Because there's nobody out there to value us or to look after us.
"And finally, most important of all, we must educate the next generation in the great discoveries of science, and we must teach them to use the light of reason to banish the darkness of superstition. Because if we do that, at least there's a chance that this universe will remain a human one."
If the horrific scenes in Paris yesterday galvanises the world against the darkness of superstition that ultimately drives some people to intimidate and murder, the deaths of those Charlie Hebdo journalists, and the police officers protecting them, will not have been in vain.
Friday, 2 January 2015
LET'S USE 2015 TO REDISCOVER THE SPIRIT OF 1945
ANOTHER new year is upon us and in just over four months we face a stark choice about the kind of country we want Britain to be.
The impact of austerity over the last four and a half years has been felt by nearly everyone living in Derby.
It’s resulted in local people seeing their wages fall relative to prices, forced others to accept lower paid employment after losing their jobs and left too many young people unemployed.
It’s cut a swathe through our local public services, hitting the city’s most vulnerable and needy citizens the hardest. But everyone else in Derby has been affected too. From waiting longer for NHS appointments to paying to have your brown bin collected to no longer seeing floral displays on the city’s roundabouts.
Our public services define a decent society, yet we are on a trajectory that will take public spending down to a level not seen since the 1930s.
Meanwhile, Britain’s wealthiest individuals have been handed huge tax cuts, privatised utility and train operating companies have been fleecing hard pressed consumers and highly profitable multinational companies pay no tax.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. This is the year the public has a chance to change direction.
We can make sure the economy works for everyone, not just those at the top.
We can start to make capitalism the slave of democracy, not the other way around. After all, the banks, the privatised companies and the multinationals operating in the UK make their profits from the British people and should be accountable to the British people.
We can make sure that funding for public services is distributed more equitably. This would secure a fair deal for Derby by ending the perverse funding system that resulted in government imposing disproportionate cuts on our city, while increasing funding for wealthier areas.
If we do that, we can reduce the deficit responsibly, without threatening our NHS or short changing our children and their future.
As the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said in his New Year message on Wednesday, this isn’t about idle dreams or empty promises. It's about a real, concrete plan: a plan for a recovery which reaches your kitchen table.
Seventy years ago my Mam and Dad were part of the generation that elected the first post-war Labour Government.
When the country was broke after fighting an all-consuming war, it was my parents’ generation who built the NHS, a modern welfare state and homes for people to live in.
They did all that and the government still managed to deal with the nation’s debts. They did it by growing the economy, securing full employment and ensuring a bigger proportion of the nation’s income went into workers’ wage packets. This generated the tax revenues needed to bring about the societal transformation they achieved.
We owe it to that wartime generation to rediscover the spirit of 1945 to make sure we don’t squander their legacy for which they made huge sacrifices.
The power is in our hands. But as my Dad used to say, it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand.
Happy New Year everyone.
The impact of austerity over the last four and a half years has been felt by nearly everyone living in Derby.
It’s resulted in local people seeing their wages fall relative to prices, forced others to accept lower paid employment after losing their jobs and left too many young people unemployed.
It’s cut a swathe through our local public services, hitting the city’s most vulnerable and needy citizens the hardest. But everyone else in Derby has been affected too. From waiting longer for NHS appointments to paying to have your brown bin collected to no longer seeing floral displays on the city’s roundabouts.
Our public services define a decent society, yet we are on a trajectory that will take public spending down to a level not seen since the 1930s.
Meanwhile, Britain’s wealthiest individuals have been handed huge tax cuts, privatised utility and train operating companies have been fleecing hard pressed consumers and highly profitable multinational companies pay no tax.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. This is the year the public has a chance to change direction.
We can make sure the economy works for everyone, not just those at the top.
We can start to make capitalism the slave of democracy, not the other way around. After all, the banks, the privatised companies and the multinationals operating in the UK make their profits from the British people and should be accountable to the British people.
We can make sure that funding for public services is distributed more equitably. This would secure a fair deal for Derby by ending the perverse funding system that resulted in government imposing disproportionate cuts on our city, while increasing funding for wealthier areas.
If we do that, we can reduce the deficit responsibly, without threatening our NHS or short changing our children and their future.
As the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said in his New Year message on Wednesday, this isn’t about idle dreams or empty promises. It's about a real, concrete plan: a plan for a recovery which reaches your kitchen table.
Seventy years ago my Mam and Dad were part of the generation that elected the first post-war Labour Government.
When the country was broke after fighting an all-consuming war, it was my parents’ generation who built the NHS, a modern welfare state and homes for people to live in.
They did all that and the government still managed to deal with the nation’s debts. They did it by growing the economy, securing full employment and ensuring a bigger proportion of the nation’s income went into workers’ wage packets. This generated the tax revenues needed to bring about the societal transformation they achieved.
We owe it to that wartime generation to rediscover the spirit of 1945 to make sure we don’t squander their legacy for which they made huge sacrifices.
The power is in our hands. But as my Dad used to say, it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand.
Happy New Year everyone.
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
LIB DEMS BETRAY FIREFIGHTERS
Here is the complete list of those who voted for and against the firefighters in yesterday's debate in the House of Commons on Labour's motion calling for the new firefighter pension regulations to be revoked.
The Lib Dems failed to support the motion and therefore ensured it was defeated. This is a disgraceful way to treat firefighters who spend their entire career risking their lives to keep the public safe only to see their pension undermined.
It will now fall to a Labour Government to ensure that firefighters receive a fair deal.
This is a list of those who voted at the end of the debate. You can read the full debate here: http://tinyurl.com/n475zb2
AYES i.e. those supporting the firefighters
Abbott, Ms Diane
Abrahams, Debbie
Ainsworth, rh Mr Bob
Alexander, rh Mr Douglas
Alexander, Heidi
Ali, Rushanara
Allen, Mr Graham
Anderson, Mr David
Ashworth, Jonathan
Austin, Ian
Bailey, Mr Adrian
Bain, Mr William
Balls, rh Ed
Banks, Gordon
Barron, rh Kevin
Bayley, Hugh
Beckett, rh Margaret
Begg, Dame Anne
Benn, rh Hilary
Berger, Luciana
Betts, Mr Clive
Birtwistle, Gordon
Blackman-Woods, Roberta
Blears, rh Hazel
Blomfield, Paul
Blunkett, rh Mr David
Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben
Brennan, Kevin
Brown, Lyn
Brown, rh Mr Nicholas
Brown, Mr Russell
Bryant, Chris
Buck, Ms Karen
Burden, Richard
Burnham, rh Andy
Byrne, rh Mr Liam
Campbell, rh Mr Alan
Campbell, Mr Ronnie
Caton, Martin
Champion, Sarah
Chapman, Jenny
Clark, Katy
Clarke, rh Mr Tom
Clwyd, rh Ann
Coaker, Vernon
Coffey, Ann
Cooper, Rosie
Cooper, rh Yvette
Corbyn, Jeremy
Crausby, Mr David
Creagh, Mary
Creasy, Stella
Cruddas, Jon
Cryer, John
Cunningham, Alex
Cunningham, Mr Jim
Cunningham, Sir Tony
Curran, Margaret
Dakin, Nic
Danczuk, Simon
David, Wayne
Davidson, Mr Ian
Davies, Geraint
De Piero, Gloria
Denham, rh Mr John
Dobson, rh Frank
Docherty, Thomas
Donaldson, rh Mr Jeffrey M.
Donohoe, Mr Brian H.
Doran, Mr Frank
Doughty, Stephen
Dowd, Jim
Doyle, Gemma
Dromey, Jack
Dugher, Michael
Durkan, Mark
Eagle, Ms Angela
Eagle, Maria
Edwards, Jonathan
Efford, Clive
Elliott, Julie
Ellman, Mrs Louise
Engel, Natascha
Esterson, Bill
Evans, Chris
Farron, Tim
Field, rh Mr Frank
Fitzpatrick, Jim
Flello, Robert
Flint, rh Caroline
Flynn, Paul
Fovargue, Yvonne
Francis, Dr Hywel
Galloway, George
Gapes, Mike
Gilbert, Stephen
Glass, Pat
Glindon, Mrs Mary
Godsiff, Mr Roger
Goodman, Helen
Greatrex, Tom
Green, Kate
Greenwood, Lilian
Griffith, Nia
Gwynne, Andrew
Hain, rh Mr Peter
Hamilton, Mr David
Hamilton, Fabian
Hancock, Mr Mike
Hanson, rh Mr David
Harman, rh Ms Harriet
Harris, Mr Tom
Harvey, Sir Nick
Havard, Mr Dai
Healey, rh John
Hepburn, Mr Stephen
Hermon, Lady
Heyes, David
Hillier, Meg
Hilling, Julie
Hodge, rh Margaret
Hodgson, Mrs Sharon
Hoey, Kate
Hood, Mr Jim
Hopkins, Kelvin
Hosie, Stewart
Howarth, rh Mr George
Hunt, Tristram
Huppert, Dr Julian
Irranca-Davies, Huw
Jackson, Glenda
James, Mrs Siân C.
Jamieson, Cathy
Jarvis, Dan
Johnson, rh Alan
Johnson, Diana
Jones, Graham
Jones, Helen
Jones, Mr Kevan
Jones, Susan Elan
Kane, Mike
Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald
Keeley, Barbara
Kendall, Liz
Khan, rh Sadiq
Lammy, rh Mr David
Lavery, Ian
Lazarowicz, Mark
Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma
Lewis, Mr Ivan
Llwyd, rh Mr Elfyn
Long, Naomi
Love, Mr Andrew
Lucas, Caroline
Lucas, Ian
Mactaggart, Fiona
Mahmood, Mr Khalid
Mahmood, Shabana
Malhotra, Seema
Mann, John
Marsden, Mr Gordon
McCabe, Steve
McCann, Mr Michael
McCarthy, Kerry
McClymont, Gregg
McDonagh, Siobhain
McDonald, Andy
McDonnell, John
McFadden, rh Mr Pat
McGovern, Jim
McInnes, Liz
McKechin, Ann
McKenzie, Mr Iain
McKinnell, Catherine
Meacher, rh Mr Michael
Meale, Sir Alan
Mearns, Ian
Miller, Andrew
Mitchell, Austin
Moon, Mrs Madeleine
Morden, Jessica
Morrice, Graeme
(Livingston)
Morris, Grahame M.
(Easington)
Mudie, Mr George
Munn, Meg
Murphy, rh Paul
Murray, Ian
Nandy, Lisa
Nash, Pamela
O'Donnell, Fiona
Onwurah, Chi
Osborne, Sandra
Owen, Albert
Paisley, Ian
Perkins, Toby
Phillipson, Bridget
Pound, Stephen
Powell, Lucy
Pugh, John
Qureshi, Yasmin
Raynsford, rh Mr Nick
Reed, Mr Jamie
Reed, Mr Steve
Reeves, Rachel
Reynolds, Emma
Reynolds, Jonathan
Riordan, Mrs Linda
Robertson, Angus
Robertson, John
Robinson, Mr Geoffrey
Rotheram, Steve
Roy, Mr Frank
Roy, Lindsay
Ruane, Chris
Ruddock, rh Dame Joan
Sanders, Mr Adrian
Sarwar, Anas
Sawford, Andy
Seabeck, Alison
Shannon, Jim
Sharma, Mr Virendra
Sheerman, Mr Barry
Sheridan, Jim
Shuker, Gavin
Skinner, Mr Dennis
Slaughter, Mr Andy
Smith, rh Mr Andrew
Smith, Nick
Smith, Owen
Straw, rh Mr Jack
Stringer, Graham
Stuart, Ms Gisela
Sutcliffe, Mr Gerry
Tami, Mark
Thomas, Mr Gareth
Thornberry, Emily
Timms, rh Stephen
Trickett, Jon
Turner, Karl
Twigg, Derek
Twigg, Stephen
Umunna, Mr Chuka
Vaz, rh Keith
Vaz, Valerie
Walley, Joan
Watson, Mr Tom
Watts, Mr Dave
Weir, Mr Mike
Whiteford, Dr Eilidh
Whitehead, Dr Alan
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Mr Mark
Williamson, Chris
Wilson, Sammy
Winnick, Mr David
Winterton, rh Ms Rosie
Wood, Mike
Woodcock, John
Woodward, rh Mr Shaun
Wright, David
Wright, Mr Iain
Tellers for the Ayes:
Tom Blenkinsop
and
Phil Wilson
NOES i.e. those opposing the firefighters
Adams, Nigel
Afriyie, Adam
Aldous, Peter
Alexander, rh Danny
Amess, Mr David
Andrew, Stuart
Arbuthnot, rh Mr James
Bacon, Mr Richard
Baker, rh Norman
Baker, Steve
Baldry, rh Sir Tony
Baldwin, Harriett
Barclay, Stephen
Barker, rh Gregory
Bebb, Guto
Bellingham, Mr Henry
Benyon, Richard
Beresford, Sir Paul
Berry, Jake
Bingham, Andrew
Blackwood, Nicola
Blunt, Crispin
Boles, Nick
Bone, Mr Peter
Bottomley, Sir Peter
Bradley, Karen
Brady, Mr Graham
Brake, rh Tom
Bray, Angie
Brazier, Mr Julian
Bridgen, Andrew
Brine, Steve
Brokenshire, James
Browne, Mr Jeremy
Bruce, Fiona
Bruce, rh Sir Malcolm
Buckland, Mr Robert
Burley, Mr Aidan
Burns, Conor
Burns, rh Mr Simon
Burrowes, Mr David
Burt, rh Alistair
Byles, Dan
Cairns, Alun
Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair
Carmichael, Neil
Cash, Sir William
Chishti, Rehman
Chope, Mr Christopher
Clappison, Mr James
Clark, rh Greg
Clegg, rh Mr Nick
Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey
Coffey, Dr Thérèse
Collins, Damian
Colvile, Oliver
Cox, Mr Geoffrey
Crabb, rh Stephen
Crouch, Tracey
Davey, rh Mr Edward
Davies, David T. C.
(Monmouth)
Davies, Glyn
Davies, Philip
Davis, rh Mr David
de Bois, Nick
Dinenage, Caroline
Djanogly, Mr Jonathan
Dorries, Nadine
Doyle-Price, Jackie
Drax, Richard
Duddridge, James
Duncan, rh Sir Alan
Duncan Smith, rh Mr Iain
Ellis, Michael
Ellison, Jane
Ellwood, Mr Tobias
Elphicke, Charlie
Evans, Graham
Evans, Jonathan
Evans, Mr Nigel
Evennett, Mr David
Fabricant, Michael
Fallon, rh Michael
Featherstone, rh Lynne
Field, Mark
Foster, rh Mr Don
Fox, rh Dr Liam
Francois, rh Mr Mark
Freeman, George
Freer, Mike
Fullbrook, Lorraine
Fuller, Richard
Gale, Sir Roger
Garnier, Mark
Gauke, Mr David
Gibb, Mr Nick
Gilbert, Stephen
Glen, John
Goldsmith, Zac
Goodwill, Mr Robert
Gove, rh Michael
Graham, Richard
Grant, Mrs Helen
Gray, Mr James
Grayling, rh Chris
Green, rh Damian
Grieve, rh Mr Dominic
Griffiths, Andrew
Gummer, Ben
Gyimah, Mr Sam
Hague, rh Mr William
Halfon, Robert
Hames, Duncan
Hammond, Stephen
Hancock, rh Matthew
Hands, rh Greg
Harper, Mr Mark
Harrington, Richard
Harris, Rebecca
Hart, Simon
Haselhurst, rh Sir Alan
Hayes, rh Mr John
Heald, Sir Oliver
Heath, Mr David
Heaton-Harris, Chris
Hemming, John
Henderson, Gordon
Hendry, Charles
Herbert, rh Nick
Hinds, Damian
Hoban, Mr Mark
Hollingbery, George
Hollobone, Mr Philip
Holloway, Mr Adam
Hopkins, Kris
Howarth, Sir Gerald
Howell, John
Hughes, rh Simon
Hunt, rh Mr Jeremy
Hunter, Mark
Hurd, Mr Nick
Jackson, Mr Stewart
James, Margot
Javid, rh Sajid
Jenkin, Mr Bernard
Jenrick, Robert
Johnson, Gareth
Johnson, Joseph
Jones, Andrew
Jones, rh Mr David
Jones, Mr Marcus
Kawczynski, Daniel
Kelly, Chris
Kirby, Simon
Knight, rh Sir Greg
Kwarteng, Kwasi
Lamb, rh Norman
Lancaster, Mark
Lansley, rh Mr Andrew
Latham, Pauline
Laws, rh Mr David
Leadsom, Andrea
Lefroy, Jeremy
Leigh, Sir Edward
Leslie, Charlotte
Letwin, rh Mr Oliver
Lewis, Brandon
Lewis, Dr Julian
Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian
Lidington, rh Mr David
Lilley, rh Mr Peter
Lloyd, Stephen
Lopresti, Jack
Lord, Jonathan
Loughton, Tim
Luff, Sir Peter
Lumley, Karen
Macleod, Mary
Main, Mrs Anne
Maude, rh Mr Francis
May, rh Mrs Theresa
Maynard, Paul
McCartney, Jason
McCartney, Karl
McIntosh, Miss Anne
McLoughlin, rh Mr Patrick
McPartland, Stephen
McVey, rh Esther
Menzies, Mark
Metcalfe, Stephen
Miller, rh Maria
Mills, Nigel
Milton, Anne
Moore, rh Michael
Mordaunt, Penny
Morgan, rh Nicky
Morris, Anne Marie
Morris, David
Morris, James
Mosley, Stephen
Mowat, David
Mundell, rh David
Munt, Tessa
Murray, Sheryll
Murrison, Dr Andrew
Neill, Robert
Newmark, Mr Brooks
Newton, Sarah
Nokes, Caroline
Norman, Jesse
Nuttall, Mr David
O'Brien, rh Mr Stephen
Offord, Dr Matthew
Ollerenshaw, Eric
Opperman, Guy
Ottaway, rh Sir Richard
Paice, rh Sir James
Parish, Neil
Patel, Priti
Paterson, rh Mr Owen
Pawsey, Mark
Penning, rh Mike
Penrose, John
Percy, Andrew
Perry, Claire
Phillips, Stephen
Pickles, rh Mr Eric
Pincher, Christopher
Poulter, Dr Daniel
Prisk, Mr Mark
Randall, rh Sir John
Redwood, rh Mr John
Rees-Mogg, Jacob
Reevell, Simon
Reid, Mr Alan
Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm
Robathan, rh Mr Andrew
Robertson, rh Sir Hugh
Robertson, Mr Laurence
Rogerson, Dan
Rosindell, Andrew
Rudd, Amber
Ruffley, Mr David
Rutley, David
Sandys, Laura
Scott, Mr Lee
Selous, Andrew
Shapps, rh Grant
Sharma, Alok
Shelbrooke, Alec
Shepherd, Sir Richard
Simmonds, Mark
Simpson, Mr Keith
Skidmore, Chris
Smith, Chloe
Smith, Henry
Smith, Julian
Soames, rh Sir Nicholas
Soubry, Anna
Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline
Spencer, Mr Mark
Stanley, rh Sir John
Stephenson, Andrew
Stevenson, John
Stewart, Bob
Stewart, Iain
Stewart, Rory
Streeter, Mr Gary
Stride, Mel
Stunell, rh Sir Andrew
Sturdy, Julian
Swales, Ian
Swayne, rh Mr Desmond
Swinson, Jo
Swire, rh Mr Hugo
Syms, Mr Robert
Teather, Sarah
Thornton, Mike
Thurso, rh John
Timpson, Mr Edward
Tomlinson, Justin
Tredinnick, David
Truss, rh Elizabeth
Turner, Mr Andrew
Tyrie, Mr Andrew
Uppal, Paul
Vaizey, Mr Edward
Vara, Mr Shailesh
Vickers, Martin
Villiers, rh Mrs Theresa
Walker, Mr Charles
Walker, Mr Robin
Wallace, Mr Ben
Ward, Mr David
Watkinson, Dame Angela
Webb, rh Steve
Wharton, James
Wheeler, Heather
White, Chris
Whittaker, Craig
Whittingdale, Mr John
Wiggin, Bill
Willetts, rh Mr David
Williams, Stephen
Williamson, Gavin
Willott, Jenny
Wilson, Mr Rob
Wollaston, Dr Sarah
Wright, rh Jeremy
Wright, Simon
Yeo, Mr Tim
Young, rh Sir George
Zahawi, Nadhim
The Lib Dems failed to support the motion and therefore ensured it was defeated. This is a disgraceful way to treat firefighters who spend their entire career risking their lives to keep the public safe only to see their pension undermined.
It will now fall to a Labour Government to ensure that firefighters receive a fair deal.
This is a list of those who voted at the end of the debate. You can read the full debate here: http://tinyurl.com/n475zb2
AYES i.e. those supporting the firefighters
Abbott, Ms Diane
Abrahams, Debbie
Ainsworth, rh Mr Bob
Alexander, rh Mr Douglas
Alexander, Heidi
Ali, Rushanara
Allen, Mr Graham
Anderson, Mr David
Ashworth, Jonathan
Austin, Ian
Bailey, Mr Adrian
Bain, Mr William
Balls, rh Ed
Banks, Gordon
Barron, rh Kevin
Bayley, Hugh
Beckett, rh Margaret
Begg, Dame Anne
Benn, rh Hilary
Berger, Luciana
Betts, Mr Clive
Birtwistle, Gordon
Blackman-Woods, Roberta
Blears, rh Hazel
Blomfield, Paul
Blunkett, rh Mr David
Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben
Brennan, Kevin
Brown, Lyn
Brown, rh Mr Nicholas
Brown, Mr Russell
Bryant, Chris
Buck, Ms Karen
Burden, Richard
Burnham, rh Andy
Byrne, rh Mr Liam
Campbell, rh Mr Alan
Campbell, Mr Ronnie
Caton, Martin
Champion, Sarah
Chapman, Jenny
Clark, Katy
Clarke, rh Mr Tom
Clwyd, rh Ann
Coaker, Vernon
Coffey, Ann
Cooper, Rosie
Cooper, rh Yvette
Corbyn, Jeremy
Crausby, Mr David
Creagh, Mary
Creasy, Stella
Cruddas, Jon
Cryer, John
Cunningham, Alex
Cunningham, Mr Jim
Cunningham, Sir Tony
Curran, Margaret
Dakin, Nic
Danczuk, Simon
David, Wayne
Davidson, Mr Ian
Davies, Geraint
De Piero, Gloria
Denham, rh Mr John
Dobson, rh Frank
Docherty, Thomas
Donaldson, rh Mr Jeffrey M.
Donohoe, Mr Brian H.
Doran, Mr Frank
Doughty, Stephen
Dowd, Jim
Doyle, Gemma
Dromey, Jack
Dugher, Michael
Durkan, Mark
Eagle, Ms Angela
Eagle, Maria
Edwards, Jonathan
Efford, Clive
Elliott, Julie
Ellman, Mrs Louise
Engel, Natascha
Esterson, Bill
Evans, Chris
Farron, Tim
Field, rh Mr Frank
Fitzpatrick, Jim
Flello, Robert
Flint, rh Caroline
Flynn, Paul
Fovargue, Yvonne
Francis, Dr Hywel
Galloway, George
Gapes, Mike
Gilbert, Stephen
Glass, Pat
Glindon, Mrs Mary
Godsiff, Mr Roger
Goodman, Helen
Greatrex, Tom
Green, Kate
Greenwood, Lilian
Griffith, Nia
Gwynne, Andrew
Hain, rh Mr Peter
Hamilton, Mr David
Hamilton, Fabian
Hancock, Mr Mike
Hanson, rh Mr David
Harman, rh Ms Harriet
Harris, Mr Tom
Harvey, Sir Nick
Havard, Mr Dai
Healey, rh John
Hepburn, Mr Stephen
Hermon, Lady
Heyes, David
Hillier, Meg
Hilling, Julie
Hodge, rh Margaret
Hodgson, Mrs Sharon
Hoey, Kate
Hood, Mr Jim
Hopkins, Kelvin
Hosie, Stewart
Howarth, rh Mr George
Hunt, Tristram
Huppert, Dr Julian
Irranca-Davies, Huw
Jackson, Glenda
James, Mrs Siân C.
Jamieson, Cathy
Jarvis, Dan
Johnson, rh Alan
Johnson, Diana
Jones, Graham
Jones, Helen
Jones, Mr Kevan
Jones, Susan Elan
Kane, Mike
Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald
Keeley, Barbara
Kendall, Liz
Khan, rh Sadiq
Lammy, rh Mr David
Lavery, Ian
Lazarowicz, Mark
Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma
Lewis, Mr Ivan
Llwyd, rh Mr Elfyn
Long, Naomi
Love, Mr Andrew
Lucas, Caroline
Lucas, Ian
Mactaggart, Fiona
Mahmood, Mr Khalid
Mahmood, Shabana
Malhotra, Seema
Mann, John
Marsden, Mr Gordon
McCabe, Steve
McCann, Mr Michael
McCarthy, Kerry
McClymont, Gregg
McDonagh, Siobhain
McDonald, Andy
McDonnell, John
McFadden, rh Mr Pat
McGovern, Jim
McInnes, Liz
McKechin, Ann
McKenzie, Mr Iain
McKinnell, Catherine
Meacher, rh Mr Michael
Meale, Sir Alan
Mearns, Ian
Miller, Andrew
Mitchell, Austin
Moon, Mrs Madeleine
Morden, Jessica
Morrice, Graeme
(Livingston)
Morris, Grahame M.
(Easington)
Mudie, Mr George
Munn, Meg
Murphy, rh Paul
Murray, Ian
Nandy, Lisa
Nash, Pamela
O'Donnell, Fiona
Onwurah, Chi
Osborne, Sandra
Owen, Albert
Paisley, Ian
Perkins, Toby
Phillipson, Bridget
Pound, Stephen
Powell, Lucy
Pugh, John
Qureshi, Yasmin
Raynsford, rh Mr Nick
Reed, Mr Jamie
Reed, Mr Steve
Reeves, Rachel
Reynolds, Emma
Reynolds, Jonathan
Riordan, Mrs Linda
Robertson, Angus
Robertson, John
Robinson, Mr Geoffrey
Rotheram, Steve
Roy, Mr Frank
Roy, Lindsay
Ruane, Chris
Ruddock, rh Dame Joan
Sanders, Mr Adrian
Sarwar, Anas
Sawford, Andy
Seabeck, Alison
Shannon, Jim
Sharma, Mr Virendra
Sheerman, Mr Barry
Sheridan, Jim
Shuker, Gavin
Skinner, Mr Dennis
Slaughter, Mr Andy
Smith, rh Mr Andrew
Smith, Nick
Smith, Owen
Straw, rh Mr Jack
Stringer, Graham
Stuart, Ms Gisela
Sutcliffe, Mr Gerry
Tami, Mark
Thomas, Mr Gareth
Thornberry, Emily
Timms, rh Stephen
Trickett, Jon
Turner, Karl
Twigg, Derek
Twigg, Stephen
Umunna, Mr Chuka
Vaz, rh Keith
Vaz, Valerie
Walley, Joan
Watson, Mr Tom
Watts, Mr Dave
Weir, Mr Mike
Whiteford, Dr Eilidh
Whitehead, Dr Alan
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Mr Mark
Williamson, Chris
Wilson, Sammy
Winnick, Mr David
Winterton, rh Ms Rosie
Wood, Mike
Woodcock, John
Woodward, rh Mr Shaun
Wright, David
Wright, Mr Iain
Tellers for the Ayes:
Tom Blenkinsop
and
Phil Wilson
NOES i.e. those opposing the firefighters
Adams, Nigel
Afriyie, Adam
Aldous, Peter
Alexander, rh Danny
Amess, Mr David
Andrew, Stuart
Arbuthnot, rh Mr James
Bacon, Mr Richard
Baker, rh Norman
Baker, Steve
Baldry, rh Sir Tony
Baldwin, Harriett
Barclay, Stephen
Barker, rh Gregory
Bebb, Guto
Bellingham, Mr Henry
Benyon, Richard
Beresford, Sir Paul
Berry, Jake
Bingham, Andrew
Blackwood, Nicola
Blunt, Crispin
Boles, Nick
Bone, Mr Peter
Bottomley, Sir Peter
Bradley, Karen
Brady, Mr Graham
Brake, rh Tom
Bray, Angie
Brazier, Mr Julian
Bridgen, Andrew
Brine, Steve
Brokenshire, James
Browne, Mr Jeremy
Bruce, Fiona
Bruce, rh Sir Malcolm
Buckland, Mr Robert
Burley, Mr Aidan
Burns, Conor
Burns, rh Mr Simon
Burrowes, Mr David
Burt, rh Alistair
Byles, Dan
Cairns, Alun
Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair
Carmichael, Neil
Cash, Sir William
Chishti, Rehman
Chope, Mr Christopher
Clappison, Mr James
Clark, rh Greg
Clegg, rh Mr Nick
Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey
Coffey, Dr Thérèse
Collins, Damian
Colvile, Oliver
Cox, Mr Geoffrey
Crabb, rh Stephen
Crouch, Tracey
Davey, rh Mr Edward
Davies, David T. C.
(Monmouth)
Davies, Glyn
Davies, Philip
Davis, rh Mr David
de Bois, Nick
Dinenage, Caroline
Djanogly, Mr Jonathan
Dorries, Nadine
Doyle-Price, Jackie
Drax, Richard
Duddridge, James
Duncan, rh Sir Alan
Duncan Smith, rh Mr Iain
Ellis, Michael
Ellison, Jane
Ellwood, Mr Tobias
Elphicke, Charlie
Evans, Graham
Evans, Jonathan
Evans, Mr Nigel
Evennett, Mr David
Fabricant, Michael
Fallon, rh Michael
Featherstone, rh Lynne
Field, Mark
Foster, rh Mr Don
Fox, rh Dr Liam
Francois, rh Mr Mark
Freeman, George
Freer, Mike
Fullbrook, Lorraine
Fuller, Richard
Gale, Sir Roger
Garnier, Mark
Gauke, Mr David
Gibb, Mr Nick
Gilbert, Stephen
Glen, John
Goldsmith, Zac
Goodwill, Mr Robert
Gove, rh Michael
Graham, Richard
Grant, Mrs Helen
Gray, Mr James
Grayling, rh Chris
Green, rh Damian
Grieve, rh Mr Dominic
Griffiths, Andrew
Gummer, Ben
Gyimah, Mr Sam
Hague, rh Mr William
Halfon, Robert
Hames, Duncan
Hammond, Stephen
Hancock, rh Matthew
Hands, rh Greg
Harper, Mr Mark
Harrington, Richard
Harris, Rebecca
Hart, Simon
Haselhurst, rh Sir Alan
Hayes, rh Mr John
Heald, Sir Oliver
Heath, Mr David
Heaton-Harris, Chris
Hemming, John
Henderson, Gordon
Hendry, Charles
Herbert, rh Nick
Hinds, Damian
Hoban, Mr Mark
Hollingbery, George
Hollobone, Mr Philip
Holloway, Mr Adam
Hopkins, Kris
Howarth, Sir Gerald
Howell, John
Hughes, rh Simon
Hunt, rh Mr Jeremy
Hunter, Mark
Hurd, Mr Nick
Jackson, Mr Stewart
James, Margot
Javid, rh Sajid
Jenkin, Mr Bernard
Jenrick, Robert
Johnson, Gareth
Johnson, Joseph
Jones, Andrew
Jones, rh Mr David
Jones, Mr Marcus
Kawczynski, Daniel
Kelly, Chris
Kirby, Simon
Knight, rh Sir Greg
Kwarteng, Kwasi
Lamb, rh Norman
Lancaster, Mark
Lansley, rh Mr Andrew
Latham, Pauline
Laws, rh Mr David
Leadsom, Andrea
Lefroy, Jeremy
Leigh, Sir Edward
Leslie, Charlotte
Letwin, rh Mr Oliver
Lewis, Brandon
Lewis, Dr Julian
Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian
Lidington, rh Mr David
Lilley, rh Mr Peter
Lloyd, Stephen
Lopresti, Jack
Lord, Jonathan
Loughton, Tim
Luff, Sir Peter
Lumley, Karen
Macleod, Mary
Main, Mrs Anne
Maude, rh Mr Francis
May, rh Mrs Theresa
Maynard, Paul
McCartney, Jason
McCartney, Karl
McIntosh, Miss Anne
McLoughlin, rh Mr Patrick
McPartland, Stephen
McVey, rh Esther
Menzies, Mark
Metcalfe, Stephen
Miller, rh Maria
Mills, Nigel
Milton, Anne
Moore, rh Michael
Mordaunt, Penny
Morgan, rh Nicky
Morris, Anne Marie
Morris, David
Morris, James
Mosley, Stephen
Mowat, David
Mundell, rh David
Munt, Tessa
Murray, Sheryll
Murrison, Dr Andrew
Neill, Robert
Newmark, Mr Brooks
Newton, Sarah
Nokes, Caroline
Norman, Jesse
Nuttall, Mr David
O'Brien, rh Mr Stephen
Offord, Dr Matthew
Ollerenshaw, Eric
Opperman, Guy
Ottaway, rh Sir Richard
Paice, rh Sir James
Parish, Neil
Patel, Priti
Paterson, rh Mr Owen
Pawsey, Mark
Penning, rh Mike
Penrose, John
Percy, Andrew
Perry, Claire
Phillips, Stephen
Pickles, rh Mr Eric
Pincher, Christopher
Poulter, Dr Daniel
Prisk, Mr Mark
Randall, rh Sir John
Redwood, rh Mr John
Rees-Mogg, Jacob
Reevell, Simon
Reid, Mr Alan
Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm
Robathan, rh Mr Andrew
Robertson, rh Sir Hugh
Robertson, Mr Laurence
Rogerson, Dan
Rosindell, Andrew
Rudd, Amber
Ruffley, Mr David
Rutley, David
Sandys, Laura
Scott, Mr Lee
Selous, Andrew
Shapps, rh Grant
Sharma, Alok
Shelbrooke, Alec
Shepherd, Sir Richard
Simmonds, Mark
Simpson, Mr Keith
Skidmore, Chris
Smith, Chloe
Smith, Henry
Smith, Julian
Soames, rh Sir Nicholas
Soubry, Anna
Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline
Spencer, Mr Mark
Stanley, rh Sir John
Stephenson, Andrew
Stevenson, John
Stewart, Bob
Stewart, Iain
Stewart, Rory
Streeter, Mr Gary
Stride, Mel
Stunell, rh Sir Andrew
Sturdy, Julian
Swales, Ian
Swayne, rh Mr Desmond
Swinson, Jo
Swire, rh Mr Hugo
Syms, Mr Robert
Teather, Sarah
Thornton, Mike
Thurso, rh John
Timpson, Mr Edward
Tomlinson, Justin
Tredinnick, David
Truss, rh Elizabeth
Turner, Mr Andrew
Tyrie, Mr Andrew
Uppal, Paul
Vaizey, Mr Edward
Vara, Mr Shailesh
Vickers, Martin
Villiers, rh Mrs Theresa
Walker, Mr Charles
Walker, Mr Robin
Wallace, Mr Ben
Ward, Mr David
Watkinson, Dame Angela
Webb, rh Steve
Wharton, James
Wheeler, Heather
White, Chris
Whittaker, Craig
Whittingdale, Mr John
Wiggin, Bill
Willetts, rh Mr David
Williams, Stephen
Williamson, Gavin
Willott, Jenny
Wilson, Mr Rob
Wollaston, Dr Sarah
Wright, rh Jeremy
Wright, Simon
Yeo, Mr Tim
Young, rh Sir George
Zahawi, Nadhim
Sunday, 14 December 2014
DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE ABOUT IDEAS AND VALUES NOT THE SIZE OF YOUR BANK BALANCE
The Government has changed the law on election spending, increasing election spending limits by £6.2 million - £3.2 million more than the increase recommended by the independent Electoral Commission.
This change in the law is likely to help the Conservatives in the forthcoming general election, as they are the only party currently in a position to take advantage of an increase in spending limits of this size.
They have failed to deliver on their promises to balance the nation’s books and failed to help people to balance theirs. Their policies have impoverished millions while creating record numbers of millionaires. To add insult to injury they’ve also cut tax liabilities for the growing ranks of millionaires while introducing the bedroom tax on Britain’s poorest households.
But they want to go even further. The Tories want to cut the state back to the level it was in the 1930s and now we know they want to buy an election they don’t deserve to win.
This is a party flush with big money backers but without the empathy or ideas the country needs so they are rigging the rules of our democracy in their favour.
This additional spending could potentially see the Tories flood their key seats with millions more leaflets, postcards and other campaign material.
This change in the law comes as the Conservatives are receiving huge sums from an exclusive network backers, including hedge funds, big city interests and secretive supper clubs. Analysis reveals that:
• Hedge funds are bankrolling the Tory Party: they have given the Tories £52 million in total.
• Since the election the Tories have received £6m from secretive Unincorporated Associations, which are clubs that don’t have to declare all their donations.
• The Tories are increasingly funnelling cash to target constituencies: they have raised £2.6 million for key seats since 2010, 60% of which has gone to defensive seats.
This is an indication as to why solidarity is so important in the face of these overwhelming financial odds.
It is imperative that people who believe in progressive policies and social justice get behind the Labour Party to defeat the forces of conservatism. If we fail, the consequences for our country will be dire.
This change in the law is likely to help the Conservatives in the forthcoming general election, as they are the only party currently in a position to take advantage of an increase in spending limits of this size.
They have failed to deliver on their promises to balance the nation’s books and failed to help people to balance theirs. Their policies have impoverished millions while creating record numbers of millionaires. To add insult to injury they’ve also cut tax liabilities for the growing ranks of millionaires while introducing the bedroom tax on Britain’s poorest households.
But they want to go even further. The Tories want to cut the state back to the level it was in the 1930s and now we know they want to buy an election they don’t deserve to win.
This is a party flush with big money backers but without the empathy or ideas the country needs so they are rigging the rules of our democracy in their favour.
This additional spending could potentially see the Tories flood their key seats with millions more leaflets, postcards and other campaign material.
This change in the law comes as the Conservatives are receiving huge sums from an exclusive network backers, including hedge funds, big city interests and secretive supper clubs. Analysis reveals that:
• Hedge funds are bankrolling the Tory Party: they have given the Tories £52 million in total.
• Since the election the Tories have received £6m from secretive Unincorporated Associations, which are clubs that don’t have to declare all their donations.
• The Tories are increasingly funnelling cash to target constituencies: they have raised £2.6 million for key seats since 2010, 60% of which has gone to defensive seats.
This is an indication as to why solidarity is so important in the face of these overwhelming financial odds.
It is imperative that people who believe in progressive policies and social justice get behind the Labour Party to defeat the forces of conservatism. If we fail, the consequences for our country will be dire.
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