This blog sets out the budget policy changes that took place during and after the chaos of the Truss administration; it explores the current levels of social security in the UK and a comparison of these levels with other countries; it examines the extent of welfare cuts since 2010; considers some options which we are … Continue reading Who will bear the burden of Sunak’s ‘difficult decisions’?
Yet again Bedfordshire faces further cutbacks to its already threadbare public transport provision after Stagecoach is set to hand over the keys to its 72/73 route between Bedford, Sandy, Potton and Biggleswade. Central Bedfordshire Council 'Bus Service Improvement Plan', launched in October 2021 is in tatters as rural Bedfordshire risks becoming a public transport desert. … Continue reading Bedfordshire’s buses in a jam
Liz Truss's honeymoon period, if indeed there was one, was already well and truly over prior to the Conservative Party Conference earlier this week. The Chancellor's 'fiscal statement', 'mini budget', 'largest tax giveaway in 50 years', call it what you will, sent shock waves through the financial markets, shudders through Tory 'red wall' MPs and … Continue reading The Tory lurch to the right – in speeches
So there we have it, the big reveal, Any pretence of following 'one nation' Toryism, of 'fixing the burning injustices' in our society, or helping the 'just about managing' have been abandoned in a grim dash to cut taxes for the most well off in our society. It is a wide open field, but perhaps … Continue reading A budget by the rich, for the rich
Dear Richard I am writing to you to raise my concerns about the inaction of your government in relation to the looming energy price cap rise and in particular the impact on energy customers using prepayment meters. As I am sure you are aware, the latest forecast for the energy price cap rise coming into … Continue reading A letter to my MP on the looming energy bills catastrophe
A very bleak winter looms for many across the UK, as the Tories become ever more detached from the lives of ordinary people. A combination of inflation reaching levels not seen since 1990 and stagnant wage increases, particularly among public sector workers, means that many people are being thrust into a catastrophic cost of living … Continue reading The looming cost of living emergency
The fallout from the pandemic has been seen by many in the corporate world as an ideal opportunity to change the terms and conditions of their workforce. Once again we have a Conservative government that is asking ordinary working people to become poorer, while MPs line their pockets with second jobs and the salaries of … Continue reading Tories set sights on trade union reps
Five years on and still we are waiting for anyone to be held accountable. Why is it that the wheels of justice always turn so slowly, if at all, for the working class and marginalised communities? The Grenfell Inquiry has revealed how the pursuit of profit was prioritised over the safety of people, shamefully enabled … Continue reading Five years on from Grenfell
In light of the recent behaviour of Boris Johnson and this week's updating of the Ministerial Code, I have again written to our local MP, Richard Fuller about how these updates further reduce Boris Johnson's accountability and asking him to reconsider his current support for the Prime Minister. The letter is set out in full … Continue reading An open letter to Richard Fuller MP
I have written previously in 'Tories crack the Ministerial Code' about how the current government has significantly eroded the public's trust in politics. In light of the recent behaviour of Boris Johnson and this week's updating of the Ministerial Code, I have again written to my local MP, Richard Fuller about how these updates further … Continue reading An open letter to my Tory MP on changes to the Ministerial Code
Julian Vaughan 