The number of families living in poverty has grown by 200,000 in the past year. There are more children in poverty whose parents work than those who do not – highlighting that it is not just unemployment that causes poverty. New analysis reveals that in 2008/2009, there were 3.4 million families classed as “working poor”.
The Government’s axe looks like it will fall on the the frontline. It has been announced that there will be a reduction in the number of service men and women in order to save money, whilst continuing with massive defence procurement spending – drawing criticism from the Pentagon and the tabloid press alike.
One possible theory about the swing from David to Ed Miliband, reported in YouGov’s latest poll, is that the interventions of Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson may have done more to hinder than help the candidate that they were tryingtest
Ed Balls took time out from holding Michael Gove to account at the weekend to turn his ammo on Gove’s deputy Sarah Teather, who has thus far escaped censure for the schools cuts – and who it now emerges lobbied her boss to give preferential treatment to schools in her Brent Central constituency and spare them the Building Schools for the Future axe.
London Mayor Boris Johnson today branded the Coalition’s immigration cap “a shambles” – putting him once again on a collision course with the Government.
The Government has announced that it is to press ahead with plans to privatise the Royal Mail – describing the action as “urgent”. A number of recommendations have been given to the Coalition from the former deputy chairman of Ofcom, Richard Hooper. Speaking out this afternoon, Labour leadership candidate Ed Balls and former London mayor Ken Livingstone opposed the privatisation.
Ed Jacobs looks back at the week’s events in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yesterday, Experian reported on the impact of that on the north east where 43 per cent of jobs are in the public sector. In Tees Valley, three council areas – Middlesbrough, Redcar and Hartlepool – all have very low resilience because they only have industries vulnerable to damage and closure, skill levels too low for easy transfer to other occupations, ageing populations and a weak enterprise culture.
Today it was announced that Boris Johnson is to stand as the Conservative candidate in the 2012 election to be mayor of London, hoping for a second term in office…
David Willetts, minister of science, yesterday confirmed on the Today programme that the science budget will be cut. Although I don’t agree with this policy, I was not surprised. The decision has been widely trailed, with most university departments quietly bracing themselves for this outcome.
