Everyone should know who owns the press – for the sake of our democracy
Everyone agrees that newspapers play a crucial role in British democracy, even if they disagree what that role is.
Guest
Why ‘One Nation Social Security’ also needs a map and compass
In Ed Miliband’s speech on social security yesterday, he set out a number of ways in which the present system pays for failure: having too many people in long-term unemployment; subsidising low paid work; subsidising rents rather than building homes; and not recognising contribution.
The EU should listen to Turkish demonstrators and engage
Since the demonstrations broke out in Turkey last week, an unprecedented number of articles have been published highlighting the deeper causes of people’s grievances.
An Ed Balls up on benefits for rich pensioners
I am used to David Cameron shooting from the hip with knee jerk, ill thought out policies to respond to public opinion but I thought that Ed Balls would be cleverer than that.
Cutting top rate taxes makes the rich richer. And that’s it
So, cutting taxes just makes the rich richer. And that’s it. And since we know inequality harms society these tax rates, it follows, are harmful to us all – the rich included.
Vote against clean power target for 2030 is major setback for UK economy
At PMQs, David Cameron outlined that yesterday’s House of Commons vote against a cross-party amendment to set a clean power target for 2030 was the right outcome. While the issue might seem a long way from the electorate’s concerns, the result will have a serious impact on the working lives of many people in the country.
The greed of the executives and their cosiness to government enables high pay culture
So it is not the acquiescence of the general population that enables executive pay and levels of inequality to keep increasing. It is the greed of the executives themselves, and their cosiness with a government too weak to take them on.
True ‘austerity’ would require those at the top to shoulder a much greater burden
Rather than making society’s most vulnerable members carry the can, true ‘austerity’ would require those at the top to bear the much greater burden, in order to bring down increasingly obscene levels of unequal wealth.
The Energy Bill will hurt UK car makers
One way of supporting the UK motor industry would be to introduce a 2030 decarbonisation target into the Energy Bill to help decarbonisation the fuel needed for electric cars. If Parliament is serious about balancing the economy, it should accept the amendment before it today.
Cuts to legal aid will see people priced out of justice
The truth is we will all be worse off if these proposals become law. The prospect of legal intervention is the surest way of securing a society where respect for human rights, equality and due process guides the behaviour of our decision-makers. This botched attempt to get justice on the cheap would put justice out of reach for all but the most powerful.