Look Left: Universal Credit, the Bangladesh garment worker tragedy and another blow for the ‘greenest government ever’
James Bloodworth looks back at the week’s politics, including our progressive, regressive and evidence of the week.
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Supreme Court rules UK government is breaching pollution laws
The UK will need to improve its plans for tackling air pollution after the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the government has breached laws that protect people from the harmful effects of air pollution.
Youth unemployment over 70,000 under the coalition
Since the coalition took office long term youth unemployment has risen to over 70,000, according to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Had an accident playing sport? The Tories want you to pay for your treatment
People in Wales suffering accidents through sporting activity could be subject to an ‘activity tax’ under new Tory proposals. Conservative AM Darren Millar said on a radio phone-in show that individuals putting themselves at high risk through their own choice could be charged by the NHS.
(Graph) Number of times the word ‘scrounger’ has been used in UK newspapers since 1994
The dichotomy between “shirkers” on the one hand and “strivers” on the other is the backdrop against which the coalition is reforming welfare. Building the narrative, however, relies upon a friendly, nay compliant media.
Parents who don’t vaccinate their children with MMR ‘irresponsible’, say 7 in 10 parents
In a sign that the message is starting to get through about the danger of measles, seven out of ten parents believe parents who do not vaccinate their children with MMR are being irresponsible, according to a new ComRes/ITV poll.
ITV has learnt nothing from the MMR/autism scandal
The current measles outbreak is in large part down to parents not getting their children vaccinated in the late nineties/early noughties because of misinformation about a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Not everyone has learnt from past mistakes, either.
Where is the logic in restricting prisoners’ access to exercise?
The Mail reports today that the government is to “end the cushy life in prison” for British inmates, who will apparently be denied access to television and the gym. “Instead offenders will start their life behind bars adhering to a spartan regime, wearing prison uniform and having to earn any perks,” the Mail adds.
Majority of the public believes coalition’s economic plan has failed, according to new poll
A majority of the public believes the government’s economic plan has failed and that it will be ‘time for a change’ in 2015, according to a ComRes survey for tomorrow’s Independent.