The Women’s Income Network (WIN) is a network of charities, MPs and individuals who have come together in order to construct an informed and unified response to each and every cut which will disproportionately affect women in the coming months and years. From the Fawcett Society to The Child Poverty Action Group, each participating organisation is working independently to protect those who will be disadvantaged by the coalition’s cuts.
Echoing his plea in yesterday’s Daily Mirror for conscionable Lib Dems to help Labour crush the worst cuts, Ed Miliband told the Scottish Labour conference: “A week from Tuesday we will force a vote in the House of Commons on housing benefit. Our appeal is to all MPs of conscience. Join us, vote against these unfair and unworkable changes and force the government to think again.”
Welfare systems need to address two different types of situation faced by working age households. They need to provide short-to-medium term support for living costs in response to labour market fluctuations and frictional unemployment; and longer term support for those who are without a market income for extended periods (in practice many households are located on a continuum between these two poles).
Britain does not have a “bloated welfare” system despite George Osborne’s rhetoric. The truth is that welfare spending is lower than at any time from 1979 to 1997.
So far we have few details, and all that has been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions is that there will be a green paper – the most tentative form of government policy statement – before Christmas.
Over the last fortnight it has become clear: the govt. is planning a wholesale assault on universalism; should we defend the middle class welfare state or not?
George Osborne today announced the end of child benefit as a universal benefit. The move is in direct contradiction to his conference speech last year.
Next Wednesday, nominations will open for Labour’s shadow cabinet election. With 14 male members of the current shadow cabinet chasing a maximum of 13 places, one of Labour’s big guns can expect to be disappointed. One man hoping for antest
If the Lib Dem debate on ‘Ensuring Fairness in a Time of Austerity’ is to be a serious one, it must recommend a fundamental change of strategy for the Lib Dems.
During the election, David Cameron reassured voters over the Winter Fuel Allowance by urging them to “read my lips”. Just like George HW Bush, Cameron looks set to renege on his promise.
