Conflict over fire cuts in London
We are almost at the final post with the fire consultation in London (final day for submissions is 17 June) with cuts proposed to 12 fire stations, 18 engines and 520 firefighters.
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‘Enough is enough’ – Wales’s message to Osborne
In the latest instalment of Labour’s on-going expectation’s management effort to level with the public about what it can and can’t achieve in such a difficult financial environment, Carwyn Jones who, as first minister of Wales remains the leader of the only Labour government in the country, has warned of further cuts to come to unprotected budgets.
Labour should now look at the ‘triple lock’ state pension guarantee
Older people should of course expect a decent standard of living in retirement. But should they really expect a standard of living which outpaces that of the average worker, especially when the cost of proving it is likely to mean further cuts elsewhere in the welfare budget down the line?
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.
Wales standing up to UK austerity, argues First Minister
Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones has told AMs that Wales is making progress in “the most difficult economic circumstances” and that the Welsh government is “standing up” to UK government austerity and welfare policies.
Abandoning the winter fuel allowance for a mere £100 million: why bother?
Ed Balls is currently making a speech in which he will effectively renege on previous Labour Party statements that universality remained a “part of the bedrock” of the welfare state.
Ring-fencing the NHS and schools is no longer viable
The chancellor went on the Today programme this morning to trumpet his success in getting seven government departments to agree on their budgets for 2015-16 as part of the Spending Review that he will announce on 26 June. It is reported that they have all agreed to cuts of between 8 and 10 per cent.
First minister warns of pain to come in Wales
The first minister of Wales has issued a stark warning of painful financial decisions to come ahead of George Osborne’s spending review at the end of next month.
(Graph) Police numbers in London have fallen off a cliff edge since Boris became Mayor
2,900 police officers have been cut in London since May 2010, according to new figures released by the Metropolitan Police. Since his re-election in May 2012, Boris Johnson has also cut over 1,300 police officers – despite promising an extra 1,000, the figures show.
Is the shine coming off the Boris bandwagon?
Boris could and should have taken action to stop many of the changes affecting Londoners. Instead many of the decisions he has taken on policing, on tube fares and on housing are beginning to be more vigorously scrutinised and slowly but surely the shine is starting to wear off the Boris bandwagon.