Report sets out ‘”devastating impact” of Westminster’s welfare cuts

Low income families across Scotland will be thousands of pounds a year worse off per year because of welfare cuts imposed by the UK government, a new report has found. The Scottish Government report, ‘the Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Families with Children’, looks at what the policies implemented since 2015 will mean for families. Continue reading Report sets out ‘”devastating impact” of Westminster’s welfare cuts

A lost generation

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An alliance of leading independent and third sector service providers has warned that Scotland faces a ‘lost generation’ of children and young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN) if cuts in public services continue, making it extremely challenging for the Scottish Government to close the educational attainment gap. Continue reading A lost generation

I, Daniel Blake: Action Against Austerity event this Saturday

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Around 500 activists are planning to take the message of ‘ I, DANIEL  BLAKE‘  from the cinema into our communities and will be calling on the Scottish Government to do everything in their power to eradicate the draconian elements in the UK Welfare provision. Continue reading I, Daniel Blake: Action Against Austerity event this Saturday

I, Daniel Blake anger spills out of the cinema

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    Campaigners across Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government to do everything in their power to eradicate the draconian elements in the UK Welfare provision. The opportunity  arises as elements of the Welfare Budget are transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
    ‘I Daniel Blake’ shows the impact of the UK Government’s attack on welfare provision. It depicts the disrespect and de-humanisation and the creation of a blame culture on those who find themselves relying
    on welfare provision.
    Following previews of the film across Edinburgh at Friday 21 st October’s opening night over 50 community campaigners pledged to take their distress and anger at the demonisation of those who need benefits to the Parliament.
    Campaigners, organisations and Unions will be outside the Scottish Parliament at 1pm tomorrow (Thursday 27 October) after First Minister’s Question Time.
    We will be asking all MSPs to sign a large ‘I Daniel Blake’ poster to show their support for a radical change to the welfare system in Scotland.
    A meeting is being arranged for Saturday 26th November to mobilise all parts of Scotland to pressure their MSPs to maximise the opportunity that any transfer of welfare provision to the Scottish Parliament allows.
    Community groups throughout the east of Scotland will be holding showings of the film when the DVD becomes available in January to continue the mobilisation.
    Willie Black – Action against Austerity 

Continue reading I, Daniel Blake anger spills out of the cinema

Community groups welcome at Anti-Cuts event

Still time to register for Saturday’s conference
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Edinburgh Labour Anti Cuts Conference

Saturday 1 October, 9.15 am – 4.00 pm, St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, 2- 20 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh

Hi, a reminder that if you haven’t already done so you can still register here for Saturday’s event:
Full details of the event can be found here:
We’d really welcome your attendance and involvement.

A penny for your thoughts

Former Edinburgh District Council Housing and Finance convener JIMMY BURNETT was among the hundreds who took to take part in a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament to protest at cuts to council budgets yesterday.

He supports Labour’s case for a 1p tax rise – and argues that we must pay more to support crucial public services:

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I fully support a one penny tax rise. With the proposed rebate system, those earning £20,000 or less, would pay no additional tax. Those earning £30,000 would pay around £16.00 a month. Those earning £150,000, would pay an additional £28.00 a week, £112.00 extra per month. Continue reading A penny for your thoughts

U-turn welcome but Scotland still faces cuts

Swinney condemns ‘austerity of choice’

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Chancellor George Osborne’s U-turn on tax credits has been widely welcomed, but Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney has warned that the Scottish Government will see a real terms reduction of almost 6 per cent in the funding for day to day public services over the next four years. Continue reading U-turn welcome but Scotland still faces cuts

Swinney urges Osborne: do the right thing

Chancellor must listen to growing opposition to austerity measures

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The Scottish Government has consistently demonstrated that the UK’s deficit and debt can be brought down without the need for huge public spending cuts as set out by the UK Government, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary John Swinney said today. Continue reading Swinney urges Osborne: do the right thing