Politics – Page 210 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Soapbox: Revolution – or evolution of delusion?

So Russell Brand’s no longer just a comedian, he’s a campaigner. But like him or loathe him at least he makes you think, argues Broughton High School student ROSS COWPER:

Over the past year Russell Brand has become some sort of liberating Jesus for some younger people in particular.

Born 1975 in Gray’s Essex, Russell Brand decided from a relatively early age that to get out of the run down place he lived, he would have to ‘better’ himself by becoming rich, famous or even both.

Russel got his wish by presenting for MTV, but it was his excessive drug use that kept giving him problems in the infancy of his career. In 2008 he resigned from the BBC for a prank call to Andrew Sachs; soon most people were not taking him seriously, and it was’t because of his comedic status.

Over the last year, following his guest editing for the New Statesman, Russell took to a new step in his career and life. He’s changed his opinions: either because he is in a better circumstances, or genuinely thinks that money and fame is not the way out. Following a Jeremy Paxman interview on Newnight, Russell Brand’s words became viral overnight on Twitter.

Russell actively encouraged that, to bring about change, the British people should’t vote. He explained that there must be a “massive redistribution of wealth” and accused ‘big business’ as a major player in the world’s corrupt societies.

Since the release of his book on the 25 October, ‘Revolution’ has unquestionably came under fire from political commentators, reviewers and from some sections some of the public. In his book Russell Brand argues that politicians now have to bend over to the media 24/7, in an attempt to make sure they look desirable with indisputable charisma to become next in line to inherit the idiotic throne of what PM has become.

Over the last decade especially the position has been filled with awkward fake smiling ones, to who try appease the ‘great’ British public that Romanians are taking the biscuit now, and its time for the reclaiming of our land!

Now don’t get me wrong, there are some good politicians out there, but many TV voxpop interviews in town centres show people saying they think all politicians don’t do a good job, or any job for that matter – it seems almost a disease to think that one could actually help you.

It does appear that some at the Guardian, the Daily Mail and the Telegraph do not agree with what Russell says in his book: he has been questioned on his books content – or for the lack of it. It can also be said that many of these political commentators are from higher class backgrounds, and they do have pacts to keep with certain parties after all. So who could blame them, they do have a job to keep!

So with Russell Brand posing different questions, and to this higher classed level of politicians, he may not have the most expanded substance in certain chapters of his book, but he is making a considerable noise.

I think it is the challenging the social norm of the political business-minded elite that are frightened of (especially the commentators). This is precisely why there has been so much noise recently over the matter; not the ‘revolution’ as such, but potential talk of change for poorer people in Britain.

In my opinion the book does contain some fallacies, but it is about learning the horrid inequality and wrongly distribution power of wealth. If anyone can get that through to people by even having to use the word ‘revolution’, then they have done something most politicians can’t.

Britain may be a long way away from the uprising, and the discarding of a golden statue of David Cameron put up by taxpayers money but ripped from it’s foundations by the people. We may be waiting some time …

New Year … and the gloves are off already

2015 is a General Election year and the Westminster parties are off to a flying start – David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have all issued New Year messages to kick off their campaigns.

In a video message, Prime Minister David Cameron insists the government’s economic plan is working and said Britain faces a choice between ‘competence and chaos’.

Ed Miliband, however, says people he has spoken to all across the country are desperate for change and he has promised an economic recovery that reaches people’s “kitchen table” if he becomes Prime Minister in May.

And Nick Clegg’s getting in on the act too …

Never mind, only five more months campaigning to go until the election … Happy New Year!

MP calls for fair deal for bmi staff

Debate raises pensions puzzle

Edinburgh North & Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz MP led a debate in Parliament today to call for pensions justice for bmi staff.

A number of bmi staff – some of whom are Edinburgh-based – saw their pensions significantly reduced after takeovers first by Lufthansa, then by IAG, the group that includes British Airways.

Lufthansa is paying compensation to members of the bmi pension fund but it is to be subject to tax and National Insurance by HMRC. One constituent lost out substantially because of this and contacted the North & Leith MP: their discussion resulted in today’s Westminster debate.

Speaking after the debate, Mr Lazarowicz said: Longstanding staff, some of them based here in Edinburgh, have seen their pensions cut significantly and are now losing out again as the compensation is taxed by HMRC.

“The Government has said it has no choice but to apply the tax rules but it is the Government itself and Parliament that decide what the tax rules are.

“This is a matter of justice and has much wider implications for pensions: if a perfectly solvent company takes over another solvent company with pension liabilities, how is it possible for both companies to be freed of responsibility for those pension liabilities?

“The Government should act to allow bmi staff to receive the compensation in full – employee pensions built up over years should not be wiped away amidst commercial wheeling and dealing.”

When bmi was sold to Lufthansa in 2009 there was no obligation on it to fund the pension scheme although it was prepared to continue to do so to a limited degree. When Lufthansa then sold bmi to IAG in 2012, the pension fund was excluded from the deal.

At that point it entered the public Pension Protection Fund which does not pay all of the pension entitlement built up where staff have not yet reached retirement and some staff have lost as much as 50% of their entitlement even after the Lufthansa compensation.

In the case of Equitable Life, the Government decided to pay compensation tax-free to those members who lost out and in another taxation issue, improvements to listed buildings, it set up a fund to compensate for the imposition of VAT.

Sturgeon ‘confident’ over votes for young people

Entente cordiale over votes for 16 and 17 year olds

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has expressed confidence that the powers necessary to allow 16 and 17 year-olds to vote will be devolved to Holyrood in time for the next Scottish Parliament elections.

Speaking outside Number 10 Downing Street yesterday after her first meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron since she took office, Ms Sturgeon said she believed both Scottish and UK governments would give the matter the required focus to allow the franchise to be extended before the 2016 vote.

The First Minister said the talks had been “constructive and cordial” and that there was a will on behalf of both governments to work together in the interests of the people in Scotland.

But she warned that the early devolution of the necessary powers via a Section 30 order, would offer a significant early test of Westminster’s desire to implement the wider Smith Commission proposals.

The First Minister said: “The talks with the Prime Minister in Downing Street were constructive and cordial. Clearly David Cameron and I have big political differences and different views on the constitutional future of Scotland, but there was a real appetite on the part of both to find ways of working together in the interests of the people of Scotland.

“Following the meeting, I am confident that we now have the basis of a deal on the necessary devolution of powers to extend the franchise to 16 and 17 year-olds in time for the 2016 election, giving us the opportunity to build on the huge success of the engagement we saw in the referendum.

“But we need to move quickly if this is going to happen. We need to see a Section 30 order that will transfer the legal power to the Scottish Parliament before Westminster breaks up for the General Election to give us the requisite time to enact primary legislation. Following my discussions today, I think that timetable has been accepted and we now need to see a focus by both governments to make it happen.”

Ms Sturgeon added: “The process necessary to transfer the franchise powers is not just important because it will extend the right to vote to 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland. It offers a significant early test of the desire on the part of Westminster to implement the wider proposals contained within the Smith Commission.

“Given the goodwill outlined by both parties during today’s discussions, there is no reason that the focus and desire to take forward this particular change so swiftly should not be extended to the rest of the Commission’s recommendations.”

Downing Street said the first official meeting between the two leaders had been ‘very cordial and constructive’.

A spokesperson said: “They discussed the Smith Commission’s recommendation on the Scottish Parliament having the power to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds, and the Prime Minister told the First Minister that he will do all he can to ensure 16 and 17 year olds can vote in next Holyrood elections.

“They also agreed to establish a joint ministerial working group with UK and Scottish Government ministers to look at practical implementation and transitional issues around Department for Work and Pensions programmes.

“The Prime Minister made clear that he wants to work with the First Minister, forging even stronger ties between our governments and our Parliaments and working together on the big issues for the future of Scotland and the United Kingdom.”

Benefit Cap: 'a clear incentive to work'?

The benefit cap is providing a clear incentive to work, according to new research released by the Department for Work and Pensions today. However opponents say welfare reforms have damaged society and have not produced savings promised by the government.

The Westminster government says it has long suspected that the benefit cap was having a positive impact on people’s lives, compelling them to find work, and that the publications ‘now show this is undoubtedly the case’.

The benefit cap was introduced as part of the government’s long-term economic planso that people on out-of-work benefits do not receive more than the average working family earns.

The research shows that:

those who would be impacted by the cap are 41% more likely to go into work than a similar group who fall just below the cap’s level, but this trend didn’t exist before the cap was in place – indeed those with higher weekly benefit used to be less likely to move into work
before the benefit cap fewer than 300 of the highest claiming families got over £9 million in benefits every year – the cap is preventing this and saving millions of pounds a year
38% of those capped said they were doing more to find work, a third were submitting more applications and 1 in 5 went to more interviews
where households said they intended to seek work because of the cap in February 2014 (45%) by August the vast majority of them (85%) had done so – 2 in 5 (40%) of those who said they had looked for work because of the cap in February actually entered employment by August.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “We know that the benefit cap has had a real impact in changing attitudes and behaviours, and now we have evidence showing that our welfare reforms are encouraging people into work.

“By putting an end to runaway benefit claims and introducing a system which guarantees you will always be better off in work, we are incentivising people find employment. Every month hundreds of people who have been affected by the cap are making the positive move into work – gaining the financial security and esteem that comes with a job and a pay packet.

“As part of our long-term economic plan, we’ll continue to support people to break free from welfare dependency so they can look forward to a better, more secure future for themselves and their families”.

The DWP cites London as a good example of the policy working.

‘In London where the highest number of people are subject to the benefit cap, scare stories claimed that people would be pushed out of the capital. In actuality, of those capped households living in inner London that moved, 84% continued to live in the central boroughs. In London there is also larger likelihood of capped households moving into work with those in scope for the cap being 70% more likely to go into work than their equivalents just below the cap’.

One interviewee in the research said: “It gave me the shock of my life. But it’s given me the kick I need. I can see what the gentleman was saying, why should we pay for your lifestyle. We should want to work. We shouldn’t sit on our backsides watching Jeremy Kyle. I genuinely do want to work.”

While the government may believe it is on the right track, it’s fair to say that not everyone is convinced that the controversial cap is working, however. Trades Unions, disability rights organisations, charities, anti-poverty campaign groups, churches and opposition political parties all continue to condemn the government’s ‘draconian’ welfare reforms. They point to record numbers of families using food banks as evidence that the welfare reforms are hurting poor families – both in work and on benefits.

There’s also doubt about how much – or how little – money is being saved by the welfare reforms. Today, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said savings from the cap were ‘small’. They say the cap affects about 27,000 families in the UK – less than 1% of working-age families who receive housing benefits – and saved around £100m a year.

More about the benefit cap

Introduced in April 2013 the benefit cap is set at a rate of no more than £500 a week for couples and families and £350 for single people – £500 a week is equivalent to a salary of £34,000 a year after tax.

Over 50,000 households have had their benefits capped since April 2013 and since then 23,900 are no longer impacted – 12,000 because they have found work or are no longer claiming Housing benefit at all.

Burgess: 'Westminster has failed fuel poor'

Scottish Government calls on UK to do more to address fuel poverty

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has demanded Westminster do more to cut fuel bills for vulnerable households as new figures show higher energy prices pushed more people into fuel poverty in 2013.

Mrs Burgess has asked the UK Government to urgently increase the £140 a year Warm Homes Discount that helps low income households.

The Scottish House Condition Survey, published yesterday, shows a seven per cent increase in fuel prices between 2012 and 2013 led to 100,000 more households living in fuel poverty.

Fuel bills have now risen nearly six times faster than household incomes since 2003.

Scottish Government spending on domestic energy efficiency, which is £94 million this year and next, has already made hundreds of thousands of homes warmer and cheaper to heat and, as the report indicates, has helped to mitigate the rise in fuel poverty.

Mrs Burgess said: “Fuel prices rose by an inflation-busting seven per cent in 2013, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is scandalous.

“We have invested over £300 million since 2009 to make fuel poor homes more energy efficient. This year and next, we are spending £94 million to improve energy efficiency. Around one in three Scottish households, over 700,000, have now benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation.

“These statistics make clear that without action to improve energy efficiency, which is our responsibility, price increases would have put even more households into fuel poverty in 2013.

“So the Scottish Government is doing what it can, but we don’t control prices and don’t have any powers over ECO or the Warm Homes Discount.

“Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003, while the UK Government’s fiscal policies since June 2010 will leave the poorest 20 per cent of households worse off by the equivalent of £441 per year in 2015-16. We will mitigate against this where possible but we know there are further cuts to come.

“That is why we are calling on the UK Government to increase the Warm Homes Discount and fund that increase centrally. That would give immediate relief to the lowest income households and those on benefits and go some way to lifting people out of fuel poverty this winter.”

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow and a member of Holyrood’s economy and energy committee, called for major investment in energy-efficient housing as statistics confirmed that the Government will fail its target of ending fuel poverty by 2016.

The latest figures show that 36 per cent of housing is in urgent disrepair, with 51 per cent of private housing failing the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. The biggest reason for houses failing is ‘Not Energy Efficient’.

Patrick Harvie MSP said: “Energy efficient homes should be a national infrastructure priority and I will continue to press for this to feature in the forthcoming Scottish budget. It would help create thousands of high quality jobs while also tackling fuel poverty.

“We also need college courses and well-paid modern apprenticeships in energy efficiency. Fuel prices and profiteering by the energy companies must be urgently tackled across the UK, but unless the Scottish Government also steps up investment we’ll miss out on the potential for energy efficiency jobs in Scotland.”

Call for clarity on free school meals

The Scottish Government has welcomed progress being made across Scotland in preparation for the introduction of free school meals for all P1 – 3 pupils next month – but Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the policy must be supported with modern facilities.

The measure, which comes into effect on 5 January, is expected to benefit around 135,000 pupils across Scotland and will save families of every eligible child at least £330 a year.

Following agreement with COSLA, the Scottish Government is providing revenue funding of £70.5 million over two years to deliver the commitment, supported with additional capital funding for local government of £24.8 million to ensure demand is met.

The introduction of free school meals for all P1-3 pupils has been supported by campaigners against child poverty, including Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, Children in Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland, the Church of Scotland and trade unions.

Last week Learning Minister Dr Alasdair Allan welcomed the hard work that has been ongoing across Scotland to prepare for the increased demand in schools. He said: “School lunches are hugely important in supporting a pupil’s ability to learn and January 5, 2015 marks the beginning of a new era in Scottish education.

“This Government is proud to be implementing free school meals for all P1-3 pupils. Delivering a saving of at least £330 a year for eligible families is just one aspect of this Government’s work to tackle the scourge of child poverty in Scotland.

“Free school meals will also play an important role in improving attainment in schools, through offering children healthy and nutritious lunches that will help them achieve their best in class.

“It’s never too early for children to start learning about the benefits of healthy eating and free school meals, in addition to learning through Curriculum for Excellence, will play a big role in helping to deliver that message.

“The implementation of free school meals for P1-3 comes in addition to a range of legislation and policies that have been developed by the Scottish Government over the past decade to ensure that our children and young people are offered balanced and nutritious meals at all stages of their school life. Most recently, the Better Eating, Better Learning guidance sets the agenda for the coming decade to drive further improvements to both school food and food education.

“I have been impressed with the work that local authorities are doing to prepare. I encourage everyone with an interest to make sure they are up to date with the new arrangements.

“The Scottish Government has worked very closely with COSLA and local authorities throughout this process and I look forward to January 5, when we will see this very positive measure coming into effect.”

Positive progress indeed, but Green MSP Alison Johnstone is calling for more details of how the policy will work in practice.

Earlier this year Freedom of Information requests by Ms Johnstone, the Scottish Greens’ education spokesperson and MSP for Lothian, revealed that many local authorities had no school kitchens and dining facilities already at capacity.

She said: “Free school meals is a sound policy but it must be matched with modern facilities. We know that many local authorities are struggling to cope as it is, so I want to hear in detail how well they have been supported in preparing for this welcome initiative.

“We have a great opportunity to improve our supply chains and invest in the skills of the catering workforce. The Scottish Government should be ready to find the funds necessary to make the most of this opportunity.”

For better or worse? Mixed views on Autumn Statement

Predictably mixed opinions over the Westminster government’s Autumn Statement yesterday. Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael says Scotland is strengthened by the announcements but the Holyrood government says Scotland’s poor will pay the price for further austerity measures.

The Scottish Government will benefit from additional funding of £213 million through to 2015-16 as a result of spending decisions taken by the UK Government at this Autumn Statement, bringing the total amount of additional spending power granted to the Scottish Government since 2010 to over £2.3 billion.

That’s good news for Scotland, said Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael MP. Speaking after the Chancellor’s announcement, Mr Carmichael said: “This Autumn Statement sets out the next steps in the UK Government’s long term economic plan to secure a sustained recovery and a more resilient economy. By backing businesses, helping more people into work and supporting families in communities across the country Scotland is benefitting from the action we are taking to help our economy grow.

“These measures will give the Scottish Government an extra £213 million of spending, taking the total of additional spending power to over £2.3 billion since we came to office. This means they can crack on and spend more money such as on funding for the NHS, more childcare places or more funding for schools or colleges.

“Scotland chose to retain a shared currency, pensions, single market and the economic stability and security that comes from being part of the UK. With more funding provided to the Scottish Government today and more powers and great responsibility for the Scottish Parliament on the way, Scotland is strengthened by today’s Autumn Statement.”

Not so, according to Holyrood’s Finance Secretary John Swinney. The Deputy First Minister said today that Scotland is continuing to pay the price of UK Government’s austerity agenda .

In his autumn budget address Chancellor George Osborne admitted to the House of Commons that the Government had missed key targets on economic recovery. In the last substantial finance statement before next year’s General Election, the Chancellor confirmed that his forecasts on deficit reduction were off target, with borrowing higher and tax revenues lower than expected. More austerity, to ensure future prosperity, was the government message.

Finance Secretary John Swinney warned that the Chancellor’s decisions were continuing to hit the poorest in our society hardest with the Treasury confirming that those in the lowest 20% will face some of the hardest impacts of the austerity plan.

The majority of spending announcements simply recycle existing money meaning the Scottish Government will receive around £200m in Barnett consequentials. This makes up only 8% of the £2.7bn of real terms cuts that have been removed from Scotland’s budget since 2010 and have taken 25% of Scotland’s capital budget.

Commenting on the Autumn budget statement, John Swinney said: “The Scottish Government is focused on securing economic growth, tackling inequality and protecting our public services. The Chancellor’s budget fails to pass the test on all of these measures.

“Today’s budget shows the failure of the UK Government’s austerity policy and it is clear that we in Scotland are paying the price. In 2010 the Chancellor embarked on his austerity programme and instead of putting the finances on a sound footing we are seeing borrowing this year of over £50bn higher than expected, lower tax revenues and austerity extended by atleast a further two years.

“Just last week I wrote to the UK Government to ask them to use the Autumn statement as an opportunity to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are not only sustained but are made accessible to all. The Chancellor has not listened.

“The lowest earning households in Scotland will be among the hardest hit by the UK Government cuts.

“And while the Chancellor gives Northern Ireland the power to cut corporation tax his government is continuing to block the job creating powers Scotland needs.

Commenting on the Barnett consequentials which will come to Scotland as a result of today’s announcements, the Finance Secretary said: “Additional spending for Scotland is always welcome but the consequentials of around £200m we have received today cannot compensate for the £2.7bn of real terms cuts we have faced since 2010. And with a further £25bn of cuts in the future the Westminster Government is locking Scotland into austerity against our wishes.

“The £125m of consequentials we have received from frontline NHS spending in England will be passed to Scotland’s NHS as they have been in every year of this parliament.”

'Smith Commission believes in young people'

The politicians have had their say on the Smith Commission recommendations – the unionists say it’s a vow delivered while the nationalists argue it doesn’t go nearly far enough.

But what do young people think?

Terri Smith MSYP, Vice Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, welcomes the Smith Commission’s recommendation to devolve the voting franchise:

Waking up this morning to the news that the Smith Commission has recommended that the voting franchise should be devolved to Holyrood is particularly pleasing, and it is some of the best political news I’ve heard since the franchise was originally lowered for the referendum.

There is a real commitment in Scotland from politicians and others alike to have 16 and 17-year-olds voting in the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, and for me, that’s the least our young people deserve. The referendum saw unprecedented levels of political participation from the young people of Scotland.

During the referendum campaign, the Scottish Youth Parliament engaged with over 18,000 young people and registered thousands of first time voters. As a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP), the opportunity to be at the forefront of one the most historic moments in Scottish history was astounding. The process gave me the opportunity to engage with young people right in the heart of their communities.

I’ve spoken with young people from all walks of life. Throughout the referendum process, each and every one of the young people I met with were informed, engaged, and full of passion. Young people have truly been at the heart of shaping history throughout the last year, and the entire world has been watching and waiting to see if the decision to lower the franchise would be a success, and indeed it has been.

I think we can all agree that the referendum provided a platform for mass engagement for everyone in Scotland, but particularly young people. We now need to maintain these levels of engagement, otherwise we are at risk of disenfranchising an entire generation, when in fact, we are aiming to be doing the opposite.

As the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people, the Scottish Youth Parliament has always known that 16 and 17-year-olds are capable of making informed decisions when it comes to voting, and now the rest of the country can see that too.

I am incredibly happy to see that the Smith Commission believes in young people, and is now urging the UK Government to ensure these recommendations are implemented so that Scotland can continue to lead the way in involving young people in political decision making. After all, the young people of Scotland deserve it.

Terri Smith MSYP

Vice-Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament

Lazarowicz backs wildlife cybercrime crackdown

Mark Lazarowicz MP Backs Report Exposing Cruel Wildlife Cybercrime

Mark Lazarowicz MP is backing a hard-hitting report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) that sets out – in often shocking detail -the scale of wildlife trade over the internet.

The report entitled ‘Wanted – Dead or Alive’ shows how thousands of endangered species are bought and sold on the Internet, many advertised without any form of supporting documentation.

IFAW found the legality of almost 13 per cent of the advertisements investigated warranted turning them over to law enforcers for further examination. However this may only be the tip of the iceberg as investigators focused on open-source websites.

The Edinburgh North and Leith MP is a member of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) which has published a series of reports on wildlife crime.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “I welcome this report for shining a light on the murky sale of protected species and parts of them like ivory – it’s big business built on cruelty to magnificent but rare animals like tigers, bears and orangutans.

“When the EAC reported in 2012 we called for the Government to give the National Wildlife Crime Unit the funding it needs to be effective and we highlighted how the lack of certainty over its funding is making it especially difficult to attract staff and hampering its work on wildlife crime.

“I want to see the UK and Scottish Governments – which has responsibility for tackling this in Scotland – working closely together to shut down these practices – it’s a crime that crosses borders and wildlife that we treasure should not be traded online like any other commodity.”

The report calls for:

• A criminal offence created for those advertising a protected animal, or its parts

• Warnings on marketplaces online to make people searching for protected species aware that they might be breaking the law so they cannot plead ignorance

• Secure funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit and a dedicated post for wildlife cybercrime.

Mr Lazarowicz has written to DEFRA calling for the Government to act.