labourlist--2020-08-05--Labour seeks urgent assurances for pupils facing predicted exam results in England

Kate Green has called for urgent assurances for pupils , parents and teachers ahead of predicted exam results in England and asked the government to set out how it will ensure grade calculations do “ not exacerbate existing inequalities ” .
In a letter to Gavin Williamson today , the Shadow Education Secretary highlighted that , as Ofqual has said , the standardisation of grades – in place of exams cancelled during the pandemic – will “ draw on the historical outcomes of a centre ” .
Urging the Education Secretary for clarification on the methodology , Green warned of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baked into the system , as students will be judged on their schools ’ prior attainment and not on individual merit ” .
Her call for reassurance comes after analysis of the results issued in Scotland on Tuesday .
Nearly a quarter of all recommended results for school pupils were downgraded , with thousands receiving a worse grade than expected .
Green wrote that the statistical method applied by the Scottish Qualification Authority to moderate the results had “ shown a reduction of 15.2 % in the most deprived communities , compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas ” .
The Shadow Education Secretary asked that Williamson set out what support those downgraded in the assessment will be given by the government to ensure that there is a “ fair and accessible process of appeals ” .
Commenting on the SQA results , Green said : “ Yesterday ’ s disastrous handling of Higher results in Scotland shows what can go wrong when computer algorithms drive students ’ grades , and politicians wash their hands of responsibility .
“ With A-level results just over a week away , and GCSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s imperative the government acts now to reassure worried students , teachers and parents .
“ Young people deserve to have their hard work assessed on merit , but the system risks baking in inequality and doing most harm to students from disadvantaged backgrounds , those from ethnic minority groups and those with special educational needs and disabilities .
“ Ministers must urgently set out how they ’ ll ensure the results next week will not exacerbate existing inequalities , and what extra support they ’ ll give to students who feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate the appeals process.
” Scotland saw better overall grades than last year , with 81.1 % of pupils getting an A to C grade for National 5s compared with 78.2 % in 2019 .
The Higher pass rate rose from 74.8 % to 78.9 % and Advanced Higher increased from 79.4 % to 84.9 % .
But the results would have been higher had they been based on the estimation given by teachers before moderation by the SQA , which it said ensured “ consistency across schools and colleges , and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were required to use students ’ work and their knowledge of the pupil to estimate the grade they would have achieved under normal circumstances .
Subjects were divided into bands , and students were placed in those bands before being ranked .
The SQA developed a maximum and minimum pass rate for each course at every school based on a four-year average , with some flexibility to provide for year-on-year changes .
It then used the rankings to moderate results if awarded outside the expected range .
A-Level results day in England is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GCSE grades will be given the week after .
Exams were cancelled in March this year when the government ordered schools to close amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
Below is the full text of the letter sent to Gavin Williamson by Kate Green .
I am writing to you to seek urgent assurances ahead of upcoming results days in England over the next two weeks that the process will treat students fairly .
Yesterday ’ s Higher results in Scotland , which saw nearly a quarter of all the recommended results for school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qualifications Authority , show all too clearly the challenges of a teacher assessment and standardisation approach .
The experience in Scotland is now impacting on teacher and student confidence ahead of next week ’ s A level results , and GCSE results the following week .
I hope you will act to address this as a matter of urgency .
The first issue of concern is the potentially disproportionate event impact on different demographics .
Analysis of the comparison between teacher estimates and the statistical moderation used to calculate the Scottish results has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most deprived communities , compared to just 6.9 % in the most affluent areas – entrenching inequality for those from the poorest backgrounds and areas .
All students deserve to receive grades on their own merit and not a computer algorithm .
It is therefore vital that students , teachers and parents understand the way in which results will primarily be determined , and how a balance is to be achieved between performance at centre level and consideration of students ’ individual performance .
If the eventual results are determined primarily at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger that inequality will be baked into the system , as students will be judged on their schools ’ prior attainment and not on individual merit .
This was confirmed last month by Ofqual who said “ standardisation will draw on the historical outcomes of a centre ” .
So what protections are the government putting in place to ensure the attainment gap doesn ’ t continue to grow this year ?
What steps will be taken to address unequal outcomes for students from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds , those on free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be disadvantaged by this methodology ?
The centre level standardisation model negatively impacts on improving schools .
The trajectory of a school ’ s recent performance will not be taken account , but this will significantly penalise fast-improving schools – so what measures are you implementing to ensure that their turnaround is recognised ?
Second , there remain serious concerns about the appeals process .
Should large numbers of results be downgraded or assessed at a level lower than a student was predicted due to the standardisation model , what support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accessible process of appeals ?
Students will be concerned and upset should they receive results lower than they are expecting and will need access to expert advice to navigate this process .
They will need to be able to identify process failures by the centres , and will particularly struggle to evidence bias .
It is of concern that centres have not been required to make a specific equalities statement , and that they have received only a ‘ reminder ’ of their duties under equalities law , and ‘ suggestions ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous years to indicate any systematic tendency to under or over predict likely performance that is associated with students ’ particular protected characteristics .
Could you therefore confirm what resources government will make to support students who wish to access the appeals process ?
And what reassurance can you give to students , schools and families that the process will be transparent and address inherent bias in the system , particularly for Black and Minority Ethnic students , but also those on free school meals , looked after children , and those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gone through considerable challenges over the past few months and their education has been severely disrupted .
This year ’ s system of assessment risks creating winners and losers , and some children in schools that have been improving are those who could lose out the most .
To ensure that no young person ’ s life chances are further impacted by coronavirus , should providers of post-16 and post-18 education be flexible when making offers and decisions affecting these young people , so they do not lose out due to factors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has failed a generation of young Scots by ensuring that the inequality and attainment gap has been further entrenched through her failure to act on the injustice of the moderation system .
We can not allow that to happen here in England next week .
I therefore seek your urgent reassurance that you and your government will not allow similar results to occur in England and that students and their families can be confident of getting the results their time and hard work deserve .

Kate Green has called for urgent assurances for pupils, parents and teachers ahead of predicted exam results in England and asked the government to set out how it will ensure grade calculations do “not exacerbate existing inequalities”.
In a letter to Gavin Williamson today, the Shadow Education Secretary highlighted that, as Ofqual has said, the standardisation of grades – in place of exams cancelled during the pandemic – will “draw on the historical outcomes of a centre”.
Urging the Education Secretary for clarification on the methodology, Green warned of a “danger that inequality will be baked into the system, as students will be judged on their schools’ prior attainment and not on individual merit”.
Her call for reassurance comes after analysis of the results issued in Scotland on Tuesday. Nearly a quarter of all recommended results for school pupils were downgraded, with thousands receiving a worse grade than expected.
Green wrote that the statistical method applied by the Scottish Qualification Authority to moderate the results had “shown a reduction of 15.2% in the most deprived communities, compared to just 6.9% in the most affluent areas”.
The Shadow Education Secretary asked that Williamson set out what support those downgraded in the assessment will be given by the government to ensure that there is a “fair and accessible process of appeals”.
Commenting on the SQA results, Green said: “Yesterday’s disastrous handling of Higher results in Scotland shows what can go wrong when computer algorithms drive students’ grades, and politicians wash their hands of responsibility.
“With A-level results just over a week away, and GCSE results due the week after, it’s imperative the government acts now to reassure worried students, teachers and parents.
“Young people deserve to have their hard work assessed on merit, but the system risks baking in inequality and doing most harm to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, those from ethnic minority groups and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
“Ministers must urgently set out how they’ll ensure the results next week will not exacerbate existing inequalities, and what extra support they’ll give to students who feel they’ve been unfairly graded to navigate the appeals process.”
Scotland saw better overall grades than last year, with 81.1% of pupils getting an A to C grade for National 5s compared with 78.2% in 2019. The Higher pass rate rose from 74.8% to 78.9% and Advanced Higher increased from 79.4% to 84.9%.
But the results would have been higher had they been based on the estimation given by teachers before moderation by the SQA, which it said ensured “consistency across schools and colleges, and with results from previous years”.
Teachers were required to use students’ work and their knowledge of the pupil to estimate the grade they would have achieved under normal circumstances. Subjects were divided into bands, and students were placed in those bands before being ranked.
The SQA developed a maximum and minimum pass rate for each course at every school based on a four-year average, with some flexibility to provide for year-on-year changes. It then used the rankings to moderate results if awarded outside the expected range.
A-Level results day in England is just over a week away, while GCSE grades will be given the week after. Exams were cancelled in March this year when the government ordered schools to close amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Below is the full text of the letter sent to Gavin Williamson by Kate Green.
Dear Gavin,
I am writing to you to seek urgent assurances ahead of upcoming results days in England over the next two weeks that the process will treat students fairly. Yesterday’s Higher results in Scotland, which saw nearly a quarter of all the recommended results for school pupils this year downgraded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, show all too clearly the challenges of a teacher assessment and standardisation approach. The experience in Scotland is now impacting on teacher and student confidence ahead of next week’s A level results, and GCSE results the following week. I hope you will act to address this as a matter of urgency.
The first issue of concern is the potentially disproportionate event impact on different demographics. Analysis of the comparison between teacher estimates and the statistical moderation used to calculate the Scottish results has shown a reduction of 15.2% in the most deprived communities, compared to just 6.9% in the most affluent areas – entrenching inequality for those from the poorest backgrounds and areas.
All students deserve to receive grades on their own merit and not a computer algorithm. It is therefore vital that students, teachers and parents understand the way in which results will primarily be determined, and how a balance is to be achieved between performance at centre level and consideration of students’ individual performance.
If the eventual results are determined primarily at centre level, there is a significant danger that inequality will be baked into the system, as students will be judged on their schools’ prior attainment and not on individual merit. This was confirmed last month by Ofqual who said “standardisation will draw on the historical outcomes of a centre”. So what protections are the government putting in place to ensure the attainment gap doesn’t continue to grow this year? What steps will be taken to address unequal outcomes for students from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds, those on free school meals and other groups who are likely to be disadvantaged by this methodology?
The centre level standardisation model negatively impacts on improving schools. The trajectory of a school’s recent performance will not be taken account, but this will significantly penalise fast-improving schools – so what measures are you implementing to ensure that their turnaround is recognised?
Second, there remain serious concerns about the appeals process. Should large numbers of results be downgraded or assessed at a level lower than a student was predicted due to the standardisation model, what support will they be given for a fair and accessible process of appeals? Students will be concerned and upset should they receive results lower than they are expecting and will need access to expert advice to navigate this process. They will need to be able to identify process failures by the centres, and will particularly struggle to evidence bias. It is of concern that centres have not been required to make a specific equalities statement, and that they have received only a ‘reminder’ of their duties under equalities law, and ‘suggestions’ about how they might use data from previous years to indicate any systematic tendency to under or over predict likely performance that is associated with students’ particular protected characteristics.
Could you therefore confirm what resources government will make to support students who wish to access the appeals process? And what reassurance can you give to students, schools and families that the process will be transparent and address inherent bias in the system, particularly for Black and Minority Ethnic students, but also those on free school meals, looked after children, and those with SEND?
We know that young people have gone through considerable challenges over the past few months and their education has been severely disrupted. This year’s system of assessment risks creating winners and losers, and some children in schools that have been improving are those who could lose out the most. To ensure that no young person’s life chances are further impacted by coronavirus, should providers of post-16 and post-18 education be flexible when making offers and decisions affecting these young people, so they do not lose out due to factors far beyond their control?
Nicola Sturgeon has failed a generation of young Scots by ensuring that the inequality and attainment gap has been further entrenched through her failure to act on the injustice of the moderation system. We cannot allow that to happen here in England next week.
I therefore seek your urgent reassurance that you and your government will not allow similar results to occur in England and that students and their families can be confident of getting the results their time and hard work deserve.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Green MP
Shadow Education Secretary


labourlist--2020-08-05--Starmer urges Welsh Tories to back Labour’s jobs campaign on visit to Wales

Keir Starmer is set to join First Minister Mark Drakeford in calling on Tory MPs and Members of the Senedd in North Wales to back Labour ’ s campaign to save Welsh jobs and prevent a “ jobs squeeze ” .
On his first trip to Wales as Labour leader on Thursday , Starmer will visit an aerospace research and manufacturing facility with Drakeford and Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds as part of Labour ’ s ‘ jobs , jobs , jobs ’ campaign .
He is expected to issue a joint challenge from the leaders of UK Labour and Welsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Senedd to oppose Rishi Sunak ’ s blanket withdrawal of the furlough scheme from all sectors .
The Labour leader will describe this as a “ major test of the Conservative Party ’ s commitment to Wales ” , and will call on Welsh Tories to put pressure on the UK government to rethink its approach to the job retention scheme ( JRS ) .
Commenting ahead of the visit , Starmer said : “ Labour is fighting for jobs across the country .
The UK government ’ s blanket withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake which threatens Welsh jobs .
“ The devastating job losses announced at Airbus show how high the stakes are .
We face a jobs crisis on a scale not seen for generations .
But it is not too late for the government to act.
” 1,700 job losses were recently announced at Airbus UK , 84 % of which will be in Broughton in North Wales .
Aerospace is worth £1.47bn to the Welsh economy and supports 11,700 jobs , but has been badly effected by the coronavirus pandemic .
The Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has done a huge amount to support struggling businesses , but the action needed on the furlough scheme can only come from Westminster .
“ Welsh Conservative MPs must also play their part in getting their Chancellor to change course .
This is a major test of the Conservative Party ’ s commitment to North Wales.
” Labour in Wales has announced a £1.7bn package to support struggling businesses – which the party has highlighted as the most generous scheme in the UK – but the furlough scheme is controlled by the Tory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken in Wales , Drakeford said : “ The Welsh Labour government has provided the most generous and comprehensive package of support to business anywhere in the UK .
We will go on doing all we can to protect Welsh jobs .
“ Coronavirus is still with us and it will continue to impact on our economy in Wales for a long time to come .
The vast majority of people in Wales have followed the rules and made significant sacrifices to help us get coronavirus under control .
“ I believe they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and make sure people have jobs to go back into.
” Labour has repeatedly urged the Chancellor to change course on withdrawing Covid support , and has demanded an end to what it calls a ‘ one-size-fits-all ’ approach to government support across the economy .
Part of Labour ’ s Uk-wide campaign to save jobs is a call for the government to match the commitment made by the Welsh administration and set up a £1.7bn ‘ fightback fund ’ to “ prevent firms going under and save our high streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the support businesses can claim through the JRS to support employees .
The first changes came in on August 1st and the plan outlined by the government will see the scheme shut down by the end of October .

Keir Starmer is set to join First Minister Mark Drakeford in calling on Tory MPs and Members of the Senedd in North Wales to back Labour’s campaign to save Welsh jobs and prevent a “jobs squeeze”.
On his first trip to Wales as Labour leader on Thursday, Starmer will visit an aerospace research and manufacturing facility with Drakeford and Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds as part of Labour’s ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ campaign.
He is expected to issue a joint challenge from the leaders of UK Labour and Welsh Labour for Welsh Conservative MPs and members of the Senedd to oppose Rishi Sunak’s blanket withdrawal of the furlough scheme from all sectors.
The Labour leader will describe this as a “major test of the Conservative Party’s commitment to Wales”, and will call on Welsh Tories to put pressure on the UK government to rethink its approach to the job retention scheme (JRS).
Commenting ahead of the visit, Starmer said: “Labour is fighting for jobs across the country. The UK government’s blanket withdrawal of the furlough scheme is a historic mistake which threatens Welsh jobs.
“The devastating job losses announced at Airbus show how high the stakes are. We face a jobs crisis on a scale not seen for generations. But it is not too late for the government to act.”
1,700 job losses were recently announced at Airbus UK, 84% of which will be in Broughton in North Wales. Aerospace is worth £1.47bn to the Welsh economy and supports 11,700 jobs, but has been badly effected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Labour leader added: “The Welsh government has done a huge amount to support struggling businesses, but the action needed on the furlough scheme can only come from Westminster.
“Welsh Conservative MPs must also play their part in getting their Chancellor to change course. This is a major test of the Conservative Party’s commitment to North Wales.”
Labour in Wales has announced a £1.7bn package to support struggling businesses – which the party has highlighted as the most generous scheme in the UK – but the furlough scheme is controlled by the Tory government in Westminster.
On the measures taken in Wales, Drakeford said: “The Welsh Labour government has provided the most generous and comprehensive package of support to business anywhere in the UK. We will go on doing all we can to protect Welsh jobs.
“Coronavirus is still with us and it will continue to impact on our economy in Wales for a long time to come. The vast majority of people in Wales have followed the rules and made significant sacrifices to help us get coronavirus under control.
“I believe they would expect the UK government to support the economy and make sure people have jobs to go back into.”
Labour has repeatedly urged the Chancellor to change course on withdrawing Covid support, and has demanded an end to what it calls a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to government support across the economy.
Part of Labour’s Uk-wide campaign to save jobs is a call for the government to match the commitment made by the Welsh administration and set up a £1.7bn ‘fightback fund’ to “prevent firms going under and save our high streets”.
The UK government is winding down the support businesses can claim through the JRS to support employees. The first changes came in on August 1st and the plan outlined by the government will see the scheme shut down by the end of October.


labourlist--2020-08-05--Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape – joint statement by charities and unions

Below is the full text of the joint statement issued by a number of charities and trade unions in response to rape and sexual assault allegations against a Conservative MP .
Given the seriousness of the allegations , we ’ re calling on parliament to suspend the MP arrested on suspicion of rape , pending a full investigation .
The House of Commons should be no different from any other workplace .
Safety and the safeguarding of staff must be paramount .
Failure to suspend is yet another example of minimising violence against women and girls and failure to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
In 2013 , statistics bulletin on sexual violence released by the Ministry of Justice , Office for National Statistics and Home Office revealed that only around 15 % of those who experience sexual violence report to the police .
# MeToo highlighted how endemic and pervasive sexual harassment and assault still are in workplaces , including parliament , and that women are the majority of victims .
Dame Laura Cox ’ s 2018 review , and Fawcett Society ’ s 2019 research into Sexual Harassment in parliament , demonstrated legislative changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgently needed to make parliament a safe workplace for women free from the threat of gender based violence and harassment .
In addition to suspension , we are urgently calling for : • The Conservative Party to suspend the whip of the MP .
As the EHRC ‘ Sexual harassment and harassment at work ’ Technical Guidance makes clear , in a matter as serious as this , it is wholly appropriate for such action to be taken ahead of the conclusion of a criminal investigation .
• The media to respect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice .
• If the alleged victim works , or previously worked , within the House of Commons , both parliament and the Conservative Party must ensure she is being supported by an accredited Independent Sexual Violence Advisor via the Independent Sexual Misconduct Advisory Service and her union if she is a member of one .
• Political parties to revise their own internal sexual harassment and complaint policies to ensure that they are transparent , quick , victim-focused and independent , and cover volunteers , employees and elected and appointed representatives so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties ’ own systems for dealing with complaints should be made publicly available and include specific protocols and training for the Whips or Chief Whip on how to respond to disclosures appropriately • Parliament to ensure that MPs and volunteers have access to the same legal protections against sexual harassment as other employees .
MPs , peers and volunteers are not currently protected as they are not employees .
• None The Government Equalities Office to publish its response to the consultation on a new preventative duty to end workplace sexual harassment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ No.190 on eliminating gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work .
It is deeply concerning that more than two years after allegations of sexual harassment and assaults in parliament surfaced that showed there was a culture that allowed bullying , harassment and sexual harassment to thrive , we are still not confident that it is a safe and equal place for women to work .
Our parliamentarians preside over the law on criminal assaults and workplace safety for all of us when their own Houses are not in order .
Parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully independent procedure for complaints , with the final stage voted on in June this year , however , this case clearly shows that party politics is still interfering in justice and fairness .
We need these changes now .
Centenary Action Group The Fawcett Society TUC Women ’ s Aid Federation of England Prospect Union PCS Union FDA Union Rights of Women Unite EVAW Rape Crisis England and Wales

Below is the full text of the joint statement issued by a number of charities and trade unions in response to rape and sexual assault allegations against a Conservative MP.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, we’re calling on parliament to suspend the MP arrested on suspicion of rape, pending a full investigation. The House of Commons should be no different from any other workplace. Safety and the safeguarding of staff must be paramount. Failure to suspend is yet another example of minimising violence against women and girls and failure to believe victims and survivors when they bravely speak out. In 2013, statistics bulletin on sexual violence released by the Ministry of Justice, Office for National Statistics and Home Office revealed that only around 15% of those who experience sexual violence report to the police.
#MeToo highlighted how endemic and pervasive sexual harassment and assault still are in workplaces, including parliament, and that women are the majority of victims. Dame Laura Cox’s 2018 review, and Fawcett Society’s 2019 research into Sexual Harassment in parliament, demonstrated legislative changes and action by all political parties is urgently needed to make parliament a safe workplace for women free from the threat of gender based violence and harassment.
In addition to suspension, we are urgently calling for:
The Conservative Party to suspend the whip of the MP . As the EHRC ‘Sexual harassment and harassment at work’ Technical Guidance makes clear, in a matter as serious as this, it is wholly appropriate for such action to be taken ahead of the conclusion of a criminal investigation.
. As the EHRC ‘Sexual harassment and harassment at work’ Technical Guidance makes clear, in a matter as serious as this, it is wholly appropriate for such action to be taken ahead of the conclusion of a criminal investigation. The media to respect the alleged victims’ right to anonymity and justice .
. If the alleged victim works, or previously worked, within the House of Commons, both parliament and the Conservative Party must ensure she is being supported by an accredited Independent Sexual Violence Advisor via the Independent Sexual Misconduct Advisory Service and her union if she is a member of one.
via the Independent Sexual Misconduct Advisory Service and her union if she is a member of one. Political parties to revise their own internal sexual harassment and complaint policies to ensure that they are transparent, quick, victim-focused and independent, and cover volunteers, employees and elected and appointed representatives so that sexual harassment is prevented. The parties’ own systems for dealing with complaints should be made publicly available and include specific protocols and training for the Whips or Chief Whip on how to respond to disclosures appropriately
to ensure that they are transparent, quick, victim-focused and independent, and cover volunteers, employees and elected and appointed representatives so that sexual harassment is prevented. The parties’ own systems for dealing with complaints should be made publicly available and include specific protocols and training for the Whips or Chief Whip on how to respond to disclosures appropriately Parliament to ensure that MPs and volunteers have access to the same legal protections against sexual harassment as other employees. MPs, peers and volunteers are not currently protected as they are not employees.
against sexual harassment as other employees. MPs, peers and volunteers are not currently protected as they are not employees. The Government Equalities Office to publish its response to the consultation on a new preventative duty to end workplace sexual harassment .
The government to ratify ILO Convention No.190 on eliminating gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work.
It is deeply concerning that more than two years after allegations of sexual harassment and assaults in parliament surfaced that showed there was a culture that allowed bullying, harassment and sexual harassment to thrive, we are still not confident that it is a safe and equal place for women to work. Our parliamentarians preside over the law on criminal assaults and workplace safety for all of us when their own Houses are not in order. Parliament has made significant progress in introducing a fully independent procedure for complaints, with the final stage voted on in June this year, however, this case clearly shows that party politics is still interfering in justice and fairness. We need these changes now.
Signatories:
Centenary Action Group
The Fawcett Society
TUC
Women’s Aid Federation of England Prospect Union
PCS Union
FDA Union
Rights of Women
Unite
EVAW
Rape Crisis England and Wales


labourlist--2020-08-05--After this crisis, Leicester must no longer be known as ‘the sweatshop of Europe’

The existence of sweatshops fuelling the ‘ fast fashion ’ industry has recently been brought to light again by a flurry of reports concerning the terrible and illegal treatment of many workers in the garment industry in Leicester .
Leicester has one of the largest numbers of garment workers in the UK .
At the last count , there were an estimated 1,500 garment manufacturing businesses in the city employing around 10,000 people , the majority of whom are women from African , Asian and minority ethnic communities .
These sweatshops under-report hours , which means their books look as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a legal wage when they actually employ them for 40 hours at much lower rates .
A 2019 study by HMRC found that , over a six-year period , a quarter of all UK textile factories caught failing to pay the minimum wage were based in Leicester , with some textile factories reportedly offering less than £3.50 an hour .
Factory overcrowding is also commonplace , and with a lack of personal , protective equipment has undoubtedly contributed to the Covid-19 outbreak in the area – a direct result of unscrupulous employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursuit of ‘ fast fashion ’ .
Many of these garment factories are key parts of the supply chains of well-known brands .
To give one example , a report last month by the labour rights organisation , Labour Behind the Label entitled ‘ Boohoo & Covid-19 : The people behind the profits ’ found “ emerging evidence indicates that conditions in Leicester ’ s factories , primarily producing for Boohoo , are putting workers at risk of Covid-19 infections and fatalities ” .
Despite these ongoing revelations , the Conservative government continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interests of private profit ahead of working people , through complete denial of its role in the existence of abusive workplace practices .
At Prime Minister ’ s Question Time on July 8th , Boris Johnson sought to shirk responsibility for the exploitation of workers in Leicester ’ s garment industry and direct blame towards the local City Mayor and Labour-run city .
But the reality is that his government has known about this abuse of workers for years , and rejected the warnings and recommendations of a 2019 environmental audit committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2017 report Human Rights and Business : Promoting responsibility and ensuring accountability .
In one of a number of warnings that have been proven correct , the environmental audit committee heavily criticised online-only ‘ fast fashion ’ retailers , which are amongst the worst offenders when it comes to unethical practices .
Its recommendations – which could have made a real difference – included having minimal levels of ethical and sustainability standards .
Priti Patel has dangerously and falsely claimed “ cultural sensitivities ” prevented robust investigation into these Leicester factories , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HMRC , the Heath and Safety Executive and other enforcement agencies , as well as cuts to local authorities and the sustained Tory attacks on unions and workers ’ rights .
The Tory government has also overseen a mushrooming of insecure working practices , including zero-hour contracts .
There is real anger and dismay from many that the government has long been aware of instances of worker exploitation but failed to act .
We should not be silenced or distracted by their political games .
And it is important to ask why people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many British workers in Leicester have no other local employment options other than the garment industry , especially since the decimation of the city ’ s manufacturing base by Thatcherism .
Many have been working in this industry since long before the introduction by the 1997 Labour government of the minimum wage .
There are also specific issues when it comes to migrants and refugees .
The continued ‘ no recourse to public funds ’ rule for migrants pushes people into exploitative labour , locking them out from receiving vital state support .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not have the right to work , instead being expected to live on £5.66 per day .
These are examples of policies that push people into exploitative and unsafe labour to survive , and they are a toxic part of the government ’ s failed ‘ hostile environment ’ approach to immigration .
As one worker said : “ If the government made sure everyone got enough money to survive during the pandemic , no-one would come into the factories.
” The government should immediately suspend NRPF conditions on public health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on asylum seekers working legally .
Any analysis of the impact of ‘ fast fashion ’ must take account of the environmental impact , including of making the fabric , shipping the item and often burying it in landfill .
We also need to act as ethical consumers , recognising that we all have a responsibility to protect the workers who make the clothes we wear .
However , our central demand as socialists must be for sectoral collective bargaining to raise wages , reduce inequality , prevent the undercutting of terms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more importantly enable the voices of workers to be heard .
Leicester ’ s garment industry crisis is a microcosm of the assault on workers ’ rights , and this situation demonstrates why protecting everyone in our society – and our planet – is the only just way forward .
After this crisis , Leicester can no longer be known as ‘ the sweatshop of Europe ’ .
The government must now tackle the widespread issues of underpayment and unsafe working conditions .
Change in this area – and from the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only come from organisation , clear demands and publicly shaming those exploiting people .
We can no longer tolerate billionaire company owners making vast profits on the back of the working class .
The time has come to put people and health before private profit – that means decent jobs , workers ’ rights and an end to exploitative labour .

The existence of sweatshops fuelling the ‘fast fashion’ industry has recently been brought to light again by a flurry of reports concerning the terrible and illegal treatment of many workers in the garment industry in Leicester.
Leicester has one of the largest numbers of garment workers in the UK. At the last count, there were an estimated 1,500 garment manufacturing businesses in the city employing around 10,000 people, the majority of whom are women from African, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
These sweatshops under-report hours, which means their books look as if they employ someone for 15 hours at a legal wage when they actually employ them for 40 hours at much lower rates. A 2019 study by HMRC found that, over a six-year period, a quarter of all UK textile factories caught failing to pay the minimum wage were based in Leicester, with some textile factories reportedly offering less than £3.50 an hour.
Factory overcrowding is also commonplace, and with a lack of personal, protective equipment has undoubtedly contributed to the Covid-19 outbreak in the area – a direct result of unscrupulous employers not meeting any legal obligations in the pursuit of ‘fast fashion’.
Many of these garment factories are key parts of the supply chains of well-known brands. To give one example, a report last month by the labour rights organisation, Labour Behind the Label entitled ‘Boohoo & Covid-19: The people behind the profits’ found “emerging evidence indicates that conditions in Leicester’s factories, primarily producing for Boohoo, are putting workers at risk of Covid-19 infections and fatalities”.
Despite these ongoing revelations, the Conservative government continues to show that they will always put the interests of private profit ahead of working people, through complete denial of its role in the existence of abusive workplace practices. At Prime Minister’s Question Time on July 8th, Boris Johnson sought to shirk responsibility for the exploitation of workers in Leicester’s garment industry and direct blame towards the local City Mayor and Labour-run city.
But the reality is that his government has known about this abuse of workers for years, and rejected the warnings and recommendations of a 2019 environmental audit committee report into this issue and before that the 2017 report Human Rights and Business: Promoting responsibility and ensuring accountability.
In one of a number of warnings that have been proven correct, the environmental audit committee heavily criticised online-only ‘fast fashion’ retailers, which are amongst the worst offenders when it comes to unethical practices. Its recommendations – which could have made a real difference – included having minimal levels of ethical and sustainability standards.
Priti Patel has dangerously and falsely claimed “cultural sensitivities” prevented robust investigation into these Leicester factories, while neglecting to mention austerity cuts to HMRC, the Heath and Safety Executive and other enforcement agencies, as well as cuts to local authorities and the sustained Tory attacks on unions and workers’ rights. The Tory government has also overseen a mushrooming of insecure working practices, including zero-hour contracts.
There is real anger and dismay from many that the government has long been aware of instances of worker exploitation but failed to act. We should not be silenced or distracted by their political games. And it is important to ask why people go to work in such conditions.
Many British workers in Leicester have no other local employment options other than the garment industry, especially since the decimation of the city’s manufacturing base by Thatcherism. Many have been working in this industry since long before the introduction by the 1997 Labour government of the minimum wage.
There are also specific issues when it comes to migrants and refugees. The continued ‘no recourse to public funds’ rule for migrants pushes people into exploitative labour, locking them out from receiving vital state support. And people seeking asylum in Britain currently do not have the right to work, instead being expected to live on £5.66 per day.
These are examples of policies that push people into exploitative and unsafe labour to survive, and they are a toxic part of the government’s failed ‘hostile environment’ approach to immigration. As one worker said: “If the government made sure everyone got enough money to survive during the pandemic, no-one would come into the factories.” The government should immediately suspend NRPF conditions on public health and humanitarian grounds, and lift the ban on asylum seekers working legally.
Any analysis of the impact of ‘fast fashion’ must take account of the environmental impact, including of making the fabric, shipping the item and often burying it in landfill. We also need to act as ethical consumers, recognising that we all have a responsibility to protect the workers who make the clothes we wear.
However, our central demand as socialists must be for sectoral collective bargaining to raise wages, reduce inequality, prevent the undercutting of terms and conditions, enable effective enforcement of rights and more importantly enable the voices of workers to be heard.
Leicester’s garment industry crisis is a microcosm of the assault on workers’ rights, and this situation demonstrates why protecting everyone in our society – and our planet – is the only just way forward. After this crisis, Leicester can no longer be known as ‘the sweatshop of Europe’. The government must now tackle the widespread issues of underpayment and unsafe working conditions.
Change in this area – and from the ‘fast fashion’ companies themselves – will only come from organisation, clear demands and publicly shaming those exploiting people. We can no longer tolerate billionaire company owners making vast profits on the back of the working class. The time has come to put people and health before private profit – that means decent jobs, workers’ rights and an end to exploitative labour.


labourlist--2020-08-05--Why I’m campaigning to change our racist drug laws – and I hope you’ll join me

The racial bias in the UK ’ s drug laws can not be ignored and has only become worse with Covid-19 .
Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that in 2018-19 one in five of those found guilty of cannabis possession in England and Wales were Black , while Black people only make up 3 % of the population .
It is shocking , but sadly not surprising , that according to the Metropolitan Police ’ s own figures Black Londoners are nearly four times as likely to be searched for drugs than white Londoners .
Black Lewisham residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and search with me .
Many feel targeted just because they ’ re Black .
And the numbers back them up : in Lewisham , stop and search for drugs has risen by 144 % compared to this time last year .
It is important to remember that the police will not find anything in the vast majority of searches , and when they do it is overwhelmingly for small amounts of cannabis worth less than £25 .
This is clearly wrong – not just damaging relationships between the police and the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and white residents are policed differently .
When I ’ m walking down the street and see police officers .
I feel safe and reassured , yet so many Black people will feel worried about the very real prospect of a humiliating , public stop and search .
I have also been surprised when police officers have privately told me of their frustration around having to enforce antiquated drug laws that they see as draconian and damaging to their relationships with the community – especially when it comes to cannabis .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach in this country that treats drugs as a health issue , not a criminal justice issue .
On a visit to Lewisham ’ s youth offending service , I was surprised to learn that 49 children , nearly a child a week , had been sent to them from the courts for first time drug offences last year .
43 of those 49 children were from a BAME background .
At first , I assumed these children were somehow caught up in drug dealing or in Class A drugs , but then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been found with cannabis .
And our drug laws create the conditions for criminal gangs to thrive , with the illicit drugs market worth an estimated £9.4bn a year .
Production of drugs is known to be closely linked with modern slavery and exploitation of vulnerable young people across the country .
There are 27,000 young people who identify as gang members , while 2,000 teenagers from London are linked to county lines .
We need a grown-up conversation about drugs and we need to look at what ’ s happening around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being taken .
Around 60 % of all stop and searches in England and Wales are for drugs .
If the UK followed Canada and states in the US in legalising cannabis , we could see a significant reduction in the stop and search practice that we know currently disproportionately impacts BAME , and particularly Black , communities .
There is evidence to back this up – states in the US that have legalised cannabis have seen dramatic reductions in the number of vehicle searches compared to states that haven ’ t .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cannabis would not see a similar reduction in the level of stop and search here in the UK , and it would help to address the racial bias in the UK ’ s policing .
We should also introduce social equity programmes like many cities have done in the US .
They provide additional support to individuals who want to open cannabis businesses and have been disproportionately impacted by the criminalisation of cannabis .
These progressive reforms can ensure that everyone is treated the same under the law and that the young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their friends without the fear of being stopped and searched .
Although it was never intended to be the case , the reality is that the UK ’ s drug laws are racist , with their enforcement being disproportionately applied especially to our Black communities .
I will continue to campaign to change the UK drug laws , and I hope Labour members across the country will join me .

The racial bias in the UK’s drug laws cannot be ignored and has only become worse with Covid-19. Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that in 2018-19 one in five of those found guilty of cannabis possession in England and Wales were Black, while Black people only make up 3% of the population. It is shocking, but sadly not surprising, that according to the Metropolitan Police’s own figures Black Londoners are nearly four times as likely to be searched for drugs than white Londoners.
Black Lewisham residents have shared their traumatic experiences of stop and search with me. Many feel targeted just because they’re Black. And the numbers back them up: in Lewisham, stop and search for drugs has risen by 144% compared to this time last year. It is important to remember that the police will not find anything in the vast majority of searches, and when they do it is overwhelmingly for small amounts of cannabis worth less than £25.
This is clearly wrong – not just damaging relationships between the police and the local communities, but also showing that Black and white residents are policed differently. When I’m walking down the street and see police officers. I feel safe and reassured, yet so many Black people will feel worried about the very real prospect of a humiliating, public stop and search.
I have also been surprised when police officers have privately told me of their frustration around having to enforce antiquated drug laws that they see as draconian and damaging to their relationships with the community – especially when it comes to cannabis. It’s clear that we need a new approach in this country that treats drugs as a health issue, not a criminal justice issue.
On a visit to Lewisham’s youth offending service, I was surprised to learn that 49 children, nearly a child a week, had been sent to them from the courts for first time drug offences last year. 43 of those 49 children were from a BAME background. At first, I assumed these children were somehow caught up in drug dealing or in Class A drugs, but then I learnt that in most cases they had been found with cannabis.
And our drug laws create the conditions for criminal gangs to thrive, with the illicit drugs market worth an estimated £9.4bn a year. Production of drugs is known to be closely linked with modern slavery and exploitation of vulnerable young people across the country. There are 27,000 young people who identify as gang members, while 2,000 teenagers from London are linked to county lines.
We need a grown-up conversation about drugs and we need to look at what’s happening around the world where other approaches are already being taken. Around 60% of all stop and searches in England and Wales are for drugs. If the UK followed Canada and states in the US in legalising cannabis, we could see a significant reduction in the stop and search practice that we know currently disproportionately impacts BAME, and particularly Black, communities.
There is evidence to back this up – states in the US that have legalised cannabis have seen dramatic reductions in the number of vehicle searches compared to states that haven’t. There is no reason for which legalising cannabis would not see a similar reduction in the level of stop and search here in the UK, and it would help to address the racial bias in the UK’s policing.
We should also introduce social equity programmes like many cities have done in the US. They provide additional support to individuals who want to open cannabis businesses and have been disproportionately impacted by the criminalisation of cannabis. These progressive reforms can ensure that everyone is treated the same under the law and that the young people I speak to can go out with their friends without the fear of being stopped and searched.
Although it was never intended to be the case, the reality is that the UK’s drug laws are racist, with their enforcement being disproportionately applied especially to our Black communities. I will continue to campaign to change the UK drug laws, and I hope Labour members across the country will join me.


labourlist--2020-08-05--Labour must be clear: Britain’s corrupted House of Cronies needs an overhaul

“ Boris Johnson has quietly shelved plans to create up to 20 new Tory peers including a string of party donors until after the coronavirus crisis has passed , ” The Times reported in May .
Well , so much for that .
News that Boris Johnson has packed the Lords with 36 new legislators-for-life has sparked outrage .
It turns out that Prime Ministers just can ’ t help themselves when looking at the unlimited pool of patronage offered by the second chamber .
Just this week , the PM ’ s spokesman told reporters that the size of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” … right after stuffing the House with his friends , family and allies .
Let ’ s be honest .
The existence of the Lords is a corrupting influence on British political life .
Research by the FT found that at least 22 wealthy party donors have been given jobs for life in the House of Lords over the past 13 years .
While Tory donors made up the largest group , few parties are immune .
The SNP refuse to appoint peers to the chamber , while the Greens hold internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picks .
But other parties ’ appointments are rightly held up as an object of suspicion , with allegations of cash or political favours for peerages lurking close to the truth .
Now it is turning the ‘ Mother of Parliaments ’ into a laughing stock .
It didn ’ t take much searching to spot stories from across the world looking aghast at the normalised corruption that the second chamber represents .
Agenzia Italia : “ Boris Johnson has appointed his brother [ as ] a Lord , and the son of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 36 new investitures include many loyalists and expand the already abnormal number of members of the Upper House , who sometimes do not even go there.
” Blisty ( Czechia ) : “ Corruption in England deepens : Johnson promoted his brother… and [ the ] son of KGB agent to aristocratic status… [ There were ] waves of fury over the announcement of how many incredibly controversial people Johnson has decided to elevate to a noble status ” Standaard ( Belgium ) : “ Friendship leads to a seat in parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat in the House of Lords is the culmination of a mutually beneficial friendship with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ” There are countless other examples , which shows that we are undermining our ability to speak up about democracy across the world .
This matters for Labour .
No PM appointing peers can be immune to allegations of cronyism : it is the fully-appointed nature that shreds trust in politics and jettisons democratic principle .
Labour ’ s 2019 manifesto pledged to “ act immediately to end the hereditary principle in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolish the House of Lords in favour of Labour ’ s preferred option of an elected Senate ” .
Keir Starmer should go further , setting out a principle and a clear plan to replace the House with a proportionally-elected chamber representing the nations and regions of the UK .
Without a firm commitment , Labour could all too easily fall into the trap of putting off change – and keep stuffing it with allies .
While scrapping hereditary peers is a must , with the descendants of slave traders effectively guaranteed places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a cop-out for tackling the real problems .
Just look at Tony Blair ’ s ‘ Stage 1 ’ reforms – getting rid of most of the hereditaries – which was followed by no further action .
Labour ’ s recent consultation on federalism was awash with calls for an overhauled , PR-elected second chamber to form the basis of a new constitutional settlement that Britain needs .
It ’ s time to seize the mantle of a new Chartism for the 21st century .
This isn ’ t just about values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation .
Lords reform is also one of those rare issues that unites left and right , according to YouGov analysis .
Rage erupted not just from the Mirror and Guardian , but from the Express and the Daily Star .
And over 360,000 people have signed the Change.org petition calling for real reform – doubling in size in just a few days .
A vision to transform society , deepen democracy and give our communities real power must have political reform at its heart .
It starts with overhauling Westminster ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @

“Boris Johnson has quietly shelved plans to create up to 20 new Tory peers including a string of party donors until after the coronavirus crisis has passed,” The Times reported in May. Well, so much for that.
News that Boris Johnson has packed the Lords with 36 new legislators-for-life has sparked outrage. It turns out that Prime Ministers just can’t help themselves when looking at the unlimited pool of patronage offered by the second chamber. Just this week, the PM’s spokesman told reporters that the size of the House of Lords “needs addressing”… right after stuffing the House with his friends, family and allies.
Let’s be honest. The existence of the Lords is a corrupting influence on British political life. Research by the FT found that at least 22 wealthy party donors have been given jobs for life in the House of Lords over the past 13 years.
While Tory donors made up the largest group, few parties are immune. The SNP refuse to appoint peers to the chamber, while the Greens hold internal elections to determine the party’s picks. But other parties’ appointments are rightly held up as an object of suspicion, with allegations of cash or political favours for peerages lurking close to the truth.
Now it is turning the ‘Mother of Parliaments’ into a laughing stock. It didn’t take much searching to spot stories from across the world looking aghast at the normalised corruption that the second chamber represents.
Agenzia Italia: “Boris Johnson has appointed his brother [as] a Lord, and the son of a former KGB [agent]… The 36 new investitures include many loyalists and expand the already abnormal number of members of the Upper House, who sometimes do not even go there.” Blisty (Czechia): “Corruption in England deepens: Johnson promoted his brother… and [the] son of KGB agent to aristocratic status… [There were] waves of fury over the announcement of how many incredibly controversial people Johnson has decided to elevate to a noble status” Standaard (Belgium): “Friendship leads to a seat in parliament: Newspaper owner Evgeny Lebedev’s seat in the House of Lords is the culmination of a mutually beneficial friendship with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson”
There are countless other examples, which shows that we are undermining our ability to speak up about democracy across the world. This matters for Labour. No PM appointing peers can be immune to allegations of cronyism: it is the fully-appointed nature that shreds trust in politics and jettisons democratic principle.
Labour’s 2019 manifesto pledged to “act immediately to end the hereditary principle in the House of Lords, and work to abolish the House of Lords in favour of Labour’s preferred option of an elected Senate”. Keir Starmer should go further, setting out a principle and a clear plan to replace the House with a proportionally-elected chamber representing the nations and regions of the UK. Without a firm commitment, Labour could all too easily fall into the trap of putting off change – and keep stuffing it with allies.
While scrapping hereditary peers is a must, with the descendants of slave traders effectively guaranteed places in our parliament, it cannot be a cop-out for tackling the real problems. Just look at Tony Blair’s ‘Stage 1’ reforms – getting rid of most of the hereditaries – which was followed by no further action.
Labour’s recent consultation on federalism was awash with calls for an overhauled, PR-elected second chamber to form the basis of a new constitutional settlement that Britain needs. It’s time to seize the mantle of a new Chartism for the 21st century.
This isn’t just about values, although they are central to this conversation. Lords reform is also one of those rare issues that unites left and right, according to YouGov analysis. Rage erupted not just from the Mirror and Guardian, but from the Express and the Daily Star. And over 360,000 people have signed the Change.org petition calling for real reform – doubling in size in just a few days.
A vision to transform society, deepen democracy and give our communities real power must have political reform at its heart. It starts with overhauling Westminster’s corrupted private member’s club.


labourlist--2020-08-06--To defeat the nationalist tide, Labour must offer Wales radical devolution

Wales is often the awkward relation of British politics that seldom factors into national day-to-day political discourse or decision making .
However , as Scottish independence and Irish reunification become real possibilities , the prospect of a sovereign Welsh state is one that is picking up speed under the radar of many London-based politicians and journalists .
A recent YouGov poll saw support for Welsh independence reach its highest ever level at 25 % and this is no flash in the pan .
The general trend points toward slow , but increasing support for independence , up from 10 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additionally , 34 % of 18-24 year-olds currently back independence , along with 29 % of Labour supporters , posing potential future difficulties for the party if it doesn ’ t put forward an appealing constitutional offer .
Polls aside , the nationalist movement is growing both in terms of its numbers and energy .
In May 2019 , thousands joined a boisterous ‘ March for Welsh Independence ’ on the streets of Cardiff in the biggest pro-independence protest in recent memory , followed by an even bigger march in Merthyr , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This movement is also becoming more embedded within cultural institutions with the likes of Welsh Football Fans for Independence boasting formidable and vocal presences at international football games .
In addition , the cross-party ‘ Yes Cymru ’ pro-independence group reported a tripling of its membership in the last year , with their badges becoming more common on cars and social media profiles .
For many like myself who grew up in the solidly Labour heartlands of South Wales , nationalism is now far from the fringe movement it once was .
Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a case for the radically different UK , backed by a radical new devolution deal , to quell this tide .
The reasons behind the nationalist surge are manifold , but almost certainly related in-part to Wales ’ stubborn poverty problem .
Oxfam reports a quarter of the country earns less than 60 % of the average wage , an issue that has persisted for over a decade .
Consequently , Wales has the worst levels of child poverty in the UK , impacting a third of children .
This shameful indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Westminster and the powers it devolves to Cardiff , the least powerful of all three of the three devolved legislatures .
Wales ’ devolution journey has seen it go from an assembly akin to a glorified local authority in 1999 , to the parliament with primary legislation powers it is today .
It has allowed the Senedd to alter or outright reject some Westminster policies , such as prescription fees and hospital car parking charges .
Still , it lacks the powers needed to address the country ’ s deep-rooted problems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament to a ‘ delegated powers ’ model , meaning it can legislate in areas not reserved by Whitehall and this ostensibly increased its powers .
However , the UK government reserved a convoluted list of nearly 200 powers , including employment and industrial relations that were hitherto devolved .
This means the Welsh government ’ s 2017 refusal to implement the Tories ’ Trade Union Act would no longer be possible .
A new devolution settlement must re-write and simplify this list and allow the Senedd to eradicate the scourge of child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Welsh statutory living wage , powers over welfare could lead to a benefits system which supports the most vulnerable , and the devolution of justice would allow reform to a system that disproportionately incarcerates the poorest , focussing efforts toward rehabilitation instead .
Excitingly from a Labour perspective , lifting the £1 billion cap on borrowing could clear the way for a Green New Deal that could transform Wales into a hub of green energy and create tens of thousands of new jobs along the way .
Keir Starmer previously backed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details .
But with new battle lines being drawn in Welsh politics ahead of the 2021 Senedd elections , Labour needs a clear offer .
On one side , Plaid Cymru , led by the very capable and charismatic Adam Price , are doubling down on the case for independence both in the Senedd and to the public .
On the other , the Welsh Tories , who are a significant electoral threat following the last general election , are pitching toward the 25 % of voters who wish to abolish the assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and spending .
Labour can not afford to be complacent whilst these two forces grow in potency and risk its traditional dominance being replaced by either form of nationalism .
After much of North Wales turned blue last December , South Wales is Labour ’ s last ‘ Red Wall ’ .
In order to keep it that way and win back lost voters , it must offer something that trumps both independence and the undoing of hard-won devolution : a more powerful Senedd with the ability to create meaningful change , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action , a green tide of independence could blindside London politicians and lead to a more fractured Britain and weaker labour movement .

Wales is often the awkward relation of British politics that seldom factors into national day-to-day political discourse or decision making. However, as Scottish independence and Irish reunification become real possibilities, the prospect of a sovereign Welsh state is one that is picking up speed under the radar of many London-based politicians and journalists.
A recent YouGov poll saw support for Welsh independence reach its highest ever level at 25% and this is no flash in the pan. The general trend points toward slow, but increasing support for independence, up from 10% in 2013 to its current levels. Additionally, 34% of 18-24 year-olds currently back independence, along with 29% of Labour supporters, posing potential future difficulties for the party if it doesn’t put forward an appealing constitutional offer.
Polls aside, the nationalist movement is growing both in terms of its numbers and energy. In May 2019, thousands joined a boisterous ‘March for Welsh Independence’ on the streets of Cardiff in the biggest pro-independence protest in recent memory, followed by an even bigger march in Merthyr, perhaps the spiritual birthplace of Welsh socialism.
This movement is also becoming more embedded within cultural institutions with the likes of Welsh Football Fans for Independence boasting formidable and vocal presences at international football games. In addition, the cross-party ‘Yes Cymru’ pro-independence group reported a tripling of its membership in the last year, with their badges becoming more common on cars and social media profiles.
For many like myself who grew up in the solidly Labour heartlands of South Wales, nationalism is now far from the fringe movement it once was. Labour politicians both in Cardiff and Westminster must make a case for the radically different UK, backed by a radical new devolution deal, to quell this tide.
The reasons behind the nationalist surge are manifold, but almost certainly related in-part to Wales’ stubborn poverty problem. Oxfam reports a quarter of the country earns less than 60% of the average wage, an issue that has persisted for over a decade. Consequently, Wales has the worst levels of child poverty in the UK, impacting a third of children. This shameful indictment has brought into question the role of both Westminster and the powers it devolves to Cardiff, the least powerful of all three of the three devolved legislatures.
Wales’ devolution journey has seen it go from an assembly akin to a glorified local authority in 1999, to the parliament with primary legislation powers it is today. It has allowed the Senedd to alter or outright reject some Westminster policies, such as prescription fees and hospital car parking charges. Still, it lacks the powers needed to address the country’s deep-rooted problems.
The Wales Act of 2017 moved the parliament from a ‘delegated powers model’ to a ‘reserved powers’ one, meaning it can legislate in areas not reserved by Whitehall and this ostensibly increased its powers. However, the UK government reserved a convoluted list of nearly 200 powers, including employment and industrial relations that were hitherto devolved. This means the Welsh government’s 2017 refusal to implement the Tories’ Trade Union Act would no longer be possible.
A new devolution settlement must re-write and simplify this list and allow the Senedd to eradicate the scourge of child poverty. Devolving employment matters could allow a Welsh statutory living wage, powers over welfare could lead to a benefits system which supports the most vulnerable, and the devolution of justice would allow reform to a system that disproportionately incarcerates the poorest, focussing efforts toward rehabilitation instead. Excitingly from a Labour perspective, lifting the £1 billion cap on borrowing could clear the way for a Green New Deal that could transform Wales into a hub of green energy and create tens of thousands of new jobs along the way.
Keir Starmer previously backed a federal Britain but has offered few policy details. But with new battle lines being drawn in Welsh politics ahead of the 2021 Senedd elections, Labour needs a clear offer. On one side, Plaid Cymru, led by the very capable and charismatic Adam Price, are doubling down on the case for independence both in the Senedd and to the public. On the other, the Welsh Tories, who are a significant electoral threat following the last general election, are pitching toward the 25% of voters who wish to abolish the assembly, with promises to curb its influence and spending. Labour cannot afford to be complacent whilst these two forces grow in potency and risk its traditional dominance being replaced by either form of nationalism.
After much of North Wales turned blue last December, South Wales is Labour’s last ‘Red Wall’. In order to keep it that way and win back lost voters, it must offer something that trumps both independence and the undoing of hard-won devolution: a more powerful Senedd with the ability to create meaningful change, not just tinker around the edges. Without action, a green tide of independence could blindside London politicians and lead to a more fractured Britain and weaker labour movement.


labourlist--2020-08-06--Exclusive: Tory handling of rape claim against MP “terribly disturbing”, says Cat Smith

Labour frontbencher Cat Smith has described the way that the Tory chief whip handled allegations against an ex-minister and serving Conservative MP as “ terribly disturbing ” in an interview with LabourList .
The shadow minister for young people and voter engagement , who attends shadow cabinet meetings , was asked about the Tory MP arrested last weekend on suspicion of rape following allegations by a former parliamentary staffer .
While the Conservative Party has described the allegations of sexual assault and rape as “ serious ” , the whips ’ office has decided not to withdraw or suspend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Smith said : “ It ’ s a very serious allegation , and I find it so terribly disturbing that there is a woman who has tried to raise alarm bells and has basically been turned away by the Conservatives ’ chief whip.
” She added : “ Powerful men seem to get away with an awful lot .
Have we learnt nothing from the # MeToo movement ?
Other industries have sorted themselves out and addressed this head-on .
And I worry that parliament in particular is a bit slow off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s difficult because of course the withdrawal of a political party whip has to be a decision for a political party – it can ’ t be for parliament to come in and do that , it just doesn ’ t work procedurally – but I ’ d like to see the Conservative Party taking this incident a lot more seriously than it is.
” According to The Sunday Times reports , the ex-staffer complainant in her 20s alleges that the Tory MP assaulted her , raped her and left her so traumatised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The revelation that a serving MP had been arrested came soon after ex-Tory MP and former party whip Charlie Elphicke was convicted of sexual assault .
He was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault .
In a wide-ranging interview with LabourList , Smith also : • Described violence against women as “ ingrained in our society ” • Confirmed she still supports electoral reform and a “ more proportional voting system ” • Said the introduction of a proportional voting system for the House of Lords is “ difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in parliament , Smith said : “ I think it ’ s not as bad as it was but there is still a problem with some senior people thinking the rules don ’ t apply to them.
” She added : “ One of my biggest frustrations about politics is how pale , male and stale it still is to a large degree.
” Asked about the argument that there is a rape epidemic on university campuses affecting young people , Smith said : “ I certainly recognise it from my own time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ’ s officer at the students ’ union , and the numbers of women that I had to support through rape and through abusive relationships , I think was probably quite an eye-opener for me at the time.
” The frontbencher told LabourList : “ Men still use sexual violence to control women .
Two women a week are killed by their partner or former partner .
We do have a massive problem with violence against women .
“ It ’ s so ingrained in our society and culture that often I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see because we just normalise it .
I am so hopeful that the generation of young women that are coming into politics , that we are having a # MeToo moment , means we can change that.
” Smith said she intended to do her university degree in religious studies but “ had a massive crisis of faith and switched to do sociology and gender studies ” and did her dissertation on the role of women in the Labour Party .
Asked about the focus by young activists on identity and different forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a labour movement… we don ’ t necessarily always recognise the fact that patriarchy in society means men are more powerful , that white people in society are more powerful .
“ We don ’ t always check ourselves on that .
Sometimes I think that there is a tendency , amongst some people in the labour movement , not to want to acknowledge these things because it ’ s all about social class.
” Smith , who is often considered a Corbynite , was very positive in the LabourList interview about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in contrast to criticism from the party ’ s left over recent months .
Asked about the difference between Starmer ’ s style and that of Jeremy Corbyn , she said : “ It ’ s difficult to know what ’ s Covid and what ’ s actually about having Keir ’ s leadership .
“ I ’ ve got to say , Keir is very good at starting meetings on time , keeping us on an agenda , and being very thorough and efficient .
I think he ’ s really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And in terms of what we ’ re doing now as an opposition – sometimes people use this is a negative thing – I think Keir ’ s forensic leadership is exactly what the country needs.
” She added : “ One of the things that puts people off voting is to see a divided party .
I think that what I ’ ve really liked under Keir ’ s leadership is the way that he ’ s been so inclusive .
“ It ’ s no secret that I nominated Jeremy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the leadership election just gone .
But having that broad team at the top of the Labour Party , I do feel like my politics and opinions are taken seriously.
” Smith ’ s voter engagement brief covers electoral reform , which has been found to be popular among Labour members .
Polling last year revealed that three-quarters of members believe the party should back proportional representation ( PR ) .
Asked about PR , Smith said : “ I would support a more proportional voting system… In terms of my own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very much to support a change in the electoral system .
I think first-past-the-post is just not really fit for the 21st century and the multi-party democracy that we have.
” She added that other changes , such as “ weekend voting ” and “ Australian-style pre-voting ” , should also be introduced to make it easier for people to engage with our democratic processes .
Smith revealed that “ there will be something shortly ” from Labour on consulting party members about electoral reform , which Starmer promised to undertake while campaigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On House of Lords reform , Smith said : “ Personally , I think there ’ s no place in a modern democracy to be having unelected peers put [ in parliament ] for life .
Even when we find out they ’ ve done terrible things , we can ’ t get rid of them .
It stinks.
” She added : “ There is a lot of work to be done on reforming the House of Lords .
In whatever form a second chamber takes , I think a proportional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to argue against it , isn ’ t it ?
First-past-the-post was of its time , but I think its time has long since left us.
” Smith is also leading on Labour ’ s opposition to the government plans around introducing mandatory voter ID , which critics say would risk disenfranchising 3.5 million citizens – 7.5 % of the electorate – in the UK without photo ID .
Referring to the pro-mandatory voter ID argument that this system works in other countries , she pointed out that – unlike those places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards and therefore “ many struggle to prove who they are ” .
But asked whether the UK should introduce ID cards , as favoured by the New Labour government , Smith said : “ I think the British public would not be up for having national ID cards .
What I do think is that we should be making it easier for particularly vulnerable people to access ID .
ID is very expensive.
” Below is the full video of our ‘ in conversation ’ event with Cat Smith MP .

Labour frontbencher Cat Smith has described the way that the Tory chief whip handled allegations against an ex-minister and serving Conservative MP as “terribly disturbing” in an interview with LabourList.
The shadow minister for young people and voter engagement, who attends shadow cabinet meetings, was asked about the Tory MP arrested last weekend on suspicion of rape following allegations by a former parliamentary staffer.
While the Conservative Party has described the allegations of sexual assault and rape as “serious”, the whips’ office has decided not to withdraw or suspend the Tory whip while the police investigation continues.
Smith said: “It’s a very serious allegation, and I find it so terribly disturbing that there is a woman who has tried to raise alarm bells and has basically been turned away by the Conservatives’ chief whip.”
She added: “Powerful men seem to get away with an awful lot. Have we learnt nothing from the #MeToo movement? Other industries have sorted themselves out and addressed this head-on. And I worry that parliament in particular is a bit slow off the mark here.
“It’s difficult because of course the withdrawal of a political party whip has to be a decision for a political party – it can’t be for parliament to come in and do that, it just doesn’t work procedurally – but I’d like to see the Conservative Party taking this incident a lot more seriously than it is.”
According to The Sunday Times reports, the ex-staffer complainant in her 20s alleges that the Tory MP assaulted her, raped her and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital.
The revelation that a serving MP had been arrested came soon after ex-Tory MP and former party whip Charlie Elphicke was convicted of sexual assault. He was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault.
In a wide-ranging interview with LabourList, Smith also:
Described violence against women as “ingrained in our society”
Praised Keir Starmer’s “inclusive” leadership
Confirmed she still supports electoral reform and a “more proportional voting system”
Said the introduction of a proportional voting system for the House of Lords is “difficult to argue against”
Commenting on the culture in parliament, Smith said: “I think it’s not as bad as it was but there is still a problem with some senior people thinking the rules don’t apply to them.” She added: “One of my biggest frustrations about politics is how pale, male and stale it still is to a large degree.”
Asked about the argument that there is a rape epidemic on university campuses affecting young people, Smith said: “I certainly recognise it from my own time at university.
“I was a women’s officer at the students’ union, and the numbers of women that I had to support through rape and through abusive relationships, I think was probably quite an eye-opener for me at the time.”
The frontbencher told LabourList: “Men still use sexual violence to control women. Two women a week are killed by their partner or former partner. We do have a massive problem with violence against women.
“It’s so ingrained in our society and culture that often I think it’s quite difficult to see because we just normalise it. I am so hopeful that the generation of young women that are coming into politics, that we are having a #MeToo moment, means we can change that.”
Smith said she intended to do her university degree in religious studies but “had a massive crisis of faith and switched to do sociology and gender studies” and did her dissertation on the role of women in the Labour Party.
Asked about the focus by young activists on identity and different forms of oppression, Smith said: “As a labour movement… we don’t necessarily always recognise the fact that patriarchy in society means men are more powerful, that white people in society are more powerful.
“We don’t always check ourselves on that. Sometimes I think that there is a tendency, amongst some people in the labour movement, not to want to acknowledge these things because it’s all about social class.”
Smith, who is often considered a Corbynite, was very positive in the LabourList interview about new leader Keir Starmer’s approach, in contrast to criticism from the party’s left over recent months.
Asked about the difference between Starmer’s style and that of Jeremy Corbyn, she said: “It’s difficult to know what’s Covid and what’s actually about having Keir’s leadership.
“I’ve got to say, Keir is very good at starting meetings on time, keeping us on an agenda, and being very thorough and efficient. I think he’s really managed to push us into shape.
“And in terms of what we’re doing now as an opposition – sometimes people use this is a negative thing – I think Keir’s forensic leadership is exactly what the country needs.”
She added: “One of the things that puts people off voting is to see a divided party. I think that what I’ve really liked under Keir’s leadership is the way that he’s been so inclusive.
“It’s no secret that I nominated Jeremy Corbyn for leader and then Rebecca Long-Bailey in the leadership election just gone. But having that broad team at the top of the Labour Party, I do feel like my politics and opinions are taken seriously.”
Smith’s voter engagement brief covers electoral reform, which has been found to be popular among Labour members. Polling last year revealed that three-quarters of members believe the party should back proportional representation (PR).
Asked about PR, Smith said: “I would support a more proportional voting system… In terms of my own personal opinions, I would be minded very much to support a change in the electoral system. I think first-past-the-post is just not really fit for the 21st century and the multi-party democracy that we have.”
She added that other changes, such as “weekend voting” and “Australian-style pre-voting”, should also be introduced to make it easier for people to engage with our democratic processes.
Smith revealed that “there will be something shortly” from Labour on consulting party members about electoral reform, which Starmer promised to undertake while campaigning in the Labour leadership election this year.
On House of Lords reform, Smith said: “Personally, I think there’s no place in a modern democracy to be having unelected peers put [in parliament] for life. Even when we find out they’ve done terrible things, we can’t get rid of them. It stinks.”
She added: “There is a lot of work to be done on reforming the House of Lords. In whatever form a second chamber takes, I think a proportional voting system – it’s very difficult to argue against it, isn’t it? First-past-the-post was of its time, but I think its time has long since left us.”
Smith is also leading on Labour’s opposition to the government plans around introducing mandatory voter ID, which critics say would risk disenfranchising 3.5 million citizens – 7.5% of the electorate – in the UK without photo ID.
Referring to the pro-mandatory voter ID argument that this system works in other countries, she pointed out that – unlike those places – the UK does not have ID cards and therefore “many struggle to prove who they are”.
But asked whether the UK should introduce ID cards, as favoured by the New Labour government, Smith said: “I think the British public would not be up for having national ID cards. What I do think is that we should be making it easier for particularly vulnerable people to access ID. ID is very expensive.”
Below is the full video of our ‘in conversation’ event with Cat Smith MP.


labourlist--2020-08-06--Nicola Sturgeon has failed a generation of young Scots

Nicola Sturgeon asked the people of Scotland to judge her on her education record .
Well , it ’ s a fail from me .
The last 13 years of SNP government has seen the once world-beating Scottish education system plummet so fast and far down the international league tables that the response has been to withdraw Scotland from most of the measurements .
This fail was compounded this week when pupils in Scotland were the first in the UK to receive their exam grades following the coronavirus pandemic .
With no physical exams taken , the awarding of certificates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get right .
But nobody could have anticipated the way the Scottish government would hard-bake inequality into the system .
The method adopted has decided children ’ s future based on their postcode or the previous performance of their school , not their performance in the classroom assessed by the people who know them the best – their teachers .
As a result , thousands of pupils from poor communities have now had their futures stolen from them by the SNP .
Nicola Sturgeon has failed a generation of young Scots , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone who still thinks the SNP is a progressive government .
At the very least , it should certainly be the final nail for any claim that education is the number one priority for the First Minister .
This year , initial grades were decided on teacher estimates .
But the Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA ) applied a ‘ moderation ’ calculation , which resulted in 133,000 entries being adjusted from the initial estimate – or around a quarter of all entries .
A staggering 93 % were adjusted down at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of difference that can decide whether a child goes to university or not .
But here ’ s the real scandal : the pass rate for Highers – the equivalent of A-Levels – was only reduced by 6.9 percentage points compared to teacher estimates for children from the richest communities in Scotland .
It was cut by 15.2 percentage points for children living in the poorest neighbourhoods .
In other words , pupils living in deprived areas had their exam results downgraded by more than double the rate of their peers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists in Scotland , and the Scottish government chose to add that to the algorithm rather than address it .
There is a crucial lesson here for OfQual ahead of GCSE and A-Level results , and we must hope the Tory government does not preside over a similar unfair system in the weeks ahead .
If the system damages the life chances of individuals , then it is not much of a system at all .
I was proud to go to school at Wester Hailes Education Centre in Edinburgh , where for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative work carried out by hard-working teachers and pupils .
But the school is in one of Scotland ’ s most deprived neighbourhoods , and I now fear pupils there will be among those unjustly penalised this year because of where they live .
If it was in my time , I wouldn ’ t have been able to go to university as my grades would have been lowered to the school average over the previous years .
My inbox has been deluged with emails from worried pupils and parents – and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MSPs across Scotland .
The human cost was laid bare in Motherwell near Glasgow , where Olivia Biggart has worked to achieve her dream of attending medical school .
Her predicted five As have been downgraded to two As and three Bs because she lives in a deprived community , jeopardising her future to be a top doctor .
Taking away life opportunities like this is heart-breaking and should shame the SNP forever .
The First Minister defended this action , blamed the teachers , and then said that it would not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done so well .
She defended using an algorithm to maintain the widening of educational attainment that her government has created .
What happens now if those pupils who have been disadvantaged win their appeals ?
By the First Minister ’ s reckoning this means they can ’ t win their appeals because that would mean poorer kids doing better .
Surely not ?
It is astonishing that Nicola Sturgeon , herself from a working-class family in Ayrshire , has pulled the rug away like this .
As for her beleaguered Education Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lied to the people of Scotland , claiming there is “ no evidence ” that pupils from poorer areas were disadvantaged .
That ’ s blatantly not true .
He has lost the confidence of pupils and teachers , so how long before he loses the confidence of the First Minister ?
Next year ’ s Scottish parliament election is rapidly approaching .
The SNP and Tories want to make the debate all about the constitution , but this week has been a stark reminder why that must not be allowed to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Scotland to focus on what really matters : how to restore Scottish education to the best in the world , how to protect our NHS , and how to rebuild our economy after a deep recession .
Labour already has some of the ideas to build a better Scotland : a national care service ; increased investment for councils so they can reverse school spending cuts imposed by the SNP ; and a jobs guarantee scheme for young Scots .
While the SNP has let down a generation , we will work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairer society .

Nicola Sturgeon asked the people of Scotland to judge her on her education record. Well, it’s a fail from me. The last 13 years of SNP government has seen the once world-beating Scottish education system plummet so fast and far down the international league tables that the response has been to withdraw Scotland from most of the measurements. This fail was compounded this week when pupils in Scotland were the first in the UK to receive their exam grades following the coronavirus pandemic.
With no physical exams taken, the awarding of certificates was always going to be difficult to get right. But nobody could have anticipated the way the Scottish government would hard-bake inequality into the system. The method adopted has decided children’s future based on their postcode or the previous performance of their school, not their performance in the classroom assessed by the people who know them the best – their teachers.
As a result, thousands of pupils from poor communities have now had their futures stolen from them by the SNP. Nicola Sturgeon has failed a generation of young Scots, and that should be a harsh lesson for anyone who still thinks the SNP is a progressive government. At the very least, it should certainly be the final nail for any claim that education is the number one priority for the First Minister.
This year, initial grades were decided on teacher estimates. But the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) applied a ‘moderation’ calculation, which resulted in 133,000 entries being adjusted from the initial estimate – or around a quarter of all entries. A staggering 93% were adjusted down at least one grade.
That’s the kind of difference that can decide whether a child goes to university or not. But here’s the real scandal: the pass rate for Highers – the equivalent of A-Levels – was only reduced by 6.9 percentage points compared to teacher estimates for children from the richest communities in Scotland. It was cut by 15.2 percentage points for children living in the poorest neighbourhoods.
In other words, pupils living in deprived areas had their exam results downgraded by more than double the rate of their peers from affluent backgrounds. A shameful attainment gap exists in Scotland, and the Scottish government chose to add that to the algorithm rather than address it. There is a crucial lesson here for OfQual ahead of GCSE and A-Level results, and we must hope the Tory government does not preside over a similar unfair system in the weeks ahead. If the system damages the life chances of individuals, then it is not much of a system at all.
I was proud to go to school at Wester Hailes Education Centre in Edinburgh, where for many years there has been inspirational and innovative work carried out by hard-working teachers and pupils. But the school is in one of Scotland’s most deprived neighbourhoods, and I now fear pupils there will be among those unjustly penalised this year because of where they live. If it was in my time, I wouldn’t have been able to go to university as my grades would have been lowered to the school average over the previous years.
My inbox has been deluged with emails from worried pupils and parents – and it’s the same for MPs and MSPs across Scotland. The human cost was laid bare in Motherwell near Glasgow, where Olivia Biggart has worked to achieve her dream of attending medical school. Her predicted five As have been downgraded to two As and three Bs because she lives in a deprived community, jeopardising her future to be a top doctor.
Taking away life opportunities like this is heart-breaking and should shame the SNP forever. The First Minister defended this action, blamed the teachers, and then said that it would not be correct for the poorest pupils to have done so well. She defended using an algorithm to maintain the widening of educational attainment that her government has created.
What happens now if those pupils who have been disadvantaged win their appeals? By the First Minister’s reckoning this means they can’t win their appeals because that would mean poorer kids doing better. Surely not? It is astonishing that Nicola Sturgeon, herself from a working-class family in Ayrshire, has pulled the rug away like this.
As for her beleaguered Education Secretary, John Swinney, he has simply lied to the people of Scotland, claiming there is “no evidence” that pupils from poorer areas were disadvantaged. That’s blatantly not true. He has lost the confidence of pupils and teachers, so how long before he loses the confidence of the First Minister?
Next year’s Scottish parliament election is rapidly approaching. The SNP and Tories want to make the debate all about the constitution, but this week has been a stark reminder why that must not be allowed to happen. We owe it to the people of Scotland to focus on what really matters: how to restore Scottish education to the best in the world, how to protect our NHS, and how to rebuild our economy after a deep recession.
Labour already has some of the ideas to build a better Scotland: a national care service; increased investment for councils so they can reverse school spending cuts imposed by the SNP; and a jobs guarantee scheme for young Scots.
While the SNP has let down a generation, we will work tirelessly for a more socially just and fairer society.