labourlist--2020-08-18--Labour calls for extension of evictions ban as 250,000 face homelessness

Labour has called on the government to extend the evictions ban and warned that nearly a quarter of a million people across the UK are at risk of being made homeless when the suspension lifts .
Citing research carried out by the housing charity Shelter , which found that 174,000 renters have already been threatened with eviction , Labour ’ s Thangam Debbonaire wrote to Robert Jenrick today to urge him to “ rethink ” ending the ban .
In her letter to the minister , the Shadow Housing Secretary declared that “ after the incompetent handling of the exams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid more chaos of its own making ” .
Debbonaire also asked the following questions : • “ What assessment has the government made of likely numbers of people facing homelessness if the ban is lifted ?
• “ What consideration have they given to public health , with possibly thousands of households becoming homeless as we go into winter ?
• “ Why has the government not taken steps to honour your 2019 manifesto pledge to end section 21 ?
• “ What steps is the government taking to prevent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there were over 1.15 million households on council housing waiting lists , and the number of families in insecure private-rented accommodation increased by 7 % last year alone .
Shelter has estimated that 227,000 adult private renters have fallen into arrears since the start of the pandemic .
Under current law , when the ban lifts , anyone who has accrued arrears of eight weeks or more can be automatically evicted .
This does not include those who can be made homeless as part of a ‘ no fault ’ eviction after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Housing Act 1988 , landlords can ‘ seek possession ’ of their properties without a reason being given .
Boris Johnson and his predecessor Theresa May both pledged to end no-fault evictions , promising to bring forward a new ‘ renters ’ reform bill ’ .
But the Conservatives have failed to act on this pledge .
Earlier this week , former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell demanded that the government extend the evictions ban by at least another year , and called for rent arrears to be cancelled to prevent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A cross-party group of MPs wrote to the government on Monday , also urging an extension , and warning that failure to do so would result in a “ new wave of homelessness ” .
It was signed by nine Labour MPs , one DUP MP and ten Lib Dems .
Below is the full text of the letter sent by Thangam Debbonaire today .
As you know , the ban on evictions is due to end on Sunday 23rd August .
In March , you promised : “ No renter who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be forced out of their home , nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts.
” I am writing today asking you to set out the steps you have taken to prevent a self-made homelessness crisis at the worst possible moment , as the furlough scheme winds up and we face the risk of growing infections of coronavirus .
Labour has consistently argued that the ban should not be lifted until the government has introduced changes to our broken housing system that will protect tenants .
What assessment has the government made of likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban is lifted ?
What consideration have they given to public health , with possibly thousands of households becoming homeless as we go into winter ?
Why has the government not taken steps to honour your 2019 manifesto pledge to end section 21 ?
Labour has called for the government to urgently introduce legislation that will abolish section 21 ‘ no fault ’ evictions and reform Section eight to prevent automatic eviction for tenants whose incomes have been hit by Covid .
What steps is the government taking to prevent a rent debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renters aged between 25 and 34 years had no savings in 2018-19 .
But the government has repeatedly ignored calls to address this through the social security system .
Renters are harder hit by the crisis , but government support has so far focused on landlords and home-owners .
Shelter estimates that nearly a quarter of a million people are at risk of eviction because of Covid economic impact .
Veering from crisis to crisis is no way to run a country .
After the incompetent handling of the exams fiasco , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos of its own making .
The situation is urgent , but there is still time for you to rethink , and extend the ban .
I urge you to do so .
Thangam Debbonaire , MP for Bristol West Shadow Secretary of State for Housing


labourlist--2020-08-19--Midwives “let down” by government, says Labour

Labour has said that midwives have been “ let down ” by the government after research showed that they are routinely missing meals and delaying toilet breaks due to not having enough time .
Responding to survey results published today by the Royal College of Midwives , Labour ’ s Justin Madders declared that the government has failed to get to grips with “ chronic workforce shortages ” across the health service .
The data showed that 87 % of RCM members who responded said that they delayed going to the toilet , while 77 % reported skipping meals – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did so “ always ” or “ most of the time ” .
Commenting on the findings , Madders said : “ This is deeply concerning and shows not only how our amazing midwives go above and beyond every single day but also how they are being let down by a government that has simply failed to deal with the chronic workforce shortages in the NHS .
“ We are short of 2,500 midwives in the NHS in England which , against an overall staffing shortfall of over 100,000 , is forcing staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them under ever increasing strain .
“ The government needs to come up with a credible staffing plan otherwise we risk losing many of these dedicated people to burnout.
” The information given by respondents also revealed that 52 % of midwives felt dehydrated “ most or all of the time ” at work because they don ’ t have enough time to get a drink , and that 37 % said they “ never ” or “ rarely ” take their entitled breaks .
Employment relations adviser at the RCM Alice Sorby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own health and wellbeing on the line to ensure that women and babies get the care they need – but it shouldn ’ t be either/or .
“ The NHS should be doing all it can to promote staff retention and support our members ’ health in the workplace so they can deliver the very best care to women and their babies.
” Sorby added that the pandemic has “ undoubtedly increased the pressure on midwives , some of whom have been working additional hours unpaid just to keep maternity services open and @ @ @

Labour has said that midwives have been “let down” by the government after research showed that they are routinely missing meals and delaying toilet breaks due to not having enough time.
Responding to survey results published today by the Royal College of Midwives, Labour’s Justin Madders declared that the government has failed to get to grips with “chronic workforce shortages” across the health service.
The data showed that 87% of RCM members who responded said that they delayed going to the toilet, while 77% reported skipping meals – of whom a quarter said that they did so “always” or “most of the time”.
Commenting on the findings, Madders said: “This is deeply concerning and shows not only how our amazing midwives go above and beyond every single day but also how they are being let down by a government that has simply failed to deal with the chronic workforce shortages in the NHS.
“We are short of 2,500 midwives in the NHS in England which, against an overall staffing shortfall of over 100,000, is forcing staff to do more and more and putting them under ever increasing strain.
“The government needs to come up with a credible staffing plan otherwise we risk losing many of these dedicated people to burnout.”
The information given by respondents also revealed that 52% of midwives felt dehydrated “most or all of the time” at work because they don’t have enough time to get a drink, and that 37% said they “never” or “rarely” take their entitled breaks.
Employment relations adviser at the RCM Alice Sorby said: “Midwives are putting their own health and wellbeing on the line to ensure that women and babies get the care they need – but it shouldn’t be either/or.
“The NHS should be doing all it can to promote staff retention and support our members’ health in the workplace so they can deliver the very best care to women and their babies.”
Sorby added that the pandemic has “undoubtedly increased the pressure on midwives, some of whom have been working additional hours unpaid just to keep maternity services open and running”.


labourlist--2020-08-19--WATCH: “We are opposed to a second independence referendum,” says Leonard

The Scottish Labour Party is “ clearly saying that we are opposed to a second independence referendum ” , Richard Leonard has declared ahead of next year ’ s Holyrood elections .
In an interview with ITV ’ s Representing Border programme this afternoon , the Scottish Labour leader said that the party was instead focused on “ the people ’ s priorities – which are about jobs , economic recovery and public services ” .
He rejected the suggestion that he should step down as leader ahead of the vote , and said that he had been elected only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate from the members to lead the Scottish Labour Party into next year ’ s elections ” .
Leonard said : “ The entire focus and dedication of the next Scottish parliament and the next Scottish government should be on rebuilding the economy , should be revitalising our public services , should be looking at how we can build a better care system… “ These are the priorities for the next five years .
It ’ s not independence .
It ’ s not constitutional change .
And we should not get bogged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years , a wrangle between and SNP and Tory administration.
” He added : “ The position of the Scottish Labour Party is clear that we are going into next year ’ s elections , saying that we are standing on a platform opposing a second independence referendum.
” Asked if it was time for a new Scottish Labour leader , Leonard said : “ No it ’ s not .
I was elected less than three years ago with a strong mandate from the members to lead the Scottish Labour Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour leader Keir Starmer told Representing Border in January that the SNP , which is campaigning for a second vote , will have a mandate for another independence referendum if they win a majority in 2021 .
But Starmer said that “ neither the status quo nor independence is the right way forward ” , and described how he wants to make the case that “ federalism or much more meaningful devolution ” is needed .

The Scottish Labour Party is “clearly saying that we are opposed to a second independence referendum”, Richard Leonard has declared ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections.
In an interview with ITV’s Representing Border programme this afternoon, the Scottish Labour leader said that the party was instead focused on “the people’s priorities – which are about jobs, economic recovery and public services”.
He rejected the suggestion that he should step down as leader ahead of the vote, and said that he had been elected only three years ago with a “strong mandate from the members to lead the Scottish Labour Party into next year’s elections”.
Leonard said: “The entire focus and dedication of the next Scottish parliament and the next Scottish government should be on rebuilding the economy, should be revitalising our public services, should be looking at how we can build a better care system…
“These are the priorities for the next five years. It’s not independence. It’s not constitutional change. And we should not get bogged down in a debate for the next five years, a wrangle between and SNP and Tory administration.”
He added: “The position of the Scottish Labour Party is clear that we are going into next year’s elections, saying that we are standing on a platform opposing a second independence referendum.”
Asked if it was time for a new Scottish Labour leader, Leonard said: “No it’s not. I was elected less than three years ago with a strong mandate from the members to lead the Scottish Labour Party into next year’s elections.”
Scottish Labour will campaign in next year's Holyrood election with a 'clear' message opposing a second independence referendum, @LabourRichard tells us.@scottishlabour leader says he will not stand down like Jackson Carlaw, because voters want 'consistency' #indyref2 pic.twitter.com/ZtWgd4m7TI — Representing Border (@ITVBorderRB) August 19, 2020
Labour leader Keir Starmer told Representing Border in January that the SNP, which is campaigning for a second vote, will have a mandate for another independence referendum if they win a majority in 2021.
But Starmer said that “neither the status quo nor independence is the right way forward”, and described how he wants to make the case that “federalism or much more meaningful devolution” is needed.


labourlist--2020-08-19--UNISON celebrates victory for disabled workers

UNISON has celebrated a major victory after the Department for Work and Pensions announced that additional support will be made available to help disabled people work from home .
Assistant general secretary Christine McAnea today responded to the publication of an extension to the department ’ s Access to Work scheme , saying that she is “ delighted the government has listened to UNISON ” .
McAnea wrote to the Chancellor in July and called for a “ culture change in UK employers ” to make sure that disabled people who want to work from home can do so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government .
Commenting on the extension , McAnea said : “ Many of our disabled members are worried about losing their jobs if they can ’ t go back to the workplace because of Covid-19 .
This will help them to keep their job and stay independent.
” The Access to Work scheme helps people who are disabled , or have a physical or mental health condition , stay in employment .
Last year , it provided support to 36,000 people to do their job .
But a survey from UNISON earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabled workers received help from the scheme to work from home ; that 23 % did not think the scheme could help them do so ; and that 41 % did not know about the programme .
She added : “ Government needs make sure all disabled workers know about Access to Work and that employers don ’ t force disabled people back to the workplace when it ’ s not yet safe.
” The announcement from the department outlined that disabled people can get grant funding to support them if they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that this money can help pay for special equipment .
Applications can be fast-tracked if someone is in the clinically extremely vulnerable group , and disabled workers can claim through the fund for additional transport costs , such as taxi fares , if public transport is not a safe option .
The extension also includes mental health support through the Access to Work programme , “ with a tailored package of support for up to nine months ” .
Workers can apply for support online .

UNISON has celebrated a major victory after the Department for Work and Pensions announced that additional support will be made available to help disabled people work from home.
Assistant general secretary Christine McAnea today responded to the publication of an extension to the department’s Access to Work scheme, saying that she is “delighted the government has listened to UNISON”.
McAnea wrote to the Chancellor in July and called for a “culture change in UK employers” to make sure that disabled people who want to work from home can do so, with additional funding and help from the government.
Commenting on the extension, McAnea said: “Many of our disabled members are worried about losing their jobs if they can’t go back to the workplace because of Covid-19. This will help them to keep their job and stay independent.”
The Access to Work scheme helps people who are disabled, or have a physical or mental health condition, stay in employment. Last year, it provided support to 36,000 people to do their job.
But a survey from UNISON earlier this year found that only 5% of disabled workers received help from the scheme to work from home; that 23% did not think the scheme could help them do so; and that 41% did not know about the programme.
She added: “Government needs make sure all disabled workers know about Access to Work and that employers don’t force disabled people back to the workplace when it’s not yet safe.”
The announcement from the department outlined that disabled people can get grant funding to support them if they have to work from home because of Covid-19, and that this money can help pay for special equipment.
Applications can be fast-tracked if someone is in the clinically extremely vulnerable group, and disabled workers can claim through the fund for additional transport costs, such as taxi fares, if public transport is not a safe option.
The extension also includes mental health support through the Access to Work programme, “with a tailored package of support for up to nine months”. Workers can apply for support online.


labourlist--2020-08-19--15 years after her death, Mo Mowlam remains a figure held in high esteem

Today is the 15th anniversary of Mo Mowlam ’ s death .
Mo was surely the best Northern Ireland Secretary this country has ever had , and one of the finest ministers to ever grace the Labour Party benches , and yet somehow she is increasingly erased from the narrative .
When Mo was appointed as Northern Ireland secretary in 1997 , the job was thought to be a ‘ poisoned chalice ’ .
But Mo approached it as she did everything in life – with a human touch .
Mo knew that peace wasn ’ t going to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
She met with victims and survivors from all communities .
Her inclusion of women was imperative to the peace process : she knew that without inclusion of the women in each community , there would be no progress .
This was a marked change from the usual approach .
Mo knew peace was ultimately about transforming the lives of ordinary people , and that was what motivated her .
She spent as much time as she could visiting community organisations and projects .
She was passionate about integrated education , believing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real , long-lasting , happy community .
There were her unprecedented visits to Maze Prison , which followed the murder of loyalist Billy Wright by republican inmates .
This led to some prisoners withdrawing their support from the negotiations .
Against all advice , Mo went into the notorious prison to talk to them .
She regained their support and the peace process resumed .
As we have seen from great female leaders since Mo – people like Jacinda Ardern and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – there is a warmth often brought by women to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People often refer to the time Mo tossed her wig on the table , when she was recovering from cancer , during a particularly volatile series of negotiations as demonstrative of her unusual style of politics .
But of course , it wasn ’ t really a style : it was real .
With Mo , what you saw was what you got , which made it easier for her to win trust .
In 1999 , Mo was moved from the Northern Ireland brief and replaced by Peter Mandelson .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this decision .
As Peter Hain said : “ Mo Mowlam was the catalyst that allowed politics to move forward , which led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998 .
She cut through conventions and made difficult decisions that gave momentum to political progress.
” In her autobiography , Momentum , Mo recounted her disappointment at being moved before she had the opportunity to finish what she had started and said that she felt misogyny had played a part in how she was treated .
Others felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the standing ovation that she received during Tony Blair ’ s leader ’ s speech at the 1998 Labour Party conference , meant she was simply too popular .
In 2005 , when Mo died , Blair said of her : “ It is no exaggeration to say she transformed the politics not just of Northern Ireland itself but crucially of relations between the Republic of Ireland and the UK , and it was this transformation that created the culture in which peace-making could flourish… Suddenly nationalist , republican and Catholic Ireland had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rendered out of date .
She didn ’ t have to talk about equality .
She exuded it , naturally , and with an absence of affectation that was marvellous to behold… She bowled everyone over.
” But oddly , when making a speech to mark 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement in 2018 , Blair did not even mention Mo .
Both Mo ’ s stepdaughter Henrietta Norton and Harriet Harman have expressed concern about the erasing of Mo from the historical narrative .
Despite these efforts , Mo remains – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular figure , held in high esteem by supporters of all parties .
But younger generations deserve to know all about the work that Mo did , and to be inspired by her like those of us who grew up watching her in action .
I could not let today go past unmarked , so I wrote this piece .
I recommend anyone who wants to feel hopeful to read Mo ’ s book Momentum .

Today is the 15th anniversary of Mo Mowlam’s death. Mo was surely the best Northern Ireland Secretary this country has ever had, and one of the finest ministers to ever grace the Labour Party benches, and yet somehow she is increasingly erased from the narrative. When Mo was appointed as Northern Ireland secretary in 1997, the job was thought to be a ‘poisoned chalice’. But Mo approached it as she did everything in life – with a human touch. Mo knew that peace wasn’t going to come just from leaders, but from the people. She met with victims and survivors from all communities. Her inclusion of women was imperative to the peace process: she knew that without inclusion of the women in each community, there would be no progress.
This was a marked change from the usual approach. Mo knew peace was ultimately about transforming the lives of ordinary people, and that was what motivated her. She spent as much time as she could visiting community organisations and projects. She was passionate about integrated education, believing that children were key to building a real, long-lasting, happy community. There were her unprecedented visits to Maze Prison, which followed the murder of loyalist Billy Wright by republican inmates. This led to some prisoners withdrawing their support from the negotiations. Against all advice, Mo went into the notorious prison to talk to them. She regained their support and the peace process resumed.
As we have seen from great female leaders since Mo – people like Jacinda Ardern and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – there is a warmth often brought by women to politics that really makes a difference. People often refer to the time Mo tossed her wig on the table, when she was recovering from cancer, during a particularly volatile series of negotiations as demonstrative of her unusual style of politics. But of course, it wasn’t really a style: it was real. With Mo, what you saw was what you got, which made it easier for her to win trust.
In 1999, Mo was moved from the Northern Ireland brief and replaced by Peter Mandelson. It’s hard to think of a reason for this decision. As Peter Hain said: “Mo Mowlam was the catalyst that allowed politics to move forward, which led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998. She cut through conventions and made difficult decisions that gave momentum to political progress.” In her autobiography, Momentum, Mo recounted her disappointment at being moved before she had the opportunity to finish what she had started and said that she felt misogyny had played a part in how she was treated. Others felt that her popularity, best illustrated by the standing ovation that she received during Tony Blair’s leader’s speech at the 1998 Labour Party conference, meant she was simply too popular.
In 2005, when Mo died, Blair said of her: “It is no exaggeration to say she transformed the politics not just of Northern Ireland itself but crucially of relations between the Republic of Ireland and the UK, and it was this transformation that created the culture in which peace-making could flourish… Suddenly nationalist, republican and Catholic Ireland had every preconception of the English up-ended and rendered out of date. She didn’t have to talk about equality. She exuded it, naturally, and with an absence of affectation that was marvellous to behold… She bowled everyone over.”
But oddly, when making a speech to mark 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement in 2018, Blair did not even mention Mo. Both Mo’s stepdaughter Henrietta Norton and Harriet Harman have expressed concern about the erasing of Mo from the historical narrative. Despite these efforts, Mo remains – 15 years after her death – a popular figure, held in high esteem by supporters of all parties. But younger generations deserve to know all about the work that Mo did, and to be inspired by her like those of us who grew up watching her in action. I could not let today go past unmarked, so I wrote this piece. I recommend anyone who wants to feel hopeful to read Mo’s book Momentum.


labourlist--2020-08-19--Exclusive: “Young people’s voices must be heard,” Cat Smith tells Gavin Williamson

Labour ’ s Cat Smith has told Education Secretary Gavin Williamson that “ young people ’ s voices must be heard ” after the government failed to respond to a now three-month-old letter from youth organisations .
Leaders of Teach First , the Fair Education Alliance , Save the Children , Unicef UK , Girlguiding , the Chartered College of Teaching , and the National Association of Head Teachers wrote to the Prime Minister in May .
As part of the # iwill campaign , they penned an open letter calling on the government to hold a dedicated press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would highlight their particular Covid-19 concerns .
Senior figures from more than than 80 organisations , plus over 150 of their youth representatives , requested that under-18s be allowed to submit questions to the daily press conference , which has since been scrapped .
After no response , LabourList can reveal that the shadow minister for youth affairs has told the Education Secretary in a strongly worded letter today that young people deserve “ the decency of a reply ” .
It comes after what Keir Starmer described as a “ screeching U-turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a controversial algorithm and Ofqual-generated grades scrapped , and teacher predictions used instead .
Commenting on her exchange with Williamson , Cat Smith said : “ At every stage of this crisis , the government has disregarded efforts by young people to have their voices heard and concerns acted upon .
“ The shambolic mishandling of A-level results demonstrates just how out-of-touch this government is when it comes to young people .
Young people have been sounding the alarm for months about A-level results day , but the government has had its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and families devastated last Thursday .
“ If the recent A-level fiasco has taught us anything , it is that young people are best placed to inform policymakers about the most pressing areas of concern for their generation.
” Labour is also calling for the introduction of a regional opportunities guarantee as part of the government ’ s kickstarter scheme to ensure that “ no young person is left behind simply because of where they live ” .
Below is the full text of Cat Smith ’ s letter to Gavin Williamson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s failure to respond to calls from 130 youth representatives and 90 CEOs/chairs of leading organisations asking the Prime Minister to engage directly and meaningfully with young people .
Organisations such as Save the Children , Unicef , and The Children ’ s Society , as well as youth representatives at # Iwill and My Life My Say have been waiting three months for a reply .
Given how badly the government have let down young people over recent weeks and months , I would urge you and your government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very least offer these important organisations and representatives the decency of a reply and an idea of how you intend to engage with them going forward .
Given the incompetency shown in the past few weeks , it is important to show that your government is prepared to listen to what young people have to say .
Unfortunately , at every stage of this crisis so far , the government have disregarded efforts from young people to have their voices heard .
Whilst young people have been sounding the alarm for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s refusal to engage with these warnings and subsequent mishandling of the situation has left students and families devastated .
Indeed , CEOs of Teach First , the Fair Education Alliance , the Chartered College of Teaching , and the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers were signatories of the open letter , urging the Government to listen to students .
But these calls were ignored , allowing young people ’ s future opportunities to be tarnished due to government incompetence .
In your government ’ s slow response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s concerns and circumstances have been missing .
Young people ’ s voices must be heard , and their views made central to government policy response .
We know that this generation of young people are set to be most heavily disadvantaged by the pandemic , in terms of future employment and opportunities .
The Resolution Foundation found that young employees are most likely to have lost work due to furloughing , jobs losses and hours reductions .
But we are yet to see any official guidance about the roll-out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over two months ago .
Mounting evidence from across the youth sector demonstrates the negative impact this is having upon young people ’ s mental health .
But ministers have done nothing to address this worrying trend .
The government continue to be slow and out-of-touch with young people ’ s experiences and concerns .
If the recent A-Level fiasco has taught us anything , it is that young people are best placed to inform policymakers about the most pressing areas of concern for their generation .
Your government must respond to these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , to prevent another devastating fiasco as we saw last week .
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you in due course .

Labour’s Cat Smith has told Education Secretary Gavin Williamson that “young people’s voices must be heard” after the government failed to respond to a now three-month-old letter from youth organisations.
Leaders of Teach First, the Fair Education Alliance, Save the Children, Unicef UK, Girlguiding, the Chartered College of Teaching, and the National Association of Head Teachers wrote to the Prime Minister in May.
As part of the #iwill campaign, they penned an open letter calling on the government to hold a dedicated press conference for young people during the pandemic that would highlight their particular Covid-19 concerns.
Senior figures from more than than 80 organisations, plus over 150 of their youth representatives, requested that under-18s be allowed to submit questions to the daily press conference, which has since been scrapped.
After no response, LabourList can reveal that the shadow minister for youth affairs has told the Education Secretary in a strongly worded letter today that young people deserve “the decency of a reply”.
It comes after what Keir Starmer described as a “screeching U-turn” on exam results, which will see a controversial algorithm and Ofqual-generated grades scrapped, and teacher predictions used instead.
Commenting on her exchange with Williamson, Cat Smith said: “At every stage of this crisis, the government has disregarded efforts by young people to have their voices heard and concerns acted upon.
“The shambolic mishandling of A-level results demonstrates just how out-of-touch this government is when it comes to young people. Young people have been sounding the alarm for months about A-level results day, but the government has had its head in the sand, leaving students and families devastated last Thursday.
“If the recent A-level fiasco has taught us anything, it is that young people are best placed to inform policymakers about the most pressing areas of concern for their generation.”
Labour is also calling for the introduction of a regional opportunities guarantee as part of the government’s kickstarter scheme to ensure that “no young person is left behind simply because of where they live”.
Below is the full text of Cat Smith’s letter to Gavin Williamson.
Dear Gavin,
I am writing to you regarding the government’s failure to respond to calls from 130 youth representatives and 90 CEOs/chairs of leading organisations asking the Prime Minister to engage directly and meaningfully with young people. Organisations such as Save the Children, Unicef, and The Children’s Society, as well as youth representatives at #Iwill and My Life My Say have been waiting three months for a reply.
Given how badly the government have let down young people over recent weeks and months, I would urge you and your government to look into this issue immediately and at the very least offer these important organisations and representatives the decency of a reply and an idea of how you intend to engage with them going forward. Given the incompetency shown in the past few weeks, it is important to show that your government is prepared to listen to what young people have to say.
Unfortunately, at every stage of this crisis so far, the government have disregarded efforts from young people to have their voices heard. Whilst young people have been sounding the alarm for months over A-level results day, the government’s refusal to engage with these warnings and subsequent mishandling of the situation has left students and families devastated. Indeed, CEOs of Teach First, the Fair Education Alliance, the Chartered College of Teaching, and the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers were signatories of the open letter, urging the Government to listen to students. But these calls were ignored, allowing young people’s future opportunities to be tarnished due to government incompetence.
In your government’s slow response to the coronavirus crisis, young people’s concerns and circumstances have been missing. Young people’s voices must be heard, and their views made central to government policy response.
We know that this generation of young people are set to be most heavily disadvantaged by the pandemic, in terms of future employment and opportunities. The Resolution Foundation found that young employees are most likely to have lost work due to furloughing, jobs losses and hours reductions. But we are yet to see any official guidance about the roll-out of the government’s Kickstart Scheme, announced over two months ago. Mounting evidence from across the youth sector demonstrates the negative impact this is having upon young people’s mental health. But ministers have done nothing to address this worrying trend. The government continue to be slow and out-of-touch with young people’s experiences and concerns.
If the recent A-Level fiasco has taught us anything, it is that young people are best placed to inform policymakers about the most pressing areas of concern for their generation. Your government must respond to these calls urgently and engage directly with young people, to prevent another devastating fiasco as we saw last week.
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Yours,
Cat Smith
Shadow Minister for Young People


labourlist--2020-08-20--There is much work still to do. But Starmer’s message on competence is working

The Labour leadership has received a fresh boost today with the release of new polling by YouGov for The Times .
On the question of preference for Prime Minister , Savanta ComRes found Boris Johnson on 43 % and Keir Starmer lagging behind on 30 % in a survey conducted over the weekend .
But the latest YouGov findings , covering Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th , are much better news for the opposition ’ s new top team : Starmer is shown to be up three points to 35 % , while Johnson has been overtaken as he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is difficult to look prime ministerial when you ’ re not already in 10 Downing Street , and this is something that Jeremy Corbyn and Ed Miliband struggled with when they led the main opposition party – partly because the right-wing press worked hard to portray them as both dangerous radicals and unphotogenic fools .
We could explore at length the extent to which prejudices play a role in this competition to be seen as prime ministerial , but the bottom line is that local party nomination meetings across the country this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality in this regard as a reason for choosing him over his rival ( female ) candidates .
And it looks as if the new leader is starting to deliver on this selling point .
The YouGov poll also shows movement in the right direction for Labour on voting intention , with the Conservatives dropping four points to 40 % and Labour gaining three to reach 38 % .
And perhaps more importantly , the research shows Labour is now level-pegging with the Tories on the question of which party is the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new leadership has been criticised by left members for going too soft on the Tories , and even by figures such as Alastair Campbell who say they haven ’ t been doing enough to force change on policy disasters such as the exams scandal .
But its main focus has been on internal party reform , and the idea is that this makeover will contribute to the presentation of Labour as a competent party – and one ready for government by the time the next general election takes place .
Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some party activists to have been taken too far on the issue of migrant boat crossings , when the shadow immigration minister criticised the government ’ s response as revealing a “ lack of grip and competence ” rather than a lack of compassion ( as Nick Thomas-Symonds later said ) .
But the new YouGov polling says good things about Labour ’ s constant framing of government failures and dragged-out U-turns as proof that ministers are incompetent .
The opposition needs to set out a big picture alternative – Starmer must tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign strapline “ another future is possible ” , particularly at a time of crisis that lends itself to significant change – but step one of his plan to improve Labour ’ s image is proving effective so far .

The Labour leadership has received a fresh boost today with the release of new polling by YouGov for The Times. On the question of preference for Prime Minister, Savanta ComRes found Boris Johnson on 43% and Keir Starmer lagging behind on 30% in a survey conducted over the weekend. But the latest YouGov findings, covering Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th, are much better news for the opposition’s new top team: Starmer is shown to be up three points to 35%, while Johnson has been overtaken as he has dropped slightly to 31%.
It is difficult to look prime ministerial when you’re not already in 10 Downing Street, and this is something that Jeremy Corbyn and Ed Miliband struggled with when they led the main opposition party – partly because the right-wing press worked hard to portray them as both dangerous radicals and unphotogenic fools. We could explore at length the extent to which prejudices play a role in this competition to be seen as prime ministerial, but the bottom line is that local party nomination meetings across the country this year saw Labour members cite Starmer’s quality in this regard as a reason for choosing him over his rival (female) candidates. And it looks as if the new leader is starting to deliver on this selling point.
The YouGov poll also shows movement in the right direction for Labour on voting intention, with the Conservatives dropping four points to 40% and Labour gaining three to reach 38%. And perhaps more importantly, the research shows Labour is now level-pegging with the Tories on the question of which party is the most competent. This is crucial for Starmer. The new leadership has been criticised by left members for going too soft on the Tories, and even by figures such as Alastair Campbell who say they haven’t been doing enough to force change on policy disasters such as the exams scandal. But its main focus has been on internal party reform, and the idea is that this makeover will contribute to the presentation of Labour as a competent party – and one ready for government by the time the next general election takes place.
Labour’s competency message was thought by some party activists to have been taken too far on the issue of migrant boat crossings, when the shadow immigration minister criticised the government’s response as revealing a “lack of grip and competence” rather than a lack of compassion (as Nick Thomas-Symonds later said). But the new YouGov polling says good things about Labour’s constant framing of government failures and dragged-out U-turns as proof that ministers are incompetent. The opposition needs to set out a big picture alternative – Starmer must tell us what he means by the leadership campaign strapline “another future is possible”, particularly at a time of crisis that lends itself to significant change – but step one of his plan to improve Labour’s image is proving effective so far.


labourlist--2020-08-20--“I’m not letting Gavin Williamson or the Prime Minister off the hook,” says Green

Labour ’ s Kate Green has said that she is “ not letting Gavin Williamson or the Prime Minister off the hook ” over the fiasco caused by the government ’ s handling of exam results in the pandemic .
In an interview with Times Radio this morning , the Shadow Education Secretary told listeners that the Williamson can not “ wriggle off responsibility for this chaos ” and described how he and Boris Johnson are “ ultimately responsible ” .
Green also declared that it is “ absolutely ludicrous ” that students still do not have the answers they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having had months to prepare for the release of school grades .
Commenting on the fact that Williamson and Johnson are responsible for past two weeks of confusion and uncertainty for students , she said : “ I don ’ t think Gavin Williamson can wriggle off responsibility for this chaos .
“ Young people know who ’ s at fault here – who ’ s cost all this damage to their future… I ’ d certainly like to hear from Ofqual , but I ’ m not letting Gavin Williamson or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re ultimately responsible.
” She added : “ What I ’ m not getting is answers that say confidently to students : ‘ We will get the right results to you .
We ’ ll have a very clear appeal system if there ’ s still a problem where you think you ’ ve been unfairly graded – and you ’ ll know how to take the next step in your career or further study . '
” After announcing in April that students would receive grades standardised by an algorithm designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government performed what Labour called a “ screeching U-turn ” at the start of this week .
According to data published by the exams regulator , those with a grade C or above had been downgraded from teacher estimations by over 10 % among children from the most disadvantaged background .
Following a public outcry when A-Level results were published last week – with nearly 40 % of students in England seeing their predicted results downgraded – the government said it would accept the initial teacher predictions .
Similar to U-turns performed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made its decision on Monday , Williamson said that the government would be abandoning the controversial algorithm used to moderate pupils ’ grades .
Asked about the students now set to receive boosted grades , Green said : “ I think we have to realise that for this cohort of young people… their education has been massively disrupted over the past few months because of the Covid crisis .
“ And I think we have to bend over backwards for these young people , do things that perhaps you wouldn ’ t do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies .
“ The government took exceptional steps with things like furlough schemes for those that might have lost their jobs – surely it should take exceptional steps for these young people ?
” Following the U-turn on A-Level , AS and GCSE exam grades on Monday , Labour figures have urged the government to provide urgent clarification on outstanding questions , including why BTEC students were excluded from the policy change .
The Times reported today that Williamson had been warned that the algorithm would lead to unfair and incorrect grades being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standardisation to the results anyway .
Commenting on his inaction , Green said : “ Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm , and each time , he did nothing .
“ This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country .
His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.
” She called for “ full transparency ” and said that his department should publish all correspondence to and from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added : “ Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly ” .

Labour’s Kate Green has said that she is “not letting Gavin Williamson or the Prime Minister off the hook” over the fiasco caused by the government’s handling of exam results in the pandemic.
In an interview with Times Radio this morning, the Shadow Education Secretary told listeners that the Williamson cannot “wriggle off responsibility for this chaos” and described how he and Boris Johnson are “ultimately responsible”.
Green also declared that it is “absolutely ludicrous” that students still do not have the answers they need to progress, despite the Tories having had months to prepare for the release of school grades.
Commenting on the fact that Williamson and Johnson are responsible for past two weeks of confusion and uncertainty for students, she said: “I don’t think Gavin Williamson can wriggle off responsibility for this chaos.
“Young people know who’s at fault here – who’s cost all this damage to their future… I’d certainly like to hear from Ofqual, but I’m not letting Gavin Williamson or the Prime Minister off the hook because they’re ultimately responsible.”
She added: “What I’m not getting is answers that say confidently to students: ‘We will get the right results to you. We’ll have a very clear appeal system if there’s still a problem where you think you’ve been unfairly graded – and you’ll know how to take the next step in your career or further study.'”
After announcing in April that students would receive grades standardised by an algorithm designed by the exams regulator Ofqual, the government performed what Labour called a “screeching U-turn” at the start of this week.
According to data published by the exams regulator, those with a grade C or above had been downgraded from teacher estimations by over 10% among children from the most disadvantaged background.
Following a public outcry when A-Level results were published last week – with nearly 40% of students in England seeing their predicted results downgraded – the government said it would accept the initial teacher predictions.
Similar to U-turns performed in Scotland and Wales before the UK government made its decision on Monday, Williamson said that the government would be abandoning the controversial algorithm used to moderate pupils’ grades.
Asked about the students now set to receive boosted grades, Green said: “I think we have to realise that for this cohort of young people… their education has been massively disrupted over the past few months because of the Covid crisis.
“And I think we have to bend over backwards for these young people, do things that perhaps you wouldn’t do in normal years to protect their future studies.
“The government took exceptional steps with things like furlough schemes for those that might have lost their jobs – surely it should take exceptional steps for these young people?”
Following the U-turn on A-Level, AS and GCSE exam grades on Monday, Labour figures have urged the government to provide urgent clarification on outstanding questions, including why BTEC students were excluded from the policy change.
The Times reported today that Williamson had been warned that the algorithm would lead to unfair and incorrect grades being awarded, but insisted on applying the standardisation to the results anyway.
Commenting on his inaction, Green said: “Williamson was warned again and again about the problems with the grading algorithm, and each time, he did nothing.
“This endless pattern of incompetence is no way to run a country. His failure to listen to warnings and to act on them risked thousands of young people being robbed of their futures.”
She called for “full transparency” and said that his department should publish all correspondence to and from the Education Secretary about the algorithm. She added: “Young people deserve to know how they came to be let down so badly”.


labourlist--2020-08-20--Left candidates in Unite compete to succeed Len McCluskey

Howard Beckett has confirmed that he intends to stand against fellow assistant general secretary and left candidate Steve Turner in the Unite the Union election to succeed general secretary Len McCluskey .
Despite not securing the backing of the biggest left grouping within the union , United Left ( UL ) , politics and legal chief Beckett has told the BBC that he will be pressing ahead with his bid for the top job .
The UL group , open only to Unite members , backed Turner over Beckett in the race to succeed McCluskey following a virtual hustings last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Turner won with 370 votes to 367 on a turnout of more than 65 % .
Supporters of Beckett released a dossier outlining 30 alleged “ violations ” in the ballot process , including claims that some members didn ’ t receive a ballot , although both candidates had signed a legal agreement not to challenge the result .
Concerns have been raised by some on the left of the union , who say having more than one left candidate in the race could make it less likely that someone with McCluskey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general secretary .
The campaign video put out by Beckett , an ally of McCluskey and Unite ’ s assistant general secretary for politics and legal , set out a manifesto that included proposals such as a new Unite TV channel .
Beckett has been critical of Keir Starmer since the new Labour leader took the job , particularly on the sacking of left-wing figures Richard Burgon , Ian Lavery and Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet .
Turner , who is also seen as close to McCluskey , began his time at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and soon became a shop steward who was active in the T & G ’ s youth section .
He is now national chair of the People ’ s Assembly Against Austerity .
He protested the sacking of Long-Bailey , but has been less critical of Starmer .
He has focused on the manufacturing sector , for which he is responsible in the union , and authored a ‘ Build Back Better ’ series on LabourList .
Unite executive officer Sharon Graham is also understood to be standing in the 2021 general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director – who works on the # BABetrayal campaign – did not seek United Left ’ s support .
Former West Midlands regional secretary Gerard Coyne , who lost by 5,523 votes to McCluskey in 2017 , is rumoured to be considering standing again and would join the race as a centre-left candidate .
Two other large trade unions are also set to decide on new leaders in the near future , with UNISON ’ s Dave Prentis retiring at the end of this year and GMB needing to replace Tim Roache who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with £3m in funding in the run-up to the last general election , which represented the party ’ s biggest single donation , and with over £400,000 in the first three months of this year .
Earlier this month , McCluskey declared that executive members of the affiliated trade union “ want questions answered ” on the BBC Panorama libel case settlement and said they were “ angry ” about the pay out .
In a BBC Radio 4 interview , McCluskey described Labour ’ s settlement in the libel case involving former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ clear miscalculation ” and an “ extraordinary decision ” .
Jeremy Corbyn ally McCluskey was first elected as general secretary in 2010 , and twice re-elected to the position .
His term is due to end in 2022 but a successor will be chosen earlier with the election taking place next year .

Howard Beckett has confirmed that he intends to stand against fellow assistant general secretary and left candidate Steve Turner in the Unite the Union election to succeed general secretary Len McCluskey.
Despite not securing the backing of the biggest left grouping within the union, United Left (UL), politics and legal chief Beckett has told the BBC that he will be pressing ahead with his bid for the top job.
The UL group, open only to Unite members, backed Turner over Beckett in the race to succeed McCluskey following a virtual hustings last month. In a very close vote, Turner won with 370 votes to 367 on a turnout of more than 65%.
Supporters of Beckett released a dossier outlining 30 alleged “violations” in the ballot process, including claims that some members didn’t receive a ballot, although both candidates had signed a legal agreement not to challenge the result.
Concerns have been raised by some on the left of the union, who say having more than one left candidate in the race could make it less likely that someone with McCluskey’s politics will succeed the outgoing general secretary.
The campaign video put out by Beckett, an ally of McCluskey and Unite’s assistant general secretary for politics and legal, set out a manifesto that included proposals such as a new Unite TV channel.
Beckett has been critical of Keir Starmer since the new Labour leader took the job, particularly on the sacking of left-wing figures Richard Burgon, Ian Lavery and Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet.
Turner, who is also seen as close to McCluskey, began his time at Unite as a bus conductor in 1982, and soon became a shop steward who was active in the T&G’s youth section. He is now national chair of the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.
He protested the sacking of Long-Bailey, but has been less critical of Starmer. He has focused on the manufacturing sector, for which he is responsible in the union, and authored a ‘Build Back Better’ series on LabourList.
Unite executive officer Sharon Graham is also understood to be standing in the 2021 general secretary election, but the organising unit director – who works on the #BABetrayal campaign – did not seek United Left’s support.
Former West Midlands regional secretary Gerard Coyne, who lost by 5,523 votes to McCluskey in 2017, is rumoured to be considering standing again and would join the race as a centre-left candidate.
Two other large trade unions are also set to decide on new leaders in the near future, with UNISON’s Dave Prentis retiring at the end of this year and GMB needing to replace Tim Roache who resigned in April.
Unite provided Labour with £3m in funding in the run-up to the last general election, which represented the party’s biggest single donation, and with over £400,000 in the first three months of this year.
Earlier this month, McCluskey declared that executive members of the affiliated trade union “want questions answered” on the BBC Panorama libel case settlement and said they were “angry” about the pay out.
In a BBC Radio 4 interview, McCluskey described Labour’s settlement in the libel case involving former Labour staffers and journalist John Ware as a “clear miscalculation” and an “extraordinary decision”.
Jeremy Corbyn ally McCluskey was first elected as general secretary in 2010, and twice re-elected to the position. His term is due to end in 2022 but a successor will be chosen earlier with the election taking place next year.


labourlist--2020-08-20--Labour mayors and council leaders call for urgent extension of evictions ban

Labour metro mayors , the mayor of London and leaders of local councils across the country have called on the Secretary of State for Housing , Communities and Local Government to urgently extend the evictions ban .
In a letter sent to Robert Jenrick this afternoon , over 70 Labour figures have highlighted that the government pledged : “ No renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home.
” The intervention , from the representatives of millions of people across England , comes ahead of the evictions ban coming to an end on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to evict tenants can begin to be processed .
Labour leader Keir Starmer has warned : “ Unless the government extends the ban on evictions , provides more support for tenants and follows through on its promise to scrap no-fault evictions , tens of thousands of people risk losing their homes.
” The government introduced legislation in March that stopped landlords from taking court proceedings to evict people during Covid .
The initial rule change was intended to last for three months but the government extended it to August 23rd .
Commenting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the end of the protection for renters , Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire said : “ The situation couldn ’ t be more urgent .
“ The government has three days to avoid a cliff edge , with thousands of people at risk of eviction and homelessness .
The government can still change course .
They must extend the ban , and come out with a credible plan to protect renters during this crisis.
” Debbonaire called for the extension of the ban earlier this week , after data from housing charity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million people are at risk of eviction because of Covid economic impact .
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell demanded on Monday that the government extend the suspension by at least another year , and called for rent arrears to be cancelled to prevent a “ torrent of people ” becoming homeless .
A cross-party group of MPs also wrote to the government , warning that failure to keep the protection in place would result in a “ new wave of homelessness ” .
It was signed by nine Labour MPs , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the ban is set to end in England and Wales next week , the Scottish government announced last week that the evictions ban in Scotland – which was due to end in September – will now run until March 2021 .
Below is the full text of the letter sent to Robert Jenrick this afternoon .
We are writing as the elected representatives of millions of people across England to press the urgent need for an extension to the ban on evictions , which is due to end on Sunday 23rd August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to introduce the ban and to extend it .
However , you have not used this time to prepare for what comes next .
In March , you promised “ no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home , nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts.
” However , you have so far not introduced the legislative changes and support for tenants that would make this a reality .
Before Covid , two thirds of private renting households , and eight in ten social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short , people renting their homes have little resilience to the shock of the Covid-19 crisis .
On top of this , renters are likely to be hardest hit .
Compared to homeowners , renters are more likely to have seen their work status change significantly and income fall , according to research from Citizens Advice .
Unfortunately , the government has done little to prevent people from falling into debt arrears during this crisis .
Shelter now estimates that nearly a quarter of a million people are at risk of eviction because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the ban is in place , an estimated 20,000 people have been made homeless during the pandemic .
Once the ban is lifted , under current law , anyone with two month ’ s arrears can be automatically evicted through the courts .
As with the A Level , BTEC and GCSE results fiasco , the government has had several months ’ notice of a growing crisis affecting thousands of people .
We have long been warning that current policies will lead to a wave of evictions and homelessness this winter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
But this crisis is avoidable if you act quickly and decisively .
Together , as the elected representatives of millions of people across England , we are calling on you to urgently extend the ban on evictions , and make good on your promise , that no-one lose their home as a result of Covid .
We look forward to your response .
We will work with the government constructively to support everyone affected by this situation .

Labour metro mayors, the mayor of London and leaders of local councils across the country have called on the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to urgently extend the evictions ban.
In a letter sent to Robert Jenrick this afternoon, over 70 Labour figures have highlighted that the government pledged: “No renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home.”
The intervention, from the representatives of millions of people across England, comes ahead of the evictions ban coming to an end on Sunday – after which point court proceedings to evict tenants can begin to be processed.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has warned: “Unless the government extends the ban on evictions, provides more support for tenants and follows through on its promise to scrap no-fault evictions, tens of thousands of people risk losing their homes.”
The government introduced legislation in March that stopped landlords from taking court proceedings to evict people during Covid. The initial rule change was intended to last for three months but the government extended it to August 23rd.
Commenting on the call from the local Labour leaders and the end of the protection for renters, Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire said: “The situation couldn’t be more urgent.
“The government has three days to avoid a cliff edge, with thousands of people at risk of eviction and homelessness. The government can still change course. They must extend the ban, and come out with a credible plan to protect renters during this crisis.”
Debbonaire called for the extension of the ban earlier this week, after data from housing charity Shelter showed that nearly a quarter of a million people are at risk of eviction because of Covid economic impact.
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell demanded on Monday that the government extend the suspension by at least another year, and called for rent arrears to be cancelled to prevent a “torrent of people” becoming homeless.
A cross-party group of MPs also wrote to the government, warning that failure to keep the protection in place would result in a “new wave of homelessness”. It was signed by nine Labour MPs, one DUP MP and ten Lib Dems.
While the ban is set to end in England and Wales next week, the Scottish government announced last week that the evictions ban in Scotland – which was due to end in September – will now run until March 2021.
Below is the full text of the letter sent to Robert Jenrick this afternoon.
Dear Robert Jenrick,
We are writing as the elected representatives of millions of people across England to press the urgent need for an extension to the ban on evictions, which is due to end on Sunday 23rd August. We welcomed the government’s decision to introduce the ban and to extend it. However, you have not used this time to prepare for what comes next.
In March, you promised “no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home, nor will any landlord face unmanageable debts.” However, you have so far not introduced the legislative changes and support for tenants that would make this a reality.
Before Covid, two thirds of private renting households, and eight in ten social rented households had no savings. In short, people renting their homes have little resilience to the shock of the Covid-19 crisis.
On top of this, renters are likely to be hardest hit. Compared to homeowners, renters are more likely to have seen their work status change significantly and income fall, according to research from Citizens Advice. Unfortunately, the government has done little to prevent people from falling into debt arrears during this crisis.
Shelter now estimates that nearly a quarter of a million people are at risk of eviction because of Covid economic impact. Already, while the ban is in place, an estimated 20,000 people have been made homeless during the pandemic. Once the ban is lifted, under current law, anyone with two month’s arrears can be automatically evicted through the courts.
As with the A Level, BTEC and GCSE results fiasco, the government has had several months’ notice of a growing crisis affecting thousands of people. We have long been warning that current policies will lead to a wave of evictions and homelessness this winter, potentially coinciding with a rise in COVID-19 infections. But this crisis is avoidable if you act quickly and decisively.
Together, as the elected representatives of millions of people across England, we are calling on you to urgently extend the ban on evictions, and make good on your promise, that no-one lose their home as a result of Covid.
We look forward to your response. We will work with the government constructively to support everyone affected by this situation.
Yours sincerely,
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region
Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North of Tyne
Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of the Council, Barking & Dagenham
Councillor Ann Thomson, Leader of the Council, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council
Councillor Gavin Callaghan, Leader of the Council, Basildon Borough Council
Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of the Council, Birmingham City Council
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of the Council, Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Mayor Marvin Rees, Executive Mayor, Bristol City Council
Councillor Timothy Swift, Leader of the Council, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of the Council, Camden Council
Councillor Sam Corcoran, Leader of the Council, Cheshire East Council
Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of the Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of the Council, Chesterfield Borough Council
Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of the Council, Chorley District Council
Councillor Tom Beattie, Leader of the Council, Corby Borough Council
Councillor George Duggins, Leader of the Council, Coventry City Council
Councillor Tony Newman, Leader of the Council, Croydon Council
Councillor Simon Henig, Leader of the Council, Durham County Council
Councillor Julian Bell, Leader of the Council, Ealing Council
Councillor Martin Gannon, Leader of the Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Council, Greenwich Council
Mayor Philip Glanville, Executive Mayor, Hackney Council
Councillor Mark Ingall, Leader of the Council, Harlow Council
Councillor Graham Henson, Leader of the Council, Harrow Council
Councillor Anthony McKeown, Leader of the Council, High Peak
Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of the Council, Hounslow Council
Councillor David Ellesmere, Leader of the Council, Ipswich Borough Council
Councillor Richard Watts, Leader of the Council, Islington Council
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of the Council, Kirklees Council
Councillor Jack Hopkins, Leader of the Council, Lambeth Council
Councillor Erica Lewis, Leader of the Council, Lancaster City Council
Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of the Council, Leeds City Council
Mayor Damien Egan, Executive Mayor, Lewisham Council
Councillor Richard Metcalfe, Leader of the Council, Lincoln Council
Mayor Joe Anderson, Executive Mayor, Liverpool City Council
Councillor Hazel Simmons, Leader of the Council, Luton Borough Council
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of the Council, Manchester City Council
Councillor Peter Marland, Leader of the Council, Milton Keynes Council
Councillor Nick Forbes, Leader of the Council, Newcastle Upon Tyne Council
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Executive Mayor, Newham Council
Councillor Sean Fielding, Leader of the Council, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council, Oxford City Council
Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of the Council, Pendle Borough Council
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of the Council, Plymouth City Council
Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of the Council, Preston City Council
Councillor Jason Brock, Leader of the Council, Reading Borough Council
Councillor Allen Brett, Leader of the Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Steve Siddons, Leader of the Council, Scarborough Borough Council
Councillor Ian Maher, Leader of the Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of the Council, Sheffield City Council
Councillor James Swindlehurst, Leader of the Council, Slough Borough Council
Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of the Council, South Ribble Borough Council
Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of the Council, South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Chris Hammond, Leader of the Council, Southampton City Council
Councillor Ian Gilbert, Leader of the Council, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Councillor Peter John, Leader of the Council, Southwark Council
Councillor David Baines, Leader of the Council, St Helens Council
Councillor Sharon Taylor, Leader of the Council, Stevenage District Council
Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of the Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of the Council, Sunderland City Council
Councillor Roger Truelove, Leader of the Council, Swale Borough Council
Councillor Brenda Warrington, Leader of the Council, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Shaun Davies, Leader of the Council, Telford & Wrekin Council
Councillor Rick Everitt, Leader of the Council, Thanet District Council
Mayor John Biggs, Executive Mayor, Tower Hamlets Borough Council
Councillor Denise Jeffrey, Leader of the Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Councillor Clare Coghill, Leader of the Council, Waltham Forest
Councillor David Molyneux, Leader of the Council, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Simon Greaves, Leader of the Council, Bassetlaw District Council
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of the Council, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Mayor Norma Redfearn, Executive Mayor, North Tyneside Council
Councillor Elise Wilson, Leader of the Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Councillor Doina Cornell, Leader of the Council, Stroud District Council
Councillor Russ Bowden, Leader of the Council, Warrington Borough Council


labourlist--2020-08-20--The World Transformed 2020: Normal wasn’t working. Let’s shape the future

It ’ s become a cliche to call the present moment ‘ unprecedented ’ – and while it ’ s definitely true that the pandemic has changed our lives in a way we ’ d never experienced before , this kind of framing doesn ’ t tell us the full story .
From workers ’ and tenants ’ rights to educational inequality , from the crisis in our NHS and care sector to structural racism , the problems now making newspaper headlines have plagued our society for years and decades .
Any response to Covid-19 – and the recession facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these long-standing issues is necessarily insufficient .
There can be no going back to normal , because for so many people normal wasn ’ t working .
Now is the time for bold ideas , for questioning how our economy , society and political system are structured , and for imagining alternatives .
How do we address the fact that so many of us are a pay cheque away from homelessness ?
What do we do with the knowledge that those from a Black , Asian and ethnic minority background experience poorer health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we balance rescuing the economy with protecting our planet ?
While the leadership is focused on holding the government to account over their handling of the pandemic , we must also be able to provide long-term answers .
It ’ s not just the role of the shadow cabinet to lay out a vision for what should happen next – it ’ s time for the movement to take matters into our own hands .
Here , the Labour left can take the lead .
In normal times , we ’ d have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate and develop policy proposals .
However , with Labour conference and most Constituency Labour Party meetings being cancelled , members trying to put forward ideas find themselves in a vacuum .
We can write open letters and post long threads on Twitter , but ultimately many of us are finding ourselves powerless and isolated , at a time when collectively planning the path forward seems more important than ever .
Labour recently announced that it would be replacing this year ’ s conference with a four-day online event called Connected , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade unions , think tanks and affiliates .
While the initiative is welcome , we know little so far about its programme and content , and how much scope there will be for transformative ideas , big-picture debates and for members to interact and get to know each other .
In fact , this is often a challenge even at physical conferences , which can feel alienating , inaccessible and – let ’ s be honest – not particularly exciting to many members .
This was the gap that The World Transformed aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : linking Labour left politics with social movements , arts and culture .
We ’ ve grown from being regarded with suspicion as ‘ competition ’ to Labour conference , to becoming a well-loved staple of the political calendar – attracting thousands of Labour activists , MPs , journalists , and those who haven ’ t yet joined the party .
This year ’ s edition will take place online , across the whole month of September .
We will be exploring a wide range of forms of digital interaction : from panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK and international left , to participatory policy labs , reading groups , creative workshops , scenario planning games , a cookery class , a cabaret night and beyond .
The festival will cover a range of themes , including socialist demands in the coronavirus era , the future of work and workplace organising , unthinking racism and imperialism , and understanding the digital world .
We will also be taking a step back to reflect on the past five years , discuss what the current moment teaches us about capitalism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the general election defeat and the end of the Corbyn era .
Last but not least , it will be a space to share practical skills , from delivering political education events to resisting evictions .
The World Transformed was never just for Momentum members , and this moment is too important for us to close ourselves in our comfort zones .
We want to welcome activists involved in extra-parliamentary struggles , such as Black Lives Matter and the climate movement , those newly politicised by the experience of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left who are interested in transformative policies to address our systemic problems .
Only by combining our networks , talents and experiences can we face up to the current crisis – and shape the future .

It’s become a cliche to call the present moment ‘unprecedented’ – and while it’s definitely true that the pandemic has changed our lives in a way we’d never experienced before, this kind of framing doesn’t tell us the full story. From workers’ and tenants’ rights to educational inequality, from the crisis in our NHS and care sector to structural racism, the problems now making newspaper headlines have plagued our society for years and decades. Any response to Covid-19 – and the recession facing us – that doesn’t address these long-standing issues is necessarily insufficient. There can be no going back to normal, because for so many people normal wasn’t working.
Now is the time for bold ideas, for questioning how our economy, society and political system are structured, and for imagining alternatives. How do we address the fact that so many of us are a pay cheque away from homelessness? What do we do with the knowledge that those from a Black, Asian and ethnic minority background experience poorer health than their white counterparts? How do we balance rescuing the economy with protecting our planet? While the leadership is focused on holding the government to account over their handling of the pandemic, we must also be able to provide long-term answers. It’s not just the role of the shadow cabinet to lay out a vision for what should happen next – it’s time for the movement to take matters into our own hands. Here, the Labour left can take the lead.
In normal times, we’d have some obvious spaces to come together to debate and develop policy proposals. However, with Labour conference and most Constituency Labour Party meetings being cancelled, members trying to put forward ideas find themselves in a vacuum. We can write open letters and post long threads on Twitter, but ultimately many of us are finding ourselves powerless and isolated, at a time when collectively planning the path forward seems more important than ever.
Labour recently announced that it would be replacing this year’s conference with a four-day online event called Connected, with shadow cabinet speeches and discussions led by trade unions, think tanks and affiliates. While the initiative is welcome, we know little so far about its programme and content, and how much scope there will be for transformative ideas, big-picture debates and for members to interact and get to know each other. In fact, this is often a challenge even at physical conferences, which can feel alienating, inaccessible and – let’s be honest – not particularly exciting to many members.
This was the gap that The World Transformed aimed to fill when we launched in 2016: linking Labour left politics with social movements, arts and culture. We’ve grown from being regarded with suspicion as ‘competition’ to Labour conference, to becoming a well-loved staple of the political calendar – attracting thousands of Labour activists, MPs, journalists, and those who haven’t yet joined the party. This year’s edition will take place online, across the whole month of September. We will be exploring a wide range of forms of digital interaction: from panel discussions with big-name and grassroots speakers from the UK and international left, to participatory policy labs, reading groups, creative workshops, scenario planning games, a cookery class, a cabaret night and beyond.
The festival will cover a range of themes, including socialist demands in the coronavirus era, the future of work and workplace organising, unthinking racism and imperialism, and understanding the digital world. We will also be taking a step back to reflect on the past five years, discuss what the current moment teaches us about capitalism, and consider what strategies socialists can adopt after the general election defeat and the end of the Corbyn era. Last but not least, it will be a space to share practical skills, from delivering political education events to resisting evictions.
The World Transformed was never just for Momentum members, and this moment is too important for us to close ourselves in our comfort zones. We want to welcome activists involved in extra-parliamentary struggles, such as Black Lives Matter and the climate movement, those newly politicised by the experience of the pandemic, as well as those on the softer left who are interested in transformative policies to address our systemic problems. Only by combining our networks, talents and experiences can we face up to the current crisis – and shape the future.


labourlist--2020-08-20--Who is Olaf Scholz – and can Labour look to the SPD candidate as an ally?

Germany ’ s socialist party , the Social Democratic Party ( SPD ) , last week chose its candidate to replace Angela Merkel as Chancellor .
Olaf Scholz has his admirers within Labour , but would a government led by him be an ally for a transformational Labour Party ?
He has been Germany ’ s minister for finance since joining the government in 2018 and has a reputation as a fiscal hawk – making him more a George Osborne than an Alastair Darling .
He enthusiastically adopted the ‘ schwarze Null ‘ policy of his right-wing predecessor .
Schwarze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the policy of keeping the government budget in the black and with zero budget deficits .
By contrast , Labour ’ s Gordon Brown backed deficits to smooth the economic cycle and , like his successors , borrowing for investment .
The pandemic pushed the German government to loosen the purse strings .
It temporarily suspended its borrowing rule , authorised up to €150bn of new debt and backed a plan to allow the EU to borrow €750bn to support recovery from the economic impact of Covid-19 .
Scholz ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this change in policy , which may have helped him win his party ’ s nomination .
However , his past tells a different story .
In his first budget in May 2018 , Scholz set out plans to maintain a fiscal surplus throughout the 2019-2022 budget period and to aim for a surplus of 1 % of GDP .
Even international commitments were sacrificed to the goal of budget surplus .
Development aid was frozen at 0.5 % of GDP .
In government , Labour hit the United Nations ’ target of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was due to reach 1.3 % of GDP in 2019 , would be cut back to 1.23 % the following year .
This , despite a NATO target of 2 % of GDP , which Labour met in government and has supported in all recent manifestos .
In essence , Scholz was allowing Germany to free ride on collective security and international development funded by the efforts of others .
The Financial Times ’ verdict was scathing : “ It would be better for the world , in other words , if Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where there are good targets for investment .
That would have a pleasant side effect , too : it would make Germany a better place for Germans to live in.
” Scholz is not an outlier in the SPD .
Germany ’ s social democrats have been in government for 11 of the last 15 years .
When the red-green coalition of Gerhard Schröder lost power in 2005 , the SPD remained in government as the junior party in coalition with the country ’ s conservatives from 2005 to 2009 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , German economic policy has been characterised by a beggar-thy-neighbour approach , which has resulted in a massive current account surplus .
Such a surplus is a sign that the country ’ s exchange rate is too low .
Normally , beggar-thy-neighbour is achieved by lowering the exchange rate to attract demand from overseas .
But how can Germany , sharing the Euro , pursue this strategy ?
The answer lies in the real exchange rate that takes account of inflation and which Germany can still steer .
To lower the real exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower rate of inflation than its trading partners .
Deflationary policies began with repressing wages , which dates back to the Hartz IV welfare reforms of the Schröder era .
Where Labour promotes a ‘ high-wage , high-skill , high-productivity ’ approach , restraining wages remains a centrepiece of the German economic model .
Its balanced budget policies are designed to keep inflation suppressed , the real exchange rate low and the current account surplus high .
It is not just German workers who suffer from this policy .
Its impact is felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fragile and needs a rebalancing to bring real exchange rates into line .
German disinflation forces other eurozone countries to pursue deflationary policies themselves – in most cases resulting in austerity policies .
Labour might hope for an alliance with a victorious Chancellor Scholz , yet the record of the SPD in government does not inspire confidence .
It may have been in coalition but it can not escape responsibility for the policies enacted .
Free riding in NATO , beggar-thy-neighbour economics , low investment and wage repression at home and austerity in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future Labour government .

Germany’s socialist party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), last week chose its candidate to replace Angela Merkel as Chancellor. Olaf Scholz has his admirers within Labour, but would a government led by him be an ally for a transformational Labour Party? He has been Germany’s minister for finance since joining the government in 2018 and has a reputation as a fiscal hawk – making him more a George Osborne than an Alastair Darling. He enthusiastically adopted the ‘schwarze Null‘ policy of his right-wing predecessor. Schwarze Null, or ‘black zero’, is the policy of keeping the government budget in the black and with zero budget deficits. By contrast, Labour’s Gordon Brown backed deficits to smooth the economic cycle and, like his successors, borrowing for investment.
The pandemic pushed the German government to loosen the purse strings. It temporarily suspended its borrowing rule, authorised up to €150bn of new debt and backed a plan to allow the EU to borrow €750bn to support recovery from the economic impact of Covid-19. Scholz’s reputation rose as he took credit for this change in policy, which may have helped him win his party’s nomination. However, his past tells a different story. In his first budget in May 2018, Scholz set out plans to maintain a fiscal surplus throughout the 2019-2022 budget period and to aim for a surplus of 1% of GDP.
Even international commitments were sacrificed to the goal of budget surplus. Development aid was frozen at 0.5% of GDP. In government, Labour hit the United Nations’ target of 0.7%. Defence spending, which was due to reach 1.3% of GDP in 2019, would be cut back to 1.23% the following year. This, despite a NATO target of 2% of GDP, which Labour met in government and has supported in all recent manifestos. In essence, Scholz was allowing Germany to free ride on collective security and international development funded by the efforts of others. The Financial Times’ verdict was scathing: “It would be better for the world, in other words, if Germany put its surpluses to work at home, where there are good targets for investment. That would have a pleasant side effect, too: it would make Germany a better place for Germans to live in.”
Scholz is not an outlier in the SPD. Germany’s social democrats have been in government for 11 of the last 15 years. When the red-green coalition of Gerhard Schröder lost power in 2005, the SPD remained in government as the junior party in coalition with the country’s conservatives from 2005 to 2009, and again from 2013. During that time, German economic policy has been characterised by a beggar-thy-neighbour approach, which has resulted in a massive current account surplus. Such a surplus is a sign that the country’s exchange rate is too low. Normally, beggar-thy-neighbour is achieved by lowering the exchange rate to attract demand from overseas. But how can Germany, sharing the Euro, pursue this strategy? The answer lies in the real exchange rate that takes account of inflation and which Germany can still steer. To lower the real exchange rate, it needs to run a lower rate of inflation than its trading partners. Deflationary policies began with repressing wages, which dates back to the Hartz IV welfare reforms of the Schröder era.
Where Labour promotes a ‘high-wage, high-skill, high-productivity’ approach, restraining wages remains a centrepiece of the German economic model. Its balanced budget policies are designed to keep inflation suppressed, the real exchange rate low and the current account surplus high. It is not just German workers who suffer from this policy. Its impact is felt across the eurozone. The Euro remains fragile and needs a rebalancing to bring real exchange rates into line. German disinflation forces other eurozone countries to pursue deflationary policies themselves – in most cases resulting in austerity policies.
Labour might hope for an alliance with a victorious Chancellor Scholz, yet the record of the SPD in government does not inspire confidence. It may have been in coalition but it cannot escape responsibility for the policies enacted. Free riding in NATO, beggar-thy-neighbour economics, low investment and wage repression at home and austerity in the eurozone are not models for a future Labour government.


labourlist--2020-08-20--320,000 rural jobs at risk under “one-size-fits-all approach”, Labour analysis finds

Analysis by the Labour Party has found that 320,000 jobs in rural communities are at risk if the Conservatives “ persist with their disastrous one-size-fits-all plan ” to withdraw the job retention scheme .
Using research from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research ( NIESR ) , which said that 1.2 million people will be made unemployed by the ending of the furlough scheme , Labour examined the areas most heavily affected .
The party has reported that nearly a third – 31 % – of the jobs lost will be in rural and semi-rural communities in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a 60 % rise in unemployment in these areas .
Commenting on the analysis , Luke Pollard said : “ Rural communities and small towns have been hit hard by austerity and are already facing severe challenges , including access to transport , educational opportunities and good quality housing .
They can not afford for hundreds of thousands of jobs to go.
” According to estimates published by the Office for National Statistics , over half a million people in rural and semi-rural communities across Britain are currently unemployed .
The area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees on the furlough scheme is South Lakeland in Cumbria – where 40 % of all workers have been furloughed .
This latest analysis from the Labour Party follows a warning from the National Farmers Union that this year will likely see the worst wheat harvest in the country since the 1980s , following several consecutive years of extreme weather .
The Shadow Environment Secretary added : “ The government should be working with businesses and unions to target support where it is needed most , not ploughing ahead with a one-size-fits-all approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy struggling.
” Under the initial programme established under the furlough scheme , businesses have been able to claim 80 % of a staff member ’ s regular monthly salary , up to a maximum of £2,500 .
But the government is winding down this support .
The government is still covering 80 % of salaries with businesses now paying NICs and pension contributions .
It will step down the percentage of workers ’ wages covered up to October 31st , after which the scheme will be completely shut down .
Labour has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this “ one-size-fits-all ” approach and for the government to extend the furlough scheme for businesses in sectors where it is most needed .
The analysis from the party also suggested that up to 42,000 workers currently on the job retention scheme in urban and rural areas in the North East could find their employment at risk if the furlough programme is ended prematurely .
The Office for Budget Responsibility predicted that three million workers on furlough will experience a “ work shortage ” by the end of October , and a 2.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter compared to pre-crisis levels .

Analysis by the Labour Party has found that 320,000 jobs in rural communities are at risk if the Conservatives “persist with their disastrous one-size-fits-all plan” to withdraw the job retention scheme.
Using research from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR), which said that 1.2 million people will be made unemployed by the ending of the furlough scheme, Labour examined the areas most heavily affected.
The party has reported that nearly a third – 31% – of the jobs lost will be in rural and semi-rural communities in England, and that these losses could result in a 60% rise in unemployment in these areas.
Commenting on the analysis, Luke Pollard said: “Rural communities and small towns have been hit hard by austerity and are already facing severe challenges, including access to transport, educational opportunities and good quality housing. They cannot afford for hundreds of thousands of jobs to go.”
According to estimates published by the Office for National Statistics, over half a million people in rural and semi-rural communities across Britain are currently unemployed.
The area in England with the highest proportion of employees on the furlough scheme is South Lakeland in Cumbria – where 40% of all workers have been furloughed.
This latest analysis from the Labour Party follows a warning from the National Farmers Union that this year will likely see the worst wheat harvest in the country since the 1980s, following several consecutive years of extreme weather.
The Shadow Environment Secretary added: “The government should be working with businesses and unions to target support where it is needed most, not ploughing ahead with a one-size-fits-all approach that will leave whole sectors of the economy struggling.”
Under the initial programme established under the furlough scheme, businesses have been able to claim 80% of a staff member’s regular monthly salary, up to a maximum of £2,500. But the government is winding down this support.
The government is still covering 80% of salaries with businesses now paying NICs and pension contributions. It will step down the percentage of workers’ wages covered up to October 31st, after which the scheme will be completely shut down.
Labour has repeatedly called for the Chancellor to rethink this “one-size-fits-all” approach and for the government to extend the furlough scheme for businesses in sectors where it is most needed.
The analysis from the party also suggested that up to 42,000 workers currently on the job retention scheme in urban and rural areas in the North East could find their employment at risk if the furlough programme is ended prematurely.
The Office for Budget Responsibility predicted that three million workers on furlough will experience a “work shortage” by the end of October, and a 2.7 million increase in unemployment in the fourth quarter compared to pre-crisis levels.