labourlist--2020-08-13--The government has missed a golden opportunity to end the housing crisis

The government ’ s proposed revolution of our planning system will take away the voice of local communities , create hollowed-out high streets , and won ’ t even begin to address the fundamental problems that have led to our national housing crisis .
While the challenges of the post-Covid economy have brought into sharp focus the need to stoke the furnace by investing in construction and infrastructure , the government ’ s measures do not address the desperate need to right the wrongs faced by so many in our communities – particularly the acute need for genuinely affordable and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clapped for carers each Thursday , what was a dark time for our country offered at least the slightest glimmer of hope that there would be no return to the least desirable aspects of the old normal .
Perhaps now , our real key workers – our health professionals , hospital porters , care home staff and all the countless other professions that faced this crisis head-on – would be truly valued .
In the Labour Party , we urged the government to build back better and greener , and to take this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing and needed infrastructure .
But unfortunately , and somewhat predictably , this government has given us nothing of the sort .
Far from building back better , these proposed planning reforms will take control away from local communities .
They would also remove obligations , through Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy ( CIL ) , for developers to fund the affordable housing and infrastructure that we so desperately need – a system that captured over £7bn of funds in 2018/19 .
The cheerleader for these reforms , Robert Jenrick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tape ’ , riding roughshod over Tower Hamlets Council , making an unlawful planning direction while saving a Tory donor and developer millions by escaping the CIL obligations .
Rather than learning from this scandal , this attack on local democracy is being driven by the very man who should no longer be in post .
The replacement of these obligations , a nationally set levy , will increase the threshold at which it applies , from ten to 50 unit developments .
Many developers will therefore be free from this public-good levy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be payable until buildout , creating even further cashflow problems for hard-pressed councils .
The government is also taking forward a radical extension of permitted development rights , which will lead to poor-quality housing and hollowed-out high streets .
The government-commissioned report published at the end of July confirmed that only 22 % of permitted development homes meet national space standards .
Rabbit hutches are coming to a village , town or city near you .
A zonal planning approach will take away the voice of our communities and their elected representatives on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free-for-all where chummy developers carve up our towns , creating further segregation with no regard to the wants or needs of the people who live there .
The government frames this as ‘ removing red tape ’ , but it ’ s simply wrong to paint planning departments as a barrier to housebuilding .
In fact , 90 % of applications are approved – and over a million homes given approval in the last ten years haven ’ t been built .
The government has missed a golden opportunity here to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has blighted our country for years .
It has instead chosen to help create a system where projects of dubious quality , which offer no solutions to any of our problems , can spring up left and right – with councils and communities powerless to stop them , and where the only real beneficiaries are wealthy developers .
Good planning needs to be properly resourced and community-led via maximising engagement in creating a vision and informed plan for localities .
A partnership that creates a better place with good sustainable housing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our argument in the forthcoming debates .

The government’s proposed revolution of our planning system will take away the voice of local communities, create hollowed-out high streets, and won’t even begin to address the fundamental problems that have led to our national housing crisis.
While the challenges of the post-Covid economy have brought into sharp focus the need to stoke the furnace by investing in construction and infrastructure, the government’s measures do not address the desperate need to right the wrongs faced by so many in our communities – particularly the acute need for genuinely affordable and good-quality housing.
When we stood and clapped for carers each Thursday, what was a dark time for our country offered at least the slightest glimmer of hope that there would be no return to the least desirable aspects of the old normal. Perhaps now, our real key workers – our health professionals, hospital porters, care home staff and all the countless other professions that faced this crisis head-on – would be truly valued.
In the Labour Party, we urged the government to build back better and greener, and to take this opportunity for investment to create genuinely affordable housing and needed infrastructure. But unfortunately, and somewhat predictably, this government has given us nothing of the sort.
Far from building back better, these proposed planning reforms will take control away from local communities. They would also remove obligations, through Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), for developers to fund the affordable housing and infrastructure that we so desperately need – a system that captured over £7bn of funds in 2018/19.
The cheerleader for these reforms, Robert Jenrick, perceives this vital funding as ‘red tape’, riding roughshod over Tower Hamlets Council, making an unlawful planning direction while saving a Tory donor and developer millions by escaping the CIL obligations. Rather than learning from this scandal, this attack on local democracy is being driven by the very man who should no longer be in post.
The replacement of these obligations, a nationally set levy, will increase the threshold at which it applies, from ten to 50 unit developments. Many developers will therefore be free from this public-good levy. And the replacement levy will not be payable until buildout, creating even further cashflow problems for hard-pressed councils.
The government is also taking forward a radical extension of permitted development rights, which will lead to poor-quality housing and hollowed-out high streets. The government-commissioned report published at the end of July confirmed that only 22% of permitted development homes meet national space standards. Rabbit hutches are coming to a village, town or city near you.
A zonal planning approach will take away the voice of our communities and their elected representatives on local planning committees. It risks creating a free-for-all where chummy developers carve up our towns, creating further segregation with no regard to the wants or needs of the people who live there.
The government frames this as ‘removing red tape’, but it’s simply wrong to paint planning departments as a barrier to housebuilding. In fact, 90% of applications are approved – and over a million homes given approval in the last ten years haven’t been built.
The government has missed a golden opportunity here to take considerable steps to end a housing crisis that has blighted our country for years. It has instead chosen to help create a system where projects of dubious quality, which offer no solutions to any of our problems, can spring up left and right – with councils and communities powerless to stop them, and where the only real beneficiaries are wealthy developers.
Good planning needs to be properly resourced and community-led via maximising engagement in creating a vision and informed plan for localities. A partnership that creates a better place with good sustainable housing and infrastructure – this is the premise of our argument in the forthcoming debates.


labourlist--2020-08-13--Labour condemns downgrading of 2 in 5 A-Level grades as “huge injustice”

Kate Green has condemned the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “ huge injustice ” and said that “ young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential ” .
The Shadow Education Secretary has responded to data published by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation ( Ofqual ) on results awarded to students today , which shows that 39.1 % of grades in England have been moderated downwards .
Thousands of A-Level students in England , Wales and Northern Ireland have received predicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the usual end of year exams , which were cancelled due to school closures in the coronavirus pandemic .
Commenting on the arrangements for estimated grades , Green said : “ Today is always an anxious day for pupils and parents across the country .
That anxiety is far worse this year because of the fiasco caused by the Conservative government .
“ I wholeheartedly congratulate those young people who have received the grades they deserve after working so hard .
But across the country , many young people will be opening their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their work and their potential.
” The figures released by Ofqual show that , in England , 35.6 % of the predicted awards given out today were adjusted down by one grade , while 3.3 % were brought down by two grades and 0.2 % came down by three grades .
Green added : “ It is a huge injustice that pupils will see their results downgraded just because of their postcode .
We will look at the breakdown of the results , but it is clear the government ’ s approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must act urgently to correct the injustice faced by so many young people today .
Students must be able to lodge their own appeals if they haven ’ t got the grade they deserved and admissions teams must be forced to be more flexible .
No student should see their dreams slip away because of this government ’ s inaction.
” Urging a “ rethink ” , Keir Starmer tweeted : “ Something has obviously gone horribly wrong with this year ’ s exam results… Parents , teachers and young people are rightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injustice .
The system has fundamentally failed them .
“ We need to guarantee the right to individual appeals , the fee for appeals waived and nothing to be ruled out , including the U-turn that was forced on the Scottish government last week.
” Ofqual set out its approach for assessments during the pandemic in April .
Schools and teachers set a predicted grade for each subject and a ranking of each pupil within their class .
These predictions have been moderated by Ofqual using historical data on outcomes for each centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this school year and the previous one , and the expected national distribution of grades .
Ahead of today , the body acknowledged that with its approach to results , “ there will be students who may have achieved grades which were higher ( or lower ) than the calculated grades they will receive this summer , if the exams had taken place ” .
Overall , 27.9 % of entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer , which is up by 2.4 percentage points on last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25.5 % achieved the top grades .
General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders said : “ While there has been an overall increase in top grades , we are very concerned that this disguises a great deal of volatility among the results at school and student level .
“ We have received heartbreaking feedback from school leaders about grades being pulled down in a way that they feel to be utterly unfair and unfathomable .
They are extremely concerned about the detrimental impact on their students.
” The grades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week , where the Scottish Qualifications Authority revised down 93.1 % of the those awards that were moderated by the regulatory body , affecting 124,564 pupils .
After protests and a bid by Scottish Labour to remove Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney from post , the Scottish government announced that the downgrading would be abandoned and initial teacher estimates used .
The UK government has set out plans for a “ triple lock ” , giving pupils in England the options of accepting their calculated grades , resitting exams in the autumn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a previous mock exam result .
But the University and College Union has criticised ministers for “ adding to the chaos and confusion ” with last-minute changes to the system , and the union has advised the government to simply use teacher predictions as in Scotland .
Earlier this week , Labour leader Keir Starmer warned that the Prime Minister risked “ robbing a generation of young people of their future ” unless he urgently tackled the unfairness in this year ’ s replacement exam results system .

Kate Green has condemned the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “huge injustice” and said that “young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential”.
The Shadow Education Secretary has responded to data published by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) on results awarded to students today, which shows that 39.1% of grades in England have been moderated downwards.
Thousands of A-Level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have received predicted results this morning. These have replaced the usual end of year exams, which were cancelled due to school closures in the coronavirus pandemic.
Commenting on the arrangements for estimated grades, Green said: “Today is always an anxious day for pupils and parents across the country. That anxiety is far worse this year because of the fiasco caused by the Conservative government.
“I wholeheartedly congratulate those young people who have received the grades they deserve after working so hard. But across the country, many young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential.”
The figures released by Ofqual show that, in England, 35.6% of the predicted awards given out today were adjusted down by one grade, while 3.3% were brought down by two grades and 0.2% came down by three grades.
Green added: “It is a huge injustice that pupils will see their results downgraded just because of their postcode. We will look at the breakdown of the results, but it is clear the government’s approach to exams has been chaotic.
“Ministers must act urgently to correct the injustice faced by so many young people today. Students must be able to lodge their own appeals if they haven’t got the grade they deserved and admissions teams must be forced to be more flexible. No student should see their dreams slip away because of this government’s inaction.”
Urging a “rethink”, Keir Starmer tweeted: “Something has obviously gone horribly wrong with this year’s exam results… Parents, teachers and young people are rightly upset, frustrated and angry about this injustice. The system has fundamentally failed them.
“We need to guarantee the right to individual appeals, the fee for appeals waived and nothing to be ruled out, including the U-turn that was forced on the Scottish government last week.”
Ofqual set out its approach for assessments during the pandemic in April. Schools and teachers set a predicted grade for each subject and a ranking of each pupil within their class.
These predictions have been moderated by Ofqual using historical data on outcomes for each centre or school, previous levels of attainment in this school year and the previous one, and the expected national distribution of grades.
Ahead of today, the body acknowledged that with its approach to results, “there will be students who may have achieved grades which were higher (or lower) than the calculated grades they will receive this summer, if the exams had taken place”.
Overall, 27.9% of entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer, which is up by 2.4 percentage points on last year. For the school year ending 2019, 25.5% achieved the top grades.
General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders said: “While there has been an overall increase in top grades, we are very concerned that this disguises a great deal of volatility among the results at school and student level.
“We have received heartbreaking feedback from school leaders about grades being pulled down in a way that they feel to be utterly unfair and unfathomable. They are extremely concerned about the detrimental impact on their students.”
The grades released today follow results day in Scotland last week, where the Scottish Qualifications Authority revised down 93.1% of the those awards that were moderated by the regulatory body, affecting 124,564 pupils.
After protests and a bid by Scottish Labour to remove Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney from post, the Scottish government announced that the downgrading would be abandoned and initial teacher estimates used.
The UK government has set out plans for a “triple lock”, giving pupils in England the options of accepting their calculated grades, resitting exams in the autumn or appealing to replace their grade with a previous mock exam result.
But the University and College Union has criticised ministers for “adding to the chaos and confusion” with last-minute changes to the system, and the union has advised the government to simply use teacher predictions as in Scotland.
Earlier this week, Labour leader Keir Starmer warned that the Prime Minister risked “robbing a generation of young people of their future” unless he urgently tackled the unfairness in this year’s replacement exam results system.


labourlist--2020-08-13--Local parties warned against motions on Panorama settlement, EHRC, IHRA

Labour ’ s local chairs and secretaries were last night warned by the party centrally that their online meetings should not discuss a number of specified sensitive topics related to antisemitism within the party .
The general secretary told local executives that the recent Panorama settlement and the Equality and Human Rights Commission antisemitism report are “ not competent business for discussion by local parties ” .
David Evans , who replaced Corbynite Jennie Formby in May this year , added that parties should not be considering tabled motions that “ repudiate ” the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials that Labour had already adopted the IHRA definition in full in September 2018 , and argued that such motions “ undermine the Labour Party ’ s ability to tackle racism ” .
The party ’ s top official also explained that motions seeking to “ undermine or contradict ” the court statements by Labour in the Panorama libel case would “ create a risk of further legal proceedings ” .
It is understood that the party is currently being sued by a number of ex-employees , including former general secretary Lord Iain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ libels in a leaked internal report .
Labour ’ s Panorama settlement saw the leadership decide last month to apologise “ unreservedly ” and pay “ substantial damages ” to seven ex-staffers and BBC journalist John Ware rather than fight the libel case .
Keir Starmer ’ s party said it had “ issued a press release that contained defamatory and false allegations against the whistleblowers ” who appeared in the documentary about antisemitism in Labour .
The move was welcomed by the party-affiliated Jewish Labour Movement , shadow cabinet member Lisa Nandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including frontbencher Wes Streeting and Chris Elmore .
But the decision attracted criticism from some within the party – including former leader Jeremy Corbyn and Unite general secretary Len McCluskey , who described it as a “ misuse of Labour Party funds ” .
The Guardian has today reported that Labour ’ s BAME staff network wrote to Starmer on the eve of the settlement to warn that he risked undermining the ongoing Forde Inquiry into the contentious leaked report .
The leaked report claimed that officials mishandled complaints in the party , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included alleged WhatsApp messages between the staffers displaying anti-Black racism .
Before the Forde Inquiry concludes , the EHRC report is expected to published .
The document will be seeking to establish whether unlawful acts have been committed by Labour in relation to antisemitism .
Its draft version was sent to the party in July , and the findings should be kept confidential during this period .
Once ‘ Maxwellisation ’ is completed , giving concerned parties opportunity to respond , the final report will be published .
Below is the full text @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As CLPs and branches are now able to meet online , I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on a few pertinent issues .
This will ensure that the business your local party is conducting is appropriate , minimises any challenge to its decisions and does not leave the party – locally and nationally – or its officers open to potential legal liabilities .
Apologies for the length of this email , but I hope you will agree it covers some very important issues .
We have received a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems that are to be used for the nomination of NEC candidates .
Nominations should be made by secret ballot , not by a show of hands .
• Where a voting system is specified in your CLPs standing orders , this is the system that should be used to make your nominations ; • Where a voting system is not specified in your CLP standing orders , you should rely on previous custom and practice from your CLP .
We would usually expect that to be either multi-member First Past The Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voting ) or Single Transferable Vote ( ‘ Electoral Reform Society 97 STV ’ on Choice Voting ) .
CLPs should not be devising new voting systems of their own .
We advise that wherever possible nominations are taken by email in advance of the meeting to allow the ballot to be set up before the meeting .
Any such email nominations would only be valid if the member making the nomination is in attendance at the subsequent meeting .
Should there be fewer nominations than , or an equal number to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no need to progress to a ballot .
The Labour Party recently agreed a settlement with seven former members of staff who appeared on an edition of the BBC ’ s Panorama programme , as well as with the journalist who hosted that programme .
Those settlements included an unreserved apology and a withdrawal of the allegations previously made by the Party about those individuals .
The withdrawal and apology are binding on the party and any motions which seek to undermine or contradict them will create a risk of further legal proceedings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties .
As such , motions relating to these settlements and the circumstances behind them are not competent business for discussion by local parties .
CLP officers have an important responsibility to ensure that they and other members conduct themselves in a respectful and comradely manner .
We therefore take this opportunity to reiterate to local Labour Parties and officers that they should be aware of the potential liabilities to them should the allegations that have now been withdrawn by the national party be repeated .
On Monday 13 July 2020 the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s draft report into allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party .
This draft report has been provided to the party by the EHRC on a confidential basis as part of its investigation .
When we are able to provide more information about the EHRC ’ s report we will do so .
Until that time speculation as to the contents of the report is not helpful .
It is therefore not competent business for CLPs to discuss .
We are aware that some CLPs and branches have had motions tabled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alliance ( IHRA ) definition of antisemitism .
The IHRA definition of antisemitism and its examples was properly adopted by the Labour Party in September 2018 .
CLPs and branches have no powers to overturn this decision .
Furthermore , such motions undermine the Labour Party ’ s ability to tackle racism .
Any such motions are therefore not competent business for CLPs or branches .
As per the previous general secretary ’ s instruction , any discussion about ongoing disciplinary cases remains prohibited .

Labour’s local chairs and secretaries were last night warned by the party centrally that their online meetings should not discuss a number of specified sensitive topics related to antisemitism within the party.
The general secretary told local executives that the recent Panorama settlement and the Equality and Human Rights Commission antisemitism report are “not competent business for discussion by local parties”.
David Evans, who replaced Corbynite Jennie Formby in May this year, added that parties should not be considering tabled motions that “repudiate” the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
He reminded the locally elected officials that Labour had already adopted the IHRA definition in full in September 2018, and argued that such motions “undermine the Labour Party’s ability to tackle racism”.
The party’s top official also explained that motions seeking to “undermine or contradict” the court statements by Labour in the Panorama libel case would “create a risk of further legal proceedings”.
It is understood that the party is currently being sued by a number of ex-employees, including former general secretary Lord Iain McNicol, who allege data breaches and libels in a leaked internal report.
Labour’s Panorama settlement saw the leadership decide last month to apologise “unreservedly” and pay “substantial damages” to seven ex-staffers and BBC journalist John Ware rather than fight the libel case.
Keir Starmer’s party said it had “issued a press release that contained defamatory and false allegations against the whistleblowers” who appeared in the documentary about antisemitism in Labour.
The move was welcomed by the party-affiliated Jewish Labour Movement, shadow cabinet member Lisa Nandy, and a number of Labour MPs including frontbencher Wes Streeting and Chris Elmore.
But the decision attracted criticism from some within the party – including former leader Jeremy Corbyn and Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, who described it as a “misuse of Labour Party funds”.
The Guardian has today reported that Labour’s BAME staff network wrote to Starmer on the eve of the settlement to warn that he risked undermining the ongoing Forde Inquiry into the contentious leaked report.
The leaked report claimed that officials mishandled complaints in the party, for factional or competence reasons, and included alleged WhatsApp messages between the staffers displaying anti-Black racism.
Before the Forde Inquiry concludes, the EHRC report is expected to published. The document will be seeking to establish whether unlawful acts have been committed by Labour in relation to antisemitism.
Its draft version was sent to the party in July, and the findings should be kept confidential during this period. Once ‘Maxwellisation’ is completed, giving concerned parties opportunity to respond, the final report will be published.
Below is the full text of the email from David Evans.
FAO: CLP secretaries & chairs
As CLPs and branches are now able to meet online, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on a few pertinent issues. This will ensure that the business your local party is conducting is appropriate, minimises any challenge to its decisions and does not leave the party – locally and nationally – or its officers open to potential legal liabilities. Apologies for the length of this email, but I hope you will agree it covers some very important issues.
NEC nominations – voting procedures
We have received a number of requests for further clarity on the voting systems that are to be used for the nomination of NEC candidates. Nominations should be made by secret ballot, not by a show of hands.
• Where a voting system is specified in your CLPs standing orders, this is the system that should be used to make your nominations;
• Where a voting system is not specified in your CLP standing orders, you should rely on previous custom and practice from your CLP.
We would usually expect that to be either multi-member First Past The Post (‘Approval Voting’ on Choice Voting) or Single Transferable Vote (‘Electoral Reform Society 97 STV’ on Choice Voting). CLPs should not be devising new voting systems of their own.
We advise that wherever possible nominations are taken by email in advance of the meeting to allow the ballot to be set up before the meeting. Any such email nominations would only be valid if the member making the nomination is in attendance at the subsequent meeting. Should there be fewer nominations than, or an equal number to, the total positions available, there is no need to progress to a ballot.
Panorama settlement
The Labour Party recently agreed a settlement with seven former members of staff who appeared on an edition of the BBC’s Panorama programme, as well as with the journalist who hosted that programme. Those settlements included an unreserved apology and a withdrawal of the allegations previously made by the Party about those individuals. The withdrawal and apology are binding on the party and any motions which seek to undermine or contradict them will create a risk of further legal proceedings for both the national party and local parties. As such, motions relating to these settlements and the circumstances behind them are not competent business for discussion by local parties.
CLP officers have an important responsibility to ensure that they and other members conduct themselves in a respectful and comradely manner. We therefore take this opportunity to reiterate to local Labour Parties and officers that they should be aware of the potential liabilities to them should the allegations that have now been withdrawn by the national party be repeated.
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report
On Monday 13 July 2020 the party announced that it had received the EHRC’s draft report into allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party. This draft report has been provided to the party by the EHRC on a confidential basis as part of its investigation.
When we are able to provide more information about the EHRC’s report we will do so. Until that time speculation as to the contents of the report is not helpful. It is therefore not competent business for CLPs to discuss.
IHRA definition of antisemitism
We are aware that some CLPs and branches have had motions tabled to “repudiate” the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition of antisemitism and its examples was properly adopted by the Labour Party in September 2018. CLPs and branches have no powers to overturn this decision. Furthermore, such motions undermine the Labour Party’s ability to tackle racism. Any such motions are therefore not competent business for CLPs or branches.
As per the previous general secretary’s instruction, any discussion about ongoing disciplinary cases remains prohibited.
Thanks,
David Evans
General Secretary


labourlist--2020-08-13--Tories delete tweet criticising Scottish results following English A-Level scandal

The Scottish Conservatives have deleted a tweet criticising the results awarded to students by the Scottish Qualifications Authority after almost 40 % of English students had their A-Level results downgraded .
Following a public outcry after pupils in England received estimated results today , with 39.1 % of those grades downgraded , a tweet from the Tories in Scotland condemning the way the SNP handled their exams process was deleted .
Figures published on results day for young people in Scotland last week showed that the SQA had revised down 93.1 % of the those awards that were moderated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Scottish Conservatives had tweeted in response : “ Nicola Sturgeon presided over one of the biggest scandals in the history of devolution , which shattered the life chances of thousands of Scottish pupils .
“ Her belated apology is not good enough for the teachers , parents and pupils who were effected by the fiasco.
” Pupils across the UK have now received estimated grades today following the cancellation of the usual end-of-year exams when schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Figures show that 39.1 % had their result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call from Scottish Labour to remove Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney from post , the Scottish government announced that its downgrading would be abandoned and initial teacher estimates used .
Green described the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “ huge injustice ” this morning and said that “ young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential ” .
According to the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation ( Ofqual ) , those with a grade C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher estimations by over 10 % among children from the most disadvantaged background .
The party has this afternoon called on the government to waive fees for schools and colleges appealing A-Level grades after data released has shown that thousands of students have had their results revised down .
Under the current appeals system , schools and colleges are required to pay up-front for appeals and can only claim back the money if successful .
Labour has highlighted that private schools are currently twice as likely to submit appeals .
Earlier this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Prime Minister risked “ robbing a generation of young people of their future ” unless he urgently tackled the unfairness in this year ’ s replacement exam results system .

The Scottish Conservatives have deleted a tweet criticising the results awarded to students by the Scottish Qualifications Authority after almost 40% of English students had their A-Level results downgraded.
Following a public outcry after pupils in England received estimated results today, with 39.1% of those grades downgraded, a tweet from the Tories in Scotland condemning the way the SNP handled their exams process was deleted.
Figures published on results day for young people in Scotland last week showed that the SQA had revised down 93.1% of the those awards that were moderated by the regulatory body, affecting 124,564 pupils.
The Scottish Conservatives had tweeted in response: “Nicola Sturgeon presided over one of the biggest scandals in the history of devolution, which shattered the life chances of thousands of Scottish pupils.
“Her belated apology is not good enough for the teachers, parents and pupils who were effected by the fiasco.”
Pupils across the UK have now received estimated grades today following the cancellation of the usual end-of-year exams when schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Figures show that 39.1% had their result moderated down.
After protests and a call from Scottish Labour to remove Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney from post, the Scottish government announced that its downgrading would be abandoned and initial teacher estimates used.
Green described the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “huge injustice” this morning and said that “young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential”.
According to the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), those with a grade C or above in England were downgraded from teacher estimations by over 10% among children from the most disadvantaged background.
The party has this afternoon called on the government to waive fees for schools and colleges appealing A-Level grades after data released has shown that thousands of students have had their results revised down.
Under the current appeals system, schools and colleges are required to pay up-front for appeals and can only claim back the money if successful. Labour has highlighted that private schools are currently twice as likely to submit appeals.
Earlier this week, Labour leader Keir Starmer warned that the Prime Minister risked “robbing a generation of young people of their future” unless he urgently tackled the unfairness in this year’s replacement exam results system.


labourlist--2020-08-13--Labour demands government waive A-Level results appeal fees

Kate Green has called on the government to waive fees for schools and colleges appealing A-Level grades after data released has shown that thousands of students have had their results revised down .
Following the awarding of A-Levels in England , Wales and Northern Ireland today , the party has demanded that the government make sure that “ no student is unable to challenge their grade if they think it is not accurate ” .
Pupils across the country have received estimated grades today following the cancellation of the usual end-of-year exams when schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their result moderated down .
Commenting on today ’ s results , Shadow Education Secretary Green said : “ Across the country , thousands of young people are opening their exam results full of hope , only to see their opportunities and their futures dashed.
” According to the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation ( Ofqual ) , those with a grade C or above were downgraded from teacher estimations by over 10 % among children from the most disadvantaged background .
Green added : “ This is a huge injustice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ angry and upset .
The government has had five months to sort this out .
Action is needed in days , not weeks .
“ Students should be guaranteed the right to individual appeals and the fee for appeals should be waived .
Students must be treated fairly and nothing should be ruled out , even if Ministers have to follow the U-turn that was forced on the Scottish government.
” Under the current appeals system , schools and colleges are required to pay up-front for appeals and can only claim back the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that private schools are currently twice as likely to submit appeals .
The independent regulatory body Ofqual has recognised this : “ Independent schools tended to submit a greater percentage of their qualification entries , at both GCSE and A-Level ( 11.9 % ) .
” This compares to 5.4 % to 8.6 % for other school types .
108,000 result reviews were carried out last year .
Analysis on previous exams shows that private schools are more successful in these appeals .
Labour has said this shows that “ private schools are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Overall across England , 27.9 % of entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer , which is up by 2.4 percentage points on last year .
For the school year ending 2019 , 25.5 % achieved the top grades .
But the figures released by Ofqual today show that 35.6 % of the predicted awards given out today were adjusted down by one grade , while 3.3 % were brought down by two grades and 0.2 % came down by three grades .
Teachers set a predicted grade for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupil within their class , which has been modified using schools ’ previous performance , attainment in previous years and the expected national distribution of grades .
The grades released today follow results day in Scotland last week , where the Scottish Qualifications Authority revised down 93.1 % of the those awards that were moderated by the regulatory body , affecting 124,564 pupils .
After protests and a bid by Scottish Labour to remove Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney from post , the Scottish government announced that the downgrading would be abandoned and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “ huge injustice ” this morning and said that “ young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential ” .
Earlier this week , Labour leader Keir Starmer warned that the Prime Minister risked “ robbing a generation of young people of their future ” unless he urgently tackled the unfairness in this year ’ s replacement exam results system .

Kate Green has called on the government to waive fees for schools and colleges appealing A-Level grades after data released has shown that thousands of students have had their results revised down.
Following the awarding of A-Levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland today, the party has demanded that the government make sure that “no student is unable to challenge their grade if they think it is not accurate”.
Pupils across the country have received estimated grades today following the cancellation of the usual end-of-year exams when schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Figures show that 39.1% had their result moderated down.
Commenting on today’s results, Shadow Education Secretary Green said: “Across the country, thousands of young people are opening their exam results full of hope, only to see their opportunities and their futures dashed.”
According to the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), those with a grade C or above were downgraded from teacher estimations by over 10% among children from the most disadvantaged background.
Green added: “This is a huge injustice. Pupils, parents and teachers are rightly angry and upset. The government has had five months to sort this out. Action is needed in days, not weeks.
“Students should be guaranteed the right to individual appeals and the fee for appeals should be waived. Students must be treated fairly and nothing should be ruled out, even if Ministers have to follow the U-turn that was forced on the Scottish government.”
Under the current appeals system, schools and colleges are required to pay up-front for appeals and can only claim back the money if successful. Labour has highlighted that private schools are currently twice as likely to submit appeals.
The independent regulatory body Ofqual has recognised this: “Independent schools tended to submit a greater percentage of their qualification entries, at both GCSE and A-Level (11.9%).” This compares to 5.4% to 8.6% for other school types.
108,000 result reviews were carried out last year. Analysis on previous exams shows that private schools are more successful in these appeals. Labour has said this shows that “private schools are better resourced to challenge these decisions”.
Overall across England, 27.9% of entries were awarded an A or A* grade this summer, which is up by 2.4 percentage points on last year. For the school year ending 2019, 25.5% achieved the top grades.
But the figures released by Ofqual today show that 35.6% of the predicted awards given out today were adjusted down by one grade, while 3.3% were brought down by two grades and 0.2% came down by three grades.
Teachers set a predicted grade for each subject and a ranking of each pupil within their class, which has been modified using schools’ previous performance, attainment in previous years and the expected national distribution of grades.
The grades released today follow results day in Scotland last week, where the Scottish Qualifications Authority revised down 93.1% of the those awards that were moderated by the regulatory body, affecting 124,564 pupils.
After protests and a bid by Scottish Labour to remove Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney from post, the Scottish government announced that the downgrading would be abandoned and initial teacher estimates used.
Green described the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “huge injustice” this morning and said that “young people will be opening their results today to find grades which undermine their work and their potential”.
Earlier this week, Labour leader Keir Starmer warned that the Prime Minister risked “robbing a generation of young people of their future” unless he urgently tackled the unfairness in this year’s replacement exam results system.


labourlist--2020-08-13--Let’s celebrate the contributions of small businesses during the Covid crisis

This year , small businesses have often been on the frontline of the local Covid community response .
Some provided free meals to key workers , while others gave free accommodation to NHS employees isolating to protect their loved ones .
Even when facing some of the most difficult and challenging times , business owners have been looking out for their communities every step of the way .
It ’ s important that we celebrate our small businesses and I am very excited to be doing this with SME4Labour and the Labour Excellence Awards .
As a business owner myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time has been for small businesses .
The support from the government was an initial crisis package – but the scheme never went far enough to truly protect businesses from the economic fallout of the pandemic , of which we are only just beginning to see the true extent .
Many small businesses have closed their doors for the last time , and the hospitality industry has been truly decimated .
Restaurants that have been in families for generations have had to close down , leaving the future of the staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run restaurants in the centre of London , and due to the lack of tourists the footfall has decreased dramatically .
Many businesses that rely on that trade have simply been unable to survive .
As of 2019 , small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) made up 99.3 % of all private sector businesses in the UK , employing over 16.6 million people with an estimated combined annual turnover of £2.2tn accounted for 47 % of private sector turnover .
I am incredibly concerned for those who work within this industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses across the country .
There is a clear need for greater government support for those SMEs that feel left behind – so now whilst facing such economic uncertainty , Labour ’ s relationship with SMEs is more important than ever before .
Through SME4Labour , we want to provide a forum where small businesses can work in partnership with the Labour Party and continue to inform our economic policies .
Having a space where businesses can speak directly with our MPs to face these uncertain times together is vital for the recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Excellence Awards will bring together the brightest and best of the Labour Party – from politicians to activists and Constituency Labour Parties who have been making a difference across their communities .
We will celebrate their contributions and efforts alongside the SME4Labour gala dinner .
It gives me great pleasure to announce that the nominations for the Labour Excellence Awards , hosted by SME4Labour , are now open .
Shortlisted finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony in central London , regulations permitting , where the UK ’ s best small and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best and brightest in Westminster .
The awards will be held in December this year , subject to government guidelines and we are already very pleased to have Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner attending the ceremony .
Held at the River Bank Park Plaza hotel in Lambeth , the awards are attended by over 450 guests .
This includes over 100 Labour MPs and peers , including several members of the shadow cabinet .
Attendees will be joined by assembly members , mayors , local councillors and other members of the Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinguished figures from the business community .
Please submit your nominations to [ email protected ] and/or [ email protected ] or via the live link .

This year, small businesses have often been on the frontline of the local Covid community response. Some provided free meals to key workers, while others gave free accommodation to NHS employees isolating to protect their loved ones. Even when facing some of the most difficult and challenging times, business owners have been looking out for their communities every step of the way. It’s important that we celebrate our small businesses and I am very excited to be doing this with SME4Labour and the Labour Excellence Awards.
As a business owner myself, I know first-hand just how difficult this time has been for small businesses. The support from the government was an initial crisis package – but the scheme never went far enough to truly protect businesses from the economic fallout of the pandemic, of which we are only just beginning to see the true extent. Many small businesses have closed their doors for the last time, and the hospitality industry has been truly decimated. Restaurants that have been in families for generations have had to close down, leaving the future of the staff and owners in a precarious state. I run restaurants in the centre of London, and due to the lack of tourists the footfall has decreased dramatically. Many businesses that rely on that trade have simply been unable to survive.
As of 2019, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) made up 99.3% of all private sector businesses in the UK, employing over 16.6 million people with an estimated combined annual turnover of £2.2tn accounted for 47% of private sector turnover. I am incredibly concerned for those who work within this industry, and what the future holds for small businesses across the country. There is a clear need for greater government support for those SMEs that feel left behind – so now whilst facing such economic uncertainty, Labour’s relationship with SMEs is more important than ever before.
Through SME4Labour, we want to provide a forum where small businesses can work in partnership with the Labour Party and continue to inform our economic policies. Having a space where businesses can speak directly with our MPs to face these uncertain times together is vital for the recovery of the business sector. The Labour Excellence Awards will bring together the brightest and best of the Labour Party – from politicians to activists and Constituency Labour Parties who have been making a difference across their communities. We will celebrate their contributions and efforts alongside the SME4Labour gala dinner.
It gives me great pleasure to announce that the nominations for the Labour Excellence Awards, hosted by SME4Labour, are now open. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony in central London, regulations permitting, where the UK’s best small and medium business enterprises will be celebrated by the best and brightest in Westminster. The awards will be held in December this year, subject to government guidelines and we are already very pleased to have Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner attending the ceremony.
Held at the River Bank Park Plaza hotel in Lambeth, the awards are attended by over 450 guests. This includes over 100 Labour MPs and peers, including several members of the shadow cabinet. Attendees will be joined by assembly members, mayors, local councillors and other members of the Labour family, alongside trade union leaders and distinguished figures from the business community. Please submit your nominations to [email protected] and/or [email protected] or via the live link.


labourlist--2020-08-14--Open Labour’s 11 party reform proposals for the Forde Inquiry

It ’ s a real honour for us both to have been elected as the new co-chairs of Open Labour .
This is something neither of us ever planned when we joined the organisation or indeed the party .
Open Labour is still a young organisation , founded in 2015 by members from across the UK who could see the limits of a toxic and sectarian culture within our party and the need to argue for a modern , outward-looking , internationalist approach to democratic socialism .
It should be a matter of deep regret to the labour movement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our party being investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for potential unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish members , and an inquiry following the leaked report , subsequent claims of data protection offences , and allegations of bullying , racism and malice at the very top of the party .
All of this is descending , and will continue to descend , into bitter legal disputes .
Our party has never been more inward-looking in this century .
But this gives us an opportunity for serious self-reflection , so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order , rather than continue to allow internal crises to threaten to implode our party and rupture the labour movement .
For several years , Open Labour has been pushing for internal culture change and a healthier democracy within the Labour Party .
We have repeatedly expressed solidarity and support for Jewish members and sought to put pressure on the party to root out antisemitism .
During the initial coronavirus lockdown , we hosted an online workshop for Young Labour members where we discussed the need for the party to become a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind .
This summer , we won a landmark campaign for a fairer , less sectarian , more democratic voting system for members to elect their Constituency Labour Party ( CLP ) representatives to Labour ’ s governing body , the national executive committee ( NEC ) .
Our organisation democratically selects preferred candidates for internal elections , and our members have overwhelmingly endorsed Ann Black and Jermain Jackman for CLP Reps on the NEC , along with George Lindars-Hammond as the new disability rep and Alice Perry for the local government section @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the heart of our approach to politics .
It ’ s good to see other groups starting to catch up to us .
Earlier this month , we made a submission to the Forde Inquiry – the investigation into the contents of the leaked report , and the nature of its creation and its leaking .
The inquiry , along with the various other investigations into the Labour Party , presents a big opportunity for internal change .
With this in mind , we put forward the following 11 proposals to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these proposals would help to support this turning point in our party ’ s internal culture – a necessary step both morally and electorally .
• The Labour Party should continue cooperation with the forthcoming EHRC investigation and implement its findings in full .
• The Labour Party should make a statement clarifying that it considers the matters of antisemitism , all other forms of prejudice , and sexual harassment to be squarely above sectarian politics ; that they must be taken seriously regardless of the factional allegiances of the alleged offenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear at all levels that members must not dismiss the antisemitism issue as an anti-Corbyn or anti-left conspiracy .
The promotion of conspiracy theory in explaining issues of antisemitism is particularly dangerous , and part of the problem .
• The Labour Party should implement an independent complaints procedure to depoliticise these processes and prevent any future erosion of fairness .
• We strongly welcome Keir Starmer ’ s promise to deliver antisemitism training to staff .
We would also like to see equalities training delivered to party staff covering multiple forms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are to campaign as the party of equality , we must have our own house in order .
• The Labour Party should carry out regular staffing audits and push to diversify party staff at all levels , to identify and solve particular areas of underrepresentation .
This may involve the expansion of grassroots level programmes to help BAME members into Labour roles and other means of formally encouraging and supporting people from underrepresented backgrounds into party jobs .
• The Labour Party must work with its own affiliates , such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour groups , when reforming internal processes pertaining to issues of racial equality , such as equalities training for party members and carrying out regular staffing audits .
• The NEC must draft and publish a clearer code of conduct for staff and ban explicitly sectarian behaviours of the type we have outlined , for as long as people are on the party payroll .
We are concerned that the requirement to be factionally impartial is already stipulated but a widespread culture of flaunting of this confuses the message for staff of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be set from the top .
• Labour Party staff at all levels should act as neutral civil servants in carrying out the party ’ s democratically agreed aims , and promote a professional rather than sectarian culture .
Any other way forward simply perpetuates the cycle of sectarianism , and makes the achievement of open politics within the party impossible .
• The Labour Party should formally distance itself from social media campaign accounts that propagate antisemitism or any other prejudice , and/or undermine the party ’ s ability to campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the name of the Labour Party or parts of the Labour Party .
This should include submitting formal requests to shut down groups that propagate racism in our name .
• The Labour Party should extend the use of the single transferable vote ( STV ) in internal elections that party members participate in .
We strongly welcome the move , which Open Labour campaigned for , to use STV to elect the nine CLP representatives on the Labour NEC .
The effect of this will be to scale back sectarianism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atmosphere .
We must make our party a welcoming environment for all , enforce zero tolerance for bigotry and bullying , and bring our member-led democracy into the 21st century .
We need to look outwards , beyond our own ranks and we need to have a bold , radical offer to the people of these islands .
If we can ’ t do that , then why are we here ?
We don ’ t have all the answers , and we don ’ t pretend that we do , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a more tolerant and democratic party that can live up the ambitions of our supporters .
Open Labour will continue to play our part in making the Labour Party a winning party , ready for government .
Only then can we rebuild , community by community , ending Tory austerity and creating a fairer , more equal society where no one is left behind .

It’s a real honour for us both to have been elected as the new co-chairs of Open Labour. This is something neither of us ever planned when we joined the organisation or indeed the party. Open Labour is still a young organisation, founded in 2015 by members from across the UK who could see the limits of a toxic and sectarian culture within our party and the need to argue for a modern, outward-looking, internationalist approach to democratic socialism.
It should be a matter of deep regret to the labour movement that we now face an 80-seat Conservative majority, our party being investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for potential unlawful acts of discrimination against Jewish members, and an inquiry following the leaked report, subsequent claims of data protection offences, and allegations of bullying, racism and malice at the very top of the party. All of this is descending, and will continue to descend, into bitter legal disputes.
Our party has never been more inward-looking in this century. But this gives us an opportunity for serious self-reflection, so that we can get our own house in order, rather than continue to allow internal crises to threaten to implode our party and rupture the labour movement.
For several years, Open Labour has been pushing for internal culture change and a healthier democracy within the Labour Party. We have repeatedly expressed solidarity and support for Jewish members and sought to put pressure on the party to root out antisemitism. During the initial coronavirus lockdown, we hosted an online workshop for Young Labour members where we discussed the need for the party to become a more welcoming environment where no one is left behind.
This summer, we won a landmark campaign for a fairer, less sectarian, more democratic voting system for members to elect their Constituency Labour Party (CLP) representatives to Labour’s governing body, the national executive committee (NEC). Our organisation democratically selects preferred candidates for internal elections, and our members have overwhelmingly endorsed Ann Black and Jermain Jackman for CLP Reps on the NEC, along with George Lindars-Hammond as the new disability rep and Alice Perry for the local government section. For us, democracy must be at the heart of our approach to politics. It’s good to see other groups starting to catch up to us.
Earlier this month, we made a submission to the Forde Inquiry – the investigation into the contents of the leaked report, and the nature of its creation and its leaking. The inquiry, along with the various other investigations into the Labour Party, presents a big opportunity for internal change.
With this in mind, we put forward the following 11 proposals to the Forde panel. We believe the implementation of these proposals would help to support this turning point in our party’s internal culture – a necessary step both morally and electorally.
The Labour Party should continue cooperation with the forthcoming EHRC investigation and implement its findings in full. The Labour Party should make a statement clarifying that it considers the matters of antisemitism, all other forms of prejudice, and sexual harassment to be squarely above sectarian politics; that they must be taken seriously regardless of the factional allegiances of the alleged offenders. The Labour Party must make clear at all levels that members must not dismiss the antisemitism issue as an anti-Corbyn or anti-left conspiracy. The promotion of conspiracy theory in explaining issues of antisemitism is particularly dangerous, and part of the problem. The Labour Party should implement an independent complaints procedure to depoliticise these processes and prevent any future erosion of fairness. We strongly welcome Keir Starmer’s promise to deliver antisemitism training to staff. We would also like to see equalities training delivered to party staff covering multiple forms of racism and other prejudices. If we are to campaign as the party of equality, we must have our own house in order. The Labour Party should carry out regular staffing audits and push to diversify party staff at all levels, to identify and solve particular areas of underrepresentation. This may involve the expansion of grassroots level programmes to help BAME members into Labour roles and other means of formally encouraging and supporting people from underrepresented backgrounds into party jobs. The Labour Party must work with its own affiliates, such as the Jewish Labour Movement, and other BAME Labour groups, when reforming internal processes pertaining to issues of racial equality, such as equalities training for party members and carrying out regular staffing audits. The NEC must draft and publish a clearer code of conduct for staff and ban explicitly sectarian behaviours of the type we have outlined, for as long as people are on the party payroll. We are concerned that the requirement to be factionally impartial is already stipulated but a widespread culture of flaunting of this confuses the message for staff of what is expected and acceptable. Good conduct must be set from the top. Labour Party staff at all levels should act as neutral civil servants in carrying out the party’s democratically agreed aims, and promote a professional rather than sectarian culture. Any other way forward simply perpetuates the cycle of sectarianism, and makes the achievement of open politics within the party impossible. The Labour Party should formally distance itself from social media campaign accounts that propagate antisemitism or any other prejudice, and/or undermine the party’s ability to campaign against racism, whilst purporting to speak in the name of the Labour Party or parts of the Labour Party. This should include submitting formal requests to shut down groups that propagate racism in our name. The Labour Party should extend the use of the single transferable vote (STV) in internal elections that party members participate in. We strongly welcome the move, which Open Labour campaigned for, to use STV to elect the nine CLP representatives on the Labour NEC. The effect of this will be to scale back sectarianism in internal campaigning and foster a more collaborative atmosphere.
We must make our party a welcoming environment for all, enforce zero tolerance for bigotry and bullying, and bring our member-led democracy into the 21st century.
We need to look outwards, beyond our own ranks and we need to have a bold, radical offer to the people of these islands. If we can’t do that, then why are we here? We don’t have all the answers, and we don’t pretend that we do, but we know that these 11 proposals are key to a more tolerant and democratic party that can live up the ambitions of our supporters.
Open Labour will continue to play our part in making the Labour Party a winning party, ready for government. Only then can we rebuild, community by community, ending Tory austerity and creating a fairer, more equal society where no one is left behind.


labourlist--2020-08-14--The story of a moral failing: for too long, children in care have been ignored

Covid-19 and the accompanying lockdown have highlighted many daunting inequalities across our country and a public sector struggling after a decade of Conservative cuts .
From the social care catastrophe to the treatment of frontline workers , to housing and the use of public space , social and economic policy will be very different in a post-Covid world .
One area of the state that has not received enough attention during this crisis , befitting its role as a policy afterthought , is social work and children ’ s social care .
The number of children removed from their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost 50 % during the pandemic .
With schools closed and social workers prevented or unable to make as many visits to troubled families , vulnerable children have often been left to their own devices .
Social workers , who work tirelessly , were hamstrung by their own caring commitments at home : absentee rates reached an estimated 35 % percent at the peak of lockdown .
With huge increases in incidents of domestic violence , the misuse of alcohol and drugs and the lack of schooling as a protective factor , social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
The storm strikes a system on the cusp of breaking point .
This was chronicled powerfully in a recent case before the High Court , following a challenge to the government ’ s decision to amend the requirement for social workers to undertake direct visits to children in care during the pandemic .
Sophie Langdale , director of children ’ s social care at the Department of Education , told the court that the system was “ already facing significant pressures prior to Covid-19 ” .
On the eve of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to be deemed as ‘ good ’ or above by Ofsted , with 21 councils regarded as ‘ inadequate ’ .
There was a lack of social workers , an increase in need , and budgets have been slashed year-on-year .
In April , a different High Court judge took the unusual step of sending ministers a copy of his judgment expressing concern at a ‘ nationwide problem ’ of demand outstripping supply in accommodation for children in care .
The facts of that case show the human cost of a lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a family unable to care for her , had been moved to 14 different placements in 12 months , as none were suitable .
She had repeatedly fled unregulated accommodation units and was deemed to be at serious risk of self-harm and sexual exploitation .
Another case that came before the courts recently involved a 16-year-old boy who , in the words of his guardian , “ remains very much at risk of killing himself or being killed ” unless secure accommodation was found .
There was no such placement available .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ available , stating : “ The problem , put simply , is the lack of secure placements available in England .
That is a resourcing issue quite beyond the powers of the local authority.
” He followed the High Court and sent a copy of the judgment to ministers .
The lack of proper accommodation options is having a devastating effect on vulnerable children – and this failing affects us all .
There has been a 77 % increase in the number of children in England being placed far from their home area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rise of ‘ county-line gangs ’ , and a report by the all-party parliamentary group for runaway and missing children and adults revealed that sending children away from their local area helps them to become easy prey for “ recruiting sergeants ” in drug gangs .
The crisis has not emerged from a vacuum , but is a consequence of political decisions .
Since 2010 , local authority budgets have been cut by 26 % , whilst the statutory requirement for local authorities to look after vulnerable children remains .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now being seen .
For too long , children in care have been ignored .
There are over 75,000 children in care and on almost every indicator their outcomes are far worse than their peers living with birth families .
Whilst they represent just 1 % of all children , they are hugely overrepresented in the youth justice system , with 37 % of young offenders having been in care .
Just 15 % of looked-after children achieve five A*-C grades , whereas the national average is 55 % .
A cold-hearted analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of investment at an early stage leads to a myriad of costs for a society as a whole .
A failure to support children in care from the outset leads to huge demand on our public services and spending , with remarkably higher rates of unemployment and homelessness in the care-leaver population .
New research from University College London and King ’ s College London has also revealed that the long-term health outcomes for those who grew up in foster care , rather than in a familial home , were dismal .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moral failing .
These are children born to families unable to look after them , often with horrific upbringings scarred by abuse and emotional and physical trauma .
As a society , we must do better by them .
This inaction is leading to children and young people suffering significant harm , which affects us all .
Labour must always stand up for the most vulnerable and ensure their voices are heard .

Covid-19 and the accompanying lockdown have highlighted many daunting inequalities across our country and a public sector struggling after a decade of Conservative cuts. From the social care catastrophe to the treatment of frontline workers, to housing and the use of public space, social and economic policy will be very different in a post-Covid world.
One area of the state that has not received enough attention during this crisis, befitting its role as a policy afterthought, is social work and children’s social care. The number of children being referred to care homes has risen by almost 50% during the pandemic. With schools closed and social workers prevented or unable to make as many visits to troubled families, vulnerable children have often been left to their own devices. Social workers, who work tirelessly, were hamstrung by their own caring commitments at home: absentee rates reached an estimated 35% percent at the peak of lockdown. With huge increases in incidents of domestic violence, the misuse of alcohol and drugs and the lack of schooling as a protective factor, social workers speak of a ‘perfect storm’.
The storm strikes a system on the cusp of breaking point. This was chronicled powerfully in a recent case before the High Court, following a challenge to the government’s decision to amend the requirement for social workers to undertake direct visits to children in care during the pandemic. Sophie Langdale, director of children’s social care at the Department of Education, told the court that the system was “already facing significant pressures prior to Covid-19”. On the eve of the pandemic, 50% of local authorities failed to be deemed as ‘good’ or above by Ofsted, with 21 councils regarded as ‘inadequate’. There was a lack of social workers, an increase in need, and budgets have been slashed year-on-year.
In April, a different High Court judge took the unusual step of sending ministers a copy of his judgment expressing concern at a ‘nationwide problem’ of demand outstripping supply in accommodation for children in care. The facts of that case show the human cost of a lack of investment. A 15-year-old girl, from a family unable to care for her, had been moved to 14 different placements in 12 months, as none were suitable. She had repeatedly fled unregulated accommodation units and was deemed to be at serious risk of self-harm and sexual exploitation.
Another case that came before the courts recently involved a 16-year-old boy who, in the words of his guardian, “remains very much at risk of killing himself or being killed” unless secure accommodation was found. There was no such placement available. The judge bemoaned the lack of places available, stating: “The problem, put simply, is the lack of secure placements available in England. That is a resourcing issue quite beyond the powers of the local authority.” He followed the High Court and sent a copy of the judgment to ministers.
The lack of proper accommodation options is having a devastating effect on vulnerable children – and this failing affects us all. There has been a 77% increase in the number of children in England being placed far from their home area. Police have linked this directly to the rise of ‘county-line gangs’, and a report by the all-party parliamentary group for runaway and missing children and adults revealed that sending children away from their local area helps them to become easy prey for “recruiting sergeants” in drug gangs.
The crisis has not emerged from a vacuum, but is a consequence of political decisions. Since 2010, local authority budgets have been cut by 26%, whilst the statutory requirement for local authorities to look after vulnerable children remains. This is simply unsustainable, and the consequences are now being seen. For too long, children in care have been ignored. There are over 75,000 children in care and on almost every indicator their outcomes are far worse than their peers living with birth families. Whilst they represent just 1% of all children, they are hugely overrepresented in the youth justice system, with 37% of young offenders having been in care. Just 15% of looked-after children achieve five A*-C grades, whereas the national average is 55%.
A cold-hearted analysis reveals a false economy. A lack of investment at an early stage leads to a myriad of costs for a society as a whole. A failure to support children in care from the outset leads to huge demand on our public services and spending, with remarkably higher rates of unemployment and homelessness in the care-leaver population. New research from University College London and King’s College London has also revealed that the long-term health outcomes for those who grew up in foster care, rather than in a familial home, were dismal.
But of more importance is the story of a moral failing. These are children born to families unable to look after them, often with horrific upbringings scarred by abuse and emotional and physical trauma. As a society, we must do better by them. This inaction is leading to children and young people suffering significant harm, which affects us all. Labour must always stand up for the most vulnerable and ensure their voices are heard.


labourlist--2020-08-14--Starmer pushes for move back to teacher predicted grades as “best option available”

Keir Starmer has declared that a move away from the current A-Level results and a return to the original teacher predicted grades is now the “ best option available ” amid uproar over unfair outcomes for pupils .
Labour ’ s education lead Kate Green has criticised the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “ huge injustice ” , and demanded that fees for schools and colleges appealing results should be waived .
But the Labour leader is now going further by calling for the UK government to perform the same U-turn that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Nicola Sturgeon was forced to undertake earlier this week .
Commenting on the chaotic situation , he said : “ Across the last 24 hours we have heard heartbreaking stories and the scale of the injustice caused by the fatally flawed results system has become clear… “ The unprecedented and chaotic circumstances created by the UK government ’ s mishandling of education during recent months mean that a return to teacher assessments is now the best option available .
“ No young person should be at a detriment due to government incompetence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need action in days , not weeks .
That also means an urgent technical review of the standardisation model ahead of GCSE results next week.
” Starmer has described the system that saw hundreds of thousands of A-Level results downgraded on Thursday as “ fatally flawed ” , adding : “ Young people and parents right across the country , in every town and city , feel let down and betrayed.
” 280,000 teacher assessed A-Level results were revised downwards yesterday by an algorithm criticised by teachers , pupils and parents , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process “ may have been biased ” .
39 % of pupils had their marks downgraded , and disadvantaged pupils have been worst-affected .
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has told Ofqual to “ remove bias ” and allow students to appeal directly .
“ We will continue to discuss this with Ofqual and consider all our powers so that ethnic minority and disabled children , for example , are treated fairly in this process , ” the chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath said .
In one case highlighted by BBC Newsnight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer to read medicine at Cambridge .
He was predicted four A*s but received one A* and three As , and the offer was withdrawn .
The government said students may be able to use mock results in the appeals process – if they took mock exams this year , and if they were conducted in an as yet unspecified way – but the process is still unclear .
Schools minister Nick Gibb was also accused by Starmer of “ grossly misleading ” students , as he had promised that downgrading would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ofqual figures show that this was not true for around 24,000 grades .
Labour ’ s deputy leader Angela Rayner said that the algorithm used has “ baked in inequalities for a lot of students ” and “ penalises children , in effect , on where they live or which school and the history of that school ” .
Equality impact analysis published by exam regulator Ofqual shows that private schools increased the proportion of students achieving top grades – A* and A – twice as much as pupils at comprehensive schools .

Keir Starmer has declared that a move away from the current A-Level results and a return to the original teacher predicted grades is now the “best option available” amid uproar over unfair outcomes for pupils.
Labour’s education lead Kate Green has criticised the downgrading of nearly two in five A-Level grades in England as a “huge injustice”, and demanded that fees for schools and colleges appealing results should be waived.
But the Labour leader is now going further by calling for the UK government to perform the same U-turn that the Scottish government led by the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon was forced to undertake earlier this week.
Commenting on the chaotic situation, he said: “Across the last 24 hours we have heard heartbreaking stories and the scale of the injustice caused by the fatally flawed results system has become clear…
“The unprecedented and chaotic circumstances created by the UK government’s mishandling of education during recent months mean that a return to teacher assessments is now the best option available.
“No young person should be at a detriment due to government incompetence. Time is running out. We need action in days, not weeks. That also means an urgent technical review of the standardisation model ahead of GCSE results next week.”
Starmer has described the system that saw hundreds of thousands of A-Level results downgraded on Thursday as “fatally flawed”, adding: “Young people and parents right across the country, in every town and city, feel let down and betrayed.”
280,000 teacher assessed A-Level results were revised downwards yesterday by an algorithm criticised by teachers, pupils and parents, with the Association of Colleges warning that the process “may have been biased”.
39% of pupils had their marks downgraded, and disadvantaged pupils have been worst-affected. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has told Ofqual to “remove bias” and allow students to appeal directly.
“We will continue to discuss this with Ofqual and consider all our powers so that ethnic minority and disabled children, for example, are treated fairly in this process,” the chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath said.
In one case highlighted by BBC Newsnight, a state school student had a conditional offer to read medicine at Cambridge. He was predicted four A*s but received one A* and three As, and the offer was withdrawn.
The government said students may be able to use mock results in the appeals process – if they took mock exams this year, and if they were conducted in an as yet unspecified way – but the process is still unclear.
Schools minister Nick Gibb was also accused by Starmer of “grossly misleading” students, as he had promised that downgrading would be “by just one grade”. Ofqual figures show that this was not true for around 24,000 grades.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said that the algorithm used has “baked in inequalities for a lot of students” and “penalises children, in effect, on where they live or which school and the history of that school”.
Equality impact analysis published by exam regulator Ofqual shows that private schools increased the proportion of students achieving top grades – A* and A – twice as much as pupils at comprehensive schools.


labourlist--2020-08-14--British politicians must stop demonising desperate migrants

Boris Johnson ’ s immigration minister came back from a much-hyped summit with his French counterparts this week babbling about a “ new comprehensive joint operational plan ” to tackle migrants coming across the English Channel .
But it is just babble .
The truth is that the kind of pan-EU co-operation needed to meet the EU ’ s migrant challenge is further away than ever as Britain prepares to exit the EU once and for all .
The current hysteria about the numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in rubber dinghies is not just distasteful but ultimately pointless .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as some kind of invading army .
The channel crossings are presented as the Normandy landings , but in reverse .
These bedraggled migrants , who include women , pregnant women and children , are being systematically dehumanised whilst important facts about the situation are ignored .
First of all , these are people , not flotsam and jetsam floating on the waters of the English Channel .
I have visited the refugee camps in Northern France , Lesbos in Greece and Lebanon .
You can not stress enough how desperate these migrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and once they reach British waters , they are absolutely British responsibility .
These migrants have not sprung out of the ground in Northern France .
They have crossed Europe from the Middle East and North Africa .
These waves of migrants are a Europe-wide responsibility and the solution will involve Europe as a whole .
What seems to be happening currently is that too many EU countries are virtually waving migrants across the border to the next country because they don ’ t want the migrants actually settling in their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to their responsibility to asylum seekers – or , at the very least , they should contribute to a central fund to support EU countries bearing the brunt .
If there were a properly resourced and properly thought-through Europe-wide strategy , there would not be the numbers of migrants gathering in Northern France that we currently see .
And my impression visiting the refugee camps in Northern France was that the French were not making great efforts to encourage and facilitate migrants claiming asylum there .
But instead of talking about greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making the channel crossings issue to be some kind of Franco-British war .
The idea of sending in the Royal Navy is both foolish and dangerous .
As an anonymous Ministry of Defence spokesman said : “ It is beyond absurd to think that we should be deploying multi-million pound ships and elite soldiers to deal with desperate people barely staying afloat on rubber dinghies in the Channel.
” The danger is that big naval ships are used to turn around rubber dinghies , with the inevitability that one will capsize and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are wailing about the migrants as if these desperate people are themselves the problem .
Unsurprisingly , Nigel Farage claims that all migrants are a security risk and possible ISIS supporters .
But the real problem is the people smugglers .
When I visited the refugee camps in Greece , I saw a similar situation to Dover/Calais .
You can stand on the shoreline in Turkey and see the coast of Greek Islands like Lesbos .
This incentivises the people smugglers .
The smugglers charge people ridiculous sums of money to sail rubber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Normally there is no seaman on the dinghy , and sometimes desperate migrants are sold fake life jackets that ensure death by drowning if anything goes wrong .
The people smugglers are heartless and their trade in human beings is hugely profitable .
They don ’ t care whether the migrants live or die .
Very often their accomplices are in the refugee camps .
EU countries and Britain could do a lot more to take proactive action against these criminal gangs .
One Leonard Powell , a gang leader from Kent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a quarter of a million from people trafficking across the channel .
In 2015 , Interpol estimated that the global profits from people trafficking amounted to over £4bn pounds .
It must be even more profitable now .
The Tory right are having to grudgingly concede that turning the rubber dinghies around and back to France would be illegal once the craft have reached British waters .
Now some of them are proposing that we come out of the European Convention on Human Rights , and even introduce ID cards .
British politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin working at genuine pan-European co-operation on this issue , and work with the voluntary sector to develop better , safe and legal routes for refugees , particularly in relation family reunion .
Above all , we must stop the shameful scaremongering about migrants .

Boris Johnson’s immigration minister came back from a much-hyped summit with his French counterparts this week babbling about a “new comprehensive joint operational plan” to tackle migrants coming across the English Channel. But it is just babble. The truth is that the kind of pan-EU co-operation needed to meet the EU’s migrant challenge is further away than ever as Britain prepares to exit the EU once and for all. The current hysteria about the numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in rubber dinghies is not just distasteful but ultimately pointless.
The migrants are depicted by Tory MPs as some kind of invading army. The channel crossings are presented as the Normandy landings, but in reverse. These bedraggled migrants, who include women, pregnant women and children, are being systematically dehumanised whilst important facts about the situation are ignored.
First of all, these are people, not flotsam and jetsam floating on the waters of the English Channel. I have visited the refugee camps in Northern France, Lesbos in Greece and Lebanon. You cannot stress enough how desperate these migrants are. But they have human rights – and once they reach British waters, they are absolutely British responsibility.
These migrants have not sprung out of the ground in Northern France. They have crossed Europe from the Middle East and North Africa. These waves of migrants are a Europe-wide responsibility and the solution will involve Europe as a whole. What seems to be happening currently is that too many EU countries are virtually waving migrants across the border to the next country because they don’t want the migrants actually settling in their own country.
Every EU country should step up to their responsibility to asylum seekers – or, at the very least, they should contribute to a central fund to support EU countries bearing the brunt. If there were a properly resourced and properly thought-through Europe-wide strategy, there would not be the numbers of migrants gathering in Northern France that we currently see. And my impression visiting the refugee camps in Northern France was that the French were not making great efforts to encourage and facilitate migrants claiming asylum there.
But instead of talking about greater European co-operation, too many British politicians are making the channel crossings issue to be some kind of Franco-British war. The idea of sending in the Royal Navy is both foolish and dangerous. As an anonymous Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “It is beyond absurd to think that we should be deploying multi-million pound ships and elite soldiers to deal with desperate people barely staying afloat on rubber dinghies in the Channel.” The danger is that big naval ships are used to turn around rubber dinghies, with the inevitability that one will capsize and people will die.
Worse British politicians are wailing about the migrants as if these desperate people are themselves the problem. Unsurprisingly, Nigel Farage claims that all migrants are a security risk and possible ISIS supporters. But the real problem is the people smugglers. When I visited the refugee camps in Greece, I saw a similar situation to Dover/Calais. You can stand on the shoreline in Turkey and see the coast of Greek Islands like Lesbos. This incentivises the people smugglers.
The smugglers charge people ridiculous sums of money to sail rubber dinghies to Greece and the EU. Normally there is no seaman on the dinghy, and sometimes desperate migrants are sold fake life jackets that ensure death by drowning if anything goes wrong. The people smugglers are heartless and their trade in human beings is hugely profitable. They don’t care whether the migrants live or die. Very often their accomplices are in the refugee camps.
EU countries and Britain could do a lot more to take proactive action against these criminal gangs. One Leonard Powell, a gang leader from Kent, was jailed in 2018 after making over a quarter of a million from people trafficking across the channel. In 2015, Interpol estimated that the global profits from people trafficking amounted to over £4bn pounds. It must be even more profitable now.
The Tory right are having to grudgingly concede that turning the rubber dinghies around and back to France would be illegal once the craft have reached British waters. Now some of them are proposing that we come out of the European Convention on Human Rights, and even introduce ID cards.
British politicians need to stop demonising desperate migrants, begin working at genuine pan-European co-operation on this issue, and work with the voluntary sector to develop better, safe and legal routes for refugees, particularly in relation family reunion. Above all, we must stop the shameful scaremongering about migrants.


labourlist--2020-08-14--Readers’ survey: Starmer’s leadership, Labour policy and shad cab favourites

Welcome to our latest LabourList survey .
Share your thoughts on Keir Starmer ’ s leadership and Labour policies , @ @ @ @ @ cabinet members .
Answer the nine questions below or click here to open the survey @ @ @ @ @ This survey will close at 6pm on Sunday 16th August , and we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ after that .

Welcome to our latest LabourList survey.
Share your thoughts on Keir Starmer’s leadership and Labour policies, plus pick your favourite shadow cabinet members.
Answer the nine questions below or click here to open the survey in a new window.
This survey will close at 6pm on Sunday 16th August, and we’ll be releasing the results soon after that.