labourlist--2020-09-10--Labour unveils programme for online conference ‘Connected’

The Labour Party has unveiled a programme and timetable for its online event ‘ Connected ’ that is being held from September 19th to 22nd as a replacement for the usual annual conference .
The national executive committee ( NEC ) decided in May to cancel Labour ’ s September conference – due to take place in Liverpool this year – as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
The party announced last month that Connected would be organised instead .
It will not allow party members to vote on policy , but will include speeches , training sessions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear from the new leadership team about how they plan to handle the challenges presented by the Covid crisis and beyond , and get a sense of the party ’ s direction .
LabourList understands that leader Keir Starmer , deputy leader Angela Rayner and Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds will lead on the public-facing events and deliver keynote speeches .
And while Rayner and Dodds will be based in a studio at Labour HQ , the party has planned for Starmer to deliver his speech from a venue that will be attended by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes the events arranged so far by Labour , but it is expected that the party will add more events in the coming days and in the run-up to September 19th .
Connected will kick off on Saturday 19th September with ‘ Women Connected ’ , a full day-long programme for women in the party , with deputy leader Rayner taking the lead that day .
Women and equalities frontbench spokesperson Marsha de Cordova and Starmer will first welcome members from 10am .
This opening session will be followed by : • 10.15am-11am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act 1970 and Equality Act ( broadcast to the public ) • 12.40pm-1.40pm : Training on women and the economy , including panel discussion and Q & A • 5.30pm-6.30pm : Rally on the impact of Covid-19 On Sunday 20th September at 10am , Labour ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) chair Andi Fox will offer the opening remarks alongside Starmer .
The rest of the day ’ s events will be : • 10.15am-11am : Training to welcome new members of the party • 11am-11.30am : Speech by Angela Rayner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12pm-1pm : Rally on the road to May 2021 elections ( broadcast to the public ) • 1pm-1.50pm : Training on support available to members • 3pm-3.50pm : Training for key workers to become councillors • 5pm-5.50pm : Training on being an equalities officer • 6pm-7pm : Evening discussion on campaigning towards May 2021 On Monday 21st September , Labour ’ s new general secretary David Evans will open proceedings at 8.55am , followed by a coffee morning for new members until 10am .
Other events include : • 11am-11.30am : Speech by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) • 12pm-12.50pm : Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021 • 1.30pm-2.30pm : Policy discussion on the future of work • 5pm-5.50pm : Training on being an equalities officer • 6pm-6.50pm : Training for role-holders to meet up • 7.30pm-8.30pm : Rally on health and economic recovery ( broadcast to the public ) The timetable for Tuesday 22nd September includes the big keynote speech by Starmer from 11am to 12pm , which will be broadcast to the public .
Other events organised so far include : • 12pm-12.50pm : Training on campaigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021 ( workshop ) Party members can sign up to Connected via the Labour Party website .

The Labour Party has unveiled a programme and timetable for its online event ‘Connected’ that is being held from September 19th to 22nd as a replacement for the usual annual conference.
The national executive committee (NEC) decided in May to cancel Labour’s September conference – due to take place in Liverpool this year – as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The party announced last month that Connected would be organised instead. It will not allow party members to vote on policy, but will include speeches, training sessions and panel events.
Members can expect to hear from the new leadership team about how they plan to handle the challenges presented by the Covid crisis and beyond, and get a sense of the party’s direction.
LabourList understands that leader Keir Starmer, deputy leader Angela Rayner and Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds will lead on the public-facing events and deliver keynote speeches.
And while Rayner and Dodds will be based in a studio at Labour HQ, the party has planned for Starmer to deliver his speech from a venue that will be attended by journalists non-virtually.
The timetable released online includes the events arranged so far by Labour, but it is expected that the party will add more events in the coming days and in the run-up to September 19th.
Connected will kick off on Saturday 19th September with ‘Women Connected’, a full day-long programme for women in the party, with deputy leader Rayner taking the lead that day.
Women and equalities frontbench spokesperson Marsha de Cordova and Starmer will first welcome members from 10am. This opening session will be followed by:
10.15am-11am : Panel discussion on the Equal Pay Act 1970 and Equality Act (broadcast to the public)
: Panel discussion on the Equal Pay Act 1970 and Equality Act (broadcast to the public) 11.10am-12.10pm : Training on childcare sector challenges, including panel discussion and Q&A
: Training on childcare sector challenges, including panel discussion and Q&A 12pm-12.50pm : Policy panel on local campaigns (interactive workshop with limited capacity)
: Policy panel on local campaigns (interactive workshop with limited capacity) 12.40pm-1.40pm : Training on women and the economy, including panel discussion and Q&A
: Training on women and the economy, including panel discussion and Q&A 12.40pm-1.40pm : Policy panel on women’s engagement
: Policy panel on women’s engagement 3pm-4pm : Training on Equality Act
: Training on Equality Act 3pm-4pm : Policy panel on women in trade unions, including Q&A
: Policy panel on women in trade unions, including Q&A 4.10pm-5.10pm : Panel discussion on Black Lives Matter, including Q&A
: Panel discussion on Black Lives Matter, including Q&A 5.30pm-6.30pm : Rally on the impact of Covid-19
: Rally on the impact of Covid-19 6.15pm-7.30pm: Panel discussion on women’s response to Covid-19, including Q&A
On Sunday 20th September at 10am, Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) chair Andi Fox will offer the opening remarks alongside Starmer. The rest of the day’s events will be:
10.15am-11am : Training to welcome new members of the party
: Training to welcome new members of the party 11am-11.30am : Speech by Angela Rayner (broadcast to the public)
: Speech by Angela Rayner (broadcast to the public) 12pm-12.50pm : Training to be a party role-holder
: Training to be a party role-holder 12pm-1pm : Rally on the road to May 2021 elections (broadcast to the public)
: Rally on the road to May 2021 elections (broadcast to the public) 1pm-1.50pm : Training on support available to members
: Training on support available to members 2pm-2.50pm : Training to support communities
: Training to support communities 3pm-3.50pm : Training for key workers to become councillors
: Training for key workers to become councillors 4pm-4.50pm : Training on social media in local campaigns
: Training on social media in local campaigns 4pm-5pm : Policy panel on safer communities
: Policy panel on safer communities 5pm-5.50pm : Training on being an equalities officer
: Training on being an equalities officer 6pm-7pm : Policy panel on health and wellbeing
: Policy panel on health and wellbeing 6pm-7pm: Evening discussion on campaigning towards May 2021
On Monday 21st September, Labour’s new general secretary David Evans will open proceedings at 8.55am, followed by a coffee morning for new members until 10am. Other events include:
11am-11.30am : Speech by Anneliese Dodds (broadcast to the public)
: Speech by Anneliese Dodds (broadcast to the public) 11am-11.50pm : Training to be a Labour councillor
: Training to be a Labour councillor 12pm-12.50pm : Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021
: Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021 12pm-1pm : Policy panel on rebuilding communities
: Policy panel on rebuilding communities 1pm-1.50pm : Training on being a Labour council candidate
: Training on being a Labour council candidate 1.30pm-2.30pm : Policy discussion on the future of work
: Policy discussion on the future of work 2pm-2.50pm : Training on understanding your local community
: Training on understanding your local community 3pm-3.50pm : Training on mobilising members
: Training on mobilising members 3pm-4pm : Policy panel on the ‘Covid generation’
: Policy panel on the ‘Covid generation’ 4pm-4.50pm : Training on Labour campaigning
: Training on Labour campaigning 5pm-5.50pm : Training on being an equalities officer
: Training on being an equalities officer 5pm-6pm : Policy panel on green recovery
: Policy panel on green recovery 6pm-6.50pm : Training for role-holders to meet up
: Training for role-holders to meet up 6.30pm-7.30pm : Policy panel on economic justice
: Policy panel on economic justice 7.30pm-8.30pm : Training to be a Labour councillor
: Training to be a Labour councillor 7.30pm-8.30pm: Rally on health and economic recovery (broadcast to the public)
The timetable for Tuesday 22nd September includes the big keynote speech by Starmer from 11am to 12pm, which will be broadcast to the public. Other events organised so far include:
9am-9.50am : Training on print campaigns
: Training on print campaigns 10am-10.15am : Opening remarks by Ian Murray, vice-chair of Labour’s NEC
: Opening remarks by Ian Murray, vice-chair of Labour’s NEC 10am-10.50am : Training on building a campaign team
: Training on building a campaign team 12pm-12.50pm : Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021
: Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021 12pm-1pm : Policy panel on foreign policy
: Policy panel on foreign policy 1pm-1.50pm : Training on understanding your local community
: Training on understanding your local community 1.30pm-3pm : Policy panel on 21st-century town hall (roundtable)
: Policy panel on 21st-century town hall (roundtable) 2pm-2.50pm : Training to be a party role-holder
: Training to be a party role-holder 3pm-3.50pm : Training on mobilising members
: Training on mobilising members 4pm-4.50pm : Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021 (workshop)
: Training on campaigning ahead of May 2021 (workshop) 4.15pm-5pm : Panel discussion with policy dragon’s den
: Panel discussion with policy dragon’s den 5pm: Closing remarks from David Evans
Party members can sign up to Connected via the Labour Party website.


labourlist--2020-09-10--“How on earth does he expect to hit his moonshot?” – Ashworth’s full Covid-19 response

Below is the full text of the speech delivered by Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth in parliament this morning .
Mr Speaker , we welcome the restrictions the government is imposing .
In recent days cases have risen sharply and across all age groups .
Hospital admissions are up around 70 % since the low point in August .
The Kings College Covid study estimates the R-value in England is at 1.2 .
Everything reasonable must be done for maximum suppression of this virus .
Everyone wants to avoid a second national lockdown .
Lockdowns exact a heavy social and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inequality .
And on world suicide prevention day we must remember the mental health impact of lockdown .
Can I ask him again about schools : We have examples across the country of classes and year groups – including in Leicester – of hundreds , possibly thousands , of pupils starting the new term as they finished the last term , at home and not in education .
Is it the policy of the government that if there are 1 or 2 positive cases in a year group that the whole year group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if so , are parents and carers eligible for sick pay and financial support ?
We were promised a world-beating test , trace and isolate regime by now .
I highlighted its performance in finding contacts in Tuesday ’ s figures .
He said I had muddled my figures .
FullFact said I was right and he was wrong .
I will leave him to judge whether he wants to correct the record but I just want him to correct test and trace .
In one study , researchers found 75 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to self-isolation .
I know he ’ s piloting extra support but we need a system urgently so those who are low paid and in insecure work can isolate .
Which brings me to testing .
There are many stories .
In Bradford , a mum tried to get a test for her eight-year-old asthmatic son but was told to go to Scotland .
Yesterday he was touring TV studios trying to dampen demand even though he previously told this House in July “ if you have symptoms , if in doubt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged these tests , with 8 million pupils return to schools , with thousands going back to workplaces , surely it was obvious there would be extra demand on the system .
It ’ s not the fault of ill people asking for tests , it ’ s his fault not providing them .
Again no apology from him today .
Why didn ’ t he plan extra resource capacity to process tests ?
So having failed to provide tests to all those who are ill , and of course , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.2 million , the highest on record , he now wants to deliver 10 million tests a day – his so-called ‘ Project Moonshot ’ .
I ’ ve long been pushing him for strategic mass testing .
From the start the WHO told us ‘ test , test , test ’ .
But we are all fed up with big undelivered promises and ‘ world-beaters.
’ Mass testing is too important to become another failed project – it ’ s all well and good talking about moonshots and the Prime Minister telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every morning .
Even better would be simply delivering the extra testing needed now , not just headline figures .
So first of all , what is the timeline ?
The Prime Minister told the nation he wants this in place by the Spring .
Though the chief scientific advisor pointed out its “ completely wrong to assume this is a slam dunk that can definitely happen.
” How quickly will the pilots in Salford and Southampton be assessed ?
Secondly , what is the cost ?
According to the British Medical Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
If not , can he tell the House what estimate he has made of the cost of processing 10 million tests every day would be and how much has been allocated to his moonshot efforts ?
Thirdly who will deliver it ?
What discussion has he had with universities like Leicester who are piloting LAMP-based saliva testing for all students ?
There are many smaller firms that are keen to engage with the government .
Yet it ’ s reported that that agreements or understandings have already been signed with GSK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moonshot ?
Is this correct ?
What procurement processes have been undertaken ?
Fourthly who are the priorities ?
We ’ re still not testing the loved ones of care home residents who are desperate to see relatives .
When will the government deliver routine testing of all frontline NHS staff ?
Mr Speaker , effective testing depends on quick turnaround and people need to access tests locally .
It depends on expanded contact tracing and isolation .
Honesty about the risks of false positives must be built into the process .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when capacity is supposed to be 175,000 .
Given the testing fiasco of recent days , how on earth does he expect to hit his moonshot in the future ?

Below is the full text of the speech delivered by Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth in parliament this morning.
Mr Speaker, we welcome the restrictions the government is imposing. In recent days cases have risen sharply and across all age groups. Hospital admissions are up around 70% since the low point in August. The Kings College Covid study estimates the R-value in England is at 1.2. Everything reasonable must be done for maximum suppression of this virus.
Everyone wants to avoid a second national lockdown. Lockdowns exact a heavy social and economic price on those already suffering from inequality. And on world suicide prevention day we must remember the mental health impact of lockdown.
Can I ask him again about schools: We have examples across the country of classes and year groups – including in Leicester – of hundreds, possibly thousands, of pupils starting the new term as they finished the last term, at home and not in education. Is it the policy of the government that if there are 1 or 2 positive cases in a year group that the whole year group is sent home for two weeks? And if so, are parents and carers eligible for sick pay and financial support?
We were promised a world-beating test, trace and isolate regime by now. I highlighted its performance in finding contacts in Tuesday’s figures. He said I had muddled my figures. FullFact said I was right and he was wrong. I will leave him to judge whether he wants to correct the record but I just want him to correct test and trace.
In one study, researchers found 75% of people with infections did not adhere to self-isolation. I know he’s piloting extra support but we need a system urgently so those who are low paid and in insecure work can isolate.
Which brings me to testing. There are many stories. In Bradford, a mum tried to get a test for her eight-year-old asthmatic son but was told to go to Scotland. Yesterday he was touring TV studios trying to dampen demand even though he previously told this House in July “if you have symptoms, if in doubt, get a test”.
So having encouraged these tests, with 8 million pupils return to schools, with thousands going back to workplaces, surely it was obvious there would be extra demand on the system. It’s not the fault of ill people asking for tests, it’s his fault not providing them. Again no apology from him today. Why didn’t he plan extra resource capacity to process tests?
So having failed to provide tests to all those who are ill, and of course, with the waiting list for diagnostics tests now at 1.2 million, the highest on record, he now wants to deliver 10 million tests a day – his so-called ‘Project Moonshot’.
I’ve long been pushing him for strategic mass testing. From the start the WHO told us ‘test, test, test’. But we are all fed up with big undelivered promises and ‘world-beaters.’ Mass testing is too important to become another failed project – it’s all well and good talking about moonshots and the Prime Minister telling us all we’ll be tested every morning. Even better would be simply delivering the extra testing needed now, not just headline figures.
So first of all, what is the timeline? The Prime Minister told the nation he wants this in place by the Spring. Though the chief scientific advisor pointed out its “completely wrong to assume this is a slam dunk that can definitely happen.” How quickly will the pilots in Salford and Southampton be assessed?
Secondly, what is the cost? According to the British Medical Journal £100 billion. Is this figure correct? If not, can he tell the House what estimate he has made of the cost of processing 10 million tests every day would be and how much has been allocated to his moonshot efforts?
Thirdly who will deliver it? What discussion has he had with universities like Leicester who are piloting LAMP-based saliva testing for all students? There are many smaller firms that are keen to engage with the government. Yet it’s reported that that agreements or understandings have already been signed with GSK, Serco, and G4S to deliver Project Moonshot? Is this correct? What procurement processes have been undertaken?
Fourthly who are the priorities? We’re still not testing the loved ones of care home residents who are desperate to see relatives. When will the government deliver routine testing of all frontline NHS staff? Mr Speaker, effective testing depends on quick turnaround and people need to access tests locally. It depends on expanded contact tracing and isolation.
Honesty about the risks of false positives must be built into the process. But this isn’t even happening now when capacity is supposed to be 175,000. Given the testing fiasco of recent days, how on earth does he expect to hit his moonshot in the future?


labourlist--2020-09-10--This is a difficult time for Scottish Labour. We need unity, not a leadership crisis

Once again the Scottish Labour Party is in the midst of a leadership crisis after several MSPs tried to trigger a formal challenge to Richard Leonard .
The fact that Labour in Scotland is going through a difficult period is not open for debate .
Our performance in last year ’ s European elections and our current rating in opinion polls reflect a trend that , if continued , will see the effective extinction of Labour as a force in Scotland .
But is Leonard to blame for this ?
I have little doubt he accepts his share of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortunes .
But the decline started well before his leadership and left him in a position that no other post-devolution Labour leader has been in – neither head of the government nor leading the opposition .
This has clearly undercut his ability to command media and public attention .
There appear to be two charges against Richard .
First , that he is unknown ; second , that his views are a turn-off to the electorate .
Surely , they both can not be true .
If nobody knows him , how can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irony is that the recent attacks on his leadership have actually given him a much bigger profile .
What has come across is that he is a man who is likeable , intelligent and determined .
Aren ’ t these the qualities that the electorate wants in a leader ?
As for his views , it strikes me that Richard has been highlighting the very issues that Labour should be concentrating on right now – from opportunities for young people impacted by the pandemic to the need for a national care strategy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep climate change at the top of the agenda , and above all has set out policies to avoid a post-pandemic economic catastrophe .
We must not let a focus on personality drown out the coherent programme Labour is developing for a fairer Scotland .
Many of those criticising Richard are friends , some of them exceptionally good friends .
I understand their concerns .
The party ’ s position is unquestionably precarious but changing the leader is no panacea for our problems .
We have tried replacing leaders again and again in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve had leadership of all hues , but no matter the captain , the unity of the crew is required to stop the ship from hurtling on to the rocks .
Instead of the preoccupation with change at the top , it ’ s time to focus on what we stand for as a party and unite behind those ideals .
Too many individuals in Labour have looked not to its wider interests but to their own idiosyncratic concerns .
It is often said that Labour owes more to Methodism than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think lately that we should instead turn to Buddhism .
Everyone in the party should be encouraged to meditate and consider how their individual actions might contribute to a better whole .
They should take to heart the Buddha ’ s message that there is no such thing as the self because we ’ re all dependent on each other .
Or to put it another way , we are all in this together .

Once again the Scottish Labour Party is in the midst of a leadership crisis after several MSPs tried to trigger a formal challenge to Richard Leonard. The fact that Labour in Scotland is going through a difficult period is not open for debate. Our performance in last year’s European elections and our current rating in opinion polls reflect a trend that, if continued, will see the effective extinction of Labour as a force in Scotland.
But is Leonard to blame for this? I have little doubt he accepts his share of the collective responsibility for this fall in Labour fortunes. But the decline started well before his leadership and left him in a position that no other post-devolution Labour leader has been in – neither head of the government nor leading the opposition. This has clearly undercut his ability to command media and public attention.
There appear to be two charges against Richard. First, that he is unknown; second, that his views are a turn-off to the electorate. Surely, they both cannot be true. If nobody knows him, how can his views be offending them? The irony is that the recent attacks on his leadership have actually given him a much bigger profile. What has come across is that he is a man who is likeable, intelligent and determined. Aren’t these the qualities that the electorate wants in a leader?
As for his views, it strikes me that Richard has been highlighting the very issues that Labour should be concentrating on right now – from opportunities for young people impacted by the pandemic to the need for a national care strategy for Scotland. He has also worked to keep climate change at the top of the agenda, and above all has set out policies to avoid a post-pandemic economic catastrophe. We must not let a focus on personality drown out the coherent programme Labour is developing for a fairer Scotland.
Many of those criticising Richard are friends, some of them exceptionally good friends. I understand their concerns. The party’s position is unquestionably precarious but changing the leader is no panacea for our problems. We have tried replacing leaders again and again in the past, to no avail. We’ve had leadership of all hues, but no matter the captain, the unity of the crew is required to stop the ship from hurtling on to the rocks. Instead of the preoccupation with change at the top, it’s time to focus on what we stand for as a party and unite behind those ideals.
Too many individuals in Labour have looked not to its wider interests but to their own idiosyncratic concerns. It is often said that Labour owes more to Methodism than to Marxism. I have started to think lately that we should instead turn to Buddhism. Everyone in the party should be encouraged to meditate and consider how their individual actions might contribute to a better whole. They should take to heart the Buddha’s message that there is no such thing as the self because we’re all dependent on each other. Or to put it another way, we are all in this together.


labourlist--2020-09-10--Government fails to bring forward evictions legislation ahead of ban lifting

The government has ignored calls from Labour , local councils and charities and failed to bring forward new legislation to protect renters ahead of the ending of the coronavirus eviction ban at the end of next week .
In his statement setting out the parliamentary timetable for the next week , government deputy chief whip Stuart Andrew announced today that there would be not time allocated for MPs to debate evictions legislation before the suspension lifts .
Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire described how a lack of clarity from the government has created confusion for both renters and landlords and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evictions crisis ” .
Commenting on the crisis facing renters in the pandemic , she said : “ Labour has been saying for months that the government needs a credible plan to prevent a dramatic rise in homelessness when the ban on evictions is lifted .
“ As things stand , we are facing the same cliff edge next week that the government narrowly avoided at the end of August .
“ Ministers promised that no one would lose their home because of coronavirus .
They must urgently change course , and bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed before next week.
” The government introduced legislation in March that stopped landlords from taking court proceedings to evict people during Covid .
The initial rule change was intended to last for three months but the government extended it to August 23rd .
It was then extended again to remain in place until September 20th , just days before it was due to be lifted last month .
Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed the last-minute move by the government as “ necessary ” but too brief .
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home ” , but housing charity Shelter has warned that 230,000 people are at risk of eviction .
Apart from on certain specific days – 13 Fridays for private members bills , 20 opposition days and 35 days allocated for the backbench business committee to set the agenda – the government decides what is debated in parliament .

The government has ignored calls from Labour, local councils and charities and failed to bring forward new legislation to protect renters ahead of the ending of the coronavirus eviction ban at the end of next week.
In his statement setting out the parliamentary timetable for the next week, government deputy chief whip Stuart Andrew announced today that there would be not time allocated for MPs to debate evictions legislation before the suspension lifts.
Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire described how a lack of clarity from the government has created confusion for both renters and landlords and slammed its “chaotic handling of the evictions crisis”.
Commenting on the crisis facing renters in the pandemic, she said: “Labour has been saying for months that the government needs a credible plan to prevent a dramatic rise in homelessness when the ban on evictions is lifted.
“As things stand, we are facing the same cliff edge next week that the government narrowly avoided at the end of August.
“Ministers promised that no one would lose their home because of coronavirus. They must urgently change course, and bring forward the urgent legal changes that are needed before next week.”
The government introduced legislation in March that stopped landlords from taking court proceedings to evict people during Covid. The initial rule change was intended to last for three months but the government extended it to August 23rd.
It was then extended again to remain in place until September 20th, just days before it was due to be lifted last month. Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed the last-minute move by the government as “necessary” but too brief.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told the public in March that “no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home”, but housing charity Shelter has warned that 230,000 people are at risk of eviction.
Apart from on certain specific days – 13 Fridays for private members bills, 20 opposition days and 35 days allocated for the backbench business committee to set the agenda – the government decides what is debated in parliament.


labourlist--2020-09-10--Fly me to the moonshot. The latest out-of-this-world plan from Boris Johnson

Moonshot programme .
The latest out-of-this-world plan being pitched by the Prime Minister to save the UK from the coronavirus pandemic .
According to the British Medical Journal , leaked documents reveal that Boris Johnson believes it to be the “ only hope for avoiding a second national lockdown before a vaccine ” .
The scheme includes a ‘ mass population testing plan ’ to deliver ten million tests each day , costing around £100bn .
In his coronavirus update last night , the Prime Minister told the public that this plan would require a “ giant collaborative effort ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ widespread by the spring ” .
The main problem , as pointed out by experts overnight , is that that the technology simply doesn ’ t exist .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has been doing the media rounds this morning , and he had to admit as much .
Moonshot involves creating a new sort of test , which would take between 20 and 90 minutes to get a result without having to send anything to a lab .
Johnson himself also said last night that the government needs to work out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the tests and how it will be distributed , as well as other “ numerous logistical challenges ” .
Given that the Prime Minister is still yet to deliver on his “ world-beating ” test , trace and isolate programme , we can take this latest plan with a huge pinch of salt .
Last night ’ s briefing followed a spike in the number of Covid cases and a rise from 2.5 positive results per 100,000 people to 19.7 .
Johnson ’ s address was indicative of the groundwork the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame the public for a second wave or more lockdown .
The Health Secretary has already begun blaming young people for spreading the virus , as we ’ ve seen higher numbers of Covid cases among this group – never mind the high number of young workers in the hospitality sector , now sent back to work .
And this is a strategy that Johnson is determined to follow .
Echoing Matt Hancock earlier in the week , the Prime Minister blamed the huge problems seen with the unavailability of tests on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitting , as the director of NHS test and trace has , that there is a problem with processing at laboratories .
Keir Starmer yesterday took Johnson to task over the failings of the government ’ s testing regime in the latest session of Prime Minister ’ s Questions .
Sidestepping the Brexit row , he chose to focus on the abundant problems with the government ’ s test and trace programme .
The Labour leader highlighted that while people are being sent hundreds of miles for tests , 75,000 go unused every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the regions and nations of the UK have come together and formed a new ‘ Alliance for Full Employment ’ backed by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown .
Anticipating a major jobs crisis as the furlough scheme ends the group , including the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and the mayors of Liverpool and Manchester among others , is promoting economic recovery policies to prevent redundancies and unemployment .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

Moonshot programme. The latest out-of-this-world plan being pitched by the Prime Minister to save the UK from the coronavirus pandemic. According to the British Medical Journal, leaked documents reveal that Boris Johnson believes it to be the “only hope for avoiding a second national lockdown before a vaccine”. The scheme includes a ‘mass population testing plan’ to deliver ten million tests each day, costing around £100bn. In his coronavirus update last night, the Prime Minister told the public that this plan would require a “giant collaborative effort” but he hoped the approach would be “widespread by the spring”.
The main problem, as pointed out by experts overnight, is that that the technology simply doesn’t exist. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has been doing the media rounds this morning, and he had to admit as much. Moonshot involves creating a new sort of test, which would take between 20 and 90 minutes to get a result without having to send anything to a lab. Johnson himself also said last night that the government needs to work out how it can source the materials to make the tests and how it will be distributed, as well as other “numerous logistical challenges”. Given that the Prime Minister is still yet to deliver on his “world-beating” test, trace and isolate programme, we can take this latest plan with a huge pinch of salt.
Last night’s briefing followed a spike in the number of Covid cases and a rise from 2.5 positive results per 100,000 people to 19.7. Johnson’s address was indicative of the groundwork the government is laying to make sure it can blame the public for a second wave or more lockdown. The Health Secretary has already begun blaming young people for spreading the virus, as we’ve seen higher numbers of Covid cases among this group – never mind the high number of young workers in the hospitality sector, now sent back to work. And this is a strategy that Johnson is determined to follow. Echoing Matt Hancock earlier in the week, the Prime Minister blamed the huge problems seen with the unavailability of tests on the public requesting too many – rather than admitting, as the director of NHS test and trace has, that there is a problem with processing at laboratories.
Keir Starmer yesterday took Johnson to task over the failings of the government’s testing regime in the latest session of Prime Minister’s Questions. Sidestepping the Brexit row, he chose to focus on the abundant problems with the government’s test and trace programme. The Labour leader highlighted that while people are being sent hundreds of miles for tests, 75,000 go unused every day. Elsewhere, Labour representatives from across the regions and nations of the UK have come together and formed a new ‘Alliance for Full Employment’ backed by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Anticipating a major jobs crisis as the furlough scheme ends the group, including the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and the mayors of Liverpool and Manchester among others, is promoting economic recovery policies to prevent redundancies and unemployment. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-09-10--Jobs, security, dignity – your invitation to join us at TUC Congress 2020

At the start of my year as TUC president , I knew it would be eventful , with Brexit and a general election on the horizon .
But I couldn ’ t have anticipated the maelstrom of coronavirus .
I think by the end of my year , I will have chaired more ( virtual ! )
meetings of the executive and general council than any TUC president before me .
As the coronavirus took hold , trade unions were never more needed , fighting for adequate personal protective equipment , safe workplaces and decent financial support for families in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we achieved – not least winning furlough and self-employed support schemes that were far more generous than they would otherwise have been .
Now , as we face the prospect of unemployment on a scale not seen for a generation , it ’ s time for unions to take stock and prepare for the huge campaigns to come .
I am from Liverpool .
You don ’ t need to tell me about the misery of mass unemployment .
I had hoped that today ’ s younger workers would never live through what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen what happens when a Tory government walks away from whole communities and whole industries .
I will fight to the last breath to stop that happening to workers in the UK again .
That ’ s why I want you to join me and thousands of trade union members at this year ’ s TUC Congress .
It ’ s open to all and free to attend .
It ’ s where we set the course for the movement over the year to come .
We won ’ t be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ll be live online in your workplaces and homes , on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th September .
The mornings will be the big debates .
We ’ ll hear from frontline workers and union leaders from across the movement , and we ’ ll have keynote speeches from the leader of the opposition , Keir Starmer , and the TUC ’ s general secretary , Frances O ’ Grady .
Both mornings , we ’ ll discuss the huge impact of coronavirus on working lives .
We ’ ll call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppose the inequalities the pandemic has laid bare .
We ’ ll demand action to stop mass unemployment , protect decent jobs and ensure working people don ’ t bear the burden of the pandemic .
We ’ ll speak out about the need for a global recovery in solidarity with struggles for justice around the world .
And together , we will thank our key workers , demanding the pay rise that they have earned .
In a standalone debate , we will stand with our sisters and brothers in the USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out against the racist murders of Black men and women .
The Black Lives Matters protests have renewed a worldwide call for justice for Black people – and have highlighted once again the institutional racism and economic inequality that endures here in the UK .
The trade union movement will recommit itself to antiracism , and demand justice for Black workers .
In the afternoons , we will have a full fringe programme of debates , discussions and seminars , run by organisations from across the labour movement .
I am proud that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time it is open to every trade union member .
Congress is our moment to demand change for working people .
Join us .
Sign up to attend now at tuc.org.uk/CongressSignUp .

SPONSORED POST
At the start of my year as TUC president, I knew it would be eventful, with Brexit and a general election on the horizon. But I couldn’t have anticipated the maelstrom of coronavirus. I think by the end of my year, I will have chaired more (virtual!) meetings of the executive and general council than any TUC president before me.
As the coronavirus took hold, trade unions were never more needed, fighting for adequate personal protective equipment, safe workplaces and decent financial support for families in lockdown. I am proud of what we achieved – not least winning furlough and self-employed support schemes that were far more generous than they would otherwise have been.
Now, as we face the prospect of unemployment on a scale not seen for a generation, it’s time for unions to take stock and prepare for the huge campaigns to come.
I am from Liverpool. You don’t need to tell me about the misery of mass unemployment. I had hoped that today’s younger workers would never live through what we did in the Eighties. I have seen what happens when a Tory government walks away from whole communities and whole industries. I will fight to the last breath to stop that happening to workers in the UK again.
That’s why I want you to join me and thousands of trade union members at this year’s TUC Congress. It’s open to all and free to attend. It’s where we set the course for the movement over the year to come.
We won’t be in a conference centre by the seaside. We’ll be live online in your workplaces and homes, on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th September.
The mornings will be the big debates. We’ll hear from frontline workers and union leaders from across the movement, and we’ll have keynote speeches from the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, and the TUC’s general secretary, Frances O’Grady.
Both mornings, we’ll discuss the huge impact of coronavirus on working lives. We’ll call for better safety at work, and oppose the inequalities the pandemic has laid bare. We’ll demand action to stop mass unemployment, protect decent jobs and ensure working people don’t bear the burden of the pandemic. We’ll speak out about the need for a global recovery in solidarity with struggles for justice around the world. And together, we will thank our key workers, demanding the pay rise that they have earned.
In a standalone debate, we will stand with our sisters and brothers in the USA and around the globe as they speak out against the racist murders of Black men and women. The Black Lives Matters protests have renewed a worldwide call for justice for Black people – and have highlighted once again the institutional racism and economic inequality that endures here in the UK. The trade union movement will recommit itself to antiracism, and demand justice for Black workers.
In the afternoons, we will have a full fringe programme of debates, discussions and seminars, run by organisations from across the labour movement. I am proud that Congress is going ahead – and that for the first time it is open to every trade union member.
Congress is our moment to demand change for working people. Join us. Sign up to attend now at tuc.org.uk/CongressSignUp.


labourlist--2020-09-10--Labour to Win NEC candidate says party doesn’t “have the back” of Black community

A ‘ Labour to Win ’ candidate for Labour ’ s ruling body has warned the party not to “ preach to the Black community and say you ’ ve got our back when you don ’ t ” .
Joining a Zoom event hosted by political commentator and former senior adviser Ayesha Hazarika on Wednesday , Terry Paul said Labour did not “ structurally ” represent the Black community .
Paul is running to be a local party representative on Labour ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) as part of the Labour to Win slate that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response to a question about Black Lives Matter , the NEC candidate suggested that the movement needed to be a “ call to arms ” for Labour to improve its own record on anti-racism .
Paul told the Labour to Win event : “ We like to talk about structures driving racism , but structures are made up of people .
It ’ s people who don ’ t elect Black candidates for positions… “ As a Labour Party , we need to ask ourselves , are we really doing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will say no .
We should stop talking about structures – ‘ it ’ s that structure over here we ’ ve got to fix ’ – no , it ’ s you.
” He concluded : “ The Labour Party has got to do better .
Don ’ t preach to the Black community and say you ’ ve got our back when you don ’ t .
Look around you , and you haven ’ t. ” Paul said there are only 82 Black male councillors in the country .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just 7.8 % of councillors were Black , compared to 14 % of the city ’ s overall population .
Alongside fellow local party rep candidate Jermain Jackman , Paul could be the first Black man elected to Labour ’ s ruling NEC in its 120-year history , as highlighted by the 1987 Caucus group .
Labour to Win , seen to be on the right of the Labour Party , describes itself as a campaign organisation that wants to reform Labour and “ return to being election winners ” .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joanna Baxter , Gurinder Singh Josan and Shama Tatler , who have all received enough local party nominations to secure places on the ballot .
Local party , trade union and Labour group nominations will close on September 27th .
Ballots will be sent out from October 19th , before voting closes on November 12th and results announced the next day .

A ‘Labour to Win’ candidate for Labour’s ruling body has warned the party not to “preach to the Black community and say you’ve got our back when you don’t”.
Joining a Zoom event hosted by political commentator and former senior adviser Ayesha Hazarika on Wednesday, Terry Paul said Labour did not “structurally” represent the Black community.
Paul is running to be a local party representative on Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) as part of the Labour to Win slate that has brought together Progress and Labour First groups.
In response to a question about Black Lives Matter, the NEC candidate suggested that the movement needed to be a “call to arms” for Labour to improve its own record on anti-racism.
Paul told the Labour to Win event: “We like to talk about structures driving racism, but structures are made up of people. It’s people who don’t elect Black candidates for positions…
“As a Labour Party, we need to ask ourselves, are we really doing the best for our Black members? I will say no. We should stop talking about structures – ‘it’s that structure over here we’ve got to fix’ – no, it’s you.”
He concluded: “The Labour Party has got to do better. Don’t preach to the Black community and say you’ve got our back when you don’t. Look around you, and you haven’t.”
Paul said there are only 82 Black male councillors in the country. A 2019 report found that even in London, just 7.8% of councillors were Black, compared to 14% of the city’s overall population.
Alongside fellow local party rep candidate Jermain Jackman, Paul could be the first Black man elected to Labour’s ruling NEC in its 120-year history, as highlighted by the 1987 Caucus group.
Labour to Win, seen to be on the right of the Labour Party, describes itself as a campaign organisation that wants to reform Labour and “return to being election winners”.
Its NEC candidate slate also includes Luke Akehurst, Joanna Baxter, Gurinder Singh Josan and Shama Tatler, who have all received enough local party nominations to secure places on the ballot.
Local party, trade union and Labour group nominations will close on September 27th. Ballots will be sent out from October 19th, before voting closes on November 12th and results announced the next day.


labourlist--2020-09-09--43% of UK workers cannot afford to self-isolate, warns TUC

The TUC has warned that the government must increase sick pay rates – or risk worsening the spread of coronavirus after data revealed that 43 % of workers can not afford to self-isolate .
A survey commissioned by the body found that over two-fifths of workers would be unable survive for two weeks on the current weekly sick pay allowance .
For low-income workers earning less than £15,000 a year , the figure rises to 50 % .
Responding to the findings of the online poll carried out between July 31st and August 5th , the TUC has called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick pay to the real living wage of £320 per week , and to extend the benefit to cover all workers .
Commenting today , TUC general secretary Frances O ’ Grady said : “ The lack of decent sick pay puts everything at risk .
Asking workers to self-isolate on £96 a week is not viable – especially when many don ’ t have savings to fall back on .
“ We can ’ t have a situation where people are forced to choose between their health and paying their bills .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to sick pay and raise the basic rate to at least the real living wage of £320 a week.
” The research , which polled over 2,000 workers , also found that many people had been struggling financially as a result of the pandemic , with 33 % being forced to cut back spending and 22 % being plunged into debt in the last three months .
Alongside improving sick pay , the TUC has demanded that the government overhaul Universal Credit , increase local authority hardship funds , and provide monetary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax or rent .
O ’ Grady added : “ Employers must do their civic duty and make sure workers can self-isolate on full pay .
But where bosses can ’ t or won ’ t the government must step in .
“ Unless ministers fix this gaping hole in our safety net , Britain will be ill-prepared for a second wave of infections or further local lockdowns.
” The UK currently has one of the lowest sick pay rates in Europe , with workers only receiving £95.85 a week .
Nearly two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay support because they earn less than the ‘ lower earnings limit ’ of £120 a week .
Labour warned earlier in the year that leaving so many workers in the country ineligible for statutory sick pay would undermine the UK government ’ s test and trace programme and the efforts to prevent a second wave of the virus .
Head of the government ’ s test and trace system Dido Harding also raised concerns earlier in the year regarding the absence of support for people facing the need to take time off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told a press briefing in July : “ It ’ s particularly challenging for that workforce… I continue to make the case that we need to think about how we support people in those lowest paid roles and the self employed.
” The government announced in August that those who contract the virus and need to self-isolate would receive £132 for a 10-day self-isolation period , while others who have come into contact with them will receive £182 for 14 days of isolation .
The benefit is only payable to those already on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax credits .
Critics have pointed out that there are lots of low earners in low-income households not on UC – large numbers of young , single people for example .
O ’ Grady slammed the new benefit as “ paltry ” , declaring that it would not make the difference needed .
She added : “ The sooner government gets on with delivering fair sick pay for everyone , the quicker we will beat this pandemic.
” The payment is lower than the level of statutory sick pay , which is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself admitted in March that he could not live on .

The TUC has warned that the government must increase sick pay rates – or risk worsening the spread of coronavirus after data revealed that 43% of workers cannot afford to self-isolate.
A survey commissioned by the body found that over two-fifths of workers would be unable survive for two weeks on the current weekly sick pay allowance. For low-income workers earning less than £15,000 a year, the figure rises to 50%.
Responding to the findings of the online poll carried out between July 31st and August 5th, the TUC has called on the government to raise the rate of sick pay to the real living wage of £320 per week, and to extend the benefit to cover all workers.
Commenting today, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The lack of decent sick pay puts everything at risk. Asking workers to self-isolate on £96 a week is not viable – especially when many don’t have savings to fall back on.
“We can’t have a situation where people are forced to choose between their health and paying their bills. The government must ensure that everyone has access to sick pay and raise the basic rate to at least the real living wage of £320 a week.”
The research, which polled over 2,000 workers, also found that many people had been struggling financially as a result of the pandemic, with 33% being forced to cut back spending and 22% being plunged into debt in the last three months.
Alongside improving sick pay, the TUC has demanded that the government overhaul Universal Credit, increase local authority hardship funds, and provide monetary support for those struggling to pay council tax or rent.
O’Grady added: “Employers must do their civic duty and make sure workers can self-isolate on full pay. But where bosses can’t or won’t the government must step in.
“Unless ministers fix this gaping hole in our safety net, Britain will be ill-prepared for a second wave of infections or further local lockdowns.”
The UK currently has one of the lowest sick pay rates in Europe, with workers only receiving £95.85 a week. Nearly two million people also miss out on sick pay support because they earn less than the ‘lower earnings limit’ of £120 a week.
Labour warned earlier in the year that leaving so many workers in the country ineligible for statutory sick pay would undermine the UK government’s test and trace programme and the efforts to prevent a second wave of the virus.
Head of the government’s test and trace system Dido Harding also raised concerns earlier in the year regarding the absence of support for people facing the need to take time off work but unable to claim.
She told a press briefing in July: “It’s particularly challenging for that workforce… I continue to make the case that we need to think about how we support people in those lowest paid roles and the self employed.”
The government announced in August that those who contract the virus and need to self-isolate would receive £132 for a 10-day self-isolation period, while others who have come into contact with them will receive £182 for 14 days of isolation.
The benefit is only payable to those already on Universal Credit or in receipt of working tax credits. Critics have pointed out that there are lots of low earners in low-income households not on UC – large numbers of young, single people for example.
O’Grady slammed the new benefit as “paltry”, declaring that it would not make the difference needed. She added: “The sooner government gets on with delivering fair sick pay for everyone, the quicker we will beat this pandemic.”
The payment is lower than the level of statutory sick pay, which is an income that the Health Secretary Matt Hancock himself admitted in March that he could not live on.


labourlist--2020-09-10--Treasury committee backs Labour’s call for targeted furlough extension

The Treasury select committee has today called on the government to “ carefully consider ” targeted extensions to its coronavirus job retention scheme that is due to end for all sectors next month .
The new ‘ Challenges of Recovery ’ report from the cross-party group of MPs warns that the furlough scheme is currently “ not effectively targeted ” and does not clearly offer value for money .
The Commons committee , which is mostly made up of Tory MPs , concludes that although the retention scheme “ can not persist indefinitely ” the Chancellor should consider further support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a targeted extension to the furlough scheme in a motion put forward by Labour on Wednesday , but the proposal was rejected by the Commons .
Commenting on the new publication , Treasury select committee chair Mel Stride said : “ Our second report of the inquiry focuses on emerging challenges as lockdown measures are lifted .
“ One such challenge is to target assistance effectively at those businesses and individuals who need it .
The Chancellor should carefully consider targeted extensions to the coronavirus job retention scheme and explain his conclusions.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the committee on the economic impacts of Covid .
The first identified gaps in the government ’ s financial schemes that left one million people unsupported .
The proposals set out in the earlier June report were ignored , which led the Treasury select committee to accuse the government of “ turning its back on those who are suffering ” .
The newly released report also says the government should extend reforms to Universal Credit past their one-year cut-off , support small businesses struggling with debt and define “ levelling up ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made reducing regional inequalities a central aim of his administration , the committee accuses his ‘ levelling up ‘ promise of being merely an “ empty slogan ” .
Stride added : “ The key will be assisting those businesses who , with additional support , can come through the crisis as sustainable enterprises , rather than focusing on those that will unfortunately just not be viable in the changed post-crisis economy .
“ As the committee has said throughout the crisis , the Chancellor must continue to show flexibility in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unwillingness to implement the recommendations from our first report is not a sign of how it will respond to this one.
” The Labour Party has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the government ’ s decision to cut off the furlough scheme in October , a move that Anneliese Dodds has called a “ historic mistake “ .
Responding to the new report , TUC general secretary Frances O ’ Grady said : “ MPs from all parties are now urging the Chancellor to provide support beyond October so that businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to lay off staff .
“ The TUC has set out a new plan for a job retention and upskilling scheme supporting short-time work .
The Chancellor must act quickly and decisively to put a scheme in place before unemployment surges.
” The TUC has previously told the government not to “ throw away ” the “ good work ” of furlough and set out its own plan to replace the scheme after it was revealed that the UK could see 2.5m job losses when the programme ends next month .
Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Unite , said the report “ reinforces what Unite has been saying for some time ” and shows growing support for continued furlough .
In a piece for LabourList this week on Unite issuing an “ SOS for jobs ” , Turner wrote : “ Keep people in work , not idle and impoverished , when there is an economy to recover and country to rebuild.
” Previously published data from HMRC shows that 44 % of all workers furloughed when the Covid job retention scheme began in March were still receiving @ @ @ @ @

The Treasury select committee has today called on the government to “carefully consider” targeted extensions to its coronavirus job retention scheme that is due to end for all sectors next month.
The new ‘Challenges of Recovery’ report from the cross-party group of MPs warns that the furlough scheme is currently “not effectively targeted” and does not clearly offer value for money.
The Commons committee, which is mostly made up of Tory MPs, concludes that although the retention scheme “cannot persist indefinitely” the Chancellor should consider further support measures.
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds called for a targeted extension to the furlough scheme in a motion put forward by Labour on Wednesday, but the proposal was rejected by the Commons.
Commenting on the new publication, Treasury select committee chair Mel Stride said: “Our second report of the inquiry focuses on emerging challenges as lockdown measures are lifted.
“One such challenge is to target assistance effectively at those businesses and individuals who need it. The Chancellor should carefully consider targeted extensions to the coronavirus job retention scheme and explain his conclusions.”
The new report is the second by the committee on the economic impacts of Covid. The first identified gaps in the government’s financial schemes that left one million people unsupported.
The proposals set out in the earlier June report were ignored, which led the Treasury select committee to accuse the government of “turning its back on those who are suffering”.
The newly released report also says the government should extend reforms to Universal Credit past their one-year cut-off, support small businesses struggling with debt and define “levelling up”.
Although the Prime Minister claims to have made reducing regional inequalities a central aim of his administration, the committee accuses his ‘levelling up‘ promise of being merely an “empty slogan”.
Stride added: “The key will be assisting those businesses who, with additional support, can come through the crisis as sustainable enterprises, rather than focusing on those that will unfortunately just not be viable in the changed post-crisis economy.
“As the committee has said throughout the crisis, the Chancellor must continue to show flexibility in his approach. We hope that the Treasury’s unwillingness to implement the recommendations from our first report is not a sign of how it will respond to this one.”
The Labour Party has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the government’s decision to cut off the furlough scheme in October, a move that Anneliese Dodds has called a “historic mistake“.
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson commented: “It’s good to hear the Treasury select committee echo Labour’s calls for targeted support for jobs and businesses beyond the Chancellor’s October cliff edge.”
The Labour frontbencher added: “Labour, trade unions, businesses, think tanks, backbench Tory MPs and now the Treasury select committee are all sounding the alarm. What will it take to make this stubborn Chancellor listen?”
Responding to the new report, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady similarly said: “MPs from all parties are now urging the Chancellor to provide support beyond October so that businesses with a viable future don’t have to lay off staff.
“The TUC has set out a new plan for a job retention and upskilling scheme supporting short-time work. The Chancellor must act quickly and decisively to put a scheme in place before unemployment surges.”
The TUC has previously told the government not to “throw away” the “good work” of furlough and set out its own plan to replace the scheme after it was revealed that the UK could see 2.5m job losses when the programme ends next month.
Steve Turner, assistant general secretary for manufacturing at Unite, said the report “reinforces what Unite has been saying for some time” and shows growing support for continued furlough.
In a piece for LabourList this week on Unite issuing an “SOS for jobs”, Turner wrote: “Keep people in work, not idle and impoverished, when there is an economy to recover and country to rebuild.”
New research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that ending furlough will disproportionately hit poorer workers, with 40% of those on minimum wage at risk of losing their job as a result of Covid compared to just 1% of those earning over £41,500 each year.
Previously published data from HMRC shows that 44% of all workers furloughed when the Covid job retention scheme began in March were still receiving government support by mid-August.


labourlist--2020-09-10--We must force the government to adopt a zero Covid strategy

The government ’ s approach to fighting coronavirus has been an unmitigated disaster , leaving us with one of the highest death tolls in the world .
It ’ s heartbreaking to think that tens of thousands of lives could have been saved had we kept the death rate to the levels seen in Germany , South Korea or New Zealand .
The summer should have been used to eliminate the virus , as other countries have successfully done .
Instead , the moment was squandered and government messaging gave the impression that we were heading back to normal : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ go back to the office ’ , ‘ send your kids back to school ’ and ‘ reopen universities ’ .
Cases are soaring again at a very worrying rate .
Appallingly , rather than take responsibility , the government has sought to blame young people for the rise in coronavirus infections and claim that the shortage of tests is caused by people getting tested unnecessarily .
The current vacillating strategy and blame-shifting games can ’ t go on .
While the government ’ s new ‘ hands , face , space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more than six people will all help , it ’ s not a solution in and of itself .
What is the way forward ?
Along with a number of my colleagues , I believe it ’ s time for a ‘ zero Covid ’ strategy of the kind advocated by Independent SAGE to eliminate the virus , and as other countries such as New Zealand have successfully implemented .
If we don ’ t manage to get the virus under control , we ’ ll just continue to flit from one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be able to get on with their lives .
Businesses won ’ t be able to plan .
Yet more lives will be unnecessarily lost .
Reducing the virus to minimal levels is not in contradiction to economic recovery .
It is the precondition for economic recovery .
A zero Covid approach is the way we can return to something more like normality .
But it means the emphasis must be on eliminating the virus , not living with it .
The results of those countries pursuing a zero Covid strategy are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Prevention and Control ’ s latest worldwide report , the UK had 26,000 confirmed Covid cases over the past 14 days .
In contrast , New Zealand has had 90 , China 316 , Iceland 71 , Vietnam 25 and Thailand 50 .
While the benefits of a zero Covid strategy are clear , getting there requires a radical shift in the government ’ s policy focus .
It means ramping up the testing levels so people can easily get a test locally and have their results back in 24 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s bragging at PMQs that there ’ s the capacity for 320,000 coronavirus tests per day , the latest figures on the government ’ s own website show that around 180,000 tests are being done per day .
It ’ s simply way off what ’ s needed .
A key part of replacing the current failing NHS Test and Trace model with something fit-for-purpose is to ensure that new investment in testing goes into building local NHS capacity , not on more outsourcing .
Labour ’ s frontbench has pointed out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loads of cash to private companies who aren ’ t reaching enough of the contacts of those who test positive .
In my time as Shadow Justice Secretary , I saw how private companies like G4S and Serco ripped off our justice system .
I find it disturbing that the government is now planning to hand over many more billions to these companies in its latest Covid testing programme revamp .
Alongside the testing and tracing that we have all become familiar with , a zero Covid strategy places greater emphasis on providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can self-isolate .
Such support must include proper sick pay for people so that they can avoid work without fear of getting into debt .
The TUC has pointed out that 4 in 10 workers can ’ t currently afford to self-isolate or pay their bills on statutory sick pay .
We need to raise sick pay to the Real Living Wage levels .
Action on rents must also form part of such support .
It also means that we have to use the power of government to find innovative solutions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our lives .
For example , we all want to see children safely back in school , so how do we limit the risk ?
One obvious policy would be to rehire all qualified teachers not currently in work and to use other spaces – sports halls , libraries , or local business premises – as classrooms to create smaller , safer classes .
And it means we have to stop the push for people to return to their usual workplaces if they wish to keep working from home .
The government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But we need solutions that are tried and tested , not more empty rhetoric .
We can defeat this virus – but it means the government must admit that it ’ s got it wrong so far , change track and go for zero Covid .
The entire labour movement will need to unite around zero Covid if we are to force the government to budge .

The government’s approach to fighting coronavirus has been an unmitigated disaster, leaving us with one of the highest death tolls in the world. It’s heartbreaking to think that tens of thousands of lives could have been saved had we kept the death rate to the levels seen in Germany, South Korea or New Zealand.
The summer should have been used to eliminate the virus, as other countries have successfully done. Instead, the moment was squandered and government messaging gave the impression that we were heading back to normal: ‘go out to restaurants’, ‘go back to the office’, ‘send your kids back to school’ and ‘reopen universities’.
Cases are soaring again at a very worrying rate. Appallingly, rather than take responsibility, the government has sought to blame young people for the rise in coronavirus infections and claim that the shortage of tests is caused by people getting tested unnecessarily. The current vacillating strategy and blame-shifting games can’t go on. While the government’s new ‘hands, face, space’ message and the ban on gatherings of more than six people will all help, it’s not a solution in and of itself.
What is the way forward? Along with a number of my colleagues, I believe it’s time for a ‘zero Covid’ strategy of the kind advocated by Independent SAGE to eliminate the virus, and as other countries such as New Zealand have successfully implemented. If we don’t manage to get the virus under control, we’ll just continue to flit from one crisis to another. People won’t be able to get on with their lives. Businesses won’t be able to plan. Yet more lives will be unnecessarily lost. Reducing the virus to minimal levels is not in contradiction to economic recovery. It is the precondition for economic recovery.
A zero Covid approach is the way we can return to something more like normality. But it means the emphasis must be on eliminating the virus, not living with it. The results of those countries pursuing a zero Covid strategy are remarkable. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s latest worldwide report, the UK had 26,000 confirmed Covid cases over the past 14 days. In contrast, New Zealand has had 90, China 316, Iceland 71, Vietnam 25 and Thailand 50.
While the benefits of a zero Covid strategy are clear, getting there requires a radical shift in the government’s policy focus. It means ramping up the testing levels so people can easily get a test locally and have their results back in 24 hours. For all the Prime Minister’s bragging at PMQs that there’s the capacity for 320,000 coronavirus tests per day, the latest figures on the government’s own website show that around 180,000 tests are being done per day. It’s simply way off what’s needed.
A key part of replacing the current failing NHS Test and Trace model with something fit-for-purpose is to ensure that new investment in testing goes into building local NHS capacity, not on more outsourcing. Labour’s frontbench has pointed out the flaws in continuing to hand over wheelbarrow loads of cash to private companies who aren’t reaching enough of the contacts of those who test positive. In my time as Shadow Justice Secretary, I saw how private companies like G4S and Serco ripped off our justice system. I find it disturbing that the government is now planning to hand over many more billions to these companies in its latest Covid testing programme revamp.
Alongside the testing and tracing that we have all become familiar with, a zero Covid strategy places greater emphasis on providing support to people who test positive so they can self-isolate. Such support must include proper sick pay for people so that they can avoid work without fear of getting into debt. The TUC has pointed out that 4 in 10 workers can’t currently afford to self-isolate or pay their bills on statutory sick pay. We need to raise sick pay to the Real Living Wage levels. Action on rents must also form part of such support.
It also means that we have to use the power of government to find innovative solutions as we adapt to new ways of living our lives. For example, we all want to see children safely back in school, so how do we limit the risk? One obvious policy would be to rehire all qualified teachers not currently in work and to use other spaces – sports halls, libraries, or local business premises – as classrooms to create smaller, safer classes. And it means we have to stop the push for people to return to their usual workplaces if they wish to keep working from home.
The government is now talking of ‘Operation Moonshot’. But we need solutions that are tried and tested, not more empty rhetoric. We can defeat this virus – but it means the government must admit that it’s got it wrong so far, change track and go for zero Covid. The entire labour movement will need to unite around zero Covid if we are to force the government to budge.


labourlist--2020-09-10--10 Downing Street has declared war. Two decades of devolution are under attack

Two decades of devolution are under attack .
The UK internal market bill is designed to bring an end to devolution as we know it and recalibrate a centralisation of power into the hands of 10 Downing Street .
This is not accidental .
It has been clear since the beginning of the Brexit debate that far-right idealogues in the Conservative Party have long seen it as an opportunity to cement their neoliberal economic and social agenda into the framework of a centralised British nationalist state .
The Tory contempt for devolution , the constitution and the rule of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ royal prerogative and legislation to bypass parliament or to limit scrutiny has become normalised .
The consistent legislative undermining of devolution and the Sewel convention now has the appearance of a fait accompli .
The bill may be the nail in the coffin of devolution , catalysing a political process that leads to the inevitable fracturing or break up of the United Kingdom .
As pronounced by Wales ’ counsel general on behalf of the Welsh government : “ The UK government plans to sacrifice the future of the union by stealing powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on democracy and an affront to the people of Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland.
” It is the culmination of a series of bills and proposals that , in a similar vein , seek to centralise powers in the hands of UK ministers even where they relate to areas of responsibility that have long been devolved by parliament .
These are powers that will be exercised by the UK government alone , bypassing Welsh consent and even UK parliamentary scrutiny .
The combined impact will lead to the greatest recentralisation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War Two .
Powers exercised for decades under the umbrella of the EU ’ s framework will not now revert to where parliament designated they should be via the devolution statutes .
A post-Brexit shared prosperity fund will have little to do with prosperity and sharing – and even less to do with public accountability .
Assurances on food and environmental standards and on protection of the NHS have become increasingly incomprehensible .
Health in Wales is devolved , and the Welsh Labour government is committed to protecting it from privatisation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reserved to the UK government .
It is clear that US corporations and trade negotiators have their sights set on the NHS across the UK .
And an international agreement is likely to be used to override devolved resistance to privatisation and to non-regression in environmental and food standards .
The internal market bill will become the driving force and means to achieve this .
It will concentrate power in the hands of UK government ministers , with limited parliamentary scrutiny and afford the power to override the Welsh government .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wales Acts and the referendum that established devolution .
Legislative consent will be denied by Wales and Scotland , thereby confining the Sewel convention once and for all to the constitutional dustbin .
There is no room left for polite discourse .
10 Downing Street has declared war on the devolved administrations with its willingness to cast aside decades of devolution and , in the process , turn Westminster into little more than a talking shop .
Alongside ongoing proposals to shackle the role of the Supreme Court and restrict judicial review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that that the government is prepared to break international law by unilaterally pressing ahead with changes to the Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland , this Tory administration is driving a stake through the heart of the rule of law – a cornerstone of democratic government .
Coming just months before Welsh and Scottish parliamentary elections , the UK is recklessly drifting towards an eventual break-up .
Out of this chaos there emerges a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Labour leader Keir Starmer to seize the political initiative and become the nations ’ champion for progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule of law ; to promote democracy and champion a new voluntary union based on the principles of equality and social justice .

Two decades of devolution are under attack. The UK internal market bill is designed to bring an end to devolution as we know it and recalibrate a centralisation of power into the hands of 10 Downing Street. This is not accidental. It has been clear since the beginning of the Brexit debate that far-right idealogues in the Conservative Party have long seen it as an opportunity to cement their neoliberal economic and social agenda into the framework of a centralised British nationalist state.
The Tory contempt for devolution, the constitution and the rule of law grows year-on-year. Consistent use of the royal prerogative and legislation to bypass parliament or to limit scrutiny has become normalised. The consistent legislative undermining of devolution and the Sewel convention now has the appearance of a fait accompli. The bill may be the nail in the coffin of devolution, catalysing a political process that leads to the inevitable fracturing or break up of the United Kingdom.
As pronounced by Wales’ counsel general on behalf of the Welsh government: “The UK government plans to sacrifice the future of the union by stealing powers from devolved administrations… The bill is an attack on democracy and an affront to the people of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.” It is the culmination of a series of bills and proposals that, in a similar vein, seek to centralise powers in the hands of UK ministers even where they relate to areas of responsibility that have long been devolved by parliament. These are powers that will be exercised by the UK government alone, bypassing Welsh consent and even UK parliamentary scrutiny.
The combined impact will lead to the greatest recentralisation of power experienced by any European state since World War Two. Powers exercised for decades under the umbrella of the EU’s framework will not now revert to where parliament designated they should be via the devolution statutes. A post-Brexit shared prosperity fund will have little to do with prosperity and sharing – and even less to do with public accountability. Assurances on food and environmental standards and on protection of the NHS have become increasingly incomprehensible.
Health in Wales is devolved, and the Welsh Labour government is committed to protecting it from privatisation and the internal market. But international trade is reserved to the UK government. It is clear that US corporations and trade negotiators have their sights set on the NHS across the UK. And an international agreement is likely to be used to override devolved resistance to privatisation and to non-regression in environmental and food standards.
The internal market bill will become the driving force and means to achieve this. It will concentrate power in the hands of UK government ministers, with limited parliamentary scrutiny and afford the power to override the Welsh government. It will drive a coach and horses through the Wales Acts and the referendum that established devolution. Legislative consent will be denied by Wales and Scotland, thereby confining the Sewel convention once and for all to the constitutional dustbin.
There is no room left for polite discourse. 10 Downing Street has declared war on the devolved administrations with its willingness to cast aside decades of devolution and, in the process, turn Westminster into little more than a talking shop. Alongside ongoing proposals to shackle the role of the Supreme Court and restrict judicial review, the shocking ministerial admission in parliament that that the government is prepared to break international law by unilaterally pressing ahead with changes to the Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland, this Tory administration is driving a stake through the heart of the rule of law – a cornerstone of democratic government.
Coming just months before Welsh and Scottish parliamentary elections, the UK is recklessly drifting towards an eventual break-up. Out of this chaos there emerges a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Labour leader Keir Starmer to seize the political initiative and become the nations’ champion for progressive reform of the constitution; to defend the rule of law; to promote democracy and champion a new voluntary union based on the principles of equality and social justice.


labourlist--2020-09-10--Labour must define nothing less than a new economic settlement

For the second week in a row , we ’ ve seen media speculation about the Chancellor ’ s plans on tax .
We ’ re in the grip of the sharpest and deepest economic decline in a century .
The economic stimulus has been inadequate , the test and trace system is still inadequate , and the public health messaging has never got beyond inadequate .
People working in sectors like retail , hospitality , manufacturing , aviation , and engineering are deeply worried about their future .
We have one of the highest death rates in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet instead of responding to the needs of businesses and workers , the Prime Minister is more worried about his unsettled backbenchers .
As the pandemic has gone on , Downing Street ’ s claims to have been following the scientific advice has continually rung hollow .
But it ’ s not just the Prime Minister who is ignoring expert advice .
With a budget and a spending review taking place before the end of the year , Rishi Sunak seems to be deciding the fate of people ’ s jobs and livelihoods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than what might work .
The failure to deliver a workable plan for the recovery means our economy is still faltering .
A second spike in Covid-19 this winter will take yet more lives , inflict greater damage on the economy , and further hit tax revenues through lower than expected consumer spending , income and profits .
Public sector borrowing is already projected to hit over £300bn this year as a result , a figure that will only rise as a result of a slow recovery .
But what does the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of borrowing ?
Instead of bold action to support the economy and to help those suffering the most , the government looks set to end the furlough scheme , to offer only meagre support to those industries most at risk , and to plunge the economy off another cliff with a no-deal Brexit .
The ‘ we will do whatever it takes ’ mantra has proved to be just an empty slogan .
It ’ s never been more evident that we need a Labour government .
Our leadership and frontbench have struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tackle Covid , whilst being critical of the government ’ s wider response .
But as we go into the autumn , we need to shift the narrative from one about the incompetence of the Tories , to one about why Labour has the right plan to build back better .
The scale of the challenge we face as a party is monumental .
We need to win back the ‘ Red Wall ’ seats we lost in 2017 and 2019 , win back the Scottish seats we lost in 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Northampton , Swindon to Cleethorpes , which we lost in 2010 .
The path back to power starts with credible and competent leadership .
But what unites voters in these lost constituencies is a willingness to support Labour when we show a credible economic offering and a commitment to sound public finances .
Starting with ‘ Labour Connected ’ later this month , we must quickly reestablish ourselves as a party that can be trusted with the purse strings .
It means building on our last manifesto commitments around an active and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business community with talk of seizing shares .
It also means having a clear position on tax .
That doesn ’ t mean we set out Labour ’ s first budget now , but we should be clear about the principles that might underpin it .
The cornerstone of our economic vision must be fairness .
That means the burden of tax is shared more equally , and the benefits from a properly funded public sector helping more people as a result .
We need to define nothing less than a new economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no justification for the fact that income is taxed more highly than wealth .
Reform to capital gains tax would mean income from wealth would be taxed at the same level as income from work .
We must also ensure everyone can equally benefit from tax policies that seek to change behaviour .
Of course we need to save for retirement , but it is unfair that pension tax relief disproportionately helps the highest earners , while only 10 % goes to the poorest half of society .
Covid-19 exposed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carers , shop workers and NHS staff took their lives in their hands every day , higher-income earners worked at home , protected from the virus .
We have to be clear that those with the broadest shoulders will have to pay their share .
Those who were lucky enough to escape to their holiday home on the south coast during the lockdown will need to pay more tax on their assets .
Next , we need to embed sustainability .
To meet our net zero goals , we should be unafraid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackling the climate crisis .
Global tech firms and online retailers use their lawyers and accountants to structure themselves to pay minimal tax here .
The digital services tax is welcome but we can aim higher than its 2 % surcharge .
But our vision for tax shouldn ’ t just be about who pays what .
It should also be about responsibility and creating incentives for businesses to do the right thing .
From day one , the next Labour government should use its buying power to ensure businesses seeking public sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complex structures to avoid paying tax .
A key question for any procurement process should be whether the business is a Fair Tax Mark company .
We should also use the tax system to support the companies that can create the economy we want to see .
Just like we did at the last election , the next manifesto must also set out a compelling vision to boost research , innovation , and discovery in the sectors that will create the jobs and growth we need for the future .
After a decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate on the economy .
When the next election comes , voters will remember the choices that this government has made and the sacrifices of those who have fought to protect us from the virus , or lost their jobs as a result of it .
It is Labour ’ s duty to present a vision of a different way of doing things , including with a tax system that has fairness , sustainability , responsibility and growth at its heart .
It ’ s the right thing to do – and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us win again too .

For the second week in a row, we’ve seen media speculation about the Chancellor’s plans on tax. We’re in the grip of the sharpest and deepest economic decline in a century. The economic stimulus has been inadequate, the test and trace system is still inadequate, and the public health messaging has never got beyond inadequate.
People working in sectors like retail, hospitality, manufacturing, aviation, and engineering are deeply worried about their future. We have one of the highest death rates in the world and one of the worst-hit economies. Yet instead of responding to the needs of businesses and workers, the Prime Minister is more worried about his unsettled backbenchers.
As the pandemic has gone on, Downing Street’s claims to have been following the scientific advice has continually rung hollow. But it’s not just the Prime Minister who is ignoring expert advice. With a budget and a spending review taking place before the end of the year, Rishi Sunak seems to be deciding the fate of people’s jobs and livelihoods based on what Conservative MPs will stomach rather than what might work.
The failure to deliver a workable plan for the recovery means our economy is still faltering. A second spike in Covid-19 this winter will take yet more lives, inflict greater damage on the economy, and further hit tax revenues through lower than expected consumer spending, income and profits. Public sector borrowing is already projected to hit over £300bn this year as a result, a figure that will only rise as a result of a slow recovery.
But what does the Chancellor have to show for that level of borrowing? Instead of bold action to support the economy and to help those suffering the most, the government looks set to end the furlough scheme, to offer only meagre support to those industries most at risk, and to plunge the economy off another cliff with a no-deal Brexit. The ‘we will do whatever it takes’ mantra has proved to be just an empty slogan.
It’s never been more evident that we need a Labour government. Our leadership and frontbench have struck the right balance between supporting specific measures to tackle Covid, whilst being critical of the government’s wider response. But as we go into the autumn, we need to shift the narrative from one about the incompetence of the Tories, to one about why Labour has the right plan to build back better.
The scale of the challenge we face as a party is monumental. We need to win back the ‘Red Wall’ seats we lost in 2017 and 2019, win back the Scottish seats we lost in 2015, and win again in seats from Dover to Northampton, Swindon to Cleethorpes, which we lost in 2010. The path back to power starts with credible and competent leadership. But what unites voters in these lost constituencies is a willingness to support Labour when we show a credible economic offering and a commitment to sound public finances. Starting with ‘Labour Connected’ later this month, we must quickly reestablish ourselves as a party that can be trusted with the purse strings.
It means building on our last manifesto commitments around an active and strategic industrial policy, without frightening the business community with talk of seizing shares. It also means having a clear position on tax. That doesn’t mean we set out Labour’s first budget now, but we should be clear about the principles that might underpin it. The cornerstone of our economic vision must be fairness. That means the burden of tax is shared more equally, and the benefits from a properly funded public sector helping more people as a result. We need to define nothing less than a new economic settlement to create a new future.
There is no justification for the fact that income is taxed more highly than wealth. Reform to capital gains tax would mean income from wealth would be taxed at the same level as income from work. We must also ensure everyone can equally benefit from tax policies that seek to change behaviour. Of course we need to save for retirement, but it is unfair that pension tax relief disproportionately helps the highest earners, while only 10% goes to the poorest half of society.
Covid-19 exposed the inequality in our society. As social carers, shop workers and NHS staff took their lives in their hands every day, higher-income earners worked at home, protected from the virus. We have to be clear that those with the broadest shoulders will have to pay their share. Those who were lucky enough to escape to their holiday home on the south coast during the lockdown will need to pay more tax on their assets.
Next, we need to embed sustainability. To meet our net zero goals, we should be unafraid to introduce more environmental taxes that contribute to tackling the climate crisis. Global tech firms and online retailers use their lawyers and accountants to structure themselves to pay minimal tax here. The digital services tax is welcome but we can aim higher than its 2% surcharge.
But our vision for tax shouldn’t just be about who pays what. It should also be about responsibility and creating incentives for businesses to do the right thing. From day one, the next Labour government should use its buying power to ensure businesses seeking public sector contracts don’t use loopholes and complex structures to avoid paying tax. A key question for any procurement process should be whether the business is a Fair Tax Mark company.
We should also use the tax system to support the companies that can create the economy we want to see. Just like we did at the last election, the next manifesto must also set out a compelling vision to boost research, innovation, and discovery in the sectors that will create the jobs and growth we need for the future.
After a decade of austerity, Covid-19 has changed the debate on the economy. When the next election comes, voters will remember the choices that this government has made and the sacrifices of those who have fought to protect us from the virus, or lost their jobs as a result of it. It is Labour’s duty to present a vision of a different way of doing things, including with a tax system that has fairness, sustainability, responsibility and growth at its heart. It’s the right thing to do – and with the right principles, it can help us win again too.