So the tories want to stop benefit recipients spending the money on fags, alcohol and betting. This may seem virtuous, but for those addicted it will be cruelty and cause more crime and domestic violence. Oh the rich really do have a control freak syndrome. Basically we need a certain level of unemployment and it is well known that the Thatcherite policies pursued by various tory governments meant that our manufacturing base was destroyed and hard working people put onto benefits. Their children and grandchildren now have the choice of unskilled work at minimum wage levels in call centres or shopping warehouses, often on zero hours contracts. At least Labour are trying to reverse this slide into hopelessness with new GCSE’s, already being criticised as providing a second class education for the poor – by tory rich parents, are they worried that a technical qualification may become more prized than a pseudo-academic one?
The outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres’s parting shot was to emphasise the need for action on climate change. However world leaders seemed more concerned with petty squabbles and point scoring than address the extreme weather affecting our planet. On which, Ed Milliband has released a full unreacted report by the Joint Intelligence Committee of the uk which had been suppressed under Keir Starmer (why?). Milliband pointed out that climate change provided a challenge not just for climate and environmental ministers but foreign policy makers and national security. He was presenting to EU foreign ministers and other countries. Maybe we will take a world lead in environmental matters.