Tag: Politics

Councils’ care spending spirals as other services and products minimize

Image copyright AFP/Getty Symbol caption Spending on children’s products and services is expanding at the same time as different areas are being cut back

The plight of Northamptonshire County Council has highlighted the perilous financial state of local authorities.

One of the important thing pressures they face is the fee of taking care of kids and inclined adults – which has been spiralling as services and products in other places are cut back.

Ahead of latest legitimate figures that are anticipated to turn extra overspending, the BBC has been the way it is playing out at the floor.

Money-problem council backs ‘radical’ cuts 2D council cuts products and services to ‘minimum’

Suzannah Marland-Griffiths says it is excellent to “have a few days” to “take a while to grieve” when the child young children she fosters move on.

However not too long ago each time a child has left, they’ve taken some other one in nearly instantly. “Over the ultimate couple of years it is pretty much been one in, one out,” she says.

the price of taking care of those youngsters falls to native councils. And the rise fashionable is costing them dear. A BBC research of council spending displays that during 2016-17 they spent £640m greater than they would planned on handing over kid’s products and services.

Five years ago, the overspend was less than £100m, and it’s higher once a year since.

And that overspend has a real affect, both at the other services and products councils ship – and on their very viability.

Councils are required, through law, to stability their budgets, that means they should not spend more money than they have got available in any given year.

Northamptonshire County Council, which broke that regulation ultimate yr, spent £120m more than it had planned on kid’s services among 2013 and 2016.

‘Going bust’

Earlier this month it announced plans to make “radical provider reductions” value as a lot as £70m by way of subsequent April as it attempts to circumvent some other breach of the regulation.

And Jonathan Carr-West, leader govt of the non-partisan Local Govt Data Unit assume tank, warns that overspending on social services and products could push more government to the brink.

“If we proceed to look the velocity of overspend we’re recently seeing in children’s products and services and adult social products and services we can see councils going bust,” he says.

Symbol caption Deep cuts to budgets at Northamptonshire County Council have angered residents

“Over the longer term, we can’t sustain that overspend. Councils will simply run out of money.”

In March, the Nationwide Audit Place Of Job warned that greater than 15 local government would run out of reserves within three years if they drew them down at the similar charge as they did throughout 2016-17.

And in Oldham, the council has – for the primary time – had to take vital sums of money out of its reserves in each and every of the earlier two years so as to steadiness its books.

Last year it took £3.5m out of its savings account at the same time as the year before it withdrew £6.5m.

‘Deterioration’

And the council’s Labour chief, Sean Fielding, says price range pressures mean it’s having to make cuts to products and services to boot and “folks will get started to look a deterioration in their services”.

Cllr Fielding says that “for a protracted time” the council “just were given on with it as a long way as lets”.

However in 2016 it lowered the frequency of bin collections from fortnightly to each 3 weeks and, as he places it, “everybody kicked off”.

Other councils have also diminished their spending on different services and products. Throughout England, spending on highways and transport – including road repairs – fell from £4.8bn to £4bn among 2012-13 and 2016-17.

Spending on libraries fell from £825m to £670m – a drop of 23% – over the same length. By comparison spending on social services for kids and adults grew from £21 billion to £23 billion – an increase of 11%.

The Division for Education stated it had made £200bn available to councils up to 2020 for native services.

“We additionally supply an additional £270m for councils to increase enhancements in their carrier and create innovative programmes to improve the lives of those susceptible children,” it added.

Many council leaders glance with fear at what’s took place in Northamptonshire this yr.

They will, in fact, all the time prioritise the kind of inclined youngsters taken care of by way of Suzannah and Paul.

However, if nothing adjustments, some may just soon in finding themselves struggling to do anything.

August 22, 2018
Labour MP Chris Williamson’s ‘democracy roadshow’ criticised

An best friend of Jeremy Corbyn’s has rejected claims he is the use of a tour of Labour constituencies to push for the removal of critics of the party chief.

Chris Williamson stated his “democracy roadshow” used to be an try to have interaction severely with activists, rather than oust MPs whose views he disagreed with.

Veteran MP Barry Sheerman has accused his colleague of intentionally focused on the seats of “reasonable” MPs.

He instructed Mr Corbyn to condemn what amounted to a “deselection roadshow”.

Mr Williamson has referred to as for Labour MPs to face mandatory reselection ahead of the next general election as a part of a package of sweeping interior reforms designed to give activists higher energy over policy.

Critics of the speculation – which would require sitting MPs to face a poll of individuals before being readopted – say it is a way of hunting down those on the right of the birthday celebration who disagree with the celebration’s route.

Council tax hike MP denies being sacked Corbyn’s warning on Labour rule changes What Momentum ’s wins may imply for Labour

Mr Williamson is traveling around the us of a with other outstanding supporters of Mr Corbyn, including Fire Brigades Union leader Matt Wrack and Aslef president Tosh McDonald, to make the case for greater democracy and duty throughout the birthday celebration.

A video of Mr McDonald and Mr Williamson riding Harley-Davidsons, in which the MP describes individuals as Labour’s “biggest belongings”, is being used to advertise the excursion.

Skip Twitter publish by means of @DerbyChrisW

The #DemocracyRoadshow rolls into Warley within the West Midlands this evening.
Meeting starts at 7 p.m. on the Windsor Theatre Bar, 377 Bearwood Rd, Smethwick.
Remember Tony Benn said: “Democracy is probably the most progressive thing within the global.”#ChangeIsCominghttps://t.co/qWnViBjdBZ

— Chris Williamson MP #JC9, yes NINE (@DerbyChrisW) August 21, 2018

File

Finish of Twitter submit via @DerbyChrisW

They’re as a result of discuss at greater than 20 venues in England and Wales, having already held events in Durham, Redcar, Liverpool, Plymouth and Ilford among others.

A site promoting the roadshow highlights meetings because of happen in Dudley North and Nottingham East, whose MPs Ian Austin and Chris Leslie are amongst Mr Corbyn’s most vehement critics.

Mr Sheerman, whose Huddersfield constituency is because of be visited by Mr Williamson on Friday, mentioned there has been a focus on spaces, including in West Yorkshire, represented via MPs at the centre and centre proper of the celebration.

‘Deeply concerned’

The former minister, who was first elected to Parliament in 1979, stated Mr Williamson believed the visits had been endorsed by way of the birthday party leadership and Mr Corbyn should distance himself from them.

“i am deeply concerned that the long run of the celebration might be put in jeopardy if Chris Williamson’s actions aren’t right away condemned,” he stated in a letter to Mr Corbyn.

“i’d no longer carry this topic except i used to be deeply involved that this task will seriously damage our celebration’s chances of winning the following general election.”

Skip Twitter post via @BarrySheerman

I wrote to the chief of our birthday party Jerrmy Corbyn as a result of I Feel this “Roadshow” seems to attack the very fraternity that our Birthday Party has at all times supported!

— Barry Sheerman (@BarrySheerman) August 20, 2018

Record

Finish of Twitter post through @BarrySheerman

Mr Williamson has defended the excursion as an opportunity to make the case for “commonsense socialism” in the Labour motion and to verify the “transformative” amendment promised through Mr Corbyn can be brought in govt.

He informed the web site Labour Listing that he was once not focused on individual MPs and were invited to talk by way of party participants in the constituencies involved.

“this is not some nice plan to oust centrist MPs from the birthday party,” he stated. “i’d have views at the politics of positive MPs but that isn’t the point. the point is simply to engage with and take heed to our individuals and to bolster democracy in our birthday celebration”.

Labour is thinking about a series of changes to celebration democracy – including laws for future leadership elections – but the factor of obligatory reselection isn’t part of a overview as a result of file at next month’s conference.

Mr Williamson give up front bench earlier this year, in a while after he known as for council tax on the most expensive houses to be doubled – a policy rejected through the celebration leadership.

The outspoken MP has attracted controversy on the grounds that, protecting and subsequently sharing a platform with a Labour activist expelled from the birthday party for haranguing Jewish MP Ruth Smeeth on the release of the birthday celebration’s anti-Semitism evaluation in 2016.

Over the weekend, he was once criticised for tweeting that it have been a “privilege” to have met blogger Vanessa Beeley, who has defended the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and previously defined murdered MP Jo Cox as a “warmongering Blairite”.

August 21, 2018
Chief al-Qaeda bomb maker ‘killed in Yemen strike’ – US reviews

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Al-Qaeda has no longer commented on the experiences or printed a eulogy for Ibrahim al-Asiri

US officials are assured that al-Qaeda within the Arabian Peninsula’s suspected chief bomb maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, has been killed, experiences say.

US media stated sources as announcing they believed the Saudi militant died in a US drone strike in Yemen last year.

Asiri is said to had been at the back of the 2009 lingerie bomb plot and made devices discovered on shipment planes in 2010.

Intelligence suggesting he was once working on a bomb hidden in a laptop or tablet led the u.s. to ban them on a few flights.

A UN report published ultimate week, which additionally stated Asiri may had been killed, said his demise would constitute “a major blow” to AQAP’s operational capacity.

Symbol copyright ABC Information by the use of Getty Images Image caption The bomb concealed in Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s underwear didn’t detonate absolutely

After the dying of his brother, Asiri is assumed to have designed the underpants bomb allegedly utilized by a young Nigerian guy, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, in an attempt to blow up a US passenger jet because it flew into Detroit on Christmas Day 2009. That tool additionally contained PETN and had a chemical fuse.

he is additionally believed to have made PETN bombs hidden in printer cartridges, that have been discovered on cargo planes in Dubai and the uk in October 2010. The cartridges have been within applications despatched from Yemen to the u.s..

Intelligence experiences that Asiri was once developing bombs that would be hidden in transportable digital gadgets ended in the u.s. authorities banning uncharged laptops and cell phones from flights to the us from Europe and the middle East in 2014.

And in March 2017, reportedly after fresh intelligence approximately AQAP’s actions was once received in a raid in Yemen, the united states banned all laptops and massive cell gadgets in hand baggage on flights from prime airports within the Middle East.

August 21, 2018
US students topple Accomplice soldier statue in North Carolina

Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption The statue of a Accomplice soldier nicknamed Silent Sam used to be erected in 1913

Student protesters toppled a controversial Confederate monument on the School of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Monday night.

The statue of a Accomplice soldier, nicknamed Silent Sam, has been a target of vandalism and protests for decades.

A Few 250 protesters additionally argued with a handful of counter-protesters, some in Confederate flag T-shirts, media stated.

Symbols for the losing aspect of the yankee Civil Conflict have become a massive flashpoint in a national race debate.

Monday’s motion is the most recent transfer to dismantle Accomplice memorials, which critics name racially offensive, considering the history of slavery within the southern US states.

Image copyright Sara Davis/Getty Image caption The Silent Sam statue earlier than it was once pulled down

Protesters, together with scholars, university body of workers and local residents, pulled down the 1913 statue the usage of rope and buried its face in filth, pupil paper The Daily Tar Heel mentioned.

“Closing night’s movements were illegal and threatening, and we are very fortunate that nobody used to be injured,” the school stated in a statement on Twitter.

“The police are investigating the vandalism and assessing the full volume of the damage.”

Protesters collected to precise their frustration at inaction by school leaders and to toughen a student facing possible sanctions for splashing pink ink and blood on Silent Sam in an April protest.

“it is time to rip down Silent Sam. it is time to tear down UNC’s institutional white supremacy,” pupil Maya Little, who faces charges, instructed the group on Monday.

No clashes were stated. no less than one person used to be arrested on fees of concealing their face all over a public rally and resisting arrest, the college mentioned.

Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Some 250 protesters included scholars, faculty and native residents

more than 110 symbols have been got rid of due to the fact 2015, and greater than 1,740 proceed to face, in step with the Southern Poverty Regulation Center.

But some southern states have bolstered their regulations to give protection to Confederate statues.

The contemporary motion to take away Confederate symbols from the 1861-1865 civil struggle accelerated after the 2015 shooting of nine black churchgoers through a gunman in Charleston, South Carolina.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionWhy did violent protests begin in Charlottesville over plans to remove a statue?

(more…)

August 21, 2018
UK will also be ’21st Century exporting superpower’, says Liam Fox

Symbol copyright AFP/ Getty Pictures

Britain may also be a “twenty first Century exporting superpower”, Liam Fox is expected to say in a speech detailing the government’s submit-Brexit ambitions.

The world industry secretary will say he desires exports as a share of UNITED KINGDOM GDP to upward push from 30% to 35%.

Last year exports of goods and services rose to a record top of £620 billion.

The Federation of Small Businesses praised the aspiration – but mentioned more monetary incentives, corresponding to offers and “export vouchers”, were needed.

Mike Cherry from the FSB stated small firms may just use the vouchers to speculate in issues comparable to translation services and products or marketplace analysis.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-common of the CBI (Confederation of British Business), said the strategy was once “a timely sign” that the government was devoted to making improvements to the united kingdom’s competitiveness.

“The CBI strongly supports the ambition to make exports 35% of GDP, in order to placed the united kingdom out in front of a lot of our global competition,” she mentioned.

“We estimate that during each region of the rustic there are round 10% of companies that might export, but don’t, and we look ahead to running along the federal government to make stronger and inspire them to grab the opportunity.”

August 21, 2018
Malcolm Turnbull: Australian PM survives leadership problem

Australian High Minister Malcolm Turnbull has survived a problem to his leadership by a senior government colleague.

Mr Turnbull defeated House Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in a party room ballot in Canberra on Tuesday.

The prime minister won the vote FORTY EIGHT-35, the celebration’s leader whip informed reporters.

Mr Turnbull had prompted the vote himself in a bid to solve speculation that his leadership used to be under risk.

August 20, 2018
Brexit: NHS managers warn approximately affect of no deal

Symbol copyright Getty Photographs

The Gang representing hospitals and ambulance services and products in England has warned of a lack of “contingency planning” to care for the affect of a no-deal Brexit at the health provider.

In a leaked electronic mail to NHS England boss Simon Stevens, NHS Providers says leaving the european without agreement would right away be an actual possibility to services.

The Group warns it could make it harder to prevent the unfold of diseases.

NHS England mentioned preparing for every potential Brexit outcome is a priority.

Ministers are to show extra main points in their contingency planning for a no- deal Brexit later this week.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who will commute to Brussels for the latest round of talks with his ECU counterpart Michel Barnier on Tuesday, has mentioned a deal remains to be essentially the most likely end result.

But he has stated preparations for the failure to succeed in an settlement this autumn, or Parliament rejecting any deal, is the accountable process motion.

Executive to put up no-deal Brexit recommendation NHS plans ‘extensively’ for no-deal Brexit At-a-glance: the uk’s four Brexit choices

the uk is ready to go away the european on 29 March 2019 and the 2 aspects are these days negotiating the phrases of its go out and its long term members of the family in a complete range of problems.

With seven months to head, ministers have said they’re stepping up contingency preparations for a no-deal Brexit, even as insisting that it’s no longer their selected result.

‘Stockpiles and shortages’

But NHS Providers – which represents acute, ambulance, community and psychological health services and products inside the health service – has expressed concern approximately what it says is an absence of engagement with ministers in the e-mail, observed by means of the BBC.

It has known as for NHS England and NHS Growth – which oversees NHS trusts and providers – to convene a group of agree with leaders as a question of urgency.

In an electronic mail despatched to NHS leader government Simon Stevens, also copied in to Mr Raab and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, it calls for a co-ordinated reaction to confront the demanding situations that will be presented via a no deal.

Chief government of NHS Providers Chris Hopson writes that there has been “no formal communication” to trusts from either NHS England or NHS Growth on this issue.

Without national making plans and coordination “there could be each stockpiles and shortages of medicines and medical devices”, Mr Hopson says.

He adds that “illness control coordination may also suffer”.

‘Not unexpected’

An NHS England spokeswoman said the health service used to be running with govt, making plans for different post-Brexit eventualities.

“we can be working with our colleagues and companions across the NHS to verify plans are neatly progressed, and can give you the NHS with the beef up it want,” she stated.

Last month, Mr Stevens stated “in depth” making plans was once below way to get ready the health service for a no-deal situation, to ensure the continued supply of medications and equipment.

Whilst this will likely no longer be “desirable”, he stated that – if such a state of affairs arose – the results would not be “unexpected”.

A series of technical notices – together with recommendation for businesses, electorate and public our bodies a few so-referred to as “laborious Brexit” – can be made public over the following month or so.

Downing Boulevard has defined the advice due on Thursday as “sensible, proportionate, and part of a standard experience manner to ensure stability, whatever the outcome of talks”.

On the same day, Mr Raab will make a speech in Westminster to stipulate the executive’s plans for the likelihood of leaving the eu with out a deal.

the united kingdom is looking for “associate club” of the eu Drugs Agency, which evaluates and supervises medicines and is helping national authorities authorise the sale of gear throughout the european’s single market.

August 20, 2018
Venezuelans at a loss for words as Maduro’s economic plan starts

Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Before the changes, one kilo (2 lb) of rice value 2.5m Sturdy Bolivars

A Central Authority plan to slash hyperinflation is getting into force in Venezuela amid confusion about how it will work.

From Monday, new banknotes denominated in “sovereign bolivars” are legal delicate, with 5 zeros taken off.

The measures come after the International Financial Fund predicted that inflation may just achieve a million in line with cent this year.

Economists have warned that the brand new measures could make things worse.

What’s happening on Monday?

The move is effectively a redenomination. President Nicolás Maduro is lobbing 5 zeros off the present forex, the “strong bolívar”, and giving it its new name.

A Few economists were using the cost of a cup of espresso with milk as an indicator of inflation.

On 31 July cafes in the capital, Caracas, charged 2.5m sturdy bolivars for a cup, approximately double the quantity recorded 5 weeks earlier.

Under the brand new system, the drink will now value 25 sovereign bolivars.

Will this make issues more uncomplicated?

For a time, it will earn cash transactions more uncomplicated. Someone wanting to pay for their cup of coffee in money beforehand had to carry large wads of banknotes.

Venezuela’s hyperinflation in pictures

The biggest denomination within the antique currency was the 100,000 sturdy bolivar word. So the minimum amount of notes it’s worthwhile to pay your coffee with would were 25.

Top denomination banknotes have been very wanted and banks imposed strict regulations on how much money each and every purchaser may just take out in their account according to day.

So Venezuelans may in finding themselves paying either with rucksacks full of decrease denomination bills or an increasing number of avoiding paying through cash altogether and shifting money electronically.

As the BBC’s South The Usa correspondent Katy Watson found, even guidelines have been being paid via bank switch.

Image copyright EPA Image caption on the weekend, Venezuelans stocked up on whatever they may ahead of the changes

Financial experts have also puzzled knowledge of anchoring the brand new foreign money to the petro.

although the federal government says the virtual forex has been an enormous success, main points of how it operates had been arduous to return through.

the united states has banned its electorate from buying and selling in it and one cryptocurrency web page, ICOindex.com, has even labelled the petro “a scam”.

“Anchoring the bolivar to the petro is anchoring it to not anything,” economist Luis Vicente León told AFP news company.

(more…)

August 20, 2018
Greece bailout: Moscovici talks of ‘exceptionally tricky period’ for Greek people

Video ‘An mainly tricky period’

(more…)

August 20, 2018
Jeremy Corbyn starts tour of Scotland

Symbol caption The Labour leader was once because of ship a speech at a bus producers in Falkirk.

Jeremy Corbyn has begun a 4-day tour of Scotland, amid proceeding accusations of anti-Semitism.

The Labour birthday party leader is because of deliver a speech outlining a new imaginative and prescient for the Scottish economic system.

However he’s expected to stand more questions on anti-Semitism following the suspension of former MP Jim Sheridan from the birthday celebration.

Mr Sheridan is alleged to be answerable for posts about the Jewish neighborhood made on social media.

A publish on Facebook noted the Renfrewshire councillor’s lack of “admire and empathy” for the Jewish group amid the row approximately anti-Semitism.

Symbol copyright Labour Birthday Celebration Image caption Former MP Jim Sheridan has been suspended from the Labour celebration

The row centres on Labour’s new code of behavior on anti-Semitism, which its critics say is not as comprehensive as the World Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s guidelines.

Scottish Labour chief Richard Leonard has mentioned he wants Labour to have a “powerful” code of habits that commands the toughen of the Jewish group.

He is anticipated to share a platform with Mr Corbyn at the Alexander Dennis bus manufacturers in Falkirk later as a part of a campaign to advertise British industry.

Ephraim Borowski, of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, informed BBC Radio Scotland he had held optimistic discussions with Mr Leonard.

Interviewed on Just Right Morning Scotland, he rubbished tips that the row was once a part of a plot to oust Mr Corbyn from the head of the Labour birthday celebration.

“there’ll be all kinds of individuals who have all kinds of different reasons for the attitude that they take to Jeremy Corbyn, or for that topic Theresa Would Possibly or Boris Johnston, it does not cause them to plotters,” he said.

“the truth that they have got one thing that they object to, the proven fact that they may even agree with other people about what it’s that they item to, does not make them part of any kind of conspiracy.”

‘Extremely serious’

He introduced: “the idea that as a result of any individual is critical of Jeremy Corbyn, they should be within the pay of Mossad is frankly laughable.”

In a press release from the Labour birthday party, it said it took all proceedings of anti-Semitism “extremely seriously” and was “dedicated to difficult and campaigning in opposition to it in all its forms”.

“All complaints about anti-Semitism are totally investigated in line with our laws and methods and any appropriate disciplinary motion is taken,” it brought.

It came as Scotland’s justice secretary Humza Yousaf revealed he had no longer yet been interviewed as part of a Labour investigation into Islamophobic remarks made against him.

Dumfries and Galloway Labour councillor Jim Dempster was once suspended from the birthday celebration after he admitted the outburst, and apologised for it.

In a chain of tweets, Mr Yousaf said he have been instructed the probe could finish in July however he had “heard not anything”.

Skip Twitter submit via @HumzaYousaf

Hi There @LabourRichard at Pakistan Welfare Agree With dinner this night you mentioned you could have a 0 tolerance method to Islamaphobia. It has been 5months due to the fact that a ScotLab Cllr admitted making Islamaphobic feedback against me. i used to be informed investigation will conclude in July. I’ve heard nothing.

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 19, 2018

File

End of Twitter publish through @HumzaYousaf

Skip Twitter submit 2 via @HumzaYousaf

I’ve never been interviewed through ScottishLab HQ either have the opposite witnesses i’ve spoken to.

Step up @LabourRichard and display me you are serious about tackling Islamaphobia by way of your deeds not empty, hole words.

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 19, 2018

File

Finish of Twitter put up 2 through @HumzaYousaf

Mr Corbyn is scheduled to spend the morning at bus producer Alexander Dennis in Falkirk as a part of the celebration’s “Build it in Britain” marketing campaign to advertise British industry.

He launched that campaign at a speech in Birmingham remaining month, wherein he promised that Labour could use state help powers “to the entire” to make stronger Britain’s production sector following Brexit.

The celebration believes that UNITED KINGDOM-based producers may benefit from its plans to use government spending to shop for British the place possible, with positive consequences for process introduction and tax revenues.

Speaking ahead of the consult with, Mr Corbyn mentioned: “the following Labour govt will re-programme the economic system to deliver an industrial renaissance for Scotland.”

He brought: “Labour will use the public sector’s enormous buying power to reinforce staff and industries through shopping for in Britain every time imaginable.

“we will spice up Scottish production, so one can support jobs and living standards in the wider economic system, strengthen our capacity to export, and extend our tax base.

“it’s time the Scottish folks had a central authority with the decision to create an economy that works for the various, no longer the few.”

August 20, 2018