New Year Honours List

That's true GagaJo

@AngelaRayner
I’ve spent today with my son & granddaughter. I turn on the news to see the hate, antisemitism and violence in the US & London. We have to remain vigilant to terrorism & remember that the world is full more of love than hatred.

Grany Mon 30-Dec-19 11:32:26

I wonder how many people who voted Tory and have had to go to A&E over Christmas think it was a good idea voting for the party that took the NHS from an accomplished 2010 fully funded organization to the thread bare , stressed out environment we see since the Tories took over?

I am deeply concerned at the rise of overt & violent antisemitism in the West

It is overwhelmingly rooted in the far-right where support is found for Trump, Bannon & Johnson

(The relentless campaign against Corbyn was based on lies & smears. It has been disastrous for us Jews)

It's the far right you want to be worried about.

You know how we used see citizens of North Korea & Russia who were so consumed by state propaganda, they didn’t challenge corruption or brutality and dismissed those who did as conspiracy theorists and wreckers?

Well, we’re at that point in the movie, England.

The far right are on the rise in Europe Corbyn warned.

Boris Johnson book antisemitic

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-book-jews-control-media-general-election-a9239346.html

5000 fascists from Britain First have joined the Tory Party to strengthen Boris Johnson's grip on power. This group were banned from Facebook for posts like "Islamophobic and proud". They're guilty of other racism too. Let's make no mistake, the UK is governed by fascists now.

EXACTLY Grany! It is terrifying. And the sheep keep on bleating Johnson is a good man, Get Brexit done and can't see what is under their noses.

We SEE it with Trump. We know the right-wing are on the rise there. We see the human rights/racism/white terrorist issues occurring in the US. And yet we are blind to it on our own shores. Why?

Changed AGAIN? To what cost to the taxpayer, when the DWP openly admits Benefit Fraud and Error figures are -

- the net government loss, after recoveries, was £3.0 billion, or 1.6% of benefit expenditure
- 1.1% of total benefit expenditure (or £2.0 billion) was underpaid due to fraud and error

How much will the cost of new logos and stationery and IT and training be - ridiculous! Just another new way of stealing from the poor no doubt?

Signed and shared, what a horrible man is IDS i wonder who nominated him, ?
So much suffering caused by UC, but i read somewhere it is going to be changed again [got rid of]to a simpler method by this Government

"Sorry We Missed You" is IMO more powerful than "I, Daniel Blake" because it's less dramatic and more grim. It could be a documentary. The family doesn't claim benefits, but anyone who has ever engaged with the zero hours economy will recognise parts of it as directly relevant to their lives.

Sorry We Missed You.

New film by Len Loach is Sorry I Missed You.

@FarNorth - yes I have seen 'I, Daniel Blake', which was the other one please?

MadeInYorkshire Well Said.

I wonder how many people who voted Tory and have had to go to A&E over Christmas think it was a good idea voting for the party that took the NHS from an accomplished 2010 fully funded organization to the thread bare , stressed out environment we see since the Tories took over?

I am deeply concerned at the rise of overt & violent antisemitism in the West

It is overwhelmingly rooted in the far-right where support is found for Trump, Bannon & Johnson

(The relentless campaign against Corbyn was based on lies & smears. It has been disastrous for us Jews)

It's the far right you want to be worried about.

You know how we used see citizens of North Korea & Russia who were so consumed by state propaganda, they didn’t challenge corruption or brutality and dismissed those who did as conspiracy theorists and wreckers?

Well, we’re at that point in the movie, England.

The far right are on the rise in Europe Corbyn warned.

Boris Johnson book antisemitic

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-book-jews-control-media-general-election-a9239346.html

How could anyone block
@MichaelRosenYes
? A man who educates kids and makes them laugh! Who speaks out for the underdog, always a voice for anyone suffering racism! A fabulous author! Who knows only too well the price of irrational hatred! Speaks volumes about John Mann!

AntiSemitism Tsar John Mann has BLOCKED Jewish Holocaust author & educator Michael Rosen for forwarding examples to him of alleged AntiSemitism in the Conservative Party and requesting feedback. Blocked National Treasure Michael Rosen!

RD Hale ?

5000 fascists from Britain First have joined the Tory Party to strengthen Boris Johnson's grip on power. This group were banned from Facebook for posts like "Islamophobic and proud". They're guilty of other racism too. Let's make no mistake, the UK is governed by fascists now.

Grannyactivist I am crying, that song was so poignant and true - how people can ignore this or blatantly say it is untrue, is unbelievable really ....

This one is also very good and appropriate to the case of IDS getting a Knighthood, and the elitist leaders of our country!

*For years our women had no say no right to work or equal pay

God help the crippled and the gay the fragile flowers of England

Shut the factories shut the mines punish those fell on hard times

While they honour them who do the crimes the greedy men of England

How can a man respect a man who steals his house and sells his land

And takes the wages from his hand to pay his own expenses

The NHS our England’s jewel is bartered by Westminster’s fool

To justify his public school and military defences*

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdewAuU3nMc

Awards should be for voluntary, unpaid work not for those simply doing their job for which they get paid.

Alison Saunders, Ian Duncan Smith - disgraceful.

*The whole system is outdated and not fit for purpose. Always smacks of gongs for the boys/girls.
I am always most annoyed when actors and their ilk receive such recognition -why ?
People like GA's father in law are the ones who should be honoured.*

Couldn't put it better myself!!

I find it too depressing to try to explain the realities of UC to people who believe that it's a good system that simply needs a bit of tweaking. I cannot describe how difficult and unworkable UC is in its present form or how many hours I have spent battling on behalf of clients to ensure they get the bare minimum to live on. It is not now, nor has it ever been, fit for purpose.

I am fortunate that I receive free training directly from the DWP to help me assist my (mostly homeless) clients. I also have a university education and am fairly tech savvy. Nevertheless I frequently feel like banging my head against a wall because it is so very, very difficult to navigate the 'system' - and when I have a client that doesn't 'fit' the algorithms that underpin the system it can take me months (and has) to get the correct outcome.

Listen to Reg Meuross singing about the people who have died or killed themselves after being unable to access appropriate benefits and see if you can remain unmoved. Reg performed this song at a benefit concert and I unashamedly cried - while the homeless man who was with me had to leave during the song because he had come so near to taking his own life that it was too close to home.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JajY37UalI

Did anyone see the two true to life films by director Ken Loach about DWP and Zero hours contracts?

Sorry, Graney, the reaction to that was "It's only a story."

IDS is a joke in my opinion.

Signed the petition. I hope, if he still gets it, the Queen’s sword slips and she slices the head off the bastard.

Thank God we will not have a Sir Nigel Farage prancing around. Luckily he was missed.

Signed

Petition against IDS getting knighthood. They'll ignore it of course. The opinions of the electorate no longer count

www.change.org/p/uk-government-and-parliament-we-object-to-iain-duncan-smith-receiving-a-knighthood?recruiter=86493952&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=3fc13610-aed9-11e3-93af-67a77f0c4c72&utm_content=fht-19804614-en-gb%3Av2

Thank you @Ilovecheese

I wouldn't mind but when I was still able to work I was paid at the equivalent of an NHS Grade F Nurse, and I still wouldn't have managed to have 6 weeks worth of savings - in fact I didn't have but things back in those days weren't as bad when you lost your greatest asset - the ability to work .... not my life's plan at all - it all started in 1998 and after 21 operations over 2 decades later I am in one heck of a mess and am stuck like it until I shuffle off this mortal coil ... it would be nice if I had some faith to cling on to, but after what has happened to me, and to friends of mine who have done nothing to deserve all this cr*p, there is no hope of that!

I am so sorry for your circumstances MadeInYorkshire and am amazed that so many people can make light of yours and similar experiences.

Oh how I wish i could have savings'! I must be a VERY IRRESPONSIBLE person ....

The Guardian was reporting on the original article published in the BMJ!

www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/health-and-social-care-spending-cuts-linked-to-120000-excess-deaths-in-england/

My income has recently gone down quite significantly, by several hundred £'s a month because my severely mentally ill adult daughter has had to come back to live here as there was nowhere else she could go - how that makes me less 'disabled' and need less money I have no idea - I suppose that she is supposed to care for me and cover the shortfall? But how can she do that when she can't even look after herself? She applied for PIP on the basic of her own mental health in late August/early September, and has heard not a word since (we have called within that period and were told there was nothing that could be done other than wait!) How she is supposed to function I have no idea - they won't pay her any rent money because she lives with me, and she can't get out of bed, never mind travel to a job centre and she just cannot face going through the dehumanising UC system. So we struggle - I have at least 20 different medical conditions of my own, I am sat here fully dressed with my dressing gown and gloves on, and 2 blankets as putting heating on during the day is an absolute no, no - in fact I went 3 years with no heating at all as I couldn't afford to replace the boiler - I finally got a grant when the hot water went as well. The Council wanted me to pay for my carer who came once a week, so that has had to go (had my hair washed once since 27th October, so I look like a hag too - I do not want to do anything or go anywhere other than into my lovely but tiny little garden .... I have nothing in life to look forward to, not even a coffee and a bun from Costa once a month - there by the Grace of God go you @JenniferE aren't you lucky?

Where did you get the figure of £136 from Barmeyoldbat?

The JSA component of UC is £73.10pw. Claimants have to pay a percentage of Council Tax out of that and most private renters will also have to pay a rent top-up, because the housing element (Local Housing Allowance) almost certainly won't cover the actual rent.

It's difficult enough for able-bodied people to manage on that, but even more difficult for disabled people, many of whom are denied disability benefits.

It doesn't really matter what the exact figure of people who have died as a result of being in dire poverty is. One is too many.

The Guardian!

I would have put money on it!!

Have you got a problem, JenniferEccles, with a newspaper which reports on adverse effects of government policies? Do you think that governments are omnipotent and their actions should never be questioned? What is so dreadful about people being concerned about the fate of fellow citizens? Or questioning the validity of government actions?

Would you prefer it if the Guardian wrote articles about these people deaths being their own faults because they shouldn't have been scrounging benefits in the first place?

Did you even bother to read the article?

It is almost impossible to save any reasonable amount while you are on benefits so how on earth do you save for 6 weeks. It is not just day to day living expenses that need covering but also the FULL amount of rent needs to be paid. You will probably have been on housing benefit but that will also stop for 6 weeks. So if you are in private rental you could well be out on your ear.

A very unjust system which pay benefits of £71 a week for living expenses while MPs can claim £160 for food expenses.

JenniferE if you had to live on say£136 per week max paying all your bills except rent how much could you save.