Telford GUARDIAN

Why Pensioners Should Not Be Swayed by the Conservatives' Triple-Lock Plus Guarantee After 14 Years of Tory Failures As the Conservative Party announces its latest policy aimed at securing the pensioner vote— dubbed the "Triple-Lock Plus Guarantee" —it's crucial to examine this promise through a lens of skepticism and historical context. While the proposal suggests that personal allowances could rise by up to 2.5%, it's essential to question whether this is truly in the best interest of pensioners or merely a strategic maneuver to gloss over 14 years of systemic failures under Tory governance. Historical Context of Conservative Governance Over the past 14 years, the Conservative Party has been at the helm of the UK government. During this period, pensioners have faced a multitude of challenges largely attributed to policy decisions made by the Tories.  Cuts to public services, the dismantling of social safety nets, and a general austerity agenda have disproportion...

Why Conservative Hannah Campbell is Not Suitable for Parliament:  Part 2 As the political landscape in Telford evolves, people scrutinising the suitability of parliamentary candidates becomes increasingly critical.  Hannah Campbell's last bid for a seat in Parliament 2019, has raised several red flags, making her a contentious choice for representation. Here, we delve into the various aspects of Campbell's career and actions that highlight why she may not be suitable for Parliament. Inaccurate Campaign Promises One of the fundamental pillars of any political campaign is the credibility of its promises. During her 2019 bid for the Birmingham Selly Oak seat, Campbell campaigned on the promise to " get Brexit done " and backed Boris Johnson, a stance that has been widely criticised as a mistake in hindsight.  More concerning, however, was her pledge to deliver £14 billion in extra funding for schools, a claim that was debunked by the Fact Check portal Full Fact. The re...

Why Conservative Hannah Campbell is Ill-Suited for a Role as a Member of Parliament Part 1. Hannah Campbell's career path is marked by a series of rapid transitions and short-lived positions , which raise significant concerns about her suitability for a role as a Member of Parliament (MP). A closer examination of her professional background reveals several critical weaknesses that undermine her candidacy for such a significant and stable position. Claims have been made to run her own shop for 2 years, but checks at companies house shows different story of business ownership and the length of time in business. No accounts were ever filed by the business before it closed. Having established the business with a capital of £1, which was dissolved after 1 year and 7 months not 2 years.  There are also claims of a 2nd shop, but these are not backed up in the public records or at Companies House - with zero tax paid during the short life of 'her' business , which is registere...

Why Labour's Prospective Chancellor Rachel Reeves Can't Be Trusted Rachel Reeves, the Labour MP and Shadow Chancellor, has been embroiled in numerous controversies that raise significant doubts about her suitability for the role of Chancellor. Her actions and statements suggest a troubling alignment with wealthy financiers and an apparent disregard for transparency and accountability. Here are the key reasons why Rachel Reeves cannot be trusted. Questionable Financial Backing One of the most glaring issues is Reeves' financial associations. In September 2023, openDemocracy reported that Reeves, along with other prominent Labour figures like Peter Kyle, Wes Streeting, and Yvette Cooper, received substantial donations from wealthy financiers. This raises questions about the influence these donors might exert on her policies and decisions. The Bankers' Bonus Cap Controversy In January 2024, Reeves announced that Labour would not reintroduce the cap on bankers' bonuses,...

A Simple Guide to Making a Difference in This Election If you’re someone who doesn’t usually vote , this message is for you. We know it can be easy to feel like your vote doesn’t matter, especially if you’ve seen the same party in power for years and nothing seems to change. But this election can be different, and your vote can truly make a difference. Why Vote Now? Change is Needed: Our country has been under the same party's rule for 14 years, and many of us feel things aren't working properly. Services we rely on are struggling, and it’s clear that something needs to change. Voting is the way to bring about that change. New Opportunities: The Labour Party is expected to win a huge majority in this election. Even though they’ve promised to stick to some spending plans of the last government, having a new party in power could open doors to opportunities to force improvements and better policies - if they can be held to account by more progressive parties like The Greens or I...

Labour Party's Commitment to Two-Child Cap Sparks Controversy Amidst Rising Child Poverty Rates As the UK edges closer to the general election on July 4th, the Labour Party, widely expected to win, has faced widespread criticism for its recent declaration to uphold the controversial two-child benefit cap policy.  This decision has ignited a wave of discontent among advocates for the poor, who argue that the policy perpetuates poverty among the nation’s most vulnerable families. The two-child cap policy, which limits financial support to the first two children in a family, has been identified as a significant contributor to the UK's stubbornly high child poverty rates, currently standing at 30%. In 2021 that was 29,545 people affected in Telford, but is now more like 55,000 using the 30% figure.  With larger families disproportionately affected, many find themselves increasingly reliant on food banks and experiencing severe material deprivation. Critics argue that the Labour Pa...

What Will the General Election 2024 Mean for SEND? In the coming weeks, we'll have  a look at all the SEND-related policies for each major party. Hopefully, there will be some answers about what a new government might mean for children and young people with SEND and their families. Voting for Change While it may be tempting to vote for a particular party because of their leaders, as happened back in 2019, it is your local candidate that you are voting for. Big swings are being predicted by pollsters, so your vote really does matter. SEND Change Programme and Safety Valve While politicians return to their constituencies, officials in the Department for Education will continue with the SEND Change Programme. The Safety Valve and Delivering Better Value programmes will also continue. Assurances have been sought by campaign groups from the DfE regarding troubling evidence of unlawful policies being pushed by Safety Valve local authorities, but no response has been received to date. Reg...

Escalating Social Care Costs Amid Controversial Council Tax Policy Back in December 2023 - in an interview with BBC Radio, Councillor Shaun Davies, Labour Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council and Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Telford, shed light on the growing financial strain faced by local authorities.  " The reality is that we're seeing a double-digit increase in demand," Davies stated, emphasising the mounting pressure on council services for care. Davies also highlighted the alarming statistics, noting, "In Telford and Wrekin, 80p in every pound that we spend is on children's social care and adult social care, and the cost of those two service areas is increasing dramatically."   However, the council's approach to addressing these financial challenges has sparked significant controversy. By applying council tax to the disability income of under-18s in some of the most vulnerable households , who are already reliant on Univers...

Telford and Wrekin Council's Buys in to Exclusive Club In response to a Freedom of Information Request (FOIR) Telford and Wrekin Council has confirmed that they spent £14,550 of tax payers money buying into a little known exclusive club, NHT. They have even been awarded the title of " Best in Region for Highways Satisfaction ." through this little club. This recognition, though seemingly commendable, has sparked a debate over the council's expenditure and the broader implications of the awards scheme by the NHT Network (National Highways and Transport Network). The NHT Network, a subscription-based service, offers benchmarking services that allow its members to measure their own performance , and compare with others. However, only 383 councils and local authorities have bought memberships, (approximately 37% of all Councils/LA's in the UK), making the award even less significant with 63% of the UK not buying in! This significant expenditure of taxpayer money r...

Lawley and Overdale Parish Council Faces Questions on Disability Awareness Training Costs In recent months, Lawley and Overdale Parish Council has come under scrutiny for its handling of disability awareness and training. Since the summer of 2023, numerous issues have been exposed, raising concerns about the council's commitment to inclusivity and support for people with disabilities. One of the major points of contention is the council's expenditure on disability awareness and training. The actual costs have been revealed in a Freedom of Information Request for the year-to-date period from April 2023 to February 2024 amount to £1,005.  However, the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-2025 has been reduced to £850. This represents a 15.5% reduction in funding, a significant cut before calculating the inflation rate effect as well. In real terms the cut to funding is more like 20% Such a reduction, especially in the face of rising costs, begs the question: is this another i...

NHS Faces Crisis: Calls for Public Ownership Grow Amidst Worst Period of Underfunding and Understaffing In the wake of 14 years of unprecedented underfunding, understaffing, and rampant outsourcing, the National Health Service (NHS) is at a crossroads. The "We Own It" campaign is rallying for public ownership of the NHS, urging political candidates to take a stand and pledge their support.  The pledge demands that if elected, candidates will insist that the new government—regardless of the ruling party—will adequately fund and staff the NHS to align with standards seen in equivalent European countries. The Green Party has emerged as the most supportive political force behind this initiative, with an impressive 45 candidates signing the pledge. In stark contrast, the Conservative Party (Tories) has shown no support, with zero candidates committing to the cause. Labour has a modest participation, with only seven candidates signing the pledge, and the Liberal Democrats have nine...

 Telford & Wrekin Council's Council Tax Policy Forces Vulnerable Residents into Deeper Poverty In a shocking and deeply concerning move, Telford & Wrekin Council continues to impose council tax on under-18s, disabled under-18s, and disabled adults already in poverty. This policy is not only ethically questionable but also dangerously exacerbates the financial hardships faced by some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Financial Strain and Unfair Taxation Telford & Wrekin Council includes both the child’s income and the disabled child’s income through the Universal Credit system in their council tax calculations. Egregiously, the council also considers the LCWRA money, paid essentially to the most severely disabled adults, to help cover the £900 a month extra costs of being disabled. The council's own website states that children under the age of 18 do not pay council tax. Yet, by including the child's element and disability income in their calculati...