Comment on This

Report of Northampton South Policy Forum on "Prosperity and Work" 1. We welcomed the policy paper and recognised in it much that has been done by the Labour Government over the last ten years. 2. We welcomed a number of the policy directions and particularly the commitment to continue to reduce both absolute and relative poverty in Britain. 3. Government attitudes towards Business have helped secure steady growth across the economy to the benefit of all. We recognise the need to reform planning laws but felt there were already significant weaknesses in the system allowing planning bodies to act without real accountability for their actions. We sighted examples from the WNDC which had engaged in consultation, but then ignored the views expressed to the extent that many parts of the community felt alienated from the planning process and frustrated that plans were not moving forward which were as good as they might be for lack of local expertise and knowledge. 4. We welcomed the moved towards providing Flexible Working opportunities for all, recognising the benefits these have already brought to many working families, particularly working women. However, despite the Governments welcome provision or free Nursery places for every three and four year old, the extension of Child Care provision, Sure Start and wrap-around childcare, many still find it difficult to "join the dots" since these programmes are often not all available in the one place, requiring working parents to have to make special arrangements to take their child from one environment to another. E.g. from Child Care to Nursery and back again. Local and national government need to work more closely with parents to ensure that the provision already developed meets the needs of working families. 5. The recognition of the contribution made by carers is most welcome and their entitlement to flexible working can be very beneficial. However, the language in this and other sections of the policy papers could be strengthened by reference to Human Rights Law. We all have a right to Family and to a Private Life, this applies to carers, the elderly and many other groups marginalised by our society. To ensure everyone has access to these rights we need to adopt the policies outlined in this paper. We should be working to establish these conditions as rights which all citizens should expect from their Government, regardless of the political party in power. In bringing these policies into practice the Labour Party is defending the Rights of the individual to a fulfilling family and private life, to dignity and respect. We should also be celebrating the fact that we now have more elderly citizens than ever before. This is yet another sign of the success of our National Health Service, another right (to health) brought to fruition by Labour. Placing Labour as the party with defends and promotes the rights of the citizen is one we would recommend. 6. We are pleased that this document recognises the need for "strong and modern growing trade unions as a genuine voice fighting against discrimination and abuse". We are saddened that despite this recognition there is no suggestion of removing the draconian Thatcherite Trade Union Laws. However, we recognise that our Labour Government has actually put into law many of the policies our trades unions have fought for over many years. This should be more loudly acclaimed. We are concerned that Agencies tend towards abusive practice and current measures do not go far enough to tackle these abuses and remove them from the system. The poorest are worst hit with too many loopholes for employers to abuse. E.g. Holiday pay may well be identified by employers, yet temporary staff are still required to apply for holiday pay. Statutory leave is rarely recognised by agencies and where it is, it has to be accrued rather than being seen as an entitlement. This is an area where the party should be working closely with the Trade Unions to develop robust policy, regulation and enforcement. 7. While welcoming the commitment to restore the link between pensions and earnings, we are concerned that this is to be delayed until the next parliament. We would strongly urge Government to take this action now. 8. We also welcome the commitment to recognise, through pensions entitlement, the contribution made by carers and feel that this too is a policy which should have been introduced some time ago. The MP for our neighbouring constituency (Northampton North) was indeed arguing for this in 1997 and earlier. This too could be a policy which could be prudently introduced by the current government. 9. We also recognise the need to move the retirement age from 65 to 68, but note that it will be the poor who work longer, not those whose practice it is already to retire at 60 or earlier. To this end we would encourage Government to re-examine the way in which National Insurance falls disproportionately on the poor. Pensions are a universal benefit and are paid for longer to those who retire early and hence live longer – i.e. those richer members of society.

We welcome the opportunity to debate these policies as a constituency group and hope that our observations assist in the development of party policy. (link)

Cities of London and Westminster CLP

We believe Labour's role in modern society is to work through government, civic society and local communities for a more equal distribution of income, power, wealth, resources and voice, starting with the way in which we run our own affairs in the Labour Party as an example for the country and the world as a whole.

We believe that an important contribution to achieving this shift will be a determined drive to invest in preventative healthcare as well treatment of sickness, in fulfilling older years as well as care, in supporting vulnerable groups and alienated young people as well as a fair and swift system of criminal justice, in strengthening the rights of the disadvantaged and marginalized – in short an investment in prevention as well as cure so as to create a sustainable economic future for society and deliver real equality of opportunity for all. (link)

delete "and fairer". No evidence for this. (link)

Peter Kenyon - Cities of London and Westminster CLP

This statement is true. But we need to think forward to the next election. What impressions will votes have of life with Labour in power for another four to five years.

This policy statement should reflect Labour values of fairness and social justice. For me that means refocusing on the 'living wage' concept as a step up from the National Minimum Wage, redistributive tax policies - addressing needs, rewarding effort and penalising greed.

On fuel poverty we need a mechanism to address need. Given the volatility of energy prices it should guarantee no one on a low or modest income has to worry about the cost of fuel and light. There is a salutory warning about this here:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20080520/tuk-quality-of-life-for-elderly-worse-6323e80.html

(link)

Peter Kenyon - Cities of London and Westminster CLP

This section is already out of date following the government's announcement of changes to Personal Allowances - benefitting 22 million people. But it left 1.1 million low-paid people slightly worse off - a matter which needs to be rectified soon.

I would like to see us commit over time to tackling poverty by redistributive means, rather than bureaucratic measures and winning the political argument for a higher tax band on the very-well paid, and lifting allowances for low paid and the current top rate of 40p. (link)

support younger workers... with special attention being given to making the minimum wage more in-line with average earning. (link)

after ... tailor-made training and support package to help remove barriers to work. add ... during this process we undertake to give fair and accurate statistics of claimants based upon facts rather than judgements (link)

After ... backed up by the local availability of high quality wrap around child care ... add ...and will include top-up payments to match the average wage in order to ensure that this section of society is not unfairly treated in the workplace. Submitted by Weston CLP (link)

after ... primary school... add ... but recognise the fact that all such initiatives should fully take into account the needs of individual children who lives may be impacted by an absent parent .Submitted by Weston CLP (link)

After ... to improve life chances ... add... and to provide a ‘safety net’ whilst seeking to improve ... Submitted by Weston CLP (link)

after ... ... union learning ... add ... and we will ensure that the implementation of the European Union 48 hour directive is removed from contracts of employment to ensure that no coercion can be exerted by the employer. (link)

after ...and making it easier for older people to use their life experience to play a full role in society. ... add .. especially women where we will now pay them the same pension of that of men. (link)

All state pensions are paid out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) according to the contributory years by beneficiaries. 535,000 pensioners living overseas have their pensions uprated each year just as if the were living in the UK. A further 525,000 pensioners living overseas in other countries have their pension frozen at the rate at which it is first paid. The government says its first priorities are to pensioners living in the UK but that des not meet the facts that over half a million pensioners living overseas receive annual upratings. The other half a million do not. Each year there is a surplus of contributions over payments in the NIF of over £1 billion and it is estimated that to uprate all pensioners equally around the world would cost in the region of £400 million annually. Surely it is time that the government acted in accordance with its stated policies in respect of fairness and equality? Gordon Brown recently said "Discrimination anywhere is unacceptable". Jack Straw said a couple of years ago people should be treated equally "no matter who we are or where we live". The rhetoric does not match reality for half a million pensioners living overseas. (link)

after ... success of their life... add ... - either though an apprenticeship – delivered by employers who will be obliged through legislation to commit to employing and training young people ... Submitted by Weston CLP (link)