Personal Blogs

Covid restrictions have come to the end of the road. No more clapping or respect for those on the front line anymore. Time to throw away the facts and figures because the ecconomy, (the donors and business backers need to make a profit) need you !

 The reward for all you lovely NHS staff ,is  the privilege of paying to park your car to do a 12 hour shift in an already highly  pressured environment. ( got to keep the private companies happy!)

Can it be that the government need to claw back the money wasted through rash decisions?

 Or could it be  retribution, due to the uproar people had for, 'party gate'?

Covid tests no longer free for society. Is that due to the fact that big business and donors are banging on the door needing to make a profit to keep this government in the way they are accustomed to working  and living?

It will be interesting to see how willing  the government will be to  support business that may struggle due to the lack of  free testing . Will they be willing to assist businesses  as the  workforce struggle with the guilt of  either being off  or infecting others to pay the bills , (so much for the concern of mental wellbeing !).  How will that assist the economy ? Boom and bust ?

 The government are hell bent on informing us that we chose freedom.

What freedom ?

If you are on a certain level it is possible to acquire such freedom such as the  privileges to a passport, the key to unlocking your biometric which will save the world  and you from identity fraud.

If you wish to apply for higher education ,  driving licences, employment , financial services and issuing of certain civil certificates a passport is now required. So where does that leave those who chose not to have one because they do not go abroad or those that cannot afford one ? What happened to the other forms of identification such as electoral roll, utility bills to assist with  identification ?

Is the  freedom being eroded for the sake of convenience under the guise of security or is it a way to keep  control of people and what they are able to access?

 How can the excuse of identity  be used for certain groups of society but it seems not  to other groups. How is it that people, are able to register any name   at Company House'? ' No identity checks needed. What has happened to the excuse of needing the passport to apply for  security reasons ? Why is  this deemed  acceptable, and yet those that chose not have a passport are hindered with accessing certain services and employment ? Where is the excuse of  protecting identity and security ?

 This appears to be a way of control just as the government wishing to change boundaries and amend the voting rights. 

 I find it Interesting to see the how this  government likes to portrays itself to the global world  and here, who are they kidding ? 

I have been interested in the comments the chancellor  is making regarding those who are unemployed . Is he aware of how grating his comments can be in regard to his transition into work and the blanket comment regarding the 'Only way is to work'. People who are not  working are not shirker's. The chancellor must know that the DWP sends out permitted to work' forms . The government now dictate which jobs are suitable for you to do has that failed to cross his mind ?    

 What way is that giving people freedom to chose what they are able and to know their limits.?

What does that do for their self esteem ? 

The chancellor says  he supports, 'hard working people with children'. How degrading to other groups of society and how diverse is he ? 'Stereo Typing' ?

 It give us a clue of how the government really view the  people of the UK, by deciding  what work they can do and  the terminology used to degrade. Where is the respect?

'World beating' ! 

This morning while listening to the ‘Today’ programme on radio 4, l was struck by  hearing  of the Chinese government and their treatment of businessman Mr Rodgers  who runs a Human Rights charity and  had been accused of endangering 'national security' by the Hong Kong police. Some  UK MP's interviewed ,condemned Chinas' actions but appear to have amnesia when it comes to the, bill here of. Nationality and Borders Bill: Deprivation of Citizenship factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

Double standards ? 

 Mr Rodgers appears to have been informed by letter. (Reuters)

This has to be seen as civil compared to the UK governments, proposed  stance, to the DIY approach of calling them.

I have to wonder where do the government appear to get there ideas for  the New Brexit era from !

There appears to be a lot of  influences from 'think tanks'  such as the Bruge group and  other countries   regarding governments restructuring of polices are all these implementations fit for all or jus a few ?

Links;

https://www.brugesgroup.com 

Radio 4 - Listen Live - BBC Sounds (08:06)

Hong Kong: Briton accused of jeopardising China's security - BBC News

 U.K.-based rights group says Hong Kong police accused it of violating security law | Reuters

Obviously we are, 'world beating' will a  a box of crisps and Kitkats be included in within that context ? Humanity appears to be a dirty word in the vocabulary of this government . Not content with just treating all its citizens' with contempt, they have spread their humanitarian goodness to the continent. The attitude it sends is that they should be fortunate that they were given a box of crisps and a Kitkat. ( At least they got something!) This  government does not like giving out, what they perceive to be  freebies to mere mortals.

 Can this government humiliate this country anymore on the global stage?

I like anyone else believe in positivity in the right context but this government appear to use slogans such as 'World beating' and the 'first in the world' for what purpose ? What do they actually mean and in what context ? 'World beating' ' The first in the world' .Covid- We may of all been jabbed but where could we go ?  How does this fit in with collaboration with other countries to eradicate the virus? Time after time we have had the government and only the government singing their own praises to boost  their egos.  

 Someone needs to inform government, we are no longer an empire nor do we live in ,'Peppa Pigs World' .

I think we are all  tired of the spin and excuses this government has given, l feel that right now  this has to be some dreadful dream. This government  appears to have total disregard for anything that relates to humanity. It is all to easy for them to detach themselves of blame,  through privatisation, and others, they  delude themselves and themselves only, of being' world beating' and 'the first in the world'  of what exactly ? Opening up a tuck shop in Calais?

Stay strong.

Governments  please don't sit by with just sanctions  and watch this unfold any further.

Without  humanity there is no power no wealth there is nothing.

For every seat of learning eradicated another will always take its place.

Having listened to the Today Programme this morning and reading the news, l was disturbed to hear the report regarding government’s proposal for post 18s’ education. Today - 23/02/2022 - BBC Sounds (02.39 -03.30) 

No English and maths GCSE, no university student loan, plans say - BBC News 

 Again this  has all the connotations of the government declaring what they see fit for society to be educated in and it implies that only within the constraints of their ideals and their ideals only will the government support you with a student loan.  Have the department for education taken their eye of the ball and are again passing the buck and their responsibilities to others when it comes to support in schools and then taking control back when it comes to higher education ? Cherry picking?

What support and provisions have they given to schools regarding those pupils that have had difficulty in passing their GCSES'?

 Can this be seen as a ruse due to the shortfall in National insurance and tax ?

 Having raised the school age to 18, are they are now finding there is a complete short fall regarding National Insurance and tax,  and therefore the need is to plug the gap by capping universities and returning people to the workforce whose academic standard they believe is not good enough?

In what way are we now relinquishing power when it comes to higher education? Is this the same quiet undertone we can see with the independent electoral regulator?

Who decided that schools should no longer invest or focus on the manual skills in the curriculum and instead focus on technology, academia and university?  Due to this short-sightedness, we now have a shortfall in the skilled workforce and many that have not been academically minded and technically minded have already been chucked on the scrap heap and stigmatised due to way education was divided in the past.  Again, by changing the system there will be a division within society, the,' have and the have nots', those that can afford the private additional lessons and those that cannot.   Have we not  learnt, and we are heading again for the same pitfall and societal divisions? 

Can society ever been seen to value equality when it comes to  education and work ?

 Is the government again desperate to divide the society instead of ‘levelling up’?

In what direction is our country going?

When it comes to the issue of mental wellbeing, I feel that the government underestimate how this affects the self esteem and confidence of those on lower incomes. When lower income students  are accepted at university, it is NOT a ‘rite of passage’ as seen by the higher income bracket household, however the pressure and  expectation for all students and families  can be the same. In contrast, some 18-year-olds from higher income bracket households would like just to have the educational pressure taken off and work in various manual positions and lesser skilled positions.  Is it still the expectation of some  generational higher income households that university should be a privilege only afforded to a few and, sadly those who do not think the same can be overruled?

      Funding

How can the government say they  value a ‘high skilled and highly paid workforce’?· Is this a myth?

Do the government only see the profit and return when it comes to investment of certain groups of people within society ?

Do the government  really value the diversity education can bring to make, ’Britain great?’

 Look around at all those countries that have invested in education for all ages and abilities and then ask why are we not consistent with our workforce? Is it because of the social divides we still impose?

The mature student.

 According to the Office for Students and the report Mature students in England there has been a decline within the mature student population.

 Why is there such minimal support given to such an eager and  untapped source of talent?   

 All have  experience of life and have contributed in many ways to society, but many were unable to have time to study  due to work pressures and families. Why should they not be supported so they can contribute  within different  work settings which demand a degree ? Why should their personal goals and aspirations be less supported ? 

Many wish to go into sectors in which there are shortfalls, (nursing, social care, and teaching) but due to the lack of  funding  and support are they are no longer able to  pursue their vocation.  How is that improving our society ?

 We  live longer, expected to work longer and yet we only have minimal support and limited access to education ? Where is the government support ?

 Student finance support is taken away long before the retirement age. Why ? (Another wasted and untapped source.) Why is it that those people wishing to change career or have no pension are penalized due to their age ? 

The assumption that everyone has a great pension no longer holds due to the fact that many have lost their pensions through companies mismanagement of pension funds and some  have no private pension at all, so why are they no longer able to be supported if they wish to re educate  to participate within society?  Is that not discrimination?

Disability

 Regarding the little provisions that the government have already imposed for those with disabilities, of school age, l do wonder about the continuous tag line of, ‘diversity, equality, and inclusion, within the education system. If they can not get the basic financial support  right for those of school age, what confidence should we have that they will be getting the right  financial support for those of eighteen plus’ ?

Do the government feel they will not get a good enough return on their money?

 Is it the way government, 'stereotype' all of society that  leads to our downfall and progression ?

Are we not worth investing in?

Why should any part of society be penalized from attending university if they wish to do so?

How much does this government believe in supporting freedom of education and the freedom of the universities to decide for themselves?

How can we be a, 'diverse and equality led' society?

 Maybe the government should  rethink again about all those various so-called degrees and courses that they may not think are suitable and,  instead of eradicating them maybe the government should be looking  at how to incorporate them into a bigger picture of society instead of viewing through a narrow tunnel of vision they have at present. 

Can this be  what is holding us back as a country?

Education is a basic human right and we should all have the freedom to choose and to be supported. In order to address the balance of  living longer and working longer, there must be an understanding that  all in society will all need to have some choice and job satisfaction that suits them and  not not just the tick box and pigeon hole of what suits government.

Article 2 of the First Protocol: Right to education | Equality and Human Rights Commission (equalityhumanrights.com)

Mature students - Office for Students

Mature students in England - House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)

 The Election Bill is making it's way through parliament. How many of us have taken an interest in this?

Is this the end of democracy for all and we are sleepwalking right into it? Once it is passed how many will complain when being turned away from the polling station for not having the right identification ? Do we really care or do we accept it for what it is and just complain that it is not fair and carry on?

 Part of the proposed bill wishes for all that are eligible to vote to have mandatory photo ID .

That's no problem l hear you cry, but what if you do not or cannot afford a passport ?What if you do not drive? What if you do not possess any photo ID? Why should you be penalised from voting?

Fortunately you  will be able to apply for a 'free' photo ID card from the government. Problem solved ? With all the current bureaucracy would it reach you in time to vote or conveniently turn up after the election ? 

The reason given to this part of the bill (photo ID),is to cut down fraud at the polls.

The figures suggest that there are minimal fraudulent acts at the ballot box, and those acts are dealt  with according to the law already.

Cutting fraud is always a good call but, how much will this cost  the tax payer? 'Free' sounds great but when you think of the cost behind the word 'free' it soon mounts up !  Is this another money wasting exercise in such  sensitive times for many ?

With the new reforms, l question what faith do they have in the regulator?

Is it the case that the government do not trust the competency of the regulator?

Will people be willing to apply for a 'free photo ID card' or will they not bother? How will their right to vote be affected? 

Is it right that some groups will be more privileged than others ? What will the consequences be in regard to voting and the outcomes for society as a whole?

How is that valuing diversity and leveling up inequality to all those in society that have right to vote at the moment?

The bill will  also give the government authority over the Independent electoral regulator. (Can that be right ?)

Please follow the links to forge your own opinion.

Elections Bill 2021: Summary factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The electoral register and the 'open register' - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Government must not disenfranchise low-income voters at the polls | JRF

Why am l not surprised when listening to Radio 4's 'Money Box'  that half a million pensioners that live abroad in countries and the commonwealth  countries will not be getting an increase to their pensions. Their pensions had been frozen at the payment they received when they first moved abroad. In contrast, some pensioners will receive the full amount including this years increase if they reside in certain  countries such as the United States.  

So what is the difference ? 

 According to the report on the programme the policy not to pay the increases to some was made 70 years ago. When asked by the reporter why they have not changed it, they replied, 'That has been the way it has always been'.

Can that be right? I find that quite disturbing that the comment insinuates no one has thought to change the policy over 70 years.

What else have they not changed ?

How forward thinking are we as a country if we are still relying on 70 year old policies from the DWP? 

Who should be accountable for this ?

Britain appears to be in a time warp when it comes to the DWP and their policies.

Someone may need to remind them this is not the 1950's.

If this is how they treat people and by not updating their their policies with efficiency, my question is, what is society paying them to actually do every day? Where has all the money gone ? Has it ever been ring fenced ?

Please follow the link and see if you think it is fair. 

Money Box - Cost of living squeeze for benefits and state pension - BBC Sounds   (17:18 -23:54)

Can anyone imagine waking up everyday with the eyes of the world staring at you ?

A lot has changed in the 70years, but the most lovely thing of all to hear was her wish, for Camilla to be Queen Consort.

 You can not buy happiness or love.

Congratulations to the Queen .

For all those out there trying to get any sense from DWP, may l suggest that;

1. However time consuming you make sure you have copies of what you have sent.

2.Send recorded delivery or signed for, this way you will have a record that it would have  been received.

3. Keep all where you can find it .   

As your information is passed like a parcel from one company to the other with neither company really having a clue where your paperwork actually is or your personal circumstances' l feel that we need to help them all we can.

Perhaps the DWP procuring so many companies  to do the job they should ultimately be doing, need to pay attention to their own slogan, 'Way to Work', because if we all worked like that department l am sure we would not last long.   

DWP you really need to sort out how your system operates then maybe you would not be paying compensation and backdated claims. Thus saving your reputation and the tax's payers money.

 Efficient services gain respect !

How much money has been totally miss-spent  by the government? Can they really be held accountable? Any chance of setting up  repayment schemes or  sanctioning their salaries for their miss- spending ? (always hopeful!) 

 The recent news surrounding the antics of this government has led me to think, what if  there was a panel  of people from all walks of life, who were able to decide who was a suitable candidate to  make critical decisions with the spending of societies money ?  (ideal world ?) After all who is paying for this service?  Would this be a fairer system? We intrust these  people, who can spend vast amounts of the publics' money, miss- spend it, ( no refunds) and penalize people  by rising taxes and implementing sanctions for  their massive mistakes. Below are just some of the issues that have sprung to mind, where l feel that society is being penalized. Having put my points forward, l thought l would also put my point across regarding the continuous barrage we get regarding 'how well' they have done !  

Education -

Studying full-time

 Brexit - There appears to have been no foresight with regard to the employment sectors and the shortfall. Prejudiced ideals of categorising  certain jobs as , 'low skilled ' with no obvious inkling of  the working world, (ground floor up), has now caused  panic and we are now having to pay for their oversight by being shoved into any job . The new message is, 'once you are in work, (even though it is not the job you are skilled for !), you will be able to move on'. It also appears that if your studying interferes with seeking work, you would have to forego your studies to appease the government. So much for wanting a highly skilled workforce ! If you refuse to comply - you will be sanctioned .Universal Credit: Jobseekers told to widen job search faster or face cut - BBC News

The wasting the tax payers money on the ghost ships  The list goes on .Government cancels Brexit ferry contract with no-ship firm | Brexit | The Guardian 

(wink wink job for the boys!). 

Covid total panic, no thought but spend spend spend. 

Go-between paid £21m in taxpayer funds for NHS PPE - BBC News 

Covid: Government's PPE 'VIP lane' unlawful, court rules - BBC News - The list goes on.

(Trotters Independent. Global) Any chance of a refund under the Consumer Act 2015  ?

Current crisis with investigations, enquires and reports running up a nice bill which the tax payer foots.

In contrast;  Look what we  have done for you !

We got Brexit done ? No, Northern Ireland springs to mind and so Brexit continues.

 Furlough - thankyou very much for giving us our money - doff cap ! Withdrawn.

£20 Up lift- withdrawn.

The vaccine roll out which comes under the NHS - Supposedly free service.

Sanctions for being out of work - DWP thank you very much.

So what has this government actually done for our society?

Is there anything that has really benefitted our society ?

 The vaccine roll out - we are constantly being reminded how well the vaccine roll out has been. We know, however, we still have to wait for the rest of the world to catch up. How much did that cost in comparison to the PPE debacle ?

 I  have been aware Fibromyalgia for many years. Someone who l knew has had this chronic illness for a multiple of years but at the time there was very little literature and  awareness in the context that there is today. Having been diagnosed with the illness myself l am pleased to say that  there are organisations such FMA UK who are raising  the awareness of this debilitating illness.

There still appears to be a lot of stigma, assumptions and perceptions around sufferers that have the illness.  In 2020 Des Quinn FMA chair UK, wrote an  article, charting back the roots of fibromyalgia to 1592. In my opinion, this article can be very useful for suffers, ,family, friends, health professionals who are under time constraints to research the illness and anyone who wishes to to have an understanding of the chronic illness.

 l had been led to believe that this is a, 'new illness' when in fact it is not . 

Big thank you to Des Quinn and FMA UK for assisting and empowering sufferers and others so that we can alleviate stigma and cope with this chronic illness.

FMA UK - The History of Fibromyalgia

Let's keep raising awareness and keep reducing the stigma!