universal credit News

Amber Rudd claims UN warning on desperate plight of UK’s poorest is ‘inappropriate’, in first Commons appearance as DWP minister

Universal Credit drove penniless mum to consider killing herself and son, 7

RUDD’S UN RAGE New Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd blasted the UN for UK report on extreme poverty

DWP chief Amber Rudd launches vicious attack on UN report – minutes into her job

 

 

 

 

Stories of the week 18 November

 

Austerity

Poverty is politics in the UK as a UN Report this week has left the world astounded and a nation hanging its head in shame. The Report condemns Conservatives for austerity and universal credit as social re-engineering, cruel and malicious.  The fifth richest country in the world has levels of poverty not seen in developed countries.

 

 

Environment

After a recent UN Report talked about the need to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 or face disaster, a new group, Extinction Rebellion took climate action to the streets. Claiming the social contract has been broken by the Government, it’s everyone’s moral duty to stand up to climate change or face extinction.

 

 

Brexit

A big Brexit week in the news as the truth about the warring factions is revealed and open warfare starts to rip the Conservatives apartThe Press were as divided as the Tories and the country.  The only discussion of any hope of reconciliation came from Europe.

As Brexit gets closer to take-off or a crash landing, British Airways were accused of planning to move operations to Spain in the event of  No-Deal Brexit.

 

 

Society

In a move that will be sure to upset the work-life balance and privacy, a suggestion has been made that employees could be micro-chipped, much like cats or dogs, to improve security at work.  Needless to say, this has not been well-received.

 

 

Middle East

More troubling stories this week.

There was more fighting in Gazza as Israel took out Hamas’ TV station and rockets were launched in retaliation with yet more fatalities.

The grim Khashoggi murder continues in the news.  The CIA has openly accused the Crown Price of orchestrating the crime.

 

 

NHS

Another outcome of the Government’s continuing NHS under funding and privatisation this week, as private company, CAPITA, failed in another tragic cancer screening blunder.

 

 

World

Against the backdrop of the Centenary of the First World War and the call for a European Army, Donald Trump mocked France, Macron and Merkel with references to the US saving France from speaking German in World War Two.

 

 

Technology

The Government is considering giving teenagers digital passports in the fight against access to online pornography.

 

 

Science

In more surprising news, although perhaps the surprise is that it took so long to prove, men and women really do think differently to each other.  Scientists have compared autism to an extreme version of the male brain.

 

Exclusive: universal credit linked to suicide risk, says study

Universal credit will cost more than system it replaces, study shows

Around 3 million people will still be worse off on universal credit, study warns

Universal Credit is ‘fuelling Britain’s housing crisis’ as thousands can’t pay their rent on time

Council house tenants on universal credit owe almost three times as much rent as those on old benefits

Hastings struggles to feed its poor

Universal credit in Oldham: Mother was forced to go through bin for leftovers

Food bank use soars 13% in a year as universal credit drives new referrals, charity warns

Sanctions on benefits are cruel, say MPs

Why Budget boost won’t help hundreds of thousands of people on Universal Credit

The Chancellor saved Universal Credit – along with the thousands it will help into work in The Telegraph

‘Universal Credit isn’t getting fixed for the Tories’ ideological reasons. It doesn’t have to be like this’ in the Daily Mirror

Esther McVey ‘dismissed evidence’ of pain caused by universal credit in The Times

‘Universal Credit isn’t getting fixed for the Tories’ ideological reasons. It doesn’t have to be like this’ in the Daily Mirror

Universal credit is backward step in tackling domestic abuse, MPs warn in The Guardian

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