Despite Ed Balls saying Labour will back the welfare cap, because Ed Miliband has already expressed support for a welfare cap, here are five reasons why Labour MPs should vote against on Wednesday (26 March). If you have a Labour MP, email them (using this template letter). 1. It means need is subject to an […]
Benneconomics – a tribute
Mar 24th, 2014 by Andrew Fisher.I got to know Tony Benn well when I worked as a researcher to the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs in the mid-2000s. I’d first met him when he was about to stand down from Parliament “to devote more time to politics“, a promise which he fulfilled. He filled venues around the country with […]
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What next on the bedroom tax?
Mar 18th, 2013 by Andrew Fisher.Saturday’s protests against the bedroom tax were pretty impressive. Nearly 60 demonstrations held across the UK – with sizeable marches in some cities (like Manchester and Liverpool). In Croydon about 60 people turned up to a lively demo – with support from the Leader of the Labour group on the council, the local trades council, […]
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A Tale of Two Frauds
Jun 18th, 2012 by Andrew Fisher.In 2009, a Lancashire mother was found guilty of defrauding the state of £45,000. She claimed over £45,000 in housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support by not including her husband’s details on the claim forms. She pleaded guilty and was jailed for 16 months. A week ago, two men from Leeds were also found guilty of […]
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The Pensions dispute and the way forward for trade unions
Jan 19th, 2012 by Andrew Fisher.The November 30 strikes saw unprecedented unity in the union movement but the speed of its collapse illustrates just how tenuous it was. Despite claims to have extracted significant concessions from the government, unions that sign up to the government’s offer are really guilty of selling short not only their members but millions more whose […]
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In (partial) defence of Gordon Brown
Oct 13th, 2011 by Andrew Fisher.Despite the claims of Cameron and Osborne (and that rather politically naive and economically illiterate note left by Liam Byrne), the last Labour government was not profligate, it did not over-spend. In fact, as the graph below shows, Labour actually spent less as a proportion of GDP than either the governments of Thatcher and Major. Labour […]
