As all the parties rush to take a harsher stance on benefits, Labour have made an interesting move this week, with Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves suggesting that Labour might see a curb in work benefits paid to EU migrants.
Attempting to salvage his party’s waning support, Nick Clegg has echoed Labour’s tough position, announcing plans to prevent migrants from claiming universal credit until they have “worked and contributed” to the system. Clegg has also been on the offensive, warning that the Conservative Party are in danger of “making irresponsible declarations” on Europe in an attempt to “win back supporters from Nigel Farage's UKIP.”
With David Cameron’s long overdue speech on his plans to combat EU migration due in the coming days, clashes over benefits are guaranteed to escalate…
All is Blair in love and war
Former PM Tony Blair has made one of his ever helpful interventions in British politics by stating that Labour must occupy the centre ground and show a “strong political lead” if it wants to secure a majority.
Blair also offered his thoughts on how to deal with UKIP, saying that Labour must respond with “the politics of answer”. Blair added; “you will never out-UKIP UKIP” before leaving abruptly to presumably offer David Cameron his thoughts on how to cook the Christmas turkey.
A reform too far
John Manzoni stepped into the newly-created role of Chief Executive of the Civil Service in October this year. Many have commented on the unenviable nature of the job, and that the small number of applications received for the role stand testament to this.
Indeed, Mr Manzoni has stated that the “exogenous” nature of the Civil Service makes for a more challenging working environment than managing the multinational company, BP, where he worked for more than 30 years. He stated this week that the Civil Service is overstretched and “having to do 30% too much across the board”.
Money makes for an ugly divorce
The Smith Commission has recommended that a huge portion of financial autonomy should be devolved to Scotland in the wake of the independence referendum. The commission, tasked by the Prime Minister with overseeing this process, has received a mixed reaction to its findings.
As a result of the suggested changes, Scotland would be in complete control over their £47.6 billion tax contribution to the UK. Though this would seemingly play into the hands of the SNP, newly enthroned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has labelled the findings disappointing. Indeed Ed Balls has also criticised the package, claiming that in splitting financial risk between England and Scotland, a key sense of national unity will be lost.
inSIGHTS to a healthy future
In other political news, JBP supported the National Eye Research Centre in launching a new campaign inSIGHTS to a health future; which launched an analysis this week producing a worrying assessment of the lack of research funding into eye disease.
In a letter to the Health Secretary, the Centre highlighted how those facing sight-threatening conditions is expected to double to 4 million by 2050. Yet currently less that 2% of medical research funding is directed toward the eye.
The charity is calling upon Government, health and eye care organisations to increase research funding in the face of a predicted explosion in eye disease catalysed by an increasing elderly and more obese population. It is being supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the Macular Society and Diabetes UK who are building toward a Parliamentary summit in February 2015.