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The conservatives have come up with their answer to the My David Cameron site based on that strange Cameron photo. I’m therefore not sure I’m supposed to appreciate the Conservative equivalents; but apart from one or two they’re not bad. The Winterton picture is the winner

See them all

Manchester Evening News Article. It’s good coverage on this controversial school closure. The Tory led council has got itself into a complete muddle over this issue and the anger of parents is completely justified. The sensible approach is to put the brakes on all decisions and start consulting properly.

Support the campaign. It benefits the global economy, it benefits the poor and preserves normal transactions; a Tobin tax for the 21st century. Read more here robinhoodtax.org.uk.

It sounds complicated, but actually it isn’t. A tiny tax on bankers has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year – giving a vital boost to the NHS, our schools, and the fight against child poverty – as well as tackling poverty and climate change around the world.

I was listening to Radio 4’s ‘Start the Week this morning. Stewart Brand, an American environmentalist from the 60s, was promoting his book in which he turns heretic in supporting the urban over-crowded shanty existence against the rural idyll of village life, and goes on to support nuclear power, and gm crops in Africa. It was good to hear views refreshingly well argued as opposed to the tired refrain from some of the more unworldly Green polemicists and their ilk.  Here’s a link to a 15 minute lecture from him. It’s well worth watching if only for the spectacular shots of the train going through the Bangkok Shanty. Mike Cordingley

When David Cameron went to Hammersmith & Fulham recently he told locals that “when I look at the record of what the Conservatives have done here in Hammersmith and Fulham, far from being embarrassed as the Conservative Leader, I’m proud of what they’re doing”.

Last Thursday the Local Government Ombudsman condemned Hammersmith and Fulham Council and determined it must pay compensation to a pregnant woman fleeing domestic violence, after Cameron’s ‘flagship’ local authority refused to provide her with support and temporary accommodation. The terrified woman was later found seeking shelter in a park.

This shocking tale would be of no interest to Stretford residents except that it highlights the true Tory future should we re-elect the nasty party. It serves as a reminder of the squalor and destitution that faced many in Thatcher’s Britain. For goodness sake we mustn’t let them back.

Mike Cordingley

Child poverty figures

One-club solutions are not the answer to child poverty

26 January 2010
The latest figures from Save the Children showing an increase in the number of the very poorest children will cause ministers concern. The charity itself acknowledges that budget measures since 2008 should have begun to turn the position round. But some children are especially at risk. Children who experience long-term ill health or disability, or who have a parent who is sick or disabled, children in larger families, children in lone parent families, children from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, children whose parents don’t work – all face a disproportionately high risk of poverty.

Read More from Progress Magazine

Also read Compass article ‘It’s inequality stupid’