Anti-whatever means what exactly?

This kerfuffle about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is really annoying me. I wish that journalists and politicians alike would get their definitions right before they start shouting their heads off...

Definition of Semitic: (adjective) Of or relating to the Semites or their languages.

Definition of Semite: (noun) A member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in south western Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs.

Definition of Racism: (noun) Hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Also: A belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.

Definition of Zionism: (noun) A movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. It was established as a political organization in 1897 under Theodor Herzl, and was later led by Chaim Weizmann.

So anti-Semitism is not being anti-Jew or even anti-Israeli. Equally, anti-Semitism does not equal anti-Zionism. Not all Jews are Zionists. Not all Zionists are Jews.  Not all Jews are Israelis. Not all Israelis are Zionists.

The criticism of the treatment of Palestinian people (who are also Semites under the above definitions) by the State of Israel does not equal anti-Semitism. It equals humanitarian concern for fellow human beings who are suffering daily attacks and deprivation at the hands of others.

Keep the link between the Co-operative Group & the Co-operative Party

Last year Co-operative Group members sent a resounding message of support for continuing the historic relationship with the Co-operative Party, by passing Motion 10 at their AGM in May 2015. This was not just a vote in favour of the Co-operative Group continuing its subscription to the Party but also in favour of the Co-operative Group continuing to be actively engaged in making the case for a more co-operative Britain.

The case is just as compelling in 2016 as it was last year. 

The historic partnership between the Co-operative Party and the Co-operative Group is vital if the Group wants to be at the heart of demonstrating that co-operatives are a better way of doing business.

The co-operative movement has always been a powerful advocate for a society where wealth and power are more equally shared.

Given rising inequality, the failure of our economy to deliver fair rewards for the many not just the few, and the potential for the co-operative movement to play an even bigger role in our society and in our communities, it is vital that the movement continues to have a voice in the rooms where decisions are made – in Westminster, in Holyrood, in Cardiff Bay and in town halls up and down Britain.

So if you are a member of the Co-operative Group, vote in favour of the motion on political subscriptions again at the AGM on 21st May or in advance online.

http://www.keepit.coop/?recruiter_id=76947  ::  http://www.keepit.coop/decision

George Osborne's Budget of unfairness and failure

Did you follow the budget this week? What do you think of the Chancellor taking benefits from the poorest and least able in society whilst simultaneously raising the 40% tax threshold (up by by £1,100 – to £45,000 from April 2017) for higher income earners, and cutting Corporation Tax by 3% (from 20% to 17%) so big businesses pay even less? As Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn's Facebook page says, "George Osborne has chosen to cut £3,500 on average a year from people with disabilities while offering tax breaks for those at the very top."  Do you think that is a fair way to handle the country's finances?

How about the decision to take all schools out of local authority control and make them become academies? A scheme which has already seen the title deeds for schools transferred from local authority hands to private companies. It will also remove the rights of parents to be governors of the schools that their children attend, and will place the decision on when a teacher is ready for QTS (qualified teacher status) status in the hands of the school's head, rather than as now.  That might seem like a good idea until you get to the part where we are told in The Guardian that, "One consequence is that it will be easier for schools to hire experts, including scientists and historians who have not been through official teacher training, and prepare them for accreditation." So it opens the door to unqualified teachers in schools!

Also in The Guardian, 'Lucy Powell, the shadow schools minister, said there was “no evidence to suggest that academisation in and of itself leads to school improvement”. She pointed out that the chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, had written to the secretary of state for education highlighting serious weaknesses in academy chains. “How the government can plough ahead with the wholesale academisation of all schools in light of his evidence beggars belief. We want to see robust accountability and oversight of all schools regardless of type,” she said.'

Meanwhile, Councillor Roy Perry, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said, "only 15% of the largest academy chains perform above the national average in terms of pupil progress, compared with 44% of council-run schools." If forcing schools to become academies is designed to improve standards then it is doomed to failure, as the evidence already shows that they are not the answer!

So if these experienced people have such concerns, should we be accepting this change without worry or should we be demanding "a public inquiry and a referendum over turning all schools into academies"?  After all, it is our children and grandchildren who are going to be affected as the kids of the Government ministers all seem to go to private schools anyhow!

Ben Chu, Economics Editor at the Independent, wrote, "Taking all of Mr Osborne’s post-election tax and benefit measures together, the IFS on 17 March estimated that the incomes of the poorest 10 per cent of the population are set to fall by 7 per cent by the end of the parliament and the second poorest decile by 9 per cent. That equates to an annual loss of £1,300 and £1,600 respectively."

The IFS has produced a chart showing how serious the impact of the budget on poorer families:

It is quite clear that the rich will benefit, the poor will suffer. But it's not just the poor, it is everyone bar the very wealthiest who will lose out. This is no budget to help ordinary people is it? Even those middle income Tory voters who have loyally, if misguidedly, followed their leaders until now. Is it not time to call a halt to this sham of a Government's damage to our society? Time for all of us to stand together and say enough is enough. We are not prepared to see the richest in the land get richer, big businesses pay even less in taxes, whilst the rest of us have to tighten our belts and struggle on with an ever-decreasing income?  Time to stand up and say we will not allow those in need of help through disability or illness to be deprived of a reasonable standard of living. They are not benefit scroungers, they simply need our help due to circumstances quite often beyond their control.

These and much more have, however, been somewhat overshadowed by the idiocy of the Sugar Tax on soft drinks. Just soft drinks mind. You can have as much sugar as you like in biscuits, cakes, chocolate, puddings, etc... just not in soft drinks.  Like that is going to make any difference at all except in hitting people in the pocket and perhaps manufacturers switching to some of the disgusting artificial sweeteners with all the associated health issues they bring!

The measure of the civilisation of a society is measured by how that society treats its poorest, weakest and most vulnerable members. Based on that scale, this Government is one of the most uncivilised, wicked, bullying and despicable that this country has endured in a long time!

Now you have read this, why not watch Jeremy Corbyn's reaction to the Budget here?
https://donation.labour.org.uk/page/content/budget2016/