2 big stories
There’s little bigger news any time than an economic slump, and the acknowledgement from Rishi Sunak that Britain is facing a “significant recession” augurs ill for a country likely to mutilate its key trading tie in less than eight months. But with decidedly mixed messages on how Government finances might be reconciled going forward – no more austerity, apparently – and public services in need of investment, an inexperienced Treasury team need to come up with a plan fast.
The tragic death of Transport for London employee, Belly Mujinga, has become the subject of an investigation into her death, after evidence that a man deliberately coughed and spat at her and a colleague, claiming that he had the coronavirus. It’s a sign of the times that someone would be callous enough to even suggest such a thing, but the story has struck a chord with the public, and hopefully the perpetrator will be found and punished if a link is found.
2 social media posts
Peter Black has picked up on the failure of the Conservative Party to fulfil the promise by all of the candidates in last year’s leadership contest to launch an inquiry into Islamophobia within its ranks. Shouldn’t be hard to find, you’d think, and possibly easier to prove, but unless they start work, it’ll look like the racist fringe in the party is to be quietly overlooked.
Meanwhile, Ed Davey is asking the question that five million self-employed people are keen to get an answer to…
Well done @EdwardJDavey taking up the call in #PMQs to ask if an extension is coming for the self employed income support scheme.
Remember currently the furlough scheme ends in Oct, yet the self employment scheme ends in 3 weeks (payouts now are for Mar – May).
Sadly no answer
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) May 13, 2020
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2 Comments
Recession. If Covid-19 is causing problems what excuses will they blame the EU for.An even deeper recession will be 100% Tory problem. I can see Gove (arch demon) ,Johnson (failed PM) asking for an extension at the last minute.
Islamaphobia. I understand Johnson and others have joined a sight where it is easier to delete comments quickly. If they drag their feet long enough and keep a low profile islamaphobic comments can be deleted showing them as ‘clean’ no phobia.
“Peter Black has picked up on the failure of the Conservative Party to fulfil the promise by all of the candidates in last year’s leadership contest to launch an inquiry into Islamophobia within its ranks.”
Some detail might be helpful.
On Tuesday, the Conservative Party published its terms of reference for the review, at
https://www.conservatives.com/news/amanda-milling-terms-of-reference.
The independent Chair of the investigation is Professor Swaran Singh.
The investigation “will consider and report upon:
“The nature and extent of complaints against the Party, Party Members, Party Representatives and/or Volunteer Leaders (whether made formally or otherwise) of alleged discrimination because of a protected characteristic (including religion or belief and specifically Islam) or of indirect discrimination, since 2015. The independent investigation will also consider and report on any complaints of harassment (as defined in paragraph 4 below) and/or victimisation during the same period; and
“How the Party has investigated and dealt with such complaints, including any sanctions applied by the Party in circumstances where complaints have been investigated and upheld.”