Greens: Labour’s immigration policy raises serious concerns

1 May 2018

The Green Party has warned that Labour’s immigration policy raises “serious concerns which need addressing”, saying the party’s policies fall short of the progressive, humane system Britain needs.

The warning comes after Diane Abbott dismissed an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for ten years while appearing on Question Time last week (Thursday 26 April) [1], followed by Barry Gardiner saying he supports deportation targets on Daily Politics yesterday (Monday 30 April) [2].

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, called on progressive parties to stand together for:

  • An overarching inquiry into Home Office policy making
  • An end to deportation targets
  • An end to the detention system
  • A moratorium on charter flight removals
  • An end of dehumanising language around migrants

Jonathan Bartley said:

“Scratch the surface of Labour’s immigration policy and there are serious concerns which need addressing. It has been disappointing to watch Diane Abbott’s dismissal of an amnesty for long term illegal immigrants, followed by Barry Gardiner’s support for deportation targets.

“At a time when it is more important than ever to hold the Government and the Home office to account, Labour falls short of the progressive, humane immigration policy we need. The official opposition should be standing up for those who have built their lives in Britain and contributed here, and calling for deportation targets to end for good.

“At this critical moment in the Home Office’s history progressive parties must fight together for an overarching inquiry into Home Office policy making, to shut down the cruel detention system, a moratorium on charter flight removals, and an end of dehumanising language around migrants.”

Notes:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-43920554/question-time-should-there-be-amnesty-for-illegal-immigrants

2. https://twitter.com/daily_politics/status/990918048633700352

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Contractors fined for carrying out unsafe asbestos removal work without a licence

Two contractors were sentenced today after removing asbestos pipe lagging without taking the necessary precautions to reduce exposure to asbestos.

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard how the two contractors were carrying out refurbishment work at a residential property in Hamsterley, County Durham.  Having removed the ceiling in back room on the first floor of the property, the contractors discovered pipework running along the length of the roof space, wrapped in lagging. Samples taken of the lagging confirmed it contained asbestos.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that, between 10 June 2016 and 12 July 2016, the two contractors removed the lagging, despite knowing it contained asbestos.  Neither contractor held a licence to undertake this type of work nor did they have the necessary training. The investigation also found the asbestos removal was carried out without the required measures in place to reduce exposure to asbestos, thereby putting themselves and the house owner at risk of exposure to asbestos fibres.

Brian Michael John Barry, of Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 8(1) and 11(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was fined £576 and ordered to pay costs of £847 costs.

David Jonathan Storey of Prudhoe, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to breaching regulations 8(1) and 11(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was fined £692 and ordered to pay costs of £844.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Andrea Robbins said “Asbestos is responsible for the premature deaths of approximately 5,000 workers each year.

“In this case, it was foreseeable that, in the absence of measures to reduce asbestos fibres becoming airborne during removal of the pipe lagging, that people were at risk of being exposed to them. It was reasonably practicable for the work to have been removed by a licensed asbestos removal contractor under fully controlled condition thus reducing the risk of exposure to asbestos.

“Our website and other publications clearly state that asbestos pipe lagging should only be removed by a licensed asbestos removal contractor, by trained asbestos operatives, and under fully controlled conditions to reduce exposure to asbestos.”

For more information on this, please visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/licensed-contractor.htm

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
  2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
  3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases.



Vote for best ‘I LIVE GREEN’ videos

 Image © Nunzio Santisi, Picture2050 /EEA

Citizens from 21 countries across Europe sent videos to the ‘I LIVE GREEN’ video competition, showing their big and small actions to protect the environment. In total, participants submitted more than 120 videos to the competition’s four categories:

  • sustainable food,
  • clean air,
  • clean water and
  • minimal waste.

An EEA selection committee has shortlisted 31 videos for the final round. The committee selected the videos based on their relevance to the topic, creativity, technical quality and persuasiveness of the story.

Now it is up to the public to select the winner of the Public Choice Award of EUR 500. You can vote for up to five videos through this link.

The online vote closes on 31 May and the video with the highest number of votes wins the Award. In addition, a jury of environmental communication experts from across Europe will select the best video in each competition category. The EEA will announce all winners on the World Environment Day, 5 June 2018.



Vote for best ‘I LIVE GREEN’ videos

 Image © Nunzio Santisi, Picture2050 /EEA

Citizens from 21 countries across Europe sent videos to the ‘I LIVE GREEN’ video competition, showing their big and small actions to protect the environment. In total, participants submitted more than 120 videos to the competition’s four categories:

  • sustainable food,
  • clean air,
  • clean water and
  • minimal waste.

An EEA selection committee has shortlisted 31 videos for the final round. The committee selected the videos based on their relevance to the topic, creativity, technical quality and persuasiveness of the story.

Now it is up to the public to select the winner of the Public Choice Award of EUR 500. You can vote for up to five videos through this link.

The online vote closes on 31 May and the video with the highest number of votes wins the Award. In addition, a jury of environmental communication experts from across Europe will select the best video in each competition category. The EEA will announce all winners on the World Environment Day, 5 June 2018.



Friends of Wighton event

From Sheena Wellington :

Wighton Heritage Centre, Central Library – Wednesday 2nd May
Lunchtime Recital – 1.15pm – 1.45pm.   Admission free
Karen Hannah, fiddle & Lindsay Duncan, guitar

Music lovers are being thoroughly spoiled at the Wighton over the next week.   Saturday’s  Cappuccino Concert featured those lovely singers The Quiggs    Now Wednesday’s Lunchtime Recital stars another great tuneful duo, Karen Hannah and Lindsay Duncan.

A fine fiddle  player with an engaging personality, Karen is known to many as  “tunemonster” for her unrivalled knowledge of Scottish melodies. The wonderfully named Nifty Shades of Grey, Sporran Again and Ceilidh Minogue are among the many bands she has worked with!  She has taught fiddle at the Wighton Centre for many years and her performing career has seen representing Scotland across Europe and as far afield as New Zealand and South Korea.

Another musical globetrotter is Lindsay Duncan, one of the best known musicians on the Dundee scene.    Deeply into music since his schooldays, he is a compelling singer and plays the most beautiful acoustic guitar – check out his version of The Irish Girl on YouTube.   His band pedigree incudes The Mad Parrot Ceilidh Band and The Broon Troot Orchestra and he is an excellent and experienced guitar teacher.

Karen and Lindsay have worked together as a duo and in various line- ups for around ten years.  They promise us tunes, songs and a surprise or two.  I’m looking forward to it and I hope you are too.

Admission free, donations welcome.