Author Archives: GovWorldMag

Today’s statistics about families affected by the Tories’ benefit cap are deeply concerning – Debbie Abrahams

Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the benefit cap statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions today, said:

“It is deeply concerning that nearly 70,000 families are now being affected by the Tories’ benefit cap. 

“Seven in every ten of those are single parent families, struggling to give their children the best life chances in the face of falling real wages, the spiralling cost of essentials and inflexible, low quality childcare.

“The courts recently ruled that a benefit cap was discriminatory and unlawful for nearly 30,000 families with children under two. Often these are women fleeing domestic violence.

“Labour has stood against the reduction of the benefit cap. We will transform the social security system so that, like the NHS, it is there for us all in our time of need.”

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Labour •

Today’s figures expose the Government’s hollow promises on nurse recruitment – Jonathan Ashworth

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the latest Nursing and Midwifery Council data showing a further fall in numbers on their register, said:

“The new figures from the NMC expose the Government’s hollow promises on nurse recruitment. Far from delivering the staff needed to keep patients on wards safe, nurse numbers are now in fact falling in our NHS. It’s staggering that numbers are falling when all the evidence shows we need more nurses in the NHS, not less.

“The truth is that the Government has totally failed in its planning of the NHS workforce. The disastrous pay cap has pushed staff to the brink and the end of bursaries has led to a fall in places on nursing degrees. Now Theresa May’s chaotic approach to Brexit is directly impacting staffing levels in the NHS.

“With winter coming it is essential the NHS can get enough staff in place to deliver safe services for patients. The Government needs to get a grip and come up with a sustainable long term plan for the NHS which deals with the staffing crisis and gives the NHS the funding it needs.”

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Labour •

Green Party complains to Newsnight over sexual harassment coverage

2 November 2017

*Greens: “The programme fundamentally failed to reflect or properly examine the seriousness of what is happening to women in Britain”

The Green Party leaders have written a letter of complaint to Newsnight over last night’s coverage of the sexual harassment scandal.

The show featured 14 men and three women and used comparisons to animals, including footage of animals of nature, to discuss the behaviour of men.

The Green Party yesterday called for parliamentarians to be sent to consent lessons as part of ongoing training to prevent sexual harassment [1].

Written by co-leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley, and deputy leader Amelia Womack, the letter to Newsnight said:

“The programme fundamentally failed to reflect or properly examine the seriousness of what is happening to women in Britain. We urge Newsnight to think very carefully about coverage of this issue, and to ensure that they don’t let misogynistic tropes dominate their coverage again. 

“The use of biological descriptions of nature set against footage of animals in nature was entirely inappropriate. It not only failed to challenge the behaviour of men in positions of power but gave a defence for their actions.

“Newsnight gave very little airtime to survivors and women as a whole throughout the rest of the programme. To have guests comprising of 14 men and three women was unacceptable. To give the first half of the programme almost entirely to male voices showed just how deeply the programme’s misunderstanding of the power play in society which has caused the sexual harassment crisis runs.”

Notes:

  1. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/11/01/greens-call-for-consent-lessons-for-mps/
  2. Full text of the letter:

Dear Ian,

We are writing to express our concern about Newsnight’s coverage of the sexual harassment scandal last night. The programme fundamentally failed to reflect or properly examine the seriousness of what is happening to women in Britain.

The use of biological descriptions of nature set against footage of animals in nature was entirely inappropriate. It not only failed to challenge the behaviour of men in positions of power but gave a defence for their actions. Among the most concerning were statements from Evan Davis such as “there is something animal about men”, “it’s because it’s so animal we have social codes to restrain that behaviour”, “it is true that in many animals males gain evolutionary benefits from… coercing females into mating”, and “in most mammals, including us, males have higher testosterone levels… and this may incline them to be more aggressive”. Davis’ assertion he was “not going to use any of this to exonerate men” revealed the lie behind this coverage and did little to undo the damage already done.

Equally concerning was Newsnight’s treatment of how it deemed society has “dealt” with the male character it presented – in Davis’ words, by developing “codes of behaviour to restrain naked sexual aggression”.

Newsnight gave very little airtime to survivors and women as a whole throughout the rest of the programme. To have guests comprising of 14 men and three women was unacceptable. To give the first half of the programme almost entirely to male voices showed just how deeply the programme’s misunderstanding of the power play in society which has caused the sexual harassment crisis runs.

Laura Bates, Shelagh Fogarty and Eliza Anyangwe were voices of clarity in an otherwise confused programme. 

We urge Newsnight to think very carefully about coverage of this issue, and to ensure that they don’t let misogynistic tropes dominate their coverage again.

Many thanks,

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader

Amelia Womack, Green Party deputy leader

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Green Party •