Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Tax credit change could cost families £4k a year - Labour
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Rachel Reeves: 'This is the wrong policy at the wrong time for thousands of families'

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Low income families with parents in part-time work could lose nearly £4,000 per year because of a change in tax credits, the Labour Party says.
Families can currently qualify for Working Tax Credit if one parent works at least 16 hours a week.
About 212,000 families could be hit from April when the threshold is raised to 24 hours per week, the official data highlighted by Labour shows.
The Treasury said new measures to help working families were being introduced.
Couples can apply for the credit as long as they make a joint claim. However the money will be paid to the person who works part-time.
There is a basic amount available for each application, and then additional elements depending on whether you have applied as a couple or as a lone parent.
Treasury Minister Chloe Smith said the policy was part of "what we have to do as a country to get out of the enormous deficit mess left by Labour".
She told BBC News the policy was not unfair because it "levels two parent households with what lone parents have to do", adding that Labour would have to decide whether or not they agree with that.
Figures obtained by Labour's Treasury spokeswoman Cathy Jamieson show 212,000 households - with a total of 470,000 children between them - could lose the £3,870-a-year credit because of the change.
The region with the most households likely to be affected is said to be London (46,205), followed by the North West (26,845), West Midlands (22,675) and Yorkshire and the Humber (20,225).
BBC political correspondent Naomi Grimley reports that shadow ministers are suggesting it might be difficult for parents to increase the amount of time they work as many companies were cutting employees' hours because of the tough economic climate.
'Nothing fair' Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves told the BBC it had taken Labour some time to go through the figures and talk to people who would be affected by the changes.
She said: "So many families have no idea this is coming.
"It's something now that's gaining traction as people realise what impact these government policies will have on them.

“Start Quote

This is the wrong policy at the wrong time for thousands of families”
End Quote Rachel Reeves Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury
"In normal circumstances you might think these people will be able to take extra hours on but we know, at the moment, businesses and the public sector aren't taking on workers or giving extra hours' work either."
But a Treasury spokesperson said Labour's figures ignored the other measures it had taken.
These include increasing working age benefits by 5.2% in April and the child element of Child Tax Credit by inflation.
The spokesperson added that fuel duty had been cut and council tax was frozen.
"When it is introduced, the Universal Credit will give nearly three million households a higher level of entitlement and enable more parents to get into work by helping 80,000 families with childcare support."
The spokesperson added: "Ultimately there is nothing fair about running huge budget deficits and burdening future generations with debts we cannot afford to pay."
Ms Reeves denied Labour was being disingenuous saying: "The government's own figures show that they expect 82,000 families will lose the full amount of their tax credit."

“Start Quote

We need to leave more money in the pockets of people who earn the money in the first place”
End Quote John O'Connell Taxpayers' Alliance
She said the coalition was choosing to "hit women and families particularly hard with the cuts they are introducing".
She added: "In an environment where we know that there are many people working part time because there aren't the full time jobs available, this is the wrong policy at the wrong time for thousands of families."
Imran Hussain, from Child Poverty Action Group charity, told the BBC that many families were going to struggle, especially in the current economic climate.
He added: "The bizarre thing about this is the government's fundamental policies around welfare reform are about abolishing this kind of qualifying period of hours."
John O'Connell from the pressure group Taxpayers' Alliance called the tax system "complicated and too burdensome".
He said it encouraged a culture of dependency for both those out of work and working families penalised by having too much taxed in the first place.
"We need to leave more money in the pockets of people who earn the money in the first place," he said.
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Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt warns on football racism
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Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said 'huge strides' had been made tackling racism in football

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Football should avoid complacency when it comes to tackling racism in sport, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.
He said huge strides had been taken on the issue but David Cameron was concerned the situation did not "go back to the bad old days".
The culture secretary told the BBC he is due to meet the prime minister to discuss racism and behaviour in football.
Mr Cameron plans a summit on racism in football later this month.
The prime minister will hold talks with governing bodies and players' representatives after a series of high-profile incidents.
'On our mettle' On Saturday, Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was criticised for refusing to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra before the match between the teams.
Suarez was banned for eight matches after racially abusing Evra in October. He later apologised for not shaking hands in a statement released on the Liverpool website on Sunday.
On racism, Mr Hunt told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "We have made huge strides, in fact I would say as a society one of the reasons we have made huge strides in changing attitudes to racial discrimination is because of the changes in football."
But he said the lesson of the last couple of months was that there was no room for complacency.
The cutural secretary said they needed to be "on our mettle at making sure the football authorities and the government continue to do everything we can to stamp out this problem".
He said the decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy was one for the Football Association, but he supported this.
'Unsporting behaviour' "A principle is more important than any one person and it's incredibly important for the future of the game that the FA deal decisively and clearly with these issues as they did with [Luis] Suarez," he said.
"But John Terry is innocent until proven guilty and we must wait to see what the courts decide."
Mr Hunt said headlines from Saturday's match between Manchester United and Liverpool were "incredibly depressing".
He said: "It was very unsporting behaviour. I'm sure the FA will look into whether any rules were broken. I thought the referee handled it brilliantly, it was an incredibly tense and difficult situation."
Mr Hunt also defended doubling the budget for the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics in times of austerity.
The culture secretary said: "This will be the biggest, longest ad for our country in our history. This is the time to bang the drum for all that's brilliant about our country."
'Kick it out' At a charity reception last month, Mr Cameron said: "My message is clear. We will not tolerate racism in Britain.
"It has absolutely no place in our society. And where it exists, we will kick it out.
"Our football governing bodies, clubs and footballers themselves have a vital role to play as role models in this respect.
"It's vital too that more coaches and managers from black and minority ethnic groups make it to the top of the game and I know the Premier League among others are working hard to try and make this happen."
In an FA Cup match a fortnight ago, QPR defender Anton Ferdinand was spared having to decide whether to shake the hand of John Terry when the Football Association allowed the teams to forego the ritual.
That match was the first meeting of the London clubs since Terry was alleged to have racially abused Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October - a charge he denies.
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Bonuses in public sector under review
RBS group chief executive Stephen Hester RBS chief executive Stephen Hester waived his £963,000 bonus following public pressure

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The government has ordered a review of bonuses in the public sector to ensure they are "fit for purpose", amid public anger over the size of some payments.
Downing Street said this would focus on so-called arm's-length bodies like Royal Mail and the Met Office and ensure "value for money".
It comes as the largely taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland prepares to pay more than £500m in bonuses.
Up to 25% of officials automatically qualify for payments.
Although Stephen Hester, chief executive of RBS, which is 82% taxpayer-owned, voluntarily waived his £963,000 bonus, other bankers will still receive large payments.
Letters Network Rail bosses have also given up payments.
A Downing Street spokesman said the government had ordered a review of bonuses in the public sector to ensure they were "fit for purpose", as it was important to provide "value for money for taxpayers" and ensure the right people were in post.
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Nick Clegg insists that all public-funded organisations must follow remuneration systems that are "up to the highest standards"
He added that different organisations would have different arrangements for bonuses and that it would be up to individual secretaries of state to decide what action to take.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude have written to all government departments asking them to review their bonus structures.
Bodies with some element of public ownership, such as Royal Mail, the Met Office and Channel Four, could see fewer and smaller payments as a result.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said the government was sensitive to charges of being anti-business, but wanted to show it was prepared to act to prevent rewards for failure.
It could also, potentially, affect the BBC, which is seeking to appoint a new director-general.
Labour's Owen Smith, shadow secretary to the Treasury, said: "Labour has been arguing for months that we need to tackle the culture of excessive bonuses at the top that are paid regardless of performance.
"The government must be judged on its actions rather than its words. Last week they voted against Labour's motion on the bonus culture, greater transparency on top pay and the need for a new tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people."
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Bideford Town Council prayers ruled unlawful

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Clive Bone: "Religious freedom is an absolute right, and so is freedom from religion"

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A Devon town council acted unlawfully by allowing prayers to be said at meetings, the High Court has ruled.
Action was brought against Bideford Town Council by the National Secular Society (NSS) after atheist councillor Clive Bone complained.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled the prayers were not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972.
However, he said prayers could be said as long as councillors were not formally summoned to attend.
The judgement was being seen as a test case which could affect local councils across England and Wales.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled the prayers as practised by Bideford Town Council had been unlawful because there was no statutory power permitting them to continue.
The NSS, which said prayers had no place in "a secular environment concerned with civic business", argued the "inappropriate" ritual breached articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect an individual's right to freedom of conscience and not to face discrimination.
'Bizarre ruling' However, the case was not won on human rights grounds but on a point of statutory construction of local government legislation.

Analysis

image of Robert Pigott Robert Pigott BBC News religious affairs correspondent
By and large, judges have been unsympathetic to the Christian case when people have argued that they don't want to do things like advising homosexual couples.
The tide has been flowing pretty firmly against Christianity in public life and it's caused huge concerns for the churches. They say it's being driven out of public life.
There is a lot of concern that this is not just about pure religion but this is about some of the values that underpin the British way of life.
Of course, from the other side, people like the National Secular Society say the Church and Christianity should not have undue privileges in having their values and their way of doing things upheld.
So there's an argument on both sides but certainly it's been very noticeable in the last few years that the tide's been turning against Christian practices which we've just taken for granted for centuries.
Mr Justice Ouseley said: "A local authority has no power under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, or otherwise, to hold prayers as part of a formal local authority meeting, or to summon councillors to such a meeting at which prayers are on the agenda."
He told the court: "There is no specific power to say prayers or to have any period of quiet reflection as part of the business of the council."
Referring to Bideford, he said: "The council has on two occasions by a majority voted to retain public prayers at its full meetings.
"But that does not give it power to do what it has no power to do."
The judge acknowledged the case raised issues of general public importance and gave the council permission to appeal.
Speaking after Friday's outcome, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said the ruling was "surprising and disappointing".
He said: "Public authorities - be it Parliament or a parish council - should have the right to say prayers before meetings if they wish."
Anthony Inch, a Bideford town councillor and Torridge district councillor, said he hoped there would be an appeal leading to the ruling being overturned.
"I'm disgusted, surprised and saddened by the decision," he said.
Simon Calvert, of the Christian Institute, said: "We are pleased that the court has said the saying of prayers at meetings does not breach human rights laws.
"But it is bizarre that they should be declared unlawful because of the 1972 Local Government Act."
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Simon Calvert: "We feel rather sad the court has given the National Secular Society some encouragement in their campaign"
He added: "The judge's finding that the Local Government Act doesn't give local authorities power to include prayers as part of their formal meetings - we think that's extraordinary.
"I mean we're talking about a practice that goes back to the Elizabethan era.
"And the logic of the judge's ruling may be that it could also be unlawful for a council to start its meeting with the beginning of the national anthem. It may even throw local authorities' Diamond Jubilee celebrations up in the air."
Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society said: "This judgment is an important victory for everyone who wants a secular society, one that neither advantages nor disadvantages people because of their religion or lack of it."
He added: "Acts of worship in council meetings are key to the separation of religion from politics, so we're very pleased with the judgment, and the clear secular message it sends - particularly the statement made about the 1972 Act."
'Great pity' The Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, said he would encourage councils in his area to continue holding prayers before the start of their statutory business.
He added: "I think it's a great pity that a tiny minority are seeking to ban the majority, many of whom find prayers very, very helpful, from continuing with a process in which no-one actually has to participate."
The legal challenge was launched in 2010 after the NSS was contacted by Mr Bone, who was a Bideford town councillor at the time.
Mr Bone, who ended up leaving the council because of its "refusal to adjust" its prayers policy, said on Friday: "Quite frankly delighted. I'm not surprised, I expected to win.
"The law is the law and local authorities have to obey the law."
He added: "Local government is for everybody, it should be equally welcoming to everybody, whatever they believe.
"This has got nothing to do with intolerance towards religion.
"Religious freedom is an absolute right and so is freedom from religion an absolute right, in my view."
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Turkish football match-fixing trial gets under way

Fenerbahce fans outside the courthouse, 14 Feb 2012 Fenerbahce fans protested outside the court

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Some of the top names in Turkish football are set to face judges near Istanbul as nearly 100 people go on trial accused of match-fixing.
Aziz Yildirim, the president of Fenerbahce, one of Turkey's leading clubs, and 92 other suspects are charged in the scandal.
Nineteen of last season's league matches are said to have been affected.
Hundreds of Fenerbahce fans protested outside the court against any penalty the club might face.
"The government might collapse, inflation might go down, but Fenerbahce can never be relegated," the fans chanted, according to AP.
The Istanbul club won the league title last year but were barred from the European Champions League because of the alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal.
The suspects in the trial include players and managers from several major clubs as well as Fenerbahce.
Twenty-three of them are currently in prison, including Mr Yildirim.
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Man injured in Thai capital blast

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A foreign man has been seriously wounded in Bangkok after explosives he was said to be carrying went off, local media report.
His legs were blown off, according to police and a government spokesman.
An explosion was also reported at the house he had been renting in central Bangkok, the government spokesman said.
Last month the US embassy warned of possible attacks in Bangkok. A Lebanese man was later arrested and bomb-making materials found.
Police told the Reuters news agency that based on initial reports, they believed that the man was Iranian. Thai media also said that an identity card found nearby indicated the man could be of Iranian origin.
"The police have control of the situation. It is thought that the suspect might be storing more explosives inside his house," a police spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying.
The man is said to be receiving emergency treatment in hospital.
The blasts in Bangkok come a day after two bomb attacks targeting Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia. Israel has accused Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah of orchestrating the attacks. Iran denies the claims.
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