‘Labour must not follow the politics of envy’
THE POLITICS of envy is crippling this new government and is driving their entire agenda.
There are two of Labour’s policies which prove this. First, applying VAT on private school fees and second, their plans for the non-dom tax status.
On private school fees, the Education Secretary is clearly engaging in class warfare. Her disdain for private schools is palpable. In her desire to stick two fingers up at these schools, her flagship policy of slapping VAT on fees will actually cost the Treasury £1.6billion, according to the respected Adam Smith Institute think tank.
Children are already being pulled out of private schools by their parents and are now having to find places in the state system. Increased class sizes will follow – damaging education for all children no matter which school they go to.
I proudly went to state school, but I sent my own kids to private school. My husband and I worked hard, set-up a business and made sacrifices to do so. Parents across the country are being punished by this government for exercising choice in the education system. It’s wrong and Labour need to re-think this decision.
When it comes to cracking down on non-doms (a UK resident whose permanent home – or domicile – for tax purposes is outside the UK), Labour claimed this would raise £5.23billion for the government.
However, apparently the Treasury is now reviewing this policy because of concerns it will bring in less money than expected because wealthy people (who we need in our country) are planning to leave the UK.
The politics of envy gets you nowhere. It might make Labour feel better, but their policies will do nothing to improve the lives of people in Redditch, the villages and across the country.
This new government hasn’t even been in power for 100 days yet and already the wheels are falling off the wagon.
Rachel Maclean
‘Working animals now face climate threat too’
AT NEXT month’s UN Climate Change Conference COP29, world leaders will assemble to discuss how to tackle the climate crisis.
At SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), our goal is for the world of working animals to thrive and grow sustainably as part of the nexus between animals, people and the environment.
People have historically exploited animals and the environment, while failing to appreciate the critical interdependency between them. Sadly, the climate crisis is a result of that exploitation.
In the past year, countries where SPANA works – including Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zimbabwe – have experienced devastating climate-related events such as severe flooding, deadly landslides and prolonged droughts. It’s clear that the climate crisis is having a catastrophic impact across the world and making life more difficult than ever for working animals and their owners.
The climate crisis is a fundamental threat to the health of animals, people and the environment. When disasters strike, it’s usually the most vulnerable in society who are most severely affected – including low-income countries where SPANA works.
Extreme events are increasing in frequency, intensity and scale. That’s why SPANA ensures that those at risk are prepared – and that we are ready to act when needed. We provide on the ground support, emergency feed and lifesaving veterinary treatment to working animals in need.
The threat posed by climate change to working animal welfare is only going to grow if we don’t act now. With more than 200 million working animals worldwide, SPANA’s work is essential in protecting these vital animals – the trucks, tractors, and taxis of rural communities.
Safeguarding and treating these animals isn’t just compassion – it’s essential to avoiding ecological and economic disaster.
That’s why SPANA is calling on world leaders to consider the protection and care of working animals in their COP29 discussions. These animals are vital to sustainability, and their welfare must be part of the global climate agenda.
To mark World Animal Day (October 4) find out how you can support working animals affected by the climate crisis by visiting www.spana.org
Linda Edwards
Chief Executive, SPANA
‘Take time for Tea and Talk and feel better’
WORLD Mental Health Day is celebrated on October 10 every year and is an opportunity for us all to come together and talk about mental health.
The Mental Health Foundation hosts Tea and Talk to help raise awareness of mental health, and vital funds to help us continue to support people in our communities who are at most risk of developing poor mental health.
This year the theme for World Mental Health Day is: ‘It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.’ We all spend so much of our time at work, but how we manage and support our own mental health and wellbeing, and that of our colleagues, can vary greatly.
The Mental Health Foundation has published ‘How to support mental health at work’ which offers top tips and guidance for both employees and employers.
We are encouraging people to host their own Tea and Talk in their workplace and have a conversation about mental health. It’s not always easy to start these conversations, but talking about our mental health can help us cope better with life’s ups and down, feel connected with others and less alone.
Remember, this is a day to remind people, and yourself, that it’s OK to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through.
Alexa Knight,
Director for England at the Mental Health Foundation
We welcome your letters….
We welcome your letters for the Redditch Standard on any subject.
Email them to [email protected]
