Domestic Violence
— Hundreds of domestic abuse survivors are being arrested for assaulting emergency workers, often in traumatic confrontations with police. Campaigners warn the law is backfiring, criminalising victims, not protecting them.
openDemocracy
An independent global media platform. Through reporting & analysis of social/political issues, it seeks to educate citizens to challenge power & encourage democratic debate across the world.
OPINION
— The UK government’s latest disability benefit cuts, framed as economic reform, ignore systemic issues like worsening health and inaccessible jobs. Instead of supporting Disabled people, ministers prioritise cost-cutting over social inclusion.
OPINION
— Donald Trump’s second presidency prioritises alliances with autocracies, ending wars on his terms, and economic nationalism. A ‘win’ in Ukraine may well lead the US president to act in Gaza and resume talks of acquiring Canada or Greenland.
UK Politics
— Dozens of former Conservative special advisers now work for major corporations, raising concerns over lobbying, privileged access, and weak regulatory enforcement. Transparency campaigners demand an urgent overhaul of lobbying rules.
OPINION
— Noel Conway wanted to die with dignity, yet he died slowly in pain. This month MPs can finally help others like him.
Universal Basic Income (UBI)
— Food inequality arises from poverty, pushing low-income households toward unhealthy diets with lasting health impacts. Universal Credit has driven food bank reliance, while Universal Basic Income (UBI) could effectively address poverty and related issues.
OPINION
— Disabled people are criticising Labour’s welfare policies, accusing the government of replicating Tory-era financial surveillance and benefit cuts, and warning that new reforms could worsen hardship and increase poverty.
Online Abuse
— Elon Musk’s latest plan to axe the block button will endanger stalking and domestic abuse victims – and make online life harder for all women.
Royal Family
— The Crown Estate has received over £334,000 in housing benefits since 2020, despite earning £1.1bn last year and evicting 31 tenants. Critics call this an example of housing system inequality.
Lobbying
— A year before its historic election win, Labour engaged with major corporate lobbyists, including arms, oil, and financial sectors. This unprecedented access influenced Labour’s policies, risking a significant corporate sway over future government decisions, potentially harming public interests.
2024 General Election
— After the defeat, will Rishi Sunak be remembered as a failure, a PM who inherited a mess... or just not at all?
COMMENT
— Freedom of Information in the UK is declining, with full request approvals dropping from 55% in 2013 to 34% recently. Successive Conservative governments have increasingly restricted it, undermining transparency and accountability.
Disabled People
— So far, we’ve heard more about Starmer and Sunak’s parents than the UK’s 16 million Disabled UK citizens. Both main parties overlook significant reforms, prompting Disabled people to demand systemic change through collective action and a unified manifesto.
OPINION
— A Tory think tank’s book claims Britain’s economic success was due to British genius, dismissing the role of colonialism and slavery. Critics argue it’s politically motivated, ignoring scholarly consensus on colonial impacts.
Environment
— ExxonMobil is accused of greenwashing over claims that its ‘carbon capture’ project is reducing emissions.
Argentina
— In Buenos Aires, community kitchens face food shortages, affecting millions. Javier Milei’s government cuts worsen the situation, as women, central to these efforts, struggle against poverty and hunger in slums.
