Churchill replaces Elizabeth Fry on the £5 note


This week Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, announced Winston Churchill will replace social reformer Elizabeth Fry as the face of £5 notes. This means that, other than the Queen, there will be no women featuring on our English bank notes. An all-male line-up on our banknotes sends out the damaging message that no woman has done anything important enough to appear. This is patently untrue. Not only have numerous women emerged as leading figures in their fields, they have done so against the historic odds stacked against them which denied women a public voice and relegated … Continue reading Churchill replaces Elizabeth Fry on the £5 note

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Royal Flotilla


Among the highlights of the Queen‘s diamond jubilee celebrations this weekend was the grand river pageant on the river Thames. Over 1,000 gaily decorated private boats were present on the Thames, creating a seven-mile flotilla. The pre-event buzz and thousands of visitors flocked to the banks – including the Thames Embankment to view the spectacular event. The cost of the River Pageant said to run to approximately £12 million, plus £2 million in VAT. And although television historian David Starkey described the flotilla as “lunacy”, and warns that the queen may not favour exuberant celebrations, but it’s unlikely such criticism … Continue reading Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Royal Flotilla

Lansley opens Whistleblowing Helpline


NHS staff who have concerns about patient care will be able to access a new, free whistleblowing help line from the 1 January, Health Secretary Andrew announced today. The helpline will be available to staff and employers in social care as well as the NHS, via a now-free phone service. The helpline, that will be Government funded, is part of the current Government’s commitment to  tackle what it poor practice within the NHS and social care there will also be a contractual duty of employees to raise concerns where they beleive there is poor care introduced in a a new … Continue reading Lansley opens Whistleblowing Helpline

Rochdale’s Housing Debt Problem


Simon Danziuk MP for Rochdale states on his newsletter this week: ‘A report published by the housing charity Shelter has named Rochdale as a national hotspot for home repossessions. With hundreds of families having lost their home in Rochdale last year, the Government’s VAT increase, public service cuts and cuts to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau has left many struggling to meet mortgage payments and without access to good debt advice. I fear that a future rise in interest rates will make it even harder for families to keep up with their mortgage payments and could lead to the repossessions crisis … Continue reading Rochdale’s Housing Debt Problem

Manchester Pride or Rip Off?


I’d like to wish everyone that will be attending the Pride celebrations of Manchester this weekend lots of fun and enjoyment. This year attracting stars like Pixie Lott, Pan Amm and Blue and many other names probably from the entertainment business. A personal message of surrport for the event has been expressed on the Pride site  by the leaders the UK’s political  parties. It  is no secret that the event certainly generates a fair amount of income (around £80 million between 2003-2006 alone) to the capital and it appears that the Manchester  tourist board benefit from this as well as … Continue reading Manchester Pride or Rip Off?