The Guardian recently revealed the results of the Unicef report which put the UK bottom out of 21 economically advanced countries as a place to bring up children.
“Children growing up in the United Kingdom suffer greater deprivation, worse relationships with their parents and are exposed to more risks from alcohol, drugs and unsafe sex than those in any other wealthy country in the world, according to a study from the United Nations.”
Lest we forget the advances made by our government since 1997; 800, 000 children have already been lifted out of relative poverty with a commitment to end all child poverty by 2010. Labour also introduced the child tax credits to give more money to those parents who potentially need it.
And here comes that inevitable line: but more has to be done. This is why Labour Students are already campaigning for it. The national priority campaign this year is ‘Make Child Benefits Count’ in association with the Child Poverty Actions Group (CPAG). This campaign is far reaching and incredibly worthwhile. It calls on the government to equalize child benefits as currently the first child in any family receives a higher rate. It also calls for a national school uniform grant and free at the point of delivery, good quality universal childcare. The policies of CPAG would go a considerable way to eradicating child poverty and tackling the root causes of the social problems laid out in the Unicef report.
Posted by Tom Marley, BULS Vice-chair and Treasurer
Filed under: Uncategorized
Birmingham University Labour Students
John Ritchie
tommarley
brigidjones
Gary
daveborland
Labour Students? Campaign? But their successes surely indicate that they are setting easy goals.. and ones that are already on the cards for the govt and not necessarily the student agenda. Whilst I agree with the idea of making child benefit count.. it would be interesting to see if this was on the agenda without NOLS “help” and “lobbying”….hmmmmmmmm
What’s this Mr Hyner, disillusionment with NOLS? Sounds a bit like Labour Students is nothing more than a publicity puppet for those who choose to pull the strings… Interesting.
You’re both right - I’m thinking of selling out already
On a serious note, we are all angry about what went on in Glasgow and what has gone on for years, but the only way to change things is by hard work and constructive, positive effort to demonstrate what the organisation could achieve if it was more like Birmingham. I thought it was futile me running in the first place, I was doing it to offer what so many people had said to me they wanted done but with no real serious thought that I’d win. The support I’ve had has been overwhelming, and we know that had disaffiliated/disenfranchised clubs been there joining us that motion would have passed. For all I may be disappointed, Labour Students has got a lot better in recent years and we have the best opportunity in ages to make it what we know it could and should be. We bloody need to - it could be the difference between a win and a defeat in the general election.
Keep the faith
Joe
You’re right… Glasgow happened, but we have to remember that the organisation is there for a purpose other than what I may have tiredly and cynically suggested. The campaigns are ones worth fighting wherever they came from, and we should get behind them. As for governence… there’s always next year, and it seems that people will be looking into it long before then anyway.
Good to hear from you Joe
hope you’re keeping well