Congratulations on the Royal Birth by a Loyal Republican (but)

While I have tried to avoid as much as possible the media frenzy on the birth yesterday of a son (and heir) to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm not going to join in the carping and name calling by some of the "left" on Facebook and other social media.

Frankly, a lot of it is just plain silly and actually puts back the cause of a British Republic and an elected Head of State. It just makes us seem to be, dare I say swivel-eyed loons?

As I posted here last year on the Queen's Jubilee I am opposed to the politics and not the personalities.  Name calling is not going to change the 80% of the British population who support the monarchy. Reasoned argument might. Until then the Queen is our Head of State.

So I support those who welcome the birth of a new Prince but point out we should not forget the other 2000 babies born yesterday in the UK. Many of whom will live and die in poverty. Changing from a monarchy to a republic would not necessary make a jot of difference to this (as in USA). Making considered political and economic arguments for a different type of society will (eventually - fingers crossed).

Why a Living Wage is not enough

It may seem just a little churlish on Christmas Eve to try and take anything away from this very worthy article by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, on the “imperative for a Living Wage”. This is also at a time that it seems likely that in the public sector at least, the Living Wage will become a reality for all directly employed and contracted staff.

Yet I think it falls on me to be a bit of a Bah! Humbug! Christmas misery guts on the issue.

While anything that increases the amount of money being put in the purses and pockets of the low paid should be welcomed, it will not get rid of the evil of low pay and poverty.

The Living Wage level is set right on the poverty line. There is no element for any saving. Nothing to put aside for being sick or for when you retire.

So if you do become ill while at work and there is no sickness pay you will go straight back into poverty and be dependent upon the taxpayer. The same thing will happen when you retire. With no company pension you will retire and die in poverty. Again, being dependent on the State.

What we need is a Living Wage “plus”. A Living Wage, a Living Sickness benefit and a Living Pension in the public and private sector. The best way to delivery this is by strong trade unions and binding national/sectorial pay agreements.

In the last depression in the 1930’s we had a Tory government introducing such “Wages boards”. Like their modern day counterparts, this was not so much any wish to get workers out of grinding poverty but unlike this lot, they realised that to get the country out of doldrums you had to increase demand. The best way of doing this is to increase the pay of the low paid who will spend any increase (and not give tax cuts to millionaires who will just save it).

A Living Wage in the public sector would (if it happens) be a huge advance but can only be a first step.

Accrington Observer Column - Hyndburn's housing crises

With 2013 almost upon us I would like to wish all readers a merry Christmas and a peaceful new year. It’s a time when most of us can relax with our families and friends, reflect on the year and look forward to the following year.

For some though, Christmas is time of loneliness and isolation and I think we should all make that extra effort to share a moment of our time with our neighbours;