Big day today. Huge day. Personally I think Mexico have it in them to turn Uruguay over but we'll find out from 3pm I suppose.
Other big news will come in the form of George Osborne's emergency budget around noon. No doubt the headlines will revolve around VAT rises, income tax changes and a raiding of public sector pensions.
However, one very specific area that I will be looking out for is parental leave. Will Osborne's cuts extend to stripping back the current level of paternal and maternal leave that we enjoy in this country? We shall see.
Labour had made good progress in advancing the relatively cheap policy of extending such leave (which has considerable societal benefits) and they had promised to go even further if re-elected.
This bellweather issue can help to show where the new coalition's values really lie. I just hope all those babies aren't thrown out in the budget bathwater.
SNP Tax
8 minutes ago
5 comments:
I wasn't quite aware this was on his agenda, but I hope paternal leave stays at least at the current level. Two weeks really doesn't seem very much.
Jeff, is there a particular reason you are interested in this?:-).
I agree, by the way. I think that the Lib Dem ideas to give families more choice on who takes the leave are particularly good and may have a positive affect on equality in the workplace.
The stupidest measure must be introduction of a "medical assessment" for DLA claimants. They are already assessed before they get it. Do the Tories not understand that disability is not an illness? Or does the Chancellor think the blind are suddenly going to be able to see and people in wheelchairs will get up and walk?
Maybe they are going to send everyone to Lourdes. Or it's a Messianic complex. They will be brought to Westminster to touch the hem of David Cameron's garment and lo they are cured.
Idiots.
Indy, that bit made me shudder too. Especially if it's as efficient as the current system for Employment and Support Allowance which just seems to turn everybody down, putting them through months of misery before eventually 40% of them win their appeal.
I completely agree with everything you have said Indy.
My brother is in receipt of DLA for very good reasons and is most certainly not in a position to work. He did have a doctor turn up to his house once although the doctor immediately said "what the hell am I doing here" as my brother's disability is VERY obvious.
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