Threats of sexual violence made online during Stormont SEN meeting
A Zoom link was provided for those who could not attend in person due to caring responsibilities.The meeting was organised by the SEN Reform NI and Caleb's Cause NI organisations.Led by parents, the two organisations have campaigned for better educational provision for children and young people with SEN.Caleb's Cause NI has called for more support for school leavers with SEN.Sen Reform NI, meanwhile, has brought together parents to raise issues about school places and other support for children with SEN.More to follow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Loo-dicrous hideout: Moment police dog sniffs out suspected offenders hiding in toilet cubicle
This is the moment police dog Lando finds two men hiding in a toilet cubicle inside a closed garden centre after a car was in collision with a police vehicle and failed to stop in Crays Hill, Essex, on Saturday 21 June. Click to watch the moment above.
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Woke ‘banter police' to ‘spy on workers & report inappropriate conversations', under Rayner plans
DEPUTY Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been accused of trying to censor workplace banter by deploying diversity officers in businesses across the UK. New laws drawn up by Rayner would see firms pressured into employing "diversity officers" to crack down on workplace banter deemed offensive. 2 2 These new employees would be tasked with, among other things, protecting staff from the possibly offensive content of overheard conversations. The Tories branded the officers " banter police" and warned that the they would create a "chilling effect" on businesses. Under the new Employment Rights Bill employers must try and protect staff from harassment by third parties. Concerns have been raised that the contents of the bill would see a crackdown on free speech. It comes after the bill was criticised for potentially preventing football fans from asking the ref "are you blind?" Lord Young said the bill could see a partially-sighted steward take a club to court if offended by chants. The bill also means workers could take employers to tribunal if jokes or banter overheard in the office are deemed offensive. It is expected to cause firms to hire more diversity officers in a bid to prove they have done all they can to protect their workers from offensive banter and shield themselves from potential tribunal cases. The deputy PMs bill fails to stipulate any ring fence allowing for the expression of opinion on political, moral, religious or social matters. According to the Mail Online the number of employment tribunal claims relating to banter in the workplace rose by nearly 50 per cent in 2021. The legislation also requires bosses to allow trade union representatives time off for issues "relating to equality in the workplace." Critics have said the bill paves the way to greater unionisation in the workplace. Rayner's critics added that the she had received large donations from unions who will directly benefit from the legislation. The new law will slash the last government's attempts to stop Whitehall spending taxpayers' cash on diversity, equality and inclusion. It is also set to end zero-hours contracts, strengthen redundancy and flexible working rights and allow firms to be taken to tribunals even if employees do not want to sue. However, the legislation will repeal Tory trade union laws which will reduce the threshold for strike action and make union funding of the Labour party automatic. Unions will also have an easier time infiltrating workplaces under the new legislation, able to operate with just 2 per cent of a businesses staff joining up. The Bill says: "Introducing explicit protections from third-party harassment will ensure that victims can be confident that they have recourse to legal redress if their employer has not taken all reasonable steps to protect them." A government spokesman said: "The Employment Rights Bill will not affect anyone's right to lawful free speech, which this Government stands firmly behind. "Upsetting remarks do not fall within the definition of harassment. "We are strengthening workplace protections to tackle harassment and protect employees from intimidating and hostile abuse as well as sexual harassment."
The Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Sun
Millions of Britain's poorest pensioners to be hit by ‘stealth tax' as Government tries to plug hole in public finances
MILLIONS of pensioners face being hit by a "stealth tax" while the Government plans to plug the growing hole in public finances. Media reports suggest everyone on the full state pension could be forced to pay income tax as early as next year, even if they have no other income. 1 It means millions of people who have no other way to fund their retirement will start paying tax for the first time. This is because the personal allowance - the amount of income you can have before you start to pay tax - is stuck at £12,570 at least until 2028. Meanwhile the state pension, which is currently at £11,973 a year, is on track to go over that limit due to the triple lock system. Under the triple lock, the state pension increases by whichever is highest out of the rate of inflation, annual earnings growth or 2.5%. If average earnings continue to grow at their current rate of 5.2%, next year's state pension will rise above the income tax threshold for the first time. Therefore pensioners relying entirely on the state pension will need to pay the basic tax rate of 20% on any amount above the personal allowance limit. The exact figure they will need to pay will be confirmed later this year. The Mail on Sunday is reporting Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering an extension of the freeze on the personal allowance rate. The Government is trying to plug an estimated £30billion gap in public finances - something that has become more difficult after it faced a bruising defeat this week in the Commons over its welfare reforms. Reeves had been trying to push through a bill that would see rules tighten on eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and also freeze the level of payments for some Universal Credit claimants. Could you be eligible for Pension Credit? The controversial reforms were aimed at raising billions of pounds and encouraging more people to get back into work. But the bill was watered down after a rebellion by Labour MPs, which has left the Chancellor scrambling to find new ways to save. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank estimates Reeves could raise up to £10billion a year by 2030 if she freezes the personal allowance bands for the next two years. The Chancellor has few options left without breaking Labour 's manifesto commitments, which include no increase in income tax, employee National Insurance contributions, VAT or corporation tax. It's worth noting that personal allowances were frozen by the previous Government for six years until 2028. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride The Mail on Sunday: "At the election last year the Conservatives promised to protect the state pension from being dragged into tax – Labour chose not to match that commitment. "They claim to be protecting pensioners through the triple lock, but this stealth tax will erode its value." How does the state pension work? AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046. The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age. But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record. For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings. The new state pension is based on people's National Insurance records. Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension. You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit. If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions. To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits. You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.
