Brighton and Hove: Parents protest at proposed school changes
Dozens of parents protested outside Hove Town Hall before a meeting of the full council on Thursday.An eight-week consultation into the plans ends on Friday.
Parent Sally Bunkham said: "These plans would mean friendship groups would be completely broken up across the city, children would be sent in different directions away from their community, spending loads of time commuting."It's not increasing choice, it's slightly increasing chance for some families."Another parent, Anna Mouser, said: "Only one in four kids who don't have an older sibling are going to be going to their local school."We're talking about over an hour's travel each way for children who are 11. It won't actually fix anything, it's moving kids around like numbers on a spreadsheet."
Jacob Taylor, deputy leader of the Labour-run council, said the authority was trying to tackle several problems."We have falling pupil numbers and we have to address that issue" he said."There has been a long standing issue where some people feel their choice of schools is not as broad as others, so it's about saying 'could we have a fairer system?'"Some parents in the central areas don't feel that this system is fair for them, and we have to weigh that up in the consultation."He said more than 3,000 people have responded to the consultation.
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Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
'Government needs to get a grip': Southport residents say they STILL fear anti-migrant riots one year on from violence... and they aren't alone
Tearful Southport locals are living in fear there could be a repeat of the anti-migrant riots and have told Labour to get a grip on immigration. Violent scenes that shamed Britain last year were sparked by misinformation on social media following the triple stabbing murders of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9. Now, more than 12 months later, terrified residents are pointing the finger at Sir Keir Starmer for being too weak and have told the Daily Mail the PM has not done enough to prevent further disorder. One elderly lady, standing just yards from the mosque on Sussex Road where most of the violence occurred, broke down when asked what she remembers. 'I'm sorry,' she says, 'I'm sorry. It's just too painful.' She is not the only one still feeling the effects of the July 30 disorder last year which left many local people fearing for their lives as a large crowd gathered on the street. Janet McCormick, 62, remembers the riot well, living just doors away from the centre of it. Like many people interviewed, her eyes glaze over as she recalls the events of that night. 'It was a terrible time,' she says. 'The rioters were right outside my home, lighting fires and throwing bricks. 'It was terrifying for people living around here. No-one was sure what was going to happen and the police appeared to be outnumbered. 'It was a horrible thing to witness. I was angry last year at people for being so stupid that they believed every rumour they heard. 'I kept telling them they were being racist, that they should think for themselves but you could see what was driving them on. 'Sadly I do not think the Government has done enough to prevent another riot, not here but I can see it happening in other parts of the country. 'I think people think we should have someone waiting on the shore for the boats to arrive and have the power to send them straight back. 'People can't understand why that is not happening. It's no use telling us about human rights because this is affecting everyone. 'Illegal immigration is killing this country. It is putting a vast strain on the NHS and welfare and schools because too many people are coming into the country and we can't cope. 'I keep reading about how much money we are paying the French to stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel but the boats are still coming. 'Somebody has to address the problem. I don't want to see or read about another riot like we had in Southport but the Government must get a grip.' Businesswoman Kimberley Parker, 37, runs pet groomers Glad Wags just down from the mosque. Liberal in her views, she blamed the riot on 'bigotry and ignorance' and was particularly upset that the rioters targeted a hard-working Asian family who run a local shop doors away from her own. 'The thugs who raided their shop went for the alcohol and cigarettes and got away with more than £10,000,' she says. 'I was just very disappointed in my fellow human beings. The only good thing is that the riot brought his all closer together in Southport, especially around here. 'That was the one big positive to come out of it all. 'But the hard truth is that people will read and accept lies as the truth and I suppose that is because they want to. 'And we have to accept that people are now angry for all sorts of reasons and one of them I think is because they don't see the Government as very strong. It bends too easily. 'On the one hand we are getting misinformation from social media about the dangers of illegal immigration and on the other we are not getting enough information from the Government over how many immigrants are arriving here and what they intend to do about it. 'I don't think Starmer is being proactive enough. 'We need to sort out what is going on. For example, a lot of the people coming across on boats are losing their passports so they cannot be deported because no-one knows where they came from. 'That should be sorted immediately. If you don't have a passport you should be unable to claim asylum and that should be the hard and fast rule. 'The Government need to work with us to calm our fears. Of course people here are frightened of those from different cultures with backgrounds they don't know about. 'Starmer has to understand that and he has got to have a policy that we understand. 'I do hold liberal views but I do realise you cannot have uncontrolled immigration without it having a knock on effect on every part of out lives. 'I do fear there could be further riots in the country but I hope that there isn't. 'I think that since the riot last year we have become closer in Southport but I think what is going on in the rest of the country is a shambles. 'It appears to me that the Government is spending all its time papering over the cracks instead of facing up to problems and doing something about them.' Roofer Craig Johnson, 37, witnessed the riot at first hand with most of it happening outside his front door. 'I was speechless at first,' he says. 'It was horrific to watch. 'The rioters were pulling down the garden walls and using the bricks to throw at the mosque and at police. 'I was one of those who came out the next day and help re-build the walls around here. 'But I don't think the Government is doing enough to stop another riot happening somewhere else. They are not facing up to the immigration problem. 'If you ask me, the sooner Farage gets in the better. 'What do I think Starmer should do? I think the best thing he could do is resign.' Meanwhile, in Tamworth a year ago a rioting mob descended on the old historic town where they tried to set fire to a Holiday Inn which was housing migrants. Hundreds of people gathered as a group of masked thugs threw a burning bush inside the side entrance, while onlookers filmed, cheered and clinked their beer bottles Adam Goodfellow, 39, a surveyor who stood in Tamworth at last year's General Election for the Workers Party, said: 'I came down here when I heard there was a protest being planned, just to say that these people don't speak for all of Tamworth. 'There were a gang of people shouting at the police and it had been going for a good hour when they started throwing fireworks and it got scary. 'Personally I believe uncontrolled immigration is damaging to working peoples' interests. I also believe that when things aren't going so well, people look for scapegoats and there is a lot of hearsay on social media. 'If there is lawlessness then you need more police whoever is committing the crime. 'A year on and nothing has changed under Labour, people are still massively concerned which is why Reform won every seat at the recent elections. 'The only change at the hotel seems to be permanent security guards on reception which shows there is still a high level of threat and concern.' Claire Mitchell, 51, a Tamworth local and a regular gym-goer, said: 'What happened a year ago was horrific to see. I was ashamed and surprised. I did not think Tamworth was that sort of place. 'I don't believe everything I read on social media. There are people with agendas seeking to sew division. 'I have seen people from the hotel sitting around the lake and passing the time of day like anyone else might. It is not something I get concerned about. 'Fake news is a terrible thing and the riots we saw last year were prompted by that. 'Tamworth is a great place. I was brought up here and it has so much more to offer than the terrible behaviour of a minority. I find it sad that its reputation has been tarnished in this way. 'A year on, I do not think it matters which political party is in power. 'For me, anyone who risks their life getting on a dinghy to cross the sea has got something to run from. 'There will always be some who take advantage of a humanitarian situation but we must not let that blind us.' Retired IT guy and gym-goer Alex Freeman, 72, said: 'Whatever your opinion of the immigration situation, there is no excuse for threatening people's welfare and damaging property and that's what happened last year. 'I don't mind peaceful protest but that was threatening harm to other human beings and that is just wrong. 'I am anti the boats, I think immigration should be controlled and if you do something illegal then you shouldn't end up being given free stuff in a hotel. 'It's difficult. These are obviously desperate people but this country is not so big. 'It annoys me when I see homeless people in this country and then I think these people in the hotels have travelled across multiple countries to get to the UK. 'Why are they doing this? I know France and Germany take a lot in but I don't think they are treated as nicely as we treat them. 'We have limited resources – we have a broken NHS, potholes everywhere and we're constantly being told there is not enough money, so of course people are going to be angry. 'This is a terrible situation. 'I don't have any reason to think the people in the hotel are any different or worse than anyone else. 'I see them doing things we all do – going to the lake, looking at the ducks. If some do naughty stuff then that is rare just as it is rare when one of us commits a crime. 'And I know they are a tiny fraction of overall immigration. They get a lot of attention but they are not the ones breaking our system.' A 36-year-old mother of three, and regular gym goer, said: 'I do feel a little bit unsafe in the dark evenings. I park a bit closer to the entrance because the hotel is full of males and they hang around with nothing to do and it does make you feel on edge. 'I did not agree with the protests. Violence is never the answer but people don't feel listened to so it is difficult. 'Yes, you feel unsafe but I also feel a bit sorry for them. Where are they meant to go? 'I saw more police around now than I did before last year's trouble but I don't know whether that is to keep everyone safe or because something has happened. 'There is a lot of hearsay, a lot of rumours. I hear about women being cat-called but I have never have anything like that happen to me personally so it is a difficult one to judge.'
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Tories demand Reeves ‘urgently rule out' investment tax hikes
The Conservatives are demanding Chancellor Rachel Reeves 'urgently rule out' raising shares taxes in the autumn budget, claiming that leaving investors 'in limbo' will damage the economy. The Tories claim scrapping the £500 dividend allowance will drag an estimated 5.22 million more people into paying investment levies. The party is seeking to pile pressure on ministers after a memo sent by Angela Rayner to Ms Reeves, in which the Deputy Prime Minister suggested a series of tax hikes, was leaked to the press. In the document, Ms Rayner proposed removing the dividend allowance to raise around £325 million a year in revenue, as well as axing inheritance tax relief for AIM shares and increasing dividend tax rates, the Telegraph reported. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: 'The Government need to urgently rule out these tax hikes on savers and investors before speculation causes further economic harm. 'Labour don't understand how business works and how to create growth. More taxes on investment, entrepreneurship and saving are the last thing our economy needs right now.' The Government's U-turns over welfare reform and winter fuel payments have left the Chancellor with a multibillion-pound black hole to fill, fuelling speculation that she will seek to raise revenue through tax hikes. The Tories claimed axing the dividend allowance would drag 'an estimated 5.22 million more people into paying dividend tax'. This figure appears to be based on an assumption that at least 8.82 million people in the UK hold shares that pay dividends. Some 3.6 million are already subject to dividend tax, according to data obtained by investment platform AJ Bell through a Freedom of Information request. The Chancellor last year said she would not be 'coming back with more borrowing or more taxes' after her first budget but has since refused to rule out raising specific levies, saying it would be 'irresponsible' to do so. A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'The Conservatives have some brass neck. They've still not apologised for the damage caused by the Liz Truss mini-Budget, nor the £22 billion black hole they left – which hammered firms and families across the country. 'Labour is doing more to support business than the Tories ever could. 'We've already delivered three historic trade deals and four interest rate cuts – to reduce costs and put money back in people's pockets.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
ANGELA RAYNER: 'National Minimum Wage was a lifeline for me and other low-paid workers'
Deputy PM Angela Rayner writes for The Mirror as the Low Pay Commission begins its annual work to consult with employers, trade unions and workers on the National Minimum Wage Like many Mirror readers, I know what it's like to graft every day just to cover the bills – but still struggle to make ends meet. As a young single mum, I worked long night shifts as a home help on low pay to get me and my young family through the week. That's why the National Minimum Wage - launched by the last Labour government - was such a lifeline for me and for other low paid workers. It put more money in my pocket and gave me the security and opportunity I needed to get on in life. But after 14 years of Tory failure, stagnation and decline that's no longer the reality for millions of hardworking people across the country who simply cannot afford to get by. This Labour government was elected a year ago on a promise to Make Work Pay. Which is why, within weeks of taking office we told the Low Pay Commission to consider the cost of living for the first time when setting the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. As a result, more than 3 million workers got an inflation busting boost to their pay packets from April, worth up to £1,400 a year. This helped raise living standards for the lowest paid who are the backbone of our economy. It also delivered a record cash increase for young people and apprentices – our skilled workers of tomorrow. And today, alongside my friend the Business Secretary, I will urge the Low Pay Commission to build on this success by pushing even further to make a genuine living wage a reality. We want to continue narrowing the pay gap for 18 to 20-year-olds as we move closer to setting a single rate for all adult workers in the years to come. This is our Plan for Change in action. This our promise to Make Work Pay. But it doesn't stop there. This is a government on the side of working people. You are at the heart of our landmark Employment Rights Bill, now going through Parliament. This Bill will tackle the low wages, job insecurity and poor conditions that working people face. It will bring stronger protections against unfair sackings, make sure workers get paid sick pay from day one, and stop you being threatened with dismissal for refusing to take lower pay. And it will guarantee hours and make work more flexible and family-friendly – benefits that will support business by creating a healthier, more productive workforce. Unelected Tory and Lib Dem Lords, cheered on by Nigel Farage and Reform are trying to block these rights in Parliament. But this Labour Government was elected by you to deliver them, and we will not let them get away with it. These historic reforms consulted with employers and trade unions are pro-worker, pro-business and pro-growth. So, if you are in casual work without guaranteed hours, if you are working hard on low pay but can't afford the essentials. Or if you want a country that is fairer for working people - then this Labour government is working for you. And we will keep on delivering.
