Latest news with #Crawley
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour has improved its welfare bill. I still won't be voting for it
Reading the news you could be forgiven for thinking a week of drama in Westminster had finally concluded on Friday morning, with a deal between the government and some of the Labour MPs who signed the proposed reasoned amendment to the universal credit and personal independence payment (Pip) bill. No doubt the changes will be sufficient for some colleagues, but having considered the concessions offered, I'm afraid that as things stand I – and a large number of other signatories – cannot support what is being proposed when voting takes place on Tuesday. This isn't something I do easily. The Labour party is my home. I was born into a family of Labour activists and joined as soon as I was able. I was a student activist, a councillor and then an MP for Crawley. I have campaigned in every election from Neil Kinnock to Keir Starmer and I didn't spend 14 years fighting to return Labour to government just so I could cause trouble. However, 14 years in local government taught me a few things, not least the utter devastation to households and neighbourhoods directly caused by the Tories' cuts to social security. I am loyal to my country, my constituency and my party – that is precisely why, on this bill, I cannot be loyal to the government. I accept that the concessions are an improvement. By making it clear that those already in receipt of Pip will continue to receive it, there is a hope we can avoid the tragic loss of life that followed the last set of disability cuts. Yet at its core, the bill remains a cost-cutting exercise. No matter the level of involvement of disability groups in co-producing a scheme for new applicants, to save money the proposed changes will inevitably result in people with high levels of need losing the support necessary to wash themselves, dress themselves and feed themselves. From the start, I have tried to use the routes available to MPs to improve what was on offer, beginning with the No 10 engagement meetings immediately prior to the publication of the green paper and ending last week with visits to very senior figures and the whips' office. I made it clear to them that they did not have the numbers and that pushing the vote would only damage the government – and I proposed an alternative path. So, what is the alternative? The government estimates Pip for working age people will cost by 2030. According to the latest statistics, 40% of recipients have psychiatric disorders, which include mental health issues such as mixed anxiety and depression. Waiting lists to diagnose and treat these conditions are huge. Research by the charity Rethink Mental Illness shows that people are eight times more likely to wait more than 18 months for mental health treatment than for physical conditions. The solution is obvious: a short-term boost in funding to clear the backlog. This would mean more social workers, psychologists, specialist pharmacists, psychiatrists, therapists and counsellors to treat people and in turn support them into work. Of course, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) presents a challenge, having previously discounted the potential impact of various medical or employment support interventions in getting economically inactive people into the workforce. It explains that this is because the Treasury fails to provide it with the evidence necessary to justify savings conclusions, including for the £1bn of work incentives set out in the bill. In practice, this means that cuts rather than support are favoured in government policy. The Treasury has to do better if public service reform is to succeed, working with the OBR to develop the evidence base that interventions will deliver outcomes, and factoring this into its economic predictions. To that end, they should make use of the Integrated Data Service, which includes information on what medical interventions are helping to support people back into work. Throughout my many conversations with decision-makers, I have repeatedly set out the case for alternatives and had them ignored. As a Labour MP, if I am going to remove the support disabled people need to undertake the basic activities of life, I need the government to demonstrate why that is the best option available. So far, that case has still not been made. Peter Lamb is the Labour MP for Crawley Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Crawley Borough Council cancels changes to parking charges at K2
Free parking will remain at two Crawley venues after the council's plans to introduce charges were Borough Council said it has decided not to bring in parking charges at K2 leisure centre and The Hawth theatre because the public had shown these were "not wanted".During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, it was agreed to defer any plans for charges at the theatre and to look into parking controls at the leisure centre to improve public Jones, council leader of the council, said: "People have been genuinely listened to and, although not everyone will be happy, I am confident that the input has made a real difference to the final results." Mr Jones said the proposals "reflect a careful balance between financial sustainability, operational feasibility, and community needs", reports the Local Democracy Reporting online consultation launched in May drew over 2,200 responses, with most people opposing parking charges at The Hawth and K2. Many felt theatre tickets were already costly and extra fees would put off K2, concerns were raised that charges could reduce attendance and even lead to cancelled memberships, though some supported better parking controls for charges will be introduced at Goffs Park lower car park, with rates ranging from £1.50 for one hour to £7 for all-day parking. The charges will apply between 08:00 and 18:00 BST to help prevent commuters from occupying limited Street Multi-Storey will be renamed High Street Multi-Storey, and parking will cost £3 fee for 24 hours. Annual permits will cost £912 for residents and £600 for town centre Borough Council said it would work with the leisure centre operator on improving traffic management.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Skipper Conroy signs new Crawley Town deal
Crawley Town captain Dion Conroy has signed a new two-year 29-year-old defender has played 83 times for the club since joining in the summer of 2022 from Swindon became the first player to lead Crawley out at Wembley when he captained them to victory in the League Two play-off final last year and was a regular in the side last season after returning from a pre-season injury in late December."I am really pleased to get this over the line and buzzing to get it sorted so early," Conroy told the club website."I'm really looking forward to the season, as I think it could be a good one. "Scott [Lindsay, Crawley manager] is a massive reason why I signed here. What we achieved a couple of years ago was largely down to him, so I am looking forward to another season with him."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oldham visit MK Dons in first game back in EFL
Oldham Athletic won promotion to League Two with victory over Southend United in the National League promotion final at Wembley [Getty Images] Oldham Athletic will visit MK Dons in their first game back in League Two after three seasons of non-league football. The Latics became the first of the founding Premier League member clubs to drop out of the English Football League when they were relegated to the National League in 2022. Advertisement Oldham won promotion via the play-offs last season, beating Southend United 3-2 at Wembley last month. Runaway National League champions Barnet host Fleetwood Town at The Hive, while Cambridge United face Cheltenham Town at home following their relegation from League One. Bristol Rovers will take on Harrogate Town, while Walsall - long-time leaders last season - will look to bounce back strongly from the disappointment of defeat in the play-off final to AFC Wimbledon when they host Swindon Town. Relegated Shrewsbury Town will face Bromley, while Crawley Town, who were also relegated after just one season in League One, will travel to Grimsby Town. Advertisement All League Two matches on the opening day of the season - Saturday, 2 August - will kick off at 15:00 BST. Appleton remains as Shrews look to rebuild Michael Appleton took over at Shrewsbury in March [Getty Images] Michael Appleton remains in charge at Shrewsbury Town despite the club's first relegation from the third tier in a decade. Appleton was the third head coach in a tumultuous season which saw Paul Hurst replaced by Gareth Ainsworth in November. Former Wycombe boss Ainsworth then rejected the offer of a new contract and moved to Gillingham after just 22 games in charge, with Appleton brought in but unable to steer them clear of relegation. They host Bromley before a trip to Tranmere Rovers, followed by the visit of Colchester United to Croud Meadow. Lindsey and Crawley go full circle Scott Lindsey won the League Two play-off final with Crawley in 2023-24 and is back at the club after a short spell with MK Dons [Getty Images] After a rollercoaster year for Crawley and boss Scott Lindsey, they find themselves back in League Two and looking to repeat their heroics of two seasons ago. Advertisement Their victory over Crewe Alexandra at Wembley in the 2023-24 League Two play-off final sent the Reds up to the third tier but by September the squad had been decimated and Lindsey had left the club for MK Dons. His stint in Milton Keynes, along with his successor Rob Elliot's at Crawley, was short-lived and he was back in the hot seat at Broadfield Stadium six months after he left. Three wins in their last three games was not enough to keep them in League One, as they were relegated on the final day one point adrift of safety. Lindsey will not need to wait long for a reunion with the Dons, when they visit Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday, 19 August. Opening-day fixtures in full All kick-off times 15:00 BST on Saturday, 2 August: Advertisement
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Ben Duckett brilliance puts England in with a chance of sensational Test victory
Yorkshire's headquarters have witnessed some outrageous spectacles over the years, with Ashes classics in 1981, 2019 and 2023, and England needed another when the tourists set them 371 to win this gripping series opener. Only once have they ever chased more – 378 against the same opponents at Edgbaston in 2022 – but a sensational knock from Duckett saw them well on the way at 269 for four with one session remaining. Take a bow. What an innings. Ben Duckett. 👏👏👏 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 24, 2025 He shared a brilliant opening stand of 188 with Zak Crawley (65) to put England in charge but India dragged themselves back into the fight by dismissing each of the top four in a hard-fought stint between lunch and tea. Duckett and Harry Brook were out off successive balls from the previously anonymous Shardul Thakur to raise the stakes, leaving Joe Root and Ben Stokes in charge with 102 runs to get. Duckett hit a morale-boosting boundary off key man Jasprit Bumrah in the first over of the day – one of just three in the first 45 minutes – but also survived a magic ball that jagged past his outside edge by a whisper. England settled for 42 runs in the opening hour, content to stifle India's own charge, and totalled 96 for the session as they ground down the bowlers. Duckett twice messed up attempted scoops but responded on each occasion by sending the next ball for four, a clean blow through extra-cover and a swivel pull to reach 50. Crawley was suppressing his own attacking instincts but unleashed a crunching cover drive to bring up the hundred partnership. India's repeated appeals to change the ball were finally heeded but although the replacement did create a chance – Crawley pushing a low return catch to Bumrah on 42 – it was not held. The afternoon began with spots of drizzle in the air and the floodlights whirring into action but England's top two pressed ahead. Bumrah stepped up again at the Kirkstall Lane End but leaked a couple of early fours, Duckett threading him down the ground and Crawley whipping square off his hips. Every wicketless over from the supreme seamer was a win for England, particularly with scoring options opening up at the other end. India were eager to build pressure through Ravindra Jadeja's spin but Duckett's reverse sweep was the perfect weapon to nullify the veteran. The left-hander reached 97 before putting a foot wrong, top-edging a pull off Mohammed Siraj, but his luck was in as Yashasvi Jaiswal let the greasy ball slip through his fingers. It was a third bad drop of the game for Jaiswal and sympathy was running low from Siraj, who angrily booted the turf. Duckett accepted the gift, ticking off his hundred with a trademark reverse through cover. Showers forced a 20-minute hiatus and when play resumed, India belatedly found a way into the battle. Prasidh Krishna was having no luck against Duckett but struck twice in successive overs as he watched from the non-striker's end. Crawley's hard-fought stay ended when he clipped an outswinger to slip and first-innings centurion Ollie Pope was bowled for eight by a sharp cutter. Meanwhile, on Duckett went. He had an answer for all comers, chopping Krishna past gully, pulling Bumrah precisely between two boundary riders and lashing Jadeja for a remarkable reverse-swept six. Thakur was an unlikely game-changer but he did the trick for his side, persuading Duckett to pick out the man at cover then having Brook caught behind for a golden duck with a lucky strangler down leg.
