Chuka Umunna MP

The Conservative Party has let the cat out of the bag and revealed that they plan to make spending cuts of 10 per cent across the majority of government departments.  Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley last week revealed what David Cameron did not want the rest of the country to hear: the Conservatives would cut public spending in the majority of government departments by 10 per cent.

“We are going to increase the resources for the NHS, we are going to increase resources for international development aid. We are going to increase resources for schools. But that does mean over three years after 2011 a 10 per cent reduction in the departmental expenditure limits for other departments.”
(Andrew Lansley, BBC Today Programme, 10 June 2009)

There is a choice between Labour which believes we must grow our way out of recession – and the Conservatives who have revealed that they would cut the vast majority of public spending by ten per cent.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, has strongly welcomed the Equality Bill but, along with local older peoples groups, has called on the government to go further.

The Equality Bill received its First Reading in the House of Commons on Monday. It sets out new laws which will help narrow the gap between rich and poor, require business to report on gender pay and will outlaw age discrimination in services amongst other measures. The Bill is expected to come in to force from autumn 2010.

Despite considerable progress since 1997, inequality and discrimination still exist which is why the law needs to be strengthened:

* women are paid on average 23 per cent less per hour than men;
* disabled people are twice as likely to be out of work;
* people from ethnic minority backgrounds, who make up more than 1 in 3 of the population in Lambeth, are nearly a fifth less likely to find work; and,
* 1 in 5 older people are refused quotes for motor or travel insurance, or car hire.

Commenting on the Bill, Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham and a specialist employment law solicitor by profession, said:

“I believe in equality for all and have supported the government’s moves to stamp out discrimination wherever it may appear because, as a solicitor who represents hardworking people, I know what a difference it makes to people’s working lives.

“This Bill is about fairness. It is about everyone in our community getting fair treatment. So in Streatham it might mean making sure there are extra benches in local parks so older people can enjoy public spaces or providing play areas for younger people so they can make the most of them too.”

“It is a scandal that women are still paid less than men in this country, so I am particularly pleased the Bill will contain the power to require employers with more than 250 employees to report on the gender pay gap in their work place so inequalities can be identified and challenged.”

One of the provisions of the Equality Bill will make it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of their age outside of the work place, when providing goods and services. For example, a 75 year who enquires about travel insurance should get a quote which accurately reflects the level of risk she faces, not an arbitrary assumption about how healthy people of her age generally are.

However, in the work place, the Bill does not abolish the statutory default retirement age of 65 which enables employers to force employees to retire at or after 65, or refuse to recruit anyone over the age of 65. Umunna and local older peoples activists have called on the government to address this. Umunna said

“The extension of the existing regime to outlaw age discrimination out of the work place in the provisions of good and services is excellent. But, as the Bill makes its passage through parliament, I want to see it abolish the default retirement age in the work place so older people can work past the age of 65 if they want to.”

Ellen Lebethe, Chair of Lambeth Pensioners Action Group, said:
“If we want to and are still fit and able, we should be allowed to work. Our experience should be acknowledged by employers and remunerated accordingly.”

Martin Walsh, a founder member and former Chair of Lambeth Pensioners Forum, said:
“The government must encourage people to work on for their health and well being as work promotes longevity.”

Other measures in the Equality Bill include:
· putting a new duty on public bodies to consider how to reduce socio-economic inequalities;
· putting a new Equality Duty on public bodies;
· using public procurement to improve equality;
· extending powers to use positive action;
· protecting carers from discrimination;
· protecting pregnant and new mothers;
· banning discrimination in private clubs; and
· strengthening protection from discrimination for disabled people.

Harriet Harman, Member of Parliament for nearby Camberwell and Peckham and the Minister for Women and Equality responsible for the Bill said:

“The Equality Bill is part of building a strong fair future for Britain out of the downturn. That means fairness and opportunity. Especially in tougher economic times, we need to face the problems fairly and we need to look for a fairer future.”

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham,
and Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, have joined forces with
the Communications Workers Union to oppose the part
privatisation of the Royal Mail.

Two local Labour politicians joined Communications Workers Union
members and officials last Friday (8 May 2009) to campaign against the government plans to part privatise the Royal Mail at the Royal Mail’s major sorting office at Nine Elms in Vauxhall.

Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, has signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion supporting modernisation of the Royal Mail but opposing moves to part privatise the postal service.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, sits on the management committee of Compass, the centre left pressure group which last week announced alternative proposals for the Royal Mail’s future.

Compass recommended that the Royal Mail be kept in public ownership as a not-for-profit body, following the model set by National Rail (which was established as successor to the failed privatisation of the railways under Railtrack). The proposals would give the Royal Mail access to both private and public resources and it would remain operationally separate from government in the same way as the BBC.

Privatisation of Royal Mail could threaten jobs at distribution centres
including Nine Elms and Streatham sorting offices. Opponents of
privatisation, such as the CWU, have pointed to the universal service
which the Royal Mail currently offers and argue that privatisation would see the postal service broken up and services cherry-picked on the basis of profit, rather than the benefit of all users. They also argue that the Royal Mail is not the failed organisation which it is often portrayed as: it currently charges some of the lowest prices in Europe for postage and made a profit of £225m in the first three quarters of its last financial year.

Commenting on proposals for privatisation, Chuka Umunna said:

“The Royal Mail plays an important role in all of our daily lives, and we
deserve the best from it. Everyone, including Royal Mail employees,
management and users, agree that modernisation and investment is
necessary, but selling off the postal service is not the way to achieve
these goals. Modernisation doesn’t have to mean privatisation.

“Instead of privatisation the government should look to its own best
practice models, like the BBC and Network Rail, to develop and modernise the Royal Mail within the public sector and with the consent of all.”

Kate Hoey MP, also commenting on the future of Royal Mail, said:

“The Royal Mail is one of our best and most trusted public assets – and it is making a healthy profit! There is no need to bring in private or foreign ownership that will inevitably try to cream off the most desirable parts. A management shake-up is needed to work constructively with the CWU and a recommitment to enhanced public service will ensure a healthy future.”

Greg Charles, secretary of the CWU London South West (Postal) Branch said:

“Over the past 18 months we have seen changes to the postal services we provide within South London far in advance to any other time in its history. We have modernised not only the service in terms of quality but the terms and conditions, our members enjoy.

“The governments plan to part privatise Royal Mail coupled with
managements plans on modernisation will lead to a worsened service,
failing collections and failing deliveries, whilst profits will be siphoned of
by our competitors. Our members across South London are living with the fear of cuts in jobs, cuts in earnings and an uncertain future.”

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, welcomes the Government’s announcement that from later this year, it will no longer be legal to use customers’ tips to bring workers’ pay up to the minimum wage.

Currently, bosses can use service charges and tips towards meeting the minimum wage for employees, but from October this practice will be outlawed and any tips left for staff will be given in addition to the minimum wage. This follows a Government investigation into how tips and service charges are used as part of employee salaries in restaurants and the hospitality industry. The rule-change will benefit those working in these industries, where tipping is common.

Chuka Umunna, commenting on the change, said:

“It is wrong that some employers have been able to use this loophole as a way of getting out of paying a fair wage; people leave tips on the understanding that the money goes to those who serve them. This move will ensure a fairer deal for all those who work in restaurants, bars and hotels both in Streatham and nationally”.

David Cameron has refused to commit to maintaining child benefit and winter fuel allowances at the same level as the Labour Government. 23,900 children in 13,740 families in the Streatham parliamentary constituency have gained from Labour increasing Child Benefit this year. 12,230 local people in the Streatham constituency have received Winter Fuel Payments this year. Mr Cameron talks of an “age of austerity” but local people are asking the question: austerity for who?

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has welcomed the government’s priorities in this week’s Budget.

In the 1980s, a generation of young people suffered the risk of long-term unemployment – we must ensure that this doesn’t happen again. That’s why the government has guaranteed that everyone under the age of 25 who has been out of work for 12 months will be offered a job or a place in training in this budget. Over 2,000 young people have already benefitted from similar measures in the Streatham constituency since 1997.

There was a boost for families too, with an increase in the value of tax credits per child. Across Streatham, this will benefit 13,740 families and 23,900 under-16s. Opportunities for tax-free savings through ISAs will be extended as the annual investment limit rises to £10,200 next year.

Budget 2009 also focussed on the needs of homeowners and buyers. In order to meet demand for housing and to make affordable homes available for those taking their first step up on the housing ladder, the chancellor has pledged a £600m funding package for the building of new homes. This will also help create jobs and boost the construction industry.

The Stamp Duty holiday for homes worth under £175,000 has been extended until the end of the year to help new buyers. At present there are over 80 properties on the market under £175,000 in the Streatham area.

This week’s Budget was the world’s first Carbon Budget, as required by the Climate Change Act. £1.4bn of targetted support was pledged for Britain’s low-carbon industries, alongside a £5bn investment programme in renewable energy, particularly wind turbines and solar power.

Commenting on how the budget will help local people, Mr Umunna said:

“This week’s Budget reflects the need to help people and build for the future right now, rather than cutting back when people need support most.

“We know that if we don’t act now, it will cost us all more in the long run, which is why, for example, we have increased tax credits for over 13,000 families in this area and for over 4000 pensioners.

“The extension of the stamp duty holiday on properties under £175,000 may not mean much to the super rich, but to first time buyers on normal incomes eying up the 80 odd properties on the market at that price here, this will be massively helpful.

“We will also be introducing a new 50% top rate of tax next year for the top 1% of earners to help pay for additional support for others – it is right that those who can afford it, pay their fair share to help those who cannot.

“We have the confidence to invest in the recovery which is surely better than talking Streatham down.”

Today The Guardian has published an open letter calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to close in on personal tax avoidance which it is estimated costs the country around £15bn a year in lost public revenue. Chuka is a signatory to the letter along with child poverty campaigner, Professor Ruth Lister, Wes Streeting, President of the National Union of Students, Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and 12 others. The letter is produced below:

We write to highlight personal tax avoidance by some of the wealthiest in our country, and to urge the chancellor to take action to close in on personal tax avoidance in the budget. Over 15 times as much is lost through tax avoidance at the top than to benefit fraud at the bottom. If those at the top choose not to pay their fair share, it has grave consequences for everyone. It robs our society of the funds that could end child poverty, or the money needed to increase welfare benefits and help alleviate the conditions which drive the most vulnerable to commit things such as benefit fraud in the first place.

We call on the chancellor to close in on tax avoidance, close in on tax loopholes and deliver greater tax justice. Measures could include: abolishing the domicile rule; abolishing tax havens; taxing investment income equally to income earned through labour; introducing a new wealth tax for all those earning over £250,000; introducing a new tax on bonuses; adopting a general anti-avoidance rule; removing secrecy from all British-controlled tax havens and increasing the number of tax inspectors to allow more thorough investigation.

It is time to close in on tax avoiders, recoup public money and ensure everyone in society pays their fair share – we urge the government to act.

Professor David Byrne, Jon Cruddas MP, Gavin Hayes, Neal Lawson (Compass), Sunder Katwala (Fabian Society), Professor Ruth Lister, Richard Murphy, Guy Palmer (The Poverty Site), Ann Pettifor (Advocacy International), Nancy Platts (Labour PPC, Brighton Pavilion), Howard Reed, Dr Sally Ruane, Clifford Singer (The Other TaxPayers’ Alliance), Wes Streeting (NUS), Chuka Umunna (Labour PPC, Streatham).

Christians Against Poverty is a charity reaching out to those stuggling with debt. It operates through a network of advice centres based in churches, including in Tulse Hill at Holy Trinity & St Matthias Church, where Keith Hill MP holds surgeries.  The charity offers a debt counselling service which empowers people to help themselves out of poverty and eases the burden of overwhelming debts.

CAP’s support workers help those with debt problems by working out sustainable budgets based on income and living expenses, ensuring that essential bills are prioritised. Because the charity is recognised within the finance industry, it is able to work with creditors to stop unfair interest and charges where possible for those who need help. The charity can set up a CAP account, meaning debtors can pay a weekly or monthly sum through CAP to cover all their bills and debts in affordable repayments, allowing them to work their way out of debt without feeling pressured. This helps those who have experienced debt problems to get back their self-respect and take control of their lives again. Christians Against Poverty’s advice is free, non-judgmental and open to those from all backgrounds.

The charity has just been named – for the second year running – the Sunday Times best small company to work for and the Tulse Hill Centre was runner up at the CAP annual conference for best new centre. Chuka and Keith applaud their work and wish them every success in the future.

For more information, visit the website: CAP

Sure Start exists to ensure that every child is given the best possible start in life. The programme has been crucial in increasing the availability of childcare, improving health and early development and supporting parents and their aspirations.

Sure Start Centres provide early learning provision, activities for young children and family heath services such as postnatal support and advice on nutrition alongside help for parents in finding training and employment. Whilst ten years ago there were no Sure Start Centres locally or nationally, now more than 2.3 million children under five and their families have access to services through nearly 3,000 Centres across England, and by March 2010 every family will have access to a Sure Start Children’s Centre.

In Lambeth there are 25 Sure Start Centres, including 9 across the Streatham constituency:

• Effra Children’s Centre
• Jubilee Children’s Centre
• Maytree Children’s Centre
• Streatham United Reformed Church Children’s Centre
• Streatham Wells Children’s Centre
• Sunnyhill Children’s Centre
• The Weir Link Children’s Centre
• Tree House Children’s Centre at Holmewood Nursery School
• Woodmansterne Children’s Centre

Opposition politicians in Westminster recently announced plans to slash £200m from the Sure Start budget, a cut of almost 20%.  In Lambeth, this would be the equivalent of closing 5 children’s centres, just at a time when families need affordable childcare more than ever. The first years of a child’s life are of crucial importance. The proposed cuts risk leaving families without the support they need and would damage a programme which has made a real difference for so many parents and children, which is why Labour will continue to support and fund our centres.

In the video below, you can watch Childrens Minister, Bev Hughes MP, and Children’s Secretary, Ed Balls MP’s visit to a Sure Start centre in Stockwell in May last year.

Lambeth’s Labour administration has decided to freeze council tax for the next two years.

Recognising that in the current economic climate value for money is the top priority for Lambeth residents, Labour is determined to help by keeping council tax bills down. Having successfully managed its finances, the council is in a position to make this pledge while guaranteeing funding for front-line services, and without any cuts. For example, lunch clubs for older people are opening across the borough and youth clubs’ opening times are being extended to seven days a week.

Lambeth now has the sixth lowest council tax of the thirty three London boroughs. This stands in stark contrast to the way the Lib Dems ran Lambeth: raising council taxes over 40% while in power, including a colossal 23% rise in one year. Notably, the Lib Dems and Tories both voted against this year’s freeze.

Alongside the council tax freeze, the Labour administration launched a Credit Crunch Taskforce (of which Chuka, an employment law solicitor, was a member), pledging over £350k to helping residents and businesses through these difficult times in Lambeth. This will mean a range of new measures including a telephone advice service for local businesses, the promotion of local food initiatives and reducing the council’s payment time to small businesses from 30 to 10 days. The council is also expanding its collaboration with the Lambeth Savings and Credit Union.

Commenting on the council tax freeze, Chuka said,
“I welcome the decision to freeze council tax and applaud the measures Lambeth is taking to help the borough through these difficult economic times. This move shows what a difference having a Labour council can make.”