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Post by jade on Sept 3, 2010 7:51:40 GMT
London mayoral hopeful Ken Livingstone has accused the government of declaring "a war on equality" as he published a report showing that women in London are paying twice as much as men for the government's cuts in public spending.
Livingstone, who is hoping to be selected as the Labour candidate for the 2012 mayoral election in a two-horse race with Oona King, has drawn together evidence that shows women are more heavily affected by cuts in housing benefit and pension changes.
Even if cuts in child benefits and family-related tax credits are discounted, women are paying for 66% of the cuts in London, the report claimed.
The document, A Mayor for Equality, suggest women are more heavily affected by cuts in housing benefit and the switch to the Consumer Price Index for calculating the additional state pension and public sector pensions.
Livingstone also cited planned cuts in public sector jobs, where women represent 65% of the workforce, often in lower paid jobs.
The reality of women's lives would mean they would end up filling more of the gap left if public services are cut, he warned, such as caring roles for children and other family members, he added.(Guardian)So yet again toryBoys are asking the women to bail them out of their problems. women have always helped out and its time that our good and generous, caring natures were given a day off. If the bankers (OK not exclusively men but pretty much) have knackered up our economy so that we cannot afford the simple gifts of quality fo life for our infants and elderly, then why are they looking to US to pick up the slack? Surely its time for men to move over, Darling?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2010 11:37:46 GMT
So far as benefits are concerned, I suppose one could argue that in the past, women have enjoyed more of the subsidies.
But I wouldn't!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2010 12:30:36 GMT
I am doing a bit of a double-take here, because I wasn't even aware there were to be cuts in housing benefit. What cuts, I ask?
As for pensions, does this mean the state retirement pension will rise according to the same index that is now to be used for means tested benefits, or will this just apply to the pension credit element?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2010 15:24:31 GMT
Ah - nw I do remember talk of reducing the basis of the Local Housing Allowance to two thirds of the average rental price of an area. Something like that, anyway.
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Post by Big Lin on Sept 3, 2010 15:59:19 GMT
On the other hand MORE men than women are losing their jobs so it's swings and roundabouts I suppose.
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Post by Ben Lomond on Sept 3, 2010 16:32:43 GMT
Livingstone is electioneering on the flimsiest of selective argument. Surely Londoners don't want THAT parsimonious twerp back into office? Mind you, I',m not too convinced about the bold Boris either. I still can't decide whether he is a buffoon of the first water, or if that persona is all an act covering an astute and highly developed intellect?
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