Monday, 26 March 2007
Word for the week - Jeremiah 29 vv11-14a
'You will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord' - (Jeremiah 29 vv11-14a.)
Friday, 23 March 2007
The Budget - Uncle Arthur's Thoughts
Attached is a link to a briefing on this week's budget prepared by the Trade Union group of Labour MPs. The Chancellor certainly grabbed the headlines by the highly surprising headline cut in the basic rate of income tax.
This move was clever politically and will put the Tories on the back-foot. However, the debate about the budget in the press seems all too partisan with all the 'rob Peter to pay Paul' platitudes how can we really assess the objective strengths and weaknesses in the budget?
Uncle Arthur is concerned that the abolition of the 10p starting rate appears to affect poor people directly. The balance to this is the boost to the Child Tax credit and further enhancements to the Working Families Tax credit. This policy has to be one of Labour's best policies, but the system needs to be efficient in order to retain it's credibility and mitigate against any 'damage' caused by the disappearance of the 10p rate.
Uncle Arthur would also like to see some recognition and a restoration of the married couple's allowance. No-one is kidding themselves that an extra £55 a month or whatever is the key to re-building marriage in the UK, of course not. But a bold, moral and perhaps spiritual statement by the Government in this regard would be a tremendous stake in the ground. Healthy and committed marriages and strong families would provide a sound foundation to address many of the social problems we face today.
This is Uncle Arthur, checking out, enjoy the weekend (created by God and defended by the Trade Unions!).
http://www.tugroup.net/down/treasurybriefing220307.doc
This move was clever politically and will put the Tories on the back-foot. However, the debate about the budget in the press seems all too partisan with all the 'rob Peter to pay Paul' platitudes how can we really assess the objective strengths and weaknesses in the budget?
Uncle Arthur is concerned that the abolition of the 10p starting rate appears to affect poor people directly. The balance to this is the boost to the Child Tax credit and further enhancements to the Working Families Tax credit. This policy has to be one of Labour's best policies, but the system needs to be efficient in order to retain it's credibility and mitigate against any 'damage' caused by the disappearance of the 10p rate.
Uncle Arthur would also like to see some recognition and a restoration of the married couple's allowance. No-one is kidding themselves that an extra £55 a month or whatever is the key to re-building marriage in the UK, of course not. But a bold, moral and perhaps spiritual statement by the Government in this regard would be a tremendous stake in the ground. Healthy and committed marriages and strong families would provide a sound foundation to address many of the social problems we face today.
This is Uncle Arthur, checking out, enjoy the weekend (created by God and defended by the Trade Unions!).
http://www.tugroup.net/down/treasurybriefing220307.doc
Thursday, 22 March 2007
Labour - For Working People and their Families
Uncle Arthur is not going to opine about yesterday's budget. However, it is important to highlight one announcement that may not be headline grabbing but is significant. The government has decided the expand the funds available to the Financial Assistance Scheme, by a considerable degree. This scheme is designed to help employees who have lost their pension entitlement as a result of scheme insolvency. The scheme was introduced after vigorous campaigning by both Amicus and Community trade unions, through political and legal channels. In 2004 the FAS was set at £400m and will now rise to £8bn.
Although much more needs to be done to expand this scheme even further, this move is most welcome and reflects where Labour's priorities should be focussed - on working people and their families.
The text below is an Amicus/Community press release on the matter.
£8 billion FAS ‘a major step forward to achieving pensions justice’ say Unions
Wednesday, 21st March 2007
Community and Amicus trade unions have welcomed the announcement by Gordon Brown in today’s Budget that the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will rise to £8 billion. Both unions have said it ‘is a major step forward to achieving pensions justice’. Community and Amicus have fought a five year political and legal campaign on behalf of their members who lost their expected pensions when their employer became insolvent.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Leahy, General Secretary of Community, and Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Amicus, said:
‘’The extension of the FAS to £8 billion is a major step forward to achieving pensions justice. It has been achieved, as have all the other steps to protect employees pensions – including the establishment of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) – as a result of the political and legal campaigning by Community and Amicus.
'However we believe that the commitment highlighted in the Budget papers means that the FAS will only pay 80% of the pension – not index-linked – which is not enough to meet the pensions justice that those affected need and deserve. Nor is it enough to comply with Article 8 of the European Insolvency Directive. In a case brought by Community and Amicus, the European Court of Justice found that successive UK Governments had acted unlawfully in not implementing the Directive properly.
‘Even with the extra money announced for the FAS today, the effect of inflation must be taken into account. Otherwise, based upon past inflation experience, after 10 years the real value of a pension will fall by a third, after 20 years it will fall by half and after 30 years it will fall by three-quarters. That means a member who is 10 years from retirement, who has paid into a pension scheme for over 30 years, and has an expected pension of £12,000 will receive a pension with a real value of only £7,000 when they retire. 10 years later it will be worth £5,000 at today’s value and, should they live to 85 years of age, it will only be worth less than £2,600 in real terms.
‘We believe that there is widespread public and political support for the view that those who qualify for the FAS should receive the same as those that who are covered by the PPF, which provides 90% of expected pension, index linked to RPI. Julie Morgan MP has tabled an amendment to the Pensions Bill to achieve this. We believe that a Labour Government with a strong moral and social compass will want to achieve this. We call upon all MPs to support Julie Morgan’s amendment’
Although much more needs to be done to expand this scheme even further, this move is most welcome and reflects where Labour's priorities should be focussed - on working people and their families.
The text below is an Amicus/Community press release on the matter.
£8 billion FAS ‘a major step forward to achieving pensions justice’ say Unions
Wednesday, 21st March 2007
Community and Amicus trade unions have welcomed the announcement by Gordon Brown in today’s Budget that the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will rise to £8 billion. Both unions have said it ‘is a major step forward to achieving pensions justice’. Community and Amicus have fought a five year political and legal campaign on behalf of their members who lost their expected pensions when their employer became insolvent.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Leahy, General Secretary of Community, and Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Amicus, said:
‘’The extension of the FAS to £8 billion is a major step forward to achieving pensions justice. It has been achieved, as have all the other steps to protect employees pensions – including the establishment of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) – as a result of the political and legal campaigning by Community and Amicus.
'However we believe that the commitment highlighted in the Budget papers means that the FAS will only pay 80% of the pension – not index-linked – which is not enough to meet the pensions justice that those affected need and deserve. Nor is it enough to comply with Article 8 of the European Insolvency Directive. In a case brought by Community and Amicus, the European Court of Justice found that successive UK Governments had acted unlawfully in not implementing the Directive properly.
‘Even with the extra money announced for the FAS today, the effect of inflation must be taken into account. Otherwise, based upon past inflation experience, after 10 years the real value of a pension will fall by a third, after 20 years it will fall by half and after 30 years it will fall by three-quarters. That means a member who is 10 years from retirement, who has paid into a pension scheme for over 30 years, and has an expected pension of £12,000 will receive a pension with a real value of only £7,000 when they retire. 10 years later it will be worth £5,000 at today’s value and, should they live to 85 years of age, it will only be worth less than £2,600 in real terms.
‘We believe that there is widespread public and political support for the view that those who qualify for the FAS should receive the same as those that who are covered by the PPF, which provides 90% of expected pension, index linked to RPI. Julie Morgan MP has tabled an amendment to the Pensions Bill to achieve this. We believe that a Labour Government with a strong moral and social compass will want to achieve this. We call upon all MPs to support Julie Morgan’s amendment’
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
Lesssons from Wilberforce
This weekend sees the celebration of the vote to end the transatlantic slave trade. Rightfully, christians across the UK will be celebrating this supernatural achievement with a variety of events.
Uncle Arthur will be attending a special 24-7 prayer meeting aimed at addressing the twenty-first century evil of human traffik. Proving that though we celebrate the work of Wilberforce and others, the work of social justice is never truly complete.
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/default.aspx
Although, Uncle Arthur is trying to really discover what are the broader lessons for Christians to embrace when considering the inspiring example of William Wilberforce? Here are some thoughts.
1) Engagement is Vital - Christians in the UK need to engage in politics - and do so in a graceful and truthful way. This engagement needs to be comprehensive and not just on the 'fashionable' issues, eg Make Poverty History, as worthy as they are. Wilberforce saw the need to get involved in politics, which calls for some degree of worldly wisdom and getting your hands dirty. We need more christians prepared to engage and not just 'rage.'
2) Worldview - Wilberforce's worldview shaped his politics. He knew that a christian, kingdom perspective could not live with the 'zeitgeist' of the time which assumed that British economic well-being was linked to the slave trade. He had a different view and that inevitable led him to campaign against and deconstruct the prevailing mindset.
3) Politics is mission - we need to see a generation of christians who see the call to service in politics as godly and noble. The earth is the Lords and we need to see a missionary movement of young christians breaking into politics. Wilberforce clearly saw his political career as a calling. In many ways the UK political scene has been a sort of 'unreached people group' by and large, with it's own tribal traditions and definitely its own inscrutable language. Let's pray for a generation of missionaries to reach this 'people group' with the gospel.
4) When we step out, God steps up. Wilberforce has the courage to stand and saw God move. He was persistent and faced many threats, discouragements and set-backs but God delivered. We need to have a measure of that faith and courage today.
Truth and Grace
Uncle Arthur is slightly concerned that the manner in which some christians engage poltically on contemporary issues, plays into the hands of the hostile media and secular opponents.
The government have been a little unwise in the way they have brusquely handled both the SOR debate and the gay adoption issue. The manner in which it has been dealt with has alienated christians. Yet, some christians need to find a language and lobbying/campaigning approach that is more subtle and less aggressive.
The closest thing I have found to a biblical and compassionate position on SOR is the stance taken by the organisation called Faithworks. Judge for yourself.
http://www.faithworks.info/SubSection.asp?id=2485
Uncle Arthur.
The government have been a little unwise in the way they have brusquely handled both the SOR debate and the gay adoption issue. The manner in which it has been dealt with has alienated christians. Yet, some christians need to find a language and lobbying/campaigning approach that is more subtle and less aggressive.
The closest thing I have found to a biblical and compassionate position on SOR is the stance taken by the organisation called Faithworks. Judge for yourself.
http://www.faithworks.info/SubSection.asp?id=2485
Uncle Arthur.
Monday, 19 March 2007
Word for the week - 1 John 4v19
Every week we will look at a scripture and how we can apply it to politics on the left.
"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says 'I love God', yet hates his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4v19).
These are challening words, love and compassion for one's fellow man should be a guiding principle which shapes our christian lives and our politics. Yet, in the reality of life and the cut and thrust of the political world, love may be in short supply.
The history of the Labour Party has seen immense factional battles, class hatred iginiting political rhetoric and self-love and vanity abnegating any chance of the love of God breaking in.
The motives of others, petty clashes and the tribal inter-party pettiness that pervades UK politics can affect the christian. Yet, we are challenged by God of love, to follow the way of truth and love, knowing that we have been first loved.
Wouldn't it be great if we see some love for fellow man and love between the eventual candidates in this year's leadership elections permeating left politics this year?
"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says 'I love God', yet hates his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4v19).
These are challening words, love and compassion for one's fellow man should be a guiding principle which shapes our christian lives and our politics. Yet, in the reality of life and the cut and thrust of the political world, love may be in short supply.
The history of the Labour Party has seen immense factional battles, class hatred iginiting political rhetoric and self-love and vanity abnegating any chance of the love of God breaking in.
The motives of others, petty clashes and the tribal inter-party pettiness that pervades UK politics can affect the christian. Yet, we are challenged by God of love, to follow the way of truth and love, knowing that we have been first loved.
Wouldn't it be great if we see some love for fellow man and love between the eventual candidates in this year's leadership elections permeating left politics this year?
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