This morning I was interviewed on Premier Radio about today’s interest rate rises. I talked about those whose costs will rise – mortgage holders, renters and those who are already burdened by unavoidable debt accumulated over the lockdowns. I also talked about the rise’s effects on those who are …
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Tax and the cost of living
The Conservative Party is choosing a new leader, who will become the UK’s next Prime Minister. One of the key issues throughout the campaign has been tax cuts. All the candidates – including Sunak and Truss who remain in the contest – wish to cut taxes. The only differences between candidate have …
Five things you can do to mark Refugee Week (20-26 June 2022)
Refugee Week is taking place from 20-26 June this year, with the theme of 'Healing'. There is so much going on across the UK to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees - we've picked out five things you and your church can do: Reflect on Sanctuary each day A new free …
Time to Ban the Bailiffs
Joe Cox from our friends at Debt Justice (formerly the Jubilee Debt Campaign) introduces their new campaign to make council tax collection more humane and more effective – by ending council’s use of bailiffs. In its latest annual release the UK government found that £4.4 billion of council tax …
Empowered to Succeed or Set up to Fail?
Unprecedented. The last two years have certainly been unprecedented for us all and the rippling effects of the covid pandemic, coupled with the impact of Brexit, are resulting in fresh economic challenges for many of us. With rising inflation, interest rates and energy prices, households are facing …
The Hope Won’t Kill You
Since the age of nine I have been a faithful (and long-suffering) supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. In the following decade-and-a-bit, I have never seen them win anything. I have shed more tears over football results than anything else in that period. I have watched Tottenham come second in the …
Net Zero From the Ground Up: the case for councils
We're launching a new campaign, 'Net Zero In My Neighbourhood'. This blog explores why we're focusing on local councils for climate action, and how you can get involved. I’d like to use my car less but public transport is unreliable. I’d like to recycle more but recycling bins are only collected …
Nationality and Borders Bill – What’s next?
In February, 1000+ faith leaders wrote to the Prime Minister raising their concerns about the Nationality and Borders Bill, urging him to make changes even at this late stage. At the beginning of April, we received a reply to the letter from Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Justice and Tackling …
Nationality and Borders Bill: Update from the House of Commons
On Tuesday 22nd March, the Nationality and Borders Bill returned to the House of Commons. MPs were given the chance to vote on the amendments made to the bill in the House of Lords, where it was met with strong resistance. Unfortunately, despite rumours of rebellions on the Conservative benches, …
The Spring Statement number you need to know: 600,000 more people pulled into poverty
The most important number from the entire spring statement was not from the Chancellor but from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. They estimated that over the next year, 600,000 people will be pulled into poverty [1]. The 14.6 million people already experiencing poverty will of course be pulled …