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Category: Analysis

  • Deranged Zionists have accused kids entertainer Ms Rachel of being Hamas

    Ms Rachel, an American children’s entertainer, is facing attacks from pro-Israel groups. Otherwise known as Rachel Accurso, the performer has used her massive following to call for the famine and murder of Palestinian children to be stopped. Incredibly, this has led to a number of Zionist lobbyists and mainstream media outlets to question if Ms Rachel is funded by Hamas.

    Amid mounting criticism, she stood firm:

    When it’s controversial to advocate for children that have been killed in the thousands, are blocked from food and medical care, and have become the largest cohort of amputees in modern history, we have lost our way.

    It’s my unwavering belief that children aren’t less valuable or less equal because of where they were born, the color of their skin, or the religion they practice.

    Ms Rachel defends all kids

    StopAntisemitism, a pro-Israel lobbying group breathlessly accused Ms Rachel of being a mouthpiece for Hamas:

    Rachel Griffin-Accurso, known by her stage name Ms. Rachel, became a household name with her hit show engaging babies and toddlers. However, since her rise to fame, she appears to have transformed into a mouthpiece for Hamas. Now, she spreads vile propaganda against the Jewish state to over 20 million followers across multiple accounts – outnumbering the entire global population of Israelis and Jews.

    Let’s take a look at the “vile propaganda” Ms Rachel has been spreading.

    At the beginning of March she shared a picture of murdered Hind Rajab along with the caption:

    Hind Rajab is her name.

    Listen to her voice. Tell her story. Change the world for her and all the innocent children that deserved to live.

    “I’m so scared, please come. Come take me. Please, will you come?”

    Hind Rajab was a 5 year old Palestinian child who was trapped in a car when Israeli forces massacred her family. They used a tank to shoot at the ambulance coming to her aid. Whilst surrounded by her dead family members, and bleeding from her own injuries she infamously pleaded for help:

    I’m so scared, please come.

    The Palestinian Red Crescent Society released audio recordings of the three hours that Hind spent on the phone to them. In the heartbreaking footage, she pleads for her life and asks for help. Her death is now being considered an Israeli war crime. There is no doubt over what happened to Hind. And yet, Ms Rachel responding to Hind’s brutal murder with compassion is a problem because Hind was a Palestinian child.

    Basic humanity

    The entertainer has also shared her heartfelt pleas for Palestinian children to be saved. In one post, she shared a video of children huddled together and waving at the camera:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Ms Rachel (@msrachelforlittles)

    In the caption she added:

    They just want to stay alive, eat food and drink water, learn and play. It’s not controversial to want them to have these basic rights and it is a crime not to let them.

    Unfortunately for Ms Rachel, a post of such basic human decency is apparently enough for Zionists to call into question her morals and values. In another of her posts, she shares footage of two Palestinian children, Celine and Sila, as they sit with their father on top of debris and rubble as they watch Ms Rachel’s videos:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Ms Rachel (@msrachelforlittles)

    In her caption she wrote:

    My friends Celine and Sila in what used to be their home in Gaza. They deserve to live in a warm, safe home again. They deserve to be children.

    Vile, right?

    She repeatedly shares stories and footage of Palestinian children she has been in touch with. On one occasion, she shares a picture of Palestinian children and writes:

    Food and water are blocked from them. Why don’t they have human rights like other children? Why are many leaders and people silent about their suffering? Either we take care of all children in this world or we don’t. All children’s futures depend on us doing the right thing.

    Along with her husband, the entertainer has pledged $1 million to the World Food Programme to feed hungry children around the world. Zionists may be unfamiliar with this Hamas tactic of backing talk with actions. Or, perhaps it’s the feeding of hungry children rather than starving and bombing them which is confusing.

    Humanisation

    Continuing her rampage of “vile propaganda” Ms Rachel then did what most Zionists would consider to the ultimate crime: she made it seem like Palestinians are humans just like anyone else.

    She shared footage of a Palestinian baby, like babies all over the world, watching her YouTube channel:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Ms Rachel (@msrachelforlittles)

    In the caption she wrote:

    This is precious baby Amal in Gaza. 💕 She deserves everything my baby has. They are no different. Her mom and I are no different. Our love for our babies is no different.

    Zionism is built on the abhorrent lie that Palestinians are “human animals” who do not deserve to live. Ms Rachel’s humanisation of Palestinian children is, heartbreakingly, a rarity particularly for Americans. Her caption continued:

    I pray that Amal and all children have healthy food, clean water, medical care and a safe place to live. So many children don’t, but they could. That’s the part that hurts so much. We stand by.

    In making it clear that it is a political choice to allow famine in Palestine, Ms. Rachel is doing more than many elected politicians have managed to do.

    Propaganda against Ms Rachel

    Even so, StopAntisemitism have written to the US Attorney General to demand an investigation into whether Ms Rachel is:

    being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers.

    DropSite News journalist Ryan Grim, among many others, objected to the New York Times’ coverage of the, frankly, fucking deranged, request:

    Even by the standards of mainstream media’s bizarre relationship with bias, Ms Rachel has advocated for Palestinian children as well as Israeli children, children from Sudan, and as she often says, all children. Even then, that’s not enough for Zionist lobby groups. Their fury at Ms Rachel is purely from being threatened by anyone behaving as though Palestinian children are humans that have a right to survive.

    By Maryam Jameela

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Scottish Labour under fire over betrayal of WASPI women ahead of crucial by-election

    As the Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall by-election approaches, Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar has been slammed over the party’s neglect of WASPI women, with the SNP and community campaigners condemning Labour’s failure to support compensation claims for those affected by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pension age changes.

    WASPI women: let down by Scottish Labour

    The by-election for Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall looms large as candidates grapple with pressing local issues, notably the ongoing plight of WASPI women—those affected by DWP changes to the state pension age. Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, faces mounting criticism amid claims that his party has turned its back on these women.

    This sentiment is echoed strongly by his opponents, notably Katy Loudon of the SNP, who asserts that Sarwar’s Labour has consistently failed to prioritise the rights of those adversely affected by this significant policy change.

    WASPI, or Women Against State Pension Inequality, advocates for approximately 3.6 million women born in the 1950s who were left in the lurch when the state pension age was raised, often without proper notification.

    Critically, current estimates suggest that around 4,000 to 5,000 women in the Hamilton constituency alone might be among those disadvantaged. This demographic relies on timely pension payments to sustain their livelihoods, and their allegations of betrayal by Labour weigh heavily on the political discourse as the election date approaches.

    John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, has sharply condemned Labour’s handling of the situation, stating that the party has let these women down by not supporting calls for compensation, which had previously been a core promise.

    “WASPI Women, like so many others, have been betrayed by the Labour Party,” he said, highlighting the disconnect between the party’s historical commitments and its current actions. Loudon reinforces this message, underscoring that Labour’s silence is an abrogation of its responsibilities.

    “They deserve better… I will always stand up for the WASPI women,” she asserted, illustrating the SNP’s commitment to the cause.

    DWP chaos which goodwill will not resolve

    ‘In a recent meeting organised for constituents, members of the WASPI campaign expressed their disillusionment with both the UK government and Scottish Labour. Anne Potter, a coordinator for WASPI in Lanarkshire, lamented that Scottish Labour, under Sarwar’s leadership, has failed to engage with the campaign effectively. This failure has amplified frustrations within the constituency, as many feel drawn into a political arena where their concerns are sidelined.

    Despite the mounting pressure, Labour has pointed to broader social measures aimed at improving the welfare of older people, claiming to shield pensioners from financial instability through the protection of the “triple lock” on pensions.

    However, this narrative of goodwill rings hollow for many, especially as it starkly contrasts with the injustices faced by WASPI women. The government, while acknowledging the distress caused, has steadfastly refused to offer financial reparations, arguing that it would be “unfair” to taxpayers and citing the costs of a potential scheme.

    The reality remains, however, that many of these women are grappling with economic hardship directly consequences of policy decisions made by successive governments.

    Sarwar himself has previously acknowledged the serious shortcomings in communication regarding pension reform, admitting that, “It is disappointing that no compensation was provided to those most in need.”

    This admission comes amid internal dissent within Labour, where it has been suggested that party leaders in London instructed local MSPs to abstain from voting on motions supporting DWP compensation. Such directives have sowed seeds of division, exacerbating tensions and highlighting an apparent disconnect between Scottish and UK Labour party agendas.

    WASPI women must not be an afterthought

    The widespread dissatisfaction speaks volumes about the resilience of these resilient women who, after years of campaigning, feel that their voices are continually marginalised.

    As the by-election nears, it is clear that the future MSP must not only address these grievances but also ensure that the plight of the WASPI women is integral to political discussions, rather than an afterthought. Voters are keenly observing which candidates will truly support their fight for justice.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Arsenal being sued by former kit man over his sacking for pro-Palestine tweets

    Arsenal face legal trouble from a former kit man who is suing the club for unfair dismissal. Mark Bonnick alleges that he was dismissed for his views on Palestine and his “philosophical anti-Zionist belief.”

    The Guardian reported that:

    According to Bonnick’s submission Arsenal’s investigation into the posts did not accuse him of antisemitism but said they could be “perceived as inflammatory or offensive” and had “brought the club into disrepute”. Bonnick is seeking damages and reinstatement.

    Now, in an interview with Middle East Eye, Bonnick has vowed to keep supporting Palestine:

    I regret nothing. Despite losing my job this close to retirement, I would still encourage people to speak up. We owe it to Palestinians, and to ourselves as humans, to oppose racism, colonialism and genocide, just like Arsenal did for Black Lives Matter and in solidarity with Ukrainians.

    Questions for Arsenal

    One of the tweets that Arsenal identified as potentially causing offence, according to Bonnick’s legal submission read as follows:

    Yes it is all about Jewish supremacy & not wanting to share the land Ethnic cleansing.

    Bonnick’s lawyer, Franck Magennis, said:

    Mark’s reference to ‘Jewish supremacy’ is a mainstream political critique of Israel’s self-definition as a Jewish state, which prioritises rights and privileges for Jewish citizens over others.

    The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is supporting Bonnick’s case. The ELSC routinely support those advocating for Palestinian rights in European courts. Advocacy officer at ELSC, Tasnima Uddin, said:

    Mark’s case is not isolated. Workers across sectors are being targeted for showing solidarity with Palestine. We must defend our right to speak up – and push back against anti-Palestinian repression.

    You can’t claim neutrality while silencing dissent.

    Uddin also told Middle East Eye:

    It is outrageous that Arsenal Football Club has chosen to treat a lifelong fan and loyal worker of 22 years with such contempt, firing him on Christmas Eve simply for expressing solidarity with Palestine.

    Bonnick has now found employment as a labourer on a construction site. And, the difference between a club of Arsenal’s stature and someone like Bonnick was not lost on Uddin:

    This is not only a personal injustice; it is a stain on football and a betrayal of the values fans hold dear. While the global football industry rakes in billions, working-class staff like Mark are punished for speaking out against injustice.

    Defence of Palestine

    A number of people on social media have spoken out to defend Bonnick. Sports journalist Leyla Hamed shared a banner outsides the Emirates stadium in support of Bonnick:

    Hamed also defended Bonnick and asked for Arsenal to reinstate him:

    The Palestinian Media Organisation asked

    Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project said Bonnick’s dismissal was part of a “disturbing pattern”:

    Host of Palestine Declassified, Chris Williamson, urged for people to keep resisting Zionism:

    Author Julian Sayarer called out the racism endemic in UK football:

    Arsenal’s complicity

    As the Guardian reported in 2024, activists have long been calling for Arsenal to divest from their longtime sponsors Emirates. The airline are based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who are accused by Sudanese activists of arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF themselves accused of war crimes by the Sudan Doctors Network.

    Activists, including football fans, have repeatedly protested outside Arsenal’s stadium pleading:

    Don’t let the UAE sportswash genocide in Sudan.

    Genocide in Sudan is not unconnected to genocide in Palestine. It is entirely possible for global powers to intervene and halt the mounting accounts of death, torture, and famine. However, political will is not on the side of Palestinian or Sudanese people and therefore their deaths are seen as acceptable to Western powers.

    Arsenal have bowed to potential public pressure to sack Bonnick. If only they could bow to public pressure and divest from UAE companies to demonstrate what they really think about genocide. Instead, they’ve chosen to target a longtime worker defending Palestinians at a time when no one in power cares to do so.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Maryam Jameela

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Thanks to the DWP, nearly half of people with MS have had to quit their jobs

    Almost half of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been forced to leave their jobs due to inadequate support from both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and their employers. The urgency of this situation is underscored as the DWP plans to mete out regressive cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a vital benefit relied upon by more than half of those surveyed.

    DWP is already abandoning people living with MS

    Sarah Martin, a 51-year-old civil servant from Ramsbottom, epitomises the challenges faced by many. Living with relapsing multiple sclerosis, Sarah has benefited from DWP PIP to help manage her living costs, which have soared due to her condition.

    “Receiving PIP means that I can afford to work part-time and better manage my symptoms,” she explained. However, the looming government cuts to this support threaten to upend her fragile balance between work and health.

    If reassessed under new criteria, Sarah fears losing her daily living allowance, which could compel her to return to full-time work. This, she warns, would exacerbate her symptoms and lead to more frequent sick leave—a detrimental cycle for both her health and finances.

    The government’s proposed changes have not gone unnoticed, with Ross Barrett, policy manager at the MS Society, urging officials to reconsider. He stated that many individuals with MS are leaving work not by choice, but due to financial pressures that force them to compromise their health.

    “Living with MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable – not to mention expensive,” Barrett added. Access to DWP PIP enables these individuals to manage the extra costs associated with their condition, such as hiring carers for essential daily activities.

    Workplaces are not accessible, still

    In tandem with DWP PIP shortcomings, these workers often face adversities at the workplace. Nearly half of respondents indicated that a better understanding of MS from their employers could have made a critical difference in their ability to remain employed.

    Additionally, 41% expressed that a lack of reasonable adjustments, like flexible working hours, also drove them towards leaving their roles. Alarmingly, a third of those still working hold jobs below their skill levels, often due to a lack of support that leaves them feeling undervalued and unrecognised.

    Ben Harrison, director of the Work Foundation, stressed the importance of comprehensive support from both the government and employers to enable those with MS to continue leading productive working lives.

    “It’s critical that the government rethinks its plans to cut back access to welfare payments,” he emphasised. “Doing so could actually lead to fewer people with conditions like MS being able to enter and remain in work in the future.”

    The recent report highlights an overwhelming sentiment among workers with MS—they desire meaningful employment, yet systemic barriers continue to impede their progress.

    Institutional failures -including DWP PIP inadequacy

    This aligns with findings from the MS Society which reported an employment rate for people with MS at only 41%, starkly contrasted to the 81% employment rate among non-disabled people.

    Moreover, a scoping review revealed that only a fraction of those with MS manage to maintain full-time employment ten years after diagnosis.

    Facing fluctuating symptoms, many are compelled to reduce their working hours or even retire prematurely, with DWP financial support playing a crucial role in easing this journey. The situation has reached a point where a staggering 75% of non-medical costs associated with MS are self-funded by individuals, placing immense pressure on their already strained finances.

    Disability benefits like DWP PIP are not merely financial aids; they represent a lifeline for many who wish to maintain their independence while living with a debilitating condition.

    The pressure of recent policy shifts is jeopardising this very dream for individuals like Sarah.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • DWP is failing to compensate yet another group of women over a pensions scandal

    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) attempts to address historic underpayments of state pensions due to the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme have been met with considerable criticism, as new revelations indicate that only a small fraction of those owed money have received what they are due.

    The DWP has acknowledged that despite sending letters to 370,000 potential claimants, only 12,379 cases of arrears have been identified, amounting to just £104 million being paid out—a mere fraction of the £1.1 billion initially estimated for redress.

    Home Responsibilities Protection: another historic mess

    The fundamental issue at the heart of this failure lies in the complexity of the Home Responsibilities Protection scheme, which ran from 1986 to 2010. Designed to safeguard the National Insurance contributions of those who took time off work to care for children or dependents, it disproportionately affected women, many of whom found themselves not only grappling with financial uncertainty but also navigating a convoluted administrative process.

    The DWP’s own findings indicate that many older people lack the digital skills necessary to engage with the “digital by default” application process, a requirement that has hindered those in need from claiming what is rightfully theirs.

    Steve Webb, former pensions minister and a leading advocate for pensioners’ rights, has been vocally critical of the government’s approach. He remarked that it is disheartening that efforts to identify and rectify underpayments have largely failed to engage those who desperately need assistance.

    “Writing letters to older people which guide them towards a two-stage online process was always going to have a low success rate,” Webb stated, highlighting the governmental oversight of the challenges faced by older demographics in a digital age.

    The DWP response has been inadequate, at best

    Compounding this issue is the widespread scepticism surrounding such correspondence; many recipients mistook government letters for scams, while others were unsure of their eligibility or worried that it was “too late” to modify their situations.

    This lack of trust is particularly relevant in a society increasingly attuned to online fraud, which older people are more vulnerable to. Furthermore, confusion surrounding the connection between past child benefit claims and current state pension entitlements has left many unaware that they are owed back payments averaging £7,800 per person.

    This inadequate outreach has resulted in an expanding backlog of unaddressed cases. Recent reports indicate that the total cumulative underpayments could exceed £3 billion, affecting over 200,000 people.

    With an increasing underpayment rate, now at around 6% of state pension claims, urgent action is required not only to rectify these payment errors but also to overhaul the systems that perpetuated them. Historical administrative errors have catalysed this ongoing issue; the DWP has been performing a review of nearly 878,000 cases since January 2021, yet the full resolution might not be reached until 2027.

    While the government has initiated a correction exercise, similar initiatives in the past have failed to yield sustainable improvements. The national pension framework must be re-evaluated to ensure such oversights are not repeated.

    Chaos for older women

    Parliament’s Public Account Public Committee has examined the DWP’s handling of pension records, identifying systemic flaws as a critical barrier to the effective resolution of underpayments. It has become glaringly evident that more robust safeguards and clearer communication are essential to protect vulnerable groups—especially women, who have historically borne the brunt of these administrative failures.

    In light of these circumstances, Fleur Iannazzo, a money wellbeing expert, has encouraged potentially affected individuals to take immediate action. “Anyone who thinks they might’ve been underpaid their state pension due to missing Home Responsibilities Protection years should act now,” she advised.

    Support is available through the DWP’s helpline, but it is crucial for eligible pensioners to consult trusted friends or relatives to navigate the complexities of the application process.

    The Home Responsibilities Protection gap is not just a bureaucratic error; it represents years of financial struggle for thousands of individuals who trusted a system meant to safeguard their livelihoods. As this situation unfolds, the call for the DWP to reform its practices grows louder. It is an urgent reminder that the welfare of minoritised people should always take precedence over bureaucratic convenience, ensuring that every individual receives not just their due entitlements but the dignity that comes with it.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • A Labour MP on the Work and Pensions committee just threw disabled people under the bus

    Labour MP David Pinto-Duschinsky has jumped on his LabourList soapbox to defend Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) boss Liz Kendall’s callous cuts to chronically ill and disabled people’s benefits – specifically Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit.

    It comes the day after the DWP committee – that he’s a member of – lambasted the cuts in a letter to the prime minister.

    DWP PIP and universal credit cuts: committee calls government to halt

    The Work and Pensions Committee has been conducting an inquiry into the government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper plans for DWP PIP and Universal Credit.

    In particular, the inquiry is intending to look at the impacts of these DWP policy changes on disabled people. Moreover, it aims to unpack the poverty and employment effects of the reforms.

    Now, the committee has advised the government to pause its plans for parliament to vote on some of these reforms in early June. As ITV News reported:

    Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is being advised to urgently pause the Government’s plans to cut disability and health benefits by Parliament’s work and pensions committee, ITV News can reveal.

    The cross-party group, chaired by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, has expedited the conclusions of a report into the reforms – and has said they should not go ahead without a comprehensive impact assessment.

    The politicians say that disabled people must also be consulted before MPs are asked to vote on the reforms.

    After hearing from a series of experts, the group warns of possible unintended consequences.

    However, the ink had barely dried when one member of the committee decided to contradict the whole thing.

    A ‘fulfilment’ of Labour values

    The DWP committee sent the letter to Starmer on Wednesday 21 May. By 6am the morning 22 May, committee member David Pinto-Duschinsky had a column on LabourList titled:

    ‘Welfare reform is not a betrayal of Labour values – it’s their fulfilment’

    He opened with some dewy-eyed Clement Attlee welfare state nostalgia:

    The creation of the modern welfare state by the 1945 Labour government remains one of the party’s proudest legacies. A system to support society’s most vulnerable is an enduring symbol of fairness, collective responsibility, and the belief that no one should be left behind.

    In the aftermath of war, Labour didn’t just built institutions like the NHS and the welfare system. We enshrined at the very heart of the state the idea all should not just be protected from the material hardships but should be given true access of opportunity and the support they needed to make the most of their lives.

    These were not mere policies. They were moral commitments, asserting that dignity, security, and agency should be the birthright of every citizen.

    You can almost feel the ‘but’ coming in your bones. He continued that:

    But today, the welfare system faces urgent challenges. Economic inactivity is rising, with one in ten working age people now out of the labour market, millions locked out of work, and support systems too often unresponsive and inflexible.

    Then, he went onto argue that:

    It is no accident that employment rates among disabled people are almost thirty percent below those of non-disabled people. It is no accident that unemployed disabled people are only a third as likely to flow into work in any given year as other workers. It is no accident only 0.9% of people on the UC health component (the LCWRA) find work each month. And it’s unfortunately no accident that almost forty percent of people on these benefits are stuck in poverty.

    Now, there is one thing we can agree on. Successive UK government’s have continued to strip chronically ill and disabled people of support.

    Only recently, the Canary reported on leaked DWP plans to limit the already woefully inadequate and failing Access to Work Scheme.

    Jobs marked as ‘disability confident’, part-time, and work-from-home on the government’s OWN employment portal have hovered in the single digits for months. Don’t look now, but it has broken into the double digit numbers – a whole 10 jobs – across the entire UK. Repeated real-terms cuts to benefits and regressive reforms have decimated welfare. Benefit rates – even when factoring in LCWRA and DWP PIP – will be well below minimum wage. That’s state-sanctioned poverty. It is no accident.

    DWP PIP cuts will ‘push people into deeper poverty’

    None of this is what Pinto-Duschinsky was getting at. Instead, it’s the beyond parody idea that the generosity of health-related UC and DWP PIP are ‘incentivising’ people into claiming them. In Pinto-Duschinsky’s neoliberal fanaticist world-view, it’s ‘trapping’ people on benefits.

    Compare and contrast with the committee letter:

    other factors might also be driving people to claim both incapacity and disability benefits, including, in particular: rising ill-health, including mental ill-health; rising financial insecurity, particularly among disabled people; and the exclusion of disabled people from the workplace, exacerbated by the rise in the state pension age.

    It seems very possible that these other factors, which we will address in our final report, have indeed contributed to rising caseloads. If this is the case, the legislative changes might not incentivise work, as the Government hopes, but rather push people deeper into poverty, worsen health, especially in more deprived areas, and move people further from the labour market, as evidence suggests has happened in the past with similar reforms.

    In short, Labour’s plans will push chronically ill and disabled people into poverty. Of course, Pinto-Duschinsky and the government already know that. Its own impact assessment showed this. Worse than this, as the Canary underscored at the time, it’s undoubtedly an enormous underestimate too – as multiple FOIs and research has also backed up since.

    Get Britain Working group at it again

    Canary readers might also remember that Pinto-Duschinsky headed up the notorious ‘Get Britain Work’ group. This was the 36-strong line-up of Labour MPs who popped up to back chancellor Rachel Reeves and Kendall’s war on chronically ill and disabled people’s welfare. It just so happened to be populated with a menagerie of neoliberals from the Labour right who took donations from Morgan McSweeney brainchild Labour Together.

    Yes, THAT Pinto-Duschinsky. With him spearheading the charge, the group penned a letter declaring their sycophantic support. And funnily enough, at the time, he also wrote an accompanying column for City A.M. that peddled much of the same guff.

    As the Canary’s Steve Topple summed up, this spouted well-worn DWP PIP and benefit propaganda:

    It was more-of-the-same nonsense: work is good for disabled people; we’ve got a worklessness crisis; people are left to rot on benefits, but the main problem is it’s costing us too much.

    For Pinto-Duschinsky, ‘difficult choices’ is deciding to hurt other people. To chronically ill and disabled people if the government plough ahead with these cuts, ‘difficult choices’ will be whether to eat, heat their homes in winter, forgo vital aids that give them that “dignity and empowerment” Pinto-Duschinsky so vociferously banged on about.

    In his ode to Kendall’s Iain Duncan-Smith tribute act, he wrapped up with:

    We must take on the challenge of reform, not in spite of our Labour values, but because of them.

    According to Pinto-Duschinsky:

    This is not a betrayal of Labour values. It is their fulfilment.

    At the end of the day, this is what Labour is now.

    Pinto-Duschinsky’s column was a blatant attempt to distance himself from the committee’s warnings. The letter is notably absent from his X account. Meanwhile, the column was worth a strategically-timed post – go figure.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Hannah Sharland

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Autistic man with ME/CFS forced into psychiatric hospital in Ukraine

    A Ukrainian man living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) has been forced into a psychiatric hospital in Ukraine, amidst daily drone strikes and bombings.

    His story highlights the lack of knowledge around ME and the additional challenges of Russian attacks on chronically ill and disabled people.

    Debilitating symptoms of ME/CFS

    Marc is 21 and lives in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Until 2020, he was an ambitious student and aspiring doctor. That was, until he caught Covid. He developed long Covid, and now he lives with ME/CFS – a chronic systemic neuroimmune disease which affects nearly every system in the body. ME causes a series of debilitating symptoms. These typically include influenza-like symptoms, cognitive impairment, multiple forms of pain, and heart, lung, blood pressure, and digestive dysfunctions.

    Marc
    Marc. Image via Marc

    In particular, post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the hallmark feature of ME. This involves a disproportionate worsening of other symptoms after even minimal physical, social, mental, or emotional exertion. Often, the worsening can be permanent for the individual.

    After contracting Covid-19 in 2020, Marc continued studying, first at Karazin, Ukraine, then at an Irish university where he received a scholarship. However, his health kept getting worse. Eventually, the university expelled him as he could no longer work or study. He presumed he was depressed because he couldn’t get out of bed for weeks.

    He went back to Kharkiv, but the constant stress and disruption from the Russian shelling worsened his condition. At first, he still worked from his bed as an online English tutor for a couple of hours a day. He tried to volunteer, play guitar, and draw with charcoal and pastels, but it was taking a lot out of him.

    Marc’s artwork. Image via Marc

    A continued decline

    His condition continued to decline. Doctors repeatedly told Marc it was psychosomatic.

    Eventually, Marc couldn’t even leave his apartment and was starving until friends stepped in to help. He told the Canary:

    I have very severe ME, I can’t tolerate sound, light, touch. I can’t talk, walk to the toilet and can very rarely use the phone. Most of the time have to lay with earplugs and mask.

    At least 25% of people live with severe ME/CFS. People living with it are mostly, if not entirely, permanently bed-bound or hospitalised. On top of this, they are often unable to digest food, communicate, or process information.

    He was hospitalised several times, but each time his baseline took a hit. Medical staff forced him to walk, shouted at him, and berated him for his “laziness”. Eventually, he was able to find answers online and realised he had ME. At this point though, he was already bedbound, had severe sensory intolerance, and struggled to walk or communicate.

    Due to not having a source of income, his mother ended up caring for him. But she doesn’t have the funds to keep supporting him financially. Eventually, it meant she decided to seek psychiatric help for Marc.

    His Mom took him to a psychiatric hospital where they pressured him to sign a waiver to be admitted. The hospital then took away his eye and ear protection, and are regularly forcing him to walk.

    Marc in hospital
    Marc in hospital. Image via Marc

    ‘I’m terrified’

    Marc now has daily PEM and is still getting worse. The hospital staff do not understand his condition, and neither do his family. Before his hospital admission, he told the Canary:

    My mom doesn’t believe me when I tell her I have MECFS and is taking me to the psychiatric ward today because she thinks it’s a dissociative disorder, I’ve tried so hard, reached out to brother [and] sister but they believe mom, reached out to a social worker she doesn’t believe me either, my mom opens blindfolds [and] door all the time even though I tell her it’s painful for me, she continues forcing me to speak even though I can’t without an intense burning head sensation.

    So I get PEM and crash constantly at home because my caretaker doesn’t understand/believe my condition, I’m also autistic.

    I’ve already been hospitalised in the ward for three weeks but at that time I could still talk [and] advocate for myself and go to the restroom, it made my situation worse and this time I’m incredibly scared about my health deteriorating.

    I’ve seen 7 neurologists there not a single one believed me or even knew about ME. I asked my social worker to print out a few pamphlets in Ukrainian about ME and a plea to transfer me to neurology department so that’s my only hope, my mom will be pushing for me to be treated for psychiatric issues and I can’t protect myself. I have barely energy to write this. I’m terrified to be honest.

    16 days later, Marc has only deteriorated further.  Whilst he now has his ear and eye protection back, according to his friends, he is eating very little and has been unable to reply to messages for days at a time.

    Although the hospital has acknowledged he has dysautonomia symptoms, they are trying to claim he has a dissociative disorder and is refusing to cooperate with them. Marc told the Canary:

    ChatGPT says my ME is most likely neuroinflammation and dysautonomia-driven. They want to put me in the reanimating extreme ward because I can’t walk, take a shower, or speak normally.

    Mom says I need to try harder and convince myself to get rid of the symptoms. Mom said being home is not an option because she’s scared, and here the doctors will help. Says they’re not helping because I’m not trying. A few neurologists who saw me saw myalgic encephalomyelitis and dismissed it because my CFS was clear.

    I’m also trans on HRT for a year, my results are good and stable, they’re saying [the] dysautonomia is because of hormones and making me de-transition even though it will completely destabilise my body, endocrinologist said to do it slowly, even though before he said my results are good. I don’t know what to do.

    His online friends have started a fundraiser to try to get Marc better medical care. They have also reached out to Ukrainian specialists who treat ME/CFS patients. They are hoping for more competent medical care in a safer, more stable environment.

    Psychologisation rife around the world

    All over the world, ill-equipped families and medical staff are forcing patients with ME/CFS into psychiatric hospitals, in blatant attempts to psychologise the illness.

    Only last year, the abusive parents of a young woman in Greece forced her into a psychiatric ward against her will. It resulted in Katiana having no contact with the outside world. They trapped her in an environment which posed a serious threat to her life.

    Additionally, Katiana highlighted the “widespread disbelief in the existence of ME across the Greek healthcare system. Clearly, this widespread disbelief is not confined to Greece.

    A hospital in New Zealand discharged another young woman – 34 year-old Rhiannon – to a care home for pensioners. Similarly, the staff there were hugely ill-equipped for her care and the environment was utterly inappropriate for her condition.

    The Canary also reported on a similar case for a young man named Karol in Poland. Clinicians and a disbelieving mother previously committed him to a psychiatric ward, and have threatened this multiple times since.

    A care home in the UK is continuing to refuse to give a man with ME and long Covid the vital supplements he needs, to the point he is suffering life-threatening dehydration. And also in the UK, just last year, young women Millie and Carla were both sectioned against their will because doctors believed their ME was ‘all in their heads’.

    Now Marc’s story adds to this growing list of ME patients healthcare systems globally are atrociously failing.

    ME/CFS under military siege

    Marc’s story is a window into the reality of life with ME/CFS under military siege. Not only is he battling the constant disbelief, gaslighting, and abuse which are rife within the medical establishment towards ME patients, but he must contend with doing so in an unstable, dangerous environment.

    Given the impacts of loud noises, light, and other external stimuli on ME, the Russian bombardment not only threatens his life in the usual way but also risks worsening his condition from the environmental impacts on the city around him, too.

    What’s more, as an autistic transgender man, Marc faces multiple layers of marginalisation. Clinicians appear to have weaponised his gender transition against him. Now, not only is the hospital attempting to coerce him into ‘treatments’ that will harm his ME, but it’s also forcing him to de-transition against his will.

    Considering the hospital is so set on claiming Marc’s ME is psychosomatic, it beggars belief that it’s now denying him his HRT. This will undoubtedly put his mental health at risk.

    Ultimately, there’s nowhere in the world that’s safe for people living with ME right now. Least of all, however, a country under military invasion.

    You can donate to his fundraiser here.

    Communication with Marc was via the Severe ME Advocacy Group

    Feature image via Marc 

    By HG

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • EXPOSED: Israel itself helped coordinate Starmer and Macron’s supposed attack on it

    The West’s shift in positioning on Israel’s genocide in Gaza isn’t groundbreaking. It’s barely even the minimum of what we should expect when a Western ally is committing war crimes and starving thousands of babies to death. And Israel has apparently been boasting that it ‘moderated’ its allies’ smokescreen response this week.

    Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Cook has called on us to “ignore Starmer’s theatrics” on Israel, because it’s as “equally deceitful” as the narrative he has been feeding the public since the start of the genocide. Both the government and the establishment media, he insists:

    are acting as if some corner has been turned in Israel’s genocide. But genocides don’t have corners. They just progress relentlessly until stopped.

    He also argues that:

    Because colonial Israel is deeply integrated into the West’s war machine and therefore needs protecting, those same western leaders coordinated their seeming “ambush” of Israel with Israeli officials and the US. There was nothing spontaneous or genuine about Starmer and co’s “ambush”.

    Israel “managed to moderate the outcome” of the West’s smokescreen actions

    Britain seems to have no plans to stop regular flights to Israel from RAF Akrotiri, expel its genocide-supporting Israeli ambassador, or cancel all arms sales. So any new performative stances Starmer’s government takes essentially mean next to nothing for the people in Gaza whom Israel is starving to death right now. And as a senior Israeli official has revealed, that’s hardly surprising. Because as they told Haaretz, the seemingly strong announcements:

    were all part of a planned ambush we knew about. This was a coordinated sequence of moves ahead of the EU meeting in Brussels, and thanks to joint efforts by our ambassadors and the foreign minister, we managed to moderate the outcome.

    The current “handwringing”, Cook stresses, “is just another bit of stagecraft” aiming “to buy Israel time to “finish the job” – that is, to complete its genocide and ethnic cleansing of Gaza”. He continues:

    It is all meant as noise, to distract us from the only pertinent issue: that Israel is committing genocide by slaughtering and starving Gaza’s population, while the West has aided and abetted that genocide.

    And he asserts that:

    The truth is that western leaders and establishment media are playing us for fools once again, just as they have been for the past 19 months.

    For him:

    Whatever they say or do, the trail of blood leads straight back to their door.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • The Independent just said Starmer’s support for Israel’s genocide is all Corbyn’s fault

    19 months into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, rising pressure has forced Keir Starmer’s government to take some small steps to hold the apartheid state to account. But in an apparent attempt to help Starmer save face for denying and participating in a genocide, the Independent has absurdly tried to blame this shameful behaviour on his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.

    Political editor David Maddox, a former Daily Express writer, is no novice. But his article on Why Starmer’s government has waited until now to take action on Israel sounded like amateurish propaganda. Whether it was intentional spin or naïve incompetence, though, it certainly was idiotic, offensive, and even antisemitic.

    Maddox correctly explained that many MPs see the government’s “symbolic” and “limited” actions as “too late and not enough”. And he rightly pointed out that “there was no full suspension of arms sales nor sanctions against ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government”. But his explanation of why Starmer has been so ‘soft’ and ‘unwilling’ to challenge Israel was utterly ridiculous.

    Starmer’s support for genocide was all about Corbyn, apparently…

    Politicians in the pockets of the pro-Israel lobby dominate Starmer’s top team, which has received millions from a dodgy company potentially profiting from Israel’s war crimes. For most people, those would be important facts to consider when trying to explain the government’s participation in and denial of genocide. But apparently not for Maddox. Because he ridiculed claims that lobby influence has held Starmer’s team back from following Britain’s international obligations as “antisemitic”, saying “none of this is true”.

    Would it be racist to highlight the influence of lobbyists for any other foreign state? Is Maddox equating Judaism and support for Israel? Isn’t that itself an offensively antisemitic suggestion?

    He spoke about “the Jewish community” as if there was total consensus among Jewish people that Israel’s actions are above criticism. (That consensus doesn’t exist, of course.) He argued that “a sense of shame” over the supposed marginalisation of this community under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was what ‘held Starmer back’ from opposing genocide.

    So Starmer felt ‘shame’ about supporters of a racist colonial occupation disliking a lifelong anti-racist and internationalist, but not about actually denying and participating in genocide. Gotcha.

    The smear campaign never ended

    Maddox claimed, without a shred of evidence, that “under Corbyn’s leadership, Labour became so immersed in antisemitism”. Apparently, six years after this disgusting smear campaign helped to defeat Corbyn, the media can still repeat such lies with no consequences.

    As Jewish academic David Graeber described, the weaponisation of antisemitism accusations against Corbyn was:

    so cynical and irresponsible that I genuinely believe it to be a form of antisemitism in itself

    Award-winning Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, meanwhile, stressed that Corbyn had faced a “systematic campaign” against him for ‘daring to criticise’ Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine.

    The reality of Labour under Corbyn was that he took firm action against the very small amounts of racism within the party, apologising profusely for any that existed despite the “serious and extensive work” his team was doing to stamp it out. Numerous high-profile Jewish figures openly supported Corbyn in this fight. But racist right-wingers inside Labour weaponised the issue to undermine the left, as the Labour Leaks scandal revealed.

    The lazy propaganda from Maddox didn’t include links to justify his claim, because it’s simply unjustifiable. But as the mainstream media has never faced punishment for its democracy-subverting smears, the lies continue.

    Labour’s reputation under Starmer

    Maddox said Starmer’s hard work licking war criminals’ boots in the last year has been an attempt to “restore” Labour’s “reputation”. And if Corbyn had forged a reputation of challenging warmongers and economic elites, Starmer has indeed decimated that reputation. Instead, the right-wing leadership has cultivated a reputation for enabling genocide, being corporate cronies, brutally targeting the people in Britain who most need support, and empowering the far right.

    In a week where the UN’s humanitarian chief warned Israel’s ongoing blockage of aid into Gaza could kill 14,000 babies within 48 hours, Maddox suggested that the situation finally “outweighs the shame” of Corbyn daring to support international law and human rights. Finally, Starmer could justify slightly loosening the evil Corbynite chains that forced him to enable Israel’s genocide.

    Even amid all of the article’s absurdity, though, Maddox finished by inadvertently revealing the real reasons for Starmer’s small increase in criticism of Israel. One is the growing “pressure internally from Labour MPs over his harsh rhetoric on migration, welfare and winter fuel payments” following on from an awful local election and plummeting poll numbers. The other reason is that “even Donald Trump” is apparently struggling to stomach full support for Israel right now.

    In short, Labour’s timid shift on Israel isn’t about suddenly growing a conscience or shaking off the shackles of Israel-lobby appeasement. It’s just a small acknowledgement that things are looking grim for Labour right now. And with US permission, a slight increase in criticism for genocidal war criminals is a way to ease a bit of the anger the party is rightly facing.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • The pearl-clutching over Kneecap is a carnival of distraction from genocide

    Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged with a terror offence by the Metropolitan Police. He’s accused of allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag, a group who are a proscribed organisation. That means it’s a crime for anyone to express support for them as they’re considered a terrorist group.

    In a statement on their social media, Kneecap said:

    We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves.

    This is political policing.

    This is a carnival of distraction.

    We are not the story. Genocide is.

    Kneecap hit back

    Kneecap continued:

    Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.

    The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.

    The UK government has licensed at least £500 million worth of military exports to Israel since 2015. About 15% of parts used in F-35 fighter jets are provided by the UK. These same jets are used to bomb Palestinians. As the Campaign Against Arms Trades (CAAT) noted in 2024:

    The use of F-35s by Israel in the attack on Gaza has been confirmed since the beginning of the war, including their use to deliver 2000lb bombs.

    Since coming into government in July 2024, this Labour administration have approved more arms licenses than the Tory government did in three years. Former Canary editor and current media coordinator for CAAT, Emily Apple, said:

    This is the Labour government aiding and abetting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. It is sickening that instead of imposing a full two-way arms embargo, Keir Starmer’s government has massively increased the amount of military equipment the UK is sending to Israel.

    Numerous organisations, including United Nations experts, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and more have made it clear that Israel is committing genocide in Palestine.

    Who are the terrorists here?

    The government’s definition of terrorism when it comes to proscribed organisations is:

    the use or threat of action which: involves serious violence against a person; involves serious damage to property; endangers a person’s life (other than that of the person committing the act); creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or section of the public or is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system.

    In order to specifically classified as terrorism:

    The use or threat of such action must be designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and must be undertaken for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.

    Israel have moved far beyond being a “serious risk” to the Palestinian public. They have flattened Gaza, destroyed basic infrastructure essential for human survival, bombed schools and hospitals, and terrorised Palestinians. Israeli ministers have repeatedly and consistently demonstrated intent to commit genocide. Intent is usually legally complicated to prove when it comes to determining if the threshold for genocide is met. However, Law for Palestine compiled 500 statements in 2024 which demonstrate intent:

    The statements by people with command authority – state leaders, war cabinet ministers and senior army officers – and by other politicians, army officers, journalists and public figures reveal the widespread commitment in Israel to the genocidal destruction of Gaza.

    The instances of powerful Israeli stakeholders communicating genocidal intent along with a stated desire to wipe out Palestinian life and culture are shockingly numerous. For example, in 2023 Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said:

    We are fighting against human animals.

    And, Associate Professor of Law at University of Colorado Law School, Maryam Jamshidi, presented her legal analysis:

    Alongside the steep death tool, other “heinous acts” it has committed against the population, as well as its extermination of Gaza’s cultural, religious, and intellectual leadership, Israel’s effort to annihilate Hamas serves as evidence of an intent to physically destroy the Palestinians of Gaza, as such.

    Complicity in genocide – but Kneecap is the problem

    UN experts warned earlier this month that:

    Continuing to support Israel materially or politically, especially via arms transfers, and the provision of private military and security services risks complicity in genocide and other serious international crimes.

    This warning could well be the reason that Western states are scrambling to reverse their despicable choice of both allowing and facilitating Israel’s genocide. And, they’ve got some fucking cheek to criticise Kneecap for support of a proscribed organisation. The fact the IDF isn’t a proscribed organisation is, as the group’s statement alludes to, “political policing.”

    Kneecap have loudly called for Palestine to be free, and condemned the government’s support of Israel. That’s why they’ve been targeted by the police – for their political opinions. As Kneecap’s manager Daniel Lambert said:

    You have a band being held to a higher moral account than politicians who are ignoring international law.

    Israel aren’t considered terrorists because they’re strategic political allies of the US, the UK, and other Western states. However, it is possible for a member of Kneecap to be charged with a terror offence because policing is fundamentally political. The state is attempting to exert its control over a dissenting group who object to genocide. It’s that same state who have facilitated Israel’s genocide with political support and arms exports – who are the real terrorists here?

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Maryam Jameela

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Govt should defuse NZ’s social timebomb – but won’t

    We have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity. Budget 2025 signals more of the same, writes Susan St John.

    ANALYSIS: By Susan St John

    With the coalition government’s second Budget being unveiled, we should question where New Zealand is heading.

    The 2024 Budget laid out the strategy. Tax cuts and landlord subsidies were prioritised with a focus on cuts to social and infrastructure spending. Most of the tax package went to the well-off, while many low-income households got nothing, or very little.

    Even the tiny bit of the tax package directed to low-income people fell flat. Family Boost has significantly helped only a handful of families, while the increase of $25 per week (In Work Tax Credit) was denied all families on benefits, affecting about 200,000 of the very poorest children.

    In the recession, families that lost paid work also lost access to full Working for Families, an income cut for their children of about $100 per week.

    No one worked out how the many spending cuts would be distributed, but they have hurt the poor the most. These changes are too numerous to itemise but include increased transport costs; the reintroduction of prescription charges; a disastrous school lunch system; rising rents, rates and insurance; fewer budget advisory services; cuts to foodbank funding and hardship grants; stripping away support programmes for the disabled; inadequately adjusted benefits and minimum wage; and reduced support for pay equity and the living wage.

    The objective is to save money while ignoring the human cost. For example, a scathing report of the Auditor General confirms that Oranga Tamariki took a bulldozer to obeying the call for a 6.5 percent cut in existing social services with no regard to the extreme hurt caused to children and struggling parents.

    Budget 2025 has already indicated that Working for Families will continue to go backwards with not even inflation adjustments. The 2025 child and youth strategy report shows that over the year to June 2024 the number of children in material poverty continued to increase, there were more avoidable hospitalisations, immunisation rates for babies declined, and there was more food insecurity.

    Human costs all around us
    We can see the human costs all around us in homelessness, food insecurity, and ill health. Already we know we rank at the bottom among developed countries for child wellbeing and suicide rates.

    Abject distress existing alongside where homes sell for $20 million-$40 million is no longer uncommon, and neither are $6 million helicopters of the very rich.

    Changes in suicide rates
    Changes in suicide rates (three-year average), ages 15 to 19 from 2018 to 2022 (or most recent four-year period available). Source: WHO mortality database

    At the start of the year, Helen Robinson, CEO of the Auckland City Mission, had a clear warning: “I am pleading with government for more support, otherwise what we and other food relief agencies in Auckland can provide, will dramatically decrease.

    “This leaves more of Auckland hungry and those already there become more desperate. It is the total antithesis of a thriving city.”

    The theory held by this government is that by reducing the role of government and taxes, the private sector will flourish, and secure well-paid jobs will be created. Instead, as basic economic theory would predict, we have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity.

    Budget 2025 signals more of the same.

    It would be a mistake to wait for simplistic official inequality statistics before we act. Our current destination is a sharply divided country of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with an insecure middle class.

    Underfunded social agencies
    Underfunded and swamped social agencies cannot remove the relentless stress on the people who are invisible in the ‘fiscally responsible’ economic narrative. The fabricated bogeyman of outsized net government debt is at the core, as the government pursues balanced budgets and small government-size targets.

    A stage one economics student would know the deficit increases automatically in a recession to cushion the decline and stop the economy spiralling into something that looks more like a depression. But our safety nets of social welfare are performing very badly.

    Rising unemployment has exposed the inadequacy of social protections. Working for Families, for instance, provides a very poor cushion for children. Many “working” families do not have enough hours of work and face crippling poverty traps.

    Future security is undermined as more KiwiSavers cash in for hardship reasons. A record number of the talented young we need to drive the recovery and repair the frayed social fabric have already fled the country.

    The government is fond of comparing its Budget to that of a household. But what prudent household would deliberately undermine the earning capacity of family members?

    The primary task for the Budget should be to look after people first, to allow them to meet their food, dental and health needs, education, housing and travel costs, to have a buffer of savings to cushion unexpected shocks and to prepare for old age.

    A sore thumb standing
    In the social security part of the Budget, NZ Super for all at 65, no matter how rich or whether still in full-time well-paid work, dominates (gross $25 billion). It’s a sore thumb standing out alongside much less generous, highly targeted benefits and working for families, paid parental leave, family boost, hardship provisions, accommodation supplement, winter energy and other payments and subsidies.

    Given the political will, research shows we can easily redirect at least $3 billion from very wealthy superannuitants to fixing other payments to greatly improve the wellbeing of the young. This will not be enough but it could be a first step to the wide rebalancing needed.

    New Zealand has become a country of two halves whose paths rarely cross: a social time bomb with unimaginable consequences. It is a country beguiled by an egalitarian past that is no more.

    Susan St John is an associate professor in the Pensions and Intergenerational Equity hub and Economic Policy Centre, Business School, University of Auckland. This article was first published by Newsroom before the 2025 Budget and is republished with permission.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Verbal condemnation of Israel from European leaders is not enough

    In an unprecedented escalation of international pressure, the leaders of Britain, France, and Canada issued a joint statement expressing outrage at Israel’s continued blockade of the Gaza Strip, emphasising that allowing ‘meagre quantities of food’ in does not meet minimum humanitarian needs.

    The leaders said Israel’s refusal to provide basic aid to civilians in Gaza is unacceptable, calling for an immediate cessation of military operations and full and unconditional humanitarian access.

    The statement strongly attacked some of the rhetoric from members of the Israeli government, calling it ‘hateful’, expressing clear condemnation of the threat of forcible transfer of Palestinians, and emphasising that ‘forcible transfer is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law’.

    The leaders added ‘We will not stand idly by while the Netanyahu government continues its outrageous actions’, declaring their strong support for international efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to reach an immediate ceasefire and contain the humanitarian catastrophe.

    Warnings from 22 European foreign ministers and officials

    In parallel, the foreign ministers of 22 countries and prominent European officials issued a joint statement warning of an imminent humanitarian disaster threatening more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, noting that the Strip faces the risk of starvation after Israel prevented adequate entry of humanitarian aid.

    The statement stressed that aid must reach the people of Gaza urgently and without any politicisation or political conditionalities, stressing that the UN and NGOs have the logistical capacity to deliver relief to all areas of the Gaza Strip if Israeli restrictions are removed.

    The statement also rejected any attempt to change the demographic or geographic map of the Palestinian territories, considering this a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.

    The beginning of a shift in the Western position on Israel?

    Observers believe that these tough Western statements, especially from countries that are considered traditional allies of Israel, reflect a gradual shift in the international position towards Netanyahu’s government, amid growing criticism of Israel’s policies in the Gaza Strip.

    Analysts point out that the strong statements on ‘forced displacement’ and its characterisation as a violation of international law represent an important precedent in Western political discourse, which may pave the way for more stringent measures, including legal or economic pressure if the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

    Starving civilians is a war crime

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that the policies of starving the population and obstructing the entry of aid may amount to war crimes, calling for the opening of permanent humanitarian corridors under international supervision.

    Amnesty International added that ‘the continued international inaction in the face of repeated violations in Gaza opens the door to total impunity, calling for urgent international action to stop the humanitarian haemorrhage’.

    In light of the mounting international voices calling for a halt to military operations and an end to the siege on Gaza, the international community is facing a critical moment between mere verbal condemnation or taking practical steps to stop a humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of millions.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Alaa Shamali

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • New poll shows Labour’s pandering to the far right is failing miserably

    The Labour Party government’s pandering to the far right has intensified recently. But a new poll suggests those attempts are failing, miserably.

    In fact, they seem to be utterly backfiring.

    Even FEWER Reform voters would vote Labour now

    Labour leader Keir Starmer hasn’t just enabled genocide and brutally targeted the people in Britain who most need support. He has also consistently courted the far right, recently echoing the words of Enoch Powell (the Tory whose racist agitation in the late 1960s empowered fascists). People in Britain overwhelmingly see this pandering. And they’re not impressed.

    A new YouGov poll has some stark findings for Labour. Reform’s 2024 voters, for example, aren’t any closer to voting for them. 79% say they never will. And only 4% think they’re likely to consider voting Labour in the future. Both of those figures are worse than they were last year, when 50% said never, and 8% said maybe. It’s also worth clarifying that Reform voters remain the least likely of all voters to opt for Starmer’s party.

    Progressive voters are also turning away

    What’s perhaps even worse for Starmer, however, is that other voters are also more likely to say they would never vote Labour or are less likely to do so. The other right-wing voters he may be hoping to woo – Tories – are also uninterested. Because 21% more of 2024 Conservative voters now say they’ll never vote Labour.

    Even 2024 Labour voters are less likely to back Starmer’s party. 8% more said they’d never vote for them, while 18% fewer said they were likely to. And that’s actually more of a change than 2024 Liberal Democrat voters. Lib Dems are also less likely to vote Starmer’s party, and more likely to say never, but not as much as 2024 Labour voters.

    2024 Green voters, meanwhile, are now more likely to say they’ll never vote Red than to say they’d consider it.

    Is Starmer’s only goal to destroy the Labour Party (and get richer)?

    Other research recently showed that it would be a lot riskier for Labour to lose its left-leaning voters than its right-leaning ones. There are ways to keep both, but the party has been doubling down on trying to keep the latter.

    The analysis that researchers at Persuasion UK released in April said that, “if Labour lost every ‘Reform curious Labour voter’, they would lose 123 seats”. However, “if Labour lost every ‘Green curious Labour voter’, they would lose 250 seats”. So Starmer opting to shun the left certainly seems to be more about an ideological mission than a focus on success.

    If the Labour right’s mission from 2015 to 2019 was to destroy the hope surrounding Jeremy Corbyn at all costs, its leadership of the party under Keir Starmer seems to be about killing off the party for good (and getting richer in the process).

    No wonder local communities and trade unionists are preparing for the upcoming creation of a new left-wing mass movement to replace Labour.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Jeremy Corbyn suggests a new party will be in place before 2026 elections

    Speaking at a recent event, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed “the call for a new political party”, saying:

    This whole cause is coming together so that by next year’s local elections – long before that I hope – we’re going to have something in place that is very clear and everyone will want to be part of and support.

    Corbyn has previously spoken about how he’s been supporting efforts to build the resistance via community empowerment.

    His most recent comments came at an event in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The hosts – the People’s Alliance for Change and Equality (PACE) – plan to connect campaigners, trade unionists, and politicians across the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees that oppose war, cuts, and racism.

    PACE officially launched on 10 May. And with local voters able to elect councillors in all the borough’s seats in 2026, PACE seeks to put forward candidates to challenge establishment parties.

    Jeremy Corbyn: I hear the call for a new party

    Jeremy Corbyn was among other high-profile speakers from the left, including Jamie Driscoll, Claudia Webbe, and Salma Yaqoob.

    At the PACE event, Corbyn said:

    I hear the call for a new political party. I fully understand that, and that political party needs to be well-informed and effective. One that gives out a central message of peace, of justice, of equality, of diversity within our society…

    Mike Forster is an anti-cuts campaigner at the heart of PACE. And in his own speech, he insisted:

    Jeremy is clearly pointing in the right direction. With Labour widely discredited as a party of austerity, and with the danger of Nigel Farage and Reform’s rise, it is clearer than ever that a left-wing political alternative is needed. One which can say that it’s not migrants or trans people selling off our NHS and cutting disability benefits – it’s the super-rich. We need to launch this alternative now!

    It’s coming, people. Watch this space, and get involved!

    From Newcastle to Southport, and Enfield to Kirklees, people are uniting to build movements in their communities that will feed into a national party that can take on the Labour, Reform, and Tory wings of the establishment. Assemblies are popping up across the country to put local people at the heart of the resistance. And trade unionists are also ready to step in and play a role.

    Prime minister Keir Starmer seems utterly intent on destroying the Labour Party with his shameless corporate cronyism. And across the left, there appears to be the will to unite around key policies (wages, climate, housing, wealth tax, public services, and peace) in order to enter the space Labour has abandoned. There’s also an awareness of the need to centre class in a conflict which billionaires are currently winning.

    The question isn’t about whether a new mass party on the left is coming or whether Jeremy Corbyn will be involved. The question is ‘when, and how can we get involved?’

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Trump’s tax breaks for his rich mates could add $3 trillion to US national debt

    The recent actions of Donald Trump’s administration have raised significant concerns, particularly regarding economic policy and public health. Not least in this is proposed tax legislation – which could end up adding a staggering $3 trillion to the US national debt just to give tax breaks to Trump’s rich mates.

    Trump: not exactly a shrewd businessman, is he?

    A non-partisan report from the Congressional Budget Office has revealed that the Republican-backed tax and spending bill, which has garnered enthusiastic support from president Trump, is poised to wreak havoc on the nation’s financial stability.

    The proposed legislation, if passed, could add over $3 trillion to the national debt according to nonpartisan analysis, a staggering amount that highlights the ongoing prioritisation of wealth accumulation for the richest over the welfare of the most vulnerable.

    It’s an alarming proposition that, while touted as a pathway to growth, would disproportionately harm low-income Americans who are already struggling under existing economic pressures. This rushed effort by Congressional Republicans to push through the bill before Memorial Day reflects a desperate attempt to solidify economic policies that benefit the elite few, at the expense of the many.

    The Golden Dome

    In another significant development, Trump has introduced an ambitious $175 billion initiative known as the “Golden Dome” missile defence system.

    This project aims to deploy hundreds of satellites for tracking and intercepting potential missile threats—largely framed as necessary against perceived aggressors like China and Russia. However, behind the rhetoric lies a troubling reality: the pursuit of such high-stakes military endeavours diverts essential resources away from pressing domestic issues.

    Critics argue that this is a glaring example of misplaced priorities, where massive amounts of taxpayer money are funneled into military projects while essential services such as healthcare and education remain underfunded. Trump’s decision to lead this project through the U.S. Space Force reflects an alarming militarisation of space, further entrenching an adversarial posture that could lead to greater global tensions.

    In a startling juxtaposition, recent news also highlights a health crisis brewing in the nation.

    Chaos under Trump

    A salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers from Florida’s Bedner Growers has affected at least 26 people across 15 states, with nine requiring hospitalisation. This incident follows a similar outbreak last year involving the same grower, underscoring significant lapses in food safety regulations.

    The government’s response in addressing such public health threats is crucial; yet, resources and attention seem disproportionately allocated to expansive military projects. For the everyday American, especially those already on the brink due to constant economic strain, such outbreaks should signal the urgent need for better health protections rather than an increase in military expenditure.

    With all these developments unfolding, you cannot help but wonder about the future trajectory of the US under Trump’s policies.

    The clash between military spending, inadequate healthcare response, and the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor paints a bleak picture. It invites a critical examination of what truly matters in the nation today. Are the lives and health of regular citizens being sacrificed for extravagant defence projects, and will we continue to allow this cycle of neglect to persist?

    The pressing need for a shift towards prioritising the needs of the people over the ambitions of the powerful cannot be overstated. Yet under Trump, that seems unlikely to happen.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Liz Kendall just lied again about how many people will be hit by DWP PIP cuts

    On Wednesday 21 May, Liz Kendall gave a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). And during it, she repeated a major piece of propaganda about Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts to Personal Independent Payment (PIP). In short, Kendall claimed – like other politicians have – that only 10% of chronically ill and disabled people currently claiming it will be affected. This figure is an absolute distortion of reality.

    DWP PIP: Kendall lying again

    As the Guardian reported, Kendall said during a speech to the IPPR:

    I know the concerns that have been raised about our proposals. I am listening carefully to all the points people raise.

    But nine out of 10 people claiming PIP at the point when the changes come into force …will not be affected by the end of the parliament.

    And even with the changes we are making, there will still be 750,000 more people receiving PIP by the end of this parliament than there were at the start, and spending will be £8bn higher.

    We’ve been here before. Back in early April, Labour MP Chris Bryant said similar on BBC Question Time – that 90% of DWP PIP claimants will not be affected. However, none of this is true.

    As the Canary previously reported, as a minimum and according to a DWP impact assessment, as many as 370,000 current claimants could lose their PIP entitlement due to changes in eligibility rules set to be implemented in November 2026, pending parliamentary approval.

    But crucially, about 430,000 future applicants are anticipated to be denied the benefit, creating an average annual loss of around £4,500 for those affected. Therefore, Bryant’s 90% figure is not accurate – because people, including children transitioning from Disability Living Allowance to PIP – will lose out.

    So, the figure is nearer 20% – not 10% – based on the DWP’s own data – plus 150,000 carers who will also lose their Carer’s Allowance.

    However, this is all just before the end of 2028/29. The long-term picture is horrifying.

    A horrifying picture

    The changes to DWP PIP Kendall is proposing target neurodivergent, learning disabled, and those with mental health disorders. Moreover, disabled people who need help with things like cutting up food, supervision, prompting, or assistance to wash, dress, or monitor their health condition, will no longer be eligible.

    And revelations from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has also shown that the changes will disproportionately hit PIP claimants over 50 as well. Specifically, the criteria goalpost shifts will deny 1.09 million (nearly 70% of those who could lose out) the Daily Living component of PIP. Part of this cohort is obviously also people Labour is already hammering with the Winter Fuel Payment cuts.

    Another FOI made by a member of the public unearthed that around 209,000 people getting enhanced rate DWP PIP Daily Living will lose it. On top of this, around 1.1 million people getting the standard rate will lose it.

    In total then, nearly 1.4 million people could, on reassessment, lose their Daily Living element of DWP PIP. However, as the Canary’s Steve Topple previously noted, this doesn’t tell us how many could lose their full PIP altogether. This is because the data does not show how many of these people get standard or enhanced Mobility Element of DWP PIP.

    Nonetheless, it’s evident that the plans will be enormously detrimental for chronically ill and disabled people. And in early June, parliament is expected to vote on these plans.

    DWP PIP cuts will be brutal

    Kendall can quote government figures on DWP PIP as much as she wants. But in reality, officials have obviously manipulated them to make them sound less worse than the reality actually is. Kendall and her ilk then repeat this propaganda, in the hope the majority of the public buy it. She may call it her “moral mission” – in reality, it is utterly immoral.

    Unfortunately, chronically ill and disabled people who will be affected by DWP PIP cuts aren’t buying it. Whether their anger is enough to make the Labour government change course remains to be seen.

    Featured image via screengrab

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Driscoll tells us how Newcastle is preparing to resist Labour and Reform in 2026

    On 18 May, Newcastle held a people’s assembly with former North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll. The Canary went along to the exciting and packed event, where people living locally discussed the issues they’re facing and what potential solutions could be.

    Driscoll spoke to the Canary after the event. And the plan is clear: listen, prepare, and act.

    Jamie Driscoll: planning, fighting, and winning for Newcastle in 2026

    Candidates with Jamie Driscoll’s majority party are “intending to fight and win” next year’s local council elections in Newcastle. And he said that, while it’s important to be angry about what’s going on both at home and abroad, the really key question is “what are we going to do about it?”

    That’s why a clear plan is essential. Because the idea isn’t to ask voters locally to “agree with us that you should be angry”; it’s to say “vote for us because this is what we’re going to do”. And if you actually want to deliver for people, he stressed:

    the best way is to have the people right at the heart of it. Because if you want to know how to speed up the buses, ask a bus driver – they do it for a living every day!

    As mayor, Driscoll listened to people living locally and, where he had “the power and the funds”, he took action. Even when it wasn’t his role, he spoke up. Where the council had the power, for example, he worked with councillors to encourage action. And on bigger national issues, he spoke up and lobbied.

    If he and his team “take control of Newcastle City Council next year and the Labour government isn’t gonna stump up the cash that is needed and it’s not gonna tax billionaires”, he promised they won’t stay quiet:

    What you won’t get from us is a lot of hand wringing, ‘oh it’s terrible’, ‘oh national government’s made us do it’… What you’ll get is a 40ft banner down the side of the Civic Centre saying ‘these are the people responsible’. And you know what? If you wanna take our school crossing safety off us, we’re all gonna get in a bus as councillors and we’re gonna lie down outside parliament. We’re gonna make a fuss. So you’ll still get a fight back.

    Putting people at the heart of the movement

    Driscoll asserted that:

    the role of a councillor is to be a shop steward for the community inside the Council, not a cheerleader for the Council inside the community

    And the idea of community assemblies is precisely to make sure people living locally have a central role in determining what the priorities are and how to address them.

    The 18 May assembly brought together many dozens of people who were passionate about participating and sharing their lived experiences locally. They discussed insights into the problems and potential solutions to the challenges facing them. And this collaborative agenda will become the key message ahead of the local elections next year. Campaigners will then use that to “get out there, get a coalition together, and win, and then implement it”.

    One key issue that came up for people was the urgent national need for a wealth tax – something that has widespread support across the country. But people also discussed local issues that had a clear connection to elite plunder via “big corporations lobbying government” and “billionaires’ wealth extraction”.

    Jamie Driscoll: we have the same concerns, and mustn’t let grifters exploit our differences

    Though we all have much in common, there are clearly cultural divides in Britain. And that can create tension sometimes. But we can diffuse that tension and come together around shared goals, Driscoll stressed, if we listen to people with an open mind. We need to focus on “hearing what they’re saying and not projecting your opinions onto them”, he said.

    Recently, Driscoll explained, he was talking to someone in a neglected nearby town. And the feeling of “why is no one listening to us?” was clear. As he said:

    you talk to them and actually they’ve got exactly the same concerns. Why isn’t my bus on time? Why is it so bloody expensive? Why is it there’s so much month left at the end of the money? Looking in their supermarket trolley thinking, ‘I used to be able to buy twice this much’.

    Another person he spoke to said he was thinking of voting for Reform, despite disagreeing with the party on immigration. Why? Because he felt Nigel Farage was “the only one shouting”. And that’s something to take stock of. Sometimes, people just appreciate someone who’ll stand up and fight, whether they agree on everything or not.

    Driscoll knows that Reform will disappoint people. Because it won’t actually fix any of the key issues affecting people’s daily lives. And fixing things is “what really matters”. As he argued:

    when they look at politicians, what the voting public want is two things: 1) Do I think these people could run the country? 2) Have these people got my back?…

    And that’s the whole point of the detailed manifesto. It’s gotta fix something…

    So yes, be angry, but have a plan that works.

    Watch the full interview below:

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Gordon Campbell: NZ’s silence over Gaza genocide, ethnic cleansing

    COMMENTARY: By Gordon Campbell

    Since last Thursday, intensified Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed more than 500 Palestinians, and a prolonged Israeli aid blockade has led to widespread starvation among the territory’s two million residents.

    Belatedly, Israel is letting in a token amount of food aid that UN Under-Secretary Tom Fletcher has called a “a drop in the ocean”.

    Meanwhile, the IDF is intensifying its air and ground attacks on the civilian population and on the few remaining health services. Al Jazeera is also reporting that the IDF has issued “a forward displacement order” for the entirety of Khan Younis, the second largest city in Gaza.

    The escalation of the Israeli onslaught has been condemned by UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who has likened the IDF campaign as an exercise in ethnic cleansing:

    “This latest barrage of bombs … and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing,” he said.

    If the West so wished, it could be putting more economic pressure on Israel to cease committing its litany of atrocities. Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war has been sparking mass demonstrations across Europe.

    In the Netherlands at the weekend, a massive demonstration culminated in calls for the Netherlands government to formally ask the EU to suspend its free trade agreement with Israel.

    Until now, the world’s relative indifference to the genocide in Gaza has been mirrored by Palestine’s Arab neighbours. As Gaza burned yet again, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates were lavishly entertaining US President Donald Trump — Israel’s chief enabler — and showering him with gifts.

    In the wake of these meetings, Trump and his hosts have signed arms deals and AI technology transfers that reportedly contain no guard rails to prevent these AI advances being passed on to China.

    In addition, Qatar has bought $96 billion worth of Boeing aircraft. Reportedly, this purchase has huge potential implications for the airline industry in our part of the world.

    In all, economic joint ventures worth hundreds of billions of dollars were signed and sealed last week between the US and the Middle East region, despite the misery being inflicted right next door.

    Footnote: Directly and indirectly, Big Tech firms such as Microsoft and Intel continue to enable and enhance the IDF war machine’s actions in Gaza. This is an extension of the long time support given to Israel by Silicon Valley firms via the supply of digital infrastructure, advanced chips, software and cloud computing facilities.

    Yesterday, several Microsoft staff had the courage to interrupt a speech by their CEO to protest about how the company’s Azure cloud computing platform was being used to enable Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

    The extinction of hope
    As the Ha’aretz newspaper reported this week, “The three pillars of hope for the Palestinians have collapsed: armed struggle has lost legitimacy, state negotiations have stalled, and faith in the international community has faded. Now, they face one question: ‘Where do we go from here?’

    As Ha’aretz concluded, the Palestinians seem to have vanished into a diplomatic Bermuda Triangle. What would it take, one wonders, for the New Zealand government — and Foreign Minister Winston Peters — to wake up from their moral slumber?

    Whenever the Luxon government does talk about this conflict, it still calls for a “two state solution” even though, as a leading Israeli journalist Gideon Levy says, this ceased to be a viable option more than 25 years ago.

    “We crossed the point of no return a long time ago. We crossed the point at which there was any room for a Palestinian state, with 700,000 settlers who will not be evacuated, because nobody will have the political power to do so. The West Bank is practically annexed for many, many years . . . Nobody can take this discourse seriously anymore. But, you know, those who want to believe in it, believe in it.”

    Conveniently, the two state waffle does provide Peters and Luxon with cover for their reluctance to — for example — call in, or expel the Israeli ambassador. Or impose a symbolic trade boycott. Or impose targeted sanctions on the extremists within the Netanyahu Cabinet who are driving Israeli policy.

    Instead of those options, the “negotiated two state” fantasy has been encouraged to take on a life of its own. Yet do we really think that Israel would entertain for a moment the expulsion of the hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers illegally occupying the land on the West Bank required for a viable Palestinian state?

    The Netanyahu government has long had plans to double that number, with the settler influx growing at a reported rate of about 12,000 a year.

    The backlash
    Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon is finally creating a backlash, in Europe at least. The public outrage being expressed in demonstrations in the UK, France and Germany finally seems to be making some governments feel a need to be seen to be doing more.

    Not before time. At the drop of a hat, Western nations — New Zealand included — will bang on endlessly about the importance of upholding the norms of international law. So you have to ask . . . why have we/they chosen to remain all but mute about the repeated violations of human rights law and the Geneva Conventions being carried out by the IDF in Gaza on a daily basis?

    “In [Khan Younis’] Nasser Hospital, Safaa Al-Najjar, her face stained with blood, wept as the shroud-wrapped bodies of two of her children were brought to her: [18 month old] Motaz Al-Bayyok and [six weeks old] Moaz Al-Bayyok.

    “The family was caught in the overnight airstrikes. All five of Al-Najjar’s other children, ranging in ages from 3 to 12, were injured, while her husband was in intensive care. One of her sons, 11-year-old Yusuf, his head heavily bandaged, screamed in grief as the shroud of his younger sibling was parted to show his face.

    Ultimately, Israel’s moral decline will be for its own citizens to reckon with, in future. For now, New Zealand is standing around watching in silence, while a blood-soaked campaign of ethnic cleansing unmatched in recent history is being carried out.

    Republished with permission from Gordon Campbell’s column in partnership with Scoop.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Starvation of Gaza – a distressing continuation of a decades-old plan

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Jeremy Rose

    Reading an NBC News report a couple of days ago about a Trump administration plan to relocate 1 million Gazans to Libya reminded me of a conversation between the legendary Warsaw Ghetto leader Marek Edelman and fellow fighter and survivor Simcha Rotem that took place more than quarter of a century ago.

    In the conversation, first reported in Haaretz in 2023, Rotem said the Jews who walked into the gas chambers without a fight did so only because they were hungry.

    Edelman disagreed, but Rotem insisted. “Listen, man. Marek, I’m surprised by your attitude. They only went because they were hungry. Even if they’d known what awaited them they would have walked into the gas chambers. You and I would have done the same.”

    Edelman cut him off. “You would never have gone” [to the gas chamber.] Rotem replied, “I’m not so sure. I was never that hungry.”

    Edelman agreed, saying: “I also wasn’t that hungry,” to which Rotem said, “That’s why you didn’t go.”

    The NBC report claims that Israeli officials are aware of the plan and talks have been held with the Libyan leadership about taking in 1 million ethnically cleansed Palestinians.. The carrot being offered is the unfreezing of billions of dollars of Libya’s own money seized by the US more than a decade ago.

    The Arabic word Sumud — or steadfastness — is synonymous with the Palestinian people. The idea that 1 million Gazans would agree to walk off the 1.4 percent of historic Palestine that is Gaza is inconceivable.

    Equally incomprehensible
    But then the idea that my great grandmother and other relatives walked into the gas chambers is equally incomprehensible. But we’ve never been that hungry.

    The people of Gaza are. No food has entered Gaza for 76 days. Half a million Gazans are facing starvation and the rest of the population (more than 1.5 million people) are suffering from high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the UN.

    Last year, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was widely condemned when he suggested starving Gaza might be “justified and moral”.

    The lack of outrage and urgency being expressed by world leaders — particularly Western leaders — after nearly 11 weeks of Israel actually starving the inhabitants of what retired IDF general Giora Eiland has called a giant concentration camp — is an outrage.

    As far as I’m aware there’s been no talk of cutting off diplomatic relations, trade embargos or even cultural boycotts.

    Israel — which last time I looked wasn’t in Europe — just placed second in Eurovision. “I’m happy,” an Israeli friend messaged me, “that my old genocidal homeland (Austria) won and not my current genocidal nation.”

    A third generation Israeli, she’s one of a tiny minority protesting the war crimes being committed less than 100km from her apartment.

    Honourable exceptions
    Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Irish President Michael Higgins are honourable exceptions to the muted criticism being expressed by Western leaders, although this criticism has finally been stepped up with the threatened “concrete actions” by the UK, France and Canada, and the condemnation of Israel by 22 other countries — including New Zealand.

    Sanchez had declared Israel a genocidal state and said Spain won’t do business with such a nation.

    And peaking at a national famine commemoration held over the weekend Higgens said the UN Security Council had failed again and again by not dealing with famines and the current “forced starvation of the people of Gaza”.

    He cited UN Secretary-General António Guterres saying “as aid dries up, the floodgates of horror have re-opened. Gaza is a killing field — and civilians are in an endless death loop.”

    Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen argued in his 1981 book Poverty and Famines that famines are man-made and not natural disasters.

    Unlike Gaza, the famines he wrote about were caused by either callous disregard by the ruling elites for the populations left to starve or the disastrous results of following the whims of an all-powerful leader like Chairman Mao.

    He argued that a famine had never occurred in a functioning democracy.

    A horrifying fact
    It’s a horrifying fact that a self-described democracy, funded and abetted by the world’s most powerful democracy, has been allowed by the international community to starve two million people with no let-up in its bombing of barely functioning hospitals and killing of more than 2000 Gazans since the ban on food entering the strip was put in place. (Many more will have died due to a lack of medicine, food, and access to clean water.)

    After more than two months of denying any food or medicine to enter Gaza Israel is now saying it will allow limited amounts of food in to avoid a full-scale famine.

    “Due to the need to expand the fighting, we will introduce a basic amount of food to the residents of Gaza to ensure no famine occurs,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained.

    “A famine might jeopardise the continuation of Operation Gideon’s Chariots aimed at eliminating Hamas.”

    If 19-months of indiscriminate bombardment, the razing to the ground of whole cities, the displacement of virtually the entire population, and more than 50,000 recorded deaths (the Lancet estimated the true figure is likely to be four times that) hasn’t destroyed Hamas to Israel’s satisfaction it’s hard to conceive of what will.

    But accepting that that is the real aim of the ongoing genocide would be naïve.

    Shamefully indifferent Western world
    In the first cabinet meeting following the Six Day War, long before Hamas came into existence, ridding Gaza of its Palestinian inhabitants was top of the agenda.

    “If we can evict 300,000 refugees from Gaza to other places . . .  we can annex Gaza without a problem,” Defence Minister Moshe Dayan said.

    The population of Gaza was 400,000 at the time.

    “We should take them to the East Bank [Jordan] by the scruff of their necks and throw them there,” Minister Yosef Sapir said.

    Fifty-eight years later the possible destinations may have changed but the aim remains the same. And a shamefully indifferent Western world combined with a malnourished and desperate population may be paving the way to a mass expulsion.

    If the US, Europe and their allies demanded that Israel stop, the killing would end tomorrow.

    Jeremy Rose is a Wellington-based journalist and his Towards Democracy blog is at Substack.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • The DWP is quietly trying to get a private company to connect it to disabled people’s bank accounts

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a programme to integrate open banking technology into the Universal Credit system. It is move that on the surface promises to modernise and streamline benefits administration. However, this initiative may grant the DWP extensive powers to scrutinise claimants’ private financial data. These are powers that many fear will exacerbate an already intrusive and punitive welfare system.

    The DWP: looking at every purchase a claimant makes?

    Universal Credit currently supports some 7.5 million claimants. Many of them depend on prompt and empathetic administration to cover essential living costs. The DWP’s new strategy aims to replace manual evidence checks—such as paper bank statements—with a digital model. This is where claimants consent to share banking data via open banking application programming interfaces (APIs).

    The DWP frames this as a step towards efficiency and reduced bureaucracy. However, it underplays the degree to which such access amounts to state surveillance of claimants’ personal financial lives. This is going further than previous announcements around DWP inspectors being able to demand banks hand over claimants’ data.

    Open banking technology was originally designed as a tool to empower consumers to share financial data with third-party providers under strict controls. Yet, when repurposed by a government department with powers over social security eligibility and payments, it raises red flags about privacy, consent, and potential misuse of highly sensitive data.

    The DWP is effectively legislating to harness open banking APIs to peer inside every transaction a claimant makes. This is a level of intrusion unprecedented in the welfare state.

    This invasive approach aligns with broader trends within the DWP towards increased data gathering and automated decision-making, often justified as measures to combat fraud and error—which reportedly cost the welfare system £8 billion annually.

    Unfettered access to bank accounts

    The DWP has invested more than £70 million in artificial intelligence (AI) systems intended to scrutinise claims and flag suspicious activity. Yet AI’s blunt instruments generate unfair suspicions, freeze payments unjustly, and deepen the stigma faced by vulnerable individuals.

    The department’s recent halt to routine suspensions of Universal Credit claims flagged by AI in January 2024 highlights the flawed nature of technology-first approaches. It partly acknowledges that human judgment and compassion must temper automated systems.

    However, embedding open banking within Universal Credit threatens to intensify the “surveillance welfare state” rather than dismantle it.

    Despite the government’s aspirations to enhance transparency and claimant engagement, the tender documents reveal alarming gaps in how data access, use, and safeguards will be communicated.

    Without robust transparency, claimants may neither fully understand nor trust how their financial information is being accessed and analysed. The risk of data misuse, breaches, or wrongful exclusions remains high unless the DWP commits to not only technical safeguards but also clear accountability and independent oversight.

    Furthermore, the DWP’s open banking plans come amid contentious debates over proposed reductions in Universal Credit payment rates. Many recipients already experience deep financial insecurity. The prospect of further scrutiny into their bank accounts risks escalating stress, anxiety, and mistrust, reinforcing a welfare system that too often punishes rather than supports.

    DWP snooping: beyond the pale

    The DWP positions open banking as a leap forward in digital government. However, it is far from this. Modernisation should not be equated with mass data collection or expanded surveillance powers.

    The government must ensure that claimant voices are not sidelined in technology procurement and rollout. Real reform demands genuine consultation, safeguards against discrimination, and transparency that empowers claimants—not just expedites bureaucratic processes.

    Overall, the DWP’s drive to adopt open banking in Universal Credit risks entrenching a model of hyper-surveillance and automated scrutiny at the expense of privacy and social justice.

    Claimants deserve an accountable, respectful welfare system that sees them as partners, not subjects to be monitored. Without strong safeguards, this technological intervention threatens to deepen barriers. It will alienate vulnerable people. And it will compromise the very support DWP Universal Credit is meant to provide.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Gideon’s Chariots: leaked plan shows Israel intentionally pushing Gaza to famine and forced displacement

    In a scene that exacerbates the escalating humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, leaks revealed that the Israeli government has launched a military-political plan called ‘Gideon’s Chariots’, which includes a combination of massacres, starvation, and demographic engineering, in an attempt to reshape the demographic and geographical reality of the Strip.

    While the world remains silent, observers describe this plan as a dangerous escalation that opens the door to the crime of mass forced displacement, using famine as a weapon to force the population to leave their lands, in a move described by human rights organisations as a form of genocide.

    Gideon’s Chariots: three stages towards ‘Little Gaza’

    According to an extensive report by military journalist Ron Ben-Yishai in Yediot Aharonot, Gideon’s Chariots consists of three successive phases, all of which aim to dismantle the resistance structure in Gaza, separate it from its popular support, and redraw the geographic and demographic map of the Strip.

    The first stage: logistical and psychological preparation

    It includes establishing logistical centres to manage the distribution of food and medical aid, and preparing an environment that pushes the population towards the southern Gaza Strip between the Morag and Philadelphia axes, an area that is intended to be transformed into a ‘miniature Gaza’.

    Phase two: displacement by bombardment and suffocation

    It includes widespread aerial and ground bombardment, aimed at forcing the population to move towards the designated areas through threatening messages and leaflets. Security checkpoints, supervised by the intelligence services and the army, are set up to eliminate those whom Israel considers a security risk.

    The third phase: invasion and military dismantling

    As the targeted areas are depopulated, field invasions begin, and the military and civilian infrastructure that Israel sees as a threat is comprehensively destroyed. This phase is accompanied by a clear intention of long-term military stationing.

    ‘Pressure Cranes”: between hunger and psychological terrorism

    According to the Gideon’s Chariots leaks, Israel relies on five ‘levers’ to achieve its goals:

    • Direct occupation of areas.
    • Separating civilians from the resistance through security ‘banks’.
    • Controlling humanitarian aid to prevent it from reaching Hamas.
    • Creating a gap between the population and the resistance through propaganda and siege.
    • Intelligence and psychological pressure on the Hamas leadership.

    Through these tools, Israel seeks to force Hamas to make concessions, especially with regard to the prisoner file, while the population suffers from a double siege: Military and humanitarian.

    Dimensions of displacement: from Gideon’s Chariots plan to statements

    The details of the Gideon’s Chariots plan coincide with public statements made by Israeli government officials. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the occupation of Gaza for 50 years and the systematic displacement of its residents, noting that ‘victory is achieved only when Gaza is completely destroyed and its residents are crammed into the south in preparation for their departure to third countries.’

    While Israeli Army Minister Yisrael Katz believes that the operation aims to regain full control of the Strip, analysts believe that Israeli political discourse no longer hides the intentions of forcible transfer, but rather openly declares it as part of a long-term strategy.

    An absent international community. Famine as a weapon of war in Gaza. This is Gideon’s Chariots.

    In light of the worsening crisis, international organisations, most notably Amnesty International, have warned that the Israeli blockade of Gaza amounts to a crime of genocide, especially with the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The organisation stressed in a statement that preventing the entry of food and medicine and depriving civilians of the most basic necessities of life is an ‘illegal collective punishment’.

    The Israeli war in Gaza is no longer just a military campaign, but has turned into a comprehensive political project aimed at changing geography and demography, and imposing a new reality based on weakening the resistance, suffocating the population, and forcing them to emigrate under the pressure of death and hunger.

    ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ is not just a plan, but a mirror that reflects an expansionist logic that does not hesitate to use the most heinous means to impose a political will by force, while the world stands on the sidelines, preoccupied with data, unable – or unwilling – to stop the advanced death machine on the ground.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Alaa Shamali

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • “عربات جدعون.. مخطط إسرائيلي يقود غزة نحو مجاعة مُمنهجة وتهجير قسري

    في مشهدٍ يزيد من قتامة الكارثة الإنسانية المتصاعدة في قطاع غزة، كشفت تسريبات إسرائيلية عن إطلاق الحكومة الإسرائيلية خطة عسكرية سياسية تحت مسمى “عربات جدعون“، تتضمن مزيجًا من المجازر، التجويع، والهندسة الديموغرافية، في محاولة لإعادة تشكيل الواقع السكاني والجغرافي للقطاع.

    وفيما يحيط العالم بصمته، يصف مراقبون هذه الخطة بأنها تصعيد خطير يفتح الباب أمام جريمة تهجير قسري جماعي، مستغلًا المجاعة كسلاح لإجبار السكان على مغادرة أراضيهم، في خطوة وصفتها منظمات حقوقية بأنها شكلٌ من أشكال الإبادة الجماعية.

    ثلاث مراحل.. نحو “غزة الصغرى”

    وفقًا لما كشفه تقرير موسّع للصحفي العسكري رون بن يشاي في صحيفة يديعوت أحرونوت، فإن “عربات جدعون” تتكون من ثلاث مراحل متتابعة، تهدف في مجملها إلى تفكيك بنية المقاومة في غزة، وفصلها عن الحاضنة الشعبية، وصولًا إلى إعادة رسم الخريطة الجغرافية والسكانية للقطاع.

    المرحلة الأولى: الإعداد اللوجستي والنفسي

    بدأت بالفعل، وتشمل إنشاء مراكز لوجستية لإدارة توزيع المساعدات الغذائية والدوائية، وتجهيز بيئة تدفع السكان نحو مناطق جنوب القطاع بين محوري “موراغ وفيلادلفيا”، وهي المنطقة التي يُراد تحويلها إلى “غزة المصغرة”.

    المرحلة الثانية: التهجير بالقصف والخنق

    تتضمن قصفًا جويًا وبريًا واسع النطاق، يهدف إلى إجبار السكان على النزوح نحو المناطق المحددة عبر رسائل ومنشورات تهديدية. تُنصَب نقاط تفتيش أمنية، تشرف عليها أجهزة الاستخبارات والجيش، لتصفية من تعتبرهم إسرائيل خطرًا أمنيًا.

    المرحلة الثالثة: الاجتياح والتفكيك العسكري

    مع تفريغ المناطق المستهدفة من السكان، تبدأ عمليات الاجتياح الميداني، وتدمير شامل للبنية العسكرية والمدنية التي ترى فيها إسرائيل خطرًا. تترافق هذه المرحلة مع نية واضحة للتمركز العسكري طويل الأمد.

    “رافعات الضغط”: بين الجوع والإرهاب النفسي

    تعتمد إسرائيل، وفقًا للتسريبات، على خمس “رافعات” لتحقيق أهدافها:

    • الاحتلال المباشر للمناطق.
    • فصل المدنيين عن المقاومة عبر “مصارف” أمنية.
    • السيطرة على المساعدات الإنسانية لمنع وصولها إلى حماس.
    • خلق فجوة بين السكان والمقاومة عبر الدعاية والحصار.
    • الضغط الاستخباراتي والنفسي على قيادة حماس.

    وتسعى إسرائيل من خلال هذه الأدوات إلى إرغام حماس على تقديم تنازلات، خصوصًا فيما يتعلق بملف الأسرى، بينما يعاني السكان من حصار مزدوج: عسكري وإنساني.

    أبعاد التهجير: من الخطة إلى التصريحات

    تتطابق تفاصيل الخطة مع تصريحات علنية صدرت عن مسؤولين في الحكومة الإسرائيلية. فقد دعا وزير المالية بتسلئيل سموتريتش إلى احتلال غزة لمدة 50 عامًا، وتهجير سكانها بشكل ممنهج، مشيرًا إلى أن “النصر يتحقق فقط عندما تُدمر غزة بالكامل، ويُحشر سكانها في الجنوب تمهيدًا لمغادرتهم إلى دول ثالثة”.

    وبينما يرى وزير الجيش الإسرائيلي يسرائيل كاتس أن العملية تهدف إلى استعادة السيطرة الكاملة على القطاع، يعتبر محللون أن الخطاب السياسي الإسرائيلي لم يعد يخفي نوايا الترحيل القسري، بل بات يُصرَّح به علنًا، كجزء من إستراتيجية طويلة الأمد.

    مجتمع دولي غائب.. والمجاعة كسلاح حرب

    في ظل تفاقم الأزمة، حذّرت منظمات دولية أبرزها “أمنيستي” من أن الحصار الإسرائيلي المفروض على غزة يرقى إلى جريمة إبادة جماعية، خاصة مع استخدام التجويع كسلاحٍ حربي. وأكدت المنظمة في بيان لها أن منع دخول الغذاء والدواء وحرمان المدنيين من أبسط مقومات الحياة هو “عقوبة جماعية غير قانونية”.

    لم تعد الحرب الإسرائيلية في غزة مجرد حملة عسكرية، بل تحولت إلى مشروع سياسي شامل يهدف إلى تغيير الجغرافيا والديموغرافيا، وفرض واقع جديد يقوم على إضعاف المقاومة، وخنق السكان، ودفعهم إلى الهجرة تحت ضغط القتل والجوع.

    “عربات جدعون” ليست مجرد خطة، بل مرآةٌ تعكس منطقًا توسعيًا لا يتورع عن استخدام أبشع الوسائل من أجل فرض إرادة سياسية بالقوة، فيما يقف العالم على الهامش، منشغلًا بالبيانات، وغير قادر -أو غير راغب- في إيقاف آلة الموت المتقدمة على الأرض.

    By Alaa Shamali

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Culture at the core: examining journalism values in the Pacific

    ANALYSIS: By Birte Leonhardt, Folker Hanusch and Shailendra B. Singh

    The role of journalism in society is shaped not only by professional norms but also by deeply held cultural values. This is particularly evident in the Pacific Islands region, where journalists operate in media environments that are often small, tight-knit and embedded within traditional communities.

    Our survey of journalists across Pacific Island countries provides new insight into how cultural values influence journalists’ self-perceptions and practices in the region. The findings are now available as an open access article in the journal Journalism.

    Cultural factors are particularly observable in many collectivist societies, where journalists emphasise their intrinsic connection to their communities. This includes the small and micro-media systems of the Pacific, where “high social integration” includes close familial ties, as well as traditional and cultural affiliations.

    The culture of the Pacific Islands is markedly distinct from Western cultures due to its collectivist nature, which prioritises group aspirations over individual aspirations. By foregrounding culture and values, our study demonstrates that the perception of their local cultural role is a dominant consideration for journalists, and we also see significant correlations between it and the cultural-value orientations of journalists.

    We approach the concept of culture from the viewpoint of journalistic embeddedness, that is, “the extent to which journalists are enmeshed in the communities, cultures, and structures in which and on whom they report, and the extent to which this may both enable and constrain their work”.

    The term embeddedness has often been considered undesirable in mainstream journalism, given ideals of detachment and objectivity which originated in the West and experiences of how journalists were embedded with military forces, such as the Iraq War.

    Yet, in alternative approaches to journalism, being close to those on whom they report has been a desirable value, such as in community journalism, whereas a critique of mainstream journalism has tended to be that those reporters do not really understand local communities.

    Cultural detachment both impractical and undesirable
    What is more, in the Global South, embeddedness is often viewed as an intrinsic element of journalists’ identity, making cultural detachment both impractical and undesirable.

    Recent research highlights that journalists in many regions of the world, including in unstable democracies, often experience more pronounced cultural influences on their work compared to their Western counterparts.

    To explore how cultural values and identity shape journalism in the region, we surveyed 206 journalists across nine countries: Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru and the Marshall Islands.

    The study was conducted as part of a broader project about Pacific Islands journalists between mid-2016 and mid-2018. About four in five of journalists in targeted newsrooms agreed to participate, making this one of the largest surveys of journalists in the region.

    Respondents were asked about their perceptions of journalism’s role in society and the extent to which cultural values inform their work.

    Our respondents averaged just under 37 years of age and were relatively evenly split in terms of gender (49 percent identified as female) with most in full-time employment (94 percent). They had an average of nine years of work experience. Around seven in 10 had studied at university, but only two-thirds of those had completed a university degree.

    The findings showed that Pacific Islands journalists overwhelmingly supported ideas related to a local cultural role in reporting. A vast majority — 88 percent agreed that it was important for them to reflect local culture in reporting, while 75 percent also thought it was important to defend local traditions and values.

    Important to preserve local culture
    Further, 71 percent agreed it was important for journalists to preserve local culture. Together, these roles were considered substantially more important than traditional roles such as the monitorial role, where journalists pursue media’s watchdog function.

    This suggests Pacific islands journalists see themselves not just as neutral observers or critics but as active cultural participants — conveying stories that strengthen identity, continuity and community cohesion.

    To understand why journalists adopt this local cultural role, we looked at which values best predicted their orientation. We used a regression model to account for a range of potential influences, including socio-demographic aspects such as work experience, education, gender, the importance of religion and journalists’ cultural-value orientations.

    Our results showed that the best predictor for whether journalists thought it was important to pursue a local cultural role lay in their own value system. In fact, the extent to which journalists adhered to so-called conservative values like self-restraint, the preservation of tradition and resistance to change emerged as the strongest predictors.

    Hence, our findings suggest that journalists who emphasise tradition and social stability in their personal value systems are significantly more likely to prioritise a local cultural role.

    These values reflect a preference for preserving the status quo, respecting established customs, and fostering social harmony — all consistent with Pacific cultural norms.

    While the importance of cultural values was clear in how journalists perceive their role, the findings were more mixed when it came to reporting practices. In general, we found that such practices were valued.

    Considerable consensus on customs
    There was considerable consensus regarding the importance of respecting traditional customs in reporting, which 87 percent agreed with. A further 68 percent said that their traditional values guided their behaviour when reporting.

    At the same time, only 29 percent agreed with the statement that they were a member of their cultural group first and a journalist second, whereas 44 percent disagreed. Conversely, 52 percent agreed that the story was more important than respecting traditional customs and values, while 27 percent disagreed.

    These variations suggest that while Pacific journalists broadly endorse cultural preservation as a goal, the practical realities of journalism — such as covering conflict, corruption or political issues — may sometimes create tensions with cultural expectations.

    Our findings support the notion that Pacific Islands journalists are deeply embedded in local culture, informed by collective values, strong community ties and a commitment to tradition.

    Models of journalism training and institution-building that originated in the West often prioritise norms such as objectivity, autonomy and detached reporting, but in the Pacific such models may fall short or at least clash with the cultural values that underpin journalistic identity.

    These aspects need to be taken into account when examining journalism in the region.

    Recognising and respecting local value systems is not about compromising press freedom — it’s about contextualising journalism within its social environment. Effective support for journalism in the region must account for the realities of cultural embeddedness, where being a journalist often means being a community member as well.

    Understanding the values that motivate journalists — particularly the desire to preserve tradition and promote social stability — can help actors and policymakers engage more meaningfully with media practitioners in the region.

    Birte Leonhardt is a PhD candidate at the Journalism Studies Center at the University of Vienna, Austria. Her research focuses on journalistic cultures, values and practices, as well as interventionist journalism.

    Folker Hanusch is professor of journalism and heads the Journalism Studies Center at the University of Vienna, Austria. He is also editor-in-chief of Journalism Studies, and vice-chair of the Worlds of Journalism Study.

    Shailendra B. Singh is associate professor of Pacific journalism at the University of the South Pacific, based in Suva, Fiji, and a member of the advisory board of the Pacific Journalism Review.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Liz Kendall says Winter Fuel Payments cut part of a ‘moral mission’. Yes, she did go there.

    Liz Kendall’s recent comments regarding the controversial cut to Winter Fuel Payments have ignited further debate about Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) policies and their impact on vulnerable communities. Not least this is because she called vicious cuts to people’s support a “moral mission”.

    Liz Kendall is on a ‘moral mission’, apparently

    In an interview with the Observer, Kendall maintained her backing for the principle that affluent older people should not receive this financial support, stating that “the policy remains the same.”

    This assertion reflects a broader ideological stance aimed at ensuring that limited resources are directed towards those in genuine need. She also said broader cuts to disabled people’s benefits were a “moral mission” – causing anger among campaigners.

    Yet, as the cost of living crisis continues to engulf many households, the decision to curtail these payments has faced intense scrutiny.

    Critics argue that this cut disproportionately affects older and disabled people who are already struggling to make ends meet. By imposing an income threshold of £11,500, many low-income older people find themselves excluded from crucial financial aid, even as inflation continues to climb and basic living expenses skyrocket.

    Winter Fuel Payments: a rethink?

    Reports suggest that ministers are reconsidering the eligibility criteria, with discussions surrounding either an increase in the income threshold or a complete reversal of the cut.

    Nonetheless, Downing Street has defended its position, highlighting what it describes as “tough but right decisions” made in the last Budget. They claim these choices have stabilised the economy, citing improvements in NHS performance and lowered interest rates as evidence of success. Yet, for many struggling families, such statistical gains feel disconnected from their daily realities.

    The response from polling expert Luke Tryl reflects the growing disconnect between the government’s perspective and the lived experiences of those it claims to represent.

    He dubbed the cut a “Labour original sin,” pointing to its apparent contribution to the party’s lacklustre performance in recent elections.

    The focus on balancing the nation’s budget and DWP austerity measures seems to overshadow the urgent need for empathy and assistance directed towards the most vulnerable segments of society. The Winter Fuel Payments cut is central to this and has angered huge swathes of people.

    Indeed, for older people who rely on Winter Fuel Payments to keep their homes warm during the bitter winter months, any cut feels painfully personal. Many have shared stories of choosing between heating their homes and covering basic necessities.

    Kendall and the DWP: aggressive ideology and dogma

    This situation points to an urgent dilemma: should DWP and governmental ideological dogma take precedence over the welfare of those who have contributed to society all their lives?

    While well-heeled politicians make decisions from the comfort of their offices, the reality for ordinary people remains stark and often alarming – exacerbated by cruel policies like the Winter Fuel Payments cut.

    The failure to adequately support those in need reveals a deeper issue within the government’s broader economic strategy—one that seems to neglect the humanity of the people it impacts most.

    As the DWP weighs its options regarding Winter Fuel Payments, it is increasingly clear that the voices of those affected must not only be heard but prioritised. An expansive approach that includes another look at affordability measures would not only aid those who are struggling but could also represent a genuine commitment to social responsibility.

    In a time of crisis, the moral choices made by our leaders will inevitably shape the path forward for our community, defining who we are as a nation—one that values its elders and most vulnerable citizens or one that prioritises wealth over welfare.

    The upcoming discussions on this critical policy will offer a litmus test for the government’s commitment to creating a compassionate and inclusive society for all.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • The DWP has left unpaid carers in £357 million of debt thank to its own negligence

    At least £357 million has been wrongly demanded from unpaid carers over six years due to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) systemic failures, prompting soaring debts, mental health struggles and calls for urgent reform of the carer’s allowance system.

    The DWP has systematically abused carers

    The revelation that at least £357 million in carer’s allowance payments have been made in error over the past six years highlights a devastating legacy of negligence from the DWP.

    This grim figure is not merely a number; it represents the mounting debt and distress inflicted on hundreds of thousands of dedicated, unpaid carers, many of whom are already navigating the difficult terrains of caring for loved ones amidst financial uncertainty.

    Carers UK, which unearthed this figure through newly released official data on fraud and error, has described the DWP’s handling of the situation as an “unacceptable failure”.

    Despite previous assurances about new technologies designed to prevent such overpayments, the stark reality is that minor breaches of earnings rules have led to massive repayment demands.

    The DWP had claimed that by 2019, such problems would be largely resolved. It suggested that their new earnings verification tool would “prevent overpayments in some cases before they happen.” It seems, however, that these assurances hold little weight against a background of systemic failures.

    Making criminals out of vulnerable families

    Many unpaid carers, like Guy Shahar, now find themselves beset by debts that can soar as high as £20,000 due to clerical oversight. Shahar expressed that the enormity of excessive charges appears both “shocking” and fundamentally unjust, given the DWP’s previous commitments to improve the system.

    “They are making criminals out of vulnerable families they are supposed to be helping,” he lamented. This sentiment echoes through the community of unpaid carers, who feel unfairly targeted and victimised by an unwavering bureaucratic system at the DWP.

    The DWP’s reliance on a policy that called for only half of all alerts from its earnings verification tool to be investigated meant that countless overpayments spiralled unchecked for months, if not years.

    In the five years following the introduction of the verification tool, over 262,000 repayment cases have emerged, collectively totalling more than £325 million. Alarmingly, around 600 carers have even faced criminal charges, burdening them—and their families—with criminal records as a consequence of administrative oversight.

    Moreover, the impact of these overpayments stretches beyond financial strain.

    An extraordinary toll

    According to a report by Carers UK, the emotional toll on unpaid carers has been extraordinary, with many experiencing deteriorating mental health and overwhelming anxiety. The average overpayment faced by carers hovers around £4,000, but the ramifications are far greater than mere finances; lives are disrupted, trust eroded, and mental wellbeing compromised.

    As Emily Holzhausen, director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, pointed out:

    Given that unpaid carers were falsely assured that the problem would be largely resolved, they deserve better.

    In a somewhat reactive response, DWP ministers have finally pledged £800,000 to better staff the carer’s allowance division, with the aim of scrutinising 100% of alerts to stem the tide of overpayments at their source.

    However, this initiative raises the question of why, after years of warnings and clear evidence of failure, such fundamental changes only arrive after media scrutiny and persistent pressure from advocacy groups.

    State-sanctioned abuse from the DWP

    It is clear that the current system is broken, with a 71% spike in overpayment cases reported since 2018. This surge signals an urgent need for comprehensive reform within the carer’s allowance framework, not just to avert future financial crises but to support the critical role that carers play in our society.

    Advocacy groups are clamouring for not only an overhaul but also for increased earnings thresholds that reflect the reality of living costs, particularly when many carers are forced to juggle work and caregiving.

    Ultimately, the situation reflects a deep-seated issue within the DWP—a bureaucratic entity that targets chronically ill, disabled, and older people, and their carers, as criminals and scroungers rather than people deserving of support.

    Carers deserve a system that empowers them rather than burdens them with unnecessary debts and anxiety. The ongoing fallout from these overpayments serves as a stark reminder of the imperative for better governance, transparency, and, above all, compassion in the support of the invaluable role that unpaid carers play in our communities.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Uproar over Trump’s latest move which could bring about a 2008-style financial crash

    The US financial landscape stands on the brink of a major transformation – and potential collapse – as Donald Trump prepares to roll back some of the most significant banking regulations enacted in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Of course, Trump being Trump it goes against any sense of justice for most ordinary citizens – and will merely serve to line the pockets of the rich.

    Trump: slashing financial regulation

    As the Guardian reported:

    US watchdogs are reportedly planning to slash capital rules for banks designed to prevent another 2008-style crash, as Donald Trump’s deregulation drive opens the door to the biggest rollback of post-crisis protections in more than a decade.

    The move follows heavy lobbying by the banking industry, with lenders such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs having long complained that competition and lending have been hindered by burdensome rules governing the assets they must hold versus their liabilities.

    Regulators are expected to put forward the proposals this summer, aimed at cutting the supplementary leverage ratio that requires big banks to hold high-quality capital against risky assets including loans and derivatives

    Central to Trump’s proposed changes is a proposed reduction in capital requirements, particularly focusing on the supplementary leverage ratio—a key measure designed to ensure banks maintain adequate buffers against losses.

    The administration’s drive to ease these restrictions aims primarily to boost liquidity within the banking sector. Proponents argue that reducing the regulatory burden on banks will enable increased lending and economic growth.

    However, this approach has been met with significant criticism from experts and observers.

    What the hell just happened?

    People are warning that Trump’s drive for deregulation could amplify systemic risks within an already volatile financial system.

    Detractors of the policy highlight the dangers of encouraging potentially reckless practices reminiscent of those that contributed to the financial meltdown more than a decade ago.

    Critics contend that looser regulations could embolden banks to take on excessive risk, ultimately leaving ordinary people vulnerable to the fallout of another crisis. These concerns are particularly poignant given the historical precedent where such deregulation had devastating impacts on the broader economy and the lives of countless individuals.

    Adding complexity to the unfolding financial landscape is the use of Synthetic Risk Transfers (SRTs), practices employed by banks to shift credit risks onto external investors.

    By leveraging SRTs, financial institutions can reduce their apparent risk exposure, enabling them to present a healthier balance sheet while effectively transferring the underlying risk elsewhere. Analysts warn that this tactic may mask the true stability of banks, potentially obscuring vulnerabilities that could have far-reaching economic consequences.

    This financial recalibration in the US contrasts markedly with developments elsewhere.

    Trump could be laying the groundwork for another global shock

    The international reverberations of the Trump administration’s policies are significant. European actors have been actively engaging to influence US decisions, aware that shifts in American financial regulation can have profound impacts across transatlantic economic ties. These dynamics underscore the interconnected nature of global finance and the risks posed when key players adopt divergent strategies in overseeing their banking systems.

    Overall, as US congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said on X:

    After the Great Recession — which cost millions of jobs and destroyed countless lives — our government put regulations in place to make sure it never happened again.

    Now, Trump is getting rid of those rules. What could possibly go wrong?

    Ultimately, the rollback of regulatory measures by the Trump administration signals a fundamental shift in America’s approach to financial oversight—one that prioritises deregulation in the name of economic stimulus but which raises pressing questions about the resilience and integrity of the banking sector moving forward.

    We’ve been here before in the US, when the Clinton administration rolled back the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 – a move which directly led to the 2008 financial crash. Trump now looks set to do similar, but of course it won’t be him and his ilk who are affected when it all goes wrong.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Warning issued by dozens of experts that Labour’s DWP cuts will lead to premature deaths

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under fire from a group of experts over its proposed cuts to chronically ill and disabled people’s benefits. They have written an open letter to the government, telling it that these cuts will cause “disproportionate harm” to claimants – even to the point of causing “premature deaths”.

    DWP cuts: brutal

    As the Canary has documented, there has been uproar over plans DWP boss Liz Kendall laid out in March to ‘reform’, that is – cut – chronically ill and disabled people’s benefits. It set this out in its Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working green paper.

    Notably, the paper included a suite of regressive reforms to make it harder for people to claim disability benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The changes it’s proposing target neurodivergent, learning disabled, and those with mental health disorders. Moreover, disabled people who need help with things like cutting up food, supervision, prompting, or assistance to wash, dress, or monitor their health condition, will no longer be eligible.

    And revelations from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has also shown that the changes will disproportionately hit PIP claimants over 50 as well. Specifically, the criteria goalpost shifts will deny 1.09 million (nearly 70% of those who could lose out) the Daily Living component of PIP. Part of this cohort is obviously also people Labour is already hammering with the Winter Fuel Payment cuts.

    Labour lies: time to call it out

    Overall, Labour and the DWP have already lied about the number of people its Green Paper plans will affect. Research keeps exposing the devastating scale of the governments planned cuts. While its impact assessment calculated 370,000 current claimants, and 420,000 future ones would lose their DWP PIP entitlement, it’s likely to be much higher than this.

    Another FOI made by a member of the public unearthed that around 209,000 people getting enhanced rate DWP PIP Daily Living will lose it. On top of this, around 1.1 million people getting the standard rate will lose it.

    In total then, nearly 1.4 million people could, on reassessment, lose their Daily Living element of DWP PIP. However, as the Canary’s Steve Topple previously noted, this doesn’t tell us how many could lose their full PIP altogether. This is because the data does not show how many of these people get standard or enhanced Mobility Element of DWP PIP.

    Nonetheless, it’s evident that the plans will be enormously detrimental for chronically ill and disabled people. And in early June, parliament is expected to vote on these plans.

    Now, Dr Jonathan Paul Jones from Cardiff University has written an open letter to the government and DWP. It has been signed by 37 other social scientists, who are experts in this field.

    The letter argues that these cuts will cause nothing but harm and should not be implemented. All of the professionals UK-based or with a strong history of UK-based research, many of whom are esteemed experts on disability, welfare, poverty and related topics. It includes a bibliography of supporting academic texts.

    The full text of the letter to the DWP

    We are writing to express our concern about the planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit as outlined in the March 2025 Green Paper and Spring Statement. As social scientists we feel morally obligated to speak out against policy changes that evidence suggests will cause harm. It is our professional opinion that these cuts will cause disproportionate harm to disabled people and accomplish little or nothing in terms of helping the economy or balancing public finances.

    As demonstrated by the Bibliography attached to this letter, the existing literature indicates that previous similar cuts to welfare, especially those targeted at disabled people, were ineffective in getting people back into work and instead drove people into deeper poverty, damaged mental health and were associated with high numbers of preventable premature deaths.

    Furthermore, the problems caused or exacerbated by such cuts typically end up being even more costly to resolve as they increase the burden on various public services.

    Stop the cuts

    Policy-makers in the UK Government should already be aware of the social research that has proven the ineffectiveness and harms of such approaches, and have been warned by the UN that they must reverse the disability welfare cuts enacted by the preceding Conservative Government. We urge the government to comply with the UN rather than indulge in further ineffectual and harmful cuts targeting disabled people. These cuts will not help disabled people back into work, bring growth, or balance public finances. They are likely to increase rates of poverty, mental ill-health, and premature death.

    We call for all announced cuts to Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit to be overturned. Should the UK Government proceed with current plans, we implore all MPs to vote against these cuts when they come before Parliament and speak out against continued austerity. Public finances can and should be improved via redistributive measures such as a wealth tax. As once promised, those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden.

    The full list of signatures, as well as the bibliography, can be read here.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Amazon is selling books saying bleach enemas can ‘cure’ autistic people – so, a protest will call them out

    Amazon is once again at the centre of controversy – this time for selling a book that promotes a pseudoscientific and abusive “treatment” for autism involving bleach enemas. A petition on change.org from Autistic Inclusive Meets (AIM) is calling on the company to remove the book from its marketplace, and the outcry is more than justified.

    It is shocking that in 2025, we still need to say this: autism is not a disease, it is not something that needs curing, and subjecting children to chemical abuse is both morally indefensible and medically dangerous.

    The pseudoscience of bleach “therapy”

    One of the autism books in question on Amazon, Spectrum Harmony Planner 5 Month Organiser, encourages parents to use chlorine dioxide—an industrial bleach—as an enema or oral solution to “treat” autism.

    This so-called “Miracle Mineral Solution” (MMS) has been condemned by numerous health authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which states that ingesting it can cause “severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, life-threatening low blood pressure caused by dehydration, and acute liver failure.”

    It is horrifying that Amazon, one of the world’s largest and most profitable corporations, continues to sell a book promoting these methods, despite years of warnings and widespread condemnation. By doing so, Amazon not only profits from abuse but also lends legitimacy to pseudoscience that harms autistic children.

    AIM previously managed to get several books taken down.

    But at the core of this controversy lies a fundamental lie about autism.

    Autism is NOT a ‘disease’

    Autism is not a disease (paging Amazon, here). It is a neurodevelopmental condition – a natural variation in how people think, perceive, and interact with the world. It is not a disease, nor a tragedy, nor something that needs to be “fixed.” In fact, many autistic people are proud of their identity and reject the notion that they should be “cured.”

    Scientific consensus supports this. There is no cure for autism, and importantly, no need for one. The concept of “curing” autism is not only scientifically unfounded but rooted in ableist thinking that views neurodivergency as inherently inferior.

    The majority of autistic people are clear—they do not want to be cured. They need acceptance, support, and accommodations that allow them to thrive on their own terms.

    Trying to “cure” autism sends a harmful message: that autistic people are broken. But they are not. What is broken is a society that refuses to accept difference and a corporation like Amazon that enables dangerous practices for profit.

    Amazon and its ethical failure on autism

    Amazon’s decision to continue selling Rivera’s shocking book on autism is a dereliction of its ethical and moral responsibility.

    It is unconscionable that a company with such immense resources and reach chooses to ignore the pleas of medical professionals and autistic people. However, it is just the tip of the iceberg.

    As Emma Dalmayne from AIM highlights, there are over 30 other books that claim to ‘cure’ autism, or present it as something that needs to be cured:

    @autisticinclusive

    Please come with me to serve my petition to Amazon offices in Shoreditch next Tuesday at 1pm to demand they remove not only Spectrum Harmony Planner but 30 other curist books.

    ♬ original sound – AutisticInclusiveM

    By hosting and profiting from books that promote child abuse, Amazon becomes complicit. So, on Tuesday 20 May at 1pm, AIM and its supporters will deliver their petition to the company’s offices in Shoreditch, London. The Canary will be there supporting them:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Nicola Jeffery (@nicolacjeffery)

    If Amazon wants to be seen as a socially responsible company (a challenge regardless of this one story), it must act immediately to remove the book and issue an apology to autistic communities.

    Autism doesn’t need a cure. But Amazon certainly needs a conscience.

    Featured image via screengrab

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • 500 DWP staff face losing their jobs – showing Kendall has no idea what she’s doing

    Hundreds of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff are facing losing their jobs – just as the Labour Party government is claiming it wants to ‘support’ chronically ill, disabled, and non-working people into employment.

    The news flies in the face of the government’s claims – and shows that, far from a thought-out policy, the DWP is merely enacting cuts for the sake of cuts, while allowing the loss of countless departmental staff.

    500 DWP staff face losing their jobs

    As Civil Service World reported, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union warns that around 500 DWP employees could lose their jobs and their right to remain in the UK due to a peculiar quirk in how the department calculates hourly pay.

    While 35 members have already been forced out, the impact may escalate, undermining efforts at a time when the government is trying to force chronically ill and disabled people into work.

    One of those affected is Farouq Ahmed, an enforcement case manager for the Child Maintenance Service, who joined DWP in January 2024 on a graduate visa. His plan was to transition to a skilled-worker visa before the graduate visa expired.

    Ahmed’s starting salary of £29,500 was above the skilled-worker visa threshold at the time of his hire, but after the government raised salary requirements in April 2024, DWP’s pay policy prevented him from applying within the necessary timeframe.

    The complication arises because DWP pays its staff for lunch breaks, effectively spreading the salary over a 42-hour week rather than the standard 37 hours.

    Although Ahmed’s nominal salary met the threshold for “new entrant” visa rules, his hourly pay fell below the required level when calculated with DWP’s unusual methodology – £14.18 per hour instead of the £15.88 per hour required.

    Consequently, his application for leave to remain on a discretionary basis was refused, forcing him to leave his role and return to Nigeria.

    Exacerbating existing chaos

    PCS highlights that this pay policy is unique to DWP and exacerbates a recruitment crisis in a department already paying below civil service median salaries.

    The median DWP salary is £29,500 compared to a civil service-wide median of £33,980, and the Home Office – the only department with a lower median salary – stands at £29,400. This means DWP officials must earn significantly more than their average pay to meet visa thresholds, which is often unrealistic given current pay scales.

    Despite PCS proposing a contract variation to resolve the issue, DWP has reportedly rejected such changes, citing Home Office guidelines. In a letter to Keir Starmer, PCS called for urgent intervention to prevent the loss of experienced staff and the further deterioration of the department’s workforce.

    The letter said:

    Farouq is one of many of the human beings behind the statistics that, but for being in a low-paying department, and being paid for lunch breaks, would still be working in the DWP.”

    Amid a shortage of 2,100 work coaches, the letter noted that:

    It is therefore incredible that as DWP is facing a staffing crisis, government’s own rules are forcing five hundred or more experienced, highly qualified, university-educated staff that are delivering services to the most vulnerable people in the UK, out of the department.

    This staffing crisis is particularly dangerous given the government’s emphasis on encouraging benefit recipients back into employment, a process heavily reliant on work coaches and case managers.

    DWP cuts are cruel ideology – and nothing more

    The DWP has acknowledged a shortage of roughly 2,100 work coaches – yet the Labour government has not committed to employ any more.

    Losing skilled, trained workers due to administrative and policy issues threatens to deepen this shortfall and hinder efforts to reduce unemployment and support welfare recipients.

    Ahmed’s case reflects the personal toll of these policies. Having paid more than £22,000 in university fees to study in the UK and committed himself to public service, he describes feeling “used” and betrayed by the very institution he served. He fears the precariousness of his situation will impact not just him, but his family in Nigeria who depend on his support.

    A DWP spokesperson stated the department takes staff welfare seriously and continues to support those on time-limited visas but declined to comment on individual cases.

    Amid a major staffing shortfall, the DWP cannot afford to lose any more staff – yet here is the Labour government allowing exactly that to happen. It shows that Liz Kendall’s cuts to DWP benefits are purely ideological, not grounded in any form of labour market strategy.

    The loss of even more DWP staff will merely exacerbate the existing cruelty of a department not fit for purpose.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Steve Topple

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Protestors disrupt Africa Energy Summit demanding end to rampant neocolonialism

    On 15 May, campaigners from multiple groups disrupted the Africa Energy Summit. The elitist, secretive, high-security conference in the heart of London sparked outrage from all quarters as climate, human rights, and rainforest activists called it out for the racial capitalist and colonial event it is.

    Africa Energy Summit: climate colonialism and corporate capitalism on full display

    Calling for an end to the 29-year-old Africa Energy Summit, Extinction Rebellion, Fossil Free London, War on Want, Christian Climate Action, Rainforest Foundation, StopEACOP UK, and others were joined by Senegalese drummers. They also played videos from Extinction Rebellion Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The delegates – the vast majority of whom are white male executives of Western corporations – pay £4,730 to attend the three-day conference and its gala dinner. The summit assures them of secrecy, but no quarter of civil society in Africa support the summit.

    Not for the first time, this elitist conference comes into criticism for racist and colonial attitudes. In 2023, the summit deliberately removed Salome Nduta, Africa coordinator for OilWatch Africa, from the list of delegates, in a move that reeked of racism. Organisers told Nduta that it was “sold out” even as they continued to advertise tickets.

    The conference’s promotional video depicts white Western corporation leaders and a passive welcoming African continent. John Ardill, Exxon Mobil’s head of global exploration announces that:

    Angola is open for investment. Namibia is open for investment. That’s when you can achieve these new million barrel-a-day new countries.

    Gayle Meikle, founder and CEO of Frontier Communications Ltd, which organises the conference, states:

    Let’s get those deals done.’ Yet the only African speaker featured is unnamed, with no close ups and simply says, ‘Greetings from the smiling coasts of Africa.

    This dynamic is in line with accusations coming from the African continent. Speaking of EACOP, journalist Enoch Wanderema noted:

    Uganda, the country from which the oil originates, has been cast in the role of host, not owner. Tanzania, whose land will bear the pipeline’s longest stretch, fares no better…. this is not a partnership; it’s a palatable version of plunder.

    Groups call out corporate plunder of Big Oil

    Multiple groups gathered with banners and placards outside the Africa Energy Summit:

    Activists gather outside Africa Energy Summit with banners reading: "Stop the scramble for Africa", "Stop EACOP" and "Our Land Without Oil".

    Activists gather outside Africa Energy Summit with banners reading: "Stop the scramble for Africa".

    Fossil Free London were there to demand an end to Equinor’s fossil fuel expansion in Africa and the UK. Its activists called the summit a “neo-colonial horror show”:

    Naturally, security and police swiftly responded to shield the company from public criticism. They quickly dragged the protestors out:

    Security and police dragging protester out of the event.

    Fossil fuel companies profiteering in Africa

    This year, Equinor has halved its renewable investments to $5bn while dropping targets for renewable energy production, and increasing oil and gas production by 10% over the next 2 years.

    At its annual general meeting taking place in tandem this Thursday 15 May, minority owners pressed the oil giant on the “material inconsistencies” within their climate strategy and policy expectations. However, the motion is not expected to pass.

    Equinor has been accused of greenwashing due to its recent rebranding as a “broad energy company”, despite maintaining 95% of its energy production in fossil fuels. The oil giant is pressing on with the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea. This is despite the original consent for developing unlawfully ignoring downstream carbon emissions.

    Its latest $42bn LNG project in Tanzania could unlock 47.13 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits in the country for export. Across Africa, groups are campaigning against fossil fuel expansion in the continent, demanding a faster phase-out and increased support for African decarbonisation efforts. They are also calling for accountability for the damage companies like Equinor have caused through extraction operations.

    Other activists gathered outside the conference to protest Total’s East African crude oil pipeline (EACOP). This will generate over 34 million tons of CO2 emissions every single year and threatens to displace thousands of families and farmers from their land.

    Africa Energy Summit is ‘nothing more than a modern day scramble for Africa’

    The Africa Energy Summit comes amid renewed plans to develop oil and gas in regions such as Central Africa. Earlier this year, Swiss-based commodity trader Trafigura, an attendee at the summit, struck an agreement with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to develop two blocks in the east of the country. The blocks could threaten the Virunga National Park, a refuge to some of the last remaining Mountain Gorillas, and could connect to the EACOP pipeline project in Uganda.

    UK-based climate and human rights activists have brought African voices of dissent to the protests outside and inside the conference for five consecutive years.

    Director of Fossil Free London Robin Wells said:

    Equinor unashamedly profits from climate collapse and human suffering. As they aggressively pursue new fossil fuel projects, they’re ensuring billions for themselves but only famines, droughts and heat–deaths for billions of us.

    Worse still, those in the Global South, who’ve benefitted the least from our oil-crazed economy, will face the worst effects of the crisis that oil giants like Equinor have fuelled. We need Equinor out. Out of Africa, out of the UK and out of the future we so desperately need to make fossil free. All new fossil fuel projects, like the Rosebank carbon bomb, must be stopped.

    Convenor of Africa Movement Building Space Omar Elmawi said:

    The Africa Energies Summit is nothing more than a modern day scramble for Africa, a colonial theatre where corporate interests auction off our resources, while our people, nature, and climate are treated as expendable collateral. This is not development, it is a sacrificial ground for 1.5 billion people that call Africa home.

    Coordinator of the StopEACOP Campaign Zaki Mamdoo said:

    The Africa Energies Summit is a modern-day Berlin Conference, where decisions about our land, our resources, and our future are made without us. Even still, this summit is racist and colonial not because of who is or isn’t at the table, but because of what the table is for: the continued plunder of Africa. A few complicit African elites might be present, but the agenda remains the same, treating our continent as a resource pit and our people as disposable labour.

    Featured image and additional images via Kirk Pritchard

    By The Canary

    This post was originally published on Canary.