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Home » Leader Index » James Purnell
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I was completely inspired by your piece on newsnight this evening and for the first time in a long time genuinely excited by the prospect of a refreshed labour agenda that so connects with what real people... Show more »I was completely inspired by your piece on newsnight this evening and for the first time in a long time genuinely excited by the prospect of a refreshed labour agenda that so connects with what real people think. Go a stage further - the NHS needs to be in this model - give something to get something - if we could all see the hypothecated tax that we pay it would shift to a real consumer power and a real sense that we don't waste these services. Question? (You don't seem to have a web site) - why not step up? You are a breath of fresh air you are obliged to do it - why not? Show less »
Submitted by: Ally | 2 votes for this..
0 comments | Topic: Politics | Report |
Mr Purnell, you could take a disabled person and give him a good education and relevant experience. You could then dress him up in the finest clothes and shoes and personally drive him to the job interview.... Show more »Mr Purnell, you could take a disabled person and give him a good education and relevant experience. You could then dress him up in the finest clothes and shoes and personally drive him to the job interview. But your efforts will count for nothing unless the employer hires him. A yougovstone survey confirmed what disabled people have suspected for years and found that three quarters of employers would not hire disabled people. Why did you not acknowledge and deal with that instead of setting into motion reform that blames and punishes disabled people for their own unemployment? Show less »
Submitted by: Tim Blackwell | 4 votes for this..
2 comments | Topic: Politics | Report |
Dear James I have asked you this before but now that you and others are rethinking the policies for the Labour Party, have you changed your mind (or should I say has the Labour Party policy changed after... Show more »Dear James I have asked you this before but now that you and others are rethinking the policies for the Labour Party, have you changed your mind (or should I say has the Labour Party policy changed after decades) on the subject of freezing the pensions of paid-up state pensioners no matter which country they retire to? In the past, the reply to this query was always "The Labour Party has no intention of changing this rule". So much could be saved by encouraging people to move abroad on retirement and more would move abroad if they could ALL be sure of uprating, not just half of them, because they are lucky enough to live in the right country. What are your views now on this subject? Show less »
Submitted by: dianelvin | 3 votes for this..
James - I am a single parent- working 16 hours per week. For the past ten months I have been claiming the in work credit of £40 per week. Unfortunately today, I have been told by my doctor that I have... Show more »James - I am a single parent- working 16 hours per week. For the past ten months I have been claiming the in work credit of £40 per week. Unfortunately today, I have been told by my doctor that I have to be off work for 2 weeks due to illness. Can I still claim my in work credit, and working/family tax credits- along with any sick pay for these 2 weeks? If so how do I go about it please? Show less »
Submitted by: janejane | 6 votes for this..
Is the government going to do what it argues the poor should do? I am a carer - working 24/7 Based on the minimum wage - of no less than £5.52 per hour, I should be paid - 40x£5.52 for the basic... Show more »Is the government going to do what it argues the poor should do? I am a carer - working 24/7 Based on the minimum wage - of no less than £5.52 per hour, I should be paid - 40x£5.52 for the basic hours, 40x1.2x£5.52 for weekday overtime, 32x1.5x£5.52 for weekend working overtime. Total - £775.20 per week! (compared to the £44 paid). The result is my partner - a manic depressive - has stayed out of mental health units for the past 5 years, compared to 3 sectionings of 6months under the Mental Health Act during the 4 years before, noting New-Labour closed down our local mental health unit! You are getting something for nothing - is it only good enough to argue that about the poor? Just as an aside, I'm a PhD grad in Mechatronics! I'd love to earn in the real world - does your policy include a complete reversal of all New-Labours almost complete destruction of engineering? My research department which was tutoring 120 in 1995, when I joined, was preparing to teach 600 a year when New-Labour came to power, and was closed almost to the day that I finished my PhD (as it researches new technologies - compared to New-Labours previously vaunted idea of 'research free universities' as promoted by Gordon Brown circa 2001). After all, research leads to development of new products, leads to new jobs! Show less »
Submitted by: Squirre1 | 8 votes for this..
I know someone who was so traumatised by a public sector change management programme that they were off work with depression for a long time. Isn't dealing with constant change a growing problem and would... Show more »I know someone who was so traumatised by a public sector change management programme that they were off work with depression for a long time. Isn't dealing with constant change a growing problem and would the new 'fit for work' programme help people who can't cope with it? Show less »
Submitted by: dominic | 67 votes for this..
Do you intend challenging Gordon Brown for the Labour party leadership or do you hope to keep your seat in a 2010 General election Tory landslide and then challenge for the leadership?
Submitted by: CrownBlog | 42 votes for this..
Dear Mr Purnell I recently sent you a question through the "Yoosk" website, and was pleased to find that you had replied to my question, which I am totally grateful for, though I would like to ask ... Show more »Dear Mr Purnell I recently sent you a question through the "Yoosk" website, and was pleased to find that you had replied to my question, which I am totally grateful for, though I would like to ask you another 2 questions: 1) As you'll already be aware unemployment is going through the roof, and this Government are rightly trying to reduce this as soon as possible. I myself, for the past 5 years have been on many different temporary assignments with different companies, gaining much needed experience in a vast amount of work settings, though now I'm ready to settle down, and obtain a secure Permanent one, many employers are saying "This bloke is moving from one job to another we can't take him on", in this instance my reply is it suited me at the time, though this doesn't help, what would sya to those employers that act in that way? 2) The minimum wage is UP, great I'm over 22 years old, so I get £5.73, many unions are saying especially in this climate with inflation going up, this increase won't even scratch the surface, are the unions right or wrong? I realise the question are long, though for you to get a feel of what I am trying to say, this in my mind is the only way. Thanks James Nightingale Show less »
Submitted by: Jamesn27 | 28 votes for this..
my wife and i are 60,we are severly disabled, how will the changes to incapacity affect me,we are counted as a pensioner couple.
Submitted by: ernestrobins | 24 votes for this..
This question was asked by T.Halstead: Where are the jobs you are forcing people into? Where are people going to put thier children, especially as there are no places for over 9s provided in the area... Show more »This question was asked by T.Halstead: Where are the jobs you are forcing people into? Where are people going to put thier children, especially as there are no places for over 9s provided in the area I live? The placements what I was told off other students were using people for free labourI have never had a penny off the CSA, ever, I have no idea what happened with that as I have heard nothing since filling the form out years ago. Employers want ppl who have experience, no gaps in thier history and not to have time off regarding family, they are not flexible. Is the government going to invent jobs to put single parents in? Are you going to get the absent parents to pay for thier children? Are you going to provide childcare for all children? When will the government consider the children involved in decisions like this first before forcing their families further into poverty? My childrens busfare is 17. pound a week, and rising by the month at the rate first bus increases the fares, that takes any money I need to travel looking for work, or buying something to wear. I have no shoes or clothes to get a job in either.The work out if I worked off the assesment said I would be 13 pound a week better off working, that though did not add up as the advisor does not calculate for food clothing fuel bills and busfares. So basically I would have 13 pound a week to live on with two children to feed.I would like to see you try to do that. Doing this is forcing people to leave under 13 year old children alone.This is illegal and you can be sent to prison for abandonment.A woman of 83 was attacked outside a police station in Sowerby Bridge last week, by a gang of 5 under 13 year olds.Thats how bad it is.And you expect me to leave my children alone in this hell hole?" Show less »
Submitted by: halifaxEveC | 1 votes for this..
0 comments | Topic: Local Issues |
We know that juggling work with bringing up children can be hard and we also know that for many people going back to work is a daunting prospect and not something that is taken lightly. That's why ... Show more »We know that juggling work with bringing up children can be hard and we also know that for many people going back to work is a daunting prospect and not something that is taken lightly. That's why we want to give parents some extra help to get into work once their youngest child reaches seven. We also want to offer more support and advice, so parents can build up their skills and confidence to prepare for and find a job. This means once their children reach five, our advisers will offer lone parents a "skills health check", to identify where they may need specific training and education to ease their eventual path in work. But it’s more than just this. Clearly we also need to change the culture around work in our country, in both private and public sectors. We can do quite a lot through legislation, but that can't solve the whole problem. It's also going to be down to companies and employees and what they can do. So, probably the biggest thing we've done in this area is to introduce the right to request flexible working. There was a lot of scepticism about this at first. Some said employers would just say no - but it turned out that 90% of employers agree all the requests that are made. This right only applied to younger children initially. But it's worked so well that we've extended it to people caring for relatives and we're now going to also include parents with children up to 16. Ultimately, however we need to make sure people have jobs to go to, as you rightly point out. That’s why we’ve embarked on something called Local Employment Partnerships, where over 2,000 employers have agreed with us to look to give jobs to people from disadvantaged groups, and in return we offer help such as pre-employment training or work placements, so people can prove themselves and try out the job in question. Show less »
This right only applied to younger children initially. But it's worked so well that we've extended it to people caring for relatives and we're now going to also include parents with children up to 16. Ultimately, however we need to make sure people have jobs to go to, as you rightly point out. That’s why we’ve embarked on something called Local Employment Partnerships, where over 2,000 employers have agreed with us to look to give jobs to people from disadvantaged groups, and in return we offer help such as pre-employment training or work placements, so people can prove themselves and try out the job in question.
This question was asked by mambler: "why do people who do not contribute get more benefits than those who do"
Our proposals are specifically designed to enshrine a something for something culture – where you have to put in if you want to get something out. Our plan to get rid of IB and IS means that while there... Show more »Our proposals are specifically designed to enshrine a something for something culture – where you have to put in if you want to get something out. Our plan to get rid of IB and IS means that while there will be greater support there will also be greater responsibility. People wont be able to simply sign on and collect benefits – there will be conditions they have to meet including attending training and skills programmes as well as job search for those on unemployment benefit. Show less »
This question was asked by jodywhales: "One of your proposals is that unemployed drug users will have to accept treatment for their drug habit before receiving any benefit. How will you know if somebody... Show more »This question was asked by jodywhales: "One of your proposals is that unemployed drug users will have to accept treatment for their drug habit before receiving any benefit. How will you know if somebody is a drug user or not?" Show less »
1 comment | Topic: Local Issues |
Let's be clear, drugs ruin people’s lives and we should do all we can to get people who are hooked on drugs to kick their habit. Our plan is to make identification of problem drug use a part of the new... Show more »Let's be clear, drugs ruin people’s lives and we should do all we can to get people who are hooked on drugs to kick their habit. Our plan is to make identification of problem drug use a part of the new claim process for benefits. For those claiming the main unemployment benefit, JSA, we will strengthen guidance for advisers to help them to identify claimants who may be dependent on heroin or crack cocaine. Those identified will then be required to see a drug treatment provider. We also propose to share information between Jobcentre Plus and the police, probation services and prisons. Show less »
Instead of forcing people out to work, couldn't something be done to bring work into our homes - like with cottage industries?
Submitted by: Tomlinson | 27 votes for this..
0 comments | Topic: Politics |
Good question. I’m keen to see how businesses can provide more flexible working practises to help many more people off benefits and into work. What’s more interesting is how many companies are now taking... Show more »Good question. I’m keen to see how businesses can provide more flexible working practises to help many more people off benefits and into work. What’s more interesting is how many companies are now taking this onboard. Our advisers in Jobcentre Plus work hard to identify jobs which offer more flexible working patterns to those with childcare responsibilities or mobility issues. Also, for those disabled people who feel that what holds them back are problems with their workplace we are doubling our investment in the Access to Work programme which will transform thousands of work places, making them accessible to disabled workers. Show less »
With food price inflation at 10% and energy prices rising by 30%, how can you budget to make sure benefits and pensions- which are supposed to pay for these essentials can keep up? And what about the ... Show more »With food price inflation at 10% and energy prices rising by 30%, how can you budget to make sure benefits and pensions- which are supposed to pay for these essentials can keep up? And what about the future, when these reources become even more scare Show less »
Submitted by: stacey | 27 votes for this..
We have something called the annual benefit uprating, where every year we increase the level of benefits and pensions to ensure they keep in line with what’s happening in the wider economy. Over the last... Show more »We have something called the annual benefit uprating, where every year we increase the level of benefits and pensions to ensure they keep in line with what’s happening in the wider economy. Over the last decade we have had a strong and stable economy in this country and this has been reflected in record numbers of people in work and the numbers claiming unemployment cut in half. Now that we are feeling the global economic pressures, just as much in Halifax as it is elsewhere, we need to make sure we in government continue to do all we can to support people off benefits and into work, helping businesses create more jobs and ensuring people can still get on the housing ladder and stay in their homes. Show less »
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