A poor show

My friend nellbj who works in a school in a deprived part of Cambridge often has to deal with extremely difficult and upsetting situations.

It may come as a surprise that Cambridge has pockets of real, inter-generational social problems. For those affected by poverty in Cambridge it could be worse here than in other places; the contrast between their lives and the city's relative affluence is striking and there is almost zero chance of ever being able to acquire property or a higher standard of living, which is very expensive here.

These flats aren't inhabited by the wealthy but are not reflective of the worst social problems in the city. They're further towards the outskirts where transport links and distance also hamper social mobility (literally).

This week a lot of brain space has been occupied by tracking the situation with government spending and deal-making. The government is supposed to serve the needs of the country and its people, not use its own power to employ brazen double standards for the simple act of retaining power when the country has given a clear message that it's becoming less comfortable with its leadership.

As a socialist I believe happier more productive people are the absolute fundamental building blocks for prosperity and productivity. This government will go down in history for denying adequate resources for public sector staff and services and decrying those who wish them to be better funded, as reckless economists. This despite much clear rhetoric from Conservative politicians about being aghast at the state of public sector pay or miraculous investment in Northern Ireland.

When there then follows a failed motion on removing the pay cap for public sector workers, where the hell is the integrity as a public servant that so many politicians have uttered empty words that they had no intention of honouring.