#austerity

#austerity

Yesterday the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered a Labour budget. People have been asking for Labour's purpose and values to be more clearly expressed. Through the choices made a shift to a fairer tax system, targeting wealth to pay for tackling child poverty, good public services and the cost of living we have clearly set out what we stand for. That's why Labour MPs cheered in the Commons, and it's why we are up for the fights to come.

What ails the British state is that it has built, and is building, what it cannot seem to maintain. A decade of attrition has hollowed out public services to the extent that they struggle to function coherently or plan beyond the next crisis. Under the Tories, state spending grew by just over 1% a year well below the long-run trend of 2.6% per year.

The congressional setback arrives as Milei's political party faces slumping popularity headed into a midterm election. Argentina's struggling President Javier Milei has suffered a new setback as Congress overturned his vetoes of laws increasing funding for public universities and for paediatric care. On Thursday, senators invalidated both vetoes, which had already been rejected by the Chamber of Deputies, bringing to three the number of laws upheld by Congress despite vehement opposition from the budget-slashing Milei.

Jess, a 35-year-old hospital neurologist, had joined protesters attempting to stop traffic in order to show her anger at the French government. Inequality is rife in France and this is the only way to be heard, she said. Pushed back with teargas by riot police, Jess, who asked for her real name not to be published said she was scared by police tactics, but felt it was crucial to be on the streets.

More than 80,000 police have been deployed as demonstrators rally against Macron's government and austerity policies. French police have arrested hundreds of people as protests led by left-wing forces under the label Block Everything were launched across the country. More than 200 people were reported to have been arrested in the morning hours as demonstrators set fire to rubbish bins and blocked highways, spurred by frustration with President Emmanuel Macron's government amid a national political crisis.

From Africa to Asia to Latin America, billions go hungry while creditors profit. Sri Lanka is undergoing one of the most complex economic recoveries in its history. The country's financial collapse in 2022 was precipitated by a toxic mix of unsustainable borrowing, poor fiscal management, and external shocks. Mass protests erupted under the banner of Aragalaya, a broad-based citizens' movement demanding accountability, economic justice, and an end to political corruption.

Asking boomers to serve in a new national service can help mend a society splintered by austerity, utilizing their skills to benefit the community.

America's vast industries like Big Tobacco and Big Pharma have grown from local roots, yet funding cuts to essential programs threaten overall progress and health.

In Britain and France, nationalist populist parties consistently lead in the polls, indicating a significant shift towards authoritarian and xenophobic political forces among voters.

Musk's announcement of the America Party appears as an attempt to capitalize on discontent with the political status quo, yet it reveals a familiar pattern of failed initiatives.

The drugs crisis in prisons is the worst it has ever been, with experts warning that the prevalence of illicit substances is making jails increasingly difficult to manage positively.

What was announced was more spending equivalent to an additional £190bn over the parliamentary term.

Creating a lost decade for growth, wages and living standards that is their legacy.

Local elections have often been mysterious, with experts parsing results for hidden meanings, yet the reality frequently points to a general discontent with established parties.