Peter Curling

The Chancellor described today’s budget as a “breathing space” budget. The individual measures to help on the cost of living crisis on energy, housing and food are very welcome but the important issue now is how the time secured as a breathing space is used to address the pressures people are under. The Spending Review next year is the opportunity to develop a radical agenda to deliver the investment needed in our economy and public services and to secure a tax system that redistributes wealth at scale to overcome the levels of inequality and poverty in our society.

I’ve just come off a Unison picket line for striking Camden traffic wardens. They were privatised by Camden Council years ago. I was on their picket lines in 2012. They work 42.5 hours a week on low pay. They are striking for an extra £2 an hour and to have their leave entitlement the same as the council workers, which means an extra 7 days. The company is NSL, whose top manager is on £619,000 - £330 an hour. Some wonderful supporter brought a solidarity chocolate cake to the picket line. The traffic warden service should be brought back in house. Solidarity. @unisontheunion

Today I attended the launch of this important report on the impact the condition endometriosis has on women in the workplace. I raised the plight of women with endometriosis over 20 years ago in Parliament after meeting constituents struggling to secure a diagnosis, support and treatment. Many women explained the immense difficulties and lack of support they were experiencing at work. This detailed report brings home the reality so many women still face and sets out a series of improvements that could be made to transform the lives of large numbers of women at work.

As someone who has experienced dementia in our family I don’t say this lightly but surely the American people must now start recognising that Trump’s condition has gone beyond narcissistic personality disorder and is now more likely to be exhibiting symptoms of the onset of dementia. He appears as the useful dangerous tool of Rubio and Hegseth and others. theguardian.com/us-news/2026…

There needs to be a greater understanding of the triple lock. The reason many of us supported its introduction was that it began to redress the loss of pension caused by Thatcher breaking the link between pensions and earnings. Despite the triple lock being in force for a decade the response I received to a Parliamentary question some months ago confirmed pensioners are still £50 a week worse off. We spend 5.7% of GDP on the pension compared with 10% in Germany, France and Spain, with 15% in Italy. The Triple Lock enables us to bring our pensions into line with European levels especially needed at a time when final salary pension schemes are increasingly being phased out. The false argument about inter generational fairness fails to recognise that the fight for pensions now protects the living standards of young people in the future and that immediate support for younger people should be secured by the fair taxation of wealth. Let’s not let opportunistic politicians and commentators divide young from old in this way.

As a result of Netanyahu/Trump and Putin’s warmongering the cost of living problems people are facing now could rapidly turn into a full blown crisis. If people are to be protected the budget inevitably has to reflect the need for belt tightening to get us through the worst. I don’t believe people will think it unreasonable to ask the recent high profit taking banking & finance sector to make a contribution. So let’s have no threats or blackmail attempts from bank CEOs and let’s get it done quickly and efficiently. giftarticle.ft.com/giftartic…

Was a great speech by Andy Burnham but I have to be honest too that the triple lock announcement spoilt it for me. With 2 million pensioners in poverty & pension only 50% of minimum wage it’s not right to prevent older people sharing in growth of economy. theguardian.com/politics/202…

Triple lock: From April 2030 pensions will continue to rise every year at least by prices, or 2.5% & it will hold its value "relative to earnings over time". There needs to be absolute honesty about what this means as breaking the link with earnings will cut pensions growth.

Today we said farewell to Roy Hill. Roy was a superb socialist & brilliant organiser, who dedicated his life to creating a society where no child went hungry, no family was homeless, our public services were fully funded & peace reigned. Btw he was also a wonderful trombonist.

Joined constituents in Parliament today protesting against the threat of a 3rd runway at Heathrow.