• Ridiculous Jam Laws
    A small British jam manufacturer (husband & wife team) recently introduced the first ever British apple-based jams onto the U.K. high street. However, the U.K. government has stated these products cannot legally be called jam because they don't contain enough sugar!!! Standard jams have a sugar content exceeding 60%; however, these apple-based jams have a sugar content of 52-53%. Unfortunately, between 51-59% sugar content there is no clear legal definition as to what these British apple-based products should be called. It's a jam 'no-mans land'! Jam Law across the EU is meant to be harmonised. However, France, Germany and Denmark have all recently used an 'escape clause' in the legislation to permit jams with sugar content below 60%. The U.K. government now needs to use this 'escape clause' to account for British apple-based jams. After 12 months of battling for the issue to be addressed, the U.K. government has finally agreed to consult on making changes to the Law (see http://www.defra.gov.uk/files/jam-consult-statement.pdf). However, there is no guarantee that the Law will be changed and it wouldn’t occur until the end of 2013. We therefore need to keep pressure on the U.K. government to ensure the ridiculous Jam Laws are changed. During these recessionary times, it is vital that the U.K. government supports British business, British innovation and British-specific traditions, i.e. Bramley apple growing. With obesity rates increasing, we should also be encouraging the general public to consume jams with more fruit and less added sugar.
    65 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Paul James Gorman
  • Saving the British Pub
    The British Pub is being extinguished by the fact it so much cheaper to buy beer in supermarkets and drink it at home. If my idea was adopted I do not believe the Government would lose much income because of the companion sales of wines and spirits to the companions of draught beer drinkers. The pub is much more than a drinking den, it is where people meet and interact, play games and socialise.
    95 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Roy Murchie
  • Get churches to move their money
    It has long been suspected that the Christian churches in this country ( and, no doubt, elsewhere) appear to be in thrall to the Big Money powers, as represented by the City, for example. The remaining influence which some churchmen still have could be turned to the good of working (i.e., not speculating) people, since a massive movement of church money to the ethical banks would be both a positive move and a slap on the wrists of the mega-greedy. The churches should, finally, for their own credibility, be seen to be on the side of the less-rich.
    51 of 100 Signatures
    Created by David Marchesi
  • Stop The Stench
    This site belches out foul smelling odours which choke the local communities and give rise to serious health concerns
    93 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Peter Gardiner
  • Qualified teachers for every child
    Qualified teachers have completed a rigorous training programme which ensures they hold appropriate prerequisite qualifications and that they are prepared for and have met national standards to teach. Following the Michael Gove's change, there are now no safe guards in place to ensure children have appropriately trained and qualified teachers. This flies in the face of international research and best practice which shows the best education systems have teachers who have completed lengthy and rigorous pedagological training.
    103 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Steph Ladbrooke
  • Tenants of rented accommodation; 'second class citizens?'
    I am one of those unfortunate people who - through no direct fault of their own - have 'lost their home'. For over 'fourteen years' (following on from buying our house/10 years) we have rented 'four' different houses. All of them - particularly the first 'three' came with a bizarre range of difficulties and problems culminating with us having to up- sticks and move on to somewhere less troubled! Our problems included immense noise problems, drug busts by the police to our immediate neighbours, racist remarks, drunkenness, barking dogs, failure of landlord to hold to the Tenancy agreement, theft, anti social behaviour: and blatant promises (by Estate Agents) of improvements that never materialised and so on. (I have detailed documentation on most of these difficulties). I often feel that renting tenants (particularly 'private' tenants) are 'used' primarily to pay the mortgage on the landlords second, third (etc) house but with 'nothing' in return beside broken promises and a very 'poor' service all round! The TV channels are currently running repetitive adverts on 'landlords insurance' but nothing is seen about the much needed 'tenants insurance'; this insurance should be included as a part of the rental agreement. I have often been made to feel like a second class citizen with little or no rights on many occasions. Surely, even if only to attempt to bridge the increasing gap (chasm) between the haves and the have-nots'- their should be made available a strict set of rules for 'landlords'. Rules which would protect tenants, provide us with a fair say on renting issues without the fear of reprisals or evictions, and to discontinue the poor practise of 'money for nothing' for bad landlords.
    70 of 100 Signatures
    Created by RANDOLPHE PALMER