This is important to prove the point of our government being in solidarity against racism whether black or white or whatever race. "This is not just insulting to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, it is deeply embarrassing for Dominic Raab. He is supposed to be the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom." "This Government continues to shame us to the world."

On 17th June the Prime Minister announced a plan to merge DFID with the FCO, to be led by the Foreign Secretary. The stated purpose is to create a united department that will better promote British interests, to allow the Foreign Secretary to make decisions on aid spending in line with the UK's priorities overseas. In other words, to prioritise helping those who can help us in return. This means that the poorest and most vulnerable people, those who can most easily be seen to offer the UK little or nothing in return, will be pushed not only to the bottom of the queue, but all too easily off the queue altogether. UK charities have already united to condemn this move, condemning it as having been taken "without any process or consultation, and against the recommendations of both independent aid scrutiny bodies as well as the UK's development and humanitarian sector", and transferring the aid budget into "the hands of those with little expertise in global health systems, humanitarian response and disease prevention and eradication" (Stephanie Draper, CEO of Bond, a UK network for international development NGOs). Mark Sheard, CEO of World Vision UK, said it would "risk money being diverted to address UK foreign policy interests rather than alleviating poverty". A Google search of "DFID merger with the FCO" will provide many more, convincing arguments from UK aid and development charities. Of course DFID isn't perfect; no institutions are. But its ability to give aid where it is most needed in the world represents the UK's ability to express our common humanity, not only with those who can scratch our backs in return, but with all our fellow human beings especially the neediest. Please write to your MP now, making the points that: * Aid tied to the perceived national interests of whatever is the government of the day will be inconsistent and short-termist. * Although DFID, like all institutions, can always be improved, removing its independence and subsuming it under a trade-focussed body will both emasculate its expertise and remove its teeth. * Finally, our true "national interests" are best expressed in being both altruistic and, if we want to gather international kudos, in being seen to be altruistic. DFID gives us a good name in the world; merging it with the FCO will lose its identity and its good name.

This would put pressure on the Chinese regime not to enact measures that would allow them to extradite Hong Kong citizens to mainland china. They would in effect be extraditing UK nationals.

A ‘home’ is viewed by many as place of safety, security and comfort; but for some the aspect of safety can be taken away by the act of violence. The entity of a home then changes from a sanctuary to a place of dread and fear.

It is increasingly apparent and possibly crucial that the current administrators would benefit from a wider field of expertise to maximize our county's potential to reduce the harm of Covid 19. A cross party coalition in WW2 arguably harnessed all available strengths and created the turn in history that led to Britain's survival.

Without Committing to current UK standards a Post Brexit market could open the UK to a flood of cheap low quality produce and low animal welfare standards . This also could totally undermine the UK farming industry

Bristol Energy is an energy company owned by Bristol City Council. Following huge losses, the Council has decided to sell the company. At least £35m of public money has been put into the company, but it is unclear exactly how much mismanagement of Bristol Energy has cost Bristol residents. A well supported petition is needed to demonstrate to Councillors that there is a public demand for this inquiry, and that we as Bristol residents expect an explanation for the expensive failure of the energy company we collectively own. News coverage: BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-52822862 Bristol 24/7: https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/call-for-independent-inquiry-into-bristol-energy-voted-down/ Bristol Post: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/call-independent-inquiry-bristol-energy-4168284?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar Original Council motion here (see Item 5): https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=142&MId=8430 Watch how the motion was debated here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZWSRrV-tlo&t=2541s

A public sector wage freeze - which would affect NHS staff after all they have done - is planned to help pay for the cost of the coronavirus pandemic along with a range of tax increases. Many public sector workers have had wage increases less than inflation for years, effectively providing successive wage cuts while politicians have received wage increases above inflation making them increasingly better off compared with many others. Their excuse is that they don't set their own wages but they pass the laws of this country so they can change the whole mechanism of how their pay is set. In an interview broadcast on television Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, was asked if he was going to set aside any part of his wages (as footballers had been asked to do) and he confirmed that he did not intend to do so. But the government do apparently intend that public sector workers will suffer a wage freeze. Remember that public sector workers include the people upon whom we all rely, particularly during the pandemic, especially NHS staff many of whom have risked and even lost their lives during this time. If the public sector is to be further punished then the very least parliament can do is to accept a wage freeze themselves and demonstrate the kind of leadership that inspires and gives confidence.

To make MP's voting and intentions transparent. Day to day lobbying happens behind closed doors in meetings without free press via phone calls etc.. One of the best indicators of where a politicians intentions are lye with how they behave with their own money.

Hundreds of thousands, possibly more, of Small Businesses that are run from home don't need to pay Business Rates to their Local Council because the business only takes up a small part of their premises and doesn’t have clients visiting their homes. Many are internet based but many are tradespeople. The recent Coronavirus support grants given to Small Businesses have been prejudiced against legitimate companies who don't pay Business Rates because they are not required to do so but do pay Domestic Rates. Numerous families run small businesses from home as their sole or main income. Many business people are single parents and running a business from home allows them to give time to their children, carry out school runs, support their extra curriculum activities and sport. Without a Government Grant they have no income at the moment and their businesses are under real threat of going into liquidation which means they may be jobless and have to go onto benefits. They just need financial help in the short term but with no income and no way of knowing when this will end they can’t risk a loan. Will you sign the petition and help these legitimate Small Businesses to get the grants they need to survive.

Every Thursday we clap for our NHS and for our key workers. Many key workers within the UK are migrants who contribute far more than they take out. To remove the surcharge would be symbolic in recognising that migrants aren't a drain on our society, but are a key part of it. To show our thanks, we need to do more than just clap. We need to change the policies which harshly impact the migrant workers saving lives.

Please sign this partition to bring to an end this outrageous tax on vulnerable hospital workers. Boris Johnson backed the treatment he received when he contracted coronavirus and the staff who rigorously watched over him whilst he was in intensive care, let him now abandon this ridiculous tax and support our NHS staff 100%.