• Make Manchester a TTIP Free Zone
    These actions are being called for by Stop TTIP MCR, Global Justice Manchester and 38 degrees Manchester for the following reasons: 1. The EU and USA launched negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in July 2013. These negotiations are underway to determine which goods and services TTIP will apply to and if new rules can be agreed to protect investors, harmonise standards, reduce tariffs and open new markets throughout the EU and USA. TTIP could therefore have a detrimental impact on local services, employment, suppliers and decision-making. 2. The EU’s food, environmental and labour standards are better than those in the US but due to the regulatory cooperation involved in TTIP there is a threat to these standards being lowered. TTIP negotiations must raise and not lower these standards across the EU and USA. 3. TTIP is accompanied by other so-called trade deals: CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), between the EU and Canada, and TiSA (Trade in Services Agreement), between more than fifty countries worldwide. 4. There has been no impact assessment about the potential impact on local authorities. Sourcing supplies and employment locally is important to strengthening local economies and meeting local needs. A thorough impact assessment of TTIP, CETA and TiSA on local authorities must be undertaken before the negotiations can be concluded. 5. There has been no scrutiny of the negotiating texts by local government and no consultation with local government representatives. Any negotiations with potential societal and environmental consequences as controversial as those of TTIP, CETA or TiSA should be subject to public debate and scrutiny. 6. The negotiations are being undertaken in secrecy with only minimal information being shared with the public 1. 7. MPs are also unable to scrutinise the negotiating documents. 8. The alleged economic benefits of TTIP are based on economic models which are wildly optimistic 2, and that other economic models have suggested that TTIP will lead to a major reduction in GDP and a loss of up around 600,000 jobs in the EU 3. 9. A growing number of NGOs and public interest groups are strongly critical of the potential effects on labour standard, food safety, and the environment of standardising EU and US regulations of trade and production. All trade unions in the UK strongly oppose TTIP, CETA and TiSA. 10. The incorporation of an investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism into TTIP and CETA will allow private firms to sue government for imposing laws and regulations that might threaten their actual or potential profits, irrespective of the public interest. ISDS in other trade deals has been used to sue countries attempting to put cigarettes in plain packaging, or to renationalise health services 4. Local decision-making must be protected from ISDS. 11. 97% of responses to a public consultation on the ISDS element of TTIP conducted by the EU Commission were opposed to the mechanism 5. 12. That TTIP, CETA and TiSA will strengthen multinational corporations in relation to populations in both the global north and global south. Furthermore, TTIP is set to create a blueprint for future trade and investment agreements, which threatens to further lock in corporate dominance of the global economy 6.
    4 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Laura Williams
  • Give state pension to anyone with 45 years of N.I. contributions regardless of age
    Many people working in heavy manual and industrial jobs, and many women who expected to retire aged 60 started working full time aged 16 or less, their life expectancy is generally much less than people who started work later in life. They have also exceeded the maximum number of qualifying years N.I contributions by nearly 50%
    46 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Nicholas Parkinson
  • New start for a BBC Scotland
    This is important as Scotland has the chance to become one of the leading small countries in the world. At the moment we are being held back by the London centric attitude that pervades everything at Pacific Quay. We demand real change.
    3 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Ian Greenhalgh
  • Difficult pill packets that cause excess waste and increase the cost of medication
    A change back to plastic child proof bottles which could be recycled would lead to lowering the cost of medicines to the NHS and also reduce the impact of the waste generated from the current packaging methods on the environment. Plastic recyclable packaging is also more easily opened by elderly people or those with arthritis and other debilitating health problems.
    12 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Diane Hopkins
  • NHS & EDUCATION
    This is important because I believe there is not enough investment in either of these services and the people of our country do not need to stand by and let politicians dither over the future of them, when we, as a country can help.
    10 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Terry Maguire
  • Sex Education Should Be Taught In All Secondry Schools
    It is important because there are STI's that could kill and if we don't learn about them in school we wont know how to deal with them, also young adults and teens are likely to get pregnant and if they don't learn about the risks or protections it could be dangerous.
    9 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Tom Smith
  • Rename Her Majesty "Corn Exchange"
    Stirling Council seriously proposes to change the name of a street in the area currently called Corn Exchange to Queen Elizabeth Road. If they do, it seems only fair to change HER name to Corn Exchange.
    8 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Henry Sloan
  • End the censorship of information on the EU referendum.
    With the UK about to determine its future in the EU, clear, unambiguous factual information is of the essence for the electorate to make that decision. The decision by the government to restrict documents from the ministers who oppose the governments view is a gagging operation. The censored information could be vital to this coming referendum, and consequently denies the electorate of the facts requisite to make an informed decision.
    37 of 100 Signatures
    Created by ROBERT KNIGHTS
  • Ban smoking in all public places in Northern Ireland
    Non smokers should not have to breath in smoke exhaled from smokers. Passive smoking is dangerous for our health. Second hand smoke can cause cancer, Heart disease, stroke and breathing problems. For a non smoker it is very unpleasant to be breathing in other peoples tobacco.
    7 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Denise Jamison
  • Remove Katie Hopkins Twitter account
    We recognise and welcome the need for free speech on social media but we also acknowledge that hate speech is not free speech. It is simply not acceptable for a person to tell malicious lies about entire communities for the sole purpose of her own self promotion. Katie's comments on the Islamic faith do not just offend they endanger the safety and well being of innocent people going about their business.
    25 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Rose Taylor
  • Stop children's centres' funding cuts
    Without this funding, two generations are disadvantaged: young parents who want to improve their education and skills, and their children who will also miss out on valuable early years education before age 2.
    6 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Hannah Staddon
  • Make Bristol safer for cycling
    Bristol is now the second most congested city in the UK and pollution kills nearly 200 people a year. Yet in the last 3 years just 1 km of truly protected cycleway has been built. Bike Life survey shows that in Bristol – 80% of people support increasing the safety of cycling 70% of people want to see more spent on safer cycling infrastructure The next Council needs to make a comprehensive network of safe, connected cycle routes.a priority.
    26 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Space4Cycling Bristol BristolCycleCampaign