This is important because of our future is dying

We are at risk of losing a large amount of our music industry, not just due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but because of the lack of financial provision at this time, for those who work within the live music industry. Live music is one of the main pillars of our social interaction, cultural union and entertainment in the UK. During Covid we have been reminded of how much we rely on music and other art forms during tough times, and how we turn to the arts to keep us connected as a nation. Live music is also one of the fastest growing and economically vibrant sectors in the UK. Without taking action, there may not be a live music industry to go back to. Research from the umbrella group, Live, has shown that an estimated 64% of the sector’s 262,000 workers, will be jobless by Christmas. This means that 170,000 people will be unemployed, with the sector facing an 80% decline in revenues this year due to covid measures. The hardest hit will be the industry’s many freelance and self employed workers, 144,000 of which are expected to be out of a job. Permanently employed staff are also at risk, with half facing unemployment when furlough ends. Most businesses involved in live music have not been able to open for the past 6 months, making them ineligible for the government’s new extended job support scheme, which starts next month in place of furlough. Three quarters of live music employees have been using the furlough scheme. The extended job support scheme only applies to businesses forced to close because of localised coronavirus restrictions, so will not aid those who have already been forced to shut. The music industry of course, being one of the first industries to close as a result of the outbreak. This scheme will begin later than expected, as furlough has been extended until December in light of another lockdown. However, only those who were on a PAYE payroll by October 30th will be eligible for this. The self-employed will gain financial aid during lockdown (only 20% of their average monthly income), but freelancers are excluded from this. This means up to 2.9 million freelancers across industries will gain no support at all. The government’s culture recovery fund has saved 10,000 jobs, but research by Media Insight Consulting shows that it will not prevent hundreds of thousands of jobs being lost. The ramifications of this are unfair for the vast and varied amount of people involved in making live music happen, who are not being properly considered by our government. To suggest that musicians should simply retrain in other fields, is not only negligent, but shows a total lack of appreciation for the craft and societal benefits provided by live music. It also shows great detachment from an oversubscribed job market and the pressure currently put on a rising number of applicants, whilst the number of jobs decreases due to COVID. To assume that live music can just pick up where it left off post-COVID, is both naive and impossible. There will not be a normal to come back to and the industry could take years to rebuild.

The nation is stuck in a pandemic adults are stressing, working from home , yet kids are told to go to school, still learn and test , Kids are still expected to revise for exams , even though we know it’s knocking their mental health, anxiety and stress We need to protect our kids

We are in the middle.of a pandemic. People have lost jobs and have very little money. This is not right and it is yet again going to affect the poorest in society.

I took the decision to become self-employed in October 2019 when I set up my own recruitment business. I didn't take a salary until recently as I wanted to keep the money I invested in my business, in the business. When the coronavirus hit, the fact that I hadn't taken a salary meant I was not eligible for government coronavirus support packages that helped many self-employed workers survive during the pandemic. There are many other reasons why self-employed workers can not be eligible for government support: 2.9 million of us cannot access it! [1] The pandemic and lockdown massively impacted my business and I've had no option but to live off my savings. It's time the government stepped up and provided support to the millions of self-employed workers like me who are falling through the cracks of support. [1] Excluded UK: https://www.excludeduk.org/about

The sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church has caused severe damage to its reputation. What is worse is the way they have been handled by the authorities in the Church. Sex abuse is something which causes severe trauma for survivors for the rest of their lives, but the cover ups only add to the trauma. As the leader of the Catholic Church of England and Wales, the IICSA report has shown that Cardinal Nichols has failed in his leadership to deal with clerical abuse. Survivors are now calling for him to resign. It is important, as Christians, to first and foremost, seek justice and healing for survivors, and put that above the reputation of the Church.

An NHS X Pay boost backdated to the start of COVID19 would help out workers in the NHS on low pay or with bills and other expenses and alleviate some of their financial issues whilst showing them we recognize and value them.

To support us through this financial hardship. To show our value. So we can maintain high care.

This is not right her treatment for her bravery is appalling.. Her children are suffering her family are suffering she is suffering .. she needs to be free and made a hero for all she has done

There are approximately 10.3 million school children across the U.K. Add to this the school staff needed to run each school including headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants, administrators, midday supervisors, school cooks, cleaners etc. This is a huge number of people potentially moving around the country and visiting different households none of whom can elect to take annual leave to self isolate due to the school term system. If schools either closed or switched to remote learning on 10/12 these people could self isolate allowing them to safely see family. This could also help reduce transmission rates during the Christmas period. Closing schools or switching to remote learning on 10/12 would also allow for a 3 week school “firebreak”. Given the data is increasingly showing significant numbers of cases in secondary schools & also in primary schools a firebreak could help to further drive down covid19 cases following the England lockdown. The extended half term implemented by Northern Ireland appears to have been particularly effective in reducing cases there.

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a tough year for many of us. The pandemic has affected our health, livelihoods and the way our society functions. But there is a way to build back better that protects our communities and our planet - now and into the future. The pandemic has changed everything about the way we live and work. As winter approaches, the Office for National Statistics has reported rising unemployment - and this will only get worse unless the government acts. In fact, according to a new report by Build Back Better, almost two million jobs could be lost forever as a result of the pandemic. But mass unemployment is not the inevitable end result. The UK Government has an opportunity to invest in our future by prioritising a new type of economy - a green economy. According to Build Back Better, investing £68 billion over the next two years would create 1.2. million new jobs, strengthen our infrastructure and services, and help to fight the climate crisis. Join us by calling on the Prime Minister to protect us now by investing in our future.

Lord Kilclooney has not apologised or accepted that his reference to Kamala Harris was racist. The House of Lords appears to have no powers to compel him to do so. 1000 racist incidents were reported in Northern Ireland (2018-19) and it is the only part of the United Kingdom to be prosecuting Black Lives Matters protestors, under legislation designed to tackle organised crime. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-44486135