• Being Charged to go to the Beach
    Poole Council is planning to charge for on-street parking along a huge swathe of coast and on roads that are far back from the beach. Pre-supposing that there is no limit on time allowed (which there might well be), it could cost £15 to spend a day at the beach. Beaches must be free and accessible because they always have been. They belong to us all. They need to be available for all, both rich and poor. Our children need the freedom to roam. This area depends on tourism and families who come here might well be put off by further charges on top of what they already pay for their hotels/camp sites and other expenses - do we really want to drive even more people away from English holidays? We are an island race, our coast is our heritage.
    4,551 of 5,000 Signatures
    Created by Zac Furbank
  • Have George Osborne repay his £100,000 a year re-mortgage interest to the tax payer
    To see if the morality of the rules around expense claims matters more than the letter of the law. To show how he did this here is a helpful video from the bbc to explain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPqG7MjPwic
    220 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Peter Magee
  • Stop Freezing Overseas State Pensions
    The continued exclusion of overseas pensioners from up-rating adjustments to their State Pensions means that the real terms incomes of those affected falls year-on-year. Over time this leads to hardship, poverty, loss of independence and loneliness. Some individuals have been forced to return to the UK, away from loved ones, just to get by. This policy also creates a barrier to pensioner emigration from the UK, as the prospect of a frozen pension means that many feel they simply couldn't afford to do so. Given the countries involved are largely in the Commonwealth, those in British Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are disproportionately impacted. There is no dispute about the entitlement to receive a State Pension overseas. All British pensioners who have made the required NI contributions during their working life are eligible. The issue at stake is whether that pension is universally uprated or not. At the moment, the government's policy is inconsistent and unfair, with half British pensioners abroad getting up-rated and the other half excluded. This creates crazy anomalies i.e. uprating in the USA, frozen pensions in Canada. It is time for reform to give all pensioners the full state pension they deserve, wherever they live, and to end this injustice once and for all. A positive, and easily affordable, step forward would be for the Government to include all pensioners in the 2.7% State Pension up-rating to be granted this year, by withdrawing the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2016 currently before parliament. CASE STUDIES: Anne Puckridge Former college lecturer Anne Puckridge, now 91, lived and worked in the UK all her working life, paying mandatory NI contributions throughout this time. In 2002, aged 77 she finally retired and decided to move to Canada to be with her daughter and grandchildren who had moved to Calgary in the 1990s. Fourteen years on, Anne, who served as an intelligence officer in the Women’s Royal Navy in the Second World War, is struggling to live on the frozen £75.50 a week rate, she was entitled to when she moved abroad. Anne now feels that she will be forced to move back to Britain, because her pension will no longer cover day to day expenses and she is increasingly reliant on her daughter to get by. Anne says: “It’s the small things, and the injustice, that is really getting to me. I value my independence, but I can’t go on living on the breadline and I don’t want to inflict this on my family. As well as ever-increasingly poverty, I feel a sense of stress and shame, which is affecting my health.” Abhik Bonnerjee Abhik Bonnerjee, now 73, moved from India to Glasgow in 1960. He worked in the UK for 38 years, in shipbuilding, steel manufacture and the food industry. He owned an Indian restaurant for 6 years. Abhik returned to India in 1997 and reached the State Pension retirement age in 2008 when it was paid at £87.30 a week. Having made all the required NI contributions, if Abhik still in the UK today he would get £115.95, 28% more. The decline in his real terms income has left Abhik concerned about losing his home. He now feels he may have to move back to the UK. Abhik says: “The current situation makes me very, very angry. The government are scaremongering… [The Minister] says it will cost a lot of money but it is only a tiny percentage [of the pensions budget]. The government should be doing more, especially for Commonwealth countries and MPs can’t explain why they are not.” Rita Young Rita Young, 78, lives in Peterborough in the UK. She retired in 2002, aged 67, having enjoyed a long career in market research and as a community volunteer. Rita’s son moved to work in Australia some time ago and now has a family there. Since being widowed Rita has wanted to join her son and grandchildren in Australia, but has felt unable to do so due to the prospect of a frozen pension. As she gets older Rita finds daily life increasingly difficult, especially as she doesn’t have a family around who she can call on. She is deeply saddened that she is not able to be with her family during the later stages of her life, and feels that it is a complete injustice that had her son moved to a different country (e.g. France or the USA) she would be able join him with a full UK pension. Rita has spoken at the National Pensioners Convention about the issue and is very active in her community. Rita says: “I worked and contributed to my State Pension all my life. It doesn't seem fair that the government can just stop uprating it because I want to be with my family.” Geoff Amatt Geoff Amatt from Abergele in Wales reached 100 last year. Geoff contributed to the UK economy all his life and fought for his country during the Second World War. Geoff’s daughter Jean emigrated to Calgary, Canada more than 40 years ago, yet Geoff was unable to follow in the knowledge that his State Pension would be frozen at the rate of leaving the country. £29 per week at the time. As a result Geoff has been separated from his two grandchildren and two great grandchildren throughout his retirement. He has lived alone, largely dependent on the state for care, since his wife died seven years ago. Jean says: “Frozen pensions are unbelievably unfair. Canadians get their pension uprated in they live in the UK yet we don’t offer the same for those moving in the other direction. The government is keeping families apart and I worry about my father left all alone in Britain while we’re thousands of miles away.”
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    Created by Tim Snowball
  • Ceredigion County Council -Please take more than 10 Syrian refugees a year!
    Millions of people living in the refugee camps across the Middle East are living in complete squalor with very little food, clothing, warm bedding and access to education. Between 2 and 3 million Syrian children are currently not attending any form of school. There are: • 2.7 million refugees in Turkey • 1.8 million refugees in Lebanon • 800,000 in Jordan. • 250,000 in Iraq. • 120,000 in Egypt. • Record numbers claimed asylum last year in Europe, with more than a million refugees arriving in 2015, around half from Syria. • Germany has received almost 600,000 refugees in 2015 and more arriving each day. • Hungary has taken 178,000. • Greece is sheltering at least 65,000 with thousands more arriving on the Islands each week • More than 3,770 people drowned last year in the Mediterranean trying to find safety. Wales has pledged to take 1,500 Syrian refugees in the next few years but only a handful have arrived. Ceredigion has the capacity to take at least 50 refugees EACH YEAR until 2020. Wales - and Ceredigion- needs to do its bit!
    420 of 500 Signatures
    Created by Lindsey Gaunt
  • Think Outside the Circle: Extend Glasgow’s Subway!
    Glasgow’s Subway network has being going in circles for too long! Built in 1896, Glasgow has the third oldest underground in the world but, unlike all other cities, Glasgow has never extended its Subway. The Subway is not accessible to the majority living in Glasgow and as a result is underused for a city of its size. The ridership of Glasgow’s Subway compares poorly to that of geographically smaller and less populated cities such as Lisbon whose annual underground ridership is 140.9 million, while Glasgow Subway’s annual ridership is 12.8 mil, despite having the larger population. Transport for London (London’s version of SPT) is currently building a new high-speed underground line Crossrail, now known as the 'Elizabeth Line' and has just released inspiring plans for Crossrail2, to be completed 2030. Remember when Glasgow was going to have a Crossrail too? Why isn’t Scotland’s largest city worth this level of investment? And why doesn't SPT have an ambitious long-term plan? http://www.crossrail2.co.uk Fewer cars mean less congestion, more space, and cleaner air above ground for cyclists, pedestrians and remaining motorists. Glasgow has the lowest level of car ownership in Scotland, and some of the worst levels of air pollution. Many people have no choice but to drive due to poor public transport provisions. An extended Subway network would provide a lifeline to isolated communities, improve everyone's overall mobility, and reduce reliance on cars and the problem of scarcity of parking spaces. In 2007, SPT produced a report that showed huge support for a Subway extension, and said they were “ in tune with the needs of the public”. “...we want what you want. This city needs a world-class Subway system. That’s what our passengers deserve. I realise an extension won’t come cheap and we still have lots of hurdles to overcome but, in my view, what the public wants, the public should get. This is a ringing endorsement from the people who would use the extended Subway.” Councillor Alistair Watson, SPT http://www.spt.co.uk/corporate/2007/03/survey-shows-spt-in-tune-with-the-public Since then, recent modernisation has only made cosmetic and technological improvements. Glasgow doesn’t need a novelty train - it needs an underground system fit to carry a growing 21st century population in a 21st century city! Don’t just take our word for it: “We need to face the facts that the current system is fraying at the edges. The Subway has served Glasgow well for over a hundred years but we now need to invest further in the city’s infrastructure. These proposals contain bold visions. They would give Glasgow a 21st century transport system for a 21st century city. What we now need to do is work out how we can make that happen.” Ron Culley, Chief Executive of SPT (2006 - 2010) http://www.spt.co.uk/corporate/2007/03/survey-shows-spt-in-tune-with-the-public “It is tragic that there has been absolutely no progress over the past decade in moving people from cars on to public transport. As the new strategy sets out, the past decade has seen a 2% increase in traffic levels, while public transport use has declined by 6%.” Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland http://transformscotland.org.uk/blog/2016/01/21/lack-of-progress-on-key-trends-shows-wasted-decade-on-scottish-transport-policy Let’s show SPT we haven’t forgotten their promise of an extended Subway system! If ‘People Make Glasgow’, then SPT and the government have to put their money where their mouth is! Sign the petition to extend Glasgow’s Subway and demand a comprehensive underground system fit to serve not just the few, but all the people of Glasgow! ___________________________________________ Follow the campaign: Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/glasgowtube Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/glasgowtube
    7,940 of 8,000 Signatures
    Created by Get Glasgow Moving Picture
  • Safer Speed Limits on Lovedean Lane in Hampshire
    There are a number of entrances along this stretch of road and the it is used by horse riders, including children on ponies, cyclists and farm vehicles all limited as to speed. A number of locals have expressed their concern as to the speed of many cars along this stretch who may be unaware of the hazards often present in this area. The purpose of this petition is to show support for the proposal already posted on Hampshire County Council's Public Notices site to restrict the speed limit. UPDATE: The petition and the Pony Mad Hackers backing the campaign and the council proposals appeared in the Clanfield Post! http://www.clanfieldpost.co.uk/article.cfm?id=104746&headline=Catherington%20riders%20back%20bid%20to%20reduce%20speed%20limit%20on%20Lovedean%20Lane§ionIs=news&searchyear=2016 We're very grateful to Paul Ferguson of the Petersfield Post for taking the time to come down and visit, then write an article about our campaign. (Image courtesy of the generosity of those who release their work to the public domain via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_Kingdom_40mph_speed_limit_sign.jpg)
    131 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Sarah Hughes
  • Keep Eghosa and Omolegho in the UK
    The Uwagboe’s asylum has just been refused and the family have been presented with tickets to return to Nigeria on 28th March 2016. It is imperative for the safety of the mother and child that this is prevented. Omolegho Uwagboe fled Nigeria in 2001 after her community attempted to cut her. After marrying, Omolegho, at three months pregnant, recalls that ‘six women forced her down in an attempt to cut her’. She managed to escape and hide in Lagos, ‘run and hide, run and hide, until my husband found the money to rescue me and bring me to the UK’. Omolegho escaped to the sanctuary of Britain where she has now lived for 15 years. Although she reached the safety of this country, the scars of her escape remain visible on her face and deep in her heart as she lost her unborn child. In 2006, Omolegho had her beautiful daughter, Eghosa. Eghosa was born here in the UK and has never been to Nigeria. Eghosa’s primary school teacher says she is an enthusiastic, passionate girl who is a key member of her class and school community. If returned to Nigeria 9 year old Eghosa, and probably Omolegho, face FGM and the risk of death. David Cameron’s Conservative government have championed, funded and supported anti-FGM initiatives across the country. This is their moment to stand up and prove they will protect the 3 million girls a year that are mutilated. It is essential Eghosa and her family remain in the UK for their safety and to show that Britain will be part of the movement to end FGM. For more information, see the Sunday Times article about the family here: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1680123.ece
    47,894 of 50,000 Signatures
    Created by Edanur Yazıcı
  • Forensic Audit of GBGB/BGRF Accounts
    It is our belief that hundreds of thousands of pounds has been squanded which could have been channeled down the line to those who own train and work in greyhound racing but most of all the greyhounds,the Greyhound Board Great Britan refuse to answer questions asked by stakeholders in the sport .an Audit of GBGB/BGRF Accounts would answer a lot of questions we the stakeholders are members of the club GBGB why would we not be answered the questions asked?
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    Created by Philip Taylor Picture
  • Let's get heart conditions reconised as a disability
    My daughter suffers from wpw syndrome which affects our life massively There are times we can't work as we are in hospital do much we now call our hospital home. But not only are we suffering how many people are also affected by heart problems who ain't able to work an not getting the benefits they rightly deserve . Let's make this petition huge so this government listen and reconise all these heart conditions that are a disability . Please share share share an make them listen to us .
    130 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Mark Eade
  • Move DLA LIFETIME AWARDS recipients straight over to PIP
    People awarded this lifetime status have ALREADY Proved to the government that their illness or disability WILL NOT get better or people will NOT Grow limbs back for the entirety of that person's life. The Government have ALREADY accepted and agree that these people are the most vulnerable BY AWARDING lifetime status when DlA was applied for. I personally have friends that were awarded DLA for life but when summoned for assessment for PIP they have had the ENTIRE award taken away from them... Ask yourself this: How can the government NOW decide AFTER their doctors and specialists have examined and assessed the person that they are no longer in need? THESE ARE Doctors and Specialist THAT THE GOVERNMENT pay for their services so are the Government now saying they have NO TRUST in the people THEY employ??
    22,276 of 25,000 Signatures
    Created by debbilyn LOW
  • Renationalise home care services
    My Nan has dementia and multiple disabilities and while we provide a lot of support, we like most other people in our situation have care agency staff coming in to assist with personal care. In the last 3 1/2 years, my nan has now had at least 147 different carers providing her with care, and that's just the carers whose names we can remember. The current system is broken, can you imagine the indignity and violation of that many people washing you or helping you to the toilet, the sheer lack of respect for a persons privacy and the sanctity of their homes. But this is what is happening to our elderly loved ones, this is the so called 'care system' they are forced not only to endure, but to pay for. Would you like that to happen to your parents or grandparents. It is causing so much unnecessary stress and anxiety to some of the most vulnerable in our society. The care workers don't like it any more than the service users. No one should have to suffer that form of abuse as make no mistake thats what it is.
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    Created by Sarah Carroll
  • Liam Fox please resign as Patron of Mencap North Somerset
    Mencap opposes the Employment and Support Allowance cuts. It is not acceptable for an MP who promotes himself as patron of North Somerset branch of Mencap to vote in favour of cutting the incomes of the people that Mencap represents. https://www.mencap.org.uk/news/article/house-commons-vote-favour-esa-wrag-cuts-mencap-response Part 2 of the Capability for Work questionnaire specifically covers activities that the people who Mencap supports will be finding difficult. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/421191/esa-50-capability-for-work-questionnaire.pdf
    1,971 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Steve Timmins