• Keep NHS public not private
    This is so important because many of those most in need of a National Health Service are the poor and long term chronically sick. These people cannot afford or get private health care. Without the NHS, we will be like America with 40% not having any health care cover. Once lost the NHS will NEVER be recovered, so act now to keep it. The NHS is the most cost effective & efficient health care system in the world, despite what the politicians keep saying about it. Love your NHS & fight to save it, it's the best thing Britain ever created and it's worth fighting for. The rest of the world knows it, we know it, the government knows it - so tell them to keep their grubby hands off!
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    Created by susan robinson
  • Keep the NHS Free at Point-of-Access
    In the House of Lords, a chamber of unelected representatives, the Government has proposed, through an unelected representative, that it is time to re-examine the NHS, and decide how best to make citizens pay at point of use, whether through compulsory insurance, or through additional taxes. https://opendemocracy.net/ournhs/richard-grimes/government-moves-to-consider-nhs-user-charges We already pay an additional tax to fund the NHS - it is called National Insurance. To propose we need additional taxation, or that we need to pay for services as we use them, not only disregards the fact that citizens already pay, but will be the beginning of a two-tier NHS, where only those who can afford to pay can be treated. As it is, the National Health Service is the envy of much of the world. We need to keep it that way.
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    Created by Ted Brandt
  • Keep NHS free for all.
    Lord Prior, has just suggested to parliament that he plans to launch an inquiry to consider whether we should move away from a tax-funded NHS towards one funded by insurance and co-payments. This is an attack on the core principles of the NHS that have been in place since 1946.
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    Created by Phil Harrison
  • Deny the planned puppy farm for animal testing
    Animal testing should not be a part of this day in age given the level of technology we have. Nor should we be breeding animals for another countries animal testing.
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    Created by clare Borg
  • Keep the BBC independent
    The BBC is meant to be an independent organisation run by trustees. It's unacceptable that the government can just walk in and confiscate several millions of licence payers money to fund an aspect of its social policy.
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    Created by Philip Bolt
  • Stop George Osbourne scrapping housing benefit for under 21's
    In the UK we already have an epidemic of homelessness, if this policy is allowed to go through parliament the numbers of homeless people will increase drastically and child poverty will spiral out of control.
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    Created by Paul Duncan
  • COME CLEAN ON UNDERCOVER POLICING
    Everyone has the right to participate in the struggle for social and environmental justice, without fear of persecution, objectification, or interference in their lives. However, many campaigns and individuals have been targeted by Britain’s undercover police for decades, undermining efforts for social justice that should be welcomed in a democratic society. Citizens have been spied on, psychologically and emotionally manipulated, and abused by officers for being part of, or simply knowing people who were part of, such campaigns. We welcome the announcement of a full public inquiry into political undercover policing, but it must be truly transparent, robust and comprehensive. In particular the inquiry must: * Be willing to hear evidence from those affected by undercover policing including: - the women deceived into long-term intimate relationships by officers - the family justice campaigns for those bereaved at the hands of the police and those challenging the efficacy of police investigations in relation to the deaths or assaults of loved ones - the construction workers blacklisted with the help of undercover police - the families whose dead children’s identities were stolen by officers - all campaign groups spied on * Protect police whistleblowers from prosecution under the Official Secrets Act and encourage current and former officers to give evidence. * Cover all undercover police units from 1968 to the present day. * Ensure the police fully cooperate with the inquiry and do not obstruct its operation though the use of their ‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ stance. * Hold senior police officers past and present, especially former Met Commissioners and Special Branch Commanders, to account for any wrong doing attributed to the units under their command. * Investigate officers sharing or selling information and experience acquired through undercover policing to the private sector. * Make recommendations to change the law, especially the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000), to prevent these abuses from continuing.
    754 of 800 Signatures
    Created by Alison Davis
  • Make The Fox Hunting Ban In The UK Permanent
    It is important, because no Animal deserves to suffer and be hunted. Keeping the ban on fox hunting will save so many Foxes lives.
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    Created by Ruby Martin
  • Stop the Chancellor’s budget attack on small business and entrepreneurship
    SUMMER BUDGET - the Chancellors proposals and how they'll devastate your wealth Last week’s Budget was, in my view, deeply unhelpful to small business owners and contractor businesses in particular. For a Government that purports to be pro business and pro entrepreneurship the Chancellor has produced more disincentives to branching out on your own than any Government in the last 10 years! This Budget dealt not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE blows to the UK's smallest businesses. First, IR35 is ominously to be made 'more effective' These rules try and almost always fail to separate disguised employees from genuine businesses but in the meantime cause significant angst and disruption to people’s lives. The galling aspect of this announcement is the Government's wilful misinterpretation of the findings of two previous reviews by a House of Lords Select Committee and the Office of Tax Simplification. In both cases it was found that IR35 was unclear, ineffective and should be removed or replaced. The Government appears to have latched on to just the 'ineffective' bit and now wants to reinforce an outdated, outmoded and widely criticised system. Second, new restrictions on travel and subsistence expenses are to be imposed on one-person limited companies Independent Professionals travel the length and breadth of the country and abroad, visiting their clients' sites and providing much needed expertise. It's an expensive business and if those expenses aren't tax deductible, they won't be able to do it. It's as simple as that. This restriction could end up cutting off business opportunities for independent professionals and crucially it could cut off a vital resource supply for the clients. It's short-sighted, it's bad for businesses and it will put the UK's smallest businesses at a huge competitive disadvantage to large businesses. A consultant working on his own will no longer be able to take a contract with a client at the other end of the country, but PWC will. I believe that unless these rules are implemented very carefully they will have detrimental impact on the whole UK economy. Third, there is a significant tax rise on dividends This change will affect all company directors, not just independent professionals. The Government’s proposal is that the first £5,000 of dividends will be tax free but thereafter will be taxed at 7.5% within the basic rate tax band (0% now), 32.5% in the higher rate tax band (25% now) and 38.1% (30.56% now) in the highest rate band. Don’t forget dividends are paid out of taxed profits so have already suffered tax at the prevailing rate of Corporation Tax. Fourth, the Chancellor announced a rise in the level of Employment Allowance (i.e. the allowance against payment of Employers NI) from £2,000 to £3,000 Good news you’d think BUT, the allowance will no longer be available to employers where the director is the sole employee - i.e. Personal Service Companies Fifth, the chancellor has commissioned a Green Paper to remove tax relief on pension contributions Only a Green Paper so not to be legislated this year but potentially attacking the ability to make tax efficient company pension contributions. ACT NOW - Join The Campaign! It’s very easy just to shrug our shoulders and accept that these proposals are a fait accompli. The Budget proposals won’t become law until they receive Royal Assent probably in September/October 2015. We have an opportunity to make our voice heard and influence Parliament before the legislation is passed. Nigel Simmons FCCA IR35Accountant.com
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    Created by Nigel Simmons
  • Save Home-Start Support in Lincolnshire
    Home-Start provides a vital lifeline to vulnerable families in Lincolnshire through its unique team of home-visiting volunteers. Volunteers spend time with families each week to increase their confidence, reduce their isolation, empowering them to address the challenges they face. Lincolnshire County Council's complete withdrawal of funding and support for Home-Start services, at a preventative level before families fall into crisis, will lead to parents with no appropriate support and thousands of children left at risk of harm.
    1,049 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Tracey Ruddock
  • Bird flu jabs
    I know of someone who had to have the jab because she was working with children. She developed narcolepsy and depression ultimately taking her own life. Her sister gave an interview to The Guardian and name GlaxoSmithKline as the manufacturer. A GO is quoted as not understanding why the DWP won't agree to compensation. See article: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/13/woman-narcolepsy-swine-flu-jab-no-quality-life
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    Created by Kathryn Presneill
  • Working parents being punished by Tax Credits slash
    Many of us, having put our details into budget calculators, have been horrified to find we will be much worse off once this budget swings into action. Some of us, already struggling and on the poverty line (which has conveniently been moved by this Government) will really struggle after the cuts to tax credits for working people. The choice between heating & eating will become reality for some. For a lot of people, we work to provide a better existence for our children, and also to give them a positive role model. We are not work-shy benefit claimants, we had children and then continued to work. Giving free childcare to 2-3 year olds really doesn't help those of us with slightly older children, paying for childcare during school holidays so that we can continue working. Many services are ran by working parents. The majority of those who work in this country are parents, and the tax credits helps our family finances to be survivable. It seems so unfair that we are doing what the government wants - "Get Britain Working" - we are!! And we are also parents, who are eking out an existence with Tax Credits help, without that help there is literally no reason for us to work. Its unfair, its unjust, why punish us?? If ALL working parents chose a day next year, and ALL chose NOT to work that day, to stay home and be parents, for one day, imagine the effect that would have!! A big message, from ALL of us working parents, don't cut our tax credits. Please.
    138 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Eleanor Tristram