cuts - Wednesday's Spending Review

[mrsbaldwin]

Brace yourself ladies - these cuts are big, there will be tens of thousands of public sector redundancies and it's said (by the Fawcett Society amongst others) that they will disproportionately affect women.

Some workers will get some sort of payoff, and some will be pleased to go. Some will find new jobs.

But I reckon the overall effect (licks finger and holds it in the wind) will be to drive down women's wages, meaning that once you are made redundant from your public sector post you may find more work but it will be at a lower rate and the extra competition for jobs across the board will drive wages down across the board. This may be true for men as well but I think it will affect women - mums - more.

If you are watching the press coverage on Weds, what do you think the effects of the cuts and the job losses for women (and mums) will be?

shiny.. - 24hrs per couple

uyter. Correct me if I am wrong but we are at war.

The reason for mentioning it is that it costs money to be at war

so what would there idea of a low income be?
Are they going to cap benefits at 17k? Or do they see 21k as low?

Will the be including housing benefit/tax credits/CB/council tax benefit into that figure?

Why did he give us no numbers?

But then its going to make no difference, why work when you will be given a 'low income' for sitting on your arse?

I thought he was going to do something proactive to stop the work shy

My god I'm embarrassed that even at this serious time, MPs can still find in themselves to behave like guests at a chimps' tea party Shameful.

I don't disagree with you but I think he was referring to the WWs

Sorry, thanks Adora but what exactly do you mean by 80% of market value? Is that how much HB they will pay?

I'd appreciate it if anyone knows, am a bit slow on this stuff...need to know if we'll still be able to afford the flat!

The getting rid of ring fencing budget for schools might be good - although I fear the pupil premium won't go to enhancing the education of the children who bring the money, rather focused on making the GCSE stats look better.

Suretstart protected in cash terms not sure if that means closing some and using the money to improve others.. Haven't a clue and not sure if he has either

I thought he said the cap on benefits was going to be linked to the average wage, but could be wrong.

Thanks caramelwaffle. That means that we will be slightly less f#cked than I thought(!) We both work p/t with a joint income of under £30k. WTC means that my son can go to nursery 3 times a week whilst we work.

oh and for the record, September was our worse month for Public Sector Borrowing on record (i.e. worse than it ever was under labour!)

Frrright we will have to pay 80% of market vaule of the house in rent.

Frrrrrightattendent - you will have to pay 80% of market rate (for your rent)

and the working poor receive benefits - often more than they got while on benefits once WTC and childcare is taken into account, are they going to be capped too??

Frrrright - they will make up some figure that is apparently the market value of a rental property - and you will be responsible for 80% of that

god I do like Alan Johnstone

Sure start is going back to basics. What we need to bear in mind is that many las put much more money into early years than they receive from central government. So even if the central fusing is maintained there will still be cuts.

At the moment all central early years funding is broadly ring fenced. That will end and a council could chose ton use the money for old golf
Ks homes or swimming pools.

I don't understand what he said about ema? whats it being replaced with?

agree mozette, wonder why he didn't stand for labour leader?

Old folks homes- not old golf homes

thanks pompa - even if it's closing some and putting more money in others I could be ok in "job" terms - we're in an mostly "deprived" town so I think ours will be safe. And indeed neighbour towns are also deprived areas too.

Worried about the impact of childcare element down to 70% and how the cap will impact my benefits once (if) I find I work.

sorry hit post to soon if you are an exising tenant then you will not be affected, we will be as we are not existing tenants

Johnston looks a damn sight more confident than GO.

LOL at speaker "calm down"

radio 4 talking about welfare now

I think he makes an excellent Shadow Chancellor - he comes from a working class background and knows what it is like not to have a silver spoon