Roger supports decision by Co-operative stores to remove lads’ mags from sale

Roger has welcomed the decision by the Co-operative chain of supermarkets to remove “lads’ mags” from sale in their stores after publishers refused to put them on sale in sealed bags. Roger feels that it is inappropriate for such sexualised images to be on the shelves in high-street stores where they can be seen by children. Roger says: “I support the Co-operative’s removal of magazines and newspapers which contain graphic images which objectify women, and I hope that other retailers will take a similar stand. Such content has no place being on display in supermarkets.” The decision by the Co-op will see the removal of magazines Front, Zoo and Nuts, as well as the removal of newspapers Midweek and Sunday Sport. Loaded will remain on sale, after its publishers agreed for it to go on sale in a bag.

Roger calls for Government action to protect workers on zero-hours contracts

Roger has signed two Early Day Motions calling on the Government to take action to prevent the exploitation of workers on zero-hours contracts. The motions call on the Government to protect workers’ rights and avoid a race to the bottom on pay and conditions, and encourage employers to invest in a stable, long-term workforce. Roger says: “I am concerned that the increase in zero-hours contracts is having a detrimental effect on working conditions, pushing pay downwards and increasing employment instability. I believe that employees are an asset which businesses should invest in, not just another expense to be cut to the bone to increase shareholder profit.” Roger is worried that long-term, stable jobs are being replaced by zero-hours contracts, with pressure on employees to do the same work in return for poorer pay and less security. Early Day Motion 461 expresses support for workers at Hovis (Premier Foods) in Wigan, who rejected the employment of agency labour on zero-hours contracts after permanent employees were made redundant. Roger believes that this decision by Hovis sets a damaging precedent for the treatment of employees, undermines hard-won pay and conditions, and could lead to the creation of a two-tier workforce. Roger says: “At times when the economy is running below capacity and unemployment is high, it is particularly important to protect workers’ rights and prevent exploitation. My constituents who are on zero-hours contracts have contacted me to tell me that they feel that they have no rights. One told me that he has never been treated as badly as he was on a zero-hours contract, but felt that he had no choice but to accept this treatment as otherwise he would not be offered any more work. This is an exploitative and unacceptable situation for hard-working people to be forced into, and I urge the Government to take action to prevent future abuses.”

Roger opposes military intervention in Syria

Roger Godsiff MP has spoken out against military intervention in Syria. Speaking from the House of Commons today, Roger said: “I am opposed to Britain participating in military action against Syria, and I will be voting against it at the Parliamentary debate tomorrow. I am concerned that strikes against Syria will only cause the conflict to escalate, possibly to the wider region, and yet more lives will be lost.” Roger continued: “I welcome the opportunity to debate the issue and put it to a vote. However, I am concerned that the decision to involve the UK in military action in Syria has already been made by the Government, and MPs will be faced with a done deal tomorrow. I do not understand why the UK Parliament is voting on whether to support military intervention in Syria before the UN weapons inspectors have finished their site visits and analysis. The inspectors were given four days to complete this work, and the debate and vote tomorrow will take place on the third day. Why are MPs being asked to vote before all the necessary facts are in?” Roger compared the rush to take military action against Syria to the run-up to the Iraq war, which lead to hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties. He said: “There is now talk about missile strikes beginning before the end of this week. Have we learned nothing from the Iraq war, when the UK rushed into military action without waiting for a UN mandate? If the UK is to take any action it must follow the proper steps before doing so, and wait for a mandate from the UN Security Council.” UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has called for more time to be allowed for peaceful and diplomatic methods, while the Arab League has opposed retaliatory strikes on Syria. There have already been reports of an increased flow of refugees leaving Syria, while Israel has started calling up reserve troops. Roger is concerned that missile strikes will worsen the humanitarian crisis in Syria and threaten regional stability, and will fail to prevent further atrocities being committed against the people of Syria. Roger said: “The priority must be to prevent further loss of life and protect the human rights of the people of Syria. I do not believe that the best way to do this is to launch missile attacks against a population which is already suffering the casualties and horrors of war.”

Roger backs the ‘baby boomer generation’ to get the economy moving

Speaking to a group of retired people in his constituency today Roger Godsiff paid tribute to the contribution that over 50s were making to the UK economy. In particular he praised the over 50s, the ‘baby boomer generation’, for the contribution that they have made since the financial crises took hold in 2007 and the fact that the spending power of the 50s now account for almost half of UK household income and expenditure. Without this the UK economy would most certainly be in recession. “While the over 50s have, like everybody else, been hit by the financial crisis, their role in the economy is growing with them accounting for almost half of all UK household income and expenditure in 2012. Without the ‘silver pound’ spending power of the over 50s, which accounts for over half of UK household expenditure on food, health and recreation and culture the economy would, most definitely, be back in recession so we should recognise the massive contribution that this group are making to keep the economy afloat during this extremely difficult time.”

HS2 is a vital part of the infrastructure overhaul says Minister for Transport

According to a recent statement by Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport: “HS2 is a vital part of the infrastructure overhaul that this government is delivering so that our country can compete in the global race.” I say most other people would appreciate trains that run on time, railfares that don’t keep on rising and somewhere to sit down.

Food Poverty - We are sleep walking back to Dickensian times says Roger

Roger has tabled an Early Day Motion 223 today which draws attention to the growing pressure on the nations already over stretched food banks. Early day motion 223 FOOD BANKS AND FOOD POVERTY Primary sponsor: Godsiff, Roger Sponsors: Durkan, Mark That this House views with the gravest concern the recent report by the Trussell Trust, the biggest provider of food banks in the UK, that more than 350,000 people turned to their food banks for help in 2012-13, almost triple the number who received food aid in the previous year and 100,000 more than anticipated; believes that estimates put the true figure of those receiving food aid in 2012 at nearer 500,000 when other independent food banks, churches, charities and community groups are taken into account; understands that to meet the sustained demand for emergency food supplies, the Trust itself launched almost 150 new food banks in the last year and is currently approving three new food banks a week; notes that the Trust's own research suggests that, nationally, 45 per cent of all referrals are as a result of benefits problems which include benefit delay (30 per cent) and benefit changes (15 per cent); further notes that a significant causal factor is most likely to be the rising tide of the draconian regime of benefit sanctions leading to destitution, hardship and hunger on a large scale; further believes that this level of food poverty, which shows every sign of growing as further changes to the benefits system take effect, is wholly detrimental to the social fabric of the UK, further marginalising, as it does, the poor, the unemployed and already socially disadvantaged and is incompatible with the functioning of a modern, compassionate society; and calls on both the Government and the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee to conduct an urgent inquiry into the relationship between benefit delay, error or sanctions, welfare reform changes and the growth of food poverty. Roger believes that a significant causal factor is likely to be the rising tide of draconian benefit sanctions although at the present time there is only anecdotal evidence to support this and rising levels of complaints from constituents. He commented: “There is every indication that levels of food poverty show every sign of growing as further changes to the benefits system take effect. Such developments, I believe, are wholly detrimental to the social fabric of the UK, further marginalising the poor, the unemployed and already socially disadvantaged and are incompatible with the functioning of a modern, compassionate society. I have called on the government to launch an urgent enquiry into causes of food poverty, particularly in respect of the administrative failure of the Dept of Work & Pensions (DWP) to deliver benefits effectively and its widespread use of punitive benefit sanctions. The DWP is never backward in reminding us all repeatedly how much money it is managing to save the UK taxpayer but wouldn’t it be nice if it actually got the money that people are entitled to distributed before they had to visit their local food bank.

Roger Godsiff Condemns HMRC Rip-Off on Premium Rate Phone Lines

Birmingham MP, Roger Godsiff, has written to the new CEO of HMRC, Lin Homer, complaining about the use of premium rate phone times and length of wait times for calls to be answered. Roger Godsiff said: “I am receiving an increasing number of complaints from constituents who have tax problems and who either have to wait ages on vastly expensive phone lines or who don’t get through at all. With pressure on family budgets from all directions it is unacceptable that individuals should be hit by large phone bills when all they are trying to do is sort out their tax problems. I would also add that many of the problems that people face are caused by HMRC themselves and massive reductions in staffing levels. He continued: “I have asked Lin Homer a number of questions but principally I would like to know how much money HMRC are making out of their current phone tariff and how long people are kept waiting. HMRC are not backward in coming forward to trumpet their success in increasing tax revenues, I am not alone in believing that this shouldn’t be on the back of a lousy and expensive phone service, people deserve better.”