Defending public services

Country Reports

Spain

From 2007, the socialist government introduced equality legislation and a framework to demand action against sexism and harassment. But since then, the situation has been worsened by economic crisis, with equalities driven off the agenda, curbs on collective bargaining, crèches closed, and equality plans dropped.

Have a read of this: another scandal from City Hall. And here's a sonnet to (not) celebrate ...

I'm writing this verse on the toilet
A priv'lege that cost me the Earth
Forty p for to pee is an outrage
I'm determined to use all it's worth

I'll sit on the throne til my train comes
It's a platform, and I'm in no rush
They are piping departure announcements
Through a speaker that's next to the flush

Four quatrains inspired by The People vs PFI conference on 1 November 2014:

I

PPP is Public-Private
Partnership - but how?
The same way steak's a partnership
Of a butcher and a cow.

II

PFI is Private Finance
Initiative, but still there's
One more thing that it stands for:
Profiting From Illness

III

On 20 May 2014, I spoke at a meeting entitled 'Is It Time To Re-Nationalise UK PLC?' organised by Sussex Labour Representation Committee for the Brighton Fringe / PCS conference. The other speakers werre John McDonnell MP, Maria Exall and Andrew Fisher.

In February 2013, homeless man Daniel Gauntlett died of hypothermia on the doorstep of an empty bungalow in Aylesford, Kent.

Homeless man dies frozen on steps of empty bungalow
Man named Daniel Gauntlett
Headline of Kent local paper
Just words
But real death, real tragedy, real outrage