What the papers said in the week ending 6 November 2021
The COP_26 conference on Glasgow has claimed headlines and provided soundbites from world leaders expressing awareness of threats to the environment from established human lifestyles and pledging changes to make us safer: Monday briefing: ‘One minute to midnight’ | | The Guardian
- We’re in uncharted territory for the world’s climate, UN says | Climate crisis | The Guardian
- For many this has seemed to be paper-talk without sincere determination to make changes which will be unpopular with many: Greta Thunberg slams COP26 as ′greenwashing′ failure | News | DW | 05.11.2021
- The Archbishop of Canterbury was so moved by this evasiveness that his analogies strayed beyond acceptability: Justin Welby apologises for likening climate threat to Nazis | Justin Welby | The Guardian
- This leaves us concerned for the future of the planet, and for our children and future generations
Headlines in the UK have followed the behaviour of government in seeking to protect a former cabinet minister from the consequences of his actions which had been found to transgress rules. It was a relief to find that justice would be respected: Tories engulfed in sleaze crisis after U-turn and Owen Paterson resignation | Owen Paterson | The Guardian
There was further good news as The House of Lords rejected the plan to freeze the Triple Lock on pensions House of Lords votes for changes to pension triple lock freeze – BBC News
But fairness and equal dealing is notably absent in other aspects of our national life:
- Our young people have been deprived of youth services by cuts which began in ‘austerity’ and continued by Covid-19. It is those area which are most in need which are worst provided: Twice as many youth services in England’s richest areas – survey | Young people | The Guardian
- Such inequality predicts excess deaths within the families in the poorest circumstances: Thousands of adverse birth outcomes in England down to ‘alarming’ inequality | Pregnancy | The Guardian
- Schools lack investment in libraries: ‘Chronic’ lack of investment in UK primary school libraries revealed | Libraries | The Guardian
It is hard to believe that, despite continuing high profile awareness of bad practice and the failure to resolve the Windrush wrong by appropriate payments, The Home Office quietly prepares to transport people to Jamaica: Jamaican diplomat criticises Home Office over deportation flight | Home Office | The Guardian
Covid-19
The pandemic is still with us. It has claimed many lives, more will follow and there are many related adverse consequences. Global Covid-19 death toll passes 5m | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Europe once again at centre of Covid pandemic, says WHO | World Health Organization | The Guardian
- England Covid infection rates doubled in over-65s between September and October | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Health care in the UK seems to have become chaotic and unable to make best use of the resources which are available: Woman has four-year wait to see Northern Ireland neurologist | Health | The Guardian
- Science is teaching us more about vulnerability to the worst individual consequences of infection: Gene common in south Asian people doubles risk of Covid death, study finds | Genetics | The Guardian
This underlines the need for prudent Public Health preventative measures to be adopted and not given up too early
Pensions:
We are pleased that The House of Lords has protected the Triple Lock, at least for now. Pensions for British retirees living abroad are less protected and exposed to inflationary changes: Frozen pensions: Britons living overseas hit by soaring inflation | State pensions | The Guardian
Pressures of working life are such that early retirement is recommended as the healthy option: When retiring ‘early’ is the best medicine | GPs | The Guardian
David Jolley
