News
Controversial new social care bill ‘deepens north-south divide’ in the UK
As property costs in Manchester lie below the national average, the new reforms mean that pensioners in the region will lose out disproportionately.
On Monday night the Conservatives passed a controversial Health and Social Care Bill in the Commons, bringing in huge changes to social care and how the NHS is run in the UK.
A large rebellion in the Tory party meant the bill only passed with a majority of 26, well below the government’s 80-seat majority, with a large number of newly elected ‘red wall’ MPs in the north choosing to either vote against the bill or abstain entirely.
The bill has been widely criticised on both sides of the political spectrum for its changes to social care, which include a new controversial cap on lifetime care costs that disproportionately benefit wealthier pensioners and homeowners in the south.
Critics of the bill include cap architect economist Sir Andrew Dilnot, who first came up with the idea. Earlier this month, the economist told Sky News that the cap would ‘hit the poorest hardest’ and create a north-south divide in England.
This is in part because the £86,000 cap only takes into account an individuals’ personal contribution, and disqualifies any benefits payments from local authorities. The economist also said that ‘lower value houses’ in the north would create a divide.
As property costs in Manchester lie below the national average, the new reforms mean that pensioners in the region will lose out disproportionately.
Pensioners with assets of £186,000 upwards will be able to ensure their family inherit the majority of their property, whilst those with £106,000 or less will lose out significantly – both compared to the current system and the one that was initially proposed in September.
Previously, the Prime Minister had promised that no one would have to sell their home to pay for care.
Read more: Ambitious plans to transform notorious Manchester back street that ‘stinks of wee’
Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative MP for North Yorkshire constituency Thirsk and Malton, told MPs: “There is no doubt that the way the cap works for those with more modest assets is less generous. How can that be fair?”
Labour Health spokesperson Justin Madders, meanwhile, called the bill a ‘betrayal’, telling the Commons that ‘thousands of people in each constituency, mainly in the Midlands and the north of England, […] will be forced to sell their homes whilst those in the more affluent areas of the country will get to keep theirs.”
“That’s not fairness. That’s not fixing social care. That is a betrayal.”
The Prime Minister has previously denied that the bill disadvantages those in the north, claiming that it is a “massive improvement for everybody in the whole country” as it puts an end to people paying unlimited quantities for care.
Feature image – Parliament TV
News
Police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty sacked
Daisy Jackson
A ‘morally reprehensible’ police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty has been sacked and barred from service.
GMP held an accelerated misconduct hearing with PC Dean Dempster, 35, and he has been dismissed without notice.
The disgraced officer admitted ‘sexually touching’ the six-year-old child in December 2023 and is set to be sentenced at a later date.
He was a response officer in Oldham at the time that the offence was reported, and was arrested by a supervisor when he returned to work the next day.
A senior officer has now said that Dempster ‘has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public’.
Another said it was ‘among the most distressing cases ever presented’ and a ‘despicable betrayal’ of police duties.
Dempster was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl while responding to an incident on 29 December 2023.
He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court in February and remained suspended since being charged at the end of last year.
Presiding over today’s hearing, CC Watson found PC Dempster’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct, saying: “This sexual assault occurred whilst the officer was on duty and where the victim was totally trusting and reliant on him performing his duties professionally, compassionately and with her welfare uppermost in his thoughts.
“It is this most egregious breach of trust of an innocent young child that is most upsetting aspect of this case and something that clearly amounts to an aggravating factor.
“I consider this case to be among the most distressing ever presented to me such is the despicable betrayal of all that is inherent in being a decent police officer.
“I have no hesitation whatsoever in dismissing PC Dempster from the service with immediate effect.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Dean Dempster is not a police officer, he’s a child sex offender who has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public.
“We have no time for people like Dempster who should not be in GMP and does not represent us.
“This is why we’re increasingly using accelerated misconduct hearings to root out and boot out officers who are unfit to serve in our uniform, and this work will continue while ever they remain.”
Dempster has been added to the College of Policing Barred List by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who described Dempster’s actions as ‘morally reprehensible’.
GMP used accelerated proceedings as part of its pledge to ‘root and boot’ officers unfit to serve the public.
The force is now writing to the Deputy Mayor of GM to appeal for Dempster to lose his right to a police pension.
Read more
Featured image: GMP
News
Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.
One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.
The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.
With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.
Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.
Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.
Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.
In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
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The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.
Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.
Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:
- Monday 13 May
- Monday 20 May
- Monday 3 June
- Monday 10 June
Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.
#ItsOkayToTalk
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Andy’s Man Club