Another assisted dying inquiry
Despite MPs having voted overwhelmingly to reject measures to legalise assisted dying in 2015, and in 2021, due to mass opposition from fellow Peers, activists are again pushing for the law to allow doctors to ‘help’ terminally ill patients end their lives. Ahead of the pending debate, MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee in Parliament are now conducting an inquiry, asking for the views of the general public into assisted dying/assisted suicide, to help shape their recommendations to Government, regardless of what, up to now, has been a clear and settled opposition to any such proposal. This debate will not go away until activists get what they want. Like water dripping relentlessly on a stone, after each defeat the campaigners return, with the same demands. The Bible says life is the gift of God for man made in His own image.
February 1 mass strikes will cause economic self-harm
Train drivers, teachers, lecturers and civil servants will walk out on the same day and a senior minister urged them to reconsider the industrial action and think about the impact it will have on working people across the country and on the economy saying. We know times are difficult. What we don’t want to see is the economy damaged by self-harm strike action that makes it harder to get to work, cross the border and of course to get access to crucial public services.’ The walkouts take place amid union bosses' anger over anti-strike laws making their way through Parliament that would curb the impact of walkouts by requiring minimum service levels. The RCN said, ‘We have extended an olive branch, actually the whole tree, to government to meet us halfway, so now come on.’ The education secretary will talk to teachers about money but stopped short of promising to review pay. see also
Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon and gender identity reforms
Nicola Sturgeon plans to take legal action after Rishi Sunak blocked her controversial gender reforms allowing 16 year olds to change their legal gender without the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has written to the First Minister declaring he will veto the Bill, warning of ‘significant complications’ if Scotland and England have different legal frameworks for gender recognition, potentially allowing someone to be male in one country and female in the other. He intends making an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act to prevent the Bill from proceeding to Royal Assent. Ms Sturgeon accused Westminster of a ‘full-frontal attack’ on the Scottish Parliament and its ability to make its own decisions on devolved matters. The Christian Institute and Scottish Catholic bishops have both called for the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill to be scrapped.
Unemployment and Recruitment in Job market
Microsoft will cut 10,000 jobs in the latest round of staff redundancies to hit the tech industry. It will affect 5% of its global workforce and cost £972m in severance and reorganisation costs. Microsoft is the latest, but it won't be the last, as the giants seek to tighten their belts following the boom time of the pandemic, when lockdowns meant people were stuck at home, wanting to spend their cash on digital entertainment and devices. Amazon plans to cut over 18,000 jobs, the largest number in the firm's history, as it battles to save costs. The online giant employs 1.5 million people globally and said the job cuts would include Europe. Meanwhile M&S will create 3,400 jobs as it opens new shops. AJ Bell’s investment director said it felt significant that M&S had revealed its investment figure at a time when the retail environment is not buoyant. see
