Against poverty, against the virus: social support
At last, Labour has begun to speak out against the Tories on the pandemic, though only to demand free school meals in school holidays and to back the scientists’ idea of a new brief “circuit-breaker” lockdown. On 21 October the Labour left began, mildly also, to speak out against the leadership on the issue. An appeal coordinated by the big trade union Unite demanded: • an extension of the job retention scheme with 80% wage support • action to support incomes • helping people to self-isolate by increasing the level for statutory sick pay and enabling all to claim it, and • equipping our public...