Alan Bates, the former sub-postmaster who led the campaign for justice in the Post Office Horizon scandal was offered an “offensive and cruel” amount of compensation, a sixth of what he’s requested. So, he plans to reject it. Bates' campaigning inspired the recent “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” TV drama which told the story of sub-postmasters and postmistresses who were wrongly prosecuted due to faulty accounting software. He is one of thousands eligible for compensation from the Government. The Government, along with Fujitsu who created the Horizon software, will be hoping that public anger will have died down for this campaign. But, their latest act shows that we need to carry on the fight to help these innocent people get justice and compensation.

No taxation without representation! Do you believe the forecasts from Somerset Council of a £100m budget shortfall when their numbers have not been independently audited and verified? Valued public services with modest budgets like toilets, CCTV and recycling centres are to be cut, when internal efficiency savings have yet to be made, whilst financial management and budget forecasting in this new Somerset super council does not command public confidence. It is time that these budget forecasts and tax rise proposals are put to the public in a referendum. In good conscience, how could anyone vote for the current cuts, whilst so many questions as to how this new super council got into this parlous state “out of the blue”, remain unanswered?

In the last financial year car park charges brought in a staggering £1.161m for SKDC. Despite Stamford only representing 14% of the district's population, the charges for parking in Stamford make up 72% of this figure, over £800,000. Meanwhile parking remains free in Bourne and Deeping. Visitors to Grantham can also park for free for 1 or 2 hours in Grantham's council run car parks. Stamford is therefore subsidising free parking across the rest of the district. Currently visitors to Stamford can park for free from 6 pm to 8 am and all day on Sundays and Bank Holidays. SKDC plan to introduce overnight, Sunday and Bank Holiday charges across Stamford car parks in April 2024. This is unfair and will impact district-run services such as Stamford Arts Centre, whose visitors use Wharf Road car park for free when attending evening classes, rehearsals and performances. This will have an impact on several of the churches in Stamford, many of whose parishioners drive into Stamford to attend services. This will also impact the restaurants and bars in Stamford. It will also add to the parking problems faced by residents of Stamford who rely on limited on-street parking. Please sign if you care about supporting the residents, businesses, churches and visitors to Stamford.

preserve our heritage and stop the destruction of this beautiful building

It affects the whole Nation especially elderly vulnerable people, family pets and people/servicemen with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

It’s our town we should be proud of Yeovil and we the people of Yeovil should do something about it we pay enough in council tax and yes I know most of the money goes to central government 😡

In response to the suspension of UNRWA funding, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, stated: “It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation. The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the highest investigative authority in the UN system, has already been seized of this very serious matter. “UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over 2 million people depending on it for their sheer survival.  Many are hungry as the clock is ticking towards a looming famine. The Agency runs shelters for over 1 million people and provides food and primary healthcare even at the height of the hostilities. “In its ruling yesterday, the International Court of Justice ordered that “Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”. These measures are aimed at preventing irreparable damage to the rights of Palestinians. “The only way that this can be done is through cooperation with international partners, especially UNRWA as the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza. Some 3,000 core staff out of 13,000 in Gaza continue to report to work, giving their communities a lifeline which can collapse anytime now due to lack of funding.” “I urge countries who have suspended their funding to re-consider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response. The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability". (1) The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, also responded by stating: “The United Nations is taking swift action following the extremely serious allegations against several UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff members. An investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was immediately activated. “Of the 12 people implicated, nine were immediately identified and terminated by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; one is confirmed dead, and the identity of the two others is being clarified. “Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation. “Meanwhile, 2 million civilians in Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA for daily survival but UNRWA’s current funding will not allow it to meet all requirements to support them in February. While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations. “The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences. But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met.” (2)   Notes: (1) Statement from Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General, 27th January 2024: https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa%E2%80%99s-lifesaving-aid-may-end-due-funding-suspension (2) Statement from Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, 28th January 2024: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-01-28/statement-the-secretary-general-unrwa Further Information: UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on. UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are See also the ICRC website on the Fourth Geneva Convention: https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949?activeTab=undefined

We should not confirm such agreements when they have a 'rat's tail' of disadvantages in the medium and long term. We already trade successfully with these countries without the apparent problems that this agreement will throw up. Is it just a piece of window dressing from a bunch of brexit-tears?

Palestinians are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

This petition is a pivotal step in addressing the deeply ingrained issues of racial profiling and the excessive use of force by the Metropolitan Police against Black children. It transcends the mere acknowledgement of systemic injustices; it is about protecting our community's future and ensuring equitable treatment for all children, irrespective of race. Your engagement in this initiative is essential. Together, we have the opportunity to strengthen our collective voice, advocating for transparency, accountability, and crucial reforms in police conduct. This movement is about forging a just and fair society, one where the rights and safety of all children are a priority. Moreover, this petition is critical in preventing the potential for civil unrest. The disproportionate targeting and mistreatment of black children by law enforcement not only erodes the fabric of our society but also risks sparking widespread discontent and disturbances. By standing united in this cause, we aim to achieve more than policy change; we strive to avert the societal strife that stems from such profound injustice. Joining this campaign is a step towards creating a city where the broken trust is rebuilt between the police and the communities they serve, and every child is valued and respected.

This is very important for people who do use catheters that the correct bins are supplied, and that the waste does not cause any infection control issues.

I have personally witnessed the devastating effects of online scams. Vulnerable people are often conned into spending hundreds of pounds. This not only results in financial loss, it undermines their confidence, damages their friendships and discourages them from using technology (potentially making them more isolated).