This week the Trades Union Congress (TUC) released its report on women’s position in the recession and the disproportionate affect public service cuts would have on women. The report highlights how heavy cuts to the public sector would result in an increase in female unemployment and that heavy cuts to public sector pensions would also affect women the worst.

According to the Annual Business Inquiry, almost 40 per cent of women’s jobs are in the public sector, compared to just 15 per cent of men’s. Early cuts made to public sector would lead to an uneven increase in female unemployment as compared to male.

The TUC report notes that in the 5 regions where the male unemployment rate has been highest public sector jobs account for more than 40 per cent of women’s employment. This means that families already in a vulnerable position could be affected most by early deep spending cuts. As well as the risk of increased female unemployment, cuts made to public sector pensions could exacerbate the gender gap in pensions.

It’s for these families, who find themselves exposed to the volatility of the market that the Labour Party is putting securing economic recovery high on the agenda in their manifesto – and you can have your say over what should be included here.

The TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber commented: “Slashing public spending may satisfy fiscal hawks and city traders but it would cause misery to millions of people who have already suffered from the recession.

“It’s hardly fair that these are now all under threat thanks to the mistakes of super-rich bankers, who are already back collecting their bonuses.

“When politicians talk about the need for deep spending cuts they rarely say how this would affect ordinary working people. But as our report makes clear – women would have to pay for these cuts with their jobs and pensions.

UNISON has launched a Million Voices for Public Services campaign – sign up and make your voice heard.

The Labour Party has launched the Global Poverty Promise campaign, pushing for ambitious spending targets for international aid, enshrined in law.

The video above, which includes messages from Annie Lennox, Mariella Frostrup and Davina McCall, highlights the significance of this aim.

Under Labour, Britain has tripled its international aid budget, and has committed to increase spending to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2013. And Labour will go further by putting into law Britain’s commitment to international aid, ensuring that UN aid targets are met and that we never turn our back on the world’s poor.

International aid has made a real difference in developing countries: more than four million people now receive treatment for HIV and AIDS, and by 2015, 500 million children will have been vaccinated against mortal diseases in immunization programmes in 70 of the world’s poorest countries.

Despite billions being spent to provide medicines and build schools in developing countries, the Conservatives have failed match Labour’s pledge.

Speaking about the campaign, Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, said:

“The Labour Government will not turn our back on the world’s poor who have been hit hard by the economic downturn. We have kept the promises we made at Gleneagles and we will go even further by enshrining in law our commitment to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on aid from 2013.

“Labour’s commitment to international development is clear, but the Tories’ is not. David Cameron refuses to match Labour’s commitment to bring in the new aid law and his Tory candidates do not prioritise protecting the international development budget from cuts.”

Follow these links to find out more and make the Global Poverty Promise.

UpRise, which has campaigned to save Rise Festival, is now aiming to stage a free music festival this Summer in the spirit of Rise, taking a stand against racism.

If all 100,000 people who attended Rise in 2008 pledge just £1, the organisation will be on target to fund the event.

London’s annual anti-racism festival, which first took place in 1996, was cancelled by Mayor Boris Johnson in April 2009. Chuka is a supporter of the campaign to save Rise. Thousands of people have signed the petition to save Rise and joined the UpRise Facebook group.

To find out more about the campaign and donate visit www.uprise.org.uk

Last Saturday Dunraven High School played host to Celebrating Streatham; an event organised by Chuka Umunna to mark the retirement of Keith Hill MP, who has represented the area for eighteen years, and to celebrate the vibrancy, talent and diversity of the people of Streatham.

Dozens of local businesses, artists and community groups set up stalls in the afternoon including Chili Chutney, SPIRES and Sustainable Streatham. The stalls sold food, paintings and provided workshops for interested residents.

In the video below, which was shot at the event, residents explain what they love about Streatham:

Later in the afternoon local schools, community and youth groups had the chance to showcase their talents in the ‘Streatham Presents…’ show, judged by Keith Hill MP, Mercury Music Prizewinner Speech Debelle and Leo Ihenacho, singer with the Streets.

The audience voted for their favourite act, and the winner of the chance to record a music video with Generation Next was dancer Jerayle of Urban Sport Life. Speech Debelle was so impressed with Jerayle’s performance that she also asked him to star in her next music video!

Chuka Umunna had a chance to catch up with Speech Debelle and Leo Ihenacho before Streatham Presents…:

Chuka Ummuna said that, if he is elected, he will organise a Celebrating Streatham event every year.

Click here to see more pictures from the day.

On 2nd of March 10,000 young people cast their votes to elect a new Youth Mayor of Lambeth. In an incredibly close election Darren Tenkorang from Bishop Thomas Grant School was named Youth Mayor of Lambeth for 2010-11. Runner-up Sara Zouhir, a student at Lambeth Academy, was named as Deputy Youth Mayor.

As Youth Mayor of Lambeth Darren aims to “destroy the stereotype the youth have…by uniting the community”. As well as providing a link between young people and the media, members of the council and service providers Darren will be responsible for a budget of £25,000 which will be used to fund projects designed for and run by young people.

Last year the Youth Mayor of Lambeth funded, among others, a performing arts project organized by G.A.S youth group, a music video project organized by Child of Zion youth group and gave funding to improve the facilities at the V.Y.G youth club in Brixton (full details can be found on the Lambeth Youth Council website).

If you are interested in applying for up to £3,000 of funding for a youth based project then details of how to apply can be found on the Youth Mayor Fund section of the Lambeth Youth Council website.

Congratulations to Darren and Zouhir and everyone who took part in the elections.

Weir Estate Residents Association (WERA) recently interviewed Chuka – to read the Q&A, follow this link.

WERA is one of many tenants’ and residents’ associations across the Streatham constituency: democratically elected organisations which play an important role in representing tenants and residents and ensuring the needs and concerns of local people are met.

Over the weekend, Chuka joined local residents to protest outside the Tesco supermarket on Streatham High Road.

The protest was held to put pressure on Tesco to keep Streatham Ice Rink open and to uphold its promises on the Streatham Hub project.

Tesco’s board is due to meet later this month to agree proposals for the Hub, and will present these to Lambeth council in advance of its cabinet meeting on March 22.

In 2007, Tesco promised that the existing ice rink would not close until a newly-built ice rink is opened, but refused to guarantee this at a public meeting held in October 2009.
 
Concerns have also been voiced over the current state of the ice rink and Tesco’s failure to invest in the building’s maintenance.

If you have not yet done so, sign Chuka’s petition to Keep Streatham Skating