There was much that was shocking about recent reports of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. Although I have to admit I’ve not read Professor Jay’s report, one point from it jumped out at me from the press accounts. This was that the police treated the victims ‘with contempt’ and as ‘undesirables’ not worthy of protection. …
The issue of assisted dying is one of the most controversial to come before the Lords. On July 18, Lord Falconer will be seeking a 2nd reading for his private members Assisted Dying Bill. The Bill will allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to request life-ending medication from a doctor, which the patient would self-administer…
Mindfulness is popping up all over the place at the moment. Is it just another ‘trendy’ fad or is something deeper going on, reflecting in part a growing feeling of insecurity and anxiety? I pose the question because yesterday I attended a packed launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness. The launch builds…
Today marks the publication of a new report, Beyond the Barriers, on the failure of the employment and support allowance (ESA) system. So what’s new you might wearily respond given the almost daily criticisms of the system in the media? But this is a report with a difference. First it is entirely researched and written…
Last week, just before the stroke of midnight, I moved an – unsuccessful – amendment to the Children and Families Bill, calling for a review of the case for carers leave. Carers leave would enable those who combine paid work with caring for frail, disabled or chronically sick loved ones to take a few days…
