Category: Politics

Community News, News, Politics

Save Newall Green High School

The Wythenshawe Reporter is backing a campaign by parents, students and councillors to save Newall Green High School, earmarked for closure by the Government.

Parents were told this week that the Department for Education will close the school because of falling numbers.

A petition to save the school has been launched and students staged a protest calling on the decision to be reversed.

newall green school

And today, Manchester City Council’s executive committee pledged to fight the DfE’s decision.

The council’s deputy leader and Wythenshawe councillor, Sue Murphy tweeted: “We need to oppose the closure. Potentially devastating for young people in school there.”

Baguley councillor,  Tracey Rawlins led the calls for the council to fight the closure.

Dawn Fairweather, who started the petition which has already attracted nearly 400 signatures, says the closure will impact on other schools in Wythenshawe, by increasing class sizes and piling more pressure on teachers.

She said: “This is not acceptable for children in the Wythenshawe area who through no fault of their own may not get the education they rightfully deserve which could affect their future employment prospects.

“This could also mean that children have to travel further to and from school and cost more money that some parents do not have.Please sign this petition to stop the closure of this school.

“The education minister and Prime minister need to know that the people in Wythenshawe will do their upmost to stop the closure of this school.”

Sign the petition here.

Newall Green School was put in special measures following an inspection by the schools watchdog, OFSTED.

But following the school’s latest monitoring visit in November last year, inspectors said there had been improvements in their report.

Inspector, David Selby said: “Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.”

The report summarised the strengths in the school’s approaches to securing improvement as:

  • Leaders have continued to develop the wider opportunities that the school offers
    to pupils. These opportunities often involve local businesses.
  • Leaders have continued their careful focus on the urgent priorities identified at
    the previous inspection. However, they have now started to widen their view and
    to identify and enhance aspects of the school that were already working well.
  • Leaders are seeking ways for pupils to be more involved in their school. Leaders
    intend to find out more about what pupils think of the school. Staff have just
    introduced a prefect system and they intend that a pupil council will soon be reestablished.
  • The reducing role of the executive principal in supporting other leaders has
    allowed leaders within the school to become increasingly more confident and self reliant.

And the weakness was summarised as:

  • Despite the improvement in the school and the increasing number of things that
    pupils can be proud of, some pupils lack pride in what the school offers them and
    is achieving.

 

News, Politics

Brexit: Wythenshawe MP, Mike Kane condemns Parliament shutdown

wp-1478947269179.jpegWythenshawe MP Mike Kane has condemned Boris Johnson’s shutdown of Parliament as “an affront to our democratic principles”.

Earlier this week, Wythenshawe church leader, Dave Warnock, urged the Labour MP to share his views on what he calls a “democratic crisis” following the decision by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to prorogue (suspend) parliament, seen by many as an attempt to prevent MPs from blocking a no-deal departure from the European Union.

And in a statement to the Wythenshawe Reporter, Mr Kane today condemned Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament.

The Labour MP said: “Given the situation facing our country as we approach the Brexit deadline of 31 October, and the impact it could have on people’s jobs and living standards, I believe it is deeply concerning to suspend Parliament and I am opposed to it.

“The Labour Party and Parliament must do everything we can, working on a cross party basis to block a No Deal Brexit. I cannot sit back and allow the Prime Minister to drag us out of the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement because we have seen the potential economic consequences for the country.

“I believe we’re at the stage in our history where party advantage must be put to one side, we must look at the long-term interest of our country.

“Prorogation at this time is an affront to our democratic principles. Long prorogations raise fundamental questions about whether the Government of the day commands the confidence of a majority of MPs and whether it can legitimately govern.

“Finally, I want to reiterate my opposition to a No Deal Brexit. Businesses, trade unions and the Government’s own analysis have warned about the disruption No Deal would result in and the damage it would do to our economy. I am committed to working across Parliament, to do whatever is necessary to stop it happening.”

Mr Kane has previously voted against No Deal in Parliament and abstained on proposals for a second referendum and to cancel Brexit.

What does proroguing parliament mean?

A Parliament lasts for the time between general elections – supposedly five – but it is divided into sessions, usually lasting about a year. The current session has lasted 26 months.

At the end of a session, a Prime Minister formally advises the Queen to prorogue  Parliament, usually for a few days, after which a new session will begin with a state opening of Parliament and a Queen’s Speech which will outline the laws the Government intends to introduce. During the suspension the Government can continue to do its job, but MPs cannot debate in Parliament, pass laws or scrutinise what the Government and Prime Minister is doing.

Proroguing  Parliament is different to recess, when the session continues but MPs do not attend the House of Commons, usually during the summer and when the parties take part in their conferences.

Proroguing Parliament is a power exercised by the PM, officially held by the Queen. MPs have no say in the matter. MPs do have a say in whether a recess can take place, and there was speculation that Parliament would vote against a recess for the upcoming party conferences so that MPs could debate Brexit ahead of the UK’s scheduled departure from the EU on October 31.

MPs from all parties have condemned the suspension, some calling it a coup and some an attack on parliamentary democracy.

The move has sparked demonstrations across the country,  a legal challenge and a petition signed by 1.6 million nationwide so far, including 2,331 people in Wythenshawe and Sale East. A protest is planned for Monday at 6.30 at the Peterloo Memorial in Manchester.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who had previously opposed prorgation said the suspension,  was “certainly not” a political move to obstruct opposition to the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

The Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg said this parliamentary session had been one of the longest in almost 400 years, so it was right to suspend it and start a new session.

Ruth Fox – director of parliamentary experts the Hansard Society – said this prorogation was “significantly longer than we would normally have” for the purpose of starting a new parliamentary session.

Ms Fox said that depending on the day the suspension began – and on whether MPs would have voted to have a party conference recess at all – the prorogation could “potentially halve” the number of days MPs have to scrutinise the government’s Brexit position.

News, Politics

Campaigning family continues fight for”miracle” drug for baby Haris

A Wythenshawe dad of a terminally ill baby says time is running out for the NHS to provide a “miracle” drug which could massively improve the quality of his son’s life.

Eight-month-old Haris, from Newall Green, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy was given three months to live when he was diagnosed with the condition in February.

Until February last year, the wonder drug Spinraza which can prolong and dramatically improve quality of life was available on the NHS, but was withdrawn on cost grounds.

Haris’ mum and dad Renata and Shakeel have been campaigning for the NHS restore funding for the drug, which is available in a number of countries including Scotland.

And in March the family and their supporters lobbied a meeting of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the body which makes the recommendations for the funding of drugs on the NHS.

Following the meeting, NICE’s Chief Executive, Sir Andrew Dillon, wrote to Wythenshawe MP Mike Kane saying they were hopeful of  positive outcome with the drug company Biogen, who manufacture the drug.

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But nearly two months after their protest, there is still no decision on the funding of the drug which is deemed too expensive.

With Haris is now back home with his family in Newall Green, Shakeel says the NHS, NICE and Biogen all share responsibility for the failure to provide the drug with will have a massive impact on his son’s quality of life.

Funding for the drug will be considered again at meeting of NICE next week (Wednesday May 8) and NICE have released this statement:

Following the committee meeting on the 6 of March 2019, the appraisal committee asked NHS England and Biogen to enter into commercial discussions to see whether a managed access arrangement could be agreed for Spinraza consistent with NICE’s framework for determining cost effectiveness.

We have been informed by the parties that no agreement has yet been reached. Nevertheless, we consider it necessary to return to the appraisal committee next week in case an agreement is reached, or if no agreement is reached, for the committee to consider the consequences for guidance development.

This topic will be considered by the committee on Wednesday 8 May. Given the nature of the discussion, this will be held in a private.

Shakeel  says the fight will continue. Boxer Amir Khan is supporting the campaign and Shakeel says he has received tremendous support from the local community and from the charity New Life which has funded a special cot costing £4,000 and a buggy costing £3170. Haris also has a Just Giving page to raise funds in the event that the final decision is to reject funding the drug and the family has to go abroad to get treatment.

Spinal muscular atrophy is caused by dysfunctional or missing gene that affects the production of a protein essential for motor neurons. This condition is manifested by a shrinking spinal cord.

One in 40 people are a carrier of the faulty gene and in the most severe cases, such as Haris, children rarely live beyond two years, making SMA the leading cause of death in babies and toddlers in the country.

But Spinraza has been known to have significant effects on the length and quality of life for patients.

Manfuacturer’s Biogen markets Spinraza at $750,000 dollars in the USA during the first year and $375,000 per subsequent year. The company offered the drug at £450,000 to the NHS and an undisclosed discount, but it still was not enough.

One report has said Biogen’s growth is heavily dependent upon SMA medication.

 

News, Politics

Tommy Robinson plans to stand as Euro-MP for the North West

200px-Tommy_Robinson_at_Speakers'_Corner,_Hyde_Park

Former EDL leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon aka Tommy Robinson has announced plans to stand as a candidate for the North West in the European elections.

The the anti-Islam activist was due to address supporters at an event in Wythenshawe this evening saying there would be an announcement about his plans.

If the elections go-ahead it will mean he will be competing for votes with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party and UKIP despite him having a position as an adviser to the party.

Community leaders in Wythenshawe and anti-racist campaigners have condemned the move.

Lennon and his supporters complain he has been smeared as a racist, and insist he does not care about skin colour and his objection is to Islamist political ideology rather than people.

He has been filmed visiting an estate branding muslims as “enemy combatants who want to kill you, maim you and destroy you”. He said “Somalis are backward barbarians” and that refugees are “raping their way through the country”.

Lennon, a former member of the far right British National Party, has a string of convictions for various offences including common assault and mortgage fraud and last year was jailed for contempt of court for live streaming outside court case when he confronted defendants in a child sexual exploitation trial.

It was feared the trial, which was linked to two other major trials involving men accused and later convicted for their part in a grooming gang in Huddersfield, could have been wrecked because of his actions.

Contempt laws restrict the reporting of trials that are linked together to prevent juries being influenced by the media. Lennon had claimed the “main stream media” were deliberately covering up the case.

Following Lennon’s conviction for contempt, a local journalist Stephanie Finnegan, who covered the case and the grooming trial received rape and death threats from his supporters.

Lennon was released after the prison term was overturned but faces being returned to prison after the contempt case was referred to the Attorney General. The hearing is expected to take place next month.

Earlier today faith leaders and Wythenshawe’s MP said Lennon’s views were not welcome in the town and the anti-racist charity Hope Not Hate has launched a campaign to stop him being elected.

Community News, News, Politics

Tommy Robinson not welcome in Wythenshawe say religious leaders

KaneWythenshawe’s MP along with religious and community leaders have united to oppose a planned event in Benchill today featuring the far right anti-muslim activist known as Tommy Robinson.

The former leader of anti-Islam group the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, says he will be at a barbecue in Wythenshawe tonight.

And seven religious leaders from Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities along with Wythenshawe MP, Mike Kane have signed a statement saying Yaxley-Lennon is not welcome in the town. Continue reading “Tommy Robinson not welcome in Wythenshawe say religious leaders” →