I’m probably not the only one that fails to comprehend some of the arcane procedures of our parliament, but after the billions thrown at wealthy bankers who seem to still be lining their pockets.

Even after a year such as the last, when taxpayers around the world have bailed out their banks, bonuses have still been paid. UBS is the latest, preparing to pay out bonuses from a bonus pool reported to be SFr2bn (£1.24bn). Regulators are said to have forced a SFR1bn reduction in the size of the total payouts. Bonuses, though, nonetheless. Source: The Guardian.

I guess the chances of this Early Day Motion tabled by Lynne Jones becoming law is slim.

That this House notes with concern that unemployment has risen to around two million; sympathises with those newly redundant workers who will find themselves on unemployment benefit; expresses concern at the low level of such benefits at just 60.50 per week for those over 25 years old and 47.95 for those under 25 years old; refutes the justification for such low payments that higher benefits would be a disincentive to work; draws attention to a wealth of evidence that suggests that the descent into poverty has proved to be a greater cause of economic inactivity; therefore supports the TUC campaign to increase jobseeker’s allowance by 15 per week in order to allow people to live a healthy lifestyle for both physical and mental wellbeing in order to best encourage and assist such people back into work; and points out that, although this would cost more to the Treasury, higher benefit payments would also stimulate demand in the economy, which would help to avoid further rises in unemployment. Source: United Kingdom Parliament.

Give money to the poor – it’ll never happen.

Hat Tip: Harpymarx.