Them & Us


Making a mint from mince

British government officials are desperately trying to get a derogation (exemption) from new EU laws which limit the amount of fat and collagen (used in cosmetic surgery) which can be present in minced meat.

The new regulations state that lean minced meat should have a maximum of 19% fat and collagen, pure minced beef no more than 35%, and minced meat made using pork no more than 48%.

A Defra report last year pointed out that: “A significant proportion of mincemeat currently sold in the UK contains a greater proportion of collagen than would be permitted.”

The report goes on to say the total savings for UK businesses from avoiding this regulation would be £829,799. This is a pittance compared to profits made in the meat processing industry – for example, when profits crashed last year food giant Vion still made £12 million profit! Yet again, profits come before our health and nutrition.

Housing crisis

The Con-Dems are commissioning just 37,000 new ‘affordable’ homes – less than a fifth of what was promised. And ‘affordable’ now means 80% of market rates – so not very affordable anyway!

In 2011-12, new affordable housing starts fell by 68%.

Average rents in England are rising by £300 a year, and by over £600 in one-tenth of the country. So much for Prime Minster David Cameron’s claim that housing benefit cuts were making rents fall.

For real affordable housing there should be rent caps – not benefit caps, and an emergency plan to build and renovate publicly owned housing.

By the rules?

Zambia Sugar, part of Associated British Foods (ABF), paid only 0.5% of its $123 million pre-tax profit in Zambian corporation tax between 2007 and 2012.

ABF says it is ‘playing by the rules’. In which case the rules need to change!

Multinational tax avoidance in the developing world is estimated to total £70 billion a year.

ABF, which also owns Primark, has a holding company in the tax-haven of Luxembourg to help it pay less tax in Britain and Ireland too.

Cash piles

The Socialist regularly reminds readers of the fact that £850 billion is sitting idle in the banks of big business in Britain. But internationally, just one company – Apple – has its very own hoarded cash pile of ($137 billion) £87 billion! The company is being sued by one of its investors to share out the money to shareholders.

Wealth inequality

In the mid-1990s the top 1% of earners received 7% of all income paid, today it’s 10%. The bottom 50% of earners, on the other hand, have seen our slice of the pie reduced from 19% to 18%.

TUSC in Eastleigh

Dave Nellist

Pleased to announce #RMT Council of Executives member Darren Procter to stand in #Eastleigh by-election #TUSC

If food prices had risen like house prices, a chicken would cost £51.18. Cut rents, not benefits #TUSC #Eastleigh

Dazprocter

Looking forward to standing as the #TUSC candidate 4 #Eastleigh. We want jobs, public services, protection of the vulnerable not the greedy!

Do MPs deserve the money they receive?? If a party truly represents the workers, they would take a worker’s wage, wouldn’t they?? I would!!

Before the people of #Eastleigh vote, ask yourself this – who caused us to be in this situation? Bankers? Why is no party saying this?? #TUSC

#Eastleigh will candidates be looking to represent the area or looking to further a personal political career? #TUSC standing 2represent u!!

How much would #Eastleigh benefit if we chased the £120bn worth of tax money evaded, avoided or uncollected…….only #TUSC asking??