Claim the Future

optimism that lessons were being learnt and change could follow.
Since then tens of thousands more have died and we face the
second wave in which it feels like we are back to the start but
without the safeguarding systems put in place to cope that were
promised months ago.
The frightening threat of Covid has been made so much worse
by the crass incompetence of Prime Minister Johnson and his
ministers, who have combined failure with disingenuous bluster
and cover up.
Ministers and advisers have disregarded safety rules with
impunity and created unnecessary divisions across the country
to the point of putting at risk the very integrity of the UK.
Nevertheless, for their friends, awarded lucrative government
Covid contracts, it has been a very profitable crisis. What
economic support that has been provided to businesses has
been unconditional, with the result that there have been no
constraints put upon companies pursuing fire and rehire
strategies to cut workers’ wages and undermine hard won terms
of employment.
Lack of effective action by Government has resulted in
mass redundancies and job losses are mounting rapidly.
Unemployment is predicted to reach levels even beyond the
1980s, hitting young people the hardest. A new lost generation
is emerging.
Mobilising to respond to the immediate problems our people
are facing of job losses, attacks on wages, rising debt and
evictions is now taking on a heightened sense of urgency. But
whilst confronting the day to day issues it is equally important
that we lift our sights to plan the society we aim to create so that
never again will we face a crisis so vulnerable and ill-prepared:
a society that will guarantee the security, hopes and dreams
people naturally seek to possess.
5 Introduction