Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 21m

1,611 homeless Britons died last yr, including 11 children & babies under the age of one.

Contrary to Suella Braverman, homelessness isn't a lifestyle. It is a failure of society.

Yet govts cut wages/benefits, public services, local council funding; no curbs on profiteering.

How civilised are we?

'Abject failure' as UK's homeless deaths rise - including children

The government's homelessness minister, Alison McGovern MP, has described the increased number of deaths as an "abject failure that cannot be tolerated".

news.sky.com

38 78

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

There is parade of dud audits, auditors let lying dogs sleep.

UK accounting regulator is changing the rules.There will be fewer investigations.

People will be deceived, fees will keep rising.

There is no transparency about the conduct of audits.

Regulators work for the industry.
archive.ph/YCz1V

UK accounting watchdog to ease its probes of audit firms

FRC’s proposals follow sustained complaints from the industry about lengthy investigations

www.ft.com

5 40 83

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

KPMG fined £710,937.50 for dud audit of N Brown Group.

Failed to perform proper accounting checks.

Fines are just another cost of doing Nelsonian audits, passed to other customers

Audits by big firms are worthless, but highly profitable. Partners collect millions, exploit state guaranteed market.

Sanctions against KPMG LLP and Anthony Sykes

www.frc.org.uk

5 41 110

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

Starmer faces cabinet revolt over tax rises that could drive wealthy away. Ridiculous.

Capital gains, dividends taxed at lower rates than wages.

Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in tax than the richest 20%.

16m live in poverty. Millions rely on food banks.

End tax perks of the rich.

Starmer faces cabinet revolt over Budget tax rises driving wealthy away

‘The trouble is we have crossed a line in trying to encourage aspiration. The non-dom change and the VAT on school fees have sent the opposite message,’ minister tells The Independent

www.independent.co.uk

31 86 280

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

The NHS and social care would cease to function under UK govt’s new rules on foreign staff.

Workers will have to wait – from 5 to 10 years – before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, claim any benefit, childcare, or housing support, despite paying taxes

Govt appeasing Reform.

NHS could cease to function under Labour’s new visa rules, say nurses

Exclusive: Royal College of Nursing says plan to tighten rules for foreign workers is ‘pandering’ to Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

9 53 110

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 23h

The UK household debt is over £2 trillion.

Debt once public now loaded to households e.g. student debt. Energy debt rising. People borrowing for healthcare.

Mortgages 7 times salary being issued. Soaring rents.

Real average wage stuck at the 2008 level.

What could go wrong?

7 110 260

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22h

More evidence of Private Equity disaster in US healthcare

PE bought hospitals, GP practices, nursing homes.

Cut wages, staff, investment, care; load with debt; extract profits; deaths, injuries rise.

Why is UK govt handing healthcare to PE/corporations?

Say NO to privatisation of the NHS.

Private Equity in Health Care - ACHI

This explainer examines the rise of private equity in healthcare, the financial structures behind private equity transactions, what the evidence shows about the impacts of these transactions on the he...

achi.net

14 160 310

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22h

Richest 1% has more wealth than 70% of UK population combined.

Top 20% own two-thirds of wealth, receive 36% of income.

Bottom 20% own 0.5% of wealth, receive 9% of income.

Can't grow economy or have social stability.

Poverty is political choice. Which political party wants to address this?

The government must ensure fair distribution of income

'The average real wage of workers has hardly moved from the 2008 level whilst bosses never had it so good.'

leftfootforward.org

5 140 280

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

There is parade of dud audits, auditors let lying dogs sleep.

UK accounting regulator is changing the rules.There will be fewer investigations.

People will be deceived, fees will keep rising.

There is no transparency about the conduct of audits.

Regulators work for the industry.
archive.ph/YCz1V

UK accounting watchdog to ease its probes of audit firms

FRC’s proposals follow sustained complaints from the industry about lengthy investigations

www.ft.com

5 40 83

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

KPMG fined £710,937.50 for dud audit of N Brown Group.

Failed to perform proper accounting checks.

Fines are just another cost of doing Nelsonian audits, passed to other customers

Audits by big firms are worthless, but highly profitable. Partners collect millions, exploit state guaranteed market.

Sanctions against KPMG LLP and Anthony Sykes

www.frc.org.uk

5 41 110

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

Starmer faces cabinet revolt over tax rises that could drive wealthy away. Ridiculous.

Capital gains, dividends taxed at lower rates than wages.

Poorest 20% pay higher proportion of income in tax than the richest 20%.

16m live in poverty. Millions rely on food banks.

End tax perks of the rich.

Starmer faces cabinet revolt over Budget tax rises driving wealthy away

‘The trouble is we have crossed a line in trying to encourage aspiration. The non-dom change and the VAT on school fees have sent the opposite message,’ minister tells The Independent

www.independent.co.uk

31 86 280

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 16h

The NHS and social care would cease to function under UK govt’s new rules on foreign staff.

Workers will have to wait – from 5 to 10 years – before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, claim any benefit, childcare, or housing support, despite paying taxes

Govt appeasing Reform.

NHS could cease to function under Labour’s new visa rules, say nurses

Exclusive: Royal College of Nursing says plan to tighten rules for foreign workers is ‘pandering’ to Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

9 53 110

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

15 UK banks ordered to snoop on state pensioners and other benefit claimants under DWP crackdown.

No court order needed. No right of appeal.

Banks will pass cost to other customers.

Those accused of fraud won't get legal advice. The making of another Post Office type scandal.

15 banks ordered to snoop on state pensioners under DWP crackdown

The Telegraph newspaper reports banks will be required to monitor pensioners’ bank accounts and share payments data

www.birminghammail.co.uk

28 190 300

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal.

China & India lead the race for renewable energy.

The US increased reliance on fossil fuels.

With corporate donations Trump wants more fossil fuels. Farage and Tories promising the same. Banks pouring money.

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time

Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds

www.theguardian.com

4 61 180

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 19h

No snooping over their bank accounts. It is only the poor, old, sick and disabled who are targeted.

1

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 21h

This is the Bill already passed by the Commons with Tory, LibDem, Reform support and is now going through the Lords
bills.parliament.uk/publications...

bills.parliament.uk

2 1 2

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22h

Richest 1% has more wealth than 70% of UK population combined.

Top 20% own two-thirds of wealth, receive 36% of income.

Bottom 20% own 0.5% of wealth, receive 9% of income.

Can't grow economy or have social stability.

Poverty is political choice. Which political party wants to address this?

The government must ensure fair distribution of income

'The average real wage of workers has hardly moved from the 2008 level whilst bosses never had it so good.'

leftfootforward.org

5 140 280

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22h

More evidence of Private Equity disaster in US healthcare

PE bought hospitals, GP practices, nursing homes.

Cut wages, staff, investment, care; load with debt; extract profits; deaths, injuries rise.

Why is UK govt handing healthcare to PE/corporations?

Say NO to privatisation of the NHS.

Private Equity in Health Care - ACHI

This explainer examines the rise of private equity in healthcare, the financial structures behind private equity transactions, what the evidence shows about the impacts of these transactions on the he...

achi.net

14 160 310

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 23h

Foreign banks.

1 1

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 23h

The UK household debt is over £2 trillion.

Debt once public now loaded to households e.g. student debt. Energy debt rising. People borrowing for healthcare.

Mortgages 7 times salary being issued. Soaring rents.

Real average wage stuck at the 2008 level.

What could go wrong?

7 110 260

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

The state we're in

UK full-time employee median wage, £30,816.
4.5m jobs pay less than the real Living Wage.
1.17m workers on zero-hour contracts.
34% of Universal Credit claimants are in work.
16m Britons live in poverty.

Can't build economy on poverty.

Must increase worker share of GDP.

The government must ensure fair distribution of income

'The average real wage of workers has hardly moved from the 2008 level whilst bosses never had it so good.'

leftfootforward.org

13 150 330

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

15 UK banks ordered to snoop on state pensioners and other benefit claimants under DWP crackdown.

No court order needed. No right of appeal.

Banks will pass cost to other customers.

Those accused of fraud won't get legal advice. The making of another Post Office type scandal.

15 banks ordered to snoop on state pensioners under DWP crackdown

The Telegraph newspaper reports banks will be required to monitor pensioners’ bank accounts and share payments data

www.birminghammail.co.uk

28 190 300

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal.

China & India lead the race for renewable energy.

The US increased reliance on fossil fuels.

With corporate donations Trump wants more fossil fuels. Farage and Tories promising the same. Banks pouring money.

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time

Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds

www.theguardian.com

4 61 180

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

Tories offer £47bn austerity - cuts to disability benefits, PIP for mental health claimants, social housing, civil service, regulators, green economy, accompanied by anti-migrant rhetoric.

Won't hike taxes the rich or curb profiteering.

The nasty party heading for the dustbin of history.

Tories confirm plans to cut PIP for mental health claimants

The Conservatives have unveiled plans to cut spending on welfare and scrap environmental subsidies

www.mirror.co.uk

21 96 270

Reposted by Prem Sikka

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 1d

England households could bigger water bills as the competition regulator prepares to give verdict on industry appeal.

36% rise already approved by OFWAT.

People will continue to be robbed. Companies raise capital from customers, shareholders get returns.

End the scam. Nationalise water.

Water bills: millions of households in England could face even bigger rises

CMA poised to give verdict after appeal by five firms for permission to increase bills higher than allowed by Ofwat

www.theguardian.com

12 160 330