Lockdowns during the pandemic were a dark time for many and an experience few would care to repeat. The economic damage is hard to comprehend and the life chances of too many were harmed by school closures.
But one unexpected benefit of lockdown was it forced the government and local authorities to take emergency measures to get to grips with homelessness in our cities – on a temporary basis, at least.
Rough-sleeping vanished as hotel rooms were found for those who had no place of their own to stay. Paying to house people in temporary accommodation was never going to be a viable long-term option.
But the speed with which it was carried out in 2020 shows that decisive action on homelessness can happen when needed.
But now a vital homelessness service in Glasgow is facing the prospect of a disastrous £2million cut in funding. The Alliance to End Homelessness brings forward a range of organisations to tackle the problem.
But the health and council chiefs who drew up the plan have admitted the cut would see a rise in rough-sleeping and bed-blocking in the NHS.
All public bodies face near-impossible decisions when it comes to balancing the books. But surely spending cuts that would make the NHS crisis even worse are a step too far?
There must be joined-up thinking when it comes to protecting vital public services. A preventable rise in rough sleeping would be a disgrace.
British Gas boss should do the right thing and say no to bonus
At a time of financial crisis, people on the highest incomes must show sensitivity towards the rest of the population. This means limiting pay rises to the bare minimum and forgoing bonuses that most folk can only dream about.
Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, is in line for a potential £1.6million annual bonus. This eye-watering sum comes on the back of Centrica being expected to announce massive profits on Thursday.
These profits were racked up while soaring wholesale gas prices led to massive energy bills for customers. It does not take a genius to conclude that customers are effectively paying for this outrageous bonus.
O’Shea must do the decent thing and waive a sum no right-thinking person could justify. He did so in 2021 and should do it again.
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