All posts by Jonathan Rogers

Canon Giles Fraser resigns

By Jonathan Rogers on October 27, 2025 in Social Change with No Comments

Canon Dr Giles Fraser has resigned as Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral. This morning on twitter he posted the following:

@giles_fraser : It is with great regret and sadness that I have handed in my notice at St Paul's Cathedral.
Thu Oct 27 08:01:52 +0000 2011 from TweetDeck

Following the announcement of his resignation, OccupyLSX has released the following statement.

“We are deeply moved to hear that Giles Fraser has resigned. He is man of great personal integrity and our thoughts are with him.

From the moment, Occupy London arrived at St. Paul’s Churchyard he respected our right to protest and defended it.

For that we are very grateful, as he ensured that St Paul’s could be a sanctuary for us and that no violence could take place against peaceful protesters with a legitimate cause – challenging and tackling social and economic injustice in London, the UK and beyond.”

In the wake of his resignation, a save ‘Save St Paul’s Canon Giles Fraser‘ page has been launched on Facebook.

St Paul’s is expected to soon today having closed its doors last week due to apparent health and safety concerns.

What is the answer to postgraduate funding?

By Jonathan Rogers on October 26, 2025 in Education with No Comments

In a report published this month, the liberal think-tank Centre Forum have outlined their vision for the funding of taught master’s degrees for UK students. The solution would be based on the undergraduate loan system with potential students being able to borrow up to £10,000 and begin repayments when they are earning £15,000 or more. A student earning £21,000 or more would payback £540 per year, allowing enough time for a £10,000 loan to be repaid over the following 30 years.

According to figures from the report, the number of UK students studying master’s courses has only increased slightly between 2003/4 and 2007/8. In this period the rise of total students studying at UK Higher Education Institutes rose by 29,115, with only 5,599 UK students. Meaning that only 1 in 5 new postgraduate students come from the UK.

The logic behind introducing a loan system for taught master’s is simple; investing in skills development would benefit the UK economy through higher tax revenues for the government as those with master’s earn on average 15% more than those with first degrees. The current alternative for students who do not secure any funding for their further study is to utilise career development loans. These are subsidised loans from the private sector that allow students to borrow up to £10,000, while the government pays the interest on the loan for the duration of the course and one month after. Payments from a career development loan total over £200 per month beginning one month after the course finishes. Given the current job market the thought of students have to begin repayments almost straight away regardless of earnings is a very daunting prospect.

According to Centre Forum, the upfront cost of the scheme would be between £0.5-£1bn per year and would be ready for implementation in 2015, but would initially only be available to students with first class or upper second class honours. Students who do not fit this criteria would not be eligible for the £10,000 loan. If this proposal were to be taken up by the government, leaving out students who have not reached a minimum of a 2.1 would be extremely unfair, especially as the report acknowledges that some students may have under performed due to circumstances beyond their control.

The principle of greater access to higher education is of course a good thing, but with undergraduate tuition fees increasing to £9,000 a year from 2012 and most universities set on charging the maximum, most students will leave university with approximately £43,000 of debt when maintenance loans are taken into account. The prospect of students choosing to enter postgraduate education and take up a loan of up to £10,000 could leave students finishing their higher education with eye-watering amounts of student debt- in excess of £50,000. A figure that is bound to deter students from undertaking postgraduate study, especially when UCAS applications by UK students for undergraduate courses have dropped 12% and 10% of A-Level students interviewed by ComRes put off completely by university as a result of the fee increase.

Rather than topping up student indebtedness even further, shouldn’t the government be investing in skill development and innovation by making more funding available for postgraduate students? Instead, there is less funding available for postgraduate study as a result of the coalition cuts to university funds. The EPSRC are cutting number of the PhD it funds by 1,002 and the AHRC are cutting funded Masters courses from 607 to 490. Students in the UK may decide the best option for postgraduate study is overseas, where EU citizens are exempt from tuition fees in countries such as Sweden and other countries across Europe have far more affordable master’s courses.

British Bankers’ Association lobby hard over proposed Robin Hood Tax

By Jonathan Rogers on October 24, 2025 in Sustainable Economy with 2 Comments

Today, the BBA wrote to the Chancellor George Osborne to argue against the introduction of a financial transactions tax (FTT) or as it is better known a Robin Hood Tax (RHT).

The concept is simple, and its support is overwhelming. Yet, Cameron and Osborne are still reluctant to support the RHT. The letter from the BBA to Mr Osborne is quite frankly laughable. It reads:

“It is the strong belief of the associations that the proposed FTT will increase various costs within the financial system and impede the efficient operation of markets which are crucial not only for direct market participants, but for the vast array of end users who benefit from an efficient financial system.”

It is almost like they forgot it was their casino style gambling that led the UK and Europe to the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression, with the UK’s economy continuing on life support as the coalition government continues along a path to economic ruin.

In April 2011, over 1000 economists signalled their support for the RHT, including Nobel prize winners Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman. Supporters of the RHT come from all walks of life and from all political including Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Archbishop Rowen Williams, Desmond Tutu, George Soros, Lord Turner and many more. In fact to name all those who support the RHT would take rather a long time.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a supporter of both the RHT and the coalition government’s determination to reduce the deficit over a five year period wrote to Mr Osborne to support the RHT. In the letter published by the New Statesmen, he argues that the FTT would help governments collect on money that is hidden by corporations in tax havens such as the Cayman Islands and help to increase spending in key areas such as education, modern infrastructure and a low carbon economy. All of which are vital to boost the UK economy.

The UK government is becoming an increasing lonely voice opposing the FTT, with the only other voice in opposition that of the BBA who are merely seeking the maintenance of the status quo. A global march for the RHT has been proposed for the 29th October prior to next months G20 summit in Cannes will be crucial to the success of the Robin Hood Tax campaign as they concert their efforts to get the tax implemented.

HMRC’s Dave Hartnett must go

By Jonathan Rogers on October 24, 2025 in Corruption with No Comments

The top man at HMRC is the focal point of attention today as protestors demand his resignation for his constant tax let offs for big businesses including Vadafone and Goldman Sachs. Around 100 protestors from UK Uncut and Occupy London called for his head today. Police have blocked access to 100 Parliament Street where HMRC is based.

It is beyond belief that Dave Hartnett remains in his position as permanent secretary of tax when he is so clearly representing the interests of powerful corporations above the 99%. Pressure is mounting on Hartnett to leave his job in HMRC but so far he hasn’t been inclined to resign, merely apologising for his “mistake” which resulted in the Wall Street giant, Goldman Sachs, being let off £10 million in tax.

Tax avoidance in the UK has been highlighted by UK Uncut ever since the Vodafone scandal came to light. Through their use of direct action and civil disobedience the message is starting to be heard. If the Chancellor did more to close tax loopholes up to £25 billion could be saved according to Unite. Mr Osborne, we are not ‘in this together’. The road to tax justice begins with the resignation of Dave Hartnett, friend of the 1%.

Tuition fee increases put 1 in 10 off university

By Jonathan Rogers on October 24, 2025 in Education with No Comments

Research undertaken by ComRes has revealed that 10% of potential university students have definitely been put off going to university because of the increased tuition fees. These students have been priced out of further education as a result of lifting the cap on to £9,000 per year. Elsewhere, figures released by UCAS today show that university applications from UK students have fallen by 12% from 59,413 to 52,231. A clear demonstration of a failure in policy from the coalition government. Sally Hunt from the University and College Union lambasted the government tuition fee policy, she said:

“The government’s fees policy has been a disaster from the start and it is clearly having a serious impact on the choices young people make. Now is the time for a rethink to avoid doing serious damage to universities and young people’s futures. People should study the right course for them, not just the cheapest one or none at all. These depressing figures take us back to the time when it was cost, not ability, that determined your future.”

The poll of 1,009 16-18 year old A-Level students from England revealed that 82% of respondents were still intent on going to university despite almost half of all those interviewed feeling that the financial burden of university was too great.

The research would seem to suggest that a large reason behind those polled still intending on going to university in spite of higher fees is because of the better job opportunities. 73% felt that it would be easier getting a job as a university graduate even with almost 1 million 16-24 year olds out of work. Despite this, 78% were still really worried about gaining a large amount of debt given the tight jobs market.

Many students will hope that at the end of a three year degree the economy and in particular the graduate jobs market will look far more rosy than it currently does.

Big Six raking in the profits

By Jonathan Rogers on October 19, 2025 in Sustainable Development with No Comments

The Big Six energy companies who provide 99% of users with their energy in the UK are raking in the profits. Even in the last three months profits per household have risen from £15 to £125 accord to Ofgem. This is alarming news not least because as the chill of winter begins to hit, families up and down the country will be forced to chose to either eat or heat.

Chris Huhne, speaking on the Jeremy Vine show about energy prices told listeners ways families could cut down on the costs of their fuel bills by taking a number of simple measures. Switching to direct debit would save around £200 per year, plus moving to duel fuel would increase savings on the families annual fuel bill. What then for individuals and families who already do both of these and are still facing tough choices on how to keep warm this winter? This was quite frankly useless advice. Huhne and the government need to be ready to go toe-to-toe with the energy giant’s instead of telling families to shop around for the best energy deals.

In 2009 4 million households were classified as being in ‘fuel poverty’, increasing each year since 2003. In the Hills fuel poverty interim report published today , if only one-tenth of ‘winter deaths’ were caused by fuel poverty the estimated number of deaths would 2,700. But when will the ‘greenest government ever’ live up to its pre-election mantra and get tough on these energy companies who continue to provide us with dirty fuel at an ever increasing cost?

Here in the UK we need to shake off our reliance on fossil fuels and encourage further the use of green energy. The Big Six energy companies and others have too much power and are reluctant to move away from these dirty fuels. Steps need to be taken to think bigger and be bolder in the UK and Europe; attempts by the European Union to see cuts in CO2 emissions by 2020 increase from 20-30% have been accepted by some companies such as Google, Sony and Ikea but lobbied hard against by Volkswagen and others.

In order to drive the green growth industry in the UK and Europe tougher CO2 cuts are needed. This however wasn’t on the mind of the Chancellor George Osborne at the Conservative Party Conference last month who said, “We’re not going to save the planet by putting our country out of business”. Although the UK is legally committed to reducing emissions by 35% in 2022 and 50% by 2025, Mr Osborne should be wanting the UK to be leading the rest of Europe. It is precisely tough CO2 cuts that will fuel green growth and create greens jobs at a time when 2.57 million people are out of work.

PMQs Leaders Review

By Jonathan Rogers on October 19, 2025 in Economy with No Comments

A rather uneventful PMQs this week. Ed Miliband chose to split his questions, with the first set focusing on Liam Fox and his dodgy ‘advisor’ Adam Werritty, before moving on to attack the prime minister on the economy.

Miliband questioned Mr Cameron on how many businesses had benefitted from the regional development fund announced by the government 16 months previous. An answer was not forth coming from the prime minister so Miliband said that despite twenty press releases about the regional development fund only two companies had actually benefitted. The leader of the opposition said that with last weeks unemployment figures rising to the highest it has been since the last Tory government and yesterday’s inflation figures also rising to their highest since the previous Conservative administration it was time for Mr Cameron to change course on the economy but all we have is a ‘prime minister who is hopelessly out of touch’.

Cameron immediately got on the offensive and criticised the opposition leader for talking down the economy when and repeated the Tory line that the coalition government are clearing up the mess left behind by Labour. He also questioned that his opposite number does not have a plan of his own to deal with the economy. When the prime minister was defending the coalition government’s economic plan, the Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, continually drew a flat line with his hand before telling Mr Cameron to calm down.

#OccupyLSX Begins

By Jonathan Rogers on October 15, 2025 in Social Change with No Comments

On Saturday 15th October I decided I was going to go along to the #occupyLSX taking place at 12pm outside St Paul’s Cathedral. For me this was my first time actively going out and being involved in a protest of any kind and I was looking forward to it.

I arrived late to the occupation and as a result the police who were operating a needless containment strategy kept me out of the main protest. It took me about an hour and a half to find a way beyond the police lines and into the site of the planned occupation. Thousands of people wanted to join the general assembly that was taking place on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral and add their voice to a growing global movement for change, but were denied that opportunity for a large part of the day. Had police let people come and go freely from the hub of the occupation I feel that another thousand or more of the 99% would have been there. The day from my experience was peaceful, buoyant and filled was optimism. The only occasion when tensions rose during my stay at the occupation was when the police began to move in on peaceful protestors completely unnecessarily. Those moments aside the day was the start of something big in London, the UK and globally. The #occupy movements that are happening cannot be taken lightly and are in no way a flash in the pan, they are here for the long hall.

The drive for change, greater democracy and greater fairness has now begun. I will be there again in the days to come to show my support.

If you want to find more about the occupy movements happening across the world or find one near you click here for more information.