The bride can kiss the bride

Image from Toxi: http://www.iamtoxi.co.uk

Gay couples across England and Wales tied the knot as soon as same sex marriage became legal at midnight.

This is the final stage in a long fight for equality, which Prime Minister David Cameron backed despite strong opposition from members of his Conservative party and the established Church of England.

He said that this is “an important moment for our country” and Westminster, Islington and Camden staged special wedding ceremonies last night, with passers-by greeting the grooms after the ceremony.

Today many more same-sex couples, including a few lesbian ones, will be exchanging vows up and down the UK.

One gay couple from London even wrote their one-hour wedding as a musical and persuaded 200 guests to help them perform it on a national TV.

Civil partnerships have been legal since 2005 and it was only in June 2013 that the House of Lords voted in favour of same-sex weddings.

Mr Camerons said “In Britain will no longer matter whether you are straight or gay, the State will recognise you a relationship as equal”.

“It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality. It clearly says you are equal, whether straight or gay”, the PM added.

Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has welcomed the change despite previous tensions.

RMT general secretary dies

Rail, Maritime and Transport(RMT) general secretary Bob Crow, died suddenly yesterday at the age of 52.

Mr Crow, who started out at 16 as a track worker at London Underground, soon afterwards became involved in Union Politics to be elected as leader of the RMT in 2002, when he was just 41.

He spent most weekends speaking at rallies and meetings and was always in demand to support campaigns.

Bob Crow was a fighter for working people and wanted a well-paid and secure job for his members. Under the union leader the RMT stood out, choosing traditional industrial activism rather than protests.

The union boss was a very successful negotiator and in 2011 RMT-affiliated drivers won a deal entitling them up to £52,000 per year, which was twice the medium wage in Britain.

It was under Mr Crow tutelage that Rail, Maritime and Transport cut its ties with the Labour Party, in 2004.

Describing that important period in the RMT history, MP Jeremy Corbyn, said:

“I remember once staying outside Euston station with him giving out leaflets calling for the nationalization of the railway. Not an obvious place to stand and it was amazing to see all these people to come and say ‘thank you very much Mr Crow, very kind of you’ ”.

Earlier this year, when staff walked out over proposals to close all the ticket offices in London, the capital was left immobile for two days. Mr Crow’s small union caused chaos and was almost entirely responsible for inspiring a Conservative campaign for tougher strike laws.

He worked hard for steady and sustained investment to overcome decades of neglect in the underground system. It is largely down to him that customers can now rely on the most frequent train service in the world, by getting on the Victoria and Jubilee lines.

There are many more improvements to come, also part of his plan.

People across the political spectrum recognise his power and his influence and that he was probably the most influential and well-known trade unionist in the country.

Transport chiefs, who have already promised the RMT will remain powerful, will now be facing the tough task of choosing Mr Crow’s successor.

Newly graduates are in debt

Image from Toxi: http://www.iamtoxi.co.uk

Newly graduates belong to the fastest growing group of those in debt.

In fact, having to face increased university fees of £9,000 a year, students can easily leave with debts of £36,000.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there has been a sharp jump in the number of university students since 2008, despite the dramatic increase in the tuition rates, which became effective in 2012.

The proportion of young people undertaking work alongside full-time study, however, has been falling since the year 2000.

What is going to happen to the 12 million graduates we have in the UK?

Even though last year figures show that people with a degree are more likely to be employed than those who left education with qualifications of a lower standard, there is still a great demand for jobs and not many positions available.

Paying off debts is a major concern for many British graduates who sometimes make just enough money for that purpose, but find it hard to handle living expenses.

According to Dom Anderson, Vice President of the National Union of Students (NUS), graduates leave university with debts not only because of the high fees they have to pay. 

Another issue that should be tackled, in fact, is the amount of maintenance grants students receive. It has not been increased according to the rising cost of living.