During 2018 a report was ran out by the
Council in the name of Councillor Nick Oliver, reducing the amount of benefit
families in need could claim from the Council.
Newbiggin by the Sea has the highest child poverty rate in Northumberland and suffers most from the effects of this dreadful cut in benefit As a percentage of population Newbiggin is currently also home to the largest number of those striving to help themselves on minimum pay, claiming top up benefits and thereby suffering the effects of endemic poverty worsened by Councillor Olivers actions.
Due to the current situation with jobs, furlough and large scale redundancies other areas across Northumberland are very close to joining Newbiggin by the Sea and families falling into the poverty trap. Areas such as Hirst, Cowpen, Croft, College, Kitty Brewster, Prudhoe, Newsham, Widdrington, Lynemouth, Hadston and Amble have seen the gap between the haves and the have nots grow rapidly in recent months with them being joined by others as clusters of poverty are widening in many other wards once thought economically secure.
With support for the Tories fading in Northumberland through the revelations in the press of corruption, bullying of staff, racism, and with Labour calling for a special meeting in the press to ensure at least elected councillors from outside the Tory party are made aware of whats been going on in their name.
We expect a change of administration in May 2021 and hope that the ‘Oliver Tax’ is the first thing changed by the incoming Council.
