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Community News

Let's do some democracy... again Director: James Phipps

By Group Editor Jamie Hill
It only seems like a month ago that Group Editor: Jamie Hill
I was telling you all to fulfil your Deputy Editor: Ben Fitzgerald
democratic duty and to get out Associate: Roger Ogle
and vote. ADVERTISING Reporter: Mike Barham
Call 01793 781502 or
In fact, it was only a month ago. email: [email protected]
It was for Swindon's parish Sales Admin: Sue Roberts
council elections and judging by Closing date for July adverts Sales: Dave Stewart & Rosy Presley
the turnout a lot of people did get and editorial: 7 June
out there and vote. July edition published: Photography: Richard Wintle &
23 June
But it seems nowadays that vote for it in a flash). Rachel Davis - www.calyxpix.com
elections are like buses with none I've never understood those
for ages before two come at once. people who insist that they don't Positive Media Group Limited, Unit 3, Arclite House, Century Road, Swindon SN5 5YN
So we have the General Election vote as 'it doesn't make any T: 01793 744677 E: [email protected]
coming up on Thursday June 8 and difference'. Our Statistics
once again we should all be doing I would say to these people Est. Readership of 100,000 in print & c.20,000 monthly online visitors.
all we can to make sure that our that we are living in interesting Swindon’s largest free publication. Advertising starts from just £57.
voices are heard. times where politics has seen a The contents of The Link are protected by copyright. Use of advertisements in printed or electronic form is forbidden unless
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You could even see the parish bit of a paradigm shift in recent Positive Media Group Limited cannot be held responsible for goods or services or the copyright of content supplied by our advertisers.
council elections as the dress years affecting all of our lives. If
rehearsal for this - the main event. votes didn't matter how do they Reg. in England & Wales. No: 4513027, at Arclite House, Hillmead, Swindon SN5 5YN. Printed by pcp Telford
A lot of people have sacrificed explain 'Trump' or 'Brexit' or even
their lives to give us this 'Macron'?
opportunity as part of our Every vote counts and it's
democracy and we should honour important that we use it to make
them by voting whether it's for our voices heard. That's at least
Labour, The Conservatives, The Lib one thing that all political parties
Dems or even the 'We Love Peppa can agree on. You can see our
Pig' Party (which doesn't really coverage on page 10.
exist but my four year old would [email protected]

The Spirit of Swindon: Envy of the super-rich or giving pay the attention it merits

By Bishop Lee Rayfield of Spirit of and shareholders such as Pension
Swindon Funds have been expressing serious 2015
According to figures from the High concerns and, in some cases, there 0.5 pt
Pay Centre in 2015, employees has been outrage.
paid the National Minimum Wage In 1988 the gap between the
would have to work 390 years to pay of top earners in the FTSE
earn the average annual pay of companies and the average pay
a Chief Executive of a company of their staff was 1:47. That ratio 1988
listed on the FTSE100. Given that increased to 1:143 by 2015.
such executives receive around Bonus payments, short term focus
£5 million each year it is hardly on results and failure to link
surprising that the label ‘Fat rewards with profitability and Artwork by David Wildish
Cats’ has been regularly applied sustainability of a company have
to them. But is this fair? Might it all been identified as causes. Social when times are tough while their remuneration but it has become
simply be an expression of envy inequalities are promoted as a performance indicators reward clear that excessive pay rewards
and a failure to recognise the result. them when times are good! are increasingly regarded as
wealth such people create for the Excessive pay can be found Paying attention to the unacceptable. They fuel both
UK economy? Are we forgetting in publicly listed companies, differential between the highest the experience and the reality of
the responsibilities and risks private businesses, hedge funds and the lowest paid employees inequality and can undermine the
such individuals shoulder and and investment management, in an organisation encourages value of the very organisations they
downplaying the expertise they professional services, sport and workforce cohesion and a common are intended to protect.
bring to their role? entertainment. But just what purpose. There is no universal ‘right’ What one thing might you do to
In seeking through this column counts as excessive? The answer is pay differential but John Lewis, help Swindon take this issue more
to raise awareness of the impact of not straightforward but that does not a stock market-listed company, seriously? You could ask companies
economic inequality on the UK, pay not mean any sum is potentially ensures that its highest paid about their pay differential by using
is one of the most obvious areas justifiable. Ethical investing ‘partner’ receives no more than 75 the ‘Pay Compare’ website. www.
to focus on. Given that a larger bodies recognise that variable times the lowest paid. However, paycompare.org.uk/why-have-pay-
gap between the 20% wealthiest remuneration packages (including differentials can encourage multiples. Let us know your findings
and 20% poorest has a greater incentives such as share payments businesses to outsource the lowest at [email protected].
negative effect on the country as and bonuses) may have a place paid jobs. Spirit of Swindon has emerged
a whole, remuneration at the top in some types of company but Responsible businesses contribute from a gathering of people who
and the bottom are self-evidently that salaries build in natural, and greatly to a healthy society want to raise consciousness of the
significant issues to address. There healthy, restraint. Most CEOs are and human flourishing; they impact of economic inequality and
is increasing recognition that not entrepreneurs and there is can and should be a powerful help Swindon offer a lead to other
excessive levels of remuneration at not a high level of risk-taking. force for good. Future Spirit of towns and cities in the UK. We are
the top is a problem, and not just Furthermore, most executive Swindon articles will address indebted in this article to Dr James
for the general public; investors directors do their best work other dimensions related to Corah of CCLA.
swindonlink.com n June 2017 3

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