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Nu Labour to attack the disabled again

sheff-man | 02.12.2003 00:43 | Sheffield

THE government is to crack down on Britain’s disabled “workshy” by introducing a new review of medical records as well as compulsory jobcentre interviews to find them work.

Govt to force disabled into work


The Nu-Labour Govt's war on the poor continues apace, this time they are to 'target' the disabled in an effort to claw back welfare payments. This govt is slowly bordering on fascism with its attitude to those who cannot work. In a sense they, (particularly the Chancellor Gordon Brown) see them as 'useless mouths, who cannot 'produce' for the U.K economy.

Yet again , I make this challenge to the new social movements its not just the war abroad, it is the war at home: the fight for human dignity, for a decent living standard, the right not to be spied on. The right not to be humiliated by the DSS Doctors who force you to lift your arms when it causes you great pain, who then lie and say you can move your arms with no problems. Get involved, get angry, picket the DWP, tell the media, write to your MP, take other (unspecified) action

but, going on past inaction in these matters I think I hope in vain...

sheff-man

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

do something yourself

02.12.2003 01:33

Rather than hope for others to take action why not do something yourself. The only reason any action happens about anything at all is because people go beyond simply hoping others do something and actually get active themselves.

If everyone has your attitude then nothing is what will happen.

steve


starting point

02.12.2003 12:28

Possible good starting point for linking up with disability rights campaigners could be the campaigning magazine Disability Now:

 http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/

kurious


Solidarity, an old but useful idea!

02.12.2003 12:38

You just dont get it do you Steve? I suspect you are someone who became active in the DIY movement at the arse end of Thatcherism. A movement that while having some good ideas, could easily veer into individualism. Well we have moved on my Son, now (paradoxically its an old idea) , everyone tries to support each other, its called 'Solidarity'. It works like this, someone has a problem they need help with, and others then campaign, challenge, raise funds and fight for that issue. As a example, just like good folk have been doing for Simon Chapman, it would be hard for Simon , to 'Do It Himself' as it were, when he was incarcerated in a Greek Prison. Grow up!


However, for activists and the left, the idea of solidarity for those on benefits and the disabled has not developed roots yet, I ask again, why do activists/the left(in this country) ignore this struggle? better carry on myself then eh Steve...

Sheff-man


who cares

18.01.2004 23:56

i am really disabled not a fake even the dss doctors stated disabled and unfit for work for life.

I have recieved many letters from Tony Blair saying since you are a member of labour you should be seeking employment to allow labour to go forward.

I have written to Mr Blair and all the other Ministers amd M.P's asking them why have labour decided to hit the sick, disabled and the poor. I recieved a few letters from the DWP but nothing from ministers who I have been told are all busy. I note when the first soldier was being shot in iraq Mr Hoon was on holiday with his family throwing snow balls,
i noted Mr Blair stated if you write to me and state it's personal he would reply lier he sent my letters to the DWP. I have enough new deal for the disabled booklets to last me a life time. Mr Blairs trouble shooters contacted me to say I was annoying the office and as a cripple should be looking for work, and these people are the ones who argue for the rights of people, i am disabled not a cripple.

It has become obvious to nearly all this Government as have all others looked at means of filling pockets with money and ensuring they can retire to a comfy life.
while people with disabilities must almost beg to pay our ways, I have £115 per week to live on I must pay council tax rent and even dental cost prescription charges and everything else. We had £1:76 rise last year yet our council tax went up by £2:20 my rent for my disabled home increased by £3:60 per week. I was told by labour these increases did not have anything to do with the labour Party. I noted since labour came to power our increases have never been enough to meet the real rise in costs. The DWP stated they work out the costs by using the RPI, I was told a person goes out and looks at a basket of normal every day goods and then increases the cost according to these goods.

They must be very good at house keeping because my gas went up by more then the rise given. Mr Blair's office boy stated to me he could live on £35:00 a week well he should take over from Mr brown because He states £75, the truth is we actualy pay about £25 the rest of my £115 goes on paying our bills.

I am afraid Thatcher is alive an well and she is still at No 10, but the worse of all is trying to get one of our over worked and under paid ministers to even notice you, never mind answer a letter. It's a shame Mr blair does not really know the meaning of poor or desperate because like some other people I feel like strapping a bomb to myself just to get Minister to notice us and to answer our letters, No more replies from the DWP they are masters at protecting Blair .

they say people do not vote because of apathy, well i will not vote because who ever takes over my life as a disabled person will go down hill further, perhaps he can allow us a free injection, he will save £115 each week it might pay for next trip.

Robert.C.Naether
mail e-mail: rcnaether@hotmail.com