Together we Shout
[This article was originally published on janeyoung.me.uk]
I get the feeling that the tide may be starting to turn in relation to welfare reform. This is just a gut feeling, nothing more, but I have some evidence – not that the Government is starting to listen, yet, but that other organisations and individuals are finding their voice and that the media is starting to listen.
So where’s this evidence? Here’s just some:
- Welfare Reform and DLA reform in particular is discussed today on the BBC – on the Daily Politics on BBC2 and on Women’s Hour on Radio 4. OK, maybe the coverage isn’t as impartial as we’d like, but it’s a start, and it’s a lot better than what we’ve seen from the BBC until now.
- Disability Rights UK today publishes its economic impact assessment of the abolition of DLA and its replacement by PIP: Impact assessing the abolition of working age DLA – Disability Rights UK
- I have recently had encouraging contact with the Chief Executive of Motability and one of the organisation’s governors. They are very much aware of the risks to disabled people’s independence of the mobility criteria of PIP and are doing all they can behind the scenes to help us.
- The publication in early March of the 23rd report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights: Implementation of the Right of Disabled People to Independent Living. The committee expressed the fear that DLA reform (the abolition of DLA and the introduction of PIP) would restrict disabled people’s right to independent living enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was ratified by the UK Government in 2009.
However, the problem is that these achievements in themselves will not make enough difference. We need to build on them to ensure the Government cannot continue to ignore us. Since protesting in central London doesn’t even get reported on the BBC and is ignored by the Government, we need to think of something else to get their attention.
Personally i don’t see it the damage has already been done with many sick and disabled people dying as a result of a bad DWP/ATOS decision and to back track mow the government would be far to exposed to their deaths and the subsequent circumstances in a court
The government will have to press on hoping that the death toll is worth it and that the money saved was worth the sacrifice of those that have died
You are correct in relation to ATOS and DWP current decision-making. I only said very small signs of hope, that bigger charities are starting to listen, that’s all. Please don’t read more into my post than is there – and you’re quite entitled to disagree as I could easily be wrong!
Motability Finance had no say whatsoever in the withdrawal of DLA, it might be worth writing to all major motor manufacturers however because they have the money and money talks…
Please don’t misunderstand me. Whilst Motability want to help their customers they obviously can’t influence benefit decisions.
Any help they might be able to offer will obviously be limited and we’re not party to their deliberations.
We’re always looking for volunteers to undertake vital work, so if you feel able to write to car manufacturers that would be a great help.
I take encouragement also from the resignation of Paul Farmer, (Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind), from the government advisory panel scrutinising the working of the Work Capability Assessment – a policy that his charity believes to be inhumane.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/10/charity-chief-quits-over-fit-for-work-test?CMP=EMCSOCEML657.
Then there were the Scottish GPs at their conference in March, who called for an end to ATOS assessments.
Let’s not forget that Motability reduced the range of vehicles available as a result of negative, misleading articles in the right wing Press. They still haven’t admitted that fact, preferring to put a “positive” PR spin on it. It seems that us Crips aren’t supposed to drive Beemers or Mercs.
We still haven’t heard the result of the Scottish MP taking these issues to the UN. Has anybody heard anything and why aren’t we able to take this all the way to the European Human Rights court?
YES – Chris Grayling has been sent a letter from Samual Miller to advise that he has reported the UK gvt to:
“…the UN Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SRCPD), in New York City, regarding Britain’s Welfare Reform Bill and the plight of the long-term disabled and seriously ill population in your country.”
See: http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/karen-soldatic-donna-reeve-hannah-morgan-chris-grover/britains-disabled-are-being-abandon and the entire letter is printed as a comment after the article.
Sam has threatened Grayling with consequences if he fails to respond to his letter…..
I agree the tide may well be turning slowly but surely.There is no doubt that both the broadsheets and tabloids are finally beginning to report more accurately what the austerity cuts actually mean for the sick and disabled. Sure, some columnists still stubbornly believe in the coalition spin but many are questioning the severe austerity measures and pointing out how ordinary working people, not just the sick and disabled, are all being affected and questioning just how much “We are all in this together”. Clearly we are not all in this together and this is becoming clearer by the day with headline grabbers such as Pastygate and Granny taxes which have alerted people who would perhaps not noticed the news in the same way. Sad though it is, unless you are disabled, sick or a carer, unless you are immediately affected Joe Public probably really understand just how much the cuts actually men to the sick and disabled. On a FB page I am admin for that looks at UK welfare reforms, etc, many people say that surely if someone is genuinely ill or disabled they will be looked after and do not seem to be able to comprehend the enormity of the problem. There really does have to be a proper and legal challenge to the coalitions actions. It is completely beyond belief that they are bulldozing bills through without proper impact assessments…
ALL you charity and disability groups, organisations along with ALL those that speak out for the sick and disabled now need to come together and speak with one voice otherwise this fight for justice will be slow and protracted. If you ALL come together you will become strong. You will be able to do one BIG petition and raise money for good legal advice with the view to challenging this evil in a court of law. Come together and you will gain strength and you cannot be ignored. You need to join together and speak with one voice now.
Together you will be strong and only you can get the ball rolling as you have the connections and ability to bring ALL those together with the small amount of resources you have in the form of administration, offices and what else may be required. This is the only way forward that would be effective.
i have already had a letter from dwp stating that a questionare is being sent out and had a telephone call off them this morning asking me if i was prepared to answer there questions on the phone the lady in question got told in no uncertainty NO send out the paperwork,im living with copd and use my dla to pay for my vehicle i fear that i may end up housebound if i lose my vehicle if there that desperate to start on the disabled why not start on those that claim dla and dont use the mobility element as its meant to be used , my quality of life will suffer greatly if i lose out under the new rules as even though copd is classed as terminal i wont be dead (least not by choice) within the 6 month criteria its a joke