Put an end to the term “Benefit Scroungers”
My latest article for the Huffington Post;
On the final day of protests against government contracted ATOS Healthcare and the Department of Work and Pensions, many people have come together to declare their unhappiness at the current proposals around benefits for the disabled.
People who are completely anti-cuts, fighting for their own or someone else’s rights as a disabled person, or demonstrating ‘solidarity’ alongside others, have gathered to demonstrate their growing unhappiness at the treatment of disabled people.
The Paraolympics provides a strong platform for demonstrating a need to readdress proposed government cuts to disability benefits as well as a review of the current system employed by ATOS in measuring fitness to work.
The flip side of the paraolympics, a festival of determination, heroic and athletic feats, is the growing negative representation of disabled people in Britain.
Around two thirds of disabled people have been subjected to abuse, including physical attacks and name… [read more]
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September 4th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
A ggod article but too little far, far too late I’m afraid.The coaltion set out to create a ‘benefit scrounger’ narrative from day one to soften up the public mood for cuts in disability benefits.That narrative is now firmly established and the Lib Dems remained silent as the Tories let loose their media attack dogs.The resulting rise in disability hate crime is a natural consequence of government driven ‘scrounger’ hysteria. But the disabled community are a savvy lot , disabled people, their families, carers and friends are waiting .The loud boos at the paralympics for Osborne, Cameron and May show how this government has politicised the disabled community as never before.I’m afraid it is much too late for the Lib Dems to now close the stable door.
September 4th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Hi Scotty,
As you will note from the full motion, we are seeking for the coalition government to commence a full, impartial review of the Welfare Reform Act . An amendment has been submitted to have this occur in the current parliament span, which I personally support.
As a disabled person myself, I am well aware of the problems we face in society, and I am seeking to take positive action both politically and personally at every level to enable the Liberal Democrats to prevent inequality and detriment to disabled people from occuring further.
Far from it being a case of closing a door after a horse has bolted, it is a case of carpe diem, using the tools at our disposal to do as much as possible.
KM
September 9th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
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