Observer: Purnell's welfare reforms now in total disarray!
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Cannot make it myself. Hope they get some press coverage.
Cannot make it myself. Hope they get some press coverage.
Useful info from the Labour Representation Committee:
Stop the Welfare Reform Bill
MPs will be debating the Bill on Tuesday 17th March. It represents an attack on the unemployed, lone parents and the disabled. It introduces workfare. It further privatises welfare delivery. It is the most reactionary attack on welfare rights in the history of the welfare state, and at a time of recession.
Lobby your MP to back amendments tabled by John McDonnell MP and Lynne Jones MP and supported by over a dozen Labour MPs. Email your MP today.
Download the LRC model motion and get it passed in your party or union branch.
LRC Chair John McDonnell MP interviewed PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka about the welfare proposals. Read John McDonnell's comments and watch the interview with Mark Serwotka
Read the Guardian letter by LRC vice chair Susan Press on the welfare
Both the 2008 TUC and Trades Council conference have voted to oppose Government plans on welfare.
Read PCS's John McInally on welfare reform, writing for the Guardian.
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary said: "This is the wrong bill for the economic crisis we're in. With thousands of people losing their jobs every week, now is not the time to introduce even tougher conditions for claimants. We're also disappointed that the Government appears to be persisting with plans that amount to a 'work for your benefit' scheme. Paid work is scarce enough. Forcing claimants to work for their dole too could make this even worse. Unions will continue to oppose any plans to privatise Jobcentre Plus services."
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said: "The government has adopted a carrot-and-stick approach in which the rich get the carrots and the rest of us suffer the sticks. When hundreds of thousands of jobs are being lost thanks to the unbridled greed of the filthy rich the last thing we need is another attack on what is left of the welfare state. People at the sharp end of the crisis need more help, not less, and working people have every right to be disgusted by the contrast between this bill and the huge sums of money that have been thrown at bailing out the bankers."
The LRC has signed up to the PCS 'Welfare for All' statement. Please add your support, sign up online.
http://www.l-r-c.org.uk/#welfare
Stop the Welfare Reform Bill
MPs will be debating the Bill on Tuesday 17th March. It represents an attack on the unemployed, lone parents and the disabled. It introduces workfare. It further privatises welfare delivery. It is the most reactionary attack on welfare rights in the history of the welfare state, and at a time of recession.
Lobby your MP to back amendments tabled by John McDonnell MP and Lynne Jones MP and supported by over a dozen Labour MPs. Email your MP today.
Download the LRC model motion and get it passed in your party or union branch.
LRC Chair John McDonnell MP interviewed PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka about the welfare proposals. Read John McDonnell's comments and watch the interview with Mark Serwotka
Read the Guardian letter by LRC vice chair Susan Press on the welfare
Both the 2008 TUC and Trades Council conference have voted to oppose Government plans on welfare.
Read PCS's John McInally on welfare reform, writing for the Guardian.
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary said: "This is the wrong bill for the economic crisis we're in. With thousands of people losing their jobs every week, now is not the time to introduce even tougher conditions for claimants. We're also disappointed that the Government appears to be persisting with plans that amount to a 'work for your benefit' scheme. Paid work is scarce enough. Forcing claimants to work for their dole too could make this even worse. Unions will continue to oppose any plans to privatise Jobcentre Plus services."
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said: "The government has adopted a carrot-and-stick approach in which the rich get the carrots and the rest of us suffer the sticks. When hundreds of thousands of jobs are being lost thanks to the unbridled greed of the filthy rich the last thing we need is another attack on what is left of the welfare state. People at the sharp end of the crisis need more help, not less, and working people have every right to be disgusted by the contrast between this bill and the huge sums of money that have been thrown at bailing out the bankers."
The LRC has signed up to the PCS 'Welfare for All' statement. Please add your support, sign up online.
http://www.l-r-c.org.uk/#welfare
[/QUOTE]What that means in simple terms is that UK workers have to compete against not just each other, but against the global workforce, much of which has a variety of structural, unfair advantages, such as a lower cost of living for their families 'back home'.
If, as an employer, you are allowed to pick 'the best' from a population of 600 million rather than 60 million, then it is inevitable that only a percentage of the local population will be 'good enough'.
What happens to the rest, who either have costs that are too high (e.g. a family to feed who live here), or who are just not quite as able or don't quite have as good a work ethic, or aren't quite as bright?
What do we do with them?
If, as an employer, you are allowed to pick 'the best' from a population of 600 million rather than 60 million, then it is inevitable that only a percentage of the local population will be 'good enough'.
What happens to the rest, who either have costs that are too high (e.g. a family to feed who live here), or who are just not quite as able or don't quite have as good a work ethic, or aren't quite as bright?
What do we do with them?
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
It's not the last chance, it still has to go through the Lords and tbh, that's where you may see some amendments at least being put to some kind of equitable vote (although I wouldn't hold out too much hope of any major changes unfortunately).
My nerves are in shreds. Still cannot believe this is how an Act/Law is made. It is so slow,archaic.....depressing. This is supposed to be the 21st century....instant communication. Lively debates using technology. Now its left to a few Lords (some are suspects). No wonder they all pay themselves so much. Its a closed shop laughing all the way to the bank.
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
One good thing to come out of yesterday's debate was government accepting an amendment that will allow blind people to receive high rate DLA mobility component - to be introduced from April 2011. A few lab MPs argued against the Bill, including John McConnell, Lynne Selly and David Winnick but there were no other substantive changes to the contents at all.
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
they wandered in and out through out the session, probably about a max of 20-30 at any one time (except for the divisions obviously).
other than the lab mps i mentioned, paul rowen spoke against, as did steve webb and the snp bloke. frank field spoke quite strongly against towards the end of the debate. you'd need to check hansard for more details, they're the ones that stand out from memory.
other than the lab mps i mentioned, paul rowen spoke against, as did steve webb and the snp bloke. frank field spoke quite strongly against towards the end of the debate. you'd need to check hansard for more details, they're the ones that stand out from memory.
Saw mine there ...Lib Dems opposed......I tried to stay awake for it all...Frank Field was more moaning about if you had worked 40 years you should get preferential service from the DWP than a person who has never worked...or been disabled for 40yrs.......then the posturing performance between the tories and James. It all smacks of public school boy debating rituals with a bit of na na na ne between the opposition......pathetic really.
With todays technology I would expect some projected graphs, statistics.......figures......maps.......a bit more 3D interaction. Instead its a bunch of privelaged people speaking from text only. Plus representations......there was a mention about CAB but I am disappointed no mention of MIND or SANE.
With todays technology I would expect some projected graphs, statistics.......figures......maps.......a bit more 3D interaction. Instead its a bunch of privelaged people speaking from text only. Plus representations......there was a mention about CAB but I am disappointed no mention of MIND or SANE.
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
My face is in dissarray.
You wanna see the scabs on it.
Its my eczema (discoid exema) which I havent had since six years ago, when a workplace bully was wiping the floor with me.
Stress brings it on, see.
It didnt even come on when I was in hospital last year, (breakdown caused by more stress and bullying)
Pizza face is me, and no pics, sorry.
It is related to this as it stress, but I am consoled by the fact that I spoke to a woman who had an IB medical 2 months ago, and is signed off still, as she is clearly unfit.
You wanna see the scabs on it.
Its my eczema (discoid exema) which I havent had since six years ago, when a workplace bully was wiping the floor with me.
Stress brings it on, see.
It didnt even come on when I was in hospital last year, (breakdown caused by more stress and bullying)
Pizza face is me, and no pics, sorry.
It is related to this as it stress, but I am consoled by the fact that I spoke to a woman who had an IB medical 2 months ago, and is signed off still, as she is clearly unfit.
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
He has 99 clones, so if this bodys heart packs up another may be wheeled out.
(nah, joking aside, would they wheel another little dictator out?) or am I just being over paranoid.
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
How much do they get if a suicide happens in week 20?
and the trouble with the private sector is they can go bust. That was mentioned...what happens if the contractors go bust?
Upon lobbying my MP I stated the obvious.....the disabled are the least able to defend themselves........
as well as 'do they think we are stupid?'..........
a radical change is needed where disabled and unemployed are asked themselves.............and actually included in the debate of reform.
Not some upper class twit......aka mummys boy James Purnell.
Upon lobbying my MP I stated the obvious.....the disabled are the least able to defend themselves........
as well as 'do they think we are stupid?'..........
a radical change is needed where disabled and unemployed are asked themselves.............and actually included in the debate of reform.
Not some upper class twit......aka mummys boy James Purnell.
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
As someone who worked for twenty years, and endured bullying, harrassment, assault and sexual misconduct against her, I feel like my health is suffering because of all this, and my careworker agrees.
I went on IB 6 years ago, and I have got an IB 50 form to complete, as my review is due.
I know they wont call me for assessment, as I am agorophobic, but I cannot help but worry, and the worry seems so un needed.
If it wasnt for that woman I saw on the train, who had her assessment a few weeks ago, and got signed off unfit, I would probably be back in hospital now, through the nerves. (Thats if psychiatric services could afford to take me in hospital of course)
I am sure many other honest IB claimants health is suffering even worse than mine, with the un-necessary worry.
Bearing in mind, many of us have OCD and anxiety, and vulnerability as symptoms.
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
uncertain isn't it really? i do think frank field may have had some validity in his comments about introducing powers that won't be needed in such a competitive and shrinking labour market. unemployment above 2m now, vacancies falling, so what economic sense will it make, for example, to introduce workfare (or whatever they want to call it). what i do think is that the bill, as it stands, will make the social security system much more complex and complicated which is bad news for all concerned, including JCP staff who need to administer it.
what is of longer term worry, imo, is the ever growing influence of the private sector on welfare in this country - there was a beginnings conference this tuesday gone which was hosted and paid for by unum, and attended by people from work directions and their ilk, about how to develop contracting to maximise profits basically. someone from the tuc stood up and gave a presentation and she was given quite a hard time because, for example, she said that disabled people should always have the choice as to whether they worked or not, rather than being forced to (she also said in response to a question that she thought that this is also the case with non-disabled people).
what is of longer term worry, imo, is the ever growing influence of the private sector on welfare in this country - there was a beginnings conference this tuesday gone which was hosted and paid for by unum, and attended by people from work directions and their ilk, about how to develop contracting to maximise profits basically. someone from the tuc stood up and gave a presentation and she was given quite a hard time because, for example, she said that disabled people should always have the choice as to whether they worked or not, rather than being forced to (she also said in response to a question that she thought that this is also the case with non-disabled people).
Apart from the Morning Star there appears to have been no media coverage of the workfare vote. You have to look at Hansard:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090317/debtext/90317-0016.htm
About a third of the way down the page is John McDonnell's amendment and vote, Divison 75:
"Clause 1
Schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc.
Amendment proposed: 11, in clause 1, page 1, line 11, leave out ‘imposing on’ and insert ‘offering to’.— (John McDonnell.)".
Only 76 MPs supported McDonnell's amendment, mainly LibDems and Labour rebels. 396 voted for "imposing" workfare.
I'm quite impressed with what John Mason of the SNP had to say at the end of the debate:
"I promised my constituents that I would judge issues at Westminster by how they affected the gap between rich and poor. In this recession, we see top bankers who have virtually destroyed their banks and half the economy walking away with knighthoods and handsome pensions. In this Bill, we see those at the bottom of society being squeezed more and more. There is something wrong with that."
New Labour continued the Thatcherite attacks on single parents and the unemployed, then the refugees, now the sick and disabled - who's next?
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090317/debtext/90317-0016.htm
About a third of the way down the page is John McDonnell's amendment and vote, Divison 75:
"Clause 1
Schemes for assisting persons to obtain employment: “work for your benefit” schemes etc.
Amendment proposed: 11, in clause 1, page 1, line 11, leave out ‘imposing on’ and insert ‘offering to’.— (John McDonnell.)".
Only 76 MPs supported McDonnell's amendment, mainly LibDems and Labour rebels. 396 voted for "imposing" workfare.
I'm quite impressed with what John Mason of the SNP had to say at the end of the debate:
"I promised my constituents that I would judge issues at Westminster by how they affected the gap between rich and poor. In this recession, we see top bankers who have virtually destroyed their banks and half the economy walking away with knighthoods and handsome pensions. In this Bill, we see those at the bottom of society being squeezed more and more. There is something wrong with that."
New Labour continued the Thatcherite attacks on single parents and the unemployed, then the refugees, now the sick and disabled - who's next?
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