[T]he shadow chancellor, has been a focus for anger among many activists since she said seven years ago that Labour did not want to be seen as “the party to represent those who are out of work” and was “not the party of people on benefits”.
Only a couple of weeks ago, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer mirrored the 2015 comments made by Reeves by declaring in a speech that Labour was “the party of working people” and “the party of work”.
But it has now emerged that Reeves is married to Nick Joicey, DWP’s director-general for finance and a speechwriter for Gordon Brown when he was Labour’s chancellor.
There had already been growing concerns about Labour’s commitment to promising an independent inquiry into deaths linked to DWP’s failings, and to calling for a police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office by senior DWP civil servants and ministers.
Can't say I'm surprised.Don;t know how I didn't know this! Benefit claimant hater Rachel Reeves is married to DWP Director General for Finance.
Activists’ anger after they discover Labour frontbencher is married to DWP director
Can't say I'm surprised.
Let’s remember the Labour Party shipped to abstain on the benefit cuts under the coalition. Only the usual ‘rebels’, corbyn, Abbott, McDonald, Hoey etc voted againstDon;t know how I didn't know this! Benefit claimant hater Rachel Reeves is married to DWP Director General for Finance.
Activists’ anger after they discover Labour frontbencher is married to DWP director
Obviously not: Rishi Sunak accused of 'throwing red meat to socialists' with windfall taxThe problem is Labour traditionally are pro-welfare, the Tories still don't know why it exists.
Another claimant, L, told DNS they had been told by an Atos assessor in about 2018: “There’s no available offices on the ground floor, let’s just got up here.”
The assessor then began to walk up the stairs.
When L failed to follow them, the assessor returned and suddenly found an empty ground floor office.
DWP contractors put lifts out of order and remove cups from beside water coolers to try to test the mobility of disabled people who are waiting to be assessed for benefits. (No, I'm not surprised.*) These are the people whose word counts far more than medical specialists on how disability/ill health affects any person being assessed.
Benefit claimants have backed up these claims:
Benefit claimants back up MP’s claims of assessment secret tricks
*Another thing they sometimes do is hide which company they are - eg, the receptionist answers the phone with a vague "Hello, medical centre?" and there are no clues at all in the public areas of the building whether it's run by ATOS, Capita or Maximus. That makes it appear more legit and also makes it that bit harder to complain.
It's also often apparent that the receptionist is watching people in the waiting room and listening to their conversations. Don't forget, lots of people can't readily get to these places by themselves, and those that accompany them can sometimes be naive about how cynical the whole procedure can be, so might easily say things that could go against someone's claim. So for example they could be asked "How are you?" and reply "We're fine aren't we!" That could count against someone, as next thing "Mum/neighbour/random care assistant says they're fine" gets written on their notes for the DWP.
Yep, horrible.Even the travel expenses procedure can be used against you if you reclaim say a bus fare as then you can be questioned on oh, you're ok on public transport then?
I've noticed staff following you out the building after an assessment too pretending to be on their mobile or similar, like your going to break out into a Johnson wedding dance or summat.
Luckily for us all this scummy behaviour is very often disregarded at appeal stage.
I think they will go further. Watch for the "benefits scroungers bleeding are cuntry dry" messages, followed by real-terms cuts in benefits.Anyone else think further cost of living payments, including the second half of the £650 payment, will be scrapped now?
Very likely, however I would say that the cost of living payment is a unique proposition and they have already paid some of it (to some). Cutting it I dont' doubt is in their wheelhouse, but would they is the question? I hope not because I need a new phone and some trewsI think they will go further. Watch for the "benefits scroungers bleeding are cuntry dry" messages, followed by real-terms cuts in benefits.
Ah, but the cost of living payment is also for Decent Hardworking People. I could see them having to make it for people on benefits, but that would probably give them even more justification for reducing other benefits.Very likely, however I would say that the cost of living payment is a unique proposition and they have already paid some of it (to some). Cutting it I dont' doubt is in their wheelhouse, but would they is the question? I hope not because I need a new phone and some trews
Don't misunderstand me, I don't think anything's off the table for these people. I just expected to hear a firm date announced at this point, which concerns me.Ah, but the cost of living payment is also for Decent Hardworking People. I could see them having to make it for people on benefits, but that would probably give them even more justification for reducing other benefits.
I've heard similar. A very clear sense of divide and rule. Tories love it of course.Unfortunately punishing claimants is popular with most of the electorate (and not just those who vote for the blue tories). The protestant work ethic is still very much with us (despite the strike wave and its not just confined to the right)
Btw I was in the bank earlier and I overheard an old fella being informed that he'd received a cost of living payment. But the bank clerk made sure to tell him that "its not for us workers though."
Fuck
Vulnerable woman lay dead in Surrey flat for more than three years
Laura Winham, 38, had severe mental illnesses and was ‘abandoned’ by NHS and social services, family allegewww.theguardian.com
That's supposed to be further cost of living payments this year, totalling 900£ iirc. Obviously one wood have to qualify.Has there been any movement to increase benefit rates in conjunction with the cost of living crisis? Not just the "standard" inflation increase in April.
It was already dire during austerity and now...this!