campaign against welfare cuts and poverty

[audiotech]

Benefit Rates for 2013 - 2014

 

[UhOhSeven]

As a newcomer to these parts, I thought it might not be a bad idea to read up on some interesting-looking threads.

Last night, I read this one from start to finish over several hours.

Christ.

 

[treelover]

Good for you, do you mean shocking in the severity of the cuts, level of harassment, etc?

 

[UhOhSeven]

Precisely that.

 

[treelover]

Smith is at it again, in the Telegraph, claiming "over a million people on benefits could work", interestingly journos seem to be getting their critical faculties back: on the paper reviews, one said it was aimed as "a distraction from Thursdays news that we may be in a triple dip recession", another said it was "a pre-emptive strike before UC comes in", even Digby Jones agreed there were no jobs, I think his propaganda is weakening...

 

[Frankie Jack]

Smith is like a broken fucking record with his bullshit.

 

[weepiper]

4,300 people apply for 150 Tesco jobs

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...apply-just-150-vacancies-new-Tesco-store.html

Aye, so even if a million people on benefits could work, it wouldn't do them much fucking good.

 

[treelover]

what is the mail up to? one minute it savages dole scroungers, then it posts a good and revealing article like this?

damn, the bar of shame is bloody addictive!

 

[BigTom]

Smith is at it again, in the Telegraph, claiming "over a million people on benefits could work", interestingly journos seem to be getting their critical faculties back: on the paper reviews, one said it was aimed as "a distraction from Thursdays news that we may be in a triple dip recession", another said it was "a pre-emptive strike before UC comes in", even Digby Jones agreed there were no jobs, I think his propaganda is weakening...

This article is just nonsense, as if the fact that people have worked recently is evidence that people don't want to work

 

[Tai Chi Italy]

I dunno about anyone else, but I'm sick of seeing people say "why doesn't someone do something" (yes, I know actually some people are, but y'know...).

Let's do something. I'm in south London. What I'd like to see is ideas for tactics/strategy on this thread and to arrange an initial meeting.

Anyone up for it? Or am I pissing in the wind?

Hi folks....I can't actually attend a demonstration against this government and its cuts to social welfare, but as a writer, I can write and have written an article and wondered what other people think? This is a good place to ask, as I had a good response to my first article for my blog called 'The Bedroom Tax' It is still being read and every time it is read, hopefully, some good will come from it. Here's the link, please leave any comments and feel free to share.http://outrageousfortunesbytaichiitaly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/a-fairer-society_13.html

This is what I am doing! It may not be much, but it is something.

 

[Blagsta]

You know after all my moaning about not doing anything, i haven't done much. Other things got in the way

 

[Tai Chi Italy]

You know after all my moaning about not doing anything, i haven't done much. Other things got in the way

Yes, life does tend to get in the way. That's why I love writing....once I have it down in print, it is 'there', in ya face and not going away. I did manage to attend my first demo since a teen against the Bedroom Tax. It was in my local area of Cornwall, so very low key!! but I did enjoy it...especially watching people steer around me to avoid a leaflet or signing the petition I was trying to shuv in their faces!lol

 

[BigTom]

Smith is at it again, in the Telegraph, claiming "over a million people on benefits could work", interestingly journos seem to be getting their critical faculties back: on the paper reviews, one said it was aimed as "a distraction from Thursdays news that we may be in a triple dip recession", another said it was "a pre-emptive strike before UC comes in", even Digby Jones agreed there were no jobs, I think his propaganda is weakening...

Full Fact demolishes the figures:

http://fullfact.org/factchecks/are_a_million_people_fit_to_work_yet_living_on_benefits-28895

of the 1 mill, 187k are on ESA (wrag) and therefore not "fit to work". 117k are in the assessment phase for ESA, and mostly IB claimants.
No account is made of the appeal rate for ESA
Of the other 700k, there's no way of knowing which benefits they've been on in the past four years, many of them might well have been IB/ESA claimants.

So the numbers are wrong AND the analysis of the numbers is wrong

 

[Treacle Toes]

David Cameron's young sidekick claims families use food banks so they can spend cash in the pub

25 Apr 2013 00:00

He blurted out his comments after he was challenged over claims Mr Cameron had made misleading remarks about his local food bank

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-camerons-young-sidekick-claims-1852193​

​

​

That's us rumbled then ​

 

[Tai Chi Italy]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-camerons-young-sidekick-claims-1852193


That's us rumbled then

What a load of old tosh! I know where I am coming from, and I have starved many a time rather than use a food bank! Its my pride! It just won't allow me to practically beg for food. I have often wished I could do it, but I just can't. I thank god for providing such life saving facilities for those that simply have no choice. KIds must be fed!!! As to spending money in Pubs!lol what a joke....most pubs are losing money due to the 'no smoking ban' They have lost the heart of the community. They used to be a place where people would meet and socialise. Now, I would imagine, not even those working and earning a crust can afford to use them.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

As a newcomer to these parts, I thought it might not be a bad idea to read up on some interesting-looking threads.

Last night, I read this one from start to finish over several hours.

Christ.

Blimey

I'd have just strolled in and ask for a summary

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sheila Gilmore wants an inquiry to look into the misuse of statistics

An influential Commons committee could be set to investigate the use of misleading statistics on disability benefits by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ministers.

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith and his colleague Esther McVey, the minister for disabled people, have been criticised in the last month for using misleading statistics on disability living allowance (DLA) to try to justify their welfare reforms.

They were the latest in a long list of examples of Conservative DWP ministers being criticised for misusing figures about disability benefits.
Now a Labour member of the work and pensions select committee has said enough is enough.

Sheila Gilmore told Disability News Service that the practice “has to stop”.

http://disabilitynewsservice.com/20...e-ministers-misleading-use-of-benefits-stats/

 

[treelover]

shame they it wasn't 'enough' when NL were doing the same, but it is a start...

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

shame they it wasn't 'enough' when NL were doing the same, but it is a start...

tbf, Sheila Gilmore has been very good at attending debates and speaking up on disability/bedroom tax etc., one of the few Labour MPs that has done so

 

[treelover]

Group members - we're having serious problems - we're having to use 6 different computers & different modems - Facebook, the government, Atos Origin & the Job Centre Plus are trying to cause us so many problems in preventing us informing our group members - sorry guys we will continue best we can.

HOW CAN YOU HELP ?? - Group members share everything - let them know we will NOT be silenced! Facebo...ok is trying to cause problems for our group members, with the use of 'Captcha' - its all about 'preventing' group members from sharing information will other friends.

Just like Tom Pride & Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign in Defence of Disability Rights - we are all being blocked or having major obstacles thrown in our way.


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Respect-For-the-Unemployed-Benefit-Claimants/128136787240200?fref=ts

Urgent, all the various FB pages on benefits, bedroom tax, atos, etc are saying they are being harrased, having posts deleted, whole pages disappearing, not sure what to make of it all

 

[treelover]

http://sampb.co.uk/politics/jobcentre-plus-and-facebook-join-forces-to-block-political-websites/

Jonny Void says it is all rubbish though..

 

[Treacle Toes]

History repeating


The impact of welfare reform on social housing tenants will depend on where they live. Keith Cooper investigates if the localisation of the welfare system marks a return to the 19th century poor law

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/history-repeating/6526679.article

 

[weepiper]

More relevant than the Rich List

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investiga...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I see shop staff aren't on there though. Very uncommon for that to be paid significantly more than min wage. I'm earning less than any of the jobs on that list

 

[Treacle Toes]

Planning permission has been granted for five years, with the contaminated land not considered suitable for permanent housing.

So its ok to make people live on contaminated land now as long as its only for 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-22306838

 

[Tai Chi Italy]

I assume this came from here! http://www.urban75.org/blog/heavily...pletely-outnumbered-by-counter-demonstrators/. Shame these thugs have taken over the tradition of what 'St Georges Day' really is about, ie Britishness in all it's ethnic shades! It's what we're known for! Multi-cultural reality. Interesting that the counter demonstration has 4 times as many supporters. What a waste of money re the security presence! Far better ways to spend it....

 

[Tai Chi Italy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-22306838

waste not want contaminated land! lol

 

[Treacle Toes]

News from Camden United for Benefit Justice (CUBJ)

All welcome!!!

TWO SELF-HELP WORKSHOPS on:

*Housing Benefit & Bedroom Tax
*Council Tax Benefit
*Sickness & Disability Benefits
*Carer’s Allowance
*Child Benefit
*Social Fund & Emergency Help
*Tenancies & Evictions
*Sanctions w Workfare
*Service Cuts & Closures
*Debt
*Poverty & Food Banks
*Children taken into care

Wednesday 8th May 2013

Venue: Crossroads Women's Centre
25 Wolsey Mews, Kentish Town, NW5 2DX (5-8.30pm)

5-6.30pm - Defend your rights! Guidance on individual cases by community and professional advocates.

7-8.30pm - Defend everyone's rights! Supporting everyone's rights in Camden and nationally - Open discussion on how to campaign as a community to effectively challenge the cuts, including how the law is being used to defeat the welfare reforms!

The Self-Help Workshop follows a community Speak-out in Camden Town Hall, attended by 250 people!!! Thousands have been marching against the bedroom tax, the closures of hospitals and services. A 1,000 Mothers March for Justice in Haringey highlighted how women and children are bearing the brunt of the cuts. The mansion of Lord Freud, who spearheaded the bedroom tax, was picketed. Legal challenges are taking place and being won around the country!!! Councillors Against Cuts (a national campaign of Labour Cllrs) are refusing to implement the welfare cuts . . .

The campaign is also appealing to other community organisations to get involved and help challenge the cuts!!!

A second CUBJ Self-Help workshop will be taking place on Saturday 1st June 2013 at Somers Town Community Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1EE (11am-3pm)

For more information contact:

Camden United for Benefit Justice camdenunitedforbenefitjustice@yahoo.com

Camden Association of Street Properties (CASP) camdenstreetproperties@yahoo.co.uk

Camden Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations 020 7383 2227

Single Mothers’ Self-Defence / WinVisible at Crossroads Women’s Centre 020 7482 2496

Sign language interpreters / If you need translation let us know!

 

[Treacle Toes]

Tenants to take to streets to protest against 'exploitation'

Londoners will take to the streets tomorrow to protest against "rip off fees", spiralling rents and the "exploitation" of private tenants by letting agents.

http://www.24dash.com/news/housing/...ke-to-streets-to-protest-against-exploitation

 

[BigTom]

http://sampb.co.uk/politics/jobcentre-plus-and-facebook-join-forces-to-block-political-websites/

Jonny Void says it is all rubbish though..

Someone commented on the Birmingham Against The Cuts blog saying it'd be marked as spam by Facebook, around IDS' (cancelled) visit to Smethwick JCP. Didn't think anything of it at the time really.

 

[BigTom]

West Mids council's say they are "missing essential information about benefit changes" http://www.birminghampost.net/news/...enefits-changes-warn-of-chaos-65233-33241004/

The benefits system is being thrown into chaos because local councils are expected to oversee radical changes without essential information from Whitehall, Midland authorities have warned.

Even Department for Work and Pension officials don’t understand how aspects of the new benefit system actually work, authorities said.

Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils issued the blunt warning in a joint statement to a Commons inquiry.

They said councils “have found it very difficult to obtain information regarding many of the reforms” – even though they are supposed to be carrying them out.

And the authorities warned they were struggling to meet the cost of overseeing changes to the benefit system, including installing new computer software and training staff, at the same time as coping with cuts to their own budgets.