As people up and down the country are having protests against the proposed cuts disabled artist Jo Howell throws her hat into the ring.
Whilst I have never claimed disability benefits I have been disabled since around 2010 when my chronic pain condition started to become completely debilitating. Some days I’m ok. I can walk, I have the ability to dress and feed myself. Other days I can’t do any of that.
The safety net for millions of vulnerable people, none of whom chose their situation, is being dismantled.
I am also lucky in the respect that friends and family step up when I can’t. The condition is lifelong. There is no cure. I will likely get worse as the condition also seems to ruin my immune system.
On the days when it is bad I can’t talk properly, think properly or stand for long periods of time. When this happens I have to accept that my body will shut down quite often especially after physical work. It is devastating.
Throughout my working career I have worked with many groups with disabilities or poor mental health. In my experience there are very few who are simply there to fleece the system. All of the people I work with need the meagre assistance they receive to have good quality of life.
We are not grifting. We simply need more support to live equitable lives. We have rights. We have value. We are important.
The rhetoric from the UK government has been sickeningly obtuse and divisive. Dehumanising people who possibly can’t advocate for themselves is reprehensible. The proposed cuts are a false economy. Pushing vulnerable people into poverty will cause more strain on our services. Disabled people who can’t heat their house or eat adequate sustenance will end up being hospitalised more.
The DWP is an abomination. Ran by LTD companies and private sector. Paid commission for each assessment they rush through. Why are we outsourcing such important work?
All of our infrastructure is controlled by foreign companies due to Maggie Twatcher’s and John Minor ’s decentralisation of the UK’s railways, water companies, energy companies, NHS contractors, prisons and lots of important services. Important infrastructure was sold off without any real oversight. The arms length separation of the government from services has left the UK in a mess.
We pay over the odds for less efficient services due to this outsourcing. We leave our services at risk from businesses who have no reason to invest in this country. All the stuff bought out is being allowed to fall into disrepair. There is no impetus for these companies to ensure efficient and fair service. They have a captive audience.
The decision to outsource to LTD companies has been the biggest and most fraudulent aspect of local and national government since the 80’s. Friends of the government get contracts or manilla envelopes to grease the wheels and the country many of us were once proud of has become a shameful place. This is not a country we can be proud of at the moment.
Poor and selfish leadership has led us here. Sociopathic narcissists are now the only people who can manage to ‘stick-out’ jobs in politics. Taxpayers are busy paying for egos to do jobs when the ego of the self should be the last thing in mind.
Democracy and socialism are seemingly dead. The regime under Keir Starver has begun.
Labour rhetoric around disability and migration is already grotesque. They are Tories in disguise. This isn’t centrist. It’s right wing hate crime dished out from the top.
We need to mobilise and shout out the injustice. We must defend each other from the political classes who are destroying our humanity.
In the past I would have always voted Labour. I won’t again. Green all the way.
Labour doesn’t work.
I had so much hope that after many long suffering years under Tory rule that Labour would take us back to a caring democratic society.
Alas no.
The colour of the tie may be different but the mentality is the same. Except it’s worse really because of the betrayal and false hope.
I can’t help but imagine how much better all of our lives would have been if Jeremy Corbyn had been the prime minister to guide us through the pandemic?
It’s a sliding doors situation that keeps me awake at night.
Some names have been changed in this article for comedic value.