Another Tired Kicking For The Sick And Disabled By Rishi

Good Question.

Some doctors have been approached for an opinion. Those interviewed were not opposed to the idea - in principle - of other professionals taking on the role, as long as they were properly trained. It would ease their workload.

Another said, It's important they are supportive to patients, understand their needs and take a personalised approach.

Hmm, they will certainly be properly trained, but I doubt their mandate will be one which is particularly "supportive to patients".

I'm cynical because we've already seen how the DWP behave towards quite a few claimants who have been deemed fit for work but subsequent events have proved they were anything but.

It would be lovely if there was a real and genuine move to help the sick and disabled find work that was both suitable to their abilities and paid enough to reduce the benefits bill.

If you look at the jobs market, particularly in the unskilled sector, the jobs on offer are pretty poorly paid, and the hours are not guaranteed as the employer is responding to market forces so needs the upper hand when it comes to deciding when you work or how many hours you work. These are the jobs that need filling and which I think Sunak is hoping that people will be pushed into doing.

What's more, I think the very vulnerable sick and disabled will be those that suffer most from this new initiative.

It's pretty desperate stuff from a government that is trying to woo the public back into the fold, flailing around looking for policies and moves that will win them over. What does it say about a government that has to resort to finding scapegoats to bolster its poll-ratings...

Just a little plea to all the lovely ladies on here, echoing others sentiments, women literally died (well one at least did), went to prison and protested to get us the vote, please use it, even it it’s just to spoil your ballot paper!

Dickens

Good Question.

Some doctors have been approached for an opinion. Those interviewed were not opposed to the idea - in principle - of other professionals taking on the role, as long as they were properly trained. It would ease their workload.

Another said, It's important they are supportive to patients, understand their needs and take a personalised approach.

Hmm, they will certainly be properly trained, but I doubt their mandate will be one which is particularly "supportive to patients".

I'm cynical because we've already seen how the DWP behave towards quite a few claimants who have been deemed fit for work but subsequent events have proved they were anything but.

It would be lovely if there was a real and genuine move to help the sick and disabled find work that was both suitable to their abilities and paid enough to reduce the benefits bill.

If you look at the jobs market, particularly in the unskilled sector, the jobs on offer are pretty poorly paid, and the hours are not guaranteed as the employer is responding to market forces so needs the upper hand when it comes to deciding when you work or how many hours you work. These are the jobs that need filling and which I think Sunak is hoping that people will be pushed into doing.

What's more, I think the very vulnerable sick and disabled will be those that suffer most from this new initiative.

It's pretty desperate stuff from a government that is trying to woo the public back into the fold, flailing around looking for policies and moves that will win them over. What does it say about a government that has to resort to finding scapegoats to bolster its poll-ratings...

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Cossy

Just a little plea to all the lovely ladies on here, echoing others sentiments, women literally died (well one at least did), went to prison and protested to get us the vote, please use it, even it it’s just to spoil your ballot paper!

I really think it's time we had an option on our ballot paper where we could actively choose "None of the Above."

If we don't vote at all the cry goes up that we're apathetic.
If we're reduced to spoiling our ballot paper it just seems childish.

"None of the Above" would be a positive statement of opinion that might make MPs stop and think.

If we're reduced to spoiling our ballot paper it just seems childish.

"Spoiling the ballot paper" means that one is voting for "none of the above". The expression shouldn't be taken literally as in a childish strop. By, for example, putting a cross by everyone's name, or a large cross through the whole sheet, one is "spoiling the ballot" – that is, making one's vote technically invalid but still worth counting for information about voters' views.

The proportion of spolied ballot papers in a count is a useful piece of information.

Not bothering to vote at all is a sign of apathy as often as not and perhaps feeds politicians' superiority complexes about the plebs not knowing their own minds.

I wonder how many jobs would be available to people who have a record of being off sick. There are plenty of healthy well people to do the jobs so who will they choose.
This will add extra stress to people who are already suffering with ill health.

Baggs

*If we're reduced to spoiling our ballot paper it just seems childish.*

"Spoiling the ballot paper" means that one is voting for "none of the above". The expression shouldn't be taken literally as in a childish strop. By, for example, putting a cross by everyone's name, or a large cross through the whole sheet, one is "spoiling the ballot" – that is, making one's vote technically invalid but still worth counting for information about voters' views.

We have a vote for Police and Crime Commissioner soon and previously I've spoilt y ballot paper because I didn't agree with another layer of bureaucracy being forced on us.
However, seeing how some members of police forces behave lately, I think perhaps they are needed.

I do wonder if the decision to try to cute the welfare bill has something to do with Hunt’s budget announcement of cutting NI.

Next he will turn his attention to state pensions - no doubt - but not before the election of course (political suicide) - as they are now classed as “benefits”.

I have been out of contact for a few days so have only seen reactions to the announcement not the announcement itself.

What puzzled me is not the perceived need for long term unemployment related work absences needing help, but how will this work when you perhaps need 2 weeks off to recover from a severe virus, or COVID? Surely by the tine you will be seen you will be back at work.

Similarly what about longer cases where unemployment isn't an issue. Some years ago DD was off work for 2 months following a road accident. he employment wasn't an issue, she had a job, and was still being paid. Many big corporations will hold jobs open for months if someone has an illness, like cancer that needs long term treatment.

Many big corporations will hold jobs open for months if someone has an illness, like cancer that needs long term treatment.

Yes. Two of my daughters were paid during cancerous illnesses. One for a few months and one for a year.

Twice in recent years I have needed 8 or 9 weeks off work while a broken bone healed. I was paid throughout those weeks.

The point is - it isn’t going to work.

AGAA4

I wonder how many jobs would be available to people who have a record of being off sick. There are plenty of healthy well people to do the jobs so who will they choose.
This will add extra stress to people who are already suffering with ill health.

I wonder how many jobs would be available to people who have a record of being off sick. There are plenty of healthy well people to do the jobs so who will they choose.

There is that, too.

I suppose it depends on the job itself - if it's an enticing position there might be more than one applicant and so, yes, who does the employer choose, realistically? Of course, there are companies committed to - I don't quite know what the slogan is - diversity / equal opportunity, our local garden centre (part of a chain) is one such and a short visit will prove the policy in action; however, the hours are not guaranteed and therefore presents the increasing problem of the employee not being able to budget together with the other problem of juggling another job if that is required to fill quota hours.

It's a complex issue which Sunak has refused to acknowledge in favour of simplistic scapegoating because he knows full well that it will have an appeal... fortunately, not for everyone though.

The Tories wanted a flexible labour force enabling employers to respond to market forces. This is the result, lots of crappy low-paid jobs which no-one wants - even the fit and healthy move from job to job in order to find a better deal from those employers who in desperation offer better pay and conditions.

Another aspect of this dog-whistle mantra sick-note culture is that it will possibly further encourage discrimination and abuse against the sick and disabled. Culture wars... a few years back it was pensioners who a handful of Tories thought should be working-for-their-pensions because they were well off at the expense of the young, the inter-generational-war - I think they were trying to get the young workers on their side but it fizzled out when it became obvious they were going to lose too many voters.

... Perhaps they, Tories, should try something more positive to get voters on their side like, oh, I don't know, looking at long-term, meaningful, initiatives to deal with the overwhelming problems in the NHS? Which is in everyone's interest.

Oh - get rid of the man. He’s awful. Not even voted into his position, either.

Meanwhile a scheme to help disabled people get jobs has been axed
www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/21/help-disabled-people-england-wales-jobs-axed-benefits-crackdown?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I remember visiting a factory when I was taking my library qualifications. It was manned mostly by disabled, downs syndrome and others with limited abilities. I could see how much those people enjoyed their jobs and the company of colleagues. That has long gone now along with similar places so where do those people go for work now, Rishi?

Closure of the Remploy factories started when Labour was in power with the last one closing in 2013.
www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/30/remploy-factories-close-disabled-workers

vegansrock

Meanwhile a scheme to help disabled people get jobs has been axed
www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/21/help-disabled-people-england-wales-jobs-axed-benefits-crackdown?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Sunak said that Britain had a “sicknote culture” and blamed the problem of “young people … parked on welfare”, although the majority of people receiving statutory sick pay are women over 50 working part-time, according to the Resolution Foundation.

... "young people, parked on welfare"... it's 'buzzy' isn't it? Just the right slogan to court the popular vote.

If it's a correct analysis that the majority of people receiving stat. sick pay are women over 50 working part-time, then it proves that Sunak is relying on cheap and nasty dirty politics in order for the Tories to stay in power. Honestly - I had a little faith in him initially (though I'm not a Tory voter) and believed he was a bit more honest and up-front, but he's just another Lee Anderson, only better educated and with sharper suits. And is quite clearly competing with him on the same level.

V3ra

Cossy

Just a little plea to all the lovely ladies on here, echoing others sentiments, women literally died (well one at least did), went to prison and protested to get us the vote, please use it, even it it’s just to spoil your ballot paper!

I really think it's time we had an option on our ballot paper where we could actively choose "None of the Above."

If we don't vote at all the cry goes up that we're apathetic.
If we're reduced to spoiling our ballot paper it just seems childish.

"None of the Above" would be a positive statement of opinion that might make MPs stop and think.

Now that must become an option surely. Then what would that do, would it mean all those who were up for election have to drop out. Then start again. Be rather costly.

I think the ‘young people parked on welfare’ are those who don’t work and maybe have never done so . Obviously not those who are completely unable to work. The women over 50 working part time are probably those not sufficiently well to work full time, but they are in the labour market and productive.

nanna8

Oh - get rid of the man. He’s awful. Not even voted into his position, either.

He was elected, as much as you dislike the fact, as per Party rules, as was Starmer, by Mps and online party members vote.
It is the party that is elected in a GE, not the leader of.

Freya5

nanna8

Oh - get rid of the man. He’s awful. Not even voted into his position, either.

He was elected, as much as you dislike the fact, as per Party rules, as was Starmer, by Mps and online party members vote.
It is the party that is elected in a GE, not the leader of.

But we haven't had an election with him as party leader.

I think he's marginally better than the Australian PM nanna8!

Germanshepherdsmum

Closure of the Remploy factories started when Labour was in power with the last one closing in 2013.
www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/30/remploy-factories-close-disabled-workers

Thanks GSM. I'd forgotten how very old I am. It doesn't seem that long ago. Labour have done their share of damage.

No, it doesn’t seem so long ago. I was surprised when I looked it up. We had a Remploy factory in the little market town where I last lived. Now a housing estate. I have often wondered what happened to the people who worked there. It gave them dignity and purpose.

Closing Remploy was another of those short term save a bit of money, wreck a lot of lives moves.
It’s more difficult for people with say learning difficulties to work now, so little unskilled work. Every factory or big office had eg floor sweepers as long term employees