Rishi Sunak's speech

wkd

I think it's a ploy to get elected again. They could tackle the HUGE hotel bill for immigrants or they could help the younger, unemployed back to work (disabilities or illness allowing) with incentives and training and a safety net.   

To tell doctors they can't assess their patients is an insult to their profession and to ignore the feedback regarding this from the doctors is an even bigger insult. What next workhouses? 

I would love to have a part-time job from home to help with my MH, however, if I did that then they would say I am fit for work, but I am not well enough, after having a breakdown at work a couple of years ago and having several physical and mental disabilities.

Targeting over 50 like myself is just shambolic. I have to juggle my daily ailments, sometimes I can do certain things, and other times I can't even get out of bed due to pain or depression or both. The older I get the more the limitations affect me.  I would have been retiring next year if they hadn't messed around with the age at which women retire.  Hey ho, they are all as bad as each other, but I will not worry about something that has not happened yet, as I am sure it will change before it even happens and its all just propaganda.

Albus_Scope

Come on folks, let's not try blaming any other group for the issues we're currently facing, the press are trying to turn others into the bad guys.

Houses are not getting built for migrants or getting bought up for them, I think we should stop that rumour now. Yes there's an affordable housing problem, but that's down to the government again for selling off social housing to the private sector, whilst not wanting to build more affordable housing.

In my personal opinion, the government don't need to be looking at "helping" people with mental health issues back into work, they need to be addressing the root cause. We have so much technology that helps us be more productive, but are having to work more hours, for less pay. Which during a cost of living crisis is causing more people to suffer mental health issues. 

Remina

It's really upsetting and ironic that only last month the UK government was hauled before the UN and accused by the United Nations of demonising benefit claimants and treating us as 'undeserving citizens' 

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/un-committee-asks-government-why-are-you-demonising-disabled-people/

Yet here our government is again today, business as usual - demonising us and threatening us with their cruel rhetoric about us being 'economically inactive' burdens on society who must eventually begin to seek work or face consequences and sanctions if/when these reforms eventually take place. Those in government must understand that some sick/disabled people are struggling to exist, nevermind work. How can we call ourselves a first world country when we can't even provide an adequate welfare system for the most vulnerable in society?

It's sickening, really. 

pinkrose

Well it's a lot worse than I originally understood...I've just read on I.news that the "proposals will be published within the next few days",
 AND ACCORDING to sunak, the proposals include " removing pip payments and instead providing HOME ADAPTATIONS and MEDICAL CARE "....

wow, does he really think that most of us disabled don't have ADAPTATIONS to our homes  already ? I've been having 'MEDICAL CARE for years and it doesn't alter the fact that my 8  DIFFERENT AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES are PROGRESSIVE.

 So taking the pittance  that is pip away will only make life more difficult...but of course that is what 'Mr billionaire sunak' wants , to hear down the sick and disabled.

They don't give a damn about the sick and disabled and you'd be delusional to think labour are any different  !

pinkrose

I await the 'publication of these proposals in the next few days' with baited breath !

Albus_Scope

I find this new news really distasteful, it's just more 'divide and conquer' and I'm really hoping this doesn't happen. The DWP will publish a consultation next week regarding this. I'd encourage all disabled people to respond to this and share their views. 

JasonRA

I'll ask one last time just for assurance sake.

Will Sunak/Conservatives enact these plans IF they win the next election? Or are they enacting these plans right now?

Albus_Scope

They haven't even actioned anything yet, it's just what they want to do. So it'd not happen for a fair while as they have to do a consultation first, then submit it to the house of lords, then it'd need to be voted in.  I believe that's the route they need to take anyway? 

But the announcement will have put so much undue stress of everyone, so I hope you can all be gentle with yourselves and please know this is not happening any time soon, if at all.

rebel11

Albus_Scope said:

They haven't even actioned anything yet, it's just what they want to do. So it'd not happen for a fair while as they have to do a consultation first, then submit it to the house of lords, then it'd need to be voted in.  I believe that's the route they need to take anyway? 

But the announcement will have put so much undue stress of everyone, so I hope you can all be gentle with yourselves and please know this is not happening any time soon, if at all.

I caught 'Scope's' official comment on the plans, which was good to hear.
MIND also gave their comments. 

JasonRA

It dawned on me that Sunak also misrepresented PIP as an unemployment benefit, there are disabled people who work who receive PIP.

Rosedale50

A point that needs remembering in all of this is that for those of us with hidden disabilities (who already get a lot of grief from people because we 'look ok') will be demonised even more now whether the Tories win the election or more likely not. I've been subject to the 'scrounger' accusation on countless occasions despite always being open about having a very complex neuro condition (brain injury, epilepsy etc). Many like to think the worst, and Sunak's just further reinforced this stigmatisation.

apple85

To those wrongly or rightly verbally attacking other social groups I’d like to point you towards the last couple of chapters from ‘catching fire’ from the hunger games

Today I’m not angry at the boat migrants, any uk social group or even any of the uk public

im angry of the likes of sunak and stride who have chosen to ignore facts and reality in launching yet another top 10 entry of biggest attacks on the disabled in my lifetime and sickened by the fact of being made an example of to ‘entice’ voters and weaponise us against our will

but I’m furious at the top brass of Labour staying silent once again 

once again I will say that if the majority of disabled and their loved ones/carers signed up to vote and then voted as a block strategically (and by that I don’t necessarily mean vote Labour), mathematically we could have a major say of how the next government is shaped and give the likes of Labour (who’s current strategy is to win over far right voters) food for thought

JasonRA

I overthink things but when you feel like you're penned in, cornered, "othered" and ostracized what you do you think will happen? I'm so lucky to have a carer, some people are alone and they're reading these things, what do you think they feel?

This is incitement to hate which by the way is a crime under the malicious communications act but of course Sunak and Mel Stride and the Telegraph and Nigel Farage and the Daily Mail have carte blanche to say anything.

neil12345

LIVEDANDLEARNED said:

I’m so stressed about Rishi Sunak’s speech today. Getting PIP was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever been through, it was a nightmare. Now he’s talking about making it even harder. I have Multiple Sclerosis and severe anxiety, disassociation and PTSD. He’s gunning for us, he’s going to make it ever harder and it’s so stressful.

When will this come into effect?  A couple of years ? We're they going to find health care staff to issue fit notes.  If they stopped Mt benefits for not taking a job that's me homeless unable to pay rent and I will starve ..they'll be some who will commit suicide.  Just hope it will take a couple of years before it's starts 

apple85

woodbine said:

Labour have no thought about putting forward their plans until an election is called and they publish their manifesto, as for winning over far right voters they have no need to do that they can leave them to reform uk who are currently out polling the Liberals but will win not a single seat.

I agree with you

the far right (prehaps 5mil of the population, I don’t know) are already being courted by the tories and reform, both whom are much better placed than Labour to get that specific

the disabled (16mil in theory) + family member carers (add a few mil) however not one party is trying to court

tories have practically said they don’t want the disabled vote

Labour at best seem disinterested in our vote (liz Kendall as shadow work & pensions minister- that’s practically a middle finger)

I guess I’m legit asking if cracking the whip on the disabled is an effective strategy in attracting large numbers of the British voting public? (Serious question)

kimkenzie202

I'm not letting this bother me, I can't see the Tories getting reelected, although Labour is bad they tend to be more favourable to the disabled than they are the unemployed. Until it's confirmed to be happening try not to worry. 

rebel11

The Tories has factions within the party, you have the following Groups: (PLEASE NOTE THIS POST CONTAINS ARTISTIC LICENSE:-

The BIG Group,
The USUAL CONS Group,
The SLEAZE Group,
The RIGHT CARRY ON Group,
The USUAL SPIN Group,
and
The I'VE RUN OUT OF IDEAS Group.  

 

apple85

as much as I respect that many forum members are trying to calm down people over yesterdays announcements, managed migration for esa only/esa + hb starting in earlier than 2028 may not be the most up to date info anymore

let me first say that details are thin on the ground and there’s nothing concrete at this point

below is an update of what we ‘know’ (and it’s not even know - it’s barely roughly indicated) so far about a possible acceleration of managed migration (I do respect those saying not to panic before it happens but I also think that thinking potentially leaves some caught out of the blue, no warning and it helps some to know dates and to mentally prepare for the worst - even if it doesn’t happen - but that’s my opinion)

sunak posted this last night:

Can’t get more official but zero details (as in no official gov statement explaining things)

This tweet from someone who works in the uc department for the gov posted this which has many worried



Bad news this guy is in a position to know this type of info
however once again there are next to know details (in fact the guy says they need to work with stakeholders on the details - implying details may not exist currently and this is a rough updated target at this point)

so I turn to logic and guesstimates IF the dec2025 rollout end date revision becomes official

i draw you to the confirmed rollout timetable as of 2 days back:


 

Logically I can’t see the dwp confirming or starting any further rollout groups (aka esa only/ esa+hb) till the last official rollout group before us (see bullet point in screenshot) has been completed (right now sept 2024 is the latest point which that group will receive a migration notice inviting them to make a claim for uc within 3 months)

now if the dwp have any organisation skills at all they’ll want to complete migration of this group before moving on to group that was 2028/29 migration start

so logically they wouldn’t start on our group till sept 2024 + 3 months (so December 2024 in theory……..sept 2024 v earliest if they’ve lost all logic)

However we know we have to have an election no later than January 2025
a January election is pretty unlikely as it means campaigning over Xmas (which will p*** off the public doing that in holiday season and lose the tories further ‘goodwill - same logic with a mid to late December election date)

Odds are the election will most likely be in October or November 2024 - before my logic based uc rollout prediction date of dec 2024
even if the dwp cast the net earlier than that we’ve still got 3 months after receiving the migration notice to make the switch and I’m 95% certain an election would of happened within that time and if Labour are in charge they may have the common sense to reverse these newly announced policies asap so they never happen

Lastly it’s 50/50 whether sunak will still be Tory leader come the general election

his announcement yesterday were not only GE manifesto stuff but also voting fodder for the may 2nd local elections (meaning we have an early opportunity to show our distaste at the voting booths) 

there’s a good chance of a no confidence vote in may/june (or prehaps sunak will have the guts to call an early election to stop a coup)

basically it’s next to impossible for sunak to set any policy in stone right now and everything as of now is not officially confirmed and only provisional 


hope that all makes sense and sorry about the post length

Ironside1990

Reckon Rishi Sunak is scared of not being in power and is pulling policies out of his backside without any proper thought. I am not worried about any change to my benefits. It is not a lifestyle choice! It's there to make it easier to live in a society that isn't designed for us.

He is so out of touch. It is unreal! 

apple85

Ironside1990 said:

Reckon Rishi Sunak is scared of not being in power and is pulling policies out of his backside without any proper thought. I am not worried about any change to my benefits. It is not a lifestyle choice! It's there to make it easier to live in a society that isn't designed for us.

He is so out of touch. It is unreal! 

Sunak for months now have been using papers like the times, telegraph and mail to paint the disabled as not actually disabled at all, liars, scroungers, not trying hard enough, it’s all in our imagination, etc…..

this narrative has been pushed so that the general public become ‘aware’ of the disabled and ‘educate’ them that most on sickness benefits aren’t actually disabled, are almost bullying our way to an award (ie the mail story of gps feeling pressured to write fit notes in fear of being smears by claimant - ludicrous on so many levels) and we just aren’t pulling our weight and it’s time to load us up

the tactic is to sell this portrayal of those on sickness benefits and disabled so when the time came the tories could paint themselves as ‘knights of justice’ only carrying out the will of the people (basically (and ignore your personal viewpoint of this social group for the next point) the same narrative as the migrant boat situation)