WCA consultation ruled unlawful - White paper, part 2

System
System Posts: 186 Online Community Programme Lead
This discussion was created from comments split from: Official thread: ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper released Tuesday 26th November.
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Comments

  • secretsquirrel1
    secretsquirrel1 Online Community Member Posts: 29 Connected

    I just read on The guardian that Ellen Clifford has won her case . I don’t know how to post a link unfortunately but the judge said the consultation was misleading and unlawful.

  • lizptsd
    lizptsd Online Community Member Posts: 162 Empowering

    I don't know whether this helps but the Ellen Clifford High Court win today shows some positivity. I don't want to be shut down in flames for mentioning it.

  • Remina
    Remina Online Community Member Posts: 217 Empowering

    Ellen did us all proud with her victory.

    Frustratingly however, the new government seem to be very stubborn about acheiving the cuts to disability benefit.

    Shortly after the announcement of Ellen's victory, a government spokesperson has responded :

    “The judge has found the previous government failed to adequately explain their proposals. As part of wider reforms that help people into work and ensure fiscal sustainability this government will re-consult on the WCA descriptor changes, addressing the shortcomings in the previous consultation, in light of the judgment. The government intends to deliver the full level of savings in the public finances forecasts.”

    So, this indicates that the labour government intend to simply just hold another consultation and push ahead with the original Tory plans to reform the WCA.

    Despite Ellen's victory and despite the fact that the previous government was told by the EHRC that they had been found to have comitted violations against the rights of sick/disabled people in the UK, I find it very disappointing that they STILL seem hell bent on pushing forward with these reckless reforms.

    I'm keeping positive, but I feel we still have a long battle ahead of us..

  • mangomungo
    mangomungo Online Community Member Posts: 85 Empowering

    I think if they push them through it’ll bring down the government. Those with the broadest shoulders Starmer said, that’s not the mentally ill or the disabled and would they be able to do it without challenge from newer labour MPs - who are at risk of losing their seat? The equality act protects anyone with a disability and there was a reason the Tories wanted out of the ECHR, because I think they’d be hard pressed to plunge hundreds of thousands into poverty under the backlash of the winter fuel allowance. If they do decide to push ahead with it it’s nothing but spite and cruelty because they now can’t deny the damage it would do

  • lizptsd
    lizptsd Online Community Member Posts: 162 Empowering

    I don't know and I'm tired like everyone is. Too much speculation too much negativity despite a victory in the high courts. I'm just trying to be hopeful but everyone is constantly being negative no wonder I dropped out of the forum for a while. We will just have to wait and respond to the consultation. Not enough people did last year despite the odds. It's our responsibility to stand up for each other. Take care of yourselves x

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,767 Championing

    I'd ignore the dwp response to today's great result tbh, they'll be back in court if they go there, just throwing their rattles because they've realised they aren't above the law and can't do what they like.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 560 Pioneering

    Saw on gb news website that the court case could stop reeves cutting pip etc. Not sure how true this is

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,767 Championing

    Although (obviously) they will never admit it publicly, you can bet that behind closed doors this win has seriously worried them and the public defiance is just saving face.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    Yes it's terrifying

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    @Nightcity I imagine they would've prepared for something like this.They have their spin Dr's to address things.The scary thing is once the Bill is passed there is absolutely nothing anyone can do,aside from voice their protests.I think it only speaks to how determined they are to go ahead with it,to their reply after a High Court Judgement.I

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    I'm interested to know has there ever been public protest or outcry that has changed the course of a major Government Legislation?.It didn't work with the Winter Fuel for the Elderly,let's see if it works for the Farmers.

  • mangomungo
    mangomungo Online Community Member Posts: 85 Empowering

    I’d say it’s put a big spanner in the works to her plans, she put an awful budget out that went down like a sack of poo and her plan was to cut benefits to fix it, there’ll be a massive legal battle now (even bigger than it would have been before the ruling) and I truly don’t think she’ll be able to touch it now, and that’s coming from me who has been petrified by these cuts lol. Ellen Clifford has made me feel a lot better if I’m honest

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    There is an article on The Big Issue News where seem very informed of what has been going on and the Government's intention

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,767 Championing

    I know it's hard, but try to forget it because this will delay everything significantly even if it happens now, you'll have at least 5 years before this affects you.

    At the end of the day you are seriously ill people who have a hard enough life as it is let the law and advocates keep that lot in their box.

    and yes there's a few times the governments backed down, one example is in 2016, Damian Green tried to axe the ESA support group, it backfired hugely and it got dropped.

  • mangomungo
    mangomungo Online Community Member Posts: 85 Empowering

    I was looking last night and even George Osborne backed down in 2015 over the extremist cuts he was going to make, then we have to remember all the u turns the last government made aswell. Thank you for your kind words they’re always appreciated

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    I don't see how it would take 5 years to affect me as they want to implement it immediately.With results to be seen over that period of time but from what I can take from information I'm seeing is it will all be done via the u.c system and Rolled out through work coaches through local areas.I just want to be pro active rather than ignore what seems to be inevitable as they have obviously spent a long time covering all bases knowing there would be such strong opposition to this and the very obvious detrimental affects it will have unyet they are STILL going ahead.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    I was told before "don't worry,U.c won't come into affect until 2028 with your particular set of circumstances etc etc".That was all brought forward.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 2,259 Championing

    Jane with white & green papers there is a legal process to follow. That legal process takes a long time.

    They were able to withdraw the Winter Fuel Payment so quickly because it was a government perk, not something protected within legislation like welfare benefits are.

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    Ok so let's hope then it'll all be withdrawn

  • Jane315STARX
    Jane315STARX Online Community Member Posts: 447 Empowering

    Or atleast something else put forward