Green Paper Discussion - includes accessible formats and consultation event sign up links!

1565759616268

Comments

  • YogiBear
    YogiBear Community Member Posts: 410 Pioneering

    *This is for information purposes from Benefits and Work Site under News and I thought it would be good for people to know*

    News

    Campaign update: MS Society survey, Westminster Hall debate, mass lobby of parliament

    We wanted to alert readers to some current Green Paper campaigning events happening soon – please share any others you are aware of and keep updated on our What You Can Do page.

    Multiple Sclerosis Society survey

    Charles Gillies from the MS Society has been in touch to say:

    “We would like to invite all people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) across the UK to take part in a survey about the government’s proposed changes to disability benefits, including to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

    We are very concerned about the proposed changes and the potential negative impact on many people with MS. So, we’re doing this work to gather lots of information and evidence so we can represent the voice of people with MS in our campaigning activity against the cuts and in our response to the government.

    If you wish to complete our survey, you must be over 18 years old, live in the UK, and have MS.

    If you’re not living with MS, but know someone who is, it would be great if you could share the survey with them.

     The survey should take around 10 minutes to complete. You can access it here.

    We really appreciate you giving time to share your experiences. If you have any questions about the survey please don’t hesitate to contact us at evidence@mssociety.org.uk.”

    Westminster Hall Debate, 7 May:  Personal Independence Payment and disabled people

    A Westminster Hall debate on Personal Independence Payment and disabled people is scheduled for Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 2:30pm. The debate will be led by Diane Abbott MP.

    More details on the Parliament website

    Mass lobby against benefits cuts, Westminster 21 May

    A mass lobby of parliament organized by Coalition Against Benefit Cuts, Disabled People Against Cuts, Disability Rights UK, WellAdapt Co-Sponsors: Richard Burgon MP and Neil Duncan Jordan MP.

    A Mass Lobby is where a group arranges a large number of meetings between constituents and MPs for the same time. This is an opportunity to push MPs to vote against these cuts, to show the strength of support and to take up visible space in Westminster.

    More details from DPAC


  • Albus_Alumni
    Albus_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 11,373 Championing

    Thanks for sharing @YogiBear it's great to see other charities and people are mobilising 😁

  • sarah_lea12
    sarah_lea12 Community Member Posts: 448 Empowering

    No worries , but it was in response to the constant ranting of Trump asylum seekers etc . Can you remove those comments too , or do we have to keep seeing them on this thread all the time ?

  • sarah_lea12
    sarah_lea12 Community Member Posts: 448 Empowering

    moderators . DO WE NEED TO KEEP SEEING POSTS ABOUT TRUMP ON HERE , CAN YOU REMOVE THOSE TOO AS I FIND THEM TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS FORUM , HE ISN'T ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE UK .

  • Albus_Alumni
    Albus_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 11,373 Championing

    If the comments go against the house rules, they will be removed @sarah_lea12 but this will now be the third time we've asked people to draw a line under this. We'd really like the conversation to stay on track please, as this is a very important topic. 😊

    If anyone wishes to discuss things further, please email community@scope.org.uk

  • sarah_lea12
    sarah_lea12 Community Member Posts: 448 Empowering

    I completely agree with you and that is why i said what i did , never meant to break the rules , but it seemed like two members were just posting the same thing over and again . It seems to be on a few threads too .

  • Albus_Alumni
    Albus_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 11,373 Championing

    If you see things that you think are against the house rules, please use the report function on the comment in question (the little flag bit in the bottom left) and we can deal with things that way @sarah_lea12 😊

  • sarah_lea12
    sarah_lea12 Community Member Posts: 448 Empowering

    Ah okay thanks , I did make a thread asking so might need deleting now . I thought the flag function was to highlight a post , I am new to this so making some mistakes , I'm sorry lol

  • Albus_Alumni
    Albus_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 11,373 Championing

    Hah, yes I've just seen that discussion. I'll just make that go away then. Nothing to see here folks! 😆

    And please, don't worry, we all have different ways of communicating, so the community can take a bit of getting used to as we all communicate in our own, unique ways. 😊

  • sarah_lea12
    sarah_lea12 Community Member Posts: 448 Empowering

    @Catherine21 not sure why but it has been happening since yesterday .

  • noonebelieves
    noonebelieves Community Member Posts: 677 Championing

    Hi @egister,

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope you don’t mind me saying-I’m just a bit confused and not very politically savvy, so I’d really appreciate it if you could kindly elaborate on your post a little more .

    In particular, it would really help if you could explain:

       •   Which authorities you’re referring to-do you mean MPs, government departments(parliament , Local Government Authorities or another body?

       •   The bit about AI or officials processing petitions and letters from us to “authorities”?

       •   When you said we should “convey opinions in a way that’s unexpected to the authorities,” could you give an example of what that might look like?

       •   And also, the phrase “the demand on trifles blurs the general meaning”-I wasn’t sure what that referred to exactly.

    If you have any lived experience or evidence about how these kinds of proposals(like the current Pathways to Work Green Paper)can be effectively challenged, it would be really helpful to hear. It could help us all understand what might actually make a difference. I’m genuinely trying to understand your perspective and think it could help others too if these parts were a bit clearer. Thank you 🙏🏽

    In Solidarity ✊

  • egister
    egister Posts: 1,102 Pioneering

    Hi!

    I was talking about authorities above local ones. Authority is the distribution of money, now it is a "computer system" that manages the budget, consisting of sets of algorithms. The main ones in it are those who manage it). I would not be surprised that appeals to authorities, to MPs, messages in forums and social networks, and so on are also processed by computer systems, possibly using AI... For example, in Russia a similar system has been working for a long time (use page translation in your browser)
    https://161.ru/text/world/2021/05/19/69921404/


    I think that in the UK there should be something similar and even more insidious, greetings from Big Brother!

    To be continued)

  • JasonRA
    JasonRA Community Member Posts: 304 Championing

    The Green Paper needs to be looked at legally, that should be the first target then the legislation Labour are not consulting on.

    The Tories will vote the PIP 4 point/WCA and Universal Credit changes through regardless of how many Labour MP's rebel but it is not the end, it's only the beginning. That's how I see things at this moment.

    This saga needs to go to the highest rungs of legality so it cannot be done again.

  • jasminehoop
    jasminehoop Community Member Posts: 51 Contributor

    The link works. Thanks for sharing it. Unfortunately I can't answer your other questions!

  • noonebelieves
    noonebelieves Community Member Posts: 677 Championing
    edited April 2025

    Hi @egister


    Thanks for sharing your views-I now see where you’re coming from.
    That said, I’d like to gently highlight something I mentioned yesterday: many disabled people, myself included, never expected to become full-time campaigners or warriors. We’re all navigating a lot already -emotionally, practically, and systemically. While it’s important to stay informed, there’s also a risk of being overwhelmed and distracted by the sheer volume of alarming information, especially when it veers into territory that isn’t directly actionable right now.


    For example, regarding concerns around AI: from what I’ve briefly read in the House of Commons library -research briefing document (Apr 2025)on use of AI (some of which are accessible only to government officials via login), while there are - and have been -some pilots involving AI in government(various departments)processes, there is currently no official evidence that it is being widely used and implemented  systematically to scrutinise benefit claims or public correspondence to MPs or Parliament. From what I understand, the use of AI in governmental organisations, systems, and processes is currently described more as a future opportunity rather than a widespread practice -and when it has been used, there appears to be some level of transparency to the public. I can also see that there is structured official  guidance for civil servants on the use of generative AI, which is mainly used for research purposes. So while we should stay vigilant, I think it’s equally important to stay grounded in what’s immediate and verifiable -like the very real and imminent threat and dangers posed by the proposals in the current Pathways to Work green paper.


    In these difficult times, I believe that hope, focus, and collective actions-rooted in facts — are our best tools, provided they are carried out in a strategically informed manner.I strongly believe-Our voices do matter, and together, we can make a difference.


    In Solidarity ✊

  • luvpink
    luvpink Community Member Posts: 5,311 Championing

    Hi all

    Sorry I haven't been here much lately but I haven't been too well and I have my stupid pip review form to get through.

    I won't be around much this weekend but I wish you all well and lots of love. X

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,169 Championing
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • jul1aorways
    jul1aorways Community Member Posts: 394 Pioneering

    Hi Everyone

    Due to having had some very difficult external circumstances affecting my life and that of my partner in recent months I have made the decision that I contribute less to this community.

    It certainly means that I will be around just not as much as I was. I have ME/CFS, an anxiety disorder and depression and the events that have happened have all made my health conditions a lot worse.

    You may have read the good news that my partner (who is also disabled) and I had. With him being pension age and the fact that I am not having my next PIP review until pension age, myself means we are exempt from the cuts.

    Although we are really relieved, we still had to go through the same scenario as you are all doing until Timms announced that exemption a week ago.

    Knowing that was an act of calculated cruelty is nothing I take personally but it is still having a very negative effect on me, despite doing all I can to not think about it.

    That has bought everything to a head unfortunately so I am doing my best to make my life easier. However, I do not want you to think that I won't be here to help you fight these appalling decisions because I will, just not as much. ✊

    I do hope that normal service will resume shortly on the forum. Things seem to be improving. 👍

    I send you all my very best wishes especially @noonebelieves @pinkrose and @secretsquirrel 😊

This discussion has been closed.