Labour response to email
Thank you for your email to Keir. He has asked me to respond to you on his behalf.Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the welfare system for those with disabilities, or mental and physical long-term conditions.I am keen to share Keir’s plans regarding this with you.With 1 in 5 people in the UK having a disability, and that encompasses those who have both a physical and neurological disability, Keir is committed to protecting and advancing the rights of disabled people. The government claims that they want to tackle long-term sickness, but they have no plan to ensure that people can get the treatment they need when NHS waiting lists are out of control. We all know that under the Tories far too many people with mental health problems just can’t get access to the treatment they need. Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is a system created by the Tories that isn't working for disabled people and isn't working for the taxpayer. As part of our programme for government, Keir is committed to continuing to work collaboratively with disabled people and leading organisations, to ensure that our policy programme is embedded by the principle of working together with those who have lived experiences; to ensure that Keir tangibly improves the lives and living standards of many disabled people in our country.
Keir will produce policies in partnership with disabled people that have dignity and respect at their heart. This means:
- An end to cruel disability assessments; our replacement will support disabled people to live the lives they want. Disabled benefit claimants should have the right to choose their own method of assessment (e.g. face to face/phone).
- Drive down NHS waiting lists by getting patients treated on time with 2 million more weekend and evening appointments – paid for by cracking down on tax dodgers. We have the highest ever number of people who are out of work because they are unwell.
- Reform to the Access to Work scheme where the waiting lists for an assessment have trebled and people now wait months for a decision. Under our changes, people looking for work will be able to apply without a job offer, and be given an ‘in principle’ indicative award so that both they and their future employers know what support will be available for them if they find a job.
- Many people with ill health or disabled people simply do not want to risk having to go through the whole benefits application and assessment process again if things go wrong. Keir’s ‘back to work guarantee’ would mean that people in this position who do move into employment with the help of employment support will be able to return to the benefits they were on without the need for another lengthy assessment process.
Doesn't answer my question about worries about pip being cut, unless I miss understand what it said
Comments
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@Andi66
You are correct; the response does not directly address your question. Although it presents a comprehensive vision for welfare reform, the email lacks specific details regarding the implementation of these reforms and their direct impact on current PIP claimants. To fully understand the practical implications for PIP and other benefits, you would need to request further clarification.
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Does it mean that pip payment are being cut with them, sorry to sound dim
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No, you don't sound dim at all it's a valid question! Based on the information provided in the email you received, there's no specific mention of PIP payments being cut. Instead, the focus is on reforming the assessment process and improving support systems for those with disabilities. However, since your specific concern about potential cuts to PIP wasn't addressed directly, it remains unclear whether any changes to the payment amounts or eligibility criteria are being considered. It would be a good idea to request more specific information directly from Keir's team to clarify this point.
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Seems to me they haven't a clear idea of what going to happen, judging by their other vague polices coming out at the moment , other than change they keep repeating. The torys seem to be grabbing ideas out of nowhere like national service etc. Haven't heard or read anything on the Lib dems about welfare. All Ed Davy seems to be doing is falling of a paddle board.
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i wouldnt have thought any party is going to tell you what they are going to do it will all be sugar coated to make it look like they have peoples interest at heart when in actual fact they just want to be in power my own view is since the war the country has gone downhill and needs a radical change who is capable of taking the bull by the horns and doing that is anybody's guess i myself dont think its labour or the conservatives
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Labour at this moment seem to have more tact in regards disability benefits and the support to help a person with a disability to enter a position of work, IF the person is capable of work of course.
I'm not endorsing anyone but my premise is in such sensitive matters being compassionate and understanding is important.
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Given the current trajectory of benefit claimant numbers, it is apparent that system reforms will likely become a key focus for any government that assumes power. Nevertheless, the method in which these modifications are executed will profoundly affect the lives of those dependent on these benefits, particularly the disabled and long-term sick.
The Labour party's response to Andi66's enquiry emphasises their dedication to understanding the challenges faced by benefit recipients and presenting a supportive approach that is more balanced and equitable compared to the Conservatives. The pressing question, however, is which party will show greater compassion and consideration towards disabled and long-term sick individuals.
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I guess the concerning part for me is where they wrote..
''Personal Independence Payments (PIP) is a system created by the Tories that isn't working for disabled people and isn't working for the taxpayer.''
To me that sounds a little bit like they almost want to get rid of PIP entirely, also the part about how it ''isn't working for the taxpayer'', sounds like they want to make cuts to it to save money.
I could be wrong, but still. I'm very concerned about the future of disability benefits regardless of whom is in power after the general election. I hope it all works out okay in the end, but it's a very scary time right now.6 -
I’ll believe Labour care about the disabled when I see it
But I doubt that starmer is reading any emails apart from those from his close team and I doubt the disabled has crossed his mind this past fortnight
(sorry to be a pessimist to the email reply the thread creator posted but everything right now is pointing to starmer being at best indifferent to disabled even though his own personal history should in theory make him a natural ally to our communityImo at some point in the last 2 years he went from being a decent man to obtaining power at all costs)
sorry for going all dark side on you all there - just a personal opinion…….not necessarily factual
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@andi66
To be fair he was using the boris Johnson playbook to draw attention to all the water pollution that’s taken place the last couple of years - uk water quality should be a major election issue imo
davey is another one who should be a natural disability ally (I believe he was a child carer to his disabled parent(s) and is now in a carer role for his daughter)The one thing I’ll say about the Lib Dem’s is that they don’t seem to take their seats for granted (some of my family live in Lib Dem constituency’s and are really pleased with how active their mp is and that they actually seem to care about their constituents)
If anyone lives in a Lib Dem area or target area and gets a knock on the door I’d recommend trying to get a convo started on the doorstep as there’s actually a chance of it getting back to davey (being a smaller party and all)
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But Davey was a cabinet minister in the coalition government - they chose to govern with the Conservative Party over Labour (and did a major U-turn on student fees). They abandoned Labour decades ago anyway. I wouldn't trust them unless there was an outstanding candidate in my constituency which there isn't.
Keir Starmer is a very decent man but can't be all things to all people, especially in a general election campaign. He's united his parliamentary party and needs a sweeping victory to stand a chance of improving anything in this country.
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*trust them with my vote*
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Has anyone else emailed him or Ed Davy and had a reply of what help they would give us , especially with pip.
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The coalition was the Lib Dem’s first taste of power and they made mistakes yes (the main one was letting the tories walk all over them rather than stand firm on their own party ideals - the dup stood their ground with Theresa may significantly better though it did border on blackmail)
both the Tory’s and Labour have been in power several times and keep making mistakes (and messed up decisions) over and over yet they keep getting voted in regardless
I honestly think the Lib Dem’s have learnt from the coalition and the fiasco that was swinson and honestly I don’t think we can afford to be petty over mistakes from 10 years again
And I’m sorry to say I’ve seen no evidence from starmer about making life legit easier and fairer for the disabledstarmer Should be a natural disability ally but not a sausage of evidence to that yet
I think the disabled community need to be open minded to the possibility that for their constituency there may be a better alternative to fear voting Labour (obviously if your Labour candidate is vocally a disability ally then vote for them but if they aren’t then look at the best placed from the Lib Dem’s, snp, greens or even independents
lastly from davey’s twitter feed:
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Cameron has a son with disability, but he destroyed the disability benefits. I really don't care which party gets into power as long as they don't breach my fundamental human rights or I will fight them all the way.
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Cameron lost his young son some years ago while he was PM, sadly 😔
Norman Lamb (LD) was an excellent mental health champion in government but my point is that the Lib Dems chose to prop up the Conservative Party instead of Labour and I'll never forgive them for that.
All but the SNP voted in welfare reforms and cuts to benefits in 2015/16.
I was appalled at Sunak's dismissive response of Keir Starmer's account of his teenage years spent worrying whether his mother would survive her illness. I experienced similar with my dad also aged 13 and it dominated my life just as he recalled.
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Davey just reminds me of the hapless Bojo with these ridiculous photo stunts 🙄
From TheyWorkForYou:
How Edward Davey voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #
For votes held while they were in office:
- Almost always voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with pricesShow votes0 votes for, 5 votes against, 2 absences, between 2013–2022.
- Consistently voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such supportShow votes4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2012.
- Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax")Show votes2 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2014.
- Generally voted against increasing the state pension age for women more slowlyShow votes0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011.
- Generally voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefitsShow votes13 votes for, 0 votes against, 8 absences, between 2011–2022.
- Generally voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disabilityShow votes0 votes for, 5 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2022.
- Generally voted against increasing the state pension ageShow votes1 vote for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2022.
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we don’t know how different a man Cameron would be if he son was still with us - nonetheless losing a child is a tragedy
Cameron did have a very privileged upbringing (slightly more so than sunak) so that would of impacted his policies and viewpoints
Sunak has had a very sheltered life (and no one close to him with a lifelong disability or illness) - unless you have exposure to disability in your personal life or job description (aka regular interactions with the disabled day in day out) very few people seek to throughly educate themselves on things that don’t directly affect them
So sunaks viewpoint on the disabled is **** but it’s to be expected
Both starmer and Davey didn’t have an ultra privileged background, both worked hard in their education and both have significant first hand experience of the day to realities of (some) disabilities - because of this both men should be natural disability allies and I hold both to much higher standards than sunak…….so any signs of either men figuratively ‘throwing the disabled under the bus’ I personally view as a much bigger betrayal
on your comment on not being able to ever forgive the Lib Dem’s for going into a coalition with the tories 14yrs back:I looked up the 2010 election results - at time of election a party needed to get 326 seats to govern outright
Neither of the 2 major parties hit that ( Tory’s had 306 seats and labour had 258 seats) but the tories at 48 extra seats had significantly more seats than labour so they were in poll position
Labour would have required a coalition with at least 2 other parties to scrap over the 326 seats alone, making it more complex. But because the tories had that much more seats than labour in democracy terms significantly more voters (or at least constituency’s) wanted a Tory government than labour in power (and a labour coalition may of been seen by many voters as undemocratic, against the will of the majority)
If the stats were flipped and it was labour who had 50 more seats than the tories but the Lib Dem’s & other parties decided to go in coalition with the Tory’s you would be quite rightly spiting in fury
The other thing was that the Lib Dem’s had never been in any sort of power (and a party can’t contribute new policy unless they were in power) so they would of been daft not to do a coalition deal with one of the bigger parties and it was simpler to do a deal with the tories (also large scale authority and attacks on the disabled in a major way started with Cameron and wasn’t anywhere near as foreseeable in 2010 as it is today)
Where Lib Dem’s made their biggest mistake was that they allowed the tories to walk all over them and failed voters by not standing up to them and ‘selling out’ on policy (as funny as clegg’s apology was at the end of the coalition it was probably one of the closest things to a ‘sincere’ apology from a politician in the last 14 years)
But it was the Lib Dem’s first taste of power - they made mistakes they shouldn’t of but as I said before as the Lib Dem’s are significantly less likely to gain even a taste of power compared to labour/tories (who both take power for granted), I truly believe that the Lib Dem’s would of learnt from their mistakes if they ever get a taste of power again
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