"...and basically these people are frankly parasites"
Read our response to Isabel Oakeshott's recent comments:
James Taylor, Executive Director of Strategy and Social Change at disability equality charity Scope, said:
“Isabel Oakeshott’s views on people who claim benefits belong in the past.
Calling people “parasites” is utterly disgraceful and fuels a dangerous and damaging narrative that we are today calling out.
No disabled person who draws on the benefits system is living a life of luxury as Ms Oakeshott claims.
In fact, for many it’s the complete opposite. Huge numbers of disabled people are unable to afford the basics to have a decent standard of living, even with benefits.
On top of this many disabled people are pushing hard for jobs.
There are a million disabled people in the UK who want to work, but are denied the opportunity because of employers' negative attitudes, delays getting the right support and inflexible working practices.
Benefits serve a vital function in society. Like the NHS, they are a service that any of us might need to draw on at any time in life.
Putting an end to the use of harmful language like this helps move us one step further towards an equal future for all.”
Comments
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I have called Talk many times in the past (and recently) to articulate my lived experience on a number of issues, including autism and psychiatric treatment (lack thereof) on the NHS.
I will ring tonight on Kevin O'Sullivan's show to address Isabel Oakeshott's comments and hope I can get on air. If I do, I will of course limit my comments to my own situation (by way of illustration of her misconceived views) and I won't make any reference to Scope.
I will post again if I am successful in getting on air.
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good on you
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💜
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I called and made the point to the production team that Oakeshott's comments needed to be challenged, preferably by me going on air to say my piece (in a measured manner, of course). Whether I get a call back to speak to Kevin O'Sullivan remains to be seen. If I don't they may well pass the message on for him to articulate the point I made.
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When I got my daughter to post for me ,about Ms Oakshotts comments (the original poster )here this morning..I'm glad so many are in agreement about her terrible attitude towards disabled and benefit claiments ...I'm in my 60s with my neurological condition.lost manual dexterity. .But I have a 46 Yr old son paralysed in a car crash age 21,has grade 4 pressure areas so has to spend time on his air bed ..he was recently diagnosed with parkinsons..he contributes to his mobility car ..he also has to pay the council for disabled parking..My second son 43 broke his neck in a bike accident age 23..two titanium screws basically hold his head on..So it upsets me her attitude towards us that have to depend on the system..Life changing incidents can happen to anyone.
they that mock may need the system one day
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Thanks for drawing my attention to it yesterday, we must call out this disgusting narrative. Oakeshott and all others like her should be forced to sit and listen to people like you who have so much lived experience of disability and yet remain so dignified and resilient.
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In response to your statement addressing Isabel Oakeshott’s recent comments on benefit claimants, I want to express my gratitude for Scope’s strong stance against the harmful language she used. Your condemnation of the term “parasites” and the damaging stereotypes it promotes is both necessary and commendable.
However, I was disappointed to see that your response did not fully capture the significant number of disabled individuals who are already part of the workforce. While you did mention that many disabled people want to work, it’s equally important to highlight how many are successfully contributing to their workplaces. This detail is crucial for challenging the stereotypes perpetuated by Oakeshott’s comments.
The disabled community is incredibly diverse, and recognising the realities of those who are employed, and those who aspire to be, is essential for providing a complete and accurate picture. By not emphasising the extent of disabled individual's participation in the workforce, your response risks reinforcing a simplistic and misleading view of disability.
Your defence of the benefits system was strong, but a more nuanced approach that highlights both the achievements of disabled individuals in the workforce and their aspirations would offer a more comprehensive perspective.
I hope that in future communications, Scope will adopt a more inclusive approach that reflects the true diversity of the disabled community. Your organisation has the power to promote positive change and challenge negative stereotypes effectively, and a more balanced response would further support that goal. Thank you for your continued advocacy.
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I tend to ignore her, it's not the first time that she's made horrible comments, she's clueless.
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I've been on ESA since 2015 for depression and anxiety (before that I suffered two years in silence because I was so scared of making a claim and being rejected), and I find it incredibly offensive when people like her suggest that living like this is in any way 'luxurious'.
They seem to think that people actually enjoy it, like it's fun to be depressed and suffer from intrusive thoughts of suicide and self harm. Suffering from 'invisible' illnesses is hard enough with the huge stigmas attached to them, but when people refuse to acknowledge just how serious and debilitating they truly are, they just add to that stigma.
People like her have absolutely No idea whatsoever what its like to be disabled and on benefits, and unfortunately people who are just as clueless actually listen to her opinions and refuse to admit that there are genuinely sick people on benefits because they think all claimants are lazy scroungers.
Seriously the levels of ignorance on Twitter, on posts sharing what she said, is truly astonishing. It's very disheartening and really does make me feel guilty for being on ESA.
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Hi @Adrian_Scope - I'd like to come back to an important issue that @MW123 has raised.
I appreciate that James Taylor's response was relating to benefit claimants, tho many disabled people do claim benefits. However, if we consider Scope saying that 1 in 4 people in the UK are disabled
then surely we are an integral part of society? Some will be in work, some will have have worked, & some are unable to work due to their disability/ have not found work, disabled, or not.
I don't know where Scope's statistics come from, but perhaps emphasing that there ''are a million disabled people in the UK who want to work,'' may be inadvertently skewing the narrative. As MW123 mentions, I'm now wondering just how many disabled people do actually work?
Then, speaking from personal experience, & surely I can't be alone, I worked my entire life; my son 'attended' his first auction when he was exactly one week old…..I worked despite the problems I faced. I was even brought out of retirement to allow my son & his wife to have some time together by going back to running the secondhand & antiquarian bookshop that he'd by then taken over. So, how many disabled people have worked until they had to stop because of their disability at different times in their lives? Surely we too made a contribution to 'society?'
It sort of sounds like there's a potential 1 million disabled people who could be part of the workforce should the govt be able to 'help' them into work. But, what about the numbers of those in work or those disabled people who have worked?
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I do think a lot of disabled people want to work. The lack of support and the type of support in these welfare to work schemes have been shockingly bad. But the way governments have gone about it is all wrong.
Her comments about parasites, was an absolute disgrace, she is a terrible human being, No need for a comment like that nowadays.
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Thank you for everyone's comments so far.
@chiarieds and @MW123 I will pass your feedback about the statement on to the relevant parties and we will let you know if they have any follow-ups.
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parasites, economically inactive. I wish people who use these terms to describe disabled people, would do their research first, before using such language.
Hitler would use the same words to describe disabled people as well.
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You aren't far off. I believe the term he used in Mein Kampf was "useless feeders who are a burden to society" when referring to disabled people. Quite concerning how close Oakeshott's language is to that.
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While I found Ms. Oakeshott’s description of benefit claimants disgraceful, I must have listened to the wrong interview. As a disabled person receiving PIP, I wish to make an official complaint, but I need the exact wording where she explicitly insults the disabled community.
Without a specific reference to disabled individuals, I have no basis for a complaint as a disabled claimant. Could someone please post a link to the specific interview or statement where she targets disabled individuals? Once I have this exact wording, I intend to file an official complaint with Ofcom and the TV channel, but it’s essential for me to ensure that my complaint is well-founded and accurate. Thank you.
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I think what people are upset about is she didn't clarify her statement, like people do on these subjects, it sounded more like a generalisation. She didn't mention or say anything along the lines of, we should support the disabled or vulnerable or the genuine people, I think thats what annoyed people.
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Yes she did - 'riding around in their free motobility vehicles'
. . . they are total parasites.
Only the disabled have motobility cars. QED
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I appreciate your perspective; however, I’m confused by your claim that Oakeshott must be referring to disabled individuals, as only they use the Motability scheme. It’s important to note that Motability vehicles are also available to veterans with a War Disablement Pension, as well as employed parents who need cars for transporting their disabled children.
I find Ms Oakeshott’s wording appalling and want to file a complaint, but I need to locate the interview where she explicitly references disabled individuals "lazy parasites" to strengthen my case. While I understand your viewpoint, I believe concrete evidence is essential for a complaint, especially to Ofcom.
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