Sue Marsh from Diary of a Benefit Scrounger, reports on a concerted effort in the right-wing press to prevent any real debate over benefits.
Sue Marsh blogs at Diary of a Benefit Scrounger
Today, the Daily Express and Daily Mail are full of cheating, scrounging sick people.
The Express screams: “Blitz on Britain’s benefits madness”, contrasting those on “sickness handouts” with “hard working taxpayers”.
According to the the Express, Tory MP Philip Davies joined the outcry, saying:
“People are sick to the back teeth of being taken for a ride by people sponging and scrounging and abusing the system.”
While the Mail screams:
“Scandal of 80,000 on sickness benefits for minor ailments… including diarrhoea.”
To accompany the claim that “drug addicts” have been allowed to claim, they included a picture of someone snorting white powder through a rolled up note.
The papers go on to list “blisters”, “headaches”, “depression”, and “problems with scholastic skills” as evidence that there are hundreds of thousands of people living the good life at “taxpayers” expense who have nothing really wrong with them.
For a moment, let’s forget the fact that only the first ailment a person lists on their claim form is taken into account in these figures. Let’s ignore the fact that someone with “nail disorders” might also have cancer or kidney failure. Let’s ignore the fact that someone classified under “drug abuse” might also suffer from schizophrenia or multiple sclerosis..
I have “diarrhoea” but why? Well, because of the 32 growths I’ve had to have removed from my guts and the seven major operations to remove rotten lengths of bowel, leaving me with half as much intestine as your average ill-informed hack.
My friend has “blisters.” She suffers from the rare skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa. Her skin blisters and comes away at the lightest touch, leaving her scarred and in constant, terrible pain.
“Headaches?” Cluster headaches (also referred to as “suicide headaches”) are thought to be one of the worst pains known to man, not something to be confused with a hangover.
I could go on, but I’m sure you’re beginning to see why these horrible articles, fuelled by “statements” today from Chris Grayling, minister for Work and Pensions and our very own prime minister, only serve to turn a sensitive, delicate subject into a form of attack. They aim to pitch one condition against another whilst asking more fortunate citizens to view those who are unwell with mistrust and contempt.
Perhaps there is a legitimate debate to be had over which conditions “hard working tax-payers” are willing to support. There is certainly some validity in the claim that many sick or disabled people would love help and support to find a job.
However, surely none of us agree that this is the way in which to conduct that debate? Surely allowing our politicians and our media to whip up hate and prejudice against a particular group of society is something we should all be ashamed of?
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148 Responses to “Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits”
Anon E Mouse
Mason Dixon, Autistic – Why you continue this I do not understand. Please reread your comment at 21 – you brought up PWS not me. Let’s not drift off onto another illness like autism please – your post was made regarding PWS – it’s your discussion Mason Dixon, Autistic and you are quite simply wrong.
You continue to suggest that someone with a genetic disorder would make an IB claim for another illness, in your example obesity.
That is frankly a stupid suggestion and the only reason I can see is that you want to be awkward and try to look clever. By continuing to reinforce your silly position you are having the opposite effect.
I believe that people with genetic disorders would make a claim based on that disability and not something else. Why would they?
I believe that people are usually honest but your suggestion, without any evidence whatsoever, is that they would try to claim for something other illness and I just don’t believe that.
You can flounder on and on about this and that but you made the initial stupid comment not me. Please reread your comment at 21 – you brought up PWS not me…
Anon E Mouse
BenM – Nice for you to acknowledge that I do do stats – thank you. Maybe the clanging noise was you slapping your forehead in resignation when you realise I’m right? (again).
You say that Labour are polling ahead of the government and so they should. Leaving aside Blair polled 20% ahead without the cuts, pointing out the minuscule lead Labour has shows just how bad Miliband is.
You are right on the boundary changes – they will benefit the Tories and my favoured choice, the Lib Dems. So Labour has an even bigger mountain to climb but without a 10% minimum lead and without voters in the South East and Worcester Woman, they are doomed.
The SNP is going to cane them in Scotland and the latest IpsosMori Poll puts Labour neck and neck with the government: http://www6.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2011/04/20/the-tories-reach-post-election-high-with-mori/
That is 3% higher than the Tories polled at the General Election.
How long before Labour Party members wake up and realise that without the hapless and unelectable Ed Miliband they may have a chance because as it currently stands there is no credible opposition to the government in this country. And btw Mori’s latest poll agree with me on Ed Miliband and say:
“Ed Miliband (36%) is less popular than Nick Clegg (41%)! They’re both equal on 51% for the proportion of the public who do not like them. The common narrative is that Nick Clegg is the most reviled man in Britain – this poll tells a different story”
The link is: http://www.totalpolitics.com/blog/153397/eyebrow-raising-poll-figures-for-ed-miliband-and-george-osborne.thtml
If you need any more stats just holler and perhaps instead of denying the truth do you think Labour activists and supporters may be better being positive about the party instead of all this anti government stuff which clearly isn’t working…
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Roxanne Persaud
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joe kane
#54
You can rant and rave about about markets and waffle on about Reagan blah blah. You can even use sixth form student terms like ConDems (please) but the facts speak for themselves and minimum wage workers like myself have more of our money than we did under Labour.
ps
Don’t forget that the Tory Party in Scotland is on 10% of the vote.