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?
148 Responses to “Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits”
disabledbabe
I was at a DWP briefing on welfare reform today and challenged the civil servants present about these pernicious and inaccurate press releases from the department which lazy hacks simply regurgitate. They didn’t even attempt to defend the indefensible. One went as far as saying the press releases and statements from the chancellor and other ministers were ‘unhelpful’. I think that’s civil service speak for a load of bollocks.
Rory Hegarty
RT @FalseEcon: Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits: http://bit.ly/gBMkmR writes @suey2y (via @leftfootfwd)
JoshC
And don’t forget depression. Anyone who thinks depression is a skive has never had it but thinks they’ve had it when they’ve been a little bit glum for a day or so. When I had depression a few years ago I spent every waking hour for 7 months thinking that I was the most worthless and wretched person on Earth, that everyone I knew hated me and thinking of ways to kill myself.
Ignorant and hateful Tory/media ********
Ed's Talking Balls
I completely understand why anyone with a serious condition would be infuriated by any suggestion that they are somehow “scroungers” or in any way undeserving of support.
But I would also expect that anyone in such a terrible position would be enraged by anyone claiming benefits for either a non-existent or trivial condition. Such people make a mockery of a system in place for those in genuine need.
While I’m quite prepared to admit that there are many deserving claimants and that illnesses are multifacted and far more complex than tabloids would have us believe, I am adamant that public money must be used responsibly and must only go to worthy causes. Not, for example, to Britain’s fattest man, who voluntarily ingested 20,000 calories a day and now plans to sue the NHS.
P.S. Incidentally, the headline’s a bit misleading and rather a catch-all: the main issue I have with the UK’s benefit system is housing benefit, but the article doesn’t refer to that scandalous abuse of taxpayers’ money.
Ed's Talking Balls
Just briefly, I want to echo what JoshC says about depression. It’s very real and deeply damaging, and only the truly ignorant or hate-filled would deny that.
It is just about the only issue in the world where I find myself in agreement with Alastair Campebell!