Declan Gaffney with the latest from the “Spartacus Report” into Responsible Reform of social security.
Responsible Reform (pdf), better known as #SpartacusReport, has attracted more attention than any report on social security that I can remember. Servers crashed as social media were brilliantly used to spread the message the government’s case for cutting disability benefits had been comprehensively rebutted.
One thing that distinguishes Responsible Reform from the dozens of other policy reports that come out every week is that it was produced by disabled people themselves. That alone is a powerful counter to the image of ‘feckless scroungers’ the government has used so successfully in framing the welfare reform debate.
But producing and publicising this report has come with a cost, which Kaliya Franklin of the blog Benefit Scrounging Scum explains and demonstrates in the video below:
Activism takes its toll on people who are already struggling. Both Kaliya and Sue Marsh of Diary of a Benefit Scrounger, the prime movers behind #SpartacusReport, have to take a step back from the intense activity of the last few days for medical reasons.
All those concerned with the issues around welfare reform now need to step up to the mark, bringing whatever they can contribute to the campaign for a decent benefits system for disabled people.
And the costs that Sue and Kaliya have been willing to accept in undertaking this work should be a lesson in humility for the government, which as the report demonstrates, rushed into reform of this key part of the welfare state without taking the time to understand it or listen to those affected.
Today, disabilities campaigners are asking people to call an MP or Peer to raise awareness of the Spartacus report. They’ve also launched a twibbon to show your support. The welfare bill begins its journey through the lords tomorrow, and the next few weeks of the fight will be crucial for tens of thousands of disabled people in Britain. They need your help.
See also:
• Disability minister ignorant on how legal aid cuts affecting disabled people – Alex Hern, January 10th 2012
• Time to step forward on the Spartacus report – Alex Hern, January 9th 2012
• Boris has slammed Coalition welfare reforms – from the left – Daniel Elton, January 6th 2012
• Five reasons to oppose the welfare bill – Daniel Elton, December 12th 2011
• Government plans to cut DLA could cause extreme hardship – Sue Marsh, January 24th 2011
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26 Responses to “Everyone concerned about welfare reform needs to step up to the mark”
After Atos
I have stepped up to the mark. AFTER ATOS online feedback survey. taking the ongoing rolling feedback from those going through the Atos Assessments since March 2012. Suffered our hacks and attacks and legal challenges from Atos and amazing blockages at having our facts of disabled sufferings and their own testimonies being published in the papers and media. A simple feedback survey led to an incredible year or much that has to be questioned and much which should shock and put this abomination to rest. I believe that every single person who has gone through the Atos assessments needs to have their voice and heard and their experience recorded. See http://www.afteratos.com/. See the results, see the recorded audios taken at an Atos Recruitment Fair where they admit they do not care what the person’s medical condition is or whether their assesssments and exercises and decisions lead to the worse possible consequences both for physical conditions in regard to an ulcer on the heart or a mental health condition which breaks down to the worse possible scenarion ( we see played out every day now through stress) of a person harming their family, workmates, or even a child. “We Don’t Care” “Not Our Problem.”
AFTER ATOS
Counting the Disabled Back In – Because People Matter
Sue Marsh
RT @leftfootfwd: Everyone concerned about welfare reform needs to step up to the mark http://t.co/4DZoCnez #spartacusreport
Guest
What else can we do? I’ve emailed MP’s, newspapers, news stations, supported the cause via twitter and Facebook. Got everyone I know, friends, family, work collegues, other carers, college friends past and present to sign the petition and posted on various internet forums and yet nothing. What else is there we can do to get this pushed? Over 3 million tweets on twitter and it’s still being ignored. Tell me what I can do and I’ll do it. Nothing any government has got me so pissed off before but this reform is just dangerous and wrong.
Michael
Everyone concerned about welfare reform needs to step up to the mark – http://t.co/njETgIW6
Stefan Prosser
RT @leftfootfwd: Everyone concerned about welfare reform needs to step up to the mark: http://t.co/TIvOsYT0 #SpartacusReport