Sunday, 15 January 2012

Spartacus week 2 Links

And so here it is.. week 2 and we are still getting publicity...

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/the-assessment-criteria/social-security-personal-independence/
pip consulation different options. I have also made a word version. tweet me @allbigideas if you need that.

radio n tv links
http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/welfare-reform-bill-todays-media-links/

thursday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/19/what-next-sparticus-welfare-campaign?newsfeed=true Hundreds of people have asked me "So, what next for Spartacus?", the welfare campaign named after the report I co-authored with dozens of other disability ...

Friday

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16116
are continuing to protest strongly over the coalition's controversial Welfare Reform Bill, following the publication of the critical Spartacus Report. ...

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/columnists/adam-and-hannah-off-air/rainbow_warrior_1_3429166 NEW report called Responsible Reform has been drawn up based on ... The document (which has been dubbed Spartacus*) sharply criticises the planned .

http://kerrymccarthy.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/scroungers-fight-back/
Sue Marsh and others have done an excellent job campaigning on disability issues, with their Spartacus report and efforts to persuade the Lords to amend the Welfare Reform Bill. They’ve used social media to do this very effectively.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16656818#TWEET65431
Iain Duncan Smith has told the BBC a planned benefits cap is not "about punishing people", and has said people are "not suffering" under his reforms

Wednesday

http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16151452
Tanni GT's ammendment thrown out of HoL

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4068678/1billion-a-year-benefits-waste.html 800m in over payments for benefits (bad article)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/welfare-reform-bill-amendment-blocked?newsfeed=true The government fought off a fresh challenge to its controversial welfare reform bill on Tuesday night, when peers rejected a proposal to delay the full introduction of slashed new disability payments after ministers offered concessions

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-cameron-is-the-david-brent-of-welfare-reform-6291013.html The only freedom the Government has in mind, in seeking to have this benefit reduced or removed by the decision of private firm employees under huge pressure to find reasons to do so, is the freedom from caring adequately for its most vulnerable.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gpsKwDvySVWj9N9JUwwP79AR8qHQ?docId=N1028251326788847266A
The coalition has avoided fresh embarrassment over its plans for a new disability allowance after making concessions.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16099
By staff writers Conservatives leaned heavily on Liberal Democrat support in the Lords last night, avoiding another humiliating Welfare Reform Bill report stage defeat by only 16 votes. The rejection of a proposal to delay the full introduction of new

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=27267

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/politics/article-24028559-backing-tories-on-welfare-will-see-disabled-sleep-in-open.do
A senior Liberal Democrat MP today attacked leaders of his party for backing welfare reforms which he says will see "the weak and disabled bed down at night under railway bridges". Andrew George hit out at the "dinner party tendency in our ranks" who ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16596799
All of this was largely uncontentious in years of plenty, but austerity has brought with it demands that the welfare state be cut back. DLA costs billions and the Treasury is committed to finding an alternative that will see the rising bill reduced by ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lords-rebellion-fails-to-block-reform-of-disability-benefits-6291148.html
Disability campaigners were dismayed yesterday as the Government narrowly won ... an attempted amendment to its reforms of the Disability Living Allowance.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/18/conservative-party-attacks-disabled-people?newsfeed=true
Having been a member of the Conservative party since 1992 and a councillor from 2006, I decided to relinquish both of those positions in 2011. A big decision but one that I decided to make because of the government's endless attacks on disabled people ...

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/the-governments-replacement-for-dla-is-not-fit-for-purpose/
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/the-governments-replacement-for-dla-is-not-fit-for-purpose/
Thursday 12 January's vote against the welfare reform bill was a key victory for disabled people, including those with Parkinson's. In powerful speeches, peer after peer objected to the arbitrary one year time limit that was proposed for means testing .

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=18554

LA is in need of urgent reform so that it can give people the support they need. Under PIP a greater proportion of people will be eligible for the higher rate of help than is the case under DLA. "People understand that the welfare state needs to ...

http://www.hi-mag.com/health-insurance/product-area/income-protection/article389116.ece The government's plans to reform Disability Living Allowance face a hurdle in the House of Lords today when a group of cross-benchers, including Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will demand changes to the

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16613900
She said some people were "terrified" about the proposals, and claimed up to 500000 people could lose out. Iain Duncan Smith said the reform was intended to offer a "sustainable" allowance that would go to the right people, with some losers and some

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16099
ackers of the Spartacus Report, which exposed the deeply flawed official consultation on the Disability Living Allowance, vowed to keep on campaigning. Sue Marsh, co-author of the headlining 'Responsible Reform' report, commented: "Lord Freud had t

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16610020
pmqs as it happened.

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/816/why_britain_is_f_
.. single mother of three who arrived in the UK four years ago can now claim £2600 per month in Housing Benefit to go on top of the £25547.60 per year she already gets in tax credits, child benefits, disability living allowance and carer's allowance. ...

http://www.rethink.org/about_mental_illness/personal_stories_blogs_forum/blogs/jane_harris/dla_and_the_question.html
What next for DLA?

http://www.papworth.org.uk/news-detail.php?aid=282
papworth trusts response to last night.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16613900

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/the-governments-replacement-for-dla-is-not-fit-for-purpose/ Fit for purpose?

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16095
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, ahead of the House of Lords Welfare Reform Bill (WRB) debate today, Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Maria Miller sought to sound reassuring and reasonable.

http://carerwatch.com/reform/?p=492 In the Aftermath our voices will not be silenced

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/news/article.jsp?id=5201 MS trusts response..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16611064 ain Duncan Smith has rejected suggestions that thousands of cancer patients could lose nearly £100 a week due to coalition welfare changes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16618955 UPDATE: The government, according to strong rumour, is about to make defeats a little less likely, by appointing 60 new peers - 40 Conservatives, 15 Liberal Democrats and five Labour. And no crossbenchers.

http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/701/13525/18-01-2012/welfare-reform-bill-lords-compromise-is-no-victory disabled activist On 11 January, the House of Lords rejected the Con-Dem coalition government's proposal in its misnamed welfare reform bill to limit the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that is contribution-based for disabled and sick claimants to one year.

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/11976/ Let’s have a proper debate about the welfare state

TUESDAY

this one im putting here becuase its an essential read for all spartcii
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/disability-spartacus-welfare-cuts-campaign-viral?CMP=twt_fd

All links relating to the amendment here:
http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/9474781.Baroness_to_challenge_new_disability_benefit/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16588521

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16588953
(video)
http://fullfact.org/factcheck/disability_living_allowance_benefit_20_years-3240

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221449.html

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/296215/Benefit-reform-fears-for-disabled

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gpsKwDvySVWj9N9JUwwP79AR8qHQ?docId=N1028251326788847266A

(600million 'overpayment' source)
http://fullfact.org/blog/DLA_benefit_claims_without_checks-3112
and another article about the claim
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/17/disibility-living-allowance-overpayment?CMP=twt_gu

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/neilobrien1/100130331/reforming-disability-living-allowance-is-the-right-thing-to-do/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2012/jan/17/disability-living-allowance-video-diaries

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/society-daily-email?newsfeed=true

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16088

(comes with a health warning this one, its Lord Freud)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/17/welfare-reforms-sustainable-system?commentpage=1#end-of-comments

http://www.healthinsurance.co.uk/news/2012/jan/pressure-on-govt-increases-over-planned-benefit-changes.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/17/dla-reform-welfare-lords_n_1209847.html

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16087

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2012/jan/17/disability-welfare#block-3

http://lartsocial.org/DLAreform

http://mark-mi-words.blogspot.com/2012/01/personal-story.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2087784/Welfare-Reform-Bill-Where-national-conscience.html

http://mark-mi-words.blogspot.com/2012/01/personal-story.html

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/charities-call-for-welfare-reform-bill-pause/

http://sewtired.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/wrb/

http://audioboo.fm/boos/626921-welfare-reform-rushed-through

live blog on disability reform http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16092

Real PIP losers revealed, just before Lords vote: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16093

Will the government take away money from disabled people on a hunch? http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/will-the-government-take-away-money-from-disabled-people-on-a-hunch/

http://boggenstrovia.blogspot.com/

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16095

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2012/01/stop-and-think-about-disability-benefit-cuts-say-charities/

http://www.channel4.com/news/campaigners-urge-pause-on-disability-benefits-reform

---------------------------
Saturday
Bendygirls radio interview transcribed
http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/articles/kaliya-franklin-interview

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2086770/The-Lords-decent-politicians-left.html#ixzz1jThlaocd

http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/ministers-getting-ahead-of-themselves/

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-scroungers-any-more.html

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-data-protection-for-sick-and.html

http://www.benefitscroungingscum.blogspot.com/2012/01/spartacusreport-inspires-sermon.html

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120110/text/120110w0008.htm#12011114000010

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Appeal-MPs-vote-cuts/story-14413648-detail/story.html

Warning, against us, please comment and get involved if you can
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/15/duck-reform-disabled-benefits-disability?CMP=twt_gu

why we need to defend DLA
http://jennymorrisnet.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-we-need-to-defend-disability-living.html

Monday
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16080

In reference to:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087165/Disability-benefit-TREBLES-20-years-3-5m-claiming-2015-warn-ministers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml and http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4063358/Disability-benefit-claims-treble.html#comment-rig

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/16/disability-reform-lords-defeat-amateur?newsfeed=true

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16079

http://anitassessment.weebly.com/spartacus-action.html

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/districtatog/9473418.Disability_aid_cuts____unfair____to_the_sick/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16573348

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2012/jan/16/welfare-reform-bill-cuts-to-disability-benefits?newsfeed=true

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/davehillblog/2012/jan/16/london-housing-benefit-caps-disability

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/16/welfare-reform-pip-three-months-qualifying_n_1208417.html

http://notsobigsociety.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/from-clicktivism-to-activism/

http://www.papworth.org.uk/news-detail.php?aid=279

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/lord-freuds-letter-to-peers-re.html

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1509-dwp-tries-to-discredit-spartacus-report

http://www.prlog.org/11773513-spartacus-report-gains-public-support.html

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/guest-post-last-chance-to-save-disability-living-allowance#.TxSDvXwRN-4.twitter

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/16/welfare-reform-bill-lords-rebellion?CMP=twt_fd

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/16/young-cancer-patients-will-be-pushed-into-poverty-by-government-welfare-cuts-charity-warns-115875-23701297/

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16083

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/16/coalition-cuts-disability-benefits?newsfeed=true

Saturday, 14 January 2012

hiya

Low on spoons? want to keep tweeting?

Here be some help... il add more as i find them. please comment with any you have seen.

thanks

People on DLA should not be reassessed til we know that PIP is working - #spartacusreport

I bet you've read the #spartacusreport. You must have done, everyone has read the #spartacusreport. No? Well here it is http://bit.ly/xS4Txp

#spartacusreport Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor, Robin Cameron is stealing from the poor to give to the rich.

#spartacusreport It costs 3829.11 per year to support a disabled person with DLA, why does it need cutting?

#spartacusreport All we ask for is 6 months. All we need is 6 months. Pause and listen to disabled people please.

#SpartacusReport support disabled rights to fair treatment and stop the gov's lies

Monthly LOW rate DLA £156, monthly food allowance for an MP £400. Who are the scroungers? #spartacusreport

How can DWP refuse to agree PIP criteria until after reforms. Can't have a complete consultation without criteria #spartacusrepor

Boris says DWP statistics give the overall fraud rate for DLA as being less than 0.5% http://tinyurl.com/7sdk8uq #spartacusreport

I’m as mad as hell & I’m not going to take this any more. http://tinyurl.com/78erjru I support #spartacusreport, will you?

Any reform that impacts the #hardesthit needs to be thought out, well considered, and properly consulted. #spartacusreport

STOP right there! Before you go any further read THIS > http://tinyurl.com/78erjru #spartacusreport #WRB #DLA

100's of ppl came together to fund, write & research the #spartacusreport How d`ya like them big society apples Cameron?

I support the #spartacusreport because disabled ppl shouldn't pay the price for financial failures - nor can we afford to

The #SpartacusReport shows that changes to DLA have not been properly scrutinised – we need a six month delay to these reforms

We get cuts, while mp's want extra expenses and second home allowances. All in it together?....no not really obviously #spartacusreport

Even if you're not interested in disability or welfare, surely you can stil see the injustice in this http://bit.ly/zKQiqo #spartacusreport

its not about right and left its about right and wrong. all #spartacusreport wants is whats right.

People that don't think the #wrb or #spartacusreport are relevant to you,what'll you do if you go off sick?

Once you have read the #spartacusreport please sign @patspetition http://bit.ly/vUDMfN to stop and review the welfare reform bill.

How Much does it cost?

figures from here:

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-wr2011-ia.pdf

Thursday, 12 January 2012

newsnight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iviJ-Wgl7JQ&feature=youtu.be
(thanks to latent existance for the video)

Sue wrote this this morning: Mostly, I know that you will burn at the injustice of not being heard. You will wonder - as we have always wondered - why the mainstream media persist in ignoring truth and reason and evidence. Journalists will not be queueing to ask how the defeat came about, to ask the campaigners who almost certainly made it happen.

We have come to this point by engaging with politicians of all colours, by owning social media and using it to make our own news.

Today, you have truth and justice on your side. The Government do not. No Government is defeated on the scale we saw last night, with the very strong majorities we saw, by accident. It was the undeniable injustice of the Government's plans that convinced the Lords.

Do what we do best and make our case honestly. Re-post articles, write short statements, blog, contact friendly journalists and see if they will drop a little of the DWP spin angles. Contact supporters and let them know we won and what it means. Own the internet. It's all we have.

Trust in our case, trust in the evidence we have presented, but most of all trust yourselves. Governments are not defeated often in the way ours was yesterday and you did it. Without the TV news, without much of the printed news, without an opposition, whatever Labour MPs claim today. The Labour Lords worked tirelessly for us however and they deserve a huge thank you.

---------

Tonight, Sue will be appearing on newsnight, bbc2 10:30. Lets show the internet we own it. Lets use Sues words to motivate and guide us. Be polite, be reasonable, and remember we have the truth on our side. Use the offical newsnight hashtag but dont forget to add #spartacusreport to tweets. I have added a link to my links hub to remind you of the coverage so far and key points.

http://allbigideas.blogspot.com/2012/01/links-links-links.html

Lets own the internet tonight, after all, as sue says, its all we have.

what spartacusreport means to me....

for me the spartacusreport movement has been life changing. I have mental health problems and I am very socially isolated. I'm findng life really tough at the moment and even getting out of bed was a struggle.

And then monday happened. all of a sudden I was part of a community, all with the same aim and purpose. We wanted a pause to Pip and we had a legitimate case in the spartacusreport.

I no longer feel alone, I don't feel helpless and worried about the future of my life on benefits. I feel empowered, stronger and feeling like I can make a difference, no WE can make a difference.

I haven't met any of these people, but to me they have become family. Its been an emotional rollercoaster this week as last night we virtually held hands watching parliament tv as the vote came in, and then the explosion of tweets tentatively celebrating, and breaking out into a full blown party.

Disability activism has found a new voice on twitter, thanks to the #spartacusreport.

fallout from welfare reform votes links

all big ideas start small