Labour has accepted that benefit claimants are being pushed to suicide. Will the DWP?
Debbie Abrahams, Labour’s shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, speaking at the Labour Party Conference.
Debbie Abrahams just laid down the gauntlet – but does the DWP, let alone the Tories, have the courage to pick it up?
In her speech at the Labour Party Conference, she very clearly stated about sick and disabled people, that “with dwindling social security support, too many are dying early, and even taking their own lives.”
The DWP has stubbornly refused to accept any such connection between its treatment of benefit claimants and suicide – and the Conservatives have demanded that their legislation has absolutely nothing to do with deaths.
But Debbie Abrahams just came right out and said it.
And Labour is going to form a government – sooner, rather than later, This Writer suspects.
What will the DWP say then? And, more to the point, will there be an investigation into who is responsible for the many thousands of deaths caused by current DWP policy?
Here’s the relevant part of her speech:
The United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recently reported that this Government’s policies were leading to a ‘human catastrophe’. Increasingly, sick and disabled people are facing poverty and isolation. As my Disability Equality Roadshow revealed, many feel like prisoners in their own homes; with dwindling social security support, too many are dying early, and even taking their own lives.
As we promised in our Manifesto with and for disabled people, Labour will deliver on the rights of disabled people, enshrining the UN Convention into UK law.
Conference, a Labour Government will transform our social security system from one that demonises, to one that is supportive and enabling. Like the NHS, it should be there for any one of us in our time of need, providing dignity and security for all.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
“And, more to the point, will there be an investigation into who is responsible for the many thousands of deaths caused by current DWP policy?”
If Yvette Cooper has anything to do with it, no.
We need a labour government to stop these ridiculous assesmentsand put the system back where it was DLA your own gp knows you better than anyone so it should be placed back in their hands.not a person who doesnt know any thing about you and stopping your benefit to keep up with targets .they dont realise that you would much rather have your health than receive benefits believe me its no fun being in pain all of the time.our only hope is Jeremy corbyn I pray he can help us .
Not a truer word spoken The sooner JC in number 10 the better for the many not the Few
Look out for the share price of Staples going up, as orders for shredders begin.
A pity some people didn’t believe me when I told them this really was accepted by Labour, and that they will act on it to make things better. They’ll start by scrap the WCA and PIP processes.
I helped launch the Disability roadshows and the manifesto, and heard some of the harrowing stories people told first-hand. Both JC and Debbie A were visibly moved… they are good people and really deserve to get into government.
Well done Ms Abrahams, Labour and UN, plus all who stand up to The Brutality. Eventually The Brutality will be ended, then perhaps when can see Justice being meted out to its perpetrators.
Can I just ask why on your fb page there’s no ‘Like’ ‘Follow’ or comment buttons only ‘Share’ and while I’m on here’s a very important report on Legal Aid for benefit claimants and the rest who have no recourse in law against these egregious Tory policies. I visited your fb page to share this .
“Everyone who receives a means-tested benefit should be automatically eligible for legal aid, without further assessment. The roll-out of universal credit provides an opportunity to introduce this reform
https://sirhenrybrooke.me/2017/09/22/the-bach-report-its-message/
hmmm words yet they have to get into power first while many many many more will die at the hands of this government the cull rolls on action t4 rolling along without much of a ado jeff3
The DWP accepting that claimants are pushed towards suicide! You are more likely to see pigs fly.
Would it not be a good idea that in light of the report about this Governments behaviour towards vulnerable people from the UN if as many people as possible wrote to the UN and said thank you for the report but also ask them what do they intend to do about it next because its all very well them saying what they have but to just leave it up in the air like that gives people false hope -I know several people with disabilities who are just crippled by fear that soon their means of survival will be taken away and they will die .I have never known it before in this Country where vulnerable people are terrified of their government ..