The Lib Dems have passed the motion regarding removing the 12 month time limit for ESA. There were some really good speakers. They also debated the motion regarding the plan to remove legal aid in welfare cases. Again, there were some good speakers
Theres a bit of good news then, still wont get my hopes up tho....everyday i fear my family will lose our home and will be unable to pay bills and unable to live due to government.
No, I don't ever get my hopes up, as I read somewhere that it's easy to pass motions but it's another thing to get it made government policy. Still, at least the govt are split on it and the dems part is seeing sense, I hope not too late
lucy22, on 18 September 2011 - 02:04 PM, said:
Theres a bit of good news then, still wont get my hopes up tho....everyday i fear my family will lose our home and will be unable to pay bills and unable to live due to government.
fearfulofthefuture, on 17 September 2011 - 11:33 PM, said:
Thank God Liberal Youth saw sense.
There were some excellent speeches on this, I watched it in full like the complete nerd I am. Mental health was very high up the agenda. Let's just hope the kids don't get completely ignored by Clegg et al.
fearfulofthefuture, on 17 September 2011 - 11:33 PM, said:
Thank God Liberal Youth saw sense.
And hopefully Labour will, too!
'never fall ill, never grow old, never become disabled', for if you do, not even Labour will speak up for you.'
To all our members and supporters;
The Labour party conference starts in Liverpool on Saturday. As we all know, Labour were the architects of Employment Support Allowance and the ‘not fit for purpose’ Work Capability Assessment which is so stressful and traumatic it was linked to the suicide of claimants whilst Labour were still in power. The Labour party are the official party of opposition, but they are not opposing the Welfare Reform Bill as they should be and seem to have forgotten that the 10 million sick and or disabled people plus carers, friends and family in the UK have the power to vote. It is time for us to remind Labour that they will not get any of our votes if they do not start to oppose the parts of the Welfare Reform Bill set to return sick people, disabled people and carers to a life of desperation, dependency, despair and charity.
We are asking you to help with a mass email to the Labour party to remind them of our voting power. Please include the following details in your email and send it to Ed Miliband, Margaret Curran (shadow minister for disability) and Liam Byrne (shadow minister for DWP). If you have time please also email it to any Labour MP and particularly any members of the shadow cabinet. We have provided a list of email contacts below.
Please aim to send your email at 11am tomorrow (Thursday the 22nd September) If you can’t send the email at 11am, don’t worry, just please try to send it at any time between then and the end of Labour party conference on Wednesday 29th September.
The email subject should read “Your Silence Is Deafening”
We suggest embedding a link to this youtube video “The Sound of Silence” To embed the video into your email just copy and paste the link below.
Then please copy the following text into your email;
Dear (insert name here)
'The 10 million disabled people in this country plus their carers, relatives and friends are watching what your party do in relation to disability issues and wondering why you seem disinterested in trying to get their votes by opposing the savage attacks against disabled people being made by the Coalition government. During conference season we wish to remind you, the architects of Employment and Support Allowance to 'never fall ill, never grow old, never become disabled', for if you do, as we have found, not even Labour will speak up for you.'
If you would like to add a short, personal message explaining to Labour how you feel about their lack of support for sick, disabled people and carers then please include it after the suggested text. You might also like to include a photo of yourself, or perhaps a photo of what disability, sickness or caring means to you. Don’t worry if you don’t want to personalise the email, sending the suggested text is fine.
Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 4778
ed.miliband.mp@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
Liam Byrne
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 6953
Fax: 020 7219 1431
byrnel@parliament.uk
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 8102
Fax: 020 7219 6656
margaret.curran.mp@parliament.uk
Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
coopery@parliament.uk
Shadow Chief Secretary
Angela Eagle
eaglea@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills
John Denham
denhamj@parliament.uk
Cabinet Office and Minister for the Olympics
Tessa Jowell
jowellt@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Caroline Flint
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 4407
Fax: 020 7219 1277
caroline.flint.mp@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport
Ivan Lewis
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 2609
lewisi@parliament.uk
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Hilary Benn
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 5770
hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Jim Murphy
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 4615
Fax: 020 7219 5657
jimmurphymp@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Mary Creagh
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 6984/020 7219 8766
Fax: 020 7219 4257
creaghm@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Election Coordinator
Andy Burnham
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 8250
andy.burnham.mp@parliament.uk
Shadow Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice
Sadiq Khan
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 6967
Fax: 020 7219 6477
sadiqkhanmp@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Meg Hillier
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 5325
Fax: 020 7219 8768
meghilliermp@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
John Healey
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 6359
Fax: 020 7219 2451
healeyj@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Shaun Woodward
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 2680
woodwardsh@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
Ann McKechin
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 8239
Fax: 020 7219 1770
ann.mckechin.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Maria Eagle
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 4019
Fax: 020 7219 1157
eaglem@parliament.uk
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
Peter Hain
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 3925
Fax: 020 7219 3816
hainp@parliament.uk
Steven Timms MP
timmss@parliament.uk
stephen@stephentimms.org.uk
Karen Buck MP
Buckk@parliament.uk
Thanks Fearful - I emailed about 10 of them and have mainly automated replies thus far. Nothing from Mr M himself. I added a personal bit too about how the Lib Dems (and the names of them) had spoken up against the injustices at their Conference
The Green Party are probably the best - but unfortunately as soon as a Party gets into power, they become part of the corrupt system. It needs to be changed. New parties have started up since the last general election
Broken of Britain Campaign : Contact a Crossbench Lord
Many thanks to DarkestAngel for writing this post
As you may be aware, the Welfare Reform Bill passed its second reading in the House of Lords and has now moved onto committee stage.
Last Wednesday, Lords tabled a “highly unusual” motion to send the bill to Grand Committee, which will take place in side rooms, rather than a fully accessible public room. The motion was voted through, 263 votes to 211, and the bill will now be sent to the Grand Committee.
The main difference between a Committee and a Grand Committee is that no votes take place during a Grand Committee. Therefore, amendments will not be voted on individually. There is also no public gallery and less room for all peers to attend at once.
The reasons given for taking this step were that a bill of this complexity would block up the chamber and delay other bills. Also, that too many people would want to take part in the debate and it would take up too much time.
Several Lords have stated their objections to this:
“There is a great deal of consternation that is being expressed by disabled people about this decision.
Noble Lords have received a number of e-mails. There is both a practical and a symbolic significance to this decision. Disabled people feel that their democratic right to observe the proceedings at the Committee stage is being severely curtailed by any decision to take the whole of the Committee stage off the Floor of the House. I think it is wrong . As well as this, we are now starting a week earlier than previously announced - when some Lord's may still be on holiday - this is because the recess dates were changed late in the day. I'm concerned also about my fellow peers who are wheelchair users. Apparently we may be meeting in a committee room upstairs, which is larger than the Moses Room, though still far from ideal. It had already been accepted on this side that some of the Committee stage should be taken in Grand
Committee, but there are clauses in the Bill that are highly controversial. It is not just about experts coming in; it is about people who feel that their lives or livelihoods are at stake. “
Baroness Lister
“I am very concerned that we are debating a bill that has many aspects which are yet to be finalised. This is a most unsatisfactory situation which many people have expressed concern about. Yesterday matters were made worse by the Coalition Government insisting that the bill is discussed in Grand Committee and not in the Chamber of the House of Lords. It will make scrutiny more difficult and cause real problems for members of the public who want to come and observe proceedings.”
Lord Kennedy
“I am seriously concerned about the ability of all noble Lords to participate in the proceedings on this Bill. The noble Baroness has rightly drawn attention to the shortcomings of the Moses Room. Those shortcomings are just as apparent on the Committee Corridor. Several colleagues have told me in clear terms that the rooms upstairs are not much better and that a lot of furniture will need to be moved to facilitate those who have difficulty with mobility and to enable lobby groups and those who are interested in the Bill to participate and observe proceedings.”
Lord Bassam, Opposition Chief Whip
Some also stated their approval:
“I would prefer that every bill were considered in Grand Committee. It avoids votes at an early stage of examining the bill, the atmosphere is more intimate and business-like and we can spend more time on the detail. It feels to me like a more normal less stilted way of discussing an issue. The Education Bill was on its 10th day in committee yesterday for example whereas in the Chamber it would be rushed through more quickly. There is room to spread out one’s papers on a table in front of the speaker, the Minister has his support team of bill experts immediately behind him to consult and because it is not televised there is usually precious little grand-standing and posturing. It is easier to interrupt to question without it seeming rude. A technical bill like the Welfare Reform Bill in particular is best examined outside the Chamber. Then it returns to the Chamber for the important Report Stage when the important votes are taken.”
Baroness Murphy
We have three main concerns regarding this development:
• Firstly, access is poor. We are concerned that wheelchair users in
particular will be affected by this, not to mention members of the
public who wish to attend.
• Secondly, we are still unsure if live streaming will be available allowing
campaigners like us and the general public to follow debates and
scrutinise them properly and democratically.
• Thirdly, amendments will not be voted upon in Grand Committee, all amendments must be agreed upon unanimously. Just one objection can prevent any attempt to fix the faults of this bill.
We would like to urge you all to contact crossbenchers in the House of Lords (details below) to express your own concerns over this development. We suggest asking for live streaming so that we can at least see events as they happen, not 3 hours later and, of course, raising your objections to the bill so that the Lords understand how it will, as it currently stands, affect so many of us.
We made a difference last time. We can make a difference this time.
Thanks for sharing that, Fearful - for the benefit of those who've not seen it, it seems to be a serious compromise and another injustice against the disabled and the importance of this Bill.
Thanks for sharing that, Fearful - for the benefit of those who've not seen it, it seems to be a serious compromise and another injustice against the disabled and the importance of this Bill.
Hi Bub
You can say that again! So much for democracy! Discrimination of the disabled is the last acceptable prejudice.
1. Mind‘s ‘Adopt’ a Peer for welfare reform
The Welfare Reform Bill is now being put to the House of Lords for scrutiny, having completed its stages in the House of Commons.
Mind remain deeply concerned about the general direction of welfare reform and will continue to campaign for changes to the Bill as it progresses through the House of Lords, particularly around Personal Independence Payments (which will replace Disability Living Allowance).
We're asking our campaigners to 'adopt a Peer' for the Lords stage, to help ensure that Peers are fully informed of the weaknesses in the Bill’s legislation.
During the Bill’s stages in the Commons, a number of MPs voiced their concerns about the impact on people with mental problems. Mind's briefings and case studies were quoted extensively and we were successful in securing changes to the Bill: now, people distributing the benefits must give explicit consideration to a claimant’s mental health when deciding whether or not to issue sanctions.
With your support, we can make sure when the House of Lords look at welfare reform, mental health is a priority.
If you can spare half an hour this summer to write to, phone, or meet with a Peer, please email action@mind.org.uk with your name and address, and we will contact you with further information.
2. Your experience could be crucial in getting support for Mind’s welfare campaign
Mind have been working hard to make sure that media coverage of people who claim benefits for their mental health problems is fair. Our media volunteers have played a huge part in helping us to do this, by sharing their experiences and adding a personal slant to the sometimes impersonal stats.
We rely on your experiences to bring our welfare campaign to life and demonstrate the human impact of the decisions on everyday lives. If you are interested in speaking to the media about your experiences, find out more by emailing our Media Officer, Vicky v.prout@mind.org.uk Vicki and her colleagues will support you throughout the process, and you can remain anonymous if you wish.
We are particularly keen to hear from you if you currently get
Incapacity Benefit (IB) and have been contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about a reassessment for Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and are worried you will lose out when DLA is succeeded by the Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Now is a critical time to get the changes to the Welfare Reform Bill made. It is hard to believe that the majority of MPs or peers would allow the changes to be made if they knew what they really entailed. So we need to inform them.
Here’s what we can do:
1) The LibDems have voted in favour of opposing several elements of the Welfare Reform Bill including the government’s plans to remove a person’s Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) after just one year. We need to make sure that they keep their promise. Write to a Lord(s) about your concerns and your own experiences of the system. Contact details available at http://www.parliament.uk/.
2) Write to Nick Clegg
Westminster
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 3000
nick.clegg.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency
85 Nethergreen Road, Sheffield, S11 7EH
Tel: 0114-230 9002
Fax: 0114-230 9614
nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk
3) Write to your own MP and/or arrange an appointment to see them
4) Write to members of your local council regardless of their political affiliation and ask them to ask their fellow party members and any peers or MPs they know to support the changes to the Welfare Reform Bill
5) Write to your local newspaper to raise the profile of the issue
6) Join the Hardest Hit protest on October 22nd 2011 against cuts to benefits and services for people with disabilities, to coincide with the Welfare Reform Bill’s passage through the House of Lords. Protests will be taking place in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Nottingham. Send a clear message to the Government to stop these cuts. Regardless of whether or not you are able to attend one of the regional Hardest Hit events, there are still lots of ways you can support this campaign. Find out how you can get involved at www.hardesthit.org.uk
fearfulofthefuture 
Bub, on 17 September 2011 - 10:32 PM, said:
Help
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