The topic makes me shocked, but after reading I find that the author has the correct idea on all the major points. The way disabled people are being treated by this government is utterly scandalous. It's not about sorting out malingerers but actually removing or reducing support to those in genuine need. A proper society doesn't treat the disabled like this.

Insightful piece. Remember the Nasty Party are in charge, with the figleaf of the Lib Dunces hiding their modesty. They're not interested in tackling tax avoidance, of course, because it's their rich chums who do it, and we simply can't have the rich paying their fair share, can we?

So who pays for the profligacy of the rich? The most vulnerable, as per bloody usual. It's what makes Britain so great.

All the minutiae of how the assessments are made and the semantics around taxation terms obscures the point which is that this government is attacking the principle of welfare or social security. Those commentators that appear to believe that our current system is an easy option are deluded at best, mendacious at best. Even getting a claim for Housing Benefit approved can be a painfully drawn out process in which the claimant has virtually no control while the Landlord can and does evict due to delay in payment of rent. I have direct experience of this.
This is a further act in the project to discredit and dismantle the welfare state and undermine the principle of universal entitlement to a basic income and shelter.
If interested I have written about these issues at : http://disparatestraights.blogspot.com/

This article is correct on all the major points. The way disabled people are being treated by this government is utterly scandalous.
It's not about sorting out malingerers but actually removing or reducing support to those in genuine need. A proper society doesn't treat the disabled like this. Reprehensible.

"There are quicker, easier ways to pay down the deficit than throwing the disabled and mentally ill out of their homes and communities, and this government knows that full well."

Sorry Laurie, this wouldn't be quicker or easier. Those people have wealth and power. They would threaten to cut jobs, make bad publicity, or otherwise present obstacles to the government getting that money.

It is far easier to mug some guy in a wheelchair than it is to pull of a bank heist, even though the banks money is all in one place and you'll get a lot more of it.

In terms of ethics, the fact our politicians have completely and totally abandoned societies poorest and most vulnerable people is a reflection on us just as much as it is on them. We buy the Daily Express and Daily Mail, we voted for a right wing Labour for years because "at least it wasn't tories", we voted Lib Dem to "keep the tories out".

We let them lead us to the altar of the free market where the preacher sings that the poor and indigent deserve their fate and should try harder. Now people are on the slab and about to be sacrificed to that principle.

To any on welfare reading this: I am truly sorry I didn't see this coming sooner.

Mitch

"Spud, you seem almost neutered without Divine but who can argue with this."

Yeah well...Divine 'is' the one with the brains...I just can't 'channel' him these days. It's probably for the best. You and andyg have done me a favour really...still don't know how you two did it though.

"Lee is wrong on that count. Across Regent Street, UK Uncut activists hold a banner stating "Tax Avoidance £25bn; Welfare Cuts £4.5bn"

Incredible that after all this time Laurie still doesn't know the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion.

And she still talks about 'paying down the deficit'!

She clearly couldn't care less. Its simple, just write an editorial saying the Tories want to round the poor up and kill them, gnash your teeth at the injustice of it all, cite no meaningful data and offer no solutions.

Hit 'send' and bill the NS by the word.

She gives people what they want to hear, and everybody's happy.

"forcing
the disabled to hunt for non-existent jobs they can't physically handle in the middle of a recession is no way to "make work pay"

Sums it up perfectly.

This reaches to the fundamental fallacy of right wing philosophy. They claim to promote the interests of the individual: to access opportunity, meet responsibility, to choose. They have no coherent thinking on individual vulnerability which is, and will always be a collective responsibility.

@Sir Michael, what a cock, lol.

No Sam, buying one product that isn't taxed instead of buying a product that is taxed is not the same principle as using semi-legal loopholes to route income through tax havens.

Similarly, registering that you gave to charity is not the same as lying about giving to charity.

Mr Danger:
Funny how you don't seem to grasp that tax avoidance and tax evasion are morally equivalent in spite of the legal distinction.

On Topic: nice, solid article Laurie. Funny how the mainstream press will hardly touch this issue...

'Yeah well...Divine 'is' the one with the brains'

I'm glad you got that sorted out Spud. I'm clever enough to know that it is important to check your food and clean your hands before you eat crackers. In fact if I was Laurie Penny I would bring my own crackers to book launching functions. Big functions are OK because you'll have professional caterers and they can just about be trusted to have proper hygiene, but little functions have clerks/book assistants handling the crackers and cheese. God only knows how much poo they have accumulated up their finger nails handling books that other people have touched with their dirty hands. Then they use those same hands to put the crackers for the celebrity author on the plate along with the cheese. Bloody grubby.

@Frazeil1
'Bollocks. 63000 families does not come to 0.1% of the benefits bill and regarding the children'

You seem to have both a laissez faire attitude to knowledge and a tendancy to spout crap. A dangerous combination.

I was quoting government figures. Capping benefits at 25k will save 0.1% of the welfare budget.

This of course doesn't take into account the costs of temporary accomodation for the government estimated 20,000 homeless it will create.

Rather than spewing made up bile why not actually find stuff out?

I love the idea that Corporate Tax Evasion is somehow not morally abhorent. Income earned here should be taxed here and Government (whatever their politics) should ensure that rules are changed and enforced so that those who trade here and crave the support of our legal system also accept their tax liability.

Spud - "btw...d'you reckon you'd get a job with the DWP?...remember, there's almost certainly a basic literacy requirement. Strange this is I agree with you in virtually every respect; only you've made such a twat of yourself, I can't take you seriously."

I didn't claim that I did. HE did.

I am exceedingly tolerant, except when it comes to people who will gleefully watch others literally starve or become homeless and apparently desire that as a positive outcome.

@Fraziel - "err, neither are those who work, who also pay rent and mortgages. You need to look at the total sum. Are you thick? Give up. You have so lost this argument and you just look stupid now."

Yes but the disposable income of a benefit claimant is kept to a level which is barely enough to survive on regardless of however much they receive overall. If you read the article and the actual replies posted you will see that it is you, not I, who is isolated on this.

Furthermore your general attitude towards people who are suffering and need help (which can be summed up as "kick the lazy people into the dirt") do identify you as one sociopathic son of a bitch without a shred of compassion or empathy. And frankly being thick isn't so bad compared to that.

@Spud: 'Income earned here should be taxed here'

easier said than done. What is income? What is 'here'? And who exactly is here? It's very complicated.

'Stop imagining'
Who exactly is doing this my love! One day!

Anyway today it was 28C here and I spent the afternoon paddling down the river for nearly 4 hours. It was very tiring but very beautiful. I'm just off to me pool to soak my aching limbs. Looking forward to more of your imaginings. You know I'm real. Al my love Steve.

My eyes are so sore because the the sun reflects from the water. Even though I wore sunglasses the glare is huge. I met these cowboys from out West who came to the river reserve for a holiday, and they brought their horses and cattle. It's a free holiday for them as the site only has a pit toilet. They wash in the river and have fires at night. They brought their own electric fence for their horses but the cattle roam free eating the grass. And YOU think you met interesting people! Yea.

Sir M

I called you a bit of a twat last night for which I apologise. I was exceedingly drunk and spoiling for a row. I was the twat.

Divine

Since, in the minds of many readers here, we are one and the same...fuck knows why- I despair of their powers of perception...I sort of feel a special affinity for you. This feeling is a strange one. You and I are apparently different aspects of 'somebody's' personality as far as others are concerned. I can't imagine who or what this 'somebody' might be. Sometimes I think I should ask them for their impressions of this meta-poster. However, I'm pretty sure this person they imagine must be a good-looking male, Socialist, Evertonian. What do you think? Personally I doubt we're compatible as distinct parts of the same psyche...I reckon you'd 'fit' better with pj wall.

@ Frazeil 1

perhaps if you could be bothered to analse it further you'd find that the savings envisaged are around 0.1% of the annual benefits bill, will push 100,000 children below the poverty line and potentially make 20000 homeless. (governments own figures)

Yea pj wall. I'm a bit greenie I suppose but I feel I'm a step beyond pj .. one step beyond. I can see pj, but he can't quite see me.

You and I Spud. Well we're both from the same part of the country but of course as you well know I support the red team while you support some second rate thrash. Do you really want me to explain our affinity? Perhaps it's our 'anarchist' streak. You know 'what the fing matter does it fing matter' streak.

What gets me Spud is that they don't recognise that your lexicon is far superior to mine. How can I be you?

I've got to go as I'm swimming. It's like being on airoplane for days, you can't stop moving. Just keep on hold of the affinity. I'm glad you recognise that its there. If you let go it'll be like of those helium balloons.

Hey I've heard its freeeeeeeeeeeezing there!

here's a kiss for Laurie
X

Mitch

Yeah...but to paraphrase Winston Churchill: "Mitch, I may be a twat, but in the morning I'll be sober and you will still be thick as pig shit."

and if you take any offence at that Mitch, blame 'Divine'...he's the 'one' who comes up with the insults.

"It's a small point, but if you're going to criticise her for something, make it something she's actually done. Otherwise you just look foolish."

But she is the one quoting them supportively, using their banner to make her point. And its a point she has made and been corrected on too many times to plead ignorance.

I don't think you should hold her to such a low standard. She's an Oxford educated journalist, not some amateur blog writer.

Yea that's right Spud put the blame on me.. its always my fault. Anytime Spud calls you a tosspot or pisshead or shithead blame it on me for it I that is making up the insults and passing them onto Spud to pass onto you Mitch. Notice I never insult you directly Mitch ... why?... because I am obliged to pass the insult to Spud first who then passes the insult onto you.

So don't blame Spud for any insults, blame me.

Oh yea Spud, don't blame Mitch for calling you a twat for it was me who made the insult up and passed it onto Mitch.

There's no way Mitch could think of such an insult.