Just saw this on the Sheffield Welfare Action Network) SWAN website, why the silence from the left, etc..
Even more draconian welfare reform on its way!
12 Feb 2007 by roger
It now seems that the Govts welfare reforms are to go even further that the those outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill: from April: unemployed people who cannot speak English will have to show they are learning the language or face losing benefits, there will be also be a ‘crackdown’(don’t you just love that word!) on single parents.(see links for details) Welfare is also increasingly being used as a tool for social policy, hence the sanctions that are applied if one doesn’t go on New Deal and the benefit cuts for those who don’t learn English.
Welfare reform is now a key part of Tony Blair's and No 10’s ‘legacy agenda’ and one can now see see that the ‘gloves are off’ as it were. The Freud review, (led by a former investment banker!) is to present its wide ranging proposals on welfare reform next month and is expected to suggest sweeping new changes to welfare including much wider privatization. John Hutton has also been visiting Australia where a extremely draconian welfare regime has been introduced, (with some resistance), which includes faith based groups running the welfare state. He is looking at plans for the private and voluntary sectors to take over responsibility for finding jobs for the 4.5 (an incorrect figure?) million people out of work in Britain.
The Welfare Reform Bill which is now in the Lords and will probably be voted on in the Spring has gone through opposed, this includes the sessions of the (labour lead)Works and Pensions Select Committee which sadly raised few objections to the Bill and even unprecedentedly authorised funds upfront for its implementation!
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmworpen.htm
This Bill is targeting targeting millions of disabled people with the threat of losing up to 30 pounds per week if the claimant does not comply with back to work plans, interviews and ever more medical assessments through a more stringent Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) already the toughest in the world. It also replaces housing benefit with a fixed rate allowance, which will of course be much less.
SWAN urges you to write to your M.P about these ongoing 'massive attacks' on
welfare and benefits and contact the media with your concerns.
Single parents/Freud review
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2011052,00.html
Benefit cuts for ethnic minorities
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6352793.stm
Australia
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/352511.html
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmworpen.htm
www.swansheffield.org.uk
sheffieldwelfare@yahoo.co.uk
.
Even more draconian welfare reform on its way!
12 Feb 2007 by roger
It now seems that the Govts welfare reforms are to go even further that the those outlined in the Welfare Reform Bill: from April: unemployed people who cannot speak English will have to show they are learning the language or face losing benefits, there will be also be a ‘crackdown’(don’t you just love that word!) on single parents.(see links for details) Welfare is also increasingly being used as a tool for social policy, hence the sanctions that are applied if one doesn’t go on New Deal and the benefit cuts for those who don’t learn English.
Welfare reform is now a key part of Tony Blair's and No 10’s ‘legacy agenda’ and one can now see see that the ‘gloves are off’ as it were. The Freud review, (led by a former investment banker!) is to present its wide ranging proposals on welfare reform next month and is expected to suggest sweeping new changes to welfare including much wider privatization. John Hutton has also been visiting Australia where a extremely draconian welfare regime has been introduced, (with some resistance), which includes faith based groups running the welfare state. He is looking at plans for the private and voluntary sectors to take over responsibility for finding jobs for the 4.5 (an incorrect figure?) million people out of work in Britain.
The Welfare Reform Bill which is now in the Lords and will probably be voted on in the Spring has gone through opposed, this includes the sessions of the (labour lead)Works and Pensions Select Committee which sadly raised few objections to the Bill and even unprecedentedly authorised funds upfront for its implementation!
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmworpen.htm This Bill is targeting targeting millions of disabled people with the threat of losing up to 30 pounds per week if the claimant does not comply with back to work plans, interviews and ever more medical assessments through a more stringent Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) already the toughest in the world. It also replaces housing benefit with a fixed rate allowance, which will of course be much less.
SWAN urges you to write to your M.P about these ongoing 'massive attacks' on
welfare and benefits and contact the media with your concerns.
Single parents/Freud review
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2011052,00.html Benefit cuts for ethnic minorities
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6352793.stm Australia
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/352511.html http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmworpen.htm www.swansheffield.org.uk
sheffieldwelfare@yahoo.co.uk .
Comments
Hide the following 10 comments
This Gov
12.02.2007 14:26
Gungadin
Strong unions? - maybe, maybe not
12.02.2007 17:06
In response to the original post - good to see the issue raised - the left and public sector unions didn't do anything for claimants then and are unlikely to do so now with their jobs on the line - self interest reigns - sad to say.
Note: CPSA was merged some time ago with PTC to form the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) union. Civil service workers in the PCS union voted to strike on January 31st against cuts, privatisation and low pay. Social security centres are being closed down and their work is being farmed out to call centres. Gordon Brown is driving forward the plan to axe 104,000 jobs in the civil service. See any mention of claimants getting shafted? Neither did I.
Nottingham Claimants Action (deceased)
Homepage:
http://www.geocities.com/ncajsa/
There’s Lovely
12.02.2007 18:00
Dai the dole
learning english should be obligatory
12.02.2007 20:47
jonathan spoonwheel
Whats the sense, when English classes are being withdrawn
12.02.2007 21:04
Hiya there,
When i read in a city of sanctuary email that goes around that Asylum Seekers are getting there english cut, the goverment threats to take benefit away if they dont learn english:
Whats the sense ! ...
We need a working class fight, following with the rank and file taking the lead on the recent PCS strikes ! .... which affect benefits
James Hadfield
e-mail:
sheffieldsf@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.solfed.org.uk
Higher Taxes Please
14.02.2007 15:09
While big business welcomes immigration, many poorer people of all ethnicities see it as unwelcome competition for meagre resources. This country has not properly invested in the infrastructure required to accommodate any large scale immigration.
If different communities are to live in harmony then what is required is the eradication of poverty and deprivation. Only massive taxation and a return to socially just policies can achieve this.
Sadly while many people have liberal tendencies with regard to asylum and immigration, they are not willing to vote for higher taxes. This has led to a situation where the electoral system no longer provides any opportunity to elect a socially just party, and the BNP fills the vacuum with its deceitful twisted policies of hatred.
The only ray of hope from all this is that it does seem we are at last allowed to discuss the issues of immigration freely after decades of left-wing idealogical repression.
Ted Boflux
Higher Taxes Please
14.02.2007 15:10
While big business welcomes immigration, many poorer people of all ethnicities see it as unwelcome competition for meagre resources. This country has not properly invested in the infrastructure required to accommodate any large scale immigration.
If different communities are to live in harmony then what is required is the eradication of poverty and deprivation. Only massive taxation and a return to socially just policies can achieve this.
Sadly while many people have liberal tendencies with regard to asylum and immigration, they are not willing to vote for higher taxes. This has led to a situation where the electoral system no longer provides any opportunity to elect a socially just party, and the BNP fills the vacuum with its deceitful twisted policies of hatred.
The only ray of hope from all this is that it does seem we are at last allowed to discuss the issues of immigration freely after decades of left-wing idealogical repression.
Ted Boflux
Raise Tax
14.02.2007 15:13
While big business welcomes immigration, many poorer people of all ethnicities see it as unwelcome competition for meagre resources. This country has not properly invested in the infrastructure required to accommodate any large scale immigration.
If different communities are to live in harmony then what is required is the eradication of poverty and deprivation. Only massive taxation and a return to socially just policies can achieve this.
Sadly while many people have liberal tendencies with regard to asylum and immigration, they are not willing to vote for higher taxes. This has led to a situation where the electoral system no longer provides any opportunity to elect a socially just party, and the BNP fills the vacuum with its deceitful twisted policies of hatred.
The only ray of hope from all this is that it does seem we are at last allowed to discuss the issues of immigration freely after decades of left-wing idealogical repression.
Ted Boflux
what was that Ted?
14.02.2007 17:20
daggle
undigesting ted !
15.02.2007 01:13
Well what you just said ted was like looking at sick on devonshire green it was un-digested !
The so called thing about immigrants they are our borther and sisters workers ! ie the word immigrant should be reclaimed for worker class solidairty .... doesnt matter what part of the world you come from, we are brother and sister workers !
repratation is a muddled middle class idea, foolish taken on by some working class far - right remembers who have lost there heritage !
James Hadfield