Disappointing response from Labour to Jayne Linney’s query about what the party would do, in government, for people who are genuinely unable to work through disability (and let’s add long-term illness as well). Most of it has nothing to do with the question that was asked. The relevant section is at the very end, and consists of a couple of lines about reforming the work capability assessment. I agree with Jayne that this is desperately needed, but it would be like putting a sticking plaster on a broken leg – a completely inadequate response to a situation that requires much more serious treatment. Hopefully Kate Green will remedy this lack.
As well as sending my letter asking Where Disabled People fit in Labour’s ‘Tough on Welfare’? to Kate Green, I also submitted it as a comment in to Labour.org; I received a reply from the Labour Party today –
Thank you for your email about Labour’s plans for social security reform.
Because of this Government’s economic failure, the next Labour government must start planning now for what will be a very difficult inheritance. David Cameron claims the economy is fixed, but the welfare bill is going up, not down. Long-term unemployment is up; the housing crisis is pushing up housing benefit spending; and the growing number of people earning less than a living wage is costing the taxpayer more in tax credits and other benefits.
One Nation Labour will get welfare spending back under control, but based on our values, not the Tories’ failed approach. That means tackling the underlying problems…
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Mike Sivier's blog 
It’s a semi-automated reply with the bit about disability added on, don’t read too much into it. Also don’t expect too much too soon from Kate Green, it takes a new Shadow Minister in any portfolio time to work up ideas, she also has to get specific things like PiP etc cleared by her Shadow Sectetary of State and the Shadow Cabinet as a whole. Also worth remembering Labour are conducting a member-led Policy Review so any member with a disability should feed into that, and if you have a Labour MP make your views known to them as they’re being directly consulted by the policy review.
howe many disabled people die whilst we wait?
and I know someone who has received exactly the same reply from labour – funny that!!!
Labour can’t do anything about that whilst in opposition, Jed. It would be wrong to lay blame on them for what’s going on now. Even the argument that Labour brought in Atos etc fails because the Tories have had ample opportunity to stop it and have instead made matters worse.
the question of how many more disabled people die is one for us all to answer – it is not party political – the people in this country should ALL be ashamed of what is happening ……….. the labour party are only adding to the massacre by not being an opposition rather trying to be ‘harder’ – sick of them
I totally agree Mike – thanks for the repost
Well if they want votes in 2015 they will have to come up with something better than this . I just don,t understand what is going on in the Labour party any more. Is the Labour party divided as well?
the labour party has always been divided – the right of the party have always had the ascendency – but today’s labour party is full of management and legal gurus, social speakeasy types who know nothing of the real world, chancers like the Balls’, careerists and appeasers, one or two criminals and some with really bad hair.
Dennis Skinner’s rare comment a couple of weeks ago is the most startlingly human comment anyone from labour has said since the war – says something
Since which war?
I think you’re right that Labour has been invaded by the kind of people you mention, but isn’t this because the people who should have been invigorating the party haven’t bothered?
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