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allowance, assessment, Atos, austerity, benefit, benefits, Coalition, Conservative, David Cameron, Democrat, Department, economy, employment, fit for work, government, human rights, Iain Duncan Smith, Labour, Lib Dem, Liberal, medical, Mike Sivier, mikesivier, Nelson Mandela, Pensions, people, police, politics, repression, social security, state, support, Tories, Tory, Vox Political, welfare, work, work capability
Government repression of the people, plans to give corporations the power to overrule national laws, the end of legal protection of our human rights and the continuing horror story that is the Coalition government’s idea of a benefit system were among your top priorities in 2013.
It would have been easy to write a ‘review of the year’ highlighting what I think were the main issues of the year, but this may not have been representative of the feelings of readers.
Instead – borrowing an idea from Pride’s Purge – let’s look back at the articles you, the reader, found most interesting. These are the subjects that we should all watch carefully as the new year progresses and we move ever-closer to the general election of 2015.
While we can see Conservative and Liberal Democrat policies reflected in these stories, let’s also ask what Labour would do. What are the policies of the Opposition on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership? Would the current Labour leadership reverse party policy of the last 100 years and move to restrict our legal freedoms (as suggested by the disastrous decision to support Iain Duncan Smith’s repressive retroactive law on Workfare in March)?
And what about the other parties – the Greens, UKIP, and the new pretenders that have sprung up in protest at the excesses of a government that was never elected by the British people but has set about changing the face of Britain in such a massive way that the UK of 2015 will hardly be recognisable as the same country that went to the polls in 2010? Are they a serious political force, a vote-splitting annoyance that could allow the Tories back into power, or an expression of the nation’s conscience?
Take a look back – and then take a look forward.
1. Sleepwalking further into Police State Britain as law offers new powers of repression (November 11)
2. Death of a great man marred by the hypocrisy of a weasel (December 6)
3. Iain Duncan Smith has committed contempt of Parliament and should be expelled (May 10)
4. Back to the Dark Ages as the Tories plan to scrap your Human Rights (March 10)
5. Judges find DWP ‘fitness for work’ test breaches the Equality Act and is illegal (May 22)
6. UK police state moves a step closer (to your door) (February 11)
7. Austerity programme proved to be ‘nonsense’ based on a spreadsheet mistake (April 19)
8. Is Labour planning to betray its core supporters by siding with Iain Duncan Smith? (March 16)
9. The biggest threat to democracy since World War II – and they tried to keep it secret (December 4)
10. Are you going to let David Cameron abolish your rights without a fight? (June 10)
11. MPs tell their own Atos horror stories (January 18)
12. Skeletons in ministers’ closets (or indeed bedrooms) come back to haunt them (May 6)
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Hi Mike
Thanks for all you do on Vox Political to keep us up to speed on the many issues you cover (particularly the social security ones),from my point of view these are the most important. I wish you and Mrs Mike a very happy New Year.
Best Wishes
Robert Fillies
This is EXCELLENT Mike!
We need to corner the Labour opposition into telling us now what their policies are if we’re to have any hope of changing them.
We’ve been trying to get them to match this: http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2013/12/scottish-independence-a-lifeboat-for-disabled-people-drowning-in-sea-of-cuts/
We’re hoping that our comrades in England and Wales will use this as a stick to beat the living sense into them. It is our view that, as things stand, they offer us little hope. We must change this, together. Can you help us?
Solidarity, always.
Happy New Year, Mike!
John
Sent from my iPhone
Nobody responds well if you talk about beating the living sense into them with a stick – no matter how metaphorical the stick may be!
However, it is possible that Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition may be persuaded by evidence showing what is likely to happen if sensible policies are not brought forward – and also how the people are likely to react after five years of the most appallingly poor government in living memory.
As 2013 ends, I have to say I am extremely disappointed with Labour’s performance. I do not have high hopes for the party in the immediate future but I agree that only the weight of popular opinion can have any hope of achieving change.
What a year it’s been-I’ve avoided being bothered by Atos-so far. I look forward to 2015 and hopefully voting out the Conservatives and the traitor Lib Dems as well.
There have been many great articles from you over the last year Mike,& my how the year has passed so quickly.Out of the many greats,for which we all thank you sincerely,was titled ” Are these the men who would be king” on Sept 23rd.I feel that it gave us a very in depth scenario of how we`re having our N.H.S. stolen from us.Labour have got a lot of work in front of them if they need a majority in 2015.Their previous years in office did not do it for me anymore than voting for a party that will hurt us less will do it for me in 2015.They all piss in the same pot & they all have their snouts in the trough,but that`s only my thoughts.
The article Malcolm mentions can be found here: https://mikesivier.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/are-these-the-men-who-would-be-king/
It was popular – but not nearly as popular as the top 12 articles I listed!
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Hi Mike, regards from Norfolk, and an early wish for a Happy New Year to you, and your family. Thanks for all the interesting articles over the past year, and the numerous re-blogs (including mine!). I have enjoyed most of them, especially the wise words of ‘Beastrabban’.
Despite often being the subject of attacking comments, presumably due to my unpopular ideas, I will continue to follow you, and look forward to more VP in 2014.
If I was not struggling to live a decent retirement on a small pension, I would happily contribute, but sadly, I have little to spare. I hope those better off than me can help.
Best wishes, Pete.