Opinions, politics, and COVID-19 lockdown

Ian Franks discusses political leanings, writing for The Locus, the COVID-19 lockdowns along with protests in the US.

COVID-19: MS society calls for urgent changes to benefits

Please note: The current Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic is fast moving, and reactions to it seem to update not just day-by-day but minute-by-minute. Obviously, this site was not designed to bring you the very latest developments in a ‘breaking news’ story such as this. Instead, this site will continue to include news and opinions relating to …

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No more delays, time to forget Leave and Remain – Brexit is here

It’s finally arrived, today is the UK’s last as a member of the European Union. At midnight tonight in most of Europe, which is 11pm in the UK, Brexit comes into effect. Of course, tomorrow both parties enter the 11-month transition period, meaning the full divorce won´t be effective until next year. It has taken …

Government gagging clauses attempt to silence critics

“I don’t believe it” was the catchphrase of Victor Meldrew (pictured right) in the BBCtv sit-com One foot in the grave. It signaled his frustration with elements of life today. However, although feeling equally exasperated as actor Richard Wilson’s character, I really DO believe it. It is another example of overreach, so typical of UK …

Disability benefits: Questions remain over timing and complexity

Why, oh why, oh why? This was the title of a hit song (well in the UK anyway) performed by Gilbert O’Sullivan in 1973, but now represents three questions to which we need answers. And by that, I am talking about meaningful answers from a government department responsible for benefits for the sick and disabled. …

Nothing new promised by latest work and pensions secretary

The cabinet table seat of the work and pensions secretary must be fitted with an eject mechanism. Yet again, it has a new incumbent. Indeed, in the 20 months since the sudden resignation of Iain Duncan Smith, the role has changed hands four times. And throughout that time, benefits for disabled people, including those with …

Benefit assessment contractors hiding in plain sight

Assessments of people’s applications for disability benefits in the UK, are carried out by contractors for the government. That is, of course, well known. It is equally common knowledge that those contractors are Atos, Capita, and Maximus. Between them, they have made hundreds of millions of pounds from their contracts with the government’s Department for …

Disability benefits stopped because government doesn’t understand variable conditions

It’s true. People with variable diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, have known this for some time. It has now been proved. The government does NOT understand variable conditions. The UK's Department of Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision to deny the payment of disability benefits to the family of a seven-year old girl has underlined that …

Healthcare benefits under attack again

Cold-hearted policies and actions of government toward its own people is no surprise to my regular readers. And neither will there be any shock at my continued opposition to such disgusting activities. Unfortunately, this is not limited to one country. The current Conservative-led government in the UK has a despicable record in relation to vulnerable …

Government figures prove UN’s human catastrophe verdict

Shocking new figures underline the facts behind a UN committee’s decision to describe UK welfare benefits as a human catastrophe. And the figures come from the government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Not that they were provided willingly. The MS Society forced them out by a freedom of information request. During the first three …