Government minister’s welfare benefits statements prove economical with the truth

Sarah Newton, one of two ministers of state at the department for work and pensions (DWP), was in the centre of a heated debate in the House of Commons, this week. The Canary, a website dedicated to independent campaigning journalism, reported that she made some staggering claims. It went on to question how many of …

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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 …

Government in fight for survival, cabinet split, opposition turns up pressure on health and disability

Key ministers have drawn up their battle lines and daily newspapers say the cabinet is split. The government has descended into disarray and this is likely to deteriorate into a form civil war within the party. The national leader seems completely unable to set any form of direction. Meanwhile, the opposition is promising to review …

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 …

Disability benefit cuts are still a real risk

This week is the first of the six-week summer recess of the UK parliament, which is a great time to look at welfare benefits for people with disabilities. Regretfully, despite more than a year passing and a new government, albeit the same party, nothing has really changed. In April last year, I reported that the …

‘Devastating’ benefit cuts could hit 10% of people with MS – and other disabilities too

One in ten people with multiple sclerosis in the UK could face cuts in government disability benefit payments, according to new figures published by the country’s MS Society. The figures reveal the severe extent of benefits cuts for people living with MS. And, I would say that it is highly likely that people living with …

Paralympians fear losing their cars through government benefit cuts

Some of the British athletes, including two with multiple sclerosis, heading to Rio for the Paralympics fear losing their cars supplied through the Motability Scheme after being reassessed as part of the government’s programme of benefit cuts and reforms. This has been revealed by a member of the ParalympicsGB team - according to the Disability …

Welfare benefit cuts high on anti-austerity agenda

Placards proclaiming 'Cut War Not Welfare'  are held aloft during Saturday's Anti-Austerity protest. Anti-austerity protests and movements have become increasingly popular during the latter half of last year year and again this year. Mass protests have taken place around the world, notably in Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the UK, Canada and the United States’ commonwealth …

Don’t be fooled by government’s callous weasel words – disability benefits cuts are still planned

Mystery still surrounds the fate of the threatened cuts to the UK’s Personal Independence Payment paid to people with disabilities. including Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, blindness and mental illnesses. Just look at the timetable: March 11, Justin Tomlinson, Disabilities Minister in the Department of Work and Pensions, officially announced plans to make changes, to make …

Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation and government’s benefit cut ‘rethink’ may not change anything

Iain Duncan Smith's resignation from his position as UK's Work and Pensions Secretary gives the government a chance to abandon its planned cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - but don't hold your breath, it probably won't happen. In his resignation letter, Duncan Smith said that while the benefit cuts are "defensible in narrow terms, …