Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Labour have a huge majority. They don’t need to call an election for 4 years. Now is the time to push through all the unpopular measures that will allow them to pay for a pre election giveaway.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Absolutely disgraceful . They don’t need to go after the most vulnerable. Wtf has happened to the Labour Party !
Farage will be able to reprise the Kinnock campaign at the next election: “If Keir Starmer wins, I warn you not to get old; I warn you not to become injured; I warn you not to get depressed…”
Farage can do one as well . What exactly is he offering ? A load of hot air with zero practical solutions .
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Have we seen any details of the measures? I am not sure why they would affect people incapable of washing themselves?
S Times claimed they had leak/info on this and that the points system for PIP would be changed so that those that could wash their upper body would not get points (or maybe it was lower body - I forget).
I'll reserve judgement, but I suppose it wouldn't be entirely out of character for this Government to cock something up this way.
Welcome to Reform UK, Cllr Manzur Hasan! #LincolnshireNeedsReform 🇬🇧
Wow. The comments below are almost universally hostile and dripping bile. Nigel can survive many things but being seen as a traitor to the cause probably isn't one of them. (And don't tell them that Nigel's approach got the endorsement of Rory the other day.) Nigel's days look numbered to me.
I found a tweet on there about the Homeland Party. Never heard of them. But seems they are a tad to the right of Farage shall we say.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Have we seen any details of the measures? I am not sure why they would affect people incapable of washing themselves?
It's a load of nonsense. There will be one or two edge cases that get resolved but fundamentally the change is going to be for people who have "anxiety" and "depression" they self diagnosed and then did a call on zoom with a minimum wage assessor who gives no fucks about actually assessing anyone and just wants an easy day so says yes to whatever they see.
The whole system is completely broken, the Tories have a lot to answer for on immigration and benefits fraud. Theresa May and Boris in turn destroyed the social contract in the country, May by allowing minor mental health issues like anxiety to become eligible for disability benefits and Boris for opening the door to 3m legal migrants. It's resulted in record tax rates for people who work for a living.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Absolutely disgraceful . They don’t need to go after the most vulnerable. Wtf has happened to the Labour Party !
Farage will be able to reprise the Kinnock campaign at the next election: “If Keir Starmer wins, I warn you not to get old; I warn you not to become injured; I warn you not to get depressed…”
Reform are, ironically, adherents of far far more radical policies on benefits and welfare.... they want to totally gut the system a la musk and DOGE. Their policies would bring pain many orders of magnitude worse.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Have we seen any details of the measures? I am not sure why they would affect people incapable of washing themselves?
It's a load of nonsense. There will be one or two edge cases that get resolved but fundamentally the change is going to be for people who have "anxiety" and "depression" they self diagnosed and then did a call on zoom with a minimum wage assessor who gives no fucks about actually assessing anyone and just wants an easy day so says yes to whatever they see.
The whole system is completely broken, the Tories have a lot to answer for on immigration and benefits fraud. Theresa May and Boris in turn destroyed the social contract in the country, May by allowing minor mental health issues like anxiety to become eligible for disability benefits and Boris for opening the door to 3m legal migrants. It's resulted in record tax rates for people who work for a living.
I absolutely detest how the media will focus on that edge case as if that is the average case. They have already been doing having stories of people saying IF, IF, they were to lose PIP.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Have we seen any details of the measures? I am not sure why they would affect people incapable of washing themselves?
It's a load of nonsense. There will be one or two edge cases that get resolved but fundamentally the change is going to be for people who have "anxiety" and "depression" they self diagnosed and then did a call on zoom with a minimum wage assessor who gives no fucks about actually assessing anyone and just wants an easy day so says yes to whatever they see.
The whole system is completely broken, the Tories have a lot to answer for on immigration and benefits fraud. Theresa May and Boris in turn destroyed the social contract in the country, May by allowing minor mental health issues like anxiety to become eligible for disability benefits and Boris for opening the door to 3m legal migrants. It's resulted in record tax rates for people who work for a living.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Have we seen any details of the measures? I am not sure why they would affect people incapable of washing themselves?
It's a load of nonsense. There will be one or two edge cases that get resolved but fundamentally the change is going to be for people who have "anxiety" and "depression" they self diagnosed and then did a call on zoom with a minimum wage assessor who gives no fucks about actually assessing anyone and just wants an easy day so says yes to whatever they see.
The whole system is completely broken, the Tories have a lot to answer for on immigration and benefits fraud. Theresa May and Boris in turn destroyed the social contract in the country, May by allowing minor mental health issues like anxiety to become eligible for disability benefits and Boris for opening the door to 3m legal migrants. It's resulted in record tax rates for people who work for a living.
Yes, I couldn't agree more.
I just think Labour are more than capable of buggering it up in a way that does affect the more severely disabled.
Captain America BNW is creeping up... It's currently $388 million world wide, but it's touch-and-go on whether it'll hit $400 million. If it does it'll be the int'l box office that saves it.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No. But your comment shows a total lack of understanding. When you’re in that state, you’re not “worrying about how anxious you are”. Instead you’re worrying so much about getting through a day of work that you almost shut down entirely. The stress is immense.
I have been in that situation before, a long time ago now, and I was let go because of it. Luckily I did find another job without claiming benefits but if I hadn’t found another job again quickly I would have seriously deteriorated. It wasn’t minor in the slightest.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
I wonder how much correlation there is between absence from work due to anxiety / depression and having a shit job or incompetent boss? I also wonder how much correlation there is between absence from work and being paid while absent, e.g. in the public sector?
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
That's just crass people saying crass things.
But... there's a legit point to be made here. Where MH problems can be ameliorated, it's a win for everyone involved. And it probably is the case that there are people subsisting on benefits who would be better off once they were eased back into work.
The catch is that requires the MH bits of the NHS to function well (spoiler alert: right now, they don't) and probably some sort of bungs to people and potential employers to ease the (slightly risky) transition. That all costs in the short term, and the model for the last fifteen years plus has been short-term cuts that seed big bills in the future.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No. But your comment shows a total lack of understanding. When you’re in that state, you’re not “worrying about how anxious you are”. Instead you’re worrying so much about getting through a day of work that you almost shut down entirely. The stress is immense.
I have been in that situation before, a long time ago now, and I was let go because of it. Luckily I did find another job without claiming benefits but if I hadn’t found another job again quickly I would have seriously deteriorated. It wasn’t minor in the slightest.
I am glad that you have come through that experience, but I'm afraid it doesn't convince me that someone who is suffering with anxiety should be paid more than the standard safety net of universal credit, and still less that that person should be without the regular coaching and follow up that comes with being on universal credit, as opposed to the hands off approach that usually characterises long term sick pay.
He’s just living in a fantasy world, which revolves around him.
"Tomorrow, I will speak with President Putin to save Ukrainian soldiers who are in a very difficult situation. They are surrounded by Russian forces. If it weren’t for me, they’d be gone already. I managed to convince them to hold off for now." https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1901734441111691418
He’s just living in a fantasy world, which revolves around him.
"Tomorrow, I will speak with President Putin to save Ukrainian soldiers who are in a very difficult situation. They are surrounded by Russian forces. If it weren’t for me, they’d be gone already. I managed to convince them to hold off for now." https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1901734441111691418
The Maga morons will lap up the Mother Theresa Trump . There’s really no hope for them .
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Have we seen any details of the measures? I am not sure why they would affect people incapable of washing themselves?
It's a load of nonsense. There will be one or two edge cases that get resolved but fundamentally the change is going to be for people who have "anxiety" and "depression" they self diagnosed and then did a call on zoom with a minimum wage assessor who gives no fucks about actually assessing anyone and just wants an easy day so says yes to whatever they see.
The whole system is completely broken, the Tories have a lot to answer for on immigration and benefits fraud. Theresa May and Boris in turn destroyed the social contract in the country, May by allowing minor mental health issues like anxiety to become eligible for disability benefits and Boris for opening the door to 3m legal migrants. It's resulted in record tax rates for people who work for a living.
What gave you the impression that they aren't earning on average $36k a year, and that they aren't more focused on catching people out rather than signing people up?
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No. But your comment shows a total lack of understanding. When you’re in that state, you’re not “worrying about how anxious you are”. Instead you’re worrying so much about getting through a day of work that you almost shut down entirely. The stress is immense.
I have been in that situation before, a long time ago now, and I was let go because of it. Luckily I did find another job without claiming benefits but if I hadn’t found another job again quickly I would have seriously deteriorated. It wasn’t minor in the slightest.
I am glad that you have come through that experience, but I'm afraid it doesn't convince me that someone who is suffering with anxiety should be paid more than the standard safety net of universal credit, and still less that that person should be without the regular coaching and follow up that comes with being on universal credit, as opposed to the hands off approach that usually characterises long term sick pay.
I don’t necessarily disagree with you. I was just giving an opinion that anxiety isn’t always minor.
Frankly astonishing that one was still alive after all this time. The Second World War is retreating from the collective memories as active participants pass.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Frankly astonishing that one was still alive after all this time. The Second World War is retreating from the collective memories as active participants pass.
One of the investors in my business is 99 years old, he was a Marine during the invasion of Okinawa.
He's also still as sharp as a tack, works every day, drives a Tesla and has the latest iPhone.
He gave up skiing at 86 when his doctor said to him "Meyer, you're 86 years old. If you take a tumble, you will not be getting back up."
Frankly astonishing that one was still alive after all this time. The Second World War is retreating from the collective memories as active participants pass.
One of the investors in my business is 99 years old, he was a Marine during the invasion of Okinawa.
He's also still as sharp as a tack, works every day, drives a Tesla and has the latest iPhone.
He gave up skiing at 86 when his doctor said to him "Meyer, you're 86 years old. If you take a tumble, you will not be getting back up."
"drives a Tesla" ?
Are you sure he wasn't fighting on the other side?
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yeh. There's a hell of a lot of mixing up the various benefits in the reporting and analysis in the media.
He’s just living in a fantasy world, which revolves around him.
"Tomorrow, I will speak with President Putin to save Ukrainian soldiers who are in a very difficult situation. They are surrounded by Russian forces. If it weren’t for me, they’d be gone already. I managed to convince them to hold off for now." https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1901734441111691418
The "fantasy" is being delivered, oven-ready, by Moscow every day by the looks of it.
Maybe he actually has an ear piece were the operatives can tell him what to say next?
There are no Ukr platoons surrounded and almost "gone already".
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yeh. There's a hell of a lot of mixing up the various benefits in the reporting and analysis in the media.
But isn't the primary duty of the fourth estate to report on what senior sources told them? I mean, if you want them to also think about it or discuss what a policy means in practice for the people affected - well, that's a very different thing. SORRY over to our senior west of that bit over there editor who has some urgent tittle-tattle. Jim! What's going on?! ...
I do wish this isn't how I perceived things. But the endless stream of 'who said what to whom about what' is getting to me.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yes, the debate has gone wider than the issue at hand - PIP.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
He’s just living in a fantasy world, which revolves around him.
"Tomorrow, I will speak with President Putin to save Ukrainian soldiers who are in a very difficult situation. They are surrounded by Russian forces. If it weren’t for me, they’d be gone already. I managed to convince them to hold off for now." https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1901734441111691418
The Maga morons will lap up the Mother Theresa Trump . There’s really no hope for them .
He's offering the stretched twig of peace to Putin.
Ron Filipkowski @RonFilipkowski · 2h Trump repeats the blatant lie today that Russia has a Ukrainian army surrounded in Kursk, but claims he is going to save them when he talks to Putin tomorrow.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yes, the debate has gone wider than the issue at hand - PIP.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
Supposedly in 2018 PIP was changed so the highest award level claimants with progressive illnesses would not face reassessments every couple of years.
Whether that actually happened on the ground I don't know.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yes, the debate has gone wider than the issue at hand - PIP.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
Supposedly in 2018 PIP was changed so the highest award level claimants with progressive illnesses would not face reassessments every couple of years.
Whether that actually happened on the ground I don't know.
During the pandemic, assessments were done over the phone, on trust.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
A combination of things , as the stigma surrounding mental health has reduced so you’d think with more support in general this should help but we’re not seeing this in terms of actual data . Equally more and more labels put on people can often have a negative effect. The mindset of living with a condition v identifying as the condition itself , mental health issues becoming a defining characteristic . I suspect social media has played an oversized role in terms of one factor .
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
Good grief . So they’ll be discussing tomorrow how to carve up Ukraine . The whole band of morally bankrupt Trump enablers should be rotting in a jail cell . Treasonous scum .
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
Good grief . So they’ll be discussing tomorrow how to carve up Ukraine . The whole band of morally bankrupt Trump enablers should be rotting in a jail cell . Treasonous scum .
It is at least admirably honest. Quite why 50% of voting Americans are such fans of such a switch up in position I do not really know, but I hope someone does and how to change their minds.
He’s just living in a fantasy world, which revolves around him.
Unfortunately his electoral successes means that it is not as much of a fantasy as it should be. He has bent the american political scene to his whims, and so can play out all his fantasies on the world. Heck, he's even been told he can commit crimes with impunity by the Supreme Court so long as he can claim they are vaguely related to presidential duties.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Labour have a huge majority. They don’t need to call an election for 4 years. Now is the time to push through all the unpopular measures that will allow them to pay for a pre election giveaway.
That is the idea, we'll see if their nerve holds, and if it does whether it works. So long as opposition is split or weakened the government can bear several years of unhappiness.
Also, seeing 'peace' supporters crowing about how wonderful a deal is, achieved by Trump openly siding with Russia against Ukraine, is going to be a sickening watch when it happens. 'If only people had listened to those of us who wanted peace' will be the cry. Barf.
Keir Starmer will unveil drastic cuts to disability benefits on Tuesday, despite deep opposition from Labour MPs and poverty campaigners, and warnings from economists against making kneejerk savings to hit fiscal targets.
In the government’s most controversial move yet, it will announce a package of changes expected to affect some of the UK’s most severely disabled people.
The measures could deny benefits for people who need some help washing themselves, preparing food or remembering to go to the toilet, as ministers attempt to overhaul the welfare system and balance the books.
Labour have a huge majority. They don’t need to call an election for 4 years. Now is the time to push through all the unpopular measures that will allow them to pay for a pre election giveaway.
That is the idea, we'll see if their nerve holds, and if it does whether it works. So long as opposition is split or weakened the government can bear several years of unhappiness.
You can't fatten a pig on market day.
Voters have memories, and while pre election giveaways help, they cannot save a sunken government. See the tail end of Sunak for details.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yes, the debate has gone wider than the issue at hand - PIP.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
Yes, I have had patients with Downs syndrome reviewed to see if they still have it...
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yes, the debate has gone wider than the issue at hand - PIP.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
Yes, I have had patients with Downs syndrome reviewed to see if they still have it...
Ernest Saunders managed to recover from Alzheimer’s.
Perhaps they are looking for equal medical miracles?
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
One of the first jobs I had was looking for the 'idiot sons'. The acquisitive industrial group I worked for was always on the lookout for businesses they could acquire. One of the more fruitful areas were entrepreneurs of a certain age with 'idiot sons' - a generation without an interest or capability of continuing the dynasty. You could get the business without much of a battle.
Where the acquisition could become unstuck was where you were trying to get a hold of the entrepreneur's first success - their baby, so to speak. These entrepreneurs would go to extraordinary lengths to keep them even selling off the star parts of their business to feed this baby.
If anyone wanted to push Musk or Trump off the edge, it would be hitting something like Tesla or Trump's New York properties. Watch what Musk will do if the Tesla sell off continues.
One of the first jobs I had was looking for the 'idiot sons'. The acquisitive industrial group I worked for was always on the lookout for businesses they could acquire. One of the more fruitful areas were entrepreneurs of a certain age with 'idiot sons' - a generation without an interest or capability of continuing the dynasty. You could get the business without much of a battle.
Where the acquisition could become unstuck was where you were trying to get a hold of the entrepreneur's first success - their baby, so to speak. These entrepreneurs would go to extraordinary lengths to keep them even selling off the star parts of their business to feed this baby.
If anyone wanted to push Musk or Trump off the edge, it would be hitting something like Tesla or Trump's New York properties. Watch what Musk will do if the Tesla sell off continues.
I think Donald Trump's father has already cornered the market in idiot sons...
On Disney+ they have have first ten episodes of season one of Doctor Odyssey, it is utter trash but utterly compelling and entertaining.
I don't know whether it's been mentioned but a rare masterpiece on Netflix 'Adolescence'. Technically ingenious with some masterful acting writing and direction.
On NetFlix I’d really recommend Turning Point about the origins of the Cold War
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
On Disney+ they have have first ten episodes of season one of Doctor Odyssey, it is utter trash but utterly compelling and entertaining.
I don't know whether it's been mentioned but a rare masterpiece on Netflix 'Adolescence'. Technically ingenious with some masterful acting writing and direction.
On NetFlix I’d really recommend Turning Point about the origins of the Cold War
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
?? What ? COVID? Ukraine? Really early for such silliness.
Australia was pretty interesting in that a lot of drivers had a great weekend and a lot had something atrocious. I don't think too many drivers will be feeling so-so about their result.
Also, Ladbrokes has a specials market up. My initial glance suggests nothing was appealing but I'll give it another look later.
Today is the big Bundestag vote on allowing increased defence spending. If it doesn't pass today, then we are probably out of time and there won't be a 2 thirds majority in the new Bundestag. It should pass - there are only a handful of known rebel MPs in CDU/CSU-SPD-Greens.
The Freie Wähler have indicated Bavaria will vote for the changes in the Bundesrat so it should pass there too.
The constitutional court isn't going to block it - for now. Cases could go on and potentially reverse the decision later, though I guess this is unlikely.
Flagging posts and calling for posters to be banned is a low-water mark here
The poster in question has been challenging all comers to a vote on who is the most popular poster, with the loser banished from the site forever, him or A N Other ( it started with Horse, but he's moved on, so the challenge is to anyone else. Any takers? No I thought not).
It's a bit like one of David Davis's vanity by elections. Throw down a stupid challenge safe in the knowledge of an inevitable win.
I've been busy boosting public sector productivity over the past few days by filling in spreadsheet cells in 'amber' for staff who are booked onto pointless training courses (thanks 'professional' manager!).
I've clearly missed some drama?
Presumably all these training courses come at a cost to the taxpayer?
Today is the big Bundestag vote on allowing increased defence spending. If it doesn't pass today, then we are probably out of time and there won't be a 2 thirds majority in the new Bundestag. It should pass - there are only a handful of known rebel MPs in CDU/CSU-SPD-Greens.
The Freie Wähler have indicated Bavaria will vote for the changes in the Bundesrat so it should pass there too.
The constitutional court isn't going to block it - for now. Cases could go on and potentially reverse the decision later, though I guess this is unlikely.
Headline in today's Bild: "The most expensive vote of all time"
Flagging posts and calling for posters to be banned is a low-water mark here
The poster in question has been challenging all comers to a vote on who is the most popular poster, with the loser banished from the site forever, him or A N Other ( it started with Horse, but he's moved on, so the challenge is to anyone else. Any takers? No I thought not).
It's a bit like one of David Davis's vanity by elections. Throw down a stupid challenge safe in the knowledge of an inevitable win.
I've been busy boosting public sector productivity over the past few days by filling in spreadsheet cells in 'amber' for staff who are booked onto pointless training courses (thanks 'professional' manager!).
I've clearly missed some drama?
Presumably all these training courses come at a cost to the taxpayer?
Is that coprolite AI training? My private sector client is swamping schedules with those and other online training that used to take an hour but is now 3.
Also, seeing 'peace' supporters crowing about how wonderful a deal is, achieved by Trump openly siding with Russia against Ukraine, is going to be a sickening watch when it happens. 'If only people had listened to those of us who wanted peace' will be the cry. Barf.
I see that the peace deal in Gaza is a great success already.
I have to say that anxiety can be debilitating and isn’t always a “minor mental health issue”.
Is sitting at home worrying about how anxious you are the best solution to anxiety do you think?
No, but a family member had to quit her teaching job due to anxiety (she found other, lower paid, work that worked out better for her, now as HLTA). She never, afaik, received benefits (husband in full time work).
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
You can receive PIP and be in work. Something that keeps getting missed in this debate - it doesn't take your other income or wealth into account, so it doesn't suffer from some of the perverse incentives other benefits do.
Yes, the debate has gone wider than the issue at hand - PIP.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
Yes, I have had patients with Downs syndrome reviewed to see if they still have it...
Unless they are already on the maximum level for both daily living and mobility they may have deteriorated of course.
On the other hand, very few UC reviews have taken place since 2019. They tried to start them last year but the contractor can't cope with the volume, due to unemployed people desperate to prove they are too ill to work, and people already on sickness benefit claiming a reassessment on grounds deterioration. Whereas there are presumably loads of people whose conditions have improved since 2019 getting benefits they shouldn't be entitled to.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
Interesting theory, but the w a population has steadily increased, I think you'd only see that if there had been an EU worker exodus and falling working age population. Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
So a deal was agreed re the Gaza ceasefire. The Israelis decided that with Trump in the WH they decided not to honour the deal any more and wanted to re-start the slaughter .
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
Interesting theory, but the w a population has steadily increased, I think you'd only see that if there had been an EU worker exodus and falling working age population. Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
Coupled with poor NHS treatment. You would expect a Covid surge to have slowed down now we are out of the pandemic, but I suspect most of the people who suffered with mental illness during the pandemic have still got it.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
Interesting theory, but the w a population has steadily increased, I think you'd only see that if there had been an EU worker exodus and falling working age population. Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
Reduced socialisation preceeded covid. What we are seeing is the effect on adult mental health of teenage years on smartphones, social media and gaming.
It's a worldwide issue, not something technical about bow we determine PIP eligibility in the UK.
Good piece by @Cyclefree , sorry to hear that you have been ill.
Lawyers put too much trust in laws. They are actually quite limited tools that can and often should be overridden to allow an injustice to be addressed.
A democracy requires a consensus. The US has lost theirs and we are losing ours. Hoping that laws will somehow stop this is optimistic in the extreme. It just won’t.
Laws are of course limited tools. But 'the rule of law' is wider, relying as it does on deeper things. 'The laws' are the basics, but only mean much in a context of a community who is collectively bound by both the laws and the conventions of a civil society. This is acquired over time and needs continuous renewal through the building blocks of family, morality, religion/philosophies of life, etc. None of this is automatic. America has been and is in the process of losing it. So could we, and anybody.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
Interesting theory, but the w a population has steadily increased, I think you'd only see that if there had been an EU worker exodus and falling working age population. Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
Coupled with poor NHS treatment. You would expect a Covid surge to have slowed down now we are out of the pandemic, but I suspect most of the people who suffered with mental illness during the pandemic have still got it.
Or root cause is still there, my sector has seen reductions in pay (not just in real terms) and more insecure working schedules, partially balanced by reduced costs from increased WFH but now there is pressure on reducing that.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
Interesting theory, but the w a population has steadily increased, I think you'd only see that if there had been an EU worker exodus and falling working age population. Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
There has also been a big push toward 'removing the stigma around mental illness' and 'discussing these issues' etc. that has made it the done thing to analyse and medicalise having the blues. Evidence shows that that sort of treatment doesn't help those suffering - it makes them less happy and results in worse outcomes.
The below very interesting interview with researcher and author Abigail Shrier deals with children, but can equally be applied to adults.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
You can see exactly when Brexit kicks in.
Interesting theory, but the w a population has steadily increased, I think you'd only see that if there had been an EU worker exodus and falling working age population. Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
There has also been a big push toward 'removing the stigma around mental illness' and 'discussing these issues' etc. that has made it the done thing to analyse and medicalise having the blues. Evidence shows that that sort of treatment doesn't help those suffering - it makes them less happy and results in worse outcomes.
The below very interesting interview with researcher and author Abigail Shrier deals with children, but can equally be applied to adults.
The issue seems to be the idea that if you have a mental health condition you should not work. Plenty of people work through mild to moderate mental illness, wurh or without periods of sick leave - just as people do with physical conditions - yet if they happen to be out of work, they get a fit note and claim they are not fit enough to work
Comments
The whole system is completely broken, the Tories have a lot to answer for on immigration and benefits fraud. Theresa May and Boris in turn destroyed the social contract in the country, May by allowing minor mental health issues like anxiety to become eligible for disability benefits and Boris for opening the door to 3m legal migrants. It's resulted in record tax rates for people who work for a living.
Utter bollocks.
I just think Labour are more than capable of buggering it up in a way that does affect the more severely disabled.
https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/custom-comparisons-extended/Captain-America-Brave-New-World-(2025)/Captain-America-The-Winter-Soldier/Captain-America-The-First-Avenger#tab=day_by_day_comparison
I have been in that situation before, a long time ago now, and I was let go because of it. Luckily I did find another job without claiming benefits but if I hadn’t found another job again quickly I would have seriously deteriorated. It wasn’t minor in the slightest.
Breaking: Trump orders US Secret Service to end protection of Hunter Biden, who has 18 agents on his detail, and Ashley Biden, who has 13 agents.
There is a valid point that many people with mental health issues (and, indeed, physical health issues) can, with the right support, be in work. I'll reserve judgement until I see the details.
But... there's a legit point to be made here. Where MH problems can be ameliorated, it's a win for everyone involved. And it probably is the case that there are people subsisting on benefits who would be better off once they were eased back into work.
The catch is that requires the MH bits of the NHS to function well (spoiler alert: right now, they don't) and probably some sort of bungs to people and potential employers to ease the (slightly risky) transition. That all costs in the short term, and the model for the last fifteen years plus has been short-term cuts that seed big bills in the future.
I don't think impoverishing someone is a key part of the process.
"Tomorrow, I will speak with President Putin to save Ukrainian soldiers who are in a very difficult situation. They are surrounded by Russian forces. If it weren’t for me, they’d be gone already. I managed to convince them to hold off for now."
https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1901734441111691418
He's also still as sharp as a tack, works every day, drives a Tesla and has the latest iPhone.
He gave up skiing at 86 when his doctor said to him "Meyer, you're 86 years old. If you take a tumble, you will not be getting back up."
Are you sure he wasn't fighting on the other side?
Maybe he actually has an ear piece were the operatives can tell him what to say next?
There are no Ukr platoons surrounded and almost "gone already".
I do wish this isn't how I perceived things. But the endless stream of 'who said what to whom about what' is getting to me.
It's a mental health crisis, or better diagnosis, or overdiagnosis, or fakery, or somewhere in between. The big increase is all mental health related. Pandemic? Information society? End of jobs-for-life? Who knows? But that's the issue.
@EndWokeness
·
7h
Reporter: "That law is 200 years old!"
Tom Homan: "Well, the Constitution is a lot older than that and we still follow it"
https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1901664708467315006
Not sure he does actually.
On benefits (I guess PIP or DLA) I'm reminded of some young people of my professional acquaintance with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who were required to have regular assessments to see whether they still qualified. Duchenne is a one way street, so that was no only cruel to them, but also a waste of taxpayer money paying for the assessments.
Ron Filipkowski
@RonFilipkowski
·
2h
Trump repeats the blatant lie today that Russia has a Ukrainian army surrounded in Kursk, but claims he is going to save them when he talks to Putin tomorrow.
https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1901743817226686509
Whether that actually happened on the ground I don't know.
Lucian Kim
@Lucian_Kim
Tulsi Gabbard on US-Russia relations: "We have two leaders of two great countries who are very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen the shared objectives and shared interests."
https://x.com/Lucian_Kim/status/1901671363351310431
Labour won the seat last year with more than 50% of votes – now polls suggest it will just hang on or lose to Reform UK"
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/15/runcorn-helsby-byelection-big-test-starmer-reform?
Voters have memories, and while pre election giveaways help, they cannot save a sunken government. See the tail end of Sunak for details.
https://x.com/rapidresponse47/status/1901741630618489054
Sam Freedman
Mar 16, 2025
https://samf.substack.com/p/ten-books-to-understand-the-world
Perhaps they are looking for equal medical
miracles?
Stripping people of their SS (pun intended) protection is not going to end to his advantage.
The American Goebbels.
That said, Charlie Bean is right that it's bizarre to be making big soending and policy decisions in response to five year OBR forecasts...
Where the acquisition could become unstuck was where you were trying to get a hold of the entrepreneur's first success - their baby, so to speak. These entrepreneurs would go to extraordinary lengths to keep them even selling off the star parts of their business to feed this baby.
If anyone wanted to push Musk or Trump off the edge, it would be hitting something like Tesla or Trump's New York properties. Watch what Musk will do if the Tesla sell off continues.
Wash your mouth out!
F1: Undercutters podcast Ep12 reviews the Australian Grand Prix and looks ahead to China:
https://undercutters.podbean.com/e/f1-2025-australian-gp-review-and-chinese-gp-preview/
Australia was pretty interesting in that a lot of drivers had a great weekend and a lot had something atrocious. I don't think too many drivers will be feeling so-so about their result.
Also, Ladbrokes has a specials market up. My initial glance suggests nothing was appealing but I'll give it another look later.
The Freie Wähler have indicated Bavaria will vote for the changes in the Bundesrat so it should pass there too.
The constitutional court isn't going to block it - for now. Cases could go on and potentially reverse the decision later, though I guess this is unlikely.
On the other hand, very few UC reviews have taken place since 2019. They tried to start them last year but the contractor can't cope with the volume, due to unemployed people desperate to prove they are too ill to work, and people already on sickness benefit claiming a reassessment on grounds deterioration. Whereas there are presumably loads of people whose conditions have improved since 2019 getting benefits they shouldn't be entitled to.
Looks more likely to be COVID Vis reduced socialisation, enforced furlough, more insecure employment etc.
Am I missing something ?
It's a worldwide issue, not something technical about bow we determine PIP eligibility in the UK.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5316796/
The alternatives are all far worse.
NEW THREAD
The below very interesting interview with researcher and author Abigail Shrier deals with children, but can equally be applied to adults.
https://youtu.be/SVvkO8CsYPA?si=f7M2aKn6Xe84yK51