In Parliament, there are only two options for which to vote. Abstaining is, in most circumstances, a cop-out. Likewise in the real world, politicians must make it clear where they stand. Staying quiet and trying to keep your head down is not an option.
Please send all MPs and others a message of support telling them that the more they openly resist the worst excesses of the attack on the welfare state, and particularly on ESA, DLA, and ILF, the more faith we will have in them. Now is an especially good time to send the letter below to Liberal Democrat MPs, who need a nudge in the right direction, but send it to others too.
Dear Member of Parliament,
Season's greetings! It is time for you to speak out against this Government's assault on the welfare state, if you have not already done so. Many of these attacks are aimed at the disabled people of this country - time-limiting contributions-related ESA, reforming and cutting Disability Living Allowance, scrapping the Independent Living Fund. This Cripmas Carol sums it up: http://thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com/2010/12/12-days-of-cripmas.html
Disability rights group The Broken of Britain have compiled a campaign resource, suggesting things for MPs to do: http://thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com/2010/12/say-no-to-dla-cuts-how-to-take-part.html
The more you openly resist the worst excesses of the attack on the welfare state, and particularly on ESA, DLA, and ILF, the more faith we will have in you.
Yours sincerely,
Non-partisan UK-based Disability campaign. Advocacy for people with invisible illness and/or physical & mental health conditions. Also Carers, their Families and Friends. Our individual voices are too quiet to be heard, but collectively we can shout loud enough to drown out this tide of abuse against us. Disability Hate Crime, lack of full legal protection, people in care homes costing too much to be let out and not one political party willing to fight for us.
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Not only are the benefits being, in effect, cut, but so is access to justice to challenge welfare bennefits decisions. Justice for All (www.justice-for-all.org.uk)will be lobbying Parliament on 12/01/11.
The lobby is a challenge to govt proposals to cut the legal aid budget by £350 million. If these plans go ahead, it will result in there being no legal aid available to challenge employment disputes and no legal aid to challenge incorrect welfare benefits decisions.
This means for many who have been wrongfully dismissed from their job, justice will be denied. For many whose benefit has been cut because of Jobcentre Plus mistakes, justice will be denied.
Government says that legal aid is being cut from areas of civil law that are not important. But this is patently not the case. Losing your job is important. Having an income and not being left destitute is important.
Government say that there are other options available to people. Government says people should be able to do legal work themselves. Government provides no evidence to show this would be possible. Government says other advice agencies, such as Citizens Advice, could meet the increased demand for advice. Government provides no evidence to show this would be possible.
Please, if you can, alert Broken of Britain members and supporters to this opportunity to challenge yet another Government attack on those least able to defend themselves.
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