Call for Investigation of Maria Miller

Having previously mentioned Maria Miller's weasel words comparing the "higher rate" (without explanation of whether she meant Care or Mobility) DLA caseload for those whose main disabling condition is blindness to that for alcohol and drug abusers, courses of action to address this misleading of the public have been considered.

Prior to taking action, the case needed to be better quantified. As you would expect. the number of those with blindness as their main disabling condition outnumbers that for alcohol and drug abusers eligible for the Higher Rate of the Care component although not by much, perhaps because alcohol and drug abuse is often associated with underlying psychological problems and can often lead to severe physical problems. For the Higher Rate of the Mobility component, 7100 people with blindness as their main disabling condition are eligible against 9100 for alcohol and drug abusers. Overall, 12,500 disabled by alcohol and drug abuse claim the Higher Rate of DLA, against 12,200 disabled by blindness. Does this mean that Maria Miller was correct

At first glance, the claim appears to be a half-truth at best. The reasons that so few people with blindness as their disabling condition are eligible for the Higher Rate of the Mobility is that, at the date when the latest figures were collected, the visually impaired cannot qualify for the benefit due to their visual impairment. But recent changes to eligibility criteria make the claim entirely false.

The rules for eligibility to the Higher Rate of the Mobility component of DLA have changed since April 2011, meaning that many more severely visually impaired people are now eligible for DLA at this rate, so that Maria Miller's claim is no longer even half-truth. Over 20,000 people have been eligible for the Higher Rate of the Mobility component of DLA since last month.

This new exploration of the data is convincing evidence that Maria Miller lied, and that she meant to deceive the public. The lie was intended to set camps of disabled people against one another, and to use a tabloid perception of substance abuse for political gain. As such, The Broken of Britain has contacted the Cabinet Office to ask them to investigate a singularly malicious breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct by Ms. Miller. This action was considered the best option, given that Ministerial questions in Westminster can be shrugged off and that the outcome of other courses of action would not lead to a satisfactory outcome. You will be kept updated of any developments.

The #HardestHit - Day Of Action

 By MarkThree Media in conjunction with Scope.

The Mobility Component and The Liberal Democrats

The Hardest Hit March yesterday was a relative success, but there were three issues that were either ignored or published too late.

The first was EDM 1791 tabked by Anass Sarwar MP:

That this House believes that it is the sign of a responsible society that it supports disabled people to lead an independent and fulfilling life; further believes that, while reform is needed, the Government’s current plans are causing unnecessary uncertainty and creating risks for disabled people up and down the country; further believes that the Government has failed to appreciate the cumulative impact of the changes it is proposing; further believes that ill-thought through reform of disability benefits could push thousands of disabled people into poverty; considers it irresponsible to time limit to one year the payment of contributory employment and support allowance which will affect people suffering from cancer and fluctuating conditions; calls on the Government to abandon plans to remove the mobility component of disability living allowance from 80,000 people in residential care homes; further calls on the Government to retain automatic entitlement for people who have severe impairments, meaning that blind people, the mentally impaired and double amputees will not have to face the distress of applying for support that they genuinely need; expresses serious concern that 100,000 families with disabled children will see their support halved as a result of the decision to replace the disability element of child tax credit; and further believes that disabled people should have to wait only three months rather than six months before they can apply for the new personal independence payment.

This is an apparently well-meaning Early Day Motion, but is a bit weak on detail and demonstrates that it is not just the Government who need a refresher course in disability.You should ask your MP to sign this EDM, but ask them to support the stronger EDM? 1756 at the same time.

Another news story that became apparent was that the Liberal Democrats have broken yet another promise. More accurately, they voted with the Government on the Welfare Reform Bill Committee to remove the mobility component from claimants in residential care, despite a motion on opposing restrictions to mobility component at the Spring Conference. I have touched upon this story before, but had to wait for the Hansard records of the meeting to be published.

As these records show, the Liberal Democrat MPs Ian Swales and Jenny Willott actually left the room when this issue was put to vote, meaning that the amendment tabled to oppose the Government's plans was defeated. Liberal Democrat members should hold their MPs to account for this further betrayal. The records also show that the ridiculous Jenny Willott had stooped to the level of voting against one of her own amendments, presumably in order not to upset Government whips.

The final story is regarding Maria Miller's interview on BBC Breakfast yesterday. Having swallowed a copy of the Daily Mail with her breakfast cereal, Ms. Miller said: "Well, it can't be right that we have a benefits system where, under DLA, more people who are either alcoholics or drug addicts are in receipt of the higher rate of disability allowance than people who are blind".

The real figures are:

DLA - 0-15 age group

Blindness - 5,300
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - 100


DLA - 16 - 64 age group

Blindness - 45,800
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - 20,900


DLA - over 65 age group

Blindness - 18,900
Alcohol & Drug Abuse - 2,000

The only reason that alcoholics and drug addicts are eligible for the higher rates is due to underlying behavioural problems or that the substance abuse has caused physical damage, and that up until last month blind people were not eligible for the higher rate of mobility. This may have been an honest mistake, but the Minister has seriously misled the public whether by design or not.

Welfare Reform Bill Committee Confirms Disabled People As The Hardest Hit

Public Vill Committees are formed in order to scrutinise proposed legislation, and should be the stage at which amendment are made to the Bill. The Welfare Reform Bill Committee has failed miserably at this task with the creation of PIP and abolition of DLA passing unamended, with absolutely no changes from the original proposals.
The result is the same as for the time-limiting of ESA discussed last week.

The Opposition did work very hard to make some well-considered amendments, and they deserve credit for that. Unfortunately, the Government maintained its staunch opposition to changing the Bill. Yet again, Maria Miller and Chris Grayling demonstrated their contempt for people with disabilities, and their fellow party members obeyed their ministers.

Much of the blame falls squarely on the shoulder of Jenny Willott MP and Ian Swales MP, who were absent during important votes, withdrew their own amendments, forgot their own regularly stated principles on the issue, and ignored the decisions of the Liberal Democrats' spring conference on mobility in care homes.

This is another disappointing development, but it is not the end of the road for this issue. The Bill must still pass through the Report stage of Parliamentary scrutiny before its Third Reading in the Commons, and will then have to pass through yet another five stages in the Lords. It does, however, intensify the urgency of our opposition. It is now vital that as much support as possible is gathered for EDM 1756 opposing the abolition of DLA in order to pressure the Government.

We Have A Dream Speech #hardesthit

We have a dream. This is our dream.

Three score years and six ago the welfare state was formed. A vision of Britain as Jerusalem for all, a beacon of hope in a country battered and bruised by the ravages of war. Principles so important that despite the crippling debt of the post war years, our grandfathers and grandmothers made sure their dream of a society caring for all was a priority. Despite two world wars and countless people disabled in the pursuit of justice it took another 25 years for disabled people to start our own road to freedom..  

Now is the time to remember the founding principles of the welfare state. Now is the time to rise up. Now is the time to remember ‘rights not charity’ Now is the time to make equality of opportunity apply to all people, now is the time to measure our worth in talent not gold. 

It is obvious that Britain has defaulted on it’s promissory note of welfare for all, a famous note signed by Lloyd George, Beveridge, Attlee and Bevan with their hopes and dreams of a better world, a fairer future for all. A beacon of hope carried forward some 25 years later by Lord Morris with his Chronically Sick And Disabled Persons Act , the first in the world to recognise and give rights to people with disabilities. 

We refuse to accept a system bailed out by the taxpayer is so bankrupt it can no longer meet it’s obligations to the basic welfare of all people. 

We refuse to believe in a world which bankers choose to increase bonuses whilst disabled people choose between food and heat. 

We refuse to believe local authorities deem it right and proper to save money by leaving old ladies overnight in their own urine, we refuse to believe that removing respite care can be right. 

We refuse to believe that we should be blamed, targeted, made less human by those who sip from the cup of success.

It may now be a nightmare, but we too can dream. To dream is a right for all humans and the first step on the road to justice. Without our dreams we have no hope, and we all have hope. Our rights, our dignity, our existence can all be threatened, but the flame of our hope cannot be extinguished. The hope of a world in which all people are seen as human first, human, with fundamental rights; to eat, to drink, to live, to love, to be free, to dream. We can dream of a day when all children grow together, learn together, play together regardless of ability. We can dream of a day when those children become adults, accepting adults who see the world as equal, a world of ability not disability. We can dream of a world of people with the right to have their basic needs met in whatever form they arise.

We are asked “when will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as those rights, first enshrined in statue are under threat.  We can never be satisfied as long as disabled people are victim of unspeakable horrors. We can never be satisfied as long as we remember Fiona and Francecca Pilkington, driven to such desperation by disablist bullying that suicide seemed their safest place. We can never be satisfied as long as we remember Christine Lakinski, urinated over as she lay dying in a doorway. We can never be satisfied as long as we remember Colin Greenwood, kicked to death by teenagers he couldn’t see. We can never be satisfied while disabled people kill themselves for fear of the DWP. We must embrace our diversity, our differences, our talent and work together until we can dream the dreams of all.

We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with fatigue cannot gain access to the transport, to the workplaces, to the leisure spaces of our cities. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are segregated, denied appropriate aids and parents broken by the lack of support.

We make to you this promise. We will not cease from mental fight. Nor shall our pens sleep in our hands. Til we have built a new accessible Jerusalem. Til we have built a Jerusalem we can again be proud of, in England’s green and pleasant land.