Benefit Scrounging Scum

World Holocaust Memorial Day - Black Triangle

2012-01-27T08:49:00.000Z

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Most of us are familiar with the words of Pastor Neimoller, but we are much less familiar with the true origins of the holocaust. The first victims of the Nazi holocaust were the 'anti-socials', mostly disabled people, those with mental health problems and learning disabilities. Marked with a black triangle, labelled as 'useless eaters' and an economic drain, the Nazi's learnt how to exterminate other human beings by experimenting on these vulnerable people with Zyklon B gas, techniques that would later be refined in order to commit the mass murder of millions of people. Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers of the West London Synagogue has blogged the powerful and moving speech of one of her congregants, Dani Neumann to explain how and why the extermination of disabled people sowed the seeds of the later mass genoicide of Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, communists and other 'undesirable' groups.

To mark World Holocaust Memorial day please remember....

"First they came for the disabled people

and I did not speak out because I wasn't disabled...."

Hallucinating 'Through The Round Window' .....

2012-01-26T12:34:00.000Z

How surreal have things become when Nigel Lawson, Geoffrey Howe and Leon Brittain, stalwart Conservative figures from the 80's, are voting against the more brutal elements of a so called 'compassionate conservative' government in 2012?

The distasteful truth is that neither proposals for PIP would have passed, nor would the social fund have been abolished without the Liberal Democrats who voted overwhelmingly with the government.*

When you have a bastion of all our childhoods not even bothering to turn up to vote on whether to keep National Insurance entitlement for profoundly disabled children and staunch conservative figures opposing other issues in their own government's Welfare Reform Bill we must ask ourselves what kind of opiate induced haze has led us to believe this is happening?

Are we hallucinating, is it a result of our exhausted, fevered brains or did Floella Benjamin from Playschool really vote more cruelly than Leon Brittain? I think we need more sleep because currently the idea that the 70's equivalent of Mr Tumbles didn't even bother to turn up to vote to keep benefit entitlement for disabled children is not one our brains can cope with.

From the sickbeds of Kaliya and Sue

*Amendment 50e (calling for pause to trial PIP properly) Lib Dem's for 2, against 65
Social fund Amendment 62bja (ring fencing social fund) Lib Dem 1 for, 67 against

Private Eye Report On #SpartacusReport

2012-01-25T14:47:00.002Z

Private Eye article about Keith Tilbury, ESA, WCA, Atos, Unum and the Spartacus Report. The image was sent to me as a jpeg (I think!) which I'm aware isn't accessible via screen reader. Lack of spoons means I can't sort this out but if anyone can help out so that it's properly accessible that would be fantastic thank you!

Updated 1721, text with thanks to Steve Budden

FIT-FOR-WORK TESTS

in the Eye's growing post-bag of appalling decisions made by French service company Atos in assessing sick and disabled people as being "fit for work", one of the most shocking concerns Keith Tilbury. Mr Tilbury (pictured) spent 13 days in a coma fighting for his life after he was accidentally shot in the stomach by a police firearms officer. The bullet smashed a rib, damaged his sternum and put a hole in his liver. He had to have part of a kidney removed and lost part of his bowel. He had massive entry and exit wounds, muscle and other extensive soft tissue damage.

Since that disaster in 2007, Mr Tilbury has suffered two heart attacks, two while undergoing surgery, a quadruple coronary bypass, two transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes), one full-blown stroke resulting in reduced vision in his eyes, post-operative complications — and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Tilbury, 60, says: "I have had many hours of cognitive behaviour therapy with a psychotherapist trying to work out why a Thames Valley Police firearms instructor would fire Dirty Harry's weapon of choice — a .44 magnum — in a seminar room."

Given his well-documented health records, Mr Tilbury, who had been a civilian emergency call centre operator, is trying to establish how on earth the Atos nurse or doctor — he is not sure which ¬could decide that he is fit to work without "dropping down dead" when there has been no improvement in his health since his last assessment. Like thousands of others, Mr Tilbury is having to go through the ordeal of appealing against the decision. He sees the box-ticking Atos test — drawn up with the help of the US insurance giant Unum, which was fined millions in the US for cheating its clients — as no more than a govermment tool to slash the benefits of people who through no fault of their own can no longer work.

Unum has been helping both Tory and Labour governments with so-called welfare reform, going right back to Peter Lilley's 1994 social security "Incapacity for Work" shake-up.

Atos, which boasts that its contract with the current govemment is worth

1 "approximately £100m a year", happened to a be the only other private company sitting alongside Unum on the then Labour government's panel which reviewed and came up with the hated "work capability test" which is now failing Mr Tilbury and thousands like him.

Companies like Atos and Unum (which markets its insurance on the back of welfare reform) now stand to make even more millions, however, as the coalition presses ahead with its plans for similar assessments for those receiving disability living allowance (DLA). By replacing DLA with a personal independence payment which is subject to regular review and face-to-face assessments, the government says it can save £1bn because it claims many people no longer require the support.

But a recent detailed study, Responsible Reform, accuses the govemment of consistently using inaccurate figures to exaggerate the rise in DLA claimants, while concealing the overwhelming opposition to its latest reform. The detailed 40-page study — dubbed the Spartacus report and written and funded by disabled people — found that the number of working-age people receiving DLA, excluding those with mental health conditions, had remained remarkably stable. One of the authors, Kaliya Franklin, said: "Cutting spending on DLA will increase the burden on local authorities, the NHS and community services at the very time they are seeking to find savings by reducing eligibility, particularly for social care support."

There is no point in subjecting people with permanent disability to regular assessments and those whose conditions do improve would welcome reform — and indeed assessments — if they were simplified and considered robust, fair and transparent. But as Mr Tilbury and so many like him have found, the government's work capability test, delivered by Atos, is none of those things. PS: After the shooting incident in which Mr Tilbury was injured, Thames Valley Police was fined £40,000 with £25,000 costs and the PC who fired the weapon. David Micklethwaite, £8,000 and £8000 costs, for breaching health and safety regulations.

Professor Paul Gregg at TUC Seminar 23.01.2012

2012-01-25T11:57:00.000Z

Video of most of Professor Paul Gregg's speech at TUC seminar - whilst the majority of his talk has recorded we missed a little bit at the start and end when the battery went.

Volunteers needed to provide transcripts of this video and my speech so that the deaf community can access this information too. If anyone can help please organise in the comments thread?

TUC Seminar, Kaliya's speech

2012-01-24T18:45:00.001Z

I also (with his permission) videoed some of Professor Paul Gregg's presentation and will upload that tomorrow. Unfortunately the battery ran out so missed some of his speech

Update 27.01.2012 Thanks to the fabulous Margo Milne we have a transcript of my speech

TUC Seminar, Kaliya’s speech
Chair: It gives me great pleasure to present Kaliya Franklin, who is a prolific blogger and internet campaigner and now report author, representing the views of disabled people and campaigning for their rights. As Richard said we’re very sorry that her colleague Sue Marsh isn’t able to be here, but it’s great that they were both willing and able to be on the platform today, and I’m sure Kaliya will have a huge amount to tell us about her views on the government’s reforms and the incentives that are being phased in to enable or disencourage disabled people back into the workplace and into working. Thank you.

Kaliya: Thank you. I hope you’ll realise the laptop, but we wanted to record this part of the event for those disabled people who can’t be here, so that they can also participate.

I’ve been asked to talk about how the government are creating perverse incentives in the Welfare State, so, for the last 40 years or so, we’ve had what was very much a cross-party political consensus, and public consensus, about improving the lives of disabled people, that we’ve moved away from a presumption of institutional care into community living. But in the last two years, the situation has changed dramatically, and a great deal of that progress has been lost.

In a time of widespread financial austerity, most societies look for a group to demonise, and under the last few years, which started under the Labour government, and intensified when the Coalition came to power, the big demons in society have been benefit claimants, and particularly disabled people. There’s been a move towards blaming the individual for their own failings in not entering the workplace, rather than the understanding that we had some years ago, that there are barriers in society that disabled people can’t cross without significant support, that we should have as of right.

We’ve moved from a position of seeing people contributing to society in a whole variety of ways, whether that’s just from being an active part of their own community, or voluntary work, or providing employment to others, to this very determined focus on full-time paid employment as the only way that people are seen as contributing to society. But at the same time as we’ve seen that move, we’re seeing very much a tightening, a withdrawal, of the things that disabled people rely on to enable us to participate, and it’s a situation that was at best a couple of years ago bordering on crisis, and now we don’t expect it to take long until it falls apart.

One of the important things to note is the difference between what we would describe as “DDA disabled”, so Disability Discrimination Act disabled, and “DLA disabled”. Estimates vary, but there’s between 10 and 20 million people in the UK living with disabilities, long term health conditions, so that covers a whole age range, it’s young people born with disabilities or at the other end of the spectrum people who’ve developed dementia or age-related disabilities.

Disabled people and sick people particularly, we don’t tend to be the most visible members of society, most of us don’t have wheelchairs or white sticks to pinpoint us, many of us have invisible or fluctuating conditions, mental health conditions, mild learning disabilities that are not readily apparent, and one of the big things to note, particularly with the sickness side of things, is that we don’t leave the house very much. This is the first time I’ve been anywhere that isn’t my doctor’s or a hospital appointment since October. The authors of the Spartacus Report, we call it from-bed activism, because the authors of the report all worked on that from our beds or from our sofas. We weren’t able to go out and meet each other. Some of us have never actually spoken to each other in person, but we’ve been able to embrace new media and new technology, so that the disabled community and the sick community can network and link with each other to combine and share our skills in a way that even five years ago we simply wouldn’t have been able to do.

One of the first perverse incentives that’s come about is Clause 52 of the Welfare Reform Bill. Now Clause 52 removes a presumption which was there to protect young people within the welfare system, so if you were under 19, and so severely disabled when you left education that you were unable to work, you were presumed to have National Insurance Contributions, and that also applied to disabled people who became that sick or disabled under the age of 25, had they been in higher education, and it was important for many reasons, probably the most profoundly in the message it sent out to the wider public and community, that disability, by crediting in National Insurance Contributions you were considered to be equal and a participating member of society. And the Government have made a great deal of the fact that a relatively small percentage of young people will be impacted by the removal of this presumption, and that’s because the burden is very deliberately being pushed on to the family by the Government, so if you are the parent of a profoundly disabled young adult, they will no longer qualify for contributory benefit in their own right, they will only qualify if the family qualifies for means-tested benefits.

So at a time where we’ve seen that some of the very sensible recommendations about social care in the Dilnot Report haven’t been implemented, and the understanding from Dilnot that it was benefits such as contributory ESA and Disability Living Allowance that would paper over the gaps in the system between the failings of the NHS and the social care services. Now that’s going to be removed, and we’re going to see families in the situation where they may be completely unable for that disabled adult to remain at home, and equally the young disabled adult is going to very much struggle to move into independent living, which should be their right, they should not have to depend on their family for everything, care, their finances, so that particular concern, and it links into the concerns that carers have, that nobody’s factored in how Carer’s Allowance will work as part of Universal Credit.

We’ve also seen some very deeply deserving decisions by local authorities covering social care in the last couple of years. What perhaps many people weren’t aware of is that social care was being rationed and withdrawn for the last five years of Labour Government. For example, I used to be entitled to a care package, and then I was reassessed, and I’m no longer entitled, so the support that had been in place to help me with the practicalities in day to day life which I needed to remain, so that I stood any chance of ever considering paid employment or part-time voluntary work, was withdrawn, making things vastly more difficult.

Now I’m probably at the higher-functioning end of more severe disability. But what we’re seeing are decisions like one by, I think it was Kensington and Chelsea Council, in the case of Elaine MacDonald, where the local authority had deemed that it’s perfectly acceptable to remove night care from someone who’s not incontinent, and replace that care with incontinence pads that this person would be left in every night, because that covered, from the local authority’s viewpoint, social care provision. We’ve also seen a gentleman in Birmingham, where their local authority tried to reband all the criterias of care, and they wanted to create a new category, called super-critical, for which they would only provide care to people in that. And to give that some sort of context, we’re talking about people who, it’s not safe for them to be left alone, they may choke, they can’t feed themselves, they can’t necessarily swallow properly, they can’t clean up their own waste products, so as a society, what we’re saying is we don’t have enough money so we’re going to leave you lying in your own urine.

One of the things that the government said was a perverse incentive and justified as a reason to halve the Disabled Children’s Tax Credit eligibility was that they said it was perverse that children got more than adults, because once they’re adults, they won’t get it, so let’s take it off them while they’re still children. Now, the Government likes to talk a lot about what’s fair to the public, and what’s fair to the taxpayer, but they’re not very keen to talk about practical impacts of these decisions which the vast majority of the British public will not deem to be acceptable.

Moving on to the decision to get rid of Disability Living Allowance, and replacing it with a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment. The Government tried very hard to sell that, as a justification for the numbers of fraudulent claimants, and have been deeply misleading at many points, particularly over the consultation that they had for disabled people, which was why we felt we had to produce the report Responsible Reform, the Spartacus Report, because the Government very clearly cherry-picked the responses that they wanted, and refused to issue, refused to publish, all the responses, so that we had to use Freedom Of Information Act requests to get them, and although we have requested all the individual responses, we expect that the Government will refuse to provide them, because they are going to say that they can’t analyse them for data protection purposes, and it wouldn’t be cost effective to do so. So they’ve tried to say that the consultation report that we produced was misleading because we only looked at 10%, but what we actually looked at was the group responses, from all the different organisations, the charities, the DPOs, so the 500 responses we were allowed to see actually represented huge numbers of disabled people, because for example one of those responses would have been from Scope, who consulted hundreds of thousands of people.

So the House of Lords have voted that DLA is going to go, and the Government have had to come out and admit that this means that half a million genuinely disabled people, with no suggestion that they’re fraudulent, will lose access to this benefit. Now as we know from Dilnot and from lived experiences of disabled people, DLA is the only thing that is papering over the cracks in the system in any way. For people like me, who’ve had their social care support withdrawn, without the money from Disability Living Allowance I can’t buy in the kind of things that I need to replace that support. The Government have made a great deal about how society should replace that provision. I’m possibly the only person in the country who lives in a community that is a Big Society community. My neighbours take it in turns to bring meals in, they’ll come in if I’m having a bad day and make drinks, or clean the kitchen, but it’s not a sufficient replacement for a social care package to enable me to participate in the wider world or employment, but what it does do, in combination with DLA, is stop me from slipping back further and ending up in a much more critical category, so that the local authority would have no choice but to provide an expensive support package. But if I’m reassessed as not being entitled to Personal Independence Payment, once the impact of the reduction to the 30% average rent to Housing Benefit comes in, I will no longer be able to afford to live where I do, I’ll have no choice but to go to the local authority, and they will have to rehouse me and provide a care package that currently the cost of DLA means they’re getting away with not having to do.

It’s also really important to note that amongst the disabled community the people who are in work are heavily reliant on Disability Living Allowance to meet the extra costs of their disability. Now, we’ve already seen that Access To Work, the criteria for entitlement for equipment that an employer will have to provide is being reduced, rules are being changed so that people are having to respond to reassessments for Access to Work in an amount of time that they simply aren’t capable of dealing with, and there have even been farcical decisions like Jhaspal Dhani, who was told that he was in a senior position at his organisation, so even though it was a DPO that didn’t have any significant funding, they should be made to bear the cost.

Going on to time-limiting of contributory ESA, had the Government actually thought this through and set a means-testing limit for time-limiting that benefit at £26,000, so it was the same as the means-testing cut-off throughout the Welfare Reform Bill, then there might not have been such a strong opposition to it. But means-testing all of this stops at seven and a half thousand pounds, so if you are employed as a full-time shelf-stacker on minimum wage, and your partner has multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease and is not fit to work and is entirely dependent on you, after one year, regardless of whether their condition improves or not, their contributory ESA will be removed, and this is perhaps one of the most perverse incentives in the Welfare Reform Bill, because the consequences are that either the working partner will have no choice but to drop out of work and the entire family will rely on the benefit system to keep going, or what we’ll see increasingly is families splitting up and being forced to live apart, increasing more welfare dependency.

At the same time as the welfare situation, what we’re seeing is perverse increases in NHS waiting times. There’s already a problem with lack of equipment provision. For example, I have some mobility, so I’m not entitled to a power wheelchair, probably because I’m stubborn, and I insist on the right to retain my mobility within my own home. But without a power wheelchair, and without access to a care package and PA, it prevents me from being able to access the world in a reasonable way, let alone whether I could access employment.

We’ve also seen deeply concerning change in the media coverage of disability and benefits entitlement. This was looked at recently by the Glasgow Media Group, and there’s also been a 75% increase in hate crime targeted at disabled people in the last 12 months. And as disabled campaigners, a lot of the anecdotal reports we receive is that the abuse people hear has altered, so whereas a year ago they might have been an effing spaz when they were screamed at in the street, now they’re an effing benefit scrounging spaz. So we feel that this is very clearly linked to the coverage. We’re also seeing a push to legalise euthanasia at a time when support of welfare is being withdrawn, which means that whatever your beliefs about the rights and wrongs of voluntary euthanasia, people will be forced down that road because they cannot get the financial and practical support that they need.

So essentially what we’re seeing is the perfect storm, which threatens to undo all the progress of the past 40 years. As disabled people, we feel that we’re in a closed pit, where the walls are closing in on us. Everything we rely on for support, and to participate in society, is being made harder and harder to access, at the same time that the conditions pushing us into a model of full-time paid work are becoming more and more punitive. And if we continue down that road, then although it sounds like hyperbole, we expect to see many more deaths linked to these cuts and welfare reform, a vast increase compared to the number there have been already, because disabled and sick people will see that they have no alternative and feel that life is no longer worth living.

Chair: Thank you very much indeed Kaliya for an extremely comprehensive assessment of the possible effect of the Government’s welfare reforms and for sharing very honestly your own experiences and those of other people as well, I think that’s something, it’s all very important to be reminded when we look at the statistics of the individuals that are behind every single one of them.

TUC Seminar on Monday. Free to attend #spartacusreport

2012-01-21T15:10:00.000Z

After three months I'm finally leaving the flat to go somewhere other than my GP's or physio....so a trip to London could be a tad ambitious even with a PA. But assuming no-one shuts me in a tradesman's cupboard, or makes me use a pallet lift as 'access' I'll be speaking (ok, croaking) at the TUC seminar on monday afternoon. It's free to attend so anyone can come along, but you do need to register in advance if you're attending. Hope to see some of you there!

A positive agenda for disability and employment

Date Mon, 23 Jan 2012

Time to from 14:00 to 16:00

Location Congress House

Cost Free

Description
Disability benefits are in the headlines - cutting benefits for disabled children, making people undergoing chemotherapy prove they aren't 'fit for work', time-limiting benefits for hundreds of thousands of disabled people. Disabled people are getting angry, but the Government has yet to take notice.

The seminar will be chaired by Nicola Smith, Head of the Economic and Social Affairs Department at the TUC; speakers include -
- Prof Paul Gregg, author of Realising Potential, the 2008 report on conditionality and support in the benefits system.
- Benefit expert (and adviser to the last Government) Declan Gaffney.
- Leading bloggers Sue Marsh ('Diary of a Benefit Scrounger') and Kaliya Franklin ('Bendy Girl').
- TUC economist Richard Exell, former member of the Disability Rights Commission.

This seminar is free, but seats will be reserved on a first-come - first-served basis, so please book a place in advance, at:http://disbilityandemployment.eventbrite.co.uk or register below.

Agenda
2.00 Chair's welcome: Nicola Smith
2.10 Paul Gregg: 'Incapacity benefit reform under Labour and the coalition'
2.30 Sue Marsh & Kaliya Franklin: 'Perverse incentives and how the government is creating them in the name of reform'
2.45 Declan Gaffney: 'Disability and employment: time for a new realism'
3.00 Richard Exell: 'A Social Model of Incapacity'
3.10 Q+A to a panel of the speakers
3.55 Chair's concluding remarks
4.00 Close
Briefing document (300 words) issued 19 Dec 2011

Travel Tube: Tottenham Court Road http://www.congresscentre.co.uk/location.asp

Accessibility Congress House is accessible. More details: http://www.congresscentre.co.uk/facilities_disabled.asp

Contact for more information
Please visit the link below to register

http://disbilityandemployment.eventbrite.co.uk/

Radio 5 Live interview - Maria Miller, Kaliya Franklin, Louise Bolotin & Jane Young #spartacusreport

2012-01-21T11:17:00.000Z

So How Am I? By Sue Marsh #spartacusreport

2012-01-20T09:43:00.002Z

Well I can confirm categorically that Arbeit does not macht you frei.

Quite the opposite in fact. Far from "freeing" me, work has put me in a hospital bed chained with plastic tubes.

I'm almost certain none of the politicians so glibly deciding our futures know what the "spoon bank" is. If you have a long term condition, then you only have so much energy for any given day. When it's gone it's gone - WIGIG. Now that doesn't mean you can't borrowenergy, but just like the deficit, it has to be paid back.

When you borrow energy (or "spoons) you are paid in adrenaline. The adrenaline convinces your body that all is well. OK, you're a little too shrill, a little too twitchy, you're eyes a little too bright, but I'm sure Mr Grayling wouldn't have noticed any of that as he sat talking to the composed little scrap with her make up just so.

After a while, your natural instincts try to step in. "Go to bed" - the thought unbidden takes you by surprise. "Just close your eyes" - the siren call of rest as the adrenaline ebbs for a moment.

In my case, I pay in immunity. As the weeks went on, I got a cough here, a splitting headache there so piercing it made me cry. I got neuralgia, sinusitis, the cough turned into a chest infection, I got spots in front of my eyes, atrial fibrillation. Little immune complaints popping up all over in protest at my unsustainable spoon debt.

And then I stopped.

When you stop, the adrenaline ebbs away. For a day or so you feel sad, but you're not quite sure why. Then you get sick. Really, really sick. the adrenaline blanket that had been keeping all those "niggles" that you ignored through gritted teeth at bay, is stripped away. My chest infection turned into something worse, my temperature started spiking, my face puffed up like a football, My ribs started screaming in pain.

And here I am. In a side room on an acute medical ward. So infected, such a blob of immune horridness that I am not safe to be around other humans. I must be screened for scary things, because scary things happen when you are "immuno-compromised". This is not the face you all saw all week eh?

I'm not the only one. We have at least two other spartaci that I know of in hospital - one in intensive care. Another collapsed two days ago after spending a week, non stop, sitting at his computer, building us a spreadsheet with one painful hand. Kaliya hasn't been able to speak for over 3 months as her oesophagus has collapsed on itself.

This is the reality of sick and disabled people fighting back. I can put it in very stark, unemotional terms, but that is what it takes. There is no doubt at all that some of us did this knowing that our lives were at risk. What on earth is happening in 2012 when sick and disabled people will go to such lengths to be heard???

Yet most of our media sit comfortably in their glass and chrome towers, desperate to be convinced that we are just a few snatching, greedy, shirkers. All we want is to "protect our special interest group" or "not take our share of the pain" You could see the irritation last week when they were forced to report that all may not be well with the welfare reform bill. Most took the government line. "But Sue, you must agree that DLA needs reform?" When I knew they didn't have the first idea why it might - hadn't read the research, hadn't done their job.

They ignored the coalition we built, they ignored every major charity backing the Responsible Reform report and issuing press releases and statements in support. They ignored the rush of Blairites to confirm that actually, some very bad things are happening. Not one did a serious piece on our research. Not one. they all wanted "stories" - the soldier with his leg blown off refused benefits, or the cancer patient who dies just hours after being found fit for work.

We wouldn't give them. We refused. Because that's not what the Spartacus Report was about. There were at least 5 serious news stories in it, and if that wasn't enough misery-porn for them, then our story will just have to wait.

I'm "in the best place" - antibiotics and saline drips and painkillers are oozing into my blood. Everyone is very kind. The nurse who admitted me knew who I was and actually grabbed my wrist to check my name - "Are you Sue Marsh??? You??"

I have no idea if we will be able to do what we did again. We knew it was unsafe. At some point, we need the more able to take some of the load. We need them to see what is being done in their name. We need them to act. Because we can only act for so long.

Clause 80 - AMENDMENT 50e #spartacusreport

2012-01-17T08:25:00.002Z

On Friday, I went to the House of Lords.

(For a second may I digress? It was utterly beautiful. For a big fan of history, a politics geek and art lover, it was almost too much stimulation at once. I sat on a bench!! Hopefully archaic looking guards with big swords aren't on their way to cut off my head for that?)

Anyway, back to terribly grown up, sensible stuff.

I went to meet "The Amendment Lords" (7 yr old asked if they were Jedis and what colour light sabres they had.)

With a clutch of emails of support from charities and groups and of course, every one of you there with me in spirit, I explained why we felt there had to be a pause to PIP.

-I explained how worried we were that legislation would pass with so few details decided. I said we had lost trust in politicians to act with transparency - and even integrity. Leaving so much in their hands to decide under secondary legislation, later, means we don't actually know how the law they are passing will affect our lives. Or the lives of our carers.

-They asked me what the single biggest concern was. I hope you agree that I suggested it was fear over another ESA style mess. I argued that unless assessments were designed by disabled people and took all medical evidence into account, they would just add to the disaster we already face with WCAs (the assessments used to decide Employment and Support Allowance)

I suggested that in any case, the ESA assessment process was already creaking under the strain of the sheer numbers of people the DWP want assessed. In my opinion, the DWP would find it impossible to train enough extra people to assess 3.2 million DLA claimants anyway. I suggested a paper assessment as a first stage, and only once all medical and social evidence had been considered should an assessor decide whether or not to conduct a face to face assessment.

Most importantly, I begged them not to roll this out until we could make sure we had a policy that would work.

ESA is a three year experiment using real people as guinea pigs. The DWP admitted there were serious problems with it, yet maintained it was better to modify the ongoing process rather than pause it while they got it right. That means that every day, for three years, vulnerable people have been let down, denied support they need and been forced through stressful appeals. While we wait for Harrington to decide our futures, every day, people are suffering.

We can't let that happen again.

***********

This morning, the following amendment has been tabled :

Clause 80 - Amendment 50E

BARONESS GREY-THOMPSON
BARONESS WILKINS
LORD LOW OF DALSTON
BARONESS CAMPBELL OF SURBITON

Page 58, line 26, at end insert—

“( ) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament an independent review of the plans for implementation of the assessments under section 79 before the provisions are brought into effect, and such plans must in particular provide for—

(a) a trial period before any assessment process is implemented fully for new applicants and those transferring from DLA;

(b) disabled persons organisations to be involved in formulating the assessment process.

We have just 7 hours to make sure that as many peers know about it as possible. To show them that it has a coalition of support difficult to ignore. Charities, politicians and journalists are all ready with statements and letters and articles. TV interviews are lined up all day. We have done all we possibly can to make sure that if the Lords decided to table an amendment expressing our concerns, we would be able to tell peers about it.

The reform of DLA will cost £675 million. Half a million disabled people will lose support. We have made a very strong case in our report, Responsible Reform, arguing that ill conceived reform will simply end up costing the taxpayer hundreds of millions more in costly appeals and further strain on NHS and social care budgets.

Please, write emails, tweet, contact journalists, blog, plead and persuade. Use evidence, tell them how it will affect you, urge peers to attend the debate and vote for amendment 50E.

We MUST get this right. Lives and futures depend on it. The lives of those very same "vulnerable" people the Government have pledged so publicly to protect and support.

We are just asking for reform to be safe. At the very least, surely that is not too much to ask?

Lord Freud's Letter to Peers re #spartacusreport & our response

2012-01-16T17:59:00.000Z

Today, Lord Freud has written to peers with a response to the Responsible Reform (Spartacus) report. This is the full letter, and our response to his claims :

16th January 2012

Dear Colleague.

I understand that you may have received a report recently entitled

I think we all agree that the reform of DLA is overdue, we just disagree that PIP is the right reform

Responsible Reform suggests that the consultation period, following the publication of the 'Disability Living Allowance reform' consultation document, was insufficient. The Government's Code of Practice on Consultation recommends a minimum 12-week consultation period for public consultations, unless there are good reasons for a limited consultation period. The formal public consultation on DLA reform ran from 6 December 2010 and closed on 18 February 2011. While we fully aspire to the code's recommendations, we felt a 10 week period was adequate, given that the consultation was limited to general principles only, was preceded by extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and disabled people and will be followed by further extensive consultation on the detailed proposals.

The consultation asked specific questions that would affect the lives of disabled people, it was not "limited to general principles only." This letter does not explain in any way why the consultation period was shorter than recommended under the Code of Practise on Consultation. If anything, respondents felt the period should have been longer than 12 weeks as a "reasonable adjustment" to those disabled people who needed extra help or support to participate.

As outlined in the 'Disability Living Allowance Reform' public consultation document, the Welfare Reform Bill sets out the high-level legal framework of powers underpinning the new benefit. The detailed requirements will be set out in secondary legislation. I am committed to further consult on how we use these powers, and it is my intention to consult fully on the secondary legislation where the rules for Personal Independence Payment will be different to those currently applying to Disability Living Allowance. This consultation will build on the earlier one.

As the previous consultation took no account whatever of the opinions of sick and disabled respondents, we have no reason to believe that future ones will be any more transparent. We remain very concerned that legislations will be passed without these "detailed requirements" and call for a pause to PIP until it is clear exactly how it will affects us.

Responsible Reform further suggests that we did not take into account

considered in the Government's analysis and have been used to inform the design of the new benefit and supporting processes.

The Government received 5,500 responses to the consultation. Of these :

500 were from groups representing millions of sick and disabled people throughout the UK.
2,500 were template letters. We reject the idea that people sent template letters to the Government just to congratulate them and argue that these will almost certainly show some concern over the proposals in 100% of cases.
Given the overwhelming opposition to the plans for PIP expressed by the 523 groups who responded (national charities, local authorities, local charities and disabled people's organisations) representing millions of disabled members, it would be remarkable if the 2,500 individual responses were entirely in support. However, we have put in a further FOI request for all 5,000 of the remaining responses - information that we would anyway, expect Lord Freud to make public in support of Lord Freud's claim that "All consultation responses, over 5,000 individual submissions, have been thoroughly and appropriately considered in the Government's analysis and have been used to inform the design of the new benefit and supporting processes."

ssessment process for the new benefit with an independent group of

specialists in health, social care and disability, as well as some disabled people.

"Meeting" does not confirm co-operation or engagement. In our experience, disabled people and their organisations are increasingly frustrated that their opinions are ignored. In particular, whilst some form of assessment is supported, we can find no support at all for the ESA-style assessment proposed by the Government.

This has not been a passive relationship. The comments, input, advice and guidance has led to changes to both the assessment criteria and the overall policy, most notably that we will not remove the mobility component of both DLA and Personal Independence Payment in residential care homes.

An enormous coalition of disabled people their organisations and major charities are saying that they DO feel this has been a passive process. There are many, many elements of the welfare reform bill that we are all warning will cause real hardship. Removing the mobility component of DLA from those in residential care homes is just one proposal that would have been unworkable and discriminatory. There are many more and the Government have refused to consider alternative proposals. The assessment criteria remain a cause for deep concern across the disabled community and are still far from workable.

The Department has also established the Personal Independence Payment

design and develop delivery arrangements. The Department has also adopted the principles of user-centred design for Personal Independence Payment that places customers at the heart of the design process to ensure their needs are reflected in the way policies are delivered.

This response does not address any of the serious concerns raised by the Responsible Reform report. (Spartacus Report) That this letter fails to comment on the use of misleading statistics to justify reform, fails to comment on the repeated warnings that proposals for PIP may breach international and UK equality laws, and fails to understand what is leading to the growth in DLA caseloads is of great concern. They still do not explain where or how they decided to cut 20% from the DLA budget or look at the impact that this will have on disabled people.

It is what Lord Freud does NOT address in this letter that we believe ought to give peers the greatest cause for concern.

My Ministerial colleagues and I are personally committed to making Personal Independence Payment an effective, efficient benefit that targets support where it can help those facing the largest challenges in leading an independent life. It is in everybody's interest to make sure that disabled people and their representatives are involved as we design a solution that achieves those goals. I believe my Department has and is taking the right approach to achieve that, and we will continue that open dialogue as we during the implementation period and beyond.

[signed]

"Lord Freud"

Minister for Welfare Reform

Response on behalf of the Responsible Reform report by Sue Marsh and Kaliya Franklin

Spartacus Stories #spartacusstories #spartacusreport

2012-01-16T10:02:00.001Z

This week, the focus in the Lords will shift to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Government plans to scrap it entirely and replace it with Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

It is this proposal that prompted us to produce the Spartacus Report or Responsible Reform.

Sick and disabled people, their charities and organisations do not support the plans, which are based on an ignorance of disability, flawed evidence and will do great harm to millions. The Government are steamrollering the changes through despite growing calls for PIP to be put on hold until the plans can be made safe.

We do not oppose reform of DLA - sick and disabled people want the benefit to be simpler and better targeted. We DO oppose plans that will fail causing millions to suffer. We call on the House of Lords to attend the debates tomorrow and vote for a pause.

This morning, we see desperate attempts at propaganda from the DWP. Once more, we must ignore it, however painful it is. We must ignore the fear that these attacks inspire and make our own case honestly, calmly and clearly. Once more, we must present the British public with evidence and trust that they will not accept this attack on the most vulnerable of all.

All day, we will be posting stories here http://spartacus-stories.blogspot.com/

They will tell people what DLA is really used for and how it helps us to live as independently as we are able to. All over the internet, people will tell their side of the story and the blog will be updated all day. Please use the hashtag #spartacusstories to tell your own story on twitter or to post links to your own experiences.

Update your statuses on Facebook, calling for a pause to PIP and asking peers to attend the debate tomorrow. Blog, send the links to your local paper, ask friends and family to join in.

We must report our own news, we must be our own advocates.

It is becoming clearer every hour that the Government have no understanding of their own policies. Their arguments are unravelling by the day and no amount of lies or spin will hide us away.

If the best argument the Government can make is "we can't afford it" or "you don't deserve it" then we must just trust the public - and the Lords - to decide for themselves who to listen to. We must hope that they ask who they believe - corrupt, out of touch, ignorant, politicians or the very people they hope to silence and ignore.

I am confident they will hear our stories and reject the arguments of MPs who receive more in food expenses than we must live on for a month.

#spartacusstories is our chance to be heard.

You can email your blogged #spartacusstories to spartacusstories@gmail.com

We Have A Dream #spartacusreport

2012-01-15T17:00:00.000Z

Shame on you Prime Minister - #spartacusreport where it all started...

2012-01-15T11:30:00.000Z

First posted 22nd October 2010

Transcript very kindly provided by DisabilityXpert.

Dear Prime Minister
Whilst I’m not a natural Conservative voter, when you became Prime Minister, as a disabled person, I was reassured by the personal knowledge and experience you have of disability that you would fight our corner and that you would protect us. Perhaps I was naive to believe you because after yesterdays Comprehensive Spending Review I feel more betrayed and saddened by your actions than I ever did by the cuts that a Labour government that I voted for, made to benefits and disabled people.
I’ve yet to look into the impact of the changes to Housing Benefit and Employment Support Allowance to see how they’ll affect me as an individual, at the moment, there are far more pressing matters. The removal of High Rate Mobility Allowance from those adults resident in care homes is a decision so callous and so shocking in its disregard for the importance and expense of independence to peoples’ lives that it leaves me lost for words, it’s also left me without sleep as I pondered how, how could Ivan’s father do this? I know you know. I know you know how hard it is, I know you know how great it can be, I know you know how much equipment costs and I know that you could afford it, and I also know that you know that most people can’t.
Living in a care home as an adult is a particular vulnerable and difficult position to be put in. We know that there is a shortage of social housing in this country, and we know that it’s a particular problem for adults with severe disabilities: there may not be appropriate properties in their area and therefore the local authorities may have no choice but to place them as residents in a care home to provide the kind of support packages that they need to live. To take away the small amount of independence that those adults have is astonishing. Adults living in care homes already only keep £20 a week of their benefits, their High Rate Care Allowance, and their Income Support or Incapacity Benefit is all handed over to pay for the cost of their care.
The High Rate Mobility Allowance however, is used in a variety of ways. People might use it to contribute towards the cost of power wheelchairs, which are far too expensive for the NHS to cover. They might use it to fund a wheelchair accessible vehicle; they might even travel to and from work in that. Or perhaps in some cases it will go to fund accessible taxis, or some homes will pool the money and use it to fund transport for days out, things that perhaps don’t seem important on paper, but when you’re an adult looking at four walls, all day every day, with no respite from that, such things are vital.
I believed you Mr Cameron. I believed you when you stood there and promised that you would always protect the most vulnerable in our society, and perhaps that’s why, nearly 24 hours on from the announcement, I’m still shocked, saddened and betrayed.
I won’t be affected by these changes, but I believe that the most important thing is to stand up for those who are more vulnerable than ourselves, I though you believed that too.
Your Big Society is a fantastic concept which builds upon those visions; visions for a Britain that’s different from today where people are more involved and engaged; a Britain that would not turn its back on adults for the price of £135million a year; a Britain that would not allow companies, such as Vodafone, to owe £6billion in unpaid taxes.
The most vulnerable are paying for this Mr Cameron, and I’m ashamed of you for it

#SpartacusReport inspires a sermon

2012-01-15T09:26:00.000Z

With huge thanks to Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers of the West London Synagogue of British Jews in Central London for allowing us to reproduce yesterday's sermon in full. And Mazel tov to Maya!

Hearing the voice of Moses

Maya mentioned in her dvar torah that she has special needs –thoughI would argue her sense of an inability to sing is only a disability if Mayabelieves it is! It’s often said that we in fact all have special needs of onesort or another, we are just affected by them in different ways. Ourlimitations are often placed on us by the world we live in, but it is notuncommon for us to place limitations on ourselves, through our own fear anddoubt. Moses demonstrates this perfectly in this weeks Torah portion, trying toconvince God (not just his parents or a teacher) that he really can’t do thetask he has been called to. He has a speech impediment, which midrash tells uswas caused when Moses had placed hot coals in his mouth as a child[1]. Butwe can learn a huge amount from Shemot about supporting those who may need moresupport to achieve their full potential than others. If we are all given theright encouragement and guidelines, and perhaps more importantly resources, justas Moses is by God, we can overcome much that life has thrown at us.

And of course it isn’t just this week’s portion which tellsus of the Jewish imperative to support the vulnerable in our society, there’sthe obvious quote from Leviticus: “You shall not insult the deaf or place astumbling block before the blind” (19:14). But there are other imperatives too;one of my favourites comes from Isaiah (56:5) talking about the Temple: “For myhouse shall be a house of prayer for all people”. We need to notjust enable, but ensure our houses of worship, and the world around us, is opento all, not just those we see.

In starting to think about these issues I sent a twittermessage on Thursday to a tweeter known as @BendyGirl who I follow and havelearnt a huge amount from. She suffers from a condition called Ehlers DanlosSyndrome and blogs, in her words “about the highs & lows of life lived withjoints that dislocate as frequently as the British weather changes”. To leavethe house she needs an electric wheelchair, however to qualify for one on theNHS you have to be wheelchair bound in your own home for 6 months. At home itis good for her health to move as much as possible, so in walking at home, sheis precluding her opportunity to leave the house. She was incredibly helpfuland suggested in response to my unsolicited online message that I just give hera call. Which I did.

It is clear that our responsibility, Jewish or otherwise, tosupport the vulnerable in our society is not going well. You might even besurprised to know that members of our own congregation are struggling throughthe benefits system, and despite already living hand to mouth, are facing cutsin Disability Living Allowance and Employment and support allowance. Provingyou need the benefits is becoming harder and harder, with those who arewheelchair bound, likely in the new benefits which will replace the DLA to be qualifiedas able to work as well as you or me, as long as they can propel the chairthemselves.

We all know cuts and savings need to be found, and it’simportant to note this is not a coalition problem, these cuts began to be madeunder the previous government. But I was struck by something BendyGirl (whosereal name is Kaliya) made. In Nazi Germany, well before there were Jewishpogroms and camps, disabled and mentally ill German citizens were rounded up,and it was for them that camps were initially developed. And how were the restof the population convinced this was ok? They were told that these people werean economic drain on the nation. Increasingly, as Kaliya sees it, our media hasbeen spearheading a campaign to convince us that the disabled are work shybenefit cheats. In the last 18 months campaigners have noticed a significantincrease in hate crimes towards the disabled, and they are no longer referredto as ‘spaz’ when attacked, but as ‘benefit scrounging scum’. In fact, onlyhalf a percent of all disability claimants have been found to be fraudulent,and yet to combat these false claims, benefits are being cut by, at the mostoptimistic estimate, 20%. Deuteronomy (15:7) says “If there be among you aneedy person, you shall not harden your heart, but you shall surely open yourhand”. We need to start hearing not only the encouragement of Deuteronomy, andindeed of today’s portion, but the voice of those like Kaliya, who feelinvisible (especially if they don’t have a wheelchair or white stick) andincredibly vulnerable.

Disability campaigners are, on the whole, themselvesphysically struggling, sick, and isolated. Moses’ inability to express himselfclearly is a useful metaphor for this, he had his brother, Aaron, to help himalong the way, and he became the greatest leader of the Israelites. With thiskind of support, three defeats against the welfare reform bill were achievedthis week in the house of Lords (cavod to my senior colleague in thecorner). Yet these cuts have been happening for a while, and will continue ifmore isn’t said and done.

Maya, I know you are an incredible ally and support to yourmum, and many in the community are carers and supporters just like you. I haveseen and worked with some of you here as you struggled with eviction becausebenefits couldn’t be processed when they were needed. As a community we havefelt the cuts in social care and allowances biting, and have this month been joinedin our professional team by a Social Care worker – Jo, who is helping us dealwith the sheer volume of work that is coming our way now that social servicesare not doing their bit, or at least helping us to navigate the incredibly timeconsuming beurocracy. What I hear from Kaliya, and from many other voices,particularly on the web, where the housebound often have their only outlet, isthat people aren’t making enough noise about this. As part of her condition,Kaliya’s larynx had collapsed when we spoke, making the parallel between herand Moses even more stark – she, and so many others, need our voices, so thatthey can cling onto the meagre benefits they have now. We need to support thosethat we can, and be the voice for those who can’t raise theirs up loud enough.Even if this doesn’t affect you directly, it is still our responsibility tospeak up for others.

And as a community we are also being given the chance to cometogether to work to change how accessible we are through the Judith TrustsInclusion Campaign which is working with us to ensure we can reach out andinclude, and I hope more of you will want to become involved in this trainingas well.

Mishnah Sanhedrin (4:5) says that humans make coins, all fromthe same mould, and they all come out the same. God, however, makes humans eachfrom the same mould as the first human, yet each of us is unique. We all haveunique skills and abilities, as well as challenges and disabilities. Maya, youconfessed to us what you struggle with, but you also demonstrated what you arefantastic at. Everyone wants to contribute, but not everyone can do so in thesame way or to the same extent. I hope we can all learn from you about how tobe a support and a friend. I must confess, as a sister of someone with specialneeds, I’m angry at what is potentially being lost both in care and in humandignity, but as a Jew, and as a British citizen, who knows we can do better, Iam angrier, and I want us all to lift up our voices, in remembrance of Moseswho couldn’t.

Cain Yehi Ratzon

May this be God’s will

Venomar Amen.

[1] Ex.Rabbah 1:26

Resonance FM podcast discussion #spartacusreport

2012-01-14T12:28:00.002Z

Link to podcast discussion about #spartacusreport DLA - PIP, Lords vote etc with Tim Abbott and myself on Resonance FM http://podcasts.resonancefm.com/archives/category/shows/technical-difficulties

Radio 5Live would like to hear from us... #spartacusreport

2012-01-13T16:03:00.002Z

Are you affected by changes to DLA benefits? Has your application been turned down? Maybe you just have strong opinions about how the changes will affect you and your family. BBC 5 Live would love to hear from you.

Please contact monica.soriano@bbc.co.uk for more information

Day 5 #spartacusreport

2012-01-13T09:50:00.001Z

What an amazing week for sick and disabled campaigners! Sue and I are so incredibly proud of everyone. We've lobbied, researched, tweeted, blogged and campaigned despite how very poorly many of us are. Through provocation and disappointment about media coverage people have remained calm, considered, rational and constructive, which is so important as we are finally breaking through to the mainstream media and that is because we have facts, reason and morality on our side. When the best justification the government can dredge up to cut benefit eligibility to the most vulnerable, those disabled during childhood, is that some of them might at some point inherit some money it is clear how dubious these 'reforms' are both morally and politically. We are British, our sense of fair play is hardwired into our national identity; the justifiable outrage people feel about benefit fraud will pale in comparison with the outrage ordinary, decent people will feel about the most vulnerable in society being targeted and bullied by a government who have already committed to overturn the considered judgement of the Lords by using antiquated laws.

This week we have been able to demonstrate to the wider public something we all knew. That we are not ranting for the sake of it, but that we have detailed evidence and clear alternatives to the government's proposals. Sue's appearance on Newsnight last night shows that the media are finally starting to understand that, and see us as a credible, powerful community.

We know how exhausted you all are, we are too. We know how much pain you are all in as we share that pain. We share your frustration and your fears. Just yesterday our community had to support someone through the terror of receiving their Work Capability Assesment notice, to comfort, to console them and desperately try and persuade them not to end their life. We take all such pleas very seriously as there have already been multiple suicides associated with benefit loss.

As long as we remember we are a community we can all get through this. We must support each other, agree to disagree where necessary and never forget we are fighting for a shared aim. We owe this debt to those disabled people who lived and died in institutions, abused, hidden and ignored. We owe it to those disabled people who found the courage to rise up, to protest against the conditions they were forced into, many of whom never saw freedom but fought to protect those younger than themselves from imprisonment. We owe it to those who's mantra was "Nothing About Us Without Us". We owe this debt to all of our community who are still institutionalised, still in 2012 being horrifically abused by those supposed to 'care' for them and to the public who's taxes foot the bill for that abuse. We owe this debt to ourselves, to ensure we do not have to return to institutional living, to being condemned, hidden away and ignored because we are 'stock' 'too expensive to sustain'.

We must continue to keep up the pressure lobbying the Lords for next week's DLA votes, contacting MP's in preparation for when the Welfare Reform Bill returns to the Commons, and sharing our stories with the public so they understand that we are them. We are their daughters and sons, sisters, brothers, husbands and wives. We are all Spartacus. Together we have taken on the leader of the Labour party and last night Sue was fantastic debating with Chris Grayling on Newsnight. As Spartacus we can continue our fight.

So long as we remember "Alone we whisper. Together we shout" then we can and will win.

With love to you all, from Kaliya and Sue

The Times on #wrb #spartacusreport

2012-01-12T13:28:00.001Z

Our Response To Govt Today - #spartacusreport #wrb

2012-01-12T10:54:00.001Z

Yesterday, Lords voted to overturn the one-year time limit to contributory Employment and Support Allowance proposed by the government. They were defeated by a staggering 224 votes to 186. We had lobbied on this issue more than any other. Yesterday, we posted a full briefing on why. You can read it here :

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/impact-of-time-limiting-esa.html

When we started campaigning, we had four very, very clear objectives. There are other things that urgently need to be changed in the Lords, and we thank them for their forensic attention to detail that means these other issues are not being ignored.

Today, the DWP and the very highest ministers in government will be everywhere trying to mitigate the damage of yesterday's defeat. You will hear their misrepresentation of us on every TV show, in every paper. You will cringe at every inaccuracy, burn at every line of spin.

Mostly, I know that you will burn at the injustice of not being heard. You will wonder - as we have always wondered - why the mainstream media persist in ignoring truth and reason and evidence. Journalists will not be queueing to ask how the defeat came about, to ask the campaigners who almost certainly made it happen.

You might burn too, when you hear Labour claim this as their victory.

None of that matters. The public were never ours to lose. We have come this far without them, by making reasonable, calm, evidence based arguments to the people who really matter, the people with all the power. We have come to this point by engaging with politicians of all colours, by owning social media and using it to make our own news.

Today, you have truth and justice on your side. The Government do not. No Government is defeated on the scale we saw last night, with the very strong majorities we saw, by accident. It was the undeniable injustice of the Government's plans that convinced the Lords.

Do what we do best and make our case honestly. Re-post articles, write short statements, blog, contact friendly journalists and see if they will drop a little of the DWP spin angles. Contact supporters and let them know we won and what it means. Own the internet. It's all we have.

Perhaps a short note to some of the peers you lobbied thanking them? We have been insistent and a thank you is always nice.

Trust in our case, trust in the evidence we have presented, but most of all trust yourselves. Governments are not defeated often in the way ours was yesterday and you did it. Without the TV news, without much of the printed news, without an opposition, whatever Labour MPs claim today. The Labour Lords worked tirelessly for us however and they deserve a huge thank you.

The following briefing is one we posted months ago, that outlines our key concerns with the welfare reform bill and the measures affecting sick and disabled people today. Feel free to use it, share it in any way you like.

The Government - and media - might like to notice that we have already won the first one, The Spartacus Report directly addresses the 2nd one, and last night's vote casts huge doubt on the third.

We are not an aimless campaign group with no real goals, we are not unreasonable or aggressive.

We are the sick and disabled of the UK. We are Spartacus.

Briefing of our 4 main objectives :

Whilst some of the bill might be helpful, I want to be very clear today about which parts sick and disabled campaigners feel are unacceptable :

1) Removing Disability Living Allowance mobility payments from adults in residential care.
An adult who needs to live in residential care will have extensive needs and are often amongst the most severely disabled. The mobility component of DLA afforded them their only freedom, allowing them to choose to fund a power wheelchair otherwise unavailable on the NHS, or to pay for taxis or transport to get out now and then. Taking this away would leave the most vulnerable disabled people effectively housebound. There is no support for this change anywhere - charities, independent benefit reports and even the government's own advisers have called for this to be removed from the bill

2) Scrapping DLA entirely and replacing it with Personal Independent Payments (PIPs).
DLA is a very effective benefit with fraud rates of less than 1% (DWP own figures) It is already incredibly hard to claim and the qualification criteria are very narrow. The government have announced that DLA claimants will also soon face assessment and that the overall number of claimants will be reduced by at least 20%. The government's own advisory committee concluded that they could find no justification for this reform and have asked for clarification from the government.
If a benefit is already very efficient, yet a government announce a 20% cull before a single assessment has even taken place, we conclude it can only be a cost cutting measure that will ignore genuine need.

3) Time limiting contributory Employment Support Allowance (cESA, previously Incapacity Benefit) to 1 Year
Many people who need to claim ESA have "long term variable" or chronic illnesses such as MS, Parkinson's, Bowel Disease, Leukaemia or severe Mental Illness. These conditions often do not go away after a year and sadly, often get worse over time. A high percentage of those with these conditions are being found "capable of limited work" under ESA, and not qualifying for unconditional support (known as the Support group who are not affected by the time limit) but after 1 year, if they have a working partner, they will receive no ESA whatsoever. All of their benefit will simply be stopped, a loss of just under £5000 a year.

4) ATOS assessments are "unfit for purpose" and a better way of assessing need must be implemented. ATOS are the private company charged with assessing over 1.5 million sick and disabled people during this parliament.
-The assessments are not necessarily carried out by a doctor.
-40% of rejected claims are going to appeal with up to 70% of those decisions being overturned.
-Assessments are humiliating and degrading causing great anxiety to those genuinely in need.
-Just 7% of claimants are being found unfit to work.
-Testimony from Consultants and GPs is often ignored entirely.
-People are dying before lengthy appeals can be heard.
-Even the professor who designed these assessments calls them a "complete mess"
-The descriptors exclude many serious, long term conditions or disabilities. This means that many serious conditions are simply unlikely to qualify.

There are other problems with the bill - capping housing benefit; re-classifying "mobility" so that those who use their wheelchairs too efficiently can be classed as "fully mobile"; removing an age related payment from ESA; scrapping the Independent Living Fund; cutting community care provision; cutting the Access to Work programme and many more - all of which will hurt sick and disabled people disproportionately, but the four points above MUST be addressed before the Welfare Reform Bill is passed.
They are causing or will cause real hardship.
They will not achieve savings as pressures will only be shifted to the NHS or social care provision.
They will increase homelessness, mental illness and poverty amongst this most vulnerable group of all
They will leave many in genuine need without support
They reduce the independence, standard of life and dignity of those we have a basic duty to protect.

Remember to tweet using #spartacusreport and when sharing links or emailing. Thanks, Sue My Facebook page is currently blocked, but you will find all the same articles at http://benefitscroungingscum.blogspot.com/ Please use this slink to post to Facebook

Please also sign Pat's Petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968 calling for a pause to the reforms until they are safe.

Humza Yousaf MSP supports the #spartacusreport

2012-01-11T14:30:00.000Z

We all want to see a simplified and fair welfare system. However, as a nation we have a responsibility to ensure we support the most vulnerable in our society. The UK-led Government’s proposals are deeply flawed because they hit those with a disability the hardest and that is why it was entirely right for the Scottish Parliament to withhold legislative consent. Hopefully the message will be loud and clear that the UK Government has to go back to the drawing board, find its conscience and bring forward fair proposals that we can all gather round.

Humza Yousaf MSP
MSP for Glasgow

Cross posted from Funky Margo's Musings

Joanne Harris, best-selling author of Chocolat, supports the principles behind the #spartacusreport

2012-01-11T14:00:00.000Z

One of the criteria for a civilized society must surely be how we support the most vulnerable people among us; the elderly; the disabled and those who have long-term illnesses. I’d like to think that this country is civilized enough to do that, and that its leaders are humane enough to consider their responsibility fairly. Sometimes, however, our leaders can be curiously hard of hearing. Let’s hope that this report helps them to hear the voices of those who need to be heard.

Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat, the Runemarks series, etc

Crossposted from FunkyMargo's Musings

#SpartacusReport - the easy read version!

2012-01-11T13:23:00.003Z

The wonderful people at United Response have pushed themselves flat out over Xmas to present our report - Responsible Reform - to parliament.

Here is the easy-read version. : http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/2012/01/the-spartacus-report-the-easy-read-version/

From Bed Activism...

2012-01-11T13:22:00.002Z

Can't type much, but something extraordinary happened just now on twitter.

Someone pointed out how they helped from their beds (we decided beds on sofas count) and suddenly, everyone is saying that even though they were bedridden at times, they still did what they could to help the #spartacusreport

Will you leave a comment below if you did this? Two of our #spartacusreport helpers are in hospital seriously ill, I escaped by a whisker and Kaliya might yet follow them. One of our most brilliant supporters has not answered us for three days. We're very worried.

I think perhaps we ought to start recording what this has cost people.

Message from Kaliya and Sue #spartacusreport

2012-01-10T12:00:00.000Z

Link to Responsible Reform Report http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16008

http://twibbon.com/join/spartacusreport

Here is a transcript of the video

[Kaliya's voice is still very hoarse]

Yesterday we launched the report 'Responsible Reform' known online
as the Spartacus Report.

It's been produced entirely by very sick and disabled people and the authors and coordinators of the report have reached the limit of what we can do now.

Sue Marsh's husband has put his foot down and will be taking her to hospital this afternooon. If I don't stop, I'll be following her there.

We're asking you to put your faith in the quality of the research in the Responsible Rerform report.

It speaks for itself and does the job for us. So please, look to the evidence...

[catches her breath]

...and try to carry on until we can come back

[ends]

#SpartacusReport Day 2

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000Z

Yesterday was absolutely wonderful.

For the first time, we broke through and really found our voice. We
trended No.1 on Twitter and kept trending at 2 throughout the day. The
support from celebrities and journalists and other bloggers was
humbling.

Today, we have a chance to really explain our issues, but despite our
desperation and fear we MUST remember that our issues are new to most
people. We must trust that the report has it's own strength.

It is backed by Disability Alliance, representing over 380 charities.
Scope, Mind, RNIB, Sense, National Autistic Society, ME Action
Papworth Trust and many, many more endorse our report and share its
concerns.

Politicans are supporting us. Lords are supporting us. We must give
them every chance to hear our evidence and act on it.

The report raises some very serious issues and it is those issues we
must explain.

Today, we ask anyone who read and was shocked by the #spartacusreport
to wear this twibbonhttp://twibbon.com/join/spartacusreport and stand
with the sick and disabled people of the UK have fought so very hard
for this one chance to be heard. We only have a few more days. Lords
return tomorrow and the issues we have raised for so long will face
votes. If we work together, no matter how exhausted we are, no matter
how frightened, we can say we did all we could to make our arguments
eloquently, reasonably and most importantly - based on evidence.
Evidence that has been painfully lacking in this debate so far.

Can we show today that we are an electorate? That we can be seen, that
we can be heard. Every twibbon is a "vote" for the #spartacusreport

If you are sick and disabled wear the twibbon.
If you realise that one day, at any moment, you too could face illness
or disability and that our fight is your fight, please wear the
twibbon.
If you are concerned at the lack of rigour and openness of our
government, please where the twibbon
If you want us to be heard, wear the twibbon.

Keep tweeting, keep sharing and trust that if we work together, we can
be heard. Sick and Disabled people can speak for themselves and for
the first time, the #spartacusreport allows us to do that. Take this
opportunity, take this platform and use it wisely.

I am Spartacus, and I will keep trying everything I can to protect our futures.

Rick Edwards, TV presenter on #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T17:30:00.000Z

"Disabled people can achieve as much as anyoneelse, but only when society supports them and listens to them before making anymajor changes affecting them."

Rick Edwards, TV presenter

Comedians support #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T17:00:00.000Z

"With regard to the 'reform' of DLA: Thegovernment have at best ignored and at worst misrepresented the views ofdisabled people and in doing so return us to an era where the disabled had novoice and didn't matter. This is unjust, probably illegal and without doubtutterly vile."

Mark Thomas, comedian

"As they currently stand, the proposed Personal Independence Payments are scandalous. No-one with an ounce of compassion can fail to be shocked by these changes. The idea that someone who can propel their own wheelchair should be judged as if they can walk is clearly ludicrous. The fact that someone's need for essential supervision isn't even considered is utterly inhumane. This government would do well to puts its ideology aside, and actually listen to the needs of sick and disabled people. This is how democracy works. This is how a civilised society acts."

Chris Coltrane, comedian, activist.

"Disability Living Allowance is just as its namesays. An allowance to help disabled people live their lives. By making cutsthat will affect people on a day to day basis, you are unnecessarily making people'slives harder than they need to be or ever should be. Equality in society issomething that should stretch across all areas and all people, it’s a simplehuman right. You remove that and we are no longer living in a democracy. If youreally want to save money in this area why not ask the people that are directlyaffected by it where things can be approved and cost effective rather thanmaking decisions that will, in the end, not help these people save any money,time or energy."

Tiernan Douleb, comedian

Actresses Cherylee Houston & Shannon Murray support #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T16:00:00.000Z

"Disabled people have been fighting for years to establish our equalityin society, these changes are tantamount to setting back the clock forty yearswhere decisions about our independence were made by others. These changeswill take away basic human rights from many disabled people. DLA enablesdisabled people to work, travel, engage in their local community, which in turnenables us to contribute more fully to society both financially and socially."

Cherylee Houston, actress, Izzy, Coronation Street

"As we were slowly inching closer to equality it is ridiculous andalarming that we are rapidly moving away from an inclusive society and backtowards discrimination and segregation; the haves and the have – nots.

The impact of the proposed cuts will be hugely detrimental to mostand to some utterly devastating. Please do not underestimate the damaging andharmful consequences of cutting very necessary benefits to very needy people.

Many people don’t seem to appreciate that living with a disabilityis incredibly expensive, benefits like DLA aren’t frittered away on extravagantluxuries, they are desperately needed to pay for basic travel expenses to work,PA support, respite for family carers, food and heating and having somesemblance of a “normal” social life.

These benefits provide us with the ability to contribute tosociety; to remove them is to erase us from society and infringe our humanrights.

It has been proven it isn’t financially prudent to reform DLA andit certainly isn’t ethical or moral to target the most vulnerable in oursociety; after all isn’t that what bullies do?"

Shannon Murray

Writers Val McDermid & Kate Long support need consult disabled ppl #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T15:00:00.000Z

"How we treat our vulnerable citizens is a measure of acivilised society. The way to do that is not to make high-handed decisions ontheir behalf but to consult directly with them about their needs and how thoseneeds can be met. It's surely not too much to ask of a government thatconstantly tells us we're all in this together."

Val McDermid, best selling crime writer

"We are not talking here about providing “luxuries”,or catering to a “lifestyle choice”. People with disabilities are simply askingfor their essential needs to be met, a right most non-disabled folk take forgranted. Frankly it appals me that this issue is even up for debate. What hashappened to our society?"

Kate Long, author

@StephenFry backs #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T14:30:00.000Z

Looks as if the government's been found out lying and misleading the people on the subject of disability allowances:http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16008
@stephenfry

I am Spartacus and I.... #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T14:03:00.002Z

Responsible Reform was a report put together by literally thousands. If you helped in ANY way, no matter how small, please leave a comment below starting

"I AM SPARTACUS AND I.........

You might have donated £5 to our fund, perhaps you always RTd our articles. Some will have stuffed envelopes, others wrote pieces. Scores of you researched, volunteers popped up from everywhere offering to do even the most obscure or mundane tasks for us.

Did you write to your MP? Email a peer? take part in one of our campaigns of send me a link to what may have ended up being vital research? Did you live tweet #teamwrb? Did you make a point of always sharing my links on Facebook?

So for tomorrow and next week when we have time to reflect, let's leave a record of exactly who made this happen and what they did

I hope we end up with hundreds of comments. xxxx

Hardeep Singh Kohli's support for issues raised in #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000Z

"The definition of a civilised society is one that makes it apriority to support the most vulnerable. Any major changes which affect thelives of sick/disabled people should not be made without their support andadvice. The main issue for these groups is that they have been continuallyoverlooked and seldom respected. Now is not the time to overlook them. Now isthe time to listen and act."

(Hardeep Singh Kohli, writer and broadcaster)

Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley, Coronation St) on #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T13:31:00.001Z

"This thorough and rigorous report based on proper consultation with the people who will be, in many cases, shockingly affected by the government's proposed changes to DLA and the introduction of PIP, should be right at the heart of any welfare reform. The government's proposals are rash, short-sighted, inhumane and ultimately expensive. The new system is already causing much stress and anxiety to so many people who are frankly dealing with enough."

Julie Hesmondhalgh, actress, Coronation Street

#spartacusreport supported across political spectrum, Christine Hamilton's views

2012-01-09T13:00:00.000Z

"Most of us are lucky enough totake the basic functions of mind and body for granted, give or take thecreaking of age. But, equally, many of us know someone who is not sofortunate, either within the family or as a friend, or even a friend of afriend.

To enable the most vulnerable people in our societyto reach their full potential, we, as a community, must give them the supportthey need. Changes will always need to be made to adapt to differentcircumstances, but we must never lose sight of the fact that thosewho will be affected by any change (or their immediate carers) must beconsulted at every stage"

Christine Hamilton

Boris Johnson quote from #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T12:56:00.002Z

"The government proposes imposing penalties if disabled people do not inform the government in changes in their circumstances. However, the Department of Work and Pensions statistics give the overall fraud rate for Disability Living Allowance as being less than 0.5%. For those with fluctuating conditions asking them to report every change to their condition would prove very stressful."

Who's backing the #Spartacusreport ? First up, the doctors!

2012-01-09T12:00:00.000Z

"The NHS Consultants’ Association believes thatill thought out reform to the DLA, with reduction of financial support to someof the most vulnerable members of society is not only unjustified, but also afalse economy which will result in cost implications for carers and additionaluse of NHS services and resources."

Clive Peedell, on behalf of NHSConsultants’ Association

"It is important that in the quest to support employment in everyone, abled or disabled, that we do not underestimate the problems that many people with long term disabilities have in carrying out even simple day to day functions. Insensitive assessment of disability and failure to understand the complexity of their problems might inadvertently result in removal of their benefits, causing more problems in an already vulnerable population."

Clare Gerada, Chair of Royal College of GP's

Ally McErlaine, guitarist, Texas on #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T11:30:00.000Z

"I am all for supporting the disabled in society,they are THE most deserving of financial support, having spent some time in awheelchair myself after my aneurysm 2 years ago I do understand how difficult thisis to live with. If we are to be civilised then look after the disabled and oldfolks too."

Ally McErlaine, guitarist, Texas

Responsible Reform? #spartacusreport

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000Z

Timed to coincide with the return of the Welfare Reform Bill to the House of Lords, today sees the formal launch of the report 'Responsible Reform'. Written, researched, funded and produced by sick and disabled people, our friends and family, Responsible Reform is a detailed investigation into the government's consultation on DLA reform which ended in February 2011.

The population affected by and contributing to the consultation were always suspicious that the government were not playing by the rules. Once a consultation has been started, regardless of whether there is a duty to consult, there are clear legal duties; particularly that there must be sufficient time allocated to complete that consulation. Examples from case law show that when disabled people are involved in any consultation, reasonable adjustments apply, ie a longer time for the consultation may be needed or access to accessible format information, something which many disabled people's organisations reported as being impossible to obtain in time for the consultation, despite repeated requests. Despite an established legal guidance on consultations, the consultation into DLA was two weeks shorter than it should have been, and ran across the christmas and new year period, which would typically merit an extension to the time, even if it were not aimed at a population usually given additional time to complete tasks due to the nature of their health conditions. Eventually the consultation into DLA was closed two days after the Welfare Reform Bill returned to the Commons, meaning that there was no way the results of the consultation could be properly considered as part of the bill.

Despite this and another potential legal challenges to the WRB highlighted in Responsible Reform, the DWP will tell people that they 'are listening to and working with disabled people' because their most recent impact assessment into the proposed replacement of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, published in October 2011 is 'significantly different' from the consultation. Although there are some very minor changes, in essence the latest impact assessment is identical to the original consultation report, with cherry picked, misrepresented responses. Whilst it is shameful that the DWP have misled the public and potentially parliament with their original consultation response, refusing to publish the full responses meaning that the report authors had to use Freedom of Information requests to obtain them, it is unconscionable to continue with this attempt to misrepresent the views of sick and disabled people and the charities which work on our behalf after the evidence proving this deception has been revealed.

Back in September 2010 The Financial Times ran an article describing cuts to disability benefits as "the easiest bit of welfare reform to sell". The arrogant assumptions behind that statement are that sick and disabled people are a minority group without any powerful support, something which in their desperation to accuse sick and disabled people of being scroungers, politicians of all parties have failed to think through. A faulty and deceptive consultation combined with overwhelming opposition to the new Personal Independence Payment, make it obvious that neither the DWP or government have changed their assumption that sick and disabled people are fraudulent scroungers to be sacrificied upon an altar of 'austerity cuts'. Far from saving money, it is clear throughout Responsible Reform that sick and disabled people are deeply concerned that introducing PIP will not save, but rather cost vast sums of money, when any practical savings which could be made to the DLA budget could be done without requiring a new, unwanted benefit.

Much of the WRB is predicated on the assumption that sick and disabled people are workshy scroungers who need to be forced into the workplace. There are no workable proposals to alter working practices to fit with the demands of sickness and disability, no incentives for employers to make it more affordable and attractive to employ sick or disabled people, just ever increasing conditionality and sanctions to cure us of the scrounging nature we so clearly inherit with our medical conditions. Although Responsible Reform exposes the deceptive and dishonest nature of the government and DWP's actions, it also shows something of equal significance. The author's of the report variously have severe illnesses or disabilities; Crohns, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Friedrick's Ataxia, Lupus, kidney dialysis, ME, autism, and mental health issues which have removed us from, or prevented access to the traditional workplace. Sick and disabled people are a vast, untapped resource of talent, skills, experience and desire to contribute to society. Working together, using technology and working practices to fit with the reality of our day to day lives, sick and disabled people have proved our potential for employment, if only there was a potentail for that employment to work in a way our bodies and minds allow us to do.

First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. And then we win.

2012-01-07T10:54:00.000Z

Some much needed positive news....

As most of you know Sue Marsh has been co-ordinating a report researched, authored and funded by sick and disabled people which is released formally on monday.

As happens with every government welfare report, mysteriously, somehow, details leaked out to the media yesterday and so the coverage has already started. It turns out that Boris Johnson's submission to the DLA reform consultation which closed in February 2011 was the smoking gun we needed and the government hoped no-one would ever find. The Mayor's submission stood out from the other consultation responses, not because it was supportive of our claims (almost all the submissions were) but because it was incredibly thoughtful, well written and researched. Some people are concerned that this may be to do with forthcoming mayoral elections. Whilst we understand the concern, we do not believe that is the case as the Mayor's submission was completed in February 2011 along with all the other submissions. It would be very helpful if we could all let Boris Johnson know how much we appreciate his carefully considered and supportive statement over the weekend.

We desperately need to keep up the momentum over the weekend to ensure this becomes an even bigger story.

We all need to pull together to make this happen. If everyone shares the news on their facebook, twitter, google+, blog, email list, friends, family etc we can keep the focus on the report.

AllBigIdeas is collating a list of the news articles here and so far we've had coverage in;

The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Mirror and The Mail!! Yes, you read that correctly. No you're not dreaming. The Daily Mail have actually covered a welfare story, from a welfare campaigners perspective and had to include the fact that the fraud rate for DLA is only 0.5%. Left Foot Forward have always led the way amongst the political blogs with their support for sick and disabled people's campaign against the Welfare Reform Bill and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help us. They would never ask us for anything in return, but one way we can all thank them for their support is to ensure their articles are widely publicised.

So please, share these stories everywhere, with everyone you know. Leave your opinion in the comment threads, email the papers, contact your local media, tell everyone and anyone. Keep watch here, on Sue's blog and The Broken of Britain and Where's The Benefit for us letting you know the latest developments and most of all take a moment to step back and think.

Finally we are breaking through. We can be ignored no longer. We have truth and justice on our side. The next few weeks will be the fight of our lives, but no-one is better prepared for that than us. We are people who face and overcome challenges in our everyday lives bigger than many ever have to face in a lifetime. We are used to dealing with confusing bureaucracy, lack of proper support and having to find our own solutions. Above all we know how to endure, that however dark the night, tomorrow will be another day and eventually we find another way.

If you are scared, remember you are not alone. We have come together to show the true power of our community and that we will not be ignored. If you think you won't be affected by these cuts, remember those who will. If you think it'll never happen to you, remember anyone's life can and does change in an instant. We fight this battle not just for ourselves, but for you, your family and loved ones to make sure that in the darkest times of your life the protection you need and have given to us will be there for you.

With love from Kaliya and Sue.

"Alone We Whisper. Together We Shout"

It was Christmas Evening....

2011-12-21T13:45:00.000Z

Inspired by this I thought I'd share my favourite Christmas story. Fortunately I finally confessed this sorry tale to my father recently, which did not further endear him to BendyCat or her mum Kitty#1. Both cats were always generous with their gifts, and still in the stage of hauling dead rats as big as themselves home to be proudly presented and on one memorable occasion, a still live blackbird which one of them triumphantly dumped on my parents bed at 5am.

It was some time in the 90's - sometime in the particularly blurry, drunken student shagging days when BendyCat was still young and able to jump onto things without falling over. Ah how things have changed for us both since then! It may have been the first Christmas after my grandmother died as I don't remember her reaction to this story and she would have howled with laughter. Christmas was never the same without Gran's uniquely stylish look of tracksuits and stilletos or her tradition of sliding drunkenly under the table into a haze of Gold Label and whiskey fumes at some point during the festivities.

So, it was Christmas evening in the Franklin family nuthouse, Oldest Friend and I were sitting in the kitchen chatting. The ham my mother had spent hours preparing was cooling on the side and all was as calm as Christmas ever was.

Then we noticed an odd noise....

Unnoticed BendyCat had jumped onto the kitchen counters and made her way to the ham. In a 'once in a lifetime' moment of strategic planning she had her eyes firmly on the ham and how to make it hers....

You'd think perhaps a cat would try and pull the ham off the counter top and spirit it away to be shared, but she must've been foiled by it's size and weight and had to come up with a better plan...

The odd noise which alerted us to the cat's plans was the tinkling noise as she squatted over the ham on it's cooling board......

and pissed all over it!

It was the noise of me and Oldest Friend howling with laughter and shouting at the cat which alerted my mother who came sprinting in from the lounge just in time to see BendyCat still pissing all over the ham she'd spent hours preparing and Oldest Friend and I too convulsed with hysteria to do anything about it.

Being the type who grew up the era in post war rationing my mother has always had, um, let's say an interesting relationship with the concept of food fit for human consumption. My ability to eat luminous green bacon is amatuer stuff compared with her ability to hoard food still labelled in shillings and pence whilst simultaneously swearing it's fit to eat.

So, upon witnessing this act of blatant cat terrorism, screaming at 'that fucking cat' my mother swiped BendyCat away from her prize and onto the floor. Grabbed the ham and ran it under the tap swearing both Oldest Friend and I to secrecy as she did so.

Funnily enough neither Oldest Friend or I were willing to eat the ham which was served up soon after...but the rest of the family were unknowing and got stuck in.

Eventually though, even my mother was forced to concede the ham had had it's day, she'd been outwitted by BendyCat and the only one's to truly enjoy the slightly odd tasting meat were furry and possessed of four paws!