Clacton by-election

Cossy
THIS re PIP:

Sir Keir’s decision to back down on billions of pounds of cuts to PIPs is regarded as the moment he ceded power to the soft Left of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

In his report, Sir Stephen said that almost 39,000 responses to a call for evidence on reform of the handout had found that it was no longer fit for purpose.

“This interim report delivers a clear message – while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change,” he said.

More than half of those who wrote into the review complained the benefit, worth up to £778 a month, was not generous enough to cover their needs. But some respondents said receiving the handout discouraged people from seeking work because it made them more financially secure.

One person quoted by the report said: “I have worked with or been friends with a number of people that are on PIP and don’t need to be. In fact, that they are receiving PIP means they have no incentive to find formal work and are able to get work cash in hand and not declare it.”

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Be good to get rid of Rachel Reeves for a start MaizieD. She plateaued a long time ago after bugging herself up as the first woman Chancellor. What an abject mess she’s making.

In your opinion, FGT (and mine, incidentally, but Reforms policies would do far more damage than Reeves'). But you are appointing yourself the spokesperson for 'some voters', unspecified number of....

So - we need change.
Desperately.

It’s not ‘just’ about immigration.
We’ve moved on from that.

Yes it’s a part, but it sure as hell isn’t the whole story.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Be good to get rid of Rachel Reeves for a start MaizieD. She plateaued a long time ago after bugging herself up as the first woman Chancellor. What an abject mess she’s making.

I supported Starmer and I still support the LP, but for some reason I’ve never taken to RR, and I think had Starmer replaced her a year ago he might have stood a better chance.

Completely take on board your Makerfield comment and I didn’t support what happened there, it wasn’t quite the same, but dirty tricks (in my opinion) in both areas.

I’ve no doubt AB will make errors. Are you somehow suggesting that if (massive IF) Farage did become PM that neither he nor his cabinet would ever “stuff up”?

Okay fair point MaizieD

In future I shall just say ‘in my opinion’.

Whitewavemark2

nanna8

Hate to say it but it was so very predictable that they would dig the dirt on Farage. They really don’t like him, he is a threat to the establishment. I don’t particularly like him, either but the way they are going at him might well backfire.

What you don’t appear to understand really is that Farage is simply a mini-Trump. That is why he is so disliked. This latest stunt is so Trumpian. It is merely to get the narrative away from the charges of corruption, money laundering etc.

Exactly! No idea why FGT supports the dispicable ‘ out for myself’ person?

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

Also he is no threat to “ the establishment “ as once elected, like Trump, he will ignore the British people, like he has done his constituents, and work to enrich himself!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Cossy
THIS re PIP:

Sir Keir’s decision to back down on billions of pounds of cuts to PIPs is regarded as the moment he ceded power to the soft Left of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

In his report, Sir Stephen said that almost 39,000 responses to a call for evidence on reform of the handout had found that it was no longer fit for purpose.

“This interim report delivers a clear message – while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change,” he said.

More than half of those who wrote into the review complained the benefit, worth up to £778 a month, was not generous enough to cover their needs. But some respondents said receiving the handout discouraged people from seeking work because it made them more financially secure.

One person quoted by the report said: “I have worked with or been friends with a number of people that are on PIP and don’t need to be. In fact, that they are receiving PIP means they have no incentive to find formal work and are able to get work cash in hand and not declare it.”

Tbh, imo, taking someone’s opinion of their friends on PIP, who are claiming it falsely, is 1) pretty laughable and 2) pretty ridiculous. Even on the highest element of care, PIP is £778 and that certainly is enough for some people’s disabilities, yet in the next para it states that it’s enough to discourage people for looking for work?

Claim PIP, I was turned down by the assessors the first two times I applied. Third time luckily, I get low level care, nothing for mobility, I retired early for health reasons at 64, having been in paid work since age 15, not always full time, and raising four children.

PIP, as a general rule, is not easy to have awarded, it’s a long laborious form plus an assessment, usually every four years.

I completely accept some people managed to fake symptoms and conditions but given that in addition to the form and the assessment you have to provide medical evidence for every condition mentioned on your application, I’d be amazed if fraud was very high.

I think it’s very hard to get one’s head around PIP and why it’s awarded and how it should be used, unless you’re unfortunate enough to have to make a claim to it in the first instance.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

Where have you got that stat from??

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

If that figure is correct … likely because we are in the baby boomer old age era… and many are in some form ‘disabled’ if not physically crippled.
The key point is that the official definition is broad. It includes people who:
* have a physical or mental health condition lasting at least 12 months, and
* say it limits their day-to-day activities either “a little” or “a lot.”

So the figure includes people with a wide range of conditions and levels of impairment. Many are in employment and lead largely independent lives. It does not mean that one in four people has a severe disability or receives disability benefits.

He is getting to be a mini Trump.

That is what is scary.

Petulant

Childish ‘me me me’

After enriching himself, willing to dodge tax, accept questionable money

Rude to the press when actually uncalled for

Entitled

Cult of personality not of Party. Why else fall out with different party members and they split off and form alternate groups?

Treats our democratic parliament like a soap box. Only attends now and then. Just like when he was an MEP.

Signs of the beginnings of paranoia (imo, at a low level)

Cossy

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

Where have you got that stat from??

I looked it up via Google.

In most countries there is a significant core of people who will listen to people that tell them that immigrants or a particular minority group are the cause of their problems.

I think that that statement isn't necessarily true and discredits the intelligence of our European friends. They don't need to be told anything, they've seen it with their own eyes. The supporters abroad bring up their fears of migrants, unprompted.

I do agree that the presence alone of Farage seems enough to evoke this strong feeling, but on the whole I don't believe that neither Meloni nor Bardella for example, makes it all about the ills of immigration, but more about restoring traditional national values.

Look, the point here is so simple, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want decent, appropriate, sustainable education/housing/employment/healthcare;

What and how exactly is Farage and Reform going to make this happen in a timescale which will suit voters (I’m assuming this will have to happen in less than 24 months!)

Please tell me.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

What is this nonsense?

Checked the stats.

Only 8% of the working population claims PIP.
In the whole population. Including of course children and any adult disability, it’s 6%.

Right time for a dip in the pool it’s 🔥 in Málaga.
I bid you all a good day. 😁

* either/or not neither/nor

8.4% of the working age adult population claim PIP. Presumably the adult population includes all ages?

FGT Perhaps a quarter of the population do have some form of disability. Are you stating a quarter of our population receive PIP?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Right time for a dip in the pool it’s 🔥 in Málaga.
I bid you all a good day. 😁

Enjoy 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️

Casdon

8.4% of the working age adult population claim PIP. Presumably the adult population includes all ages?

Yes, but PIP is only payable to those aged 18-67 (at the time of claim).

Under 18’s make a claim, via their parents to DLA and over 67’s to Attendance Allowance, rates are the same as PIP, but AA has no mobility element.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Cossy

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

Where have you got that stat from??

I looked it up via Google.

Athsma and hearing difficulties for example are included, so not quite as dramatic as it appears.

A quick trip to Spec Savers, no need to be claiming PIP.

The number of young people claiming disability benefit has doubled in the last 5 years.

Remember that claiming PIP often actually is to enable people with disabilities to work, the 8% is not ‘unemployed’