Dear Mr. Miliband,
I am a UK-based journalist and broadcaster. Here is a link to my website. http://www.soniapoulton.co.uk. On my site you will find all the media outlets that I contribute to across print, TV, radio and internet, nationally and internationally.
I am prompted to write to you having just watched these two programmes on the subject of ‘fit to work’ testing for sick and disabled people: Channel 4′s Dispatches (‘Britain On The Sick’) and BBC2′s Panorama (‘Disabled or Faking it’).
This year, as a writer, I have been made painfully aware of how distressing, unreliable and costly – both physically and emotionally – the Work Capability Assessment is for those undertaking it. The financial cost to the country is another concern altogether.
I am aware that Employment minister Chris Grayling has made much capital from blaming Labour for the introduction of this system, administered by ATOS. Equally, Mr. Grayling has made it clear that he views the Coalition’s implementation of the process as preferable, and less harsh, than that carried out under the Labour government.
WCA, clearly, is beset with problems. The ATOS assessor, captured undercover in C4′s programme, referred to it as ‘Toxic’. It was made clear that it was designed to reduce benefit recipients. Chris Grayling continues to deny there are targets. I am less inclined to believe him.
The test, at best, is unquestionably inadequate and not fit-for-purpose. Even the Government’s own adviser, before he resigned, described it as ‘patchy’. At worst, it is downright disadvantageous to those who are subject to it.
For many people the horror of the ATOS test has been the worst kept secret for years. Sadly, others have been less fortunate and are no longer here to register their misery. There currently exists a known demographic of people who have died after being found ‘fit to work’. Are you aware of this?
This year doctors at the British Medical Association have opposed WCA. Those who endure it have opposed it. Even the occasional newspaper and TV programme dares to oppose it. As a Social Commentator, I certainly have.
Why, then, has Labour – under your leadership – not opposed it? Should I assume that you support it? I am disturbed by what I view as a dangerous trend in our country. There is a clear demonisation of sick and disabled people, routinely labelled as ‘scroungers’ by the media, and driven by frequently skewed statistics issued by the DWP.
Meanwhile, the incidences of attacks on sick and disabled has risen. Disabled people are more in fear for their safety than at any other time in recent history. I believe that there is a direct correlation between the resentment whipped up about ‘spongers’ and the physical assaults taking place. Surely this is not acceptable to you. It certainly isn’t acceptable to me.
The names listed below this letter are from people who support the core message contained within it. Like me these are concerned citizens. Some are directly affected by issues of sickness and disability, others are not.
For my part, I am healthy, able-bodied and work full-time but I believe it is my duty to support those who need help. I believe that is a duty of us all. Including the Labour party.
Sickness and disability can happen at any time and to any one of us. I would like to think that others would also support me in my hour of need.
I believe what we need in this country is more compassion, not less. The WCA is unacceptable for a progressive country and it is a clear failure. The money spent on the appeals process confirms that, quite aside from the human misery it costs.
I have just heard that Tom Greatrex, MP, has secured a Westminster Hall debate on September 4 with regard ATOS and WCA. I ask you, Mr. Miliband, can we count on you to take a long overdue stance in support of our sick and disabled, too?
I do hope so. I look forward to your response.
Best wishes, Sonia Poulton
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j5U8XESqRaimZMCbXXydgQCCjlYeh2bDHzCCnd8Yrk0/edit?pli=1
Sonia has asked if people will co-sign the above letter that she is sending to ed Milliband – If you are happy to sign it please follow the above link and the instructions on how you can do it are on the page.
Holmey
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come on EDwe need you to lead from the front ,SHOW YOU CARE or a lott of us will wonder why we voted LABOUR
It was sad to hear Ed Mil at the main Labour Party conference in 2010 say to a member of the audience “he doesn’t think they’re being hard enough” though he may have softened his attitude, I’d need to see some real action from him and although I think my own MP is fantastic I will not be voting Labour which is a shame because I want to, but can’t vote for something that hurts me.
So if you don’t vote Labour because of your conscience that will allow these vermin back in! Make no mistake, Tories HAVE no conscience!!!!
Which Vermin?
Is there a difference?
Who will get back in?
Politicians indifferently with/without conscience?
Well let’s see what this (signed) letter elicits from the Brown Milliband, then!?
You know how to tell when a politician is lying? Wahen they open their mouths????
How do you know when they’re tell ing the truth, then?
I’ll go for a less than perfect Labour Government rather than a Tory one, any day!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear {!!!!!!!!!!!!!}
Why?????????
Tactical voting yes I agree in any other circumstances red all the way, but with an issue as serious as life and death personally I can’t put my cross in that box next to the name of a man who at the moment seems to agree with this very private genocide. If Ed Miliband does’t show he has a ‘conscience’ over this then will he be any better than the Tories?
“Less-than-perfect” Ed, is a mandate to do whatever Labour feels it would (consciosly aware) feel like doing, half-heartedly; opposed to Conservative’s full-on, unhindered by any conscience, assault on the ill, and/or disabled, vulnerable in society, as would Blair’s David Milliband under the same circumstances; he was there! It’s not enough for Ed to just be a better Milliband any longer. He needs to strive for perfection as his own man (he talks-the-talk on this) with a fully committed stance in support of the huge block of voters which is us, the collectively disabled. He needs to know this, from us. Sonia’s (signed) letter goes a good deal of the way in prompting him to rehabilitate his political conscience and do what is right by us.
The “virmin” Tories are perverse in this, already.
I have tried to sign, but am having great difficulty, how wonderful to see someone who is fit and able standing up for those less fortunate. You are a person to be admired and i hope you will carry on the good work, i myself am unable to work as i used to, but am using this time to gain a degree, not that it will help me find a job in future, but at least my opinion may count for something. PLEASE KEEP GOING THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
its with great sadness that ive sent to a good few mps about atos dwp and the reply of ed is one and the same as blair would have said and if this man wishes to get to be pm one day hed better change his stance .but sadly his answer was labour not looking to change it and that with the introduction of blair being on the verge of entering labour camp once more would i think leave them once more outside looking in prove me wrong ed but sadly you wont jeff3
It will be very sad if Labour take Blair on, seriously I mean, on the basis that Blair was extremely good at winning elections for Nu-Lab; now that we all know just how he did it (superficially saying the politically correct stuff tailored to suit whatever the agenda of any given audience in the moment ((it actually sort of worked for Northern Ireland as they desperately cling, or try to build on the haitus)) he will kill Labour’s chances stone dead!
I like to think it’s Ed’s call, though …?
Keep on trying to sign , it took me a while but you will get there . Theres a High Volume of traffick trying to sign . Be patient
The document can be edited by anyone, needs a better format as it seems obvious someone is coming along and deleting all signatures. 4 sigs after so many comments on here suggests something has gone wrong.
Absolutely! Some ‘anonymous sign kept darting around when I signed, and it got disjointed, somehow?
Perhaps the weight of signature will make him change his mind!
I will keep trying, i did not know Labour were considering taking Blair on, do they not know an Elite when he is staring them in the face, a man who is evidently out for himself and the rich, i cannot believe that a party who say they are for the working class has anything to do with this man at all.
Ok folks. sit on your arses, stroke your consciences and see another Tory government. Good luck with that then! Maybe you just aren’t old enough yet to have the sense of realism and inevitability I have. They’ve hardly started yet! Labour at it’s very worst is a better option. Not that we shouldn’t be telling them what we think and what we want. I do it all the time.
Good Grief! No wonder they’re going so wrong! Blair’s back you know!? What do you think, and what do you want, then – Labour at its very worst?
Please tell us all what to do (if you don’t mind …).
I have just watched these 2 programmes, and I feel that unless you are in a comma you are fit to work according to Atos and DWP, so why waste time and ink filling in the forms.
This government should all be ashamed of what they are doing to the sick and disabled, they view us as easy targets.
They should stand down as I don’t feel they are fit to run our country.
Time Labour stood up for the vulnerable Mr Milliband!
Haha – not the right time to leave out a comma! Correction: Time Labour stood up for the vulnerable, Mr Milliband!
Brenda, Yes we may get another Tory government because some of us refuse to back a corrupt labour party who a very long time ago abandoned any notion that they cared for the poor and voiceless people in our society.
By voting for them you are telling them that you support what they do in your name.
I am sorry unless the whole parliamentary system is smashed to pieces and we start again with real representation of all sections of our society then please forget any notion that labour are your friends..parking
We have reached a stage as where i have said before we have been silenced and shackled by the corporate and political world because they seek wealth and power and also the privileges those things bring..
Unless people wake up to what is going on then it will continue, have a look at things like parking in a morrisons car park..
People are letting companies fine them (what the hell is that all about?)when they have no legal right under law to do so..
People are getting fines from councils when the councils have no legal right in law to fine these people.This is all being done in your name with the full backing of ALL political parties…. please wake up as your are defending the indefensible….parliamentary democracy has failed you and yet you continue to support it….madness
Cloud cuckoo land! What do you think you will get if you all sit on your arses? A good feeling? I have to agree with what you say about some politicians and all of the business world but they will just laugh all the way to Atos HQ if you sit back. The damage is being done all the time, by the media, by Tory politicians. They are poisoning the minds of the British public against the sick, the disabled and anyone who is perceived as a ‘scrounger’. But the great British public believe them!!!!!!!!!! And I speak as someone who had a disabled son, is currently unemployed, and whose husband starts his second course of chemotherapy next Monday!!!!!!! We get no financial support as he is not sick enough – yet! I don’t know where to turn for help, and you talk about taking a stand!
Well!!!!!!!!! I certainly wouldn’t stand for it, myself … How about a, what-was-it? Labour Party at its very worst’ back in the old two party syndrome; vote one, out-vote the other?
Such complacency!!!! Brings out the very, very, very worst in me, I’m afraid.
It’s just soooo!!!! Bossy: “vote for me why-don’t-you, I’m the best Milliband in town; that other one was a Blairite mistake, I’ll put it right!!!!!! We made mistakes, but we’re honest now!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah, sure (Blair lurking in the shadows, making his moves on him) Ed. Sure thing, mate.
Let’s do that, then. And so it goes on; we have a chance, an only chance in these days of fast paced media technology, to catch them out.
I see it happening, every day, on this very site!!!!!!!!!! Increased awareness, not that old indoctrinated clap-trap. It’s over, and that’s partly why the Tories at least are getting so reckless. Blair scares them but it’s the old persona thing, the charisma politics of the 20C turnaround.
Ol Hat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as I hate to point you towards the daily hate website but you do say they are turning the public against people.Well if you look at the comments, I think you will be surprised and it gives me hope..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2181978/Chris-Grayling-accused-trying-censor-disability-benefits-self-help-video.html#
Until one has experienced how awfulk it is to be incapable of working, one will never appreciate the despair it can cause. Do you not think that disabled people would love the opportunity to be well enough to do what others do? It’s bad enough having to accept your limitations in life without having it rammed down your throa and being told you should be fit to work! Injustice does not even begin to cover this. I would not wish disability on anyone, but if anyone should have a dose, it should be the people at the top making these ridiculous decisions.
I have been unable to sign, which is a shame, I want to thank you for raising this subject. I lost my appeal after I was seen by a health care assistant at an atos medical, I appealed, I lost, why? Because the doctor who saw me doesn’t believe in Fibromyalgia or the crippling effect it has when it is coupled with arthritis. I was found fit for work, the job centre however will only allow me to sign on if I give up my college education. Even though they admit that they would not be able to find me work with out that college qualification. I will vote labour if they put V.A.T. back to 17.5% reverse the tax on pensions and get rid of Atos. Brown had a good plan for getting rid of the national debt, his plan did not require the old and the sick to suffer.
Ed Milliband will either see sense, put his support behind the dissabled, or loose votes, and members for that matter
Coupled with the trend towards abuse and even physical assault against disabled one is driven to ask what kind of world are we living in?
I fully support the points raised by Sonia Poulton and i hope to see the relevant changes made as not everybody is a scrounger and dishonest. We cannot treat everybody in society with the same approach when there are many disabled individuals in society who are decent human beings. Good luck Sonia Poulton with the campaign.
I had my WCA in January of this year. I didn’t receive one, single, solitary point for either my physical or mental disabilities.
Two days ago an Appeals Tribunal overturned the DWP’s decision and awarded me 27 – yes, 27 – points. The system is corrupt, unethical, immoral and bloody obscene.
Change is way, way overdue.
Thanks for doing this Sonia.
The WCA is an unfair, cruel and clearly target driven system which has been specifically designed to pass as many people fit for work as possible. Sick and disabled people are truly terrified and many are seeing their already poor health deteriorate further as a direct result of having to endure these inhumane tests. Now is the time for the leader of the Labour Party to speak out against these assessments. Some of the most vulnerable people in society are being thrown over board and its an utter disgrace!
Moira M Smith BD16 1TQ. Labour Member:L1180896
Please Help us all, the mental distress has led to many people thinking of, or actually committing, SUICIDE. I know my own mental health has suffered greatly just becaus of the threat of an examinastion. I feel sick whenever I see a brown envelope, and I am drinking again due to the pressure. I have been sober for over 3 yars. PLEASE TAKE NOTE AND HELP.
At the Atos medical I was awarded 12 points, DWP then reduced this to 6 points -obviously they don’t believe the ATOS GP’s they hire are fit for the job either.
It’s a no-win situation.
Because I failed to get the points required on ESA medical I also lost the ‘low rate care’ DLA I had only just been awarded, even tho they are completely different benefits (DLA = what you can’t do; ESA= what ‘they’ say you can do)not only that ‘they’ say I might have to pay back the DLA I did get (originally for an indefinate period!!)
I reported one ATOS GP to GMC – he is no longer allowed to do ATOS medicals.
Keep fighting and REPORT the buggers.