Scottish Conservative party conference: David Cameron insists brutal welfare cuts are fair and compassionate
THE Tory leader says he is “proud” of the reforms as he speaks to the party faithful at their get-together in Stirling.
David Cameron at Scottish Tory conference
Andrew Milligan/PA wire
By David Clegg 8 Jun 2013 09:16
DAVID Cameron yesterday insisted he is “proud” of his brutal cuts to benefits.
The Prime Minister made a defence of the Con-Dems’ welfare reforms a key part of his speech to the Scottish Tory conference in Stirling.
In recent months, the Daily Record has exposed how cuts like the bedroom tax have forced some of Scotland’s poorest people to go without necessities like food and clothing.
But addressing the party faithful in the city’s Albert Halls, Cameron insisted they were “fair” and “compassionate”.
He claimed the welfare bill had become “unsustainable” and led to those out of work doing better than those in employment.
And he claimed the cuts are not just about saving money.
“It’s not about cold accountancy,” he said. “In fact for us, it’s about the very opposite of treating people as numbers: but remembering that those numbers are people.
“Compassion isn’t measured by the size of the benefits you pay out or how angrily you defend the status quo.
“No – it’s about helping people get back on their feet if they possibly can. Because in this party, we know the value of work.
“The purpose it gives you, the dignity it brings, the satisfaction of that pay cheque at the end of the month.”
His comments were blasted by campaigners against the cuts to social security.
John Downie, of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said Cameron’s claims on welfare were simply untrue.
He said:
“Anyone who has seen the reality of these cuts knows the effect they are having on people.
“These reforms are totally failing to help people back into work and are doing great damage.”
SNP MP Angus Robertson said:
“He added insult to injury by pretending Tory policies are compassionate.
“People on the receiving end know that they are cruel and callous. The Tories stand for welfare cuts for vulnerable people and hard-working families – and tax cuts for millionaires.”
Cameron also pledged that the UK Government would stick to their damaging austerity agenda.
He blasted Labour for running up the deficit and said the Tories would continue to slash public spending.
“To paraphrase that great Scottish economist Adam Smith – ordinary expense ought to be equivalent to ordinary revenue,” he said. “But this isn’t just about the figures. It’s about what we feel in our hearts too. We should not leave these debts to our children.”
The PM also repeated his message that Scotland was better off facing the future as part of the UK.
“Living standards in Scotland are the highest anywhere outside London and the south-east,” he said.
“A great nation with great industries, oil and gas, financial services in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen and, of course, let’s not forget Scotch whisky.
“And we’re backing these industries every step of the way.”
Cameron attacked Alex Salmond’s plan to keep the pound after independence and said defence jobs and the banking industry would be put at risk by a Yes vote in the referendum.
And he joked about former chancellor Alistair Darling attending the conference today as leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign.
“When one of your conference Darlings is a Labour MP, you know you’re on to something,”
he said.
The comment is likely to embarrass Labour, who fear some supporters are uncomfortable at campaigning with the Tories.
50 Responses
Keep talking like that Cameron, All the way to the next Election, You will make sure that the Tory Party go into the dustbin of history,
Since Cameron has shares in ATOS & UNUM he would say that.
I am interested in hearing more on his shares in ATOS and UNUM….As I had traced an article that he recieved £750,000 package from private medical companies, which might explain hos party’s rabid attack on the NHS…Remember the idea to limit the number of visits you made to your GP….what a good way to insure you had to enguage private firms after using up your quota?
I sensed there was a kick-back in name of these welfare reforms as well. So you may just have the missing piece of my puzzle…
Thanks for that. I would also like to know more.
Yes better they were dead cameron.
Disability – We have cured people of Disability.
Camerons next speach.
psychopaths dont have compassion
Cameron is proud of cuts. Cameron is proud of Genocide.
Camerons Denial factory in full flow. Better cash in your shares from Unum & Atos cameron.
What is Un Sustainable is the Billions Wasted upon the War in
Afghanistan and the Millions Wasted upon MPS Expenses
Read the definition of SOCIOPATH because that’s what this idiot is just like the rest of his bloody cabinet.
Sociopaths have little regard for the feelings of others and manipulate others in order to get what they desire. The term “sociopath” is no longer used in psychology and psychiatry, and the disorder is now called “antisocial personality disorder.” People who have this disorder often have no sense of right or wrong and many only receive treatment when forced to by the judicial system,
All very well being found fit for work. Where are the jobs!! 200 people going for one job as a door stop. WHERE ARE THE JOBS – WHERE ARE THE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES.
Cameron has his head so far up ATOS & UNUM arse he can`t see. It don`t mean he`s blind just scared.
CORPORATE POLITICS RULES THE RULES.
He keeps blaming Labour for running up the deficit, when it was the bankers that caused it, and big corporations not paying tax. Besides, this ConDem government have been in power for three years, and things have got a lot worse. They’ve GOT to GO!!!!
The unemployment figures have been fiddled for years ever since Thatcher was in power. Those that were on unemployment benefit but then went onto income support because there were no jobs to be found were then wiped off the unemployment figures. Camerons’ got shares in ATOs would you believe it!
Cameron is a gobshite who will be out on his parasitic arse come election time. I would prefer that he died in agony before then along with the rest of the tory tribe.
He’s so ‘fair’ and ‘caring’,ur left his daughter in a pub.
I hate, no, LOATHE….despise….any politician. They all get more out of the system when any of them have deigned to contribute for. Westminster is merely a trough. And the money to keep it full has to come from somewhere….and that’s us folks.
It wouldn’t matter to Cameron if he did become disabled, as he has millions to fall back on,But then again it didn’t stop him claiming DLA for his late disabled son, The man, has no shame,
The British public have had enough of being treated as idiots, does the government not understand for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Once out of power it only takes one opportunist, believe me because vulnerable people already have died due welfare cuts there are a lot of angry people out there who could make Tory demise easily become a reality. When will David Cameron stop pretending to be invincible and untouchable his continued arrogance is already displaying signs of his own weakness and vulnerability.
Cameron is very bad under pressure. He is not used to have pressure, just control.
What is going to stop the DWP & ATOS Denial Factories. Will it take a death at an ATOS medical to bring Cameron down to size & genocide blood on his hands. No excuses. How can there be an excuse. So no one is disabled in the UK. Call that an excuse.
They will be talking about it in 10 years time, how Cameron runs a Genocide Government in poverty war crimes. Let`s talk about it now, not in 10 years time. Freedom Of Speech & The Data Protection Act makes the UK a democracy, unlike & different than what poll a tricks [politics] says. Disability is the main threat to Cameron not the Labour Party or Iran or Terrorist. Since the disabled are put up in front of closed courts. Closed courts are only used in the UK under the Anti Terror Bill. Disability Human Rights can not be ignored. The Disability is not in question, the breaking of our Human Rights is. A 10th class citizen in a 3rd world country the UK brankurpt in a recession.
What a surprise! They have just discovered that the death rate is higher in the north.
Apparently its got nothing at all to do with poverty or low wages, it’s all to do with unhealthy lifestyles…..
WHAT A FUCKING JOKE!!!
Yesterday i was rooting around the out of date/reduced counter at ASDA reading the salt contents and calorific values, now realising i was the author of my short life………
Cameron, keep looking for the red laser point on your shirt you horrible, evil Bastard………
Just because his son died, should not mean that we have to be sacrificed as well. None of us killed his son after all.
Cameron is a disgrace to humanity, he and his other nasty co fascist lunatics should be held accountable for the deaths of thousands of British citizens, most who had worked for years before becoming ill….. he has blood on his hands, its looks a lot like history repeating itself…1930 perhaps? Who’s next on their hitlist?
When there is a big demo by disabled people [1,000s] that will be a good chance for cameron to introduce water cannons & rubber bullets to control the disabled people having a protest about welfare reform cuts. Mass slaughter of defenceless people. Like a rat pest control. How low will cameron go to get back in power at the next election in 2015. Call a general election now because cameron & the Con/Libs are not fit for purpose. Mafia tactics.
The disabled people will get the blame for bankrupting the uk. In fact we already are the reason the uk has gone bankrupt.Propaganda. Living a lie of untruths because you can`t say it`s a lie. Means you have to keep the lies up to cover the untruths. The games of power is a farse & it`s so bad you can`t even call it a cover up, just blatant deceit. Not the arab spring but the Europe spring. Might as wel introduce marshall law now cameron to fit in with the rest of europe. The whole of europe is run by working class people funding the recession the banks & MPs have screwed & lost not once but many times. The uk will never get out of recession until the politicans stop looting what is not theirs to loot. Blatant deceit. I want political asylum from the uk to another country because of persecution from the british government. Unpresidented. The uk don`t persecute their citizens. So disabled people are not uk citizens then.
The British Government back to slave trading again, but now inslaving the disabled & robbing them of their Human Rights. It`s gone well past benefits & welfare reform.
It’s Class War.
Information request: Can you please provide me with the number of Incapacity Benefit claimants who have died in 2009, 2010 and 2011?
The analysis below covers all cases where a date of death is given, whether or not the cause of death is related to the health issues leading to the incapacity benefit award. It would be expected that the mortality rate amongst those on incapacity benefits recipients would be higher than that in the general population as some people receive incapacity benefits due to life-threatening conditions or terminal illness.
Please note that the data supplied, for those with a date of death recorded, are derived from previously unpublished information which has not been quality assured to Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.
Table 1: IB/SDA and ESA off-flows with a date of death in 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11, Great Britain
IB/SDA & ESA
Year 2
Total off flows from IB/SDA & ESA
Of those, with a date of death recorded 4
% of off flows with date of death recorded
2008/09 2009/10 2010/11
650,330 692,450 728,740 Total off flows from
IB/SDA & ESA
41,870 42,450 41,750 Of those, with a date
of death recorded
6% 6% 6% % of off flows with date
with date of death
recorded
Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100%.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten or nearest whole percent.
2. Data is sourced from quarterly point in time data at February, May, August and November. For example 2010/11 includes the quarters May 2010, August 2010, November 2010 and February 2011. Incapacity Benefit was replaced by ESA for new claims from October 2008. 2008/09 data includes IB/SDA for all 4 quarters and ESA for November 2008 and February 2009 only.
3. Off Flows – The total number of spells on benefit that ended. A person may flow on and off the same benefit more than once during the year. The datasets used in this analysis are quarterly and point in time, hence flows between these quarters (short-term claims) may not be captured and the figures are likely to be an underestimate.
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2012/incap_decd_recips_0712.pdf
Total Welfare State Reforms deaths over 120,000 & counting.
Information request: Can you please provide me with the number of Incapacity Benefit claimants who have died in from lack of medical care under the DWP & ATOS 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013
Answer: NONE
The DWP & ATOS have over-ruled any medical evidence, because the DWP & ATOS are the Healthcare Professionals in care of the now non disabled. So there are no disabled deaths because no one in the uk is disabled. Soon they will ban the word disabled because no one has been found disabled by the ATOS Healthcare fraudsters. If that is what you call an equal system that every one is equal. I want you bastards to chase me up for so called defrauding the disabled benefit for 30 years being born disabled & want your £1.2 million back. Just try An unpresidented case, I want to see you lot in court with the DWP & ATOS. After that cameron has got the sack & criminal charges brought against him. I am only just starting exposing Genocide on a large scale in the uk. For one thing it`s called harassement.
PM question Time on now – Cameron going to war in Syria. War Time Again. Who`s going to fund it? The Disabled.
8 June 2013
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
Most human beings would really cringe when reading the attached
story, sadly the DWP ARE STEALING THE BENEFITS OF OUR SOLDIERS,
WOUNDED IN ACTION;
Daily Mail online 1 June 2013
A record number of wounded war veterans have been denied disability
benefits in the past year after undergoing tests carried out by the
Government’s controversial assessment company.
Hundreds of injured ex-soldiers are being declared fit for work by
Atos Healthcare in spite of physical and mental injuries they
suffered in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Last night, the Royal British Legion (RBL) announced a 72 per cent
annual rise in former soldiers having their applications to receive
Employment Support Allowance (ESA) turned down. Several hundred
wounded personnel were denied the benefit on the basis of physical
examinations conducted by Atos, according to the RBL.
The company is contracted by the Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP) to assess benefits claimants’ capability to work.
In one case, Lance Corporal Mark Dryden, 35 – a former member of
the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers who, after an explosion in Iraq,
lost his right arm and the full use of his left – was asked by Atos
assessors if he was left or right-handed. He is now taking his case
against the DWP to a benefits tribunal.
That case, and others, have led to accusations that Atos Healthcare
is under intense pressure to produce assessments that enable the
Government to reject benefits claims.
Servicemen suffering from the mental scars of combat also complain
that they have been turned down for disability benefits.
Many injured troops have also described having to undergo demeaning
physical tests by the firm
AS USUAL I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS;
1/ Prior to our troops being sent into combat situations, where
they risked their lives for Queen and country, did the DWP make it
clear to them that in the event of injury they would face having
their benefits refused?
2/ Are ATOS trained in recognising the mental scars of combat?
3/ How many of our brave fighting forces have been declined ESA
since the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan?
4/ What percentage have been declined ESA on mental grounds?
5/ What percentage on physical grounds?
6/ How many have appealed as a result of their ESA being refused?
7/ Has the DWP been approached by any organisations that represent
the wounded troops (such as the ROYAL BRITISH LEGION)?
8/ Will you release transcripts of any of the aforesaid,
approaches?
9/ The very fact that an ATOS HCP asked whether a soldier was right
or left handed after one of his arms was blown off and losing full
use of the other, is further evidence that ATOS IS NOT FIT FOR
PURPOSE! Why was this pathetic question asked?
10/ How were injuries to military personnel assessed prior to ATOS?
11/ How many were refused invalidity benefits prior to ATOS?
12/ WHAT INCENTIVE WOULD THERE BE FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO ENLIST FOR
THE ARMED FORCES ONLY TO COME BACK WOUNDED AND BE DENIED
APPROPRIATE WELFARE TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF THEIR INJURIES?
Yours faithfully,
GEOFFREY REYNOLDS
The DWP hide behind the anonymous brown envelope that falls fom your letterbox,the stranger on the end of the phoneline.
They are so secretive that they use another sub contracted agency, jobcentreplus, to do their dirty work for them……….
They are the the faceless ones who carry out the orders of their twisted demonising Generals ,the Government.
Compassion and caring do not have a place in their vocabulary……
Dealing indirectly is a tool that allows them to take away everything that affords you the right to be a human being.
Quality of life is only a right of the privileged in society.
You are only a number on an ever growing list,”a useless eater”.
A few years ago i felt repulsed as i watched a tramp forage around in a rubbish bin to retrieve an ice cream cornet that a young girl had dropped on the floor and decided to discard.
The ice cream was covered in cigarette ash and cigarette ends. He cleaned them off and began to lick the ice cream. His face beamed as though he had eaten for the first time! Oh what joy!
Sadly i am beginning to resemble this guy as i trawl through the out of date goods in the supermarket..
People stare in the same way as i stared at the tramp………
We are all created as equals, sadly, not in the eyes of the DWP….
I am living on nothing now after they stopped my money, they didn’t follow protocols correct
You have the right under the Data Protection Act to know what data is kept on oneself. If you feel the info [which they can not refuse]is incorrect you have the right under the Data Protection Act to have it changed to the correct data. Until the untrue data is removed the process is not fit for purpose. It is the DWP`s DPO [Data Protection Officer] that is responsable.
The DWP`s DPO is hiding behind ATOS, The Integrity Department, UNUM, Triage, & 20 othe PLC`s that the DWP employ as contractors. So I want to have a word with the DPO Data Protection Officer from the DWP. You can not refuse me Data Protection Officer because it is your job & responsibility others wise the whole process is not fit for purpose. Layman`s terms so as you don`t need a lawyer.
They are breaking the law = By Law put your money back on the benifit you was on before all the Not Fit For Purpose practice run.
I will be taking down all the Data Protection Officers names & reporting them to a higher authority. My choice. The onus is on the burden of proof against untruths & malpratice.
… of the DWP`s DPO.
Oh I think he knows alright, this is all deliberate, all part of the plan to dismantle the State and further enslave the people to Capitalism.
They claim it’s better if you work. I worked 6 to 7 days a week and up to 12 hours a day. I even went to work on Pethidine Then I just became to ill to work. I was receiving extra work related benefits on my Incapacity Benefits. Then along comes the new benefit which means I am now not entitled to regular rises because of extra work related benefit. So how did working those really long hours bring extra benefit now I cannot work
Hoban questioned about telling the truth…..
Q58 Teresa Pearce: Just one last thing: one of the issues that this Committee has been very, very concerned about for as long as I have been on it is the portrayal of people with disabilities and people on benefits in the press. This has led, it is believed, to an increase in verbal and physical assaults on people with disabilities because of the portrayal and the hardening of people’s attitudes. A report by the charity, Turn2us, Benefits Stigma in Britain, which was recently released highlighted some of these occasions in the press. There was one particular occasion, in the Daily Mail in April 2011, that there was a statistic from the Department for Work and Pensions, which said that 1,360 people had been on IB for longer than a year because they had diarrhoea, when in fact they had bowel cancer. As the new Minister, will you commit to tackle that sort of spin when it comes from your Department?
I have just been banned from the “what do they know” freedom of information site for asking questions pertinent to the attacks on the disabled.
First of all they removed my questions relating to the hunger striker, GEORGE ROLPH, but after asking about UNUM, ATOS, lobbying and payments to ministers and officials of the DWP, my account was terminated………
Strange how the media is controlled to reflect the views that they wish to impress upon us…..
The constant barrage of questions that the DWP have been receiving is a vocal protest against their demonic regimes against the poorest and disabled.
Please keep it up, the embarrassment of their actions is starting to surface.
Hopefully the bubble may burst sooner than later……..
LOL – yes those caught up in the middle don`t allow words like ATOS, UNUM, let alone corporate genocide politics. LOL.
Just shares on the stock exchange. Have you been short changed !!!
out of the 22 private companies the DWP has contracted 14 have left [before it gets too hot] & the DWP are left with 8. Soon they will be going, leaving the sinking ship to the DWP & IDS.
THE AMERICAN NON WELFARE SYSTEM IS BRUTALLY TAKING HOLD OVER HERE! URGENT BRUTAL ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN NOW!
From what I have been told by GPs locally here in Wales, GPs are now not allowed to volunteer any medical evidence. The DWP have instructed them that even if they did so, the DWP will ignore it. All they can provide for benefit purposes are print-outs of medical history, and for appeals, at the appeals stage only that medical information directly requested by the DWP. The only way from October to stay on the lowest rate of ESA while appealing, after total non-payment of ESA for the mandatory reconsideration period is to PAY to see a private doctor to be able to send in medical evidence yourself. My understanding is that this will cost at least £50 plus any administrative costs for the private doctor. Now who would ever guess this from the ‘Tories’.
David Cameron, IDS, Grayling, what do they all have in common? They are all completely mad could we not have them sectioned under the Mental Health Act If we as the public had embarked on such an evil crusade against society we would have all been detained in a secure mental hospital indefinitley. After all narcissistic personality disorder and psychopathic behaviour endangering human life would warrant this, if there was sufficient medical opinion remember a doctor can override all policies to invoke this quite legally.