While Government wants to focus on PLP divisions, Green Party Leader highlights UN condemnation of Conservative Government austerity crimes

Guest blog post by Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett

This is an excellent time to hide bad news. As an unelected Prime Minister takes up residence in 10 Downing Street without any democratic direction on the nature of post-referendum negotiations and the country watches the dramatic Labour leadership battle, the government is relying on us being so distracted that we don’t notice anything else. The UN has found the Conservative government’s austerity measures and social security reform to be in breach of international human rights obligations. Key areas of concern include persistent discrimination against migrant workers; unemployment, which continues to disproportionately affect people with disabilities, young people and minorities; lack of corporate regulation; the use of zero hour contracts; and the new Trade Union Act, which limits the right of workers to undertake industrial action. The national minimum wage has been found to be insufficient to ensure a decent standard of living. There has been a significant rise in homelessness. The Human Rights Act is still being scrapped. The number of children living in poverty has jumped by 200,000 in the last year. This means 3.9 million children are now living below the breadline in this country. Yesterday’s report by the Committee on Climate Change found that the government is unprepared to deal with the effects of climate change. It is predicted that global warming will hit UK with deadly heatwaves, more flooding and water shortages. Meanwhile we're still filling the oceans with plastic, and employing disasterous farming methods that are destroying our soils and wildlife. The country is burning, Alan. We are in a state of crisis.  This is all being buried under Brexit headlines. As the increasingly farcical spectacle that is modern day British politics continues to unfold, we cannot forget that there are still injustices to be fought. Right now. Today. In these times of uncertainty, the Green Party remains united. Whoever is in charge, we know what we stand for. We will continue to fight for social justice, migrants’ rights and weaning our country off its addiction to fossil fuels. Help us do this. Renew your membership today. Best Wishes, Natalie Bennett Leader Green Party of England & Wales

DWP makes it harder for claimants to appeal against sanctions or even avert sanctions

The above pics show two plard designs inspired by what was uncovered in casework from yesterday's KUWG business meeting.

There it became more plain in casework that people are being belatedly sanctioned into loss of a month's JSA from January for not attending appointments relating to pre-Christmas appointments that they were allegedly informed about in letters that they never received.

A further worrying development is that in being told about a month's JSA sanctions that also eliminate access to any Council Tax benefit, claimants are also being told that they have no right of appeal until a mandatory reconsideration has taken place. We know that mandatory reconsideration regarding ESA eligibility can take several months.

So that the placard messages stand out at a distance, no contact details are given in these versions.

Optimum word limits for placards also rule against such wording as
GOVERNMENT
WITH NO MANDATE
INSISTS UPON
MANDATORY
RECONSIDERATION
OF BENEFIT CLAIMS
BEFORE ALLOWING
APPEALS.

Alan Wheatley
KUWG Secretary

UN Special Rapporteur on Disability - Testimony Session

Just Fair

Monday, 25 November 2013 from 13:30 to 16:00 (GMT)

London, United Kingdom

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/un-special-rapporteur-on-disability-testimony-session-tickets-9341062369

http://welfaretales.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/un-expert-to-hear-disabled-peoples-austerity-testimony/