DWP making poor people mentally ill at great cost to the NHS as we approach centenary of a WW1 blood bath

Yesterday I read Paul Nicolson's letter published in The Guardian about the Department for Work & Pensions making poor people mentally ill at great cost to the NHS in treating the symptoms resulting from the DWP's inhumanity.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jul/11/stop-making-poor-people-mentally-ill

This morning I heard on the news that the cenenary of the World War I blood bath known as Passchendaele takes place at the end of this month.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-40586129/poppy-pins-made-from-battlefield-shells-and-mud

A film Passchendaele was based on the life of a previously medically exempted combatant highlights the bullying for the sake of 'nation' and 'empire', alongside whipping up of hatred toward the 'foreign enemy' that was used to marshal people into the military at that time.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092082/

Having seen that film on more than one occasion, it struck me that

1. the DWP's making poor people mentally ill at great cost to the nation as well as the individuals concerned and
2. the WW1 recruitment methods of the British Empire

are linked by the assumptions of 'authority' that go to create an unhealthy society.

By Dude Swheatie of Kwug

Disability News Service headlines 10 Nov 2016

1. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/uns-conclusion-that-uk-violated-disability-rights-is-vindication-for-activists/
2. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/what-do-remploy-capita-and-maximus-have-in-common-theyre-all-disability-confident/
3. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/devastating-unethical-cruel-disabled-people-react-to-green-paper/
4. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/supreme-courts-rulings-mean-bedroom-tax-will-still-unfairly-hit-thousands/
5. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disabled-people-face-extreme-risk-of-harm-without-sharp-rise-in-care-funding/
6. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/mental-health-laws-are-intrinsically-discriminatory-says-perkins/

Revd Paul Nicolson comments on preview of Ken Loach's Palme D'Or winning 'I, Daniel Blake'

Guest blog post by Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty

Dear all,  

I went to a preview of Ken Loach's very necessary Palme D'Or winning new film I, Daniel Blake; I wept.  I am so glad 

​a special screening has been​

 arranged 

​ by the Peoples Assembly 

in Birmingham and sorry I 

​cannot be there​

. 

Life was bad for the unemployed prior to Iain Duncan Smith's reforms, when I was working with and for benefit claimants in debt. Parliament did not, however, permit jobcentre officials to stop unemployment income for one month, three months or three years with a benefit sanction. 

I reflected at the preview that I, Daniel Blake describes only one of three nightmare bureaucracies which require officials to implement oppressive laws that impact on the mental and physical health of our poorest fellow citizens and their children by creating debts, hunger and homelessness. 

Now, when the jobcentre stops an income with a benefit sanction, local authorities continue to enforce rent and council tax arrears; magistrates enforce fines for poverty related offences such as TV licence or fare evasion, both adding court costs and bailiffs fees.  Those debts have often arisen because benefit and other incomes in and out of work have been shredded since 2010. The debts pile up while the unemployment income is stopped by the sanction and are then enforced for months after it ends. 

The poverty crisis is even deeper than the tragic circumstances accurately captured by Ken Loach. 

​In solidarity, 

Paul​

from the Reverend Paul Nicolson

Taxpayers Against Poverty

No citizen without an affordable home and an 

adequate income in work or unemployment. 

93 Campbell Road, Tottenham, London N17 0BF, 0208 3765455, 07961 177889, 

https://www.facebook.com/ Taxpayers-Against-Poverty- 299911526728884/

https://twitter.com/taxpayers_ a_p www. taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk , 

www.z2k.org, www. prohousingalliance.com

Media notice re Revd Paul Nicolson's defiance of illegitimate Council Tax levying

KUWG members will attend a demonstration outside Tottenham Magistrates Court, Lordship Lane, London N17 6RT on Wednesday, 15 June. 

Revd Paul Nicolson's own legal dispute is with LB Haringey — the borough in which he resides — whereas the heartland of the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group is in the Kilburn wards of LB Brent and LB Camden. We believe that what he says about how the Council Tax is levied where he lives can also be said about other London boroughs including Brent and Camden, and so the KUWG banner will be at that demonstration along with KUWG members.

Interactive 'how to get there' details available from Transport for London 'Plan a Journey' website at https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/ and Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=533569&y=190573&z=0&sv=N17+6RT&st=2&pc=N17+6RT&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

Below is the Revd Paul Nicolson's media notice explaining his position.

MEDIA NOTICE

For immediate release

Rev Paul Nicolson

07961177889

Rev Paul Nicolson in Tottenham Magistrates Court, Lordship Lane, London N17  6RT at 10am Wednesday 15th June 2016

I have been summoned to the court because I have refused to pay my council tax. 

This is a liability order hearing, after which the Magistrates will have the option to summon me back to a committal hearing at a later date. That is when they can decide whether or not to send me to prison. 

I am claiming that the council tax liability order court costs of £115 awarded by Tottenham Magistrates in bulk to Haringey Council against each late and non paying Haringey resident, some times 1000s at a time, are unlawful. The costs were agreed by the Magistrates on the 12th August 2015. 

The background has been brilliantly written up this month by Amelia Gentleman in The Guardian, Joe Watts in the London Evening Standard and 

​by ​

Richard Jinman in The I, and in 2013 by Ros Wynne Jones in The Mirror.(1)(2) 

I am particularly indignant about the cumulative impacts of cuts, caps and council tax, on the mental and physical health of the poorest Haringey residents, which have never been assessed by national or local government. 

I am making a principled stand because;

1. Haringey Council should never have taxed the benefits decided by the DWP with council tax. Since April 2013 the DWP's benefits have being shredded by rent payments due to the three cuts in housing benefit by central government disguised as "the benefit cap" and  "removal of the spare room supplement" (bedroom tax) and "the local housing allowance"; DWP's benefits are also stopped altogether in the jobcenters by the benefit sanction leaving unpayable the inevitable rent arrears, council tax arrears, court costs and bailiffs fees, and other debts. I am particularly indignant about the cumulative impacts of cuts, caps and council tax on the mental and physical health of the poorest Haringey residents which have never been assessed by national or local government. 
2. I am claiming the £115 is unlawful because Haringey Council, their auditors Grant Thornton and Tottenham Magistrates, when deciding the level of council tax court costs at £115, failed to take into account the guidance about vulnerable circumstances, produced by MOJ and endorsed by the DCLG. The MOJ lists potentially vulnerable circumstances as "The elderly; • residents with a disability ·  the seriously ill; • the recently bereaved; ·    single parent families; • pregnant women; · unemployed residents;  • those who have obvious difficulty in understanding, speaking or reading English.”. The Tottenham Magistrates, blind to these vulnerable situations, allow Haringey Council their liability orders, in bulk sometimes 1000s at a time adding the costs to the arrears.

THIS IS THE TEXT OF WHAT I WILL SAY TO THE MAGISTRATES ON THE 15TH JUNE 2016

The Tottenham Magistrates sign Haringey Council’s print outs of many names and “hey presto” 1000s of council tax liability orders and £115 costs are dumped blind, in bulk on the late paying residents including;

·        The elderly; • residents with a disability; 

·        the seriously ill; • the recently bereaved;

·        single parent families; • pregnant women;

·        unemployed residents,

 • those who have obvious difficulty in understanding, speaking or reading English.” 

 

Magistrates are blind to any of the vulnerable circumstances of Haringey residents when they make these decisions in bulk.

I am particularly indignant about the cumulative impacts of cuts, caps and council tax on the mental and physical health of the poorest Haringey residents which have never been assessed by national and local government. (3) (4)

At the request of Haringey Council the Tottenham Magistrates decided a total of over 21,877 liability orders in bulk in 2013/14  at an average of 810 a time at 27 hearings. The largest bulk imposition was 2,168 and the smallest 29.  The magistrates now impose £115 costs on top of council tax, rent, utility and other unmanageable debts due to shredded benefits, which have been taxed by the council since April 2013. 

On the 19^th September 2014 I asked Grant Thornton, Haringey’s auditors, to audit the £125 costs awarded to Haringey Council by Tottenham Magistrates on the 2^nd August 2013 and to take into account the well being and vulnerable circumstances of 1000s of Haringey residents. (£125 costs were charged by Haringey from April 2010 to August 2015). They replied on the 5^th May 2015;

I wrote to Grant Thornton on the 3rd May 2015:

"You might also consider asking the local GPs and NHS by how much their costs have increased due to the increasing impact of debt on the health of residents since their benefits were taxed in April 2013. See Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Faculty of Public Health. (5) (6)The council now has responsibility for public health and that means prevention of the costs to the taxpayer of ill health that accrue from the tax and its draconian enforcement."

 They replied on the 5th May;

“We have no remit … to opine on the impact of this policy on the well-being of those required to pay council tax”

Grant Thornton is the seventh largest international company of accountants in the world on premium income.(7) 

The most deprived wards Haringey have among the highest incidence of low birth weight in the UK, at over 10% of live births, and the lowest life expectancy of 71 years, 17 years younger that in Kensington and Chelsea where life expectancy is 88 years. (8) (9) 

On the 15^th June 2016 I will be claiming that the new level of £115 costs are unlawful because the relevant evidence of the vulnerable circumstances of 1000s of Haringey residents was not taken into account when the level of £115 was decided by Haringey Council. The council was advised by Grant Thornton to “maximise” the costs “as high as possible” and to be loosely “broadly reasonable” and “not unreasonable” when the regulations are very tight. £115 was agreed by the Magistrates on the 12^th August 2015.   

The liability order enables draconian enforcement of council tax by the council.

“If a liability order is granted the council will be able to take one or more of the following actions:  Instruct bailiffs to take your goods to settle your debt - this can include your car.  You will be liable to pay the bailiffs costs which could substantially increase the debt. Instruct your employer to deduct payments from your salary or wages. Deduct money straight from your jobseekers allowance or income support. Make you bankrupt. Make a charging order against your home. Have you committed to prison”.   

  

Haringey should have informed Grant Thornton about the;

 DCLG “Guidance to local councils on good practice in the collection of Council Tax arrears” ,which supports vulnerable people seven times and,  “ should be seen alongside a range of existing good practice, including that set out in the original council tax codes of practice and the National Standards for Enforcement Agents” produced by the MOJ "In particular this (DCLG) guidance deals with the kinds of help and support that Local Authorities should be giving to vulnerable people, both in the run up to enforcement activity taking place and afterwards.(10) 

The MOJ guidance in The National Standards for Enforcement Agents – now named the Taking Control of Goods National Standards – includes the following list of potentially vulnerable situations see para 77;(11)

·        the elderly; • residents with a disability; •

·         the seriously ill; • the recently bereaved; •

·        single parent families; • pregnant women;

·        unemployed residents ; and, • those who have obvious difficulty in understanding, speaking or reading English.” 

HARINGEY COUNCIL'S MEANINGLESS OATH. 

Haringey Council made a meaningless oath/affirmation to Tottenham Magistrates on the 12th August 2015 when proposing a reduction of enforcement costs from £125 for a summons and a liability order to £102 for a summons plus £13 for the liability order.

“I confirm that the documents available to the District Judge at the hearing at Tottenham Magistrates Court on the 12-08-2015 included the schedule of costs attached with this letter.”

It is reasonable to expect the Magistrates to check that vulnerable situations, as recommended by the DCLG and the MOJ,  have been taken into account and to insist that Haringey Council confirm on oath/affirmation that the council’s calculations supporting the council tax costs of £102 for a summons plus £13 for a liability order fully comply with the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992. 

PN 12/6/16

from the Reverend Paul Nicolson

Taxpayers Against Poverty

No citizen without an affordable home and an 

adequate income in work or unemployment. 

Links

1. http://www.theguardian.com/global/2016/jun/08/vicar-dibley-paul-nicolson-council-tax-refusing-benefit-cuts-jail-prison
2. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/vicar-risks-jail-and-bankruptcy-in-stand-against-cuts-that-hit-the-poor-a3260831.html
3. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/debtandmentalhealth.aspx
4. https://www.trusselltrust.org/2015/11/18/uk-foodbank-use-still-at-record-levels-as-hunger-remains-major-concern-for-low-income-families/
5. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/problemsdisorders/debtandmentalhealth.aspx
6. http://www.fph.org.uk/the_cost_of_poor_mental_health
7. http://www.big4.com/andersen/the-next-four-bdo-rsm-grant-thornton-and-baker-tilly-and-a-surprise-469/
8. http://www.haringey.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/joint-strategic-needs-assessment/health-mothers-children-and-young-people/maternity#who
9. https://www.socialeurope.eu/2013/03/the-biggest-injustice-in-modern-society-is-inequality-of-life-expectancy/
10. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210478/Guidance_on_enforcement_of_CT_arrears.pdf
11. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/353396/taking-control-of-goods-national-standards.pdf

Why is mental health low among UK youth?

Dude Swheatie of Kwug reports:

Labour's former 'happiness guru' Professor Lord Richard Layard told the Independent almost two years ago that money is not the only thing affecting people's happiness.(1) It did not surprise me that he had said that. When I asked him at a Guardian and Trade Union Council conference workshop on economic fairness in 2008 about the link between income and mental health for family-based carers who contributed more to the UK economy than the NHS budget at huge cost to their own well-being, he thought the link was irrelevant.(2)

Nowadays, a much more widespread and headline-grabbing mental health problem is the low mental health of UK youth. The low mental health of UK youth is due to a cocktail of causes, Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty argues in an article headed The canaries on the shelves in Whitehall have stopped singing, but Whitehall ignores the silence.(3) I wonder whether the 'austerity budgets' have led to a 'fire sale' of Whitehall's book shelves?

Re the low job prospects for youth throughout Europe, see statistical geographer Danny Dorling's New Statesman article Generation Jobless: The worst youth unemployment crisis in European history should be blamed on its millionaires.(4)

Link

1. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/richard-layard-money-is-not-the-only-thing-affecting-people-s-happiness-9603424.html
2. This is a problem that has intensified rather than diminished since I asked panel member Richard Layard that question, and the Guardian Economics Editor who was chairing that session appeared to delight the Labour East Midlands MEP who also seemed to find the question irrelevant or too embarrassing. See, eg, http://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/press-releases/more-than-half-of-carers-report-bleak-outlook-for-2016-as-new-law-not-yet-delivering-promised-improvements-to-their-lives
3. http://www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk/canaries-on-the-shelves-in-the-deep-mines-of-whitehall-have-stopped-singing-but-ministers-ignore-the-silence/ 
4. http://www.newstatesman.com/economics/2013/08/generation-jobless-worst-youth-unemployment-crisis-european-history-should-be-blam

Shaping Our Lives May 2016 Newsletter

Shaping Our Lives is a national network of disabled people and service users

Links:

1. To view the newsletter in full at Shaping Our Lives website http://us10.campaign-archive2.com 
2. 11th Social Work Action Network Conference to be held in London on 4 June 2016 http://www.shapingourlives.org.uk/archives/11-th-annual-social-work-action-network-conference 
3. Kidz to Adultz South — Visitors Free Entry Ticket http://www.shapingourlives.org.uk/archives/kidz-to-adultz-south-visitors-free-entry-ticket
4. Opportunity for people in London: Developing guidance to commission better physical support http://www.shapingourlives.org.uk/archives/opportunity-for-people-in-london-developing-guidance-to-commission-better-physical-health-support
5. Have you experienced abuse, harassment or violence because of your mental health problem? http://www.shapingourlives.org.uk/archives/have-you-experienced-abuse-harassment-or-violence-because-of-your-mental-health-problem
6. Choice and Control Survey 2016 — Help to make it a success http://www.shapingourlives.org.uk/archives/choice-and-control-survey-2016-help-to-make-it-a-success

More at us10.campaign-archive2.com

North London Coroner: vulnerable person took his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted by Genesis HA

North London Coroner's Court Letterhead

Page 1 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

I am required under the terms of Rule 43 of the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2008 to report to:
Claire Murdock,
Chief Executive,
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust,
Stephenson House
75 Hampstead Road
London NW1 2PL

---

And following the inquest touching the death of Nigel* Firminger heard before Coroner Andrew Walker at The Coroners Court sitting at Barnet on the 10th day of July 2013** and having heard evidence the Coroner had found that (b) the evidence gives rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths will occur, or will continue to exist in the future and

(c) In the Coroner's opinion, action should be taken to prevent the occurence or continuation of such circumstances, or to eliminate or reduce the risk of death created by such circumstances,

the coroner may report the circumstances to a person who the coroner believes may have power to take such action.

The Circumstances

On the second of April 2012, Nigel Patrick Firminger was found at his former home having taken his own life as a direct consequence of his being evicted and the effect that the eviction had on his mental health.

Mr Firminger was suffering from a mental health issues that were not known by the organisation providing his accommodation or the court dealing with the eviction.

It is against this background that H M Coroner begs to report that:

Consideration to be given to:-

A form that may be filled in by the staff conducting an assessment that the patient can take away with them that identifies that the person is to be considered vulnerable that can be passed to other agencies such as those providing accommodation.

Your attention is drawn to the following provisions:

Response to report under rule 43

---

Page 2 of the Rule 43 regarding the death of an ex-Genesis HA tenant

43A, —(1) A person to whom a coroner sends a report under rule 43(1) must give the coroner a written response to the report containing—

(a) details of any action that has been taken or which it is proposed will be taken whether in response to the report or otherwise; or

(b) an explanation as to why no action is proposed

within the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is sent.

Extension of time

43B. A coroner may extend the period of 56 days mentioned in rule 43A(1) (even if an application for extension is made after the time for compliance has expired).

---

Signed this the 25th day of July 2013
(Coroner's signature and stamp)
by Coroner Adrew Walker

---

Notes

* The coroner's spelling of Nygell's forename as 'Nigel' is as presented on the Rule 43 document, and differs from the 'Nygell' spelling given on the cremation service programme from September 2012.
** This was an adjourned hearing. The original November 2012 hearing was adjourned because, following KUWG's presentation of a leaflet outlining the circumstances leading to Nygell's death and the fact that Nygell's relatives were unable to attend on that occasion, the Coroner had declared that "new evidence" had come to light.

Unite Community events in and around London, early October 2014

From Unite the Union Community Section, London

Below are some of the events Unite Community members are involved with over the coming weeks. We are putting together a paper newsletter.

As always, it is great to see the developing work of Unite Community activists, that we are leading on or supporting in the wider movement, whether on Social Security, Housing, the NHS, TTIP and Mental Health. Please get in touch with Pilgrim and Robin if you want to get more involved or get things going in your area.

This month is Black History Month and attached is schedule of events that have been organised by The London and Eastern Region of Unite

Have a good weekend,

Pilgrim Tucker, Robin Sivapalan and Tony Winchester

Robin and Pilgrim can be contacted postally at
Unite Community Coordinator
Ron Todd House
33-37 Moreland Street
London EC1V 8BB
Tel: 020 8800 4281

 

Support Rev Paul Nicolson at the High Court: Legal challenge vs extortionate court costs added to Council Tax bills

Tuesday 7 October, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand (off Kingsway), London WC2A 2LL

9.30am -- Vigil outside

10.30am – one-hour court hearing. The more of us the judges see in the public gallery, the better!

Rev Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty is valiantly refusing to pay his Council Tax to Haringey, and is ready to go to jail because he objects to the poorest people being unfairly targeted.  This hearing seeks a judicial review of the Tottenham magistrates who repeatedly refused to tell him at his council tax hearing in August 2013, how they arrived at £125 costs for a summons to late and non-payers of council tax. (Swheatie adds: for more info on this, see Revd Paul Nicolson's Taxpayers Against Poverty blog posting Tottenham Magistrates asleep on the job...)

Sanctions Centres or Job Centres?: Day of Action, part of the Boycott Workfare Week of Action

The Unite Community Job Centre activists group agreed to hold a day of action on Wednesday 8^th October at different Job Centres — postcode link text gives links to map locations:

So far we have confirmed:

Barnsbury Job Centre, 1 Barnsbury Road, N1 0EX: 11am-1pm

Hendon Job Centre, Crown Building. 10 Finchley Lane, NW4 1DP: 9am – 3pm

North Kensington Job Centre, Quayside House Kensal Road, W10 5BL: 12pm-1pm & 3pm-4pm

Walthamstow Job Centre, Dansom House 656a Forest Road, E17 3SH: 9am-11am

Wood Green Job Centre, Granta House 1 Western Road, N22 6UU: 9am-12pm

The next Job Centre activists’ meeting is at 3pm, Tuesday 7^th October, Unite regional office, 37-39 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB. Materials for the day of action can be collected from there. If you want to set up a protest/leafleting on sanctions at your job centre, please get in touch with Robin on 07860 955 361 / robin.sivapalan@unitetheunion.org

For details of other events during the Boycott Workfare Week of Action see http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=3736

No to MPIPM

The No to MPIPM public meeting on 16^th of September at Unite HQ was a great event, attended by representatives of dozens of live housing campaigns in London and beyond. Our Unite Regional Secretary Pete Kavanagh spoke, committing Unite’s support to the campaign. There’s a lot to be done to organise and promote the actions and events Wednesday 15^th October -1 Friday 17^th October. Please contact Robin if you want to get involved. The latest newsletter from the Radical Housing Network can be found here, including an update on the inspiring E15 Mothers campaign on the Carpenters Estate:   

http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9aa3abe72ff7ca4ad4f1cb9cc&id=143f17fda8&e=c86250a409

Student Workers:

We will be launching an initiative for our student-worker Unite Community members at the RHB Cinema, Goldsmiths University at 6pm, Thursday October 16^th.

Initially we will be training student-worker members in basic employment rights advice and will be holding weekly drop in sessions for student-workers based in campuses in NW, Central and SE London.

Speakers include;

Owen Jones (Author)

Pete Kavanagh (Regional Unite Secretary)

Shelly Asquith (President of SU Arts)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1558709464350952/

SANE founder Marjorie Wallace rates people's feedback above awards

‘I have taken on too much darkness’: SANE founder Marjorie Wallace reveals impact of lifetime’s work in mental health

The countless glittering awards Marjorie Wallace has won for her decades of fighting for the voiceless and marginalised should line the shelves of her Highgate Village home.
Read full story in Ham&High »

Swheatie of the KUWG questions the wisdom of 'happiness Guru' Lord Layard

Swheatie of the KUWG questions the wisdom of 'happines Guru Lord Layard

Chris Blackhurst in Monday's 'Independent' praises economist turned 'Happiness Guru' Lord Layard — Richard Layard: "Money is not the only thing affecting people's happiness." Layard reportedly has the backing of multi-millionaire and Prime Minister David Cameron. Yet I believe that this is a key quotation of that economist-turned 'Happiness Guru' who seems even more of an economist in his pursuit of 'happiness':

"In the 1980s, I worked with Stephen Nickell on employment. There was complete confusion about unemployment, its extent and its effect. My best book was Unemployment, which said you could have lower unemployment if you gave more help to unemployed people to get them into work, and made that help conditional on them trying to get work. That became the basis of the European 'Welfare to Work' approach, and Labour's New Deal."

I also reckon that Layard has an obsession with what is measurable. Measurable by whom and on what terms? He loves CBT [Cognitive Behavioural Therapay] because it is so 'measurable' in terms of its 'success'. But CBT is very superficial and does not really address the deep underlying issues involved in a person's distress, a close friend who is now a retired psychoanlaytic psychotherapist and who I once accompanied to her signing-on at the jobcentre or unemployment benefit office in the days of the Thatcher Government. She knows that a lot of 'standard' value jedgements are baised by the economic privilege and, say, sexual orientation of their creators or progenitors.

The interplay between society's non-understanding and failure to accommodate a person's impairment[s] can also lead to the distress of the person living in a disabling society. (That awareness is the basis of the Social Model of Disability.) 

Personal distress can lead us to seek creative outlets for what we are feeling/expereiencing even while a coercive and disabling society tells us to get on with 'business as usuall' so as not to be 'a burden upon others'. (People who 'step out of line' regarding the 'conditionality' of 'welfare to work' approaches are now increasingly subject to punitive and debilitating benefits sanctions that can do little to improve their mental health. Does Richard Layard stop to consider that in his equations?) I believe it is a mistake to think that artists undertake their projects simply to 'make ends meet' financilally and/or satisfy an external 'audience'.

Too much of Layard's rationale comes down to a 'cost/benefits analysis', I would argue, while he does not seem to recognise that being unwaged is distinctly ifferent from being 'unemployed'.

But for me, this life peer lost a lot of credibiity when he was so hopeless at answering my question at a TUC/Guardian conference about economic justice a few years ago that he was greatly relieved when the person chairing that session — who happened to be the Guardian's Economics Editor — gave short shrift to that question. The question was about the mental health of full-time family carers committed to a minimum 35 hour week for £53/wk Carers Allowance as carer to a person on middle or higher rate Disability Living Allowance. See, eg, Gary Vaux' criticism of 'the Cinderella benefit'.

Heavy-handed policing as "proportionate response" in bolstering unavailable for comment landlord's rights indicates the state we are in

Heavy-handed policing as "proportionate response" in bolstering unavailable for comment landlord's rights indicates the state we are in

Arrest attempt turned demonstrator's skin blue as vulnerable tenant was evicted

By Swheatie of the KUWG

There is this report from Camden New Journal website:

14 arrests as protesters link arms around property ruled 'too small to live in'

Photo caption: The scene this afternoon on Lymington Road in West Hampstead

Published: 10 April, 2014

FOURTEEN people were arrested at an eviction protest in West Hampstead today, writes Jacob Mignano.
An estimated 40 police officers broke up the demonstration in Lymington Road after a stand-off began at around 3pm.
Members of Camden Housing Action and the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group (KUWG) had linked arms around the property.
The campaigners said a tenant had been ordered to leave private rented accommodation after a council inspector had ruled that the room he was renting was too small to live in.
Pamela Aukle, 45, from the KUWG, who was arrested during the protests, said the man – known as Mark – had “no money” and the “council have nothing for him”.
“Anything they offer is outside of Camden,” she added.
Police said that two of the 14 arrested were later de-arrested. They described the high-level presence as a “proportionate response”.
The landlord was not available for comment.

The report mentions nothing of the injury caused to John Tymon of Kilburn who was the first that the police tried to arrest, apparently for being the most vocal. Eye-witnesses reported that the police bundled JT to the ground so hap-hazardly that he appeared to have been rendered unconscious to the point of his skin turning blue and an ambulance being called.

As stated in the article though, supporters of the evicted man were very concerned for his mental health, a fact that the police seem to have completely ignored while they describe the high-level presence as a "proportionate response." What will they get up to with the new paramilitary hardware that a researcher has told me they have bought?

There is space on that Camden New Journal page for people to put comments.

History made by those who were arrested into not attending our meeting, but the meeting still went on of a sort

Meanwhile, I note that the eviction that had been timed for earlier this morning prevented some of our most frequent Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group members attending the regular business meeting that started at the same time that the police got really heavy-handed. Yet the meeting went on 20 people in attendance including a member of the BAMER [Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic or Refugee] community who had been sanctioned off Jobseekers Allowance for three months even after having done unpaid work for exploitative 'charities' British Heart Foundation and YMCA, left malnourished and obstructed in stating his claim for Employment & Support Allowance as a man not fit for work. "They say that they are waiting for proof of my immigration status, even after I have been receiving Jobseekers Allowance up till the point where I was sanctioned," he said. "It has made me feel that I no longer want to live. It is worse than slavery."

He left our meeting a little more hopeful, negotiating how he could get some support in approaching Brent Council toward his making a NIL INCOME claim for Housing Benefit. The motto of Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group is: "Never attend anywhere official alone."

STOP PRESS FROM KUWG'S FRIENDLY BLOGGER KATE BELGRAVE:

Hi all people are saying to get to Holborn police station at 8pm as they
are there. I'll just pass on what I see come past as I'm not sure what's
going on.

FURTHER STOP PRESS FROM KATE BELGRAVE:
 http://www.katebelgrave.com/2014/04/video-and-pictures-from-police-breakup-of-anti-eviction-protest-in-camden-today/