While KUWG is starting to draft a statement against the coup against elected Labour Party leader Corbyn ....

Yesterday's Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group meeting unanimously and enthusiastically supported a call for the drafting of a KUWG statement of support for elected Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn against a coup of Labour MPs and right wing lobbyists against his leadership. The drafting of that statement is likely to start in earnest next week. That statement basically will point to the non-party-political alignment of Kwug while Kwug members are members of diverse political parties and none.

Like, those right wingers and their lobbyist allies have been attacking us for years, while Jeremy Corbyn has been one of our greatest supporters; and how dare they accuse Jeremy of a lack of leadership when the vast bulk of those Labour MP rebels 'sat on their hands' as the Welfare Reform & Work Bill passed against your opposition and the opposition of the bulk of other opposition parties' votes....

Meanwhile:

• Disability News Service reports: Labour left with no disability spokesperson after its Disability Spokesperson Debbie Abrahams is promoted to Work & Pensions Secretary; (2)
• A car boot businessman has escaped unpunished for a disability hate blog; (3)
• A former diplomat, who was forced to give up her job after the Foreign & Commonwealth Office refused to fund the lip-speakers she needed to do her job, has called for more government-funded research to examine the benefits of disabled people finding work; and (4)
• Experts demolish government excuses for [Employment & Support Allowance Work-Related Activity Group benefit level] cut. (5)
• While 'hostage taking' (6) Theresa May, who says that her leadership of the Conservative Party and country would make Britain work "for everyone" (7) started her bid to become Prime Minister tour in the Hampstead & Kilburn Parliamentary seat (8) while Camden Council is set to sell off £150m worth of council homes every year under the Housing & Planning Act 2016; (9)
• Homelessness and eviction matters make it more difficult for the people displaced to do anything,
• Another (England & Wales-based) political party has a leadership election that the BBC News gives scant attention to in terms of 'alternatives'; (10) and
• Support for the so-called UK Independence Party under Nigel Farage's leadership became strongest in the former Labour heartland of North-East England (11) presumably among those white working class people keener to scapegoat other poor people than unite against the real causes of oppression. (12) 

And Jeremy Corbyn's opponents within the Parliamentary Labour Party and colluding with 'austerity government' Labour councils should realise that he was elected Labour Leader by a much greater populace than those on MPs' salaries; and in Jeremy Corbyn MP's support for vulnerable people, Kwug caseworkers who give their services out of a sense of solidarity rather than anything more than photocopying and postage type expenses have a great role model.

Link addresses

1. Corbyn link pending
2. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-left-with-no-disability-shadow-after-abrahams-promotion/
3. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/call-for-action-after-car-boot-businessman-escapes-hate-blog-punishment/
4. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disability-employment-gap-former-diplomat-calls-for-government-action/
5. http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disability-employment-gap-experts-demolish-government-excuses-for-wrag-cut/
6. http://kilburnunemployed.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/hostage-taking-by-government-as-act-of-terrorism.html
7. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/we-can-make-britain-work-for-everyone-g5hxzxx29
8. http://www.camdennewjournal.com/may-west-hampstead
9. http://www.camdennewjournal.com/council-home-sales
10. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2016/07/05/green-party-leadership-candidates-announced/
11. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/how-nigel-farages-party-fruitcakes-11565970
12. http://kilburnunemployed.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/uniting-against-real-causes-of-oppression-is-better-than-people-lashing-out-at-the-nearest-scapegoat.html

Lone/single jobseekers become first lambs to slaughter by Universal Credit

I am reminded of that Pastor Niemoller poem, ‘First they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew.’

“…. The first claimants to Universal Credit are single jobseekers….”
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/universal-credit-roll-out-progresses

And as for claims that the most vulnerable would be protected, the London Underground tannoy’s regular announcements about ‘incidents’ that can be translated as what tube drivers refer sardonically to ‘one under’ would fuel a huge backlog in coroners’ courts.
The way that Nygell Firminger of South Kilburn committed suicide did not involve a tube train, but was benefits sanctions and subsequent eviction-related. It also occurred within the week that the Welfare Reform Bill 2012 was passed.

“Those who give the order seldom see the mess it makes.” They also seem to have vested interests in blocking evidence for informed debate. Yet as for whether it is a case of ‘conspiracy’ or ‘cock up’, it seems to me given the 2004/2005 systemic meltdown in the benefits system, that ‘conspiracy’ and ‘cock up’ debate matters are like the ‘chicken and the egg’ debate.

Community Care mag November 2006 article: Jobcentre Plus: Poor service continues
I suppose that the fundamental answer is that they care less for economically vulnerable people than they imply!

See the emerging 'shared intelligence' on Kate Belgrave's blog for more details.

Coroner: 'Fit-for-work' cert. cued suicide

Placard designed by Dude Swheatie of Kwug

Coroner's ground-breaking verdict: Suicide triggered by 'fit-for-work' test —
Disability News Service

Disability News Service reports:

Coroner's ground breaking verdict: Suicide was 'triggered' by 'fit for work' test

A coroner has demanded that the government takes action to prevent future deaths of disability benefit claimants, after concluding in a "ground breaking" inquest that a disabled man killed himself as a direct result of being found "fit for work."

Continue reading on Disability News Service website

25 Feb UK-wide day of action at jubcentres

From Boycott Workfare

Solidarity with unemployed activist arrested for representing a jobseeker:
Take part in a Day of Action at Jobcentres Britain-wide Wednesday 25 February 2015

Support Tony Cox from the Scottish Unemployed Workers’ Network, who was arrested after assisting a claimant at Arbroath Jobcentre.

Scottish Unemployed Workers Network activist Tony Cox was arrested on 29th January after Arbroath Jobcentre management called police to stop him representing a vulnerable jobseeker. We urge you to join a Day of Action on 25th February at Jobcentres round Britain to show your solidarity.

We must fight back against this clear attempt to intimidate claimants and deny us the right to be accompanied and represented. Tony will be in court in Forfar on 25th February facing charges of “threatening behaviour, refusing to give his name and address and resisting arrest”. That same day we call on people to descend on jobcentres round Britain to show their solidarity with Tony and distribute information to claimants urging them to exercise their right to be accompanied and represented at all benefits interviews.

As we face unprecedented sanctions and benefits cuts, it’s more important than ever that we support each other and stand up to the DWP bullies. The Scottish Unemployed Workers Network, Dundee Against Welfare Sanctions and other groups have established a strong presence at the Jobcentres in Dundee and in nearby towns and cities like Arbroath, Perth and Blairgowrie, supporting claimants in opposing sanctions and harassment.

On 29 January Tony was accompanying a vulnerable woman claimant, who suffers from severe dyslexia and literacy problems. The claimant, D, had been signed up to the Universal Job Match (UJM), the computerised job search system, and was being forced to complete five job searches per day, the pressure of which had led to her having several panic attacks. Tony proposed that D’s UJM account be closed, and that her number of job searches be significantly reduced. The adviser refused to consider this, and so Tony and D met with the Jobcentre manager.

The manager likewise refused to even look at the issue, falsely claiming that all jobseekers had to be registered with UJM. She even suggested to D that she should arrange another meeting without Tony or any other witness or rep present. Despite the pressure D was being put under by the manager, she replied that she would not attend another meeting without Tony. At this point the manager demanded that Tony leave the building or the police would be called. Tony refused to leave, but the meeting ended when it was agreed that a further meeting be arranged to discuss the issue further. Tony was arrested after he left the Jobcentre.

The right of claimants to be accompanied to interviews, and for the accompanier to have the right to speak, has been established by groups like Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty, who have forced the DWP locally and Britain-wide to apologise for calling the police on ECAP reps, and to affirmclaimants’ right to representation. The DWP clearly state “Claimants accessing Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits and services can have someone to accompany them to act on their behalf…”

The attack on benefits and claimants is part of the austerity assault on the entire working class. We call on all unemployed and claimants groups, anti cuts and anti austerity groups, human rights groups, workplace activists, and all working class people, waged and unwaged, to show solidarity with Tony and the right of the unemployed and all claimants to organise collectively to fight back.

Visit your local Jobcentre on 25th February with banners and placards and distribute leaflets to claimants on Tony’s case and the right to be accompanied to all benefits interviews.

• Send a message of support to admin AT scottishunemployedworkers.net
• Complain to Noel Shanahan, Director General Operations DWP, Caxton House, Tothill Street London SW1H 9NA
• Sign the petition
• There will be a picket of the Forfar court before the hearing on 25 February, by activists from Dundee, Tayside and area – for details contact admin AT scottishunemployedworkers.net
• There will be a solidarity action in Central London at 3pm – for details contactinfo@boycottworkfare.org

Call out by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty - ecap AT lists.riseup.net

Supported by Scottish Unemployed Workers Network
Dundee Against Welfare Sanctions
Boycott Workfare

Please add the support of your group/organisation: and ecap AT lists.riseup.net

email admin AT scottishunemployedworkers.net

And don’t forget Disabled People Against Cut’s Day of Action the following week on 2 March!

Call for bedroom tax impact assessment examples

From Henrietta Doyle of Inclusion London — promoting equality for London's deaf and disabled community

Inclusion London has been asked for examples of the impact of bedroom tax on disabled people in London by Labour London assembly members. I would be very grateful if you could send any cases you are willing to share to me at: Henrietta.doyle AT inclusionlondon.co.uk.  All the examples will be anonymised so the identity of the person won’t be revealed.     

Many thanks,

Henrietta

Henrietta Doyle

Policy Officer

Mobile: 07703 715091

Direct line (Wednesday’s only) 020 7036 6033

Office Tel: 020 7237 3181, SMS: 0771 839 4687

www:

Visit our new Power Up Project website for information on free training and events for London’s disability sector run by Inclusion London and Transport for All. www.powerupproject.org.uk

Inclusion London is a London-wide Deaf and disabled people’s organisation promoting equality for the capitals 1.4 million Deaf and disabled people and providing capacity building support to London’s Deaf and disabled people's organisations.

Protecting the vulnerable — listen to people who know by firsthand experience

By Swheatie of the KUWG

Induced by debt related to a JSA sanction and then eviction, Nygell Firminger's eviction was followed by his suicide in the same week that the Welfare Reform Act of 2012 was passed. Our campaigning and casework for the living continue.

There is a line in the play 'The Trojan Women' as adapted by Jean-Paul Sartre from the original by Ancient Greek playwright Euripides: "Those who give the order seldom see the mess it makes."

Revd Paul Nicolson of Taxpayers Against Poverty in the piece linked below, cites how bad UK poverty was as far back as 2001 for vulnerable people. Yet — established in 2010 — the KUWG has its own, more local stories.

Nygell Firminger of the South Kilburn Estate committed suicide in April 2012 after being evicted by his so-called 'social landlord' Genesis on account of rent arrears. That was after he had fallen into the clutches of loan sharks and thus into rent arrears after Kilburn Jobcentre had sanctioned him for a period of time and he had fallen into rent arrears over which he had attempted to negotiate reparations — accumulating volumes of correspondence.

Tragically, by the time he was sanctioned even, he had left the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group in the expectation that the job he had been offered or given would 'see him through'. When we eventually heard of what had transpired since his departure from the group, we — meaning mostly people who had never met him — determined to seek 'justice for Nygell' who was 'all too human'. So we gathered evidence from the people closest to him who we met at his funeral.

To cut a long story short:

1. In May 2013, Haringey Solidarity Group reported further heartlessness by Genesis Housing Association toward tenants who could be made vulnerable to rent arrears by "significant changes ... to the Welfare Benefit system." — Genesis Housing Association to evict benefit cap families
2. The North London Coroner eventually ruled on 10 July 2013 that Nygell's death had been the result of "suicide due to the threat of eviction," severely criticised Genesis Housing over their handling of Nygell's case and issued a 'Rule 43' notice saying that landlords should implement measures to protect tenants in such circumstances who have mental health problems. (It was clear from his friends' testimonies that he should have received Employment & Support Allowance as a person with mental health problems, rather than a sanction from the jobcentre and an eviction from a 'social landlord'.)
3. In December 2013, Genesis Housing reportedly sold the flat that Nygell had committed suicide in after he'd been evicted from it, for £375,000.
4. Building expertise from within, and with currently no paid staff, the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group acquires collective expertise to help people get the state benefits they require.

I wonder how many coroner's reports on the deaths of vulnerable people those politicians who say that they will protect vunerable people have read in their research toward the welfare reforms that they are now implementing? (Note that the first case presented in the piece linked below is from as far back as 2001, and Revd Paul Nicolson launched a petition for UK Government to consider the implications to the UK in the 21st Century of Revd Dr Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech that was made on the 28 August 1963 centenary of the Gettysberg Address 'emancipation proclamation'. Martin Luther King petition.)

How many coroners reports have those who say they will protect the vulnerable read in their research?

Continue reading on the website of Taxpayers Against Poverty....