The proposed welfare reforms of this Labour government are onerous. What riles me is the very fact that the Minster in charge of overseeing and implementing these changes is himself sitting in a nice golden nest. James Purnell has often claimed the most expenses of any MP (£120,000 in 2004) plus his salary as a Cabinet Minster which means that he is earning as much as any city executive. This makes me sick. How can this man justify his position in introducing reforms which will force many ill people into low paid jobs, not helping their situation but rather exacerbating their illness and causing them more stress. If this government was genuine about its intentions to the sick and vulnerable in society, they would increase benefits like incapacity so the claimants can enjoy a standard of living that most of us take for granted. Many people find themselves in poverty as at the current rate of incapacity benefit, after paying your bills and a contribution to your rent as well as food etc, you are left with little more than ten pounds a week! This is a scandal, so while the sick struggle James Purnell is enjoying his second house, trips abroad, free taxis, shopping sprees etc. The government say they want to end the culture of “something for nothing”. Well in my opinion they should get their own house in order and set and example for others to follow, for the culture of “something for nothing” is endemic in British politics.
The vast majority of those claiming incapacity benefit are those with mental health issues. So why doesn’t the government spend the money in improving services for the mentally ill, which at its current level is a Cinderella service which fails many of its service users. To see a psychologist for example you might have to wait up to six months to a year on the NHS; not doubt James Purnell if he was to suffer any mental distress would go private and claim it on his expenses!!
This idea that people on benefit swan about, watch TV and have an easy life is again far from the truth and is a stigma which people like David Cameron (who has had a silver spoon in his mouth all his life) and media types like to enhance and portray with such terms as “scroungers” and “spongers”. Well, David, it is just lucky then that your father is very rich, you went to a private school for the privileged (Eton), then Oxford and then into politics; I bet you have never had to live off sixty pounds a week or had to live in a scheme where existence is often “hand to mouth”.
Many people on benefits have to cope with their disabilities while others do valuable work in the community. In my time working in the voluntary sector I have found that the vast majority of the volunteers are either jobless or on incapacity benefit or disability living allowance and if these people were to be forced back into work, then a large amount of voluntary organisations like Oxfam, would lose many valuable unpaid members of staff.
Again more hypocrisy in government. With the latest credit crunch and economic woes Gordon Brown is quite willing to prop up ailing banks and crooked executives with tax payers money to the sum of billions. But what about the sick and vulnerable, the old and the weak, the ill and the infirm, why does he not help us? Both David Cameron and Gordon Brown profess to be Christians but have they read the Bible? “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” and Jesus told us to help the poor and the needy; in this country the poor and weak are persecuted and in my opinion get a raw deal. The job of government is to help those who can not help themselves and by compelling the most vulnerable back into some sort of low paid job and threatening to take away their very means of survival, is for me an affront to any man or woman or society with any sense of moral decency.
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Having said what I felt was necessary, it now gives me great pleasure to introduce all our readers to the second issue of The Glasgow Review. The theme of this issue is Women, and has been devoted entirely to showcasing the work of some of today's finest up and coming female poets, writers and artists; which is not to say that our male readers should not be encouraged to peruse the contents of this issue - the ladies probably know this already, but a fair percentage of us can't help but have a sneaky flick through your Cosmo and Marie Claire when you're not looking!
The Editor
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