The Conservative Party

[bluethrunthru]

Greatest Hits - says it all

 

[BobKowalski]

Virtually every country has failed to curb the rise in obesity, so it’s always going to be difficult, but simply cutting benefits won’t move the needle in terms of fiscal policy.

It’s all about returning people back into the workforce, so there is actually a fiscal incentive to make sure people return to work and most importantly stay in employment.

Letting people rot, as you put it, is actually the most expensive option.

I agree. But you are talking about a Govt that chooses the most expensive, and largely failed, options when it comes to processing asylum seekers. There is nothing pragmatic, or even anything resembling rudimentary competence, when it comes to this government. Expecting anything other than vacuous cruelty is a fools errand.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

I can understand the argument, and it was one that I had a lot early in the Blair administration.

At that time, the Tories had pushed unemployment up and up, and for many who had given up hope of getting a job, disability benefits made sense (and of course, being unemployed for a long time can take its toll on your health). The Tories had been happy for the unemployment figures to come down, but do we really want to leave these people behind?

I don't have any hope that a Tory government is considering this for caring reasons, but if the numbers have increased at the same time as the opportunities to work from home have become available, then I'd consider it the state's responsibility to do everything they can to help people from incapacity benefits and into work.

The key word is HELP, but given the links between poverty, inactivity and isolation with poor health, I'd hope that it's something any government would target.

A DWP study from a few years back suggested that obesity is the root cause of about a third of all disability and mental health benefit cases, and by extension a key driver of the rise in overall claimant figures.

When you consider the direct costs obesity places on the NHS, and the fact that obesity is most prevalent in deprived areas, then the case for action only gets stronger. It’s probably the most important issue any government can address over the next decade, so to dismiss the current plans for action as an extension of ‘Tory austerity’ - as many on here will inevitably do - really misses the point. As a country the UK can’t afford to ignore it.

Shame that we don't have a agency that specialises in finding work and meaningful employment for the disabled , owned by the state and run on a not for profit basis for the benefit of us all.

Oh wait ..... we did ..(REMPLOY) until it was sold off by this bunch of chancers.

So once again the Tories are trying to solve a problem that they created.

 

[Brewster's millions]

I agree. But you are talking about a Govt that chooses the most expensive, and largely failed, options when it comes to processing asylum seekers. There is nothing pragmatic, or even anything resembling rudimentary competence, when it comes to this government. Expecting anything other than vacuous cruelty is a fools errand.

There are 2.2 million more disabled people in work than there were in 2013, which is a very positive development.

So in this instance the facts suggest otherwise.

 

[meltonblue]

There are 2.2 million more disabled people in work than there were in 2013, which is a very positive development.

So in this instance the facts suggest otherwise.

It’s a positive development in that more people are still working. The main driver of the increase is disability prevalence though and I’m not sure that should be seen as a positive development. Nuanced, admittedly.

 

[Brewster's millions]

It’s a positive development in that more people are still working. The main driver of the increase is disability prevalence though and I’m not sure that should be seen as a positive development. Nuanced, admittedly.

The employment rate of disabled people (working age disabled) has gone from 44% to 54% over the period. This increase is far larger than that seen for non-disabled.

Had the employment rate not increased then close to a million disabled people who are currently in employment wouldn’t be in work, so whichever way you cut it, there has been a major improvement and hopefully this trend will continue.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Pincher standing down rather than facing a recall referendum and likely defeat. They are all very thin skinned aren't they? Entitled I'd say.

 

[west didsblue]

The employment rate of disabled people (working age disabled) has gone from 44% to 54% over the period. This increase is far larger than that seen for non-disabled.

Had the employment rate not increased then close to a million disabled people who are currently in employment wouldn’t be in work, so whichever way you cut it, there has been a major improvement and hopefully this trend will continue.

Sounds like there’s no shortage of opportunities for disabled people to work if they can then. Seems somewhat churlish to crack down on those that don’t work when it would appear that the reality is that the vast majority of that group are not actually able to work. The language being used by the government is hardly going to make it easier to get people who aren’t working due to mental health issues (anxiety, depression etc.) into the workplace.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Sounds like there’s no shortage of opportunities for disabled people to work if they can then. Seems somewhat churlish to crack down on those that don’t work when it would appear that the reality is that the vast majority of that group are not actually able to work. The language being used by the government is hardly going to make it easier to get people who aren’t working due to mental health issues (anxiety, depression etc.) into the workplace.

The language stigmatises people.

It's deliberate in line with other nazi like statements which seen to have been accepted as the norm.

 

[meltonblue]

The employment rate of disabled people (working age disabled) has gone from 44% to 54% over the period. This increase is far larger than that seen for non-disabled.

Had the employment rate not increased then close to a million disabled people who are currently in employment wouldn’t be in work, so whichever way you cut it, there has been a major improvement and hopefully this trend will continue.

That’s predominately because of disability prevalence though, which was my point. Like I said, it’s a nuanced area and personally I wouldn’t consider the situation overall as an improvement. I agree it’s good proportionately more are able to work though.