Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well

Yes, Philip Davies is ignorant, ill informed and a disgrace to the institution of Parliament. This is the man who told me a couple of years ago in a one-liner email that legislation to protect people from death and injury in the workplace is only “so much red tape”.

Disabled-person-silhouette In hope of an ironic twist, perhaps his disgusting words today have proved to be a much needed wake-up call.

Yes, disability and sickness can happen to anyone. Surprising as it may seem to those on the government benches, it is not deliberate or planned – indeed the way the disabled are currently being described it would almost seem to be a lifestyle choice.

It is certainly a label very few people would seek out.

Please remember at this point – only 1% of benefit payments are later found to be fraudulent. Even allowing for a 2% variability rating, that really means the disabled should be portrayed as being amongst the most honest people on Earth.

There is no fun in being disabled. Zilch, Nul, Nada; aside from pain and discomfort, it is often considerably more expensive to manage life as a disabled person – not least because of inaccessible public transport (and not purely for wheelchair users), specialist diets, medication that goes beyond prescription subsidies, extra fuel costs, cleaners, carers, housing adaptations etc. etc.

Only in an inhuman society will the disabled have access to work blocked and then be pilloried for being unproductive ‘scroungers’, as whipping boys and girls for the bankers’ ineptitude, thence to have essentially day-to-day living funds withdrawn.

Unless the government simply wants a raft of uncharted deaths on the country’s conscience (albeit the streets are a pretty visible location for impecunious expiry), the legislators need to make fully informed decisions, not simply those based on prejudice and a misguided ideology which is a crass misinterpretation of medical knowledge, couched not one iota in the reality of life with a body that doesn’t necessarily work very well, either some, or all of the time.

Of course disabilities do not always equal wheelchairs. Many disabilities are invisible to the naked eye and are now being disparaged in a warped existentialist ‘I don’t see it therefore it does not exist’ corruption. Should we call it Graylingitis?

So in the face of all this opprobrium let’s think positive.

In order to enable rather than disparage and disdain, legislation needs to be introduced to ensure that employers are more flexible (and not just in terms of installing DDA ramps).

In particular:

• A right to home working instead of being made to feel inadequate on the days when it’s impossible to make it to the workplace;

• More job sharing;

• Widely advertised grants for specialist equipment and adaptations;

• An understanding of a need for rest breaks;

• Understanding that the use of chemical cleaners etc can exacerbate conditions;

• No insistence on lifting or using equipment which is unsafe for the unsteady;

• The acceptance that sick leave is not skiving, ‘pulling a sickie’ etc. etc.

Frustratingly, for those with an entrepreneurial streak who would like to set up a small business, the current lack of small business support from the banks makes this a fools’ errand.

Only once the government tackles the full scale lack of engagement from the banking industry in the overall economy, will those with a disability be able to engage more fully in the small business community. Perhaps the government might like to think about that one?

Additionally, the banks are proving to be completely unsympathetic to those whose circumstances change and seek to downsize to more affordable and more suitable accommodation. Disabled? Oh yes, we will ‘generously’ allow 20% of income to assess against your mortgage application. What of the rest? ‘Oh you need that to live off’.

Well so do able bodied applicants. ‘That’s different’. Catch 22 discrimination alive and well at all levels of the institutions upon which we rely.

At the same time, those who are unfortunate enough to be unable to work for periods of time (it happens), need to have a fast track lock-in to a universal benefit to cover these times (and yes, potentially for longer than 12 months), to prevent the disabled from collectively accruing vast quantities of debt culminating in epidemic levels of homelessness and starvation.

Where next otherwise? The 21st-century workhouse? Orphanages? The fine line has started to be drawn…

These are the realities which have to be recognised if disabled people are to be treated with respect, retain a home and where possible be enabled to work and engage in enterprise, instead of being blocked, barred and pilloried. Such measures would also enable the disabled to take an active part in the re-growth of the economy.

Can we afford not to?

http://twitter.com/andesha/status/81786260116611073 Andrea Shaw

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/john_gillibrand/status/81787580634501120 John Gillibrand

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/newburyclp/status/81791520247775232 Newbury Labour

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/ol_da_bol/status/81793093329879040 Olie Daniels

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/hens4freedom/status/81793496712876032 Hens4Freedom

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/81795271079641088 Michael

Tory Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well – http://bit.ly/inampK
http://twitter.com/frdragonspouse/status/81800959952551936 Jill Hayward

Tory Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well – http://bit.ly/inampK
http://twitter.com/kate1956/status/81802487098654720 kate mayer

Tory Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well – http://bit.ly/inampK
http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/81803448894504960 paulstpancras

Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call – http://icio.us/VNjlqq
http://twitter.com/clivemcr/status/81807520229900289 Clive

Tory Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well – http://bit.ly/inampK
http://mentalmouth.com/2011/06/17/get-your-foot-on-the-ladder/ Get your foot on the ladder. « The Mental Mouth

[...] read this article on Left Foot Forward. Tagged: disability, disabled, low wage, minimum wage, philip davies, work Posted in: Condem, [...]
http://twitter.com/jamesdoheny/status/81830406873288704 James Doheny

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/zsldst8
http://twitter.com/brokenofbritain/status/81830937385631744 Broken OfBritain

Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call – http://icio.us/VNjlqq
http://twitter.com/touchlineshouts/status/81831369050832896 Gareth Millward

RT @paulstpancras: Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call – http://icio.us/VNjlqq
SartoSimon

Davies’s remarks are a much needed wake-up call – http://icio.us/VNjlqq
http://twitter.com/leni_lava/status/81832129914355712 kirst

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/oWnJSNB
http://twitter.com/theawesomenm60/status/81832573520715776 Nick

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/P29WS9Y
http://twitter.com/scf1072/status/81833632578277377 S Finlayson

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/w3GB7AY
http://twitter.com/avichai15/status/81840762073001985 Paul McGlynn

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/W3SAdJ8
http://twitter.com/tracyandrab/status/81851321661128704 tracy ewan

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/SSJSAy1
mr. Sensible

Same Old Tories…

People should not be forced in to work working below the minimum wage in the name of job creation. That is wrong.
http://twitter.com/evilc154/status/81859480589045760 Clive Burgess

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/jos21/status/81865127401500672 Jos Bell

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/lawsolicitoruk/status/81907192533487617 Donald Vieth

Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: Only in an inhuman society wi… http://bit.ly/iGT1NH
http://twitter.com/brightonjack/status/81913871765471233 Jackie

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/jos21/status/81982021580226560 Jos Bell

RT@leftfootfwd @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://t.co/udZP3YC writes @Jos21
http://itsaxxxxthing.blogspot.com/ el diablo

A rant on the matter at hand here.
http://itsaxxxxthing.blogspot.com/2011/06/king-for-day-fool-for-lifetime.html
http://twitter.com/carolynanderson/status/82036267759566848 Carolyn Anderson

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/CjXsagl
http://twitter.com/cllrkrichards/status/82038920073842688 Kevin Richards

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/W2gDlwX
http://twitter.com/tmashie/status/82055077875040256 Theresa Shields

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/CjXsagl
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/82059365955284992 BendyGirl

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/6MIXHYO
http://twitter.com/rayzorcutz/status/82059421072633856 Rayzor

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/6MIXHYO
Selohesa

Agreed – not forced to work below min wage. But if they chose to take a lower paid job which is all that is available rather than just live off benefits then shouldn’t they be able to do so?. Some people have pride and would want to contribute in whatever way they can.
http://twitter.com/themingford/status/82094736076316672 Thomas Hemingford

. @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://bit.ly/kX2q9a writes @Jos21
http://twitter.com/andrewwlittle/status/82120216078852096 Andrew Little

RT @leftfootfwd: Davies's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well http://t.co/ngEsoq2
http://twitter.com/jos21/status/82365123553013760 Jos Bell

@seanjohalloran http://t.co/VFqFqIj ~ NB. apostrophe not mine!
http://twitter.com/jos21/status/82377033870610432 Jos Bell

@sunny_hundal http://t.co/VFqFqIj
Here's mine ( but not the dodgy apostrophe! )
http://twitter.com/jos21/status/82453134995238912 Jos Bell

RT @leftfootfwd @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://t.co/udZP3YC
http://twitter.com/jos21/status/82721291882344448 Jos Bell

RT @leftfootfwd @PhilipDaviesMP's remarks are a much needed wake-up call; discrimination is alive and well: http://t.co/udZP3YC by me!
Selohesra

Agreed they should not be forced to work for less than minimum wage but surely if some decide that it is a choice of not working at all or working below min wage then they should be allowed to do so if they want. Such people do exist and put to shame those able bodied people who just opt to live on benefits as a life style choice.
Joliebella

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB06R961KaY&feature=player_embedded ~ and here’s the wonderful Sue Marsh setting the whole situation to music in a way which quite simply says it all………
Jos Bell

Selohesra ~ the whole point of the minimum wage is that it is a legally agreed minimum under which no one, whether disabled or able bodied should be employed. Cheap labour and sweatshop culture is the rocky road to slavery. There is also an understanding that the Minimum Wage falls below the Living Wage. At present it can be boosted with Tax Credits, however the pending changes mean this arrangement is far from secure. The system is also very challenging for those who have conditions which are unpredictable and variable in severity, which makes it almost impossible to plan an income effectively.
Selohesra

Jos – if someome is not worth £5.92 or whatever min wage currently is to an employer then that employer would chose to not employ the person rather than make a loss on them. The tax system is not perfect and I would certainly support system where someone working for below min wage retained enough of their benefits so as to be significantly better off than someone not doing anything. It seems sensible to me to create a system where everyone is encouraged to contribute if they can and acknowledging that some disabilities may limit what their contribution is worth.
Jos Bell

So how would you evaluate this worth Selohesra? By the distance they could walk on a good day or a bad day? By their IQ? By typing speed? By lack of functioning limbs or actual limbs? by strong pain, medium pain or low level pain? ~ perhaps anything that doesn’t quite work to 100% optimum? Would this then mean that anyone wearing specs would be paid less than someone without? Someone with a 25% hearing loss paid more than someone with 50%loss? Someone with a broken leg having to take a pay cut whilst they hobble around on crutches? Or here’s another thought ~ perhaps it would be better to pay by more standard practices such as hours worked, specialist knowledge and dedication to task? Hey that could work! Match the person to the job and pay the worth of the job ~ and as it actually is work, with agreed tasks, objectives and outputs, then pay no less than the minimum working wage!
Selohesra

By the output they could achieve – as I said before it should not be compulsory
Jos Bell

Selohesra : so now you are suggesting that work is simply a means of occupying people with monies allocated only according to tasks etc completed and also advocating a disabled subculture within the workplace? By this token, people would be given jobs that they may not be suited to and then paid according to how much they put in – and how regularly, by means of daily/weekly/monthly/annual results? Then how would this element of the workforce be able to plan for their personal finances each week/month/year? How would the rewards be assessed and allocated where individual input in so many areas is more difficult to measure? Not everyone makes widgets. Piece work is also sweatshop work.

Indeed, this nonsensical approach would affect productivity and efficiency everywhere and would counteract any means of ensuring macro and micro security, economic growth etc – so no additional advantage, whilst at the same time further stimatising the disabled. In terms of both respect and productivity, people have to be matched to work which reflects ability and capacity in the usual way. Disabled people who are able to work deserve every bit as much financial recognition as able bodied counterparts.
Selohesra

I’m simply suggesting that it is better to do something than nothing – but that some peoples ‘something’ may in reality be worth less than others
Jos Bell Lewisham SOS NHS

Selohesra ~ no, you are suggesting that disabled people are worth less than the minimum wage simply because they are disabled. That is discrimination – and would consign the people you so sadly dismiss to abject poverty and increased pain and suffering. How low would you go? £1 an hour?
Selohesra

I you calm down a little and read what I say rather than making knee jerk responses you will see that I think it should be optional and that with benefits they should be better off than by doing nothing. It is simply a fact of life that everyone will have a value to their employer and if some are unfortunately not able to make a contribution justifying the min wage then you would rather they were priced out of the market and made to sit at home doing nothing. I say they should have the choice – if they take your route they would not be penalised. I would say that makes me more progressive than you.
Jos Bell

Using words to express their counterpoint meaning is becoming an interesting trend amongst those wishing to hi-jack social justice equations and flip them into representing their antithesis. I’m afraid discriminating against the disabled, blocking acknowledgement of everyone’s entitlement to AT LEAST the minimum wage is not progress – it is complete and total regression.
Selohesra

You are the one discriminating by deciding that you know best and not allowing disabled to make their own decision
Jos Bell

Aha – once more duly flipped! I think a straw poll amongst a randomised group of disabled ( myself included ) would be unlikely to prove your hypothesis
Selohesra

I haven’t made a hypothesis – but as a libertaian I am happy for each disabled person to choose which course suits them best. This is something you with your patronising attitude seem unwilling to allow.
Jos Bell

I’m just not overly keen on people being exploited as a result of having a disability ~ which your form of libertarianism is clearly rather keen on. C’est tout.
Selohesra

I’m not keen on exploitation – but I am keen on choice
Jos Bell

Ha! Thus seamlessly floating off into the realms of Lansley…..using choice as a semantic cover for callous private profit and increasing employee/patient deficit
Selohesra

Are you sure you are not my wife? – she always wants the last word.
Jos Bell

Ha ha. Not I.
Selohesra