http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/18/iain-duncan-smith-resigns-from-cabinet-over-disability-cuts Iain Duncan-Smith has resigned as work and pensions secretary over cuts Duncan-Smith resigns. Iain Duncan Smith said that "he was stepping down because Osborne’s cuts were for self-imposed political reasons rather than in the national economic interest". He also said that “I am unable to watch passively while certain policies are enacted in order to meet the fiscal self-imposed restraints that I believe are more and more perceived as distinctly political rather than in the national economic interest,”. In other words, Duncan-Smith has come to the view that austerity i s not an economic necessity. Austerity is a political choice. It is strange indeed that the man who has over the past eight years, imposed cuts of over £30 billion on welfare spending, condemning thousands of people in this country to hardship and misery and even driving some to suicide. ...
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http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/sep/08/fallon-says-more-british-jihadis-in-syria-could-be-attacked-by-raf-drones-politics-live#comment-59032405 David Cameron under pressure to explain legal basis for drone attack in Syria A renegade government, led by Cameron and a small clique of maverick ministers who believe that they have the right to administer state executions where ever and when ever they choose. Leaving aside the deaths of these two Isis terrorists, there is a more fundamental issue at stake. The execution was of two British nationals (who may or may not have been planning something) in Syria, a country who we are not at war with. The House of Commons had rejected British military involvement in Syria. (Notwithstanding this, Cameron has within the last few mo...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/think-tank-whose-work-george-osborne-based-new-living-wage-on-accuse-him-of-pushing-low-income-families-further-into-poverty-10379015.html George Osborne pushing low income families further into poverty Chancellor George Osborne What a difference a day makes. Yesterday morning, the television news and the media generally, were full of reports with headlines such as "Hooray! Its pay rises all round", "From welfare to work", "The well, fair state" and other equally meaningless nonsense, trying to convince the public what a great guy George Osborne was in producing a winning budget. Now, less than 24 hours later,Osborne's sleight of hand, has been exposed as nothing but an exercise in the use of smoke and mirrors to conceal the fact that this budget has made millions of people worse off, particularly those at the lower end of the income structure. No wonder that Iain Duncan-Smith ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/watch-budget-2015-live-iain-duncan-performs-double-fist-pump-during-george-osbornes-budget-but-it-has-only-made-him-more-enemies-10375699.html Iain Duncan Smith has managed to make even more enemies after performing a double fist pump during the Budget. Iain Duncan-Smith The lasting image of this budget speech came not from Osborne, but from Iain Duncan-Smith, punching the air and clearly shouting "fantastic" and "yes,yes". The disgusting behaviour of a vile evil man, celebrating more punishment for the sick, unemployed, disabled and those on low pay who are having their tax credits cut, two years before a rise in their "minimum wage". Duncan-Smith. A nefarious maggot in a malevolent government.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-food-bank-charity-was-threatened-with-closure-by-ministers-aide-9533456.html Food bank charity ‘was threatened with closure by minister’s aide’ Andrew Selous, PPS to Iain Duncan Smith, Threats and intimidation by government to conceal the real scandal of foodbank reliance in this country. There seem to be no depths to which this ConDem coalition will not sink to cover up and distort the effects of their drive for austerity and the way in which peoples lives are being afflicted by hardship. Iain Duncan-Smith and his collaborators, should feel shame at their dogmatic policies which have led to and are perpetuating this outrage. Mr Selous strongly denied having been the individual concerned.
This thought should be remembered by all those, who demonise, demean, mock, patronise or otherwise insult the sick,the disabled, the unemployed, the benefit claimants, those reliant on Foodbanks and other charities, the poor and the homeless and all those other sections of our society who are vulnerable and least able to defend themselves.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/07/universal-credit-waste-mps Universal credit scheme will waste at least £140m, say MPs, while some experts put the figure at nearer £300m. Iain Duncan-Smith And Iain Duncan-Smith will still not listen. A recalcitrant individual responsible for the continuing waste of tax payers money, but moreover the architect of a scheme inflicting pain and hardship upon hundreds of thousand of people in this country. His initials are synonymous with policies which have brought misery to millions and retrospective changes to law which have sought to perpetuate injustice and exploitation in the workplace. Changes introduced to cap benefits, re assessment of incapacity benefits, State Pension age changes, Workfare, ATOS assessment instructions, IDS is responsible for the conception and implementation of the most obnoxious legislation that this ConDem coalition or any other government since the 19th Century has introduced. Many...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/08/help-to-buy_n_4062479.html George Osborne's Help To Buy Scheme Could Threaten UK Financial Stability George Osborne The “help to buy scheme”, get a “foot on the ladder”, “only” 5% deposit needed, building “low cost” homes to meet the housing crisis, etc etc the array of cliché ridden headlines and news programme interviews are almost endless. All the rhetoric and spin aimed at one objective. That is, to convince a sceptical public that this government, the same as previous governments, is tackling the housing crisis in this country by encouraging demand for homes and thereby stimulating the building industry. The reality is of course, rather different. There is no doubt that there is a housing crisis of significant proportions in the UK today. Various measures have been proposed over recent months, all of which seek to address some element of the problem. Iain Duncan-Smith, the Work and Pensions secret...
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/05/david-cameron-24bn-universal-credit-problems David Cameron's £2.4bn universal credit project riddled with problems A poorly implemented scheme, born out of spite and malice and introduced by a government determined to demonise claimants of any benefits and divide society one against another. There is little if any likelihood of this ConDem coalition abandoning this odious policy, no matter what cost financial or social may be incurred. It is equally unlikely that a change of government in 2015 would be prepared to repeal this loathsome piece of legislation. It seems that when social division is the objective then the cost is one the government is prepared to accept.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/revealed-big-lie-behind-the-bedroom-tax-as-families-trapped-with-nowhere-to-move-so-cannot-avoid-new-penalty-for-having-spare-room-8745597.html Generating division within society is a diversion from the real issues. Within the "comments" section of this article taken from the Independent, there is a thread from "Nick" which has provoked responses from amongst others "tomkyle", "DrMartinAndrews"and "Tommy Atkins". The exchanges on this thread alone, vividly demonstrate the extent to which this government have been stunningly successful in dividing the people of this country. Demonising one section of society and provoking another section to react (thus provoking a further reaction), is a tactic which has served the "establishment" very well for decades past. Whilst these arguments rage on, the government sit back and watch the furore comfortable in the knowledge ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/revealed-big-lie-behind-the-bedroom-tax-as-families-trapped-with-nowhere-to-move-so-cannot-avoid-new-penalty-for-having-spare-room-8745597.html ‘Big lie’ behind the bedroom tax as families trapped with nowhere to move so cannot avoid new penalty for having spare room 96% of benefit claimants who will be penalised cannot be rehoused This effects of this piece of IDS dogma, were predicted and broadcast long before the iniquitous policy was forced through the Commons. The Conservatives/LibDems will not change the law, or take any measures to alleviate the problem, (such as building social housing,) and the Labour (New Tory) Party will not repeal it, in the event that they form the next government. Nor, incidentally, will they build social housing either. It seems that this odious policy and its evil consequences, together with those responsible for introducing it and those responsible for...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/22/fitness-work-tests-mental-health-unfair?commentpage=3 Work capability assessments place those with mental health conditions at substantial disadvantage, judge concludes The judge ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions had breached its duties to make 'reasonable adjustments' under the Equality Act to ensure that people with mental health problems were treated fairly. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith No doubt that the Department for Work and Pensions led by the odious Iain Duncan-Smith will move swiftly to challenge this ruling or change the rules and the law,to plug this hole in their obnoxious plans. Foot note: The DWP said it would appeal against the ruling, and stated it did not intend to halt the assessment process.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/18/bedroom-tax-council-funds-homelessness-_n_3296933.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Devastating impact of 'bedroom tax' sees huge leap in demand for emergency hardship handouts Iain Duncan-Smith ; Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan-Smith invents a policy which, ultimately costs more than the problem it was supposed to solve. Nothing new there then. However, the policy has been exceedingly successful in one very crucial respect. It has exacerbated tensions and divisions within society and may have created even more. The comments section of this Huffington Post article is littered with bile and venom directed by contributors who need additional bedrooms against those who have "empty bedrooms", or people in receipt of benefits against those who are not, and even some other ramification "us and them" syndrome. The people of this country must realise that the enemy is not the person living next door...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/suicide-bedroom-tax-victim-stephanie-1883600 Stephanie Bottrill was found dead on Junction 4 of the M6 motorway at the beginning of the month aged 53 and explicitly blamed the government for her actions. Stephanie Bottrill and her house in Meriden Drive, Solihull Already, the usual suspects are churning out the divisive comments designed to rubbish Stephanie Bottrill and her son. Headlines in the story leaders, and many remarks in the comments sections of the articles are quick to point out that "she was offered smaller accommodation" and "the council offered a relocation package" or "she declined the alternative as unsuitable". None of the commentators of course bother to report that Stephanie had the auto-immune system deficiency Myasthenia gravis, an illness which weakens muscles, and was on constant medication. Nor do they mention that she was not in receipt of any disability living allowance as ...