Troll A Tory Day – 24/01/11

From Benefits Claimants Fight Back – for those who cannot make it to Monday protests physically but still want to make an impact -
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The first National Troll A Tory Day on the 15th December led to an outpouring of righteous anger, much of it on the facebook pages of Nick Clegg and David Cameron. Spread the word now and let’s make this one bigger!

As part of the National Day of Cuts Against Benefit Claimants on the 24th January 2011 Tories and their Lib Dem lackys will be told exactly what the nation feels about their sham coalition.

For details of other events happening on the day please visit: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173084439389460

The obvious candidates are the Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. All allow comments and in the Mail’s case these comments are sometimes unmoderated. Find a recent story about benefit claimants, or just dive in an interrupt the latest chat about X Factor.

In the event comments are removed or strictly moderated then why not switch to Tory/Lib Dem bloggers. Government supporting website Guido Fawkes is one of the most prominent. Again comment moderation may be turned on, but don’t let that put you off, make them work for their living for a change. Should you tire of these, then Iain Dale suspiciously retired from blogging on the first Troll a Tory Day however his blog still has a handy list of the top 100 Conservative blogs to get your teeth into. There’s a similar list of Lib Dem blogs on Libdemvoice.

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2010/09/top-100-conservative-blogs.html

http://www.libdemvoice.org/top-75-lib-dem-blogs-the-total-politics-list-15984.html

Facebookers might want to pay a visit to the facebook pages of David Cameron, Nick Clegg or Vince Cable. Conservative Home, and conservatives.com also have the facility to leave comments. Lots of Tory councillors and MPs have blogs, use google to find them and give them a piece of your mind. If you have a blog yourself why not write a post about the upcoming benefit cuts or use facebook, twitter or any of the new fangled devices available to show your contempt.

You can write to your MP via theyworkforyou.com. Or how about a letter to your local paper explaining to them how the vicious benefit cuts are likely to impact on you or your family.

The internet gives us unprecedented opportunity to tell this spineless Government exactly what we think of them. Let’s come out in force on the 24th January and start the fight back against the welfare and housing benefit cuts set to devastate so many lives.

Please feel free to leave more links to Tory and Libdem scumbag’s sites in the comments.

For links to all the above mentioned sites visit: http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/national-troll-a-tory-day/

NCODP: how the proposed cuts will affect disabled adults and young people

 

Norfolk Coalition Of Disabled People

A report out today shows that in Norfolk as many as 100,000 disabled people and their families face a reduction in their living standards by a third due to the combined effects of the government’s taxation and welfare changes and cuts in services planned by Norfolk County Council

The report: The impact of national budget cuts, tax changes and local reductions in services on disabled people and their families in Norfolk by economist Dr Chris Edwards, has been produced for Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) and will be submitted to the ‘Big Conversation’ consultation by Norfolk County Council. (which ends on the 10th January)

It was launched at a presentation in The Curve, in the Forum, Norwich at 11am on Monday 10 January.

Also available will be a DVD of case studies, some of which will be shown at the launch. These highlight the impact of the cuts on the interviewed disabled people.

The report reveals:

• Of Norfolk’s 186,000 disabled people, 45,000 of working age on disability benefits will lose £526 per year, 8% of income each year.
• Of Norfolk County Council’s proposed £136 million cuts in services over the next 3 years, £45 million will directly and exclusively affect disabled people, representing a loss of services valued at £476 per disabled person per year, or about 7% of their income.
• Disabled people will also be affected by other services cuts making the full impact even greater.
• The increase in VAT is expected to add £158 to the essential bills of the average household and will mean a loss of about 2% of income for the poorest 50% of disabled people.
• As a direct consequence of the above, the poorest 53% of disabled people in Norfolk, around 100,000 people and their families, will see their living standards decline by a third over the next four years.
• The conclusion is that the impact of the changes introduced by the coalition government together with the cuts proposed by Norfolk County Council will be devastating, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable and poorest group in society.

Mark Harrison, CEO of NCODP said:

“This report provides the evidence for what NCODP has been saying all along about the cuts – that they discriminate against disabled people. Disabled people are experiencing double discrimination – cuts in benefits and regressive tax changes from central Government and devastation of local services, if Norfolk County Council implements its proposals in the Big Conversation.

We knew all along that there is not a level playing field and that disabled people are poorer and have fewer opportunities than their non-disabled peers. This report charts how disabled people are being scapegoated for a crisis which we had no part in creating. My message to Norfolk councillors is that these proposals are both discriminatory and disproportionate. If we are all truly ‘in this together’ and you are working in the interests of Norfolk citizens then you must tell the Coalition Government that it is not possible to implement their cuts.”

Kathy Saunders, Chair of NCODP said:

“The consequences of these proposed cuts are disastrous. They will be felt by all citizens of Norfolk for many years to come and will cause damage to vulnerable people and families which will be unnecessarily expensive or impossible to repair. These changes will blight the lives of disabled people who are finding it difficult enough already.

We know the best way of designing services and promoting independence is to develop provision with the people who use them. That is why NCODP have a co-production relationship with Norfolk County Council, Adult Social Services.

None of these proposals have been co-produced with us and we can see the devastating consequences of these cuts if they are implemented. There are better ways of handling this crisis rather than penalising those who are struggling to make decent lives for themselves and their families.”

Response from young disabled people in Norfolk

Notes

Mark Harrison is also available for media interviews in addition to the launch and can be contacted directly on 07825 600195.

NCODP have launched a website to coordinate their Campaign Against the Cuts, which can be view at www.campaignagainstcuts.org.uk.

This press release can be found along with previous releases
at http://www.ncodp.org.uk/press-releases.

For further information regarding this news item please contact NCODP via info@ncodp.org.uk or 01508 491210

 

###

 

The Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) is a human-rights group controlled by disabled people and their organisations. They organise and take part in campaigns and run services that promote social equality and dignity for all disabled people.

 

The NCODP regards having an impairment as a normal part of being human. Disability results from people with impairments being excluded by physical and social barriers and negative attitudes. Their main task is to challenge the many forms of discrimination created by these barriers and attitudes.

 

The NCODP believes that disabled people must take the leading role in decisions that affect their lives both locally and as part of the national and international disability movements in which the NCODP plays an active part. There must be “Nothing about us without us.”

Coalition of Resistance Conference

Linda Burnip

DPAC members, Debbie Jolly, Eleanor Lisney and Linda Burnip, will be attending the Coalition of Resistance Conference .  Linda Burnip will be speaking.

Saturday November 27
Camden Centre
Bidborough St, London WC1H 9AU
10am-5pm
Tickets:

• Unemployed/Student Rate £3
• Standard Rate £5
• Representative £10

Conference Agenda

10:00 – 10:30 REGISTRATION

10:30 – 11:45 OPENING PLENARY
Mark Serwotka PCS, Andrew Murray, Jean Lambert MEP, Bob Crow RMT, Christian Mahieux (Solidaires unions, France), Clare Solomon NUS, Heather Wakefield UNISON, People’s Charter, John McDonnell MP, Lindsey German CoR.

12:00 – 13:15 ORGANISING AGAINST THE CUTS LOCALLY
Range of speakers from anti-cuts and other organisations from around the country

ANALYSING THE CRISIS
James Meadway, Stathis Kouvelakis, Derek Wall, Hilary Wainwright

MOBILISING THE UNIONS
Alan Whittaker President UCU, Rebecca Allen PCS, George Binette UNISON

WHAT SHOULD POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES DO?
Liz Davis, Samir Jeraj (Green Party), Billy Bragg, Laurie Penny

YOUTH, STUDENTS AND EDUCATION
Speakers from recent school and student protests, Alex Kenny NUT, Jean-Baptiste Tondu (NPA student , France)

RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Chris Baugh PCS, Jonathan Neale CACC, Peter Robinson

13:15 – 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 – 15:15 DEFENDING THE WELFARE STATE
Colin Leys KONP, Chris Nineham CoR, Dr Jacky Davis, DCH

ALTERNATIVES TO THE CRISIS
Ozlem Onaran, Richard Brenner, John Hilary (War on Want)

STATES OF INEQUALITY
Zita Holbourne, Terry Conway, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Katherine Connelly, Linda Burnip

COR: HOW AND WHY
Paul Mackney, Andrew Burgin, Lindsey German

DEFENDING BENEFITS AND PENSIONS
George Thompson PCS, Colin Hampton (Chesterfield UWC), Pip Tindall (BBC), Pensioners’ Convention

15:30 – 17:00 VOTING, ELECTIONS AND CLOSING PLENARY
Dot Gibson (Pensioner campaigner), Lee Jasper (BARAC), Jeremy Dear (NUJ), Jeremy Corbyn MP, John Rees (CoR), Kate Hudson (CND), Chris Bambery (RTW), Lowkey, Tony Benn. Chairing by Paul Mackney and Romayne Phoenix

There will be elections for a National Steering Committee – nominations will be taken at the conference from individuals,organisations and anti-cuts groups that support Tony Benn’s statement. There will a vote on a campaigning plan for the forthcoming period. The plan of action will be amendable at the conference and will include suggestions from the sessions. This is a founding conference and we are proposing that the incoming steering committee prepare a resolution based conference to take place within 9 months.

….. from last Saturday, 13th Nov, protest in Birmingham

Bob, seated, is one of the speakers

Disabled protestors, Bob and Sam, spoke with passion at the meeting along with campaigners from Birmingham UNISON, West Midlands PCS and Birmingham NUT.

There were about 125 people who attended the Birmingham Against the Cuts
meeting on Saturday 13th November. The meeting was hosted by Right to Work and supported by Birmingham UNISON, West Midlands PCS and Birmingham NUT.

Sam, Linda and Debbie, DPAC co founders at the meeting

THe meeting agreed the following statement

The meeting made the following statement

Statement from Birmingham Against the Cuts meeting 13th November 2010 hosted by Right to Work

This meeting takes place at a time of escalating resistance to the wholesale attack on working class people in this country

5,000 people outside the lib dems conference in Liverpool supported by the NW Regional TUC
7,000 people outside the Tory Party Conference supported by several National Unions and many local organisations
25,000 people at Scottish TUC demonstration aqgainst the comrehensive spending review
50,000 students and workers demnstrating in London this Wednesday backed by NUS and UCU

The student demonstration was a magnificent show of strength against the Con Dems’ savage attacks on education and the largest since David Cameron came to number 10. During the demonstration over 5,000 students showed their determination to defend the future of education by occupying the Tory party HQ and its courtyards for several hours.

We celebrate the fact that thousands of students were willing to send a message to the Tories that we will fight to win. Occupations are a long established tradition in the student movement that should be defended. It is this kind of action in France and Greece that has been an inspiration to many workers and students in Britain faced with such a huge assault on jobs, benefits, housing and the public sector.

In addition this meeting notes the fantastic protests and actions in Birmingham in recent months including:

7000 strong Right to Work demonstration against the Tory Party Conference backed by several national unions (up to 4000 of which attended were local)
The protest against the Comprehensive Spending Review initiated by the Peoples Charter, supported by Right To Work, Save Our Services, BTUC.
Over 30 students occupying and closing the Vodaphone store 2 weeks in a row over tax justice

We support the decision of the TUC to call a mass demonstration against the cuts in March.

We need more resistance to the ConDem government and Birmingham’s ConDem council in the lead up to this national march.

We need to engage the entire labour movement and build the widest possible unity between workers, students, the unemployed and communities.

We support the efforts being made to bring closer co-operation between these constituent parts with a view to forming a Birmingham wide Anti-Cuts Alliance. The Birmingham Trades Union Council initiative to draw together trade unions and campaigns is a welcome step toward this.

Rally tomorrow Birmingham 2pm

see you all there. We will be tweeting from the event for those who want to follow the event.

Speakers for rally on 13th Nov Birmingham

Saturday 13th November
2pm
Carrs Lane church centre, Moor St

Speakers include:
Ian Cruise, Labour Councillor
Chris Morley, NUJ regional organiser
Charlie Friel, campaigning to save Connexions
Peter Christie, UNISON rep, Handsworth Leisure Centre
Sian Ruddick, PCS GEC member
Plus footage from French demonstrations

and 2 disabled members of DPAC

from 3rd Oct - photo thanks to Debbie J

RALLY AGAINST CUTS Nov 13 Birmingham

RALLY AGAINST CUTS

2 pm, NOVEMBER 13th

CARRS LANE CHURCH, BIRMINGHAM B4 7SX

Join Disabled People Against Cuts ( DPAC) at an anti-cuts rally.

The cuts put forward by the coalition government in the budget and Comprehensive Spending Review will hit disabled people disproportionately hard. A recent DEMOS report says that by 2015 disabled people will lose £9.2 billion in benefits and that these cuts will negatively affect 3.6 million disabled people and carers.

Funding for care and support has already been dramatically slashed in many local authorities including Nottingham,( £72 million) and Norfolk ( £83 million). In Kensington and Chelsea a disabled woman’s overnight care has been removed and she has been given pads instead, although she is not incontinent.

Help us stop this being the world for disabled people in 2015

Add your voices to ours and say

No To Cuts That Will Kill

“But David, how come you keep your hands so clean?!”

This rally is jointly organised with the Rights to Work campaign

Google map: http://bit.ly/aG30o4 Directions: It is really close to New Street Station.

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RALLY AGAINST CUTS

2 pm, NOVEMBER 13^th

CARRS LANE CHURCH, BIRMINGHAM B4 7SX

Join Disabled People Against Cuts ( DPAC) at an anti-cuts rally.

The cuts put forward by the coalition government in the budget and Comprehensive Spending Review will hit disabled people disproportionately hard. A recent DEMOS report says that by 2015 disabled people will lose £9.2 billion in benefits and that these cuts will negatively affect 3.6 million disabled people and carers.

Funding for care and support has already been dramatically slashed in many local authorities including Nottingham,( £72 million) and Norfolk ( £83 million). In Kensington and Chelsea a disabled woman’s overnight care has been removed and she has been given pads instead, although she is not incontinent.

Help us stop this being the world for disabled people in 2015

Add your voices to ours and say

No To Cuts That Will Kill

 

 

This rally is jointly organised with the Rights to Work campaign

Virtual Protest Page continued

The first virtual protest page was set up for the 3rd Oct Protest.

This is for continuing protest for other demonstrations and links to other protest against cuts.

For example, I was told about the message thread on BBC Ouch message board :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/messageboards/F2322273?thread=7835380

Feel free to alert us if you want to add others.

“Birmingham against the cuts” rally, 13th November

This rally will be supported by DPAC

Message from Right to Work -

West Midlands Right To Work is hosting a “Birmingham against the cuts” rally on 13th of November, 2pm, Carrs Lane Church, Carrs Lane, Birmingham. This rally is supported by UNISON Birmingham local government branch and West Midlands PCS. 

Th…is Con-Den government has unleashed the biggest ever assault on benefits targeting the ill and the disabled.

We are being asked to foot the bill for the £1.4 trillion bail out for the bankers. That means cuts in services and living standards, a massive job cull and us all having to work longer and enjoy less retirement.

The Con-Dems will move to replace all benefits and tax credits paid to those of working age with one ‘universal’ benefit which will pay out less.
Today Osborne says “we’re all in this together”. But as the Channel 4 Dispatches programme revealed that along with two other Cabinet ministers he’s avoiding paying tax.
We have seen Vodaphone being let off of paying £6 billion in tax as public services are being slashed and burned. We are clearly not in it all together!!

The rally on the 13th November will bring together a wide range of speakers from the Labour movement. We can confirm that the FBU is arranging for a striking London firefighter to speak and we are the process of organising a French striker and student to address the rally.

These speakers will be reporting from the sharp end of the international struggle against the cuts along side local speakers from the CWU, UNISON, PCS, NUT, UCU, Labour Party, disability groups, students and more.

Please come along to the rally and help build the resistance and defend our welfare state.

Matt Raine
West Midlands Right To Work

Join us to help fight against cuts to care funding and benefits

Thank you for your support on October 3rd and 20th to help us fight against cuts to care funding and benefits. We are now trying to apply for some funding to help make our campaigns as strong and effective as possible and it would help with that if anyone who hasn’t already joined up to our facebook and/or blog could do so and please add a link from your own organisations.

Linda