Current Affairs The Labour Party

[JimmyJeffers]

there are 9 million NINE MILLION people of working age who are not working

That can’t be right?

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Yes, I agree. To work is part of the very nature of our species.

However, to pitchfork people unable to because of physical and mental problems is the very definition of an uncivilised society.

Starmer calls such unfortunate people "criminals who game society". That's how much of a roaring house of a 'man' he is.

...then gain did we expect anything more from a man who backed a policy of cutting off medical supplies and food and water to the Gazans?

Some people are so low on confidence that the idea of working scares them shitless. To get many people back into work requires a tonne of resources from multiple departments and agencies and it just takes one slip to end up back on square one.

Better to let people try and come to you and sort their own mess, on their own terms than trying to force them into things they don’t want. Politicians from all positions continue to fail to understand this.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

That can’t be right?

Well - found (contradictory) sources:

When seasonally adjusted, ONS figures showed 9.4million were economically inactive over the three months, which gave the UK an economic inactivity rate of 22.2 per cent. There was a surge in the rate of economic inactivity during the Covid pandemic and it has since fluctuated around the increased rate, the ONS said

9.4 million people are now economically inactive, a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness, and 900,000 young people (1 in 8) are not in education, employment, and training.

Don’t believe the right, Britain doesn’t have 9m shirkers – they just want better work | Will Hutton

A wild west labour market and millions of people on NHS waiting lists are responsible for the ballooning benefits bill, not idleness

www.theguardian.com

I honestly do not know, was just what I heard on the radio.

 

[Xizor]

That can’t be right?

Supposedly is and doesn't even include those actually looking for work. BBC had this in the summer (2023's numbers):

So of the 9.3 million there are some with decent reasons not to be, we're not just talking 9 million potential sicknotes.

In fact didn't the Tories at some point recently try to get the early retirees back into work to help out?

 

[COYBL25]

Yes, I agree. To work is part of the very nature of our species.

However, to pitchfork people unable to because of physical and mental problems is the very definition of an uncivilised society.

Starmer calls such unfortunate people "criminals who game society". That's how much of a roaring house of a 'man' he is.

...then gain did we expect anything more from a man who backed a policy of cutting off medical supplies and food and water to the Gazans?

What do you suggest we do with people like my sister and one of my best mates sisters, neither of whom have ever worked a day in their life ?

Both of whom have invented illnesses to claim disability living allowance and have chosen to milk the benefit system for their entire adult working life so far.

Both of whom who have become experts at avoiding any attempts put on them to even attempt to enter the workplace.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Yes, I agree. To work is part of the very nature of our species.

However, to pitchfork people unable to because of physical and mental problems is the very definition of an uncivilised society.

Believe you are correct on this. Appears that they're keeping the punitive sanctions regime cooked up by George Osborne Ian Duncan Smith and Liberal enablers. As for the rest, not that impressed. Just seems like tinkering.

Get Britain Working White Paper

The government's proposals to reform employment, health and skills support to tackle economic inactivity and support people into good work.

www.gov.uk

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Well - found (contradictory) sources:

When seasonally adjusted, ONS figures showed 9.4million were economically inactive over the three months, which gave the UK an economic inactivity rate of 22.2 per cent. There was a surge in the rate of economic inactivity during the Covid pandemic and it has since fluctuated around the increased rate, the ONS said

9.4 million people are now economically inactive, a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness, and 900,000 young people (1 in 8) are not in education, employment, and training.

Don’t believe the right, Britain doesn’t have 9m shirkers – they just want better work | Will Hutton

A wild west labour market and millions of people on NHS waiting lists are responsible for the ballooning benefits bill, not idleness

www.theguardian.com

I honestly do not know, was just what I heard on the radio.

Sorry for doubting. Those are insane numbers.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

What do you suggest we do with people like my sister and one of my best mates sisters, neither of whom have ever worked a day in their life ?

Both of whom have invented illnesses to claim disability living allowance and have chosen to milk the benefit system for their entire adult working life so far.

Both of whom who have become experts at avoiding any attempts put on them to even attempt to enter the workplace.

There’s nothing you can do. Some people will always be like this. Former neighbour of mine moved out to the country simply so that he didn’t have to pretend to walk around with a zimmer frame all the time. He’d still pull it out when he had to go shopping or into town though.

Contrary to popular belief, think that the vast majority would hate living like this and want to have at least some pride and status. Be a horrible way to live.

 

[Bohemian Toffee]

There’s nothing you can do. Some people will always be like this. Former neighbour of mine moved out to the country simply so that he didn’t have to pretend to walk around with a zimmer frame all the time. He’d still pull it out when he had to go shopping or into town though.

Contrary to popular belief, think that the vast majority would hate living like this and want to have at least some pride and status. Be a horrible way to live.

My gran's neighbour was the same, used to garden, second he clocked you he would grab his back and reach for the walking stick and hobble back to his chair.

Uncle used to tell him he was living like Buster Edward's, always looking over your shoulder. Can't be much of a life.

 

[Xizor]

What do you suggest we do with people like my sister and one of my best mates sisters, neither of whom have ever worked a day in their life ?

Both of whom have invented illnesses to claim disability living allowance and have chosen to milk the benefit system for their entire adult working life so far.

Both of whom who have become experts at avoiding any attempts put on them to even attempt to enter the workplace.

Sounds a lot like my best mate's sister-in-law too. Early 30s and has never had a job, lives with his parents-in-law and claims disability for mental health issues. I've never met the girl but he's not got any sympathy for her at all and (in naked self-interest) is worried that the coddling from her parents is going to go on forever and impact any inheritance his wife may receive from their estate.

 

[COYBL25]

There’s nothing you can do. Some people will always be like this. Former neighbour of mine moved out to the country simply so that he didn’t have to pretend to walk around with a zimmer frame all the time. He’d still pull it out when he had to go shopping or into town though.

Contrary to popular belief, think that the vast majority would hate living like this and want to have at least some pride and status. Be a horrible way to live.

My sister revels in it, as does my mates sister

When my youngest lad was born with a disability, one of the first things she did was recommend a woman I could pay as a guide on how to screw the system.

Needless to say, both of us have completely cut them off, which is tragic, as both of our kids have grown up never knowing their cousins or Aunties.

 

[davek]

Some people are so low on confidence that the idea of working scares them shitless. To get many people back into work requires a tonne of resources from multiple departments and agencies and it just takes one slip to end up back on square one.

Better to let people try and come to you and sort their own mess, on their own terms than trying to force them into things they don’t want. Politicians from all positions continue to fail to understand this.

Spot on mate.

This is a recipe for nightmares for people being treated for mental health especially.

Do Kendall and McGovern, the two in the Starmer Gang tasked with rolling this out, not understand that these people have been legitimately assessed by their own doctors and specialists to determine they are UNFIT for work? They come across sounding like all they need to do is give them a good shake and tell them to pull themselves together.

Unfortunately I can almost guarantee this policy will end in a desperate act by desperate people...and that'll be on the government's heads.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

Sorry for doubting. Those are insane numbers.

I had to check also - unbelievable really

 

[davek]

Believe you are correct on this. Appears that they're keeping the punitive sanctions regime cooked up by George Osborne Ian Duncan Smith and Liberal enablers. As for the rest, not that impressed. Just seems like tinkering.

Get Britain Working White Paper

The government's proposals to reform employment, health and skills support to tackle economic inactivity and support people into good work.

www.gov.uk

Yep.

It's a disgrace and it's truckling to the right wing media and handing out a sop (post tax increases to employers) to business leaders a message that Starmer's lot are willing to get tough and make sure a bigger reserve army of labour is there for them to exploit and try and drive wage levels with.

 

[urquattro]

I had to check also - unbelievable really

It is, and then add in the 12.5 million pensioners, you can see why 32 million workers are being squeezed insesintly to pay for it all.