to think that the gloves are off now after the interview?

[Sixweekstowait]

Well am I?

I believe 100% that their grief and upset is genuine. It must have been a terrible experience.

I strongly feel they shouldn't be using it to try to win an election and that when they do they open themselves up challenge.

When I hear the PM asked about the future of the NHS and what their policies will mean for disabled people I am not interested in him using his experience as a shield or a diversion.

I can completely understand why people who are disabled or who are carers feel angry at this interview.

I think it is disgusting electioneering, and very misjudged. Given that it was the bonkersly pro-Tory Mail's top story teaser last night, and has dropped right down the page online today, I wonder if they are regretting it now.

I think you are right to say that DLA allows you to access other services, but a lot of the population will just think (if they did claim it) they didn't need it.

I used to admire her for not doing the political wife thing - but now....well, on a positive note, as a life long Labour supporter, I can't help thinking that the Tories have shot themselves in the foot with this.

Yes, the Camerons did claim DLA for Ivan. I don't have a link to the interview where he said so, but I've seen it.

And yes it is a passporting benefit. Though I can't off the top of my head think of anything it passports to that the Camerons financially need. Eg Disabled Person's Railcard, exemption from household benefits cap... I suppose blue badge parking spaces closer to an entrance might be handy, but they don't need free parking.

BTW, I support DLA being non-income related, like many pensioner benefits. Apart from anything else, mobility DLA may enable someone to earn - you don't want a negative feedback loop there.

Yes I agree too that as a non means tested benefit they had every right to claim DLA.

Just as I know as parents they would have adored Ivan and having lost a child myself I know they'll still be grieving and probably always will.

What makes me furious is the admission that they needed help. That know they needed help. Yet the government is taking this help from many other families.

It's the failure to acknowledge that actually where the services were lacking - eg the school issue - they were able to employ expensive lawyers to fight their case (I like many others had to self represent despite being a carer in a sleep deprived state) or they could employ night nannies and nurses when not funded by the local authority.

It's the failure to acknowledge that the majority of parent carers just don't have those kinds of resources and yet they are STILL

seeing services removed because of policy made by a government run by a man who KNOWS WHAT ITS LIKE!

Yes exactly and that's why this interview is a bad idea for Cameron. Because if he wants to tell us, through his wife, that he knows what a struggle some people have, then we are entitled to say, through the ballot box, that it's clear you haven't a flipping clue mate.