The long term sick however... having worked for the DWP, I'd be rather concerned. They've always been a problem for Tory Governments.
As I am one this is what concerns me. Especially as I am mostly unable to work due to mental illness which is STILL seen by too many as my own fault! (I’ve just posted on another thread where a poster has pretty much said exactly that! And I see similar comments on here at least a few times a day - prejudice against the mentally ill is very much alive and well and being stoked by this govt)
@tellmetruth4 I think you’ll find that many non-British Europeans who were working here in low paid (not even getting nmw) jobs WERE being exploited and abused actually!
I have in the past when I was younger and much fitter worked on farms and in factories. It is back breaking, exhausting work that deserves appropriate remuneration. Farmers and factory owners have for too long got away with treating employees badly, I’ve yet to meet/hear of a genuinely poor farmer or factory owner!
But the ONE thing this govt could do which would improve lives for many, AND stimulate the economy AND reduce unemployment AND reduce benefits bill is the ONE thing they WON’T do - bring in an actual living wage!
“sort out a proper "living wage", get rid of zero hours contracts and give people decent levels of holiday/sick pay, etc.” Have to say these are all things a Labour govt would very likely have done. Workers rights and fair treatment of workers is their raison dêtre after all.
“Sincerely doubt Priti Patel would be handing out her CV in the local care home or fruit picking field if she found herself out of office!” What Mp would need to?! Very few of them are actually dependent on the Mp salary plus while in office they use that position to profit!
She certainly has!!
“No, it's a political problem. In the same way the housing "crisis" is a political problem. Not an economic one. Not a demographic one. Not a geographic one. But a political one, caused by rampant cronyisim that has strangled the building of houses - quite openly - to maintain the prices. It's a political one that has allowed housing stock to be diverted into BTL enclaves thus keeping rents - and house prices - comfortably high.” Hear hear!
Said it so often I’m almost starting to bore myself!
If this govt implemented a policy of building more social housing it would:
Provide employment & training
Stimulate the economy
Provide much needed long term social housing
Housing security ALSO improves educational outcomes, reduces addiction and mh issues, reduces antisocial behaviour and crime
All good for society/the country but far too many MPs (of ALL colours) are landlords and property developers with a vested interest in keeping housing prices high!
“I think Safariboot has it nailed. First they'll go after the long term sick” I can assure you that’s been happening for years already! But yes I fear it may get even worse!
100,000’s of deaths including suicides haven’t even phased them, indeed at this point I think they consider that convenient!
“More use needs to be made of technology - not to remove peoples' jobs but to help people do them.” This I do agree with. I’d love to work but am currently housebound. But I could work IF employers weren’t so bloody rigid and insistent on employees being in a physical office. Given the right support and equipment with my qualifications and experience there are roles I could perform at home. At points I have tried to find work but it’s all scams!
“This is the problem with having the country led by so many privately educated people.” Exactly! Not an ounce of common sense between them! Clueless!
No idea that secure housing, decent affordable public transport, decent accessible healthcare, decent affordable childcare, decent affordable elderly care plus other things are necessary to facilitate people being able to work.