Tories order Police to halt workfare demos

[minimathsmouse]

In the mail on Sunday it is reported that IDS has ordered the police to step in and stop ANY demonstration against workfare.

I think this seems to be an attack on freedom of speech, I wondered if other people think the same or do you believe that even in a democracy the state should have the power to stop "some" opposition.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2106601/Tories-order-police-halt-workfare-demos-MP-makes-formal-protest-BBC-bias-favour-hard-Left-militants.html?ITO=1490

I think that if I was at work, doing my job, and a bunch of people stormed in shouting and screaming, or stood outside making a fuss, and being rather intimidating, I would be a little nervous.

It says in the Article that Mumsnet has been infiltrated by hard left extremists posting threads about Workfare.

Yes...I'll accept hard left...but I am no extremist

"Flooding Mumsnet"-err where?

IDS can do all he likes but he can't stop shoppers boycotting said stores.

Like many I'm really uncomfortable with this policy for 2 reasons 1) the slave labour element 2)the fact these companies will cut jobs.My friend works part time hours in a very big successful Tescos,they've all be told to worry about their jobs,no overtime etc.Doesn't take a genius to work out that the part time jobs that fit in with school hours will be/are being axed by Tesco as they have free labour-mums yet again being shat on.

I applaud Sainsburys for not doing this. This scheme is yet another reason to hate Tescos and they know it.As most mums do the shopping a cynic might think Tescos have to worry about hacking off it's customers than annoying IDS.

Oh honestly.

So a load of people throw a wobbler at the plans and it's a conspiracy?
Shock horror the Guardian is left wing and it shouldn't be allowed?
MN has been infiltrated - because obviously none of us could come to any conclusions by ourselves?
Epic FAIL government

Can anyone confirm though whether this scheme is voluntary though. I don't get why all the press are saying that now but it's not what was originally reported.

It's not voluntary it's "mandated"

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-3.pdf

I can't believe the oppressive language being used to put down all opposition. It would seem that IDS would have us believe they and the police will be protecting us from the dangerous extremest lefties.

That document doesn't say the working thing is mandatory though. The activities they are talking about could be things like CV workshops, interview skills, that sort of thing.
Is there a list of activities that are covered under that document?

It is mandatory.

aha

"The Work Programme supports a wide range of participants including those who are at risk of
long-term unemployment and others who are disabled or have a health condition, and who
may have been out of work for several years. This is in contrast to previous UK welfare-to-work
programmes that have often been designed for specific groups ? including for younger and older
unemployed people, people with limited capability for work because of sickness or disability,
and lone parents. The Work Programme removes these artificial barriers and creates a single
programme for a range of groups that will allow providers to focus on individuals and their
personal challenges, not which benefit they are receiving. In the early years we expect over half a
million people each year will join the programme.
Participants receiving different benefits will access the programme at different times; some will
be required to attend, and others will be able to volunteer, with the agreement of their Jobcentre
Plus adviser. Participants must all be receiving an out-of-work income-replacement benefit at the
time they are referred. Work Programme providers are able to require participants to undertake
work related activity, depending on the conditions of the benefit they are receiving"

My bolding

from dwp website

So

a. This is not just for young people as the government have fed to the press
and
b. This is not voluntary as the government have fed to the press

So the government have fed a pack of lies to the press and most of them are repeating these lies. So we have people like newsnight and BBC saying "work program is voluntary scheme for young people" when this is not true

As for that article, my flabber is ghasted!

Extremists?

Yeah 'cos only extremists would object to workfare?

IDS has obviously not heard of freedom of speech or peaceful protest.

No there isn't but what is known that the work programme for some people will include 4-8 wks work exp and for other upto 6 months work and no pay.

If you look at page 4 point 14. it is clear that they have to circumvent the legislation on the NMW so that can only mean "work"

The government have told prime contractors they are free to design activities and work placements as they see fit.

^a. This is not just for young people as the government have fed to the press
and^
b. This is not voluntary as the government have fed to the press

Yep!

The lying bastards!

MINI dont forget the sick and disabled who will have an unlimited timescale of workfare.

yep all peaceful protest and all socialists (even moderate people who want equality and fairness) are all dangerous ememies of the people, extremists.

The BBC have been slated for questioning the government and the Torries attack them for unfair coverage but the BBC still haven't been asking the really "hard" questions because IDS and co have hood winked them. Now it's complaints and bullying tactics designed to silence the press and the people.

They are very careful to talk about "activities" in that first doc, which could mean anything of a range of things but as they haven't specific what the "activities" are it's a bit of a tricky one. Could be anything.

However that second doc clearly states "Participants receiving different benefits will access the programme at different times; some will
be required to attend, and others will be able to volunteer, with the agreement of their Jobcentre "

Which is very very straightforward and there in black and white. Also stating specifically that it is not just for young people.

So why are the journalists not picking up on this and asking some difficult questions of these politicians ie why they are saying it is voluntary for young people when their own documents say it is compulsory for anyone including disabled claimants.

I was on the original tescos thread BTW and am a paid-up frother, but I was foxed by the way the story is being reported at the moment, with people like BBC saying it is voluntary and for young people when this is patent cobblers and there are official documents to prove it.

Why do they think Mumsnet has been infiltrated ?

Aren't the regular MN-etters capable of getting pissed off with non-stop Tory twattery then .

Why is this site such a magnet for those who

a) read the Daily Mail, and
b) believe the Daily Mail?

It is not legal, nor indeed is there a bureaucratic mechanism (the more important stumbling block!) for the Government to direct policing operations. You might agree with the Daily Mail that IDS wants it done, but the lack of any way for him to give a legal order ought to indicate that this story might have only a loose relationship with the truth.

I think I rather object to being called 'hard left'. I voted Tory at the last election and I supported IDS proposals to reform the welfare system - but not by making people work for nothing stacking shelves.

As I said on that other thread the Tory party have got this dead wrong. This is politically stupid and is a gift to the Left who will play the 'nasty Tory meme' over and over.

I am advising Tory central office as a lifelong Tory supporter. Pack it in now or it will be another Poll Tax.

like here

"The scheme allows unemployed youngsters to do unpaid work for up to two months without losing benefits but has been criticised by some as "slave labour"."

and

here

""The programme is aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds unemployed for more than three months, but less than nine."
"Burger King said it registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working programme six weeks ago, but had not recruited anyone since."

WHY are the BBC reporting the scheme in this way when it is not correct?
And then the tories have the gall to say they are biased against them???

So we are extremists are we? Just because we expect people to be paid for the work they do.
This explains the disagreement i have been having this afternoon on the Tesco thread with another user on the Politics board.

Its driving me mad too Sardine. The biggest group being referred to these schemes are the OVER 25s and it is NOT voluntary. FFS
And i think the BBC are too scared of losing the TV licence to report this properly.
And i might get flamed for this but i thnk some of last years summer rioters might have been on workfare (i do NOT condone the violence shown) but as the retail outlets were being targetted back then i do remember turning to DH and saying "i wonder how many of them have been on workfare"

Fucking hell! When's the demo?

The unlimited timescale for the disabled is because they can't always work a 30 hour week. Instead, the 30 hours will be spread out over a longer period. And they think this will help? Duh! I'm not a hard left extreminst, I'm a person with more common sense then the Government!

All this BS about infiltration says to me that they're getting a bit scared.