WTF are Frothers? Have you seen them around and wondered? Not a quiche, but a protest group. Tory, Labour, Lib Dems - Common Goal - Protest Against the Cuts

[MmeLindor.]

What are the Frothers?

The term "Frothers" came about one dank and dismal November day in 2011. A frustrated user of the parenting forum Mumsnet started a thread about her dismay at the cuts that the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government was inflicting on the British public.

She stated that she was not "quite a frothing berserker but I am getting rather cross with our government messing with the good stuff".

The good stuff - policies, benefits, institutions that had taken years to achieve were being cut for no good reason, often leaving gaping holes in the fabric of British society.

The NHS, with which we Brits have a love-hate relationship, but like a favourite sibling, we wish to protect from harm.

Sure Start, a successful scheme that supported parents who were struggling and offered children from deprived backgrounds a better start in life.

Universal Child Benefit was cut for those families who had one earner bringing in more than £44k a year. If both parents each earn less than £44k, they keep their UCB payments. This obviously hit single parents and families with a single earner hardest.

Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance - which enabled those with disabilities to live a decent life, without feeling that they were begging for assistance or were a burden to the taxpayer.

Student Fees, the introduction of which, contrary to Lib Dem pre-election promises, means that a whole generation of young people will have to think carefully before applying to higher education.

These and many other cuts are being made in the name of austerity. We are "all in this together", but some of us are deeper in this than others.

We all understand that there are sacrifices to be made but why should these sacrifices be borne by those who already have so little?

The general public seems oblivious of the dangers being faced, they are unaware of the injustices being wrought on the already disadvantaged.

The government is winning the war of the headlines. They have blasted the recipients of DLA and ESA as scrounger and cheats so often that the general public believe it. They misinterpret data to "prove" their points. Teachers are painted as being irresponsible and greedy, while the bankers rake in the money.

The poster on Mumsnet was not alone for long. Within a few days, a group of over 30 posters had formed. They asked themselves, "What can we do?".

The idea of a blog was born. Three days later the blog had over thirty authors signed up, a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

The Aims:

• to open the general publics' eyes to the injustices being created by the governement

• to inform those who are facing cuts about their rights

• to link with other activists and charities, in order to put pressure on the government

Are you a Frother?

Come and join us.

BLOG

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

SGM - Sue Marsh's own story is enough of a case study, one would think.

On the question of why people need DLA, there are 2 examples on toomanycuts: Mouseface and Em.

Plus the un-conculted consultation included numerous first-hand stories. Jon Snow's talking out of his arse.

I think, perhaps the existing system has been too successful (though v.faulty) in that the plight of disabled people has rarely called for public attention, as it sort of worked. Prior to the current system of networked benefits & support systems, the disabled were put in long-term institutions. So few people have actually had any reason to know about living with disabilities, or how prevalent they are.

sorry for all typos & bad grammar

I was wondering if there would be any mileage in trying to get Dominic Littlewood (he of "Don't Get Done, Get Dom") on board? He's currently presenting "Saints and Scroungers" on BBC1 in the mornings.

I hesitate about it, because a lot of what he does is to focus on benefit cheats (and I think that side of the story is probably more than overdone), but the 'saints' bit focuses on people who do need help, and who have often been refused it, or are in dire straits.

His website doesn't have any Twitter or Facebook details though.

And he could, of course, simply be a presenter, without a charitable thought in his head...

The other big issue attached to the DLA changes is the attempted cut to Legal Aid. It's going through parliament at the moment. The current system had allowed many those who had their DLA cut or changed to appeal - many with success. If the legal aid is cut, it will leave many people without the funds to appeal the decision. How bloody convenient for the Government.

As usual, the Gov is looking at each individual benefit but is not considering that many overlap. Or are they?

SGM
Could you post the spartacus follow up on the blog yourself? I am a bit short of time at the moment, trying to sort stuff out for the move. And took today off to have lunch with a friend, which was lovely but I am getting a bit worried about a flat in Munich, cause everything that I look at has already been let. I have DMed you on Twitter.

Just having a play with the formatting for you SGM.

In the footnotes where is 1 supposed to reference and what is the link supposed to be? it takes me to a windows live sign in page.

Easy read version is now on Diary of a benefit scrounged blog.

Am on phone - hence no linky

has anyone seen this?

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/10/atos-wca-citizens-advice-right-first-time?CMP=twt_fd

Have you seen the Guardian's live blog on the Welfare Reform Bill? It's really interesting. They are doing lots more on it tomorrow.

There's also a link to a Daily Mail blog criticising the Bill. (Really). I wonder if the DM blogger is a frother but doesn't know it yet?!

OK, I have sent this to my MPs (all three). Liberally ripped from blogs by SGM and MmeLindt, but I thought I'd post it here in case anybody wants to pinch bits and write to theirs.

Dear [ MP ],

I am sure you've heard of the "Spartacus Report" (the Responsible Reform document) compiled by a group of severely disabled Britons in response to the Welfare Reform Bill.

The report demonstrates that the coalition Government's ?official consultation? was poorly executed, taking 2 weeks less than the legal requirement, and was not even completed before the Welfare Bill was presented to Parliament.

Further, the consultation respondents were almost unanimous in their response to some points, and that:-

74% of respondents were against the proposals but open to discussion;

19% had mixed views, agreeing with parts of the proposal;

Only 7% supported them fully.

Several points were raised by many respondents, including that the government?s motivation in proposing these reforms were perceived to be a saving 20% of disability benefits. When the overall fraud rate of DLA being estimated at 0,5%, surely it is clear that this will cut benefits from those who need it.

The 'Spartacus' report shows clearly that the Government deliberately ignored the findings of its own consultation, cynically used the Christmas holiday period to force a Bill through illegally, and aims to wrest support away from those who need it most - at a rate of 1 in 5 vulnerable people.

Since [ here ] is home to a slightly above-average level of disabled residents, these moves will impact terribly on existing services and strangle economic activity in the towns.

Moreover, it's not the first time this Government has failed to honour its legal obligations: I remind you of last year's disregard for equal opportunities, which the Government admitted when challenged by the Fawcett Society - and then ignored.

I urge you, as my representative, to challenge the Coalition at every cavalier turn and to stop the Welfare Reform Bill until it has been competently reviewed.

Yours sincerely,
[ me ]

You can also Write To Them from the sidebar on our blog, toomanycuts.blogspot.com.

Cheers SGM, I've finished now if you want to check it over. I lopped off a few of the blogs at the end, hope you don't mind, there were just so many of them, so tried to limit it a bit to the most interesting ones.

Easy read version that Knots referred to is here

Saw that Daily Mail article on Twitter, reckon they must be a #frother just not realised it yet! Maybe we need to send them some links?

Like the letter Garlic - I shall adapt that if I may and send it to Vince. I shall seize the moment of peaceful homework going on and do it now.

Feck, that article is good (Daily Mail). She is so a secret frother. She is not on Twitter, I wanted to thank her.

Can we put Garlic's letter on the blog in a way that people can click on it and post straight to their MPs? Is that (technically) possible? I think that MNHQ did something like that for their miscarriage campaign.

Great blog, SGM. And it has your name on it. Your mum will be chuffed.

Garlic
Love "challenge the coalition at every cavalier turn" in your letter.

Have had a PM about the mobility post. Will try and get it done by the weekend.

I will email that to my mp too. The Bill's already been through the Commons, so it's up to the Lords to defeat the Bill now. But if they do amend it, it will have to go back to the Commons so definitely worth keeping the pressure on MPs.

Hello, I'm back :) Will put the letter on the blog, then, thank you. WriteToThem discourages template letters (in fact they ban you for it) which is sensible, I guess. I'll suggest people customise it.