Is it any surprise that a report found that the Tories’ Department of Work and Pensions’ sanctions regime is cruel, heartless and puts people under unbearable stress? Those who spoke to the committee told of how the work capability assessments had increased their stress levels, caused them anxiety and had negatively impacted on their mental health.
There have been several failings with the process highlighted in the report. It has been plagued with poor accessibility, inaccurate data, unnecessary delays and communication problems. All of this has a hugely negative impact on those facing the assessments. As the report says, the accounts describe “a system that is still not adequately supporting often vulnerable people”.
Too many of these vulnerable people are forced to take part in face-to-face assessments, despite there being widespread agreement they are unnecessarily stressful and are poorly suited to measuring the impact of some health conditions.
Too often the DWP is making the wrong decisions, with more than two- thirds of Personal Independence Payment cases that go to a tribunal overturned. The Record has reported often about the pain and heartache people have been put through while being sanctioned or having to jump through hoops for benefits.
We have seen the human cost – including lost lives – because of cruel, unnecessary DWP practices. This report is a damning indictment of 13 years of Tory rule.
Football fans deserve to see Scotland play for free
Fans of the Scottish men’s national football team are missing out at a time when Steve Clarke’s men are doing the country proud. While England and Wales supporters get to watch their team play on free-to-air television, Scots have to subscribe to a streaming service to see our team.
It is understandable when clubs sometimes place commercial needs above other considerations. But the Scotland team should be different. The national side is part of our identity.
Club rivalries disappear and the country comes together to watch the Dark Blues. Nothing unites the nation like the Scotland side doing well. You only have to look at the reaction to the famous recent win against the might of Spain.
In future, the SFA should make sure that all our matches are as accessible as possible. Fans young and old deserve to watch games without having to pay through the nose for the privilege.
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