Pro-Corbyn blogger @Rachael_Swindon is one of the most tireless campaigners for Labour, Corbyn and a fairer society that you’ll ever find.
As well as blogging and creating some of the strongest memes to support Labour’s message, she is a full-time mother of two kids who also cares full-time for her disabled husband, who recently took a turn for the worse. As a result, she and her family are in the support group of ESA and PIP, which allowed them – just about – to scrape by, except when the DWP screwed up.
Until now.
Because of her effectiveness, Rachael has angered right-wingers both inside and outside the Labour party. Because she has a ‘donate’ button on her blog, in case the occasional donation comes in to help eke out meagre benefits, someone made a malicious report to the DWP, triggering an investigation.
Let’s be clear, Rachael has done nothing wrong – being on benefits doesn’t mean someone can’t give you a gift. It’s not earned income. But the DWP has suspended all benefits to Rachael and her family while they investigate – pushing her into desperate straits that have now become very desperate indeed..
This is part of a clearly coordinated series of attacks on some of the most effective pro-Corbyn bloggers and campaigners. The SKWAWKBOX has been targeted, as have others.
The ‘person’ responsible for this is slime. But there are far more good -hearted people out there.
If you are able to help Rachael, however small the amount, please go as soon as you can to her blog and use the donate button. Thank you for your help for great campaigner in an emergency, who’s paying a high price for doing the right thing – and for your support for the cause of making this a better country to live in.
Reblogged this on idontbelieveitagain.
Reblogged this on Sid's Blog and commented:
Her insightful comments and acerbic humour have been a constant delight to me!
We’ll support RACHEAL Swindon and her family
There are some malicious people out there. I hope someone can trace them and expose them and give their system a dose of their own medicine. I will see what I can afford.
Consider linking to this to reassure people, please.
http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/benefits-charity
Reblogged this on elizapdushku's World.
Those same right wingers inside the Labour Party here on Wirral stole £736,756.97 from the bank accounts of learning disabled people over a 9-year period – they were vulnerable constituents of Angela Eagle and Frank Field. When a whistleblower exposed them, he was forced out and onto the dole, where he remains 7+ years later. Eventually the council were made to cough up reimbursement payments.
This is where the DWP stepped in. As claims were being settled, they treated the abused people’s returned money as “windfalls” and threatened to dock their benefits.
I don’t know whether right wingers Eagle and Field stepped in to help but think it unlikely… they’d been silent all the way through, wary of damaging the party’s reputation.
Reblogged this on Declaration Of Opinion.
Let the pond scum that did this meet some bleach #Corbyn4PM
Reblogged this on disabledsingleparent.
Just tried to donate but PayPal won’t let me
Disgusting pond lifes
That is appalling! Penalising free speech is something you expect from North Korea or Saudi Arabia. When did we become such a Septic Isle? It’s official. I am finally ashamed to be British.
My best wishes to Rachel and her family.
Actually, I do expect it from the British. Penalizing free speech is nothing new. People get evicted for comments made in media. British society is corrupt to its core.
Reblogged this on the diplomatic democratic dragoness.
I’m worried that donating via the blog will just get her into more hot water? I’m a full time carer (on benefits) caring for an adult disabled son and very elderly disabled mum. In a recent interview I was even asked if I ever sell anything on Ebay! I’d rather donate to someone else and then that person hand this lady the cash? The DWP and their targets are a nightmare :0(
Reblogged this on michaelsnaith.
Rachel, I wish you well with the DWP!
I, along with MILLIONS, stand by everything you write in your BLOG!
“Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. If you wish to make a donation towards my campaign costs then please use the link. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support!”
This is Rachael’s open appeal for donations on her blog and she has had it there for many months. Those donations are for what she has called her “campaign”. No matter what your view of that campaign if you are paid for doing something – and Rachael is prolific in her output – then that is work. It was her choice not to declare that – if she had done that then anyone “grassing” her up to the DWP wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on. If she didn’t declare that income yet was publicly stating she might be receiving it then that’s a pretty stupid thing to do.
Then there is another whole issue of accepting donations for a political “campaign” (that was her choice of word, not mine) and then actively promoting a political candidate or party. In that instance the electoral commission might get involved.
Also, I remember Rachael stating she was not a Labour member. Which itself raises other questions.
Am sure this comment will get howled down but if you’re on benefits maybe not the best idea to run a full-blown, 5 days a week social media campaign for which you ask donations and then don’t declare the income…
She is (or was) on benefits as a full-time carer, not as unemployed. And the clue is in the word ‘donation’. But thanks for your contribution.
A donation is income. And clearly, if she is spending so much time online raising donations for her ‘output’ then that money should be given to other people who really need it. I’d like to ask if Rachel intends to publish accounts relating to her online income? Or maybe she thinks those are for “other people”?
Nonsense. A donation is a gift. If someone gives you a fiver, you don’t owe tax on it.
With regard to the Electoral Commission rules, a ‘non-party’ or ‘third party’ campaigner can raise money either as an individual or an unincorporated association (which is what we at Collective Voice are, hence my knowledge of this) and unless they are going to spend £20,000 during a GE campaign, then they have no need to register, and donations under £500 do not need to be declared.
According to taxation.co.uk – ” A voluntary receipt would not normally be subject to income or corporation tax when received in a personal capacity.”
So long as she’s not part of a commercial venture, it shouldn’t be treated as income. However, monetary gifts can go towards savings, and that is taken into account when you apply for benefits. That said, we are talking about thousands of pounds, and I doubt the donations that Rachael receives fall into that category.
The problem is, because she didn’t declare it we don’t know if it’s thousand, hundred, or tens of pounds. Nor do we know what it was spent on. This is why you declare things and the taxman will clarify if it is tax free and the electoral commision will let you know if it is relevant.
I wish I could decide how much of my income was taxable but I can’t
You’ve certainly got the right name – Bugle :/
I left a comment on Skwarkbox this morning. It didn’t get published by Skawkbox. The comment was a summary about Psy-Ops. This harrasment against Rachel is part of that Tory/Republican BigBusiness/Insurance/Privatisation/Far-Right scam. So I ask you again to read Carole Cadwalladr articles on Twitter and in the Guardian, starting with “The Great British Brexit Robbery”. And since writing on Skwarbox this morning the psy-ops are triggered, and start online, then by phone, and sometimes by mail and very often through benefit decisions and delays.
Hi Anthony, just a question of catching up on moderation.
How can I contribute a small gift?
Just go to her webpage (linked above) and click the donate button. Thanks for your generosity.
I hope Rachael has had her benefits reinstated. A great campaigner and makes me proud being a leftie
Is it possible to ask for a Formal personsl investigation of the actual DWP official concerned ? Sounds as though they might be acting outside the law
Reblogged this on Sophia's View on the World.
Reblogged this on Christopher John Ball.
This is a terrible situation for anyone to be in. The benefit system is a joke.my partner has terrible trouble after being taken off DLA and put on to PIP. The McMillian nurse has to fill in a form saying he was dying. Although they already knew this and that he was on a trial drug to prolong his life not a cure. As it is a trial drug there is no way to tell how long it will last.
Such an evil government.
With IDS and Rather Mcvey back what evil will they plan next
Reblogged this on Keithpp's Blog.
I do wish I could help my tweet friend Rachael and jon but my wife’s Pip was stopped after 0 points reassessment in aug 2016 we reconvene our adjpurned (in june) tribunal
For what ever reason 15mnths is a ridiculous period to resolve any applicatìn for benefits that someone’s stress related illness has been exacerbated…… btw her first claim 4 yrs ago took a year to complete with our mps involvement for 3 months
Best wishes to Rachel and Jon be strong, be well my twitter heroes
convesative voter or party did this i bet
Reblogged this on jeanid123.
I think what has happened to Rachael and Jon is disgraceful. But, I agree with Ricardo Wensleydale. Charities receive donations but they have to declare them. Any money you receive, as far as I understand it, is income – whether earned or unearned. When you’re highly visible as Rachael is then you need to make sure you’re seen to be above reproach. Declare everything to any organisation you could possibly fall foul of. Let them make the decisions. If you don’t agree with them, I know it’s often a lengthy, protracted process but you have a paper trail. You can then take it all the way through the Appeals process and the powers that be will be held to account. Giving the DWP or HMRC any excuse to stop benefits or penalise you must be avoided at all costs.
Shared.