As Universal Credit (UC) was debated again in Parliament on Thursday, Labour MP Barry Gardiner tweeted a remarkable observation from the Commons chamber:
Gardiner may not have been allowed to take a picture from within the chamber, but screengrabs of coverage on the Parliament channel were a different matter and showed it clearly.
The first image below shows the Tory benches before the UC debate began, with Tory backbenchers circled in red behind their front bench. The second shows the benches during the debate – empty of everyone except for a single oblivious, shameless or possible asleep individual:
Tory MPs being too embarrassed to sit behind their ministers ought to be a significant news item. Even bigger ought to be the fact that David Gauke, the DWP Secretary responsible for UC, didn’t even bother to turn up for the debate – again.
Ought to be – in a society with a fair and decent media establishment.
But in a fair and decent society, the state broadcaster wouldn’t completely ignore the launch of a report that claims Tory policies have killed 120,000 people in seven years – which is exactly what it seems BBC News did on the same day.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
Reblogged this on stewilko's Blog and commented:
Disgusting, shameful Conservative government
Reblogged this on elizapdushku's World.
Reblogged this on sdbast.
Over a period of seven years forty seven people died every single day.
Economic Murder, Corporate Murder…or merely Collateral Damage in the eyes of a heartless Government?
read this somewhere:
WHAT PEOPLE HERE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS AN INSTITUTIONALISED KILLING MACHINE. IT HAS SPENT THE LAST 7 YEARS KILLING DISABLED PEOPLE, THE UNEMPLOYED AND THE POOR IN BRITAIN. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL ENDEAVOUR TO KILL AS MANY PEOPLE AS IT LIKES – IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY CRIMINALITY – BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT BRITAIN DOES BEST – IT KILLS PEOPLE SO THAT THE ELITES IN THIS WORLD CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE A LIFE OF LUXURY AND PRIVILEGE
hits the nail on the head
I saw it on tv myself, absolutely disgusting what the tories are doing, at the end of the debate, labour asked the idiot hinds will he pause the roll out HE couldn’t even give a straight yes or no answer, lets hope the tories get their come uppance once and for all, one way or another, tories are trash, murderers
Dear Skwawkbox
Universal Credit will be the poll tax of this Tory government. Universal Credit has absorbed within it working tax credits and housing benefit and is nearly entirely nationally rolled out by December, so Christmas is cancelled for many thousands of low waged / part time workers.
But Labour cannot get a majority government without the vital but still lost grey vote, from a 2nd early general election much rumoured next year. Labour’s Manifesto in June had no direct money in hand pensioner policies and this is why Labour did not win.
Get the vital grey vote for Labour and sign my petition, all ages, for pension age 60 men and women, increased state pension
(helps save the nearly 1 million youth jobs on the high street). Admin PENSION 60 NOW – https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/pension60now
I think a quite good idea. With the rapid advent of automation the need for state payment in lieu of work will be upon us sooner than we think.Encouraging the elderly to take early retirement with a money or tax relief bonus should not break the bank. Cons. anyone?
Daizicat
“Universal Credit will be the poll tax of this Tory government.”
In a perverse sort of way, I’m sincerely hoping so.
I don’t want it to be that way, but they’re the ones pushing it, so what befalls them is on their toes.
“But in a fair and decent society, the state broadcaster wouldn’t completely ignore the launch of a report that claims Tory policies have killed 120,000 people in seven years – which is exactly what it seems BBC News did on the same day.”
It’s worth saying again that the authors of the report say that they can draw no firm conclusions as to cause and effect.
Just repeating the misstatement doesn’t make it true!
Graham Hindson. Fact: You deprive people of the resources necessary to survive and they die. That’s exactly what Universal Cledit does.
The report linked to in that quote above studied figures up to 2014, before UC was widespread, so it couldn’t have been a factor. In any event the report was about health and social care resources not, as I understand it, benefits as a whole
The authors are clear – they draw no firm conclusions as to cause and effect; this is backed up here
“http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-paper-on-health-and-social-care-spending-and-excess-deaths-in-england/”
That’s not to say there isn’t cause and effect, just that this study doesn’t show it – a future study might
Well we both kow the cause and we both know the affect so that’s enough for me. Fact: Austerity kills!
Could I carry out a thought experiment with you.
Let’s say the report had drawn a cause and effect conclusion, and I posted something along the lines of “Fact – austerity doesn’t kill”, what do you think the reaction would be?
I think people would, quite rightly, quote the science at me, just as I’m quoting it to you.
It’s you needs experimenting on, hindson.
Yes Toff. Sometimes less is more.
‘Graham Hindson’ shows all the classic signs of being a Right Wing Troll. DON’T FEED THE TROLLS!
If posting up what might be inconvenient facts is “trolling” then so be it. Hang on though…..isn’t that what Skwawkbox does?
I see this action by Tory backbenchers as nothing more than a cynical, self serving PR exercise.
None of them are putting integrity, humanity and duty of care to citizens (some probably their own constituents) before the extreme party and ideological agenda… if they really cared for citizens and society’s best interests they would act, not just posture for parliament TV cameras.
Where have all the Tories gone?
To company directorships everyone.
Put them on the dole, everyone.
Then will they ever learn.
Any similarity between the tories and a political party is totally unintentional and unbelievable. I think they should be sued for bringing our country into disrepute. They ha ‘ve done nothing certainly to recommend us to those parts of the world to which we owe most, and present us as a one time empire that has learnt from it’s mistakes. THE FUCKS!
Shameless Tories hiding from their constituents who might just recognise them supporting this iniquitous piece malignancy called Universal Credit.
Why would any one roll this out knowing the impact it will have, clearly those disgusting Tories that moved over can’t claim ignorance.
I also learned today that the housing association has written to tenants locally saying they should save money in advance as their homes will be at risk if they fall back on the rent.
The only solution to Britain’s problems is getting a Labour government, Tories sole preoccupation is profits to the already rich and they don’t care how much chaos they deliberately cause because so far it has worked for them.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ONE NOT TO CRITICISE THE TORIES!
AS EVERYDAY GOES BY THEY ARE ON THE KNIFE EDGE OF SELF DESTRUCTION!
THIS DEBACLE PUTS THEM ANOTHER DAY CLOSER TO THE INEVITABLE!
DON’T I JUST LOVE IT?
MAY, IS ON THE HORNS OF HER OWN DILEMMA, SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
GO, TAKE THE REST WITH YOU!