Why Should ‘Reform’ Not Mean Less Funding, Frances?

In the days after the budget, the headlines were dominated by talk of Rachel Reeves’s “tax and spend” bonanza. The message was clear: austerity is officially over. When there was concern about squeezed incomes, it was solely for workers. As the Mail front page put it: “Reeves’ £40bn tax bombshell for Britain’s strivers”. Almost a week later, there has still barely been a word about the policy set to hit the group long scapegoated as Britain’s skivers: the billions of pounds’ worth of benefit cuts for disabled people.

Talk about single-issue loons, and up pops Frances, like a handicapped version of 'Candyman'... 

It’s no wonder that many disabled people – and charities and journalists for that matter – thought this meant Labour would implement the outgoing Tory policies. In fact, the government has no such plan. When I spoke to the Department for Work and Pensions, it confirmed it will make the same “savings” the last government committed to – but it cannot as yet say how those savings will be made.

Lots of people made assumptions about the likely direction of a Labour administration, and lots suddenly found their hopes crushed, so you're in good company. 

A spokesperson confirmed to me that the WCA needs to be “reformed or replaced as part of a proper plan to genuinely support disabled people into work – bringing down the benefits bill and ensuring we continue to deliver the savings set out by the previous government. But these sorts of changes shouldn’t be made in haste. That’s why we’re taking the time to review this in the round before setting out next steps on our approach.” When I pressed, they added that changes to the WCA – whatever they may be – will come into effect in early 2025. There is something faintly ludicrous about the government announcing billions of pounds of cuts to disability benefits before working out how it is going to do it...

No surprise, though I think Net Zero still takes the cake for Worst Policy of the Decade. 

It is right that the WCA – long known to be a dangerously faulty assessment – is consigned to the scrapheap. But “reform” should not mean less funding, and reducing funding should not be the purpose of reform.

Why should 'reform' not mean less funding? Why take an option off the table? Do you need this?

 

It's Not Just XL Bullies....

A dog who repeatedly bit a man’s groin in an attack is so dangerous he must be put down, a court has ruled.

Owner is, of course, utterly useless:

"He is a lovely family dog normally,” she said" 

The story is paywalled, but the thing is a German Shepherd cross mastiff. Not another XL Bully. 

Not that that stops the idiots from proclaiming that dangerous dogs are just fine family pets and shouldn't be destroyed.

Who wants to try 'retraining' a dog that's attacked people repeatedly?

H/T: Dave Ward via email

Rejoice! Free Propaganda!

Konnie Huq, Jamie Oliver, David Baddiel, Adam Kay, Mary Portas and Joseph Coelho are among those collaborating on an ebook about the climate crisis which will be free to access for every UK primary school.

And I'm betting the ones squawking about celebrities writing children's books won't be uttering a single peep about this.... 

The ebook, Children for Change, is edited by Huq and features contributions from more than 80 writers, illustrators, environmentalists and young people including Tom Gates author Liz Pichon, The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler and TV presenter Chris Packham. The book contains stories, poems, illustrations and features about a variety of topics related to the environment including fast fashion, rewilding and measuring our carbon footprint.

Ugh! Children are usually pretty good about avoiding propaganda and stories adults encourage them to read, so hopefully, they will regard this with as much horror as I once regarded stuff by Enid Blyton.  

The introduction advises children to “start anywhere” in the book. “It’s a chocolate box, essentially”, said Huq.

Well, Jamie Oliver won't like that! He's a health nut now, isn't he? 

“What I love about the idea behind this book is that it’s not all doom and gloom,” said Young Bond series author Charlie Higson, whose writing appears in the anthology. “It’s about letting kids know there are things they can do to safeguard their futures and encouraging them to get involved.”

Because how else can the next cadre of eco-terrorists be raised? 

Huq said it was important that the book was made available for free because there are many children who do not own books, as well as schools that do not have libraries.

A school with no library is an abomination.  

Wonder If The Trial Will Reveal The Truth?

The family of Aidan released a tribute to him as the murder investigation continued. They said: 'Aidan was the best son, big brother, nephew, grandson, cousin and friend anyone could have. He was a massive part of so many people's lives and is loved very dearly by all.

Clearly, not by one person. Not if police suspcions that this was deliberate are correct.

'He was a kind, caring, funny and sometimes shy boy, who was always polite and had respect for others. Aidan will be so missed by so many people.'

He wasn't missed by the driver. Who, I suspect, as is often the way with these things, would have a somewhat different view of the deceased to the family. We shall see at the trial. 

The Dog Is Following It's Nature. Is The Defence Doing The Same?

Another day, another horrifying attack by an XL Bully....

Ms Muru said Ratteray, who also lives at an address in Oxford Street, Leicester city centre, had no similar previous convictions and nothing at all for the past five years. She said the 41-year-old had bought Cookie for Bott, 34, but he was the registered owner of the XL Bully.

Jabeen Naru, representing both Ratteray and Bott, said the couple had properly obtained an exemption certificate for Cookie, who was a "family pet". She said: "Their children were devastated when the dog was destroyed. Mr Ratteray immediately did follow the dog. He did everything he could to bring his dog under control." She asked the magistrates to be lenient to Bott, due to her lack of involvement in what happened during the incident. She said: "She herself suffers with depression and anxiety. I would like you to consider a conditional discharge for Miss Bott."

But the magistrates, who have the power to jail people for up to six months, decided their powers were not enough to deal with the case.Ratteray and Bott are due to be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court later this month.

So, were the magistrates not convinced by the statements made by the defence? According to Facebook, they'd have been right not to be: 

Fighting dogs gonna savage, defence solicitors gonna lie shamelessly. Both are following their nature. Shouldn't the justice system check what they are actually being told told is true?

H/T: Baz via Twitter 

'She always saw the good in everyone....'

Well, that was her fatal mistake. Because some people just don't have any in them. And no-one's sorting out the potential killers from the rest.

Rhiannon Skye Whyte, 27, died in hospital three days after she was knifed at Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall following a shift on October 20.

Deng Chol Majek, 18, who is believed to be a Sudanese who crossed the Channel in a small boat, has since been charged with her murder.

It is understood a row over a packet of biscuits took place at the hotel just before the attack, The Sun has reported.

Lives are held cheap in some countries, such that a killing over something so trivial is no surprise. And now, if convicted, he gets to stay in the UK with a better lifestyle in prison than he would have free in his own country. 

Majek has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 19.

And all it cost was the life of a British mother. 

Two Birds, One Stone!

Matt always has his finger on the pulse..!

Let's Hope, If WWIII Breaks Out, The Fighter Pilots Don't Read Upday News...

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Defence said German P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will "periodically" operate out of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, potentially armed with UK-supplied torpedoes, helping to secure the North Atlantic.

Pity, then, that you couldn't have found a picture to illustrate your story with, as that's a Luftwaffe Airbus A400 transport... 

H/T: The Jannie via email

Sunday Funnies...

Will probably never be played on Radio Two...

I Guess She Just Couldn't Be The Bigger Person About It..?

A pub called The Midget is to change its name. The watering hole, in Abingdon takes its name from the classic MG sports car which was manufactured in the Oxfordshire town, and was opened as 'The Magic Midget' in 1974. But the name was labelled 'disablist hate speech' by disabilities studies lecturer Dr Erin Pritchard.

Oh, FFS! 

Dr Pritchard, who teaches at Liverpool Hope University, said that she and other people with dwarfism find the term 'offensive'. She previously campaigned for Marks and Spencer to rename their Midget Gem sweets to Mini Gems.

Someone who is employed to teach at a university turns out to be a crank with a chip on her shoulder? Gosh! You could knock me down with a feather!  

I wonder why she's not objecting to other, more problematic things? Is it because she'd get a decidedly rougher ride from them? 

Dr Pritchard spoke with the owners of the bar, brewers Greene King, which is set to reopen the venue with the new name in December following a renovation, the Telegraph reported. Its managing director Zoe Bowley said the new branding would honour the town's heritage while ensuring the pub remains a place 'where everyone feels welcome'.

They don't say what the new name will be. May I suggest 'The Special Snowflake'? 

Greene King previously found itself in hot water over a pub called 'The Black Bitch' in Linlithgow, West Lothian, amid fears the name could be seen as racist. Its origins derived from a female greyhound that formed part of the town's traditional crest - but pub bosses opted to rename it The Willow Tree regardless.

And thus left yourself open to pressure from every crank and nutter in the land. So you've only yourself to blame.