Happy Valentine's Day
Yesterday the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) outdid itself. As Anoosh Chakelian wrote: ‘nothing
says love like perpetuating the damaging societal myth of benefit scroungers
via a cutesy gif’. She was referring to the following tweet by @dwppressoffice:
‘Claiming to be living alone is one of the most
common types of benefit fraud – don’t ruin #ValentinesDay by failing to declare
your true circumstances.' (Accompanied by a gif complete with Valentines' hearts, there is also a link to an article in the Daily
Express with the title ‘Valentine's fraud WARNING: Crackdown
issued on couples who pose as single to cheat taxman’.)
And yet, as Chakelian reminds us:
The government estimates 1.1 per cent of benefits
are paid out fraudulently claimed (in 2015-16). But even this minute proportion
comes under the category of "overpayment", which includes honest
mistakes on both sides. So only a tiny minority of people are fraudulently
claiming.
Not surprisingly there has been much criticism of the tweet in both
the mainstream media and social media. I'm merely adding my own personal
incredulity here. But/And there's more. In the last couple of days @DWP
have also tweeted:
'You know how to make the perfect pancake. But do you know how much
your State Pension could be?'
AND:
'You know you'll be getting chocolates this Valentine's Day. But do you
know how much our State Pension could be?'
Both a little ironic given the ongoing dispute with the Waspi Women
(Woman Against State Pension Inequality Campaign)
Compare all of this with the government's warning message to those who
favour tax avoidance and evasion. Oh sorry, NO, silly me, for that we need
to look to the leader of the opposition:
@jeremycorbyn 'It's not that the Tories can't take action to
clamp down on tax havens, they won't because they're in the pockets of big
business. Labour can and we will.' (Accompanied by one of several
reports on such issues he has tweeted recently http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42666274)
****
ON THE OTHER HAND
@StopFundingHate: Let's get #LoveNotHate trending on twitter this
#ValentinesDay! #stopfundinghate #startspreadinglove
And, for the 8th month in a row, this evening, a silent
walk is taking place in commemoration of those who died in the Grenfell Tower
fire on 14th June 2017. https://www.facebook.com/events/152608842188422/
Drawing in places on the words of others I’ve written a few words on
this:
For Grenfell
With too few people still without a permanent home,
We must not forget Grenfell.
Despite promises made of new homes for all within three weeks,
Eight months on temporary accommodation still for too many adults,
children, families.
#justiceforgrenfell
With 71 people at least who have died,
We must not forget Grenfell.
Parents, children, carers, workers. Dreamers, thinkers, artists all.
Shout out for 'Grenfell United', a group of survivors, fighting, for an inquiry that 'provides answers and triggers change’ and ‘to make sure that the lives that we
lost were not lost for nothing.’
#justiceforgrenfell
With ‘the government risking
another Grenfell disaster’,
We must not forget Grenfell.
'As of last month, 299 of 312 high rise
buildings with Grenfell-style cladding have failed safety tests, and only three
of these buildings have completed cladding replacement’,
Add to this the continued quibbling over the introduction of sprinklers
demonstrating a 'culture of denial amongst
ministers'.
#justiceforgrenfell
With firefighters, as well as survivors and a community, still suffering
the aftereffects,
We must not forget Grenfell.
Yet, thankfully, with firefighters running marathons (donate here if you would like
to http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_0702201820_marathon_grenfell.asp#.WoQ0SqjFLI) plus
crowd funded story collections (see @twenty4stories to join in) and funded holidays by the
sea (e.g. Cornwall Hugs Grenfell https://www.facebook.com/holidaysforheroes/),
The power of love and of empathy shines through.
#justiceforgrenfell
(Because of all this and) With people walking in silence on the 14th day
of every month,
We will not forget Grenfell.
The tower a monument to inequality and injustice.
The silent walk, alongside other examples of love, of support and of
solidarity a triumph of hope.
#justiceforgrenfell
No comments:
Post a Comment