Why is this important?
Last year, student Cait Reilly and unemployed driver Jamieson Wilson, took the Tory led coalition to task over their controversial Workfare programme arguing that it was unlawful. Three Judges found that regulations under which most of the Tory led coalition back-to-work schemes were created are unlawful.The main issue is that the Tory led coalition lost this case and they lost because they failed to provide sufficient and legal information about Workfare to job-seekers. It is estimated that 231,000 people were originally affected by their decision and had their benefits sanctioned (ie stopped). The morality of the Workfare system is not being debated here (although flaws of the system are outlined below). This petition is about the abhorrent behaviour of the Tory led coalition that followed this decision and their decision to retroactively change the law.
On 19 March 2013, a Bill was rushed through the House of Commons which will change the law (that they broke) retroactively thus enabling the Tory led coalition to avoid having to repay the money that they illegally took from job-seekers - an average of £550 per person.
The issue here is threefold:
Firstly, the Tory led coalition (assisted by Labour and Lib Dems) are trying to retrospectively change the law to protect themselves from their own flawed policies. By retrospectively changing the law they can ensure that no law has now been broken and thereby avoid having to repay those who they illegally sanctioned. This behaviour is morally repugnant and vile and cannot be allowed to happen.
Secondly, there seems to be a complete media blackout on the story and the Bill was rushed through, the day before the Budget - one may argue in an attempt to bury it?
Thirdly, the Workfare scheme is fundamentally flawed and has been shown not to be an effective tool to get unemployed back in to work. The problem is there are no jobs for people and the Tory led coalition is deflecting this fact away by demonising those looking for work such as Miss Reilly and Mr Wilson.
There is plenty of evidence to show that workfare claimants are replacing real jobs. Since this WP came in, many retail giants and the Royal Mail have used workfare so they don't have to offer overtime to their existing workers. Asda recently put all their part-time staff on contracts which guarantee just 4 hours work a week.
Many shops are run by workfare.
This whole scheme is about exploiting labour - the workfare claimants are being exploited for free labour; the existing workers are being exploited by losing hours and pay; and we are all being exploited when what we buy is making profits for corporations which are using what is effectively indentured labour.
People who are fortunate enough to be paid for their work are afraid of rocking the boat lest they be replaced. These schemes guarantee a cowed and compliant workforce, paid or not, who will be reluctant to unionise and unwilling to protest in case they lose their jobs.
Meanwhile, taxpayers' money is being poured by the billion into the coffers of welfare-to-work companies and corporate profiteers, and Labour seem to be OK with this in principle.
These are extremely important issues and cannot be ignored.
Dear Lord Pannick
As you are aware, on the 19th of March 2013 the House of Commons passed a Bill which will allow the Tory led coalition to retroactively change a law, a law which the Tory led coalition had broken, to protect themselves and ensure they do not have to accept responsibility for their actions and face the consequences that a court of law imposed. In this case it was in relation to the illegality of the controversial Workfare scheme and the communication and information provided to job-seekers.
This Bill was passed solely to protect the Tory led coalition from having to reimburse job-seekers of the money that they illegally sanctioned from them.
Labour assisted with rushing through the Bill by deciding to abstain from the vote. By Labour abstaining from the vote it sends a strong message that they are no longer for the working people of Britain. The absence of courage to stand up for what was right has been noted by the public.
What has been noted is the fact that you have openly condemned this bill and have been quoted saying "This Bill is an abuse of power that brings no credit whatsoever on this Government".
We, the undersigned, ask you and the House of Lords please, do not allow this rushed Bill to go through any further and please challenge this Bill tomorrow, on our behalf.
Changing the law retroactively sends a dangerous message that the Tory led coalition are above the law and precedent and should not be allowed in any way, shape or form. No one should be above the law.
The Tory led coalition should accept the decision of the Courts and take responsibility for their actions - NOT - change the law to suit themselves. If an ordinary person in the street broke the law and was found guilty by a court of law they would have no choice but to accept the consequences and take responsibility for their actions. The Tory led coalition should not be treated any differently.
This Bill must be stopped and the people of Britain must be protected from such an abhorrent abuse of power.
It is also worth noting that there has been an almost complete media blackout in terms of reporting this story. It is frightening that a fundamental change to OUR law has been largely ignored by the media in Britain.
Yours sincerely
The Undersigned
