Saturday, November 30, 2013

100,000 sign War On Welfare petition asking for assessment of cuts to the sick and disabled


The achievement means the issue must be considered for debate in the House of Commons

Ian Duncan Smith: The petition is addressed to Mr Smith's work and pensions department
Ian Duncan Smith: The petition is addressed to Mr Smith's work and pensions department
A hundred thousand people have signed a petition calling on the Department for Work and Pensions to look again at all cuts affecting sick and disabled people.

Led by comedian and campaigner Francesca Martinez, the War On Welfare or WOW e-petition asks the government to carry out a Cumulative Impact Assessment looking at the overall effect of cuts to sick and disabled people, as well and their families and carers.

It also asks for MPs to be given a free vote on the repeal of the Welfare Reform Act.

Campaigners are demanding an end to the Work Capability Assessment, and an independent inquiry into issues including charges for care homes, ATOS, and the closure of Remploy factories.

They also want to put a stop to "forced work under threat of sanctions for people on disability benefits".

The petition has achieved its target of 100,000 signatures with 12 days to spare before it closed.

Celebrities including Stephen Fry, Russell Brand, Yoko Ono and Bianca Jagger have endorsed the campaign.

This means is now must be considered for a debate in the House of Commons.

The Leader of the House of Commons will now write to the Backbench Business Committeeto notify them that a petition has collected the necessary100,000 signatures.

A backbench MP must then come out in support of a debate at the Committee's weekly meeting.
If the Committee agrees, then a debate will be scheduled in the House of Commons and televised.
Mirror