Ken Loach: life in austerity Britain is 'consciously cruel'

For over fifty years Ken Loach has made films that rage against social injustice in the UK. His work has made us confront many of the issues we'd rather avoid. He retired in 2014, but made a return in response to the Conservative Victory last year - and now wants us all to take a hard look at austerity Britain. He's joined by Conservative MP Kwasi Kwarteng to debate what's happening within Britain's welfare system today.

[@TheStarShade]

"You are the party of food banks", Well said Mr Loach.

[@ryandavis2775]

Kwarteng comes across as shockingly uncaring and out of touch in this video. Throw the 'champagne socialist' label at Loach all you want, but he's a brilliant artist with a deep sense of empathy who is at least willing to speak up for working people.

[@clemalford9768]

Can't stand that Kwarteng who probably enjoys being paraded about as lapdog at Tory party conferences and dinners.

[@TroyaE117]

Yea, like all communists.

[@cathlaurs9754]

ryan davis: I couldn't agree more, well said.

[@tahsina.c]

Politicians.

[@thecrimsondragon9744]

And this guy is now responsible for our current currency crisis... how do these people get some of the most important jobs in the country..?

[@nathfrancis01]

The saddest thing of all is that the most vulnerable are least able to defend themselves.

[@jdbruiser]

Yep it's survival of the fittest as intended. Won't ever change I'm afraid.

[@robertewing3114]

@@jdbruiser it will change, the communication age will catch up with the drivers of the madness.

[@Widdekuu91]

@@jdbruiser They will start noticing that you can't run a society solely on rich folk.

[@shazney1154]

This film is frighteningly accurate. Anyone who's worked in the system or experienced it from the other side knows that. Anyone who thinks otherwise should be reduced to no savings, bills everywhere and then made to go through job seekers -- with no landline, mobile phone or internet, no car and a job centre at least an hour away by bus.

[@Coneman3]

I agree. So many are willingly blind and happy to believe right wing press ignorance and demonising ordinary working people. It’s disgraceful Britain not Great Britain.

[@georgemcgeough3513]

They were in a lot of contact with people in the system

[@Cordelia4219]

Can you believe that that Conservative guy is basically telling Loach to his face that the events of his film are untrue and just "storytelling"???

[@tednorton5150]

yes. these apologists for runaway capitalism have no shame and know no logic.

[@popliuhgtfd]

They are and am a working class man from a very rough part of liverpool never seen anything like it !!

[@CSGraves]

More like Kwazi Quisling... ahhhh?

[@popliuhgtfd]

@Aaron NoneYa I don't judge people on which political party they vote for, there is good and bad in all politics! I am From the Smithdown road area of liverpool, which of liverpool you report on?

[@popliuhgtfd]

@Aaron NoneYa I know people who work McDonald's, who own a house drive a car, and go on two holidays a year! I myself am an electrician I can earn 100 grand a year, plenty of working class people in Liverpool Make good money, am sorry to ruin your romantic nostalgic, fantasy you have of the working class, but if it makes you feel virturues, then so be it!!

[@laetitialogan2131]

God bless Ken for taking the time to tell the truth...

[@stevesalt2921]

That politician is breathtakingly irresponsible. A complete refusal to accept that life for many is truly grim on a day-to-day basis. Thank you Ken Loach!

[@ggggg-h9s]

Life is what you make it....

[@UnKoolKevClay]

therefore its your own fault? watchtower teachings. you have no clue.

[@darrenharman3362]

I agree wholeheartedly. I try and MAKE my life less self centred than, you do, yours.

[@jsmithmultimediatech]

Eric does have a point though, I mean someone on say benefits (disregarding all these horrible nasty things) you make your own life what it is, I mean someone severely disabled doesn't have to work to be successful not at all! I'd far rather be wealthy in the sense of my morals and then having great friends with great compassion than financially by a long shot, then be able to help others than make money for some company's chairman/ceo whatever.

[@jdbruiser]

So your response is to quote the title of a Talk Talk song?

[@cassmama9]

If only there were more thinkers and film makers like the BRILLIANT Ken Loach.

[@christdaviesfilms]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@mattstocks4749]

Having volunteered atCitizens Advice, Ken is absolutely right. The biggest disgrace is the Mandatory Reconsideration phase which precedes an appeal and simply delays the process for around 4-6 weeks during which time the claimant faces exceptional hardship.

[@susansherlock7474]

Citizens Advice Bureau claim to be independent, however they aren't. They have been given huge amounts of money by the Tory government to help people apply for their stinking Universal Credit... I don't call that independent when you rely on other agencies funding. I worked with them for a short time, and know they get financial backing from at least one other local housing association in my area. I was more or less told not to rock the boat with any comments, as they are funded by the housing association and deal with complaints from clients about that housing association. Conflicts of interest? Most definitely... Now in 2020 , I called them about an issue on the phone as they aren't seeing people face to face,and they asked me , before I discussed my issue about information regarding being tested for the virus....of course they are independent- not!

[@pauloneill9880]

It's a ploy to push the sanctioned towards pay day loan sharks owned by Tory connected a holes.

[@jimtempleton7418]

Yes I agree 🙄🙄🙄😔😔😔💯

[@bomberbinz]

A friend of mine she had to battle the point system as she is disabled. She ended up having to go to a hearing about it. She won in the end. Kwasi Kwarteng knows nothing about what's goes on. I've gone into London on a Sunday morning and seen volunteers handing out hot food and clothing to the homeless on the Strand. I've been homeless myself, I've been unemployed. Mr Kwarteng should be embarrassed at being so blasè on the subject.

[@jennyhughes4474]

The stress of repeat form-filling, awful interviews, 'examinations' by people who are NOT your doctor and lack of money, bad food/not enough and becoming homeless is a KILLER. Everyone KNOWS stress kills as does poor nutrition. My lack of sleep makes me go totally bonkers and even when I DO sleep I have terrible nightmares (often driving round in a van with all my belongings looking desperately for somewhere to live) and wake up in a panic, sometimes 3 times a night and sometimes I can't get back to sleep at say 3.30am or 4.30am because I'm in terror and panic. I'm disabled with an acquired brain injury (and lots of other physical injuries) and I suffered awake paralysis with suffocation (anaesthetic awareness) in the operating theatre. But on the whole I look and act fairly normal except I get overwhelmed by noise, lights, chatter, movement and STRESS of all kinds (including benefits/being thrown out = to WHERE in 3 weeks or something, I don't know, don't understand) - but I look (on the whole) quite 'well'. I was homeless when I was young and fit - I stayed at the campsite for a bit and a friend put me up. But now, ill/injured/disabled and old I just can't DO all this any more. Nor should I have to but unless friends/family help out YOU CANNOT LIVE (let alone live a full and healthy life) ON BENEFITS. Fact. Only the fit, the well, those well educated and those with HELP can appeal (and win) benefits decisions. If you don't do it right you lose. Punished twice over AND wasted extra time/energy (life) arguing stuff should never have to IF they asked the right questions - but oddly they don't, their 'experts' 'forgot' my injuries and disabilities. So are they (governments, their experts) guilty of crimes against humanity? I think so but no Legal Aid for that and oh, queenie/the CPS won't wish to prosecute those responsible (incl. the queen or does she only get privileges and has NO responsibilities, is not accountable to anyone ever?), and WHO could they prosecute when ALL governments have done the same (cruelty & discrimination) and ALL pretend you CAN live on the paltry sum we must beg time and again to receive - IF we fit in THEIR boxes?

[@darrenharman3362]

Ten years ago I found myself on the dole and had to claim Job Seekers allowance & housing benefit to keep a roof over my head. I spent LITERALLY TWO whole days in the benefits office trying to sort out my claim. When I went to sign on, later in the week, they told me my benefits might be deducted by two days because I wasn't looking for work in that time! I had to fill out form after form to stop them from doing this. Luckily for me I found a job, which I'm still in now. The benefits system can't be that stupid or blind without reason. Its all on purpose to save money and not help people when they need it the most. These obstacles are put in place to deter people from claiming what is rightfully theirs.

[@globalist1990]

You are totally right. They try to hide what you are entitled to. You have to go through hoops to get it. Their job is hindrance, not reaching to people in need.

[@igloodesigners]

ken get this film on netflix or the bbc and give it the audience it deserves.

[@eugenefarrar1959]

Hear hear.

[@bunkerbill]

Martin Lancaster both ideally.

[@katashworth41]

It's on Amazon Prime. Seen it 3 times now, best film I saw last year, favourite is so much the wrong word.

[@anonymous-xy5ue]

I just finished watching it on BBC 2, hopefully plenty of Tory voters saw it too

[@redders6858]

Ken Loach is a true people’s hero. Thank you. I kept house and home together for my children working a minimum wage job for many years after my husband left us. I kept my head down and just put one foot down in front of the other each day. It all took its toll on me in the end and I’ve had to claim ESA and PIP. When you already feel that you’ve reached the bottom, this whole process pushes you to a whole new level of bottom. I now feel so utterly worthless.

[@cosmic4037]

Proverbs 29:7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

[@beverleywells2110]

Ken is right ,it is an injustice towards the vulnerable and sick

[@dinnerwithfranklin2451]

Loach is a legend. I do wish more film makers worked with so much heart

[@deceptivepanther]

Thank the gods for people like Mr Loach. Mr Kwartang should watch himself in this recording and think on his place in history. Why must there be such a gulf between us? We are all human beings.

[@tomlinid]

I think it would be beneficial for all the MP's to live on benefits for 6 months before they enter parliament they are so out of touch with normal people.

[@deceptivepanther]

I dunno. We get the leaders we deserve; some citizens clearly have no problem with this gentleman. Shame.

[@tomlinid]

Ian P He is a typical politician. He lives in the Westminster bubble out of touch with ordinary people. I bet he has a good salary and expense account and probably earns an income from other sources. Westminster is a social club for millionaires and the kids of rich people not normal people.

[@deceptivepanther]

Lack of empathy is a hurdle our species is going to have to find a solution to.

[@johnrichardson544]

And to add to that, I thought that politicians were there to represent US, if not, then what ARE they there for?

[@johntoet]

a big BRAVO for people like Mr Ken Loach. Thank God Almighty for this.

[@danielpotter5482]

They are indeed the party of food banks and the high number and reliance upon them is frankly unacceptable in the 6th largest economy, yet to hear some Tories speak about it it's as though they're proud of their involvement in society rather than ashamed. I saw a news report of a Tory MP opening a food bank with pride rather than the shame that so many people will have to come to rely upon it, it cannot be right.

[@timeyre-swain9484]

Just because it is a film doesn't mean to say none of it is true. This sort of thing is happening every day in job centres up and down the country where some staff will sanction claimants almost on a whim or for nothing - look at the examples Ken gives and this (Con) MP plays the situation down as though they are almost one-offs and a rarity. No they are not. Winning an appeal against being sanctioned doesn't mean you will be given the money that has been withheld, as I know to my cost and apparently in many cases tribunals cannot force the job centre to pay up. They are forcing people into difficult situations and into even worse poverty than they already are as being on job seekers. It is bad enough being out of work as it is, but treated like you're nothing, not even human, as many are, is degrading and disgusting. A lot of people voted conservative in the last two elections because Labour had gone down the pan so to speak and so there was no viable alternative. The Tories don't have a clue how the rest of us live or struggle to survive. The majority of us would love to work, have full job security and get a decent salary, but even those who have high powered roles in the past and now find themselves out of work, especially in their 50s, find they cannot get a job, partly due to a lack of them in many fields and partly due to their age. The retirement age is constantly being raised. Soon, the government won't have to pay any pensions out because the population will have worked themselves to death before the get that far. That's another way of saving money, and all while the very rich get richer.

[@justkate1274]

Tim I know full well that these examples are not rare. I was sanctioned at my FIRST EVER SIGNING because they changed my appointment time without me knowing. I swear on my mothers grave I was NOT informed of the change of time. So they sanctioned me instantly for 4 weeks. How is that a 'last resort'?

[@clemalford9768]

@@justkate1274 I experienced it before extreme sanctioning at the dole came in as strickly as it is now. I am 75 and I still have to work doing zero hours care work as I cannot exist on a state pension. These problems are compounded by the mass uncontrolled immigration by Blair an Brown. Employers get to choose who they use for the lowest wage and some are even bonded employees who are tied to gangs who ship them over from outside the UK. This is serious heavy-duty capitalism. There is no organised union leadership and politicians are class traitors who are in politics for what they can get and are on hire to the highest paymaster. Look at the expenses scandals. They vote for whoever pays the most. Votes for hire. Shits all of them. Kwerteng is just an extreme example. I bet a lot of those MEPs will be joining Loach's caste to the dole after Brexit!!!!!!.

[@karlmylnere5712]

Typical behaviour from civil servants , given power some of these parasites behave in the most uncaring manner towards people who are often in extreme distress over their situation , it is easy for the uncivil servants who are mostly in jobs for life to behave in such a manner , it fosters the opinion that if they can save money then it would please their supervisors and ultimately their political masters, such people see no problems in treating desperate people in such a disgraceful manner.

[@JamesTrevitt]

God bless Ken Loach.

[@Fredders88]

Interviewer: 'You haven't seen the film have you? KK: I don't think many people have. What a charmer.

[@IrishGuysScarf]

Now “I, Daniel Blake” is a film I and many others study for its realistic connotations of the working class and people in poverty. I also study Kwasi Kwarteng’s role as Chancellor of the Exchequer; although, not for his positive impact (if there was anything positive…)

[@robertkilleen6897]

the problem is people vote people like Kwasi Kwarteng into power, they should do what the people of the Wirral did to Esther McVey and at the very next opportunity vote them out you don't hear much from her now the people of the Wirral in Liverpool made sure of that. Shortly after Mr Iain Duncan Smith found his conscience overnight and resigned. We have to get rid of the people who do not relate to the people they represent.

[@bethcassidy11]

Great work Mr. Loach💖💖 ....yes I think many agree it conscious cruelty..mixed d with delusional lies..greed... ignorance..

[@notsureiL]

I'm glad we have stand up guys like Mr. Loach who is a voice for the hard working class.

[@tornadoalimary]

Respect Ken Loach. Relate to I , Daniel Blake. Well made with humor and complete honesty

[@MsBabyangels]

This winter the government have posted figures of 40,000 elderly brits who will die this winter because they cant afford to heat their homes, this doesn't have to happen

[@suecondon1685]

Found it! I've been looking for this since Kwarteng's "gift to the rich" mini budget. This interview stuck in my mind for years! This man is dangerous, mark my words. His prejudiced views on the poor, sick, elderly, disabled, and anyone who is unable for whatever reason to work long hours are disturbing, and the fact he now holds so much power is frightening. The fact he produced 'Brittania Unchained' says it all.

[@gabrielstorm3536]

Don’t worry he’s now been humiliated so strenuously that he’ll never be taken seriously anywhere he goes, a fitting end for evil

[@duncanwilson2392]

Some people have been complaining about the way that jobcentre workers were portrayed in the film. Well I was on unemployment benefits for six months and my experience with them was exactly the same. Just like the system, they were distant, unhelpful, unforgiving, and unsympathetic. It also frustrates me how that this MP kept avoiding speaking about the actually system. The state of the economy is completely relevant.

[@christdaviesfilms]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@robertewing3114]

All that is old hat, all safe subjects for political point scoring, Loach has nothing to say.

[@trevorloughlin1492]

@@robertewing3114 I asked for an interview at the jobcentre because I want to be an engineer. But they shuttled me into lower skilled employment, so the taxpayer is losing money. I also know people on PIP (if they are lucky enough to get it in the first place) who are terrified that if they find work and get fired they will be cast back into the criminalized Universal Credit abuse system.

[@JugglinJellyTake01]

Kwasi Kwarteng 'there's a place for social commentary there's a place for...from Dickens through to Ken Loach' It''s amazing that Kwasi Kwarteng sees Austerity and Dickensian Britain as comparable and then dismisses them both as mere 'social commentary'. A really nasty man no doubt.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Legend! And look who is there with him! Dear God...

[@timeyre-swain9484]

In today's Metro, the free paper you get on public transport, there is a small article about work and pensions secretary Damien Green criticising the movie, saying it is "monstrously unfair" despite not having seen the film. Well, he would, wouldn't he? People like him don't want the inhumanity and lack of compassion shown by some staff exposed. There is no wonder they need security when some treat people so badly. It is nothing new, by the way, my mother has had bad experiences of both incompetence and being spoken to like dirt going back to the beginning of the 1970s and she has worked most of her life.

[@hasjan652]

Just how THICK and BLIND is this conservative MP. How dare he? Policies that HIS party brought in, and he is DENYING IT EXISTS? You wicked cruel man. You are LUCKY to be in your position, as 50 years ago you certainly wouldn't have been.

[@keithashley6298]

Ken Loach gets it the Government don’t and want to keep punishing people, Ken Loach is right when he says it’s concious cruelty.

[@CatherineBirch-m5r]

Iv'e been on the receiving end of the benefit system, and have had.to use food banks through being sanctioned multiple times for no good reason. Thankfully I reached retirement age and the DWP leaves me in peace.

[@truthseeker3503]

one day that Tory will have to face the people!

[@uralcemredogan8900]

Greetings from Turkey. We love you Ken!

[@TraceyanneMcCartney]

Only just discovered this movie. The trailer brought tears to my eyes because of its raw truth. So many people are suffering in a system, not of their own making. I'm fed up of the propaganda of documentary series like 'Benefit Street'. I felt lifted watching an honest portrayal at last. I wish this openness was more popular than the normal media lies.

[@joscampbell4600]

The Tory slogan should be "Pull up the ladder Jack, I'm alright!"

[@garyreed6851]

this movie is what telly was made for. insightful and moving. thanks K.L

[@NoPainNoGain200]

We are starting the Dsniel Blake foundation in London near the grenfell tower send your prayers please

[@GetToDaChoppa-k5r]

It is time to rise up against these monsters.

[@paulashford4155]

People like Loach make Britain great!!

[@stephentite7384]

I sat and cried as I remember what it was like to go before a board for DLA. When moved from DLA to PIP I had my high rate mobility taken off me, even though I have more wrong with me now than I did when I first applied. I am not going to get any better, I have progressive mobility issues, some of which cannot be operated on, could possibly leave me unable to work at all. Disgraceful.

[@susansherlock7474]

This MP was shifting in his chair when Ken was first talking. You can also see the anger in the MPs body language and trying to hide it from his face too.

[@classicteachings]

Well done Ken. Keep on exposing the reality of many people’s lives in this G7 UK!

[@matthewmochan3161]

That MP is utterly shameless. Makes my blood boil.

[@akh851]

respect for Ken Loach

[@jimtempleton7418]

More jobs More industry built UK wide !!!! 💪💪💪💪💪💪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇬🇧 And Wales too 🙏

[@celestialteapot3310]

If l had an MP like that l'd feel sick to the stomach.

[@user-bd9vs5kt1z]

only LOVE for Ken Loach!

[@jousif21]

I person using food banks is a disgrace, let alone 1,000,000

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

Especially if, like my neighbour, they drive to the food bank in a 2015 BMW.

[@UnknownUser-by4le]

@@yorkshiremgtow1773 there’s always 1 t THe majority are in dire need

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

@@UnknownUser-by4le How can we prove this?

[@UnknownUser-by4le]

@@yorkshiremgtow1773 it’s irrelevant The fact is if there is 1 in Need of help and 5 who aren’t, then so be it. I doubt very much that most people would go to a food bank Unless they really needed to

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

@@UnknownUser-by4le Well, food is a large part of a household expenditure, so could there be an incentive to get your food from there, and spend the money you would've spent on food, on something else?

[@dbp1111]

''Conscious cruelty by this Government'' that is absolutely correct Ken...this Government needs to be made accountable for their cruel actions against the poor the sick and disabled people of this country.

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

Why do we need politicians to administer welfare? Don't you think that we, the people, would do a better job? Politicians offering money for votes is corruption, yet Labour have got away with this corruption for decades, under the lie that the very people they claim to represent, have no moral compunction to help others whatsoever. It clearly isn't true.

[@trevorloughlin1492]

@@yorkshiremgtow1773 "We the people doing a better job?" You mean donate to food banks and give coins to the street homeless who adorn the doors of every city and town these days? Automation and offshoring have destroyed real jobs and means that Basic income (rather than charity and a penal welfare system) are a must. And Jobcentres need to run a national skills service rather than be staffed by psychopaths persecuting the poor. What working people do not seem to realise is that destroying the welfare state directly damages their own terms and conditions in relation to employers.

[@timcoleman8297]

I went through that assessment system when I was undergoing a terrible disabling medical procedure that left me completely unable to function let alone work. Yet the dole chose to cut me off anyway. It was a humiliating and traumatic experience. But I appealed and , as Ken quite rightly stated, the decision was over turned. The DHSS or whatever its called now deliberately put me through that horror just to see if I would crumple and they could save a few quid. Caring conservatives! What a joke. Ken is spot on this is a war on the poor by a government of the rich. Is this really the sort of country we want to live in?

[@simonepurdon5975]

I'm 4 months pregnant and I've been sanctioned for 2 months due to technical difficulties and not being able to access my universal credit account at the time of my work search review despite being actively applying for jobs. I called them up and I said you know I'm pregnant right? And they confirmed that yes they did. So they're even sanctioning pregnant women, it's not right

[@chrissonofpear3657]

Shameless bureaucratic tactics...

[@steve40469]

Wankers. I hope life got better for you.

[@LastButNotLeask]

Maybe the solution to present day government is to bar rich people from becoming MP's or to hold any office of power as they can not relate to the economic struggles that ordinary people face, they would have you now believe that People surviving on food banks is normal and worst still acceptable in this day and age.

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

Would that include Corbyn, whose net worth is £3 million? Why didn't he decide, at one million, that that was enough? Didn't Fidel Castro die with $900 million in the bank?

[@LastButNotLeask]

@@yorkshiremgtow1773 especially him

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

@@LastButNotLeask 👍😀

[@UnknownUser-by4le]

@@yorkshiremgtow1773 the issues isn’t the richies people have worked for it the dehumanisation and barbering treatment to those who need help and support.

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

@@UnknownUser-by4le Well, you may be right, but which dehumanisation are you referring to?

[@fingerscrossed2453]

what the hell is this mp talking about? he hadn't seen the film, yet said it was "unrealistic". 1 million one hundred thousand hungry people. that MP is uncaring and a horrible person. he has no idea of what occurs in the real world whatsoever. I would be sickened to live in his constituency. what a disgusting human being. so out of touch with the real world - he should visit a food bank (he could do with skipping a meal and donating it to an organisation!)

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

How do you know that 1 million, 100,000 people are actually hungry?

[@juliehurst7382]

Of course hes seen the film ......sack him put him on the dole will not be missed as does nothing anyway.......

[@goose7631]

My mouth fell wide open when Kwasi responded. That explains why years later as Chancellor he immediately reduced taxation to the rich and financially crippled the rest of us. Ken and credit to the author are truly remarkable. Ken we salute you.

[@colindoherty1891]

This film will never get on Netflix it's too true to life

[@deborahcollard4560]

Well said Ken! Lack of services designed to help the sick and vulnerable is another factor combined with rising rents and housing shortage complete the ptcrure.

[@PompeyChris71]

So what will Kwasi Kwarteng do if he gets ousted at the next election? How long will the riches he has gained as an MP last? I really hope he finds himself on the breadline and at a foodbank. No doubt his ancestors would not agree with his comments.

[@UnknownUser-by4le]

Why because he is black? Not all black people have come from Poverty

[@mick947]

The mystery of life to me is how someone like Kwarteng can nonchalantly defend his lack of empathy. It’s just staggeringly cruel. We’re heading towards a very unequal society while the ‘centrist’ dominated Labour Party fight about how to keep their chosen lackey in power.

[@L_Martin]

Kwarteng went to prep school, then Eton, then Cambridge. Comes from a wealthy family. It's incredibly easy for these people to have no empathy and feel fine about it. They never learned how to humanise the poor. It's like the poor are a different, lower species to them.

[@garymckeon5410]

wether you agree with ken loach s politics or not , i can tell you from my own experiences the clips i have seen of this film is spot on , the esa assesment bit with the stupid questions , i still have mine to show people as they just dont believe it til they see it with their own eyes , the fact that an unqualified person based on those questions can overturn doctors and hospital scans is fact , even i didnt believe when people warned me , i do now lol because thats exactly what happened to me . the constant threat of being sanctioned and having to rely on food banks to survive when something goes wrong is very real , i live on just under 4.50 a day , i cant put my heating on as then i wouldnt be able to eat properly , even though im an experienced sales manager people dont want to employ me as i have spinal compression and they dont want or need to take the risk , i understand that , but the situation im in is fucking depressing and i have worked all my life up until my back went . thats the point i would hope people would understand , it can happen to anyone at anytime , you are just an accident away from being in the same position , no one listens to you when you are in my position , its far easier to label someone and then not think about it unfortunately .

[@steve40469]

I hope life has got better for you, mate.

[@evelynwoolston7]

What Ken is portraying is 100% true. I knew a man who was dying of cancer and who was told that he was fit for work (because he wasn't in the final phase yet)! Champagne socialite? From a man who looks as if he has never gone hungry in his life?

[@capaldi38]

How dare that politician say "i doubt anyone has seen the film", I have just watched this film IN THE PRESENCE OF MR KEN LOACH and I can honestly say it was the best film I have ever seen, it is so true to life, this politician hasn't a clue about real life!!!

[@chriswolfe7830]

MP Kwarteng is living in an amazing amount of denial. Then again, most conservative politicians are the same (regardless of country). As far as their concerned, it's not them who are suffering so who cares? It's pathetic.

[@ToniHunterOne]

It's the same here in America. People who apply for disability are denied right off the bat no matter what the medical/mental health is. It's only those who can struggle through and fight it after going through 2 much greater denials before they are granted their disability. Most struggle on attempting to work sometimes finding inferior work to their experience but that puts and even greater duress on the health. It is conscious cruelty. It shouldn't be easy to receive disability but it shouldn't kill you to go through the process either. I have a friend who suffered a severe injury in a motorcycle accident. He was paralyzed from the waist down. While in coma they had to put him in a halo frame to support his cervical spine. After months of care in the hospital he needed a really good wheel chair. His insurance couldn't cover the cost because it only allowed coverage for one hard appliance and that was the halo frame. He was paralyzed from the waist down had paid his insurance premiums forever and they wouldn't cover buy him a wheel chair. Granted this isn't about disability but it is about bureaucrats in our health care.

[@Widdekuu91]

What I hate as well is that (in the best case scenario) some local friends and family then chip in to get him a secondhand wheelchair (not good enough to last long, but at least something) and then everyone forgets about the government and claps their hands and goes; 'Jeeeeej for the community! Fix it together guys! We're all in this togeeeeether..lalala!' Our president Mark Rutte said that the best thing about the Netherlands was that we 'cared for eachother' and 'brought the neighbour a pan of soup if she was ill.' And that we had to do that 'more often' because we 'needed each other' in hard times like these where things got more expensive and there were moneytroubles. Firstofall, we don't bring the neighbour soup unless she makes clear she needs it and second, that pan of soup was a symbolic metaphor for suggesting it was better if the poor helped the poor and so the rich didn't have to do anything and give no money.

[@GoldieDawn]

Kwasi Kwarteng hasn't got a scoobie. x :)

[@JoeGreen-ys4xh]

It's shocking how relevant this interview (and film) still is in 2024. Ken Loach was right on the money on every level and how could people not have thought that would still be the case 7 years later?

[@therealKINDLE]

Must we have this argument time after time? Everyone knows this shit is happening, but they just.. don't.. care. They only care about money, & people who have lots of it. This is the way things (barely) work under the current system. It's like the great depression of the 1930's. People were starving, dying of the cold; utterly destitute. It's not as though vegetables stopped growing ffs. It was MONEY that created that scarcity. We need a NEW economy that provides every human being with everything they need for basic survival. An RBE. (Resources-Based Economy) Otherwise this society shall continue to punish those most vulnerable the more & more our resources are squandered. Support the Scientists & Engineers planning this new system now. Please.

[@Dogboy73]

Ken Loach is right, Tory MP is wrong. Out of touch, typical Tory.

[@heliotropezzz333]

@Paul Judkins Divide and rule is their tactic.

[@timheavyable]

It is happening everywhere,world bank and all financial institutions are lobbying politicians with the hope of dismantling the welfare system,this creating an underclass of cheap labour which will in turn reduce the minimum wage,allow for zero hour contracts and eroding hard fought for workers rights,not benefits,RIGHTS.And let's not forget the need by businesses to have a certain amount of necessary unemployed,it creates competition for menial jobs and allows for wage manipulation.

[@paulking9479]

And still rings true today

[@specialsnowfake6744]

The way the MP disregards the movie and then talks bollocks is part of the problem.

[@LoraineAdcock]

'broadly' this government is cruel and does not want the votes of people on welfare which is why we have austerity which only affects the people on welfare, party politics is cruel

[@ggggg-h9s]

Keeping people dependent on the state is the cruelest form of charity.

[@trnbutcher5780]

+Eric Watchtower Absolutely heartless. If you are too ill to work, either physically or mentally, without lifetime support from the State you simply cannot live. Should Daniel Blake have been left to starve to death in the street?

[@jennyhughes4474]

+Eric Watchtower: yes, they should see what we CAN do and give that (give us, our lives/skills) VALUE. We ALL have things to offer, we must ensure that our skills don't go to waste and we can use them to help ourselves AND help others/enrich others' lives. As an old old friend said some years ago: 'help you help me help us' or something, can't remember. I'm not saying anything new or clever and not me who thought of this = LOADS more clever people than me been saying the same things for decades, centuries. Yes: we're doing a bit better than the workhouses of Dickens' time but the poverty and despair are as real now as they were then - and there are MILLIONS of us and the world's money is owned and controlled by an even smaller % now, I think?

[@ggggg-h9s]

heartless!! unlike some I genuinely care.

[@ggggg-h9s]

@Aaron NoneYa I genuinely care... unemployment is a great scourge on society.... But I see nothing from the political-left that offers any workable solution it's all slogans insults and bolshevik BS...

[@stephendavison2686]

well said ken.

[@MrMalikshabaz403]

Kwarteng: 'I've not seen it (the film)'. Also Kwarteng: 'It's not reflecting reality'.

[@inspectortanzi]

Kwarteng's never been one for reality.

[@mummyd1990]

Ken is absolutely bang on,that film is brilliant very sad in parts though.

[@mikejohnson7696]

Time for Loach or another to make a documentary on this.

[@stephendavidyates]

Ken is 100% right in his assessment of where the left is now and how strong it was within Corbyn’s Labour Party. He is right when he says the left must, through uniting, build a strong movement that could potentially become the largest political force in Britain. What we need now is for him and others to establish that trade Union led movement and for us to support it. I’m willing to go out and campaign for such a movement and, if necessary, represent it in some way in my area (east Kent). There could be very little time between now and the next election, so this must happen now! We can discuss politics till the cows come home, but it won’t give us the authority to change our society for good. Action now!

[@pdn-vd5om]

I agree with Ken Loach.

[@M4M1610]

We love you Ken What a great guy you are,speaking for all of us at the bottom

[@lawrnc]

Kwarteng says we cannot base our opinion on cases, and less than ten seconds later he replies that he has met people in his constituency. Such lack of coherence. Typical politician!

[@gbjanuary]

Get out and vote labour to end welfare cuts and sanctions. JC4PM

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

Vote Labour to dig us further and further into a national debt which we will never, ever be able to get ourselves out of, and just borrow more money to pay back what we've borrowed before. We'll never get back to the circumstances of the financial year 1996-1997, where the government's annual borrowing was £0.

[@yorkshiremgtow1773]

@Jo Bloggs All governments are corrupt. Offering to quite literally give voters other people's money is corruption, and that's what politicians do. We cannot possibly sustain this level of welfare in the long-term.

[@d2ez695]

Well well well. My how chickens come home to roost. It’s 2023. One of these men is currently being celebrated with his last film, for a life of extraordinary art well lived. The other lambasted as the worst and shortest chancellor in history, after an extraordinary failure of judgement and competency.

[@milo2324]

He should make movie called I, refugee Mohamed Blake. Show his journey from opressed and war torn country like France to paradise England and how he gets treated by Authorities and where he ends up living!

[@bbarbiconi]

How an incredibly talented film director speaks for people and how a system clown denies facts.

[@danielmcguinness6192]

Thanks for caring and speaking out

[@gatgoggle]

Perhaps the scale & suffering isn't that bad!? & No surprise Kwasi doesn't know the figures or stories.

[@Nick-cy2tn]

All MP's should be tested as to whether they are "fit to work"

[@laetitialogan2017]

God blessxyou Ken..❤❤🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@dathoneladrel964]

Ken Loach telling it as it is, as always - good work, brother! As for Kwasi Kwarteng, I would have hoped that as a black man he'd have had more self respect than to be used by the Tory toffs in this way, i.e. to make them seem more inclusive and egalitarian; where's your pride, mate?

[@gbjanuary]

If you are sick and disabled or having learning disabilities then it is even crueler the Tories should be ashamed.

[@christdaviesfilms]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@nathandts3401]

7 years later, we're about to rid ourselves of the Tories, but the electorate chose to get Brexit done instead of nationalisation, regional investment banks and maintaining a safety net that houses and feeds the poor.

[@oranjelibertine]

Yikes. Who’s watching in September 2022?! Things are getting worse! And kwasi is here too!

[@mrneutral8423]

My only hope is that people watch this and see how ill-treated people are and maybe... just maybe start standing up against these Tory policies.

[@Coqui-Media]

Ken Loach is a HERO!!!! Anyone who disputes the events portrayed in i, Daniel Blake needs to have a taste of this kind of life for just a day but even there, they would not feel an effing thing!!!

[@timbo7762]

i wonder which prep school and private school MP Kwarteng he went to, he has never even seen hardship (not his fault) but he hasn't tried to go into these situations the film touches on

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Mr Loach needs to film a Social Update on the situations of 2020-2023.

[@MrDavey2010]

Ken Loach Ken Loach is one of the best film directors in the UK. His films are eloquent, thought-provoking, and deeply moving. They are also deeply realistic. The Tory MP should be ashamed of himself.

[@markthomasbrand2988]

Kwarteng voice sounds exactly like Boris Johnson's. Maybe he is Boris in a mask and bodysuit.