Man who married daughter of billionaire tells Brits: ‘you don’t get anything without hard work'

James O'Brien offers his analogy on the necessity of the 'safety net' of the welfare system as the Tories set out their plan to attack 'sick note culture'.
James speaks to caller Zack, as they express their 'anger' at the Tories' action on 'sick note culture'.
Caller Nicky, who works for a work and health programme, explains how she
feels that the DWP is just a 'money making scheme'.
Setting out his plans during a speech in London on Friday, the Prime Minister detailed his "moral mission" to stop "fraudsters" from exploiting "the natural compassion and generosity of the British people".
Waging war on those exploiting loopholes, the PM's proposed overhaul of the benefits system saw him reject suggestions that his welfare reforms lacked compassion.
The Prime Minister said: "Some people no doubt will hear this speech and accuse me of lacking compassion, of not understanding the barriers people face in their everyday lives.
Adding: "There is nothing fair about expecting taxpayers to support those who could work but choose not to."
Listen to the full show on Global Player: app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/...
#jamesobrien #sicknotes #nhs #LBC
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[@riccidolan]

A billionaire should never run a country.

[@brianjacob8728]

billionaires should never exist in the first place.

[@poplife123]

Well technically he's not running the country..... He's making himself richer .... That's all he's about now..... They're done.

[@hg82met]

A billion is so big that for most people it's a hypothetical number. It's a thousand millions. Here are some stats to contrast with the billionaire PM who's lecturing us today: "almost half of Brits (46%) have £1,000 or less in savings, and a quarter of Brits (25%) have £200 or less. 1 in 6 UK adults (16%) have no savings at all."

[@jamessteel9016]

They believe they are born to rule.

[@ItsSafehands]

@@brianjacob8728 I was going to say exactly that. A billionaire is a prime example of a society going/gone wrong.

[@mickeyhynes]

If hard work made you rich, then every woman in Africa would be a millionaire.

[@alanrogers9597]

Agreed, It seems a much harder life than in northern Europe, but we pay taxes which keeps us all in line

[@MrBrownstick]

😂

[@stewartjones2173]

'Ere 'Ere. Women are the backbone and sinew of Africa.

[@thecultofjohnnydelr.soulsw7010]

Brilliant ✅

[@cici2716]

💯

[@Drew.P.Todger]

We need to tax the rich not the disabled. F the tories.

[@ladygaynor16]

Spot on! This new idea of rishi sunak's is totally back to front and extremely punitive!

[@Musicch-gi8ej]

Especially the super rich billionaires

[@JeffreyPullen-lp4oe]

Well said

[@michaeladkins6]

@@ladygaynor16 He made for than the King last year.

[@amarkhan2593]

£21 Billion has been lost to government fraud and waste under PM Rishi Sunak. Is there going to be any accountability?

[@rb1062]

Agree with you there. I don't know the figure lost under "Covid" and PPE but it must be huge.

[@christineshepherd367]

Exactly but they get let off and never spoken about.its in someone's bank ready for them to flea the country with their dual passport.

[@wills4794]

No . The establishment media won't allow it

[@user-py9vz6qx2h]

No there is not going to be any accountability at all.

[@user-vj4hs3li8d]

and the rest?

[@redordead4491]

VOTE THE TORIES OUT!!! 12 YEAR'S OF TELLING US WE HAVE TO WORK HARD!! While they've never worked a day in their lives!!! 😤

[@connorradcliffe1769]

they even openly sleep in their chairs while discussing the country's problems

[@subhashmamtora8266]

Not 12 but 14 year, the crooks Dodgy Dave and George Osborne started to dismantle the entire decency that British people were once known to be.

[@56postoffice]

14 years. Came into power 2010. Yes, I know it was a coalition with the Lib Dems but it all counts.

[@khanohmss]

And the alternative is??? More of the same but a different colour - red or yellow??

[@mikehall7189]

14 surely.

[@fahmad7194]

An unelected person should never run a country

[@chatham43]

@fahmad Well at least we have elections in this country.

[@nicholawilson8555]

Fahmad I agree 👍

[@Grogeous_Maximus]

@@chatham43 True, but *not* having Chinese or Russian conditions isn't goot enough

[@deliciouslyk3437]

Fahmad was right, he was not elected. Placed by default after Bojo won the votes to return according to the1922 Back Bench Commission but along with 2 others was adviced to stand back; so Sunak could've become PM.​@@chatham43

[@jonb3311]

He is an elected MP - we do not have elections for Prime Ministers, Presidents, etc - because that isn't how this country operates.

[@marierandall1414]

The unelected politician who married multimillionaire kicking the poorest in the country makes me sick!

[@jschreiber6461]

Actually he WAS elected, by his constituency, he is an MP, and, he was selected by elected tory MPs to lead the party, excluding paid tory party members where so many paid up members are not even uk citizens or resident but had influence. Excluding that foreign influence and only allowing UK MPs to vote for party leader annoyed many, but there was no option after Truss torpedoed the UK pensions & bond market, resulting in the BoE having to jack up interest rates on everyone and underwrite the losses, borne by the taxpayer. However the mess was so great that the other contenders wisely backed away, as it seemed a massive immediate crash was almost inevitable. Ok, so he averted that, but it’s still a sinking ship… and whomever inherits it will still have a sinking ship, because without export volumes (ie increased units of stuff, not fewer less competitive units, it’s still headed for the poor house).

[@Freedom4Palestine3672]

​@@jschreiber6461he was endorsed by a few Tories as a candidate for the leadership. He won by default as the other candidates eventually withdrew their candidacy. Facts matter.

[@ladygaynor16]

I agree. This political party kick the most vulnerable when they are down! Most cowardly in my opinion.

[@Michael-sq5gn]

@@Freedom4Palestine3672 As was Gordon Brown? Didn't hear you whining then? It's the same procedure for both parties! Doh!

[@Freedom4Palestine3672]

@@Michael-sq5gn "Didn't see me whining then". Err, what made you assume I endorsed Gordon Brown, or indeed that I support Labour? Aside from the fact you're inferring that you've been keeping tabs on me for the past 17 years! What an odd and inane comment to make...

[@MyPain07]

Unfortuntely the British public is so soft, they will eventually just sit and accept these things. When do we stand up like the French do???

[@clareclemens4849]

I agree. We should be out on the streets now. We just moan and groan

[@marigoldwhite867]

That's British people sadly its just not in us but surely we cd show them at the ballot box ? Out i forgot u need photo IF to vote another draconian measure

[@pinkdiamond1847]

I would but I can't because I have work.

[@lindsayives4915]

Just one person it takes jst one to stand up and take a lead to demand ppl follow join togther .

[@markcarlon8558]

I agree with you totally, us British, we have a moan about it, and just accept it, we should try and do something about it like the people in other countries do, but we don't, your right we should get off our bums and at least try and do something about things that we don't agree with.

[@davidbell217]

When Tories get desperate they go for the poorest in society, disgusting!!!

[@In_Paradiso58]

🎯

[@markwelch3564]

They've already done that, they are working their way through everyone else now

[@CaroleEvans93436]

I was a registered general nurse and I ended up finishing work due to a spinal injury. I am living (existing) on one meal a day! I didn't qualify for any cost of living payments because I wasn't on income related benefits. However, someone who has never worked, got help.....even people on low wages and UC got the cost of living payments

[@daftgowk1]

Blame the voters down south

[@MrSmith_]

Unfortunately, desperation doesn't stop them. They always vilify the most poorest and vulnerable in society.

[@davidmccann9811]

In the UK you don't get anything WITH hard work either.

[@oswiu7033]

Yes, conscientious workers are often taken advantage of by co-workers, supervisors and managers.

[@100daysofmeh]

Unless you stole ppe?

[@dannygmtg]

@@oswiu7033don’t you mean company shareholders?

[@evertonfrancis640]

Nonsense you get plenty with hard work such as low pay and poor conditions

[@Ryoko007]

I know😢 it's so hard😢 I hate the tories😢😢

[@darylsmith4267]

The problem in the UK currently is, you don’t get anything WITH hard work!

[@sarahbarrett1247]

You do get a small amount of NI given back to you, only for a larger chunk of income tax to be taken off. And think yourself grateful 😂

[@carlarthur4442]

Yep after 50 years of working still just paying my way .

[@darylsmith4267]

@@carlarthur4442 Same!

[@janetmalcolm6191]

Bit rich from Rishi then.

[@stephenblanchard8973]

...er think you'll find that the wealth of the mega rich has increased massively in the last fourteen years....heard some caller on here last year saying the cost of living crisis was a myth...he was asked what he did....said he was a coach driver and was doing well..there you have it....

[@jake90052]

Imagine waking up in the morning and thinking "today, I'm going to frighten disabled people, that'll win me votes!"... imagine going door to door campaigning that!?

[@bunglejoy3645]

Well someone like that is narcasstic tendancies

[@suzyqualcast6269]

They already did just that, Osborne backed by IDS.

[@jake90052]

@@suzyqualcast6269 i was studying journalism at that time, it was shocking how many sanctioned people were going missing. People were getting their benefits stopped, and they just disappeared off the grid. It was like a horror

[@janetmalcolm6191]

They want benefits gone.

[@rbaxter286]

It'll win the votes of the few thousand vulture capitalists who ACTUALLY elected you!

[@jackplane7408]

The biggest reason why the Tories should be voted out

[@leannesimpson5975]

💯

[@chatham43]

@jack So not Stalmer..and I can understand why.

[@chatham43]

@whey What do you think I mean? Give it a try and the penny might drop.

[@esseker6320]

​@@chatham43Who's Stalmer 🤔.

[@esseker6320]

​@@wheyayeman404Well said.

[@alanrogers1963]

The Tories always have a 5 point plan on everything, here’s my 5 Rishi. 1. Call an Election 2. Resign 3. Hand back all the money you stole 4. Get all your friends to return stolen taxpayer money 5. Never stand as a politician again

[@tasha24-7]

Bravo, I vote for you!.... maybe this is all a cunning plan to destroy the Tory party forevermore.......

[@brownsparlour9813]

Never gonna happen.

[@mobsiesixsixsix9785]

@@brownsparlour9813 Well, not with people like you around.

[@thNdrdAVE]

Probably, u need to teach the same to ur shameless Royal Family of UK about your point 3

[@brownsparlour9813]

@@thNdrdAVE at last someone with sense 👍

[@alantheinquirer7658]

Taking medical assessments away from DOCTORS and giving it to unqualified bureaucrats is a clear sign that the DWP are going to stop giving benefits that people are entitled to.

[@user-cd1fe9rr6s]

That's why after 15-16years with a lung condition I don't apply for anything as I have been refused twice after getting kicked off ESA.

[@defaultbrownie]

They already do that! I had to TAKE THEM COURT! They they have the cheek to use your school grades against you. Then they backed out from court because I SENT THEM AS MUCH PROOF AS POSSIBLE. COWARDS.

[@Emilyb21-dm3bf]

They already do that if you're long term I'll like how can you go to meet someone from dss if you have ms and can't walk . All they do is tich boxes it's not assessed by doctor and it pretty much unless you havr been recently hospitalised ignores grief stress and mental health.

[@user-cd1fe9rr6s]

The 2 assessment's I was unsuccessful with where done over the phone, which at the time I was unable to hold the phone to my ear due to shoulder pain. I was told at this point that I couldn't put it on speaker due to an echo on their end. To top it off I had the same person do my assessment on my ESA and the 2 PIP claims.

[@mary-christinemichel7682]

It’s already started. I know someone who works with the soup run feeding the homeless and they are being taken off benefits by this unqualified quango daily. Homelessness and suicides will escalate.

[@arthurdixon5890]

I’m 74 years old and still work full time. I am lucky to be still fit enough to work. I do not begrudge sick or struggling people living on state benefits. By next year I will have paid 58 years worth of tax. I believe in that safety net for others.

[@jschreiber6461]

🫡

[@sharonsmith381]

Total Respect to you, bless you ❤

[@sjla2009]

Thankyou

[@arthurdixon5890]

@@sjla2009 No thanks required. I could have needed help over my lifetime but have been lucky to be OK. I am a great believer in the safety net the welfare state provides. I don’t take kindly to the comments made by Rishi saying he wants Doctors to be unable to decide on a persons fitness for work. Doctors have our best interest at heart and it is based on the best outcomes for their patients. Best wishes…

[@JonotJoe66]

Being disabled, unable to work and poor I can say the safety net is full of holes cut into it by the tories 🤬🤬🤬

[@devianadkar7969]

A single person can get pip, lcwra, a top up if living alone with high rates pip, reduced council tax, grants for additions to property, lots of concessions elsewhere, how can anyone be poor? Even with all these supposed disability benefits you could still work and recieve them. A bit misleading.

[@davidwalsh8127]

@@devianadkar7969 Have you ever had to claim for benefits when you are ill or disabled?

[@allnamestakenisnot]

@@devianadkar7969 You have someone here living it, telling you they are poor and you still doubt them. Pathetic. I also know and deal with the finances and paperwork of a family member on pip/lcwra. Its just enough to be pay for your existence and be poor.

[@YesItsRickySpanish]

​@@devianadkar7969lacking mental faculties I see

[@JonotJoe66]

@@devianadkar7969 spoken like someone who hasn't dreaded an assessment or sanction and nothing put aside "in case of emergency" or savings. When I say poor it means when I get paid I've already run out of money. Local housing allowance has increased, yeah, so has my rent, by exactly the same amount this month, no help there then. Talking of increases, so has my council tax, bills and food, just because inflation has slowed down doesn't mean everything stopped going up. I worked for years, up until my car crash, then retrained and got a job I could do until it became to painful, then reduced my hours, until it became to painful. Being unable to go out, to work or socialise is bearable for a few months, mind numbingly boring after, downright, literally depressing after years. Hope you don't get neck ache looking down your nose at me, oh sorry, guess I kinda do, even though it won't be a fraction of the pain I put up with day in, day out.

[@niccolamachiavelli8094]

I was off work following a hernia operation. After a period of recuperation, I was asked by my employer to see the company "doctor" who, on examining my wound, said, "That looks fine, I think you can come back to work on Monday". I had an appointment with my own GP two days later and advised him what the "doctor" had said. He responded by saying," Well, does he know your medical history, does he know you are a Type Two diabetic and that wounds take longer to heal. No, he doesn't, so I, as your GP , know your medical history am signing you off for another week." Only people who know your medical history should decide if you are fit for work or not.

[@MsPeabody1231]

I once had to threaten to report an occupational health doctor to the GMC due to their editing of a report from a specialist. I was advised to do this by a doctor friend. The threat worked as strangely the occupational health doctor did another edit and drew the same conclusions as the specialist.

[@grahamsmith2022]

It's almost as if the employer is paying the occupational health doctor............ On a grimmer note as a trade unionist I've been told that an occupational health " doctor" can over rule the family doctor as they "specialise" in work orientated illness but they cannot over rule a specialist as their expertise is seen to be above any doctor.

[@devianadkar7969]

This puts huge pressure on already stretched doctors. Different doctors do have different opinions. I fail to believe your health history was not disclosed to your company doctor.

[@jimbowers8278]

@@devianadkar7969 The patient needs to give permission. It's all on the BMA's website.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Thank you so much for sharing 🙏. I’m off work waiting for my hernia operation. Ironically I work for the NHS. It’s been 6 months and it’s painful as f**k. Alongside complications with Crohns Disease my life is currently upside down. Does the government expect me to go back to work lifting patients and changing their beds? Seriously?

[@marktony9737]

Here we go again. The tories are turning the working class against those who have less. Don't fall for. Don't get angry with those who have less. Get very angry with those who have more, a lot more.

[@janetbrown6409]

Im severely disabled from super fit to paraplega with severe problems due to spinal cord injury and i now feel paranoid that people look down on me after all this x

[@Nusaybah459]

I will never understand why the Brits have not come together to demonstrate against all these rules placed on us by wealthy politicians. When we are sick, we cant afford to get quality treatment from private health care. The food we can afford is not organic. We have food banks. People cannot afford to buy homes, we are trapped in life long interest payments. We get the bare minimum interms of care for love ones. We Brits are suffering, why do we allow this?.

[@DonnaHetherington]

Because we're slaves

[@Jokerjaxs]

I know it’s time for a change .

[@angeladallimore8079]

BIG CHANGES COMING

[@mohammednaheem7358]

Sunak is extremely vile.

[@joseph9074]

Speaks the truth

[@Anime-Face.]

not as vile as khan

[@HShango]

​@@Anime-Face.Sunak is vile, end of discussion.

[@mohammednaheem7358]

He has to go, the man is a compulsive liar. As a Prime Minister he has failed, miserably.

[@Anime-Face.]

@HShango Seems like you are projecting about yourself 🤐

[@majorgrumpybum3161]

it's just an excuse to give more taxpayers money to private firms whilst persecuting the ill

[@rb1062]

The "conspiracy theorists" have been talking of a growing global corporate form of communism for years. A transfer of wealth from the likes of us to the global 'elite'. I wonder if people are waking up, now. Now the consequences are being felt.

[@edkemp6287]

billions more will be handed to the same foreign corporations: capita, atos, serco, etc all who get repeated contracts after failing to achieve their stated contractual obligations

[@kariHopwood]

I have worked all of my adult life. I am now disabled. I am in constant pain. So if Rich Richi has his way I can go back to work, losing my PIP. So I do one day, then I am off sick for 4 weeks, with no wages or PIP payments, then my would be employer fires me. I would then have to re-apply for PIP, which would take a year or more. (I fought the Gestapo in the first place) It took 2 years of unbelievable stress and anxiety, and nightmares. I was awarded enhanced on both components by the tribunal. Their aim is to eliminate the sick and disabled ie: me.

[@Queenofgreen515]

Me too 😢

[@umaspencer2119]

There should be no billionaires in a society.

[@ChristineMurphy-gs2fc]

There will always be billionaires in society. Give 10 people a million pounds you will always get the ones who spend all the money and some who make the money work for them to make more. That is human nature.

[@charmaine8512]

There is something to think about as now these billionaires are even taking the jobs that the lowest rung can do.

[@MocatafamulusdeSet]

​@@ChristineMurphy-gs2fc You're under the classic illusion that people become billionaires by acumen and 'hard work', and not by heartlessness and the greedy flouting of rules.

[@michaeldent5359]

Get SUNAK OUT NOW !!!

[@potnoogle5780]

Get Tories out!!

[@abdalleahmed4613]

The audacity of Sunak. Who is he to decide whos sick or not

[@ianoliver3130]

Well, it's certainly not going to be your doctor who decides if you're sick in future! It will be a DWP employed "Work capability assessment officer" who makes that decision - no medical qualification required.

[@moomin7461]

​@@ianoliver3130They're already doing that now.

[@deborahwyndham-lewis5188]

@@ianoliver3130Funny how they are all called ‘Officers!’ I notice that with council tax, designed to make us feel threatened

[@marigoldwhite867]

That us so true catch 22 situation

[@gmac9667]

I remember years ago when many of us were saying that the Tories are Nazis and people were saying that was absurd.

[@lizh1970]

They are

[@marigoldwhite867]

Exactly " work will set you free" sounds familiar?

[@user-pj2lu2mw7h]

I watched a video last nite pretty shocking but the caption of the police was ' the british gestapo '

[@user-fw2pp3wm2k]

So people employed to get you back to work, who know nothing about you, are now apparently more qualified than a doctor, seriously!!, this is undermining the medical profession

[@user-bd7lw6pz8d]

2020: clapping for GPs in the middle of COVID 2024: telling Gps their not qualify to write a sick notes for ill people.

[@moosky7344]

It's the politicians not qualified to run a country, only running it into the ground

[@gazmasonik2411]

Curious how Sunaks business is called thelema the religious belief created by Aleister Crowley the alleged black magician.

[@janyb1907]

I never clapped

[@BlyatimirPootin]

​@@janyb1907cool story bro

[@eveoakley6270]

@@janyb1907me neither. I cringed every Thursday 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@david-pb4bi]

He is not taking the power from GPs he is just showing his detest for the working class.

[@TheModernVictorian]

Probably the most accurate comment so far. The rest is just "Vote, hope and cope." Nice work. Hopefully you already know voting is a show for the herd.

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

replicating the Hindu caste system over here . . . . . .

[@justaquariums4095]

100%. I work in NHS and recently in the area I work there's been a massive influx of Indians- just found out from a friend and colleague that apparently sunak has under the radar signed off some sort of work and student visa deal with India to bring over more Indians. We shall soon have many more rishis running around the UK.

[@emelie87]

He's undermining all healthcare saying the private sector and regular people can determine the level of sickness of another.

[@marigoldwhite867]

I'D for voting all these new draconian laws no opposition

[@philipmolyneux3676]

He is an utter discrace, no empathy, zero care, yet billions of tax evasion, he forgets people pay into the system for years.

[@eddyhoughton6542]

I used to work for an American private company. The day I returned from convalescence after a minor operation, I was fired, despite 7 years of spotless performance. My wife worked for a French private company. The day she returned from statutory maternity leave, despite spotless performance, she was fired. The private sector DOES NOT WORK.

[@soviet700]

You shall judge a society on how it treats its most vulnerable

[@ianoliver3130]

"There's no such thing as society". We're all just individuals looking after our own selfish interests. It's not my fault you're ill.

[@moomin7461]

​@@ianoliver3130 You don't have to be selfish you know.

[@1flinns]

This is not only an attack on people out of work but an attack on all the people that do hard job's that affect long term health.

[@graceical2822]

Pensions are classed my govt. as a benefit, the wording of his statement does not exclude pensions, so that's at risk too.

[@RandomNooby]

Nailed it...

[@mrennie5158]

@@graceical2822that’s because they’re a benefit

[@alanhargreaves-thevoiceofr2361]

an attack on native british

[@Jane-rc2rk]

And those who work the hardest, doing the dirtiest jobs, get paid the least.

[@clarecollins2547]

Many many people who need benefits are just going to die. I’m so cynical that I think this is what he wants!

[@darrenwhite3103]

Of course. These people are psychopaths, they have no empathy for others at all. Just contempt for anyone who doesn’t share their opinions and wealth! Big money has corroded politics, we are in the late stage capitalism era. I can’t see how we get free of all this nonsense. It’s just going to keep replicating throughout generations unless we stand up to it all and make informed choices and vote accordingly. Unfortunately the mainstream media is lying to us constantly so it’s very hard for anyone to understand and trust politicians.

[@Rosbif06600]

People with empathy don't join the Tory party or vote for them.

[@pallascat1743]

Exactly. No one goes into the Tory party wanting to improve the lives of people living in the UK. They're not about that. They're the party for the ruling class. Being a Tory party MP affords people willing to climb the pole to power a few advantages Labour candidates don't have. First, they've spent the most time in power. Second, the mass media is well onside. Thirdly, the donors are very wealthy and that's the next job sorted.

[@briananderson8428]

Precisely! The same is true of those in the Republican Party here in the U.S.

[@Maltloaflegrande]

I wish that was true, but the sad fact is that the Tories, with the invaluable help of the client media, have created an information environment which shields many from seeing them for what they really are. The only positive we can glean from the atrocities of the last five years is that since Johnson took over, they've gone into emboldenment overdrive and it's gradually sinking in amongst many long term Tory loyalists. What a horrible price to pay though.

[@chrimbus71]

@@briananderson8428 vote for the democrats ! record inflation, record crime, record homeless and records wars!!!

[@chatham43]

@Rosbif So where do they go?....or maybe just don't vote!

[@jacobfield4848]

99% of millionaire's inherited the money.

[@rb1062]

And I'm sure you can prove this ridiculous claim!

[@YesItsRickySpanish]

​@@rb1062open your eyes

[@Elphin89]

@@rb1062most wealth is in fact inherited in some form - do your research

[@rb1062]

@@Elphin89Do enlighten me where I should do my research. By the way, I have a close relative who is a millionaire and he certainly didn't inherit it. Look at people like Philip Green, Alan Sugar, Mike Ashley. Did they inherit their wealth? I could go on. Looks like I know more about these matters than you do and that you're the one who needs to do some research.

[@rb1062]

@@YesItsRickySpanish I do. And I see people who I know personally who have made themselves millionaires. And not from.imherited wealth..Also see my reply to Elphin below.

[@Rawdil]

If a PM resigns, there should be an automatic election.

[@mterrylane819]

totally agree

[@angeladallimore8079]

Asap

[@kitfrew9983]

Time someone took the poweraway from this pseudo PM

[@alanrobinson2559]

my friend failed work assessment and was declared fit for work by a health professional and he died 6 weeks later

[@user-il6ei6vl3o]

That happened to my father. Had massive heart attack in street and died on street. Being told he was fit for work.

[@bluesunquake]

I'm sorry for your losses!

[@mikehall7189]

We know hard work doesn’t work, period. Stagnant wages , 42% of people on Universal Credit in full time work, food banks etc. It was a lie sold to us by wealthy individuals who have never worked a day in their life.

[@ianoliver3130]

In a capitalist economic system, you don't get rich by "working hard", but by owning things. The hardest working people actually get paid the least! A friend I know has 3jobs!- she is a cleaner (6-9am) care home assistant ( 10-6pm) and pub worker(8-11pm). Still has to visit the food bank .

[@flossydonnellon4893]

So by removing the GP giving you a sick note You now have to be assessed by someone from the DWP! How long before you get assessed are they impartial ? are they medically trained and are they not being coerced by government to get as many back into work ( just like PIP assessments) this Tory Government is kicking the poor and vulnerable right in to the gutter

[@marigoldwhite867]

Very true

[@pgpython]

I wouldnt trust the dwp as far as I can throw them. I had been unemployed twice. once after university and the second several years later around 2002 and both times they were completely useless in assessing my needs and helping me put together a workable action plan to find the work I would be suitable for. Nobody should be under any illusion how bad it will be if left to dwp

[@angeladallimore8079]

So why are they taking sick notes of the Gzp ? Would like to know exactly what the gp does today

[@flossydonnellon4893]

@@angeladallimore8079 The DWP will obviously be totally bias, siding with the notion that sick people are trying to fleece the system , whereas a GP , will be dealing with medical issues , the DWP will be looking at financial costing

[@woodngames]

Why are we all sitting here letting this continue. WE ARE THE PEOPLE.

[@amireid2466]

Yes we must take to the streets in protest

[@mterrylane819]

@@amireid2466 people will rise up, hopefully when its not too late

[@thedevilsreject23]

Absolutely disgusting! Talk about kicking us when we are down! He had zero fooking clue what the normal person has to go through- he’s never survived on rice and stock cubes after being so broke even working full time! It’s about time he was removed asap!!!

[@1gerard47]

To somewhere he can't return from.

[@johnrussell3961]

The Tories have made the UK a miserable place to work in. It not surprising workers are stressed out and need help.

[@seamus7054]

They want young people to work hard for minimum wage, but without any incentives. Why would you work hard, pay a fortune in child care, be unable to get on the property ladder. I'm not a young person, but as much as I think that everyone should work I don't blame them for playing the system. An intelligent government would encourage people to work, not flog them with taxes and remove any sense of a future.

[@patrikfloding7985]

And now they have locked us in into the country as well…

[@janeday9148]

It is obscene that people who have huge inherited unearned privilege want extremely poor people to live in squalor ,that's not my country we will not go back to that Sunak

[@sulalee7413]

That Scottish registrar is so right. I was an HR manager in a civil service department and over the 20 years watched mental health decline as the unions were smashed and options for help and surprise disappeared. Sunak is a rich man's son in law, doing all he can get grab as much money from our country before taking a place at his father in law's multibillionaire dollar company.

[@debbiefox4439]

Yes in india

[@gtijohn69]

Putting it politely, Sunak and all of his cronies need to "Go Away" to oblivion NOW.

[@theelephantintheroom8016]

The greed is only outweighed by the cruelty!

[@mterrylane819]

sunak is a self absorbed man,gains his riches on the backs of others misfortune, a sorry tale withj a sad end i fear

[@fang_xianfu]

I had an employee who went home sick one afternoon out of the blue and never came back. She had terminal cancer and was off sick for 3 years getting treatment. Fortunately this was in France so she kept her employment benefits the entire time and the company's insurance policy paid her 90% of her salary until she died. She had only recently entered the country and didn't yet have the paperwork to entitle her to free healthcare, but the man at the hospital in charge of the system fiddled the hospital paperwork so she didn't have to pay out of pocket and claim it back once the backdated paperwork arrived. That's what Sunak wants to tear up.

[@evelbsstudio]

Politicians should not be linked or have shares in companies, this is a conflict of interest.

[@NatureSymphonicMusic]

He truly is a despicable person, absolutely disgusting telling people in the safety net they don't deserve it. A man who will never know what is to use the safety net. GET THE TORIES OUT!!

[@AB-sem]

When was the last time a right wing government did anything positive?

[@NicolaMcElwee]

never.

[@user-sx3pc4dj3r]

Right wing??? 😂😂😂 Most progressive and diverse government ever!

[@chatham43]

@AB...depends what you mean by positive?..which is a relative term anyway.

[@zoranblackie5921]

@@user-sx3pc4dj3r Performatively diverse, yet xenophobic (a la Suella and Kemi), economically regressive, had been socially progressive till Boris, but now trying to get by on punching down

[@actually-will1606]

@@zoranblackie5921at least boris was even marginally committed to improving the environment

[@gladiator22666]

How does he know what a hard days work is ? I’ve been self employed working in construction for 40 years . I’m worn out , back is shot , knees are shot ….basically I’m worn out . They keep taking everything from the working man and moving the retirement age so we won’t get there ……now if we are sick we can’t get help ! Not so Great Britain

[@jennifersivewright3117]

He hasn’t a clue. I worked 15 hour days, 7 days a week for my Dad, on his building site. In all weathers. I had been hit by a car before that. I also got a degree and have done lots of different jobs, including being a professional librarian. I now work on a Jobcentre and I can totally empathise with people like yourself. People are often surprised that a woman in her late 50s, behind a desk has the experience I have.

[@mterrylane819]

its little consolation, itotally agree , you are so right,

[@gladiator22666]

@@mterrylane819 👍

[@Sasha-ce4tu]

Companies will NOT TAKE PEOPLE ON WHO CAN NOT FULLFIL A JOB

[@mterrylane819]

we cant say the same when it comes to politics though

[@ThomasKing19933]

Sunak will never be able to connect with normal everyday people. He lives in a different universe.

[@tinormous-road2gains13]

Factual information

[@davidedwards1476]

So does your Mr O'Brien, remember he is a multimillionaire lefty as per normal mouthing off about Tories 😒

[@CarlWheatley-wi2cl]

and O'Brien does?, who DESPISES the actual majority working class.

[@DonMCR99]

​@@CarlWheatley-wi2cl how do you work that out?

[@rubberyowen1469]

@@davidedwards1476 Totally agree but you won't get many on this leftist woke brigade page that will agree with you.

[@qs5523]

He gave billions to firms in covid grants and also for PPE that was ultimately binned

[@tonybrett5209]

Has it been binned? Thought it was costing £1m a day in Storage fees in Sea Containers (belonging to a Tory donor)?

[@XTRAIT-em4rx]

@qs5523 - No, he didn't.. It's was all of us who financially paid to firms during Covid and for PPE.

[@RoofLight00]

@@tonybrett5209 Guess who’ll be picking up the tab for all of this, it won’t be the Tory donor…

[@Neil-qg9cw]

​@@XTRAIT-em4rxYes, but he personally signed our money away. Should be in jail for life for massive fraud in public office.

[@XTRAIT-em4rx]

@Neil-qg9cw - He had a very difficult job to simply sign the inevitable. Though, I agree with you totally.

[@rrw00]

Nobody would be on sickness benefit for 50 years if they didn't have an underlying mental health issue at least. Nobody chooses poverty.

[@Samirahassan3094]

Man who is healthy and married with rich woman is mocking sick people and claiming they are fit go work 😢😢

[@morganbartfield5457]

the elephant in the room that no tory ever mentions is the way the mentally disabled people are treated by a lot pf employers. who wants to collect trolleys or stack shelves for 30 years with absolutely no chance of promotion? lets not pretend that the disabled are given incentive to look for work. they are treated appallingly in the uk. the fact that the govt are getting away with this villification with no opposiition proves my point entirely.

[@NicolaMcElwee]

My brother got hurt on the job, he begged the doctor to be allowed to go back to work because he couldn't afford to stay off, needless to say he went back and did himself more damage doing so. He's now long term sick and has nothing.

[@markrhodes3983]

I am so sorry for your brother. It's really hard in his situation and also really hard for the family.

[@MR-intel]

The UK decided to become Little America... here are the concequences. OMG!

[@pinkdiamond1847]

It's becoming America, but without the freedom.

[@MR-intel]

@@pinkdiamond1847 What freedom?

[@noelhanna6432]

I did loads of unpaid overtime in the public sector. Hard work earned me nothing; not even respect. I was treated with disdain.

[@catherinemartin6258]

The Tory’s make me sick

[@TheModernVictorian]

What about the system that belies the puppet-show parties tory, conservative etc.. Or do you not believe in that? Another "Vote, hope and cope." Pathetic.

[@stevenknill2179]

You need a note then!😂

[@johncoffey724]

​@@stevenknill2179😂😂😂😂

[@lawrencevincent1]

@@stevenknill2179 aren't these tories pathetic.

[@Cazgirl-hq4hi]

@@stevenknill2179yeah,and they need a vote..one that sends them out of office .

[@rialobran]

Unelected billionaire telling working people they are the problem, laughable if it wasn't true. Take money out of politics.

[@tans430]

And, as far as I know, the problem the UK has is not a 'sick note culture', the problem the UK has is actually the opposite. In other words, people going into work when sick.

[@sisuguillam5109]

Exactly.

[@skuawatali3111]

This man rishi has no empathy no soul and no humanity .

[@jamesparks4893]

I am an American and we have the exact same problem. Rich people running government and trying to rip apart our safety net. How do WE fix this cyclical nightmare? VOTE THEM OUT.

[@debnbhuy]

Have a revolution ??

[@stephenmills7061]

An Evolution Revolution, the most peaceful of all Revolutions as it has to do with the mind. Until you change our Cultural Story nothing will change.

[@youngsalmon5188]

Yes make sure Trump never gets in again !

[@ThomasD7244]

That's why Americans have to keep the republicans out of government or else the same thing will happen there as happening here under the conselfservatives.

[@breakingbadheisenberg9703]

It was bombed by Reagan and Clinton signed the Death certificate.

[@kitglare8800]

My son is autistic, physically he is fit, but he struggles with many things, in the last 3 months his PIP has been questioned 3 times,. I am at a loss to understand how his autism will suddenly disappear and he can live a normal life. Last assessor who I spoke to on his behalf I speculated that Jesus had come back to earth and performed miracles, she didn't think that was funny. It is exhausting, it is tantamount to abuse and I would like it to end but it doesn't seem to, ever

[@hiperson7593]

What's PIP?

[@patriciawhite619]

@@hiperson7593personal independence payment I believe…

[@TT-fn1xb]

@@hiperson7593 Personal Independence Payment. There to help people with disabilities fund the extras in life when you have a disability.

[@TheModernVictorian]

Sorry, but that comes with being dependent on the state. Google the word dependent.

[@Mannahnation]

That’s so awful for you you should ask that he doesn’t get reassessed because his needs are unlikely to change and these assessments can be traumatising and anxiety provoking. If he did not have you as an advocate what would happen? . I’ve heard of people who because of head injuries have no insight into their difficulties talking themselves out of benefits they desperately need because the assessors have targets to reduce costs …. Brutal system, brutal government

[@Bubbasmum]

Creating another contract worth millions to hand over to his mates. They are already preparing their bids. Yet more corruption.

[@mterrylane819]

indeed

[@kalim3238]

Our systems are already broken. N he still wants to break us more. This guy man

[@user-jc4lb5mm7x]

What would he know about work, he's never worked in his life.

[@chatham43]

@user Depends what you mean by work?

[@MrPokemonisawesome]

The DWP employees health care professionals?? are you sure? When I got assessed for PIP, the person ''assessing'' me had to GOOGLE my condition and didnt listen to how it affects my life and how it COULD affect it lin the future

[@Samirahassan3094]

This is very true 👍 they are the most liar on earth they don’t know anything .😢

[@charcolew]

Rishi: "YOU don't get anything without hard work, I get everything through the hard work of others, and that means YOU."

[@DurkDiggler75]

Mental health will Quadruple

[@pyrosdestiny]

13 years of Tory misery

[@lindaevans8044]

14 years!!!!

[@annepoitrineau5650]

no, 14 years.

[@rb1062]

After 13 years of Nu Labour misery.

[@ohyeah2816]

@@rb1062Vote Labour.👍🏼✌🏼

[@sarahbarrett1247]

@@rb1062at least with New Labour we didn’t worry about our kids schools or the NHS. Waiting lines disappeared. Nurses and doctors weren’t working in conditions similar to war zones. Schools could function with healthy budgets and could supply things like stationary, books and other vital things that pupils need.

[@rochstan123]

If all else fails, go after the sick and vulnerable. What a desperate little man doing everything he can to cling onto power. The public can see through the bs.

[@mterrylane819]

sadly true,

[@thetruthwillwinoneday]

After a severe back injury i needed help, i had to wait but have finally got help, self employed since 16 and paid my taxes all my life. The help is welcome, these headlines just install worry and mental breakdown on top of massive amounts of pain. I love working, i enjoy my trade but am not able to work right now, that feels horrible, i’m facing back surgery with a long recovery time. This government is disgusting, i’m very centre ground when it comes to politics, I will NEVER vote Labour or Conservatives again, both toxic organisations in my opinion.

[@markrhodes3983]

I am so sorry for you there's nothing worse than having a back injury.

[@tonyedwards892]

I worked 30 years in hard demanding physical jobs from the age of 16 for the last 10 years iv had pain in my spine and bones I'm now 55 live on 600 a month for which I'm great full if I had a choice work or pain what do you think I'd do rishi wake up FFS and if you didn't give 15 million a day to ILEGALS the country would be in a better place

[@Molevitch]

THE MOST offensive statement from a PM I’ve heard, and that’s even almost includes BOJO.

[@jamesharrison2763]

An unelected PM. Taking away the medical rights of our people. I'm seethingly angry.

[@Surveillance-Ys]

What an interesting situation it would be if that lemon of a pm were to swap lives with one of those he wants to harass.

[@adamjames5027]

I live in fear everyday of the DWP they lied about me in an assessment . I have mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia I’m suicidal most days and not able to cope I’d love to swap lives with someone that doesn’t have to feel like this . Been attacked constantly by MPs and he DWP make what little bit of life I have not worth living. My uncle was dying of MS and found fit to work he died a few months after my aunt had the disgraceful, decision, reversed . People don’t know how much time and money the government spend on trying to force you back to work regardless of how ill you are. It’s absolutely revolting

[@caroa5097]

Thank you and so sorry you've been through so much I'm in a similar situation. Living with hellish ill health but with the constant threat of having my money and home removed because of these privileged abusive people.....

[@Cazgirl-hq4hi]

So sorry ..it’s unholy when theses evil doers are allowed to annihilate the poor n sick.something very germanic about the tories,they almost love to want to do the upmost suffering of people ..especially people who are weak in their own minds ,they can not help this way of their own minds,it’s not their fault…the poor are becoming the new Jews under this lot .now that is sick..

[@clairea3277]

Similar situation got really bad anxiety in part because I suffer with epilepsy and have seizures. I would much rather have a job and not worry everyday that I could have a seizure and die

[@mterrylane819]

and doubtless would have saved time and money giving to those like you and yours their rightful entitlements

[@dace48]

For an example of "hard work" remember that his wife's billionaire father said that people should be willing to work 70-hour work weeks. Remember this the next time they try to convince you that we don't need to follow the ECHR.

[@gailevince4367]

Last year, when my daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I asked work directly for support. I was told to go sick because they had nothing. There was little support on my return either, despite my requests to be referred to occie health and HR. Worse, I'm employed by the NHS.

[@darrenwhite3103]

Wow! The NHS? Nothing like this is surprising anymore. How is your daughter? And how are you?

[@phil637]

I got back into work after 6 years mental health with help from a charity, that charity has now has all its funding cut and cancelled all its services.

[@Matt.Hurley]

I've been off 2 years for the same reason. no charity here just someone telling me it's my choice to be mentally unwell. trying to get me into nursing or teaching assistant because that's all there is.

[@pinkdiamond1847]

A service that helped me get into work in the first place got cut the day he was talking about getting people with mental illness and disabilities back into work, you can't make this stuff up.

[@sarangistudent8614]

What this country needs now is love and understanding, because all Brexit has given us is hatred and ignorance.

[@chatham43]

@sarang So vote for the love and understanding party?

[@rb1062]

Which party is full of love and understanding?? Which MPs refused to help their postmaster constituents?

[@mikethemusicman1978]

Why should the average British person work when all of their taxes are going towards looking after illegal immigrants staying in hotels for nothing.

[@derekwhite2929]

Takes real strength and courage to viciously go after the weakest and most vulnerable and it's already been viciously applied for decades!

[@charlievarley]

8 million on NHS waiting lists caused by the tories. It's like they can't make the connection.

[@armondtanz]

8 million a day spent on hotels. You'll never hear this channel talk about that???

[@markwelch3564]

​@@armondtanzTory immigration incompetence has definitely come up Tory chums love having captive guests. Guaranteed money and guest complaints can be completely ignored

[@charlievarley]

@@armondtanz They talk about it all the time. Just not from the perspective of the refugees fault (which I guess would be your perspective), but the tories not processing claims and mismanaging immigration and foreign policy.

[@paulharris2331]

@armondtanz Look at the money they're spending on the Rwanda scheme. It's infinitely more costly to send them there than to keep them here.

[@rb1062]

But you want all "refugees" welcomed, don't you? Think about the impact on the waiting list for a second. Oh, and housing. And schools.

[@talllala]

This is why this country rated No.2 on the misery index

[@Melissa.Garrett]

What was Number 1? Putin’s Russia? North Korea? Sometimes it feels like we’re not far off.

[@marigoldwhite867]

I agree

[@penman1289]

If any prvate doctor working for your employer tells you that you are fine to work but your GP says you are not ok to work ,then this should be challenged in a cout of law. And it should be challenged. weather you are working or not. We should be hearing for the medical council on this subject,.which doctor is component or not.. another course of action could be to go to the HSE.

[@user-ig4mn6cm5y]

Council house rents used to go straight back into our systems or country Then the private landlords bought them meaning they got the rents instead of it going BACK into our country

[@seebarry4068]

Out within months, this tory nightmare is nearly over.

[@chatham43]

@seebarry Home and hosed. They can even afford a little complacency.

[@Drew.P.Todger]

They’re going down fighting though. You’d think they’d be on a charm offensive trying to woo the voters… but no… they dung give a toss about us.

[@marigoldwhite867]

Trouble is its a long way till the election....

[@mterrylane819]

lets hope its not another Sad iq

[@Azphreal]

My partners lower spine is crumbling away and all that can be done is pain management. She can have days flat on her back in constant pain and there is no way she could get a job but whoever the government gets to make the decision be it ATOS or CAPITA will be hired to remove people from it.

[@irwindennis9688]

It's disgusting how this governments treats people like this and they have been at it for years.

[@FunkyTomo]

Frightening isn't it? My friend is the same. Worked all his life until 4 years ago ( he 62) and served in the military. They better not cut his sick!!

[@davidhamilton6363]

Any one could become ill at any time any day Five years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and was off work for a year well almost a year, Thanks to sick pay and the NHS I was able to return to work and now I'm back working, I'm 67 years old and work a four day week

[@user-gt2hr8yk4x]

James you just described some, at least 50, that had never worked... how would they possibly be getting by?

[@bobshaw1459]

Does anyone have any confidence that these work assessors will not be so utter heartless as the post office in their pursuit of innocent subpost masters.

[@abooswalehmosafeer173]

Rishi Sunak ,Priti Patel,Suella Braverman. Their common Denominator:either Immigrants or immigrant backgrounds behaving like More British than the British. They have no feelings at all for the people on the streets. I hope they dont get voted

[@TheHestya]

Are you implying BoJo or Truss had more integrity or cared at all?

[@marigoldwhite867]

I prefer Boris

[@1gerard47]

I'm hoping for something else .

[@ElisabethKeane]

DWP never turned up or followed court orders in my case. So the secretary of state. Ruled iny favour. In 2018 but DWP failed to followed the rules re universal credits. Or ESA. Closing my claims down even after a high court judge ruled in our favour. Two disabled people. In a council bungalow in Denbighshire North Wales UK.

[@darrenengland6269]

I have sympathy for the first caller. I was in a similar situation as her clients after university due to a severe mental health problem. Thanks to people like her I have been working for 16 years. I was able to work 4 days a week thanks to working tax credits, now I have no choice but to work 5. I've been punished for pushing myself to carry on for 16 years. I claim pip and I'm now worried that that benefit is the next one on the tory chopping block. 16 years of pay cuts and the tory's want me to work 7 days a week probably.