Who are you voting for tomorrow?: Do you claim... - Headway

Headway

10,598 members12,881 posts

Who are you voting for tomorrow?

barny1 profile image
8 Replies

Do you claim benefits? If so, the benefits and work website have this advice: DON'T VOTE FOR THE CONSERVATIVES.

THE MANIFESTOS ARE OUT

We’ve taken a look at each of the main parties’ manifestos, with the exception of the SNP which is out too late for this newsletter.

If you are voting solely on what each party is offering, then there is little doubt that Labour have made the most effort to capture sick and disabled claimants votes.

Their undertaking to immediately stop all new transfers to UC, and then scrap the benefit completely when they come up with a new system, would be an enormous weight off many claimants minds.

As would the plan to end the current work capability assessments (WCAs) and PIP assessments and take everything back in-house.

Increasing ESA by £30 for claimants in the work-related activity group (WRAG) and raising carers allowance to the level of JSA are two other potentially popular moves.

Both Labour and the Lib Dems say they would scrap the benefits cap, the two child limit and the bedroom tax.

And, like Labour, the Lib Dems would end WCA’s and reverse the cuts to ESA for claimants in the WRAG.

Both have more offers in their manifestos.

The Green Party take a different approach, saying they will introduce a “Universal Basic Income (UBI), an unconditional financial payment to everyone at a level above their subsistence needs”

The adult rate of UBI would be £89 a week with an additional supplement for disabled claimants.

They would also replace UC and benefits sanctions.

The Brexit Party are not trying too hard to capture the claimant vote. They are simply offering to have a five week maximum wait for payment of universal credit and undertake a review of the benefits system, followed by reform.

The Conservatives possibly get the prize for irony when they say in their manifesto that “. . .we will continue our efforts through the tax and benefits system to reduce poverty, including child poverty.”

Other than that they have little to say to claimants, except that they will “reduce the number of reassessments a disabled person must go through” and “publish a National Strategy for Disabled People before the end of 2020”.

tactical.vote

Written by
barny1 profile image
barny1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .

The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.

8 Replies
Lynd profile image
Lynd

I vote Labour. I have been horrified by the complete indifference of the Conservative party to people who desperately need help from the DWP.

I fear for our NHS. I am sure conservatives want to sell it all off. You may pay less tax with conservatives but eventually you will have to buy e pensive health insurance. I am voting for my Grandkids future.

Whoever you vote for...... Please use your vote x

barny1 profile image
barny1 in reply to Lynd

The tory party don't care about disability, one of their MP candidates even claimed disabled people don't understand money and should be paid less. I'm shocked about the possibility they could get a majority after all these years. They've lied and smeared throughout this whole election and got away with it.

pinkvision profile image
pinkvision

The benefits system should be devolved to the individual nation states. Then only England will have UC and all the crap that comes with it.

RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman in reply to pinkvision

Lovely idea though I suspect that other nations would be given a budget and quite a strict one, so you’d be back at square 1 I fear.

Marnie22 profile image
Marnie22

I agree. Plus -. I have been wearing a t-shirt out and about during the election campaign. It reads, 'NEVER TRUST A TORY WITH YOUR NHS.'

Headway is a charity and as such should not be allowing you to post political nonsense and trying to persuade people to vote one way or another. We have taken a look at the manifesto's ( who exactly are the we's) as you fail to explain. I love this site as it helps people but telling them how you think they should vote is a step too far.

1949liz profile image
1949liz

I might be totally wrong but I don’t believe that this forum is the place for political politics but I voted conservatives but then again at 70: voting labour would give me loads of cash and loads of free benefits. I have worked hard and payed taxes all my working life, Yet I still believe that a man/ woman should work for the money to support their families and NOT be reliant on the state. The state should be there for when we need help not as a free hand out. Sorry if this upset some folks but maybe it’s the age thing. Liz x🌹

headwayuk profile image
headwayukPartnerHeadway

Hi all,

We encourage open discussion on a range of topics relating to life after brain injury, however on this election day we do want to re-iterate our position that as a charity, Headway - the brain injury association does not support or endorse any political party.

We would encourage people who are unsure of who to vote for to read one of the many manifesto comparisons that are available, including this very accessible one from the BBC: bbc.co.uk/news/election-201...

As there are now a range of views expressed on this thread, and to stop it turning into a potentially acrimonious political discussion, we will be closing it to new posts.

Best wishes,

Andrew

The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.

You may also like...

Cant vote in general election

job here in the UK and pay taxes but I cant decide where these taxes would go... just upset I hope...

Vote Remain for Freedom from Lines on a Map

problem of say NAFTA. Voting remain to be able to go and live wherever I want to. Voting remain...

Please vote tactically in the general election tommorow

I'm not political but as someone who lives with disability resulting from a BI I need the support...

Cranioplasty tomorrow

to come back to from the amnesia. Ironically it would have been a bigger operation with more risk....

Cranioplasty tomorrow!