The Government have been busy so far, they have decided to shelve a new system that would’ve allowed benefit claimants to challenge an incorrect decision within 14 days, furthermore, in a bid to control the democratic process by trialling voter ID, whereby voters will be forced to produce ID to vote in any election.
With very little money for public services, the idea to increase the Royal budget would be absurd...especially if it only took 13 minutes for MPs to decide, when debates for the public sector pay cap take hours.
Disproportionate benefits
In October 2015, Ian Duncan Smith suggested a “yellow card” scheme that would allow claimants to challenge an incorrect decision to dock their benefits within 14 days. IDS first came up with the scheme because he was coming under pressure from MPs and the public over the severe cuts to the benefit system. Furthermore, since the introduction of the universal credit scheme, the number of punishments has begun to rise after falling beforehand. Unfortunately, the DWP have admitted that they have shelved the scheme indefinitely, in an answer to a question from Labour MP Frank Fields, they claimed “evaluation [of the policy] has proved complex”.
The move to shelve the plan is something of a kick in the teeth for the most vulnerable as the so far failed universal credit scheme has been a disaster that has seen people made homeless.
The news also comes after the Seventh Dedicated Legislation Committee - the name is more reminiscent of a medieval council – decided that it was appropriate to up the Sovereign Grant by 10% to pay for the refurbishment on Buckingham Palace. This means the Crown Estates income will increase. This committee will now be disbanded because this is the pure reason it existed.
Only two MPs objected to the decision, the Scottish National Party representatives, Tommy Sheppard and George Kerevan.
Figures have been revealed that around 75,000 disabled people have lost out on specially adapt cars. This has happened because of moving them from the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), rolled out in 2013.
The figures attest that 45% of people who moved schemes lost their cars, which are vital for many of these people to travel.
Voter ID
The government have decided to combat an issue that doesn’t exist, in a bit to combat voter fraud, in which just one person was convicted of the offence in the 2017 election – that’s 1 in 44 million – they have decided to trial voter IDing in the May elections in 2018. Voters in Bromley, Gosport and Woking will be required to show their ID when they go out and vote. this will mean either one piece of photo ID such as a driving licence or passport, or two pieces of non-photo ID, such as utility bills. Anyone who can’t produce either can apply in writing for a ‘certificate of identity’ which must include an ‘attestation in writing from a person of good standing in the community’.
If you can’t provide any of these, you lose your right to vote.
The plans have been described as ‘overbearing’ by the Electoral Reform Society and evidence from the states indicate that forcing voters to show ID impacts disproportionately, especially African Americans and Democrat voters. Several states in 2016 saw their voter turnout reduced due to voter ID laws, in fact, North Carolina was ruled by a court that it targeted African Americans ‘with almost surgical precision’. In the UK those from poorer backgrounds would be disproportionately affected and this is due disillusionment or not having the necessary documents because they can’t afford to get them renewed or have them in the first place. The scheme is ridiculous and is purely designed so that it hit Labour voters the hardest because voter fraud is a non-issue.
