This company was paid a handsome sum of money to carry out the Work Capability Assessments (WCA) by Labour in 2008. A pilot scheme was set up (after an impact assessment ) and carried out and a review showed serious flaws which Labour were in the process of addressing when they lost office. The Condem Vilification of the Sick and Disabled went into full swing like a drunk in charge of a vehicle under the supervision of Ian Duncan Smith (IDS) . A car crash was about to ensue. The WCA was changed by IDS to the cruel ,biased test we know now.The Atos contract was changed and regulations are being changed consistently to ensure his introduced targets are carried out as exposed by Dr Steven Bick,and Joyce Drummond the so-called ‘Atos Whistleblower’. So the disability community have always thought Atos is their enemy ,when the reality is that enemy is DWP and the Government. They blame Labour for introducing this, which they did,but no way was it as cruel as it is now it was in fact fairer. Were the deaths so high under Labour ..no they were not!
I was lucky to meet with Shadow Minister last week who told a delegation of campaigners (inc myself) what I personally had suspected for some time, Atos are the governments scapegoats for failure, rather than the Government/DWP taking responsibility for an assessment process which was already flawed, being made worse by someone at the helm who threw caution to the wind, ignored the need for an impact assessment and by any means necessary was going to remove the vital support that people needed and who change regulations like they change their underwear. Atos Dr’s ,Nurses etc are not able to use the skills they trained years for,but are now Disability Analysts. The welfare of the Sick and Disabled do not come into it, if you can work one day a week then this is what they will say,this process IS NOT A MEDICAL that many believe it is in fact a programme to work regardless of levels ability to do so,where it is possible. I know many will be outraged by these comments but that is the stark truth,I’m not going to dress it up or give you a sticky plaster for it. It is now costing more in appeals than to implement the test itself, a 9 month wait on DLA alone for appeals.
Atos are no angels they are banned in 15 countries for mismanagement so they are not off the hook entirely and are culpable in the suffering of our community but it seems what they took on, in many places around the globe were factors that lead to their failures also. The Sick and Disabled know it is fair to have assessments to make sure the genuine get the help they deserve, and work where they can,but this brutal regime will only get worse with the coming changes and more cuts next year with the introduction of Universal Credit,Bedroom Tax, PIP.
Now is the time to start laying the blame where it truly lies firmly and squarely on the doorstep of our present government,and realise the fact that unless we get behind Labour the only credible alternative we will be socially cleansed out of existence. I can hear you all screaming ‘what Labour are you kidding me’, actually no I am not,while they made an attempt to make sure disability was taken into account and their original idea was flawed they are not to blame for the last two years destruction,we have suffered under this bunch., or for the harsh changes to the WCA or the constant changes to Atos contract and the hidden targets to get 7 out of 8 off benefits.
On reflection I can honestly say hand on heart that Atos are not the real enemy like any business they are fulfilling a contract what is being asked of them and struggling to do so because the staffing levels are not up to scratch to deal with the volumes the Government/DWP are pressuring then to achieve which is why the whole thing is a catastrophe.
I like many others blamed Labour for introducing it, which is unfair of me,it amazing when you get that lightbulb moment and you open your eyes and realise that Atos also are scapegoats and the Real Culprits are laughing all the way to the bank as they asset strip our welfare system to keep the banks and themselves afloat at our expense. I asked why the deafening silence from Labour, the reality is they do not have majority on committees, the Tories and Lib Dem’s do, hence the lack of perceived progress from Labour, who are fighting our corner in the background with Human Rights Abuses being lodged in EHRC.
I ask everyone to rise up against this let us get this lot out of office ,LETS KICK SOME BUTT!
blueannoyed 
Comments on: "Atos-Saint or Sinner?" (12)
This idea that Labour and Atos were innocent isn’t supported by evidence. it was James Purnell who brought Freud into do a “job” and they also involved UNUM and ATOS. If you want to believe McGuire, that’s up to you, but don’t forget my words when you’re left with more than egg on your face.
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Baggie Bob , I wont have no egg on my face nor will those who went, we have entered a dialogue to continue working to make the test fair for all. Those who dont see the bigger picture will be ones who suffer for not paying attention to stuff using the blame game.I dont believe any politician cos they all will say whats expediant when it comes to gaining power. Like many campaigners too in our community spend too much time squabbling and complaining instead of doing the job of fighting this mess 🙂
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Sad to say Gail I think you’ve been spun a Labour line from Anne McGuire and taken the hook. Atos are more than just DWP patsys in that they wrote the Lima software with the assistant knowledge base from their Disability denying cohorts UNUM and aided by the Mansell/Aylward school of biopsychobabble.
Atos could have, and still can, withdraw from the WCA/PIP assessments given they know what the public feeling is about them. They won’t though. That £40 million profit from the £110 million a year from the Government, ie US says it all.
Which other private business working in the UK would stay so quiet in the face of such a public and media clamour over the deaths tallied to these assessments so far. They are part and parcel of this deadly and dangerous farce.
What I see in your article is another side to the politics of division. A way to spin you into the Labour side while being given no assurance that any real change will happen if Labour regain control. Atos may be the scythe of the Tory Reaper, but, it’s doing a damn fine job of keeping it’s edges keen.
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I did not say or imply Labour were blameless or guilt free ,what I said was the fact that while labour did do many things re this ,that the actual contract labour signed was changed as was the wca and that the wca was revamped to what it is now. Under labour did you see deaths like the scale we have now? No you didnt, Nobody is free from the role they each played ,but we all know what cruelty the condems have caused in two yrs and will continue to do so was point. too much blame game going on and many missing the bigger picture is the point of this particular blog. I think you mis understood my point and if you think im stupid enough to fall for political patter ,you really dont know me. Also I will point out that at no time did Mrs McGuire spin me any political rhetoric she barely mentioned her party line. Those that I went with are also very politically savvy so I think it is insulting to me and those who went to imply as such
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Is it insuting to those that went with you to point out that only a few Labour MPs have, and are, speaking out on this issue. ot once has the Labout front bench spoken up openly and on record in any way to defend the sick and disabled on this at all. In fact they have said they can give no guarentees at all on any changes if they regain control.
It doesn’t matter how many are on committees if they cannot show actual support to those going through this with some kind of utterance. Just today their glorous leader is likening himself to Thatcher.
The four people who went to meet Anne McGuire may have political savvy, but, your last statement in your reply seems to infer that we, your readers, do not.
Now that is insulting.
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Noctilu , If you think I was inferring that many Labour Mp’s are not voicing their concerns,then that is not the case.They have stood up in both houses to speak out especially when the reforms were going through. I agree however the Front Benches have been lacking in stepping up to the plate in public and voiced their support for the Sick & Disabled. They did say that they give no guarantees to reverse WCA , we as a community have to accept that it is fair to be ‘reasonably’ assesssed to ensure the right people get the right support,which at present isnt happening.What they did convey is that they think it is unfit for purpose and it needs to be halted and looked at again,which they cannot do until the regain office and were in process of doing when they lost office.I like many disabled people are frustrated at this lack of clarity to allay the fears we are all enduring. I did rather hope Miliband would grasp the nettle, Liam And Anne are doing a consultation tour to get peoples feedback which will be publicised on facebook and twitter,as well as in many towns and cities UK wide so watch out for it. They have also lodged appeals to ECHR about the abuse of Human Rights Article 27/2 that the Sick & Disabled are suffering under this. I am not a labour apologist here but I acknowledge that they are at last albeit behind scenes trying to support us. As for Miliband likening himself to Thatcher I think tory mischeif is afoot,what I feel he meant is like her, his father taught him to have conviction and belief in what he stands for which is not what it appears like in paper and sets peoples alarms off. I hope that I did not infer that my readers dont get it or are not politically savvy, that would be insulting and if that was way you read it then I can asssure my readers that was not what was meant.
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Reblogged this on Diary of an SAH Stroke Survivor and commented:
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thanks leonc1963
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I do not agree with all that is said in this article, however I do agree that atos are carrying out a contract under terms specified by the DWP and as such are taking most of the heat for this, which rightly belongs at the feet of the DWP and IDS(cursed be his name) personally. What I do not agree with is the writers implication that Labour are blameless, it is known that for many years (since 2002 and before) UNUM were hand in hand with Labour ministers and civil servants in modifying the perception of disability using their fraudulent bio-psycho-social model. The introduction of the Personal Capability Assessment was also based on this model and was conducted entirely under the auspices of Labour, and the move away from the medical model was well under way i.e it had been inprogress for years by labour under Gordon Brown.
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I did not say Labour or imply they were blameless Tim ,what I said was the fact that while labour did do many things re this ,that the actual contract and the wca was revamped to what it is now and under labour did you see deaths like the scale we have now? No you didnt, nobody is free from the role they each played ,but we all know what cruelty the condems have caused in two yrs and will continue to do so was point. too much blame game going on and many missing the bigger picture is the point of this particular blog.
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I appreciate the time and effort of BlueAnnoyed and others who attended this meeting on behalf of the many who are affected.
I agree that ATOS are not the main culprits of this despicable and ideologial attack by this ConDem government upon the disabled and vulnerable in our society, that are least able to defend themselves. ATOS are there to act as a shield to deflect criticism and being realistic, they are a private company whose function is to make money and it would perhaps be expecting too much for them to withdraw from such a lucrative contract.
Labour are certainly not without blame for their part in all of this. They started the process and the ConDems have taken it by the scruff of the neck and are using it as a hefty stick with which to beat those who are, in their twisted ideological minds, the undeserving vulnerable and disabled.
I would like to believe things would not have got this bad under Labour. I would like to believe that they are firmly against what is happening. I would like to believe that if Labour comes to power in 2015 they will reverse a lot of the damage that the WCA is causing.. I would like to believe it because it would give all of us some hope, a chink of light at the end of the tunnel.
However, I have to agree with Noctilu Centish. Labour doesn’t need a majority on Committees to speak out against the shameful travesty that is occurring. It doesn’t need a single person on a single Committee to do that. It doesn’t need a majority on Committees to mount campaigns via the media attacking this heartless and cruel government for the damage it is causing the sick and disabled. It has been given ample opportunity to show opposition to what the government is doing and yet, by and large, it stays silent, or worse still, it’s leadership says it cannot promise to reverse anything that this government has done.
The great fear amongst the sick, disabled and poor is that after being demonised, hounded and scapegoated for five years by the ConDem government is that a Labour government will then be elected who will continue in the same vein. The general view is that there is little to choose between any of the main Parties. The ConDems and Labour appear to most, to be two cheeks of the same political arse. Our democracy has been privatised; bought and paid for by the corporate sponsors of the political elite who make up the vast majority of our Parliament.
If Labour are sincere about opposing what is currently happening, then they should stand up and say so. As it stands, IDS &Co are getting a free run with barely any opposition from Labour whatsoever. Indeed, their silence speaks volumes and it would appear that they are actually complicit in these attacks upon the vulnerable. This is further confirmed when their Leader says he cannot promise to reverse any of the current government policies in this and many other areas.
I and many other millions want to believe that Labour will show compassion and understanding for the sick and disabled when they are returned to Office. However, with all the evidence showing otherwise, they need to give us some sign that they are committed to doing this.
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I agree with your sentiments Budgie, However to get a majority on a committee, which they have not managed frustrates Labour MP’s,so even when they bring things to table they are outvoted because the Libdems invariably stick with their allies.Labour have seen the light is what was conveyed to myself and others and they do hear our fears. As I Have posted below to Noctilu
‘What they did convey is that they think it is unfit for purpose and it needs to be halted and looked at again,which they cannot do until the regain office and were in process of doing when they lost office.I like many disabled people are frustrated at this lack of clarity to allay the fears we are all enduring. I did rather hope Miliband would grasp the nettle, Liam And Anne are doing a consultation tour to get peoples feedback which will be publicised on facebook and twitter,as well as in many towns and cities UK wide so watch out for it. They have also lodged appeals to ECHR about the abuse of Human Rights Article 27/2 that the Sick & Disabled are suffering under this. I am not a labour apologist here but I acknowledge that they are at last albeit behind scenes trying to support us’.
I too felt like yourself before this meeting took place and I’m still not totally convinced as I pointed out to Minister, they need to shape up,speak out or at the polls they will fail and have more chance of winning sunday football game. I felt the minister was geniune and feel that if we dont get behind Labour and make use of the vote to rid ourselves of the present lot,then we will bring it upon ourselves to suffer more under the present regime or the likes of UKIP. A no vote is a condem vote,Cameron knows people are in frameset of ‘whats the point’ that is exactly what he banking on ,low turnout apathy means he will get second term backed by the greedy 1%.Please dont lose faith and if they dont stand up to their promises then we will let them know loud and clear.
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