Just Stuff

Feeding 5 puppies at once

little pingus

Terror in the sky

Despite the tumult of the pandemic, Boris Johnson and his cabinet of horrors have been very busy over the last two years on a raft of legislation that, if enacted, will create the conditions for Britain to become a police state. That’s not hyperbole either; the Tories are attacking fundamental human rights, like that of protest and appeal against immigration decisions, while simultaneously expanding police powers and government influence over the courts. From the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, to proposed ‘reform’ of the Human Rights Act, the deluge of legislation is designed to overwhelm. This urge should be resisted in favour of education, organising and resistance. Which is why gal-dem have put together this guide to every terrible bill the Tories are trying to pass this year, broken down into language that’s accessible and doesn’t require a deep understanding of constitutional law to comprehend.

Sharing is caring

Pilot dog

Cat box

This graffiti appeared overnight at 5 different job centres in Birmingham.

It’s referencing the increasingly harsh benefit sanctions in the UK which are punishing disabled people in particular.

Claimants who cannot work due to severe disabilities or chronic illnesses are being categorised as “fit for work” in order to meet targets and are not being given enough money to survive.

The majority of people who legally challenge their benefits sanctions or ‘fit for work’ decision have them overturned, but only after months without the money they need.

Estimates generally put the number of people who have died in the last few years directly due to benefit sanctions in the thousands. These include people who have died of starvation, exposure, because they couldn’t afford electricity to keep their insulin cold, or because they couldn’t afford treatment, among other things.

The DWP has even sent letters to people declaring them fit for work when in fact they have already died from their illness.

Fuck the DWP and job centres.