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Disabled people report hostility - Scope report

Paul Treloar
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More than half of disabled Londoners have experienced hostility, aggression or violence from a stranger because of their disability, a survey suggests. The figures come from a ComRes poll of 2,050 disabled people across the UK, that was commisioned by disability charity Scope. They warn that a disability benefit crackdown is increasing prejudice.

Half of London respondents to the poll said they experienced discrimination on a daily or weekly basis. It also found that 63% of people with disabilities in London thought others did not believe they were disabled. Just under half felt others presumed they were not in employment.

Scope chief executive Richard Hawkes said: “Much of the welfare reform debate has focused on disabled people as benefit scroungers. This backdrop of negativity will only make it harder disabled people to actually get a job.” Mr Hawkes said the debate may lead to the public being “more hostile” to those who receive welfare support.

Scope: People with disabilities ‘see hostility’

Pete C
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John Birks - 20 June 2011 07:03 AM

One wonders why?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3647318/Free-BMWs-for-pals-of-disabled-in-scam.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2005576/Taxpayer-funded-BMWs-given-disabled-driven-friends-family-flagrant-abuse-system.html

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/253818/Disabled-car-plan-racket-

Just for interest I have looked up the price of Renault Scenic people carrier, to compare it with the ‘luxury cars ’ in the articles. The basic model is just under £21,000.00 and you can have bewildering array of added extras which can add considerably to the new price. I don’t think many peole would consider a ‘cooking’ Renault as a luxury car but they are often used for disabled people as they seem to have lots of headroom, are easly to get in and out of and have space to carry the extra bits and bobs.

I love the right wing press in this country, they seem to be so eager to follow the old journalistic rule about never letting the facts get in the way of a good story!!

NB Anyone out there who thinks us LA employees are overpaid may wish to note that I did not know what most of the extras in the Renault advert actually were, never having had the dosh to even think about a new car!

John Birks
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The interesting thing aside from the Daily Mail using the wrong pictures for the wrong cars (BMW X5 for hum drum 320d and Passatt CC for the taxi equivalent.)

The ‘source’ presumably is trying to engender feelings within the reader to the point that when the legislation changes and Mobility is removed on mass there will be little sympathy.

The article is all speculation and little fact and leads the reasonable reader to think (perhaps) that if a family member abuses the scheme by using a Kia or a Fiat this is not so bad as if the car is a premium German car?

Baby and bathwater come to mind.

Paul Treloar
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The costs of motoring are clearly headline news at the moment, what with old KC getting it in the neck from the Mail as well….

Under-pressure Justice Secretary Ken Clarke faced fresh criticism last night after it was revealed he has spent £212,991 on his ministerial car in the past year.

Which I work out comes to more than £4,000 per week!!!!

Pete C
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He needs to go to Tesco and get 5p a litre off by buying fifty quids worth of groceries - oh sorry, he’s an MP-  do Waitrose have a petrol station?

John Birks
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The sun have called him terrible names in the last week.