“It Could Be You”, is a campaign that aims to tackle attempts by politicians and many in the media to create division between so called “strivers and scroungers”. Their aim is to demonise people who are receiving sickness benefits, in order to justify the unfair and inhuman treatment of disabled people, through the use of a deeply flawed assessment process known as the “Work Capability Assessment” (WCA).
In essence this is an attempt to subvert and rewrite traditional British values and social history. In England, we are supposed to support the underdog, to look after each other, to be fair minded and tolerant and to give the benefit of the doubt. Traditionally, we offer a place of safety to people who are in need or who are escaping tyranny.
Through the “It Could Be You”, campaign we want to challenge the way people are being turned against each other by appealing directly to so called “strivers or hard working families”. We want to solicit their support in ending or reforming the inhuman way that people are treated during WCAs. We want people to fight back and challenge politicians to think again. We want them to contact their local MP’s and let them know that this issue is important to them.
We have produced a leaflet that is written for ordinary members of the public and reminds people that today’s “striver” is tomorrow’s “scrounger” because:
• we are all only a heartbeat away from illness and disability and;
• that most people in so called “hardworking families” will be close to someone who has been or will be caught up in WCAs
We, the WCA Action Group, want volunteers to join us in circulating this leaflet. To get involved and find out more come to our next public meeting where we will be launching the “It Could be You”, campaign and building links with other campaigning groups.
The meeting will be 24th March, 2-4pm at 4th Floor Meeting Room, Church House, 90 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2GH.
After the meeting we will go out leafleting from 4-6pm.
Please RSVP online at tinyurl.com/WCAAction or email
[email protected]
If you cannot come to the meeting but want to help with this campaign by giving out leaflets, please contact the campaign facilitators Tom Skinner or John Butler at:
[email protected]