Parallels exist between nazi-era fit-for-work assessments and Atos

Yes, Auschwitz victims were immediately assessed on arrival if they were fit for work. Those who were not - old people, children and the sick - were fast-tracked to the gas chambers.

The German for that procedure was called "the work capability assessment," chillingly similar to the current activities of Atos.

Has Tony Simpson heard of the German word Arbeitscheu? It means "workshy" and the English word is frequently used these days by sensationalist Tory tabloids to viciously attack the unemployed.

The nazis also used it in their concentration camps to brand alcoholics, the homeless, asocial, mentally ill and disabled who were all made to wear a black triangle on their already degrading striped camp uniforms while being used as slave labour. Many were worked to death.

Nowadays there are an alarming number of Atos victims dying after being found fit for work.

There are also a disturbing number of suicides among the sick and disabled due to these ideological benefit cuts.

A British government document talked of "cleansing" one million benefit claims, so yes, the cartoon is justified, even if we are not yet in the gas chamber. Not yet, anyway.

Andrew Forsyth

Glasgow