Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
Latest editorial
Corporations coining it from interrogating the disabled
ANGUS REID explains the significance of Cuba’s egalitarian in letter and spirit Family Code and the pertinent lessons it holds for democracies anywhere in the world
Special report by PEOPLE’S WORLD
NICK WRIGHT considers how the isolation of Israel and a new film on the controversial Italian communist leader are creating new reference points for Italy’s left
CARLOS MARTINEZ says Cuba’s achievements in the face of a criminal blockade are startling, but the island’s future if the United States succeeds in crushing it looks bleak
AMNON BROWNFIELD STEIN reports that far-right MPs who mobbed the event organised by Hadash may have helped raise awareness of the brutality of the Israeli right
Few groups have campaigned harder — or been harder treated — than those with disabilities. Activists who fight the government’s oppressive, vindictive testing regime are tough and persistent. They have to be: the testing schemes for disabled people’s benefits are cruel and unfair.
There are two main tests: the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), carried out by US company Maximus, decides whether people are entitled to Employment & Support Allowance, because they have limited capacity for work.
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is paid to people with disabilities to help them with extra costs of living whether they are in work or not. PIP entitlement tests are run by two corporations, ATOS and Capita.
Similar stories
Labour will find increases in the state pension age are unacceptable, just as cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, personal independence payments and universal credit are — it needs to change direction immediately, writes PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE
As Labour continues to politically shoot itself in the foot, JULIAN VAUGHAN sees its electorate deserting it en masse
