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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 17:05:02 GMT 1
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 18:06:44 GMT 1
To get a feel for what happens in a House of Lord debate, have a look at this video. It's one where they were discussing legal aid earlier this year.
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 18:08:46 GMT 1
Choose a Lord who is likely to be helpful to your case.
Here's one you may recognise: Okay, it's unlikely you'll be able to hire Lord Sugar, but there are many other lords who may be able and interested in helping.So do some research into finding a lord near you who will help, check their voting record to see how vigorously they campaign and what they campaign for. There are some lords you won't get on board because they will rigidly take the line of the political party they represent. Lord Bach for instance is very likely to support the case for legal aid in social welfare because he passionately believes in it. On the other hand Lord Freud is very unlikely to support anything which attacks welfare reform because he introduced it in to the House of Lords. There are Lord who represent all of the political parties like the Conservatives, Liberals, Labour and also what are known as 'cross-party' ; - they don't belong to any particular party as they vote across the parties for who they think are right in what they say about a particular law being debated. So research is key in getting a Lord on board.
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 18:41:10 GMT 1
Here are some good tips on how to lobby an MP; - much the same will apply to lobbying a lord:
Summary of ten tips:[/u] 1) Be specific about what you want from your campaign 2) Timing, timing, timing! 3) Constituency focus should be more readily exploited 4) Encourage and empower your supporters to lobby 5) Keep up the pressure – create a memorable and powerful campaign brand and continually refresh it 6) Direct/personal contact with MPs is essential 7) Send MPs targeted, concise letters and regular, punchy news 8) Ensure both long-term and short-term commitment from MPs 9) Use the media and public area more widely – think of the bigger picture 10)Join forces where necessary These come from Synergy who say they are committed to helping not for profit organisations thrive. Check out their link... www.nfpsynergy.net/includes/documents/cm_docs/2010/c/cpm_top_tips_final.pdf
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jman
Full Member
Posts: 155
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Post by jman on Sept 11, 2011 18:47:13 GMT 1
Have a light bulb moment! Like Jman, who is a top contributor on Ilegal and Mylegal, he never ceases to amaze me at how quickly he thinks of new ideas and finds things out!
Here's what Jman reckons...."There are 827 members of the House of Lords. How do we identify who to contact and what areas they may be interested in? in the first post in this thread is a link to who they are and what bodies they are on. Most Lords identify themselves by a particular area of the country as reflected in their titles. Why not email them with the LAG breakdown showing them how many people will lose support and funding in their area. Lords also have particular interests as can be seen from the link on the earlier post. Why not email them explaining how the cuts will affect eg children or disabled people whatever is their key interest. Others are patrons of charities or interested in human rights Why not explain how the cuts will be disastrous for the area they are interested in. Any other ideas appreciated. " Sounds like some good advice to me, anyone else got some ideas they'd like to throw into the melting pot?
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 18:47:35 GMT 1
Do some research! Okay, maybe not as much as this guy here, but brush
up on your facts, it's no good if they are all wrong or out
of date!Keep yourself up dated with forthcoming debates, it's no good lobbying after the debate has been heard; - by then it's too late. And do some research which will help you 'state your case'. Good sources of updating/campaigning material are on here: Justice for All www.justice-for-all.org.uk/Sound off for Justice soundoffforjustice.org/Ilegal ilegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=youOh yes and my own campaign down in Devon! mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=campaign&action=display&thread=316More information on Mylegal campaigning mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=campaignPatrick Torsney's renowned 'Shush' paper Use the research material available: Legal Aid reformsLegal aid budget; - understanding it now made a piece of cake! mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?action=display&board=frontline&thread=459&page=1#1051Where cuts are being made and some will be near you mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=frontline&action=display&thread=449The agencies facing the axe (for some it has already) mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=frontline&action=display&thread=132MOJ consultation responses mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?action=display&board=frontline&thread=458&page=1#1043Responses with links on Ilegal ilegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=responsesWelfare reforms; lot's here.. mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=frontline&action=display&thread=405Here.. mylegal.org.uk/index.cgi?board=frontline&action=display&thread=434Key dates !!The next key date for welfare reform is the general debate in the House of Lords next Tuesday on 4 October at 3.30pm Moses Room Welfare Reform Bill Committee [Lord Freud] 17th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee See link here.. services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/welfarereform.htmlThe key dates for legal aid reform The Public Bill Committee will meet 13 and 15 September 2011. The Public Bill Committee will scrutinise the Bill line by line. The Public Bill Committee is expected to report to the House by 13 October 2011. The Bill had its second reading debate on 29 June 2011. This Bill was presented to Parliament on 21 June 2011. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee is now accepting written evidence. Parliamentary news: Second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, have your say The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee announce oral evidence programme: Parliamentary news: Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill Committee announce programme It heard oral evidence on Tuesday 12 July and on Thursday 14 July. The Committee will now consider the Bill clause by clause every Tuesday and Thursday until it reports on Thursday 13 October. Link services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/legalaidsentencingandpunishmentofoffenders.htmlSo on welfare reform it is having a general debate this Tuesday the 13th September and legal aid is still in the scrutiny stages, but you should be lobby now!
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 18:57:43 GMT 1
Stay focussed!  Remember what we're fighting for!
"Justice denied anywhere, diminishes justice everywhere. Fighting for social welfare legal aid and social justice. We will not be silenced!"- that's our twitter slogan and we mean it! We want legal aid for social welfare cases to remain within the legal aid system, because if it doesn't we won't be able to help anyone. This is the sad reality of what is upon us, we know that welfare reform is going to be hugely problematic for many, it will lead to more housing problems, debt problems, immigration, employment problems, family problems and 1,000's of benefit appeals where people need help from properly resourced organisations like the CAB, social welfare solicitors and law centres. But we need those we want to carry on supporting with practical help which gets results, not to mention justice, to help us now! So join our campaign and we'll help you fight injustice, the welfare reform problems and those which arise as people struggle in these very difficult times. You need to tell your MP's and Lord's that not only is welfare reform and other social welfare reform like the changes to the NHS wrong; - you need to tell them how you need people like us to carry on helping you sort them out. We're not fat cat lawyers in it for the money, we are hard working committed & passionate people who work their socks off because we hate to see all this social injustice increasingly inflicted upon so many in being able to get help to hold the state to account! So give us a mention in your own focus, we really need it! Set out your case(1) Say which bits you disagree with. (2) Keep it brief and punchy (3) Make it well structured (4) Suggest alternatives (5) Say what you would like to see and explain why (6) Just like a CV, make your stand out! (7) Break it down into manageable paragraphs (8) Summarise and emphasize your argument Use the guidance available on the internet
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jman
Full Member
Posts: 155
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Post by jman on Sept 11, 2011 19:01:11 GMT 1
Make suggestions, Jman's already on the case...
PS one point Lord Bach made at the All Parliamentary Group on legal aid (see the report on ilegal) is that it is important with non lawyer Lords not to make legal aid a "lawyers' issue" so that people think Oh legal aid that is for the lawyers in the Lords. We need to stress the social issues and how children, disabled people and vulnerable people are going to lose out across the board and how iniquitous it is to expect people who may be vulnerable to represent themselves alone while the state retains its own legal representation at every level of Court and Tribunal.
And please, let us know what they are, that's why forums like Mylegal and Ilegal are here!
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 19:54:33 GMT 1
Use social media to spread the word!   And many more which are totally beyond me, but well known to others!
But don't be afraid of good old fashioned plain speaking; - it still works wonders!
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Post by nickd on Sept 11, 2011 21:03:04 GMT 1
Template letters are available on the internet, I think the one from Broken of Britain is excellent:
Template Letter To The Lords Re Welfare Reform Bill
So, with the welfare reform bill about to have it's second reading in the Lords, I've written this template letter to send.
Obviously feel free to send your own letter about the things that matter most to you, but if you'd like to send mine, you're very welcome. Email addresses are at the end and whether you send the letter to one peer or everyone on the list, it all makes a difference.
Please do join in. The more letters and emails they receive, the more chance we have of making a difference. The bill is already facing difficulties because of the brilliant work we did while it was in the commons. Now we need to build on that and make sure that as many peers as possible know about the issues.
Finally, please share this article, tweet, link and send to friends.
Thanks. Broken of Britain'
Dear ..........[insert name of peer]
On the 13th September, the welfare reform bill will have it'second reading in the House of Lords.
Rather unusually, many aspects of the bill are yet to be finalised or fully detailed. This in itself, will, I'm sure, make your job rather difficult as you consider the many, many details and changes proposed.
However, I'm writing to you with some very specific concerns that sick and disabled people have and I've linked to some articles and research which I hope you will find helpful.
1) Removing Disability Living Allowance mobility payments from adults in residential care.
An adult who needs to live in residential care will have extensive needs and are often amongst the most severely disabled. The mobility component of DLA afforded them their only freedom, allowing them to choose to fund a power wheelchair otherwise unavailable on the NHS, or to pay for taxis or transport to get out now and then. Taking this away would leave the most vulnerable disabled people effectively housebound. There is no support for this change anywhere - charities, independent benefit reports and even the government's own advisers have called for this to be removed from the bill.
2) Scrapping DLA entirely and replacing it with Personal Independent Payments (PIPs).
DLA is a very effective benefit with fraud rates of less than 1% (DWP own figures) It is already incredibly hard to claim and the qualification criteria are very narrow. The government have announced that DLA claimants will also soon face assessment and that the overall number of claimants will be reduced by at least 20%. The government's own advisory committee concluded that they could find no justification for this reform and have asked for clarification from the government.
If a benefit is already very efficient, yet a government announce a 20% cull before a single assessment has even taken place, we conclude it can only be a cost cutting measure that will ignore genuine need.
3) Time limiting Employment Support Allowance (ESA, previously Incapacity Benefit) to 1 Year
Many people who need to claim ESA have "long term variable" or chronic illnesses such as MS, Parkinson's, Bowel Disease, Leukaemia or severe Mental Illness. These conditions often do not go away after a year and sadly, often get worse over time. A high percentage of those with these conditions are being found "fit for work" under ESA but after 1 year, if they have a working partner, they will receive no state assistance whatsoever. All of their benefit will be stopped, a loss of just under £5000 a year.
4) ATOS assessments are "unfit for purpose" and a better way of assessing need must be implemented.
ATOS are the private company charged with assessing over 1.5 million sick and disabled people during this parliament.
-Up to 40% of rejected claims are going to appeal with up to 70% of those decisions being overturned with representation.
-Assessments are humiliating and degrading causing great anxiety to those genuinely in need.
-Just 7% of previous claimants are being found unfit to work on a long term basis.
-Testimony from Consultants and GPs is often ignored entirely.
-People are dying before lengthy appeals can be heard.
-Even the professor who designed these assessments calls them a "complete mess"
There are other problems with the bill - capping housing benefit; re-classifying "mobility" so that those who use their wheelchairs too efficiently can be classed as "fully mobile"; removing an age related payment from ESA; scrapping the Independent Living Fund; cutting community care provision; cutting the Access to Work programme and many more - all of which will hurt sick and disabled people disproportionately, but the four points above MUST be addressed before the Welfare Reform Bill is passed.
They are causing or will cause real hardship.
They will not achieve savings as pressures will only be shifted to the NHS or social care provision.
They will increase homelessness, mental illness and poverty amongst this most vulnerable group of all
They will leave many in genuine need without support
They reduce the independence, standard of life and dignity of those we have a basic duty to protect.
I urge you to give these issues your time and consideration. Please, help us to make sure that amendments to the bill are passed ensuring that these 4 issues are addressed.
Yours faithfully,
...............[add your name]
List of contact details :
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Post by nickd on Sept 12, 2011 8:47:51 GMT 1
Put forward some questions which you would like answers to...
Here are some of my own.....
1. What attempts will government make to ensure that adverse media articles which demonise the disabled and over emphasise large numbers of benefit claimants as fraudulently claiming - come to a stop?
2. How is government able to predict its expenditure on the payments it will make to welfare to work contractors when large numbers of claimants have yet to be properly assessed?
3. What are government’s expected savings by 2015, and how much will it have to invest to achieve them;- including the payments it makes to private work and fraud detection contractors?
4. Will government provide an assurance that large numbers of claimants battling the appeals system have proper access to paid benefit specialists so as to ensure appeals do not get out of hand leading to large backlogs of cases?
5. In the light of so much concern over the Employment & Support Assessments carried out by Atos healthcare, why does government not abandon these expensive contracts and spend the money on paying the claimant’s own medical specialists to assess their own patients?
6. What safeguards is Government going to put in place to monitor how private contractors operate properly; will it be independently auditing them to ensure they deliver a quality service?
7. How will the payments made to welfare to work providers be graded and at what stage will they get paid?
8. How realistic are government’s plans to get large numbers of disabled & incapacitated claimants back to work when there is already high unemployment with able bodied individuals being unable to find work?
9. What steps has government taken to ensure that employers act responsibly when recruiting disabled people and make the appropriate adaptations in the workplace to ensure they are treated without discrimination?
10. Can government provide an assurance that the method of assessing claimants for Personal Independence Payment is not the same as it has been for the problematic Employment & Support Allowance?
11. What steps will government take to ensure the use of private fraud detection agencies does not become an invasion on the liberty of an individual?
12. How long does government think it will take before it receives a monetary return on its investment in welfare reform?
Please feel free to add your own on Mylegal!
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Post by nickd on Sept 29, 2011 21:37:08 GMT 1
promote
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