Im glad she's not my MP.......

lorica

Hi every one
I received an email from a Welfare rights group, I thought you all might like to have a look and see what you think. Sorry I couldn't find a weblink that worked so had to paste the whole message here.

I was angry! :x

Mark

"Tory MP for Mid Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorries, has posted offensive comments about disabled people and anyone who claims benefits on Twitter and her personal blog. One person who became a target of her prejudice has left a comment with the Guardian Newspaper. The comment read's as following;

---

The Conservative MP's insinuations about a disabled constituent who uses Twitter reveal prejudice and ignorance

Nadine Dorries, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, on Thursday urged her blog readers to report to the Department of Work and Pensions people who tweet more than 50 times a day and claim benefits.

She had apparently being told of a tweeter who has posted 34,500 times in a few months. This tweeter is Humphrey Cushion, who is disabled through arthritis, yet does not qualify for disability living allowance. She had to give up work as a home carer, as she is currently on a waiting list for two foot operations.

If someone tweeted so frequently, Dorries wrote, then clearly they had nothing wrong with their hands or mind and should therefore be fit for work.

Yesterday, I posted around 70 tweets – more than the amount Dorries feels is enough for me to have a compulsive tweeting syndrome. Because of my condition, epidermolysis bullosa, my hands are not in good condition. I cannot really do anything with my left hand at all, as all the fingers are fused together, and the thumb is fused to the palm. I'm having hand surgery soon to correct this and separate the fingers. Yet I still somehow tweet; something which takes seconds to do, and requires little effort.

My 70 tweets started at around 5am, where I woke in pain that left me unable to walk properly for the rest of the day. I conversed with friends, and I read and shared useful information. I made social arrangements with a friend who was going to visit me in the evening, and she asked if I needed any food bringing.

Twitter is an absolute lifeline for someone like me; it stops any feelings of isolation. Even when I have my left hand operated on, and it is bandaged and in a sling, I will continue to tweet with one hand.

Kaliya Franklin, a disabled blogger and activist, brought Dorries's blog to the attention of her Twitter followers. Many were angry at the ignorance and misunderstanding of disability, which is more prevalent since cuts in welfare benefits were announced.

The line between benefit cheats and genuinely disabled claimants has become been blurred, and disabled people are frequently pilloried by newspapers. Similarly, Louise Bolotin is a disabled journalist who frequently tweets as part of her work, as do many other companies who are aware of social media and its uses.

Following the Twitter outcry, Dorries responded with another blogpost, in which she writes that she has no problem with disabled people using the internet to chat to friends, but has an issue with people who:

"... Twitter all day, every day about claiming disability benefit in one tweet whist arranging a night out in the pub in the next. If you tweet about claiming six months rent from the social fund whilst tweeting how bad your hangover is and if you stride into political meetings and shout the odds with energy and enthusiasm with no sign of any physical disability and if you claim to work for the Labour party and write porn at the same time as claiming your disability benefit – then don't expect someone like me not to a) inform the authorities and b) tell you to get off your Twitter and get a job."

Dorries has misunderstood Cushion's situation, and caused concern for disabled people. It is alarming that any disabled person could be singled out for having a social life, expressing political views, or doing any kind of physical activity. Disability is incredibly varied and complicated, and often not understood; it is not just a matter of wheelchairs and walking sticks. However, the least tolerant usually have the loudest voices."

:x :x :x

speedalong

Dear oh dear, Mark, this MP doesn't really get it at all does she. Not surprised you are annoyed.

Speedy

frogmorton

:shock:

In credible!!!

Disgusting and thanks too DEL for your pertinent addition :x

skezier

Hi Mark,

Surely this is gong to earn her a big disciplinary thing though? Please don't tell me she will not get some pay back! Cris x

Nice one Del.... and would that she had been prosecuted for fraud... you r I would have been! x

dreamdaisy

How's the meth going lorica - any problems or is it all OK? DD

lorica

Hi DD,

So far so good with methatrexate, taken it for three weeks now the only significant side affect seems to be excessive tiredness, i tend to sleep for three or four hours on a sunday afternoon, which the missus dissaproves of!!!! but that is another issue.....
At GP's tomorrow so will have to see what he thinks

Mark

dreamdaisy

Tiredness does affect some, but that is better than the nausea! I suppose it is too early to tell if it is affecting your arthritis, tehy say between 2-12 weeks, I think, to give it time to build in your system. I hope all goes well at the docs tomorrow, and I wish you well with the meth. Keep in touch, let us know how you are getting on. DD