Euro-MP Accuses Government Of Stigmatising Disabled People

11.04.55am GMT Wed 2nd Feb 2005

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has accused the government of stigmatising everyone on incapacity benefit as scroungers and seeing them as an easy target.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said that the Government is trying to sound tough to get votes but are failing to find solutions.

She said:

"I agree that the current system of Incapacity benefits does not work but whatever system you introduce there will always be some people who try to abuse it. Since they came in to power, the government have seen those on incapacity benefit as an easy target and their rhetoric has led to genuine claimants being labelled as scroungers. The truth is they have simply tried to sound tough but have failed to understand the problems with the current system.

"Governments always make the mistake of trying to fit everyone in to one category when every case has to be treated individually. Their new plans continue to divide people in to those who can work and those who can't.

"A lot of illnesses are not constant so people may be able to work for a few months and then they become ill again. That is why we need to introduce a Partial Capacity Benefit so that those currently on Incapacity Benefit whose conditions fluctuate could take some paid work without the risk of losing benefits altogether