Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:54 pm  

Overweight or unhealthy people who refuse to attend exercise sessions could have their benefits slashed, in a move proposed by Westminster Council. GPs would also be allowed to prescribe leisure activities such as swimming and fitness classes under the idea. The Tory-controlled council said the aim was to save £5bn from the NHS budget when local authorities take over public health provision from April. -full article Under the proposals, overweight benefit claimants could have their money docked if they refuse exercise regimes prescribed by doctors. Smart cards would be brought in to monitor the use of leisure centres, meaning local authorities could reduce welfare payments for those who fail to follow their GP's advice. I'm not sure the latter has been quite thought through. What would be to stop Mr Golightly swiping in, and going for a couple of burgers and a milkshake in the cafe, before going back home? Fat chance of any of this coming in, or a sign of things to come? We already have discrimination in health service provision against smokers, and those unfortunate enough to be elderly and ill. I suppose picking on fat benefit claimants is just a natural progression.

Overweight or unhealthy people who refuse to attend exercise sessions could have their benefits slashed, in a move proposed by Westminster Council. GPs would also be allowed to prescribe leisure activities such as swimming and fitness classes under the idea. The Tory-controlled council said the aim was to save £5bn from the NHS budget when local authorities take over public health provision from April. -full article Under the proposals, overweight benefit claimants could have their money docked if they refuse exercise regimes prescribed by doctors. Smart cards would be brought in to monitor the use of leisure centres, meaning local authorities could reduce welfare payments for those who fail to follow their GP's advice. I'm not sure the latter has been quite thought through. What would be to stop Mr Golightly swiping in, and going for a couple of burgers and a milkshake in the cafe, before going back home? Fat chance of any of this coming in, or a sign of things to come? We already have discrimination in health service provision against smokers, and those unfortunate enough to be elderly and ill. I suppose picking on fat benefit claimants is just a natural progression.

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:57 pm  

The next stage in the demonisation of anyone on benefits. Helps to promulgate an idea that only those on benefits/out of work are obese, that they spend their days doing absolutely nothing whatsoever, and that they're a drain on decent (slim) society.

It'll be fun to see what Porky Pickles thinks of this.

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:00 pm  

Mintball wrote:

It'll be fun to see what Porky Pickles thinks of this.

Maybe he'll be forced to cut his departmental biscuit busget (highest in Whitehall allegedly)?

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:02 pm  

I see its Westminster Council again! Seems a hotbed of Nazi philosophy. Nothing seems to have changed since Shirley Porter's day. Another entitled person of ......

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:09 pm  

Divide and rule, classic Eton warfare techniques.

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:10 pm  

Mintball wrote:

....

It'll be fun to see what Porky Pickles thinks of this.

Why should it not apply to him? He's also in receipt of funds from the public purse, just much more of them than a benefit claimant.

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:12 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Why should it not apply to him? He's also in receipt of funds from the public purse, just much more of them than a benefit claimant.

Well indeed.

And BG's right. Unfortunately, many people will be all too ready to fall for it.

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:15 pm  

Mintball wrote:

The next stage in the demonisation of anyone on benefits. Helps to promulgate an idea that only those on benefits/out of work are obese, that they spend their days doing absolutely nothing whatsoever, and that they're a drain on decent (slim) society.

It'll be fun to see what Porky Pickles thinks of this.

Spot on there Minty. The DM has been in its high glory this week demonising the disabled day before yesterday, the unemployed yesterday & today and means testing pensioners today. All in all the DM have done exactly what they have been told to do by IDS.

Big changes to the benefit system are implimented from April and all of these stories like the ones the OP linked are nothing but propaganda and divide and rule tatics. But its not working......even the faithful DM readers are turning against the very paper they worship

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:23 pm  

Hull White Star wrote:

Spot on there Minty. The DM has been in its high glory this week demonising the disabled day before yesterday, the unemployed yesterday & today and means testing pensioners today. All in all the DM have done exactly what they have been told to do by IDS ...

Would this be IDS the thick – or the liar? That IDS?

Oh – and in response to Dally earlier: recent stories state that Pickles's departmental biscuit bill has risen by £10,000 in the past year. What are they eating with their coffee? Golden garibaldis?

Re: Benefits to be cut for fat claimants : Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:34 pm  

You can tell those in our gym that have been sent by their doctor to get some exercise. Usually not wearing training gear. They'll do a (literal) couple of minutes on the treadmill, wander about a bit, get tangled up in cable machine, sit down for a while, go on the cross trainer for a couple of more minutes, sit on a bench but not do anything....and make that last an hour or so.
They usually smell bad too.