Christmas is coming and Atos is getting fat...

...stealing the pennies from the old man's hat.


The very wonderful people at National Protest against the Benefit Cuts have a neat idea for Christmas. Call our friends at Atos and tell them what we think of them. Please phone Atos 0800 783 3040/020 7830 4444 #atos & support mass phone complaint this week http://t.co/4k1zHA74

And if you're lost for words, why not sing them a seasonal carol?


God Rest You Merry Gentlemen,
let nothing ye dismay,
For Atos your good saviour
will take your pains away,
And lead you down to Tesco
To work till Christmas Day

Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy, Comfort and Joy

Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy.

(with thanks to the Atos Miracles FB guys)

The First Nowell, Atos Healthcare did say

To certain poor claimants in beds where they lay

Their legs where they lay, too painful  to sleep

On a cold winter’s night that was so deep

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

You’ve done our assessment & now you are well

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

You’re fit for work now so go out and sell

Good King Atos he looked out

On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
struggling with his fuel


Page and monarch went upstairs
Up they went together
Ignoring  claimant’s wild lament
And the bitter weather
"Sire, the stairs are too steep now
I can go no longer."Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder claimant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring my laptop, bring my pens
Tell him to come hither
Thou and I will question him
When we bear him thither."

Fails my heart, I know not how,
I wish that

 I was  stronger."
"My laptop tells me different son.

No points means you are fit now

So go and get yourself a job

Quick get on with it now”

So the claimant left the house
Too tired to make a protest
Weak and ill and failing fast
he lay in the snow to rest
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who do not bless the poor
Won’t yourselves find blessing 

Coalition Cancer

Every time we read about this government's approach to benefit claimants we despair. Today, we heard this - that all cancer patients in stage 1V chemotherapy are to be put onto ESA, just like those in stage 1V radiotherapy -http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2011/12/government-cancer-pr-disaster.html?spref=tw

For those who are uninitiated in cancer speak, Stage 1V cancer is the end of the road. Being on Stage 1V chemo means that you're not going to beat your illness, you're not going to be one of those jolly survivors the media love to celebrate. What you are going to do is create a little bit more time on earth with the people you love to say goodbye. Anyone who has witnessed a friend or relative have radiotherapy or chemotherapy can testify to how unpleasant it is. On top of an already painful and debilitating illness, the person will be constantly vomiting (on chemotherapy) or so weak they can hardly get up (on radiotherapy).  How in God's name anyone with that degree of illness and in the middle of treatment is supposed to be work ready we cannot fathom.

Furthermore, if any of us were at this stage of end of life, what we'd want is to be to enjoy the last bit of time we have with the people we love in peace and dignity. The last thing a seriously ill person needs is to be worrying about WCA and whether they have enough money to pay the bills.

Yet another example of the cancerous heart of this coalition government. And another reason to stand up & shout ENOUGH.