Atos and the Work Capability Assessment.

There are many resources online which give information and tips about how to beat the WCA. This will hopefully add to that.

First, if you get called for assessment call them and insist that your assessment is recorded. Atos are legally required to provide equipment to do this. Back up your call with an email to a named person at whichever assessment centre you're dealing with. Badger them till you get confirmation in writing.

Take a friend to act as a witness. Get said friend to take notes and ask questions about the relevance of what the "medical professional" is asking you to do.

When you attend make sure you look at your worst. Don't wear make up, leave hair unbrushed etc.

Avoid eye contact, sigh often and tut when asked to perform one of their silly actions.

If you're asked how you are do not say "I'm fine" or similar. Say something along the lines of "I'm scared I'm going to end up like one of the 10600 people who've died after being passed fit for work by Atos 'Healthcare'".

If you still get put in the WRAG get your appeal in quick, and badger them for an appeal date.

If you subsequently get a letter telling you your appeal has failed get on to them ASAP. They are breaking the law by not giving you 14 days notice. Batter them with sections 29 and 35 of the Welfare Reform Act.

Write to your MP. They are supposed to represent you, make sure they do so.

Involve the media if necessary, Atos do not like bad publicity, nor do the government.

Never give up. We can and will win, but only if we organise and stick together.

Finally, good luck. And, as they say, chin up, tits out.

Newsnight and McAlpine

So, Lord McAlpine is to claim compensation from the BBC in spite of the fact that his name was not mentioned by the organisation. What an utter crock of shit. His name has been mentioned all over the blogosphere since about 1997 (at least, the first article I found was from that year). Indeed, he was all but named in an article by the respected and award winning journalist Nick Davies, so it wasn't just the conspiracy nutters that misused his name.

Steve Messham, the man at the centre of the Newsnight programme was shown a photograph of one of the men who abused him and told he was Lord McAlpine. Who showed him the photo? The police. The same police who have been busy not investigating institutional child abuse for decades.

We are facing a massive cover up here unless we keep at least one eye on the ball. Whilst it is important that the allegations against Savile are investigated and any accomplices prosecuted, it is more important that allegations aabout historic abuse at various childrens' homes are properly looked into. An inquiry will detract from that unless, unlike the Waterhouse report, it is completely open. Also, the authorities in Jersey must be taken to task for their shameful behaviour regarding Haut De La Garenne and the subsequent cover-up and removal from office of an honest copper.