If anyone in govt, media or politics wants a fitting memorial to Frank Field, then it should be the abolition of the two-child limit.

His last report (as Chair of Work and Pensions) is here.

'No government should accept it.'

committees.parliament.uk/committee/164/…

I could give you 1,000 tries to guess how Kirstie Alley’s parents were dressed when they died in a car accident and you wouldn’t get it right

“Attacking sick and disabled people is the equivalent of the Tory party’s in-case-of-emergency button. It is less about actually tackling a problem and more about making enough voters confused and angry.”

My col. on Sunak’s “benefits crackdown.” theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

I know I’m confident in a policy when its architects insist it has an “element of compassion.” An absolutely normal way of describing something that is in no way immoral cruelty and I don’t even know why you’d say that shut up

The weirdest part of all this is it couldn’t be less “English” to wave a flag and celebrate St George’s day, as if it’s a date that matters to anyone. There’s an argument for determining a progressive patriotism but it isn’t faux American flag elevation or earnest rhetoric.

I’ve never seen anything more British. If this is the sort of patriotism Keir Starmer means, sign me up.

Well, isn't that nice

A drinks and deportations party

Increasingly convinced Sunak has installed a ‘scapegoat button’ in Downing Street that, depending on the day, randomly lands on a different minority. Friday, disabled people. Monday, asylum seekers. Who knows what for Tuesday!

Latest from me: Laughing Boy is a new play about Connor Sparrowhawk & the fight for justice after his death in an NHS unit. It's about how ppl with Learning Disabilities & autism are - still - at the frontier of the fight for human rights theguardian.com/stage/2024/apr…

This is a key point from Eric. We have to be able to recognize growing & actual antisemitism, anti-Jewish hate, of the type described below, & condemn+tackle it, while also recognizing, separately, how bogus antisemitism charges are used to smear pro-Palestine activists & chants.

Loved this extract from Caroline Crampton’s wonderful new book on hypochondria (and so much more) theguardian.com/society/2024/a…

Truly no greater curse in life than to be born a heterosexual woman. (Click on her other videos in the replies. Screaming.)

PIP is meant to be for the extra costs associated with disability: in reality it’s the only non-means tested disability benefit (unless you count a subset of ESA for which you have to have paid x amount of NI contributions to get - difficult if you’re disabled very young) 🧵

There is no such thing as “a sick note culture.” There is a record high NHS waiting list, crippling housing costs, widespread food poverty, stagnant wages and inadequate benefit rates, a broken social care system, dire mental health services, and closed Sure Start centres.

This is such a lovely podcast. Listening feels like sharing a chat with a group of disabled mates. Nikki Fox - BBC News & Watchdog Presenter Emma Tracey