Who's Listening?

This is a response from the National Democrats.

You ask what we are doing about it...well the front page of our newspaper "The Flag" reads as follows:
 

Any pretence that the Conservatives were a caring party was torn to shreds when it was revealed that they had slipped in £50 million worth of cuts to war pensions as a hidden part of the November budget.

The worst proposed cut of all affected 10,000 veterans each year who would be unable to claim extra disability allowances for deterioration in their hearing after it had been damaged during military service.

A further 7,000-10,000 war disablement pensions would lose out as a result of what Ken Clarke referred to as a "simplification" of the rules affecting benefits for such people. Yet the Government knew the effects of all this because before the announcement Peter Lilley, the Social Security Secretary wrote to William Waldergrave at the Treasury proposing a number of what he openly referred to as "sweeteners" to split any opposition to the cuts.

The cuts could now, in theory be imposed by Ministerial regulation but since the explosion of anger when news of them leaked out, it is unlikeley that they will now be put into effect - certainly not until after the general election.

However that a Conservative Government should even think of such mean-minded cuts, shows just how little they care about those individuals who have served their country.

But Labour is no better. In a survey carried out in 1996 it was shown that some councils treat war pensioners' disability allowances as part of their income and this affects their entitlement to other services. Former anti-tank gunner Ted Maddison, 77, said he would rather go to jail than pay the extra housing costs that Labour Barnsley Council is demanding. He receives a disablement pension for injuries he received fighting the Japanese and during his imprisonment by them. It is primarily Labour Councils that have acted in this equally mean-minded manner.

Some things just never seem to change. At the end of November the Public Records Office in Kew released the papers covering the claims for assistance sent in by soldiers returning from WW1. One case serves to show how such men were treated.

John Cunningham, a private in the 12th East Yorkshire Regiment won a Victoria Cross in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He continued in service but in 1918 he was badly wounded being shot in the chest and in both feet. He was initially registered as being 100% disabled and qualified for the maximum disability pensions of 40 shillings (equivalent to £43.40 in today's money). At the end of 1921 his position had become so desperate that Cunningham was imprisoned for debt. However, four months later he had his disablement assessment reduced to 60% and his pension to just 22 shillings, equivalent to £22.10 in today's money.

In a desperate attempt to gert himself back to earning he asked the ministry to commute 6 shillings a week of his pension to a lump sum of £80 so he could buy a horse and cart and start himself up in business. This was turned down flat.

Cunningham then drifted from one place to another. He died of TB, penniless, in a sanatorium in 1941. For most of this period the government in office was..........Conservative."

The front page also carries articles headed, "OLD FOLK HAVING TO SELL THEIR HOMES TO PAY FOR NURSING CARE" and "ALZHEIMER'S:THE FORGOTTEN DISEASE"

In this party we will not stand for our old folk being pushed to the back of the queue. It may put your mind at rest that although the National Democrats are still only a small party, we are growing quite nicely.

Kind Regards,
National Democrats