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Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
How Liz Kendall can stop this national sickness
The welfare trap has become so vast and bewildering — an incomprehensible maze of acronyms and despair — that it's easy to lose sight of those trapped inside it. Keir Starmer, like others before him, ended up losing his way in the institutional fog. The Treasury needed savings so welfare cuts were ordered to provide them. But no one seemed to ask the most basic question: what about the people? How would MPs explain the cuts to them, and others? And in what possible way would this be politically deliverable? Take Amy, a single mother in Keighley I met last year while filming a documentary. During childbirth, her pelvis fractured. Multiple surgeries have left her walking (with a stick) but in constant pain. Incapacity benefit lets her care for her eight-year-old son and provide something rare in her part of town: a stable home. Still only 30, Amy is bright and eager to train. She once wanted to be a barrister. But she has never worked and has no idea how to start, nor has anyone offered serious help. Starmer's welfare reform would cut payments significantly from next April: the promised 'employment support' looks paltry and unlikely to reach Amy. This is a Treasury raid, disguised as welfare reform. Official forecasts admit that the sickness benefit surge will continue apace: 3.3 million at the last count, 4.1 million within five years. So the obvious mission — reverse the rise — will not be accomplished. Labour rebels were right to reject this combination of penny-pinching, ineptitude and lack of ambition. People like Amy are the hardest cases: the longer you're on welfare, the harder it is to get off. So the first, easiest, most urgent task should be to reduce the rise in sickness benefit claimants. The old, shocking statistic was that 2,000 were being signed off every working day under the Tories. The figures were updated this week: under Labour it's now closer to 3,000 a day. Lives are being squandered on a scale that's hard to fathom and harder to forgive. Once on sickness benefits, claimants are unlikely to work again. This is especially tragic given how many under-35s are claiming: up 60 per cent in five years. It would be callous, if those in charge realised what was going on. Which, even now, they largely don't. Jeremy Hunt, a former chancellor, is a case in point. He recently claimed to be responsible for the sickness benefit surge because, as health secretary, he gave mental health the same status as physical health. But his mea culpa was wrong. A steady fall in sickness benefit claimants, which started under Blair, was suddenly and viciously reversed not following Hunt's 2014 Care Act but in 2019. Why? The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has gone into this in detail. The answer lies in bureaucratic mistakes that were never spotted and lie uncorrected even now. During lockdown, in-person interviews for sickness benefits were replaced with cheaper phone interviews. The new system had a big, unexpected side effect. Assessors told me the prospect of a sit-down interview deters those who are, actually, not too sick to work. Large numbers of them dropped their claims at the last minute. But a phone call? Far less daunting, especially if it's a scripted process that can be easily gamed — and whose questions (and accepted answers) are now all online. Something dull and technical — a reduction in the pre-interview dropout rate — is responsible for a half a million extra sickness benefit awards since 2019. But that figure accounts for only half of the overall surge of one million extra awards in that time. Another factor is the rise in approval rates, now at 80 per cent, double the 2010 level. Why so high? Assessors are incentivised to get through as many claims as they can, and are paid an £80 bonus for every one over a certain minimum. The only way of speeding up is to assess someone as too sick to work. Do so and you can 'curtail' — end the interview — and move on to the next claim. You can be hauled up for rejections (in case the claimant appeals) but approvals are almost never checked. One assessor, a former NHS nurse, told me how appalled he was that the interviews are not recorded. This, he said, leaves the system wide open to abuse. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, could fix this now. Tell all applicants their interview will be in-person. Switch to a phone call last minute if needs be, but restore that deterrent effect. Record and spot-check all claims, not just rejected ones. Publish all sickness benefit data, daily. How many applied, and were approved? How many bonuses were paid? Such transparency could be transformative. A Covid-style live-data dashboard would focus minds more than any ministerial edict. Last autumn I met Gavin, a taxi driver on the south coast who told the DWP he did not need his sickness benefits any more. No, he was told: you must wait to be reassessed. Three years later, he was still waiting. What he didn't know was that reassessments were stopped in lockdown — and were never properly restarted. Once, 350 a day were moved back into work this way. Now, it's just 50 a day. Reassessments would not threaten people such as Amy, whose case is all too verifiable. No vote is needed in parliament. Kendall has been increasing them, but by nowhere like enough. She does not need new laws, just grip. And to rediscover a sense of urgency, a willingness to take on activists. This is about duty both to the taxpayer and to those stuck in the system. Not long ago, Britain led the world on welfare reform and it was Labour that started the process. The problem isn't a workshy population but a broken system, one that forgets its purpose, loses sight of the individual and now traps more than it helps. The real sickness is political: a kind of fatalism that says welfare is too big to fix, that no one can grip it and that any remedy must wait for some distant white paper. Reassessments, deterrents, scrutiny, transparency — none of these are radical ideas. They worked before and can be made to work again. This isn't about whether Starmer can pass legislation but whether he can govern. Whether he sees the likes of Amy not as costs to be reduced but as citizens to be helped. This was, once, the founding purpose of his party. If a prime minister forgets that purpose, then no majority, however large, will save him when the reckoning comes.
Malay Mail
21-06-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
PM's office delivers assistance to cancer-stricken single mother in Kampung Tebing Tinggi
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended assistance to a single mother, Azizah Mahmood, who is battling colon cancer in Kampung Tebing Tinggi, Balok, Kuantan. The contribution was delivered by the Prime Minister's political secretary Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, during a visit under the Ziarah MADANI programme. Ahmad Farhan said Azizah, a mother of five who works as a cleaner to support her family, is also struggling with poor living conditions, while requiring continuous medical treatment and monthly supplements. 'We are looking into the types of assistance that can be expedited, whether in terms of healthcare or home repairs,' he said in a Facebook post shared by the prime minister today. Ahmad Farhan also prayed for Azizah's continued strength and recovery, and expressed hope that the family's affairs would be eased. — Bernama
The Herald
18-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
A busy single mom battling with isiXhosa frets over her son's education
When my son had to choose a second language to take on at school, it was either Afrikaans or isiXhosa. We went with the latter. He is now in grade 7, and I have to admit his schoolwork is proving to be quite a challenge for both of us. Make no mistake, this child probably reads 10 books a year in addition to his required books at school. He loves reading, he loves exploring new words through those pages and literally gets excited every time he comes across a new universe. But I believe I have let him down by not introducing him to the books of black South African authors — specifically Xhosa authors. I have picked up through his work and test results that he often does not fully comprehend what he has read. He can read the words but, without looking them up, he struggles to spell and find meaning behind certain of them. This shortcoming is all too familiar and is highlighted in the report of the 2030 Reading Panel chaired by former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. I have spoken to a number of teachers and principals who have attributed pupils' generally poor comprehension levels to a lack of parental support and the fact that many children come from single households. I am a single mother, and I work extremely irregular hours and so I've been left wondering if I've set my child up for failure. I can't always be there for him and sometimes I'm too tired even when I'm home. I'm not the only one whose child is struggling. A lot of my friends who are isiXhosa speakers, whose children attend former Model C schools, are in the same boat. Recently, a Xhosa teacher told parents about the importance of exposing our children to our traditional customs because culture plays a huge part in the Xhosa language. When they practise culture, they speak the language, internalise it and find meaning behind the words. It was suggested that I introduce my son to Nal'ibali, ( isiXhosa for 'here's the story'), the national reading campaign which has isiXhosa books catering for children up to the age of 12. Though the books might be a bit elementary for someone who is proficient in English novels, I believe they would be highly beneficial — both for me and my son. Then the day might come when I can actually help him with his isiXhosa assignments and to study for tests. This special report into the state of literacy, a collaborative effort by The Herald, Sowetan and Daily Dispatch, was made possible by the Henry Nxumalo Foundation
Malay Mail
12-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Mother and son found dead in suspected double murder in Melaka (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — A woman and her son were found dead in what is believed to be a murder at a house in Taman Rambai Mutiara, Bukit Rambai, early this morning. It is understood that another family member survived the incident but sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital, Kosmo! Online reported today. The woman, believed to be a schoolteacher and a single mother, was one of the two victims found at the scene. A check at the location revealed that a forensic team was still conducting investigations, and the bodies had yet to be removed by police at the time of reporting.
Mail & Guardian
25-05-2025
- Mail & Guardian
South Africa's natural wealth should benefit everyone
People must be reconnected to their natural heritage for conservation to create jobs. Last month, I had a brief conversation that continues to haunt me. While dining at a restaurant in one of Cape Town's tourist hotspots, I met Ntando — a 42-year-old waitress. Though she works in the heart of a global biodiversity hotspot and World Heritage Site, her words were jarring: 'Conservation means nothing to me and my family.' Ntando, a single mother of three daughters, walks four hours daily to and from her minimum-wage job. With no direct public transport to her workplace, she relies on unreliable commuting options. Surrounded daily by the 'I can barely make ends meet,' she told me. 'But, more than that, I worry about what future awaits my daughters.' Ntando's story reveals a painful truth. While generations before her might have been stewards of this land, the modern conservation economy has pushed her to its margins. She represents millions of South Africans living beside natural treasures who have been excluded from both decision-making and the economic opportunities these areas offer. This systematic exclusion not only perpetuates inequality but threatens the very sustainability of conservation — no ecosystem can thrive long-term when the people who live within it are treated as afterthoughts rather than essential partners. The natural wealth around us South Africa is one of the world's most naturally rich countries. Our land holds nearly According to Statistics South Africa, nature-based tourism directly contributed And yet, the benefits of this wealth do not reach the majority of South Africans. Even worse, illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction cost us between A new path forward At the UN Development Programme First, we need to redirect the money. Research from the University of Cape Town shows Second, we should embrace new technologies to unlock conservation financing. Digital platforms like Through Wildcards, technology enthusiasts become 'guardians' of virtual animals or conservation projects by purchasing uniquely designed digital wildlife cards. Each guardian makes regular donations to conservation organisations until someone else purchases their card. This approach could operate on an even larger scale — imagine a regulated South African marketplace for similar conservation investments where most proceeds directly support community-led initiatives. This could generate millions while creating jobs Third, we must give local communities real power in conservation decisions and management. Studies show that conservation programmes designed with community input are The cost of continuing as we are If we continue on the current path, we risk irreversible biodiversity loss and growing socio-economic instability. Our But there's hope in change. Projections from the South African National Biodiversity Institute suggest that inclusive conservation models could create At UNDP-BIOFIN, we're working with the government, businesses, investors and communities to create new ways of funding biodiversity protection that benefit everyone. With our partners, we've launched a platform connecting nature-focused entrepreneurs with impact investors and development funders. But technical solutions alone aren't enough — we need a fundamental shift in how conservation is understood, accepted and practised. For Ntando and millions like her, conservation must matter When I think about Ntando's daily four-hour walk to serve tourists who come to admire 'pristine' landscapes, the disconnect is chilling. Her family once lived in harmony with this land, but exclusionary conservation approaches severed that relationship, sometimes turning stewards into spectators. True conservation must translate into real, visible benefits for people like Ntando: secure jobs, sustainable income and a brighter future for their children. It must reconnect communities with their natural heritage and recognise them as rightful partners, not obstacles. Only by placing communities at the heart of nature financing can we transform it from a perceived burden to a national opportunity. South Africa's natural wealth belongs to all its citizens — it's time our approach to protecting it reflected that reality. Deshni Pillay is the head of the Nature, Climate and Energy portfolio at the UN Development Programme South Africa.
