Conservative claptrap

In two articles highlighted today on Daily Dose, Conservative MPs are having a go at Labour's record in dealing with those with drink and drug problems. Apparently, the number of addicts claiming incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance has doubled under Labour to more than 100,000.

“Taxpayers will be outraged that so much of their money is going to junkies and
winos who will use the money simply to fund their disgusting habits. Nobody
forced them to get hooked on drink or drugs. It’s their responsibility to get
cleaned up and off benefits.”

Tory MP David Davies, Monmouth

I used to think David Davies was alright, although that wasn't based on very much just what a friend from Monmouth had said. That has all changed. How narrow minded and bigoted can he get? It is horrifying that these are the views of a man with the power to influence the help available to those affected by addiction.

The Shadow Home secretary David Davis recently said,

“The flawed efforts to manage - not end - addiction make it part of the problem,
not the solution. We would extend abstinence-based drug rehabilitation to
get
addicts off all drugs for good.”

How does David Davis hope to do this with MPs such as David Davies in his party? While I agree in part with the Shadow Home secretary that trying to manage addiction just makes things worse, would I really want a political party who’s MPs spout so much derogatory nonsense in control of this nation and its NHS? No way, José! While I believe that abstinence, generally, is the correct goal to have as a recovering addict, that cannot possibly be decided by a third party. Only the addict can decide for themselves what their goals are, or should be. Our job as professionals is to support them in their decisions, utilising harm reduction methods where possible.

Substance users are already overly ostracized by society, which is detrimental to their recovery, without their MPs adding to this discrimination and further hindering their chances of long term recovery.

I’d like to know what my reader’s views are on these quotes, and the Tory party’s stance on addiction and recovery.

European dream

What an amazing day, Cardiff City FC are in the final of the FA cup! Joe Ledley is the toast of Cardiff after firing his volley in the back of the net, also netting a deserved man of the match award. It isn't all good news though, in normal circumstances the winner of the FA cup qualifies for the Uefa Cup, but, as Cardiff City are a Welsh club and not affiliated to the English Football Association they would not be allowed to go into the Uefa Cup.

Uefa spokesman, William Gaillard, has suggested Cardiff could be given a wild card entry should they win but that decision will be made by an executive committee. What a blow it would be if Cardiff win and then don't get the benefits that any other winner would get. Shouldn't everyone be treated the same? To get into the final of the Cup is a massive thing for the Welsh people, to be in the Uefa cup would be a dream come true, a moment of legend throughout all eternity.

I for one think the winner of the FA Cup, whoever that is, should go to Europe.

Discrimination against minority's.

It seems like those with substance misuse issue's aren't the only one's being discriminated against by our Government. Last week I read with horror the plight of the retired Gurkha's in this country. Nepalese Gurkha's have served in our Army for over 200 years and yet on retiring only receive, on average, £131 a month, which pales in significance to their British counterparts.


The feelings are running that high about this disgrace that around 2000 Gurkha's attended Parliament to watch 50 of their veterans hand back their medals in protest at the Government's "immoral discrimination" against them.



On top of all this the Gurkha's that retired before 1997 don't even have an automatic right to stay in this Country. This is adding insult to injury, and needs to be addressed. Questions were raised at Prime Minister's question time and the PM's response was that Labour was the first Government to have raised the Gurkha's pension at all. This demonstration happened a week ago. Nothing has happened since then!
Well I'm very sorry Mr Brown, but this simply isn't enough. These people have spilt blood for this Country and then you stab them in the back.

What hope do minorities in this Country have when their Government can treat them unjustly and get away with it?