With his claims of a ‘sicknote culture’, the prime minister is scapegoating those worst affected by 14 years of Conservative rule
When a prime minister knows he is heading for electoral wipeout, he has one of two options. He can choose dignified statesmanship, using his remaining months in power to bring about as much unity and stability as possible. Or he can choose desperation, grasping for votes by scapegoating marginalised people, and leaving division and misery in his wake.
Rishi Sunak has gone for the second option. On Friday, he announced a new crackdown on disability benefits that has been described by charities as “a full-on assault on disabled people”. The country has a “sicknote culture” that needs to be tackled, the prime minister said. Britain “can’t afford” its record levels of welfare spending and it’s “not fair” on the taxpayer.
Frances Ryan is a Guardian columnist and author of Crippled
