After the Prime Minister announced he would be making it harder for those with mental health issues to obtain absence from work, leaders of political parties have accused him of blaming his own failures on the public.
Politicians Oppose Sunak
Politicians have lashed out at the Conservative government after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement regarding mental health.
Cracking Down on Sick Notes
Recently, the Prime Minister announced he would be cracking down on “sick note culture” in the UK as more people claim benefits for being unfit for work.
Mental Health Issues Just Got Harder
The new plans would make it significantly more challenging for those with mental health issues to obtain a certificate from the doctor that deems them unfit for work.
Focusing on the Wrong Issue
According to many leaders of the opposing Parties, Sunak is focusing on the wrong thing by punishing those with mental health problems.
Green Party’s Opposition
According to Carla Denyer, the Green Party co-leader, the Prime Minister should focus on restoring the NHS rather than blaming the public.
“Fixing The NHS” as a Priority
Denyer insisted that the Conservatives “should be fixing the NHS… not blaming people who are ill.”
Lib Dem Leader Speaks Out
The leader of the Liberal Democrats also insisted that the government is blaming the public for its own mistakes regarding an underfunded NHS.
Prime Minister’s “Desperate” Speech
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, insisted, “This was a desperate speech from the Prime Minister mired in sleaze and scandal.”
More NHS Funding Needed
According to Davey, there is not enough support for those with mental health issues due to a lack of NHS funding, resulting in more people needing time off work.
“Millions” in Need of Help
Davey said, “Millions of people are stuck on NHS waiting lists, unable to get a GP appointment or struggling to access mental health support.”
Blaming The British People
According to Davey, the Prime Minister is “attempting to blame the British people for his own government’s failures on the economy and the NHS and it simply won’t wash.”
Former Policy Comparison
The Labour Party also criticized the Prime Minister’s announcement, comparing it to a similar policy issued by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2017.
Starmer Calls Out Tory Failure
According to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, the idea is a “reheated version” of May’s previous policy, which was enacted due to the government’s failures regarding the NHS.
Government’s “Broken” NHS
Starmer insisted, “The big problem here, frankly, is that the government has broken the NHS and waiting lists are up.”
Starmer Calls For Action
Starmer claimed that the focus should be on fixing the NHS, adding, “It’s no good talking about the problem – what we need is action.”
Claiming Benefits a “Lifestyle Choice”
The criticism comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a speech that claiming benefits had become a “lifestyle choice” for some people.
Young People Not Contributing
Sunak denied accusations that the new legislation was down to cost-cutting, arguing that young people don’t contribute enough to the economy.
Sunak Cites Irresponsibility
Sunak argued that it would be “irresponsible” not to act as young people spend their days at home not being productive.
Young People Missing Out
Sunak said, “There’s nothing compassionate about leaving a generation of young people to sit alone in the dark before a flickering screen watching as their dreams slip further from reach every single day.”
Political Disagreements
The criticism of Sunak’s decision shows the disagreement between the Tories and the other political leaders, with a general election just around the corner.
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The post Lib Dems: Sunak Should Be Fixing the NHS, Not Blaming the UK Public For Failures first appeared on Edge Media.
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