In support of all those who have campaigned to holt Welfare Reform Bill.

Giving my blog over to Sue Marsh today. Her blog and campaign to ensure fair and humane treatment for people who are sick or disabled has achieved some of it's objectives.

In the House Of Lords yesterday the government was, thankfully, defeated on three amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill. There are many protesters and campaigners involved, but I have been particularly keeping up to date, through Sue's work; and have been so inspired by the way she has kept everyone informed and supported, whilst the concerns about cuts to benefits for the most vulnerable people in society have been at the forefront of our minds this past two years.

Her work then transformed into a very well organised and researched campaign that has resulted in these achievements this week.

The video is from The Guardian and gives some context for anyone not familiar with what is happening in the UK at the moment.

On her blog "Diary of a Benefit Scrounger" Sue Marsh wrote these words today....

Yesterday, Lords voted to overturn the one-year time limit to contributory Employment and Support Allowance proposed by the government. They were defeated by a staggering 224 votes to 186. We had lobbied on this issue more than any other. Yesterday, we posted a full briefing on why. You can read it

here :

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/impact-of-time-limiting-esa.html

When we started campaigning, we had four very, very clear objectives. There are other things that urgently need to be changed in the Lords, and we thank them for their forensic attention to detail that means these other issues are not being ignored.

Today, the DWP and the very highest ministers in government will be everywhere trying to mitigate the damage of yesterday's defeat. You will hear their misrepresentation of us on every TV show, in every paper. You will cringe at every inaccuracy, burn at every line of spin.

Mostly, I know that you will burn at the injustice of not being heard. You will wonder - as we have always wondered - why the mainstream media persist in ignoring truth and reason and evidence. Journalists will not be queueing to ask how the defeat came about, to ask the campaigners who almost certainly made it happen.

You might burn too, when you hear Labour claim this as their victory.

None of that matters. The public were never ours to lose. We have come this far without them, by making reasonable, calm, evidence based arguments to the people who really matter, the people with all the power. We have come to this point by engaging with politicians of all colours, by owning social media and using it to make our own news.

Today, you have truth and justice on your side. The Government do not. No Government is defeated on the scale we saw last night, with the very strong majorities we saw, by accident. It was the undeniable injustice of the Government's plans that convinced the Lords.

Do what we do best and make our case honestly. Re-post articles, write short statements, blog, contact friendly journalists and see if they will drop a little of the DWP spin angles. Contact supporters and let them know we won and what it means. Own the internet. It's all we have.

Please, if you have time, go visit Sue on her blog. There is also a link to an e-petition calling for a pause and review of the reforms so that they are safe for sick and disabled people.