ALASDAIR CLARK: Rishi Sunak’s ‘sicknote culture’ crackdown is a dangerous misdiagnosis
The UK is said to be experiencing an epidemic of working-age illness.
Growing numbers of people are living with chronic conditions and diseases that force them out of employment altogether.
But just as many – around a fifth of working-age adults in the UK – are estimated to be living with what one think tank described as a work-limiting condition.
The Health Foundation says the issue has become such a problem it could even threaten the UK’s economic performance.
It’s an epidemic the government say they want to tackle. This week, in a set piece speech Prime Minister Rishi Sunak blasted the country’s “sicknote culture”, which he said is costing the tax payer £69 billion a year.
In comments that drew ire from disability charities and health campaigners, Mr Sunak claimed some choose to live on benefits as a “lifestyle choice”, linking this to the UK’s “spiralling” welfare bill.
The prime minister says his party will make it harder for some people to obtain a sick note, and those who are still out of work after 12 months of support would have their benefits stopped entirely.
Such a system would see so-called specialist work and health professionals assess whether someone is fit to........
© The Courier
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