General Election 2017 Campaign FAQs
Why have you picked ESA reassessments as the main issue for the campaign?
While there are many issues we are currently campaigning on across health, welfare, social
care and research, we believe the issue that we will most likely be able to get a commitment
on for MND amongst parliamentary candidates and political parties is ending ESA
reassessments for people living with MND. This has been a key campaigning issue for the
Association and is an issue more likely to get attention alongside some of the big issues
likely to dominate the election debate, the party manifestos and the political parties’ election
campaigns. We believe this is because it is a positive policy on benefits for any future
government to introduce and because it will also save the future Government time and
resources.
Although this is our leading campaigning issue during the election, this will not stop or dilute
our policy and campaigning activity on other issues. Focussing on ESA reassessments is a
tactical decision to try and make the most out of the opportunity the General Election
presents, not an indication that it is a more important issue than others faced by people living
with MND. Whilst ending ESA reassessment is our number one ask ahead of the General
Election, it doesn’t mean you can’t talk to parliamentary candidates about other issues
relating to MND too – in fact, we’d encourage it!
To find out more about the other issues we campaign on click here.
But haven’t ESA reassessments for people with MND stopped already?
You may remember this as an issue we have campaigned on before and last year we
welcomed a commitment by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Damian Green,
to end ESA reassessments for those with severe and lifelong conditions. Despite this
commitment being made in 2016, by the time the General Election was announced this
policy intention had still not become a reality. It is therefore important to seek confirmation
during the election period that this is a promise any future Government is willing to keep and
that any policy introduced works for people living with MND.
To see our previous statement relating to the original announcement click here.
What about DLA/PIP and other reassessments? Shouldn’t they end too?
Because the previous government committed to ending ESA reassessments specifically and
this had broad support across political parties, we want to ensure that this commitment is
carried over and acted on by whoever forms the next government. We would hope that
ending reassessment for ESA sets a good precedent for this to be reviewed for other
benefits too and is something that we and the other organisations we work in coalition with
will continue to campaign on beyond the election.
What about other issues affecting people living with MND? Should you not be asking
for more?
Given the unexpectedness of the General Election announcement, the short time-frame for
campaigning ahead of the vote, and a few issues already likely to dominate the debate (such
as Brexit), it has been important to be both ambitious and realistic when deciding what to ask
of parliamentary candidates and the next government. Although our key policy ask is
focussed on ending ESA reassessments, we are campaigning in coalition with other
organisations on a number of areas also affecting people living with MND ahead of the
election including:
 Wider welfare and benefits issues with the Disability Benefits Consortium
 Social care issues with the Care and Support Alliance
 NHS and health issues with National Voices and the Continuing Healthcare Alliance
If I don’t claim ESA should I still support this campaign?
Yes! Even if you don’t have MND, don’t claim benefits or ESA specifically we would still
encourage you to support our election campaign and the ask to end ESA reassessments for
people living with MND. Not everyone living with MND will be claiming ESA but for those that
do it is a lifeline that replaces lost income. As MND is a progressive and terminal condition in
all cases, reassessment for this benefit for people with MND is unnecessary and a waste of
resource, which creates avoidable stress and anxiety for those involved. The more support
we have behind this campaign, the more likely we are to end unnecessary reassessments.
Is the Association allowed to be involved in election campaigning?
As a charity, we remain politically neutral/impartial and there is strict charity law that prohibits
charities from conducting party-political campaigning. Our aim and ambition is to have MND
feature as part of the election debate through our campaigning, not to encourage people to
vote in a particular way or to endorse a particular political party.
A general election does present a valuable opportunity for the Association to draw attention
to MND amongst parliamentary candidates (the people campaigning for your vote) and to try
and secure commitments from whoever might form the next Government. Charities such as
ours are well within the law to do this.
We have created some guidance for branches and groups to use when campaigning during
the election period. The overarching message for branches and groups is to use the general
election to raise awareness of MND as much as possible, but to remain impartial. You can
read the full guidance here.
What’s the point? It doesn’t make a difference.
Your parliamentary candidates are looking to secure your vote on 8th June and will be
looking to gain support from their potential future constituents. The successful candidate in
your area will go on to represent you as an MP in the House of Commons over the next 5
years and will vote on key issues on your behalf, which will likely affect people living with and
affected by MND. Any commitment or support that can be generated for MND and for our
policy ask on ESA reassessments ahead of the election is something that we can continue
to build on with new MPs and the next government once it has been formed. The more
support that can be generated now, the better our chances of making positive change for
people living with MND over the next few years.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that while there is much speculation as to the likely outcome
of the General Election, there have been many times when the unexpected has happened.
Both media and polling predictions are not always right and ultimately it all comes down to
how you decide to vote.
What is ESA?
ESA is a benefit for people who are too ill or disabled to work. There are two tiers of ESA the work-related activity group (WRAG) is for claimants who are considered to be capable of
work at some time in the future; and the support group is for claimants who are not
considered to be able to work now or in the future. Claimants must have a Work Capability
Assessment (WCA) to determine which of these groups is most appropriate for them.
Claimants are currently required to undergo regular reassessments.
However, we believe that if a person is placed in the support group and has received a
confirmed diagnosis of a condition which is permanent and holds no prospect of recovery,
such as motor neurone disease, it is pointless to subject them to reassessments.
Reassessing such people is a waste of time and public money. It is also a major cause of
stress and anxiety for people who are already coping with devastating illnesses and
conditions.
We want the Government to implement in full its pledge to exempt people with severe, lifelong conditions from pointless reassessments.