I was of course sickened to get to my computer a bit earlier and read of Reform’s plans to overhaul the welfare system. “‘Reform UK says it would aim to cut about £50bn from the benefits bill and scrap the disability payments system, Pip, if it comes in to government.” I was initially in two minds about blogging about the subject for fear of giving these scoundrels attention they do not deserve. But given this is an issue which would effect me directly and slashing Personal Independence Payment would have a dramatic impact on my life as a disabled man, I don’t think I can let it slide. It is blatantly obvious that Reform are just trying to A) present themselves as a credible, serious political party by coming up with policies on subjects unrelated to the xenophobic bile they usually spew; and B) distract us from their fhurer’s corruption.

In doing so, however, they have done nothing but reveal how callous and unfit to govern they are. Like any modern, enlightened society, we should care for those most in need of help: that means having a robust, properly funded welfare state. Surely a society can only really be judged by how it cares for those most in need. Yet the disgraces to human civilisation in Reform would do away with that completely, forcing the most vulnerable members of society to just fend for ourselves – probably even begging – just so they can slash tax rates and allow their rich, privileged friends to hoard their wealth. At the end of the day, that is the entire aim of their neoliberal, greed-is-good worldview. It frankly staggers me that we are continuing to allow this group of neofascists to pollute our political discourse, and that so many people are shortsighted enough to vote for them.