Email #4

Dear Harriet

Today I renewed my tax credits... as I am a carer to my eldest child, and with ASD and mental health issues myself, I am only able to work part time.  Tax credits are my lifeline; my self employment my sanity.  Recently the government has stated that tax credits will be next in line for scrutiny as a means to achieve the £12 billion cuts it says are required.  This frightens me.  Without tax credits, I literally wouldnt be able to feed my children.  It is all very well for the government to suggest that I should search for a "real job" but there isnt mass unemployment because people are "workshy", there is mass unemployment because there is a shortage of job.  It also feels somewhat like a stab in the back.  I did everything I thought I was supposed to do given the circumstances I was in: as a carer my hours of availabilty are limited; as someone with mental health issues, I am not always able to work (no employer would accept Sorry I cant make it in today because I cant face going outside) and a working environment would be difficult for me- it is documented that I suffered a breakdown while training to be a teacher and the humiliation I felt at the realisation that this would be impossible for me was almost as debilitating as the breakdown itself.

Having retrained, with a shortage of jobs, I volunteered for local football teams while starting a self employed business-two things people are told are an alternative to "being on benefit".  The "easy" option might have been to just "sign on" but I didnt,  I got up, I went out, I volunteered and I started my own business.  I have always been independent in my mentality and actually, like the vast majority of people on any kind of welfare, I would give anything for my business to grow to the point where I am independent financially.  I thought this was the example I was supposed to be showing my children: that you do whatever is necessary, you overcome the obsticles of life to the best of your ability and if there are no jobs, or you need experience for your chosen field (its 5 years experience to get a job for a larger football club) you volunteer or you start your own business- that is certainly what Steve Allen (former head physio, Portmouth FC) praised me for when I met him at a seminar held by Surrey FA.  I guess I was wrong.

But its not just people like me who are self employed who rely on tax credits, those on zero hour contracts also rely on them, and if tax credits are cut this will plunge 300,000 children into poverty (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/04/obsorne-misleading-cuts-needed-balance-books-ifs-spending-squeeze) which is ironic really, because Labour set out while in government to abolish child poverty by 2020 and had been succeeding (http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/can-current-policy-end-child-poverty-britain-2020).

So this is why we need a party that is anti austerity.  I, and many supporters, are bouyed by the announcement that Jeremy Corbyn has announced his intention to stand as a candidate for the Labour leadership.  You promised us, as party members, to listen to us, and we are shouting quite loudly now for a leader who is committed to Left thinking and anti austerity so I urge you to ensure he is on the ballot paper.  This is what we need, this is who we need.  I would also urge you to show your support and commit to voting for him.

The voice of the people is loud and grows stronger every day.  With each day that passes, more and more people commit their presence on 20th June to the End Austerity Now National Demonstration.
Please listen to us.  If you want to know why you lost in 2015 and want to ensure you win in 2020, listen to us.  We are the grass roots members who you said you would listen to.  Stand by this promise.

Consituent, Labour Party member, Unite Community member, sleep deprived carer, concerned citizen, self employed mother.