Commenting on the launch of the Spartacus Network report, Beyond the Barriers on 9 April 2014, Simon Barrow, co-director of the Christian political think-tank Ekklesia, said:
“This is a vital report. It demonstrates from a wealth of evidence the failure of the current ESA system and the assessments driving it. It also proposes a credible, alternative approach rooted in the experience and expertise of people living with long-term health conditions and disabilities themselves.
“Beyond the Barriers shows the way for future policy-making on welfare. Government by ill-fitting, top-down solutions based on false money-saving expectations is bad for the country, bad for democracy and especially bad for the most vulnerable people in society.
“Once again Spartacus researchers have illustrated why a major turnaround in attitude and approach is required on ESA, WCA and the Work Programme, as well as welfare reform and benefits generally.”
* The full report can be accessed and downloaded here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/beyondbarriers
* All the latest on ‘Beyond the Barriers’: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/beyondbarriersnews