[Kizzy]

A 91-year-old benefits campaigner fought back tears today as he called on the next generation to fight for the welfare state.

Brave Harry Leslie Smith sobbed as he told the Labour conference of his sister's death in abject poverty during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

And he gave a stark warning about the impact of the Coalition's cruel welfare cuts on modern-day Britain.

"My generation lost its hope during the Thirties," he said. "Today's austerity is just as cruel and criminal as it was in my youth.

"And it will get worse and worse unless we fight those who want to take us back to those dark days."

Mr Leslie Smith was among the panel of powerful speakers at the Daily Mirror's 'Real Britain' fringe event, chaired by columnists Kevin Maguire and Ros Wynne-Jones.

He received a standing ovation after telling how his family struggled through the Great Depression, the Second World War, Britain's reconstruction "and even Margaret Thatcher."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...#ixzz3DyZNIRGq

I don't think many understand how life was without welfare and/or the NHS. If you were weak, old, ill, poor you died... In the days of Aneurin Bevan and the great social reformists who acknowledged the 5 'giants' slowed the progression of a civilised society. They were acutely aware then that the country was in social and moral decline due to abject poverty, why are we going backwards?

[Nedusa]

Who the ******* do you think finances the welfare state.. Yes the rest of us, the poor suckers who actually get up and do a days work.

So yes to reform of the welfare state, benefits to people who really need them.



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[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

Who the ******* do you think finances the welfare state.. Yes the rest of us, the poor suckers who actually get up and do a days work.

So yes to reform of the welfare state, benefits to people who really need them.



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Yes as they have done since the inception of the welfare state, you're just stating the obvious there.
It's not about reform, it's the feeling that welfare is being wound up... the NHS sold off bit by bit. It will be back to Dickensian days if that happens, effectively put society in reverse.