PM Theresa May in Abingdon meets Cathy. The worlds press were there too.

PM Theresa May in Abingdon

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) has been phased out for people aged 16 to 64.

PM Theresa May in Abingdon

This has been replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP). People between 16 and 64 are entitled to £22 and £141.10 a week if they are successful in their PIP assessment.

PM Theresa May in Abingdon

Conservative leader Theresa May was taken to task over disability benefit cuts as she met an angry voter. Cathy, a well known person in Abingdon, squared up to the Prime Minister and condemned the Government’s cuts to help for people with disabilities.

PM Theresa May in Abingdon

Cathy has had the ear of the Prime Minister for a few minutes and made some headlines. Cathy said she had a mild learning disability and said she wanted her Disability Living Allowance back.

PM Theresa May in Abingdon

She confronted Mrs May as the Prime Minister visited Abingdon for a general election campaign visit.

PM Theresa May in Abingdon

She stood up for all those who had lost out through disability benefit cuts that have left some of the most vulnerable in distress. It made headlines.

25 thoughts on “PM Theresa May in Abingdon meets Cathy. The worlds press were there too.

  1. Davidofluton

    I find it interesting the Theresa may party were campaigning in Abingdon. Central office must feel the seat is losable.

    Reply
  2. ppjs

    Nicola Blackwood ought to feel safe; she had a five-figure majority at the election and according to the polls the Tories are already home and dry.

    However, this is a swing seat. The majority here voted Remain in the referendum, and Ms Blackwood has not been able to get Government support for a number of local issues.

    I am not surprised that the PM turned out to press the Tory case. But what is it? With no published manifesto and a “strongandstable” soundbite, it is like wrestling with a cloud. No sooner do you think you have a grip, than the substance (such as it is) vanishes.

    This is a phoney election, and unfortunately the electorate will have to live with the outcome for a long time.

    Reply
  3. newcomer

    I agree with Davidofluton (1). On local issues Nicola Blackwood has proven herself long on promises and short on delivery. Unfortunately, she’s turned out to be careerist lobby-fodder and I don’t think the electorate are as forgiving as in the past.

    ppjs (2) is right, Teresa May would not have visited Abingdon had the Tories not thought that the constituency needed shoring-up.

    These are, quite rightly, cynical times and I think Teresa May is using her pre-loved UKIP position to shoo-in, under the radar, a lot of what will be really unpopular policies.

    There is no optimism anywhere in this election. It’s just desperately clueless and incompetent politicians going through the motions in the hope that they can fool the population another time.

    Reply
  4. Deedee

    I’d not long moved to Abingdon when Nicola Blackwood succeeded in changing the political scene in Abingdon after a decade of lib/dem governance and Evan Harris was the long term lib/dem MP.
    But it was a close call, as I remember less than 100 votes was the deciding factor and calls for a recount (on the basis of over 2000 postal votes were stuck in the sorting office and didn’t get included) fell on deaf ears!
    It’s no surprise then after several years of austerity and cuts to all our services the Torys are concerned for our
    M P’s seat, especially after the very public criticism of the Tory government by ex Tory county councillor Sandy Lovatt who lost county council seat to lib/dems,
    Looks like the local conservatives have pressed the self destruct button?

    Reply
  5. Lyle Lanley

    Her last majority was 9,582 (16.7%)

    Most likely boyed by the obvious fact that the lib dems would do a deal with anyone at that time, even the SNP, in order to hang on to power.

    I dont see any change this time, even tho Nicola appears to be repeating the same long term mistakes as Mr Harris did.

    I always find this site interesting,w hen you want to match the spin to the reality..

    https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24842/nicola_blackwood/oxford_west_and_abingdon

    Reply
  6. Janet

    The Conservatives have always looked after the very rich and at the same time cutting services for the poor and disadvantaged. We have only to look at the cuts to local services and cuts to disability allowanances and the stupid bedroom tax. Nicola Blackwood voted to cut government grants to local councils another 25% on top of already sweeping cuts. However, people want Brexit and strong negotiators so many will vote Conservative even though they do not like their austerity measures.

    Reply
  7. davidofLuton

    A lot of what Janet says is true (6), but who mentioned the Conservatives? I thought Nicola Blackwood was standing for the Theresa May party. It must be true – I read it on the side of a bus.

    Reply
  8. Brexiitdamagecontrol

    Two unprincipled Career politicians doing the walk about that are now following the UKIP nationalist agenda. Their politicies are all over the place, capping the profits of corporations in the morning, Fox hunting after lunch.

    Reply
  9. pjfm

    The Tory majority increase from 176 (2010) to 9582 (2015) was down to the national swing against the Lib Dems. This was likely due mainly to the introduction of tuition fees – something they promised not to do. Although the whole 2010-2015 term did them no favours.

    Our first past the post (FPP) system hangs everything on a few swing constituencies with Oxford West & Abingdon being one of those. Much as I would love to vote for what I believe in, FPP only allows me to vote against the worst candidate for my vote to “count”.

    I’ll be joining the tactical vote again this time and hoping others do the same & vote Lib Dem to unseat Nicola Blackwood.

    Reply
  10. Janet

    Well done Sandy Lovatt (4). Whatever happened to free speech and democracy in political parties. More should speak with their consciences and not kow tow to political dogma. How are political parties to evolve and keep tabs with what is going on in society?

    Reply
  11. newcomer

    Thanks for that, Lyle, I didn’t realize that Nicola was so much in favour of sending other people’s sons and daughters to fight in faraway places to get killed, maimed and traumatized.

    Quite the little home-front warrior.

    Reply
  12. rudi

    as soon as this woman appeared on tv i got a phone call from my mum saying ‘oh no not her’.
    apparently she has shall i say… a reputation and not as a hard worker.
    she once accosted my mum in the queue in boots to reveal the blockbuster announcement that having just visited the doctor, the doctor had told her she was this woman’s mother (!) – which is clearly a load of cobblers. worth noting my mum didn’t actually know her. plenty of jobs in abingdon, instead of begging for a personal assistant (why!?) she should get a job. makes a mockery of those truly in need.

    Reply
  13. Peter Del

    I was “truly in need” and, without Nicola’s efforts, my life would be very hard indeed.
    She cares, and will get my vote without any hesitation.

    Reply
  14. CK

    Voted for Nicola in the last two elections but doubt I will this time. Thought she was a good local MP in her first term but has been very distant since getting her cabinet job. Her strict adherence to the party line is now too frustrating and I don’t believe she’d choose Abingdon over party now. Will try and keep as open mind as possible until election day however

    Reply
  15. hester

    Rudi
    If you know of companies who are happy to offer jobs to people with serious mental health issues and/or learning difficulties I am sure that all the agencies trying to support those people would be very glad to hear of them.

    Reply
  16. Rachel

    The woman on the news has learning and social needs. Rudi’s description of his interaction with her supports that. We should be helping these people not slagging them off behind our computers. I don’t think that Nicola will be keeping this overwelming “remain” seat. We should give it.back to the Lib Dems to add balance in Westminster

    Reply
  17. Peter Del

    Rachel, wasn’t it the lib dems who failed to produce a local plan, thus enabling developers to rape Abingdon? However, not being a political person, I might be wrong on this!

    Reply
  18. ColinB

    Cathy Mahon, I have never met, but I know of a few people in the same situation. In 2001, I found out for myself, the massive impact has on your family, friends and life after being Sectioned in 2001. You trully find out who you can trust…Never really get over it, took 3 years to wean myself off the drugs. I am glad my vote counted in the Council elections, but, as for General Election.

    Reply
  19. Rachel

    I’m talking about the general election Peter.

    Education – new funding formula for schools being rolled out by Theresa May’s education secretary means that our abingdon state schools are all looking at even me cuts to funding.

    NHS – Theresa May’s health secretary waged war on junior doctors last year. This year my Dad has had his planned operation cancelled 3 times due to bed shortages. Theresa May’s cuts to social care causing these backups in hospitals.

    These are both things that directly affect me.

    The next PM will negotiate Brexit, that’s a done deal.

    What isn’t a done deal, is how the next PM will fund the NHS and education. This is something we still have a choice in.

    Reply

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