Liberal Democrats generally despair about the attitudes in the media towards people who claim benefits.

I’m sure that most of you reading this will be inspired by this fantastic video from an Oxford self advocacy charity run by and for people with learning disabilities. My Life My Choice got some people to share their stories and challenging some of the myths people have about people on benefits. It’s very moving. Please share it all over social media. I think we probably all have friends who believe the myths and they need to see it.

We will all benefit from My Life My Choice on Vimeo.

I was particularly moved by the words of Daisy Cooper, our Liberal Democrat Presidential candidate when she shared it on Facebook. With her permission, I reproduce it here:

Two and a half years ago I was told I had four days to live if I didn’t undergo life saving surgery. I was told that if I recovered well I would probably only ever work part-time and would likely “spend the rest of my life on benefits”. I was lost – this was always something that was supposed to happen to “other people”. It certainly opened my eyes to how quickly your life can be turned upside down and how one day you may need ‘the system’ to support you.

There would have been nothing shameful about it if that had been the case, though I have no doubt that others – the Tories first and foremost with their nasty “scroungers” rhetoric – would have tried to make me feel that it was.

I made a full recovery and have the privilege of being able to work or campaign 60+ plus hours a week out of choice and for the things I believe in, including our welfare state. Others aren’t so fortunate.

I’m very proud that we have a welfare system in this country and I have a lot of respect for these people with learning difficulties who are challenging myths and trying to “change the conversation”. Please spend a few minutes to hear their stories.

It is the essence of liberalism to stand with these people against those who would scapegoat them.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social