Published: January 17th 2011 - at 10:42 am

Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support?


by Guest    

contribution by David Mentiply

As Sue Marsh has pointed out, the consultation on Disability Living Allowance reform ends on 14th February 2011 – Valentines Day.

Though traditionally a day for love, many disabled people and their carers fear the findings could be very bleak. That is why the Broken of Britain campaign is important.

It is run by disabled people for disabled people and is determined to be heard above the cacophony of government rhetoric on the need to cut.

A short-term obstacle to the Broken of Britain campaign is, I fear, that disability isn’t ‘cool’. Plenty of charities and campaign groups do sterling work but find it difficult to generate the kind of publicity they need to get their message across to the mainstream media and wider public.

Unfortunately, this can lead to well-meaning individuals becoming extremely frustrated and saying things in the heat of the moment that they later regret.

Just the other day, Duncan Bannatyne, he of Dragon’s Den fame, tweeted: “I have just been slagged off for not RT’ing a charity request but I get 100 such requests every day.”

Now this may come across as rather unthinking or arrogant on Duncan’s part at first glance. But the fact is, he does do an incredible amount of good work for a number of different charities and campaigns. He cannot champion every good cause.

What struck me about Duncan’s tweet, and his obvious annoyance at being criticised by a charity campaigner in such a public forum, is that celebrity endorsements really do make a big difference. Scores of people tweeted back to Duncan with their thoughts on the matter – mostly supporting his stance and expressing disappointment that someone claiming to represent a charity could act in such an obnoxious way.

Whether we like it or not, we live in a world where celebrity endorsements hold real sway. The Ghurkhas have Joanna Lumley. Older people have Joan Bakewell. Alistair Campbell is a high profile supporter of mental health charity, Mind. Stephen Fry, JK Rowling and Eddie Izzard all contribute a great deal of time to charitable organisations.

Since the Broken of Britain campaign was conceived online, it would be fitting for celebrities who tweet to give us a plug. If a celebrity pledged a tweet a day for a week or even just a couple of RTs for @BrokenofBritain until the end of the month, I’m sure our message would spread much further afield and at a faster rate.

It is less than a month until the DLA consultation ends. We must shout louder and make sure our voices are heard – not only in Westminster but right across the country. In the words of Benjamin Franklin: “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”

—-
David blogs at Greensen and tweets here


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Story Filed Under: Blog ,Equality ,Fight the cuts


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Reader comments


1. Alisdair Cameron

Hmm. Having done a lot in my work with various campaigns, the use of celebrities is very double-edged. Take Mr Campbell and his mugshots on the Time to Change mental health campaign. From stalls and public events I’ve run for that campaign, he was an enormous turn-off, and it really can’t be overstated how disliked he is by the general public (those who recognise him that is). Ruby Wax was another celeb in the campaign, and though not as deeply unpopular, was a very Marmite figure. Stephen Fry was popular, but a) is ubiquitous, and b) folk may like him, but don’t relate to him (falsely putting him on a genius pedestal). Patsy Palmer and Frank Bruno worked very well, mind you.

2. Cherub

@1 That rings true. Some of the celebs you mention are so ubiquitous they become meaningless, others are tainted in some way. Having the right touch is important. It’s probably why Tony Booth was silenced when he started to criticise New Labour.

3. Planeshift

I think actually getting celebrity support is partly the result of lazy thinking that assumes that is all you need. I’d rather organisations concentrated on getting human interest stories into the media on a regular basis than getting a celeb to say “treat people like them a bit better”. For disabled people, there is an obvious pool to choose from who will be great at getting the message accross and in the national papers – ex-servicemen wounded in operations.

4. Rob Osborne

Although there is a lot to be said for the power of celebrity in supporting campaign’s, this support works best when the celebrity is really pationate about the cause, as their support is then from the heart and they don’t need to be constantly prodded to get involved. So I’d say the best approach would be to try and find somebody with celebrity status who has close family or friends likely to be adversely affected by the changes, as this will help with their willingness to get involved and the passion they would bring to the campaign.

5. the a&e charge nurse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQAr_AjZt-E

6. Shatterface

‘A short-term obstacle to the Broken of Britain campaign is, I fear, that disability isn’t ‘cool’.’

Well, if they’re going to call themselves ‘Broken’ what do you expect? Christ knows how much I hate euphemisms like ‘challenged’ or ‘differently abled’ but defining yourself as damaged – even if you have a condition you were born with and therefore never had an ‘unbroken’ condition – is hardly ‘cool’.

And the similarity of the name to lazy tabloid headlines about alleged ‘social breakdown’ hardly helps.

Might as well get ‘VICTIM’ tattooed across your forehead.

7. Mr Grunt

The Sick and Disabled have been Persecuted and Discriminated against by this so called Coalition so that they can justify ruthless cutbacks to the most vulnerable in society.

When powerful people in Government Discriminate against the Sick and Disabled by labelling them as Sroungers, Lazy, Malingerers and other equally Discrimatory remarks and comments they need High Level Support to highlight their plight and using celebrities or famous people is a good way to make the public aware that this Coalition is Persecuting, Victimising, Abusing, Discriminating the most vulnerable in society that do not have a voice and cannot fight for themselves.

The Sick and Disabled also need help (God Willing) so that they will beable to get Legal Representation to fight this injustice before it is to late.

I personally believe that there is a legal case against some members of this so called Coalition on Civil and Human Rights grounds aswell as Discrimination.

The Sick and Disabled need a voice to protect there rights and give them some form of dignity.

8. Sue Marsh

I tend to agree with the author.

Sure there will always be the “marmite” effect, but the simple truth is the minute Cheryl Cole or Oprah or David Beckham open their mouths, literally millions of people listen.
The news at ten runs the story, This Morning and the One Show invite you onto their sofas and before you know it the “Fail Effect” kicks in.

Fail Effect? Yup, the “We’re so scared of the Daily Fail that we make policy by X Factor Vote and public pillory.

I hate it too, but the truth is it works. Until we go back to living in a meritocracy or an intellectual vacuum, I’ll be lobbying anyone with a voice to lend it to us!!

9. SteveW

While not exactly celebrities, why not seek support from Paraolympians?

10. Sue Marsh

Shatterface – I don’t usually bite, but we just can’t win can we?

If we’re humble, we’re victims
If we’re angry, we’re aggressive
If we’re sarcasticly witty (Broken of Britain, Diary of a Benefit Scrounger) We’re still victims
If we’re actively engaged, we ought to get a job
If we aren’t actively engaged, we’re lazy
If we argue, we’re whingeing
If we accept we’re….. yep you guessed it…… victims!!

I think a pun about Cameron’s Broken Britain pointing out a disregard for the Broken OF Britain is rather good actually. Obviously passed you by though.

11. Mr S. Pill

@6

I’ve always read the “broken” bit as referring to society breaking people’s spirits etc.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  2. Broken OfBritain

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  3. United Response

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  4. Lynsey McGough

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  5. Lynnette Spragg

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  6. Trakgalvis

    Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://goo.gl/HCgZd

  7. unionworkeruk

    Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/VuL4Ag4 via @libcon

  8. Rosemary

    Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/UYtiMXq via @libcon #ombh

  9. DisabledPeople

    RT @CarerWatch: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/UYtiMXq via @libcon #ombh

  10. ComCareAdults Journo

    @ComCareRuth >> Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/h00rED

  11. Brian Barefield

    Does BrokenofBritain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/Bxbbj4l pls sign petition. U might b us tomorrow

  12. Sarah Mingay

    RT @BriB49: Does BrokenofBritain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/Bxbbj4l pls sign petition. U might b …

  13. The Importance Of Celebrity Support « Same Difference

    [...] thanks to my friends at mainstream political blog Liberal Conspiracy for publishing this guest post by David Mentiply. The post talks about the importance of celebrity support, specifically for The [...]

  14. Stuart White

    Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/QzbC9A1 via @libcon

  15. Double.Karma

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  16. BendyGirl

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  17. Sue Marsh

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  18. Broken OfBritain

    RT @davidmentiply: @BrokenOfBritain @Puffles2010 "Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support"? http://tiny.cc/3r943 Pls …

  19. Broken OfBritain

    A thought-provking post by @davidmentiply about #TBofB #ombh and celebrity endorsement. Interesting comments too http://fb.me/PfKJreaB

  20. Sue Marsh

    @funkyfairy22 @BrokenOfBritain @BendyGirl http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/01/17/does-the-broken-of-britain-campaign-need-celebrity-support

  21. sunny hundal

    Does the @BrokenofBritain campaign need celebrity support to make themselves heard? http://bit.ly/htcO1s asks @davidmentiply

  22. Nemesis Republic

    RT @sunny_hundal: Does the @BrokenofBritain campaign need celebrity support 2make themselves heard? http://bit.ly/htcO1s asks @davidmentiply

  23. Kath Howard

    RT @sunny_hundal: Does the @BrokenofBritain campaign need celebrity support to make themselves heard? http://bit.ly/htcO1s asks @davidme …

  24. D.Mentiply

    My post on the @BrokenOfBritain campaign and why I think celebrity endorsement matters http://tiny.cc/a5gpg

  25. Broken OfBritain

    RT @davidmentiply: My post on the @BrokenOfBritain campaign and why I think celebrity endorsement matters http://tiny.cc/a5gpg

  26. Malcolm Evison

    RT @libcon: Does the Broken of Britain campaign need celebrity support? http://bit.ly/htcO1s

  27. Malcolm Evison

    RT @davidmentiply: My post on the @BrokenOfBritain campaign and why I think celebrity endorsement matters http://tiny.cc/a5gpg

  28. Joanna Jones

    @LoreleiKing u prob get a lot of these but any rt's and support would help, http://tiny.cc/a5gpg @BrokenOfBritain

  29. Lynnette Spragg

    RT @davidmentiply: My post on the @BrokenOfBritain campaign and why I think celebrity endorsement matters http://tiny.cc/a5gpg

  30. Sue Pellegrino

    RT @davidmentiply: My post on the @BrokenOfBritain campaign and why I think celebrity endorsement matters http://tiny.cc/a5gpg

  31. Duncan Edwards

    RT @davidmentiply: My post on the @BrokenOfBritain campaign and why I think celebrity endorsement matters http://tiny.cc/a5gpg

  32. Lorelei King

    RT @joannajones1: @LoreleiKing u prob get a lot of these but any rt's and support would help, http://tiny.cc/a5gpg @BrokenOfBritain

  33. Rhydian Fôn James

    @funkyfairy22 http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/01/17/does-the-broken-of-britain-campaign-need-celebrity-support/

  34. Brian Barefield

    RT @RhydianFonJames: @funkyfairy22 http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/01/17/does-the-broken-of-britain-campaign-need-celebrity-support/

  35. Emma

    @Romilagupta @BendyGirl @Suey2y http://bit.ly/hxqEGt #tbob #ombh

  36. Romila Chaplin

    @BoyGeorge. Sorry to intrude, please would you take a look at this re: disability benefit cuts. http://bit.ly/hxqEGt #tbob

  37. One month to heartbreak – update – The Priority Trust

    [...] http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/18/disabled-protesters-one-month-before-heartbreak http://www.goodaccessguide.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=544 http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1285-protests-against-benefits-cuts http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/service-user-voice/2011/01/disabled-people-and-service-users-will-be-heard-we-will-be-listened-to-ombh.html#more http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/01/17/does-the-broken-of-britain-campaign-need-celebrity-support/ [...]





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