ATOS will tell you they don't make decisions, that decisions are made by the DWP. This is a lie. I've just received the report from the ATOS so-called "health professional" who examined me (they have to give it to you if you ask for it, the summary, handwritten notes, the lot). Without going into detail at this time, there is no doubt that the ATOS man was clearly steering the decision, which was then rubber-stamped by the DWP "decision maker". One more thing. The only evidence ATOS used in my case was what I put on my form (filled in five months before my examination and seriously out of date by then). They did not ask my GP or hospital consultants for any information at all, and they did not obtain the MRI scan report which showed significant and debilitating issues with my spine (I've since had surgery, a prospect which was inevitable by the time of my examination, and which I told ATOS about but which was neither investigated nor taken into account). You're entitled by law to know exactly what evidence they take into account, which is why I know all this - I'm not guessing here, I have a huge wad of paperwork from the DWP.

ATOS is one prong of a two-pronged attack by this government. The other is the persistent and concerted demonisation of people on benefits. Disabled people have no real way of fighting back. Let's not forget, also, that this coalition, in its attacks on vulnerable people, is merely building on what New Labour started.