I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how the prime minister talks about people in the UK. In her speeches and interviews, she and other members of the Conservative government seem to only talk about “hard working people”. This seems to translate to, “people making a economic contribution to society”.

The prime minster seems to be missing so many people out. Just because you are don’t make money doesn’t mean you aren’t doing amazing things for society, whether you know it or not. I know people who make a terrific contribution to society via their charity work, but these people are not classed as “hard working” as they do not make money.

This is so demeaning.

We need volunteers to help in our community (just for some clarity the Conservative government actually want volunteers so go figure that one out!), we need mothers or fathers to look after their children when they want/ need to, we need carers to look after their husbands, wives and children. We need people who are not economically contributing but who are doing a great job at contributing and changing society!

People who can’t work due to illness or disability are also another type of people ignored in the prime minster’s speeches. No one chooses to become unwell or be born disabled. That’s just a fact. Life is less when you cannot do what you want to do (This is obviously not everyone who is ill/ disabled, some people are able to work and some are able to engage in activities they enjoy more often than others). For people like me, the phrase “hard working people” makes me go cold. I already feel guilt, shame and don’t feel understood and these words cut in me like a knife.

Perhaps we could all just be human beings? Treated with respect for just being on the earth? I think this is the only way a human being should be treated. We all have potential, whether that means we make a lot of money or not.

So let’s remember that everyone is worth something and let’s not put that worth on how much money a person makes, because what does that really have to do with how precious a person is?

Theresa May, please remember this too.