Richard says, “I’ve held down a number of very good jobs in the past, including at the House of Commons, and I am determined to return to the job market in the future, as I believe I still have something to contribute. At the moment, however, I am very fragile, anxious and, at times, extremely depressed and despairing. My self-confidence is non-existent and, as a result, I have great difficulty in relating to people I don’t feel safe with. My mental health problems have been exacerbated by severe debt. As a result, my GP recently signed me off work for another two months. The Employment and Support Allowance assessment process has left me feeling very upset, depressed and, yes, angry. I feel as if all the mental suffering and torment I have experienced in my life has been reduced to a series of fatuous and leading questions in an impersonal and harsh environment.”