For Connor

In the name of the dudes, the named dudes, and the un-named dudes.

If you are our protection, please don't show me your attack.

When you assess and treat our dudes, you don't seem to send them back.

We turn to you in crisis when we are full of pain,

You take them and you chill them, numb them, stun them. And then shame.

In ATUs the screams and shouts are loud and from the heart.

The pain of lives who need your help is silenced with "don't start".

You dose them and you watch them and you push until they crack.

You engineer so much bad shit, they'll have to be "kept back".

You say that you are "helping" "We know best" then lock the door.

You take them at their weakest and you weaken them some more.

You wreck the lives of people who had great lives in the main,

You ATUs aren't big enough to deal with real pain.

It takes grace, honour, empathy, compassion and deep love

To help a dude who needs to know that he is not alone

But you're too busy showing me that dudes can't cope "out there"

By drugging them then coaxing them to lay their anguish bare.

"You see?" You shout with glee "we said he was unfit!"

"Just look at the state of this room / her arms / his weight / take your pick"

You say that you are "helping" "We know best" then lock the door.

You take them at their weakest And you weaken them some more.

Our dudes like Claire and Steve will show the world they won't be fooled.

Wrong trousers here, no iPad there....these are your nasty tools.

Claire snuggles up with Jonjo. Steve lines up his next great song,

But the shadows of the ATU continue ever long.

The screams become too big to be contained in your four walls

You tweak a dose, you run a bath, you log all of his falls.

An ATU, an ATU? That's not where they belong!

These awesome dudes were born for Mottthehooplebowiesongs.

You say that you are "helping" "We know best" then lock the door.

You take them at their weakest And you weaken them some more.

The laws laid out to help our dudes are hapless backing tracks.

A jumbled mess of MCA Dols Sections and CareAct.

Thumb twiddling health watchdog ombudsmans of fuckery

Who stand guard overseeing dots of I's and crossing t's.

"A new review part 2 is what is needed, I'm the man!

I'll start one with the great and good, we'll write a spiffing plan!"

The croissant speckled tweed lapels are quite turned on by now,

"Establish the establishment" they whisper "we know how!"

You say that you are "helping" "We know best" then lock the door.

You take them at their weakest And you weaken them some more.

We want you to know we see you. We see you and know your names.

We see you and we'll shame you. Two can play these games.

And if you thought our dudes could make some noise, just wait and see

What happens when we learn what our collective voice can be.

You'll know us by our passion, hearts still grieving, heads unbowed,

The Stobart trucks are circling and we're coming to your town.

You took our dudes from us, you see. You bastards took our dudes.

Thomas, Laughing Boy, Nico - and those not in the news.

So show me your treatment. Show me that you care.

Show me your assessment. Give me evidence, laid bare.

You promised you would help them, you knew best, you held the keys.

You took them at their weakest then you kept them on their knees.