“Under this Tory-led government, it feels like we’ve gone back to the dark ages,” was the message from shadow minister for disabled people Kate Green, addressing UNISON’s disabled members’ conference in Manchester this morning.
Disabled people have been “vilified” by the “drip drip” of stories in the media that describe them as frauds and skivers.
“It’s wrong, it’s cruel and it’s shameful” she said.
And meanwhile, the services disabled people rely on have been cut – indeed, disabled people have been hit nine times harder by the cuts.
“We’ve said we’ll be tough on benefits,” she continued, but reported that that did not mean demonising those not at work, but being tough on the barriers preventing people from finding work.
To applause she reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to repealing the hated bedroom tax – 70% of the households affected by the tax are disabled.
She was followed by delegate after delegate speaking out against the tax. Kathy Bole called it a “human rights issue”. She reported that 660,000 people will be affected by the change – losing an average of £14 a week. “People don’t have the money,” she explained.
Sandra Bowey, a housing benefit officer said: “I see and I hear the effects” of the tax. She urged delegates to take action on “behalf of all those affected.”
And Suzanne Williams condemned the government’s attack on benefits for young people that were putting a generation at risk.
Conference condemned the “devastating impact” of the move from DLA – disability living allowance – to PIP – personal independence payments or “poor, insolvent and penniless” as the conference motion called it.
The detrimental impact on disabled people of the Care Bill was criticised as were cuts to the budget of the vital access to work programme – cuts that would bring further inequality to disabled people. Francesca Pratt said “Access to work helps me by paying for a taxi to and from work if I knew it would always be in place I’d feel more confident to apply for jobs further away from home.” She urged the government: “Please, let’s concentrate on removing barriers, not putting them back.”
