Disabled people: truth to power
Nothing about us, without us
Seeing Tory MPs like the former Minister for Disabled People, Justin Tomlinson, laugh, smirk and play on his phone and ipad as MPs recounted terminally ill cancer patient stories of being denied PIP and dying shortly after was horrendous. It was totally disrespectful. Not only to the claimants whose last weeks on this Earth were having the additional distress of battling the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions], but to their families who mourn today. His denial of the PIP statistics, which were often the ones the DWP used, showed how out of touch these MPs are with the reality of these horrendous policies.Yesterday’s debate was exceptionally painful to listen to, and anger-inducing.
They show disdain to us every day. And they simply do not care about the decisions they make having horrendous, life changing impacts for us. Sarah Newton, Justin Tomlinson, Esther McVey and Theresa May can deny it all they want. But the UK is the first state to be formally investigated under the UN because of the neoliberal Tory austerity agenda that has caused a ‘human catastrophe‘ on disabled people’s lives. The first state to be found guilty of ‘grave’ and ‘systematic’ human rights violations towards disabled people.Disabled people are dying due to the the impact of the cuts, many dying in dreadful distress. We are in an abusive relationship with the DWP, we can’t leave it or get away from it due to financial insecurity. The decisions the DWP make cause life or death decisions for us.Confronting the Minister for Disabled People was needed. We need to continue to do that. To hold them to account for their horrendous actions, but ultimately to get them out of government.
People are dying
Paula Peters and Keith Walker let the feelings of millions of disabled people be known in parliament
Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) activists Paula Peters and Keith Walker expressing what thousands of disabled people must think: "We are dying". But are Conservative Ministers listening?