The hardest hit – defending disabled people’s futures 11 May 2011

Quick reminder about this.

Meeting at Westiminster Hall isn’t happening because of acess issues, so there will be some speeches at the start of the march instead.

Lord Low of Dalston calls for greater attention to be placed on the impact of government policies on disabled people. In the same month that the coalition government marks its first anniversary, the biggest ever lobby by disabled people will take place in Westminster.

May 11th will see thousands of protesters march and lobby their MP as part of the ‘Hardest Hit’ campaign, organised by over 40 of the leading disability organisations. The choice of name indicates the very real feeling that disabled people are being unfairly targeted by the measures the government is introducing to reduce the deficit by cutting welfare. The Campaign for a Fair Society, one of the many groups which have sprung up in response to the situation, is campaigning against an approach which it sees as leading to “a loss of basic human rights” through “unfair cuts focused on the most vulnerable”.

The impression is often given that the welfare budget is out of control as a result of unfounded claims of sickness and disability. But in reality the greater part of the growth in the welfare bill seen over the last ten years has been on pensions, families with children and low-income workers. The link between disability and poverty, through lower incomes and higher costs, is well established.

Cuts are targeting the ‘most vulnerable’

From PMQ’s yesterday, Labour Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) asked hte Prime Minister David Cameron:

“Next Wednesday, the Hardest Hit campaign will be lobbying MPs in Parliament through constituents of ours with severe disabilities and chronic illnesses who are bearing the brunt of this Government’s attack on welfare benefits and public services. Will the Prime Minister have the courage to meet some of those campaigners face to face next week so that he can hear from them at first hand about the devastating impact that this callous and uncaring Government are having on their lives?”

Maybe not an unreasonable request, given that Mr Cameron has in the past campaigned on the basis that he understands disability and its impacts due to his family circumstances? His response:

“I make two points to the hon. Lady. First, the most important line of defence to help people with severe disabilities and severe need is the national health service and it is this Government who are putting more money into the national health service—£11.5 billion extra. That money would not have been available if we had a Labour Government; we know that because we can see Labour cutting £1 billion off the NHS in Wales. In terms of reforming benefits, I thought we had the support of the Labour party to reform benefits to make sure they are helping those who need the help most.”

Hansard

Just to remind everyone about today’s Hardest Hit demonstration today, starting at 11.30 on the Embankment, I’m hoping to whizz down there shortly, time permitting.

“In terms of reforming benefits, I thought we had the support of the Labour party to reform benefits to make sure they are helping those who need the help most.” - D Cameron.

Quite. Alan Johnson sprang up after the spending review announcements in October; his first words were “We support the reform of DLA and Incapacity Benefit”.

We’re on our own.

Richard Atkinson

Just got back from the march,absolutely amazing to see so many people out and on the streets protesting (often with good humour) about proposed cuts to benefits, social care and other support services. Quite difficult to put into words really how overwhlemed I was by the sheer volume and the determination to be seen and heard in Westminster. Let’s hope that the lobby that is now taking place is equally successful.

Well done to all involved, particularly those disabled people who travelled from all over the country to make their opinions heard and listened to.

Some good rolling coverage from the Guardian

Hardest Hit march

Attached is a press release from Disability Benefits Consortium, with respect to the next Hardest Hit Day of Action, taking place on Saturday 22 October 2011.

Protests are planned across the UK, including Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, Brighton, Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol (more locations to follow).

Visit Hardest Hit website or Hardest Hit facebook for more information on times and locations.

Here’s a copy of a letter that was sent last week to 1,700 people signed up following the day of action in May. Provides all the necessary information about the rallies and events around the country, please share as appropriate with partner organisations and with your clients.

Dear Hardest Hit supporter

As you know, the 11th May was an outstanding success, bringing disabled people, their families and other campaign supporters together with one clear voice.

But further action is needed. Having promised to protect the most vulnerable, the Government is pressing ahead with swingeing cuts to benefits and services vital to the lives of disabled people.  It is simply not listening to us.

In our June letter, we mentioned further Hardest Hit activity was being planned for October . This is timed to coincide with the Welfare Reform Bill’s passage through the House of Lords. The Bill continues to be a target since it promises deep cuts to DLA/PIP and ESA and a strong showing by us will strengthen the hand of supportive Peers. It is also important that we continue to engage with MPs who need to understand the strength of opposition to the Government’s unfair cuts agenda.

Support the October 22nd day of action

Based on close joint working between disabled people’s organisations and disability charities, Hardest Hit events have been organised for the nine English regions and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  These will take place on Saturday 22nd October. Further details below:

• Birmingham: Rally in Victoria Square in the city centre. Assemble from noon and the rally will begin at 12.30pm Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Brighton: Rally at Jubilee Square, Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE. Gather from 11am with speeches between 11:30-12:30. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Bristol: March beginning on College Green, outside of the Council House, at the bottom of Park Street, from 12 noon – 1pm. Return to College Green for a rally from 1pm – 2pm. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Leeds: Assemble at Victoria Gardens, Headrow, from 12.30 for march through main shopping areas and returning to Headrow. Rally from 2-2.30pm Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• London: Rally outside London’s iconic GLA building, Queen’s Walk. Meeting from 11am with speeches from 11.30am. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Manchester: Rally between 2pm and 3pm at Albert Square, outside Manchester Town Hall Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Newcastle: Assemble at Bigg Market from 10.30am. March to Monument for rally at 11.30am. Ends at 12.30pm. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Norwich: March and rally planned. Details to be confirmed shortly.  Contact:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Nottingham: Rally planned in Market Square at 12.30 Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Belfast: Debate on 20 October on the Welfare Reform Bill’s impact on disabled people’s freedom and independence at the Radison Blu Hotel in Belfast, starting at 1.30pm. Visit the Hardest Hit website to sign up to attend. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Cardiff:  We will gather outside Cardiff Museum from 12.30 for a rally. Speakers, including AMs and a Welsh celebrity, will take to the stage at 1pm. Then, at 1.30pm we will march to the town centre. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• Edinburgh:  There will be a rally at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens. We will gather from 11.00am with speeches starting at 12.00 noon. Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

These events need to be BIG and LOUD and we can only achieve this if you are there. We hope they will secure extensive regional and national media coverage, grabbing the attention of national and local politicians as well as the general public.

Contact your MP

Even if you’ve already contacted your MP, write to them again. Invite them to attend the Hardest Hit event in your region. Ask to meet them in the week leading up to 22nd October. It would be great if every MP had at least one disabled constituent attending their local surgery. Ideally there will be mass lobbying of MPs on the Thursday and Friday (20th/21st October) when they are back in their constituencies.

A template letter is available on the Hardest Hit website. (http://www.hardesthit.org.uk)

Local cuts

The Hardest Hit events in October will also be an opportunity to express our anger at cuts to local services. On the Hardest Hit website you’ll find a guide to influencing local politicians. We would also encourage you to make use of the research recently published by Scope and Demos into local cuts in social care support.  http://www.demos.co.uk/disability-cuts-map.

Like our Facebook page

Show your support on Facebook by liking and contributing to our page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/thehardesthit.
Many thanks for your support. We look forward to seeing you at the events on 22nd October.

Jaspal Dhani, CEO UK Disabled People’s Council
Steve Winyard, Chair, DBC Campaigns Group

I will be at Bristol march - hope to see others there.

Look out for the rag-tag bunch of CAB workers waving poorly constructed (well they will be if they espect me to make them) banners!

Just a reminder that the Hardest Hit marches will be taking place this Saturday. Anyone else planning to attend their local events?

Somehow, I managed to get my times completely muddled on Saturday and turned up at City Hall on the stroke of 1pm, when the rally had actually kicked off at 11am, so there wasn’t really much happening by then.

However, notwithstanding my inability to arrive on time, here’s some reports from around the country,

Newcastle

Birmingham

Cardiff

Leeds

Nottingham

Brighton

Edinburgh

London

And here’s the BBC news story covering all of the above Disabled people hold nationwide protests against cuts

...and Manchester

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1462756_hundreds-join-albert-square-protest-over-cuts-to-disabled

Thanks Al.

Here’s some photos from the various rallies compiled by RNIB.