Workers Revolutionary Party - HANDS OFF THE DISABLED

The News Line: News Thursday, 12 May 2011 HANDS OFF THE DISABLED – Coalition warned

The front of yesterday’s march against the savage cuts to disability benefits by the Tory-LibDem coalition

A LIVELY demonstration of over 5,000 disabled people, chanted: ‘Cuts Kill, Kill the Cuts!’ as they marched to Parliament yesterday.

At a rally on the Victoria Embankment before the march, Gerry Hart (16) from Darlington said: ‘This fraudulent coalition is telling blatant lies, that we must accept cuts because of the budget deficit.

‘This deficit is part of a global economic meltdown, also made worse by the tax avoidance of the rich.’

The President of Parkinson’s UK, Jane Asher opened the rally, saying: ‘This is the largest rally of disabled in living memory.

‘I am calling on the government to put a stop to the cuts as they are cruel and misguided.’

On the march, Claire Moszova, from the Turning Point organisation, said: ‘The main issue is the threat to cut Disability Living Allowance from those in residential care.

‘Without having any transport it is a massive restriction on what activities the disabled will be able to do.’

Marcher, Amy Greenwood was with a determined crowd from Disability Coalition Tower Hamlets and the Disability Information Training Opportunities.

Amy said: ‘We are really worried about the changes which are not fair and treat disabled people as if they are all the same.’

Tara Flood from Alliance for Inclusive Education, said: ‘The government is dismantling education for disabled learners.

‘This is turning the clock back 20-30 years all in the name of privatisation.’

Kevin Caulfield from Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against Community Care Charges, said: ‘This is a concentrated effort by the coalition to push the disabled back into the margins of society.

‘The Independent Living Fund, which tops up the benefits of people with high levels of impairment, is due to be axed altogether in 2015. These are not efficiencies, they are real cuts.’