Its been an amazing week – culminating in the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith
What ever he resigned for – and we don’t believe a word that he says about standing up for disabled people – the fact remains – he is gone.
What happens with the new Minister Crabb, we have yet to discover – we’ll be posting what we know about him in the coming days – but what we do know is:
The fight is not over – DPAC will carry on fighting to win back the rights we have lost and then carry on fighting until disabled people are able to take their proper – entirely equal – place in society. Nothing less is acceptable.
But in the meantime here are some of the highlights of the last week:
Tuesday
We begin Operation Tory Dump – to lobby charities to sack patrons who are Tory MPs who voted for the Cut to ESA
Wednesday
A prescient feature piece by Linda Burnip was published in the Morning Star on the morning of Budget Day which pointed to the theme that would dominate the rest of the week : Disabled people to fund Tax Cuts for the Richest
Thursday
Ellen Clifford on Channel 4 News being interviewed about the cut to PIP:
Also on Thursday: Paula Peters, Ellen Clifford along with members from Croydon and Bromley DPAC ambush Zac Goldsmith over his vote for the Cut to ESA
DPAC Members protest outside awaiting Zac Goldsmith (Picture: Paula Peters)
With nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide, Zac has no option but to listen to DPAC activists about his vote to cut ESA (Picture: Paula Peters)
Friday
Ellen Clifford, Paula Peters and London DPAC members ambush George Osborne and prevent a photo opportunity he had planned with Zac (read more about that here ). See video taken by Baz Sneddon of IndeFilms.net below:
Friday evening – IDS Resigns!!
iDS resigns
— DPAC (@Dis_PPL_Protest) March 18, 2016
Saturday
Ellen Clifford interviewed about the resignation of IDS on the Breakfast Programme, BBC 5 Live, Saturday 19th March
DPAC Calls for a party to celebrate IDS going in Parliament Square on saturday evening – DPAC members and press are there, here are some videos taken:
Roger Lewis DPAC interviewed by ITV News (video by ChunkyMark)
Finally, Channel 4 News film of IDS Resignation celebrations in Parliament Square
Disability campaigners welcome IDS resignation.“Ding Dong! IDS is gone.”Disabled activists celebrate Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation as Work and Pensions Secretary.Mr Duncan Smith said the latest cuts to disability benefits were “not defensible” in the latest budget.
Posted by Channel 4 News on Saturday, 19 March 2016
Sunday and onwards
Operation Tory Dump continues, find out how to take part here https://dpac.uk.net/2016/03/operation-torydump-lobby-disability-charities-to-reject-esacut-mps-nameandshame/
and look out for future campaigns to take part in here on the DPAC blog
Fantastic work guys
What a brilliant interview, clear, concise, fact filled, so proud and feel lucky that informed disabled people have my back.