- Do you agree that Universal Credit should be stopped and scrapped? Do you agree that there needs to be a total reform of welfare including scrapping PIP and ESA both of which have been shown to fail and cause harm to disabled people?
The cruel and callous assessment framework has created a hostile environment for disabled people and must immediately be scrapped.
It is unacceptable that disabled people are forced to go through a traumatic appeals process to access their right to social security, and that this system is causing preventable harm to so many.
Nothing makes the broken system clearer than disabled people dying after they have been found fit for work through the Work Capability Assessment.
There must be a wholesale reform of our welfare system, and as the first part of that reform, Univeral Credit should be scrapped and PIP and ESA assessments ended.
- Would you end all sanctions on claimants?
The fact that more than 1 million disabled people have faced sanctions since 2010 is one of the cruelest legacies of this Tory Government. A crucial part of ending the punitive hostile environment in our social security system is immediately scrapping all sanctions and conditionality for people who claim social security.
- Would you support ending contracts to discredited private firms for carrying out disability assessments and making GPs responsible for deciding who is and isn’t fit to work again?
I strongly believe that we must end the pernicious outsourcing of these assessments and bring our social security system back in-house. Since 2010, more than £1 billion has been paid to private contractors, who have failed by every measure, repeatedly ignoring medical evidence and forcing disabled people through traumatic and unfit for purpose assessments. It is vital that any social security framework is based on medical evidence, and that a GP is responsible for these important decisions.
- Would you make a commitment to provide greater support through Access to Work funding to reduce the disability employment gap at the same time as committing to work not being a health outcome for those disabled people who feel unable to work
I am standing to be a campaigning Deputy Leader and I commit to working with DPAC and others in demanding greater support for disabled people and to tackle the employment gap.
More widely, we need to do all we can to stop further attacks from this Tory government and try to force some concessions. Your campaigns over the past decade have forced many issues onto the political agenda and I commit to supporting you as Deputy Leader in your campaigning efforts and to ensure that our manifesto at the next election reflects the needs of disabled people treated so disgracefully by this government.
- Would you support a truly independent Claimant deaths inquiry and possible prosecutions of previous ministers if found to be culpable?
The tragic cases of Errol Graham and Jodey Whiting have brought into sharp focus the urgent need for an independent inquiry into social security related deaths. I echo the calls made by the Jodey Whiting Petition, and so many others, for an independent inquiry. It is vital that the inquiry takes place, so that lessons are learned about the tragic impact that the Government’s policies have had on disabled people. Justice should run its course based on those conclusions.
- Would you support a legal right to Independent Living and DPAC’s National Independent Living Strategy co-produced with disabled people?
Devastating cuts to local authorities have left our social care system in crisis, denying disabled people the ability to live independently and with dignity.
Labour is clear that we must build a National Care Service for England, which is underpinned by the principles of independent living.
But we must go beyond this and enshrine Article 19 of the UN’s Convention for the Rights of Disabled People into law, to ensure that there is a universal right to independent living. A key part of this would be re-establishing the Independent Living Fund and implementing a National Independent Living Strategy, co-produced with disabled people.
- Within London alone 66% of Personal Assistants (Care Workers) employed by disabled people come from the EU. Unless the government remove the ridiculously high earnings levels and widen out their policies on who can work in the UK after Brexit this will create a national crisis. How would you be willing to prevent this happening?
I oppose the government’s salary threshold system, which risks causing damage to many sectors including social care. We need a system that is based on treating with respect people and their families who come here with firm job offers, whatever their pay level.
More widely, over the next period, we need to continue to fight the Tories’ hostile environment, including stopping it being expanded further by targeting to EU nationals, and challenge head-on the racist scapegoating that is being pushed by right-wing political leaders not only in our country but across the world.
- Would you support legal status for BSL?
Yes
- Would you adopt the UNCRPD into domestic legislation?
I am extremely proud of the Labour Party’s commitment to incorporate the UNCRPD into domestic legislation, as set out in our 2017 Manifesto for Disabled People ‘Nothing About You Without You’.
The UNCRPD is a fundamental framework for disabled people’s rights – such as access to justice, inclusive education and the right to live independently and being included in the community as set out in Article 19. It is shameful that the Government’s austerity agenda has been labelled by the UN as a “violation” of disabled people’s rights, and enshrining the UNCRPD in law is a crucial way of ensuring that this never happens again.
As Deputy Leader I will work to ensure that the Labour Party works with disabled people and disabled people’s organisations every step of the way to implement the Convention.
- Do you support Assisted Suicide?
I voted against the Assisted Dying Bill brought to the House of Commons by way of a Private Members Bill in 2015. I had serious concerns that the Bill would have had unintended consequences for vulnerable people in our society. Whilst this is an issue which goes beyond party lines and it is right that people vote with their consciences on it, I do have deep reservations about the implications of assisted suicide.
- Do you support Universal Basic Income?
Personally, and while I appreciate the intentions behind the push for UBI, at this moment I am not persuaded that this is the path to go down. I have concerns about the impact on specific groups of a “one size fits all” approach and think there are greater priorities for our movement to be focusing on over the next period with regards to overhauling social security. It is an idea that is worth looking into further and perhaps piloting but only after much more scrutiny.
I agree with everything Richard has voted on and hope he wins Deputy leadership but still waiting for my voting papers. If I do not receive them at 22 Rishwoirth Ave, Emley , Huddersfield HD 89SB in time for the vote I will cancel my membership
Regards Jacqui