28 September 2021
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Disabled Activists to create an #AudioRiot in central London in defence of Universal Credit.
On:
Tuesday 28th September
11.30 AM
Kings Cross Station courtyard
London
N1 9AL
Campaign network Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) (1) have announced they will mark the end of COVID related support mechanisms in Universal Credit by staging an #AudioRiot in central London at the end of the month.
The direct action group, who in the past have attempted to storm the House of Commons floor during PMQ’s (2), erected a temporary protest camp under the shadow of parliament (3) and blocked several city centres around the UK (4); have organised a series of activities to coincide with both the end of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit (5).
DPAC has announced actions (6) across the period from the end of September through to the first week in October, when the planned end to the uplift will take place.
Beginning on Saturday 25th of September where local DPAC groups nationwide will stage demonstrations in the areas.
On Tuesday 28th September they are calling on members to “bring everything you can to make noise” to an #AudioRiot where the group say they will “make noise about the devastating changes (to benefits) which will have a huge impact on millions of people, including disabled people “. Asking people to bring drums, bells, whistles, klaxons and loudhailers DPAC say they will also provide materials and ear protection for many, and have asked that people bring their own if they can. DPAC have also included a warning on their website that the demonstration will be very very loud.
And on Monday 4th October in Manchester outside the Conservative party conference, Manchester DPAC “will broadcast people’s stories from a giant mobile video screen” (7).
Research by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (8) has shown that disabled people in receipt of the Universal Credit uplift still only reach 43% of the recommended minimum income standard. For those on legacy benefits and not getting the uplift, it’s 33% of the recommended income level. A recent report from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (9) found that disabled people are three times more likely to live in “severe deprivation” than non disabled people.
The policy to end the uplift has been condemned across civil society, with workers, claimants groups, charities and even 6 Tory ex-Secretaries (10) of State for Work and Pensions signing a joint public statement all calling on Sunak not to end the payment, a move which the government acknowledges internally will be “catastrophic for claimants” (11).
The government has defended its decision citing the need for a “jobs led” recovery; ignoring (or at least pretending to ignore) the fact that 37% of Universal Credit claimants are in work. And that research shows thatpoverty rates for working households has reached record levels, with over half of children living in poverty in the UK coming from in-work households.
Following on from the punitive and cruel austerity programme of the last decade, and the decimation of services through the pandemic, these cuts will be felt particularly hard by disabled people who now are as unsupported and isolated as a community as we’ve ever been.
DPAC spokesperson said:
“Disabled people need this money more than ever. Everyone who gets it does. It can be the difference between heating or eating. It can be the difference between well-being and ill health. We are all living in an uncertain future but one things for sure – if you take from those who have the least they will struggle even more.”
Notes to Editors
3)
5)
https://www.bigissue.com/latest/universal-credit-what-is-it-and-why-does-the-20-increase-matter/
7)
https://dpac.uk.net/2021/09/disability-news-service-9-september-2021/
8)
https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2019-20-social-security
9)
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/is-britain-fairer-accessible.pdf
11)
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/ea096afa-7747-4763-811f-46e79dd41990
