MPs Archives

Call local protests now! Stop the Disability Benefit Cuts!

Benefits, PIP, WCA, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms 1 Response »

Apr 092025

#WelfareNotWarfare

Call protests now over the parliamentary recess 8-22 April.

While lavishing money on the military the Labour government is continuing to pursue its attack on support for Deaf and disabled people announced in Rachel Reeves’ Spring statement.

We are calling for DPAC groups and supporters to call local protests across the country to demand the damaging cuts to social security for Deaf and Disabled people are stopped.

We want MPs to commit now to vote against these cuts which will drive people into poverty.

Local protests are a chance to reach Deaf and Disabled people who are worried about the cuts and isolated – we need to turn fear into anger and action.

We can raise awareness of the true scale and impact of these vicious cuts and build the solidarity in our communities needed to defeat them.

The scale of cuts is over £9bn – a majority of people are against the cuts based on the earlier figures which underestimated this by almost half.
Changes to PIP (Personal Independence Payments) alone will hit 1.5million Deaf and disabled people.
The attempt to rush these cuts through means that the Labour government is expecting MPs to vote the attacks through without being fully informed as to the impact.
Despite all the lies about how these cuts will get people into work there has been no assessment of employment outcomes from the proposed cuts – the first vote is expected Summer but these figures from the OBR (Office for Budgetary Responsibility) are not due to be published until October 2025.
Employment impacts will be negligible. A lack of suitable employment will prevent people moving into work while many will be forced out of jobs by the impact of the cuts both personally and on the wider economy.
The cuts will cause destitution, add huge additional pressures to local authorities, our NHS and mental health support services. They will take a significant amount out of the economy as disabled people’s spending power is reduced.
There has been no assessment of impacts of the abolition of the WCA (Work Capability Assessment) combined with the PIP cuts as government failed to provide enough detail to the OBR before the Spring Statement.
No costings have been made for the increased number of appeals predicted by the OBR – this is awaiting assessment by the Ministry of Justice.

What we are calling for:

Local protests over parliamentary recess 8-22 April 2025.

Where possible target MPs strategically. See our list here: https://dpac.uk.net/2025/04/mps-who-support-disability-benefit-cuts/

Many MPs no longer operate public offices or surgeries – where this is the case could you protest at local Constituency Labour Party meetings, Town Halls or local events where MPs will be attending. Even if the MP isn’t in attendance it makes the point but please do be aware that we want Labour Party members onside so we are protesting the position their MP has taken and not protesting against them.

As always, we encourage the use of creativity to make protests inclusive and attention grabbing.

Make sure there are options for people to take part and be involved even if they can’t attend in person. National DPAC is about to produce this online engagement toolkit but local groups should look to produce your own options for members.

If you are protesting outside an MP’s office please follow these guidelines: https://dpac.uk.net/2025/04/guidelines-for-protesting-specific-mps/. We want to make our point but do not prevent people who need to see their MP for help with benefits appeals, asylum applications or other urgent needs from doing so.

Where May Day rallies, Stop the War and We Demand Change events are being organised in your area reach out now to organisers to request someone from your DPAC group can speak to raise the fight against benefit cuts – an attack on the whole working class.

If you have an MP who has come out against the cuts do something to positively acknowledge this – letters to the local press on why they are right to reject the cuts can help our message reach a wider audience. You can find a list here: https://labourlist.org/2025/04/spring-statement-welfare-reforms-liz-kendall-rachel-reeves-labour-rebels/

And keep up the letter writing and most importantly every DPAC member should try to arrange a face to face meeting with your MP. These do make a difference even if the MP doesn’t appear to be listening and/or just trots out the party line. Make them give up their time for you. Make them see how many people this matters to and how it will impact their majorities if they follow Starmer, Reeves and Kendall in their performative cruelty.

Resources

Norfolk DPAC has created a resource deposit with template materials that local groups can share and use. Link coming soon!

Guidelines for Protesting Specific MPs

welfare cuts, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Apr 092025

Protesting individual MPs is an important tactic, but has to be done carefully to minimise the risk to people in hard situations who may be seeking help.

Constituents visiting an MP’s office are often at the end of their options, and include refugees needing help dealing with the Home Office, disabled people needing assistance dealing with support systems and the DWP, people struggling with housing or care, and other traumatic and desperate situations.

Here are some things to keep in mind to avoid causing unintentional damage.

This isn’t about respectability or civility – it’s about keeping other people in bad situations safe.

1 – Only directly protest MPs who have defended the cuts. If you don’t have one of those MPs nearby, you could picket a CLP meeting, protest outside a Labour-run council or choose your area’s most public space to demonstrate and reach members of the public.

2 – If you have one of the MPs who has defended cuts, check to see if there is an event you could picket or disrupt before demonstrating at their office. Be mindful about which event you choose (eg. local business events are good targets, but women’s shelter events are not). Events often have the added bonus of extra press around.

3 – If you are only left with their constituency office:

Don’t block the doorway, bang on the windows, or act in ways which could intimidate constituents seeking help. If you see people approaching the office, be welcoming and kind. Have flyers to hand out if you can, explaining why you’re picketing and what this particular MP has done. Bear in mind how your group might appear to people who are coming to the office for help.

Disruption and civil disobedience are important forms of protest. We are not saying protest should be convenient or quiet. Just keep in mind the members of our communities who will be using services we’re protesting and see if there are ways to do it without putting them at further risk.

MPs who support disability benefit cuts

News 6 Responses »

Apr 092025

Please let us know any MPs we are missing from this list.

In terms of local protests, DPAC is for this time discouraging protests against MPs who voted in opposition to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill at second reading. Report stage is currently scheduled for 16 May. The next vote could be scheduled for the same day or a later date. We will keep members updated. Every vote against the bill will be needed. You can see how your MP voted here: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/assisted-dying-vote-result-bill-mp-092154497.html

Cabinet:

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Kid Starver)

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Robber Reeves)

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Killer Kendall)

Publicly defended the cuts:

Torsten Bell

Darren Jones

Pat McFadden

Get Britain Working Group

Dabid Pinto-Duschinsky

Luke Akehurst

Bayo Alaba

Jas Athwal

Danny Beales

Rachel Blake

Nesil Caliskan

Luke Charters

Shaun Davies

Jim Dickson

Helena Dollimore

Graeme Downie

Damien Egan

Allison Gardner

Amanda Hack

Gurinder Singh Josan

Andy MacNae

Blair McDougal

Frank McNally

Samatha Niblett

Jon Pearce

Gregor Poynton

Connor Rand

Steve Race

Joani Reid

Mike Reader

Jake Richards

Tom Rutland

Mark Sewards

Sarah Smith

Mike Tapp

Fred Thomas

Dan Tomlinson

Jo White

Shaun Woodcock

Steve Yemm

For MPs who have comes out against the disability benefit cuts see: https://labourlist.org/2025/04/spring-statement-welfare-reforms-liz-kendall-rachel-reeves-labour-rebels/

Independent Living and the Cumulative Impact of Cuts: from the streets to the Commons

Action, All Posts, Events, ILF, Independent Living, Independent Living Fund ILF, legal challenges, Reclaiming our Futures, Social Model, Speeches, welfare cuts 5 Responses »

Nov 282013

It’s been a busy few days for DPAC gathering evidence on the cumulative impact of cuts on disabled people, and on the crisis in independent living. On the 25^th we heard moving and powerful testimonies of how the Government are ruining lives through their austerity regime. Disabled people are faced with a range of cuts and so called ‘reforms’ which are contravening our basic human rights. We are faced with stark choices between eating or heating while having our dignity stripped by a range of psychological attacks at the same time as having support removed.

Testimonies will be sent to the UN rapporteur on disability-thanks to everybody who came to London to tell their stories and to those that submitted their experiences through email. This event was originally arranged by Just Fair, however due to the rapporteur being unable to come to the UK due to illness DPAC and Inclusion London stepped in to run this at the last minute, so we could get these important stories out to the UN.

On the 26^th the morning saw a hugely successful protest on fuel poverty organised by DPAC, Fuel Poverty Action, the Greater London Pensioners and UKUncut: ‘Bring down the Big Six – Fuel Poverty Kills!’ against the increase in fuel poverty deaths and increasing profits and prices of the big 6. Supporting groups included No Dash for Gas, Campaign Against Climate Change, Climate Revolution, Young Friends of the Earth, Frack Off London, Power for the People, Barnet Alliance for Public Services, Lewes Against the Cuts, SOAS Energy & Climate Change Society and Southwest Against Nuclear. There were also protests in Oxford, Lewes and Bristol.

In the afternoon of the 26^th the Emergency meeting on the crisis in independent living took place at parliament hosted by DPAC and Inclusion London. An event originally planned by Just Fair to launch their report to the UN rapporteur which DPAC and Inclusion London stepped in to run with a new focus on the crisis in independent living. This was in response to the successful appeal outcome at the courts on the Independent Living Fund-and the continuing awareness of the crisis for ILF users, those trying to access local authority support and the Government’s apparent non-compliance with article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The afternoon launched DPAC’s report on the crisis in independent living and cumulative impacts of the cuts, one of many that DPAC is working on, as well as the film by Mary Laver an ILF user. The afternoon was complimented by speeches from John Evans and reflection on the past battles for independent living. We heard from the brilliant Louise Whitfield (one of the solicitors in the ILF case) and were treated to an excellent DPAC theatre performance which brought to life the reality of impacts on disabled people and the different barriers we face.

Despite extremely short notice the event was well attended by MPs and those from the Lords. Kate Green , Hywell Williams, Katy Clarke, Anne Begg, John McDonnell, Jim Shannon, Andy Slaughter, Baroness Campbell, Baroness Wilkins and a host of others including Mary Laver’s MP. Apologies were sent from Anne McGuire, Caroline Lucas, Lucy Powell, Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa Pierce

Mike Penning ‘our’ new minister for disability was invited but did not respond or send apologies!

Many thanks to all that attended, supported and worked so hard towards the afternoon-especially the many DPAC members and supporters that wrote to their MPs and publicised this. Some may ask why English national formal disability organisations with much more money and resources than us aren’t putting their energies into these types of activities all the time- we don’t have any answers or understanding on that.

We will have a more detailed report on the Emergency meeting on the Crisis in Independent Living event in Parliament with film and photos soon

Download DPAC report Crisis in Disabled People’s Independent Living

See Mary Laver’s film on ILF View the movie

Lies, Damn IDS and statistics

All Posts, Benefits, disability hate crime, media, Welfare reforms 5 Responses »

Jun 262013

At the end of this month, the Department for Work and Pensions will be releasing their Annual Report, and Iain Duncan Smith and his henchministers will no doubt be touring the TV studios to deliver more propaganda about worklessness and disability.

We’ve decided to celebrate the release of the DWP Annual Report by releasing a report of our own.

It is a report into how the DWP and DWP Ministers have made claims which are simply untrue. We’ve selected 35 claims and and found clear evidence that these claims have no basis in the facts.

So when you next see Iain Duncan Smith on the TV News, ask yourself, is he lying? or is he simply making it up out of thin air again?

You can read the full report here: https://www.scribd.com/doc/149776210/DPAC-Report-on-DWP-Abuse-of-Statistics-Final-22-June-2013

DPAC on ILF Judgement April 24th: Press Release

Action, All Posts, Disability Rights, ILF, Independent Living, Independent Living Fund ILF, legal challenges, News, Welfare reforms 2 Responses »

Apr 302013

If you can judge a nation by how it treats those in most need, the judgement on this nation is damning. Those with the highest needs are effectively being attacked by a government for a circumstance they had no choice in: being disabled.

It is a damning indictment of this government that they have launched attack after attack on disabled people leaving them without support and removing income. The proposed closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) is the latest in that assault.

Five severely disabled people whose right to live independently in the community and who face having their lives trampled on by a decision which has never been discussed let alone voted on in parliament have vowed to carry on their legal fight against the callous Coalition government’s proposed closure of ILF.

While Conservative MPs around the country continue to churn out platitudes that their party will protect the ’most vulnerable’ the reality of what their ministers are actually doing is far different. The loss of the Independent Living Fund will have disastrous consequences for disabled people with high support needs and as DWP and Local Authorities have said will result in people being forced back into care homes or left in danger in their own homes.

How many will have to be abused or die through neglect before society takes this threat seriously enough to say this is a cut too far? Anyone of you could become disabled and need this level of care to keep living in your community or at home with your family and friends. This is not about party politics this is about justice, morality and dignity. It is about the right to continue to have a life worth living if you do become disabled at some point in your life.

All five will appeal the decision handed down in the High Court on April 24th claiming that the government failed to meet its Public Sector Equality Duties when carrying out what they claim was a flawed consultation process.

DWP have previously said that the ILF fund was unsustainable. They fail to clarify as part of the consultation if there will be any guaranteed on-going extra funding devolved to local authorities to take over the additional costs of meeting people’s care and support needs after 2015. Something which could be a slap in the face for already hard pressed Local Authorities whose budgets are already being squeezed by a further 28% and who will have to implement these cuts.

If, like us, you think its wrong that disabled people (8%of the population) bear 29% of all cuts and that disabled people with severest needs (2% of the whole population) bear 15% of all cuts[i]-

Please support the five and write to your MP to say this is a cut too far.

Find your MP

________________________________________
[i] ‘A Fair Society?’ Centre for Welfare Reform, January 2013

Pat’s Debate – your support needed more than ever

Action, All Posts, Benefits, Welfare reforms 7 Responses »

Dec 082012

After a year of very hard work and wonderful encouragement from all of our friends and supporters Pat’s Petition closed with over 62,600 signatures. We then sent an open letter to Liam Byrne.

We are delighted to announce that all the effort succeeded

and we have a result.

Liam Byrne has been in touch and the Labour Party are giving us an Opposition Day Debate in the Commons based around Pat’s Petition. This means the debate will take place in the Chamber at the House of Commons with Ministers and front benchers as well as back benchers.

So fantastic news – Pat’s Petition is moving to Pat’s Debate. Tell everyone – shout, sing, tweet using hashtag #PatsDebate. Let’s shake this government into listening to us at last.

The debate will probably take place some time in January and we will only have a weeks notice so the important thing now is to get ready for the debate and make sure all the issues we have been campaigning on get attention.

The theme of the motion for the debate will be the Pat’s Petition demand that the government – Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families and a demand for a Cumulative Impact Assessment. It’s a very wide brief so if you want to focus on a particular issue that’s fine.

We will need lots of help from you all to make sure that after all your effort this debate gets real results.

We are hoping that many of you will put up blog posts in support of Pat’s Debate and that we can collect the links together here.

We will also need your help to ask MPs from all Parties to speak in this debate and if we can direct them to your blog posts it will show them the kind of messages we want to put across.

Contact your MP details via this link

Watch this space to see how the plans for the debate are progressing.

Time is running out.

Please get behind this debate and make it a game changer.

Pat x

for further details contact – patspetition@gmail.com

If you have any suggestions/comments please add at https://carerwatch.com/reform/?p=1246

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) tell DPAC your story-DPAC campaign

Action, All Posts, Benefits, News, Welfare reforms 3 Responses »

Dec 192011

DPAC are learning that a rising number of disabled people are losing their entitlement to DLA and are being refused DLA. This is before the coalitions promised cut of 20% of DLA cases and before the change from DLA to Personal Independence Payments (PIP). At the DPAC conference many suggested that DPAC used more personal stories in lobbying.

We are asking for your personal stories on DLA and on DLA reassessments.

DLA was originally set up to pay for the extra costs of being disabled in society of barriers for disabled people-these barriers still exist. DLA is a social model focused payment which originally recognised the extra costs of being disabled, although the test has always been based on the medical model.

The extra costs of disability come from the barriers that people face or the adaptations they might need because of their impairment or long term illness. For example needing your own, or a form of accessible transport, extra costs of attending hospital appointments, needing aids to overcome barriers caused by the design of certain products, aids to get around, needing to spend more on shoes because of mobility, needing a special diet, needing someone to help you stay safe and so on.

Please write to your MPs with your stories and copy DPAC in to your emails

We are asking you to send:

Your personal stories, your experiences of being refused DLA and what the extra costs of disability, impairment, long term illness are for you

To find your MP see they work for you and also copy to DPAC mail@dpac.uk.net

Deadline: 12^th January

MPs will be back in parliament on the 12^th January and will discuss changes from DLA to PIP on 17^th January

The stories that you copy to DPAC will be put together for DPAC lobbying and campaigns: on changes to DLA, on the welfare reform Bill and disability benefits overall. We will post updates on progress on the DPAC web www.dpac.uk.net

DPAC has a wide network but it is only by people spreading the word that we can grow stronger together and work to highlight what is happening to disabled people across the UK together.

see: social model response to loss of DLA