The Norwich Hardest Hit March against government cuts makes its way through the city centre.
Photo by Simon Finlay
Disabled people march in Norwich over government cuts
By Stephen Pullinger
Saturday, October 22, 2011
1:52 PM
Disabled people and their families came to Norwich from all parts of the region today to take part in a protest march and rally against government cuts.
More than 200 protesters, including wheelchair users and visually impaired people with guide dogs and white sticks, gathered in Chapelfield Gardens at 11.30am, with a placard-waving march around nearby streets beginning at noon.
The rally was one of several organised around the country by Hardest Hit, a consortium of 40 disability organisations.
The event ended with passionate speeches by disabled people highlighting the impact of government plans on individuals’ lives.
Mark Harrison, chief executive of Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP), said cuts to local authorities’ funding already posed a “huge problem” to disabled people.
“Sensory support services which enable deaf and blind people to live independently in the community have been cut by 60pc in Norfolk,” he said.
“One blind woman in north Norfolk told me it has left her like a prisoner in her home.”
He said the government’s plan to scrap disability living allowance and replace it with personal independence payments - cutting the pot by 20pc - was also hugely worrying.
He said: “They are replacing a benefit disabled people rely on for access to the world - just to get out of their houses - by one with highly medicalised and inappropriate tests to judge whether they are eligible.”
Mr Harrison highlighted the fact disabled people were already 20pc worse off than the abled bodied because of the costs of living with disability.
He added that by the government’s own figures, disability living allowance had the lowest rate of fraud of any benefit.
The chairman of NCODP, Kathy Saunders, who travelled from King’s Lynn, said: “We are asking the government to keep its promise that disabled people will be protected and people won’t be forced into poverty if they are unable to work.”
She said she had heard of countless hardship cases, including people who relied on home help just to get them out of bed having their hours reduced from 15 to five because of social services cuts.
Stuart Thompson, campaigns officer for Mencap, said all disabled people trying to access the new personal independence payments would be subjected to a face-to-face interview - a daunting prospect for someone with a learning disability who might struggle to convey the range of ways it affected them.
Kate Wyatt, of North Elmham, near Dereham, who has had multiple sclerosis for 30 years, said the effects of the disease fluctuated, and someone in a period of remission might be excluded from benefit unfairly.
Siobhan Meade, of Gorleston, brought her guide dog Mac to the rally and highlighted just how much the sensory support services, now being cut, had helped her with everything from learning how to use mobility aids to becoming familiar with local routes to the shops.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “This Government is absolutely committed to supporting disabled people and we continue to spend more than £40 billion a year on disabled people and their services.
“However, the current benefit system is not always reaching those who need it most, which is why we will be introducing the new personal independence payment to ensure people get the right levels of support.”
Latest News
- Over £300 raised at Old Catton cake sale held in memory of Coltishall teenager Ryan Sweatman
- Free Norwich gym membership for a local athlete
- Norwich City fans named Premier League’s best
- Evening News appeal to raise money for East Anglian Air Ambulance
- Science project at Ormiston Victory Academy works on climate change with US school
Other News Articles
- Queen Street bank robbery accused in Norwich Magistrates’ Court
- Norwich City fans named Premier League’s best
- Evening News appeal to raise money for East Anglian Air Ambulance
- Science project at Ormiston Victory Academy works on climate change with US school
- New campaign to reduce cancer cases in Norfolk and Waveney
- Your iwitness24 photos from the weekend
- Norwich driver caught over drink limit hours after ending binge
- Norwich cannabis grower fined £100 by magistrates
- Norwich-born businessman Matthew Newbury to appear on tonight’s Secret Millionaire programme
- Norwich Samaritans offered a listening ear to those in need 37,000 times in a year
11 comments
Harry Rabinowitz, spot on and well said. Dave and his little war on Libya has cost this country £2 billion so far. As on cue those lovable 'rebels' {al Qaeda} announces an Islamic state.....Something tells me British politics is rotten to the core.
Report this comment
nrg
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I think its all been said by AndyT and Dave123. There are many genuine people that need help but then on the other hand there are lots just abusing the system. Sometimes people don't help themselves either, I'm sure you can all remember the fuss over disabled people paying to park in Great Yarmouth, well everyone else has to and we don't get our cars provided for free and there are no spaces reserved us!
Report this comment
Focus1
Monday, October 24, 2011
Like many others i feel really sorry for the genuine disabled.Part of the problem is that so many people have been allowed to class themselves as disabled and gain benefits that its now reflecting badly on those who really do need the help!!
Report this comment
dave123
Monday, October 24, 2011
I have colleagues who are disabled and earn the same as me. I pay for parking, but they don't. I don't get Motability discounts.Many of the vulnerable really do need help, but just wearing a disabled badge does not make you eligible for special treatment. I am also affected by cut backs and increased fuel costs. As Cepnch rightly states. We are all in this together.
Report this comment
Andy T
Monday, October 24, 2011
Governments always go for easy targets like pensioners and the disabled. Gordon Brown stopped tax credits on share dividends in 1997,wrecking the pensions industry, this shower imposed the consumer prices index excluding housing costs which will result in future impoverishment. Be prepared for a sharp rise in people freezing to death this winter thanks to a cut in the fuel allowance. It beggars belief how governments can spend borrowed money on foreign aid, pointless wars, subsidising the corrupt EU and then indulge in mean spirited cuts in benefits and essential services for it's own people. Multi millionaire politicians have no concept of how ordinary people live,and quite frankly they don't care. Sadly whoever you vote for you will be stuck with another grovelling self serving government that will change nothing.
Report this comment
Harry Rabinowitz
Sunday, October 23, 2011
We have plenty of money to underwrite the arms industry's demands on the taxpayer. Osborne has changed the taxlaw for trans national companies that have paid low taxes abroad, they do not have to make up the difference to our tax rate anymore and have a free tax regime for the profits they want to bring home. A society is to be judged by how they trat their elderly and disabled people. NCC's priorities are unsustainable building of more more roads and taxable properties, they are prepared to ring fence many millions for these purposes and its wrong.
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Where has the money gone? more like! NI payments are simply another form of income tax. The system has failed. Becoming disabled is quite an education. This is when you really find out! These present decisions are purely political, being made not only by the present government but also the previous one. The hardship already caused will only get worse. Disgraceful.
Report this comment
Nick
Sunday, October 23, 2011
If, as Cepnch alleges, we are all in it together, why is the impact of the cuts disprortionally falling on disabled people? A number of these cuts will mean disabled people will have to give up work which means they'll stop paying taxes, not a good situation for all of us.
Report this comment
OneOffDave
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Peter Watson's comment, I would like to add to that by saying cut £40 million everyday payments to the EU, what do we get in return from the wasters? Overseas aid! we are skint , borrow money, skint skint. Next time you vote remember charity begins at home, also the lies told by MP's MEP's , there are many.
Report this comment
Paul Platten
Sunday, October 23, 2011
To answer Cepnch's question. 1 .A financial transaction tax on the bankers which would bring in an extra £20 billion 2.Cancellation of Trident nuclear capacity replacement -cost eastimates vary but up to £100 billion. Will that do for starters?
Report this comment
Peter Watson
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Well, we all in itm together so i suppose that mean disabled people too, with less taxes coming in where is the money coming from.
Report this comment
Cepnch
Saturday, October 22, 2011