Wales disability protest – lobby the Senedd, 14th October

All Posts, Action, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms, Write to your MP No Responses »

Oct 082025

4pm to 4.15pm

Tuesday 14th October

Outside the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff

The Disability Minister Stephen Timms was forced to promise UK parliament that there would be no more PIP disability cuts until a review had been co-produced with disabled people.

He has broken this promise.

Disabled people want to run our own, independent, and democratic PIP review.

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) will be handing in our open letter with 700 signatures from individuals and organisations. We are calling on the Welsh government to do its part and practically support Disabled People’s Organisations to carry out the review.

Placards, in English and Welsh, with the Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru logo, will say:

“No disability cuts! Disabled people want to run our own independent PIP review. We’re asking the Welsh Government to do its part!”

If you are able to, would you consider…

Joining us at the lobby in person on Tuesday 14th.

This will involve: being outside for 15 minutes with placards and possibly a megaphone.

Ask your Senedd member to meet us there.

Let people know – our Google Drive has bilingual social media graphics and placard text, as well as alt text for social media graphics accessibility.

We welcome all support!

Access requirements

Is there anything that would help you take part? Is there anything we can do better? Do you have any access requirements? Let us know! Email <dpac.cymru@gmail.com>

A limited number of PPE masks will be available for free.

Social media graphics

(alt text here)

Disability minister Stephen Timms under fire in LBC interview

Action, All Posts, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms, Write to your MP 2 Responses »

Sep 132025

Calls for an independent PIP review with UK minister under fire

A Welsh disability group is calling for an independent review of Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) has accused the disability minister Stephen Timms of failing to properly lead his own review into the disability benefit, saying that “co-production is not taking place as promised.”

Speaking exclusively to LBC’s Welsh Correspondent Caitlin Parr, the group’s comments follow the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, meeting with the Welsh Government Disability Equality Forum on Tuesday 2nd.

LBC news reported that DPAC Cymru had long fought for disabled people’s voices to be heard in changes to welfare reforms, but were concerned that the minister, despite promises to engage widely over the summer, had so far left Welsh disabled people out of discussions around the review, outside of those forum meetings.

DPAC Cymru claims that Timm’s attendance at those recent forum meetings is “far too little and far too late for Welsh disabled people after months of stonewalling from Timms,” and said they were frustrated by “more promises but no action.”

Ben Golightly, from Swansea, is a coordinator for DPAC Cymru. He told LBC, “he [Timms] agreed in that meeting that it was important for Welsh disabled people and Welsh disabled people’s organisations to be heard. He was meant to talk about how he was delivering co-production. It was his job to do it. And he had no real update, because he hasn’t been doing that job.”

Despite promises from government ministers, DPAC Cymru say that co-production has not taken place, and they are “back to square one.”

Ben said, “We had hoped that after a major defeat in parliament that when he [Timms] promised co-production with disabled people, that we wouldn’t have to go through all of this again. There is so little trust in the way the government has treated disabled people that we need an independent review, led by disabled people, and Stephen Timms and the government should turn up and listen, but they should have no say over how it’s run because they’ve shown, throughout several months, that they’re unable to do it.”

Lee Ellery, an independent disability activist and lead press coordinator for DPAC Cymru, who has Cerebral palsy quadriplegic, agreed, telling LBC news it’s time more Welsh voices were heard.

Lee said, “people with disabilities, particularly in Wales, are left to the bottom of the pile so to speak, and we should be at the forefront of everything. I’m worried about what the result of the [PIP] review might come out to say, if the person who’s leading it doesn’t understand the whole process.”

LBC news reported that “the Timms review into PIP assessments is expected to conclude in Autumn 2026, when changes already decided on for new PIP claimants will come into force.”

DPAC Cymru’s calls for an independent review, made in an open letter released last Monday, has already received wide support, collecting 600 signatures and the support of representatives of more than twenty-five organisations.

Comments collected from respondents talk about their feelings of hurt, being “belittled,” “completely disregarded and isolated,” and the “harm and loss of trust” caused by Timms and the government.

Signatures on the open letter are open until the end of September.

Sign here

We want an independent PIP review!

Action, Access to Work, All Posts, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms 4 Responses »

Sep 012025

This is an open letter from DPAC Cymru, produced with feedback from six Disabled People’s Organisations.

Disclaimer: DPAC Cymru didn’t have time to reach 100% agreed wording with DPAC UK, as we would have liked to. Even within DPAC Cymru, the letter wording is somewhat of a compromise. However, for important tactical reasons in Wales, we felt it was important to publish without delay. DPAC have therefore agreed to share the letter with this disclaimer.

Click here for the Easy Read version.

To:

The Welsh Government,

The Scottish Government,

The Northern Ireland Executive,

The UK Government,

1st September 2025

After a major, if partial, defeat in parliament over disability cuts, the disability minister Stephen Timms promised MPs that the PIP benefit review would be co-produced by disabled people and their organisations.

There is widespread skepticism if this will genuinely be the case. Promises to “engage widely over the summer” have not been met, and there has been no transparency over Timms’ plans for “ten people” to have “a lot of sway”. His comments reveal that he does not understand what co-production means. Timms has also repeatedly declined to acknowledge the many serious failures of the Pathways to Work green paper consultation process, particularly felt in Wales.

We counterpose this to the Disability Rights Taskforce, initiated in partnership with the Welsh Government, which brought together 350 stakeholders and 200 policy experts, as a model of what co-production can look like. However, many Taskforce participants were frustrated that much of their work was ultimately missing from the Welsh Government draft plan. This is a lesson that even co-produced policy will fall flat without accountability. Disabled people’s organisations must be given the necessary resources and powers to carry out the implementation and monitoring of decisions.

[Some of us] cautiously welcome[d] the announcement of the Government’s new Independent Disability Advisory Panel. This panel is separate to, but will feed into, the Timms review of PIP. However, trust remains very low, and the terms – of “up to 10” people – have already been set for us. [See update, below]

We the undersigned demand that:

• The new Independent Disability Advisory Panel must be genuinely independent, representative, transparent, and have real powers of oversight.

• The UK government must acknowledge its failures in delivering the Pathways to Work consultation and legislative process, as a precondition to rebuilding trust and ensuring those mistakes are not repeated.

• The PIP review must be independently led by disabled people and our organisations, inviting the views of carers, volunteers, and workers in health, social care, housing, transport, and welfare.

• Any review of welfare reform must also, in a process led by disabled people, involve trade unions as democratic organisations representing 1.4 million disabled workers as well as representing the workers responsible for the day-to-day delivery of services that disabled people rely on.

• The scope of the PIP review must be widened to all aspects of welfare and employment for disabled people, guided by the principle: from each according to their ability, to each according to their need.

• Dedicated funding must be provided to Disabled Peoples Organisations to support outreach, accessible engagement, and the collection of views from disabled people, including those without internet access or digital skills.

• The devolved governments of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and councils, should recognise and support this independent review even if the UK government refuses to.

• The UK government must immediately halt all cuts to disability and incapacity benefits for the duration of the review, and urgently fix Access to Work.

• Parliament must be given time to properly scrutinise any new legislation.

• The UC bill should be repealed. It is flawed, and was rushed through in an abnormal and undemocratic way.

[Update 4th September] Statement from DPAC Cymru regarding the “Independent Disability Advisory Panel”:

“The recently published terms for the so-called Independent Disability Advisory Panel, including the requirement to sign a non-disclosure agreement, are completely unacceptable. We are going to go back to a full consultation with all of our members and allies and take time for discussion to correct the weakness in our compromise wording of ‘cautiously welcome’ and come back united, realigned on the strongest possible response. We hope you will continue to support the demand for an independent PIP review, led by disabled people, and support this letter with your signature.”

For a full list of signatures and footnotes, see here.

To add your support to the letter, add your signature here

Here are short URLs for sharing the letter:

Non-Easy Read: Bit.Ly/independent-pip-review

Easy Read: Bit.Ly/easy-read-independent-pip-review

Trade Unionists Against the Benefit Cuts open letter

All Posts, Benefits, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, News, PIP, Politics, Universal Credit, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms 3 Responses »

Jun 272025

Dear Liz Kendall Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,
(For the attention of all MPs and ministers)

We the undersigned are trade unionists opposed to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence bill, designed to restrict access to PIP and to reduce the sickness element (LCWRA) of UC. We believe this is shameful anti-worker and anti-working class legislation.

We represent union members, advisers, caseworkers, officers, housing workers, work coaches, local government and charity workers, finance sector workers, and other roles who work with those on the sharp edge of the disability benefits system. Some of us are also disabled members or carers across our unions, with the double whammy of working in these organisations and being financially impacted. Over a decade of austerity has forced disabled people into even greater poverty, and these cuts will only exacerbate the underlying barriers and widespread discrimination that still shut disabled people out of the workplace.

Our experiences and knowledge of this sector can provide vital insight into the catastrophic impact the proposed welfare cuts are likely to have. The benefit system is already a punitive, degrading, and impoverishing system that has cost lives through assessments, sanctions, and disallowance of benefits. These cuts will only worsen that reality. Cuts kill – particularly as hundreds of thousands more are pushed into poverty.

Not only will these cuts cause increased financial hardship for some of those made vulnerable by a disabling society, but will also add considerable expenses and a much increased workload to workers in several sectors. This is because more people will be plunged into debt. More people will be served with eviction notices (as they won’t be able to pay their rent/bedroom Tax/service charges). In many cases, disabled workers will be faced with the possibility that they will lose PIP and no longer be able to afford to service the additional needs that enable them to remain in the workforce. Cutting incomes will push people further from work, just as sanctions do. This will create misery and resentment in addition to requiring further public services & resources.

The Disability Policy thinktank forecast that the cuts will lead to £1.2bn in extra costs for the NHS and local care services provided by councils, raising the alarm for both councillors and MPs whether the cuts will backfire even on their own economic terms.

More people:

won’t be able to afford food or bills, with 4 million already using foodbanks and limited or cut off energy supplies, whilst those industries’ bosses increase their profits off the back of us all.
will have their linked benefits stopped, including carer’s allowance and the carer element of UC, disproportionately impacting unpaid carers, women and children when child poverty and homelessness are already at record levels
will be excluded from work or forced into unsuitable work which worsens health, with many working families who rely on UC to top up poor wages also to be hit by the reforms.

Benefit cuts harm all working class people, increasing conditionality and forcing us to tolerate exploitative work and accept poorer terms and conditions. The scapegoating of benefit claimants intensifies division and competition and weakens solidarity in our communities.

Local government departments have faced cut after cut and already struggle to have enough staff or resources to support more in need. The voluntary sector has been needed to act up for several years to plug gaps due to Tory austerity, and currently struggles to meet demand.

Funding for debt advice has been reduced and there is insufficient support to help the current number of people with debt and advice.

Access to Work already sees delays of around a year for decisions to enable disabled people to take equal part in work. This is not being resourced as needed.

The proposed cuts by a Labour government will make all of this considerably worse:

It will further strain the already overburdened third and public sector. Staff stress will increase, when many already suffer anxiety and poor well-being in the third and public sector because of understaffing and excessive workloads.
Communities will be further demoralised and disenfranchised, or will turn to alternatives that do not represent working class interests.
The Trade Union movement should not only fight to defend the social security system from cuts, but also demand a transformative alternative that centres human dignity, regardless of ability to work.
DPAC and many others have argued for a welfare system that works for us all, removing the private sector involvement and its punitive measures.

With over £20 billion unclaimed, these cuts and the disproportionate targeting of disabled people do not add up. An FOI request found that 87% of those in receipt of the standard rate of PIP daily living, and nearly half of PIP claimants overall, could stand to lose out under the cuts – the scale is much more significant than the Government is letting on.

CPAG also estimated that the benefit bill has been held down by £36 billion annually as a result of caps, freezes and cuts since the 2010s, including the 2-child limit, bedroom tax and benefit cap. Means-tested benefits have been squeezed for over a decade, plunging people into poverty and worsening their health.

Our welfare spending is relatively low as a share of GDP compared to other European countries, even accounting for the increase in PIP claims, simply reflecting worsening health, increases in retirement age, and record waiting lists. Fraud in the PIP system is negligible. Amnesty have stated the inadequacy of benefits violates human rights, and that the system is consciously cruel – it does not need to be made even more restrictive. Civil society, third sector and disabled people’s organisations have been unanimous in their opposition to these ruthless cuts, with Citizen’s Advice condemning the reforms in a ‘Pathways to Poverty’ report and calling for them to be cancelled.

The proposals on unemployment insurance are a further mockery of this being about ‘making work pay’ – severing the link between national insurance credits someone has earned and their ability to rely on an indefinite sickness benefit if they become unable to work, even when made ill by work itself. The cuts are putting cart before horse: investment in employment support is set to have a minimal impact on getting people into work, with job vacancies falling and the Employment Rights Bill not yet implemented.

The consultation has been focused on a few of the changes, and Wales has not had an accessible consultation. That alone should mean this bill should go no further. The changes are being rushed through Parliament to make savings within rigid fiscal rules rather than improve work prospects, and MPs will not have had the chance to review the consultation responses before voting. At every stage the due democratic process and co-production with disabled people, as the Work and Pensions Committee has also called for, has been sidestepped. This concerns us all as trade unionists striving for a more equitable and democratic society.

Instead of balancing the books on the backs of those who can least afford it, Labour should be making the political choice to tax extreme wealth in society, redressing the runaway inequality that has seen the 50 richest families in Britain own more wealth (over £500bn) than half of the rest of the population. We commend the MPs that have submitted an amendment to Parliament to decline a second reading of the bill, and those who have pledged to vote against the bill. We demand that the Government withdraws these cuts, or the Labour Party will be turning its back on workers and working-class communities across the country.

Signatures: (add yours here)

Luke Dukinfield, Unite, Senior Workplace Rep, NEYH CYNfP RISC & Young Members Committee
Ben Golightly, Prospect member (Tech Workers’ Branch).
Arti Dillon Unite 524 branch CYNfP sector & Southwark Trades Council
Helena Navarrete Plana, Unite the Union
Amelia Bradley-Newby, Unison
Rachel eborall
Clara Paillard, Unite the Union, National Industrial Sector Committee (Not For Profit)
Irene McNally, Unite the Union
Clive Walder, Unite
Dara FitzGerald. Vice-Chair Unite Digital and Tech branch
Eric Segal Kent Retired members (SE100R1) branch committee member
Michael Agboh-Davison, Unite
Sean Brogan Chair Unite Community Plymouth and South Devon
Ben Goldstone, Unite LE1111 Housing Workers branch – Equality Officer and Workplace Rep
Jamie Sims, Unite, former workplace rep
Michael Harrison, Unite The Union, Chair of Unite Community Wales and vice chair of Unite Community National Campaign Forum.
James Clements, PCS
Rob Williams chair Unite LE/1228 branch
Charlotte Powell, Unison and UCU Steward
Joseph Meldau, Equalities Office, Unite the Union, Bristol City Council Branch, & a member of Unite South West Disabled Members Committee
Helen Dunster, Unison Representative
Alistair Tice , Unite Community member
Mike Moore, Birmingham University UNISON, Joint Branch Secretary
David Reid (Treasurer, Cardiff General Unite)
Vicki Morris, UNISON University of Nottingham branch secretary, Higher Education Service Group Executive
Mike Vaughan UNISON Branch Secretary
Catherine mcdonagh
Andrea Gilbert GMB Accompanying Rep
James Brackley, UCU
Ioana Cerasella Chis, University of Birmingham UCU & UNISON branch member
Gurbinder Gill, RMT
Steve Merriman, South Yorkshire Retired Members Branch
Mark Sage, Unite Community member
Sacha Ismail, UNISON, FBU
Jackie Lederer Unite Community Branch Secretary
Sally Heier, UCU, University of Leeds Branch Committee Member
Kevin protheroe
Millie Wild, Unite
Karen Drysdale, Unison
Tanis Belsham-Wray. Secretary of Unite NE/403/15 (Community, Youth and Not4Profit).
Tamsila Tauqir, UWE UNISON, Vice-Chair
Stephanie Tailby UCU South West Retired Members Branch
Sarah Horton, Unison
Christine Thomas, Unison
Rob Prince, UNISON, Branch treasurer
Serenity baskett, Unite the union, union rep, lgbt committee member
Jonathan Golding, Branch Secretary, Unite Community, Cardiff & Area
Deborah Butt ASLEF Branch Secretary and Union Learning Representative
Celine Petitjean, Bristol UCU, Membership secretary
Jamie Strudwick, member of Unite
Pauline Brady, Unison, Equalities Officer
Kevin Daws, Treasurer of Gloucester & District Trades Union Council, Branch Equalities Officer of Gloucester SW/007 Branch, UCU South West Regional Equalities Officer
VC – UCU UWE
Bev Keenan Unite Community branch secretary
Barbara Hulme, Unite Community
Sue Wilbraham, Cumbria UCU, Environment rep
Ajit Chuhan UCU Bristol
George Gray
Leisa Taylor, Unite
Ian Townson, Unite Community, Equalities Officer
Lee Starr-Elliott CWU Bristol and District Amal vice chair, equality officer and SW regional disability officer
Pippa Dowswell, Joint Secretary, Islington NEU
Elane Heffernan, UCU Kent Equalities Officer (and PIP claimant)
Eleanor Lisney, NUJ member.
Elizabeth Mawle, Unite
Gwen Vardigans activist Unite community
Katharine Johnston, UCU
Sandra Wyman Unite Community
Zarria Phillips Bristol & Glos area Unite Community
H.Benjafield
Stephanie Mulrine, UCU North East Regional Committee
Steve Jones. CWU Senior Field Official. Convenor Haringey Community Action Network
Matthew D Smith. UCU Treasurer, University of Cumbria
Mark Evans Retired members secretary Carmarthenshire County Unison and member of Carmarthenshire County Unison branch committee
Penny Foskett, NEU, retired
James Jackson Unite Community
Gemma Southgate, TSSA Executive Committee Member for Wales & Western Division
Mathew John, Branch Chair, Carmarthenshire County Unison Branch
Melissa Heywood, TSSA President
Trevor Jones (Unite the Community)
Kevin Pattison, unite community, chair Leeds, Wakefield & York
Samuel Coxson, Unite
Monique Buchli
Gary Clark CWU retired member former branch secretary
J. Losh, Worcestershire Unison
Andrew Kilmister, UCU, member of Oxford Brookes University UCU Executive
Cllr Alexi Dimond, Sheffield City Council, Unite – Not For Profit
Emma Cotton, Social Security and Tax Officer, Equity
Jeni Hunneyball Unite
Jane Carter NEU
Marco Tesei, UCU vice-chair West London College, UCU NEC UK-elected
Chloe Cheeseman, UNISON member
Martin Cavanagh, PCS National President
Saul Cahill, PCS NEC member
Lucy Burke. UCU vice chair, Manchester Metropolitan University
Jennifer Forbes, UCU branch Chair,
Bee Hughes, secretary LJMU UCU
Deji Olayinka UTAW-CWU Chair
Philip Furnivall, Unite, Bristol City Council Senior Craft Workplace Rep – Local Authorities National Industrial Sector Committee
Roland Rance, Treasurer East London Unite Community
Jade Brown, Unison
Amber Williams Unite, co. Vice secretary Bristol city Council branch
Pat Freeman; University of Cumbria UCU H&S rep
Rachael Tomlinson, Unite Community, Humber
Rada Daniell, East London Unite Community member
Ellen Robottom, Unite, former therapeutic counsellor
Fennelia MacCallum, City of Bristol College, LGBT+ Rep
Lisa Lonsdale (Prospect)
Sue Mew – East London Unite Community
Adi Kuntsman, Manchester Metropolitan University
Andy Mitchell, Unite South West Regional Community Forum chair
John Pearson, Unite Community member, former PIP and WCA support worker
Demaine Boocock, UNISON
Elisa Middleditch Unite
Alex Moore President Plymouth NEU
Jan Egan, GMB and Unite Community
Mark King, GMB
Carole Vincent, TULO East London Unite Community & delegate to Waltham Forest Trades Council
Duncan Davis, CWU, UTAW Branch Secretary
Doreen Mcnally. Unite the union
Jan Pritchard
Julie Connolly UCU
Robbie Woodland President BFAWU kernow (Cornwall)
William Kerr, UCU
Vince Martin, Greater Manchester Unite Community, former Branch Secretary
Eddie Hyndes, Musicians’ Union
Neil Terry NUJ
John Fones, UCU.
Tony Staunton, President, Plymouth Trades Union Council
Dave Robertson Unite Community Leeds Wakefield York
Gerry Lavery, Unite Community, Leeds, Wakefield & York.Branch.
Phil Maxwell, Unite Community (branch equalities officer).
Darren James CWU
Jenny Atkinson, UNISON, UWE International Relations Officer
Steve Wilkins Vice Chair Kent Unite Community Branch Secretary Medway TUC
Ryan Aldred Usdaw Assistant Secretary
Chris Bligh, RMT Trades Council rep
Catherine Hughes. Unite Community
Paul Grunnill Unite NW 567 Branch Secretary
Gareth Boyce Unite Union shop steward
Kate Hunter Unite Community
Duncan Moore, UCU National Executive Committee and Secretary of Torbay and South Devon Trades Council
Ian Hanton, Unite Rep
Lady Lola Oyewusi Unison
Mads Hodgson IWGB Disability Officer, Charity Workers Branch
Adrian Jackson Unison .northern regional disabled members deputy co-chair branch disabled members officer northern regional rep national disabled members committee
Scott machin unite member
Gordon Waring
Megan Archer, IWGB Charity Workers Branch
Andrew MIles, NE/COM/5, Unite the Union Leeds, Wakefield and York Community Branch
Miguel Saona. MMU-UCU. LGBT+ Officer.
Alan Theasby, Unite Community
Brian Lennie
Gail Ward Hands2Mouth Project, Unite Community
Cecile Remy, UCU, IWGB
Minesh Parekh, IWGB member (charity worker), Labour and Co-operative Councillor in Sheffield
Ross Maidment, Unite member
Laura Louise Hullah, Musicians’ Union, UCU
Open University UCU Exec
Liam Sewell, UCU, Nottingham College Branch Chair
David Eatock Unite
Patrick Shǐ Timmer, IWGB
Susan Pashkoff, Unite Community, Easr London, Chair
Cllr Jakob Williamson, Unite Member
Kat Down, Vice Chair of NASUWT Disabled Teachers Advisory Committee
Claire Rose, Unite member
Michelle Rogers
Janine Booth, NEU Disabled Members’ Organising Forum; Neurodivergent Labour
Diana Neslen unite the community
Cllr Stan Bates Wakefield MDC Unite member
Dean Darley, Springfield Allotment Community Klub Chair
Beth Wright – NASUWT
David Lowe , Secretary Wigan Trades Council
Steve Handford NEU. International Solidarity Officer.
Nick Parker, PCS, Department for Business and Trade Group Organiser
Kerry Wilks, Unite Community National Chair
Tina Harvey UCU Chair University of Cumbria
Jenifer Devlin Unite Community
Ros Garrick UCU
Addele Lynas NASUWT Belfast Association Secretary
Eeva Sointu, UCU
Sean Kelly Northumberland NEU Branch Secretary
Jon Woods, Portsmouth City UNISON Branch Chair
Elinor Hewitt, Unison LTHT Treasurer and Comms Officer
Claire Inglis, UCU, vice chair at UoC branch
Scott Inglis UCU Branch vice chair
Molly Holland, Unite
Jennifer Jamieson unison member
“Richard stallard
Unite community
Unite plymouth activist committee plymouth trade Council ”
Luciano Sgarbi, IWGB Game Workers member
Mark Blacklock, National Union of Journalists; University and College Union
Mary Currell, Unite member
Mark Fogg, Unite, Branch Officer
Alan Short Unite Community Sth Wales
Linda Burnip, Unison
David Kirk, UNISON
John Ingleson UNISON Branch Chair
Pauline Bailey Unison
Rachel Mills, UNISON Member
Valerie Jackson Unison Retired
Fran Amery, Equality Officer, University of Bath UCU
George Newth, Bath UCU
Alex Charnley, UCU postgraduate rep, Bath university
James Bonner, Unite Community Berkshire, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Branch Treasurer
Caroline Corbin. Unison Health Branch Chair
Denis Bangura, Unison
Philip Bayes
Mark Toovey Lead union learning, deputyearly shift rep, CWU
Wolfgang Bailey. Workplace Representative and Welfare Officer for UNHAC Branch
Tam Laidler, NEU
Debra Willis, unison rep LTHT NHS
David Moon (UCU, branch caseworker, former Branch President, University of Bath)
Darren Robinson Unite The Union Branch Chair / Convenor
Paula Peters Chair of London and Eastern Unite community Campaign Forum & Chair of Bromley & Croydon Unite Community Branch
B.Mootu Unison Equality Officer H&S Representative
Darren Cogavin – UCU
Naomi Pennington, UCU
Stephen Hackett, Unite Workplace Representative, CYNFP RISC delegate
Jon Farley, Secretary, Unite Community Leeds Wakefield and York branch.
Mike Bird, Unite
Kev Conway Unite community member
Cecily Blyther, UCU, Chair at Petroc, Co-chair on Anti-casualisation Committee, member of Disabled Members’ Committee.
Dr Nicholas Lalvani of Unison
Daniel Edmondson, UCU, York St John UCU Branch Equalities Rep
Andy Richards UNISON
Jay Coward, Equity London South, Branch Committee
Richard Stanforth, Unite Union rep in a charity working to stop domestic poverty
Jemma Russell, Unison
Michael k usdaw
Nicola Jones Unison Steward
Dan Edge, Equity, Deaf and Disabled Members Councillor
Elizabeth Lawrence, UCU Regional Secretary Yorkshire and Humberside
Thomas Rudman, Unite LE127
Retired Members Plus section of Unite the Union Cardiff, Activist. Senedd Member for Scope since last September 2024, and an Independent for Cardiff North Labour Party and Activist within Cardiff Central and Cardiff North.
Cecilia Wee, UCU National Executive Committee, co-Chair Royal College of Art UCU
Steven Baugh, Unite
Lesley Bratty, UCU
Andrea Abbas UCU.
Paul Kershaw, chair, Unite LE1111 housing workers branch
Eve Miller, UNISON George Eliot Hospital Branch, Assistant Branch Secretary
Ellie Judge, UTAW-CWU, Tech Sector Support Co-ordinator
Dave Barter (Joint District Secretary, Rochdale NEU)
Kim Wheeler, IWGB
Michael Suter – Rotherham Unison LG Shop Steward and International Officer
Leon Highmoor-Bayes, UTAW
Kevin Ritchie, Unite, Cllr Bramley & Stanningley Ward Leeds City Council
Felix Ricketts-mason, UTAW-CWU
Derek Fraser Manchester NEU
Steve Skinner, Bradford College UCU, Green Rep
Graham Cooper, ASLEF Bletchley branch trustee
Graham Croucher, Branch Secretary and Union Learning Rep, Bletchley Branch
Morgan Rhys Powell, UCU
Bill Smith, Secretary Alice Arnold Unite Community WM5105
Russell Hickman, Unite Community Branch Chair, Northants TUC Chair
Judy White, chair Bradford branch of Unite Community
George Lloyd-Burman, IWGB (Game Workers) Regional Organising Officer
Sue Ghany Unite member
Natalie Amber chair of Equity Deaf and Disabled members committee
louise alldridge UCU Equality Rep
Steve Preddy Unite Southwest
Brett Sparkes, Disabled People Against Cuts Trade Union Group Founder
Ian Hodson, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union National President
Jo Grady, General Secretary – University and College Union
Adrian Lister, Unite
Ken Fish, Unite
Ash Stokoe, UCU
Skye Cormier, Unite the Union.
Leanne Hubbard Unite the Union
Kevin Green Unite member
April Ashley, Southwark UNISON Branch Secretary & Black Members UNISON NEC (personal capacity)
Ian Clements, Unite LE1111 Housing Workers Branch Workplace Rep, LE Disabled Members Committee, Chair Hounslow Trades Council.
Matthew Watkins, UNITE
Ian Woolcomb
Rosina Siddique Unite Member
Liz Thompson Unite Community Leeds, Wakefield,York
Corinna Herr , Community Union , Caiwu Union , GMB UNION
Ailig Garth-Dòmhallach of Unite the Union (West of Scotland Community SC/100C9)
Joseph Jones Unison
Elie Sharp, UCU
Katie Reilly, Unite, VC of National Young Members
Stuart Hellingsworth, Unite
Matt Bridges, Workplace Rep, Branch Equalities Officer, NW DWC Committee Member, RISC (Finance and Legal) Disability Representative
Christina Malley, UCU Member for UWL, Former Chair of LIPA UCU
Shaun Topen-Cooper Primary School Teacher FT and Ley Local Secretary P&K NASUWT
Benjamin Cross, British Veterinary Union in Unite
Sandy Simmons – Unite – Equalities Officer
Mary Mullen UCU
Alison Campbell, UNISON, Steward.
Dave Nellist, Unite the Union and former (expelled) Labour MP
Polina Sparks, NUJ, Disabled Members Council deputy chair, welfare and training officer, Manchester & Salford
Justyna Borkowska-Rozanska, VMD, MRCVS, Unite, Reading
Mark Findlay, Unite
Ajay Kumar Bristol Palestine Alliance chair
Sharon-Theresa Calvert, Caseworker, NASUWT
Harry Stamp – UCU London Representative / Committee Member YSJ
Florence Allaway presedent of Haringey trade council
Neil Moore Unite workplace rep Peterborough
Paul Couchman, branch secretary, Surrey County UNISON
Damian Cosgrove, Chair, Unite Not For Profit SE Region SE/6290
Ruairí Lewis, UNISON Local Government Branch, Senior Steward
Jane Fernandes Unite the Union London
Ben Radley, UCU Rep, University of Bath
PCS ARMS Treasurer SW
Dr. Alex Marshall, UCU Hallam Rep
Steve Wright – General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union
Bob Monks, General Secretary – United Road Transport Union
Caroline Clarke, Unite, Sheffield
Sarah Boden BVU Unite member Liverpool
Harriet Knafler, Prospect, South Yorkshire
Ellie Wood, Unite London & Eastern Disabled Members’ Committee and Vice Chair London & Eastern CYWNFP Regional Industrial Sector Committee
Sam Dennehy, Unite Member
Julen Puertas Baños, IWGB, Bromley
Candice George IWGB
Alan Burgess Chair Portsmouth and District Unite community
Rowena Fehilly PCS ARMS
Dave Vincent PCS ARMS
Cllr Cien Elan Butler, Billericay West – Unison Member
John Sweeney Unison London
D Fearn Unison West Midlands
Cathy Meadows UNITE Nottingham
Chris Jackson
Brian Birtwell PCS Lancashire
Elaine Fullaway, Unite, Secretry, Southampton
Holly Notcutt, unite, Great Yarmouth
Michael Lehane – NEU member, President Coventry & Warks BPTU&AA
Gareth Bromhall, Secretary – Swansea Trades Council, GMB Wales and South West Regional Council, TUC Cymru General Council
Teresa MacKay, Branch Secretary, Unite Retired Members National Committee
Anne Boden Work Place Representative Unite the Union
Lesley Pollock, TSSA, Chair, West of Scotland Branch 850
Jacob Goddard, Unite
Tony O’Hara, Unite Member, London
Declan Clune. Secretary Southampton & South West Hampshire Trades Union Council
Jan Underwood, retired, ex-UCU, secretary Arfon Access, Bangor
Mick Morgan Unite N/W community forum chair Lancashire
Jamie Johnson, member CAIWU
Lesley Jones, PCS, Emp Relations Representative, Devon
Jenifer Devlin Unite Community Leeds, Wakefield and York
Mary, Liverpool Unite Member
Caroline Martin UCU Manchester
Zoey Corker Welfare Officer Leeds UNISON
Ekua Bayunu Unite Community Manchester
IAN LOVEGROVE, UK CITIZEN
Stephanie Spierling ARMS member
Dot Tomkinson Disabled members officer Salford City Unison and Co Chair of the North West disabled members committee.
Nixon Tod, UNISON, ex chair National Further Education Committee, retired member, Manchester
Adam Harmsworth, Napo National Vice-Chair
Marcela Leite, Unison Hackney, Green Rep
Suzanna Hudson-Cooke, Chair, British Veterinary Union in Unite
Pete Keenlyside CWU National Honorary Member, Greater Manchester Branch
Sarah Woolley General Secretary BFAWU
Hannah Fyson, UNISON retired member, Manchester
Douglas Stephen Pearce, Usdaw Branch Chair A216 Weston-super-Mare
Colin Carter, RMT, LDC rep Bristol & Area H&S rep Bristol
Louise Branch UNISON, SW
Nathan Lee Davies, UNITE, Wrexham
Steve Gillan General Secretary POA
Helen Thornton, UNISON Steward, Bristol
Jenny Lennon-Wood, Secretary of Dorset Trades Union Council
Joyce Rutherford, Unite Community member
Dave Murphy, Unite Community Teesside and Durham Branch Chair
Nick Caines, UNISON, Branch Chair, North Somerset
Nicola Kingaby RCN
Michael Braithwaite – Unison Member – Weymouth.
Lee Norman, ASLEF Branch Secretary and H&S representative, Darlington
Trevor Saint, Unite Bournemouth branch
Leigh Hodgson, GMB, Gateshead
Alison Hann, UNISON, Bristol LG
Lady Walker. Retired RAF Squadron Leader. East Midlands
Zeal Machin, BFAWU, Branch 547, West Yorkshire, FTW Representative
David Bird
Richard Holland, Salford City Unison Steward
Secretary of Unite retirement branch. Dorset and Bournemouth.
Jane Haden – Treasurer of Unite Community South Devon Branch
Jane Nellist, President of Coventry TUC and member of NEU
Siobhan Strode, Unite Community, Devon
Paul Hunt, branch chair, Coventry City UNISON and delegate to Coventry TUC
Linda Gates, Unite Community member
Julian Wilson, PCS, MoJ Group EC, Chair, Royal Courts of Justice and First Avenue House Branch.
James Foster, Unite Community, Orpington
Phil Watts – Branch Secretary Unite Northants Retired Members
Andy Hunter-Rossall, BFAWU member
Carole Vallelly GMB member
Stephe Meloy – Musicians’ Union member
Dave Levy – GMB London Regional Council
Michael Torrens, Unite, Equalities and Communications Officer
Mark Colpus, UCU
Dave Ray, CWU, Industrial Relations Rep & Chair NE Political Committee, Nort East
Dave Gorton, Unite LE372 branch publicity officer
Fredy Velez – BFAWU Rep Suma Wholefoods Branch
Stephen Brown, GMB & MU
Anna – FDA, senior policy advisor in Civil Service and enhanced PIP recipent
Jackie Owen Unite Community, Equalities Officer NE Wales
Lucy Fyson GMB member
Alice Tibbs, CAC Portsmouth
Jackie Lederer, Unite Community, Portsmouth and District Branch, S E Region
Kathleen Sowden unite south devon
Christine Wilson Bristol Bath & Gloucester branch Unite Community
Felix Manocha-Seymour, NEU Portsmouth
Lynne Batty, NEU, Leeds
David Kersey – Communications Officer- Coventry City Council
Peter ROBERTS, NEU, Hampshire
Stephen Lennon-Patience Unite Health member Dorset
Ben Willis, USDAW,North Somerset
Catherine Crowther Unite Community Member
Willow Tyers, NEU, Southampton
Heather Juno Libertine Rennie, Prospect
Naomi Byron, UNISON, London
Teresa MacKay, LE/2116 Branch Secretary, NRMC
Sarah Sanford, Branch Equalities Officer Suffolk Unite Community & former Welfare Rights Adviser Ipswich TUC UWC
Rebecca Short: Equity Union Member, Portsmouth UK
Mehreen Begg NEU Executive London
Pete Bloomer, Unite Community, social media officer, Birmingham.
Joy Bazeley, Southsea, Unison
Ben Jackson OT & GMMH UNISON Branch Secretary
Andrew Thompson, Unite, former national convenor CGL, Birmingham
Tim Cutter Unite 524 branch
Bee Tidbury
Nancy Taaffe, Workplace rep,Unite
Alexandra Summerson, National Education Union, Northern Region Disabled Members Organising Forum Rep, NYH TUC Executive
Des Merritt, treasurer, UNISON.
Mélusine Lenoir, London, Equity Member
Pam Wortley – Unite
Bill Smith -Secretary of the Alice Arnold Unite Community Branch Coventry and Warwickshire
Wyn Turner, GMB member
Hayleigh Marks Talabis, FBU East Midlands Regions 6 Control Rep & Political Organiser, Northamptonshire Control Branch Secretary & Northamptonshire Fairness at Work Rep
John Whittall, Unite Retired Members, Northampton Branch.
Chairman: Respect for the Unemployed & Benefit Claimants
Sadia Mirza, Unite the Union, Equalities Representative
Holly Donovan, National Forum rep for the East Midlands, Unite Community
michael jewkes, equalities officer tom mann branch, disability officer North Warks and Bedworth labour clp,
Moe Muhsin Manir – Unite Activist London, Former Representative
Jeff aherne independant
Claire Newland, Suffolk, Unite member – disabled.
David Greenhalf
Sue sanders NEU
Councillor Andy Wilson Unite Community Branch Liverpool
Debby Monkhouse, Unite member
Matt Pinnell West Yorkshire BFAWU member
Joanne Shaftoe, CWU North East Regional Chairperson
Carol Duerden, Unite Community Bradford Branch.
Jean Crocker, Unite Community and UCU retired members, North East England
Cllr Paul R Kimber Labour — Dorset Council.
Ruth Pitman, Dorset
John Shortell, Head of EDI, Musicians’ Union
Charlotte Bjorndal, UNISON – Leeds
Peter Ashmore, Leeds, Unison. (only working due to PIP payments assisting me to get to work. I will lose these and employment if changes go ahead)
Richard Tulloch, Unison, Leeds
Emma Emmerson, Unison, Leeds
“Mark Taylor-Thomas
Unison member, Leeds Branch”
Donna Padget, unison, Leeds
Amy Smith, Leeds
Kathleen Walpole – Unison member – local authority worker and DLA claimant – Leeds
M Kerr, Unison Member, Leeds
Sue Taylor Unison Leeds
Laura Topping, Unison, Leeds
Kimberley White -Unison -Leeds
Eleanor Hastwell, Unison, Leeds
Joseph Babalola,union member,christian,Leeds
Kathryn Russell, Leeds, Unison Member
Angela Stocks Leeds
Uyi Dickson & Yorkshire – Humberside Region
Dwain reid union west yorkshire
Lee Paton, Leeds.
Lee Paton, Unison, Leeds.
Ruth Armitage, Unison member, Leeds Local Government
Shirley Norman UNISON Yorkshire and Humber Leeds
Phil Marsden,West Yorkshie Unison
Jordon newton leeds
Freddie Found, UNISON
Farzana Kauser unison member
Joanne, unison, leeds
Ali Phillips – Unison Member – Leeds
Charlie Lowe
Eugene Okwei. Unison. Leeds. West Yorkshire
Dave Roberts, Leeds Unison
Mr Raafat Musa / West Yorkshire-Leeds
Matthew Hawkins, Unison Rep for Leeds Federated Housing
Charles Aninaquah Boadi,Unison Leeds branch member
Tania Boulongne, Unison, Leeds
Dave Roberts, Leeds Unison
Carol Spivey Unison Member
Mariam Boadi Owusu, Unison Leeds branch member
Richard Thackwray unison
Cheryl Ferris Stewart Unison member
Krystie Harris-Winstanley, Unison, Leeds, Otley
Cristian Robu Unison Leeds
Elizabeth Morrison, UNISON member, Leeds
Claire Ray – Behaviour Support Worker – Unison member
Izabela Zolnowska, Unison, Nursery Assistant, Leeds
Olivia Carlton, UNISON
Aishah I, Rotherham, Unison member
Barry barker leeds
MR MOHAMMED ASIM HARAF
Steven Elbourne , Unison , Leeds
Elaine Francis-Truett, Unison, West Yorkshire
Sari Sohanpaul Unison Member Leeds
Alex Moore Presldent Plymouth NEU
Nick Redding, Unison, Shop Steward, Leeds
Stephen Linnecor, unison , Leeds.
Rachel O’Gorman, Unison, Leeds
Luke Glossop, Unison member, Leeds
Martin Forsyth Unison Manchester
Pauline Bailey Unison Chair retired members Leeds
Kaal Rosser, Unite Community, -, Plymouth
Janek Poklad-Retired Unison member and former Steward
Steve dobie unison Leeds
Theresa Falkingham, Unison, West Yorkshire
Jasper Shaw, UNISON member
Irene Oriakhi Osunde. Unison. Leeds
Lulu Spargo, Unison
Simon Beaumont, Unison member, Leeds
Hanna Ayisi, UNISON, Yorkshire and Humber, Leeds
N Hadi – Unison Leeds
Alison Greenwood – Unison – Steward – Leeds
Stephen parsons Leeds
Ciaran O’Se
John Whetton, Unison Member, Leeds
Lorraine Bull unison Leeds
Andrew Sutcliffe, Unison, steward, Yorkshire and Humber
Mehnaz Ali, NEU, Disabled Members Committee member, Rochdale
Richard Tindall, Unison, Leeds
Andy silverman Leeds unison
Sarah Nattrass, Unison member, Leeds
Ann McKelvey UNISON ULR Leeds
NEU Regional Council Member
Angela Marshall Leeds Unison
John Vasey
Raymond Hill, UNISON, Leeds
Martin Tolley Unite member
Elaine Summerscales Unison
lesley greenfield unison
Ganiyat Mosunmola Salami. Leeds
Stephen Taylor, Woodlesford, Leeds
Natasha Clarke, Leeds
Mercedes Potter Unison Leeds Children Social Care
Keisha King, Leeds
Aliya Vasylenko, Unison, Leeds
Kehinde Adewale, UNISON member, Leeds
Matthew Lishman, Unison, Leeds
Bernadette Bidmead Steward Unison ( FE)
Jennifer Fairley Unison member, West Yorkshire
Tim snell unison still working at 68 from Leeds
Samantha Gill unison
Victoria Thain ex social worker Leeds
Lisa Jowett Leeds Union
Lisa Birdsall, Ls14 2hz
Mark Greig : UNISON : Adult Social Care, Leeds.
Tom Baker, Unison, Leeds City Council
Emily uden, unison,leeds
Michelle green
Jacqueline Clifford, Unite
Morag Cumming, Unison
Cynthia Harding unison
Sarah Wilson, Unite Member
Mick Heath Bradford
Danielle Steel – Unison Member
Lindsey mara, unison, Mental Health Homeless Team, Leeds City Council
Gary Murphy Yorkshire and Humberside Member
Yvonne Elliott Unison. Leeds
Nigel Jones – Shop Steward UNISON LCC.
Steve Withers unison
Lynn Gunnigle Unite Community Member
Jason Knowles = Leeds Unison Steward – Leeds Adult Social Care – Social worker
Richard smith Unison Leeds
Ushirika Quashie. Unison. Leeds

Welsh MP, disability, and carers groups against cuts to disability benefits

All Posts, Benefits, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, PIP, Universal Credit, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Jun 192025

Below is an extract of a letter from Steve Witherden MP, which was co-signed and enthusiastically supported by unanimous democratic votes of Swansea and Cardiff & Valleys Disabled People Against Cuts groups, calling for the disability benefit cuts to be abandoned, and for disabled people to be involved in the reform of the welfare system.

Dear Secretary of State,

Impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper on Wales

The Pathways to Work Green Paper poses a significant threat to over 275,000 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and 110,000 Universal Credit (UC) recipients in Wales.

The proposals to tighten PIP eligibility and cut the UC health element will push thousands deeper into poverty. Wales will be hit particularly hard.

Policy in Practise’s latest report, The impact of disability benefit reforms in Wales, sees household incomes of an individual in Wales receiving both PIP and the UC Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element cut by 68% as a result of these reforms.

The knock-on effects will place additional strain on the public sector, including local authorities, health boards, and charitable organisations. The Welsh economy is consequently set to lose an estimated £470 million annually.

We therefore urge you to:

1. Abandon current plans to withdraw disability-related benefits.

2. Meaningfully involve disabled people in the design and delivery of any future reforms.

3. Provide transparency on how these changes will affect Wales and interact with devolved responsibilities.

4. Reform the system to support, not hinder, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.

The UK Government must safeguard the welfare state for those who need it most.

Without meaningful reform, these proposals will deepen hardship and entrench inequality in Wales.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Witherden MP
Disability Rights UK
Disability Wales
Coalition Against Benefit Cuts
Carers Wales
All Wales People First
Torfaen Access Forum
Disability Arts Cymru
Swansea DPAC
Cardiff & Valleys DPAC
Headway – the brain injury association

The letter on Facebook

The letter on X (Twitter)

An open letter to Lord Freud (and his coalition cronies)

Action, All Posts, Disability Rights 2 Responses »

Oct 312014

Apology notwithstanding, your recent comments vis-à-vis disabled people reveal that, apart from bigotry, yours and your cronies’ attitudes towards disabled people are – surprise, surprise – based on a one-size-fits all world view. To suggest that our labour is worth less than that of a non-disabled person is despicable in the extreme.

Anyone with an ethical or empathetic bone in their body would realise that – as with non-disabled people – we are, despite some similarities, individuals, with individual problems and needs. To illustrate this, allow me to compare myself and my oldest living friend who I met when we were both mature undergraduates (I was 40). We had both taken this path because we had no wish to be consigned to a life of workless, isolated poverty.

At that time, our impairments were ostensibly the same: spinal injuries and osteo-arthritis. However, the individual effects were markedly different which made us complementary, strangely enough. I am 6’ 4” and her head does not reach my chin. As law students, much of our time was spent in the library which alone would have been problematic as I could not reach lower shelves without a great deal of discomfort and difficulty, if at all. She on the other hand struggled to reach higher shelves that, even with her short stature, she would have reached without difficulty had she been non disabled. In addition, we both experienced problems with mobility and fatigue.

Since that time however, our paths, disability-wise, have diverged markedly as both our then-existing disabilities and newer medical problems have taken their toll. She now holds the post of Senior Lecturer, is obliged to arrive at work by 07.30 if she wants a suitable disabled parking space, and despite her physical/medical issues, more work than any two non disabled colleagues. She is often so fatigued when reaching home never less than twelve hours later, that she falls asleep over marking. To suggest that such a person is worth roughly half the salary of a non disabled person is both despicable and delusional.

I, on the other hand, after a brief teaching career during which, at times, I was performing almost the teaching of three full-time colleagues, became so ill that I could no longer work. After several years (while volunteering with a local C.A.B.) of steadily building myself back to the stage where I felt I may be able to take at least a part-time position, I was to undertake a Masters Degree, which took me an extra year due to a near death experience with pneumonia and pneumo-thorax. Since then, my general condition, while it could be defined as stable is by no means work-fit. I keep myself occupied by searching out relevant research resources. However, it is impossible to set deadlines as I cannot say from one day to the next what I would be capable of.

It is long past time when you and people like you realised that we are living on planet Earth in the 21st Century – not some esoteric alternative universe that only you and your cronies have access to where us plebs can be assumed to be clones of one another.

John

Open Letter in Response to Media Portrayal of Disabled Persons and Disability Benefit Claimants

Action, All Posts, disability hate crime, Disability Rights, media, Welfare reforms 4 Responses »

May 252012

Deadline for signatures: 30th May 5pm-releasing to press day after

Posted on Social Welfare Union

Dear Sir/Madam,

We the undersigned are deeply angered and concerned with the way sick and disabled people are being portrayed by the press and wider media as well as the distinct lack of fair and accurate reporting in relation to disability benefits.

The use of defamatory language is being used in a totally irresponsible and callous manner by a steadily increasing number of newspapers and other media providers.

We believe that the press and the wider media are blatantly using this language as a means of labelling all disabled benefit claimants as ‘cheats’ and ‘scroungers’, yet most are genuine sick and disabled people who are in many instances unable to work and are asking for only the very basic levels of support.

Such support is in no way over generous as some newspapers are claiming with administrative error and miscalculations at 0.5%. In fact disability benefits like Disability Living Allowance have some of the lowest levels of fraud of all forms of social security benefits and it is estimated that billions remain unclaimed in benefits every year. A significant fact that news provider’s and even the coalition government are neglecting to inform the public.

We also believe that whilst many claimants are now being found fit for work through the use of new assessment processes, most often the press and wider media are shirking in their responsibility to report from both sides and about the large number of sick and disabled people who are being wrongfully found fit for work and who are later having those decisions overturned in their favour by a social security tribunal. They also fail to report on people found ‘fit for work’ by Atos Healthcare, the private health firm contracted to carry out work capability assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. Those people then find that they cannot claim Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) because they are ‘unfit for work’ as deemed by the JSA qualifying criteria. These people often have to rely upon handouts and food parcels and become lost statistics unseen by the public.

The signatories of this letter are greatly concerned that the way the press and wider media are portraying sick and disabled people will continue to fuel a growing hatred and discrimination, adding to increasing reports of hate crime towards disabled people and the potential for suicides already being reported by some news providers.

Whilst we support the democratic idea of a free and open press we feel that they have a moral and social duty. We ask that they refrain from the use of language and/or defamatory terms which is fuelling the growing and unjust public hate and disdain of sick and disabled people and benefit claimants. We also ask that they honour and obligate to report all stories related to disability and disability benefits in a manner that best informs their readers and viewers which is balanced, accurate and fair.

To add your signatures go to: Social Welfare Union