by Party consensus

written by Abi Broomfield & John Urquhart

The Parliament Petitions Committee recently approved the petition "Protect Disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits" which was created by our party member Abi Broomfield.

This petition is calling for an immediate halt in the proposed cuts and reforms to disability benefits. It also calls for the protection of income for those who are unable to work and for an increase in Disability benefits to close the gap between benefits and the extra costs associated with being Disabled.

Harmony notes our complete solidarity both with this petition and with the disabled community in general.

We were founded by disabled people and we do not forget our roots - not least since we remain a majority disabled party.

We also of course stress that our policy base could solve many of the problems Labour are facing.

A properly funded National Care Service - funded by the State but steered by public assemblies - would be a gamechanger for many disabled people.

A universal basic income to replace universal credit, in tandem with the National Care Service, would also hugely increase flexibility for members of disabled households to have the space to seek education before finding work.

And, of course, disabled people should lead on disabled policy.

A national disability assembly on policy - publicly accessible to all disabled people who want a say on policy - should set the gold standard for the State to follow.

Nothing should ever be decided about us without us.