Cuts are costing us our independence, disabled people in Newcastle tell Government

Over 200 disabled people, carers and disability campaigners gathered at Newcastle Civic Centre on Friday 1 June to discuss the impact of government cuts on disabled and older people. The conference comes after a march and rally last October which was the largest of a series across the country with over a 1000 people taking part.

The event, hosted by the Hardest Hit coalition of charities, trade unions and individual campaigners in the North East, saw senior politicians including Anne McGuire MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People and Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead join campaigners to discuss the impact that cuts and reform of the health and welfare systems have on people with disabilities. They heard first hand about how cuts nationally and locally were falling disproportionately on disabled people.

Steve Winyard, on behalf of the coalition nationally, outlined the current challenge of the proposed Personal Independence Payment regulations and the opportunities for people to make themselves heard and take action across the country this October.

One of the many disabled people to speak at the event Peter Bennetts, a person affected by sight loss from South Tyneside, said:

“Today has allowed me to speak up for other disabled people. I have spoken at the conference about the support I have had from my local MP on the government’s unfair rules around Personal Independence Payments, but also about someone who has experienced disability hate crime. Both need to be challenged.”

To read more about Peter’s story and the event read the following link to the Shields Gazette:
http://t.co/t7qNfTkV

Visit Hardest Hit on Facebook to share your photos from the day, or if you couldn’t make it read more about what happened on the day and watch the video of the day at this blog: http://www.katebelgrave.com/2012/06/hate-crime-hate-reporting-and-the-hardest-hit/

http://thehardesthit.wordpress.com/