Labour are Balancing the Books on the Backs of the Vulnerable
With two Labour MPs representing Portsmouth in parliament, residents could be forgiven for thinking that they had at least one strong voice in Westminster - but almost a million disabled people and their carers are set to lose out on vital support as the Labour government looks to the most vulnerable in society to balance the books.
The government’s own report into the impact of their cuts celebrates slashing millions from disabled residents, a move we know will strip hundreds of thousands of people of their independence, their ability to work, and their dignity.
The Labour Party wants us to see them as the party of the NHS, but this government is continuing the Conservative’s record of forcing cuts on the most vulnerable in society; cutting support to the disabled while also starving the NHS and hospitals like Queen Alexandra of the funding they need.
Denise Perry, local health campaigner and former NHS manager
Lib Dem-led Portsmouth City Council is committed to supporting vulnerable residents, even when the government won’t. We're proud to offer an expanded service for the Disabled Person's Bus Pass, a disabled facilities grant to pay for essential home adaptations, and the city's unique Shared Lives scheme.
In the most recent census 19.2% of people in the city said they were disabled with 8.1% of people saying that disability limited their day to day activities a lot - both higher than the national average. More than 12,000 people in Portsmouth currently receive support from the government through Personal Independence Payments, with many of those now fearing the future of the services and support they rely on.
Alongside 800,000 disabled people, the government’s cruel cuts will take away support from 150,000 family carers who provide essential support to their loved ones, saving tax payers millions every year.
These cuts will be a double whammy to the most vulnerable, hitting disabled people who cannot work while slashing support for the loved ones who care for them. Carers need more support, not less. Snatching away the little support these carers get will do nothing to help people into work; it will just put more pressure on already over-stretched carers, social care and the NHS.
Ed Davey, Leader of the Lib Dems and family carer