Local MP Deidre Brock will today (Thursday) demand urgent action from the UK Government to tackle their ‘shameful’ failures on disabled rights.
Deidre has called a debate after the Chair of a UN Committee described their policies as creating ‘a human catastrophe’ for people with disabilities in the UK and failing to meet the obligations of the UN Convention they signed up to ten years ago.
The UN provided over 80 recommendations for improvements in a report last August but the UK Government failed to act.
The North and Leith MP said: “That a rich nation like this neglects its international obligations on disability rights is utterly appalling.
“The UK Government’s record on disability rights should shame any government – but not this one it seems. Their obsession with austerity is impoverishing people, stripping away their rights and their ability to live full, dignified and independent lives.
“It’s policy choices to pull support that makes people more vulnerable and more isolated, it’s not the normal state of affairs. Society is disabling people and it has to change.
“There is no sign of it ending yet though. Two of the three disability premiums that were in Employment Support Allowance are missing from Universal Credit so severely disabled people will lose £78.35 per week from their income – that’s about £340 per month. Research done by the Citizens Advice Bureau in East Lothian showed that disabled recipients of Universal Credit will lose up to one fifth of their income.
“The UK Government must now commit to getting round the table with disabled organisations. They must act to tackle their failures and to build the fair society that they seem intent on destroying.”
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