next steps for the campaign. the emerging reality
TRANSCRIPT
Next Steps for the Campaign
The emerging reality
This is a pincer attack on the rights of disabled people. If we just focus on the 1.5 million people with the most significant disabilities - over the next four years they are likely to lose:
•£4.6 billion in social care support
•£4 billion in disability living allowance
•Termination of ILF
•Cuts to Supporting People
•Many further cuts in housing support
•Reductions to other benefits - especially for those not in work
So, more than £8 billion of the total £27 billion (>>25%) which government is saving from departmental budgets is being born by less than 3% of the population - those who are least able to bear these cuts.
• People with less severe, but still significant, disabilities
• People with mental health problems
• Women suffering domestic violence
• People not in work
• Refugees and asylum seekers
And many other cuts will continue to fall on:
and we are already the most centralised welfare state - and the 3rd most unequal society after USA and Portugal
• Bankers who benefited from bonuses
• Home owners who benefited from unsustainable house price increases
• Investors who benefited from unsustainable profits in finance industry
• Politicians who benefited from the illusion of a booming economy
An economic crisis caused by the bursting of a bubble created by...
Who did not benefit from the bubble? - the poor and disabled people
Protected CutPensions Disability benefits
Healthcare Social Care
Education Social Housing
£350 billion out of £500 £40 billion
Universal, mainstream, for ‘ordinary people like us’
Special, marginal, for ‘the poor & unfortunate’ or ‘scroungers’
Delivered by nationalised systems with high visibility
Delivered by complex and diffuse systems with low visibility
Not just cuts - but targeted cuts
• Weak entitlements - eligibility thresholds high and rising, housing rights weak, legal rights weak
• Super-taxation for disabled people - means-testing, charging
• Poverty traps - benefit systems that punish families, savers, earners and disabled people
• Weakened families - support focused on crises,family control undermined, families disrespected
• Imprisonment for many - up to 20,000 people with learning difficulties in prison
• Pre-birth and at-birth eugenics - 92% abortion rate for unborn children with Down’s syndrome (UK)
The cuts are just a symptom - there are long-standing problems to address
1. Do nothing - the cuts are inevitable - nothing can be done, we just have to cope the best we can - the world is simply unfair
2. Rely upon others - other people and organisations are already set up to campaign - we don’t need another campaign we’ve got nothing new to add
3. Just stay positive - there will be positive opportunities for change and reform in the cuts - this is really a good thing - it will help break the reliance on ‘services’
Perhaps we could
...or alternatively
• Clarify the values - define the beliefs that help us make progress
• Improve practice - innovate and reform using technologies that we know work
• Build bridges - connect with each other and with other groups for mutual support
• Advocate change - propose policy and legislation that supports progress
There are some opportunities, amidst the madness
This crisis is part of the third phase of de-institutionalisation
1. Closing institutions
2. Personalising services
3. Reforming welfare
To put people fully in control of their own lives...
....as equal citizens.
We didn’t expect this to be easy?
• Next steps for an ordinary life - new and old leaders met to reflect on the future for people with learning difficulties.
• Comprehensive Spending Review - individuals and organisations begin to realise what is going to happen.
• Something must be done - letter to be published in the Times - but to what purpose?
• Campaign is born - 1,000+ individuals sign up, plus many organisational members - initial structures developed...
• Scottish Campaign - major event and manifesto written
• Welsh Campaign - steering group formed 2 weeks ago
The story so far...
...lots achieved in 4 months
Everyone is equal, no matter their differences or disabilities. A fair society sees each of its members as a full citizen - a unique person with a life of their own. A fair society is organised to support everyone to live a full life, with meaning and respect.
Our Purpose
Scottish manifesto & Joint Human Rights Committee Submission
1.human rights: this means embracing the European Convention on Human Rights... a fundamental redesign of the obligations of government at every level to secure citizenship for all.
2.the right to support as an objective right established in law: this will remove the dependency of older and disabled people on ‘gifts’ from professionals...
3.provide families and individuals with early support: this will prevent crises, reduce the need for expensive interventions, and end the indignity of severe eligibility thresholds.
4.put people back in control of their own lives: this will enhance personal autonomy and dignity by restoring people’s right to control both their lives and any essential support that they need.
5.good housing: this will give people the right to live in their own accessible homes, with a choice of the full range of different types of tenure...
6.guaranteed minimum income free from means-testing: this will create the necessary incentives for people to work and make contributions to civic life...
7.end the current super-tax on older and disabled people levied through local authority charges: this will end the indignity of older people having to spend or give away all their savings...
1.Family - we give families the support they need to look after each other.
2.Citizenship - we are all of equal value and all have unique and positive contributions to make.
• Community - we root support and services in local communities.
• Connection - we all get chances to make friends and build relationships.
• Capacity - we help each other to be the best that we can be.
• Equality - we all share the same basic rights and entitlements.
• Control - we have the help we need to be in control of our own life and support.
Seven key principles...
• People with learning difficulties
• Older people
• Children and families
• Disabled people
• Mental health
• Women and children
• The poor
• Community sector
• Local government
The possible scope of the Campaign