Politics

Labour has launched its manifesto with and for disabled people.

The manifesto was produced following Labour’s Disability Equality Roadshow, involving extensive consultation with disabled people and their carers across the country.

Over the last seven years, disabled people – including people with physical or mental impairments and long-term health conditions – have borne the brunt of the Conservatives cuts, which has seen the number of disabled people living in poverty rise to 4.2 million.

Labour will reverse the cuts to disability support, transform our social security system from one that demonises disabled people to one that is supportive and enabling, scrap the punitive sanctions regime and replace ineffective, degrading assessments. The manifesto sets out Labour’s plan to tackle the barriers facing disabled people and to build a society in which everyone has the same opportunities and choices.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, said:

“Last night at the BBC Question Time Leaders’ Special, an audience member gave a harrowing account of her traumatic and degrading experience undergoing the Work Capability Assessment. Like many others, I was incredibly moved by the film I, Daniel Blake, which tells the story of those who have been demonised and dehumanised by the Conservative’s devastating cuts and a social security system which punishes, rather than supports, disabled people.

“Labour will ensure that disabled people and people with mental health conditions have access to the support they need and will work with disabled people to build an inclusive society, where no one is held back from fulfilling their potential and realising their aspirations.”

Launching the manifesto in Manchester today, Debbie Abrahams, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:

“We are proud of the manifesto that we have developed with, and for, disabled people. For seven long years, disabled people have borne the brunt of the Conservatives’ austerity cuts and been pushed further into poverty. Our comprehensive and costed policies set out in this manifesto, will ensure that disabled people are properly supported to live full and independent lives.

“Enough is enough, only a Labour government, offering a real alternative, will work in partnership with disabled people to ensure no one in our society is held back.”

Notes to editors:

Please find a link to our disability manifesto here: http://www.labour.org.uk/page/-/manifesto-for-disabled-people.PDF

The Conservatives election campaign is in chaos as the extent of their millionaire-backing is revealed, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn says today.

In the latest in a string of errors and about-turns, Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon’s pledge that people would pay no more tax under the Tories was immediately contradicted by Theresa May, who refused to rule out a tax hike on working people, through rises in income tax or higher National Insurance contributions.

The Tories were already reeling from the chaos and confusion over their plans for social care and where they would set the cap they originally said they had rejected, and were forced to withdraw their school breakfasts policy after it was exposed they had only set aside 6.8p per meal.

The threat of further Tory tax rises on working people comes as it was revealed just 49 individuals have donated more than a third of all Tory party funding since Theresa May became Prime Minister.

In contrast, Labour’s manifesto clearly commits to no income tax, National Insurance or VAT rises for 95 per cent of taxpayers, with big businesses and those paid more than £80,000 a year asked to pay a bit more to reverse years of underinvestment in our NHS, schools and other public services.

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Leader, said:

“First social care and school breakfasts, now the Tories are in chaos over their tax plans for the super-rich, as it is revealed they are entirely dependent on them for their funding. While Michael Fallon claims there will be no tax rises, Theresa May refuses to rule them out. You can’t trust a word the Tories say.

“Labour is the low tax party for the many while the Conservatives are the low tax party for the few. We won’t raise taxes for 95 per cent of taxpayers but will ask high earners and big businesses to pay a little more so we can give nurses and other public servants a pay rise, and invest in the public services we all rely on.”

Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s Joint National Campaign Co-ordinator, said:

“The Tories are bankrolled by millionaire bankers, tycoons and hedge fund bosses – the very people they’ve given tax breaks to while everyone else pays more. In contrast, Labour is funded by thousands and thousands of people making small donations because they want a better society for everyone.

“Labour’s plans are fully costed and fully set out in our manifesto for everyone to see. The only numbers in the Tory manifesto are the page numbers. The wheels are coming of the Conservatives’ election campaign, with Theresa May hiding from the public, refusing to debate Jeremy Corbyn, and backsliding on social care, NHS and schools funding, and now their tax plans.”