Outline of unfair cuts and underlying reasons.

1. Dr Simon Duffy, London, June 2011

2. The emerging

3. 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%

4. And many other cuts will continue to
fall on:
• People with less
severe, but still
significant,
disabilities
• People with mental
health problems
• Women suffering
domestic violence
• People not in work
• Refugees and asylum centralised welfare
and we are already the most
seekers
state - and the 3rd most unequal society after USA
and Portugal

5. An economic crisis caused by the
bursting of a bubble created by...
• 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
Who did not benefit from the bubble?
- the poor and disabled people

6. Not just cuts - but targeted cuts
Protected Cut
Pensions Disability benefits
Healthcare Social Care
Education Social Housing
£350 billion out of £500 £40 billion
Special, marginal, for ‘the
Universal, mainstream, for ‘ordinary
poor & unfortunate’ or
people like us’
‘scroungers’
Delivered by complex and
Delivered by nationalised systems with
diffuse systems with low
high visibility
visibility

7. The cuts are just a symptom - there
are long-standing problems to
address
• 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

8. Perhaps we could
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’
...or alternatively

9. There are some opportunities,
amidst thethe values - define the
• Clarify madness
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

10. 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?

11. • Next steps for an ordinary life - new and old
The story so far... on the future for people with
leaders met to reflect
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
...lots achieved in 4
• Welsh Campaign - steering group formed 2 weeks
months
ago

12. Our Purpose
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.

13. Scottish manifesto & Joint Human Rights Committee
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...

14. Seven key principles...
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.
3.Community - we root support and services in local
communities.
4.Connection - we all get chances to make friends and
build relationships.
5.Capacity - we help each other to be the best that we
can be.
6.Equality - we all share the same basic rights and
entitlements.

15. The possible scope of the
Campaign
• People with learning difficulties
• Older people
• Children and families
• Disabled people
• Mental health
• Women and children
• The poor
• Community sector
• Local government