Most people agree that the true sign of a modern and civilized society can be seen in the way that it treats those that are “weakest”. Social welfare, even in times of austerity, should ensure that the “weakest” do not slip through the net.
For disabled people, the holes in the net have just got bigger: First, local council budgets have been cut by a quarter. This will leave essential care services for disabled people under threat. Second, the Disability Living Allowance mobility component for people in residential care has been removed. Third, the Employment and Support Allowance that helps disabled people get and retain work will be limited to the first year for most.
I genuinely thought that, because disability had touched David Cameron’s life so palpably, there would have been broadly more positive treatment for disabled people from this coalition Government, given the increased empathy that Cameron must have.
I made up a story that “if his Dad Ian had been in a care home and needed the finance for his scooter in order to attend his daughter’s wedding, the PM would never allow the benefit that his Dad might rely on to meet the monthly repayments on his scooter to be cut.”
This led me on to wonder “if Dave’s son Ivan had lived to working age and his disability had stabilised so that occasionally he could work, Cameron wouldn’t let the one benefit that might enable his son to work periodically to disappear.”
I was wrong. Increased empathy doesn’t seem to be enough on its own.
It seems that politicians feel that the need to court public opinion is always paramount. They know that the majority view is that looking after number one should come first. The welfare of those who need more assistance comes second for most.
This being the case, if we are to close up the holes in the net, it is public attitudes (that the Government mirrors rather than leads) that need to change before anything else will.
