Behind the headlines

By Douglas Alexander MP

Yesterday’s news was dominated by the farcical contortions of the Lib Dems on tuition fees but as ever with this government it is wise to keep an eye on what is going on behind the headlines.

Yesterday morning Iain Duncan Smith announced a consultation on his plan to leave 80,000 disabled people living in residential care up to £2,500 a year worse off.

Sadly it wont make the headlines. It represents a saving of less than 1% of the total planned welfare cuts, but it’s a textbook example of the sort of cruel and unfair cut that this coalition is inflicting on some of the most vulnerable people in Britain. And it is one that Labour will oppose strongly.

The government plan to cut the mobility element of the Disability Living Allowance for people living in care homes. This is an allowance – less than £50 a week – that people living in care homes can use to get around. People might choose to spend it on a taxi to be able to see their family or to get out to the shops.

Scope have called this cut “callous” and warned it will “increase dependency and mean many people will literally become prisoners in their own homes”. The UK Disabled People’s Council have warned that “disabled people will lose the spontaneity to travel and organise their lives”.

DLA is not means tested, it goes to everyone that is disabled in recognition of the fact that they have higher living and transport costs.

If you look at the way DLA works at present then you can see there are problems. For example, the application process for a new DLA claim isn’t one that many people think works well at present. So – as a responsible opposition should – we support the government in trying to reform it and introduce a new gateway to DLA.

But removing the mobility element for people living in care homes is not welfare reform. It’s a welfare cut – and one that owes more to the ambitions of George Osborne that Iain Duncan Smith.

Rest assured that Labour will be campaigning for the government to change its mind. But Labour councillors and activists can help to by encouraging those affected in their local community to respond to the consultation.

You can write or email your views to: DLA Reform Team, 1st Floor, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9HA or [email protected].

Help stop the government going ahead with this punitive measure that could leave people in residential care homes more isolated.