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More than 76,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Department for Work and Pensions to look again at all cuts affecting sick and disabled people.

Led by comedian and campaigner Fracesca Martinez, the War On Welfare or WOW e-petition asks the government to carry out a Cumulative Impact Assessment looking at the overall effect of cuts to sick and disabled people, as well and their families and carers.

It also asks for MPs to be given a free vote on the repeal of the Welfare Reform Act.

The tens of thousands of campaigners are demanding an end to the Work Capability Assessment, and an independent inquiry into issues including charges for care homes, ATOS, and the closure of Remploy factories.

They also want to put a stop to "forced work under threat of sanctions for people on disability benefits".

In September 2005 former Tory deputy mayor Owen Lister sparked outrage by calling for disabled kids to be guillotined to avoid wasting cash on their care.

The retired GP Owen Lister made his sick suggestion to fellow councillors as they discussed sending the youngsters to a £3,000-a-week care home.

Mr Lister, 79, told them: "I would guillotine them."

Following his remarks he quit as deputy mayor but said at the time: "I indicated at that point that perhaps the guillotine might be better.

"These are children you can't educate. It's merely a matter of caring for them until they die.

"The only difference between a terminally ill patient and a severely handicapped child is time."

The councillor, of Swindon, Wiltshire, argued the funds should instead be used to cut NHS waiting lists.

The number of petition signatures currently stands at 76,447, with organisers aiming for 100,000 by December 12.

The news that the petition is gathering serious momentum comes the day after disabled campaigners won a High Court appeal against the Government's decision to close the Independent Living Fund.

People living with severe disabilities had told how the proposed cut had led some to consider taking their own lives.

After yesterday's decision, campaigner Mary Laver said: "I feel like an innocent person on Death Row who's had a stay of execution. But at least now I have hope."

But in a response from the Department of Work and Pensions to the e-petition, the Government said it was limited in what cumulative analysis it could do because of the complexity of the changes.

It said: "In addition, the Government's programme of welfare reform will not be fully implemented until 2017/2018 and many policy details are still to be worked through."

If the petition passes the 100,000 mark by the December deadline, it will be considered for debate by the backbench Business Committee.