45 Shares 0



45

0







Edinburgh commemorated victims of Tory government’s welfare cuts on 3 December outside Edinburgh’s St Giles Cathedral and Edinburgh City Chambers. The gatherers remembered the dozens of people who have committed suicide or died of neglect as a result of the cuts in social services.

The Scottish disability campaign group Black Triangle hosted the event to mark the lives and deaths of the victims, in conjunction with Scotland’s Disability History Month which continues until 22 December.

Writing for the Disability News Service on Black Triangle’s website, John Pring recounts David Cameron’s response to a UN inquiry into violations by the UK of its disability convention. Pring writes “Among the issues being raised during the inquiry – which is being carried out under conditions of strict confidentiality – are believed to be the government’s decision to close the Independent Living Fund; cuts to legal aid; benefit cuts and sanctions, including the impact of the work capability assessment (WCA); the severe shortage of accessible, affordable housing; the impact of the bedroom tax on disabled people; cuts to social care; and the rise in disability hate crime.”

Michael O’Sullivan from London was one of the remembered at the vigil, as he killed himself after mistakenly being found able to work by the DWP. The work capability assessment has suffered as a result of cuts and likely lead to O’Sullivan’s death.

The National reports “Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that during the period December 2011 to February 2014, 2,380 people died after their claim for employment and support allowance ended because a work capability assessment found they were found fit for work.”

A eulogy on the Black Triangle website reads “They shall be remembered forevermore...Avenge the dead. Resuscitate the living. We must fight on for freedom from Westminster’s murderous policies and support the struggle of all Britain’s sick and/or disabled people simultaneously.”

The co-founder of Black Triangle John McArdle explained the vigil’s mission. “The Black Triangle, Disability History Scotland and many disabled people were gathering to commemorate the people who have lost their lives through welfare reform.”

He continued by vowing not to give up in the fight against major cuts and continued campaigning for justice for the dead.

One of the most controversial changes to the UK’s welfare policy has been the reduction in the welfare cap from 26,000 pounds to 23,000 pounds, despite blunt warnings by the charity Save the Children saying 345,000 children would be pushed into poverty.

The state also cut housing assistance entirely for anyone under 21 years of age, effectively taking away any options for minors and 18-21-year-olds whose household’s are unsafe.