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The hardest hit - defending disabled people’s futures

Protestors marchingOver 5,000 people joined the Hardest Hit march on Westminster on 11th May, with some police estimates reaching 8,000. Disabled people, with friends, family and supporters, marched in protest of the disproportionate impact that cuts will have on those who are ill and disabled. Citizens Advice was proud to support the event, and as well as helping with stewarding, a delegation of people from the Citizens Advice service marched, placards in hand, to raise awareness of the impact of cuts on disabled people.

Listen to more about the day:

The day kicked off with some rousing speeches from speakers such as Liam Byrne – shadow work and pensions secretary, and Jane Asher, president of Arthritis Care, the National Autistic Society and Parkinson's UK. Jane told us that this was “largest rally of disabled people in living memory, and that's something to be proud of – at the same time, it is very sad that it has come to this." We also heard from disabled people including student, Gerry Hart, from the Darlington Association of Disability and Mark Smith from the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People.

Adrian Galvin, Citizens Advice interviewing a Rich Cottie, Gravesham CABThe march was loud and vocal as we went past Westminster, with people shouting chants such as ‘We won’t go away, give us back our DLA’. Placards and banners conveyed a whole range of messages, from a basic plea for respect - ‘I am not a scrounger’, to expressions of marginalisation – ‘Big Society? Let us in!’, and ‘Cut stigma, not benefits’. Our own placards shouted about the failures of the ESA work capability test: ‘The work capability test – it’s not working!’, and our concerns with planned welfare reform: ‘NO to an arbitrary cap on benefits’ –  messages based on evidence we’re receiving on a daily basis from CAB clients around the country.

Rich Cottee, social policy coordinator at Gravesham CAB, who joined us on the day, said: “I was proud to be part of this unique march , which has bought together people from all walks of life and with such diverse disabilities, along with their carers and support organisations to voice their anger at the proposed cuts to services and Welfare Reform. I am sure the news coverage of the event will fire passion in those unable to make it due to geographical, disability or cost issues, and more and more voices will demand to be heard by those in power.”

ProtestorsThis march is just part of our oncoming campaign and lobbying to mitigate the impact of welfare reform on disabled people. To find out more about our work, and how you can help, read our Fair Welfare campaign pages.

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