Shadow minister outlines Labour's plans for social security
Liam Bryne, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, outlined Labour's plans to reform social security for disabled people and to promote a single assessment for all health and social needs, and universal disability insurance.
In response Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, said: “The Shadow Minister makes the simple, but crucial point that disabled people have a great contribution to make to British society.
“This underpins his proposal for a universal disability insurance.
“It's an exciting idea that would signal the end to the constant assessments that disabled people face, for welfare, for work and for care, which we know are flawed and unfair.
“It also links to a wider point. Many disabled people need benefits to do things that everyone else takes for granted.
“And that support should not be conditional on finding work, making a financial contribution or the state of the economy.
“It's about the kind of society we want to live.
“In 2013 disabled people should get the local care they need to get up, get dressed and get washed and live independently. They should be able to the pay the bills without turning to loans. They should not be worrying about attitudes getting worse. None of those things are a given right now.
“If we are going to make this a better place for disabled people, if we are serious about a Paralympics Legacy, we need to start looking at the big picture. It's great that Liam Byrne is moving Labour in this direction.”
