Vulnerable living in benefits fear - Meacher

MICHAEL Meacher has accused the Government of ignoring and burying the impact of the reforms on disabled people.

The Labour MP said the most vulnerable people in society are being targeted - and living in fear of their lifeline being cut.

The Oldham West and Royton MP,said think-tanks have suggested how much cash disabled people are set to lose and the Government should prepare its own impact-assessment on the changes.

In a Labour-led debate in Parliament on disability benefit changes, the Labour MP said he had been trying for five months to meet ministers to discuss the changes.

Mr Meacher said: “It would be a constructive engagement. We want to work with the Government to make things better, because we care about disabled people far more than we do about attacking the Government, though they deserve that we should.

“Given that the issue involves 1.5 million seriously disabled people, the reluctance of the Minister responsible and his procrastination for so long a period as five months, is utterly scandalous.”

Along with all the benefit cuts and changes affecting the disabled, Mr Meacher criticised the work capability assessments carried out by Atos. He said people making the judgements were not doctors and too many errors are made.

Mr Meacher said: “There is the belief that a test has been created for people to fail, no matter how sick they are.”

Appeal rates are high and a significant number are won, he added.