A VIGIL was held outside the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday in protest against disability minister Mark Harper’s insistence on scrapping the Independent Living Fund (ILF).

Over 70 people assembled outside the Central London court to demand the financial support is kept intact and is a violation of human rights legislation. 

Inside, three disabled men — Stuart Bracking, Gabriel Pepper and John Aspinall — fought their case against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) member Linda Burnip told the Star: “We are here today to support the people taking the court case to trial.”

Last year, a court of appeal overturned the DWP’s decision to eliminate the fund as it breached the Equality Act.

Article 19 of the Act supports the right of disabled people to “living independently and being included in the community,” as well as to “live in the community; with the support they need and can make choices like other people do.”

Activists argue the ILF allows disabled people to live independently, helping them perform daily tasks including going to work.  

Yet the government was allowed to re-evaluate the decision by doing some further research into the effects the cut would have on those affected by it. 

By March this year the Tories were pushing for closure once more. 

“Regardless of the outcome of the court case we are not going to stop fighting for the right to an independent living,” said Ms Burnip. 

“And if we don’t win, we’ll still be there on the streets and anywhere else we can be fighting to save it.”

The hearing is expected to end today.