THE next Labour government should legally enshrine the right to independent living and set up a national system to help disabled people, trade unionists said yesterday.

Delegates at the TUC Congress in Brighton voted to call on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to establish a national independent living support service to give disabled people more flexibility, independence and control over their lives.

The motion said a Labour government should pass legislation recognising the universal right to independent living and politicians should work with disabled people in local communities to establish such a service.

The service would be free at the point of need, managed by central government and funded through direct taxation.

Unite delegate Sean McGovern said: “Disabled people are being hit by the perfect storm of collapse and chaos at the moment and the chaos in the care sector.

“This sort of government service could help end the marketisation over the lives of many disabled people.”