A COALITION of activists will stage an event in Parliament Square in London on Thursday to demand that the new government take the concerns and struggles of disabled people seriously. 

Groups attending include Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Recovery In The Bin, and the Bromley & Croydon Unite Community. It will begin at midday, and include a programme of speeches, music and theatre.

A DPAC spokesperson said the new government seems to already be “picking up where the last one left,” pointing out that the minister for disabled people has been shelved and lumped in with the minister for social security, reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

They added that they have ideas and solutions to a lot of the crises disabled people face “but it seems like we’re going to be excluded again, and we have to work twice as hard and build campaigns that push this government right to the edge to make sure that we are central in any decision-making.”

Among the demands is that the new government “triple lock” annual benefit rate increases, introduce a requirement for all new build homes to be accessible, and a legal right to independent living with an national independent living service. 

Fazilet Hadi, Head of Policy at Disability Rights UK said “We fully support the action DPAC is taking to celebrate the lives of Disabled people and to call for action from the new UK government, to remove systemic barriers and provide Disabled people with the support we need to live full and equal lives.

“We need the UK government to show early commitment to engaging with Disabled people, funding the support and services we need and taking radical measures to transform our life chances.”