Full set of slides outlining unfairness of UK government's cuts, how they will impact on disabled people and what we should be arguing for instead.

2. Current events are
unprecedented.
Never in living memory
have we seen...

4. • Reductions in income for disabled
people and the poorest
• Deep cuts in public expenditure
• Cuts that target services for
disabled and older people
• Increased hate crime towards
poor and disabled people

5. So much has happened
so quickly
it’s hard to take it all in.

6. What are the facts?

7. 1. Cuts target disabled & poor

8. Not everything is being cut.

9. Some big growth and some big cuts
[Source: HM Treasury, 2010 October Spending Review]

10. Some big growth and some big cuts

12. Biggest growth is in central spending

14. Big cuts to benefits and social care

16. This means that by 2015
• Benefits - will be cut by £18 billion
• Local government in England - will
be cut by £11.3 billion
50% of local government spending
is on social care for disabled people.

17. This double-whammy,
cuts to benefit & social care,
means cuts are targeted.

18. [Source: Manifesto for a Fair Society]

19. • 58% of all cuts target disabled
people and people in poverty
• 36% of all cuts target disabled
people
• 24% of all cuts target those who
need social care - 1.9% of the
population
[Source: Manifesto for a Fair Society]

20. Or, put this another way:

23. Other groups will also be hit:
• People with mental health problems
• Families in poverty
• Women suffering domestic violence
• People not in work
• Refugees and asylum seekers

24. 2. Poor pay the most tax

25. This is family income after taxes:
[Source: Office of National Statistics]

26. This is family income after taxes:

29. This means:
poorest 10% of families
pay the most tax - 47%

30. There are many hidden taxes
that hit the poor hardest

31. Television Income Tax
Licences
Customs
Council Tax
Duties
Tobacco
Air Passenger Duty
Duty on
& Northern
Ireland Duty on
Employees' NI
Contributions
Rates Hydrocarbon Oils
Industrial Rates
VAT
Commercial &
Betting
Taxes
Insurance
Premium Tax
Excise Duty
Employers' NI Duty on
Vehicle
Camelot Duty on Wines &
Beer & Cider
Contributions
National
Spirits
Lottery
Stamp Duty on
Fund Social Care House
Charges Purchases

32. 3. Poor are very poor

33. This is family income after tax
[Source: Office of National Statistics]

34. This is family income after tax

37. After tax
Poorest 10% of families live
on £3,740 per year
That is £9.70 per day
Some live on even less

38. 4. U.K. is very unequal

39. Inequality causes social problems
[Source: The Spirit Level]

40. Inequality causes social problems

42. More
problems
High inequality means

43. The UK is 3rd most unequal
developed country
After the USA and Portugal
Growth in inequality is now
faster than USA

44. Greater inequality leads to
many social problems
Including:

46. • People dying earlier
• More infant deaths
• Higher obesity
• Reduced mental health
• More murders
• More people imprisoned
• Lower levels of education
• Lower levels of trust

47. 5. Poor commit least fraud

48. This picture represents the amount of
benefits and different kinds of fraud:
[Sources: Various - see Manifesto for a Fair Society]

49. This picture represents the amount of
benefits and different kinds of fraud:

52. Benefit fraud is very low
Tax Fraud is 15 times
greater than Benefit Fraud
Tax Avoidance is 70 times
greater than Benefit Fraud

53. How will cuts happen?

54. The cuts are hidden in a
series of measures which are
often called “reforms”
or they are hidden in other
technical changes.

56. • End of Disability Living Allowance
• Cuts in Housing Benefit
• Reductions in Access to Work
• Reduced eligibility for ESA
• Increasingly intrusive testing by ATOS
• Introduction of Universal Credit
• Benefits reindexed to increase poverty
• End of Independent Living Fund
• Increased eligibility for social care
• Increasing bureaucracy in social care
• Reducing budget levels in social care
• Return people to institutions and care homes
• Increasing social care charges
• Increased taxes, e.g. VAT, Council tax
• and many, many other measures

57. Why is this happening?

59. Possible explanations include:
• Prejudice against disabled people
• Fragmentation of disability groups
• Complexity of welfare system
• Ignorance about our welfare rights
• Pandering to key electoral groups

61. And all this has happened despite:
• Equalities & Rights legislation
• UN Convention on Disabled People
• Office of Disability Issues
• Disabled people in Parliament
• Personalisation & Direct Payments

62. All this happened despite
Government pledging to
make cuts fairly

64. Cuts are unfair in every sense of
the word
• Targets the most disadvantaged
• Makes society even more unequal
• Hits the groups that didn’t benefit
from nor cause the crisis

65. The current crisis
was not created by the poor,
it is the result of
an economic bubble.

66. This bubble benefited some:

67. This bubble benefited some:
• Bankers - with high salaries and
bonuses
• Home owners - with increased
house prices
• Investors - with high profits in
finance industry
• Politicians - with illusion of
booming economy

68. But none of this benefited:
•Disabled people
•People who rent
•People in poverty

69. What can we do?

71. What we need to do:
• Get organised
• Start to campaign
• Demand better & fairer

73. • Launched in February 2011
• Federal: Campaigns in England,
Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Over 1,500 individual members
• Over 200 organisations signed up
• Manifesto published March 2012

75. What is our vision?

76. Everyone is equal, no matter our age,
differences or disabilities.
A fair society sees each of us as a full
citizen - a unique person with a life of
our own.
A fair society supports everyone to live
a full life, with meaning and respect.

77. What do we want?

79. 1.Human rights - not just services
2.Clear entitlements - not confusion
3.Early support - not crisis
4.Equal access - not institutional care
5.Choice & control - not dependence
6.Fair incomes - not insecurity
7.Fair taxes - not injustice
8.Financial reform - sustainable

80. 1. Human rights
NOW
There are many services; but our legal
rights are far too weak.
INSTEAD
We should make sure we have enough, so
we can each be active citizens.

81. 2. Objective entitlement
NOW
The current system is confusing; you
don’t know where you stand.
INSTEAD
We should have clear entitlements; we
should know our rights & responsibilities.

82. 3. Early support
NOW
Individuals and families have to go into
crisis before they can get any help.
INSTEAD
We should help each other early, so that
we can keep individuals & families strong.

83. 4. Equal access
NOW
Too much money is spent on services that
cut people out of community.
INSTEAD
We should all be able to get fully involved
in our communities.

84. 5. Choice and control
NOW
Services sometimes take away basic
human freedoms.
INSTEAD
We should each have the right to control
our own support and direct our own life.

85. 6. Fair incomes
NOW
The benefit system is a confused mess
and poverty is growing worse.
INSTEAD
We should guarantee each other a
reasonable minimum income.

86. 7. Fair taxes
NOW
Many taxes - like social care charging - hit
the poor hardest.
INSTEAD
We should overhaul the tax system and
ban unfair taxes like charging.

87. 8. Sustainable reform
NOW
The economy & government are
enmeshed in debt.
INSTEAD
We must stop taking citizens, families,
communities & our ecology for granted.

88. Join the Campaign
www.campaignforafairsociety.org
#fairsociety
These slides are © Simon Duffy 2012 ￭ Publisher is The Centre
for Welfare Reform on behalf of the Campaign for a Fair
Society ￭ Slides can be distributed subject to conditions set
out at www.centreforwelfarereform.org ￭