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| 'I’m angry': voter confronts Theresa May over disability benefit cuts | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has been berated by a voter with a learning disability who has suffered cuts to her benefits, as the prime minister mingled with members of the public in Oxfordshire. | Theresa May has been berated by a voter with a learning disability who has suffered cuts to her benefits, as the prime minister mingled with members of the public in Oxfordshire. |
| The Conservative leader was tackled by Cathy Mohan in Abingdon market, who said she could not live on her remaining benefits of £100 a month after the replacement of the disability living allowance with the personal independence payment. | The Conservative leader was tackled by Cathy Mohan in Abingdon market, who said she could not live on her remaining benefits of £100 a month after the replacement of the disability living allowance with the personal independence payment. |
| May said her government had “a lot of plans for people with mental health [problems] in particular” but the voter continued to challenge her. | May said her government had “a lot of plans for people with mental health [problems] in particular” but the voter continued to challenge her. |
| “And learning disabilities, because I’ve got mild learning disabilities and I haven’t got a carer at the moment, and I’m angry. And I would like somebody to help me, because I can’t do everything I want to do. | “And learning disabilities, because I’ve got mild learning disabilities and I haven’t got a carer at the moment, and I’m angry. And I would like somebody to help me, because I can’t do everything I want to do. |
| “I’m talking about everybody, not just me. I’m talking about everybody who’s got mental health and learning disabilities. I want them not to have their money taken away from them and being crippled. | “I’m talking about everybody, not just me. I’m talking about everybody who’s got mental health and learning disabilities. I want them not to have their money taken away from them and being crippled. |
| “The fat cats keep all the money and us lot get nothing.” | “The fat cats keep all the money and us lot get nothing.” |
| May tried to interject but the voter continued: “Do you know what I want? I want my disability living allowance to come back. Not have PIPs and get nothing. I can’t live on £100 a month. They just took it all away from me.” | May tried to interject but the voter continued: “Do you know what I want? I want my disability living allowance to come back. Not have PIPs and get nothing. I can’t live on £100 a month. They just took it all away from me.” |
| Disability living allowance, which provided for the extra cost of coping with a disability, is being replaced by the personal independence payment but the criteria for receiving it have been tightened, leading to more than 160,000 vulnerable people being denied additional help. | Disability living allowance, which provided for the extra cost of coping with a disability, is being replaced by the personal independence payment but the criteria for receiving it have been tightened, leading to more than 160,000 vulnerable people being denied additional help. |
| May has been criticised for giving speeches and rallies to Conservative activists rather than the public, but has slightly changed tack in recent days, taking questions from voters on LBC radio and venturing on to the streets of Abingdon. She is also due to do a Facebook live event with ITV on Monday afternoon. | May has been criticised for giving speeches and rallies to Conservative activists rather than the public, but has slightly changed tack in recent days, taking questions from voters on LBC radio and venturing on to the streets of Abingdon. She is also due to do a Facebook live event with ITV on Monday afternoon. |
| It is understood the Conservatives changed their approach after finding that voters were raising the issue of May’s reluctance to engage with the public when activists spoke to them on the doorstep. | It is understood the Conservatives changed their approach after finding that voters were raising the issue of May’s reluctance to engage with the public when activists spoke to them on the doorstep. |
| Earlier, the prime minister unveiled plans to require companies to publish details of the gap between pay levels for staff of different ethnic backgrounds under proposals included in the Conservative manifesto. | Earlier, the prime minister unveiled plans to require companies to publish details of the gap between pay levels for staff of different ethnic backgrounds under proposals included in the Conservative manifesto. |
| She announced that new rules on gender pay gap reporting would be extended to cover ethnic minorities if she wins the election. | She announced that new rules on gender pay gap reporting would be extended to cover ethnic minorities if she wins the election. |
| It comes after Trades Union Congress (TUC) research suggesting ethnic minority workers educated to A-level earn 17% less than white colleagues, while the salaries of those with degrees are 10% lower. | It comes after Trades Union Congress (TUC) research suggesting ethnic minority workers educated to A-level earn 17% less than white colleagues, while the salaries of those with degrees are 10% lower. |
| The disparity was even greater for black university graduates, who earn 23% less than their white counterparts, while black people with A-levels were paid 14% less. | The disparity was even greater for black university graduates, who earn 23% less than their white counterparts, while black people with A-levels were paid 14% less. |
| It forms part of what the Conservatives claim will be a “new deal for workers” promising the greatest ever expansion of rights and protections – claims dismissed by Labour as nonsense. | It forms part of what the Conservatives claim will be a “new deal for workers” promising the greatest ever expansion of rights and protections – claims dismissed by Labour as nonsense. |
| May said: “The fact that different ethnic groups are being paid less for doing the same jobs is an injustice which cannot be allowed in 21st-century Britain. My plan will deliver a fairer deal for all workers, by extending rights and protections, guaranteeing rises in the national living wage and delivering a strong and stable economy. | May said: “The fact that different ethnic groups are being paid less for doing the same jobs is an injustice which cannot be allowed in 21st-century Britain. My plan will deliver a fairer deal for all workers, by extending rights and protections, guaranteeing rises in the national living wage and delivering a strong and stable economy. |
| “There is only one leader at this election who will put rights and opportunities for ordinary working families first.” | “There is only one leader at this election who will put rights and opportunities for ordinary working families first.” |