This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/28/occupy-westminster-disabled-people-against-cuts
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Westminster Abbey occupied in protest against cuts to disability care funding | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Demonstrators have set up a camp in the grounds of Westminster Abbey to protest against cuts to financial support for disabled people. | Demonstrators have set up a camp in the grounds of Westminster Abbey to protest against cuts to financial support for disabled people. |
| Members of disabled people against the cuts (Dpac) pitched tents and said they intended to occupy the green outside the doors of one of Westminster's most recognisable landmarks until 22 July. The protest is reminiscent of the occupation that sprang up at St Paul's Cathedral in 2011. | Members of disabled people against the cuts (Dpac) pitched tents and said they intended to occupy the green outside the doors of one of Westminster's most recognisable landmarks until 22 July. The protest is reminiscent of the occupation that sprang up at St Paul's Cathedral in 2011. |
| The Dean of Westminster is expected to negotiate with the protesters on Saturday evening, after they claimed he initially refused their request for permission to stay. | The Dean of Westminster is expected to negotiate with the protesters on Saturday evening, after they claimed he initially refused their request for permission to stay. |
| The group also sent a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, urging the church not to forcibly remove them from its grounds. Around 100 protesters began the demonstration, but a heavy police presence meant their number dwindled to around 50 people. | The group also sent a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, urging the church not to forcibly remove them from its grounds. Around 100 protesters began the demonstration, but a heavy police presence meant their number dwindled to around 50 people. |
| The Metropolitan police said that one person was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer as protesters sought to establish a camp and officers resolved to stop them. Police stood on top of tents in a bid to prevent the demonstrators from pitching them. Some protesters in wheelchairs locked themselves to fences at the site. | The Metropolitan police said that one person was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer as protesters sought to establish a camp and officers resolved to stop them. Police stood on top of tents in a bid to prevent the demonstrators from pitching them. Some protesters in wheelchairs locked themselves to fences at the site. |
| Disabled people occupy Westminster Abbey grounds in protest at Independent Living Fund closure #saveILF pic.twitter.com/qsUZpPes1j | Disabled people occupy Westminster Abbey grounds in protest at Independent Living Fund closure #saveILF pic.twitter.com/qsUZpPes1j |
| They were supported by Labour backbench MP John McDonnell, who said that the government's cuts to welfare were making people "desperate". | They were supported by Labour backbench MP John McDonnell, who said that the government's cuts to welfare were making people "desperate". |
| "We have had debate after debate in parliament. We have had 100,000 people sign a petition for another and the government refused," he said. | "We have had debate after debate in parliament. We have had 100,000 people sign a petition for another and the government refused," he said. |
| "Dpac took the government to court and won and yet, the government is going back to court to defeat them if they can. | "Dpac took the government to court and won and yet, the government is going back to court to defeat them if they can. |
| "So, people have got no other option but to take direct action to expose what is going on. That is what is happening here today. It is a peaceful demonstration and I wholeheartedly support it because people are desperate." | "So, people have got no other option but to take direct action to expose what is going on. That is what is happening here today. It is a peaceful demonstration and I wholeheartedly support it because people are desperate." |
| McDonnell said that abolishing the Independent Living Fund (ILF) would mean that many disabled people, who he said have "already suffered badly as a result of the cuts", would end up "trapped in their homes". | McDonnell said that abolishing the Independent Living Fund (ILF) would mean that many disabled people, who he said have "already suffered badly as a result of the cuts", would end up "trapped in their homes". |
| The ILF was set up to fund measures to allow disabled people to live at home, rather than in care. But the government plans to scrap it and put the money in the hands of local authorities instead. Minister for disabled people Mike Penning has reportedly admitted that he cannot guarantee that everyone who receives the money could maintain their independence under the new plans. | |
| In their letter the protesters wrote: "We feel we have no choice but to take direct action in the shadow of parliament because the situation in this country under the austerity programme has become impossible for many disabled people, their carers and non-disabled people to survive." | In their letter the protesters wrote: "We feel we have no choice but to take direct action in the shadow of parliament because the situation in this country under the austerity programme has become impossible for many disabled people, their carers and non-disabled people to survive." |
| ILF recipient Kevin Caulfield said: "Changes brought in by this government herald the end of independent living for disabled people and the return to a segregated society where disabled people are warehoused away. | ILF recipient Kevin Caulfield said: "Changes brought in by this government herald the end of independent living for disabled people and the return to a segregated society where disabled people are warehoused away. |
| "Ironically, at a time when the public is up in arms about abuse in care homes, current government policy will return disabled people to exactly those places where we are most at risk of abuse. | "Ironically, at a time when the public is up in arms about abuse in care homes, current government policy will return disabled people to exactly those places where we are most at risk of abuse. |
| "Disabled people fought hard over many years to fight our way out of the institutions to live and participate alongside our families and friends. We won't go back. We will fight back." | "Disabled people fought hard over many years to fight our way out of the institutions to live and participate alongside our families and friends. We won't go back. We will fight back." |
| A spokesman for Westminster Abbey did not respond to a request for comment. | A spokesman for Westminster Abbey did not respond to a request for comment. |