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| Police clash with disabled protesters as they try to storm House of Commons chamber during Prime Minister's Questions | Police clash with disabled protesters as they try to storm House of Commons chamber during Prime Minister's Questions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police have clashed with angry disabled protesters inside the Houses of Parliament after they tried to force their way into Prime Minister's Questions. | Police have clashed with angry disabled protesters inside the Houses of Parliament after they tried to force their way into Prime Minister's Questions. |
| Witnesses said one police officer "punched" one of the wheelchair user's personal carers, while another onlooker said an officer restrained a woman by applying pressure to her neck. | Witnesses said one police officer "punched" one of the wheelchair user's personal carers, while another onlooker said an officer restrained a woman by applying pressure to her neck. |
| Around 30 police officers formed a human wall as a group of around 12 wheelchair users and their carers pushed their way towards the House of Commons chamber, where MPs were grilling David Cameron over the government's plans to cut £12bn from the welfare budget. | Around 30 police officers formed a human wall as a group of around 12 wheelchair users and their carers pushed their way towards the House of Commons chamber, where MPs were grilling David Cameron over the government's plans to cut £12bn from the welfare budget. |
| pic.twitter.com/7kzdXPZhaz | pic.twitter.com/7kzdXPZhaz |
| Jamie McCormick, a member of the Disabled People against Cuts (DPAC) group, told The Independent: "The heavy-handed response from the police was out of order. | |
| Protesters were from a group called Disabled People Against Cuts "They physically man-handled a female PA (personal assistant) by restraining both arms back and elevating her neck back, which for someone with a neck injury, can paralyse you. They were trying to subdue her but she's a slimly built woman being held by two burly cops. Another officer punched a PA." | Protesters were from a group called Disabled People Against Cuts "They physically man-handled a female PA (personal assistant) by restraining both arms back and elevating her neck back, which for someone with a neck injury, can paralyse you. They were trying to subdue her but she's a slimly built woman being held by two burly cops. Another officer punched a PA." |
| Protesters disrupted a session of Prime Minister's Questions | Protesters disrupted a session of Prime Minister's Questions |
| Mr McCormick, who is deaf and physically impaired, added: "Where is the Paralympic legacy we were promised? Is this it? Being beaten up in the House of Commons?" | Mr McCormick, who is deaf and physically impaired, added: "Where is the Paralympic legacy we were promised? Is this it? Being beaten up in the House of Commons?" |
| However George Freeman, the government's Life Sciences minister, condemned the violence, saying the protesters did their cause no good by rushing towards the chamber. | |
| Disability rights campaigners dont help their cause +let down disability campaign w violence +public disorder. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/3ZmU5JrX2w | |
| Police are yet to comment on the clashes. | Police are yet to comment on the clashes. |