“Let’s vow to stop such pernicious cuts and rewrite the story, with the voices, experiences and hope of disabled people.”
By Rachael Maskell MP
Everything is hard – in body or in mind.
The barriers, the pain, the dejection, the not being believed, and even when are, this prejudicial world makes assumptions for which only lived experience can speak.
The effort to live, or just get up or face the day; the effort to prove that your experiences are real. Then come the extra costs for keeping warm, equipment charged, carers and bills paid. It doesn’t stop.
And at last a Labour Government after 14 years of battling, that only hope of dignity, of compassion and understanding. Labour with its historic roots of protecting those in poverty, discriminated, vulnerable.
And here we are. Pathways to Work.
Taking money, agency, dignity, independence and the essence of life itself.
Once again crushed by a system which fails to see, believe, points the finger not offers the hand – turning hope into despair, as poverty, dependency and if not physical, most definitely psychological harm, await.
We are better than this.
Let’s vow to stop such pernicious cuts and rewrite the story, with the voices, experiences and hope of disabled people.
Let’s resolve how employer must hire and not fire, how talents are to be recognised and rewarded, and how if flexibility of task, time, place and tech, does not deliver, let us dignify with the financial safety net.
Work has its place, but without Charlie Mayfield’s diagnosis, understanding, evidence nor answers, Government must hit pause and really listen to those who live this life every day. And learn how dignity and independence can be restored – in work or not, or contributing by just being who they are each moment.
Labour were elected to mend the safety net, not cut it. To provide security with a change in culture, funding and care; the very purpose of Labour.
Every day I’m so grateful I don’t face the mountains others do, to live or to work. Acknowledging the absolute honour of paying taxes to support someone who doesn’t have such privilege.
It is the kind of society we should aspire to. Many could contribute more, so let us pay. Let it be Labour that restores dignity, kindness and hope.
I will vote against these proposals because I am Labour and disabled people matter.
Surely this should be our starting place.
- Rachael Maskell is the MP for York Central. You can follow Rachael on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.
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