1/7 This morning I wrote to the individual who has the honour (he may consider it misfortune!) to be my MP, begging him not to support the proposed cuts to disability benefits. Here's what I said [with a few typos removed! No room to put in Alt text - DM me if needed]. 🧵
2/7 I began by recalling when I chaired the last Labour Govt's Disability Employment Advisory Committee when another 'Pathways to Work' was around, explaining why it & many other such progs don't work as expected, & why it's vital to see it from the employer's perspective. 
3/7 I agree the situation is unsustainable, that being the soaring rise in sickness & disability due to an NHS on its knees, failure to manage & learn from the pandemic & ongoing devastating health impacts. If you want to reduce the benefits bill, maybe invest in clean air!
4/7 PIP does need reform., e.g. to recognise the devastating functional limitations typical of Long Covid, ME/CFS, etc. Then there's the fact many sick/ disabled people already live in dire poverty. The UN has often condemned the UK's abysmal record on disabled people's rights.
5/7 I ended with the implications of denying choice, dignity & assistance to live while providing it to die. How cuts would not only be terrible for sick/ disabled people but for democracy, if Labour joins other parties in attacking us. I urged him- & urge all-to think carefully
6/7 I added a PS suggesting that to understand more about the multi-faceted onslaught against disabled people he consult the Disability News Service @johnpringdns : disabilitynewsservice.com
7/7 I don't know how it will go today but I am not hopeful the UK Govt will listen. Meanwhile the Tories sit back & watch them take the fall for policies they support & Reform rubs its hands in glee. What I do know is that the fight - for humane policy, for democracy - isn't over
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