UK’s revised financial plans disregards disabled, says charity

Jeremy Hunt’s decision to cut spending and taxes to plug the government’s financial black hole fails to consider people with a disability who are unable to afford essentials. 

The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jermey Hunt, settled bond markets on Monday without achieving a meaningful fall in government borrowing rates after reversing on nearly all his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng’s planned tax cuts.  

Mr Hunt announced he plans to keep only the cancellation of the social care levy, the cut to stamp duty and the 1.25pc cut to national insurance next month from the previous ‘mini-budget’.  

However, campaigners have said Mr Hunt has failed to mention any support that will be available for vulnerable people that are struggling to afford food and medicine.  

Anastasia Berry, Policy Manager at the MS Society, which funds research into Multiple Sclerosis, said: ‘The statement from the new Chancellor aims at reassuring markets and upholding stability, yet he seems to have little interest in extending this reassurance to disabled people who cannot afford essentials like food and medicine.   

‘People with MS are being hit especially hard by the cost-of-living crisis, already faced with crushing energy costs, such as charging vital medical equipment or keeping the heating on more to help maintain circulation.

‘Now many are fearing a devastating real-terms benefits cut. To bring people with MS back from breaking point, the government must commit to raising benefits in line with inflation and urgently provide targeted financial support in the form of a cost-of-living package.’

Other charities including Harry’s Pals Trust (HPT) have also spoken about how families who have disabled children have been overlooked during the cost-of-living crisis. 

Launched in 2022, Hayley Charlesworth set up HPT to connect with other families who are bringing up disabled children.

Ms Charlesworth spoke to ITV about her son Harry who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and said the government hasn’t taken into account the struggles families like hers are facing during this difficult financial period. 

‘I think people’s emotional health is very fragile as it is, and being a carer is very difficult already, and impacts on people in terms of anxiety and depression,’ Ms Charlesworth said. ‘So to have gone through that, got through the pandemic, and now the concern over being able to afford your electricity and your gas and just to be able to stay in your own home is a massive worry.’

Additionally, Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of campaign group National Energy Action has drawn attention to how spending cuts will affect households on low incomes: ‘In seeking the confidence of markets, the government has created huge uncertainty for households.

‘Who will still get support? Will it include vulnerable households not on welfare benefits? Will that support be deeper for those in greatest need? What do they mean by incentivising energy efficiency?

‘Households on the lowest incomes are already rationing their energy usage to dangerous levels – £2,500 is beyond their means. Many vulnerable people were holding on by their fingertips.’ 

Photo by Jon Tyson