The Black Triangle campaign group found more than 80 cases since 2010 and believe even more will suffer and die if David Cameron wins the election
A huge number of disabled, sick and vulnerable people took their
lives due to savage Tory benefits cuts, campaigners have warned.
And they believe even more will suffer and die if David Cameron wins the election.
Research from the Black Triangle campaign group found more than 80 cases of suicide directly linked to billions of pounds in benefit cuts.
John McArdle, co-founder of Black Triangle, said: “The Dept of Work and Pensions refuses to reveal the findings of their own peer reviews of suicides linked to the sanctions so we will never know the truth in those cases.
“We are supposed to be living in a democratic society where Parliament hold the executive to account but even they cannot find out. It is scandalous.”
He said the Work Capability Assessment regime applied to all sick and disabled people, without adequate risk assessment 'built into the system'.
He added: “If it was a medical trial, it would have been abandoned long ago. So many have died as a direct result of the withdrawal of benefits, as confirmed by numerous coroner's inquests.
“There are so many which are not reported, and we believe that could run into many thousands.”
It remains British Medical Association policy that work capability should be scrapped.
Mr McArdle described the ConDem cuts as barbaric, and warned cuts to the Independent Living Fund in England this June would hit 14,000 of the 'Highest Need' disabled.
He said: “These are the very people the Coalition pledged to protect. Many will be forced back into institutions. It makes a mockery of the pretence – especially from the Lib Dems – that they cut the deficit fairly. It is truly despicable...
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And they believe even more will suffer and die if David Cameron wins the election.
Research from the Black Triangle campaign group found more than 80 cases of suicide directly linked to billions of pounds in benefit cuts.
John McArdle, co-founder of Black Triangle, said: “The Dept of Work and Pensions refuses to reveal the findings of their own peer reviews of suicides linked to the sanctions so we will never know the truth in those cases.
“We are supposed to be living in a democratic society where Parliament hold the executive to account but even they cannot find out. It is scandalous.”
He said the Work Capability Assessment regime applied to all sick and disabled people, without adequate risk assessment 'built into the system'.
He added: “If it was a medical trial, it would have been abandoned long ago. So many have died as a direct result of the withdrawal of benefits, as confirmed by numerous coroner's inquests.
“There are so many which are not reported, and we believe that could run into many thousands.”
It remains British Medical Association policy that work capability should be scrapped.
Mr McArdle described the ConDem cuts as barbaric, and warned cuts to the Independent Living Fund in England this June would hit 14,000 of the 'Highest Need' disabled.
He said: “These are the very people the Coalition pledged to protect. Many will be forced back into institutions. It makes a mockery of the pretence – especially from the Lib Dems – that they cut the deficit fairly. It is truly despicable...
Read more...