John Pring, the editor and founder of Disability News Service, recently released his book The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence, detailing the DWP’s role in hundreds of Disabled people’s deaths at the hands of benefit sanctions and cuts. Yesterday, Disabled activists, bereaved family members, and Disabled Peoples’ Organisations (DPOs) including DPAC, Black Triangle, Inclusion London and Disability Rights UK, attended Portcullis House, the offices of MPs next to Parliament Square. The aim was to deliver a copy of the book to each of the 650 MPs, which was purchased through a crowdfunder. The fundraiser was so successful that, instead of the initial aim of delivering a copy to every Labour MP, activists were able to buy books for every single Member of Parliament.
The day began outside Caxton House, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)’s offices. A crowd of Disabled people all dressed in black rushed around the pavement, unboxing and loading the books into DPAC branded tote bags, Sainsbury’s Bag for Lifes and our backpacks. Each book was covered in a black envelope with a different MP’s office address on it. They then lugged the books through central London, reaching Parliament square and eventually Portcullis House. Standing outside, semi-drenched, it became apparent they were not going to be let in.
This was despite a pre-arrangement both with the postal service inside, and the building’s security. There had been written confirmation we would be allowed to attend, especially considering there was due to be a meeting in the afternoon with MPs with a focus on the impact of social security cuts and the violent impact of the DWP austerity reforms we have seen over the past decade.
Instead, they were refused entry and told they’d have to post the books individually through the postal service, which would cost an additional few thousand pounds. Where they thought a group of Disabled people protesting the impoverishing rates of disability benefits would muster up that additional sum, we do not know. Following this refusal from security, Disabled people did what we do best: cause as must disruption as possible until our rights and justice is secured. A sit-in was declared, with entrance doors being blocked by stacks of books, wheelchairs and even a pram. Everyone began to chant ‘No More Benefit Deaths’ - for too long, the suffering of Disabled people has been hidden on the margins of society, and we refused to let that day be another example of this.
Shortly after, the police arrived, with the standoff continuing as a couple of MPs and their staffers - Nadia Whittome and Chris McDonald - came down to see what exactly was going on. The standoff continued outside until Parliament arranged for a van to collect the books with a promise to deliver them to the designated MPs following a scanning by the Commons security centre.
However, the pre-planned meeting to discuss in further detail the evidence in Pring’s book, and the role of the DWP in Disabled people’s deaths, was cancelled. Bereaved family members had travelled from as far as Stockton to have their voices heard and yet they were turned away at the door by the Parliamentary institution.
Coronation Street actor and activist Cherylee Houston told the Canary website: “I’m astounded that something that has been prearranged with security to deliver John Pring’s book, yet now we’re sat outside Portcullis House being refused entrance.
We’re trying to have a dialogue with the government about the devastating and life-threatening impact further cuts will have on Disabled people. And they’re not even letting Disabled people into a building that had been prearranged.”
Speaking from outside Portcullis House yesterday, Róisín from DR UK said: “What is a better example of Disabled people’s treatment in this country than having a pre-arranged and agreed event, only to be turned away at the door? Bereaved family members promised an audience with MPs today were left sitting on the cold, concrete steps outside Portcullis House. Imagine the sheer indifference and audacity of a Governmental department - treating with contempt family members mourning loved ones who died at the hands of DWP policies.
At the heart of Government, Disabled people were shown how disposable we are – how much worse is it for us when we are on our own, when there are no cameras, when we don’t have the collective power to host a sit-in, when the inaccessibility of homes, transport, education, healthcare, renders us utterly powerless?
Solidarity with all the activists and family members who showed up today, did not back down and instead proved that when we stand together, our collective power can shake the centre of Governmental institutions.’
John Pring’s book can be purchased from the Pluto Press website.