Woman was talking to me about cuts to public transport and the bus services. Then it took another turn. She said, everything is about money. But she said there are some people the government are not cutting. I said really? Who’s that then?
She said well look at Disabled People no one is taking money from them and they are getting everything.
Well, that was like a red rag to a bull to me. I said Right, stop right there. I said for your information disabled people have been hit by the cuts to social care, community services and benefits 9 times more than any other group. I then said what’s this crap saying no one is taking money from them?
She said, there are many who are not genuine and no one checks them
I said stop right there, said for your reference benefit fraud is between 0.5-0.7% very very very low and the disability assessment tests are incredibly stringent and you have to supply medical evidence with your paperwork
She said oh I didn’t know that
I then said. Disabled people are going hungry facing destitution facing evictions being imprisoned at home due to lack of social care and community support.
I got. Oh
I said yes Oh. I said are you aware that disabled people are dying over the cuts, that they are taking their own lives due to them?
She said I don’t believe you.
So I got out my phone called up a few links and told her to read them
She took a few minutes to do so and handed the phone back silently.
I then said the UK government is guilty of grave and systematic human rights violations towards disabled people I said how does that make you feel?
She said OMG I had no idea.
I said do you read a newspaper?
She said yes the Sun
I said then you are aware that when that vile rag prints crap like what you spouted earlier on using the words not genuine scroungers etc that paper and others like it are responsible for a serious ramping up of hate crime towards disabled people and that some people have died as a direct result of hate crime fuelled by the rhetoric the media use because the government spread their message in the media and the public such as you buy into it.
Said how do you feel now?
She said am so sorry I had no idea. I am really sorry.
I said do me a favour
She said what’s that?
I said stop buying the Sun and spread the information to others on what I have just told you.
She nodded and said thank you for sharing that information with me.
She said I voted Tory at the last election. But after this conversation I certainly won’t be doing so again
She said I won’t be buying the Sun again either
Three passengers came up and shook my hand.
If I woke someone up to the harsh reality of what’s happening to disabled people. It’s one person who won’t vote Tory again.
Paula Peters
