Agenda item

Government’s Support to People with Disabilities

It was moved by Councillor Robert Johnson, seconded by Councillor Tony Downing, that this Council:-

(a)       condemns the comments of Conservative Welfare Minister, Lord Freud, that people with disabilities are “not worth the minimum wage”;

(b)       condemns the Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP’s failure to sack Lord Freud, which shows his complete lack of leadership and unwillingness to protect the vulnerable in our society;

(c)        believes that Lord Freud’s actions are worse than his words, such as the closure of the Independent Living Fund, a lifeline for 18,000 people with disabilities;

(d)       believes the Government have failed disabled people, as shown in a report by the Centre for Welfare Reform which states that austerity and cuts are hitting disabled people nine times harder than other groups;

(e)       welcomes the Labour Party’s promise to abolish the “Bedroom Tax”, a policy which is a further example of this Government’s attack on people with disabilities; and

(f)        calls for the resignation of Lord Freud.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Joe Otten, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (b) to (f) and the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (d) as follows:-

(b)       notes that guidance from the Labour Government in 2003 analysed scenarios in which it may be possible to make payments below the minimum wage for work-like activity that may be considered beneficial to a disabled person;

(c)        notes that Lord Freud was also an adviser to former Prime Minister Tony Blair; and

(d)       believes all workers should be paid at least the minimum wage
without exception.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived. 

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)       condemns the comments of Conservative Welfare Minister, Lord Freud, that people with disabilities are “not worth the minimum wage”;

(b)       condemns the Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP’s failure to sack Lord Freud, which shows his complete lack of leadership and unwillingness to protect the vulnerable in our society;

(c)        believes that Lord Freud’s actions are worse than his words, such as the closure of the Independent Living Fund, a lifeline for 18,000 people with disabilities;

(d)       believes the Government have failed disabled people, as shown in a report by the Centre for Welfare Reform which states that austerity and cuts are hitting disabled people nine times harder than other groups;

(e)       welcomes the Labour Party’s promise to abolish the “Bedroom Tax”, a policy which is a further example of this Government’s attack on people with disabilities; and

(f)        calls for the resignation of Lord Freud.

(Notes: 1. Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Richard Shaw, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Penny Baker, Roger Davison, Diana Stimely, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Cliff Woodcraft, Ian Auckland, Steve Ayris, Denise Reaney, David Baker, Katie Condliffe and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraph (a) and against paragraphs (b) to (f) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.

2. Councillors Jillian Creasy, Robert Murphy, Sarah Jane Smalley and Brian Webster voted for paragraphs (c) to (e) and abstained on paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) of the Motion and asked for this to be recorded.)