Disabled People Against Cuts Exeter

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

On Wednesday 9th July, MPs will be voting to cut Universal Credit Health benefits in half for people medically assessed as unfit to work.

1 in 3 people become disabled in their lifetime. This is your future on the line. Please contact your MP before the final vote in Parliament this Wednesday asking them to vote AGAINST the bill.

DO NOT EDIT THIS DOCUMENT DIRECTLY! How to use this document: Copy and paste the text below into a new document. Then input your info into the below fields. You can send the entire email, or you can pull out the points you think are most important. You can also add additional points, or send on...

08/07/2025

Did you take part in our thunderclap today? Sound off below! ⚡

07/07/2025

Vital announcement! We are inviting you to a thunderclap! We need as many people as possible to send these emails to your MP, tomorrow, Tuesday 9am, when your MP Is most likely going over correspondence as they start their day! You can schedule send emails ahead of time on most email providers — and I highly recommend doing this if you can. Together, let's remind our MPs that they work for us not against us.

05/07/2025

At our protest this Tuesday in Exeter, we decided to hold our own public consultation on the cuts and invited the public to write their statements to Starmer. From just the local region we have collected 22 different opinions! The government's official consultation for the entire South West region only invited 20 people to an inaccessible location in Plymouth — of which only 10 of the participants were able to attend. It's about time we held them accountable. Stay tuned for our next action ahead of the third reading, we will need your help!

01/07/2025

ITV Westcountry will be present from the start of the protest today, so please bare that in mind and proceed accordingly. We will ask the team to blur faces and mobility aids for anyone who hasn't given explicit consent for being on camera, but cannot guarantee that this will be respected - if you are especially concerned about protecting your identity please consider arriving later, or supporting us remotely.

30/06/2025

"A new reasoned amendment designed to bring down the bill is thought to be backed by about 35 Labour rebels, though organisers suggested more planned to add their names. Including MPs from other parties, the amendment has 62 backers.

Rachael Maskell, one of the most vocal critics of the welfare plans, said more were expected to add their names to the amendment, though 83 Labour MPs would be needed to defeat the government majority. The amendment raises new concerns about the changes and has been backed by 138 disability groups."

Very proud to have helped facilitate this!

No 10 spokesperson says estimates in impact assessment written after changes to original bill ‘subject to uncertainty’

30/06/2025

A few important reminders ahead of tomorrow's protest:

It's due to be very hot—we are in a heatwave, please stay hydrated, wear loose clothing, cover identifiable marks like tattoos where possible, wear sun lotion with a minimum SPF30+ and consider 50+ for children, if you are very pale or chronically ill.

Please mask up if you can to protect yourself and others. COVID and viral illness are very much still around, and though you may perceive these as mild illnesses, they can have serious long term impact on already vulnerable disabled people. Mask wearing prevents spread, masks also obscure your identity if you do end up being photographed or filmed without your consent.

We will have masks, water bottles, snacks, electrolyte sachets, sun cream SPF50+, first aid, ear plugs, fidget toys and repair tools available.

This is a peaceful non violent protest and we have a legal right to protest peacefully. Any unlawful or violent behaviour is not welcome and you will be asked to leave.

Please do not take photos/video of anyone without their consent, if you're taking a photo of just your friend, please crop/ blur anyone else out especially faces. Mobility aids (wheelchairs and walkers in particular) are JUST as identifiable as posting someone's face on the internet, what goes on the internet stays on the internet forever.

Remember we are all coming out to support and uphold the personal safety of one another, we are not free until we all are free.

Let's go Kill this Bill!

30/06/2025

"Health secretary Wes Streeting stopped short of saying the government was confident it had the numbers"

Keep emailing MPs, and ask everyone you know to email theirs!