Speech by Sean McGovern at the TUC 26th March rally, Hyde Park

DPAC

Posted: 29 Mar 2011 10:05 AM PDT

Many thanks to Sean for allowing us to publish the speech he 

gave on behalf of disabled people at the 26th March TUC rally 

at Hyde Park.

Sean McGovern:

“HELLO WEMBLEY!!!

WHOOPS – SORRY, WRONG GIG!

Hello Comrades, I’m Sean McGovern, a disabled trade union activist; 

and I'm honoured to be here today as part of this anti-cuts movement - 

Which is growing daily!

Comrades, disabled people are fighting for the most basic of human 

rights:

• The right to work;

• the right to a living income for those who can’t work;

• the right to sustenance;

• the right to decent care support;

• the right to live without hate crime; and the right to dignity!

May I congratulate some of our popular media? 

Well done the Daily Heil, the Sun and Express, you purveyors 

of disablist propaganda. Along with the rubbish-end of TV and 

attention-seeking politicians you’ve managed to demonise disabled 

people.

In times of recession and economic downturn, governments 

and their media hounds need a scapegoat; history has shown 

us this; today it’s the turn of disabled people – who’s next?

No wonder hate crime against disabled people is on the rise.

While the bankers caused this economic crisis, disabled 

people’s support and benefits are being blamed. 

So much so that we are feeling the brunt of the ConDem 

ideological cuts.

They say these cuts aren’t ideological – liars!

• Replacing Disability Living Allowance with a Personal 

Independence Payment, with predicted savings of 20% – 

naked ideology!

• Introducing a draconian set of Work Capability Assessments

 – viciously ideological!

• Migrating disabled people from Incapacity Benefit to poverty 

level JobSeekers Allowance – driven by ideology!

• Removing hundreds of items from Access to Work; a scheme 

that earns 20% for every pound spent! – stupid ideology!

• Supported employment schemes such as Remploy under threat; 

thus adding to an ever-increasing unemployment queue and benefits 

bill – misguided ideology!

Not content with attacking our jobs and benefits they’re bent on 

depriving us of life enhancing resources.

And calling it the BIG SOCIETY!

Day centres are closing. Council care is being cut. 

Direct Payments bills slashed as eligibility criteria are squeezed 

to critical only.

Comrades, every day disabled people are dying due to ConDem 

ideologically driven policies. They must go!

Today the struggle shifts up a gear! 

From here we must return to our cities, towns and villages to 

organise everyone against this ConDem regime; these enemies of 

disabled people, these enemies of the people – our class!!”