There was chaos outside PMQs today. Not that the mainstream media noticed.

Corbyn and May at PMQs
Steve Topple


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There were chaotic scenes outside Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday 18 April. Not that the mainstream media bothered to report it.

A “human catastrophe”

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) is at the forefront of the disability rights movement in the UK. As well as high-profile protests, legal actions, and campaigns, the group was also instrumental in securing a report from the UN. The report accused successive Conservative-led governments of “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights, creating a “human catastrophe”.

But now, the group has turned its attention to Universal Credit, the new welfare payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It had organised a day of action on 18 April, and it brought its grave concerns right to the heart of parliament in the middle of PMQs.

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Chaos outside PMQs

DPAC activists began by occupying the central lobby in parliament just before midday. They set up a crime scene to highlight what they call the ‘crimes against claimants’ under Universal Credit. The new benefit has been linked to 160,000 more children losing free school meals. Also, the Trussell Trust says it’s seen increased food bank use in areas where Universal Credit has been rolled out:

DPAC set up a crime scene inside parliament

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Disabled people tried to “storm” parliament. So, a heavy police presence ensued, with DPAC members facing them down:

DPAC occupied parliament on 18 April

Activists accused the police of ‘heavy-handedness’ inside parliament. The protest then moved outside, with conscious rapper and poet Potent Whisper performing for the crowds:

Conscious rapper Potent Whisper performed at the DPAC demo

DPAC and its supporters then moved down to Westminster station junction:

Around 80 people blocked the road, stopping traffic in all directions:

DPAC stopped the traffic in all directions

The crime scene was recreated:

A crime scene was set up in the middle of the road

Chants of “Benefits not bombs!” “Stop and scrap Universal Credit” and “Whose streets? Our streets!” were ringing out against the backdrop of parliament:

DPAC activists linked arms in solidarity

There were chaotic scenes outside parliament

The only MPs that came out to support DPAC were Labour’s Debbie Abrahams and Laura Pidcock. After around an hour, police starting threatening disabled people with arrest if they did not move:

Police threatened to arrest disabled people

Police even threatened a squirrel with arrest:

But protesters continued blocking the road until about 2pm:

Paul aPeters leads the DPAC protest

Protests were also happening up and down the country at the same time:

Universal Credit: overarching concerns

DPAC has extensively detailed its concerns over Universal Credit. These include:

  • Up to 1 million low-paid workers being subject to the same welfare and sanctions regime that disabled people have been living with.
  • Universal Credit being administered wholly online, when around 2.9 million disabled people (22%) have never used the internet.
  • An increase in the sanctions regime, linked to the Health and Work Conversations.
  • Some disabled people and couples losing up to £5,195 a year due to changes to entitlements.
  • The effect of the benefit on people living with mental health issues – specifically possible forced therapy.

Enough is enough

The DWP previously told The Canary:

We are committed to supporting people into work while making sure the right care is in place for those that can’t.

But the evidence on Universal Credit doesn’t hold weight with the DWP’s argument.

Despite DPAC’s and others’ concerns, the government has barely made any concessions on Universal Credit. So it’s once again down to disabled people to hold this government to account. And on 18 April, they did so in a brave and uncompromising way.

Get Involved!

– Support DPAC and Black Triangle, campaigning for disabled people’s rights.

– Read The Canary‘s full analysis of Universal Credit.

Featured image via BBC Daily Politics – BBC iPlayer

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