New stretch target
Deliver a copy of the book to all MPs and organise an accessible event in Parliament to discuss the content of the book and its implications for future social security policy.
To tell Labour MPs the human cost of benefit cuts by delivering to Parliament a copy each of John Pring's new book The Department.
by Ellen Clifford in Bromley, Greater London, United Kingdom
Deliver a copy of the book to all MPs and organise an accessible event in Parliament to discuss the content of the book and its implications for future social security policy.
From John McArdle of Black Triangle campaign in Scotland:
"Please help Black Triangle with support from the UK Coalition* to tell Labour MPs the human cost of benefit cuts by sending them copies of John Pring's forthcoming book, The Department: How a Violent Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence.
"The books will be delivered en masse to Parliament on the first day back from Summer recess, Monday 2 September.
"The Department is a thoroughly researched exposé of the bureaucratic violence and hostility of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over the last 30 years.
"For the last decade, disabled journalist John Pring has meticulously pieced together how the DWP ignored pleas to correct fatal flaws in the social security system and covered up its role in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of disabled people.
"Having spent years researching the heartbreaking stories of twelve individuals who died, he describes how their bereaved families have fought for justice and accountability.
"John McDonnell says the book provides 'Definitive proof of how government austerity hasn't just harmed disabled people, it has killed them'
"Frances Ryan describes it as ‘A must-read exposé of one of Britain's biggest hidden scandals’. She says, ‘Every politician, civil servant and journalist in the country should have this on their bookshelf.’
"Disabled people don’t trust that all those who should read the book will.
"In particular, we need Labour MPs to understand the enormous suffering that the Tory “welfare reform” agenda caused.
"And to understand that social security proposals laid by the Tories before they lost power will unquestionably cause more deaths and social devastation.
"The new government must scrap those plans now.
"The UK was the first government in the world to be found guilty by the United Nations of grave and systematic violations of Disabled people’s rights due to the impact on Disabled people of welfare reform and austerity measures.
"Seven years after those damning fundings, the United Nations investigated and found that not only had the Tory government made no significant progress in addressing their concerns, that there has also been further regression of Disabled people’s rights in a number of areas.
"The new Labour government will now be held to account by the United Nations on fulfilling their recommendations.
"In order to comply with these, we urgently need a new social security system administered by a reformed DWP that respects the lives of disabled people and all benefit claimants. That does not treat us with contempt and hostility. That doesn’t kill us and then hide the evidence.
"We want to stress the urgency of ending the cruel, counter-productive and murderous social security system left by the Tories by buying a copy of The Department for each of the 412 newly elected Labour MPs.
"We need to do this now at the earliest opportunity.
"If we can raise the funds needed, Deaf and Disabled campaigners, trade unionists, our organisations and the families of benefit death victims will turn up at Parliament on 2 September to deliver the copies to Labour MPs so they have no excuse for not reading it.
"And remind them that they are accountable to us, the electorate.
"We are asking for donations to secure the purchase of 412 copies of the book at a discount from radical publishers Pluto.
"We do not want anyone to give money they cannot afford.
"If we secure the funds, we will make sure there are accessible ways for supporters to show their backing for the initiative on the day we deliver the books.
For now everyone can help by sharing the crowdfunder link and tagging in your MP.
"If we exceed our target we will buy and deliver copies to MPs in all political parties."
* UK Coalition of Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPO) Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (CRDP) Monitoring Coalition
See www.disabilitynewsservice.com for John Pring's weekly disability news. His previous book Longcare Survivors: The Biography of a Care Scandal is still available to buy.