Tory welfare cuts slammed

The Tories must act to reverse their disastrous and dangerous welfare cuts which have led to such condemnation from the United Nations

Sir, - It was Mahatma Gandhi who said a nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.

This struck home as I read reports that a United Nations panel has slammed the United Kingdom for creating a “human catastrophe for disabled people” and is “going backward” in areas such as education, health, transport and social security.

In its report, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities said a combination of funding cuts, rights restrictions and Brexit means that its fears about the UK outstrip those of anywhere else it has investigated in its 10-year history, a damning indictment of Tory policies and their impact on the disabled.

The Tory government should be ashamed that its policy of welfare cuts and continuation of an austerity agenda has led to this damning report.

Contrasting with this, the panel praised the Scottish Government for its actions in including disability groups in planning and policy making and for its inclusion of disabled people in designing the Scottish social security system.

The Tories must act to reverse their disastrous and dangerous welfare cuts which have led to such condemnation from the United Nations. Alex Orr. 77 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh.