Readers' letters - May 18

Cathy needs to be commended for her bravery and tenacity in her heroic attempt to draw attention to the dreadful impact that Tory cuts, welfare reforms and austerity have had on the lives of disabled people in the UK.

As Cathy tried to explain, these have had a profound effect on the quality of her life and those of other disabled people.

Amounting to a loss of services, withdrawal of vital mobility cars, enforced isolation, and chronic poverty, disabled people in the UK have seen the quality of their lives reduced to mere existences and reliance on food banks.

Cathy’s analysis was spot on when she said “the fat cats get the money and us lot get nothing”.

She should know. She represents one of over one million disabled people who have had the services and benefits, that are so vital to them, removed during the last seven years of Tory government.

Mrs May’s response (or more accurately lack of response) to this voter revealed a host of things, not least her shocking ignorance of disability issues when she wrongly reduced Cathy’s needs to mental health difficulties!

Cathy was quick to point out she has moderate learning difficulties albeit trying to now live on £100 per month without a carer to support her.

People like Cathy cannot live on fresh air and the sort of platitudes such as those muttered by May.

Rather they need well funded, reliable, comprehensive local services (Mr Driver take note), and incomes that allow them a quality of life and some security from arbitrary decisions made by non-accountable private organisations.

Things that are currently being denied to them.

Surely Mrs May could see that Cathy (and the thousands of others in similar circumstances) IS one of those “who are most in need”.

Hopefully, Cathy’s pleas, and those of the thousands like her who have suffered similar indignities, will not fall on the likes of Mrs May’s fixed smile and seemingly deaf ears when voters go to the polls on June 8.

Dawn Judd

Fulwood