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DA election manifestos briefing

Disability Alliance has analysed the main commitments of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat party manifestos. We do not support any political party but have examined their proposals relevant to our agenda, our members and to disabled people and their families. You can view our analysis below:

• da analysis of party election manifestos 2010 (pdf format)
• da analysis of party election manifestos 2010 (word format)

Ian Duncan Smith is the new Work and Pensions Secretary

The new Cabinet under Prime Minister Cameron has been announced and includes five Liberal Democrats. Former Conservative Party leader and military man Ian Duncan Smith has been made Work and Pensions Secretary.

The Conservatives have pledged, in their manifesto and previous policy statements, that the benefits system must be made tougher and all Incapacity Benefit claimants now face being re-assessed for different benefits quite quickly using the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). DA hopes to ensure the WCA is improved to avoid disabled people being mis-assessed at considerable public expense. For a list of the full Cabinet please visit: www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8675705.stm

Iain Duncan Smith set up the Centre For Social Justice. Its report, Dynamic Benefits: Towards Welfare That Works, proposes to reduce unemployment and benefit dependency by replacing the current unwieldy 51 benefit system with a new Universal Credit Scheme.

Do you think that politicians are listening to disabled people’s concerns?

If not, then now is the time to get involved! The National Disabled People’s Poll is the first comprehensive poll of disabled people’s views on politics, the political parties and voting. It aims to amplify the voices of disabled people and their families and ensure that your experiences and opinions are heard by politicians and the media, as well as companies and other decision-makers. To have your say, visit: http://www.comres.co.uk/surveys/nationaldisabledpeoplespoll/

More information

• da response to new government welfare reform plans
• dynamic benefits: towards welfare that works - Centre For Social Justice report
• the coalition: our programme for government - Con Lib deal

Note: for pdf files you will need to download adobe acrobat reader. To convert the pdf to alternative formats or for more information on accessibility go to access adobe.

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