Experts at Scope say that seven-hundred-thousand disabled households will be pushed into poverty by the government’s planned changes to welfare.This is a deeply cruel choice for any government to make. And let’s be absolutely clear it is a choice. We could and should be choosing to tax the very wealthiest a small amount more instead. Sadly, though, Lola McEvoy’s Labour government has a growing track record here. They’ve chosen to place extra hardships on those already struggling – from cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners to refusing to reverse the two-child benefit cap, refusing to lift 540,000 children out of poverty. I know that this is not what people who voted Labour wanted, and I don’t think for a second this is what most Labour MPs came into politics to do. I know many Labour MPs will feel incredibly uncomfortable at the< moment. But feeling uncomfortable isn’t enough. We need these Labour MPs to have a moral backbone and vote for what they genuinely believe in to prevent these cruel, unnecessary policies from being enacted. The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has called on the UK Government to take “corrective measures” to address the immense negative impact of welfare cuts introduced by successive Conservative Governments since 2010. Pressure from people like you has already won concessions from this Labour government. Keir Starmer had wanted to freeze inflation-linked rises to PIP payments but the outcry of protest has made him U-turn and throw out this terrible plan. As a Green Party candidate in the last general election, I campaigned for an end to 15 years of cruel and damagingausterity. I campaigned for a fair and appropriately funded social safety net. I spoke up for a system that treated disabled people with respect and gave them the support they needed for a dignified life. Green Party polices will make sure that everybody can lead full, meaningful lives, can work if they choose, and access the help and support they need. Disabled people have as much of a right to control their day-to-day lives and their long-term futures as nondisabled people. Despite the U-turn on inflation linked increases for PIP, I’ve heard nothing from Labour MPs that reassures me the Government will stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need, while impoverishing them to the tune of £5 billion. Young and disabled people should have the support and backing of the Government but instead they have been badly let down this month with the active trailing of terrifying plans. It’s clear that these plans were plotted without the input of those whose lives will be most impacted. Disabled people must be listened to before any changes are made, and I hope that you will join me in being their fiercest defenders and fight off the worst of these plans. Lola McEvoy and the Labour government must listen as well, to growing calls from Green MPs, the public and even many millionaires for a wealth tax. How can she stoop as low as any Conservative Chancellor and take money away from disabled people rather than get a grip on the obscene wealth being hoarded in this country? This morally indefensible choice will have devastating consequences, and the Government should be ready to answer for it. The Green Party stands in solidarity with disabled people and will fight to reverse cuts by Conservative and Labour governments. We will fight to make sure that disabled people can live dignified lives as valued members of society