against those who discriminate against them.
Bob Waring's private members bill, we thought, gave us another bite at the cherry but the Tories were already plotting its defeat. Bob Wareing MP for West OCTOV. LOONICeO his Chronically Sick Disabled Persons (Amendment) Bill for its second reading on Friday November. Despite assurances that they would not enforce whips, The Guardian revealed that the whips had been instructed to defeat the Bill.
Many of us welcomed the Wareing Bill. Despite doubts concerning legal redress' of the type used in une race cernons anoser Discrimination Acts, would provided basis for action. Its defeat LAST FEBRUARY, Hugh Rossi, the then Minister against the disabled, put the knife into the Disablement Prohibition of Unjustifiable Discrimination Bill. The Bill was the first attempt to provide people with disabilities with some form of legal redress with Disabilities - personal capacity)
robs us again the possibility of a legal fightback WV aN people, including socialists, have little idea ot the extent which people with disabilities are oppressed the capitalism itself, every aspect of our lives has beei subjected to cruel callous control. Being excluded from work, forced into poverty denied the right to love whom we please are just a few examples of this. While the Tories spend millions on of destruction, weabo hundreds of my brothers and sisters are deprived of even the basic requirements of survival.
Thatcher's attacks on the welfare state and living standards, and her promotion ot the halkiands war contribute to the increase OCODIC suffering disabilities. Who gives a damn for the soldiers and sailors who returned 'home' with crippled and broken bodies and minds? Christian charity begins at home for the Tories usually in the homes of the rich bankers businessmen they serve. Support for Reagan's war drive essential, £33 milion tor a commissior to protect the rights of people with disabilities is not.
The Tories object to rights. Hugh Rossi, shoal idea legal ing his contempt, stated that lt IS impossible to believe that there •wal anything but goodwill everywhere towards peo ple with disabilities. Thus 'education' rather than 'rights' was the order of the day.
Where do we go from here? I believe people with disabilities, and our bonters. must co onme or fensive We cannot for yet another bill. The issue of rights must be raised in both the Labour Party trade union Len Murray, Luyciicil for example, remains silent on our needs employment field. Yet we have only a 50 pe cent employment rate and companies such as BL are putting the squeeze on old and disabled workers.
The Labour Parti should take the issue to the huronean Court of Human Rights. We should demand a public statement MP, aeroly and director La Tory and director the Spastics society Where he stand With the Society's support for anti-discrimination legislation or with the reac. tionary policy of his own government? He can't do both Most importantly people with disabilities mus start to powncalty organise themselves. , Crucial is a nationa conterence organis ed and run by us not bs Tory MPs, which is what we had recently. One idea being floated is a 'commis people with disabilities. It would func. tion in the manner propos ed in the Wareing Bill. We must organise for our rights and kick out these Tories who refuse = recognise our needs and rights.
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