‘Give us back our freedom’

Southampton council were made to answer for themselves by Unite Community activists at their meeting yesterday (17 September), following the ‘morally wrong’ decision to cut a local disability bus pass that four-hundred disabled people rely on.

Before going in to grill the councillors, around forty activists held a rally outside the Civic Centre (pictured above), waving flags and wielding placards that told the council, “This cut is cruel, give us back our freedom.”

The council made the decision to withdraw the local disability bus pass last year, “signposting” users to the national government-led scheme instead. But ruthless screening means that some four-hundred disabled people will not be eligible.

Unite community Southampton chair, Mike Dukes, said, “The bus pass is a lifeline to hundreds of disabled Southampton residents, giving them the independence to go shopping, pick up medication, attend doctor’s appointments, socialise with friends and enjoy all the freedom an able-bodied person might take for granted.

“Ultimately this is a morally wrong decision and we hope that our presence here today will prick the conscience of the council and bring a U-turn.”

The cut comes following a budget squeeze from government, but, as one protester, Jane Aubrey-Grey, argues, the council’s cuts “target the most vulnerable people in the community, cutting off a vital link that could leave people housebound and potentially make them ill.”

Inside the chamber, it was an uncomfortable scene for Southampton councillor Jacqui Rayment as Unite Community members questioned the consultation process that they believe failed to meet the requirements of the 2010 equality act.

Rachel Watt, a wheelchair user and Unite Community member, quizzed Cllr Rayment, asking her what consideration – if any – was given to the negative impact the cut would have on disabled people who did not qualify for the national pass.

The councillor answered the questions firstly by clarifying that she wasn’t in post when the decision was first made, but assured that “the decision maker at the time felt they had met all the objectives described.”

Mike Dukes retorted with supplementary questions about the suspected failure to follow the necessary procedures set by the equality act. The councillor again responded with assurances that the council “did as much as they thought was proportionate at that time.”

Before the meeting, Mike told UNITElive that he believed their failure to consult the four-hundred people who would be directly affected by the cut was an attempt to push the cut through surreptitiously.

“They arranged area meetings with cabinet members with their best suits on to talk about it. Just how many disabled people or disabled groups came to that meeting? – None,” he said.

“They are supposed to talk to people to find out what the impact it will have to their lives, and yet the council made no attempt to consult any of the four-hundred [who will lose the pass].”

Councillor Rayment eventually conceded that “there are clearly some unanswered questions” and said the council would revisit the case for the bus pass in the next budget.

While this is positive, many Unite Community members feel it will be too little, too late.

Southampton has seen a barrage of cuts in recent months, particularly affecting the most vulnerable members of society, including closure of a city care home, a respite centre and day services for adults with learning difficulties.

One speaker at yesterday’s rally said, “This is what austerity is doing to the country. The Tory government is moving the goal posts so the cuts have to come from local councils, but we expect more from Labour to stand up and defend us.”

The number of people in attendance at the rally and council meeting was a moving picture of how Unite Community is giving people a beacon of hope in a time where community spirit is being systematically crushed.

Protester’s placards pictured before the rally

Photos by Morag Livingstone