As Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, I launched the manifesto with and for disabled people in Manchester yesterday which you can read here.

We are proud of the manifesto that we have developed with, and for, disabled people. This manifesto was produced following Labour’s Disability Equality Roadshow, involving extensive consultation with disabled people and their carers across the country.

Over the last seven years, disabled people – including people with physical or mental impairments and long-term health conditions – have borne the brunt of the Conservatives cuts, which has seen the number of disabled people living in poverty rise to 4.2 million. Our comprehensive and costed policies set out in this manifesto, will ensure that disabled people are properly supported to live full and independent lives.

Labour will reverse the cuts to disability support, transform our social security system from one that demonises disabled people to one that is supportive and enabling, scrap the punitive sanctions regime and replace ineffective, degrading assessments. The manifesto sets out Labour’s plan to tackle the barriers facing disabled people and to build a society in which everyone has the same opportunities and choices.

Enough is enough, only a Labour government, offering a real alternative, will work in partnership with disabled people to ensure no one in our society is held back.

I would like to thank everyone who has taken part and contributed to the manifesto’s development, whether through our national Disability Equality Roadshow or our Policy Forum process.