Disabled man’s Piccadilly stunt

Steven Sumpter, aged 33, was one of hundreds of wheelchair users who chained themselves together to bring Piccadilly Circus to a standstill on Saturday.

The protest was organised by Disabled People Against Cuts, with support from UK Uncut, against the Welfare Reform Bill, which is currently going through parliament.

The charity Mencap says that planned cuts could see as many as 500,000 disabled people lose money.

And Mr Sumpter, who has suffered with ME for more than a decade and who is currently largely housebound and unable to walk, feels the changes are ill-conceived and will strip away vital support from those in genuine need.

“It seems to me as if some of the red-top tabloids have created this idea that the majority of people receiving disability payments are scroungers or fakers and that this has allowed the Government to do this,” he said. “But I believe that people who have genuine need of these payments are going to suffer as a result.”

Mr Sumpter, who currently receives about £160 per week in ESA (employment and support allowance) and £100 per week DLA (Disability Living Allowance) as well as housing and council tax benefit, believes the reforms will backfire and end up costing more, with people left less independent and more reliant on expensive services.

“In the end this will cost the Government far more than is saved, and will lead to people Disabled man’s Piccadilly stunt moving out of communities and back into care homes and institutions,” he said.

Despite the physical toll Saturday’s exertions took on Mr Sumpter – he has spent only minutes out of his bed since – he said he felt he had to show support.

“This is the first time I’ve been involved in something like this but it really felt like the last chance to stand up and say something,”

he said. “My sincere wish is that it will have had an effect but I am not holding out too much hope.”