National protests planned to highlight the injustice of new universal credit system

Disabled campaigners are holding a national day of action in a bid to halt universal credit.

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) is organising the protests which will centre on a high-profile rally outside the UK parliament on 18 April.

In Edinburgh protesters will be demonstrating from 12.30pm onwards, firstly at High Riggs jobcentre and then at the Argyll House disability benefits assessment centre.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty (ECAP) said: “Universal credit will mean no more disability premiums, sanctions for those in part-time work and cuts to child disability payments. No-one on the benefit is allowed a holiday and hardship loans are repayable.

“It is a mess with IT failures, unclear rules, understaffing, and under-training.”

DPAC was instrumental in securing a report from the UN accusing successive Conservative-led governments of “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights, creating a “human catastrophe”.

It had previously organised a national day of action on 1 March against the reform, but due to the severe weather in the UK, the planned protest at parliament was cancelled. It’s now happening on Wednesday 18 April in the middle of prime minister’s questions (PMQs).

DPAC will be gathering at 11am on 18 April outside the visitors’ entrance to parliament.

As well as Edinburgh and London local actions are planned for Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester and Norwich.