Over 400 disabled people attended the Hardest Hit event in Leeds on 22 October to protest against cuts to benefits and services to disabled people. Held outside Leeds City Art Gallery the rally was opened by the Rt Hon Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and Shawdow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Several disabled speakers addressed the crowd.
"The Government promised to protect the most vulnerable. Yet disabled people, those with long-term conditions and our familtes are being hit hard by cuts to the benefits and services we need to live our lives. The total cuts facing disabled people and their families mean an estimated 9 billion pounds loss of income over the next four years. This is on top of cuts to many local care and support services. We will not sit quietly while these cuts are made" said Steve winyard, chair of the Disability Benefits consortium which organised this and 11 other rallies that took place on the same day across the country.