Bankers are not being asked to pay for the deficit caused by the banking crisis. Members of the Cabinet are also exempt. Those who will pay are disabled people and other vulnerable groups, who in a decent society, would have rights and entitlements to income and support that enable them to lead a good life.

The government is protecting education and the NHS and plans to spend more on pensions. Savings have to be found somewhere and the target is vulnerable groups, perhaps because they are least able to protest or perhaps because arrangements that fund and provide support are so complex that the media is not interested.

These are just some of the cuts that will affect disabled people:

• Over the next four years there will be a cut of 28% to care services for disabled children, disabled adults and frail older people which means that at least 250,000 people will lose entitlement to support.
• There will be cuts of more than £2 billion to the incomes of disabled people on low incomes. Individuals who are typically on incomes of less than £10,000 per year will face cuts of £2,000 or more.
• The Independent Living Fund (ILF), which provides support to 21,000 of the most severely disabled people in the country, is to be closed down – reducing support to disabled people by an additional £200 million.
• Eligibility thresholds will be raised so that people in “significant need of care” will get nothing – even if people are being abused, cannot look after themselves or if their families are breaking down.
• Changes in government regulations have now made home ownership – including shared ownership – impossible for disabled people who use benefits despite the efficiency of home ownership.