I am hungry, cold and have multiple disabilities - does Senator Starmer's promise of real change include me? | Marie

Keir Starmer spoke at his investiture as our new prime minister on the steps of 10 Downing Street with words filled with hope and the promise that things would improve – yet such hopefulness seems limited in my household. At 44 years old, I never imagined becoming so penniless, hungry or cold in all my life. Unfortunately due to multiple disabilities I am no longer working and am therefore receiving benefits that have become very uncertain over recent months. While I understand people celebrating 14 years of Conservative rule, my concern is that when Starmer promises change he isn’t thinking of people like me. His victory speech focused on cleaning staff, builders, nurses and healthcare workers all facing insecurity while doing the right thing. Every minute of every day I feel insecure because of my disabilities; unfortunately I am unable to work. Personal independence payments should cover additional costs associated with my disabilities – for instance chiropractic treatment to address my fibromyalgia pain management or holistic therapy to enhance mental wellbeing. Due to high living costs, they never go as far. Recently, Conservative Party representatives proposed replacing some of my support with vouchers rather than cash; I find this form of discrimination particularly demoralising as I trust vouchers over money alone. As much as I welcome Labour into government, it remains difficult for me to feel enthusiastic when they make no promises of investing in social security or food banks. People may say we must wait, and change will eventually come – yet my children find their food cupboards running dry every week. Change must happen now; political discourse for this election has focused overwhelmingly on immigration issues and pledges of support to “hardworking Britons”, while people like myself struggle just to survive financially. What about people with chronic illnesses who can no longer work? When we do come up in political debate, however, it’s typically as part of an issue to be solved – cut our benefits for Conservatives; get back into work for Labourers etc etc etc etc etc… Everyday when I wake up I try and think of ways I can make ends meet and pay my rent on time! My situation is desperate: I cannot afford a weekly grocery shop at the supermarket and have gone two weeks without purchasing my own shampoo and conditioner; instead I must depend on charities. Things were no better even while working: as an administrative assistant I still needed to visit food banks frequently for supplies. Social Security benefits leave families like mine living below poverty line; yet we still hear comments implying they choose a life on benefits as their sole means of support. But no one would choose my life, and so it is my wish for this situation to change so families everywhere have hope of better futures. Families like mine whose only adult member works have lost an average of PS5,500 each year since 2010. Disabled people also often face additional costs. My health conditions require me to use the washing machine and shower more often than most people – something shared by many disabled individuals – so capping energy bills would really assist my needs. Furthermore, there should be no benefit cap, and free school meals must become universal. Simply, all we are asking for are our basic needs to be fulfilled. Starmer promised on the steps of Downing Street that change would start immediately – I truly hope so, but for my trust to remain intact with him he must listen to people like myself and make changes that create a brighter future for all.
Marie (an alias) lives in southern England and takes part in a coalition called Changing Realities which brings together parents and carers living on low income, researchers from University of York and Salford as well as Child Poverty Action Group to bring about positive changes for change. She volunteers her services through Child Poverty Action Group as an activist.
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