The War on Disabled People: Capitalism, Welfare and the Making of a Human Catastrophe by Ellen Clifford

‘The War on Disabled People is a must-read book on resistance to the “conscious cruelty” of austerity, which attacks the most disadvantaged. Clifford’s book thoroughly documents the government’s ideological policy agenda of welfare reforms to rip away the welfare-state safety net and put conscious cruelty at the heart of their austerity agenda.’ —The Morning Star

‘Disabled people have suffered terribly in the period of Tory austerity. Just bad luck? Ellen Clifford gives the answer and explores the uncaring politics behind this harsh regime of punishing the vulnerable. This is an essential book.’ –Ken Loach, filmmaker & activist

‘A valuable framework for our continued resistance against the continuing onslaught of purely ideological attacks on our human rights.’ –Linda Burnip, Disabled People Against Cuts

‘If you want to resist the cold cruelty of the war on disabled people and its intensification in the age of austerity, this book is utterly indispensable.’ –John Clarke, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

‘A forensic account of the devastating assault on disabled people’s benefits and services.’ –Roddy Slorach, author of A Very Capitalist Condition: A History and Politics of Disability

‘A vivid account of the systemic oppression on people labelled disabled and is essential reading for everyone concerned about inequality and injustice.’ –Colin Barnes, University of Leeds

‘As the proportion of disabled people gets ever larger in societies globally, this becomes a must-read text.’ –Peter Beresford, University of Essex and Co-Chair of Shaping Our Lives

Ellen Clifford is a disabled activist who has worked within the disability sector, for over twenty years. She currently serves on the National Steering Group for Disabled People Against Cuts.