The House of Commons has met its promise to distribute hundreds of copies of a book about Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “bureaucratic violence” to MPs, just as Labour’s chancellor was warning of difficult decisions on “welfare” in the budget.

Disabled activists raised thousands of pounds to buy 650 discounted copies of The Department through a crowdfunder so the book could be delivered to every MP in the new parliament.

They believe it is vital that all MPs – particularly those on the Labour backbenches – are aware of how decades of “slow bureaucratic violence” by the Department of Social Security, and then DWP, eventually led to countless deaths of disabled benefit claimants in the post-2010 austerity years.

One disabled activist said yesterday (Wednesday) that reading the book would help MPs understand “the human cost of poor policy-making” on social security, particularly for disabled people.

The House of Commons confirmed to Disability News Service this week that the vast majority of the books have been delivered to MPs. 

The only books that have not yet been delivered are to those MPs who have asked for their mail to be held back until they have a parliamentary office.

There had been concerns among some disabled people who contributed to the crowdfunder about whether the books would reach MPs.

Activists had been assured weeks in advance – both by the Commons Post Office and its security department – that they would be allowed to bring in the copies through the security scanners at the parliamentary building Portcullis House, but managers refused to allow them to bring in the sealed envelopes, each addressed to an individual MP.

In protest, activists – led by Disabled People Against Cuts and Black Triangle Campaign – used the books to block the public entrance to the building for more than an hour on 2 September.

After negotiations with security and police, Commons managers eventually agreed to collect all 650 copies – without charge – and take them to be scanned by their outsourced security contractors, before delivering them to MPs.

The Commons press office has now confirmed that nearly every envelope has been delivered to MPs, while the remaining handful will receive theirs when they are allocated a parliamentary office.

The confirmation came as chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC that next month’s budget would involve “difficult decisions” on tax, spending and social security.

She was speaking as Labour won a vote in the Commons on Tuesday over its plans to start means-testing winter fuel payments for older people, although one Labour MP voted against the plans and more than 50 did not vote. 

Reeves told the BBC: “I’ve been really clear that the budget on 30 October will require difficult decisions on tax, on spending, and on welfare.”

The new social security and disability minister, Sir Stephen Timms, has said previously that the Labour government is “committed to reforming or replacing the Work Capability Assessment, alongside putting in place a proper plan to support disabled people into work” and has also said the government “will be considering our own approach to social security in due course”.

The project to raise funds for the books and to deliver them to MPs has been led by disabled activists, including Black Triangle Campaign and the UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations’ Coalition, and supported by disabled people’s organisations, allies and families of those who have lost their lives, as well as Pluto Press, which has published The Department.

John McArdle, co-founder of Black Triangle Campaign, whose idea it was to launch the crowdfunder, thanked the House of Commons for confirming that nearly all of the books have been delivered.

He said: “We hope that these MPs now read this book, learn its lessons, and work to address the awful failures in government policy that it describes, and which led to these tragic deaths in our social security system.

“They must never happen again, and we hope these MPs will ensure that they do not.

“We also hope the government will wake up and realise that cutting the social security budget is not the way to fix the foundations of our country or our economy.”

He added: “We want to thank everyone who donated to our fundraiser, mostly in £5 and £10 donations. 

“It was truly a demonstration of people power, people joining together to speak truth to power and demand our human rights be restored and upheld.”

Mark Baggley, manager of Choices and Rights Disability Coalition in Hull, said: “I think it’s vitally important that MPs read their copy of The Department, particularly when looking at the future of welfare benefits. 

“I understand that there were over 16,000 responses to the recent consultation over the previous government’s proposals [on personal independence payment] and these will take some time to wade through. 

“But I think before any action is taken, the government need to read the book and consult with disabled people before making any changes.”

Disabled campaigner Ben Scott said: “I am relieved that MPs are being made aware of the critical messages in The Department.

“I read the book in one sitting on the day it was published, staying up until 3.40am the following morning.

“As an autistic individual who faced PIP refusals and sanctions three times between 2016 and 2021, I understand all too well the harm caused by bureaucratic failures.

“I won my cases each time, despite struggling with suicidal thoughts, and this is why I became an autism and disability advocate in 2022 and an ambassador for the National Autistic Society (Wales)… to fight for our right to live.

“With Labour set to propose their own disability benefit reforms, it’s more important than ever that MPs understand the human cost of poor policy-making.

“By reading this book, they could help ensure future reforms prioritise dignity, rights, and well-being for disabled people.

“We cannot afford another system that harms us instead of offering the support we desperately need.”

James Kelly, publicity and social media manager for Pluto Press, said: “We welcome the news that copies of The Department have been successfully delivered to members of parliament. 

“Activists have been working around the clock to make sure that their voices are heard. 

“We hope that MPs take this opportunity to engage with the material and the reality of human suffering that’s driven by austerity.”

Among the organisations that have supported the campaign are Disabled People Against Cuts, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Inclusion London, Disability Rights UK, Recovery in the Bin and the radical working-class media organisation The Canary.

The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence, by DNS editor John Pring, was published by Pluto Press last month

Credit for this article goes to the Disability News Service, more articles by them can be found at ‘disabilitynewsservice.com’