Protest at disabled care charges

Scores of disabled people have been demonstrating against higher charges being introduced for care services.

The protestors gathered outside the headquarters of Fife Council as members arrived for the final full meeting on the year. Charges increase in January.

The Campaign Against Charges protest group has said the rise for home care is too much. It is increasing for some from £4-a-week to £11-per-hour. The authority has said the increase is necessary to meet a budget shortfall. But the campaign group has said it will leave some of society's most vulnerable people without help.

Protestor Louise McLeary, who is registered blind, told the BBC Scotland news website: "I think we're already having an impact. "It's a very, very strong feeling. Right across Fife we've had people literally queuing up to sign petitions. We reckon it's probably going to affect just about every family in Fife in one way or other. It's that big."

The woman who has helped form the protest group addressed councillors inside the main chamber. Maureen Kloss told members: "Our message to you is that this charge is illegal and immoral and should be scrapped. They represent a tax on disabilities. The council is discriminating against disabled people. We ask that the charges are scrapped and that you reverse this decision."

Fife Council's SNP/Lib Dem administration has maintained that the charges are necessary to bridge a budget shortfall which, they claim, was brought about by the previous Labour administration. Labour has said that after seven months in charge, their argument is wearing thin.

The Labour MSP for Dunfermline East, Helen Eadie, said: "There has been no effort at this point to place a capping on the charges for complex cases that require intensive care assistance - a point that enhances the penalising nature of these charges against those who require care. "Labour was forced to make a number of hard decisions during our administration, but it was never at the expense of the most vulnerable in society. It is sadly evident now with the other political parties, any Fifers in frail condition have come in last again."