Remploy closures are the Tories’ most wicked cut yet

It gives no satisfaction to be able to rank the coalition's cuts in terms of wickedness. But the proposed closure of the Remploy factories—and the loss of thousands of supported jobs for disabled workers—must be one of the most evil policies they've announced so far.

Remploy factories have been supporting thousands of disabled workers' return to work since 1946. Initially set up to give disabled ex-service personnel employment, it was soon expanded to those born with complex disabilities.

People employed in Remploy factories do real work, using real skills and making real products which are used by others.

On March 7 the Tory-led coalition announced plans to close 36 of the 54 remaining Remploy sites, meaning compulsory redundancies for 1,752 people.

This decision was made just after the Welfare Reform Bill—which claimed to have, as one of its objectives, the aim to help people back into work.

But this decision will clearly make it harder for those with a disability to gain real and meaningful employment.

Imagine the experience that those with a disability get from being employed at a Remploy factory—confidence, dignity, comradeship, the knowledge that they are contributing towards society.

Now imagine ripping that away from them and replacing it with fear, uncertainly, isolation and hardship.

What sort of government makes policies like this and what type of MP votes them through? Heartless, unfeeling, out of touch, not living in the real world—all the characteristics of a typical Tory MP.

Here in Norwich the Remploy factory makes high quality, value for money educational furniture. It plans and designs future-proof learning environments for schools, universities and colleges. What a pity this government has wiped out the working future for its employees.

Joanne Rust, Norwich