DISABLED people were scared on hearing that the Tories had won the general election. They can now move that up a notch to “being petrified.”

While Esther McVey has thankfully gone, disabled people have now had Justin Tomlinson foisted on them as the latest Minister for Disabled People.

Being a carer and a campaigner for carers for almost 20 years now, I’ve seen them come and go. I cannot recall one minister from any party that actually wanted to help make things easier for disabled people, let alone carers.

But Tomlinson’s appointment is a genuinely frightening prospect, as a look at his track record shows.

He voted against protecting the benefits of disabled children and those undergoing cancer treatment.

He voted very strongly against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices.

He voted very strongly against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability.

And he voted very strongly for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits, as did almost all of the coalition ministers. This will have come from former carer of a disabled child, David Cameron.

Tomlinson has also refused to meet a group of disabled people and carers. I was off the mark immediately after he was named minister, asking for a meeting. He and his department have said “no” and wouldn’t even entertain the idea of talking to us. So while he supports the cuts and stopping vital support to those we care for, he is not willing to face those on the receiving end. These are the actions of a coward. Tomlinson could at least have the guts to listen to carers and disabled people.

Saying that, no-one from Labour would meet us either, but as they aren’t in power that isn’t so much an issue right now. I’ve been reading about carer’s allowance being stopped for 40-50 per cent of carers.

As a carer, this concerns me as many carers who are unable to fight back will likely be pushed onto jobseeker’s allowance and ultimately be sanctioned because they will still have their caring role to carry out but they will have to comply with JSA rules or be sanctioned. It’s easy to guess what will happen. Carers and disabled people will be hit horribly by this government.

I know that lives are going to be ruined, and even ended, because of the cuts this Tory government is going to bring in. It will be a continuation of what happened under the coalition. Ultimately my concern is that no-one is listening to us, as usual. We are carrying out a vital role for the country but are being hit by ignorant politicians who expect us to constantly pick up the pieces of the lives of disabled people, yet we are excluded from society and from talking to the people who have no other agenda than to punish those who cannot work.

Tomlinson will be the worst minister for disabled people ever. I’m not saying this because I hate the Conservative Party. I am saying this from experience AND because I hate the Tory Party. Tomlinson ought to know better. He does know about carers as he has taken part in many Carers’ Week events so he must also be aware of their worries. My concern is that Tomlinson is a Cameron puppet, a lapdog who will put party loyalty before the safety and welfare of disabled people and carers.

If you look at the They Work For You website, you will see many or most Conservative and Lib Dem politicians from the coalition have all voted the same way when it comes to providing vital financial help for disabled people.So the big question is who instructed these politicians to be so anti-disabled people? It has to come from the top, the Prime Minister surely? Cameron had a disabled son, who he would often mention when it comes to the NHS and benefit system.

So how did he vote when it came to increasing benefits for those unable to work because of being disabled? He voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability. Make no mistake — this man has no time for disabled people at all.