A “LIFELONG” Labour supporter with severe disabilities issued an emotional plea yesterday for party leader Ed Miliband to save the Independent Living Fund (ILF).

Journalist Steve O’Hear, who voted for Mr Miliband in Labour’s leadership contest, said that losing the benefit would turn his world upside down.

“This would mean I’m no longer able to live an independent life (and in my own home)?—?as I have done for the last 22 years?—?which in turn would mean losing my job,” he explained.

He is among thousands of disabled people set to lose cash to pay for home care that allows them to live independently when the fund is scrapped in June.

Labour’s leadership has so far rejected calls from disability rights campaigners to commit to reversing the Con-Dem cut if they take power in May.

In an open letter to Mr Miliband published on Labour List, Mr O’Hear insisted: “I’m writing to you as a friend.”

He remembered how, when he was a child, his London home was “routinely used as a campaign office to help fight for the Labour Party in local elections.”

But he wrote: “I feel wholly let down by your decision not to oppose the closure of the ILF and it makes me question voting and campaigning for you in the forthcoming general election.

“I say that with a heavy heart.

“Surely, given all of the rhetoric you have espoused regarding winning the votes of disabled people and supporting our right to live a full and active life, as well as rewarding hard working people, I’m exactly the kind of person you should be fighting for.”

His comments come a day after Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) staged a demonstration over the ILF cut outside Downing Street.

Campaigners later held a hard-hitting lobby, where Labour MPs were grilled over their party’s position.

They pledged to fight to save the ILF but DPAC organiser Linda Burnip accused Labour’s frontbench of showing a “Tory-like” attitude to disabled people.

Labour’s shadow disability minister Kate Green is set to meet again with ILF users later this month.