THIS is the story of a family’s struggle against stupid bureaucracy. 

Mandy and John Kirsopp have been caring for their disabled son Dylan from birth. 

Dylan has a condition which requires him to be fed through a drip. He also has cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Mum Mandy did what anyone in her position would do and left her job to care for Dylan. 

This isn’t the action of what the Conservative Party would call a “dole scrounger” or someone who takes from the taxpayer “because she decided that living on benefits would be a good lifestyle choice.” 

This is the action of a compassionate mother.

Her reward is to have Dylan’s disability benefits taken from them along with Mandy’s carer’s allowance, because the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claims that it is the hospital and not the carer providing medical assistance for Dylan. 

This is laughable as Mandy and dad John will still be providing well in excess of the 35 hours’ care required to qualify for carers allowance. 

Yet the car they use to transport Dylan’s wheelchair is also to be taken away. 

Dylan needs round-the-clock care and the NHS is not able to supply that level of care. 

No matter how hard it tries, much of the care will still be provided by Mandy and John.

I contacted their Labour MP  David Anderson and was surprised by how quickly he replied. 

Unlike the DWP he immediately offered to help. 

Only a few MPs have ever replied when I got in touch with them about helping their constituents but Anderson was great. 

He even had a sense of humour and almost restored my faith in politicians. 

This is what the Labour Party should be doing — fighting for people like the Kirsopps, not trying to chase the Tory voters.

Mandy says Dylan’s school have been “great, giving him a day each week where they come to continue his education as long as he’s well enough, which he really enjoys. 

“Social services have agreed some summer school for Dylan’s twin Murray as we will be here right over the full break and have very little in the way of childcare. 

“It’s not fair for Murray to come into the hospital day after day. This environment isn’t good for any well child, let alone one with autistic spectrum disorder.”

It can be draining to be constantly “on call” so to speak, and the Kirsopps don’t get much sleep: “Dylan wakes sometimes half-hourly. 

“On a good night that might be hourly, and he needs me to change his position, wash and change his nappy and generally comfort him and assess if any other medication is needed and ask for it. 

“Being in hospital you’re on constant high alert. You can’t ever switch off.”

I ask if she is frightened of being forced onto jobseeker’s allowance rather than carer’s allowance — and having to take part in job search schemes, facing sanctions when caring for Dylan prevents her from participating.

“This is a real fear.

“However in the circumstances I’m not sure how I could actually even manage to apply to be honest.”

Given that David Cameron’s late son Ivan had similar conditions to Dylan and claimed DLA for him, how does she feel that her family seems not to merit the same rights?

“Double standards, my biggest bugbear. Just because my son wasn’t born into a privileged family we should suffer.

“So unfair.”

And if she had Iain Duncan Smith sat in front of her, what would she say?

“Come and spend a day or two in my place and see if you think the ruling is fair.

“Has he ever spent time in hospital with a poorly child? 

“If he had he’d see what us parents are expected to do and what we do on top for love of our children. 

“What makes them think the NHS can take care of my son? And what parent does he think would leave a vulnerable child with little or no communication abilities for the hospital to take care of?”

Mandy has had great support on social media from people outraged at how her family has been treated.

She wants to say “a massive thank you” to those who have offered their solidarity.

“The support has been unbelievable. 

“It’s renewed my faith in humanity in all honesty. Hopefully we can make a change.”

The case has even attracted the attention of north-east musician Beccy Owen, whose latest work said she has been moved by Dylan’s story and would like to help support the Kirsopps through her music.

And the support online that the family is getting is impressive, with people joining together to help others. This is the Big Society — not David Cameron’s foodbank Britain.

Contrary to Tory Party lies these people — us people — are not “benefit scroungers.” 

The people we care for aren’t “benefit scroungers” and it isn’t a lifestyle choice to be disabled or a carer.

The fight for justice for disabled children will go on, let’s see some politicians with the moral courage to join in.