Disabled people no longer have the right to live independently in Britain, campaigners warned yesterday after judges approved the government’s closure of a vital fund.

High Court judge Ms Justice Andrews said that disabled people will find her decision to uphold the government’s closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) from June 30 next year “a great disappointment.”

Her ruling was made despite the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) warning that it “will result in loss of dignity and independence for many ILF recipients.”

The commission estimates that 18,000 severely disabled people risk losing the funding in breach of Britain’s international commitments to support them.

“I am absolutely gutted — not just for myself but for the thousands of people this decision will impact on,” said wheelchair-bound John Kelly, a 45-year-old from Wimbledon, south-west London, who attended the hearing.

“It is bonkers. It is an attack by the government on the ability of over 18,000 disabled people to be able to live independently in our society.”

Royal Courts of Justice disability consultant Jonathan Kaye said: “There is no way disabled people can vote for the Conservative Party now.”

The fund provides essential support for the severely disabled to live at home rather than in residential care.

Tracey Lazard, head of disability charity Inclusion London, said: “The closure of the ILF effectively signals the end of the right to independent living for disabled people in the UK.”

And Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) co-founder Linda Burnip told the Star that campaigners intend to take the fight to the European Court of Human Rights.

She pointed out that Britain has become the first country in the world to face a UN inquiry into disability rights violations, with disabled people eagerly awaiting the outcome of this investigation.

European Commission figures released yesterday revealed that Britain spends less than the European average on supporting disabled people.

Overall social security spending in 2012 was above average at £6,959 — but Britain still spent less than 14 other countries on the continent, including France, Germany and Italy.

And Britain trailed even further behind when it came to spending on the most vulnerable in 2012. Just 6.8 per cent of welfare spending went to disabled people here, compared to a European average of 8.6 per cent.