'Spend a day in my lonely, scared life, Mr Starmer'

Vet's plea amid cuts fear

- By Eleanor Burleigh

A MILITARY veteran has challenged Sir Keir Starmer to spend a day in his "lonely and scared" life as disability benefit cuts loom.

The Government aims to reduce the number of claimants - there are 3.7 million of working age through changes to work capability assessments and the personal independence payment (PIP) plus a clampdown on benefits fraud.

Nick Wilson, who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Northern Ireland before leaving with a degenerative spinal injury, is among veterans "terrified" by the plans. He said ministers "jumped into disability benefits for money saving" without considering how it would impact vulnerable people such as himself.

Wheelchair user Nick, 48, who also has post-traumatic stress disorder, said: "Billions of pounds have been wasted on projects like HS2 so much money has been thrown away. Money needs to be saved. But surely there are other places we can look before attacking people like me. So many of us have no trust in the Government. Go for fraudsters absolutely, but leave us alone."

Homeless