Angus Beaton

A WOMAN has warned of the consequences of stopping disability benefits after her brother died from a drug overdose.

Camden Town resident Alison Charlton said she feared “people will die” as a result of Labour’s plan to cut personal independence payments (PIP) She said her brother Angus Beaton’s life changed for the worse when his PIP was axed under the Conservative government.

The 69-year-old fell into a life of despair and drug use before his death in 2019.

Mr Beaton, who was originally born in Zambia, worked as a financial journalist in South Africa and then moved to London and lived in the Casterbridge estate in Abbey Road.

He suffered from a deteriorating spine condition, blamed on hard work in his later career as a French polisher – polishing antiques.

“He was in agony most of the time and to see him hobbling around with a stick was awful,” Ms Charlton said.

“It just got progressively worse. He had to stop working when he was about 63 because it became too painful to bend over. He went on benefits.”

A painting of Angus Beaton

PIP made a “huge difference in his life”, she said.

“He could get cabs and stuff like that. It gave him a level of independence, which is why it’s called personal independence. To just cut it without any warning, overnight. Bam, gone. It was just ridiculous.”

Mr Beaton did not have enough money to live.

Despite being prescribed strong painkillers which he took every day, he used heroin to help manage his pain, which his sister thinks was a response to his loss of personal freedom.

“I used to get so angry with him,” she said.

“He used to take great pride in his plants and his books. And I could just see him slowly deteriorating. His plants were dying, his books got dusty, he just kind of gave up.”

Ms Charlton was thrilled when he told her that he was going to challenge his PIP getting cut.

“It took nearly two and a half years to actually get them to court. It just wore him down. He had to send X-rays of his spine. He had to get his drug counsellor and doctor to back him up. It was horrible for him. The letter from the doctor said this isn’t going to ever improve. There’s no operation. There’s nothing. His back is only going to get worse. He genuinely couldn’t work.”

He won and “was over the moon”, but it took another year before the money was reinstated to him. He was sent £7,000, and within two months he died from an overdose.

She said: “He went on a binge. I got his bank statements after he received the money, and he was taking out £100 a day to buy heroin. It was really sad. It’s just a ghastly outcome. I miss him.”

She added: “It’s exactly the same now. It’s history repeating itself. It’s callous, unfair, unnecessary. This government is so Tory it’s unbelievable. They may as well be Tories.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Our social security system must be there for all of us when we need it, now and into the future. That means helping people who can work to do so, protecting those most in need, and delivering respect and dignity for all.

“Millions of people have been locked out of work, and we can do better for them. Disabled people and those with health conditions who can work deserve the same choices and chances as everyone else.”