Peter Beresford’s most recently published book, The Antidote, had its parliamentary launch event on the 17th July 2025, which you can watch on our YouTube channel, here: The Antidote – Parliamentary Launch, 17th July 2025

 

Briefing Note by Peter Beresford, OBE and Chair of Shaping Our Lives

The focus of this parliamentary launch event of The Antidote is how the destructive effects of neoliberalism, the dominant political ideology globally over the last half-century may at last be countered through the renewal of democracy, building on recent pressure to more inclusive participation in society, building on  the equalization of roles and relations with each other in our personal politics.

Recent high-profile attacks on disabled people’s welfare benefits have tended to be abstracted from this damaging ideology which has given rise to them, neoliberalism. This will be challenged at this launch and a different route map for the future explored.

One of the key social movements advancing these equality and social justice ideas and practices is that of disabled people – the subject of current attacks from neoliberal welfare benefit reforms. This launch will draw particularly on their contribution to a renewal of formal politics, that builds on progressive developments in our personal politics. High profile speakers will address some of the key issues for progressive political and social change, including building equal alliances, challenging unsustainable market forces, radicalizing Artificial Intelligence, restoring disabled people to the mainstream and recognizing our overlapping rights and interests as members of society.

The meeting is sponsored by Baroness Ruth Lister and John McDonnell MP, chaired by Ellen Clifford of DPAC and speakers will also include the author of The Antidote, Peter Beresford OBE

 

Speakers

Suzy Croft and Ellen Clifford, co-chairing the parliamentary launch event

Graham Price from Sandwell Visually Impaired,  who wrote and recited two poems (at the start and at the end) for this event

Ruth Lister, a tireless campaigner for human rights and social justice now working for those in the House of Lords

John McDonnell MP, a wonderful voice for honest and truthful politics, offering a view from the Commons

Sarah Carr, noted independent mental health and social care consultant

Jen Taylor, Gina Barrett, and Vic Forrect, representatives from Breaking Out the Bubble

 

Poems by Graham Price 

1st Poem – Change Please

Caring values seem to be held in low esteem,

In a world where conflict and mayhem reigns supreme.

Where to go from here, is renewal of purpose the right theme?

 

Let’s start by Adapting political stance and policy practice,

Giving people powered movements their rightful status,

And addressing the widening inequality, by any measure senseless.

 

Valuing one another and the roles we perform is another helpful reaction,

As well as unlocking the discriminatory restraints imposed by political traction,

All adding to achieving meaningful hope, the antidote in action.

 

2nd Poem – Please Change 

I’m in trouble, I’m upset, no it’s more, I’m distraught.

The world’s in a chaotic state and the change in climate poses yet another threat.

Wealth creation leaves me out on a limb and the widening inequality adds to me feeling out of place.

Something needs to change, call it renewal, whatever it is it needs to be at pace.

 

For starters, political direction , policy and practice are making things worse,

Adherence to caring values in steep decline,

My need is to be a member of a people powered movement that sets the course,

Of improvement to my life that to me feels proper and fine.

 

In a  world where co-operation shoves unhealthy competition aside,

A world where respect and dignity, afforded to all, ranges far and wide,

A world where politics and practice reflect compassion, not stick and carrot transaction,

A world begetting meaningful hope, the antidote in action.

 

Acknowledgements

Peter would like to thank Ruth Lister for sponsoring this meeting from the House of Lords and to John McDonnell for taking a lead in it from the House of Commons.

Many groups have come under attack because of the developments Peter referred to; refugees and asylum seekers, transgender people and most currently disabled people, and that’s influenced the shaping of today’s discussion. The event was supported by Policy Press, the University of East Anglia and the user-led organization Shaping Our lives.

 

You can download the auto-generated captions from YouTube here: Auto-generated Captions from 17 July 2025