Julie Minns: ‘Democracy suffers when blind and partially sighted voters can’t make their mark with dignity’
As a Member of Parliament, I always look forward to local elections. They’re a vital opportunity for communities to shape the future of their neighbourhoods, hold elected representatives accountable, and make their voices heard. There’s an unmistakable buzz in the air during campaign season — door knocking, lively debates, and a real sense of civic […]
Families deserve better than this broken social care system
Exhausting, gruelling and stressful – just some of the words parents have used to describe their experiences of the children’s social care system. It’s a system that exists to support disabled children across the UK, of which there are 1.8 million, but unfortunately the evidence points to a fragmented, underfunded and frankly broken system, that’s […]
How closing the disability employment gap can plug the Treasury’s fiscal ‘black hole’
The general public might be forgiven for being somewhat anxious about the forthcoming budget, given the months of talk of ‘black holes’ and hard choices. But new research from the Disability Policy Centre shows that not all reforms to drive economic growth must be framed as potential sacrifices or cuts: there are some areas where […]
The next government must show disabled people that they matter
After years of being neglected and sidelined, the next UK government must show disabled people that they do matter.
Marsha de Cordova: ‘The government is creating a hostile environment for disabled people’
Since 2010, successive Tory governments’ policies have resulted in unimaginable suffering for millions of disabled people from the inhumane conditionality and sanctions regime to the abolishing of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and replacing it with Personal Independent Payment (PIP). The cruelness and callousness of their policymaking can be seen with the UK being the first […]
We don’t need an inquiry to tell us the government has failed Disabled people
When the Equality Act was introduced in 2010, political commentators wrote about a momentous change to British society. “A public-sector duty to close the gap between rich and poor [which] will tackle the class divide in a way that no other policy has”, was how one journalist described it. Yet, when I gave evidence to the […]
Decision to ‘downgrade’ disabilities minister role met with anger from campaigners
The decision to not to appoint a new dedicated minister of state for disabled people has been criticised by rights campaigners. The move had been left vacant after Rishi Sunak’s mini reshuffle last week, which saw the previous minister for disabled people, Tom Pursglove, appointed minister for legal migration. The mini reshuffle came after Robert […]
Voter ID risks making Britain’s democracy less accessible to people with disabilities
The Electoral Commission’s report into the May 2023 local elections in England should be an alarm bell for ministers to wake up and support a system in need of reform before the forthcoming general election. Voter ID has increased pressure on already stretched local authorities, allowing cracks in the system to widen. In fact, the […]
Health benefits: ‘Disability assessment process needs changing’
The health assessment system for awarding benefits doesn’t “capture the needs” of disabled people, according to an expert in the sector.
Channel 4 is a game-changer for disability and sport
Helen Grant MP, Chair of Channel 4’s APPG in Parliament, on why the channel is a game-changer for disability and sport.
