This week however, 7 days after the election, many Disabled Peoples organisations, charities and Disabled activists are feeling deflated. As the new cabinet is rapidly assembled and names are applied to various governmental departments, the role of minister for Disabled people is still seemingly vacant.
Under the conservative government the position of disability minister changed hands numerous times and was at one time removed from government only to be re-installed, albeit at a junior level, after a mass outcry from DPOs and charities. The concern now from the Disabled community and its representatives is that history will be repeating itself under this new administration.
DR UK, as the UK’s leading organisation led by, run by, and working for Disabled people has become increasingly concerned about a lack of dialogue from Labour over this issue. It was noticed that the previous minister for disability in the shadow cabinet, Vicky Foxcroft has now been made Junior Lord of the Treasury, moved on from the post in which she made great relationships with organisations such as DR UK and many more.
As time moves on, it appears that all ministers are in place with portfolios to be announced. DR UK has written to the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer to ask where and who the new minister for disability is, and to empathise the need for urgency in filling the post as Disabled people across the country are looking to this new government in the hope of a positive change to their lives.
The letter sent to the PM today reads:
“We are writing to you on behalf of Disabled people’s organisations and the UK’s 16 million Disabled citizens, to ask why on day 7 of your new Government, a Disability Minister hasn’t yet been appointed.
Disabled people experience considerable inequality and injustice, many of us live in poverty due to inadequate benefits and incomes, have low educational attainment, face barriers to entering and staying in work. Lack social care and SEND support, struggle to access the NHS and experience barriers in respect of housing, transport, information and the built environment.
It is absolutely essential that the Labour Government tackles these inequalities and develops a transformational plan for change. To do this, we need a Disability Minister with the authority to take a cross-government approach, provide direction to Departments, engage with Disabled people and our organisations and track and monitor change.
We need a Disability Minister with the authority to act and inspire coordinated government action. We need a Disability Minister to work with Disabled people, to understand our experiences and to create a just society. We need a Disability Minister to develop an agenda for change that is supported across government.”
DR UK policy and campaigns officer Dan White said, “While we appreciate that a new Government needs to take its time and get its feet under the table, it seems poor that a minister with responsibility for over 16 million people should be left to last.”
“This is not about us being impatient, this is about us being recognised and valued. It is poor play to promise in your manifesto “Championing the rights of Disabled people and the principle of working with us, so that our views and voices will be at the heart of all they do” when a minister to help build bridges and undo 14 years of conservative fiscal brutality is nowhere to be seen.”
“This position must, to placate and reassure people, be filled by the weekend, or trust will be damaged between community and government before the dust of political change has settled.”