No 10 will pass responsibilities to an existing member of government, which charities say is ‘retrograde move’
Rights campaigners have reacted with anger to the news that Downing Street will not appoint a new dedicated minister of state for disabled people, describing it as an “appalling and retrograde move”.
The position had been vacant since Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle last week, which the disability charity Scope said was the longest gap without a minister in post in the past 30 years.
Its director of strategy, James Taylor, who described the move as appalling and retrograde, added: “What kind of message does this give to Britain’s 16 million disabled people? That in the middle of a cost of living crisis we are now less important?”
The previous minister for disabled people, Tom Pursglove, was made minister for legal migration this month.
Mims Davies has been appointed minister for disabled people, but she remains a parliamentary undersecretary of state rather than becoming a minister of state, which Labour described as a “downgrade” of the post.
Vicky Foxcroft, the Labour MP and shadow minister for disabled people, said it was “outrageous it took the government so long to finally agree to appoint a minister for disabled people”.
She said: “When they finally do, they have demoted the role to parliamentary undersecretary of state and the role was previously minister of state. Disabled people deserve better than this.”
A government spokesperson said Davies would “build upon this government’s track record of supporting disabled people, having delivered millions of cost of living payments and helping over 1 million more disabled people into work five years earlier than planned”.
“The minister will help ensure there is always a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, while tearing down barriers so that every disabled person can realise their potential and thrive.”
A call had been made by the national disability charity Sense for a dedicated minister to be appointed as soon as possible to ensure the interests of disabled people were represented at a time of crisis.
Sarah White, the head of policy at the charity, said: “Disabled people have been hit hard by cuts to social care and the cost of living crisis, and are battling rising prices that have pushed far too many into debt.”
A No 10 spokesperson earlier denied that the role was being downgraded, given that the government now had two ministers responsible for migration.
“It’s not right. We will have a minister for disabled people who will lead on that important work,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said. “What you will continue to see is a government showing strong support for disabled people and for disabled issues.”
Claire Coutinho, Esther McVey and Mark Harper are current cabinet ministers who have previously held the dedicated role, which has been in existence since the 1990s.
Foxcroft and others also cited the absence of the publication of a disability action plan, which had been expected before the end of the year, and what she said was a “hardline” approach taken to compel people with disabilities into work without proper support.
There was strong criticism from charities last month when it emerged in the autumn statement that people with mobility and mental health problems would be asked to work from home or lose benefits.
Changes announced by the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, were part of a £2.5bn back-to-work plan to get more long-term unemployed people and those with health conditions and disabilities to seek employment.
Hunt said it was a “waste of potential” that more than 100,000 people were signed off every year on to benefits with no requirement to look for work because of sickness or disability.
Starmer… he’s not an at all an appetising prospect for voters. I won’t rejoice in him getting in BUT what I’ve been telling people is that they have to vote for Labour to punish the Conservatives because if they don’t punish them for Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak’s fuckups then they’re telling Conservatives that they don’t even need to be halfway competent.
I will say that the way that our system is currently set up the function of Labour is to ensure that no properly left-wing policies get enacted and none of the worst Tory laws get repealed.
Sorry, but categorically can’t agree there.
Fuck voting in red Tories to “punish” the blue Tories, the only ones being punished in this situation is us (especially those of us on benefits and/or asylum seekers). Fuck “lesser of two evils”, they’re both still evil. Fuck making the decent in to fascism slightly more comfortable for those privileged enough to not be directly impacted yet (not saying you are, or having a go at you, my criticism is 100% aimed at the system designed to trap us in this way by making people feel like voting one over the other makes any difference).
What I’ve been telling people is to stop playing along with this abusive theatre and use the opportunity they’ve been given to make their vote actually represent their voice.
If your local Labour/3rd party candidate isn’t a total neoliberal shit, by all means vote for them if you think they’ll make your community better, but not everyone has that luxury, and forcing people to vote for people who don’t represent them, is how you get people to stop voting altogether (again, by design, so only those with a vested interest = Tories, vote). Just imagine if everyone reluctantly voting for either party made a protest vote instead…
And that’s how we ended up with the coalition.
The problem being that our fellow Brits would enthusiastically go down the outright fascism route before they would ever countenance the things that you and I want. So if you did convince enough people with your argument Reform would be a significant part of the next government.
Again, I have to disagree. I think most people feel, because they are, trapped by this 2 party charade, and that once you show them another option, they would start shaking off some of the propaganda. (E: you mention the coalition, but that’s missing the point - a protest vote isn’t about getting anyone in to power, it’s about letting those in power know they don’t represent you, or even offer to)
Either way, change isn’t going to be achieved by vote (because even Labour getting in isn’t it by a long shot), we need a full blown revolution, but until then and while voting is the only way us “little people” can make our voice heard, I’m going to make mine, and encourage others to, voice their disapproval (that’s the whole point of the “neither” vote - and many more people than you think hate the Tories, they’ve just also been convinced to hate Labour more, this gives them a legitimate out).