Every individual, every family, plays a part in creating our beautiful, complex, and tough communities.

A lot of this richness is lost if disabled people aren’t empowered to be part of those communities.

In the ongoing public discourse surrounding social security, there’s a troubling trend towards dehumanising those who rely on support. We hear terms like “benefit scroungers” or debates about the “cost of welfare,” which strip away the fundamental truth: Social security is about human rights.

It’s about ensuring everyone has the ability to live with dignity, to participate in society, and to have their basic needs met, particularly when facing the additional challenges of disability.

Too often, we hear from London MPs words like “burden” – a particularly harmful and inaccurate framing of disabled people in a region like ours, where mutual support and local engagement are cornerstones of life.

As an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, and as a disabled person myself, I know intimately the vital role that social security plays in countless lives. These payments are not handouts; they are often the difference between independence and isolation, between managing a condition to the point where you can play an active role in your community and succumbing to its worst impacts.

They cover essential costs like accessible transport, specialist equipment, or simply the increased energy bills that come with managing certain health conditions.

These payments are often what enables the countless disabled volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to our local charities, community groups, even emergency services. They support our disabled artists, musicians, and storytellers – all crucial to our culture.

I’ve seen it first hand; disabled people who sit on local access panels, the Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH) who campaign for better services and reduced stigma for everyone, and the community at L’Arche Highland which enriches the area beyond measure.

I’ve been inspired by the energy at events like the Highland Parasport Festival, where young disabled people are not only finding their stride in sport but also building confidence and community.

The recent discussions emanating from Westminster, hinting at substantial cuts to disability benefits, are deeply alarming. The narrative often pushed is one of reducing “the welfare bill” by forcing people “back to work.” This fundamentally misunderstands the purpose of disability benefits and demonises those who receive them.

Many disabled people are in work, or want to work, but face significant barriers and additional costs. Cutting their lifeline will not magically create accessible jobs or reduce the cost of living; it will only plunge more people into poverty and despair.

The SNP understands that, we are committed to a different path. Through Social Security Scotland, we are building a system rooted in the principle of dignity, fairness, and respect.

This means moving away from the hostile environment of the DWP, with its punitive assessments and endless appeals, towards one that recognises the expertise of lived experience and trusts individuals to know their own needs. Our Adult Disability Payment is a testament to this, providing a far more compassionate and understanding process.

We must challenge the dangerous rhetoric that seeks to divide us and stigmatise disabled people. Instead of focusing on “cuts,” we should be discussing how to make our society truly inclusive.

This includes investing in accessible infrastructure, promoting inclusive employment practices, and ensuring that healthcare and social care services are robust and responsive to need.

In the Highlands and Islands, we know the power of community. We recognise that our collective strength lies in the inclusion and empowerment of all citizens.

Investing in robust, dignified social security is not just about alleviating hardship or showing compassion for our neighbours; it’s about investing in the resilience, diversity, and future of our region. It’s about ensuring that disabled people continue to play their huge, irreplaceable part in the vibrant life of the Highlands and Islands.

Featured image via Ssisabal / Shutterstock.

The ‘Shaw Trust’, a leading UK charity, is dedicated to improving opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged individuals, ensuring equity in education, employment, and community participation. Their annual Disability Power 100 Awards highlight role models, creating a platform to amplify their work and inspire future generations.

The event, supported by prominent sponsors such as Channel 4, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, and Google, demonstrated the collective effort to champion inclusivity.

“If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” encapsulates the ethos of the evening, recognising that visibility is key to breaking stereotypes and fostering representation.

Breaking Barriers and Dismantling Stereotypes

Host Fat Timbo, a comedian and influencer, set the tone for the evening by emphasising the importance of representation. “Recognition isn’t just about applause but showcasing talent, resilience, and hard work,” she said, highlighting the broader societal implications of events like these.

Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms MP echoed this sentiment in his address, underlining the urgency of removing systemic barriers: “Too often, society has missed out on talent and potential because barriers have held disabled people back. Those barriers do not need to exist.”

This theme reverberated across the speeches, with winners and speakers sharing their journeys of overcoming adversity to create lasting impact. From accessible fashion to inclusive design, the evening showcased how breaking barriers enables innovation and progress.

A Policy Perspective: The Government’s Role in Disability Inclusion

The role of government in advancing disability inclusion took centre stage during Stephen Timms MP’s address at the event. Timms acknowledged that the government has a pivotal responsibility in removing barriers and fostering a society where disabled individuals can thrive. He emphasised the need for collaboration: “In government, we are determined to work with and for disabled people, putting their views and voices at the heart of everything we do.”

He didn’t shy away from addressing past shortcomings, particularly systemic issues that have hindered progress stating that “we need to acknowledge that too often,

society has missed out on talent and potential because barriers have held disabled people back. Those barriers do not need to exist.”

Timms was candid about the role his own department has played in creating challenges, highlighting the need for immediate reform: “Let’s be frank: some of these barriers have been created by my department. People have been reluctant to try out work or be more active for fear of losing their benefits and ending up worse off. That needs to change, and I am determined that it will.”

Ending on a hopeful note, Timms called for collective action to harness the full potential of disabled individuals across society: “We need the full contribution of disabled people in every part of society. Let’s all work together to make great things happen.”

His speech served as both a reflection on past challenges and a call to action, signalling to attendees to hold the government accountable in creating a more inclusive future.

Celebrating Achievements Across Diverse Fields

The awards recognised individuals and organisations across categories, including business, arts, sports, and advocacy. Each winner exemplified excellence and innovation, challenging societal perceptions of disability:

• Politics, Law, and Media: Celia Chartes-Aris – An internationally recognised advocate who orchestrated the campaign to reinstate the Secretary of State for Disability role.

• Visual Arts, Fashion, and Design: Victoria Jenkins – A trailblazer in adaptive fashion, recognised globally for her innovative designs.

• Business and Finance: Robbie Crow – Advocating for disability inclusion in the workplace and leading the rollout of initiatives at the BBC.

• Transport, Rail, Service, and Hospitality: Josh Wintersgill – Founder of AbleMove, improving accessibility in travel and empowering outdoor exploration with all-terrain wheelchairs.

• Sports, Health, and Wellbeing: Ali Jawad – Founder of Accessercise, the first fitness app tailored for the disability community, and an advocate for inclusivity in sports.

• Science, Technology, Engineering, Property, and Construction: Max Fisher – A deaf-blind scientist championing inclusion in STEM.

• Cross-Sector Advocate: Lee Keogh – A dedicated leader improving accessibility in local businesses and fostering inclusive communities.

• Education and Research: Dr Nick Palfreyman – A researcher focused on documenting sign languages and empowering deaf communities worldwide.

• Performing Arts, Television, and Radio: Marc Brew – An internationally acclaimed disabled choreographer redefining accessibility in dance and theatre.

• Grassroots Community Advocate: Beth Moulam – A champion for augmentative and alternative communication, empowering others to find their voices.

Final Thought: A Call to Action

The Disability Power 100 Awards 2024 reminded attendees that progress in inclusion is not just possible but essential. The evening brought together visionaries and changemakers who are not only breaking barriers but also paving the way for future generations.

As Stephen Timms aptly stated: “Let’s all work together to make great things happen.”

The Disability Power 100 continues to inspire, challenging society to embrace inclusion as a fundamental principle. The stories and achievements celebrated during the evening demonstrated that when barriers fall, greatness rises.

To watch the event, please click here.

To access exclusive interviews from the evening, including insight from the judges and finalists, please visit Chamber UK’s YouTube Channel here.

We must never forget that the reason we are discussing assisted dying in the first place is because people in the UK are facing horrendous end-of-life experiences – until people are given a choice at the end of their lives, that conversation is never going to stop. In this exclusive op-ed, Nathan Stilwell highlights the urgent need for assisted dying reform in the UK, emphasising the suffering caused by current laws and lessons from compassionate practices abroad.

The Horrifying Reality of the Status Quo

In one of my first weeks working at Humanists UK, a man called the office asking to speak to me, saying he had inoperable skin cancer and wanted to die. I remember being absolutely clueless about what to say. He told me it hurt just to pick up the phone and that painkillers no longer had an effect. He wouldn’t give me his name or address, he just wanted me to speak to a doctor or someone who could help him end his life. I feel sorry that he had to speak to such a novice who could do nothing to help him – he never phoned back.

Unfortunately, if that same man rang again today, despite years passing and my understanding of the issue improving tenfold, it would still be the same devastating response. There is nothing I can do. The law at the moment specifically criminalises assisting or encouraging a suicide. If I tell someone to simply ‘Google it’, I’m breaking the law. It’s a human instinct to want to help, and it’s horrifying that the law stops this.

The law robs individuals of the choice of a dignified death and cheats their loved ones out of the peaceful chance to comfort them at the end, say goodbye and grieve. Dirk Vervoorts wanted to die a private and peaceful death, surrounded by his loved ones. Instead, because he openly and honestly expressed his wish to die, he took his last breaths in a bedroom full of police officers with police cars parked outside his home. Mandy Appleyard wanted to grieve the loss of her mother who she accompanied to Switzerland for an assisted death. Instead, for her act of love and compassion, she was treated as a criminal and investigated for two years.

This entire debate exists because the current system is broken.

From the Personal Stories to Clear Evidence

These aren’t anecdotes – they are the real, lived experiences of people living in the UK. More than one person a week is forced to end their life abroad, but that is only available to people with the funds and the physical ability to do so, making the current system discriminatory.

People are engaging in suicide pacts or mercy killings, a UK coroner said we can expect more and more of these traumatising deaths until we see some proper legislation.

Dying people are taking their own lives – people with a terminal illness are twice as likely to die by suicide and it is estimated that 650 terminally ill people do so a year and ten times that figure attempt suicide. These stats paint a horrifying picture of our end of life in the UK.

Refusing treatment, food and water is also legal in the UK, and many terminally ill people do it at the very end of their lives. Remember, all of this is happening without regulation and without safeguards.

You can’t ban assisted dying, you can only ban people doing it safely.

Even Some Natural Deaths Can Be Devastating

Despite the fact that the UK has the best-ranked palliative care system in the world, palliative care cannot ease everyone’s suffering. No doctor would ever claim they could ease all pain, and palliative care is no different.

The Office of Health Economics found that even if everyone received the best possible palliative care, at least 5,000 people per year would die without any effective pain relief in their final three months, and over 50,000 would be dying with some level of pain.

Looking Abroad

Recently, I ran into a young Dutch couple on holiday who asked me what I did. I meekly explained that my job is to campaign to change the law on assisted dying. They listened, jaws dropped and the man asked me ‘What, in the UK you just let dying people suffer?’. Their shock stayed with me. Assisted dying has been legal in the Netherlands for over 20 years. This young couple had grown up with the practice being available their entire lives, and it shocked them that some other progressive, forward-thinking countries were still so far behind.

In my work, I’ve spoken to doctors who are involved in this process in Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, the US and Australia. Despite these people being on different corners of the globe, all working in different and unique laws on assisted dying, doctors who assess individuals for eligibility recount the same thing. When a person is given the ‘green light’ to have an assisted death, their shoulders drop, they release a sigh of relief and they relax. They may never go through with it, but they know if the pain and suffering get too much, a choice is available.

Final Thought: My Body, My Choice

At the end of the day if the law changes, dying people will finally have a choice at the end of their lives. If the law doesn’t change, the suffering won’t stop and therefore the debate, and campaign, will continue.

At Humanists UK, we want a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We work to support lasting change for a better society, championing ideas for the one life we have. Founded in 1896, we are trusted to promote humanism by 130,000 members and supporters and over 120 members of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. Our expert policy team, drawing on external academic and legal support, play a significant role in shaping public policy in the UK.

To gain more insight into the proposed bill, please click here.

In an exclusive op-ed for Chamber UK, Claire Macdonald, Director of Development at My Death, My Decision, highlights the harm caused by the current law on assisted dying in England and Wales, emphasising the urgent need for reform. With a new bill set to be debated in Parliament next week, she argues for compassionate, regulated options to alleviate unnecessary suffering for patients and families.

My Death, My Decision wants mentally competent adults who are suffering from incurable conditions or terminally ill to have the choice of a medically assisted death.

Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has its second reading on the 29th of November. This Bill has the most robust safeguards and limited eligibility of any assisted dying legislation in the world. If MPs don’t vote yes to this Bill, then England and Wales are stuck with a law that’s outdated and cruel.

Why Support this Bill?

● It is what the public overwhelmingly wants. Parliament should respect the calls for change and allow adults of sound mind better choice at the end of their lives.

● Who precisely is being helped by banning a dying adult from seeking medical help to die? Who wouldn’t want someone they love to have the option to avoid the last few terrible weeks, when nothing more can be done?

● Three former Directors of Public Prosecutions have said the current law is “a real mess”.

● The Office of Health Economics estimates that 16,000 people a year in England are dying with pain not at all relieved, and even in an “aspirational, best case scenario where every patient receives the very best standard of care as provided in hospices, over 5,000 people die without any pain relief at all”.

● The Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry stated in countries where assisted dying has become legal, palliative care is not adversely impacted and in some cases improves rapidly.

● The Health and Social Care inquiry also said there’s no evidence of a “slippery slope” – if a country legislates for the terminally ill only, like Oregon and Australia, (and this Bill) that is where it stays. This Bill is for dying people only, to avoid the last few grim weeks and months. That is what MPs will be voting on. Not for people with mental health illnesses, not for the disabled, not for children. Saying Kim Leadbeater’s bill is a slippery slope towards uncontrollable eugenics is scaremongering of the worst sort.

● 31 jurisdictions permit medical assistance to die. Not one has sought to reverse their law.

Autonomy is Currently Being Denied – For Whose Benefit?

Around the world, public confidence in assisted dying remains high. Knowing there is a last resort choice gives comfort to many – and a third of people who are granted an assisted death find they can cope, and die without assistance.

There is no evidence that coercion is an issue. This bill makes it a specific offence to coerce someone – 14 years in prison. Putting it crudely, if a greedy relative wanted to get their hands on granny’s nest egg, coercing her to apply for an assisted death would be a very risky and uncertain way to seek to benefit – and there’d have to be two crooked doctors prepared to risk their careers and face a long prison term by colluding with the criminal relative. Do opponents of this bill seriously suggest there are British doctors this criminally inclined? Is this far-fetched risk important enough to ignore the 16,000 people dying each year in pain?

Under this bill’s safeguards, a dying person will be asked eight times to confirm their request – and they can change their mind at any time. A tiny theoretical risk doesn’t warrant a total ban and taking away everyone else’s right to autonomy.

Much of the opposition to assisted dying comes from fear of change and from an illiberal imposition of one group’s cultural or religious beliefs on another. Some groups are financed by conservative Christians who oppose gay rights and abortion. Is assisted dying to be England and Wales’s Roe versus Wade issue?

Support From 75% of Disabled People

Opponents claim to speak for all disabled people, saying assisted dying will change the way society treats them; that they’re “terrified”. Nuffield Bioethics states that 75% of disabled people in England support assisted dying. There is little acknowledgement by opponents that it can feel pretty terrifying if you have Motor Neurone Disease or stage 4 cancer and know that your future holds little but prolonged suffering.

The majority of disabled people want the same rights as others, and autonomy and choice is really important to all of us.

Palliative Care Cannot and Does Not Relieve All Suffering

Most British doctors support assisted dying and a recent nurses’ poll did the same. No doctor will be compelled to participate. My Death, My Decision hears from doctors and nurses who feel “scarred” by being begged by patients and their families for help to die and being unable to do anything.

It isn’t “palliative care versus assisted dying”. Most people who have assisted deaths have been in palliative care. It’s a perfectly rational act to reach a point where death is a preferable choice over say, vomiting up faeces or suffocating slowly, unable to communicate.

Palliative care cannot relieve all pain, and dying slowly, albeit peacefully, in a drugged haze is understandably a state many would choose to avoid. It’s already legal to refuse treatment, even if it hastens your own death. It’s legal for doctors to prescribe terminal sedation that might contribute to death over a number of days. I don’t understand how it can be more acceptable for someone to be helped to die slowly, often without consent or proper oversight, but the law doesn’t permit a person to voluntarily request medical help to die, having made a careful, well-informed choice, having said their goodbyes to their loved ones?

For someone who is dying or suffering from a condition like Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s or Motor Neurone Disease, that cause immense suffering sometimes for many years, just knowing that legal help to die is available when the time comes, is a huge comfort. It helps people to live longer, and better.

One British person a week travels to Switzerland for an assisted death. Nobody wants to die in an anonymous industrial estate, with the risk of 14 years in prison for a relative who goes with them. Most of us would prefer to die at home, with our family and friends with us.

Too many terminally ill people take their own lives. Some even refuse food and drink to end their suffering – how barbaric in 2024. My Death, My Decision supports better palliative care – but it can work alongside assisted dying, as it does in Belgium’s largely Catholic-run hospices. Saying that England and Wales must wait until our internationally recognised good palliative care is excellent for all ignores the current harm that will continue until this hypothetical perfect state is reached.

Whose Life Is it Anyway?

Clare lives in Devon. She has stage 4 cancer. She wants to live to see her daughters through university. Clare is grateful for every wonderful day, but her main anxiety is that her much-loved daughters should not have to witness her suffering unnecessarily at the end. Jean, 43, from East London, has an incurable, progressive condition that is gradually robbing her of her bodily functions – towards the end Jean won’t be able to swallow or communicate. Jean asserts her right as a disabled woman to choose the manner and timing of her death. Dave went to Dignitas with his wife, Christy, who had MS. Kay, a nurse of 40 years, saw her parents die terrible deaths and thought it would be better for her sister in a hospice – but no. Kay says she is making plans for an assisted death in Switzerland at some future date, because “I’m terrified of dying in this country”. That’s from a nurse with 40 years’ experience. What will Clare, Jean, Dave and Kay’s MPs say to them if they put assisted dying in the “too difficult” box, and don’t support this carefully written and highly safeguarded bill?

Evidence That Assisted Dying is a Compassionate and Safe Option

There are many new MPs in Westminster and it’s understandable that they are daunted by being asked to vote on such an important social change. But not voting is a vote for a totally unsatisfactory status quo, which is legally muddled, lacks compassion, criminalises someone for travelling with a loved one for an assisted death abroad and is causing untold physical and emotional suffering.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill isn’t being rushed through – it is ten years since the Supreme Court said Parliament should act. This issue has been thoroughly discussed and examined – there has been an assisted dying/assisted suicide inquiry by the Health and Social Care Committee, a Nuffield Citizen’s Jury, a Westminster Hall debate. Switzerland has permitted assisted dying for 80 years, Oregon and the Benelux Countries for over 25, traditionally Catholic Spain and Portugal most recently.

Assisted dying legislation is progressing in Scotland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland. England and Wales will soon be a speck on a map, surrounded by countries which are kinder and safer places to die.

We urge MPs to look at evidence from respected bodies such as Nuffield Bioethics, the Office for Health Economics, The Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry. Westminster should have the confidence to base their decisions on evidence, and vote in support of the Assisted Dying Bill.

Final Thought

A closing message from Terry Pratchett: “I would like to die peacefully with Thomas Tallis on my iPod before the disease takes me over and I hope that will not be for quite some time to come, because if I knew that I could die at any time I wanted, then suddenly every day would be as ­precious as a million pounds. If I knew that I could die, I would live. My life, my death, my choice.”

To read more opinions on the new Bill, please click here.

David Harper

Acting Managing Director of Community Health and Wellbeing

It’s widely recognised that a shortage of labour is one of the biggest obstacles to growth in the UK right now. But a record number of working age people experiencing ill-health is exacerbating the situation. A recent report by the Health Foundation made for grim reading: more than a fifth of the working age population have health conditions that restrict the type or amount of work they can do.

There was some good news though – we’re supporting more people back into work. Since 2013, the number of people in employment with ‘work-limiting conditions’ has more than doubled to 3.9 million. But these people are three times more likely to leave their jobs than those in good health. Clearly, more support is needed to unlock the potential of Britain’s hidden talent pool.

The Health-Employment Link

Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS in England addressed its role in helping people get back to work – not only to contribute to national prosperity, but also because the evidence is unequivocal that good work is good for our health. Experts agree that those with health conditions and disabilities should be supported to stay in or return to work, when possible, because it aids recovery, improves health, reduces poverty, and enhances overall well-being. But it’s not just these individuals that benefit, businesses could also benefit from a wealth of talent who could be adding real value with the right support in place.  

To reveal Britain’s ‘hidden talent’ we must remove the barriers preventing people from finding good work, whether physical (inaccessible work environments could lack ramps and accessible bathrooms), social (unconscious bias and/or lack of willingness to make workplace adjustments), technological (websites and systems not designed with accessibility features), or structural (lack of support for employers).

It’s something we understand at Shaw Trust, as a charity dedicated to helping people to find secure and meaningful work as the way to a better life. Our vision is a future where good employment is accessible to all in society, irrespective of their circumstances.

However, this is a big vision, requiring big changes to the way Britain thinks and works. We know we cannot do this alone, so partnership has become critical to our mission.

For example, historically, health and employment support have been accessed separately – you might go to your GP for a sick note, but you wouldn’t approach them for support with finding a job if your health has been a barrier. We’ve worked hard to change this, and now work with primary and secondary care as part of our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) programmes, becoming part of the health service by embedding our employment specialists in community health teams.

Shaw Trust: Transforming Lives Through Disability Employment Support

We’re currently Britain’s largest provider of IPS services, which supports people with mental and physical health problems to find jobs (and keep them, in difficult times), by providing personalised, wraparound support. This means that finding good work becomes a core part of the treatment a person receives, and that employment specialists work not only with the person looking for a job, but also with their GP, mental health support worker, and employer. To succeed, this kind of support must be local, and those providing it need strong local knowledge and relationships with health services, employers, and communities.

And it certainly is succeeding, with 40 – 50% of those referred through IPS programmes going on to find work, compared to 10 – 12% on traditional programmes. This has reduced the caseload for GPs, with fewer repeat visits from patients who have been successfully supported into work on the IPS programme. But perhaps the most powerful evidence is the difference it’s made to the lives of the people we support.

Case Study: Jamie’s Story

Jamie (52) was referred to our IPS programme in 2023. Diagnosed with psychosis and battling substance addiction, Jamie found himself stuck in a vicious cycle of despair. Through Shaw Trust’s IPS programme, and working with our team, Jamie rediscovered a long-buried ambition of becoming an actor.

They worked together to develop a plan – getting an equity card, securing an agent, and connecting with the right industry professionals. Jamie began to make industry contacts, and within months, had secured his first acting role in a short film. Shortly after, he was approached by CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) to record an advert, a project that aligned perfectly with his mission of sharing his story to help others see that recovery is possible.

Now, 2.5 years sober and drug-free, with two films and an advert under his belt, and more offers flooding in, Jamie’s career as an actor is only just beginning. But more than that, he is living his dream of making a difference.

Final Thought: The Path Forward

This is what IPS is about – not just getting people into ‘jobs’, but helping people find good work which aligns with their talents, interests, and values. And the evidence is clear – by removing barriers and offering the right support, we can tap into a wealth of hidden talent, which very well may be the key to solving Britain’s labour shortage.

To gain insight into Chamber UK’s other articles celebrating National Disability Awareness month, please click here.

The cross-party group of MPs are likely to ask Felicity Buchan MP, questions on a range of topics relating to disabled people’s experiences of finding suitable housing; the provision of support for disabled people to adapt their homes, including the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), and to what extent planning policy supports the delivery of accessible housing.

Connecting the Council to the Commons, Chamber UK has gained insight from councillors across the UK, including Councillor Peter Diplock, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor Jessica Lennox, Executive Member for Housing, Cross Gates and Whinmoor Ward Council, Councillor John Harrison, Cabinet Member responsible for Housing, North Tyneside Council, and Chris Willmore, Cabinet Member Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, Liberal Democrat Councillor for North Yale, on their perspective surrounding the current climate on disabled people’s experiences of finding suitable housing and the provision of support offered to them.

Funding Challenges in Disability Housing:

In both the social and private housing sector, there is a chronic shortage of specialist accommodation. For many, having to “make do” with what’s on offer, leads to compromises and challenges that make daily life more difficult than it needs to be. Whether that means sleeping in a living room as climbing the stairs is impossible; being unable to access full bathing or showering facilities; or being unable to cook in an unsuitable kitchen; things others take for granted are simply not available to an increasing number of residents.

Cllr. Peter Diplock claims that given the parlous state of local authority finance (an average reduction in government funding for LAs of 40% since 2010, and a £4bn funding gap over the next two years), the reliance on central government funding for adaptation is almost total. Yet the government have reneged on commitments to increase the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in line with inflation, and to take regional variations into account.

This leaves many families with a choice between finding the tens of thousands of pounds needed to supplement the DFG or continuing to struggle with an unsuitable home. These restrictions on funding, the existing shortage of specialist accommodation, all combined with increasing demand is part of the perfect storm we are seeing across the housing sector.

Cllr. Chris Willmore highlights that the government provides Disabled Facilities Grants of up to £30k to adapt a home. That figure was set in 2008. To have kept pace it would now be £47k, so in real terms we see a rapidly reducing amount of investment by central government. Given the financial pressures upon disabled people it is unrealistic to expect them to plug the gap – even if government thought it morally acceptable to transfer the cost of disability to the individual. Inclusion should be a shared social responsibility.

Similarly, the issue of funding is also brought to light by Cllr. John Harrison claiming that “The main difficulty we encounter with the DFG is the mandatory grant is still only £30000 which is insufficient for a lot of adaptations, in particular, extensions.  In North Tyneside we do have a discretionary element that allows us to provide an extra £15000 (approximately) but this is still insufficient to pay for an extension.”

‘Finance to improve local infrastructure on estates is reducing, so accessibility in the external environment is becoming more challenging.’

Councillor Jessica Lennox, Executive Member for Housing, Cross Gates and Whinmoor Ward Council.

Inclusive Design and Accessible Infrastructure:

Cllr. Diplock asserts that as time passes and existing housing stock gets older, it is increasingly difficult and expensive to adapt homes, with the changes becoming increasingly complex. There has been enormous growth in the use of private rented sector properties to house social tenants, but private landlords are often reluctant to make adaptations to their properties even when funding to do so is made available. This leaves much of the demand remaining with the local authority.

Cllr. Willmore write that “We need a change of mindset. We should be designing homes to be inclusive, lifetime homes, which work for everyone at all stages of life. They need to reflect the breadth of disabilities including physical, mental health/trauma, learning, neurodivergent, sensory….; the way needs change with time and the growing number of people experiencing multiple issues.  It requires a change which puts the disabled person at the centre. They are the expert in their disability and the life they want to lead. Our task is to find effective ways to enable them to live that life.”

Given the legacy of historic stock, Cllr. Willmore writes that a crucial contribution must come from new stock – public and private. As local authorities and social landlords we can make a difference with:

• More new stock being Accessible by Design
• Raising the percentage that are for social rent. 
• Increasing the percentage of those which are fully accessible.
• Pushing up the inclusion by design standards for market and Affordable Housing

South Gloucestershire Council has been doing this – achieving the highest level of all new social rented housing delivery nationally for 5 years running and delivering increasing numbers of inclusive by design homes. Their new Draft Local Plan sets a 40% social housing requirement and ups the design standard for market and affordable housing to Code M4(2), and to M4(3) on all older people’s accommodation. We have yet to see whether Central Government will accept this.

Fostering Cooperation to Enhance Disability Housing:

‘In Eastbourne we do all we can to maximise our specialist accommodation, and to make best use of the available grants for adapting housing to meet need. In our new-build council developments we make every effort to include accessible and adaptable properties as part of the process. Ultimately, without a comprehensive plan from either this or the next government to tackle the wider housing emergency the country is currently in, people with disabilities will continue struggling to find the right homes for their future.’

Councillor. Peter Diplock, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Eastbourne Borough Council

“We want everyone in South Gloucestershire to live in a healthy, affordable, low energy and low carbon, climate resilient home that meets their needs within a safe and thriving local community, which is accessible to all.  This includes making general housing more inclusive for independent living, as well providing more specialist supported living.”

“This fundamental reset requires the creation of wide partnership and shared priorities – home Choice, housing enabling, planning, social care, transport and placemaking and private sector buy-in. Yet this notion of cross boundary collaboration is not yet universal. The change starts with recognising the opportunities.

Chris Willmore, Cabinet Member Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, Liberal Democrat Councillor for North Yale

Final thoughts:

Insights from councillors across the UK shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by disabled communities, particularly concerning the chronic shortage of specialist accommodation and dwindling financial resources allocated for adaptation.

The prevailing funding challenges underscore the urgent need for increased government investment to bridge the gap between demand and available resources. Despite the critical role of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), the government’s failure to adjust funding in line with inflation exacerbates the housing crisis faced by disabled individuals and their families.

Moreover, the imperative for inclusive design principles and accessible infrastructure emerges as a pivotal theme, emphasising the necessity of prioritising accessibility in housing developments. A shift towards inclusive, lifetime homes is imperative, centering the needs and experiences of disabled individuals to foster a more inclusive and supportive housing environment.

Fostering collaborative partnerships across sectors is essential to enhance disability housing, necessitating a comprehensive plan from governments to address the broader housing emergency. Only through concerted efforts and shared priorities can we pave the way towards a future where every individual, regardless of ability, has access to safe, affordable, and inclusive housing options.

Check out Chamber UK’s work and latest articles on ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ here.

Disabled people constitute a significant, yet often overlooked, minority group, comprising approximately  24% of the population. As such, we should have a voice and influence in our democratic structures equal to our presence in society. If disabled people were represented in Parliament in proportion to the population, there would be 156 disabled MPs. Unfortunately, the reality falls far short, with only five MPs disclosing they have a disability.

If d/Deaf and disabled people are underrepresented, so too will be the issues unique to us and the voices of those who can speak to our specific experiences. Too many decisions are being made that affect our lives without us being properly represented, resulting in policies that fail to account for our specific needs and experiences.

With an election this year there is the opportunity for more d/Deaf and disabled people to be elected, but urgent action is needed to make this a reality.

Gendered aspect of representation

This underrepresentation becomes even more pronounced when considering the gendered aspect, as women are statistically more likely to be disabled than men. This is compounded by the enduring underrepresentation of women in Parliament, where we make up only 35% of MPs despite constituting 51% of the population.

Having contested the GLA election in 2021, I faced additional costs as a disabled candidate. This was the impetus for me establishing the cross-party  Disabled Women in Politics Network, in order to address the particular issues faced by disabled women seeking to progress in politics. The regular roundtables provide a space for disabled women to come together and share our experience and learnings, and to take forward campaigns to remove the barriers we face.

Barriers to elected office

There are a multitude of barriers to elected office for d/Deaf and disabled people, including financial, attitudinal, and the lack of an accessible environment. Disabled women can face double discrimination for being disabled and female.

Being disabled costs more and therefore contesting an election as a disabled candidate necessarily incurs extra costs. Beyond the typical campaign costs faced by all candidates, we encounter additional disability-related expenses. For instance, these may include increased travel costs for people with mobility impairments to attend hustings and campaign events, or the provision of British Sign Language interpreters for d/Deaf people.

Financial support for disabled candidates

Financial support is essential to level the playing field for d/Deaf and disabled people seeking elected office. d/Deaf and Disabled candidates used to be able to access funding to cover their extra costs through the EnAble Fund (previously the Access to Elected Office Fund). However, despite evidence that such a fund is still necessary, the Government has so far failed to re-establish it.

The Government’s recently published Disability Action Plan commits to working with disabled people to establish a new fund in 2025. Whilst this is welcome, it will have no impact on the upcoming General Election, and we will have missed an important opportunity to make our democracy more representative.

Action is needed now

Urgent action is needed to ensure that d/Deaf and disabled candidates get the support we need to contest the upcoming General Election. The remaining parliamentary selections are now happening at pace, and will be completed very soon. Many d/Deaf and disabled people may already have been discouraged from contesting because of uncertainty about funding.

Past iterations of the Fund have demonstrated a positive impact, and the previous model could serve as a blueprint for establishing a temporary fund while a more permanent solution is devised. Money could be set aside immediately as the infrastructure template, although not perfect, is already there.

Cross-party support

Centenary Action’s joint campaign, with Disability Rights UK and Disability Policy Centre, for the reinstatement of the Access to Elected Office Fund has secured broad support from across the political spectrum. Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper, a long-standing supporter of reinstating the fund, states that ‘disabled people are now not having their voices heard in Parliament’ due to the withdrawal of funding. Labour Peer David Blunkett has also supported the campaign, arguing for more local, mayoral, and Westminster candidates to be supported ‘who have life experience of disability’.

Moreover, candidates need to know they will have the additional funding they require in order to be able to contest elections. The Minister for Disabled People, Mims Davies MP, has also engaged positively, agreeing that ‘increasing the representation of disabled people is an important issue, and that we must work to help to remove the barriers which many disabled people face in accessing elected office.’ With cross-party agreement that the barriers to increasing disabled representation need to be removed, we hope this issue can be addressed with the urgency it deserves.

Benefits of diverse representation

Ensuring that d/Deaf and disabled people can contest elections and access elected office, is crucial not only for representation and diversity, but also for an inclusive, effective, and well-functioning democracy. Having d/Deaf and disabled people as elected representatives who can advocate for accessibility and inclusion benefits everyone.

Barriers that particularly exclude d/Deaf and disabled people from contributing to governance at all levels, means that as a country, we are missing out on a huge talent pool. To draw on all the available talent, we must dismantle the barriers that all d/Deaf and disabled people face, and especially those barriers faced by disabled women.

Practical Actions to Transform Lives

The Government’s new plan sets out 32 ‘practical actions’ aimed at transforming the lives of disabled people. Measures include access to new online resources to help councils create more accessible spaces such as playgrounds and also initiatives to help disabled people get into elected office. The UK will also explore seeking to host the 2031 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

The plan has been informed by the views of over 1,3000 disabled people, their families and interested parties.

Specific actions include:

• a new fund to support disabled people who want to be elected to public office
• building an online information hub for local authorities on creating accessible playgrounds
• a new working group to educate businesses on the legal rights of assistance dog owners and make it simpler to report when they are refused access to a business
• leading new research into emerging issues affecting disabled people in the UK over the next 20 years

Enhancing Disability Access

The Disability Action Plan sits alongside the National Disability Strategy which outlines the Government’s long-term vision for transforming disabled people’s lives for the better.

It also builds on the Government’s employment and welfare reforms – including the new £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan which will help thousands more disabled people and people with health conditions to start and thrive in work. Along with this, the Government asserts that the Chance to Work Guarantee will tear down barriers by getting rid of the fear of reassessment that we know many disabled people who want to try work still face.   

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Mims Davies MP, said “We are building on this government’s really strong track record of supporting and delivering for disabled people by using their key feedback to deliver vital, everyday changes to their lives and we have listened to their asks and are truly determined to deliver on them. This new wide ranging plan means disabled children can rightly enjoy the fun of the playground, disabled customers can use the services they’re entitled to and businesses who break laws around assistance dogs will be firmly held to account amongst other impactful changes”.

Responses

Sport England CEO and Disability and Access Ambassador for Sport and Physical Activity, Tim Hollingsworth said “I support the government’s plans to explore hosting the 2031 Special Olympics World Summer Games. As an event it is both important as the pinnacle event for athletes across the world and inspiring and uplifting for everyone who attends or is involved. As a passionate advocate for disability sport, I am eager to explore the tangible benefits that could come from this initiative in this country, as well as the other more immediate actions in the Disability Action Plan, all aimed at improving the lives of disabled people”.

However, some campaigners have been critical of the announcement. Rachel Charlton-Dailey, a disability activist and journalist, posted on X: “It doesn’t matter how accessible you make the country if disabled people can’t even survive the winter. There’s literally nothing on how they’ll help to make work more accessible for disabled people.”

Richard Kramer, chief executive of the national disability charity Sense, said “While it’s a relief to see Government has listened to the feedback on its Disability Action Plan and created more ambitious proposals than previously published, the proof, as always, will be in the pudding. The Government has set itself six and 12-month reporting milestones, and Sense will be monitoring these carefully to see if the plan turns into actions.

Kramer added “We know from our research that the issues that matter the most to disabled people include pressures from the increasing cost of living, challenges with the benefits system and the ongoing social care crisis. These require long-term solutions to create a just society for disabled people. In a year where we will be heading to the polls, we hope to see all parties commit to creating the bold changes disabled people desperately need.”

A spokesperson for Scope said: “This plan includes some positive short-term actions. But it needs to be properly resourced if it’s to improve the day-to-day lives of disabled people. In the long term, new approaches are urgently needed. Disabled people are too often marginalised. Whether it’s at work, navigating public services, or when bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis. This plan doesn’t exist in a vacuum, either. The Government has spent much of the last year making disabled people’s lives harder. Whether it’s failing to grasp the scale and impact of the cost of living crisis or making the benefits system even more hostile. This must change”.

Final Thought

While the Government’s Disability Action Plan demonstrates some positives, it is vital that ministers are held to account and maintain their promises. Moreover, the plan lacks solid mechanisms to assist disabled people with the cost-of-living crisis.

Last year, Chamber hosted an interview between Marsha de Cordova MP and Scope. Marsha is hugely passionate about the lives of disabled people in the UK – as someone who is registered blind, she empathises with disabled individuals who are incurring financial burden due to the cost-of-living crisis and is keen to push the Government to take action.

Watch the full video here:

Ben Howlett

Chief Executive, Curia

As the Government unveils the new WorkWell pilot initiative to Integrate Work and Health Services across 15 local areas with £64 million in funding, CEO of Curia Ben Howlett asks if this is a gimmick or something that will transform lives?

In a move to enhance the integration of employment and health support, the UK Government has unveiled the WorkWell pilot initiative, backed by £64 million in funding across approximately 15 local areas.

In a move to enhance the integration of employment and health support, the UK Government has unveiled the WorkWell pilot initiative, backed by £64 million in funding across approximately 15 local areas. Addressing Chief Executives of Integrated Care Boards and Local Authorities, Alex Fitzpatrick, WorkWell Deputy Director, expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of fostering collaboration to support the fourth pillar of Integrated Care Services (ICS).

WorkWell, unveiled during the Spring Budget 2023, aims to seamlessly integrate local employment and health support for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, facilitating their journey to start, stay, and succeed in work. The initiative aligns with the Government’s broader agenda to harmonise work and health support and encourages local partnerships to participate in testing future government work and health initiatives.

WorkWell a ‘place-based’ Approach

The pilot initiative, set to follow a place-based approach in alignment with ICS’s strategic aims, underscores the importance of good-quality work for the economic, mental, and physical health and well-being of communities. The WorkWell service, locally led and designed, will respond to the unique needs of each area’s population.

Chief Executive Matthew Taylor of the NHS Confederation welcomed the Government’s emphasis on local leadership, highlighting the potential for WorkWell services to contribute to better health and well-being in communities. Recognising the correlation between good-quality work and health outcomes, Taylor emphasised the role of work in preventing health deterioration and reducing pressure on health services.

The WorkWell initiative encompasses two principal components of funding. Firstly, £3.5 million is allocated for new Work and Health Integration leadership posts within Integrated Care Boards, aiming to boost leadership capacity across local partners. Secondly, approximately £57 million will be available for Integrated Care Boards, in collaboration with local authorities and Jobcentre networks, to design and deliver WorkWell pilot services. The funding spans 2023/24 to 2025/26 and includes a National Support Offer to facilitate shared learning and provide expert support to local WorkWell services.

The WorkWell pilot areas, not confined to predetermined geographies, will be selected through a grants competition, and applications will be accepted from local partnerships of Integrated Care Boards and local authorities. Each area will be required to specify the number of participants they expect to support, contributing to the overall aim of assisting 59,000 individuals over the life of the WorkWell pilot.

The three core objectives for WorkWell vanguard areas include delivering a holistic work and health service, advancing an integrated local work and health strategy, and participating in a national learning programme. These objectives underscore the initiative’s commitment to providing comprehensive support, fostering collaboration among local service providers, and contributing to a broader national learning framework.

The forthcoming WorkWell prospectus, set to be published in the coming weeks, will provide detailed information on the application process. Interested areas will express their interest in becoming a vanguard area, with successful applicants to be announced by April 2024. Upon selection, vanguard areas will be tasked with developing fully costed delivery and workforce plans, preparing for the implementation of WorkWell services from April to September 2024, and going live with local services from October 2024, subject to approval.

As the details in the letter may be subject to change, applicants are advised to stay informed, with decisions related to proposed grant funding subject to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) governance. Alex Fitzpatrick expressed anticipation for the collaboration and delivery of this promising initiative, emphasising its potential impact on communities across the nation.

Reforming Disability and Illness Benefit: What is the Government Proposing?

Final Thought:

Is the WorkWell announcement a gimmick, or something that will actually transform lives? The effectiveness of the WorkWell announcement hinges on several key factors that will be crucial in determining its impact on the integration of employment and health support in the UK. Firstly, the successful selection and engagement of approximately 15 local areas through a grants competition will be pivotal. The ability of these areas to effectively implement and tailor WorkWell services to the unique needs of their populations will be a significant measure of success. Given the variability of the service delivery sector in disparate communities across the UK, this is likely to be challenging.

Furthermore, the allocation of £64 million in funding across the selected areas, particularly the distribution between new Work and Health Integration leadership posts and the collaboration with local authorities for designing and delivering pilot services, will play a critical role. The utilisation of this funding to enhance leadership capacity and develop innovative, locally responsive initiatives will be indicative of the initiative’s potential impact.

In fairness to the Government, the comprehensive approach outlined, focusing on a holistic work and health service, integrated local strategy, and participation in a national learning program, sets a robust framework and should be welcomed. The successful achievement of these core objectives will demonstrate the initiative’s commitment to providing effective support, fostering collaboration, and contributing to a broader national learning framework.

Ultimately, the assessment of the WorkWell announcement’s effectiveness will be contingent on its ability to translate funding and strategic objectives into tangible improvements in the wellbeing and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities or health conditions, aligning with the broader vision of ICSs. Given that many ICSs remain unable to deliver even a minimum standard of service, it is important for the Government to choose areas that appropriately established to ensure that the programme delivers as effectively as possible.

Dehydration

Dehydration poses a particular risk for people with dementia, as memory problems can lead them to forget to drink enough water. To address this concern, the Alzheimer’s Society recommends several strategies during hot weather:

• Leaving glasses or jugs of water within easy reach.
• Sharing a drink with the person.
• Leaving reminders to drink.
• Providing high-water content foods.

Anna Smith, Head of Involvement at Alzheimer’s Society, emphasized the importance of safeguarding people with dementia during hot weather. She stated, “People should absolutely enjoy the nice weather we’re finally having, but it’s important to note that high temperatures can lead to severe health problems for people with dementia unless they take special precautions to keep cool and well-hydrated.”

Smith added, “As the temperatures rise this week, we are urging families and carers to check in on people with dementia to make sure they are staying hydrated, wearing light clothes, and keeping out of direct sun. Popping round to check on a neighbour, friend, or family member with dementia can help keep them safe during the hot weather.”

Tips for staying cool in hot weather

As well as keeping the person with dementia hydrated, other steps can be taken to help them stay safe when the temperature soars, including: 

• Making sure the person is dressed appropriately – Light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibres can help keep people comfortable and prevent overheating. A hat or cap for outside is also a good idea.
• Keeping the house as cool as possible – Keeping the curtains or blinds closed during the day – especially in sunny, south-facing rooms – can help to keep things cool. In the evening, open the windows to let the warm air out and colder air in. 
• Avoiding the midday sun – We’re advised to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day between 11am and 3pm. If you’re out and about, seek out plenty of shade. Wear a hat and keep a bottle of high factor sunscreen on you, and make sure it’s reapplied regularly. 
• Finding ways to cool off – Try putting a frozen bottle of water or ice pack next to a fan, for some DIY air-conditioning. Or place a washcloth and some iced water nearby. 
• Asking friends and neighbours to pop in and check the person is ok – If you don’t live near the person or are worried about someone – ask a friend or neighbour to pop in and make sure they’re ok. 

Photo Credit: Bodomi

Supporting people with disabilities

Figures have shown around 2.5 million Britons are missing from the jobs market because of medical conditions. The Government has pledged £2 billion worth of investment to help those with long-term illnesses and disabilities get into work as allowing more flexibility within the workplace would enable them to “move off benefits and towards the jobs market”.

Mel Stride announced that changes to the Work Capability Assessment are being considered as this test which supposedly establishes how much a disability or illness limits someone’s ability to work is now outdated. Stride says that new plans will take into account the capacity for people to work from home and provide those who can with “better access to employment opportunities from the rise in flexible and home working”.

The proposals include:

• Updating the categories associated with mobility and social interaction
• Reflecting flexible and home working – and minimising the risk of these issues causing problems for workers
• Providing “tailored support” for those found capable of work preparation activity in light of the proposed changes

Stride told the Commons “we know many people who are on out-of-work benefits due to a health condition want to work, and, assisted by modern working practices, they could do so while managing their condition effectively. We have seen a huge shift in the world of work in the last few years, a huge change that has accelerated since the pandemic. This has opened up more opportunities for disabled people and those with health conditions to start, stay and to succeed in work.”

An 8-week consultation will take place, with the Government hoping to implement plans by 2025. Stride confirmed that the changes would not affect those at the end of their life, or with severe learning difficulties or disabilities.

Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt announced plans to completely scrap work capability assessments when he announced his first spring Budget. The DWP says these latest proposals are “designed to help pave the way towards the landscape of support and work incentives that will be offered” when the assessments are eventually scrapped.

Responses

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “work transforms lives” and the proposed changes would ensure “no one is held back from reaching their full potential through work”.

However, Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall stated that the proposals as “tinkering at the edges of a failing system”. She said: “If you run your NHS into the ground for 13 years and let waiting lists for physical and mental health soar, if you fail to reform social care to help people caring for their loved ones, and if your sole aim is to try and score political points rather than reforming the system to get sick and disabled people who can work the help they really need, you end up with the mess we have today.

“A system that is failing sick and disabled people, that is failing taxpayers, and failing our country as a whole. Britain deserves far better than this.”

Furthermore, some charities have voiced their concerns. James Taylor, executive director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said this move could force people to work when they are not well and that this could make them even “more ill”.

“If they don’t meet strict conditions, they’ll have their benefits stopped. In the grips of a cost-of-living crisis this could be catastrophic,” he added as he urged the Government to ensure new employment support for disabled people is “flexible, and voluntary”.

Sarah White, head of policy at national disability charity Sense also warned the plans could “cause huge anxiety for disabled people up and down the country”.

“We’re seriously concerned that if the government does overhaul its assessment process without putting any additional support in place, then disabled people are just going to be put under more pressure to find work, without having the support they need to do so,” she said.

Final thought

Putting measures in place to enable those with health conditions to work from home through flexible arrangements symbolises progression towards a more inclusive society. However, this must be treated with caution. The post-pandemic drive to encourage more people with long-term conditions and disabilities into the workplace due to the rise of working-from-home, could force unwell people back into work and cause anxiety. It is vital that people with disabilities and illnesses maintain access to state welfare.

However, pulling out at the last moment, ministers said they would meet UN officials in March 2024 instead. This has caused much controversy and campaigners have voiced their criticism.

UK disability rights

Following the 2016 report, the UK published responses to the UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)’s recommendations in 2018, 2021 and 2022 and was due to give a further update this year. After the UK delegation’s no-show on Monday, the CRPD held a follow-up feedback session with British disability rights groups. A committee spokesperson advised the group to raise the postponement of the review with the UK government.

Linda Burnip, co-founder of the Disabled People Against Cuts campaign, said the government’s no-show was “very offensive” to the UN’s disability committee. She said her group “has no paid staff and our main core funding is from supporters’ donations, so frankly if we can meet deadlines I think it’s a disgrace that the government can’t too”.

Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, said people from disabled rights organisations attended the meeting in Geneva this week despite the huge challenges of inaccessible and unfriendly flights, hotels, and transport. He asserted that the Government’s failure to attend “signals the low priority they give to disabled people and the worsening inequalities we face”.

“No one from the UK government was there to hear the facts, figures and stories of increasing poverty, lack of support, inaccessible services and infrastructure that limit the life chances of disabled people.” Mallick continued.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was among the organisations to give evidence to the committee in Geneva. In a report submitted to the UN, the EHRC said some of the recommendations made by the 2016 inquiry had not been delivered. Rachel Albinson, Head of Human Rights Monitoring at Equality and Human Rights Commission, said there was concern that the “grave and systemic” violations the committee found during its inquiry persisted, and more recent changes had exacerbated many of the issues as disabled people continue to face discrimination in the UK, and the situation is worsening, particularly in light of current cost-of-living pressures.

In a letter to Kemi Badenoch, the Minister for Women and Equalities, and Minister for Disabled People Tom Pursglove, the EHRC said it was disappointing the UK government has postponed its participation in the UN committee’s review. The Scottish Human Rights Commission, which co-signed the letter, said the delay “risks sending the message that disabled people’s rights are not a priority” with Jan Savage, executive director asserting that “the UK government must take its human rights obligations seriously and fully cooperate with the international accountability processes it has signed up to”.

The UK Government’s response

The Government claims that it has followed all of the committee’s required procedures and was committed to the “advancement of rights for disabled people in this country”.

Last month, the Government also launched a consultation on its Disability Action Plan. An Equality Hub spokesperson said work had been undertaken to reform the disability benefits system and investing £2bn to support sick and disabled people back into work.

Final thought

Disabled people and supporting organisations have the right to feel let-down. The failure of the Government to attend the UN meeting symbolises a lack of consideration for disabled people in the UK. With disabled people being among those hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis, a no-show from ministers reveals that the well-being of disabled people is not one of their priorities.

Recently, Chamber UK hosted an interview on the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on disabled people between Marsha de Cordova MP and Scope.

Watch the full video here: