The Highlands and Islands, with our unique landscapes, resilient communities, and vibrant cultures, are places where local contribution is not just valued – it’s essential.
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.
