Justice for Disabled People

“Evidence shows that disabled people were hardest hit by 14 years of austerity, with disproportionate numbers living in poverty. Improving the lives of disabled people must be a high priority for the Labour Government.”

By Barry Rodin

There are 14 million disabled people in the UK, with many different impairments, from physical to neurodiverse and from different backgrounds and living conditions. All deserve to live in an inclusive society, and lead a fulfilling life. In contrast many do not feel valued, and are discriminated and disconnected from society. Evidence shows that disabled people were hardest hit by 14 years of Tory austerity, the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, with disproportionate numbers living in poverty. Improving the lives of disabled people must be a high priority for the Labour Government.

Disability rights campaigning groups including Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and Disability Rights UK are calling for certain minimum objectives. Disabled people must fully participate across all political and public positions. Disabled peoples’ led organisations (DPOs) should be sufficiently funded to become effective advocates for disabled people.

There also needs to be an election fund to make reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates at local and national elections and improve accessibility standards for elections, including removal of voter ID.

All rights guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) must be incorporated into UK law, in conjunction with bringing into force all provisions of the 2010 Equality Act. This will help reduce discrimination and give greater protection for victims of disability hate crime and abuse by professionals and carers. Greater accountability by public bodies in enforcing these rights is critical.

The right to live independently is a primary goal, including free choice and control over support received. Homes need to be fully accessible and ideally close to family members, friends and community. Also required are major reforms and investment across social security, social care, education, housing and employment to provide disabled people of all ages, genders and backgrounds with a decent level of income and support.

Sanctioning disabled people if they fail to attend assessments, for example, due to their impairment or mental health, should be stopped. Disabled people must not be forced to live in institutions or accept medical treatment they do not want.

The needs of disabled people should be considered from the outset when planning for climate change, digital and technological development, education, health, housing, transport, street environment and emergency services. Disabled people working and learning in their own community must be supported, with a commitment to close the disability employment gap. Furthermore, they should be mentored by qualified and professionally trained people.

On the positive side, the new Labour Government has made some important commitments. All mainstream settings for education will be accessible and inclusive for disabled people. The disability employment gap will be closed by providing disability-responsive employment support.

More disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported in work; this includes devolving more power to local areas so they can provide an integrated work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of disabled people. Other pledges include:
• the stopping of non-consensual “do not resuscitate” notices for disabled people;
• enforceable standards will be introduced to ensure decent quality, well- insulated housing in private and social rented sectors;
• disability hate crime to be a criminal offence; and
• improvements to mental health services, including supporting those with autism and learning difficulties.

However, for many requirements, including representation, social care and transport there is little commitment. There are no specific financial guarantees for improving social care, which has almost collapsed. There is also concern that the Labour Government is not fully behind the need to codesign and coproduce improvements with the disability community.

There is anxiety on whether Labour will ditch the Tory plans to tighten the Work Capability Assessment from 2025. These will result in over 400,000 claimants with serious mobility and mental health conditions being denied extra universal credits amounting to over £400 per month, and protection from sanctions. Last April the UNCRPD reported that no progress had been made to redress the damning conclusions in their 2016 report that Tory austerity was leading to grave and systematic violations of disabled people’s human rights. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the new Labour Government to take action with disability organisations to provide justice, equality and inclusiveness for disabled people.

---

• This article was originally published in the September/October 2024 edition of Labour Briefing magazine.