Burnham considers invitation to meet disabled activists when they celebrate UN anniversary in Manchester

Disabled people’s organisations have asked the prime minister to meet them at the new No 10 North in Manchester when they protest about the government’s disability rights track record next month.

Disabled activists, led by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), will be holding a rally outside No 10 North on 4 December to celebrate 20 years since the United Nations adopted (pdf) the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in December 2006.

But they are so worried about Labour’s approach to disability rights since it won power in July 2024 that they are in discussions with the UN committee on the rights of persons with disabilities about whether the government could have breached the treaty.

If the UN committee decides to launch an inquiry into possible breaches of the convention, it would be a huge embarrassment for the Labour government, which has dragged its feet on producing a disability strategy since coming to power more than two years ago.

But the disabled people’s organisations supporting the protest and rally on 4 December say they want to discuss their concerns with Andy Burnham (pictured, right) before they “pursue a formal route with the UN”.

They are particularly worried about the government drawing up policy on social care and social security “without proper consultation and co-production”.

They want to discuss how the government could incorporate the UN convention into UK law, an issue that has proved hugely controversial for Labour in recent years, with the party’s position fluctuating significantly.

But they also want to point to how Burnham helped set up, and then worked closely with, Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel, when he was mayor of Greater Manchester.

Since it was founded in 2019, the panel has influenced policy, culture and practice across public bodies in the Greater Manchester area, and carried out vital research.

The letter to Burnham says: “DDPOs* have the answers for how to improve these issues because we are the people using these services and experiencing the barriers accessing them.

“We also have great expertise in running organisations that serve our community.

“We hope you will accept our invite to meet with us and open a new and innovative level of dialogue and partnership with d/Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations to ensure policy is made with us, and not just about us, without us.”

DPAC previously persuaded the UN committee to launch an inquiry into breaches of the convention by the 2010 Conservative-led coalition, which led to a finding in November 2016 that those breaches had been both “grave” and “systematic”.

Most of the breaches – which were all under articles 19 (independent living), article 27 (work and employment) and article 28 (adequate standard of living and social protection) of the convention – were caused by policies introduced by Conservative ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions between 2010 and 2015.

It was the first such high-level inquiry to be carried out by the UN committee and was a result of years of research and lobbying by DPAC.

The rally in Manchester will take place from noon on Friday 4 December, the day after the international day of disabled people, and will be followed by a celebration of the UN convention at 2pm in a nearby venue.

Among the issues it will highlight are the need for “independent living not social care”, inclusive education, accessible housing, deinstitutionalised mental health care, an end to cuts to social security, and co-production of policy.

The event is supported by many of England’s leading disabled people’s organisations and networks, including Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Reclaiming Our Futures Alliance, Inclusion London, People First (Self Advocacy), The Alliance for Inclusive Education, Disability Rights UK and DPO Forum England.

DPAC is appealing for funds to cover the cost of next month’s celebration, rally and protest.

No 10 told Disability News Service this week that it would reply to the invitation in due course.

The government said it remained committed to the UN convention, which was ratified by the UK in 2009, and was continuing to comply with its obligations.

But it currently has no plans to incorporate the convention into domestic law.

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to boosting opportunity and championing the rights of disabled people.

“The government announced that it will develop a Plan for Disability which will set out a clear, long term vision that shows what this government aims to achieve in partnership with disabled people.

“We work closely with disabled people and their representative organisations to ensure that their needs and voices are at the heart of everything we do.”

*Deaf and disabled people’s organisations