• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / Politics / ‘Fantastic’ funding boost for inclusive politics campaign
About 30 people standing together, with several holding up One in Five signs

‘Fantastic’ funding boost for inclusive politics campaign

By John Pring on 4th December 2015 Category: Politics

Listen

A project that could help boost the number of disabled politicians in Scotland has received funding from the Scottish government.

The £35, 305 funding will be used to support disabled candidates standing in the 2016 elections to the Scottish parliament, and prospective candidates for the 2017 local government elections.

The short-term project will be run by Inclusion Scotland until March 2016 and will assess people’s access barriers and support needs, provide advice on appropriate adjustments, and offer support and mentoring.

Jamie Szymkowiak, founder of the One in Five campaign (pictured), which campaigns for greater participation of disabled people in Scottish politics and will be supporting Inclusion Scotland with the project, said the funding was “fantastic news”.

He said it would “help remove the non-financial barriers that face disabled people whilst allowing the Scottish government to gain an understanding of what could make financial support more effective in the future”.

He added: “The fact our campaign has gained support from all Scotland’s main political parties, various political groups and organisations shows there is a willingness to address the under-representation of disabled people and we hope this project will inspire disabled people across the political spectrum to seek selection in future elections.”

Sally Witcher, chief executive of Inclusion Scotland, said: “Disabled people have the human right to be politically active, just like non-disabled people.

“Yet, despite having a great deal to contribute to political life in Scotland and despite cross-party commitment to open up access, many barriers exist that prevent their equal participation.

“Furthermore, if Scottish government is to achieve its vision for a Fairer Scotland [its consultation on what a fairer Scotland should look like in 2030], one which values the participation of all its citizens, it is imperative we find out more about just what those barriers are and what can be done to remove them.”

Marco Biagi, minister for local government and community empowerment, said: “It is vital for society that all of our groups are represented in politics and elected offices at all levels.

“We know that disabled people often find it difficult to access elected offices due to the many barriers that exist.”

Deborah King, co-founder of Disability Politics UK, said: “The Scottish government’s support for aspiring disabled politicians is important.”

She contrasted the funding with the UK government’s indecision over its Access to Elected Office fund.

The fund – which offered grants to disabled people to pay for their additional impairment-related costs in standing for election as a councillor or MP – has been lying dormant since the general election while the government reviews its effectiveness.

King said: “The UK government needs to speed up its review of the Access to Elected Office fund.

“The review should not take too long; it is not the Chilcot Inquiry. Disabled people need to know there is financial support available as soon as possible.”

One in Five also welcomed another campaigning victory, after persuading the Scottish government to change the rules governing elections to the Scottish parliament.

The new rules mean that any disability-related costs incurred by a parliamentary candidate – such as to pay for taxis or sign language interpreters – will no longer count towards the legal limit on their election expenses.

Joe Fitzpatrick, the minister for parliamentary business, praised the work of One in Five in pushing for the change.

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn

Tags: Inclusion Scotland Jamie Szymkowiak One in Five Sally Witcher Scottish parliament

A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears
3rd July 2025
Beresford’s book shows how disability movement can be part of ‘antidote’ to neoliberalism
5th June 2025
Shocked disabled campaigners vow to fight on after MSPs vote for Scottish assisted dying bill to progress
15th May 2025

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

Liz Kendall stops herself just in time from lying about PIP cuts, as she argues with disabled MP

New analysis shows disabled people’s strongest allies among MPs

Government’s ‘weak’ evacuation plans for disabled high-rise residents ‘fail to learn the lessons of Grenfell’

Air travel accessibility report could lead to ‘tangible’ improvements, but progress depends on industry

Reviews into deaths and other harm linked to universal credit nearly double… as MPs vote for billions in cuts

Regulator’s report on rail assistance ‘shows it is still failing to acknowledge right to turn up and go’

Badenoch silence after ‘ticking time bomb’ claim is exposed as a lie by official figures

Government ignores warnings of new DWP deaths, and UN intervention, as MPs pass universal credit cuts bill

Urgent letter from UN to Labour government warns: We think your cuts continue Tory attack on disability rights

Race against time to secure DWP deaths evidence before parliament passes new benefit cuts bill

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web