• 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 / News Archive / Labour’s new shadow set to take on Tories over benefits rhetoric

Labour’s new shadow set to take on Tories over benefits rhetoric

By guest on 9th October 2011 Category: News Archive

Listen

Labour’s new shadow minister for disabled people looks set to spearhead a stronger line from the opposition over offensive government rhetoric on the “abuse” of disability benefits.

Anne McGuire was announced as Labour’s new shadow minister for disabled people this week, as part of Labour leader Ed Miliband’s first shadow cabinet reshuffle.

McGuire, who has a long-term health condition, was minister for disabled people between 2005 and 2008, and currently co-chairs the all-party parliamentary disability group.

She said she was “delighted” by her appointment and pledged that Labour would be the voice for “those in genuine need, who need extra help to live a full life”.

McGuire told Disability News Service in a statement that disabled people “feel that they are unfairly being portrayed as scroungers and are feeling very vulnerable”.

Her comments were welcomed by disabled activists, who took them as a sign that recent criticism of the Labour leader’s failure to speak out on the issue had had an impact.

Sue Marsh, who blogs at Diary of a Benefit Scrounger and is political strategist for The Broken of Britain, said she and fellow campaigners were “incredibly encouraged” by McGuire’s comments.

They came on the day that The Broken of Britain’s Kaliya Franklin spoke to Miliband by phone to discuss his failure to speak out on behalf of disabled people.

Miliband had promised to discuss the issue with Franklin after she accused him in a televised question and answer session at his party conference of not speaking up because of hostile media attacks that have labelled benefits claimants as “scroungers”.

The Labour party was also accused of blocking attempts at its conference to discuss the problems caused by the controversial “fitness for work” tests, introduced by the previous Labour government.

Disabled campaigners have repeatedly claimed that Conservative ministers and their advisers are causing hostility towards disabled people with inflammatory messages about the abuse of disability benefits.

Earlier this month, ministers used the Conservative party’s annual conference to reinforce the message that many disabled people claiming out-of-work benefits were “abusing” the system.

In her statement, McGuire also pointed to government plans in its welfare reform bill to introduce a new “universal credit”, which she said would see support for disabled children halved, while the severe disability premium – an extra allowance for many disabled people on income support – would be scrapped with “nothing appropriate put in its place”.

She added: “We believe there can be reforms made to the system, but this is the wrong way to do it, and we will do all we can to stop these changes.”

But it is unclear how much of the government’s bill – currently being debated in the Lords – McGuire and her Labour parliamentary colleagues will try to change.

Her predecessor in the role, Margaret Curran, suggested at Labour’s conference that the party would still back key parts of the government’s welfare reform agenda, because it was vital to “get people back to work”. Curran has become the new shadow Scottish secretary.

Miliband has also appointed a new shadow minister for care and older people, Liz Kendall, who is likely to play a key role in responding to the government’s social care white paper, expected next spring.

13 October 2011

Share this post:

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

‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’
6th February 2015
UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education
6th February 2015
IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months
30th January 2015

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

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

‘Complete shift in thinking’ needed on education of disabled children, says ALLFIE

Minister ignored concerns from disabled advisers, months before publishing cuts bill

Frustration after government only issues partial ban on new floating bus stops

Report suggests five big ideas that could transform disabled people’s mobility

My new book shows exactly why we need the disability movement, says disabled author

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

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