• 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 / Political parties back moves for more disabled MPs

Political parties back moves for more disabled MPs

By guest on 30th October 2009 Category: News Archive

Listen

The leaders of the three main political parties have signaled that they are prepared to take action to make it easier for disabled people to become MPs.

Prime minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were giving evidence to the historic Speaker’s Conference which aims to find ways to increase the number of disabled, female and minority ethnic MPs.

Of the three, Clegg spoke most clearly about the barriers facing disabled candidates.

He said he believed there were no “systematic barriers” of discrimination against disabled people within his party, but the problem was that not enough candidates from all minorities were coming forward to be considered.

He said this was because parliament was “off-putting” to potential MPs, with no crèche and no proper access for disabled people.

And he said disabled candidates do not receive financial support for reasonable adjustments in the workplace while they fight their seat, as they would in a normal job.

He said about five per cent of selected Liberal Democrat candidates were disabled people, and many were fighting winnable seats.

The prime minister said Labour recognised disabled people faced barriers in seeking selection, such as access, and “in some cases finance and prejudice”.

Responding to a question from the disabled Labour MP Anne Begg, the conference vice-chair, Brown said “only 2.5 per cent” of Labour candidates have self-declared as disabled people.

He said: “We must therefore try to remove whatever barriers do exist – and I recognise that some of them have to be financial, as well as access, mobility and everything else – to representation.” 

He said new laws could be considered “if necessary” to make parliament more representative.

The Conservative leader, David Cameron, failed to mention disabled people in his long opening statement, unlike the other two leaders, but he later suggested, in answer to a question, that his party was considering setting up a fund to support disabled candidates.

He said: “On the issue of disability, and the costs of overcoming disability to be a candidate, I think there may well be a case, and we are looking at this, whether there ought to be some specific fund [for] people with disabilities who want to overcome the problems and be a candidate.”

The conference’s final report is due to be published later this year.

20 October 2009

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

‘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

Silence from MP sister of Rachel Reeves over suicide linked to PIP flaws, just as government was seeking cuts

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

Disabled activists warn Labour MPs who vote for cuts: ‘The gloves will be off’

GB News says it has nothing to apologise for, after guest suggests starving disabled benefit claimants

SEND inspections find services in just one in four areas usually lead to ‘positive’ outcomes for disabled children

Disabled MP who quit government over benefit cuts tells DNS: ‘The consequences will be devastating’

Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

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