In a resounding call for inclusivity, disability campaigners Simon Sansome and Celia Chartres-Aris have rallied over 50,000 supporters in a petition called ‘Where’s my Minister’, urging the UK government to reinstate the vital position of a dedicated Disability Minister within the cabinet.
The controversy began in December 2023 when the government opted to eliminate the role of the Disability Minister, downgrading it to an Under-Secretary role, while merging the disability portfolio with health and work. This unexpected move drew widespread criticism, including strong condemnations from major disability advocates such as Disability Rights UK and even the Paralympic Team GB.
Simon Sansome, Founder and CEO of Snowball Community (the world’s biggest disability app) said: ‘Not having a disability minister is a kick in the face to anyone with a disability in the UK. It shows that the government don’t care about people with disabilities. They don’t care about the future of people with disabilities because of the lack of representation not only in parliament, but in the cabinet’.
The repercussions of this decision are significant, diminishing equality for over 13.9 million disabled individuals in the UK, constituting roughly one fifth of the population. Globally, disabled people make up 15% of the population, emphasizing the importance of dedicated representation.
The absence of a specific Disability Minister, now reduced to less than 2% presence in the Commons, is a disconcerting oversight with practical implications for policy-making. The ministerial role extends beyond symbolism, playing a crucial part in advocating for disability rights, steering the Disability Unit, and strategically planning for the future in collaboration with the disabled community.
Celia Chartres-Aris Disability Founder, Investor, Policy and Legal Expert said: ’We cannot allow for the disabled people to be pushed out of discussion even further. There are millions of people in the UK identify as disabled, the repeated downgrading of The Minister of Disabled People role from Minister of State seniority to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, and regular periods of having no Minister at all,
To downgrade the Disability Minister role is to make disabled people feel as though they are not considered equal in conversation and policy production. We need to stop the revolving door of Disability Minister we have had 12 Minsters for the disabled people in 14 years. Throughout history disabled people have been forgotten, ignored and ostracised, we must have a presence in politics dedicated to ensuring that the mistakes of our past are not repeated, our rights and freedoms must be protected, to not do so will have detrimental impact on the lives of Disabled people across the country’.
Scope, a leading UK disability charity, emphasizes the urgent need for representation, stating that the reinstatement of the Disability Minister would ensure that the rights of disabled individuals remain a priority in policy decisions.
It should noted that this is the third time the role of Disability Minister has been downgraded, under the conservative government.
Furthermore, campaigners stress the significance of maintaining the role at a ministerial level, insisting it should not be downgraded to a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. The reinstatement of the Disability Minister’s position with the appropriate seniority is crucial to preserving the advocacy and influence required for meaningful change.
The petition, aimed at reinstating the Disability Minister’s role, here.
Join us in urging the UK Government to restore our voice in governance and reaffirm the commitment to disability rights within the heart of policy-making.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Simon Sansome – 07741277199 thedisabledjournalist@gmail.com Celia Chartres – 07766771078 celiahensman@aol.com
